May 29, 2023
Levine debuts with this lighthearted and charming paranormal rom-com. Aspiring artist Cassie is suspicious of the too-good-to-be-true Chicago apartment listing she finds online—but with eviction looming, she’s low on options. She takes the room, moving in with the apartment’s oddly old-fashioned owner, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam. As strange and out of touch as Frederick seems, he’s also rich, considerate, wildly handsome, and a gentleman. Cassie works during the day while Frederick claims to be out of the apartment “on business” most nights, so the pair communicate largely through sweet (and increasingly flirtatious) notes. Cassie’s not looking to complicate their living situation, but she can’t deny how much she enjoys their dynamic—until the night she ducks home unexpectedly and discovers Frederick slurping from a blood bag. Frederick is a vampire, he’s been in a coma for a hundred years, and he wants Cassie’s help getting up to speed on the modern world before his old flame Esmeralda shows up demanding they pick up where they left off. This adorable odd couple proves easy to root for, with Frederick’s awkwardness navigating modern life adding both humor and pathos. The supernatural conflict wraps up a bit too smoothly, but there’s so much fun to be had that readers won’t mind. This one is good to the last drop. Agent Kim Lionetti, Bookends.
June 15, 2023
A down-on-her-luck artist discovers her new roommate is a 300-year-old vampire. Cassie Greenberg barely makes a living from her cobbled-together part-time jobs, her art incorporating trash and recycled items is too avant-garde to be successful, and she has just been evicted from her Chicago apartment. When she sees a Craigslist ad for a room rental in Lincoln Park for only $200 a month, she contacts the owner even though she's sure there must be a catch. Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, her stunningly handsome new roommate, is a bit of an oddball: His clothes and mannerisms are too formal, he sleeps all day, and he seems completely unaware of how the modern world works. Who doesn't have Wi-Fi or prefer texting in this day and age! Cassie mostly works when Frederick is sleeping, so they strike up a flirtatious friendship through handwritten notes. When Cassie arrives home early from work one day, she discovers the fridge is full of blood and realizes that Frederick is a vampire. He recently awoke from a centurylong coma and realized that finding a human roommate might help him learn the ropes of the 21st century. The two strike up a tentative friendship, and Cassie agrees to teach Frederick how to navigate the modern world, including using public transportation, ordering drinks at the coffee shop, and shopping for clothes at the mall. It's a cute setup, one full of potential, but the plot and characters are shallow and underdeveloped. Cassie and Frederick settle into a tame, conflict-free relationship. The details about Frederick's history and the supernatural world are thin and full of omissions, leaving so many unanswered questions that the book almost feels unfinished. Weak and inert, like a dead vampire's heart.
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Starred review from June 1, 2023
DEBUT Finding a suspiciously perfect Craigslist ad seeking a roommate for a bargain-priced apartment in a great Chicago neighborhood that's located between her two jobs is just the boost that Cassie Greenberg needs. She won't even be around much to disturb her new roommate, between leading art programs at the library and working as a barista in the evenings. There must be a catch, but even meeting Frederick J. Fitzwilliam one evening and getting a tour of his uniquely decorated apartment isn't enough to sway her against the idea. His peculiar dress and manner of speaking are more intriguing than anything, so Cassie moves in. Mysterious signs start indicating that Frederick is keeping a secret from Cassie, but he seems to genuinely admire her and supports her art. One fateful evening after arriving home early, Cassie finds their refrigerator filled with bags of blood, which causes Frederick to confess his truth, but also that he needs her help to survive. VERDICT This humorous debut from Levine is perfect for readers who enjoy the roommates-to-romance trope and a dash of sexy vampire.--Jenna Harmison
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Starred review from July 1, 2023
Given the dearth of available jobs for artists in Chicago, Cassie Greenberg has been eking out a living working a combination of part-time jobs. Unfortunately, this hasn't been enough for her to afford little luxuries like the rent. Then, just as Cassie is about to be evicted, she spots an ad for a roommate on Craigslist. The place not only sounds too good to be true, but Cassie's share of the rent would be unbelievably low. When Cassie replies to his ad, the undeniably hot yet oddly anachronistic Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is more than happy to welcome her as his new roommate. He does, however, have a few, somewhat odd ground rules. For one thing, Cassie must never, ever go into his bedroom, because after being out all night, Frederick sleeps all day. With her ingeniously inventive debut, Levine proves she is a master of comic dialogue and whimsical plotting. From the dryly witty notes Cassie and Frederick leave for each other to the cast of quirky and endearing secondary characters, everything about this sneaky, sweet, otherworldly rom-com is a delight.
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