Unmatched

Oooo we got spice, relationship woes, communication faux pas, stress, intrigue, cliffhangers! And more! A book that addresses so many topics in a marriage, but with ease & leaves the reader rooting for both parties to make it work!! With a dating app thrown in to a stalled marriage, this 1st in a series will keep you reading to find out “what next”. Thanks for the chance to read & review!! #netgalley #emiliaread

This one was not what I was expecting and I mean that in the best way possible. I have dealt with similar shenanigans before, so I was a bit apprehensive when I requested this one, but I am so glad I did. Everything about this was handled really well and didn't make me feel icky, which almost always happens where there is cheating/almost cheating. Spice, miscommunications, dual pov, if you're looking for something spicy to dive into over the weekend, this is your book. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read Unmatched!

Two wrongs don't make a right
And marriage requires lots of hard-work and compromise from both sides

This book is what King of Greed tried to be but was too chicken to actually deal with real issues (I'm sorry but this is my opinion)
The author doesn't shy away from difficult topics that happen in real life
This feels like a journey and doesn't at all feel like fiction
It seems like a safe space to explore the question "what happens after happily ever after?"

Let's discuss the plot
Anton Richie is unhappy with his life.
His wife doesn't seem to want or have time for him.
They were married for seven years already and he feels incredibly lonely
When the people, at his workplace started discussing about an app called Unmatched, he thought it was a p*rn site where he would hopefully find inspiration to do his business
But then he found it it's a site for married people to date
Yes people, it's a cheating site
But as his marriage seems to going down the drain, Anton wondered if this could be the best solution for all

Lydia Richie live to work
Literally
She has a thriving pet grooming and day-care business called Oh La Pooch and Pooch Park
From sick employees, to opening a new branch, it seems like she's always putting off one fire to the other
And then there's also the subject of her marriage
Anton expected sex, she knew that, but she also never found herself enjoying it
She just wanted it over with
And she's been so tired with work, she knew once the second Pooch Park is opened, she would have time for her husband once more
But when her best friend told her she found Anton's profile on a dating site
Her world was turned upside down
What should she do?
And she found herself scheduling a hook-up with him on the app
Anonymously of course

The plot is hella interesting
It doesn't follow the usual casual-sex then realize they're in love, the marriage of connivence or the oh-so-popular enemies-to-lovers
This is a crumbling marriage of two people who loves each other
Yet doubts, miscommunication and priorities seem to hinder their relationship at every corner
The story deals with difficult topics; about the decline of sex in a marriage, about priorities, work-life balance, about infidelity, about exploring one's sexuality
About working and focusing on your marriage daily

The angst was good too even though at times I find myself wanting to smack both Anton and Lydia in the head
But it what makes the story so good
How real it is
It's not some placate of how sex fixes everything
It raises the question of accountability
And of prioritizing one's happiness over comfort

I love this book
I think couples should read this and discuss these difficult topics
I feel like this could be a great book-club book so there could be a good discussion afterwards
I give this five stars, my first five-stars net galley review

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley, Victory Editing and Emilia Reed for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Unmatched. I was hooked from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down.

I loved the relationship between Anton and Lydia, it felt realistic, unlike a lot of others in the same genre. I really felt like I could relate to them being a married woman myself. Sometimes we let everyday things get in the way of spending time together.

The overall love and chemistry Anton and Lydia had was translated really well. I liked that like most normal married couples, they had their issues and had to come up with solutions to keep their marriage going.

I highly recommend and look forward to reading the next installment.

5 stars from me.