I LOVED THIS BOOK!

The boss babe attitude... the bohemian vibe... new business owner... fighting spirit... and eventually the vulnerability. I could not get enough of Jules and Tom.

Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favorite tropes and this did not let me down. But this also includes forced proximity and chemistry at first sight. CAN IT GET ANY BETTER?! Yes. Yes, it can. It's also funny!

You can feel the vibe as soon as Jules meets Tom and you're on pins and needles just waiting for Jules to realize the vibe. It's pretty clear how the story is going to go, but you're left wondering if the health aspect is going to make this a sad ending or a happily ever after. I won't spoil it for you though...

Jules Kelly, a certified bohemian boss babe, whose hip tech company just won subsidized office space in the coolest co-working space in town. From a distance I seem poised to take over the world (or at least the travel industry), and I would be if it weren’t for two big complications:

1. A rare and seriously inconvenient disease is tanking my health by the day, and my only hope for a cure—a transplant—is moving further from my grasp.

2. A soulless database company is sharing my new office space, and its coldly gorgeous, judgmental, CEO is on a path to world dominance (at least in his mind).

Tom Davenport represents the very worst of bro culture in the start-up world. Naturally, we despise each other.

The thing is, as much as Tom's antagonism annoys me, he has an uncanny ability to conjure up my fighting spirit and vitality at a time when my illness is robbing me of both. I'm drawn to him in ways I can't (or would really rather not) understand. 

A mysterious angel investor forces our companies to compete for a life-changing amount of money just when my relationship with Tom becomes infinitely more complicated. To make matters worse, things get cutthroat just as my health and time start to run out.
A truly enjoyable read definitely recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Laura Bradbury
I just reviewed Unlikely Match by Laura Bradbury. #unlikelymatch #NetGalley

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

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥
Tropes: Women in STEM, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, medical romance

As a healthcare professional, I enjoyed this book and how it explored medical trauma mixed with love. Initially some quotes pertaining to individuals in medicine were pretty negative which worried me but as the book went on the narrative changed to being more appreciative. I particularly enjoyed the parts with Stewart. Unrelated to the medical part the romance was super cute and the banter top notch. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romcom novels or movies because it reads like a movie!

This book made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions, smiling from ear to ear to SOBBING. I wasn’t sure at first about how a transplant would work itself into a romance novel but at the end of this book, I was convinced. Laura Bradbury is now an instant buy for me thanks to this masterpiece where she managed to incorporate real life problems into a work of fiction.

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

This book is 3.5/5 Stars for me, a promising premise that didn't really connect for me.

Massive appreciation for the author getting vulnerable and sharing about her health issues, and the bigger issue of organ donation, but the simplistic approach she had to living with a chronic illness and the mental health issues involved made this more of a miss than a hit for me. The first portion of the book flowed better than the second, in the "After" part the writing was choppy. This appears to be a stylistic choice, but it was one that added to the confusion of the timeline. The book takes place over a couple of months, stops and starts in the storytelling stop the reading from being able to organically see this, resulting in the reader having to pull back a little to figure out a timeline. An easy read, but no one I am going to be thinking about for days or weeks after.

There were two continuity errors in the book, one on the same page!

I did like that the author invites you to further exploration of the epilogue with links to an additional one on her website. Great connection piece!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance that’s so refreshing. Let me just say books dealing with terminal illness or that have characters dealing with terminal illness sometimes annoy me because I find the pacing achingly slow or the book very difficult to fully engage with. That being said Unlikely Match breaks this stereotype. It was so wonderfully paced and well written.
The characters are adorably awkward. It gave me heavy Hating Game vibes but it was more wholesome in that the animosity between Jules and Tom gives Jules moments to look forward to. A feeling of being alive, something she desperately needed as her PSC progresses.
Overall, it’s a quick fun read with wonderful characters and an engaging plot line. I recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this copy.

So I did actually really like this story. I had no clue it was taking place in the Pacific Northwest until over halfway through. I would have liked way more details about the area as I live in the PNW. I thought Alan was a great character but maybe could have been a tad funnier. I didn’t love the Gary story but get that it was necessary when trying to show that Tom was a a good person. All in all the story was engaging. As a nurse and a mother it broke my heart to see how her family responded to her illness.

Unlikely match is perfect for fans of The Ex Talk! If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, then this is for you!!

"Life doesn't have to be perfect to collect perfect moments."
tropes: enemies to lovers, office romance, grumpy & sunshine (opposites attract), forced proximity

I'm not sure I have ever teared up while reading as much as I have with Unlikely Match. This book was such a refreshing and just beautifully written book. When reading the synopsis, you might expect a cliche rom-com book but Unlikely Match is so much more than just a romance book. Though it deals with such heavy topics (and they will absolutely make you cry), it was easy to get through. This book also has some of the most likable characters and I love how it focuses on Jules' friendships as well as the romance.

From the moment they met, Jules - our lovable and brave main character with a love for boho fashion- and Tom - our grumpy yet lovable love interest with a fondness for black & white suits -
have head butted over every difference they have, though as the story progresses they realize how much differences can bring people together. One of my favorite parts of this book was also the spotlight on Alan and Jules' friendship, they never ceased to be the cutest duo ever who would do anything for each other.

Overall this was such an amazingly written book that made me both cry and laugh (sometimes at the same time I read it. I highly recommend.

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

This was a really interesting romance. I don’t think I’ve read a story where the heroine is in need of an organ transplant. While there were a few glaring errors (getting ready at four an event that starts at three, and one passage saying the main character was gifted her apartment at eighteen, then later saying it was twenty-one), I’m guessing those were fixed before publication. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and also appreciated the discussion of how difficult it is even after receiving a life-saving transplant. I was interested to read in the acknowledgments that the author was writing from first hand experience with PSC and surviving transplant surgery. This wasn’t exactly a light, sunny story, but it still felt very life affirming in its way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grape Books for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Thanks NetGalley, Grape Books, and author for providing me this ARC.

I have no expectations about this book since I never read a book that brought up this theme, but once I read it I was immediately immersed to it. This book tackles a very heavy issue about rare heart/liver disease, searching for transplant donor, toxic-family, PTSD, and mental illness, but it's all wrapped nicely and beautifully written, it's so easy to read-through and make you sympathize with all the (good) characters. It's like I can't wait to finish this book, yet don't want this book to really finish.

This book gave me an emotional roller-coaster ride, it's angst and aching yet also make me giddy and exciting. At the same time this book has gave me an insight about PSC, the struggles of trying to survive by looking for donor/transplant (pre and post of it), and the affected ones like Jules, Alan, and their co-workers.

It's a heartwarming book with amazing story and adorable characters! Will definitely recommended it to everyone. Overall rate: 4.5/5

4.5 - thank you NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for the copy. I absolutely adored this book. Sometimes what you think you don’t need is exactly what is meant to be! I can tell Laura wrote Jules and Tom with so much love. It was interesting to learn about PSC and the different donor options but I was so frustrated that someone has to get to a point where they’re in so much pain until they can be higher on the list. I love a good workplace romance with high stakes and this one was so well written. I enjoyed the pace of it. Chapter 18 had me blushing and squealing. Everything written after had a different vibe but I was so happy to see Jules on her journey. I feel like if things would’ve ended right before “after” begins then we would’ve stayed wanting more. Overall, really enjoyed this book!

I was so excited to read this book, because I just LOVE those cartoon covers for romantic novels. This one tells us a story of Jules Kelly, who is CEO and cofounder of a company that provides traveling guides. You may think, she's living the perfect life, but Jules is diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis. That means there is no treatment to this disease and that's why she needs a liver transplant in order to be alive.

Another main character of this book is Tom Davenport. He’s CEO of a company that works with databases. Jules and Tom are complete opposites when it comes to work an life balance, but their companies have to share an office in order to compete for a life-changing amount of money.

This book has everything I love: enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, strong female character, some witty lines and many office scenes (I'm a sucker for them, sorry). But what I liked the most about this story is the representation of chronic disease and all this transplantation situation. I don't want to spoil you anything, but trust me, this storyline is just SO GOOD.

However, I was a little bit bored while reading the second half of this story. I wish we had more Jules/Tom interactions, when he didn't know about her disease. Their love story felt rushed in the middle of the book, but the ending kind of fixed it for me. I loved how they acted like real adults and didn't run from their mental problems.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I'll definitely be looking forward to reading some other books by Laura Bradbury.

P.S. Jules and Tom like eating Ukrainian pierogi, and it just broke my heart as an Ukrainian. Loved this detail! Stand With Ukraine <3

This was such a lovely heartwarming book! I love how it combined such an intense topic, with a sweet and meaningful romance. I really enjoyed this and am excited to look into more by this author.

I loved this book. It wasn't your typical love story, in that Jules, the main character, had a serious disease. I liked how her and Tom started out as seemingly complete opposites but as the story goes along you realize they are a lot alike with the baggage each one carries, They have both been through a serious emotional trauma and came out on the other side. Not to spoil the story or give anything away, but the ways that Tom is there for Jules is amazing. The only thing I would change in this book is I did notice a few errors, In one spot it mentions a party starting at 3pm but the book goes on to mention it starting at 4. When Jules wrote her email to Brian, she writes that her last name is Kerry, not Kelly. This was another error I noticed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy, I loved this book.

This book was so freaking cute! I am a sucker for a enemies to lover trope! One of my favourite parts was seeing women in tech and leadership and succeeding! It also was very insightful to read about transplants from someone who has experienced it. It added a realness to the book while not being too dark. The characters were well developed and really had me invested into their stories. Overall really enjoyed this book and cant wait to read more from Laura!

As a member of the disabled community, I really liked the representation that Jules brought to this book. The fact that I, and so many others, “fake it until they make it” everyday and others don’t see the absolute struggle getting through the day is sometimes. This book felt real. Things weren’t magically fixed at the end. There were real struggles depicted. I really appreciated it.

this book had me screaming, crying, and throwing up in the best way possible and i could not get enough of it 😫✋

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

unlikely match is an ownvoices story that follow jules, a woman with PSC (a rare liver disease), as she goes through life working through the pain her condition brings, being a CEO of a tech company with her best friend, and dealing with the insufferable tom davenport, the ceo she has to share her office space with, all the while trying to find a liver donor before it’s too late. for those of you who like workplace romances and the forced proximity trope: this is the one for you!

ohmygod this book was so incredible, id give it a million stars if i could! im very glad no one could see behind my mask on the plane because i was grinning like a fool the whole time i was reading this. the romance was top notch and tom davenport (sorry, *thunder dias*) has my whole heart <3 my standards are sky rocketing all because of him.

following jules journey with PSC, which is something i didn’t know much about prior to reading this, was so eye-opening! her strength is so admirable, i cannot imagine how hard the shit she has to deal with is. i also like that this book showed the effects of getting a major surgery, didn’t just end the story there and skip to a happy epilogue 2 years in the future.

overall, this book is incredible and was such an amazing read!! it comes out may 26th, 2022 so be sure to pick up a copy when it does!

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Even as I was requesting for this book, I knew, I knew, it was going to be something different. I was so right. Books, content, shows etc., about health have been a big of a trigger for me for awhile. It’s been a long journey to arrive where I am, however (TW) I would warn anyone that’s not ready, to not enter this book because it does speak a lot about the protagonist’s struggles and health deterioration.

The book was immediately immersive and I enjoyed the way we’re introduced to each aspect of the story. Laura really balances the writing between humour and pain, often that’s how most people who are hurting live their lives. You can’t take yourself too seriously, but you also have to. You’ve got to watch out for yourself at every second and take a hundred careful measures, but you can’t hold on to the things you’ve lost and somehow learn to live in peace with it all. Laura wrote this into her book very very well. I was almost always at the very edge of crying or laughing. I definitely think it takes skill to write a book like this. ::hugs Laura::

The plot was so so so sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. I think everything in Laura’s book existed in duality: painful and heartening, bitter and sweet, cruel and kind. Laura really went for the kill with this book. You would think that the book would focus on maybe one or two things given the weight of the main plot; but somehow Laura managed to write a million little stories of pain and love into the book that all ends with a lovely red bow of peace, perseverance and healing.

The characters, both primary and secondary were really well written. The main characters, Jules and Tom were the sweetesttttttt. Yes, they start off very typically as enemies, but watching them become vulnerable and finding a sweet friendship with one another was so so so endearing to watch. I won’t go on about how interestingly Laura wrote the relationship… (or maybe I will) the arc was so very different from what we’re used to and Laura ensured she handled all the aspects of thoughts, emotions and situations that could come with that really well. Laura managed to somehow do all this within three hundred and fifty pages! I was truly surprised with how well written the situations were. They neither felt rushed, nor dragged.

Highly highly highly recommend this series. I think I’ve added another author to my list of favourites and I’m super happy to have Laura there. This book truly moved me to tears, to laughter and to gratitude. The story was so real, in ways I didn’t expect it to be. But watching the protagonists growing to be the people that live despite it all was so heartening and tearing.

Five stars. Highly recommend. Please do check out the trigger warnings before reading this book, as wonderful as any book is, it is not worth any struggle or pain you may experience.

"That was the thing people who had their medical virginity didn’t understand. Life and health were both more fragile and unpredictable than our human brains could compute."

Jules has a rare disease of the liver that will kill her if she doesn't have a transplant. On top of that, she is the CEO of a startup that just moved to a new office that it's being shared with another startup with an "asshat" for a CEO.

I wasn't expecting to be so touched by this story. I didn't know much about transplants in general before this, and now I understand that it is a delicate and long process. 

Jules and Tom are just great together. I loved every interaction between them, their chemistry is so good, and I was rooting for them from the beginning.

"Kindness meant literally everything in that moment."

I was so frustrated with Jules's family, they are such awful and selfish people. They couldn't even talk to her or support her in any way, just horrible.

Alan was such a good friend, and the real family for Jules. Even though he didn't know everything about her disease, he was the number one person supporting her.

"Life doesn’t have to be perfect to collect perfect moments."

I was crying a lot right before the second part of the book and a little after that too. Jules is so strong and brave, a role model really.

Overall, it was a wonderful book with amazing characters, highly recommend it!