Cover Image: Perfect Match

Perfect Match

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Member Reviews

What does your perfect partner look like? Does he need to look like Robert Patterson with a super fit body and enough money so you never have to worry again? 
Sophia thinks that’s what she wants and is what she puts in her last ditch attempt at an online dating profile, and he actually responds, he’s out there! 
I enjoyed this book, it did make me think though as I’m starting to wonder what my forever person is going to be. Sophia’s story resonated with me and pulled me in deeper, I struggled a bit to start with but after that I was hooked! Almost an all in one read of 70% of it kind of book 
The characters were well thought out and they came off the page. Sophia has a friend called Kate who is her voice of reason, is he too perfect to be true? Is there a catch? 
Two main things from this book that will keep churning in my mind; don’t judge a person on first impressions, no one comes over well in an awkward date! And do I need to change myself to be what someone wants or is being me enough? 
I would recommend this book to anyone who is on the online dating scene but also those who enjoy a good story with plenty of places to make you smile!

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A light hearted read that will make you giggle as Sophia goes from one disastrous date to another on the mission for a Perfect Match.

Sophia was a kind hearted character who loved the creature comforts in life and being surrounded by her family and friends. Throughout the course of this book she meets a variety of characters who she wants to be her Perfect Match.

A story based on modern day dating and a great demonstration of how what can work for one person might not work for others. In a world where we spend so much time glued to our phones or on social media this book is a great reflection of how changing your outlook can alter the direction that your heading in and give you new priorities

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Wonderful rom com. This had me splitting at the sides. A very captivating read from start to finish. A fantastic read

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This is billed as a rom-com, but frankly I don’t think it qualifies. The endgame love interest barely appears in the book and the main couple only get together in the epilogue, a massive episode of ‘telling’ which could and should have been expanded into the book - it would have been a much better story than half of what actually made it in. Sophia, the protagonist, spends a large part of the book in a relationship with someone else entirely. It’s more a story about Sophia coming to recognize how shallow she is (very, very shallow) and finally making some changes in her life in order to make herself into a person who’s actually ready for a genuine, long-term romantic relationship. I’d call it women’s fiction with some comic elements rather than any sort of romance.

There are some funny bits in there about Sophia’s use of dating sites, and any woman who’s tried to online date will find the unsolicited filthy messages she gets all too depressingly familiar, but anything funny was completely wrecked for me when Sophia made some transphobic jokes to one of her love interests. It was horrible and unnecessary, and cemented my dislike of her as a shallow, selfish little cow far too fixated on surface appearances. With some token gay friends and not one person of colour as a named character, this massively failed on representing the incredibly diverse city that London actually is. Having just watched Last Christmas this week (that’s the REAL London I know), I’d say give this book a miss and go watch the movie instead. It’s a lot funnier and has a much nicer heroine who doesn’t make horrible transphobic jokes. This is getting a one star from me.

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Oh my goodness!! What an absolutely perfect read; I couldn't put this one down. I have laughed so hard at parts of this book, I have actually had tears stream down my cheeks.
Zoe May is a fantastic author and this is my favourite book of hers yet. This is just utter perfection. I have adored the characters in this book, they have been extremely likeable and realistic.
Sophia is brilliant, I honestly feel like she would fit into my friendship group. Her friendship with Kate is so genuine and I must add that their setting up the dating profile for Sophia, is guaranteed to make the reader laugh.
I couldn't predict how this story was going to go, but May has made it utterly perfect with twists in the right place. I am a sucker for a happy ending and this book has not disappointed.
This is not my first read by Zoe May, but it is my favourite so far. I honestly can't wait to read more. This is a definite five star book.

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This was my first Zoe May book but it certainly won't be the last.

I utterly adore Sophia. I warmed to her right from the first page, and watching her dating life evolve was a joy. The side characters of Katie and Sandra also add so much brightness to this wonderful book. My heart really belongs to Chris though, I was really pleased with his outcome in this book's ending. He had the best character development for sure.

This sat on my TBR for far too long. I can't recommend it more. Funny, heart warming, and totally uplifting. The perfect café and cake read.

Plus, did you know Daniel looks like Robert Pattinson? It's not mentioned much, see if you pick up on it. ;)

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a very light hearted, witty chick lit that ticks all the right boxes for me; it made me laugh, it was an easy read and it wasn't too serious. Although that being said there were some incredibly touching moments that made me smile (and shed a tear!)

I especially loved Sophia's relationship with Lynn which really made the book. The storyline was great and actually I didn't guess the ending which makes a change with chick lit, which is usually quite predictable so that was refreshing!

I would definitely recommend this book and I will certainly be reading more of Zoe's books in the future.

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The premise was definitely intriguing. I was excited when I started reading and I was glad it started really strong. But then towards the middle, I get the idea of where things are heading and I am not keen on it. I almost abandoned it, but I continue, hoping I was wrong. But nope. It did went there and I was just so disappointed. Although there's some kind of lesson to be gleaned on it, I guess. I still hoped it didn't go the way it did. But, oh, well. It also had it's funny moments but not something I'd consider laugh-out-loud funny. In the end, I'd still consider it as an okay read.

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Zoe May writes characters that are just so darn realistic that you cannot help but see little shards of your hopes and dreams reflected in their imperfectly perfect lives. This book seems to come right from the author’s heart and soul and the picture she paints of Sophia’s life is detailed and believable. The daily dot to dots of her life imprint themselves so clearly on your imagination that it is easy to imagine her world and better still, of becoming a friend of this laid-back city chica.
Despite the easy-going nature of the prose, which skips along so well that you find yourself lost in the heart of the story, there are enough twists and turns, ups and downs and frankly hilarious, jaw-dropping and heart-stopping moments to keep you reading on. This story is a road map for those thinking of or already dipping their toes in the online dating game whilst at the same time giving us a hearty slap on the back for not getting into quite as many scrapes as our lovable Sophia.
I really liked the unpredictable nature of a tale that feels warm and familiar yet fresh and exciting at the same time. This book reads like a truer to life version of a certain diary by a certain ‘Miss Jones’ of Old London Town. It has your rooting for the warm-hearted heroine and brimming with gratitude for the simply brilliant buddies that she has in her life.
A bright and breezy companion – this book will brighten your day and leave you with a spring in your step. With the Spice Girls going back out on tour – its easy to imagine Sophia wearing her own hand-decorated and modified version of the #Iwannabeaspicegirl t-shirt – she teaches us to spend some time voting for ourselves and being our own hero. Like a modern-day Mary Poppins, she stands at the start of a new year as the practically perfect Mirror Mirror on the wall – in her heart we see reflected back the desires of our own – to love and be loved – just as we are – and to have the courage to believe in our own #selfie!

Coffee Cup Conversations and Teapot Talking Points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down together today, settled in at a table in a cosy champagne bar (well why not!), having both read the book, here are a few of the points we could mull over together.
Have you ever lived in a ‘dodgy’ or ‘shabby chic’ abode?
Sophia and Kate have done well to bag themselves a flat in London – mostly it is so expensive that if you can afford to buy or rent a pad with enough room to swing a cat – well then you simply don’t have any money left over each month to feed well...a cat! However, the descriptions of their home took me right back to my student days. Our bed was attached to the wall and we had to pull it down each night and push it back up again every morning. We had the tiniest little kitchen that you could reach one step away from the bed, and the smallest shower room known to man. But you know what? We loved it. It was our first home together and we had a front door that we could shut – even if it doubled as the living room door. I have such happy memories of our time there – and it certainly was cosy!

Do you know anyone who needs a helping hand?
Sophia’s friendship with Lyn is touching. There are so many people in our communities whose families are displaced leaving them with a little less conversation than they might like. We all work such long hours – leaving in the dark at this time of year and returning under cover of that same darkness 10 hours later – that we often can go weeks without seeing our neighbours. I was only thinking this morning that I should take time to seek and greet my own and to spend a little time catching up with their worlds. Sophia made me remember how much we all have to gain from one another, and that friendship can be found in the most unlikely places.
Sometimes you really just need your Mum!
I’ll be honest, the relationship that Sophia has with her Mum really heartened me. My daughter has just turned 22 and she is such an amazing young woman. I truly love that we are so close. I remember too my Mum being such a helpful sounding board for me in my young adult life, especially when I became a mother myself. All of us who have a mother type figure in our lives are so lucky. Andy Murray has recently announced that he is going to have to retire on health grounds. He had such an emotional day on the day of his press conference. Yet that day he posted a picture of himself with his Mum – just as he did on the day that he sat with the Wimbledon Trophy in the changing rooms. Wrapped up in his Mum’s arms – he said that he was ‘so grateful for her, her presence and her words – that there was nothing else quite like it.’ This made my heart glad. Sophia seems a much more rounded character due to her close relationship with her Mum– and the special nature of it did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by this reader.

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I had to DNF this pretty quickly. I felt it was quite toxic in terms of the representation of women. It made me cringe so much and I just had no interest to continue.

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I was very uncertain about this book, I’d never heard of the author before and although the book sounded like great fun I was wary. I don’t even know why I was concerned, it’s not like I’ve never read anything by authors I’d never heard of before! But my concerns were completely unfounded! I read this in a day and it was fantastic!
I thought Sophia’s “joke” profile on the online dating website was quite funny. I mean why not create a joke one? You never know if someone else has or not. Anyway a lot of weirdos answered Sophia’s ad and in comes Daniel, he is everything her profile wanted, and everything she thought she wanted in a man. But after 71 failed online dates I think she would have taken on just about anyone that showed a bit of normalcy.
Daniel is rich, good looking, has a good job and he looks like Robert Pattinson, **personally I’m not much of a fan**, Sophia moves in with Daniel very quickly and soon realises he’s quite controlling, does she get out of it? Read it and find out ;).
I loved the humour in the book and I’m going to go out on a whim and say that Zoe May has a bit of whimsical sense of humour. The way this book was written screams humour. It’s fun, fresh and funky along with a few quirky characters that just make up the whole story. I highly recommend and will definitely keep an eye out for other books in the future by Zoe.

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If you are looking for a romcom with a lot of heart, this one may be for you. You can't help but like Sophia as she tries to pick her way through online dating in the 21st century, searching for someone to settle down with. There are some genuinely funny moments. It turned out to be the sort of book which you just keep reading to the end.

Appearances can be deceiving. Fortunately, Sophia is a well- grounded individual who has genuine friendships. It takes her some time to discover just who is all surface and who is really interested in her as a person, Beneath the humour and the romance, there are some serious thoughts on the nature of love and what is important in life. It is never overly serious though and Sophia finds herself taking a good, hard look at herself and what she actually wants from life. With a plot which fizzes along and some characters you really want to read about, this is a satisfying read.

In short: An entertaining and charming romcom.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

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"As I sit, watching it chug along, I can't help feeling as though everyone I know is moving on except me."

Sophia's friends are all hooking up and getting married, but she is waiting for the perfect match like her parents. When her roommate adds her profile to an online dating site as a gag, she meets a multi-millionaire who looks like a famous actor and she gets caught up in his fancy life while she forgets what is important.

I was happy to see Sophia's character grow after some bad decisions and choices.  She was a bit hard to like at first with her judgmental and picky preferences, but her friendship with her elderly and feisty neighbor, Lynn, unveils her more human and likable side. 

The other cast of characters were interesting with Sophia's roommate and budding actress, Kate, who recites Shakespeare every chance she gets, to Daniel, the multi-millionaire, Robert Pattinson look-a-like boyfriend who just rubbed me the wrong way and seemed a bit odd.

I really enjoyed Chris, labeled as too nerdy by Sophia at first, but very kind-hearted, patient and full of interesting factoids.

Perfect Match is a funny, chick lit coming of age story which tells us there is more to people than meets the eye and what's on the inside matters much more than what’s on the outside.

If anyone has dated someone who is too good to be true, I recommend this book for you.  It is full of humor, regret, self-discovery and just being yourself.

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Favorite Quotes:

Paulo was so ditzy that my friends dubbed him ‘the himbo’

Ferret Man is a local Lewisham legend. He’s a fairly weird -looking older man who hurtles through Lewisham in a rickety old wheelchair pulled along by two whippets. But the trick Ferret Man has employed to keep the whippets running ahead is to keep a ferret on a long leash. The whippets chase the ferret, and Ferret Man gets from A to B without having to touch the wheels of his chair once. It’s actually pretty ingenious when you think about it.

I turn around and look up at him, taking in his perfectly chiselled face, the symmetry that never ceases to amaze me. When God made Daniel, he really took his time. He got out his rulers, his protractor, his compass. Regular people look slapdash in comparison, as if God made them after one too many sherries.

De Santford doesn’t look like a millionaire or a billionaire for that matter; he just looks like any other overweight bald guy in a suit. Although I’m not sure what I’m expecting to see, he’s hardly going to be dripping in solid gold chains.

My Review:

Reading Perfect Match was a perfect introduction to the clever wordsmith Zoe May; she is found treasure. I smirked and giggle-snorted my way through this wittily written tale of a dating disaster. Sophia had tried all the apps promising a love connection yet was tipping the scales at over 70 bad dates – she knows this for a fact as she has them plotted on a spreadsheet. Sophia was the last singleton in her circle of friends; even her odd wand-wielding hippy friend had found someone. It couldn’t possibly be a reflection on her though, could it?

The writing was refreshingly crisp and rippled with levity, humorous descriptions, and clever wit. While Sophia was no dummy, she had become rather shallow, arrogantly judgmental, and impatient. She didn’t realize this until the tables were turned in a highly humiliating and amusing manner. She learned the hard way that the grass is not always greener, bigger is not always better, and that money and privilege doesn’t mean constant comfort and ease. The storylines were cunningly insightful yet cleverly comedic. I adored the originality and creativity of the quirky cast of characters, each with their own unique traits.

And score! I found two new additions for my Brit Vocabulary list with poncey which means pretentious and chavvy which seems to be a lower class sense of taste. I would never outright admit to being either poncey or chavvy, although I do have some lovely designer knock-offs… ;)

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This is my first Zoe May book, and let's say, it surprised me only a few books could. Though I was not that fond of Sophia from the beginning, this wasn't the end I was expecting and I am really glad about it. More than a romance, this is all about a single girl's transformation to maturity. And more than the love story, it was friendship between Sophia and Kate that drew me to the novel . . . oh, how I loved Kate's acting persona!
But my favourite character, for sure, is Chris. I didn't like the way Sophia just dismissed him outrightly after their first date. What is wrong with a guy who knows about so many things? I was so happy that he got the happy ending he deserved, though not with the one I imagined to be.
On the whole, a wonderful light read that will keep you guessing till the very end. Zoe has put together a plethora of characters who are perfectly matched with the storyline and you cannot help but love them to the core.

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I have an odd fascination with the world of online dating, I think it’s probably because I was married well before dating apps were a thing, but I just find it simultaneously horrifying and interesting. I’m happily married and have no real interest in one of those apps, but I do love hearing horror stories of dates gone bad and messages sent by men on them and reading this was like an extended conversation with a friend about this exotic world.

Sophia was a character that I adored instantly, she was funny and relatable and exactly the type of person I would want for a friend. The whole storyline felt really fresh and relevant but it had that old school British rom com charm that I love and the humor was fantastic. I like that this wasn’t totally predictable, there were a few surprises along the way and I absolutely loved how everything worked out in the end. Highly recommended for fans of delightful romances that leave you feeling happy.

Perfect Match in three words: Charming, Sparkly and Fresh.

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A fun and flirty story full of humor and heart!

A delightful romcom that made me laugh out loud! How would you describe your “perfect” man? And how would you react if there actually was a man that checked off all your boxes, out there? Zoe May brought this dream dilemma to the pages of this wonderful book!

Sophia has had a string of bad dates, 71 bad dates to be exact! She is the queen of online dating: Match.com, Tinder, eHarmony, Plenty of Fish etc. name the dating site and she’s been there, done that, as the T-shirt! After another disastrous date Sophia has decided it might be time to hang up her dating shoes.... but her BFF Kate talks her into filling out one more dating profile this time she needs to describe her “dream date”... and describe him she does, write down to his precise look: a cross between Robert Pattinson and Daniel Craig, his exact age: 29 and penis size: 8”... so you can only imagine what kind of response she got.... this part of the book was so funny, some of these one-liners were priceless! Disgusted and exhausted Sophia is about to shut down the account, that is until she sees a message from Daniel... Daniel checks every box, Sophia is sure there’s a catch, but after meeting him she finds out he is the real deal.... The face of Robert Pattinson, the body of Daniel Craig, enough money to burn, and even a rescue cat Esther.... Sophia is swept away in the magic of it all, but as we all know life and love are complicated and messy...

Sophia was an amazing character, I absolutely loved her! She was a good person and such a good friend! I loved her relationship with her BFF Kate and her older BFF Lynn.... all the secondary characters in this book were a lot of fun and very well-developed... I would have loved to have been a guest at Lynn’s surprise party! Even Sophia‘s job added some humor to the story.... noodles, Tinsel, A finger bowl, and a pregnant hamster were the icing on this book cake!

A wonderful whimsical witty story guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Absolutely recommend!

*** many thanks to HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***

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This book is an absolute triumph I wholeheartedly loved it. The story pulls you in instantly with its fast and witty pace and doesn't let go until the concluding pages.

The writing is pure joy, I giggled from start to finish. It's quick witted with a plot that sees humour at every turn. Each character stepped up and played their parts to perfection and I was hard pushed to find a weak link amongst them. But if I was to choose a favourite then it would have to be Sandra with Betsy the hamster without a doubt.

Sophia is utterly charming and a perfect character to fit the story line. Her comical approach to online dating is completely absurd and her antics supply endless humour and entertainment. She is without doubt the shining star of the whole story and a character I wish I could be friends with.

Perfect Match is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. If you haven't read it yet then what are you waiting for? Grab your nearest copy and dive in, you won't regret it. I can't wait to read Zoë's next book now.

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I am going to say right from the start that I am so glad that when I was single that there was no such thing as Internet dating sites and that the way you met people was by actually going out and meeting them… you know socialising and all that. Maybe it’s just me and I am just old(ish), but I hate filling in questionnaires at the best of time and to be honest..who really fills them in truthfully? That being said I really enjoyed this book and found myself actually snorting with laughter at times.
Sophia is looking for Mr Right. And after disastrous date number 71 she agrees to let her flatmate sign her up to a new internet dating site. This time though she decides to put up a very tongue in cheek profile of what she is looking for…. You know self-made millionaire, must love animals, do charity work, look like Robert Pattinson… oh yeah and must have an 8inch penis. As you can imagine the really weird and wonderful of society answer and some of the responses she receives are either funny or downright creepy. When Daniel replies and seems to match all of her outlandish criteria he seems too good to be true. With her dead end job and small flat, what Daniel offers is everything that Sophia thought she wanted…but is it really?
I guess Sophia is like most people. We all have dreams at one time or another of having someone sweep us off our feet and change our lives, that perfect person. In her quest for finding “the one”, she does sometimes come across as a bit superficial but in the modern age where everyone and everything moves so fast the art of getting to know people somehow seems to have got lost. That being said she is very loyal to her friends, especially her elderly neighbour Lyn who has a taste for Jellied Eels and Come Dine with me. As her outlook on life and relationships change, so does her attitude to the various men in her life, from dishy Daniel to geeky Chris and she realises that maybe Mr Right doesn’t have to be Mr Perfect or Mr Prince Charming.
Although you know that Sophia is going to realise her error of judgement in the men she chooses you still can’t help but like this book. The characters are entertaining and Sophia’s friends and work colleagues are a hoot. The descriptions of the pregnant hamster sent my imagination into overdrive and I had visions of a furry version of Violet Beauregarde out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
This is the debut novel by Zoe May and if this is the promise of things to come then I look forward to what comes next.

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As someone who has been on my fair share of disastrous online dates, I felt like I had found a literary kindred spirit in Sophia. She is funny, caring and down to earth, and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I loved the way that even when it was difficult, she never forgot her roots. The supporting characters are also a joy to spend time with: from Lyn, the eccentric old lady who Sophia does shopping for, and her son, Tom, to Sandra, her quirky colleague with a love of knitting, and Ted, her boss with a chronic case of dandruff. I quickly became immersed in their lives and wanted them all to be happy.
When Sophia's ideal multi-millionaire comes along, she is whisked into a world of opera, exclusive restaurants and luxury apartments. It's a far cry from what Sophia (or I!) am used to, but I loved being part of it, imagining the delicious food and beautiful views.
May uses Perfect Match to explore some interesting themes, which are very relevant to modern society. The topics include coming out, controlling behaviour and self-esteem. I was pleased to see Sophia learn some valuable life lessons as the plot developed, and finished the book with a fuzzy feeling inside.

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