Waiting on Wednesday: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

June 12, 2013 / 10 Comments / Book Memes, Uncategorized, Waiting on Wednesday

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that book bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t-wait-to-read pick comes to you courtesy of one of my book besties, the wonderful Sarah O’Reilly:

Authors: Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Expected publication date: December 24th 2013  

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.


A real whopper of a story for this week’s WoW pick: I was at a loss this week trying to come up with a WoW – usually it’s pretty easy for me to just grab something off my Goodreads most-wanted or waiting-impatiently list. This week, though, I realized that I haven’t been keeping up with upcoming releases, and since I’m still waiting for a few books to reveal covers before I spotlight them, I didn’t really have a pick. 
I surfed Goodreads for awhile, and finally decided to text Sarah to ask about her suggestions. I met Sarah in Montreal a few months back after tweeting back and forth for awhile and we became fast friends over treats, a shared love of YA contemporaries and way too much TV. Seriously, we text, like, every day. 
Sarah and me at Juliette et Chocolat in Montreal
Anyway, Sarah immediately texted me back that she’s been excited for Roomies, and I was like, “How have I not heard about this new Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando book that sounds amazing?!?” and she was like, “I know, I felt the same way when I heard about it.”My love for Sara Zarr is documented, and I’ve been wanting to read Tara Altebrando’s books for a long, LONG time. 
Roomies sounds like a great, fun, epistolary novel. It reminds me of an older version of Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin’s P.S. Longer Letter Later, which really spoke to me when I was a kid. The cover is super-cute. And I’m completely loving the fact that I found out about Roomies in a similar epistolary fashion to the way main characters Elizabeth and Lauren communicate. 
Thanks, Sarah, for the awesome rec, and for being a fab book pal!

Are you excited about ROOMIES? Are you fans of Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando? Do you guys have book besties or people you talk to about books often who live far away? Sound off in the comments!


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10 responses to “Waiting on Wednesday: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

  1. Ooh, I'm surprised that I haven't heard of this one! It seems like such a fun read, with a touch of depth. And it's Sara Zarr so DUH it has to be awesome. 😉 It's so cute that you found out about this one in a similar way to how the characters talk to each other- it seems like fate that you're going to love this one. 😉

    Lovely pick! <3

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

  2. I only recently heard about this one & as soon as I did I was like MUST HAVE NOW! I didn't realize it was epistolarly, which I really like, so now I am even more excited.

    I'm pretty sure I read the Martin/Danziger book bc those two were the mainstay in my MG reading when I was younger 😀

  3. I only recently heard about this one & as soon as I did I was like MUST HAVE NOW! I didn't realize it was epistolarly, which I really like, so now I am even more excited.

    I'm pretty sure I read the Martin/Danziger book bc those two were the mainstay in my MG reading when I was younger 😀

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