the american roommate experiment lucas age

The American Roommate Experiment

53 pages • 1 hour read

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Chapters 25-28

Chapter 29-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The American Roommate Experiment (2022) is a contemporary romance novel by Elena Armas. This New York Times bestseller follows the coincidental romance between the spontaneous but uncertain Rosie and Lucas, her best friend Lina’s cousin—a man she’s ogled from afar via social media—as they find themselves being roommates. With a few recurring characters, it is technically a follow-up novel to The Spanish Love Deception (2021), which was also a New York Times bestseller and, as of 2023, is slated for a film adaptation.

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Plot Summary

The American Roommate Experiment opens with Rosie Graham facing a series of calamities: Her apartment ceiling collapsed due to flooding, so she is staying in her best friend Catalina “Lina” Martín-Blackford’s apartment. Lina, the protagonist of Elena Armas’s previous novel, The Spanish Love Deception , is on her honeymoon in Peru. Suddenly, a man arrives and tries to enter Lina’s apartment, claiming he has a key. Rosie mistakes him for a burglar, but after some banter, she realizes the man is Lucas Martín , Lina’s cousin. Rosie has been following Lucas’s social media, hoping to meet him at Lina’s wedding, which he did not attend. Lucas is friendly and charming, and when he realizes Rosie is uncomfortable, he insists she stay in the apartment and he go to a hotel. She reassures herself that the two will not meet again.

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The next day, Rosie prepares to visit her father in Philadelphia, hoping to tell him and her younger brother, Olly, that she has left her engineering job to pursue writing and has recently been offered a publishing deal. She is an avid reader-turned-writer of romance novels but knows her father is proud of her stable engineering career. She spots Lucas in a diner and realizes he slept there. The two chat over breakfast, and Rosie shares her anxieties about her career change, while Lucas is cagey about why he left Spain for a three-month trip to the United States (explaining his absence from Lina’s wedding). Later, Rosie notices her brother, Olly, avoiding discussion of work and finds herself unable to tell their father about her career change when he is clearly worried about Olly.

Upon her return to New York, Rosie and Lucas decide to share Lina’s apartment—without notifying Lina, as she is on her honeymoon. They are both attracted to each other, but each privately decides to stay friends. They befriend Lina’s neighbor, Adele, an older woman living with dementia. Lucas impresses Rosie with his cooking. After a frustrating day arguing with her landlord over apartment repairs, Rosie confesses that she has barely written any of her book, which is due in eight weeks. Lucas overhears Rosie on the phone with Lina, pondering a return to dating in the hopes of inspiring Rosie’s manuscript. She is pessimistic about this, as her dating history is full of disappointment. Lucas offers to be her partner in a dating experiment, constructing ideal dates so Rosie will not have to involve strangers. Because she still has a crush on him, Rosie agrees.

Lucas plans their first date to a record store, where Rosie selects ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” for their soundtrack. They dance and flirt but are soon interrupted when a rat comes out of a record player box. Their second date involves making pizza, during which Lucas explains that his surfing career is over because he injured his leg. The pizzas burn as the two almost kiss. Lucas castigates himself for failing to be the perfect boyfriend, but Rosie assures him that he surpasses her exes. Meanwhile, she continues to worry about Olly, who has a job at a nightclub with men who appear threatening to his safety.

Lina eventually returns, stunned and disappointed to find that Rosie and Lucas are living together and said nothing. She worries Lucas will hurt her best friend with a casual relationship, but they assure her that they are just friends. She confides to Rosie that her family is worried about Lucas, leading Rosie to realize she is the only one who knows about his accident and related panic attacks. Adele’s daughter, Alexia, comes over for dinner and suggests to Lucas that he train as a chef, but he dismisses the idea.

Rosie and Lucas attend a Halloween masquerade ball with Lina and her husband, Aaron. When Rosie is soaked by a stranger’s drink, Lucas helps her clean up, and the two nearly pursue the sexual attraction between them until Lina interrupts. Lucas is clearly jealous when he sees another man ask Rosie out, and she also feels conflicted. He softens when he learns she organized the arrival of his sister, Charo, and dog, Taco, to help him with his panic attacks. Meanwhile, Rosie’s writing improves, inspired by her dates with Lucas.

During Rosie and Lucas’s third date, Rosie confesses her romantic attraction. They embrace but are interrupted when Olly begs Rosie for help. Rosie and Lucas learn that Olly has been working at an adult entertainment club. They rescue him from the club’s cruel owners, and Lucas is injured in a scuffle—leading Rosie to feel guilty. Rosie and Lucas slowly become a couple. She returns to her repaired apartment but soon summons Lucas. Lucas claims he does not deserve her as a man with no career prospects but reciprocates her love. They have sex and spend Lucas’s last week in New York together. Rosie also finishes her book and thanks Lucas for his help.

Rosie follows Lucas to the airport, confessing her love and offering to go to Spain with him—but he refuses her offer. He still sees himself as unworthy of her devotion. Rosie is devastated, and Lina apologizes for not supporting her sooner. Lina reads Rosie’s book and calls Lucas, telling him that as angry as she is at him for hurting Rosie, Rosie’s book is proof of his worth.

On New Year’s Eve, a pessimistic Rosie agrees to attend a party with Lina and Aaron. Lucas surprises her at the stroke of midnight, explaining that he felt unworthy of her but now understands that he needs to face his past. He is seeking therapy and plans to pursue culinary school in New York to be with her. Overjoyed, Rosie accepts his offer. In the Epilogue, Lucas arrives in New York a year later, ready to move in with Rosie and begin his new life.

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The American Roommate Experiment: A Novel (The Love Deception Series Book 2)

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The American Roommate Experiment: A Novel (The Love Deception Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

Print length 397 pages
Language English
Publisher Atria Books
Publication date September 6, 2022
File size 5455 KB
Page Flip Enabled
Word Wise Enabled
Enhanced typesetting Enabled
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The Spanish Love Deception: A Novel (The Love Deception Series Book 1)

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Q9WSZ9G
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books (September 6, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 6, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5455 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 397 pages
#141 in Multicultural & Interracial Romance (Kindle Store)
#159 in Multicultural & Interracial Romance (Books)
#771 in Romantic Comedy (Kindle Store)

About the author

Elena armas.

Elena Armas is a Spanish writer, a self confessed hopeless romantic, and much to Mr. B's dismay, a proud book hoarder. After years of devouring HEAs and talking––okay fine, yelling––nonstop about them, she has finally taken the leap and decided to create some of her own.

She hopes these stories make your heart skip a beat or two, your palms a little sweaty, and your cheeks flush in that rosy pink that makes other people want to peek at the page you are reading.

♡ NEWSLETTER: authorelenaarmas.com/newsletter

♡ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/authorelenaarmas

♡ FACEBOOK READER GROUP: facebook.com/groups/elenaarmasreadersgroup

♡ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebibliotheque

♡ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@thebibliotheque

♡ TWITTER: twitter.com/elenaarmasbooks

♡ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/thebibliotheque

♡ WEBSITE: www.authorelenaarmas.com

Customer reviews

5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 41% 34% 20% 4% 1% 41%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 41% 34% 20% 4% 1% 34%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 41% 34% 20% 4% 1% 20%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 41% 34% 20% 4% 1% 4%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 41% 34% 20% 4% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the story's cute and heartwarming qualities. They found the characters sweet, lovable, and lovely. The writing style was described as wonderful, witty, and down-to-earth. Customers enjoyed the entertaining and fun read with great banter and chemistry between the characters. The book explored themes of empathy and cultural appreciation.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it heartwarming, relatable, and well-written. The love story was beautiful and made them sad, happy, and laughing. The book had a rollercoaster of events with amazing tropes like friends to lovers.

"... This book felt real . More so than SLD somehow, and more than any of my other reads this year...." Read more

"...It's also light and upbeat enough that the format would've been ideal if the narration had been smoother." Read more

"...It is dual POVs of the main characters and has some amazing tropes like: friends to lovers, close proximity, a dating experiment and a slow burn..." Read more

"...It was so touching and sweet how their love story unfolds, and I cried my eyes out at multiple points...." Read more

Customers enjoy the book's sweetness. They find the characters lovable and lovely, complementing each other well. The book is described as romantic and a quick read with all the aspects of a rom-com.

"...than the dynamic between the characters in the first book, this romance is softer , sweeter, slower, and still just as sexy...." Read more

"...There was also some really good spice . The hero was definitely swoon worthy and I loved all the “fake” dates they had...." Read more

"...I loved this story, it was so sweet and the chemistry between the characters was so good from the start...." Read more

"...He’s sweet , attentive and protective. Their chemistry was 🤌🏽 and honestly their fake dates were my favorite scenes...." Read more

Customers enjoy the relatable characters in the book. They find the characters engaging and fun to watch, especially the hero. The writing style is also praised by readers.

"...There was also some really good spice. The hero was definitely swoon worthy and I loved all the “fake” dates they had...." Read more

"...One of the highlights of this novel is the authenticity of the characters ...." Read more

"I really loved this story. Lucas and Rosie are such sweet, lovable characters , and they are great together...." Read more

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it well-written, witty, and easy to read. The characters are described as down-to-earth and thoughtful. Readers appreciate the book's playfulness and humor.

"...This was a really fun, cute easy read and I think it’s something every one would enjoy!..." Read more

"...Elena Armas is a truly amazing writer ." Read more

"...Just know that Lucas is amazing, thoughtful, caring, selfless, hilarious , cheeky, witty, I mean I could keep going...." Read more

"...The utter unraveling of both of these characters was perfect and beautifully written . 10/10 loved this freaking book...." Read more

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it entertaining and lighthearted, with great banter, chemistry, and angst between the characters. The story made them laugh and cry, drawing them in and keeping them reading. It's a great choice for a workday listen, with a slow-burn romance that lends itself to an enjoyable listening experience.

"...It does make a great choice for a workday listen though, as the slow burn romance lends itself well to the format...." Read more

"...It was insta-lust as well but there was still some great banter , chemistry, and angst between them. There was also some really good spice...." Read more

"...This was a really fun , cute easy read and I think it’s something every one would enjoy!..." Read more

"...It offers an engaging and enjoyable reading experience , perfect for those seeking a feel-good story that" Read more

Customers appreciate the book's heartfeltness and thoughtfulness. They find the characters authentic and engaging, with thoughtful gestures. The novel explores themes of empathy and cultural appreciation.

"...Through Lily and Mia's interactions, the novel explores themes of empathy , cultural appreciation, and the importance of embracing diversity...." Read more

"...Just know that Lucas is amazing, thoughtful , caring, selfless, hilarious, cheeky, witty, I mean I could keep going...." Read more

"...This is truly an escapist romance that’s extremely heartfelt . Be sure to add this one to your list!..." Read more

"...It draws you in and keeps you reading to get to the next delightful, thoughtful , life-giving moment - like being kind to a neighbor that made its..." Read more

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some enjoyed the slow buildup of events and the relationship between characters. Others felt the pacing was too slow or dragged on.

"...And, honestly, this didn't at first. The beginning is MUCH weaker than the second half, and it takes awhile to find its footing - but it definitely..." Read more

"...While there were some amusing and heartfelt moments, the pacing of the story was very slow and I was just expecting a little bit more...." Read more

"...Experiment" is a delightful and heartwarming novel that captures the essence of friendship , cultural exchange, and personal growth...." Read more

"...I disliked about this book (AND the first) was that I felt that they ended too fast ..." Read more

Customers find the book boring and hard to get into. They find it illogical, silly, and unnecessary. Some reviewers also mention that the book is raunchy.

"...Sorry, but this was freaking boring . It just kept putting me to sleep...." Read more

"...Again, just too much dragging on that made the book a little boring and hard to get into.That being said, I enjoyed Lucas’ character...." Read more

"...Chapter 1, being inside Rosie’s head, was hard to get through ...." Read more

"...too much- lots of use of the F word, like lots of use, and it seemed unnecessary , not in keeping with the story, and kind of raunchy which was not..." Read more

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, fantastic read!

5.0 out of 5 stars muito satisfeita.

5.0 out of 5 stars llegó precioso y no puedo esperar leerlo

5.0 out of 5 stars elena armas, 5.0 out of 5 stars loved it, report an issue.

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Book Review: The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas

If The Spanish Love Deception hadn’t already tipped you off about the kind of writer that Elena Armas is then it’s follow-up will confirm it: Elena Armas is a romance writer for romance lovers, and her second novel makes it clear that she’s just as much a fan of the genre as her readers are. The American Roommate Experiment feels like an homage to all things romance, bringing together so many of the genre’s favourite tropes, nods and scenes in a book that is just as heartwarming and emotional as it is fun and sexy. And best of all, it’s also packed with the most delicious kind of slow-burn tension that will keep readers turning the pages and eager for more.

Picking up a little while after the Spanish Love Deception epilogue, Aaron and Lina are newly married and away enjoying their honeymoon, giving Lina’s best friend Rosie the perfect place to stay when she’s forced out of her apartment after the ceiling literally caves in on her. Unbeknown to Rosie, however, Lina has promised her older cousin Lucas – the man that Rosie has been harbouring a bit of a crush on – that he can stay in her apartment while he visits New York for a few weeks before heading back home to Spain.

After a misunderstanding leads to a misplaced call to 911 and a meet-cute worthy of the movies, Rosie and Lucas agree to becoming temporary roommates, at least until Rosie can find somewhere else affordable to stay. But a broken apartment isn’t Rosie’s only problem – she also happens to be a romance writer on a deadline who’s suffering from a bad case of writer’s block. Ever the knight in shining armour, Lucas has a solution for that too and offers to take Rosie out on a series of experimental dates to kickstart her romantic inspiration. With nothing to lose, Rosie doesn’t hesitate to take him up on his proposal – but Lucas’ time in New York has an expiration date and, as their dating experiment begins to stir up some very real feelings, it quickly becomes clear that six weeks together just may not be enough.

Once more, I buried my face in his chest. But this time, I let myself lean into him. Completely. I gave myself the green light to give up. I inhaled his scent and relished how warm and big and solid he was around me. I took as much strength from him as he was willing to give me. And I imagined this, his hug, his body, him, being my safe haven. My normal. My bad days, my good days. My every day.”

Following up a hugely successful and beloved debut like The Spanish Love Deception was always going to be a difficult task, but The American Roommate Experiment proves it’s up to the job very early on when it plays its hand against its older sibling and introduces one of the biggest differences between both novels: the dual POV. The opportunity to get inside the heads of both main characters is something that truly elevates a romance novel for me, and the fact that TARE gives both Rosie and Lucas their own narratives and the space to explore their feelings for the other gives this fake dating/forced proximity storyline both emotional grounding and helps to build the ever-growing unresolved sexual tension between the pair beautifully.

Individually, both Rosie and Lucas are fantastic characters. Effortlessly charming and naturally flirtatious Lucas is a friendly, supportive ray of sunshine throughout, but he’s also hiding a huge secret from his family and continuously putting off having to deal with the consequences. Rosie, meanwhile, is strong, capable and reliable but also shy, vulnerable and filled with self-doubt after making the decision to give up her stable job to pursue her passion instead. When they come into each other’s lives, both are in need of a distraction, some inspiration or both, but their chemistry, unwavering support of one another and genuine care for each other is immediately evident, even if their insecurities and doubts mean that the slow-burn move from roommates to friends to lovers comes with a heavy side dose of mutual pining too.

However, one of the best things about reading an Elena Armas book is that it’s clear that she’s a romance fan first and foremost, and The American Roommate Experiment is truly a book for the romance readers. There are lots of readers’ favourite romance tropes at play in this novel with fake dating and forced proximity (in an apartment with only one bed) just for starters, and as the story continues it reads almost like a checklist of fun and flirty moments that are sure to get readers talking. It turns the book into a treasure trove of discovery for romance readers, from grey sweatpants and food fights to grand gestures and timely downpours, but it definitely helps that the novel is self-aware enough to poke fun at this too, with romance writer Rosie coming up with a series of dating ‘phases’ for Lucas to study and implement in their plot to jumpstart her romantic inspiration.

With swoony, steamy scenes, cute domestic moments and joyful romantic dates, The American Roommate Experiment is a book that is a lot of fun throughout, but also one that’s grounded by the more serious, emotional elements too. It isn’t always done perfectly and the balance isn’t always right – the subplot with Rosie’s brother Olly and her family dynamic, for example, had a lot of potential, but ultimately felt underdeveloped – but it does go a long way towards adding depth and realism to the story, and helps solidify Rosie and Lucas as characters a reader can feel a true connection to as well.

Like The Spanish Love Deception before it, The American Roommate Experiment does feel a little slow to start, a bit long overall and is built on a foundation of a series of very particular circumstances coming together in a perfect storm, but that doesn’t stop it from quickly becoming an engaging, romantic joy of a novel with authentic characters and a whole lot of chemistry. Spanish Love Deception fans will be happy to see Lina and Aaron return in these pages, but this book rightly belongs to Rosie, Lucas and all the romance readers looking for their next, unputdownable read.

The American Roommate Experiment is published by Simon & Schuster on 6 September 2022

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The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas: A Book Review

The front cover of The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas book.

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The front cover of the book 'The American Roommate Experiment' by Elena Armas.

What are your thoughts on The American Roommate Experiment?

Would you recommend the american roommate experiment by elena armas .

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22 comments.

Love this review, Lucy! This would make an amazing summer read, I'll definitely check this out for sure! x Penny / whatdidshetype.com

It's definitely the perfect Summer read! x

I absolutely loved reading your review Lucy! Rosie and Lucas sound like such endearing characters xx Lenne | lennezulkiflly.com

Thank you Lenne! They are really lovely and endearing characters, that's why I loved the book! xx

Sounds like a good light hearted summer read x

It's a great Summer read Chloe, I hope you get the chance to read it for yourself! x

I don’t think I have read this author before, but the title and cover would have made me a little interested already. I still have a few books that need to be read, now I am on summer break from uni I am hoping to finish them so I can purchase some more. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Lauren - www.bournemouthgirl.com

I hope you manage to read some books on your Summer break Lauren, this would be a good one to start with!

Great review! This sounds like a perfect romance book, ideal for reading on the beach this summer!

Thank you lovely, this book is definitely a beach-worthy read!

This seems like a really nice read! I like a good slow-burn romance! It’s funny because I believe I think of life too much like a romance novel. lol. I keep thinking something like in these books or movies might happen to me one day and I’ll meet Mr. Right the same way these heroines met their men. Life doesn’t really work that way, but you never know! lol. Thankyou for this cute post!

I like a good slow-burn romance too! I'm the same, I'd love my love life to have a happy ever after like the romance books, but it'll never happen!

I haven't read anything from this author but it sounds like a lovely book to read whilst relaxing by the pool.

It's the perfect poolside-read Kelly!

I actually got this book for my birthday in May so I've not read too much of your review in case of spoilers - but what I've seen means I am going to love it! Rosie https://www.loverosiee.co.uk

Fair enough Rosie! I'm sure you'll enjoy this book! x

This sounds like such a lovely read, I still have a book on my kindle to-read list that you recommended before but I love the sound of this one too! Gemma Louise

I'm sure you would love this book too Gemma! I hope you get around to reading it lovely x

I enjoyed this book too, although I haven't read anything else from Elena Armas yet! it's nice you also liked and would recommend this book, thanks for sharing! :)

You need to read another one of Elena Armas' books, they're so good, I still need to read the Spanish Love Deception!