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Have they been matched with their version of perfection?
To everyone he meets, Leo is calm, confident and put-together, but deep inside he feels useless. After too many failed relationships, Leo hands over the reins to a matchmaking company; obviously, he’s unable to choose the right guy by himself.
Noah is a respectable chef who always follows the rules, keeping his head down, just like his parents taught him. Unfortunately, his long working hours make it difficult to find time for pleasure. After a high recommendation, he chooses one final option: a matchmaking company.
When they find out they’ve been matched together, they struggle to leave their misconceptions at the door. But what would happen if they try for more?
A best friends-to-lovers, MM matchmaking story.
***This book has been extended, re-edited and re-released in Sept 2022***
To everyone he meets, Leo is calm, confident and put-together, but deep inside he feels useless. After too many failed relationships, Leo hands over the reins to a matchmaking company; obviously, he’s unable to choose the right guy by himself.
Noah is a respectable chef who always follows the rules, keeping his head down, just like his parents taught him. Unfortunately, his long working hours make it difficult to find time for pleasure. After a high recommendation, he chooses one final option: a matchmaking company.
When they find out they’ve been matched together, they struggle to leave their misconceptions at the door. But what would happen if they try for more?
A best friends-to-lovers, MM matchmaking story.
***This book has been extended, re-edited and re-released in Sept 2022***
89 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2022
68 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Elouise East
78 books284 followersElouise East writes sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. She also touches on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.
Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point - be it blood family or chosen - are very important to her. That’s why she includes a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as she believes a story or character needs. She wants her characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell her they have. And trust her, most of the time, she does not have any say in the matter!
Her characters come to life on the page for her as well as her readers. Their stories unfold in front of her as she writes, and she has very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of her characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She writes books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of the stories. She doesn’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.
Who is she? A single parent to two children living in the UK. An avid reader who still tries to devour every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.
Who’s joining her on her journey?
Join my newsletter for regular updates, exclusive content and a free story being told chapter by chapter: https://elouiseeast.com/newsletter
She loves stalkers... ;-)
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Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point - be it blood family or chosen - are very important to her. That’s why she includes a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as she believes a story or character needs. She wants her characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell her they have. And trust her, most of the time, she does not have any say in the matter!
Her characters come to life on the page for her as well as her readers. Their stories unfold in front of her as she writes, and she has very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of her characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She writes books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of the stories. She doesn’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.
Who is she? A single parent to two children living in the UK. An avid reader who still tries to devour every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.
Who’s joining her on her journey?
Join my newsletter for regular updates, exclusive content and a free story being told chapter by chapter: https://elouiseeast.com/newsletter
She loves stalkers... ;-)
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://elouiseeast.com
SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER
https://elouiseeast.com/newsletter
VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251537
VISIT MY ELOUISE R EAST FACEBOOK PAGE
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251539
VISIT MY FACEBOOK READER GROUP
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251538
FOLLOW ME ON BOOKBUB
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251535
VIEW ME ON AMAZON
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251543
VIEW ME ON SMASHWORDS
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251544
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251540
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251541
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
https://readerlinks.com/l/2251536
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 17, 2025
Started off well, but eventually lost my interest. Lots of details.
September 22, 2022
This low-angst, friends-to-lovers novella is fun and light-hearted. Leo, a travel agent, and Noah, a chef, have been best friends since they were five years old. Now, in their late thirties, each of them is ready to settle down. Since both men are busy, they enlist the services of Illuminate Matchmaking to help them find the right potential partner. They don't tell each other what they are doing, but they are surprised when they are paired with each other, ready to take a day trip on a train together. They each are startled initially, but they jointly decide to make it an actual date. Can these best friends become lovers? This story is mostly sweet with a touch of angst and a bit of heat. It is a quick read and a great little escape. I look forward to more books in this series.
September 19, 2020
This is a sweet, fun and quick read. Great chemistry between the main characters and an enjoyable scenario of being stuck together on a matchmaking train trip where they discover they feel things for each other they didn't realise - despite being best friends for years. Adorable and easy to read.
September 1, 2022
Short and sweet, a nice uncomplicated read
The blurb tells you everything you need to know about this best friends to lovers story. Best friends for over thirty years, since they were five, it took a matchmaking company to show Leo and Noah what they were missing.
There is no angst, just initial shock at being matched, but it didn't take long for them to decide to treat the day as a proper date and see if the matchmakers knew something they didn't. Familiarity makes it both weird to see the other as a potential partner and surprisingly easy at the same time, their platonic love turning very quickly into much more in a very short space of time.
There was no deep dive into characters and plot but because of the way their story was written, I didn't think it was needed. The ending was lovely and left me smiling.
Just settle down with a cup of tea and some Dairy Milk, and lose yourself in this undemanding but cute read. Three and a half stars.
The blurb tells you everything you need to know about this best friends to lovers story. Best friends for over thirty years, since they were five, it took a matchmaking company to show Leo and Noah what they were missing.
There is no angst, just initial shock at being matched, but it didn't take long for them to decide to treat the day as a proper date and see if the matchmakers knew something they didn't. Familiarity makes it both weird to see the other as a potential partner and surprisingly easy at the same time, their platonic love turning very quickly into much more in a very short space of time.
There was no deep dive into characters and plot but because of the way their story was written, I didn't think it was needed. The ending was lovely and left me smiling.
Just settle down with a cup of tea and some Dairy Milk, and lose yourself in this undemanding but cute read. Three and a half stars.
September 7, 2022
Leo is calm, confident and put-together on the outside but inside he feels useless. So he leaves his attempt at a relationship with a matchmaking company because all he does is fail. Respectable chef Noah always follows the rules and keeps his head down, but his long working hours mean he cannot find himself a lasting relationship and so he decides to rely on a matchmaking company. When these best friends find they have been matched together can they leave misconceptions at the door and try for more?
I loved this story. Leo and Noah were perfect for each other and understood each other so well that moving from the friend zone to the lover zone was a natural step. I loved the way that this was set up and how they discovered that they were matched to each other. They were so sweet together and it looked like there were definitely in it for the long haul. Well written I enjoyed the parts that looked at their history and feelings towards each other. An MM story with mature content.
I loved this story. Leo and Noah were perfect for each other and understood each other so well that moving from the friend zone to the lover zone was a natural step. I loved the way that this was set up and how they discovered that they were matched to each other. They were so sweet together and it looked like there were definitely in it for the long haul. Well written I enjoyed the parts that looked at their history and feelings towards each other. An MM story with mature content.
February 17, 2023
Ignite (Illuminate Matchmaking 1)
Matchmaking can go either way. The person likes you, crushes on you, or really had no desire to see you again.
Illuminate Matchmaking was an unusual endeavor where they matched 2 people that they thought were perfect for each other but the twist is you go on a train ride from London to Edinburgh, Scotland. All the way up to Balmoral. It is a 5 hour train ride so you must really get to know your partner.
Double twist on this book. Leo gets on the train first and waits for his date. He texts his best friend Noah, that he will see him tomorrow after his business trip. Next thing you know his date walks on and it is Noah. They must decide do 2 friends who have been friends since age 5 change that for something else more intimate?
Well the story is of their adventures after the trip. You decide. They got to know each other even better as friends than before.
It is worth the read to READ of their adventures and love story!
10/10
Matchmaking can go either way. The person likes you, crushes on you, or really had no desire to see you again.
Illuminate Matchmaking was an unusual endeavor where they matched 2 people that they thought were perfect for each other but the twist is you go on a train ride from London to Edinburgh, Scotland. All the way up to Balmoral. It is a 5 hour train ride so you must really get to know your partner.
Double twist on this book. Leo gets on the train first and waits for his date. He texts his best friend Noah, that he will see him tomorrow after his business trip. Next thing you know his date walks on and it is Noah. They must decide do 2 friends who have been friends since age 5 change that for something else more intimate?
Well the story is of their adventures after the trip. You decide. They got to know each other even better as friends than before.
It is worth the read to READ of their adventures and love story!
10/10
January 3, 2025
A lovely and super sweet read!!
📚Book = Standalone short story
💕Burn = Insta Love
🎭OW/OM Drama = None,
🔥Heat/spice = 5/10,
😬Angst = Very Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔸POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance,
🔹Tropes = MM✨Best friends to Lovers✨Travel agent and Chef✨Surprise matchmaking date
I throughly enjoyed this short story, Leo and Noah were so sweet together. The were best friends from very young children, so it was a very quick, but gorgeous jump from “best friends to lovers”. Not a super spicy read but the connection and heat between them was beautiful.
Leo worked for a travel agent and Noah was a chef. Both men hadn’t had much luck in dating, so had decided (unbeknownst to each other) to book a place with a matchmaking company traveling to Edinburgh by train. Once they realised who’d they’d both been set up with (each other), they had to make a decision? Stay as friends or take the plunge and develop something more!!
📚Book = Standalone short story
💕Burn = Insta Love
🎭OW/OM Drama = None,
🔥Heat/spice = 5/10,
😬Angst = Very Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔸POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Contemporary Romance,
🔹Tropes = MM✨Best friends to Lovers✨Travel agent and Chef✨Surprise matchmaking date
I throughly enjoyed this short story, Leo and Noah were so sweet together. The were best friends from very young children, so it was a very quick, but gorgeous jump from “best friends to lovers”. Not a super spicy read but the connection and heat between them was beautiful.
Leo worked for a travel agent and Noah was a chef. Both men hadn’t had much luck in dating, so had decided (unbeknownst to each other) to book a place with a matchmaking company traveling to Edinburgh by train. Once they realised who’d they’d both been set up with (each other), they had to make a decision? Stay as friends or take the plunge and develop something more!!
September 6, 2022
This was a very sweet short story by Elouise East. It was a nice departure from the “Club Royal” series which I absolutely loved!!! This particular trope was best friends/dates which was a new trope for me. I really liked it very much! I do not think I could ever date my best friend! Powers to Leo and Noah!
This short story focuses on Leo and Noah who were best friends. Unbeknownst to each other, they decided to sign up with a dating agency. They were sent to do the blind date on a train on the way to Edinburgh. When they got on the train (at separate time), they had been talking to each other on the phone and were surprised to see each other. Then it dawned that they were paired together to go on the blind date. But does it last? That’s for you to pick up the book and read! A very good read for me!
This short story focuses on Leo and Noah who were best friends. Unbeknownst to each other, they decided to sign up with a dating agency. They were sent to do the blind date on a train on the way to Edinburgh. When they got on the train (at separate time), they had been talking to each other on the phone and were surprised to see each other. Then it dawned that they were paired together to go on the blind date. But does it last? That’s for you to pick up the book and read! A very good read for me!
January 30, 2025
This is a best friends to more romance novella, featuring Leo and Noah, and is book one in the Illuminate Matchmaking series.
Leo and Noah have been friends their whole lives. They both sign up to a dating service without telling each other but when they arrive for their blind date, they see they have been matched.
This book is all kinds of sweet. These two give a relationship a chance and it doesn’t take long for them to see it’s where they need to be.
Sometimes you just need a low angst novella to reset your brain and give you the happy feels. I got this one in the stuff your kindle in December, so I thought why not give it a go.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
Novella
MM romance
Best friends to more
Set in the UK
Travel agent x Chef
Matchmaking service
MC book lover
Date in Edinburgh
Little bit of spice
All in
HEA
Leo and Noah have been friends their whole lives. They both sign up to a dating service without telling each other but when they arrive for their blind date, they see they have been matched.
This book is all kinds of sweet. These two give a relationship a chance and it doesn’t take long for them to see it’s where they need to be.
Sometimes you just need a low angst novella to reset your brain and give you the happy feels. I got this one in the stuff your kindle in December, so I thought why not give it a go.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
Novella
MM romance
Best friends to more
Set in the UK
Travel agent x Chef
Matchmaking service
MC book lover
Date in Edinburgh
Little bit of spice
All in
HEA
September 22, 2022
Best friends to lovers perfection
This book is like the perfect slice of sweet new love drizzled generously with swoony heat and best friends discovery. Leo and Noah have been best friends for years but what happens when they are matched together by a dating service - do they risk everything for the possibility that what they've both been looking for has been in front of them the whole time?!
With just enough world building and character background to feel complete, this story of best friends finding love together is a delightful, short read that is perfectly satisfying! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it!
This book is like the perfect slice of sweet new love drizzled generously with swoony heat and best friends discovery. Leo and Noah have been best friends for years but what happens when they are matched together by a dating service - do they risk everything for the possibility that what they've both been looking for has been in front of them the whole time?!
With just enough world building and character background to feel complete, this story of best friends finding love together is a delightful, short read that is perfectly satisfying! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it!
September 19, 2025
This was a super sweet short story about two best friends who both join a matchmaking service. Neither know the other has signed up, that is until they show up to an event hosted by the service and find out they’ve been matched. Best friends of over 30 years, and they decide to try to see what the matchmakers saw when they put them together.
I like the banter between these two characters. They made me giggle. They really seem to balance each other out. We don’t see much of their relationship seeing as it’s a short story, but to see how their relationship shifts from best friends to boyfriends is great.
I like the banter between these two characters. They made me giggle. They really seem to balance each other out. We don’t see much of their relationship seeing as it’s a short story, but to see how their relationship shifts from best friends to boyfriends is great.
September 2, 2022
Leo and Noah had been best friends go over 30 years, neither had had a serious relationship, but both wanted one. They both went onto a dating website to meet their soul mate. They were matched together, shocking Leo as he had never thought of Noah as anything but his best friend. But once Noah got over the shock he was more than happy with the match.
Beautifully written, as they fall from best friends to lovers.
Thoroughly enjoyed , it's a short but sweet read.
I received an advanced copy of this book for a honest review
Beautifully written, as they fall from best friends to lovers.
Thoroughly enjoyed , it's a short but sweet read.
I received an advanced copy of this book for a honest review
September 6, 2022
Sometimes you need someone else to show you what's right under your nose. I loved this sweet story of longtime friends Leo and Noah who get the surprise of their life when matched by a matchmaking service. A bit reluctantly they decide to give it a go and find things are better than they could have dreamed.
January 2, 2023
When you need that sweet romance - sometimes its where you least expect it!
When your best friend and share "most" but not all. You set up for match makers because you no linger trust yourself. This is the story of evaluating what's most important and following your heart. MM Romance
When your best friend and share "most" but not all. You set up for match makers because you no linger trust yourself. This is the story of evaluating what's most important and following your heart. MM Romance
September 5, 2022
Adorable best friends to lovers story with an intriguing matchmaking concept. I liked how despite the short form we get to grasp quite a lot of the characters backgrounds and personalities. It was a really enjoyable quick read.
January 7, 2025
This was a quick, sweet, and lightly spiced romance of two friends, both looking to find that special someone, and end up matched together through a dating service. I enjoyed how quick the story developed but I’d definitely like a sequel to see how things continued.
January 20, 2025
I love the way these two best friends are given a chance to see thing in a new way. Leo has some insecurities but Noah is there to smooth things. And Noah’s family story was sad. I really enjoyed this match making romance.
January 26, 2025
God this was underwhelming!
Even for something that short I had trouble finishing it because it was boring.
No chemistry between the 2 MC despite 30 years of friendship and lots of little details no one cared about.
Even for something that short I had trouble finishing it because it was boring.
No chemistry between the 2 MC despite 30 years of friendship and lots of little details no one cared about.
September 9, 2020
I was expecting a little more. It was cute enough but they lie to each other, end up being each other's date and then it was just super easy from there.
September 23, 2020
Sweet premise, meh execution.
August 22, 2021
3.25 stars
A basic friends to lovers story with little character development and not much heat. It was sweet, but fairly tame and uninspired. Good for a quick read.
A basic friends to lovers story with little character development and not much heat. It was sweet, but fairly tame and uninspired. Good for a quick read.
did-not-finish
June 18, 2022Made it through the first five pages and got tired of reading the name Noah. The writing felt very young and unpolished and really didn’t grip me.
September 1, 2022
A perfect blend for me. Loved the interactions here.
Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 11, 2022
Cute, Fluffy, sweetest short story
Contains: bestfriend to lover, blind matching date, short story, fluffy.
Really cute short story, fluffy and hea. I think the caracters were fast on moving from friend to lovers, but since it was a short story less than 100 pages it was totally fit. But there is more potential to develop more and I would totally read that. I will not say more than the synopsis to be sure to not spoilers the story. But it is really good, so sweet and fluffy. I love it.
Contains: bestfriend to lover, blind matching date, short story, fluffy.
Really cute short story, fluffy and hea. I think the caracters were fast on moving from friend to lovers, but since it was a short story less than 100 pages it was totally fit. But there is more potential to develop more and I would totally read that. I will not say more than the synopsis to be sure to not spoilers the story. But it is really good, so sweet and fluffy. I love it.
September 7, 2022
This is a great start to a new series. It has great characters, a wonderful storyline and well written. It's a very nice twist to friends to lovers.
December 16, 2024
Ignite
Elouise East is an amazing author and I did enjoy reading the story about Noah and Leo. The plot was wonderful.
Elouise East is an amazing author and I did enjoy reading the story about Noah and Leo. The plot was wonderful.
May 10, 2025
short story cute story
May 27, 2025
3.5 rounded. I loved this novella, and I'd happily read the next instalments. It was short and easy to read, with no angst and happy feelings all around.
Read
August 3, 2025cute but boring
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews