This book really opened my eyes. I was very interested to learn about PSC and live organ transplants. I’ve never read a book quite like this one. Jules is such a strong, courageous, kind FMC. She quickly captured my heart. She goes through many trying times and never once does she give up.

Tom, wow, he really is the most selfless person ever. He really has it so bad for Jules.

Unlikely Match is such a heartfelt read, it pulled on all my emotions in the best way possible. Please pick this one up if you haven’t already.

Thank you Laura Bradbury for the ARC.

I will also be posting this review to my Instagram on 6/11/22

This is not my usual cup of tea when it comes to romance but I could not put it down. It truly deserves 5 stars because it brought me to tears and felt so genuinely real. I typically don’t journey into books that make me cry but this was just beautiful. It slowed me down, humbled me, and made me think; about life, perfect moments, other human beings, and made me appreciate the support team I have in my life.

“I guess that’s the ironic thing about facing death—there’s no better crash course in learning how to live”

Jules is one of the most badass and bravest FMCs out there. Battling a rare orphan disease known as PSC, she is trying to navigate the present without having a guaranteed future. Her life is full of massive liver biopsy needles and ego-puffed ER doctors, while she grapples with a potential terminal diagnosis.

But that’s not who or what Jules is. Her disease is not what made her an amazing FMC, it was her strength and fight through it all. Jules comes from an unsupportive (and honestly atrocious) family, lost all her friends after her diagnosis and still managed to become the CEO of her startup, GoodGuides, with her best friend Alan (who is a godsend and is a character I recognize in my two best friends). Jules and Alan scored a shared office space with another startup company called Silobase. While dealing with a life threatening disease, she fights to grow her business in a male dominated business world among the tech-bros of Silobase. One of them being, Tom Davenport. But why does this annoying tech-bro spark a fire in her that makes her feel more alive than she has in the last five years?

The most humbling thing about this book was being able to put myself in Jules’ hospital gown. I felt horrified at the comments and experiences that felt all too real and not at all fictional. From the nurses playing Rock Paper Scissors over who’s to take her blood or the inhumane comments on her skin tone and weight loss. The “you’re permanently tan” or the “you finally look skinny” were downright sickening.

“Every pound I lost stressed me out exponentially, but the grand irony of it all was the fact that I never received so many compliments on my appearance. Doctors saw me as sick but other people, especially my image-conscious family, were envious of my tanned litheness.”

I just couldn’t help but cry for her. It shined a light on how impactful certain experiences and people can be. I’ve had awful experiences with nurses, I have the unfavorable thin veins that Jules has and I know the horror of being poked too many times in a single arm. But I also remember the time I had staph infection in the first grade and there being a single nurse that brought me comfort in a time I felt truly terrified by the overwhelming setting of a hospital room at that age. She was my version of a Stewart (read this book and forewarning, you’re going to love him).

“That was the thing with being sick: I lost little parts of myself everyday.”

Jules didn’t want her illness to define her but when it consumed her entire being, daily schedule, choices, and the way people looked at her, it became hard to recognize herself. Not only that, she had to shift from thinking she had no future *spoiler* to being gifted more time, how does one navigate such a drastic change?

Although I read this for the romance, I really just fell in love with Jules. The spark between Jules and Tom was messy and genuine, far from perfect. It honestly gave me whiplash at some points. I think this book was really about Jules and her journey, the romance was just the added bonus.

“People who are fighting a disease can still be extraordinary. One does not preclude the other.”

Get your box of tissues out for this one, you all. I sobbed through a lot of the book as I read about Jules and her fight for survival. It was definitely harder for me to read as my father is battling end-stage liver disease. But I loved how beautifully the author has written this story about hope when you cannot find any inside of yourself. It is emotional with lovely friendships and a love that gives you a unique family when your own family disowns you. I would definitely recommend this book.

Trigger warning: Medical trauma, parental abandonment, and the foster care system

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

This book made me cry. Not just in the big expected moments, but with its simple thoughts, unassuming prose and honest words. It's not that the author tried her best to make me cry by placing me in a difficult mind space as a reader, but rather, I felt the character's emotions, thoughts and was able to empathize on a level that I would with a real person. I think this is credit enough to pick this book up!

There are three important parts to this book - Jules' relationship with her best friend Alan, her equation with her ailment and her relationship with the MMC Tom. The second part was done exceptionally well - they held moments of clarity, of depth and warmth in the book.

Her friendship with Alan was something I admired a lot, excepting the fact that he was gay. I want to see more male-female friendships, where the bonding stays as a friendship out of choice rather than different sexual preferences and other reasons (If the choice of him being gay was for representation, then cool)

Her relationship with Tom, for me, wasn't the strong suit of the story. Enemies to lovers and to an extent, dark and broody meets cheery and bubbly, are both my favorite tropes, but it felt stilted. I did eventually root for them, but hey, as a romance reader, am programmed to root for them! It wasn't bad of course, but could have been better. Along that line, I felt like actually this would have worked so well as a fictional memoir of Jules, even without the romance..

One other aspect of the book was how people treat you when you're diagnosed with an illness and it was true and touching.

Overall, I felt this to be such a beautiful and heart felt read and I'd recommend picking this one up <3 Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-ARC! Am so glad I got to read this book :)

THIS BOOK!!! Omg! This was SO good!! I experienced every emotion while reading it. I absolutely loved the characters. Jules and Tom had amazing chemistry and I was rooting for them the entire time. This was such a great read and I finished it in one sitting. I look forward to reading more from Laura Bradbury.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for this arc!

The start of Unlikely Match caught me a little off guard; I felt like it dove right in without any of the usual introductions, explanations, or backstory I feel like you get in the beginning of most books. Once I got a few chapters in, though, I was hooked. The diagnosis of PBC and need for a liver transplant gave a new dimension to romcom that I had not experienced before. Tom and Jules had great chemistry and interesting back stories. Overall a good read!

I finished this book in one sitting after getting approved for this ARC. It is one of my new favorite books, I felt connected to this book due to my mom having kidney failure and never was able to get approved for a transplant.And due to the author also having PSC, she described the medical terms in detail and felt as if I was in the story myself as a friend of Jules. It had me crying one minute and laughing another! I love this authors writing style as well! I look forward to reading everything this author publishes, I loved Tom and Jules and was cheering for them almost the whole book. One of my favorite reads this year!

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

Jules lives with PSC, a liver disease for which there is no treatment. Only an organ donor offers perspective. Since her family doesn't want to be a part of the donation process, her friends have abandoned her, and her best friend doesn't have the same blood type, the search for a donor becomes even more difficult.
Together with her best friend Alan, she founded a startup, oriented towards guides abroad. In the same building where they work is another startup, one with a rather interesting CEO: Tom Davenport. Tom triggers Jules' fighting spirit. Could he be trustworthy and offer perspective?

The book consists of two parts; where the first part is very dark. The feeling of hopelessness takes the lead and as a reader you wonder whether it will end well. The alternation with the humorous and loving parts means that you do not end up in a downward spiral.

I flew through this book, which is obviously a good sign, because I was very amused at certain moments. I must say that it felt unrealistic to me at times. The events went too fast and I don't think it would play out that way in real life. At times it felt rushed. Like: this also has to be in the story. That felt unfortunate. Unfortunately, the ending was also predictable. I won't mention it here to avoid spoilers, but if you read it, you'll know right away.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found the topic so very important.

I've been searching for more medical romances and this one was just amazing!
I she'd so many tears while reading this, I tugged at my heart! I loved Jules and Tom!
I love how they both knew what needed to be fixed and went to therapy to work on their issues so they could be together!
I could feel all the emotions and enjoyed it so much!

Overall I enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance. It was a solid 4 for me. The only thing that I struggled with was sometimes the dialogue felt stiff but I loved the story. It was so sweet and the side characters! Perfection! Worth a read for sure and will look forward to further books from the author!

After the book from yesterday‘s post I needed to read some thing lighthearted and sweet. This book definitely met those expectations. It was predictable but in a way that your blanket on the couch makes you cozy or a cup of cocoa on a cold day is the perfect beverage. That’s what this book was for me, pulled at the heartstrings and was very sweet and easy to read. The perfect book that will make you smile at the end. The transplant story line also added some unique twists to this book. I would highly recommend that you read this one.

I was given this arc and was really intrigued by the plot. Jules is 5 years into her diagnose for late stage liver failure and is running out of time when she meets tech start up CEO Tom. They don’t get off to the best start but as everyday gets harder Jules wakes up wanting to fight with Tom. They grow an unlikely friendship until things turn the worst for Jules.

This book was really sweet and so heartbreaking at time for what Jules is going through. Her less than helpful family and the day to day sickness broke my heart. Of her trying to find hope anyway she can.

I like that this book shows two very different people & companies can work together to create something better. It shows the reality for terminally sick people. The struggles not just physically but mentally of disease and transplant. I love both the characters in this and their growth throughout the book. This book is split into two parts, before and after. I loved the before part but the after part made me upset. The treatment from her family and the push and pull between her and Tom.

I definitely recommend for clean romance lovers. It was swoony and sad at times but their happily ever after was worth all the hardship they’ve been given. I love they found their own family and it wasn’t all neatly tied up at the end but they’re together and happy regardless of the things they have to get through together.

4/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶

I was totally hooked by this book! I enjoyed the enemies to friends to lovers trope! I thought the transplant story was so sweet and I definitely cried a few times! Tom and Jules had a great friendship and relationship, and it all felt so natural. I loved the work aspect with the competing companies and CEOs! This was such a sweet book that had me smiling so hard!

This was a very cute read! There was a bit of crossover between tropes- grumpy sunshine, friends to lovers, workplace romance, and even a bit of the dreaded miscommunication trope. I enjoyed Jules and Tom's st0ry. It was interesting to read a transplant story written by an author who has gone through something similar!

At times I did feel like the communication between characters was lacking and that some characters were a bit immature. Overall, it was a good read!

On first impression, CEO Jules thinks Tom is a tech bro who hates women. But she's got more important things on her mind, like running her company and finding a liver donor. As her health declines, she discovers that Tom is more complex than she imagined.

I loved this novel. Despite the serious subject matter, the tone is never maudlin. Jules and Tom have a ton of chemistry. Their romance is heartwarming and hopeful.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was such a cute, fun, humbling, read! I love that it had a little grumpy x sunshine and also it was a friends to lovers trope!

It’s about two start ups working side by side in the same building. Both are CEOs. One named Jules who has PSC a chronic liver disease and Tom. Jules heard Tom talking bad bleeep about her company, and Jules decided to confront him. That confrontation ignited a spark in her that she longed for! The rest you have to read for yourself, i literally read it in less than a day, I loved it!!

What I especially loved about it, Laura Bradbury the author went through PSC and the liver transplant so her feeling was embedded in Jules. There’s some spice, some dark humor!

Thank you NetGalley for providing my first ARC!!

Unlikely Match by Laura Bradbury, a review.
~ "You know what they say, life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful"
~"I would never understand how much time I had -nobody could- but now I understood the magic and privilege of every second."

4.75/5☆

WOW this boom was amazing! I loved it so much more than I thought I would! From the outside, this book seems like another contemporary romance book but it ended up being so much more.

Unlikely Match follows a woman named Jules Kelly, who struggles with the disease PSC, which affects her liver. She needs a transplant to save her life.

She meets Tom Davenport who is a rude judgmental (and gorgeous ofc) man who owns a tech startup that she is supposed to work with. However, they despise each other. Can Jules find a way to trust her most Unlikely Match?

In order to sum up my feelings toward this boom I decided to make a positives and negative lists.
Positives:
Almost everything. This book was such a quick enjoyable read with a surprisingly deep theme; don't thake for granted the time you have.

Negatives:
The nickname Jujubes. That's it. (probably just a me thing

If you are looking for a quick enjoyable read this is perfect for you!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my review!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book and admittedly don't have first-hand experience with transplants or long hospital stays, especially when reading a romance novel. However, I found I couldn't put this down and finished it in one sitting. I loved Bohemian Jules and straight-laced Tom and their journey together. It made me think, it made me happy, and it made me get kind of depressed thinking about how Jules didn't have to worry about medical bills the way I would as an American (and appreciated that TW from the author).

Unlikely Match is about Jules Kelly, who has a rare autoimmune disease. It attacks her liver and bile ducts and she needs a transplant. Despite this, she continues life as normally as possible, keeping her disease largely private at work. Hating Game-esqe antics ensue when her company shares a workspace with tech bro Tom Davenport. Loathing turns to something else.

I would recommend this as a light read that has a lot of heart!

I want to sincerely thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my review. This is an own voices review as I also suffer from autoimmune related liver problems.

This book was so much more than a rom-com. It was education, informative and telling of the real life struggles involved with being chronically ill. Being able to incorporated lived experience into a relatable fiction story takes immense talent, and that’s exactly what Bradbury has done.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last.

Unlikely Match is a sweet and charming story of two people with very different personalities experiencing the magic of inexplicable chemistry.

Jules Kelly is a CEO of a promising start-up that matches travelers with local travel guides. She is 26 and was recently diagnosed with a rare liver disease. She will need a liver transplant to survive and is on a waitlist. Only a few people, including her best friend and COO Alan know what she is going through. Tom Davenport is a CEO of another promising tech start-up. He is very driven and just as socially inept. Jules and Tom are sharing a workspace with their teams. After a disastrous first encounter, both Jules and Tom discover that they may have misjudged one another. But how can Jules start a relationship while battling her illness. And doesn’t she hate Tom anyway?

I enjoyed this very much - Jules and Tom and their friends were great characters. There is a good balance of medical details and events and relationship development. Read if you enjoy rivals-to-lovers romance with some high stakes health-wise, and moments of levity.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this via NetGalley.