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The Perfect Match
Not yet published
Expected 19 Mar 26'Sweet and fun the whole way through!' Nisha Sharma, author of Dating Dr. Dil
' Pacy and pitch-perfect!' Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas
'Fans of Jaigirdar's debut sapphic adult romance will stamp and cheer like Dina and Maya's #1 fan' Lillie Vale, USA Today bestselling author of Wrapped with a Beau and The Shaadi Set-Up
'This sapphic sports romance should be on everyone's radar! I truly couldn't put it down' Anam Iqbal, author of The Exes
All is fair in love and rivalry...
Dina is done. She's burn out after years in corporate London and now is working in her family's struggling Bangladeshi restaurant. The last thing she expects is to be roped into coaching a football team of disadvantaged amateur players - or to say yes.
Maya is back. She could have had a brilliant career, but it all went...well wrong. Now she's back home, back in her childhood bedroom. Her only escape is agreeing to coach her old secondary school's team.
It doesn't take long for them to bump into each other again and for as long as anyone can remember, Dina and Maya were rivals. But will the very game that tore them apart bring them back together?
An enemies-to-lovers and angsty queer Bend it like Beckham meets Cross the Line jampacked with quirky side characters who cannot help but intervene to push their uptight managers together.
' Pacy and pitch-perfect!' Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas
'Fans of Jaigirdar's debut sapphic adult romance will stamp and cheer like Dina and Maya's #1 fan' Lillie Vale, USA Today bestselling author of Wrapped with a Beau and The Shaadi Set-Up
'This sapphic sports romance should be on everyone's radar! I truly couldn't put it down' Anam Iqbal, author of The Exes
All is fair in love and rivalry...
Dina is done. She's burn out after years in corporate London and now is working in her family's struggling Bangladeshi restaurant. The last thing she expects is to be roped into coaching a football team of disadvantaged amateur players - or to say yes.
Maya is back. She could have had a brilliant career, but it all went...well wrong. Now she's back home, back in her childhood bedroom. Her only escape is agreeing to coach her old secondary school's team.
It doesn't take long for them to bump into each other again and for as long as anyone can remember, Dina and Maya were rivals. But will the very game that tore them apart bring them back together?
An enemies-to-lovers and angsty queer Bend it like Beckham meets Cross the Line jampacked with quirky side characters who cannot help but intervene to push their uptight managers together.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 19, 2026
3 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Adiba Jaigirdar
19 books3,420 followersAdiba Jaigirdar was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and has been living in Dublin, Ireland from the age of ten. She has a BA in English and History, and an MA in Postcolonial Studies. She is a contributor for Bookriot. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she can be found ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, and expanding her overflowing lipstick collection.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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September 11, 2025ADULT SPORTS ROMANCE FROM ADIBA JAIGIRDAR LETS GOOOOO
December 1, 2025
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this one. Great, complex characters, a messy and captivating plot, what's not to like? I started reading and simply could not stop. It all grabbed me and I never wanted to let go. I was way into the football plot and the rivalry but also loved the plot about the restaurant. truly, every side plot was as captivating as the main one to me. It was just such a good read and it made me feel so much and I loved the family dynamics and the flashbacks and just all of it. Also, it made me soooooooooo hungry. It was just all so good. I feel like this one will stay with me for a while. I can't wait for more books by Adiba!
I really loved this one. Great, complex characters, a messy and captivating plot, what's not to like? I started reading and simply could not stop. It all grabbed me and I never wanted to let go. I was way into the football plot and the rivalry but also loved the plot about the restaurant. truly, every side plot was as captivating as the main one to me. It was just such a good read and it made me feel so much and I loved the family dynamics and the flashbacks and just all of it. Also, it made me soooooooooo hungry. It was just all so good. I feel like this one will stay with me for a while. I can't wait for more books by Adiba!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5⭐
It could have been 3 star if both characters are not end up together. They are better off as friends rather than lovers.
There were no chemistry between both the FMCs . Not even a spark I can feel.
You know this book has more potential.
Like all the representation of people of colour especially South Asian in sports where men has dominated.
And tried her best to give these thing . Thats the reason I give it 2 star for it.
Next , the competition between two teams was also interesting part .
This book is also marketed as enemies to lovers but there is no enmity between them . The don't even talk properly for almost first half , just avoiding each other
Don't get me start on the reason of their book. Like for the first half I was wondering What Maya have done. When I got the reason, It was childish.
I understand you were teenager that time so you have no control over your emotions but after 9 years You still blame on others, it show more you need to grow
Dina character development was rushed . for like 80% she was same, impulse , try to avoid talking, misunderstood everything.
Thats the whole reason why she break up with Maya , cause she can't listen other people perspective.
Now Maya , the line she said during their break-up was immature.
But her growth was better than Maya.
And I really rensoate with Maya and Dina on leaving their career and choosing another thing and messy and lack of purpose can be your life.
The only thing I like is Family and cultural representation. Dina and Deen's relationship was kind beautiful.
And also Deen is my favourite in whole book.
Other side characters were good
Overall this book doesn't not turn out what I was expecting. I hope it can be amazing read for you.
It is my honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley and Orion for giving me advance copy of this book
It could have been 3 star if both characters are not end up together. They are better off as friends rather than lovers.
There were no chemistry between both the FMCs . Not even a spark I can feel.
You know this book has more potential.
Like all the representation of people of colour especially South Asian in sports where men has dominated.
And tried her best to give these thing . Thats the reason I give it 2 star for it.
Next , the competition between two teams was also interesting part .
This book is also marketed as enemies to lovers but there is no enmity between them . The don't even talk properly for almost first half , just avoiding each other
Don't get me start on the reason of their book. Like for the first half I was wondering What Maya have done. When I got the reason, It was childish.
I understand you were teenager that time so you have no control over your emotions but after 9 years You still blame on others, it show more you need to grow
Dina character development was rushed . for like 80% she was same, impulse , try to avoid talking, misunderstood everything.
Thats the whole reason why she break up with Maya , cause she can't listen other people perspective.
Now Maya , the line she said during their break-up was immature.
But her growth was better than Maya.
And I really rensoate with Maya and Dina on leaving their career and choosing another thing and messy and lack of purpose can be your life.
The only thing I like is Family and cultural representation. Dina and Deen's relationship was kind beautiful.
And also Deen is my favourite in whole book.
Other side characters were good
Overall this book doesn't not turn out what I was expecting. I hope it can be amazing read for you.
It is my honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley and Orion for giving me advance copy of this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Perfect Match by Adiba Jaigirdar was a really engaging read. I loved the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Dina and Maya and seeing how their relationship slowly shifted from rivalry back to something more.
One thing that really kept me hooked was the slow build of curiosity around what had happened in the past. That sense of wanting to know more was always there, pushing the story forward and making it hard to put down. I also loved the contrast between the two teams—one rooted in council-level play and the other within the school—which added an interesting and realistic layer to the competition.
Beyond the rivalry and romance, I appreciated how strongly this book centered women of colour in sports. That emphasis felt intentional and powerful, adding real depth to the story. This wasn’t just a rivals-to-lovers romance; it also explored themes of social justice, representation, and finding your place in competitive spaces that aren’t always welcoming.
I’ve rated this book 3 stars as I felt at times I was struggling to get through it. Could this be situational? 100% I think once the book is polished and released to the world it will move a lot smoother!
Overall, this was a smart, engaging read that balanced romance, rivalry, and meaningful conversations beautifully.
Thank you to Adiba Jaigirdar and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
One thing that really kept me hooked was the slow build of curiosity around what had happened in the past. That sense of wanting to know more was always there, pushing the story forward and making it hard to put down. I also loved the contrast between the two teams—one rooted in council-level play and the other within the school—which added an interesting and realistic layer to the competition.
Beyond the rivalry and romance, I appreciated how strongly this book centered women of colour in sports. That emphasis felt intentional and powerful, adding real depth to the story. This wasn’t just a rivals-to-lovers romance; it also explored themes of social justice, representation, and finding your place in competitive spaces that aren’t always welcoming.
I’ve rated this book 3 stars as I felt at times I was struggling to get through it. Could this be situational? 100% I think once the book is polished and released to the world it will move a lot smoother!
Overall, this was a smart, engaging read that balanced romance, rivalry, and meaningful conversations beautifully.
Thank you to Adiba Jaigirdar and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 20, 2026
Thank you Adiba Jaigirdar, NetGalley, and Orion Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC!
Explicitly gay “Bend It Like Beckham” and they’re both Desi!! Maya Alam, a retired footballer (soccer player for my fellow Americans) in her late 20s, feels lost without pursuing her passion. Her ex-girlfriend, Dina Choudhury, also returns home after being burnt out from corporate life. They take coaching jobs for rival teams and a beautiful enemies-to-lovers plot line unfolds.
I love that this book discussed racism and sexism in sports, specifically as it’s experienced by South Asian women. “The Perfect Match” also highlights mental health struggles and the pressure of being in the public eye. It was overall a great read and another fantastic book from Adiba Jaigirdar!
Explicitly gay “Bend It Like Beckham” and they’re both Desi!! Maya Alam, a retired footballer (soccer player for my fellow Americans) in her late 20s, feels lost without pursuing her passion. Her ex-girlfriend, Dina Choudhury, also returns home after being burnt out from corporate life. They take coaching jobs for rival teams and a beautiful enemies-to-lovers plot line unfolds.
I love that this book discussed racism and sexism in sports, specifically as it’s experienced by South Asian women. “The Perfect Match” also highlights mental health struggles and the pressure of being in the public eye. It was overall a great read and another fantastic book from Adiba Jaigirdar!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this book was for the girlies who grew up loving “bend it like beckham” and lowkey wished jules and jess ended up together 🩷
i have been a huge fan of the author's YA work for years so i got excited about her adult debut — and it DELIVERED! the characters were super fun but also complex and realistic; maya was my fav for sure 🫶🏻
i always love how adiba weaves issues of racism, sexism as well as mental health considerations into her narratives while maintaining the romcom vibes at the same time 💞
2026 seems to be the year of queer sports romances and i am SO here for it!
[ received this copy from the publisher through netgalley ]
i have been a huge fan of the author's YA work for years so i got excited about her adult debut — and it DELIVERED! the characters were super fun but also complex and realistic; maya was my fav for sure 🫶🏻
i always love how adiba weaves issues of racism, sexism as well as mental health considerations into her narratives while maintaining the romcom vibes at the same time 💞
2026 seems to be the year of queer sports romances and i am SO here for it!
[ received this copy from the publisher through netgalley ]
January 11, 2026
3 ⭐️ (ARC) it was a sweet read. the characters were well developed and i loved the rivalry aspect. the flash back chapters really helped with creating that depth to the characters.
i was not a fan of how the arc copy was put together for ebook readers. it was like reading a really long paragraph that never ended because the chapters, paragraphs, and dialogue was not formatted properly.
i was not a fan of how the arc copy was put together for ebook readers. it was like reading a really long paragraph that never ended because the chapters, paragraphs, and dialogue was not formatted properly.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews