Love Match

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!

I thought this books was very easy to read and although I found the premise a little corny I found myself constantly coming back to this book. The story flows nicely and it was a quick 2 sitting read, but I did find the characters to be a little erratic in their actions and found some of the events that happened to be unbelievable. Although I wish that the story was a little more believable and I wished the characters were a little more likable, or that I could form a stronger connection to them, I found myself really enjoying this read.

"Love Match" by Laire McKinney, was an easy read.
Serena, a journalist, signs up to be a member of a royal coterie. She wants to investigate the culture to see how women are treated. What she finda3, however, changes her perspective on everything.
I liked Serena's character. She was funny and flawed, which made her relatable. Shai, was the total opposite, but not in a bad way.
The setting was fun, but hard to believe. Everything really just fell into place with no hiccups. Definitely followed the typical romance plot line.

This was a fun and quick read! While I did like the characters and enjoyed the story and their banter, I'm afraid it was missing the little spark for me, personally. However, this has drama, humour and rivalry and it's an entertaining story!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

I thought it was a cute read. I enjoyed the characters, the story flowed nicely.

Love Match is a great read! Laire takes you on an enjoyable ride, one that you can see, smell, and almost feel the sun on your skin. I loved how the storyline was an original idea, it was very refreshing with all of the books out there now a days. The main charter goes undercover as part of an modern day harem, and it turns into a great romance story that unfolds. Laire has such a way with words you truly feel like you are right there. I have never read anything by this author. but after this book I am now hooked. I hope that there is more books with some of the other charters in the book to get their own.

A tale as old as time... Girl’s fiancé cheats on her so she joins a modern day harem in hopes of furthering her career with an expose piece. The book follows a very short period of Serena McAllister moonlighting in Prince Shailemon’s coterie and focuses on both dealing with internal turmoil. Prince Shailemon must marry in order to be king. The big question is: Will he marry out of obligation or for a love match? While at times the back and forth on their feelings became a little too much, this was a solid read.

I loved this book! It was so flowing and such a wonderful story. All the characters develop along with the story line. It keeps you in the story and keeps you reading.

I loved this book so much! It was the first book I have read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters and their story stick with you long after you finish the book.

This was a cute story that was easy to read and went by fast. While I do think some of it was rushed, I really liked the banter between Serena, who reminded me of an American version of Bridget Jones, and Shai.

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

this book was beautifully written and I'm so glad that I got it I love anything cultural especially India seems to fascinate me. The setting was beautiful and the characters very intense.

This story starts off on a sad note with the main character having been betrayed, but things quickly pick up as she finds herself in a rivalry that leads her off in some very interesting directions! The setting is evocative and richly imagined, so much so that I could feel almost as though I had seen it myself! The pace keeps things moving along rather quickly and I only wished that the story had been longer so I would have had more time to savor it! While the main idea about Serena joining a modern-day harem sounds very wild and risque, things take a more wholesome turn later in the book.

I’d happily suggest this one but I’ll say it’s a touch long. I felt like it was a few chapters long and the point was still made. Serena was relatable, humble, provocative. The story feels like you’re also in Birin Island in the paradise McKinney crafts with words so well-written I almost packed a bag. Instead I’ll suggest this one to friends but warn them they might stay up all night.

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The story opens with Serena McAllister arriving on Birin Island to become a part of Prince Shailemon Sharma's coterie, a modern-day harem. Serena is a journalist and plans to uncover what's really going on at the coterie in hopes of landing a promotion at work, taking the coveted spot away from her rival. Meanwhile, the prince is dealing with his own conflicts, with the recent death of his father, the King, and the assumption that Shailemon will ascend to the throne. However, as sparks begin to fly between Serena and Prince Shailemon, our main characters must decide what's really worth it when love is on the line.

I requested this book because it felt a bit quirky and it did not disappoint. I don't care much if a romance is predictable or believable - it's fiction! What matters more is my pull to the characters, and how immersed I find myself in the story. I flew through this and I loved it. Even though it maybe felt a bit fast in terms of how quickly feelings developed, the characters addressed that, so even when it was a bit much, I was still able to enjoy it. I read this in less than 24 hours, and it was perfect for spring break. This would make a great beach read!

After a few horror books and intense reads this book was the perfect palette cleanser for me. I think my rating is reflecting my need for a simple, quick, fun story that I could escape into. The cover is a little misleading (I thought it was set in India). Keep in mind this is your typical formulated fairy tale - on a fictional island. I enjoyed Serena and found her likeable/genuine/confident. I did wish she was a little more diverse (she is described as a skinny/long model type). My favorite part was probably the secret cave scene.
If you are looking for a deeply descriptive complex storyline this is not it. But if you are looking to escape into a quick fun sexy rom/com this is a great choice.

Love Match is the story of an American journalist who journeys to an island unknown to most of the world to write an expose on harems in the modern day. What she didn’t expect was to find a charming prince who destroyed all of her ideas for this article. Readers be warned, this is a cute as heck love story - however, it is an insta-love story. And if that isn’t for you, I understand. With that being said, once I got past the insta-love section in the beginning, I really did enjoy so much of this story. It has a lot to offer. Because the beginning was not for me, the book is receiving 3 stars. But again, I really did enjoy most of it. Love Match really is worth a read. Here’s why:

What I loved:
- the overall romance (post insta-love) was great in my opinion. I was rooting for these characters
- the cultural challenges. Everything about the cultural divide between America and Birin Island were so fascinating. I want to know so much more about Birin.
- YES to talking about the problems with America
- modern day harems vs harems of the old world. I love getting to look into the history and modernization of women in the court of kings

What I didn’t love so much (besides the insta-love):
- I felt really thrown into the story without enough background. Once you get past it, everything’s fine
- it is pretty predictable, as romances tend to be. But the general “plot twist” was foreshadowed and obvious very early on
- I think the journalism role was a little clumsy and I don’t love Serena as a main character

Again, definitely worth a read if you’re interested in cultural clashing, misguided intentions, and just wanting a cute romance to read quickly.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and BHC Press for sending me and advanced ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Love Match comes out on June 3, 2021!

My first NetGalley review, how exciting!! What a fun quick read! Lots of great laugh out loud moments and just enough spicy scenes to be tantalizing, but not over kill. Would have liked a little more character and plot development. Especially, for Ekaterina and Madame. I really like the relationship development between Shai and Serena. Although, this is a contemporary romance this meet cute is highly irregular and they fall in love super fast it's crazy. A missed opportunity was to add Serena's article that she ended up writing. There were points that were slightly predictable. Overall, I think this will be a great summer beach read. If this book shows up at Barnes and Noble I will definitely be recommending it to customers as a fun summer read.

I should say that I ended up reading this a lot while I was waiting for my Dr. appointments for my ear and I'm sure they thought I was nuts laughing in the patient rooms.
The following is a synopsis from Goodreads:
Serena McAllister is devastated to find her fiancé has cheated on her—again. When she learns her newspaper is outsourcing jobs to freelance writers, she’s desperate to land the last remaining staff position. Unfortunately, her rival Jane Childers wants the coveted spot as well, and she’s just as determined.
Vowing to do whatever it takes to get her life in order, Serena decides to join a modern-day harem and write a provocative article about the objectification of women across the world to land her dream job at the newspaper. When Serena arrives at the tiny tropical paradise known as Birin Island, she meets Prince Shailemon Sharma, who is dealing with his own issues of archaic customs in his homeland.
As sparks begin to fly, they discover that attraction can lead to so much more—and that there are no barriers of culture or country when love is on the line.

That cover caught my attention instantly, then the description of a harem in modern times and how the contrast of cultures could play an important role in this love story.
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I liked that it wasn't a soft and tender Cinderella love story. That the characters are not perfect or that it wasn't a hero who comes to the rescue.
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I found it to be a fluid Romcom with an ideal rhythm. The descriptions of the aromas and the landscape completed the story perfectly.
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The book is set on the fictional island of Birin and a modern version of the harem that maintains royalty in Arab countries. Prince Shailemon has just inherited his father's place and must accommodate to their expectations that everyone have of him, such as maintaining the tradition of a cotaire and find a adecuate wife. In the other hand cames Serena who goes in search of her last chance of a good story, in order to not lose her job at a new york newspaper, what she does not expect is to run into the prince face to face in his first minutes in the palace and be involved in inexpected and quirky situations.
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Instalove, funny situations and a dream landscape are all that is good in a travel romance with good characters
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Thanks to BHC Press for give me this great book in exchange for my honest review

THIS WAS SUCH A CUTE STORY, YOU GUYS!! I really enjoyed reading this one and it's not a slow-burn!!! I am squealing the entire time because of how cute they are and let me tell you, the sexual tension is intense! "I like the idea of you ripping off my tie." AAAAAHH please they just laughed it off! LMAO, what a cutie! The story is just *chef's kiss* I really love the characters. Serena is beautiful, funny, and a fighter while Shai is hot and stunning. Skye is so funny, she has no censor with her words. I understand where Serena got her personality. Tareek is such a cute & loyal guy as well as Chiro. And Madame!! please I love her so much. I just love how it ended, they're such a cute couple even though their relationship was too fast but who cares? Those things happened in real life too. Don't even get me started with Mick the cheating bastard. I hate the guts of cheaters. He deserves that broken nose. I love the improvement of Serena though, from a cheating bastard to a Prince. YAAS!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was light and fun to read. The main character was unexpected and very funny.

I was drawn to this book because of the cover, by the synopsis is this a book I would usually read - No.
Having said that I actually liked it.
Does it read like the script of a typical Rom-com movie, yes
Does it have insta love, yes
Is the plot cliché, yes
If you put all of that aside and read it for what it is, it is a well written love story with some funny banter and well placed steamy scenes.

What a unique story! The romance was sweet and the characters were interesting and kept me engaged. I really liked that the plot was unique. That is a refreshing change of pace for contemporary romance.

I am really torn on this one. It was entertaining and a quick read - I finished it in 2 days - but Serena was a difficult character to follow as a protagonist. She was like an American version of Bridget Jones who decided to up and join a modern-day harem on a whim. Serena bumbled through every interaction and it was really hard to believe she and Shai fell in love in a week even with the few connections they made.

Love Match by Laire McKinney is not your average travel romp. Instead it is a story of unexpected love, a tough as nails journalist, and a dashing real-life Prince Charming, all in the vain of Eat, Pray, Love or Pretty Woman. Serena McAllister is a delightful leading lady perfectly complimented by her male lead Prince Shailemon. Though the premise of the work seems unrealistic, the writing was well done and sophisticated.

This story was a modern take on the royalty-pauper trope with a fun twist. I liked how quirky and real Serena was from the get-go. She exhibited the exact jet-lag symptoms I have after flying which was more realistic than the perfect, off the plane depictions some stories have. And her relationship with Shai, while fast-paced, was refreshing. For me, this was not as much a realistic love story (we all know governments usually have more say on who royalty is able to be with) but it did create a version of what can be. ⁠⁠
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Personally, I felt like I was reading an adult version of a fairytale (Gail Carson Levine anyone?) and it felt nice to have something to fall into without being worried the whole time about what could go wrong.⁠⁠
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3 /5⁠⁠
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Triggers: alcohol usage, mentions of weed and slight drug consumption, mentions of sexual harassment.⁠⁠
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Genre: contemporary romance, romance, royalty⁠⁠
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Thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review and the opportunity to read this work of art.⁠⁠

This book was read thanks to NetGalley


This isn't a bad book, but this idea of traditions being seen through western and modern eyes isn't my number one thing.

Is the book bad? No it isn't

Do I recommend it? yes isn't a bad book

The romance in it is good, so give it a chance and form your own critique

Do you love happy endings, palace and hot princes. Then this book should be high up on your tbr. Ms.Mckinney tells a deliciously amazing story with hilarious lines sure to get you looks if you're reading it in public and steamy scenes as well.
I would definitely recommend this book for the hopeless romantic looking for something exciting and heartwarming to read.

Beautifully written, heartwarming story. I couldn’t put this one down and I can’t wait to order my physical copy!