The Temporary Roomie Summary, Characters and Themes

The Temporary Roomie by Sarah Adams is a romantic comedy that brings together two seemingly incompatible personalities in a hilariously tense and emotionally rich setup.  Jessie, pregnant and fiercely independent, is forced to move in with her nemesis, Drew—her best friend’s brother and a rule-loving OB-GYN.

What starts as a reluctant cohabitation quickly morphs into a staged relationship when Drew needs a fake girlfriend for a professional event.  The story’s charm lies in its witty banter, escalating prank wars, and slow-burning emotional revelations. Beneath all the chaos, both Jessie and Drew navigate vulnerability, connection, and the scary truth that real love might be lurking just beneath their fake arrangement.

Summary

Jessie is pregnant, temporarily homeless due to a mold infestation, and desperately in need of a place to stay.  With no other viable option, she moves into the house of her nemesis, Drew Marshall—a rigid, sarcastic OB-GYN who also happens to be her best friend Lucy’s brother.

Their shared history is loaded with petty fights and wounded pride, including a pivotal incident where Drew failed to show up when Jessie needed him, a mistake rooted in an overworked night shift rather than malice.  Their dynamic is laced with sharp-tongued exchanges, mutual irritation, and unresolved tension that begins to grow into something neither of them is prepared for.

Drew, whose life is pristinely organized and emotionally guarded, is horrified by Jessie’s intrusion—especially her colorful, cozy decorations and her refusal to follow his household rules.  Meanwhile, Jessie takes great pleasure in disrupting his calm existence, mixing her laundry with his, cluttering his minimalist kitchen with seasonal mugs, and poking fun at his sterile lifestyle.

Yet amid their constant sniping, glimpses of deeper emotion begin to show through.  Drew is attentive during Jessie’s prenatal checkups, and Jessie starts noticing the softness behind his sarcasm.

When Drew faces pressure to bring a date to a high-profile medical fundraiser, he proposes a deal: Jessie can stay in his house if she agrees to pose as his girlfriend.  Reluctantly, she agrees, determined to make the experience as uncomfortable for him as possible.

Their fake relationship quickly becomes a battleground for comedic one-upmanship.  Jessie makes an over-the-top show of their supposed love in public, including pretending Drew has proposed in front of a crowd.

Drew, mortified but not to be outdone, kisses her so passionately that the audience believes every second of it.  But that kiss doesn’t just fool the crowd—it shakes both of them to their core.

The closer they get, the harder it becomes to maintain the illusion that they dislike each other.  Drew begins to drop his carefully constructed walls, revealing his personal motivations for becoming an OB-GYN and the emotional labor of his job.

Jessie, who has always armored herself against abandonment, starts allowing herself to be cared for.  Their late-night conversations, milkshake-sharing, and unspoken longing transform their snarky relationship into something far more intimate.

Yet emotional baggage from the past lingers.  Jessie, scared of being hurt again, lashes out when Drew touches a nerve about her estranged family.

Drew, frustrated by her emotional retreat, calls her out for pushing him away despite clearly feeling something.  The fallout leaves both of them raw and confused, unsure of how to proceed but unable to return to the distant rhythm they once maintained.

Matters escalate during a formal dinner party where Jessie, still playing the fake-girlfriend role, dramatically announces their engagement.  The prank, meant to embarrass Drew, backfires when he kisses her again—this time with emotion that leaves both of them shaken.

Later, Drew confronts Jessie about her games, admitting that what they’ve been doing feels more real to him than pretend.  Jessie, terrified, lies and claims she doesn’t reciprocate, shutting him down.

Unable to resist her curiosity and jealousy, Jessie secretly watches Drew on a real date he arranges after her rejection.  To her dismay, it’s not fake—he genuinely attempts to move on.

Her heartbreak forces her to acknowledge her feelings, even as she pretends not to care when he returns home.  The air between them becomes heavy with unspoken truths and restrained affection.

Their next challenge comes when they attend a weekend retreat with Drew’s professional mentors, continuing the ruse of engagement.  The trip reveals how deeply their emotional connection has rooted itself.

Jessie has a breakdown after a call from her contractor about her uninhabitable house.  Panicked at the idea of being alone when the baby comes, she’s comforted by Drew, who promises his home is hers too.

His support, quiet but unwavering, chips away at her fear.

That night, Jessie demands honesty from Drew about his confusing behavior.  He confesses he’s tired of pretending and openly admits his feelings for her.

He kisses her again, but this time with intention, clarity, and respect.  Jessie doesn’t resist, even though her instincts tell her to protect herself.

Drew walks away, leaving her trembling and conflicted, realizing that their fake relationship has become anything but.

Soon after, Jessie misinterprets a comment Drew makes and believes he’s no longer attracted to her pregnant body.  Devastated, she retreats—only to be surprised by a baby shower thrown in her honor, coordinated by Drew and their friends.

His secret preparations for a nursery, complete with everything she might need, prove how deeply invested he is.  Drew’s declaration of love, combined with his unwavering support, finally convinces Jessie to open her heart.

She tells him she loves him too.

But their story isn’t over.  Just when things settle into a rhythm, Drew leaves for a camping trip bachelor party.

Jessie unexpectedly goes into labor while he’s unreachable due to poor signal and an unrelated medical emergency.  Her best friend Lucy steps in as her birth coach, guiding her through an intense labor.

Although Drew misses the actual delivery, he is on the phone with her through the critical moments, offering emotional and medical support.

Drew arrives shortly after their daughter’s birth, overcome with emotion.  Jessie names their daughter Jane Alexandria Barnes, and the name choice underscores how far they’ve come—from adversaries to partners.

Eight weeks later, Jessie and Drew are navigating new parenthood, exhaustion, and domestic chaos with humor and affection.  Her grandfather buys her old house, lifting yet another weight from their future.

In a scene full of warmth and promise, Drew proposes—this time for real.  Jessie says yes, their banter and chemistry as electric as ever.

Their story closes not with declarations but with action: quiet joy, shared routines, and playful revenge tickles.  Despite the journey’s emotional turmoil and uncertainty, Jessie and Drew have built something resilient, loving, and hilariously theirs—a home, a family, and a future that started with a fake deal but ended in something real.

Characters

Jessie Barnes

Jessie is the emotional and narrative heart of The Temporary Roomie, a woman whose vibrant defiance, raw vulnerability, and self-deprecating humor make her instantly compelling.  Heavily pregnant and displaced from her home due to unexpected renovations, Jessie is thrust into a cohabitation arrangement with her nemesis, Drew Marshall.

Her strong-willed and quick-tongued personality acts as both a shield and a weapon—she cloaks her insecurities and fears in sarcasm and mischief, launching verbal and physical pranks at Drew in their shared domestic space.  Beneath her spirited antics, however, lies a woman profoundly affected by past abandonment and judgment.

Jessie’s defensive stance against affection isn’t born from arrogance but from deeply rooted fear.  She craves stability and love but is terrified of what true vulnerability might cost her.

Her development unfolds through a series of emotionally charged confrontations and tender moments, where she learns to allow someone into her life on terms she doesn’t control.  Jessie’s arc is one of gradual trust, of letting herself be seen not just as a fiercely independent woman, but as someone deserving of affection, security, and a home—both literal and emotional.

Dr. Drew

Drew begins the novel as a picture of tightly wound order: a dedicated OB-GYN who thrives on discipline, structure, and a carefully curated minimalist lifestyle.  His world is clean, controlled, and utterly devoid of the chaos Jessie brings with her holiday mugs and sentimental clutter.

Initially, Drew comes across as cold, sarcastic, and emotionally unavailable, traits that mask the exhaustion and quiet emotional toll of his demanding profession.  As the story progresses, however, Drew reveals a layered emotional core—one shaped by his devotion to patients, his yearning to be more than just a “fixer,” and his frustration at being constantly misinterpreted.

Jessie’s presence in his life dismantles his rigidity and forces him to embrace a messier, more emotionally authentic version of himself.  His gestures—setting up a surprise baby shower, preparing a nursery, and quietly supporting Jessie in moments of fear—reveal a man who expresses love through actions more than words.

Drew’s transformation lies in his willingness to relinquish control, embrace unpredictability, and fight for a love that shakes the very foundation of his previously structured world.

Lucy

Lucy serves as the connective tissue between Jessie and Drew—Jessie’s best friend and Drew’s sister.  Though her role is more supporting than central, she provides critical moments of levity, loyalty, and action, particularly during Jessie’s labor when she steps up as a fiercely protective presence.

Lucy’s character offers a grounded contrast to the emotional volatility of the leads.  She is the kind of friend who not only pushes Jessie toward opportunities for growth—like suggesting she move in with Drew—but also acts decisively when needed, becoming a stable force in a story built around emotional chaos.

Her unwavering support, dry humor, and emotional intelligence allow her to function as both comic relief and a moral compass, nudging Jessie toward self-realization and reconciliation with Drew.  In moments of crisis, she’s the first to jump in, revealing a deeply maternal and empathetic nature that amplifies the emotional texture of the narrative.

Baby Jane Alexandria Barnes

Though not a character in the traditional sense for most of the narrative, baby Jane’s presence is the invisible thread binding Jessie and Drew.  Her impending arrival raises the stakes emotionally, physically, and relationally.

Jane serves as both a source of anxiety and purpose for Jessie, who worries about being alone, and as a conduit of transformation for Drew, who transitions from a hesitant fake boyfriend to a committed father figure.  When Jane is finally born, she becomes a living embodiment of the love and growth the protagonists have experienced.

Her name—a blend of legacy and hope—marks the story’s emotional culmination, representing not just a new life, but a new chapter in Jessie and Drew’s lives.  Her arrival doesn’t just conclude the narrative arc; it crowns it with purpose, making all the prior friction and emotional labor feel not only necessary but fated.

Jessie’s Grandfather

Though his appearances are brief, Jessie’s grandfather plays a significant symbolic role in the narrative.  His unexpected purchase of Jessie’s old house at the end represents a thematic full circle—he restores to her a sense of place, belonging, and generational continuity.

This act is not just logistical; it’s deeply emotional, reinforcing the idea that family, in all its forms, can be a source of healing and generosity.  His presence in the final chapters underscores the narrative’s message that love often appears in the quiet, unexpected gestures of those who have always been there, waiting in the wings.

Themes

Emotional Guarding and Vulnerability

Both Jessie and Drew present emotional defenses as a form of self-preservation, shaped by past hurts and the instability of their present lives.  Jessie is navigating a difficult pregnancy alone, and her previous experiences have led her to believe that accepting help—or love—makes her weak.

This manifests in her refusal to accept Drew’s gestures of care at face value, seeing them instead as performative or strategic.  Similarly, Drew, shaped by the emotional detachment required in his medical profession and a lifestyle defined by control, initially resists emotional engagement.

Their banter, which often borders on cruelty, is a shared language of avoidance.  However, proximity forces the masks to slip.

Each sarcastic exchange is followed by a moment of softness—a shared laugh, a caring gesture, a misstep followed by a sincere apology.  Vulnerability blooms not through grand speeches, but in small, revealing actions: Drew checking Jessie’s blood pressure with quiet concern, Jessie crying over the possibility of being alone when the baby arrives.

As they let their guards down, what emerges is not just romantic tension, but a raw, unfiltered connection between two people afraid to hope but learning, moment by moment, that trust may be possible again.

Control Versus Chaos

Drew thrives on routine and order, his home meticulously organized, his life structured down to the minute.  Jessie, on the other hand, represents chaos—boxes of sentimental items, mismatched socks in his pristine laundry, an impulsive nature that drives Drew to the brink.

What begins as an irritant becomes a revelation.  Drew’s rigidity is a response to the unpredictable nature of his work and a subconscious attempt to impose control over a life that often feels out of his hands.

Jessie’s messiness is similarly symbolic, a physical manifestation of her emotional clutter and her resistance to conformity.  Their cohabitation becomes a battleground for control, not just of space but of emotional territory.

Yet, as the narrative progresses, Drew learns to accommodate clutter—not just in his home but in his heart—while Jessie recognizes the comfort in some structure.  Their evolving dynamic suggests that neither control nor chaos is ideal in isolation; it is their messy, negotiated balance that allows for growth.

By the end, Drew’s once sterile environment is filled with baby toys and coffee mugs, and Jessie finds herself craving the very stability she once mocked.

Transformation Through Proximity

Living together forces Jessie and Drew into daily intimacy that no amount of pretense or sarcasm can keep at bay.  The slow burn of their relationship is a testament to the way proximity reshapes perception.

Each shared meal, every argument about dish towels or cluttered counters, chips away at long-held assumptions.  Drew is no longer just the uptight doctor who stood Jessie up; he becomes the man who listens to her fears, who learns her rhythms, who stockpiles her favorite snacks.

Jessie evolves too—from the defensive woman who flings diapers at Drew to someone who allows herself to lean on him when labor begins.  Their physical closeness makes emotional closeness unavoidable, turning irritation into attraction, and attraction into care.

The house they share becomes a crucible for change, forcing them to confront not just each other’s flaws but their own.  Their relationship is not a sudden realization of love, but a gradual unfolding, built through habit, friction, and eventually, an understanding that neither of them expected nor were prepared for.

In the end, it’s not the external trappings of fake relationships or elaborate dinners that bind them—it’s the thousands of quiet moments that transform strangers into family.

Fear of Abandonment and the Search for Belonging

Jessie’s pregnancy heightens her sense of vulnerability, and at the root of her defensiveness is a deep-seated fear of being left behind.  Her decision to move in with Drew is borne out of necessity, but her constant pranks, her reluctance to accept his care, and her refusal to name their connection all stem from this core fear.

For Jessie, being seen too clearly is dangerous—it invites disappointment, just like her past experiences have taught her.  Drew, while more outwardly stable, shares a similar fear masked by his desire for control.

His early resistance to Jessie’s presence is less about the disruption to his environment and more about the disruption to his emotional equilibrium.  He is unused to caring in a way that requires emotional risk.

As they grow closer, both characters confront the terrifying possibility of needing someone.  Jessie’s emotional breakdown over her home not being ready is not just about a house; it’s about not having a place where she and her child are truly wanted.

Drew’s offer—that his home is hers too—is the first time she hears the language of unconditional belonging.  This culminates in their shared journey into parenthood, not just as cohabitants, but as chosen family.

Communication, Miscommunication, and Emotional Honesty

At the heart of Jessie and Drew’s relationship is a constant tension between what is said and what is meant.  Their communication is defined early on by sarcasm, passive-aggressive antics, and public spectacle—like Jessie’s fake proposal announcement—used to deflect from deeper truths.

They weaponize humor and embarrassment to avoid emotional clarity, both terrified of the consequences of honesty.  Yet the most powerful shifts in their relationship happen when words fail.

Drew’s concern during Jessie’s faintness, the nursery he builds in secret, the phone call during labor—these are acts of wordless communication that speak volumes.  The evolution of their relationship mirrors the shift from performative talk to vulnerable truth.

When Drew confesses his feelings outside her bedroom or at the lake house, his choice to drop the pretense is a risk that changes everything.  Jessie’s delayed response reflects her internal war between pride and need.

The narrative champions the idea that real love requires bravery not just in action but in speaking aloud the things that terrify us.  Their eventual ability to express love and fear without retreating into sarcasm is what finally bridges the gap between performance and authenticity.