RoomHate

by Penelope Ward

[Cocktails and Books]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

Penelope Ward knows how to write a one hell of an engaging story. ROOMHATE had me hooked; from the cover, the blurb and ultimately the broken relationship between two best friends who find a way to leave the past behind and move forward together.

Justin and Amelia grew up as best friends, but when Amelia discovered Justin withheld information that affected both of their families, she fled. Ten years later, they're thrust together again after they both inherit equals shares in Amelia's grandmother's beach house. One of them is riddled with guilt and regret, the other with hate. And when they get together you have to wonder if either of them is going to be left standing when things finally explode between them.

It became clear, pretty early in the interactions between Justin and Amelia, that this wasn't really going to be an enemy to lovers story. These two still had very strong feelings for each other. That very thin line between love and hate is one that was blurred for both of them, but never really moved over into the hate side. Justin, despite his best efforts, couldn't completely push Amelia aside. When she really needed him, he was there. And for a man who had sworn off children, he firmly planted himself in Amelia's life ensuring kids was just what he was going to get. We saw his actions confuse him, which in turn confused Amelia, but deep down Justin knew what he wanted. He wanted Amelia, and everything that came with her, no matter what his life threw in front of him.

Amelia had her own set of issues to get over: her relationship with her mother, they way she left Justin when they were kids and the life changing reality that hit her when she wasn't watching. But to me, Amelia knew what she wanted...even when she didn't want to admit it. She was always drawn to Justin and she leaned on him. And even though her lack of faith and trust in Justin made her say or act a little irrationally at times, I think it was more her lack of faith in herself and believing she and Justin could have everything she wanted that tended to be her issue.

My emotions ran the gaumut with ROOMHATE and that was because Justin and Amelia's emotions felt like there were right there with me, turning the proverbial pages on my kindle. To me, that is the genius of Penelope Ward. Whatever she's writing, she pushed my emotional limits as a reader...this book especially. Penelope Ward is one of my must read authors and this is one book I will highly recommend to anyone.