Audiobook Review: My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich

I’ve been a Cale Dietrich fan since The Love Interest, and I can confidently say My Roommate from Hell might be my new favorite. The audiobook, narrated by Zach Barela, is the perfect mix of chaotic humor, queer romance, and supernatural absurdity. It’s one of those listens that makes chores disappear and traffic bearable because you just want to keep hearing what happens next. Check out my review below and pick up My Roommate from Hell, out now!

TY Mac Audio for the audio ARC, which in no way impacted this review!

My Roommate From Hell

by Cale Dietrich
on November 11, 2025
Bookshop, Audiobook Libro.FM
Goodreads

A swoon-worthy YA rom com about an ambitious college student whose plans get derailed when he discovers his roommate is the prince of hell.
Owen is not going to college to have fun. Nothing is going to stop him from achieving his goals: study hard, get a good job, and set himself up for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs is to have a loud, obnoxious, and infuriatingly hot roommate. Especially since said roommate just so happens to be the prince of hell.
Prince Zarmenus has come to Point University for the first-ever Earth/hell exchange program, and he's determined to make the most of it. Which may or may not include wild parties, bringing in random boys to his and Owen's room, and accidentally setting Owen's furniture on fire. Sparks fly (literally) as Owen and Zar clash, but Zar's actions threaten to not only ruin Owen's peaceful college life, but demon-human relations as well. To clean up his image, he asks Owen to be his fake boyfriend and teach him how to be a better human in exchange for an internship that will secure Owen’s future. That, and Zar will consider being a better roommate.
A deal is struck, and the two start pretending to be in a relationship where they each have agendas of their own. Only Owen has a secret―dating his mortal enemy, even if it’s fake, is the most fun he's ever had.
Charming and fun, My Roommate from Hell is a rom com with a magical twist. Think just one bed, but that bed is in hell, surrounded by fire and brimstone.

Review

The setup is ridiculous in the best way: Owen is starting college, full of nerves and ambition, when he finds out his new roommate, Zar, is a literal demon prince on an exchange program from Hell. What follows is part rom-com, part horror-lite adventure, and entirely hilarious. There are dorm bunk beds, awkward roommate contracts, hell portals, and an ever-escalating list of rules Owen tries (and fails) to enforce. Cale balances all the supernatural chaos with sharp, character-driven humor that feels warm instead of cynical.

What stands out most is how effortlessly queer this story is. The attraction between Owen and Zar simmers beneath every snarky exchange and reluctant team-up. Their connection grows through the same banter and vulnerability that make Cale’s books so easy to love. It’s funny and flirty and a little ridiculous, but also full of heart. The queerness isn’t the point of the story; it’s just baked into every beat of it, as natural as the humor and the chaos.

The audio format makes it even better. Zach’s narration brings out all the personality in both characters. His pacing and tone make every sarcastic quip land, and the emotional moments hit exactly as they should. The energy never drops, even in the quieter scenes. There’s something about hearing Zar’s otherworldly arrogance and Owen’s exasperated panic come alive through voice that makes the story feel like a full-on performance.

I loved every minute of it. My Roommate from Hell feels like exactly what I want from a Cale Dietrich book: funny, heartfelt, queer, and just a little bit unhinged. It has all the energy of a college rom-com, only with demons, brimstone, and one of the most charmingly chaotic relationships I’ve heard in ages.

If you’ve loved Cale’s earlier books or just want something that will make you laugh out loud while still giving you the warm fuzzies, add this audiobook to your queue. It’s clever, campy, and full of joy, the kind of story that reminds you why queer rom-coms are so much fun to love.