Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando: My Roomie Story and a Giveaway

Roomies
 by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando
Publication Date: December 24, 2013
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
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It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.

 My Roomie Story

Soon after I graduated high school, I moved in with my best friend. My mom was moving to a new state and I didn't want to go with her. My friend and I thought moving in together was a fabulous idea. We'd been friends for so long (10 years) and we just knew that living together would so much fun. I moved in with her near the end of summer and right before we started college. (We both decided to go to a community college and transfer to a university our junior year). 

Our "fun times" lasted all about a month. She was a neat freak. I hated to clean. She had a steady boyfriend. And it was getting pretty serious. I was dating (or trying to) and going out with new friends. Our class and work schedules (oh yeah, we worked at the same place too) were during opposite times, and we never saw each other. And when we did, it certainly wasn't like old times. With my new friends and her boyfriend, we'd grown apart and we were getting on each others nerves as roommates can do. I never did much cleaning, BUT I didn't leave things dirty. Just messy. And there is a difference. 

I knew it was time to move out when she left me a not nice note (because our schedules were completely opposite that we didn't see each other anymore, and to be honest we started avoiding each other) telling me in ALL CAPS that I was the messiest person that she had ever known and she couldn't deal with me any more. We didn't even talk about it. The next day I packed up my stuff and started looking for a new place to live. I moved out a few days "AFTER THE NOTE" and we stopped talking for a few months.

I learned a couple of things from my first roommate experience:

1. Don't live with your best friend if you want to stay best friends.
2. If you are a messy person, your best roommate is a person who is messy too. 

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Win a Copy of Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you want to read Roomies

Include a way to contact you (your email or your Twitter handle)

One entry per person

US addresses only (no P.O. Boxes)

Must be 16 or older to enter

Giveaway ends January 17, 2014 11:59 EST

Winners will be selected using Random.org

Want to meet the authors of Roomies???

Sara and Tara are going on Tour
(confirmed dates)
January 12, 2014 – New York, NY: McNally Jackson 

January 15, 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT: The King's English 

January 16, 2014 – Provo, UT: Provo Library 

February 4, 2014 – San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza 

February 5, 2014 – Petaluma, CA: Copperfield's Books 

 Check back next week for my review of Roomies. It's a 5 Star Read!!!