Page Powars wanted to write silly romantic stories featuring trans characters, and hence wrote "And They Were Roommates."

What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?

I started writing "And They Were Roommates" in early 2021. Four years ago! Back then, I wanted silly, fanfiction-leaning romantic stories for trans characters on shelves that many other groups of people were getting, and I especially still do now.

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?

To stop being afraid of cringe — and to even reconsider gut instincts to put down queer stories written by your own community that may evoke that feeling. Lots of young queer love stories will have awkward and hilarious and strange parts on purpose. Do you not remember how you acted in high school? Be free!

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?

It's very simple, yet in my opinion, the most important: it helps remind kids that they do exist in day-to-day life and belong there.

Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.

"And They Were Roommates" stars a trans boy, Charlie, stuck rooming with his ex at boarding school who doesn’t recognize him after transitioning. The forced proximity trope sounded like quite a predicament for a trans person to encounter in their teen years.

What can fans expect from your book?

Lots of slow burn. Lots of yearning. Lots of awkward tension. Whatever message readers take from the book, though, is what I want it to be. Readers tend to find more within my writing than I originally intended or hoped. They also love my characters more than I ever could. That's one of my favorite parts about being an author.

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

My third book releases late 2026. More to be revealed!