My Roommate Is a Vampire

Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is Cassie’s romantic interest and the eponymous “vampire roommate.” He is handsome and tall, with dark hair and pale skin. Frederick was turned into a vampire when he was in his mid-30s in 1734. Prior to his vampirism, he lived in a small village in England with his family, including his sister Mary, who was an artist like Cassie. Frederick moved to the United States after the American Revolution, though he often traveled back to Europe for social interactions, including the party in Paris where his friend Reginald accidentally poisoned him while practicing turning wine into blood. After he was poisoned, Frederick fell into a century-long coma. 

When Frederick awoke in 21st-century Chicago, he was befuddled by modern life. Reginald helped him place the Craigslist ad in hopes of finding a roommate to teach him how to exist in the contemporary era. As a vampire, Frederick tries to live morally. He tells Cassie that he has not “fed from a human in more than 200 years” (96) after she discovers his vampirism. He subsists on blood stolen from blood banks, which is slightly morally questionable but undoubtedly better than killing humans for food. He promises not to harm Cassie, which is an oath he adheres to throughout the narrative.

From the moment Cassie moves in, Frederick is intensely accommodating to her, seeking both to appear like a normal person and to make Cassie happy. After he buys her pots and pans, he writes in a note, “Please let me know if these cooking implements will suffice” (59). Frederick buys Cassie expensive cookware to make sure she has what she needs, which illustrates his giving nature and his care for Cassie, even early in their relationship. His love for Cassie only grows as he begins to know and understand her. 

Their relationship is deeply connected to Cassie’s art. As they often communicate via notes due to their contrasting sleep schedules, Cassie leaves doodles on her notes. Frederick finds the drawings endearing, as he tells Reginald via text when Reginald accuses him of having feelings for Cassie: “Absolutely not. I am NOT ‘into her.’ I just like her drawings. And her everything” (102). Frederick admits to Reginald that he “likes” both Cassie’s drawings and everything about her, illustrating that art is a gateway to their relationship.

Towards the end of the novel, Frederick holds firm against the arranged marriage his mother Edwina wishes for him to have with Esmerelda. He endures a short imprisonment until Cassie frees him, and they commit to their relationship after they are reunited. The novel concludes with Frederick proposing to Cassie and asking her to become a vampire, which suggests that he wishes for them to merge their lives completely by making her immortal.

Sam is a lawyer and has been Cassie’s best friend since middle school. He and his husband Scott live together in a small lakefront condo, which does not have enough room for Cassie to permanently move in. Sam is more financially stable than Cassie and offers to loan her money to keep her apartment, though Cassie rebuffs his offer due to her independent nature. 

Sam is loyal and protective towards Cassie. When Cassie flees to Sam and Scott’s condo after discovering Frederick’s vampirism, Sam makes Cassie feel safe: “Sam put a hand on my shoulder, warm and reassuring. His face softened. Sam the Lawyer was gone now, replaced with Sam the Life Counselor. I’d seen a lot of him over the years, too” (109). Sam gives Cassie legal advice, but he also advises her as a close friend. Sam’s job is important to his characterization, but his more important role is as Cassie’s confidante. In the sequel novel My Vampire Plus One, Sam’s sister Amelia is the protagonist, so Sam will play an important role in that novel, too.

Reginald Cleaves is Frederick’s friend and fellow vampire. He has dirty blonde hair and appears to be approximately 35 years old. Reginald and Frederick have a complicated relationship; Reginald clearly views them as friends, while Frederick tells Cassie that “Reginald is just … someone I happen to loathe” (29). Reginald was the one who accidentally poisoned Frederick and put him into a century-long coma, but he is also the one who kept Frederick safe during his coma and tries to help him adjust to the modern world. 

Reginald has a fun-loving personality, which Frederick describes as “chaos incarnate” (129). However, Frederick plays an important role in Reginald’s development, especially in terms of living ethically as a vampire. When Cassie asks Frederick if Reginald drinks from living people, Frederick replies, “He’s … changing. I think I’ve had a moderating influence on him” (285). Though Frederick denies that Reginald is his friend, he still works to help Reginald become a better person and live morally, and depends on him emotionally.

Reginald also plays a role in rescuing Frederick from the Jamesons, illustrating his care for Frederick. He is also the one who confirms Frederick’s feelings for Cassie when she becomes insecure after looking at Esmeralda, telling Cassie, “That man is head over fangs for you. The past few weeks have been a nightmare for me, personally, with how often I’ve had to listen to that goofball wax poetic about your literally everything” (309). This dialogue illustrates the closeness of Frederick and Reginald’s friendship, as Reginald is Frederick’s trusted confidante. His blend of emotion and humor will play an important part in his role as Amelia’s love interest in the sequel in the series, My Vampire Plus One.