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We Are the Match
In this glittering, sapphic reimagining of Helen of Troy set in modern day mobster Greece, Helen is the daughter of a powerful crime lord and Paris is the woman hellbent on destroying her—if they don’t fall for each other first.
They’re thrown together in an opulent world of privilege, power, and cover-ups—and the closer they grow, the more the fragile balance of power in the world of crime lords begins to fray.
Because if Helen doesn’t choose to abandon her newfound connection with Paris and marry into the alliance her father arranged, they could all go to war.
And Helen and Paris might just be ready to let them.
They’re thrown together in an opulent world of privilege, power, and cover-ups—and the closer they grow, the more the fragile balance of power in the world of crime lords begins to fray.
Because if Helen doesn’t choose to abandon her newfound connection with Paris and marry into the alliance her father arranged, they could all go to war.
And Helen and Paris might just be ready to let them.
278 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2025
246 people are currently reading
7462 people want to read
About the author
Mary E. Roach
4 books182 followersMary E. Roach is a former teacher who now writes across genres and age categories, most recently thrillers for the young adult audience and romances for the adult audience.
When she is not writing stories for and about powerful women, Mary enjoys running, teaching martial arts, and disappearing into the wilderness. Mary lives in St. Paul with her wife and their very disagreeable cat.
She can be found on Instagram at @maryeroachauthor, or online at maryeroach.com.
She also writes fantasy for all ages as Máire Roche.
When she is not writing stories for and about powerful women, Mary enjoys running, teaching martial arts, and disappearing into the wilderness. Mary lives in St. Paul with her wife and their very disagreeable cat.
She can be found on Instagram at @maryeroachauthor, or online at maryeroach.com.
She also writes fantasy for all ages as Máire Roche.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 17, 2024
Thank you for being here - WE ARE THE MATCH is my debut adult romance.
Please note that this content is mature and contains nsfw elements (if you have followed me because of my kidlit content, please take care if this type of content is not for you).
A complete list of content warnings will be posted on my website when WE ARE THE MATCH begins to go out to reviewers.
Please note that this content is mature and contains nsfw elements (if you have followed me because of my kidlit content, please take care if this type of content is not for you).
A complete list of content warnings will be posted on my website when WE ARE THE MATCH begins to go out to reviewers.
May 9, 2025
2.5 Stars
Arc from NetGalley.
We are the Match by Mary E Roach is a loose reimagining of the myth of Helen of Troy in a contemporary Greek underworld.
The main reason I am rating this book as adequate is because of the improbability of some of the events in the story. I understand that the reader has to adjust to some extent and accommodate any type of world the author has created, however, some points were just too unjustifiable to allow such incongruity to make sense.
I have read a number of mafia romance novels and some are also reimagined Greek mythology. Unfortunately, for me, We are the Match does not live up to its contemporaries. As a whole, the novel is acceptable but falls short when on par with other notable books of the same theme.
Arc from NetGalley.
We are the Match by Mary E Roach is a loose reimagining of the myth of Helen of Troy in a contemporary Greek underworld.
The main reason I am rating this book as adequate is because of the improbability of some of the events in the story. I understand that the reader has to adjust to some extent and accommodate any type of world the author has created, however, some points were just too unjustifiable to allow such incongruity to make sense.
I have read a number of mafia romance novels and some are also reimagined Greek mythology. Unfortunately, for me, We are the Match does not live up to its contemporaries. As a whole, the novel is acceptable but falls short when on par with other notable books of the same theme.
May 8, 2025
arc review
3⭐️
This book made no sense in the best possible way. The premise (lesbian mafia romance in the ancient Greece inspired world) was what had me hooked at first. Having said that, the world building was not great, so if you enjoy learning all the details about the universe in which the book is set, it might not be for you. It was all so strange, importing the characters and their surroundings from the Iliad and choosing this way the characters speak gave it a weird timeless quality that made a mention of a phone or a car feel so out of place. It didn’t bother me too much, it was more like iphone face actress in a period drama, weird but with no merit on quality.
I did enjoy the writing a lot, even if the insta love romance is usually not my thing, but with the chemistry oozing of the pages I didn’t mind that the relationship between Helen and Paris was a bit like that. And speaking of chemistry, Mary E. Roach certainly can write it in a convincing manner. The style at times reminded me of lit fic aspiring ao3 fanfics i read religiously in 2016.
I mean.
“I bite back the last of what I wanted to say: that I like Helen’s hair, wild like this. That I like when she looks at me like I am an explosive she cannot wait to light.”
And there’s also that one moment when covered in blood Helen says “your wife” while staring at Paris and listen. It was so worth reading for this scene alone. The context was phenomenal and the execution so good, to me it was what dark romance is supposed to be about!!
The plot, just like the world building, felt messy and at times very deus ex machina, which is often the case in mafia stories, but overall it was a quick and fun read, so I’d recommend it to people who are into the darker themes and don’t mind the trigger warnings.
3⭐️
This book made no sense in the best possible way. The premise (lesbian mafia romance in the ancient Greece inspired world) was what had me hooked at first. Having said that, the world building was not great, so if you enjoy learning all the details about the universe in which the book is set, it might not be for you. It was all so strange, importing the characters and their surroundings from the Iliad and choosing this way the characters speak gave it a weird timeless quality that made a mention of a phone or a car feel so out of place. It didn’t bother me too much, it was more like iphone face actress in a period drama, weird but with no merit on quality.
I did enjoy the writing a lot, even if the insta love romance is usually not my thing, but with the chemistry oozing of the pages I didn’t mind that the relationship between Helen and Paris was a bit like that. And speaking of chemistry, Mary E. Roach certainly can write it in a convincing manner. The style at times reminded me of lit fic aspiring ao3 fanfics i read religiously in 2016.
I mean.
“I bite back the last of what I wanted to say: that I like Helen’s hair, wild like this. That I like when she looks at me like I am an explosive she cannot wait to light.”
And there’s also that one moment when covered in blood Helen says “your wife” while staring at Paris and listen. It was so worth reading for this scene alone. The context was phenomenal and the execution so good, to me it was what dark romance is supposed to be about!!
The plot, just like the world building, felt messy and at times very deus ex machina, which is often the case in mafia stories, but overall it was a quick and fun read, so I’d recommend it to people who are into the darker themes and don’t mind the trigger warnings.
August 2, 2025
Happy publication day!
So, I requested this book on NetGalley entirely on the premise of sapphic Helen and Paris in an ancient Greek inspired modern setting. Sounds great, right? Okay, Mary E Roach gave us some of that... but it didn't work for me. For the majority of the book, I was definitely going to give it a lower rating than this, but there were some good moments, and I ended up caring about the characters, so it felt mean to rate it too badly.
But.
The premise that promised so much wasn't lived up to - for me. The world-building was patchy at best, and the retelling part was... vague. It's a very, very loose reimagining of the myth of Helen of Troy, and I spent quite a while trying to work out which characters equated to who from the Iliad, before deciding to not worry about it and read the book in front of me, rather than the one I had hoped for. This made for a pretty unsatisfactory read on my part - all that promise! - but if you go in with different expectations this book might work better for you. I sort of skimmed past the 'mafia' part, and that's actually the core of the book. I haven't read any mafia style books before, so I won't make any grand judgements on the genre as a whole, but this didn't work for me. There were so many moments that were just, frankly, unbelievable that took me out of the reading experience.
The characterisation was... mixed. Helen and Paris were both very intense characters (as expected), but they didn't feel realistic, even given the very strange, incongruous world the author has created). Helen's naivety is inconsistent and, at times, unbelievable; how can she be simultaneously so obtuse and so mature? There were secondary characters (make that singular: the character of Tommy, Helen's longterm bodyguard) that I did believe in, and was invested in their arc as the book progressed. But the plot, like the setting, was a bit messy - there were just too many things that took me out of the story, preventing me from liking it.
The writing is, in my opinion, very melodramatic. There were some good lines, but almost too many - if that makes sense. It read, as I saw in someone else's review, rather like something you'd come across on AO3 or Wattpad rather than a traditionally published novel; it's exhausting when each line falls so weightily... Although it's an adult novel, it felt more like an overly written YA.
Surprisingly, the insta-love didn't really bother me, possibly because I expected it. There was chemistry between Paris and Helen, but it was really hammered in. Some subtlety would have been appreciated.
Overall, a frustrating read; I wanted to like this, and I really tried to (I think I started it six times over the past month and put it down because I 'wasn't in the right mood' before deciding it was the book, not me), but I couldn't get past the plot, the messiness, the tone not feeling right, the disappointment that it wasn't a serious retelling of a portion of the Iliad.
All that being said, if you like dark, sapphic mafia stories, this might interest you. If you like world-building, consistency and are truly interested in Greek retellings, give it a miss.
2.75 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, Mary E Roach and Montlake for the ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
So, I requested this book on NetGalley entirely on the premise of sapphic Helen and Paris in an ancient Greek inspired modern setting. Sounds great, right? Okay, Mary E Roach gave us some of that... but it didn't work for me. For the majority of the book, I was definitely going to give it a lower rating than this, but there were some good moments, and I ended up caring about the characters, so it felt mean to rate it too badly.
But.
The premise that promised so much wasn't lived up to - for me. The world-building was patchy at best, and the retelling part was... vague. It's a very, very loose reimagining of the myth of Helen of Troy, and I spent quite a while trying to work out which characters equated to who from the Iliad, before deciding to not worry about it and read the book in front of me, rather than the one I had hoped for. This made for a pretty unsatisfactory read on my part - all that promise! - but if you go in with different expectations this book might work better for you. I sort of skimmed past the 'mafia' part, and that's actually the core of the book. I haven't read any mafia style books before, so I won't make any grand judgements on the genre as a whole, but this didn't work for me. There were so many moments that were just, frankly, unbelievable that took me out of the reading experience.
The characterisation was... mixed. Helen and Paris were both very intense characters (as expected), but they didn't feel realistic, even given the very strange, incongruous world the author has created). Helen's naivety is inconsistent and, at times, unbelievable; how can she be simultaneously so obtuse and so mature? There were secondary characters (make that singular: the character of Tommy, Helen's longterm bodyguard) that I did believe in, and was invested in their arc as the book progressed. But the plot, like the setting, was a bit messy - there were just too many things that took me out of the story, preventing me from liking it.
The writing is, in my opinion, very melodramatic. There were some good lines, but almost too many - if that makes sense. It read, as I saw in someone else's review, rather like something you'd come across on AO3 or Wattpad rather than a traditionally published novel; it's exhausting when each line falls so weightily... Although it's an adult novel, it felt more like an overly written YA.
Surprisingly, the insta-love didn't really bother me, possibly because I expected it. There was chemistry between Paris and Helen, but it was really hammered in. Some subtlety would have been appreciated.
Overall, a frustrating read; I wanted to like this, and I really tried to (I think I started it six times over the past month and put it down because I 'wasn't in the right mood' before deciding it was the book, not me), but I couldn't get past the plot, the messiness, the tone not feeling right, the disappointment that it wasn't a serious retelling of a portion of the Iliad.
All that being said, if you like dark, sapphic mafia stories, this might interest you. If you like world-building, consistency and are truly interested in Greek retellings, give it a miss.
2.75 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, Mary E Roach and Montlake for the ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read
August 6, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.
I enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of darker sapphic romances, so I was really looking forward to reading this by the genre alone and also because I liked the authors previous YA novel.
I didn’t know it was a reimagining at first and I wasn’t sure what to expect since I never got into Greek mythology. But I truly don’t think my lack of prior knowledge negatively impacted my appreciation of this story one bit. I understood both characters and their motivations. I liked their respective arcs and the way they grew together. I really felt for Helen and all she’s gone through.
Overall, I think lovers of dark sapphic romances should check this one out!
I listened to the audiobook and I really liked both narrators. I thought their voices/style complimented each other nicely. I definitely recommend the audiobook to anyone looking to read this book.
I enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of darker sapphic romances, so I was really looking forward to reading this by the genre alone and also because I liked the authors previous YA novel.
I didn’t know it was a reimagining at first and I wasn’t sure what to expect since I never got into Greek mythology. But I truly don’t think my lack of prior knowledge negatively impacted my appreciation of this story one bit. I understood both characters and their motivations. I liked their respective arcs and the way they grew together. I really felt for Helen and all she’s gone through.
Overall, I think lovers of dark sapphic romances should check this one out!
I listened to the audiobook and I really liked both narrators. I thought their voices/style complimented each other nicely. I definitely recommend the audiobook to anyone looking to read this book.
December 13, 2025
Hmmm. I was expecting more. An interesting premise for reworking Helen and Paris's story, but not what I'd call exactly gripping.
May 4, 2025
this reads like an elle mae with a weaker voice, so this is very wattpad dark romance mafia and there's a large audience for that especially sapphic. I was excited for the Helen of Troy aspect but that was terrible, the weird name change, the concept being deep as a puddle and bad set dressing, like just do an original mafia story at this point
April 15, 2025
ARC review - thank you to netgalley and montlake for the arc of We Are the Match
3.75☆
i thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend to those wanting that dark sapphic mafia romance vibe but with complexity. this book was refreshing, thrilling, compulsively readable, and has great prose!!
there's an air of maturity that i sometimes don't find in other stories in the genre. the characters feel real and well rounded. for example, Helen's naivety is not insufferable and suffocating but still believable. Paris' personal goals and motivations are not overshadowed by the love and care she feels for Helen. this depiction of love and romance makes it more believable and swoonworthy in my opinion.
the last 20% felt a little undeveloped in a way, and i had to definitely suspend my disbelief a bit but overall i still think this was a great read and i want to read more of the author.
3.75☆
i thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend to those wanting that dark sapphic mafia romance vibe but with complexity. this book was refreshing, thrilling, compulsively readable, and has great prose!!
there's an air of maturity that i sometimes don't find in other stories in the genre. the characters feel real and well rounded. for example, Helen's naivety is not insufferable and suffocating but still believable. Paris' personal goals and motivations are not overshadowed by the love and care she feels for Helen. this depiction of love and romance makes it more believable and swoonworthy in my opinion.
the last 20% felt a little undeveloped in a way, and i had to definitely suspend my disbelief a bit but overall i still think this was a great read and i want to read more of the author.
July 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a copy of
We Are the Match
! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
3.25 stars rounded down
✨ Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 2.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: bisexual, polyam
I recommend if you enjoy…
- modern retellings
- mafia romance
- dark romance vibes (not super dark though)
- chaos???
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I saw “Helen of Troy” and said ‘yes’. Then I realized it’s also a sapphic mafia romance set in a modern, Greek-inspired world… which got me curious. I haven’t read anything by this author before.
Plot
The plot lowkey felt all over the place. Everyone was one upping each other. There was de*th left and right. Enough b*mbings I felt like I was in an action movie… and I could not stop turning the pages. Like I felt like I was in chaos and yet I needed to know what was going to happen next. There are themes of mystery and revenge that kept me interested.
Characters
I don’t even know what to say. There are a bunch of intriguing characters though in some ways they don’t feel “real”. They feel like characters out of a play or perhaps ancient myth. A bit larger than life. It’s hard to explain. A lot of them are obsessed with b*mbs and weap*ns. And I’m not sure if there is any sort of legal system that does anything.
Romance
The chemistry between Paris and Helen is undeniable. I’ve seen others refer to this book as a “lesbian” mafia romance; however, I would be hesitant to call it that as one of the main characters has s*xual relations in a group setting involving a man (not a spoiler since it literally happens on *checks notes* the first page). However, these scenes aren’t overly detailed, and I don’t recall any reference to male anatomy. A heads up, either way, for potential readers. Overall, the spice in this book is on the milder side for a dark romance-esque book. There is a ton of tension though, which I really enjoyed.
World-building
Oh, but this isn’t a fantasy/sci-fi novel, right? It’s not. But the world is somewhere between being modern and being Ancient Greece… I’m not sure it worked for me, yet I was happy to go along for the ride, I suppose?
Final Thoughts
While this may not be the best book I’ve read recently, it sure says something about it that I stayed interested the whole time and kept wanting to know what happened next. I think if the premise sounds interesting to you it is definitely worth the look (and it’s a bit on the shorter side).
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
b*mbs/b*mbings, weap*ns (g*ns, kn*ves, etc.), violence, mafia activities, de*th, attempted m*rder, threats, dismemb*rment
3.25 stars rounded down
✨ Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 2.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: bisexual, polyam
I recommend if you enjoy…
- modern retellings
- mafia romance
- dark romance vibes (not super dark though)
- chaos???
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I saw “Helen of Troy” and said ‘yes’. Then I realized it’s also a sapphic mafia romance set in a modern, Greek-inspired world… which got me curious. I haven’t read anything by this author before.
Plot
The plot lowkey felt all over the place. Everyone was one upping each other. There was de*th left and right. Enough b*mbings I felt like I was in an action movie… and I could not stop turning the pages. Like I felt like I was in chaos and yet I needed to know what was going to happen next. There are themes of mystery and revenge that kept me interested.
Characters
I don’t even know what to say. There are a bunch of intriguing characters though in some ways they don’t feel “real”. They feel like characters out of a play or perhaps ancient myth. A bit larger than life. It’s hard to explain. A lot of them are obsessed with b*mbs and weap*ns. And I’m not sure if there is any sort of legal system that does anything.
Romance
The chemistry between Paris and Helen is undeniable. I’ve seen others refer to this book as a “lesbian” mafia romance; however, I would be hesitant to call it that as one of the main characters has s*xual relations in a group setting involving a man (not a spoiler since it literally happens on *checks notes* the first page). However, these scenes aren’t overly detailed, and I don’t recall any reference to male anatomy. A heads up, either way, for potential readers. Overall, the spice in this book is on the milder side for a dark romance-esque book. There is a ton of tension though, which I really enjoyed.
World-building
Oh, but this isn’t a fantasy/sci-fi novel, right? It’s not. But the world is somewhere between being modern and being Ancient Greece… I’m not sure it worked for me, yet I was happy to go along for the ride, I suppose?
Final Thoughts
While this may not be the best book I’ve read recently, it sure says something about it that I stayed interested the whole time and kept wanting to know what happened next. I think if the premise sounds interesting to you it is definitely worth the look (and it’s a bit on the shorter side).
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
b*mbs/b*mbings, weap*ns (g*ns, kn*ves, etc.), violence, mafia activities, de*th, attempted m*rder, threats, dismemb*rment
March 3, 2025
ARC review - release date 29th July 25
Finally, a good LGBTQ mafia dark romance.
It mixes Greek mythology, politics, and mafia all in one (whats not to love!). The book is a dark romance with 2 female leads which isnt done enough in the romance genre. It's different from the 19yr old girl and 1000yr old 6ft + dark hair Tattooed man and honestly refreshing. I also love that both FMC are strong and can fight for themselves but choose to fight with/for eachother. It's enemies to lovers (which let's face it, is the best troop) and well written. I found a few grammatical errors and a sentence that didn't make sense and felt it was missing a word but that can be looked past because of the great story. It's a short book that jumps straight into the action with minimal world building at the start which I also love. It kept me interested and intrigued from the very first page to the last.
The cover is also beautiful.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️ as I have read better mafia romance books
Spice 🌶🌶
Finally, a good LGBTQ mafia dark romance.
It mixes Greek mythology, politics, and mafia all in one (whats not to love!). The book is a dark romance with 2 female leads which isnt done enough in the romance genre. It's different from the 19yr old girl and 1000yr old 6ft + dark hair Tattooed man and honestly refreshing. I also love that both FMC are strong and can fight for themselves but choose to fight with/for eachother. It's enemies to lovers (which let's face it, is the best troop) and well written. I found a few grammatical errors and a sentence that didn't make sense and felt it was missing a word but that can be looked past because of the great story. It's a short book that jumps straight into the action with minimal world building at the start which I also love. It kept me interested and intrigued from the very first page to the last.
The cover is also beautiful.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️ as I have read better mafia romance books
Spice 🌶🌶
October 2, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up to three. I really wanted to love this, sapphic retelling are my jam and I was intrigued by the Mafia aspect. There was little to no world building in this and it was desperately needed. I loved all the sapphics but I wanted more from the characters and the story. Paris and Helen fell in instalove which I'm never a fan of and I didn't understand why they were so into each other and willing to risk so much for a person they barely knew. I listened to the audiobook and that was the saving grace for this. Both narrators did an incredible job and made the nonsensical plot more bearable. This idea had so much potential but the execution wasn't there.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the arc I didn't get to in time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the arc I didn't get to in time.
July 24, 2025
I love a Greek mythology retelling but this just was not quite my favorite. As someone else stated in their review, I fully expect Paris to be annoying because that’s true to the story. But I didn’t expect Helen to be equally (if not more) annoying lol. And, for a mafia princess, so naive and a little obtuse. To me, at least.
The setting is just awkward to me. It’s modern but then there is so much focus on gowns outside of a ball or party and gods and queens that it almost feels contradictory. Also, I just didn’t connect with the characters very well (other than Tommy, and Thea - to a degree. That’s disappointing because I’ve really grown to love sapphic romances and I always love a mafia take. I can certainly appreciate the rage and revenge Paris and Helen proved capable of.
I wanted to love We Are the Match so badly. I just liked it, but it was still good enough for me to finish so that’s definitely something. I guessed most of the overall plot, but I was still along for the ride. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
The setting is just awkward to me. It’s modern but then there is so much focus on gowns outside of a ball or party and gods and queens that it almost feels contradictory. Also, I just didn’t connect with the characters very well (other than Tommy, and Thea - to a degree. That’s disappointing because I’ve really grown to love sapphic romances and I always love a mafia take. I can certainly appreciate the rage and revenge Paris and Helen proved capable of.
I wanted to love We Are the Match so badly. I just liked it, but it was still good enough for me to finish so that’s definitely something. I guessed most of the overall plot, but I was still along for the ride. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
September 15, 2025
thank you to netgalley & montclair publishing for providing me a copy of this book in return for an honest review <3
dear miss roach and anyone else who liked this book……. look away LOOK AWAY
it seriously breaks my heart to say this but….. i cannot name a single goddamn positive thing about this book. this truly was not good. it breaks my heart to say this about an indie author and a debut into adult fiction but…. yeoch this was bad. i can’t even say the components were bad and the idea originally was good because.. i mean yeah in theory sapphic helen and paris is a good idea, but the actual plot itself in theory sucks! and in execution it does as well! and genuinely if i could word this in a constructive way, or give apt pointers like “to make x better, do y”, but seriously i think the entire concept is a hit and a miss, and any course correction i would offer would be like doing a spritz of perfume over a sewage plant. it’s not gonna do anything. but im still gonna offer them anyways because i feel like its heinous to dunk on a book and at least not try and offer solutions even if the author and editor would think said suggestions were dogshit.
i’m gonna break this down by components. so firstly, the characters…. paris and helen were such nothingburgers. you have this whole thing of helen being half-god and nothing is done with it! which begs the question, what’s the point of having the setting be a greek mythology retelling? nothing about the setting demands it to be based in greek mythology. you could’ve changed the names and removed the random mentions of helen being half god and nothing in the story would meaningfully change. it was so irrelevant to the story u was honestly baffled by the choice to have this as a retelling. the only thing this book shared with greek mythology were the names of people and locations. helen as an actual character felt like a prop dressing with no depth, and honestly that’s how every single character in this book felt. paris however has the additional problem of being the world’s least likeable protagonist. she’s rude, she’s arrogant, she’s got some of the cringiest dialogue i’ve seen in years, and i was never rooting for her. if anything i was actively rooting for paris to get bombed to smithereens because she annoyed me. what little she gave was not good. none of the characters here had depth. they were things with names and one fact about them and that’s it.
the plot was boring as hell. there were plot twists sure, but everyone in universe was acting like it was shocking, but i truly felt nothing. i was apathetic. i didn’t care who made the bomb. i didn’t care about the investigation. especially since it all amounted to nothing. the plot was thrown away and changed at the drop of a hat to a war, and that just showed me nothing in the story mattered. nothing had meaning to me because in one chapter it could all be undone.
paris and helen’s relationship is the most unrealistic relationship i’ve read in ages. it felt forced and inauthentic. their meeting itself didn’t really make sense in universe, and their connection felt fake. not for one second did i buy their relationship. their dialogue was cringey yet again and yet again i felt…. nothing. no emotion about their relationship. couldn’t have cared less.
this book honestly had nothing going for it. and that’s sounds harsh but seriously that’s how i felt. none of the characters had depth or were likeable. the plot wasn’t satisfying and was messy. the dialogue was not great. this was a colossal miss. and like i said i feel bad dunking on an indie debut but… i also can’t lie to myself ☹️
dear miss roach and anyone else who liked this book……. look away LOOK AWAY
it seriously breaks my heart to say this but….. i cannot name a single goddamn positive thing about this book. this truly was not good. it breaks my heart to say this about an indie author and a debut into adult fiction but…. yeoch this was bad. i can’t even say the components were bad and the idea originally was good because.. i mean yeah in theory sapphic helen and paris is a good idea, but the actual plot itself in theory sucks! and in execution it does as well! and genuinely if i could word this in a constructive way, or give apt pointers like “to make x better, do y”, but seriously i think the entire concept is a hit and a miss, and any course correction i would offer would be like doing a spritz of perfume over a sewage plant. it’s not gonna do anything. but im still gonna offer them anyways because i feel like its heinous to dunk on a book and at least not try and offer solutions even if the author and editor would think said suggestions were dogshit.
i’m gonna break this down by components. so firstly, the characters…. paris and helen were such nothingburgers. you have this whole thing of helen being half-god and nothing is done with it! which begs the question, what’s the point of having the setting be a greek mythology retelling? nothing about the setting demands it to be based in greek mythology. you could’ve changed the names and removed the random mentions of helen being half god and nothing in the story would meaningfully change. it was so irrelevant to the story u was honestly baffled by the choice to have this as a retelling. the only thing this book shared with greek mythology were the names of people and locations. helen as an actual character felt like a prop dressing with no depth, and honestly that’s how every single character in this book felt. paris however has the additional problem of being the world’s least likeable protagonist. she’s rude, she’s arrogant, she’s got some of the cringiest dialogue i’ve seen in years, and i was never rooting for her. if anything i was actively rooting for paris to get bombed to smithereens because she annoyed me. what little she gave was not good. none of the characters here had depth. they were things with names and one fact about them and that’s it.
the plot was boring as hell. there were plot twists sure, but everyone in universe was acting like it was shocking, but i truly felt nothing. i was apathetic. i didn’t care who made the bomb. i didn’t care about the investigation. especially since it all amounted to nothing. the plot was thrown away and changed at the drop of a hat to a war, and that just showed me nothing in the story mattered. nothing had meaning to me because in one chapter it could all be undone.
paris and helen’s relationship is the most unrealistic relationship i’ve read in ages. it felt forced and inauthentic. their meeting itself didn’t really make sense in universe, and their connection felt fake. not for one second did i buy their relationship. their dialogue was cringey yet again and yet again i felt…. nothing. no emotion about their relationship. couldn’t have cared less.
this book honestly had nothing going for it. and that’s sounds harsh but seriously that’s how i felt. none of the characters had depth or were likeable. the plot wasn’t satisfying and was messy. the dialogue was not great. this was a colossal miss. and like i said i feel bad dunking on an indie debut but… i also can’t lie to myself ☹️
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July 27, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
We Are the Match by Mary E. Roach is a first person dual-POV Sapphic mafia romance reimagining of the story of Paris and Helen of Troy. Paris has sworn vengeance on Zarek for destroying Troy and killing many of the women Paris grew up with. But when Paris sets her sights on Helen as a way to get to Zarek, she finds herself drawn to Helen's chaotic energy and desire for control.
There are some references to Greek mythology but not every character name matches and there are a few things changed here and there. Some of the symbols used are a snake, a pomegranate, and a peacock and if you know Greek mythology, you know who a lot of the imagery lines up with. I would say that some of them are more like Easter eggs rather than defining clearly who each character is supposed to be since the pomegranate would indicate Persephone is one of the three queens of the mafia world, but a young woman who dies at the beginning of the story is named Kore, another name for Persephone.
This Helen is far from the very distant figure that she is in the story of Troy who gets very little time to be more than a prize men fight over. Here, is the daughter of a mafia boss and wants to rule in his stead. She's also an expert in making bombs and delights in causing destruction. The only one who really tempers these tendencies is Tommy, a father figure to her who also asks as her bodyguard and is the only person who treats her with any real gentleness, contrasting with Paris who isn't nearly as concerned with treating Helen with kid gloves.
The overarching emotions felt by both Paris and Helen are lust, affection and possessiveness towards each other and rage towards Helen’s family and anyone who was involved in the murder of the women of Troy. As such, the feelings on page are just as much of a powder keg as anything else and the reader is waiting for things to finally blow up in someone's face, preferably Helen’s father or fiancee.
I would recommend this to fans of Sapphic romance who want a mafia twist and readers of chaotic Sapphic who love Greek myth reimaginings
August 13, 2025
Anyone who knows me knows that a sapphic mafia retelling of the Trojan war is so far up my alley there was really no chance I wasn’t going to enjoy this. It scratched multiple brain itches for me - Greek mythology inspired, femme Paris x Hellen, badass mafia women… I ate it all right up! This was my first Mary Roach book so I didn’t know what to expect with her writing, but I’ll definitely read more by her in the future.
I do think we could have gotten got a bit more in the way of world building, and the ending also felt a bit rushed. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this retelling. I loved that Paris’s personal goals and motivations didn’t get overshadowed by her feelings for Hellen. I loved that Hellen, though naive, wasn’t insufferable. And the tone shift from the classic illiad to a modern mafia world setting was a really refreshing take on an admittedly, somewhat tired storyline.
I would definitely recommend this book, but know what you’re getting into. If you want literary prose reminiscent of the Illiad, this may not be what you’re looking for. If you like dark romance and sapphic retellings, you’re in the right place. Check trigger warnings.
I do think we could have gotten got a bit more in the way of world building, and the ending also felt a bit rushed. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this retelling. I loved that Paris’s personal goals and motivations didn’t get overshadowed by her feelings for Hellen. I loved that Hellen, though naive, wasn’t insufferable. And the tone shift from the classic illiad to a modern mafia world setting was a really refreshing take on an admittedly, somewhat tired storyline.
I would definitely recommend this book, but know what you’re getting into. If you want literary prose reminiscent of the Illiad, this may not be what you’re looking for. If you like dark romance and sapphic retellings, you’re in the right place. Check trigger warnings.
July 29, 2025
3.5 stars. This was my first book by Mary and I really enjoyed the writing style and the premise of the story. It is a loose retelling of Helen of Troy with a sapphic, organized crime vibe. Paris and Helen have a magnetic pull to one another that fans of insta-love are going to eat up! I truly enjoyed the connection they found in one another. Their journey was heartbreaking and romantic with so many twists and turns.
What pulled me out of the story was the world building. This very much felt like a fantasy realm at times to me. So much so, I had to keep reminding myself that it was modern Greece and mafia, not a vicious ruler of a mysterious kingdom. I unfortunately, did not get the mafia vibes from the story and felt I was in a romantasy setting the entire time. This meant when things like cellphones and such were mentioned it totally threw me.
While the world building missed the mark for me, I think Mary has a really lovely way with words and how she weaves a story together. I would absolutely read her work again.
What pulled me out of the story was the world building. This very much felt like a fantasy realm at times to me. So much so, I had to keep reminding myself that it was modern Greece and mafia, not a vicious ruler of a mysterious kingdom. I unfortunately, did not get the mafia vibes from the story and felt I was in a romantasy setting the entire time. This meant when things like cellphones and such were mentioned it totally threw me.
While the world building missed the mark for me, I think Mary has a really lovely way with words and how she weaves a story together. I would absolutely read her work again.
March 23, 2025
This book brings the myth of Helen of Troy into a modern setting, with a unique twist of mafia elements and retail drama. Even though I wasn't completely familiar with all the details of the original myth, the story pulled me in quickly with its intriguing characters and sharp plot.
Helen's character is reimagined in a contemporary world filled with power plays and danger. The blend of business rivalry and mafia intrigue creates a tension-filled narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The way the story incorporates timeless themes of beauty, desire, and betrayal while keeping the modern setting relevant and exciting is impressive.
With suspense, romance, and unexpected twists, this book is a thrilling ride from beginning to end.
Helen's character is reimagined in a contemporary world filled with power plays and danger. The blend of business rivalry and mafia intrigue creates a tension-filled narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The way the story incorporates timeless themes of beauty, desire, and betrayal while keeping the modern setting relevant and exciting is impressive.
With suspense, romance, and unexpected twists, this book is a thrilling ride from beginning to end.
July 31, 2025
We Are the Match by Mary E. Roach is a Helen of Troy retelling that’s reminiscent of The Hades Calculus, if not as spicy. It’s based on mythology, so of course a lot of it is fairly unrealistic, and if you go in expecting that, well…you’re going to be disappointed. If, however, you go into it looking for a crazy, messy, dystopian, mafia-esque sapphic romance with a side of darkness, then I think you’ll enjoy it.
It’s a quick read, and there’s a lot of chemistry between Helen and Paris once the story gets going. I did want a bit more worldbuilding, and some of the plot felt a bit messy, so there is that. I’d say it’s not quite a 4 star for me, but worth rounding up and checking out.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
It’s a quick read, and there’s a lot of chemistry between Helen and Paris once the story gets going. I did want a bit more worldbuilding, and some of the plot felt a bit messy, so there is that. I’d say it’s not quite a 4 star for me, but worth rounding up and checking out.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
July 22, 2025
This book was a lot of fun. I loved watching Paris work on her revenge plot and having her feelings for Helen get in the way. The mafia aspects added a layer of violence and anything goes that filled the book with action and had me at the edge of my seat wanting to see what would happen next. In the end, I loved how it all played out. I really enjoyed the characters and how both Paris and Helen are strong FMCs, they can look out for themselves and they look out for each other. They want to watch their world burn and I'm here for it!
July 24, 2025
I had high hopes for this book, but I was kind of bored throughout the whole thing. There was nothing that surprised me. I did like the relationship between Helen and Paris and how Paris shifted from vengeance/hate to wanting to keep Helen in her life. It wasn't a bad book by any means, I just wanted more action, more of the romance, more of the mystery, more of the world.
My many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this as an ARC.
My many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this as an ARC.
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June 4, 2025Full review coming soon. Check out Book Besties Podcast on June 17th for our coverage of this book, including an interview with the author!
February 13, 2025
4.5/5 stars, rounded up
ARC REVIEW: We Are The Match, Mary E Roach
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
I have to say: I’m a sucker for mafia romance. I’m also a sucker for Minnesotan authors, so this was an immediate “yes” from me. “We Are The Match” is a sapphic Helen of Troy retelling with characters that are imperfect, troubled, and ultimately: human. Both our FMCs get to say “touch her and die” and both are badass, which was so fun to read. I also really enjoyed getting to watch our FMCs grow and realize their potentials.
This book is ultimately a darker romance, so please check trigger warnings.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this eARC.
ARC REVIEW: We Are The Match, Mary E Roach
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
I have to say: I’m a sucker for mafia romance. I’m also a sucker for Minnesotan authors, so this was an immediate “yes” from me. “We Are The Match” is a sapphic Helen of Troy retelling with characters that are imperfect, troubled, and ultimately: human. Both our FMCs get to say “touch her and die” and both are badass, which was so fun to read. I also really enjoyed getting to watch our FMCs grow and realize their potentials.
This book is ultimately a darker romance, so please check trigger warnings.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this eARC.
August 25, 2025
Has to be the worst and hardest to follow book I’ve ever read masked by prose and big words and a universe that doesn’t make any sense. So many plot holes. Only finished this because it was 281 pages.
April 27, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
We Are Match by Mary E. Roach is a sapphic retelling of the story of Helen and Paris, with a mafia theme. In this version, Paris seeks Helen’s death as revenge for what Helen’s parents did to Troy (here reimagined as an orphanage for girls that was destroyed).
I found the author's writing very good — it’s fluid and quick to read. I started the book one day and finished it the next. The story and its characters are interesting, but I was a little disappointed (which is entirely my fault, I admit). I was expecting more references to the Iliad and the Trojan War, but the only ones I found were Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, Eris, and an object meant to represent Eris’s golden apple of discord.
Still, it’s a good book if you're looking for a dark, sapphic mafia romance.
We Are Match by Mary E. Roach is a sapphic retelling of the story of Helen and Paris, with a mafia theme. In this version, Paris seeks Helen’s death as revenge for what Helen’s parents did to Troy (here reimagined as an orphanage for girls that was destroyed).
I found the author's writing very good — it’s fluid and quick to read. I started the book one day and finished it the next. The story and its characters are interesting, but I was a little disappointed (which is entirely my fault, I admit). I was expecting more references to the Iliad and the Trojan War, but the only ones I found were Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, Eris, and an object meant to represent Eris’s golden apple of discord.
Still, it’s a good book if you're looking for a dark, sapphic mafia romance.
July 3, 2025
What a premise! This was an action packed read that hooked me quickly. We have dual POV switching between chapters of our mains: Helen and Paris. Paris very obviously exudes danger and this draws Helen in like a moth to flame. But our dear Helen is dangerous in her own right just beneath the surface. Hers is the subtle danger of political power and when that fails? Bombs, baby. These two + Helen's bodyguard, Tommy were the highlight of this story. I enjoyed their interactions and wanted things to work out for all three of them. The hope for this is what kept me reading through to the end.
We Are the Match is written in this understated way that I found appealing, but did lead to some confusion later. A example is at one point a character is eavesdropping on a meeting and from the vague description I couldn't tell if they were watching from a vent in the ceiling or from beneath the floorboards. Ultimately, it doesn't matter which, but there were a lot of scenes like this that could have been avoided with a little more description. I get what the author was going for and maybe others did not have this issue.
I was very interested in this world the author built her story around. We get little details here and there as the plot requires, but I never felt I got a good sense of just what was going on. How did these "gods" or "queens" come into power? Is Helen's dad the only guy in power? Why? What do the queens actually have power over? The characters aside from our main two (+Tommy) were painted in vague strokes and moved through a cloudy, unrealized world. I mixed up the "queens" constantly and even the two brothers Marcus and Milo tripped me up sometimes, for all that one was a violent hothead, we didn't really see that. The M names and them not being on screen together most of the time would make me second guess who was who. I think adding a little paragraph about the world this story takes place is as a sort of prologue could help towards this and provide some crunchy details for those of us that love worldbuilding.
Things really picked up in the last quarter of the book. The stakes were high and even though I didn't understand the world stakes, I was very invested in the personal ones of our leads. This story didn't shy away from the violence that formed these characters and that they inflict in turn. We know they're not good people, but we're rooting for them anyway.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
We Are the Match is written in this understated way that I found appealing, but did lead to some confusion later. A example is at one point a character is eavesdropping on a meeting and from the vague description I couldn't tell if they were watching from a vent in the ceiling or from beneath the floorboards. Ultimately, it doesn't matter which, but there were a lot of scenes like this that could have been avoided with a little more description. I get what the author was going for and maybe others did not have this issue.
I was very interested in this world the author built her story around. We get little details here and there as the plot requires, but I never felt I got a good sense of just what was going on. How did these "gods" or "queens" come into power? Is Helen's dad the only guy in power? Why? What do the queens actually have power over? The characters aside from our main two (+Tommy) were painted in vague strokes and moved through a cloudy, unrealized world. I mixed up the "queens" constantly and even the two brothers Marcus and Milo tripped me up sometimes, for all that one was a violent hothead, we didn't really see that. The M names and them not being on screen together most of the time would make me second guess who was who. I think adding a little paragraph about the world this story takes place is as a sort of prologue could help towards this and provide some crunchy details for those of us that love worldbuilding.
Things really picked up in the last quarter of the book. The stakes were high and even though I didn't understand the world stakes, I was very invested in the personal ones of our leads. This story didn't shy away from the violence that formed these characters and that they inflict in turn. We know they're not good people, but we're rooting for them anyway.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2025
We Are the Match is a bold and modern-day retelling of the myth of Helen of Troy, full of passion, tension, and fierce devotion. While you don’t need to know the story of Helen and Paris before diving in, having a general understanding of the myth definitely adds some helpful context, especially as the story hits the ground running.
The pacing at the start felt a bit uneven: it’s fast in terms of action, but slow in terms of connection. You’re dropped straight into the story with little background on the characters, which can make it tricky to find your footing early on. I have a hard time fully investing myself into a story without first understanding who the characters are, why they are important, and what their context is to the story as well as what their relationship is to other characters, but once you settle in and get your bearings, the payoff is worth it.
The heart of the story is undoubtedly the relationship between Helen and Paris - and for Paris, this fine line between lust/love and pure hatred and need for revenge. Their chemistry is electric. Even though there are only a couple of intimate scenes, the love and longing between them radiates from the pages. The author strikes a beautiful balance between their individual journeys and their shared story, weaving them together in a way that feels both natural and emotionally gripping.
What makes We Are the Match so engaging is the emotional intensity—not just in the romance, but in the dynamics between all the characters. You grow to fiercely love the ones worth rooting for, and just as fiercely despise those working against them. There's also no shortage of political maneuvering, action, and layered plotlines that keep things moving with plenty of depth. There is not a point in this book that it feels slow or gratuitous.
Overall, this was an immersive and compelling read. Whether you’re a mythology fan or just love a good story full of love, betrayal, and passion, We Are the Match is a book I’d definitely recommend. My overall rating for this book is a 3.9.
The pacing at the start felt a bit uneven: it’s fast in terms of action, but slow in terms of connection. You’re dropped straight into the story with little background on the characters, which can make it tricky to find your footing early on. I have a hard time fully investing myself into a story without first understanding who the characters are, why they are important, and what their context is to the story as well as what their relationship is to other characters, but once you settle in and get your bearings, the payoff is worth it.
The heart of the story is undoubtedly the relationship between Helen and Paris - and for Paris, this fine line between lust/love and pure hatred and need for revenge. Their chemistry is electric. Even though there are only a couple of intimate scenes, the love and longing between them radiates from the pages. The author strikes a beautiful balance between their individual journeys and their shared story, weaving them together in a way that feels both natural and emotionally gripping.
What makes We Are the Match so engaging is the emotional intensity—not just in the romance, but in the dynamics between all the characters. You grow to fiercely love the ones worth rooting for, and just as fiercely despise those working against them. There's also no shortage of political maneuvering, action, and layered plotlines that keep things moving with plenty of depth. There is not a point in this book that it feels slow or gratuitous.
Overall, this was an immersive and compelling read. Whether you’re a mythology fan or just love a good story full of love, betrayal, and passion, We Are the Match is a book I’d definitely recommend. My overall rating for this book is a 3.9.
July 3, 2025
This is a sapphic retelling of the Trojan War, focused on the story of Helen and Paris. Rather than a fantastical, olden days Greece, it's set in a modern world with a mafia-like monarchy. Paris is a badass woman whose home on Troy has been destroyed by Helen's father, Zarek. She starts off set on revenge, until she actually meets Helen and they feel a spark.
The story is dual POV, pretty evenly split between Paris and Helen. This works well, because Helen and Paris are from very different worlds with very different stories and perspectives, and it's nice to see both sides. They both have backstories that make them understandable, their actions easier to empathise with. And they are incredibly active—rather than a war kicking off because of them, they are the key instigators, planting their own bombs. Likewise, they are willing and equal participants in the relationship that develops between them. Despite Helen's perceived higher standing and the lies and secrets they both keep, they both continuously seek each other out and their attraction is mutual from the beginning.
The relationship does feel heavily focused on this attraction, and a sense of possession, rather than much real emotional connection, which was the primary let down for me. Another slight issue I had was working out or believing the setting. It's explicitly modern, with the characters wearing jeans and using mobile phones, wielding guns and prepping passports to flee from an airport. But there's also the mythic feeling, with gowns and mansions and servants, kings and queens and fleets of ships, and the language and narration which feels like it's working hard to be poetic or legendary. It could work, but it feels a little disconnected, and I just wish it had been more committed and focused one way or another.
I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a good action-based retelling or sexy sapphic vibes. If nothing else, this story has a lot of badass women, and a satisfying enough ending.
The story is dual POV, pretty evenly split between Paris and Helen. This works well, because Helen and Paris are from very different worlds with very different stories and perspectives, and it's nice to see both sides. They both have backstories that make them understandable, their actions easier to empathise with. And they are incredibly active—rather than a war kicking off because of them, they are the key instigators, planting their own bombs. Likewise, they are willing and equal participants in the relationship that develops between them. Despite Helen's perceived higher standing and the lies and secrets they both keep, they both continuously seek each other out and their attraction is mutual from the beginning.
The relationship does feel heavily focused on this attraction, and a sense of possession, rather than much real emotional connection, which was the primary let down for me. Another slight issue I had was working out or believing the setting. It's explicitly modern, with the characters wearing jeans and using mobile phones, wielding guns and prepping passports to flee from an airport. But there's also the mythic feeling, with gowns and mansions and servants, kings and queens and fleets of ships, and the language and narration which feels like it's working hard to be poetic or legendary. It could work, but it feels a little disconnected, and I just wish it had been more committed and focused one way or another.
I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a good action-based retelling or sexy sapphic vibes. If nothing else, this story has a lot of badass women, and a satisfying enough ending.
May 16, 2025
First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and the author for giving me the ARC of the book. This review is solely and truthfully based on my experience and opinions after reading it.
We Are the Match is an actual and queer retelling of the story of Paris and Troy that is new and unexpected, bringing a lot of elements that when you read, you can't help but get hooked.
First of all, as a humanities student and myth lover, this book is everything I didn't know I needed. We all know that what captures a reader's attention it's the style of the book, the way it's written, and I must say, We Are the Match it's so beautifully written that it took my breath away for most of the parts. Every time I read it, I was floating, seeing actions that are from the modern world, but with a strong presence of Ancient Greek. Also, this is not your same old retelling where words are just words. In this book, every word matters because it's not always explicit about the meaning behind the words, which is so enchanting.
The characters, Paris, who's seeking revenge, and Helen, sweet but powerful Helen, are unique but still really well-done. They have depth, they have character, richness, and their interactions don't leave you indifferent.
The way their relationship evolves in the whole book is fascinating, and they, as individuals, are morally grey and conflicted, but still, they work, and you can't help but love them, as well as other characters.
This book might not be for everyone because it's not your typical standard book. It's something else, something better in my opinion. If you're looking for a book that hooks you, have you re-read the words written on the paper and your heart aching in the most delicious way, We Are the Match is, indeed, a match.
We Are the Match is an actual and queer retelling of the story of Paris and Troy that is new and unexpected, bringing a lot of elements that when you read, you can't help but get hooked.
First of all, as a humanities student and myth lover, this book is everything I didn't know I needed. We all know that what captures a reader's attention it's the style of the book, the way it's written, and I must say, We Are the Match it's so beautifully written that it took my breath away for most of the parts. Every time I read it, I was floating, seeing actions that are from the modern world, but with a strong presence of Ancient Greek. Also, this is not your same old retelling where words are just words. In this book, every word matters because it's not always explicit about the meaning behind the words, which is so enchanting.
The characters, Paris, who's seeking revenge, and Helen, sweet but powerful Helen, are unique but still really well-done. They have depth, they have character, richness, and their interactions don't leave you indifferent.
The way their relationship evolves in the whole book is fascinating, and they, as individuals, are morally grey and conflicted, but still, they work, and you can't help but love them, as well as other characters.
This book might not be for everyone because it's not your typical standard book. It's something else, something better in my opinion. If you're looking for a book that hooks you, have you re-read the words written on the paper and your heart aching in the most delicious way, We Are the Match is, indeed, a match.
August 1, 2025
Paris manages to investigate a bomb going off at a mob boss' party, intending to take revenge on the family that had killed hers. Helen wants to abandon the violent world she was raised in, and doesn't want to marry the man her father had picked for her. Helen and Paris latch onto each other and flee from Greece to Troy. Helen's father is willing to start a war to get Helen back, and both women are willing to let him.
Influenced by mythology, we're introduced to a world of fixers, bombers, and assassins due to rival mafia families in Greece. Paris is one of the last surviving people from Troy, which Helen's father had bombed years ago. She is a violent woman intent on more murder and mayhem when she rescued Helen at the engagement party, mostly because she wanted to kill Helen herself to hurt her father. She doesn't know about Helen's penchant for bomb making when younger, or that she had planned to fake her death and was interrupted. The two bond due to their shared irreverence toward Helen's father, and only Helen has some qualms about the bodies left in their wake.
Told in their alternating POVs, we see the violent world and casual cruelties that the mafia inflict, killing with little provocation and no remorse. The actions these women take have a literal body count even before they decide to flee. It becomes real to them when it's not anonymous maids or guards dying, but people they actually care about. The repetition in the text as we go only shows how much both women are fueled by anger and loss, though only Paris is up front about it from the start. It's a game of power within the Families, and the winner is the one willing to shed blood. It's a stark reality of their world, with continued pain and loss along the way. The story grabs you and carries a dread fascination, with an ending as devastatingly violent as promised at the start.
Influenced by mythology, we're introduced to a world of fixers, bombers, and assassins due to rival mafia families in Greece. Paris is one of the last surviving people from Troy, which Helen's father had bombed years ago. She is a violent woman intent on more murder and mayhem when she rescued Helen at the engagement party, mostly because she wanted to kill Helen herself to hurt her father. She doesn't know about Helen's penchant for bomb making when younger, or that she had planned to fake her death and was interrupted. The two bond due to their shared irreverence toward Helen's father, and only Helen has some qualms about the bodies left in their wake.
Told in their alternating POVs, we see the violent world and casual cruelties that the mafia inflict, killing with little provocation and no remorse. The actions these women take have a literal body count even before they decide to flee. It becomes real to them when it's not anonymous maids or guards dying, but people they actually care about. The repetition in the text as we go only shows how much both women are fueled by anger and loss, though only Paris is up front about it from the start. It's a game of power within the Families, and the winner is the one willing to shed blood. It's a stark reality of their world, with continued pain and loss along the way. The story grabs you and carries a dread fascination, with an ending as devastatingly violent as promised at the start.
July 31, 2025
Sapphic mafia romance is all I needed to know to start this book. Later on I would realize that this is a retelling of Helen of Troy. I absolutely knew nothing about the story that this novel pulled inspiration from, and maybe that's the reason I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.
I enjoyed the first 20% of the book because I was interested in the storyline and the characters. I found the author's writing style to be intriguing because she was only giving us pieces to the puzzle and withholding information about the world, later on to find out that this was not intentional but rather poor world-building. I could not visualize even one scene from this book because they lack so much detail. Even the characters that I enjoyed fell flat after a while. They had no depth, a small range of emotions, and it felt like most of their actions were reckless and useless. Troy wanted to destroy an entire empire, and she had the concept of a plan and vibes, yet she was acting like she was the smartest in the room. Truly ridiculous. The romance between Helen and Troy was giving insta-love. Their scenes always felt super rushed. The whole book felt rushed, honestly. I have no faith in them as a couple. They also had no chemistry whatsoever. Nobody could have actual conversations, and they all resorted to violence to solve their problems.
The writing was bad.
The storyline was messy and did not feel well planned out.
The characters were very one-dimensional and corny.
I could not have guessed any plot point in this book because none of them MAKE SENSE. This book honestly felt like a fever dream.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the first 20% of the book because I was interested in the storyline and the characters. I found the author's writing style to be intriguing because she was only giving us pieces to the puzzle and withholding information about the world, later on to find out that this was not intentional but rather poor world-building. I could not visualize even one scene from this book because they lack so much detail. Even the characters that I enjoyed fell flat after a while. They had no depth, a small range of emotions, and it felt like most of their actions were reckless and useless. Troy wanted to destroy an entire empire, and she had the concept of a plan and vibes, yet she was acting like she was the smartest in the room. Truly ridiculous. The romance between Helen and Troy was giving insta-love. Their scenes always felt super rushed. The whole book felt rushed, honestly. I have no faith in them as a couple. They also had no chemistry whatsoever. Nobody could have actual conversations, and they all resorted to violence to solve their problems.
The writing was bad.
The storyline was messy and did not feel well planned out.
The characters were very one-dimensional and corny.
I could not have guessed any plot point in this book because none of them MAKE SENSE. This book honestly felt like a fever dream.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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