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The Perfect Match
Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?
Zara has always felt a little ordinary next to her spirited best friend Ivy. Even her dreams seem mundane: a boyfriend, marriage, children... Besides, who would pick her when they could choose Ivy?
So when Zara meets Henry and there's an instant spark, she can't believe her luck. A wealthy CEO who wants to settle down? He's perfect... until Ivy insists he's too good to be true.
As Henry and Ivy repeatedly clash, doubts creep into Zara's mind. Could it be that Ivy just doesn't want to share her best friend with anyone else? Or does Henry have a hidden agenda? Zara is caught in the middle, constantly trying to prove who she loves more.
Then someone winds up dead, and Zara realises there's more to this than jealousy...
Zara has always felt a little ordinary next to her spirited best friend Ivy. Even her dreams seem mundane: a boyfriend, marriage, children... Besides, who would pick her when they could choose Ivy?
So when Zara meets Henry and there's an instant spark, she can't believe her luck. A wealthy CEO who wants to settle down? He's perfect... until Ivy insists he's too good to be true.
As Henry and Ivy repeatedly clash, doubts creep into Zara's mind. Could it be that Ivy just doesn't want to share her best friend with anyone else? Or does Henry have a hidden agenda? Zara is caught in the middle, constantly trying to prove who she loves more.
Then someone winds up dead, and Zara realises there's more to this than jealousy...
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2022
2910 people are currently reading
2820 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
April 20, 2023
I wanted to like this book. The synopsis was the best part of this book. The main character, Zara, is unlikable. She’s either naïve as hell or just plain stupid. The relationship between her and Ivy is written in so many different ways throughout, from sisterly, to best friends, to sexual, to obsessive, to vindictive-it’s frustrating.
Henry and Zara. Again with her being naïve! The pull between her and Luke was the only thing that made this book palatable. I forced myself to finish it because I’ve only ever left one book unfinished. The end did not provide closure-which is fine, but the story had so many opportunities to unwind…and sooner, but to no avail.
Henry and Zara. Again with her being naïve! The pull between her and Luke was the only thing that made this book palatable. I forced myself to finish it because I’ve only ever left one book unfinished. The end did not provide closure-which is fine, but the story had so many opportunities to unwind…and sooner, but to no avail.
March 8, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ January 19, 2023
Est page Count ~ 309 (51 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 5 minutes
Narrator ~ Helen Keeley
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & before, toxic relationships, murder, r@pe
Zara & Ivy have been BFF's for 10 years, since uni. Zara meets Henry and things progress with that relationship rather quickly.
This is a classic case of poor girl from a broken home going out of her way to please her rich, toxic best friend and also going all in when someone bats an eye at her. Unlikable characters and dumb choices galore going on here.
Overall, it was like a train wreck that you can't turn away from because you just want to see what dumb move is made next. Middle of the road decent.
*Thanks to the author, Embla Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
Oof, her voice for Ivy was awfully annoying. Her regular voice was perfectly fine.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ January 19, 2023
Est page Count ~ 309 (51 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 5 minutes
Narrator ~ Helen Keeley
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & before, toxic relationships, murder, r@pe
Zara & Ivy have been BFF's for 10 years, since uni. Zara meets Henry and things progress with that relationship rather quickly.
This is a classic case of poor girl from a broken home going out of her way to please her rich, toxic best friend and also going all in when someone bats an eye at her. Unlikable characters and dumb choices galore going on here.
Overall, it was like a train wreck that you can't turn away from because you just want to see what dumb move is made next. Middle of the road decent.
*Thanks to the author, Embla Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
Oof, her voice for Ivy was awfully annoying. Her regular voice was perfectly fine.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
December 24, 2022
Zara and Ivy are life long friends and are living together when Zara meets Henry. He is everything she has been looking for. Zara has always wanted marriage and a family and thinks she may have found the possibility with Henry, until Ivy accuses him of something horrible. Zara doesn’t know who is telling the truth and is torn about where her loyalty lies.
This was another that was just ok for me. I didn’t like the characters but I couldn’t stop reading till I figured out the truth.
The Perfect Match is available January 19,2023
Thank you to netgalley and emblabooks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was another that was just ok for me. I didn’t like the characters but I couldn’t stop reading till I figured out the truth.
The Perfect Match is available January 19,2023
Thank you to netgalley and emblabooks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2023
2.5 stars
i hated every single character u couldn’t tell me one good thing about one of the characters bc i wouldn’t believe it
i hated every single character u couldn’t tell me one good thing about one of the characters bc i wouldn’t believe it
December 3, 2023
Reading this book was just frustating. Our protagonist Zara always decided to think and act the worst way possible. She was so naive, stupid and obsessed by some ideals set by society that she seemed pathetic. She fell victim to every lie and act of manipulation thrown at her which also was pretty much the entire book. It was unpossible to connect with because she was this unlikable. A person full of jelousy and insecurity. Her inner monolouges constantly made me shake my head. I couldnt stand her. All that made me judge and mistrust her narration which is definitly not the best premise to get into a story.
This also lead me to believe less what she was convinced of hence I was always more keen to believe Ivys narrative than Henrys. Ivy who led an irresponsible lifestyle and was pretty much a mess throughout seemed to be the under-dog in this affair. Her exact motives were unclear Till the end. She was rather ambigiuous although she Diving seem to be that Deep of a Person. Meanwhile the filthy rich filth Henry was a rich guy that won the protagonsists heart by throwing Money around him, caring about her that much that he cut her off from everyone and didnt hate her because her mother in an alcoholic. Everytime he did something „romantic“ I was creeped out. A rich guy impressing you with expensive shit is as romantic as scattering a week-old bread to a group of pigeons. Moreover, his ulterior motives were just too apparent to miss.
The only decent person was her ex-boyfriend Luke. Staining him in the last pages was a weird and unnecsessary choice.
The worst of all was Amira. Always giving the worst advice without knowing the situation. Why would you trust her opinion on people she hasnt seen and moments she didnt live through. Another unlikable person full of judgment & prejudices and full of herself.
Storywise it was predictable and you could see the twists coming miles ahead. The most reveals were also most unneeded ones. Parts were too dark and disturbing too read for me but longing for a closure of this mess I had to continue reading. Something about the thriller plot didnt fit with the characters though. The mystery felt off. It was entertaining though. The ending was underwhelming and too much was left open.
To the question wether to Trust your best friend or fiancee: I‘d have to answer with these two toxic personalities should rather grow a brain and a backbone to think and act for yourself. Also I dont know why this book is called „the perfect match“ because I absolutly see no perfect match here…
This also lead me to believe less what she was convinced of hence I was always more keen to believe Ivys narrative than Henrys. Ivy who led an irresponsible lifestyle and was pretty much a mess throughout seemed to be the under-dog in this affair. Her exact motives were unclear Till the end. She was rather ambigiuous although she Diving seem to be that Deep of a Person. Meanwhile the filthy rich filth Henry was a rich guy that won the protagonsists heart by throwing Money around him, caring about her that much that he cut her off from everyone and didnt hate her because her mother in an alcoholic. Everytime he did something „romantic“ I was creeped out. A rich guy impressing you with expensive shit is as romantic as scattering a week-old bread to a group of pigeons. Moreover, his ulterior motives were just too apparent to miss.
The only decent person was her ex-boyfriend Luke. Staining him in the last pages was a weird and unnecsessary choice.
The worst of all was Amira. Always giving the worst advice without knowing the situation. Why would you trust her opinion on people she hasnt seen and moments she didnt live through. Another unlikable person full of judgment & prejudices and full of herself.
Storywise it was predictable and you could see the twists coming miles ahead. The most reveals were also most unneeded ones. Parts were too dark and disturbing too read for me but longing for a closure of this mess I had to continue reading. Something about the thriller plot didnt fit with the characters though. The mystery felt off. It was entertaining though. The ending was underwhelming and too much was left open.
To the question wether to Trust your best friend or fiancee: I‘d have to answer with these two toxic personalities should rather grow a brain and a backbone to think and act for yourself. Also I dont know why this book is called „the perfect match“ because I absolutly see no perfect match here…
March 29, 2023
My Review:
I absolutely LOVED Dandy’s debut novel One Small Mistake (read my review here) so I was super excited to see her new book The Perfect Match was published in January. I read her first book as part of a buddy read – which failed spectacularly as none of us could stop reading to discuss it, so I decided to read this book all on my own at my own pace.
Once again Dandy has created a wonderful story of toxic friendships, unreliable narrators, flawed but believable characters with The Perfect Match. Set in Bath, Zara is our narrator. She’s a Wedding Planner and absolutely loves her job. She lives with her BFF Ivy who she has been friends with forever and despite being the complete opposite of each other, their friendship appears solid on the outside.
It’s at a mutual friend’s wedding that Zara has planned that she meets Henry – charming, sophisticated, rich, successful, handsome and absolutely everything that Zara wants in a relationship, except for some unexplicable reason Ivy is determined to break them up. This prompts lots of awkward conversations, shocking scenarios, secrets being revealed, friendships being tested and plenty of twists.
Zara’s loyalty to her best friend and boyfriend is tested over the duration of the book and she is caught up in the middle of something she doesn’t quite understand, until someone turns up dead.
I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty tale of toxic relationships with a dash of jealously and a pinch of murder, The Perfect Match is a gripping thriller.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely LOVED Dandy’s debut novel One Small Mistake (read my review here) so I was super excited to see her new book The Perfect Match was published in January. I read her first book as part of a buddy read – which failed spectacularly as none of us could stop reading to discuss it, so I decided to read this book all on my own at my own pace.
Once again Dandy has created a wonderful story of toxic friendships, unreliable narrators, flawed but believable characters with The Perfect Match. Set in Bath, Zara is our narrator. She’s a Wedding Planner and absolutely loves her job. She lives with her BFF Ivy who she has been friends with forever and despite being the complete opposite of each other, their friendship appears solid on the outside.
It’s at a mutual friend’s wedding that Zara has planned that she meets Henry – charming, sophisticated, rich, successful, handsome and absolutely everything that Zara wants in a relationship, except for some unexplicable reason Ivy is determined to break them up. This prompts lots of awkward conversations, shocking scenarios, secrets being revealed, friendships being tested and plenty of twists.
Zara’s loyalty to her best friend and boyfriend is tested over the duration of the book and she is caught up in the middle of something she doesn’t quite understand, until someone turns up dead.
I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty tale of toxic relationships with a dash of jealously and a pinch of murder, The Perfect Match is a gripping thriller.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 10, 2022
Zara Barton, 28, is a wedding planner. She and Ivy Holt have been friends for a very long time. Zara hopes to getting married and have a family one day. Ivy tends to be critical of the men that Zara meets.
Zara grew up with Luke and has always loved him. However, as a travel writer, he is always away. When Zara meets super wealthy Henry who seems to be instantly in love with her, she is smitten.
Now begins a story of angst between Ivy and Zara. Their co-dependent friendship is very strange but is chalked up to both of them having bad relationships with their families.
When Ivy and Henry clash over Zara, life get difficult for the couple and things become very dangerous.
This is a hard book to read and understand. Ivy and Zara’s relationship is pathetic and no one ever seems to be happy. I found the story dark and depressing and did not care for it at all even though I stuck with it all the way through hoping to find something redeeming about it. That did not happen. Sorry, but this one is not for me.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Zara grew up with Luke and has always loved him. However, as a travel writer, he is always away. When Zara meets super wealthy Henry who seems to be instantly in love with her, she is smitten.
Now begins a story of angst between Ivy and Zara. Their co-dependent friendship is very strange but is chalked up to both of them having bad relationships with their families.
When Ivy and Henry clash over Zara, life get difficult for the couple and things become very dangerous.
This is a hard book to read and understand. Ivy and Zara’s relationship is pathetic and no one ever seems to be happy. I found the story dark and depressing and did not care for it at all even though I stuck with it all the way through hoping to find something redeeming about it. That did not happen. Sorry, but this one is not for me.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 8, 2025
What a ride! I really enjoyed this book. It kept me hooked from the beginning, and I liked the twists. I’ll definitely read more by this author. It’s about a woman named Zara who joins a dating app and quickly discovers that her perfect match may be hiding dangerous secrets. Her best friend tries to warn her about him—but who can Zara trust? The man of her dreams who seems too good to be true, or her lifelong best friend?
November 29, 2022
A friendship hinges on the invasion of a third party. The new triangle is shaken and rattled from its foundation to its core. No holds bar until there was blood.
The writing was superb. I loved the POV. The friendship felt genuine and the characters were the kind of people I would find !myself hanging with. Their dialogue (and monologue) was funny and clever.
The writing was superb. I loved the POV. The friendship felt genuine and the characters were the kind of people I would find !myself hanging with. Their dialogue (and monologue) was funny and clever.
June 23, 2023
Two shining stars for the stupidity of Zara.
October 29, 2024
I’m not sure who I hated the most.
January 15, 2025
I listened to the audio version of this novel, but what began as a promising read ended up being mediocre, with a main character who was weak, annoying, and a pushover. The end of the novel was unsatisfying - to be honest there is no true ending. The book just sort of stops…..
January 27, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Perfect Match' by Dandy Smith.
Read and reviewed for Dandy Smith, NetGalley, Compulsive Readers, Tracy Fenton.
Publication date 19th January 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its fascinating synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping read with a killer twist you won't see coming. Fans of K.L Slater, Lisa Jewell and C.L Taylor will be hooked.' I am a MASSIVE fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up these expectations. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Embla Books. I have yet to read a book published by Embla Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 51 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Bath, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I actually live in Wales so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places mentioned.
This book is written first person perspective and the main protagonists is Zara. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'The Perfect Match' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Dandy discusses emotional abuse, sexual abuse attempted or reported, and physical abuse.
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, friendship, secrets, romance, lies, twists, family, suspense and omg the twist!!! I absolutely loved the fact that it was written in first person perspective which gave us so much insight into what Zara was thinking and feeling throughout. It also brings the reader close to her and pulls her out of the pages so it feels that she is sitting opposite you telling you her story over a cup of tea or glass of wine! The storyline was addictive and I just could not put it down leaving me reading it in one sitting. You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. The storyline is filled with shocks, friendship, lies, secrets, betrayal, suspense, romance, tension and so much more! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Dandy's writing style and depth had me so engrossed that when I looked up it took me a moment to realise I was even reading!! Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! I was absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I thought the storyline was quite unique which is important to me in a book and I loved the explosive twists and cliffhanger which I did not expect!!! Congratulations Dandy it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but just when I thought I had worked out what was really going on everything was spun around again and I found myself completely wrong. This book is also really thought provoking and I put myself in Zara's position so many times and wondered who I would have believed if it was happening to me. It is so hard to say much about the storyline without giving too much away.
An absolutely gripping, dark and explosive psychological thriller that I was so addicted to I read it in one sitting!
Clear your schedules before even looking at the first page as you will not be able to put this book down!!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I'm not going to say as much about the characters as I usually do as will speak more about them based on how I felt at the start of the book as I don't want to give too much away. The main characters are Zara, Ivy, Luke and Henry. Zara and Ivy meet at a party when they are both drunk and become best friends. They live together and are practically sisters but some of the things that happen made me consider if there was more going on and one or the other had more than sisterly feelings. Zara and Luke are longtime on/off partners which ends when Zara decides she wants to settle and have children and Luke decides to spend his life travelling after the death of his brother. I really liked Luke and he was one of my favourite characters. I thought he was sweet, kind and an amazing person. Zara meets Henry at a wedding of a friend of Ivy's. I wasn't a huge fan when me met and I wasn't sure what to make of him although my feelings changed throughout. Ivy does not like him from the moment they meet. This dislike is the start of the cracks in Zelda and Ivy's relationship and jealousy, lies and drama come into play. My feelings for both Zara and Ivy changed as the story went on so I am not going to say any more about them. However, regardless of whether you love or hate them each of these characters worked perfectly together to make this a Ln absolutely addictive page turner.
Congratulations Dandy on a true page turner! This may be the first book I have read by you but it most definitely will not be my last!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall a dark, thought provoking, page turning and addictive page turner filled with love, friendship and betrayals that will keep you guessing throughout.
Genres covered in this novel include General Fiction, True Accounts Of Hoaxes & Deceptions, Mystery, Vigilante Justice Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Biographies Of Hoaxes And Deceptions, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Relationships, Parents & Families amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl' , 'The Girl on The Train', K.L Slater, C.L Taylor , 'The Wife Between Us', Liane Moriarty, Lisa Jewell and anyone looking for an explosive crime mystery that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last!!
308 pages.
This book is just £2.84 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectMatch #DandySmith #EmblaBooks #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #Tr4cyF3nton #TracyFenton #CompulsiveReaders
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Review for 'The Perfect Match' by Dandy Smith.
Read and reviewed for Dandy Smith, NetGalley, Compulsive Readers, Tracy Fenton.
Publication date 19th January 2023.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its fascinating synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping read with a killer twist you won't see coming. Fans of K.L Slater, Lisa Jewell and C.L Taylor will be hooked.' I am a MASSIVE fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up these expectations. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Embla Books. I have yet to read a book published by Embla Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 51 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Bath, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I actually live in Wales so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places mentioned.
This book is written first person perspective and the main protagonists is Zara. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'The Perfect Match' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Dandy discusses emotional abuse, sexual abuse attempted or reported, and physical abuse.
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, friendship, secrets, romance, lies, twists, family, suspense and omg the twist!!! I absolutely loved the fact that it was written in first person perspective which gave us so much insight into what Zara was thinking and feeling throughout. It also brings the reader close to her and pulls her out of the pages so it feels that she is sitting opposite you telling you her story over a cup of tea or glass of wine! The storyline was addictive and I just could not put it down leaving me reading it in one sitting. You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. The storyline is filled with shocks, friendship, lies, secrets, betrayal, suspense, romance, tension and so much more! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Dandy's writing style and depth had me so engrossed that when I looked up it took me a moment to realise I was even reading!! Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! I was absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I thought the storyline was quite unique which is important to me in a book and I loved the explosive twists and cliffhanger which I did not expect!!! Congratulations Dandy it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but just when I thought I had worked out what was really going on everything was spun around again and I found myself completely wrong. This book is also really thought provoking and I put myself in Zara's position so many times and wondered who I would have believed if it was happening to me. It is so hard to say much about the storyline without giving too much away.
An absolutely gripping, dark and explosive psychological thriller that I was so addicted to I read it in one sitting!
Clear your schedules before even looking at the first page as you will not be able to put this book down!!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I'm not going to say as much about the characters as I usually do as will speak more about them based on how I felt at the start of the book as I don't want to give too much away. The main characters are Zara, Ivy, Luke and Henry. Zara and Ivy meet at a party when they are both drunk and become best friends. They live together and are practically sisters but some of the things that happen made me consider if there was more going on and one or the other had more than sisterly feelings. Zara and Luke are longtime on/off partners which ends when Zara decides she wants to settle and have children and Luke decides to spend his life travelling after the death of his brother. I really liked Luke and he was one of my favourite characters. I thought he was sweet, kind and an amazing person. Zara meets Henry at a wedding of a friend of Ivy's. I wasn't a huge fan when me met and I wasn't sure what to make of him although my feelings changed throughout. Ivy does not like him from the moment they meet. This dislike is the start of the cracks in Zelda and Ivy's relationship and jealousy, lies and drama come into play. My feelings for both Zara and Ivy changed as the story went on so I am not going to say any more about them. However, regardless of whether you love or hate them each of these characters worked perfectly together to make this a Ln absolutely addictive page turner.
Congratulations Dandy on a true page turner! This may be the first book I have read by you but it most definitely will not be my last!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall a dark, thought provoking, page turning and addictive page turner filled with love, friendship and betrayals that will keep you guessing throughout.
Genres covered in this novel include General Fiction, True Accounts Of Hoaxes & Deceptions, Mystery, Vigilante Justice Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Biographies Of Hoaxes And Deceptions, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Relationships, Parents & Families amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl' , 'The Girl on The Train', K.L Slater, C.L Taylor , 'The Wife Between Us', Liane Moriarty, Lisa Jewell and anyone looking for an explosive crime mystery that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last!!
308 pages.
This book is just £2.84 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectMatch #DandySmith #EmblaBooks #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #Tr4cyF3nton #TracyFenton #CompulsiveReaders
@ThePerfectMatch @DandySmith @EmblaBooks @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited @Tr4cyF3nton @TracyFenton @CompulsiveReaders
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
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October 16, 2022
Dandy's first book was a runaway success, and I fell in love with her urgent writing and compelling portrayal of deep friendships and family-ships. Therefore, I was apprehensive about the second book... But I do declare I love it more than the first. The Perfect Match feels less self-conscious and more accomplished - its original format of first person speaking to second person is absolutely captivating. It held me in its grasp from beginning to end (I read it in two sittings).
I won't tell you the story - you can read the blurb - but the premise hinges on the power of friendship, and what happens when a third person turns the solid connection between two into a shaky triangle between three. I think most of us who have had super strong friendships have felt foundations quake under the pressure of an outside influence, and in this story, the tremors rattle everything - shaking up love, loyalty, trust.
It's clever and quick - the changing state of play dancing the Tarantella on every page. The dialogue is snappy and funny. The plot is slick and packed with everything you could desire for an all-consuming read: sex, power, politics (of the relationship kind) and murder. This has Netflix written all over it, and if you're in the mood for a smart page turner, with a tangy taste of blood, then I highly recommend it.
I won't tell you the story - you can read the blurb - but the premise hinges on the power of friendship, and what happens when a third person turns the solid connection between two into a shaky triangle between three. I think most of us who have had super strong friendships have felt foundations quake under the pressure of an outside influence, and in this story, the tremors rattle everything - shaking up love, loyalty, trust.
It's clever and quick - the changing state of play dancing the Tarantella on every page. The dialogue is snappy and funny. The plot is slick and packed with everything you could desire for an all-consuming read: sex, power, politics (of the relationship kind) and murder. This has Netflix written all over it, and if you're in the mood for a smart page turner, with a tangy taste of blood, then I highly recommend it.
December 28, 2023
I'm pretty torn about this one!
The writing was visceral and so full of voice, and it sucked me in right away. The characters were fully-fleshed and messy, and I loved watching Lily's chaos. I thought I'd had all the twists figured out, but there were a couple at the end that were excellent, and I hadn't seen them coming.
I'd have a hard time recommending it because of the unnecessary sexual content, and some of the strange undertones about whether or not the mc is in love with her (female) best friend.
Still, very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc! I'll be keeping an eye on Dandy Smith's future books for sure.
The writing was visceral and so full of voice, and it sucked me in right away. The characters were fully-fleshed and messy, and I loved watching Lily's chaos. I thought I'd had all the twists figured out, but there were a couple at the end that were excellent, and I hadn't seen them coming.
I'd have a hard time recommending it because of the unnecessary sexual content, and some of the strange undertones about whether or not the mc is in love with her (female) best friend.
Still, very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc! I'll be keeping an eye on Dandy Smith's future books for sure.
April 10, 2023
Oh the drama…to me it felt dragged out, the storyline was decent but could’ve been told in half the amount of pages.
January 28, 2023
Oh my! What a read! Zara, young sweet Zara, talented wedding planner – little did she know that one chance meeting at a wedding can change her life!
Zara and Ivy are opposites but they work as best friends – I loved their friendship at the beginning. But Zara meets the charming Henry and things changes with Ivy – my big question was why?! Was Ivy that jealous that Zara was happy with such a catch? What was really going on in Ivy’s head?!
I didn’t know who of Zara’s nearest and dearest to trust! Her relationships are so toxic!! I just don’t know what more to say without spoiling the story. But there was something Zara and I were being kept int he dark about and I was desperate to find out what!!!
The Perfect Match is one helluva read. The twists, turns and unreliable characters in this book kept me glued to my kindle. The ride was thrilling and I was left dumbstruck as Smith brought the book to an almighty crescendo of an end. Geez!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Zara and Ivy are opposites but they work as best friends – I loved their friendship at the beginning. But Zara meets the charming Henry and things changes with Ivy – my big question was why?! Was Ivy that jealous that Zara was happy with such a catch? What was really going on in Ivy’s head?!
I didn’t know who of Zara’s nearest and dearest to trust! Her relationships are so toxic!! I just don’t know what more to say without spoiling the story. But there was something Zara and I were being kept int he dark about and I was desperate to find out what!!!
The Perfect Match is one helluva read. The twists, turns and unreliable characters in this book kept me glued to my kindle. The ride was thrilling and I was left dumbstruck as Smith brought the book to an almighty crescendo of an end. Geez!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
September 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This psychological thriller was pretty predictable but still decent. It was on Hoopla for me and on Kindle Unlimited.
This psychological thriller was pretty predictable but still decent. It was on Hoopla for me and on Kindle Unlimited.
October 27, 2024
I have never hated a main character more than Zara.
June 19, 2024
This book, if full of twists, turns, secrets and lies. It had me torn the whole way through trying to decipher who was good and who was bad. Was Ivy obsessed or was Henry manipulating Zara and isolating her from any human connection she had.
I loved the ending, although I'm still unsure which version I would have told on the stand. Another amazing gripping book by Dandy Smith, I'm so glad I discovered her books this year 😀
I loved the ending, although I'm still unsure which version I would have told on the stand. Another amazing gripping book by Dandy Smith, I'm so glad I discovered her books this year 😀
January 20, 2025
3.75 rounded up
Hoopla
Superb narrator
Hoopla
Superb narrator
October 2, 2025
Angst and graphic real and imagined scenarios. Couldn’t deal with it to get to the actual plot, so a DNF for me.
January 15, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Story is based around who do you trust the most, your boyfriend or your best friend? Lots of twists and turns that’ll keep you wanting to read one more chapter.
April 9, 2023
Very good book. Didn't like the character though but still a great book.
January 9, 2023
I wonder if I need to stop reading thrillers - every single one I’ve picked up within the last year has been such a disappointment.
“Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?”
This book felt like a novelization of the first season of You (yes I’m aware that was a book as well but the show is a better comparison). The entire book you are wondering which person is crazier, Zara’s best friend Ivy or her dreamy boyfriend Henry. Personally, I thought that Ivy was psycho and manipulative and Henry was a gaslighting narcissist, but the main character was so unlikable I didn’t think she deserved either of them.
This book was so forgettable and boring - I probably would have abandoned it halfway if I didn’t get it as a ARC request.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
“Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?”
This book felt like a novelization of the first season of You (yes I’m aware that was a book as well but the show is a better comparison). The entire book you are wondering which person is crazier, Zara’s best friend Ivy or her dreamy boyfriend Henry. Personally, I thought that Ivy was psycho and manipulative and Henry was a gaslighting narcissist, but the main character was so unlikable I didn’t think she deserved either of them.
This book was so forgettable and boring - I probably would have abandoned it halfway if I didn’t get it as a ARC request.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 27, 2023
Oh this book had me seriously frustrated with Zara and the choices she made. Her toxic friendships and relationships. But deep at the heart of it all, she didn't see it.
That is what makes this book actually such a good read. There are men out there like Henry who pry on vulnerable women. There are friends out there like Ivy that are deceitful. These are situations that are not as far fetched as one might believe, so as frustrated as I got with Zara, the story highlights vulnerability and how an upbringing can affect your life choices.
This is my first Dandi Smith novel and I'm super impressed. There were twists, there was shock factor and having the book written in a "now" and "before" format, kept me hooked till the end. THE END!!
That is what makes this book actually such a good read. There are men out there like Henry who pry on vulnerable women. There are friends out there like Ivy that are deceitful. These are situations that are not as far fetched as one might believe, so as frustrated as I got with Zara, the story highlights vulnerability and how an upbringing can affect your life choices.
This is my first Dandi Smith novel and I'm super impressed. There were twists, there was shock factor and having the book written in a "now" and "before" format, kept me hooked till the end. THE END!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2023
The first half was a 4, the third quarter was a 2 and by the end, with how the characters develops and the choices they were making, I stopped caring. For what it’s worth, if the story hadn’t already lost me, the ending would’ve been a 5. Flaws and all, I loved Zara and Ivy’s relationship, but the boyfriend was red flags all the way down. His characterization undermined Zara and made her seem a bit ridiculous. And once the central conflict started, there was the persistent feeling that if everyone just communicated with each other, none of it would have happened. I would’ve rather have read a bog-standard romance with these characters rather than a thriller that feels a bit forced.
March 10, 2023
Engaging and Frustrating
This book follows Zara, a wedding planner and hopeless romantic who is best friends with Ivy, a confident and non committal woman. Zara, falls in love with Henry, a handsome millionaire. Zara can’t help getting the feeling that Ivy and Henry know each other and the story un ravels. I found the characters easy to imagine but Zara’s naivety frustrating at times. There are plenty of twists but is open ended. I was engaged in the story but it did seem very to the point with lack of explanation. I would recommend reading this book if you like domestic thrillers, not quite mind blowing but a good read and I can guarantee you will hate the villains!
This book follows Zara, a wedding planner and hopeless romantic who is best friends with Ivy, a confident and non committal woman. Zara, falls in love with Henry, a handsome millionaire. Zara can’t help getting the feeling that Ivy and Henry know each other and the story un ravels. I found the characters easy to imagine but Zara’s naivety frustrating at times. There are plenty of twists but is open ended. I was engaged in the story but it did seem very to the point with lack of explanation. I would recommend reading this book if you like domestic thrillers, not quite mind blowing but a good read and I can guarantee you will hate the villains!
May 11, 2024
Absolutely amazing!!! Psychological thriller, well written, twist end, exactly how I like them! Well done Dandy Smith !!!! Definitely recommended!!!!
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