In Kerry Lee's literary novella Roommates, Casey has built a quiet life inside the house that was left by Ian, the grandfather whose memory still fills each room. That order changes when Nicole, the relative who controls the property, sends Donald and Megan to live there as paying tenants. Their arrival disturbs Casey’s sleep and threatens the routine, as well as raises a harder question about who truly has a claim to the home. Laurence, the property manager, offers little certainty, while Casey begins to realize that family promises may have been buried inside the past. A flower painting from Ian becomes more than an heirloom as Casey searches for proof, security, and a way to remain in the only place that has ever felt permanent.

Roommates by Kerry Lee is a really thoughtful novel, making a place that is supposed to feel safe anything but. Casey is easy to empathize with, and I can totally see how Casey first treats Donald, a displaced former finance worker renting a room with his wife, as an intrusion. In fairness, he's not exactly a likeable guy. His relationship with honesty is not great. I did like Megan, whose curiosity gives Casey’s inheritance new meaning. Lee describes the settings organically, from a food bank where boxes crowd the office space, to Casey’s kitchen, which turns polished cutlery into a sign of reluctant hospitality. Well written, immersive, and compassionate, readers who enjoy intimate domestic fiction and the pressures that follow loss will like this book. Very highly recommended.

Roommates by Kerry Lee follows the story of an introverted young person living in a small town. Casey is a kind-hearted person. Casey is working a minimum-wage, part-time job at a gas station and living in Aunt Nicole's house rent-free. Casey's humdrum life turns upside down when the property manager, Laurence, informs Casey that a young couple, Donald and Megan, are soon going to be Casey's roommates. Despite Casey's protests, Donald and Megan move into the house. Casey shares worries with a social worker, Tyler, and a friend Rhea, a volunteer at a food bank. However, it's the painting that Casey inherited from Casey's grandfather, Ian, that may hold the answers to Casey's problems. Will Casey be able to fight back for once in a lifetime?

An engaging slice-of-life story, Roommates touches upon a few relevant social issues, such as unemployment, immigration, and capitalism. Author Kerry Lee also weaves themes of loneliness and depression into a narrative that I found thoroughly absorbing. As it's a character-driven drama, the author makes sure the protagonist is sympathetic, and the reader cares about Casey. Casey is someone you can't help but adore. I was actively rooting for Casey to find a way to keep living in the house that really belonged to Casey. Casey's interactions with Rhea and Tyler, particularly, felt very realistic. Rhea's attempts to save local businesses from a giant like LT have deeper parallels with real-world events in which mega corporations have swallowed up Indigenous businesses in small towns. The narrative is paced evenly, and the pages flew by for me. This is for readers who enjoy low-stakes, slice-of-life tales.

Sometimes growth begins with an unwelcome interruption. Roommates by Kerry Lee is about a quiet person named Casey who has spent years living alone in a house that has long been part of Casey's family's history. All that changes when a young married couple, Donald and Megan, suddenly become Casey's new roommates. As Casey struggles with that sudden change, the pair faces challenges of their own. They must get jobs, learn a new town, and adjust to married life. Casey also becomes increasingly focused on family ties, grandfather's wishes, and a painting that keeps coming up. Will sharing Casey's space change more than just Casey's everyday routine?

As I was reading Roommates by Kerry Lee, I thought about a quote by Roy T. Bennett: “Change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” That is something Casey needs to learn since Casey struggled to adapt to living with strangers. This interesting book gave me a lot to think about. As an introvert, I found it easy to empathize with how Casey felt. Honestly, I’d probably feel the same way. However, as inconvenient as they were for Casey, Donald and Megan were actually essential to the story’s plot. They often saw things differently. And that often led to meaningful discussions. The writing was clear and had a steady pace. The story also balanced important themes like family, resilience, and how people grow through change. Anyone looking for books that are character-focused or discuss personal growth will want to pick up a copy.