Housemates

A Novel

By: Emma Copley Eisenberg

Narrated by: Marin Ireland

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two young housemates embark on a road trip to discover themselves in this “exceptional, keenly observed meditation on art and love” (People) in a fractured America, by the award-winning author of The Third Rainbow Girl

“Tender, nuanced, and hilarious.”—Oprah Daily
15 LGBTQ+ Books to Read for Pride—Time

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: People, The Boston Globe, NBC, Them, Autostraddle, Electric Lit, Kirkus Reviews

Four housemates, looking for a fifth, the ad read. Queer preferred (we all are).

This is how Bernie, a film photographer, meets Leah, a writer, and from opposite sides of a thin bedroom wall in West Philadelphia, the two become closer than they ever could have imagined. When Leah volunteers to accompany Bernie on a road trip to settle a complicated inheritance, what ensues is an unexpected journey into the heart of America as the duo try to make sense of the times they are living in—falling in love with each other and rediscovering the power of making art along the way.

With humor, warmth, and beautifully observed characters, and told through two generations of queer artists reflecting on the question of how a person should be, Housemates is a glorious celebration of creativity, body liberation, chosen family—and of finding your place in an uncertain world.

©2024 Emma Copley Eisenberg (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Tender, introspective, and at times delightfully funny, this is the perfect book to bring on a road trip.”—Time (15 LGBTQ+ Books to Read for Pride)

“A contemporary, queerer take on the American dream.”—Marie Claire

Excellent storytelling

The author manages to capture the period leading up to and during COVID, which we all just lived through, in a manner that is both gripping and relatable. I cared for all the characters.

Love this story and writing

The writing style is right up my alley. Unique descriptions and perspectives. Wholly original characters. Loved it!

So well written

This is worth your time. The story of the lives of the characters is interesting and not typical. The writing language is clever. I listened at 1.25 and it still felt slow at times. I’m glad I listened.

fascinating and immersive story telling!

First time I listened to an audiobook! fascinating and immersive story telling! I liked all the characters, it felt very real

Gratitude for some good queer love

The characters are real, like real people, real feelings, real bodies, real weirdness. It was a strange and good and sad and beautiful love story with just the right amount of everything else. I love this authors first book, too, and think about it from time to time. This has the same level of introspection regarding class, politics, gender. I grew up in a weird rural place and so many writers get weird rural places wrong, but Emma Copley Eisenberg is one who gets it right.

A gutting love story for today.

Wonderful representation in a relatable, wrenching love story that touched me to my core. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Eh, fine? Slow

This book was hard to get through. The writing style is not my favorite and it was hard to feel connected or care about the characters. Not the worst but not for me.