Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing!
Review: "The Room-Mating Season" deals with four young women, Leigh, Cady, Vanessa and Susan, who all had very different personalities came together to share a room in New York City. They all hoped to be successful and each had a different vision of what "success" is. The book chronicled their lives from early twenties to when they were in their sixties. Leigh, was the rational, career-minded one who strived to be a casting agent while Cady was the romantic, spendrift and at times naive schoolteacher. Vanessa worked as a flight attendant and found the occupation suitable for her needs for adventure and meeting new people. Susan, was the odd one in their group in the sense that she was quiet, eccentric and never quite fit in with the rest. Soon, one event happened that changed their lives forever and the decisions that they would make in future would be based upon that particular event. The theme of the book is friendship and how they were there for each other through highs and lows. The characters may not understood the decisions some of the decisions that were made but regardless, they were always there for each other. I really enjoy this book because it was written very well, very thoughtful and just mesmerizing. Rona Jaffe also tried to chronicle the lives and mentalities of women in each of the decades starting from the sixties. At the end of the book, you would feel that you really know each of the characters and feel for them. This is not a chick lit book but definitely one written for the female audience. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Being a fan a Rona Jaffe, I was looking forward to another of her great reads. What a letdown The Room-Mating Season turned out to be! The characters were incredibly shallow--the only believable one was Leigh, who seemed to lead a fairly normal life. These three girls (women) thougt there was not a thing wrong with sleeping around--particularly with married men. About the worst of the three was Vanessa, who certainly was in dire need of a good therapist to find out why she couldn't even take a shopping trip to New York without picking up (and of course, sleeping) with any man who breathed. I found Cady to be very annoying--talk about feeling sorry for yourself. She inanely spent decades waiting for a married man who had no intentions of leaving his wife. Surely she could not have been that naive to fall for his "we don't sleep together & I'm staying in my marriage just for the kids" schtick---even a seventeen year old would have given him the boot. Come on!! Then she has the nerve to moan about her terrible life. How about looking at how it got that way? I could go on and on about these losers, but they are too ridiculous to warrant any discussions. Please, Miss Jaffe, let's get back to your real writing about real people we can relate to!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying Read
Review: I always read Rona Jaffe from the time she wrote Class Reunion years ago, and it was such a great novel. The Room Mating Season introduces us to four (4) young ladies who venture from different parts of the United States to work in New York City where they imagine life will be great fun. Let me introduce you to Leigh the perfectionist and csting director; Cady the vivacious and resilient school teacher; Vanessa, the 'always on the move and full of fun' stewardess, and finally Susan the mousy and quiet receptionist who never fits into the group no matter what. In Ms. Jaffe's new novel, we live with the girls from the time they start out as young girls in their early twenties, and experience all their joys, the ups and downs with the men in their lives, along with the struggle for their identities. We are with them as they ease into their adult years which becomes challenging and extremely traumatic. And again through their marriages, even as they pass midle-age and run right into their sixties, where by now they have acquired children and grandchildren. It was a delightful read with a great diversity in characters you won't forget in a hurry. This book would be an ideal Birthday gift. I recommend it and gave it five stars. Heather P. Marshall
Rating:
Summary: This book is not very good
Review: I am disappointed and saddened because I am a big fan of Rona Jaffe. She is an amazing writer. I adore Class Reunion, and have just finished The Road Taken, which was one of the best books I have ever read. Having said that, I looked forward to this newest novel and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It did not live up to my expectations. The characters are shallow and self centered. I never understood them, or their reasons for making the selfish choices that they made. I cannot even fathom why they would remain friends after sharing an apartment for a short time. I didn't care for any of them or what happened to them. There is one character who dies and we never really get to know her, For some reason, these women who have no morals, think about her from time to time. I feel cheated because I know Ms. Jaffe is capable of better writing than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing, but somehow left me empty
Review: I did enjoy this book. Ms. Jaffe's writing style kept me eagerly turning pages. I was sad for Susan, happy for Leigh, and sorry for both Vanessa and Cady. But their personalities were set at the start of the story, and they didn't change very much over nearly forty years. And at the end I just said, "Well, that's it." I didn't feel like I'd witnessed anything special, just forty years in the three women's lives. Unlike some of the other readers who've posted reviews, I liked the surprise Ms. Jaffe threw in at the end. I don't want to say too much, but the memories these women kept alive for so many years would have been forgotten like last week's newspaper had things gone differently. I guess I would have liked to have understood Vanessa better. She was such an enigma to me. How does a person become so empty? Cady, whom I felt was pitiful, was much better fleshed out. Leigh's life was too perfect for much space to be devoted to. I'm not a fan of adultery, but I believe Ms. Jaffe was trying to make a point that some married men really do divorce their wives, while others string girlfriends along as long as they are allowed to. But yes, I did enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: chick lit with way too many flings going on!
Review: I did like this book but ended up rating it for the kind of book it was and less for the amount of interest I had in it. I gave up and just realized it would be a big book of infidelty and it was a 4 star with that as the main topic. I felt there were way too many flings going on - can't one of these girls date a single guy? Cady - very annoying, jealous of her friends, and can't live without being incredibly needy. Dates and falls nutso for a married guy, Paul. She enters a LONG relationship with this one and her life passes her by. Leigh - good at heart, I wanted to believe but then again fell for a married man. Vanessa - ok but needed to keep having flings to see if she still had it. Please!!! Susan - ultra freak. You just need to read this book to find out more. Charlie - fifth wheel? He has some kind of secret..wait till you find out!
Rating:
Summary: I Disagree"
Review: I disagree with the bad reviews of this book. I loved it! I thought it was a real fun book. I liked the chemistry and the plot. Check it out and see for yourself! I bet you will like it too.
Rating:
Summary: not bad
Review: I enjoyed this book for what it was. I read it in a quiet weekend and it would be an excellent choice for travel or summer reading. It's not great literature, but the characters are engaging and well-written. The ending isn't very good and seems inane as well as superfluous after the rest of the story. Still, it's an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: A Great New Read - Very Well Done
Review: I had heard of author Rona Jaffe, but I had never read her work before. Then I was given her newest book, "The Room-Mating Season" and I loved it. Just loved it. This story of 4 friends and the decision they make in their youth, take their lives in directions they every dreamed of. Leigh, Cady, Vanessa, and Susan are wonderful characters and I found something familiar in each of them. I could relate to a bit in Leigh, a bit in Susan, etc. This book is a great addition to my library and I really enjoyed this new author. I think I'll take a look at Ms. Jaffe's other works. She's very talented. Great book --- give it a try. Cheers!
Rating: 
Summary: better at beginning
Review: I liked the book's first one hundred pages a lot. The characters were very interesting, and there were turns that I did not expect. However, the end was pretty boring; in fact, I am not too sure what happened there because I lost interest. Great book for airport or beach reading.
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