Oh, I had high hopes for this. mainly because of the cover - it immediately drew me in and looks like it would fit in perfectly with all of the other bestselling contemporary romance books these days. But I guess it's true what they say - don't judge a book by it's cover. Because the story inside is not what the cute cover promises it to be.

This starts off rough. None of the information in the synopsis is actually in the book. Serena joining the ‘harem’ is on the first page. Sure, there are some mentions of a cheating boyfriend and work, but it's only in passing. There's no build up, no lead in, and no backstory as to the reasons behind Serena's actions.

Also, Serena is supposed to be a professional adult, yet she acts like an immature teenager. She's childish, disrespectful, says the most bizarre things, is not as funny as the author thinks she is, and is just not a MC who is enjoyable to read about. She's also a terrible journalist. She goes into this with so many preconceived notions and glaring biases that she can't even do her job properly.

Next is the problematic situation of a white person writing about harems. I was willing to give the story the benefit of the doubt, maybe the author did extensive research, but it doesn't feel that way at all. It feels as if the she is using other countries traditions as a gimmick for a romance plot. And creating a fake country that has these customs doesn't excuse that (especially when Indian influences are used on the cover and with character names). It just rubs me the wrong way.

So this was not a difficult book to set aside.

Thanks for the ARC, BHC Press, but this was a miss for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the copy of Love Match by Laire McKinney. This book has it all, love heartbreak, drama, and rivalry. It’s a fast paced read that you won’t want to put down. Love match is one of my favorite books of 2021!