The Roommate Arrangement
A feisty comedian. A former cop with a wounded heart. An unusual roommate arrangement…
Comedian Stephanie Renshaw hopes to finally get her big break in LA. A chance encounter lands her the perfect apartment close to the comedy clubs, but it comes with a catch: she needs a roommate to afford the rent.
Enter Rae Coleman, a former police officer working the door at one of the top comedy clubs. After getting injured in the line of duty and losing her job with the LAPD, Rae guards her wounded soul behind a tough exterior.
At first, the two clash horribly before a tentative friendship develops. Bit by bit, Steph manages to break through the walls Rae has built around her.
But Steph has never been in a relationship, preferring casual flings, and Rae isn’t sure she’s ready to be happy again. Will they find the courage to open themselves up to love?
Falling in love is not a laughing matter in this opposites-attract lesbian romance with a bit of a fake relationship thrown in.
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Length: 119,000 words
Tropes & themes: Roommate romance, opposites-attract romance, slow burn romance, character with a disability, fake relationship, Butch/femme, bisexual heroine
Awards:
- GCLS Literary Award 2020 (Contemporary Romance – Long Novels)
- GCLS Literary Award finalist 2020 (Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award)
- eLit Awards 2020 (bronze) in the LGBT Fiction category
- Lambda Literary Award finalist 2020 in the Lesbian Romance category
- Rainbow Awards 2021 (Honorable mention)
- The Lesbian Review “Best of the Best” Books
- I Heart SapphFic – Best Sapphic Grumpy/Sunshine Romance (second place) 2022
- I Heart SapphFic – Best Sapphic Roommate Romance (first place) 2024
Jude in the Stars
“The Roommate Arrangement is a very sweet story, with some angst (mostly on Rae’s part) but not too much. … Rae’s character grows a lot in the course of a few months, and Jae tells it well.”
❤
Lez Review Books
“This opposites attract lesbian romance is really a delight … 5 stars.”
❤
Les Reveur
“I loved the chemistry between Steph and Rae. Steph was so thoughtful about Rae’s condition, I think there was really no way for Rae not to fall for Steph.”
❤
Lesbireviewed (video review)
“Totally blown away! One of my all-time favorite stories!”
❤
Bugs Own Words
“A heartwarming tale of self-discovery, finding love in the most unlikely of places and circumstances, from friends to lovers, a slow-burn romance that will tug at your heart strings.”
❤
Rainbow Reflections
“When I read a book written by Jae, there are certain elements I expect to see in the novel. I know the tale will be well written. The plot line will draw me into the story to the point that I ignore what is happening around me. The characters will be well-developed and will seem real to me. And of course the romance will be a slow-burn that will make me go “aww” at least once before the end. I can happily tell you everything mentioned above is present in The Roommate Arrangement.”
❤
Best Lesfic Reviews
“Jae has a gift for writing tenderness in a relationship and the way Steph takes care of Rae truly moved us.”
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