Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC!

This is my first Leslie North book, but i’m an absolute sucker for an enemies to lovers trope. It dove right in with the anti-meet cute, and I immediately hated Vincent LOL snobbery bosshole entitled rich boy CEO vibes are not what I vibe with. BUT the dual POV really helped me get over that, to get in his head. I do love the way they each nerd out about their passions. Him and fragrances (I imagined Chuck Blair esque) and her and photography. You can tell it was written thoughtfully and intentionally to showcase their own loves.

I think the chemistry between Vincent and Piper was palpable, Piper dishing it all back to Vincent in a way nobody else can. The evolution of their fake relationship into a real one was very subtle which is good (personally I love the awkward ‘this is nothing but not nothing either’ situationship stage so I would’ve loved more of that).

The third act break up was expected. Vincent is….too in his head about a lot of things. But I think it was also necessary for the necessary growth for each of their characters. Do I wish Maya was less of a bitch? Yes. But I also thought it was gonna be a different third act breakup so i’m happy with this one.

It was cheesy, tropey, and cute, but did tug on some emotion heartstrings. Good riddance to Matt — I would’ve liked more with that but at least Piper got the last word in.

Thoroughly enjoyed the full cast of characters: Nana Dee, Vincent’s dad Richard, Paul and Chloe and Darcy, and all the Lost Boys. I want to read Darcy’s story, or actually maybe one of the other Lost Boys because I need me more Nana Dee and Richard!

Piper’s stubbornness and Vincent’s infuriating charm make for a dynamic clash that keeps the story lively, especially as their "pretend" relationship starts to feel all too real. The banter is sharp, the romantic tension is spot-on, and though some parts are predictable, the characters' undeniable chemistry makes up for it. An addictive mix of humour, chemistry, and enemies-to-lovers tension.

OMG this book was everything, the pacing the characters the plot. The emotions Maya and Matthew caused such rage at their cringey behaviour and I just loved Richard and Piper and Vincent. I had so many intense emotions where I had to pause and remind myself that I these were not real people. The ending was just perfect not too much not to little, creating a scent for her, becoming the man he thought he was incapable of. Giving Richard the happy ending I was craving and Paul and Chloe just gave this realistic aspect. Plus the lost boys! I could gush about this book forever definitely a must read. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

If you like grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and millionaire romances, this one's for you. I enjoyed it more than most millionaire romances I've read. The FMC is sunshiny without being overly sappy for me, and the MMC's chapters show that he was actively trying to be less grumpy, even at the very beginning. I'll try others by this author!

3.5/5

Perfect (mis)Match was a quick read for me that I absolutely enjoyed. When Piper and Vincent literally crash into each other you never imagine where the story can take them. The banter between the two of them is so good! Vincent starts off as a real jerk but quickly becomes one of my favorite MMCs. I quickly warmed up to him when I saw that he was protective over those that he loves. Piper is a strong, "I know who I am", FMC who doesn't let Vincent walk all over her. While there is a short 3rd act break up - it's warranted and not for a silly reason like in most books. Overall Perfect (mis)Match was a book that I didn't want to put down and was laugh out loud funny.

Piper and Vincent have a meet hate when they have a car accident at his building. Vincent, being the true boss hole that he is leaves and send security to deal with the mess. After that fateful meeting Piper runs into Vincent again at her Stepbrother’s engagement party…. Surprise, Vincent is one of his best friends. Through a series of hilarious events they end up fake dating for the evening. That leads to a reluctant business arrangement where Piper is working for Vincent when he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. What starts as a business relationship turns into more, but Vincent’s work focus causes issues that they might not be able to overcome.

I enjoyed this book, it’s lighthearted and funny. It has a lot of elements I enjoy in a great read, found family, strong FMC, character transformation and humor. I love a strong FMC that has brains and doesn’t back down and that’s exactly what Piper is. What’s even better is that she doesn’t put up with less than she deserves. She knows her worth and that makes for the best reads. Piper also brings out the best in Vincent and makes him challenge everything he was previously so sure about. I love a good book with a character transformation and Vincent does transform into a better version for Piper. Great Read.

Perfect (mis)Match is book one in the Manhattan Bossholes series by Leslie North.
I really enjoyed this fake dating, sweet rom-com.
Interesting characters and believable plot.
The writing was wonderful and kept me glued to pages.

Thank You NetGalley and Relay Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

When billionaire Vincent Forde crashes into her car, she’s ready to hold a grudge. But when he reappears at her stepbrother’s party, needing her help to find a rare perfume ingredient—and to pose as his girlfriend—their fake relationship starts to blur, leaving her wondering if this chaotic pairing could turn into something real.

If you love billionaire romances with a grumpy-sunshine dynamic and plenty of tension, this story won’t disappoint. Piper and Vincent’s chemistry kicks off with a memorable (and slightly disastrous) first meeting, which only intensifies as they enter a fake dating arrangement that quickly grows into something more. Their banter feels natural, and it’s fun watching the initial friction between them give way to genuine connection, with a good mix of humor and heartfelt moments. Vincent’s loyal group of friends adds warmth, and although the third-act breakup felt predictable, the grand gesture that follows made it worth the read. This is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance with minimal miscommunication and plenty of engaging dialogue—a perfect pick for fans of romance with wit and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the ARC

I wanted to start out by saying this is my first ever ARC read, and I’m honored to have been given this opportunity to review this amazing book. First, I am a sucker for a great romcom, and my favorite trope is enemies to lovers. With that being said, it is hard to make me feel something for the characters right off the bat, but Piper and Vincent’s story caught me from the first page. I LOVED the first encounter being a car incident, and then the follow up being at the engagement party. My favorite parts of the book were the easy banter between Piper and Vincent because it felt real and I know how hard that must be to write. I love Piper’s feistiness and that she didn’t take Vincent’s BS. I also love Paul and Chloe because they were relatable and definitely made me feel like I understood their hard-times during the wedding planning and then life after. I truly think linking their, Richard and Vincent’s mom, and the Lost Boys stories into Vincent’s “love story awakening” was a chefs kiss. The proposal scene was over the top, and made me swoon. I also loved the hammock scene in Hawaii, and so many other scenes that were just as fun and cute.

Honest feedback about Maya and her parts in the story was that they were totally predictable. I know we love to hate the villain, but I would have really liked the story better if we had more of a back story of Maya and also potentially her downfall for being “ousted” for her fake publicity stunts.

Lastly, I would recommend this book to any of my fellow romcom book loving friends because it was such a fun and easy read. I feel attached to the characters, and I am sad their stories have ended for me for now.

When I started this book, I didn’t like Vincent at all!! I was wondering if I would even be able to finish it since he was awful I thought. But then we got to know him know and see how Piper was changing him and I grew to love him until I hated him again. Let’s add in his lovely ex-girlfriend and well the story takes a turn. I loved Piper. She was great. She made her dreams come true as well. I hated seeing her hurt but loved the grand gesture at the end. It was a fun and sweet quick read for me! Will definitely read more from this author and hope more side characters get their own stories!

Thank you for letting me read Perfect (mis)Match. Loved the premise of this book, which is why I decided that it was the book for me.
Always love an Enemies to Lovers story and it certainly didn't disappoint. Piper and Vincent had such good dialogue between them and it was good to see how the initial tensions soon began to melt away following their first meeting and when they decide to start to 'fake' date for various reasons that will benefit them, they realise that maybe things are becoming more real than they first thought.
I was hooked to the storyline from the very beginning and was able to consume it within a day.
Although not the biggest fan of the third act break up scenario, I did enjoy reading about when Vincent realises has made a big mistake and he sees the error of his ways, which make him pull out all the stops to carry out a major 'grand gesture', showing his true feelings to ensure that Piper doesn't completely disappear out of his life forever.
Also another element of this story that I enjoyed was the banter between Vincent and the rest of his friends - Paul, Trent, Dominic and Aiden and loved how they always came together when issues arose.
A good read with not too much spice.

❤️Enemies to Lovers
❤️One Bed
❤️Fake Date / Relationship
❤️She Falls First
❤️Third Act Break Up
❤️Slow Burn
❤️Forced Proximity
❤️Work Place
❤️Grumpy x Sunshine

Vincent and nana dee are are so close …made me miss my grandparents a bit more …also the love match was one made in hell lol …loved it!!

Rezension zu Perfect (Mis)Match von Leslie North

Leslie Norths Perfect (Mis)Match, der erste Band der Manhattan Bossholes-Reihe, ist eine spritzige Rom-Com, die von humorvollen Schlagabtäuschen, einem intensiven Fake-Dating-Trope und jeder Menge elektrisierender Chemie lebt. Die Geschichte ist ideal für alle, die Romane voller Witz und Wortgefechte sowie einer prickelnden Feind-zu-Liebhaber-Romantik suchen.

Handlung: Ein (Fehl-)Treffen, das alles ins Rollen bringt
Alles beginnt mit einem wütenden Knall, als die Protagonistin – unabhängig, stolz und quicklebendig – auf den millionenschweren Unternehmer Vincent Forde trifft. Vincent, ein überheblicher, aber absolut charismatischer „Billionaire Bosshole“, rammt mit seinem luxuriösen Auto das Fahrzeug der Heldin und gibt auch noch ihr die Schuld am Unfall. Diese Begegnung lässt Funken sprühen, und beide sind sich sofort sicher, dass sie sich lieber aus dem Weg gehen würden. Doch das Schicksal hat andere Pläne: Kurz darauf taucht Vincent unerwartet auf einer Familienfeier der Protagonistin auf und macht ein ungewöhnliches Angebot. Da er für sein Parfumgeschäft einen seltenen Duftstoff braucht, bittet er sie um Hilfe und schlägt außerdem vor, sie solle seine „Fake-Girlfriend“ spielen, um einem Geschäftsabschluss den nötigen Glamour zu verleihen.

Aus dieser ungewollten Kooperation entsteht eine explosive Mischung aus ständigen Reibereien und schwelender Anziehung. Die Chemie zwischen ihnen wird immer intensiver, und die Grenzen zwischen gespielten Gefühlen und echter Zuneigung verschwimmen zunehmend. Doch je länger sie zusammenarbeiten und als Paar auftreten, desto schwieriger wird es, die aufkeimenden Gefühle zu ignorieren.

Charaktere: Ein charmanter Bosshole und eine temperamentvolle Heldin
Die Figuren von Perfect (Mis)Match sind typisch für Leslie North – sie sind kantig, lebendig und voller Persönlichkeit. Die weibliche Hauptfigur ist selbstbewusst, hat das Herz am rechten Fleck und ist ein regelrechter Wirbelwind, der Vincents überhebliche Fassade auf charmante Weise in Frage stellt. Sie lässt sich von ihm nicht einschüchtern und kontert seine Arroganz mit einem trockenen, schlagfertigen Humor, der einige der besten Dialoge im Buch hervorbringt.

Vincent Forde ist der Inbegriff eines „Bossholes“: reich, gutaussehend, mürrisch und absolut selbstsicher. Doch hinter seinem schroffen Auftreten verbirgt sich eine tiefergehende, verletzliche Seite, die nach und nach durchscheint, und dem Leser klar macht, dass er mehr ist als nur ein schnöseliger Milliardär. Seine Entwicklung vom kalten Geschäftsmann hin zu jemandem, der seine Gefühle akzeptiert und verletzbar wird, verleiht der Geschichte Tiefe.

Die Nebenfiguren, wie der überdrehte Stiefbruder der Protagonistin oder Vincents skurrile Geschäftspartner, ergänzen die Handlung perfekt und bringen zusätzliche Würze und Witz in die Geschichte.

Stil und Humor: Spritzig und voller Wortwitz
Leslie North gelingt es hervorragend, die Dynamik zwischen den Figuren humorvoll und mitreißend darzustellen. Die Wortgefechte und das hin und her zwischen den beiden Protagonisten machen das Buch zu einer kurzweiligen Lektüre, bei der man häufig schmunzeln und lachen muss. Besonders der Fake-Dating-Trope und die damit verbundenen Missverständnisse und Dilemmas sorgen für köstlich-amüsante Szenen, in denen die Leser miterleben, wie die Grenzen zwischen gespielter Zuneigung und echten Gefühlen zunehmend verschwimmen.

Die Autorin schafft eine Balance zwischen Humor und Emotion, was dem Buch eine Tiefe verleiht, die über die typische Rom-Com hinausgeht. Gerade wenn man denkt, dass die Handlung vorhersehbar ist, gelingt es North, unerwartete Wendungen einzubauen, die den Lesern das Herz höherschlagen lassen und das Verlangen, die beiden Protagonisten zusammen glücklich zu sehen, noch steigern.

Themen: Schein und Sein, Liebe und die Suche nach dem Richtigen
Hinter der humorvollen Fassade des Buches steckt die zentrale Frage nach echter Nähe und Vertrauen. Die Protagonistin lernt, dass nicht alles so ist, wie es auf den ersten Blick scheint, und dass selbst hinter der Fassade eines „Bossholes“ tiefe Gefühle stecken können. Für Vincent, der sich oft hinter seiner Karriere und seinem Reichtum versteckt, ist die Beziehung eine Chance, sich von seinen materiellen Werten zu lösen und sich auf das Wesentliche zu besinnen.

Der „Fake-Girlfriend“-Aspekt der Geschichte beleuchtet die Herausforderungen und Tücken, die entstehen, wenn man eine Beziehung nur vorgibt – und zeigt, wie oft das Herz dennoch den Verstand überholt. Diese Inszenierung wird zu einer witzigen und spannenden Reise, bei der die Leser erleben, wie schwierig es ist, die Grenze zwischen gespielten und echten Gefühlen aufrechtzuerhalten.

Fazit: Eine witzige Rom-Com mit Herz und Funkenflug
Perfect (Mis)Match ist ein herrlich unterhaltsamer Auftakt zur Manhattan Bossholes-Reihe, der Humor und Romantik in einer feurigen Mischung vereint. Leslie Norths Buch lebt von lebhaften Dialogen, prickelnder Chemie und authentischen Gefühlen, die über das bloße „Fake-Dating“ hinausgehen. Mit einem charismatischen Bosshole und einer temperamentvollen Heldin bietet der Roman das perfekte Rezept für Liebhaberinnen und Liebhaber von Rom-Coms und modernen Liebesgeschichten.

Wer Spaß an bissigen Wortgefechten, einer ordentlichen Portion Humor und einer mitreißenden Liebesgeschichte hat, wird Perfect (Mis)Match lieben. Für Fans von süchtig machenden „Enemies-to-Lovers“-Geschichten ist dieser Roman ein absolutes Muss!

Great book!!!!!! Great plot. I was hooked from the summary to the end of the book. Characters were fleshed out.