Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Oblivious Roommate
SERIES: Am I The Problem? #1
AUTHOR: Devon Doe
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: Approx 227 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2023
BLURB:
Tl;dr: Am I the problem for trying to sabotage my gay roommate’s relationship? I have my reasons!
I [20M] moved to a different college just so I can live with my best friend since high school [21M]. But it turns out that in the two years we lived apart, he’s come out as gay, and he never told me! He also has a boyfriend, and I’m really not homophobic, but seeing them together bothers me. Other than that, we’ve reconnected like it’s magic. Living with him is amazing, and everything would have been perfect if his ass of a boyfriend wasn’t around. I don’t think that guy is good enough for someone as funny, interesting, and cool as my friend.
How do I make him dump the stupid boyfriend?
Update: So I’ve been trying to break them up, and I’m starting to realize that, possibly-maybe, I’m the one who wants to date my roommate. Help! He’s the hottest guy I’ve ever known and I keep screwing things up!
Also, is it gay to love smelling his sweaty T-shirt?
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“Oblivious Roommate” is a best friends-to-lovers, gay-awakening steamy romcom filled with misunderstandings caused by an oblivious himbo who means well but has no clue.
While the books in the series share a setting each can be read as a standalone.
REVIEW:
Matt and Cassian have been best friends since high school. Matt isn’t homophobic – but then Matt transfers to Cassian’s college. He is blindsided when Cassian, in the interests of transparency, comes out to Matt as gay. Having entered a period of confusion, he eventually understands what’s been missing in his life – Cass. But Cass has a boyfriend.
Oblivious Roommate is book one in the series Am I The Problem. In a couple of words, occasionally, yes. This story is an engaging tale of the gay awakening of a straight guy – and a headstrong one at that. So, when Matt has an epiphany, he isn’t always open to reason. Hence, although entertaining, he does some stupid stuff, which, at times, was also frustrating to read.
The story is told in the first person, with ninety-nine percent recounted from Matt’s viewpoint. Using a university setting, the worldbuilding of coffee shops, frat parties, and living accommodations are typical of the genre. Instead, the author focuses on the jumble that is Matt’s thinking process, whose rolling commentary is an absorbing tossed salad of reflections. Once he realizes his attraction to Cass, Matt has no idea how to convey his feelings. He also questions his outlook towards Cass, others, and the subtle nuances of a conversation. What was once banter, could also be seen as flirting.
Aaron is an observer of life and is Matt’s voice of reason and occasional sidekick in the execution of schemes. However, Matt doesn’t always take heed of Aaron’s warnings over possible consequences. I understood that Matt’s new worldview wasn’t going to align with everyone and everything magically, but after a while, Matt’s pickiness over time and circumstance got to be a little frustrating to read. After all, what’s the point of asking for advice if you’re going to ignore it?
Kudos to Cass for being out, proud with a ‘this is me’ outlook. However, given the erratic behavior of his best friend, he must have constructed some very thick walls called ‘denial’ and ‘no chance’ not to cotton on to Matt’s feelings. Then again, life can addle the best brains.
In conclusion, for me, Oblivious Roommate was an entertaining read, packed with some understandable, occasionally questionable actions that lead to hot times.
RATING: 
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