Laura Bradbury's Unlikely Match is a wonderfully moving, emotionally evocative story of how one woman handles life while diagnosed with a rare, terminal liver disease. It also follows the main character, Jules Kelly, as she works at her start up tech company as the CEO with her best friend Alan and begins an adversarial relationship with CEO of another start up, Tom Davenport, with whom her company shares office space.

This is, as expected, a very emotionally heavy story. Reading about the pain and suffering Jules felt every day with her condition was so incredibly painful, but her bravery and badassness with everything was truly inspiring. I absolutely loved her fight and determination when faced with so much adversity. The battle of wits she would have with Tom were extraordinary. Her quick retorts and spot on observations were phenomenal. I also loved how the relationship between the two evolved when they started to know one another more on a human level instead of just as competing CEOs. Both characters where very different in their approaches to emotion, but they were both equally relatable to the reader, most likely due to Bradbury's ability to write such well-formed and deeply human characters.

Jule's and Tom's story was so beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to go along for the ride. I also appreciated how much detail Bradbury gave the audience about PSC, the disease Jules suffered from , along with everything that she dealt with through the entire book. Knowing that this comes from Bradbury's own experiences makes the book that much more powerful.

This book is very immersive and the environment that was created within the story was wonderful; I could truly picture every environment in which the characters interacted. The side characters themselves were well-done. I absolutely adored Alan, Jules best friend, and absolutely hated Jules family. To be able to pull such strong, visceral reactions to side characters just once again speaks to the excellence of Bradbury's writing. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers of fiction and romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Unlikely Match follows Jules as she is getting progressively sicker due to a liver disease called PSC. She's in need of a transplant, but isn't getting support from those around her, except for her best friend Alan. Even the people she works with don't know that she is sick, and when her startup moves into a new shared office space, she finds a surprising source of strength in the tech bro Tom, the CEO of the other startup. Fighting with him gives her a zap of energy she desperately needs, and when the relationship evolves into lust and finally something else, Jules isn't sure she's ready for all of these life changes at the same time.

This was a lovely story! There's definitely a good dose of medical content here, with Jules going through the transplant process throughout the story, which I found hearbreaking and fascinating. It's not something I had really put myself in the mindset of before, so I definitely feel like I learned a lot from the story. Reading the author's note and learning that this is coming from the author's own experiences with the disease and subsequent transplant made it all so much more real.
I thought the romance part of this was a little more lacking. I thought Tom was adorable and really sympathized with his back story. However, the two of them together was a little all over the place for me. There's an element of that is how romance in the real world works, which I understand, but it was still a bit off.
This book is absolutely worth the read and was a solid four stars for me!

🏩 Book Review 🏩

Unlikely Match by Laura Bradbury
4/5⭐️

I requested this book on a whim from Netgalley because the cover was super cute and the synopsis was interesting!

We get:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Close Proximity
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Dark Humor
- Well written side characters

This book follows Jules Kelly, an always Coachella ready CEO, who has a rare disease and needs a liver transplant. She is forced to work on the same floor and compete with Tom Davenport, another CEO with a big old stick up his butt. Their start-ups are completely different from each other so they get off on the wrong foot (think tech bro vs influencer).

Honestly, this book is very predictable. You can guess how it ends, but the journey to get there definitely pulled at my heartstrings. Tom has his own baggage and Jules is just playing a waiting game on life or death. She doesn’t want many people to know about her disease, so it hurts when she’s treated poorly for being away or being extra tired. And Jules’s family is THE ACTUAL WORST. Sometimes they’re so awful that it seems too much/unrealistic, but then the anger takes over and I forget.

What I did love about this book (minor spoiler but she gets a liver transplant surprise surprise) is how the author shows the aftermath of getting a transplant. It’s not all rainbows and daisies! Many people experience post transplant anxiety and/or depression which isn’t often shown in the media whether that’s Grey’s or my personal fav, House. I really loved how the author is exposing the reality of these types of procedures and is writing from her own personal experience 🥺

Overall, it was a good, easy read! I’m glad I picked it up :)

Thank you to @netgalley for this arc. This book is already out so definitely give it a try if its up your alley 💛

"Unlikely Match" by Laura Bradbury - 3.5 stars!

This book has it all: start ups, difficult families, and unwavering friends, with a sprinkle of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. I really appreciate books laced with the reality of the world we live in, which includes difficult decision making and less not-so-healthy bodies.

Jules doesn't let her disease dictate how she's supposed to live, but she needs a liver transplant ASAP or it's all over. Tom is all business no fun, her complete opposite.

The author herself went through a transplant and you can absolutely tell. There's a lot we don't think about because it doesn't affect us, but this book is a perfect example of why we shouldn't judge others without knowing their struggles.

A great read, a rollercoaster of emotions that had me turning the page nonstop!

Jules Kelly is a smart, creative free-spirit. Or, she used to be a free-spirit before a rare liver disease sidetracked her life. But just as her health takes a nosedive, her career starts to flourish. The tech start-up she co-founded is moving into a new office space. Only problem? The company that shares the space is headed by a jerk. Jules overhears Tom Davenport complaining about her and her company and instantly hates him. But, you know how bad first impressions can lead to romance, right? Their romance is inevitable, but not smooth, especially as Jules' health continues to get worse.

This book is kind of a typical workplace romance, but with the addition of a rare disease. Jules is a strong character and Tom, after the first couple chapters, is a lovely romantic leading man.

I appreciate that the author has experience with illness, and I learned a lot through this book about what it takes to get through the day when you're chronically ill, and the toll it takes on mental health. However, nearly every paragraph was a reminder of Jules' illness. I also thought her family's reaction to her illness was a little over the top. Then there was also Tom's background. Overall, I think the drama could have been notched down by about 12%. But better to have too much drama than not enough, right?

This book is a romantic comedy about Jules, an independent, kick ass CEO of a travel start up and Tom, a driven, orderly CEO of a tech start up. They both won free shared office space and they couldn’t be more different. After Jules overhears Tom say some less than stellar things in the hallway, they end up as both enemies and rivals. But Jules is keeping a big secret. She has an incredibly rare liver disease and she is running out of time to find a living donor.

This book is full of funny lines, sweet sentiments and so much medical drama. It makes you feel like you are living this crisis and I shed so many tears while reading. There is so much character development that happens as Jules goes through her transplant, without the support of her family. The chemistry between the main characters was dynamite. The side characters were incredibly charming. A fantastic and entertaining read that is written very well.

Oh I truly enjoyed this book! So well written, fun and entertaining yet had so much heart. Beautiful romance with some funny moments and some sad and scary moments as well. Friendships were so beautifully defined as well. Very well written! Can't wait to see it out on paperback!

This book made me feel so understood. I connect so well with the main character due to also having a medical condition albeit not as severe as hers. I could definitely tell the author wrote this from experiences because no one that hasn’t been through it could ever describe is as beautifully as she did.
Quotes that made me feel like I wasn’t alone
1. “I got the impression sometimes that my family-who knew my circumstances but avoided talking about my illness at all costs~-believed I was faking being sick. They had it backward. Every second of every day I was faking being well. I hid the nausea I felt during every waking hour, the aches that racked my bones and joints, the itching that made me claw at my shins, scratching and gouging my skin.” I think most of the time I understood people wanting to not discuss it like it was a forbidden subject but it just makes you feel worse. Sometimes talking about it is the only way to get through it. Hiding how you really feel around your loved ones it probably the most emotionally painful thing about it all.
2. “"You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It's as impossible and as simple as that. Are you familiar with the quote from Samuel Beckett, 'I can't go on. I go on'?" This scene of someone one that beat their sickness talking the main character through her pain by relating. It’s always nice to know you aren’t alone and everyone has felt like you can’t go on but you just do and have to keep pushing on.
3. “"My advice is to let this illness change you, Jules. I know you're in survival mode right now, just like I was, but let it transform how you look at the world.” This was my favorite quote! It’s like turning something bad into something good. Like even though you got dealt a bad hand in life you came out a better person and can now appreciate things in a new light. Okay now lets discuss the romance! I can confidently say everyone should have a Tom in their life! I mean when he had his own issues he still dropped everything to be exactly what she need at all times! I absolutely loved Alan so much and felt that he was truly the only family she needed! I could not be happier with the ending of this book, it brought reality about health issues with the sweeter softer side of romance and friendship! Thank you so much NetGalley and Lauren Bradbury for allowing me to read this great book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All the relationships in this book were lovely to me. Jules and Tom, the LI, had a hilarious relationship from the start. Their individual character growth was amazing. Jules is tough and strong-willed, and her many tensions with Tom in the beginning were extremely funny. She doesn't allow her illness get the better of her. Their relationship's slow development was incredibly adorable.

Except for her family, who I find it hard to believe could act the way they did toward her, I really enjoyed the likeable characters. I adored Jules' best friend Alan. There should be an Alan in everyone's life. Their friendship was lovely and solid, and I loved seeing them both together on the book.

4⭐️

This book was so cute and well-written, and I absolutely LOVED the two main characters! Laura Bradbury beautifully captures the wild rollercoaster of emotions attached to transplant patients while also incorporating such a sweet love story. I also absolutely adored Tom and his character development throughout the book, and Jules was a force to be reckoned with! The dialogue and character development truly kept me engulfed in the book, and I would definitely recommend this book to all of my fellow romance lovers.

Thank you so much netgalley for approving my request for this book. I'm so pleased to read this one. It's so good😍

This book is about enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, suffering from a rare disease, medical stuffs, unsupportive and not understandable family.
Jules and Tom are both CEO of their company and they share office space. They got to know each other by fighting on one fine morning. And Jules immediately started to hate him. Jules has a rare disease,PSC where her liver needs to get transplant but she is not getting any donor. Her family is the most unsupportive one and they seems to don't believe that their daughter has a dangerous disease. Her best friend Alan was with her throughout her life and supported her in this medical journey. If he could, he would've given the half of his liver. But he is not a match. Jules doesn't want to tell anyone about her disease and that's why Tom doesn't know about this. Day by day Tom and Jules started to getting closer and closer.

I just loved this book. For me it's a five star. I love the friendship and bonding between Jules and Alan. Alan knows every single thing about her health condition and what to do in critical situations. Tom is such a sweetheart. I loved their bonding so much. They did so much for each other. This book is an example of sometimes people who are not your family become the most important one than your family. Sometimes your family doesn't do the smallest thing where other people are standing right away for you. I love this one so much. Sometimes I hated Jules for what she did with Tom, but yeah I got her situation. I hope you love this book as much as I do.

I cannot find the right words to explain how WORTH reading this book is. It’s raw, emotional, and educational.

This book follows the story of Jules Kelly, who’s a PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) patient, and her journey to finding the only cure for her sickness. This was a wild experience for me because this story made me feel crazy and intense emotions all throughout the book. I was sobbing at 2am because i just couldn’t hold it in anymore. I am so glad i read this because i learned so many things from it—life lessons and learnings about the medical condition represented in the story. Trust me when i say that you NEED TO READ this book.

- RomCom
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers
- found family
- M/M romance rep
- mental health rep
- medical condition
- lots of wisdom

The characters were too perfect for their roles in the story and it was exceptional. It’s been awhile since i last adored a book this much and i’m beyond ecstatic that this book gave me that feeling again. My review doesn’t do this book any justice, trust me.

👏🏼 PLEASE 👏🏼 READ 👏🏼 THIS 👏🏼 BOOK 👏🏼 NOW 👏🏼

Oh my goodness. I am in love with Tom. By far one of my favorite book boyfriends yet. I love an enemies to lovers trope as much as the next girl and he was just so sweet I couldn’t not fall for him. I also really liked the medical aspect of this book as a nursing student and I appreciated that the author wrote about her own illness so it was well done and I felt educated about something new when I finished the book.

Well first of all thank you to net galley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest feedback. This book was honestly one of those you keep reading without realizing how much time has passed because it was so good and difficult to put down. I felt so many emotions reading it and found it really interesting which was quite surprising considering I went to it completely blind. Would definitely recommend to other people!

Do you know that feeling when you can’t put down a book to the point that you forget to eat and sleep? This is a book that does that to you.

Jules is young and successful. She loves bright colors, pierogi and socializing. Together with her best friend she runs a travel startup that has been recently invited to use subsidized office space for a year.

Tom is a CEO of a startup they have to share the office space with. He is extremely motivated and hardworking but not exactly an expert on human interactions nor on making great first impressions.

Jules hates guys like Tom and their tech bro culture but she quickly realizes that first impressions are not always to be trusted. As they get to know each other Jules finds herself thinking about Tom more than she would care to admit.

However there is this one thing about Jules that Tom doesn’t know. She has a very rare liver disease and her only hope is a transplant.

I absolutely loved Jules and her drive to not let the disease define her. She was such a badass! And I loved Tom. OMG how I loved Tom!!! Let me just tell you, he takes the whole book boyfriend concept to the next level.

This is not a book about a disease but about people. It’s about the worst and the best in humanity and how you should not judge anyone because you never have the full story. It’s about love, friendship and hope and “going on when you can’t go on”. I rooted for both Jules and Tom, laughed and maybe cried a little too, but only happy tears.

Five well deserved stars!

I would kill for a plate of pierogi right now though.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

this is /such/ a compelling read! i opened this book planning to just read a chapter or two before bed and then i completely lost track of time and ended up finishing it in one go. i love when a book pulls you in like that and you just /have/ to race to the end because you really really need to know how it all turns out, and this book absolutely grabbed hold of me immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grape Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What an amazing book, this was more than I ever was expecting from a romance book. This book beautifully captured what it is like to have a chronic terminal illness and experience falling in love at the same time. Jules is such a loveable character, but has her natural flaws, like working herself into the ground even when she is just getting more sick. She has brilliant friends but a family that does not understand her illness and that she is dying. I think this is something that a lot of us in the chronic illness community experience, and it was nice to see it represented in a book. I would recommend this book with caution just because of the graphic medical content that could be upsetting for some.

This was my first time reading a medical-related romance book before, and I absolutely loved it! Although it was heavy at times (as expected with any medical related story), I felt very connected to the characters, and loved the growth they had not just as individuals, but also together. I'm also the BIGGEST fan of enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes, so this book was a huge win for me!!

I absolutely adored this book as an very grateful for this experience. Firstly I really liked that this book took place in Canada as I'm from there. Jules has a rare liver disease called PAC and works as an owner of tech company full of females and her best friend Alan. In comes Tom who also owns a tech company and is sharing business space with Jules company. Tom is very sexist and is a tech bro. Enemies to lovers story. I absolutely hated Jules family to think you would not at least get tested to save your daughters life is beyond me. I loved the growth between both Jules and Tom throughout the book. I liked that Laura wrote with authenticity as shepherded had PSC and was a living donor transplant in 2017. Highly recommend

When I was a tween-young teen I was obsessed with books by the author Lurlene McDaniel.

I would swoon and cry over the tragic struggles of the MC, who always were dealing with a horrible disease or medical trauma, while also finding love.

Unlikely Match by @laurabradburywriter felt like a grown-up version of those books I loved so much when I was young.

The story: Jules has a rare liver disease and is running out of time to find a donor. When she meets Tom, fellow start-up CEO, at their shared incubator office space she strongly hates him. But you know what they say about the fine line between love and hate. There is a lot more below the surface for these two.

I really enjoyed this one. I also appreciated that is was written by someone that had been through the disease and transplant to add authenticity to the story.