Hayden Cole arrives at Caldwell Academy, an elite (closed) boarding school governed by a draconian rule: No romantic relationships between enrolled students. To make matters worse, he is assigned to Room 217 with Chase Everett, a brooding, secretive loner who fights in underground boxing rings to pay for his grandfather's medical bills. To survive their forced proximity, they establish a set of "Roommate Rules," but the boundaries quickly blur into a deep, unspoken romance.
Their fragile peace is shattered by the arrival of Luke Harmon, a charismatic and wealthy swimmer who takes an immediate interest in Hayden. However, Luke’s sunny facade hides a toxic, obsessive nature. When Hayden chooses Chase, Luke’s "affection" twists into a terrifying campaign of stalking, blackmail, and psychological manipulation, using Chase’s illegal fighting secrets as leverage. Worse, Luke’s influence extends to the school's administration, creating a suffocating wall of complicity.
Forced into the shadows by both the school's outdated rules and Luke's threats, Hayden and Chase realize that secrecy is their greatest vulnerability. What begins as a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse escalates into a fight for survival when Luke kidnaps Hayden, leading to a harrowing rescue at an abandoned boathouse. Ultimately, Roommate Rules is a thrilling, emotional journey about dismantling oppressive systems, surviving toxic obsession, and finding the courage to love out loud.