The American Roommate Experiment
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Armas's adorable follow-up to Booktok sensation The Spanish Love Deception will delight fans even as it stands on its own. Following the publication of Rosie Graham's first novel, she quit her engineering job to bet on a career writing romance, but writer's block and a mishap that renders her New York City apartment unlivable combine to make the prospect of finishing her sophomore novel an uphill climb. Fortunately, she's able to hide from her woes at her friend Lina's apartment while Lina's out of town. That is, until Lucas Martín, Lina's cousin, who's traveling the U.S. to avoid his own troubles back home in Spain, arrives planning to stay in the apartment himself. It's not what either expected, but they agree to be temporary roommates--and Lucas offers to help Rosie get over her writer's block by taking her on a series of romantic dates that could serve as inspiration. It's purely professional; Lucas even promises not to fall in love. So now Rosie just needs to hide the enormous crush she's developed on him. Armas does a fantastic job showing her characters' developing feelings and allowing the romantic tension to drive the plot. This is a treat. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijsktra Literary. (Sept.)

Rosie Graham's world is crumbling—literally—as her New York apartment ceiling caves in. She also just quit her job to secretly pen her second romance novel, keeping it a secret from her family. However, it's about to get even more real, as her writer's block is a force to be reckoned with. Fortunately, she has a saving grace for at least one problem since her best friend Lina gave her a spare key to her apartment while she's on her honeymoon. What Lina failed to mention was that her extremely handsome and single cousin Lucas would be in town from Spain and also staying in her apartment. Rosie is all too familiar with Lucas, having stalked him online for months. To cure her writer's block, Rosie comes up with the idea to date Lucas as an experiment, thus using him as her muse. This friends-to-lovers trope will have readers rooting for the couple as things turn steamy. VERDICT Though it's a follow-up to The Spanish Love Deception, Armas's contemporary romance can be read as a stand-alone; perfect for readers who love Emily Henry and Tessa Bailey.—Erin Holt

Armas's adorable follow-up to Booktok sensation The Spanish Love Deception will delight fans even as it stands on its own. Following the publication of Rosie Graham's first novel, she quit her engineering job to bet on a career writing romance, but writer's block and a mishap that renders her New York City apartment unlivable combine to make the prospect of finishing her sophomore novel an uphill climb. Fortunately, she's able to hide from her woes at her friend Lina's apartment while Lina's out of town. That is, until Lucas Martín, Lina's cousin, who's traveling the U.S. to avoid his own troubles back home in Spain, arrives planning to stay in the apartment himself. It's not what either expected, but they agree to be temporary roommates—and Lucas offers to help Rosie get over her writer's block by taking her on a series of romantic dates that could serve as inspiration. It's purely professional; Lucas even promises not to fall in love. So now Rosie just needs to hide the enormous crush she's developed on him. Armas does a fantastic job showing her characters' developing feelings and allowing the romantic tension to drive the plot. This is a treat. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijsktra Literary. (Sept.)