Book Review: The Naked Roommate by Harlan Cohen
For Parents, Teens, and Mental Health Professionals Supporting the College Transition
Navigating the transition from high school to college is one of the most emotionally charged and developmentally significant periods in a young person’s life. As a clinical psychologist working with adolescents, young adults, and families, I often recommend The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen as a go-to resource for easing the anxiety of this monumental change.
This book is not a clinical text or a self-help manual in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s an honest, humorous, and deeply practical guide written in a conversational tone that resonates with both students and the adults who support them. Now in its updated 7th edition, Cohen’s book covers a wide range of college-related challenges—everything from dealing with homesickness and making new friends to understanding campus hookup culture and navigating mental health needs.
What Makes This Book Stand Out
1. Real Talk from Real Students:
Cohen integrates quotes and stories from students across the country, giving readers a textured understanding of what the college experience is really like—not just the curated version presented in brochures or Instagram posts. This authenticity helps normalize the inevitable discomforts of the first year away from home.
2. Wide-Ranging Topics, Approachable Format:
The book doesn’t shy away from hard topics—mental health, alcohol use, identity issues, loneliness, sexual consent—but presents them in a nonjudgmental and accessible way. It’s written to be flipped through, not studied. That format alone helps reduce anxiety by making the content feel digestible and supportive rather than overwhelming.
3. A Launchpad for Conversation:
For parents and therapists, The Naked Roommate can be a powerful springboard for starting meaningful conversations. The topics addressed—like when to ask for help, how to find your people, and why it’s okay to feel completely lost at first—align closely with the psychoeducational and emotional preparation we try to provide in therapy.
4. Validation Without Sugarcoating:
Cohen does an excellent job of validating the reader’s emotional experience without trying to “fix” it. He emphasizes that discomfort is not only expected but is also an important part of growth. That message mirrors the therapeutic principle that anxiety is often a necessary part of new beginnings—not a sign that something is wrong.
Clinical Insights
From a psychological perspective, this book reinforces many evidence-based principles about emerging adulthood:
Autonomy-building is a central developmental task of this age group, and Cohen gently guides readers toward making their own decisions without prescribing a “right” path.
Peer connectedness is highlighted as a major protective factor for mental health, and the book provides concrete strategies for initiating social interactions.
Help-seeking behavior is normalized, with repeated encouragement to use campus counseling, talk to RAs, or just open up to a friend.
Cautions and Considerations
While the book is immensely helpful, it’s written with a general audience in mind. Students with more complex mental health histories—such as those with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or past trauma—might need more personalized support beyond what the book offers. As clinicians, we can recommend this book as a complement, not a substitute, for therapeutic planning around the college transition.
Final Thoughts
The Naked Roommate is a valuable, reassuring, and engaging read for anyone anticipating—or currently navigating—the leap into college life. For teens and young adults, it offers guidance without condescension. For parents and mental health professionals, it provides a shared language and context to support the emotional needs of students during this major transition.
If you’re looking to empower a young person heading off to college—or to ease your own worries as a parent or therapist—this book is a must-read.