Title: The Issue with Bad Boy Roommates
Author: Piper Rayne
Series: Lake Starlight #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023
Going on a journey with Brinley and Van as they go from flirtation to roommates to lovers was ridiculously fun. I also like how they both have their own character growth and development to go through. This isn’t the first book in the Lake Starlight series, and now I want to read more about not only the Lake Starlight romances, but I also want to dive into the Baileys series. I get the feeling that the Baileys is a precursor to the couples that occur in the Lake Starlight books and I must read them all now.
I spent most of this story waiting for the conflict, the other shoe to drop. However, what I did not expect was the way in which this occurred. I thought that the conflict would be a point of internal concern that would make either Van or Brin basically run away from their connection. Which, it kind of was. But, mostly, it was a point of conflict that was completely enmeshed in their pasts. It was a total twist, that up until right before the reveal, I honesty didn’t see coming. Which, of course, I absolutely loved.
Brin being widowed at a young age was a really interesting and somewhat intense concept. I love how preceding her meeting Van for the first time, Brin has very obviously worked through the different stages of grief. As someone who is going through grief, I love that Piper Rayne deals with the length of time it takes to deal with this and the different aspects of ongoing grief so well. Brin’s strength at finally breaking free of the slightly toxic cycle of overprotection was also completely emotional and empowering. Moving forward from this cycle and the grief is an amazing moment and part of why I loved this story so much.
This was one of those contemporary romances that I just didn’t want to put down. The backgrounds of both the characters was brilliant. And I loved the growth that they both go through to find their happily ever afters. Brinley and Van are a wonderful couple, their ability to support and love one another made me all happy inside. And now I want to read more about the rest of the Bailey clan as they all find their happily ever afters.
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Earth and Skye 