Audiobook review: Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
After absolutely loving The Love Hypothesis last year, I jumped at the chance to review the first book in Ms. Hazelwood’s new audiobook STEMinist novella series. While unrelated to last year’s story, Under One Roof is very similar in storytelling and feel. We discover at the beginning of the tale that Mara has fallen for her platonic roommate, Liam, and he apparently is putting the moves on her. Then the story jumps back in time six months where the author fills us in on how the pair met and what brought them to live under the same roof.
Under One Roof is an adorable and sexy romance. I love how awkward and shy Liam is and how clueless Mara is. I appreciate that there is a strong physical attraction, but it’s not until they spend time together becoming friends that they realize how perfect they are for one another. The story is shared only from Mara’s POV, and while we pick up on Liam’s feelings through his words and observations, I would have liked his POV, too.
Narration: The story is shared via Mara’s first person POV. Right from the start, I enjoyed Ms. Wilder’s performance. She is upbeat, but infuses her performance with emotion. She captures Mara’s frustrations and joys. Each character’s dialogue is altered enough to be distinguishable. Liam’s dialogue voice is deeper and convincingly male.
In the end, Under One Roof is an uplifting tale that made my heart flutter.
My Ratings
Story: A-
Narration: A-
Jen
About the Book:
A scientist should never cohabitate with her annoyingly hot nemesis – it leads to combustion.
Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: When it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn….
As an environmental engineer, Mara knows all about the delicate nature of ecosystems. They require balance. And leaving the thermostat alone. And not stealing someone else’s food. And other rules Liam, her detestable big-oil lawyer of a roommate, knows nothing about. Okay, sure, technically she’s the interloper. Liam was already entrenched in his aunt’s house like some glowering grumpy giant when Mara moved in, with his big muscles and kissable mouth just sitting there on the couch tempting respectable scientists to the dark side…but Helena was her mentor and Mara’s not about to move out and give up her inheritance without a fight.
The problem is, living with someone means getting to know them. And the more Mara finds out about Liam, the harder it is to loathe him…and the easier it is to love him.
To listen to Sadie and Hannah’s stories, look for the novellas Stuck with You and Below Zero, coming soon, available first on audio!
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Narrator: Emma Wilder
Series: The STEMinist novellas #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, novella
Audiobook Release Date: February 8, 2022
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Length: 3 hours and 38 minutes
Source: Publisher
Audio Speed: 1.2x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)