A fame-hating pop star, an accidentally invisible scientist, and a spooky old house on a remote island… what could possibly go wrong?
Gerard has fled his life in the spotlight and is looking for a fresh start, only to discover that his new home already has a very mysterious occupant. Emory is invisible, hiding from the police, and definitely not interested in a roommate…or romance. But as forced proximity turns into unexpected feelings, keeping their secrets hidden becomes harder than either of them anticipated.
Overall it was a very sweet romance, with only low angst levels which—at least in my mind—made for a perfectly nice story to get into the cosy fall season. The set-up and the forced proximity set itself up nicely for something to read and not have to worry about bad outcomes. I really liked the progression of the romance as both Gerard and Emory are hiding very different secrets yet seem to find solace and comfort in each other.
Gerard and Emory also fit together really well—the chemistry was there from the get-go and the push-and-pull paired with nerdy meets artistic vibes kept my attention throughout the entire book. Gerard is just trying to get away from the pressures and stress of being in the spotlight and the constant fear of not being good enough, meanwhile Emory just wants to progress with his scientific experiments in time for a symposium because he wants to prove himself as more than people take him for.
Both are very driven, but there’s time for exploration of your own personal values and how they determine self-worth which I thought was such a nice combination. My favourite romances are those where the characters grow not just because of the romance but on their own and Gerard and Emory have their own journeys to take beyond their romance.
While this did veer sometimes in the direction of being the mad scientist meets the elusive star, it kept the story fresh rather than turning it into a caricature of a romance.
As always with these types of stories, you have to suspend your disbelief a bit when it comes to the scientific part (I mean, none of us read it for that aspect, or at the very least I don’t think so) and if you do, you’re in for a fun take on The Invisible Man meets Love Is Blind. Just like the comps promised, this story is for the most part lighthearted and sweet without accidentally veering into the superficial.
While I did enjoy the story, my gripe as with every book by Janovsky is the pacing. The Invisible Roommate definitely improved on the pacing in comparison to some of his other novels, but I still am left a bit dissatisfied with where the story drags and where it seems to run over the narrative instead of lingering for a potentially deeper connection with the characters. Take this with a grain of salt though, as this is very subjective and may not be the case for you.
One thing that took me by surprise was how big of a role religion played in the story, especially the second half. While I’m not religious and don’t really have an issue with reading about it, I did feel slightly blindsided. It’s not mentioned in the synopsis, which seems weird considering how much of the narrative it takes over and while there isn’t anything too negative and it’s more so moving from distancing yourself from the church to rediscovering it and its role in your life, I think some readers who struggle with this depiction might like a mention of it.
I’ve seen some reviews tag this as Christian fiction and while I don’t agree with that (while it is a closed-door romance so to speak, there are some intimate scenes that show a bit before cutting off), I do think this focus should have been made clearer.
That being said, I think Janovsky handled the anxiety and doubt of reconciling the role religion can play in your life when you’re queer quite nicely without sounding too—for the lack of a better term—preachy.
All in all, if you’re looking for an opposites-attract and forced-proximity romance paired with a slightly spooky, slightly magical story to get you into the right mood for fall, then The Invisible Roommate is sure to warm your heart!
The Invisible Roommate is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 29th 2026.
Will you be picking up The Invisible Roommate? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis
The Invisible Man meets Love is Blind in this autumnal love story.
Gerard Wells loves music but hates fame —not ideal when he’s the youngest member of the chart-topping band of brothers, We the Wells. Cracking under the spotlight, Gerard runs away to a small, remote island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. There, he goes by “James” and takes up residence in a crumbling Victorian house on the island’s shrinking shoreline. Little does he know, he’s not the studio apartment’s only inhabitant…
Mysterious and moody Emory Griffin never planned to be a test subject for his own groundbreaking invisibility research. He also never planned on sharing a room with a world-famous pop star, but needs must when you’re an unemployed graduate school drop-out who’s wanted by the local police.
With nowhere else to turn, the unlikely pair agree to be temporary roommates. Their forced proximity and vulnerability lead to an unexpected romantic spark. As Halloween approaches, their secrets and feelings grow harder to keep hidden, testing the strength of their newfound bond. Could this be a love that neither of them saw coming or an experiment set to go horribly wrong?
