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International Sports Romance #1
Match to Love
An internet friendship becomes so much more in this light-hearted lesbian sports romance
World-renowned tennis player Daniela Martinez has everything she could wish for, except love. When romance knocks on her door, she will have to find a balance between her athletic ambitions and her desire for a relationship or risk sacrificing one for the other.
Law student Ari Nunez is struggling with managing the expectations of her family and dedicating her life to a profession she dislikes more every day. Her relationship with Daniela, full of international travel and vacations, is the perfect escape, even if it feels too good to be true.
Follow their journey from a chance online meeting to power couple taking on the world together.
World-renowned tennis player Daniela Martinez has everything she could wish for, except love. When romance knocks on her door, she will have to find a balance between her athletic ambitions and her desire for a relationship or risk sacrificing one for the other.
Law student Ari Nunez is struggling with managing the expectations of her family and dedicating her life to a profession she dislikes more every day. Her relationship with Daniela, full of international travel and vacations, is the perfect escape, even if it feels too good to be true.
Follow their journey from a chance online meeting to power couple taking on the world together.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2021
64 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
About the author
Johana Gavez
12 books74 followersJohana is a proud Colombian that loves losing herself in stories and fantasy worlds. She loves watching cooking shows, even though she can barely cook, and spending relaxing afternoons reading in her hammock. At risk of becoming a stereotype, she loves to listen to Shakira, Maluma and Karol G, but will always choose tea over coffee.
Her writing is centered on Sapphic stories with romance at their core. She loves fluffy novels where love always wins. She reads and would love to write any genre, but romance and mystery hold a special place in her heart.
You can find Johana on Twitter, Instagram (@johanagavez) and Facebook (@johanagavezauthor)
Download her free short story Cartagena Nights at https://johanagavez.com/cartagena
Her writing is centered on Sapphic stories with romance at their core. She loves fluffy novels where love always wins. She reads and would love to write any genre, but romance and mystery hold a special place in her heart.
You can find Johana on Twitter, Instagram (@johanagavez) and Facebook (@johanagavezauthor)
Download her free short story Cartagena Nights at https://johanagavez.com/cartagena
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 20, 2023
**'When you try to be crafty with your storyline, try to have some knowledge about what you're writing while on the other hand forget about being knowledgeable..'
Okay read!
A bit dull at times but still readable...
2.5stars!
Okay read!
A bit dull at times but still readable...
2.5stars!
September 20, 2021
4⭐
I am a big fan of sports romances and when Lezreviewbooks.com got the book, I snatched it up. And I don’t regret it, it’s a beautiful love story and as far as I know, it’s Ms. Gavez’s first novel.
Dani Martinez is the most successful and famous tennis player at the moment. And as much as she loves tennis and success, she enjoys the anonymity on Tumblr where she befriended Ari, a law student. Ari has no idea about tennis and no idea she is talking to a sports celebrity.
I can’t really imagine how exhausting a personal life can be when you’re famous and (almost) everyone recognizes you on the street. But I can imagine that I would enjoy the anonymity of social media while getting to know someone without bias or prejudice and being loved as the person you are and not just for your fame and money.
Ari Nunez is still searching for the right path in life. Law is her profession, but not with the big companies, where she could make a lot of money. She actually wants to make the world a better place, and that doesn’t go together. So what should she do? Maybe her Tumblr friend can help, she trusts her and loves to talk to her. Ari has also been through a bad relationship but is unsure if Dani is really serious about her. She has self-doubts about whether she can live up to the expectations.
Dani, for her part, tries in an endearing way to convince Ari what she sees in her, that she is a wonderful and strong woman, and that she can achieve anything if she wants to. Dani must learn to deal with defeats herself, and find solutions to get back on the road to success. Is Ari a distraction or the gasoline for her tennis engine?
The joy of a new message, or hearing the other person’s voice for the first time, the anticipation of the first meeting in the real world, and when they actually meet, everything was wonderfully described and the dialogues were interesting, realistic, and sometimes fun. Also, the struggles of a long-distance relationship and the constant changes in time difference feel real.
This is a sweet love story with little angst and just a bit of drama. You don’t have to know much about tennis to enjoy the sports parts of this book. Although a few events were a bit predictable, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The writing style was good for a debut novel, there was some repetition but it didn’t bother me much and I’m sure with each book Johana will improve her writing style.
An entertaining, sweet love story, a perfect vacation read, or for a lazy weekend.
My rating 4 stars
ARC provided by the author and Lezreviewbooks.com in exchange for an honest review
I am a big fan of sports romances and when Lezreviewbooks.com got the book, I snatched it up. And I don’t regret it, it’s a beautiful love story and as far as I know, it’s Ms. Gavez’s first novel.
Dani Martinez is the most successful and famous tennis player at the moment. And as much as she loves tennis and success, she enjoys the anonymity on Tumblr where she befriended Ari, a law student. Ari has no idea about tennis and no idea she is talking to a sports celebrity.
I can’t really imagine how exhausting a personal life can be when you’re famous and (almost) everyone recognizes you on the street. But I can imagine that I would enjoy the anonymity of social media while getting to know someone without bias or prejudice and being loved as the person you are and not just for your fame and money.
Ari Nunez is still searching for the right path in life. Law is her profession, but not with the big companies, where she could make a lot of money. She actually wants to make the world a better place, and that doesn’t go together. So what should she do? Maybe her Tumblr friend can help, she trusts her and loves to talk to her. Ari has also been through a bad relationship but is unsure if Dani is really serious about her. She has self-doubts about whether she can live up to the expectations.
Dani, for her part, tries in an endearing way to convince Ari what she sees in her, that she is a wonderful and strong woman, and that she can achieve anything if she wants to. Dani must learn to deal with defeats herself, and find solutions to get back on the road to success. Is Ari a distraction or the gasoline for her tennis engine?
The joy of a new message, or hearing the other person’s voice for the first time, the anticipation of the first meeting in the real world, and when they actually meet, everything was wonderfully described and the dialogues were interesting, realistic, and sometimes fun. Also, the struggles of a long-distance relationship and the constant changes in time difference feel real.
This is a sweet love story with little angst and just a bit of drama. You don’t have to know much about tennis to enjoy the sports parts of this book. Although a few events were a bit predictable, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The writing style was good for a debut novel, there was some repetition but it didn’t bother me much and I’m sure with each book Johana will improve her writing style.
An entertaining, sweet love story, a perfect vacation read, or for a lazy weekend.
My rating 4 stars
ARC provided by the author and Lezreviewbooks.com in exchange for an honest review
August 23, 2021
‘Match to love’ is one of those romances where you cannot help but care about the main characters and champion their blossoming relationship. Gavez presents two women who live in very different worlds but connect over Tumblr and through hundreds of messages develop an intense attachment.
Dani is a pro tennis champion and jet- sets all around the world but still feels like the loneliest person in the room. Ari is a law student who finds it hard to trust and favours a night in with her best friend. The young women are opposite in so many ways but their shared values and physical chemistry makes their story everything you could want in a heart-warming romance.
I liked the pacing of the story and the inserts of their long distance conversations alongside the doubts and problems they face as they try and fit into one another's real lives which are realistically depicted.
Both Dani and Ari grow as the story continues, not just for each other but for themselves, which shows how well Gavez can develop strong, independent characters who stand alone, not just to fit into romance stereotypes. I also felt like Ari presents some demi characteristics such as not developing a lot of romantic connections until she develops that emotional aspect first and felt like this made the whole story a lot more relatable than just being whisked away by a celebrity to a glamorous first date.
Overall a brilliant happy ever after read.
Dani is a pro tennis champion and jet- sets all around the world but still feels like the loneliest person in the room. Ari is a law student who finds it hard to trust and favours a night in with her best friend. The young women are opposite in so many ways but their shared values and physical chemistry makes their story everything you could want in a heart-warming romance.
I liked the pacing of the story and the inserts of their long distance conversations alongside the doubts and problems they face as they try and fit into one another's real lives which are realistically depicted.
Both Dani and Ari grow as the story continues, not just for each other but for themselves, which shows how well Gavez can develop strong, independent characters who stand alone, not just to fit into romance stereotypes. I also felt like Ari presents some demi characteristics such as not developing a lot of romantic connections until she develops that emotional aspect first and felt like this made the whole story a lot more relatable than just being whisked away by a celebrity to a glamorous first date.
Overall a brilliant happy ever after read.
July 15, 2025
This is such a sweet little story. Johana Galves writes some of the best kissing scenes.
Dani is confident and Ari is full of doubts. Both are trying to live up to the expectations, mostly that they have set for themselves. This could have been completely filled with angst, but there’s very little. I think maybe there should have been a little more to show the growth of Dani and Ari.
For a sports novel, it does not get too bogged down in the technical aspects of tennis. I sometimes feel like sports romances tend to show how much the author loves the sport and downplays the character’s romance. This one is solely focused on the romance between Ari and Dani.
Dani is confident and Ari is full of doubts. Both are trying to live up to the expectations, mostly that they have set for themselves. This could have been completely filled with angst, but there’s very little. I think maybe there should have been a little more to show the growth of Dani and Ari.
For a sports novel, it does not get too bogged down in the technical aspects of tennis. I sometimes feel like sports romances tend to show how much the author loves the sport and downplays the character’s romance. This one is solely focused on the romance between Ari and Dani.
September 2, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
Match To Love is a really fun debut novel from Johana Gavez that I was really excited to read after loving her novella Leap To Love earlier this year, and I was not disappointed! I'm a sucker for sapphic sports romances so I jumped at the chance of reading an ARC and it was a lot of fun after reading some heavier fantasy and horror novels prior to picking it up! Dani and Ari's friends-to-lovers romance was so sweet from it's online relationship start to it's adorable ending and their dynamic was definitely the star of the show - consent was such a big part of this book, not only in regards to sex, but to all parts of their relationship and I was so happy to see that. There was also a part where Dani takes Ari on a surprise date but after Ari says she hates the not knowing of surprises and how much they stress her out, Dani gives her a run down of what they're going to do - and as someone who is both autistic and has clinical anxiety, that scene made me so, so happy to read! Of course, the sports aspect was also a lot of fun and I also really enjoyed all the side characters, from Ari's hilarious best friend Tom to Dani's coach and manager, Arantxa and Igor!
As someone who reads quite a lot of romance, though, I did feel like the plot was nothing that I haven't seen before - but that's not necessarily a bad thing, I'm just not a huge lover of the whole third act breakup thing - however, sometimes your classic romance is exactly what you need at a given moment, so I'm looking forward to returning to this story when I'm really in the mood for that - maybe after a fantasy novel binge! I do wish there had been a tad bit more depth to the main characters, maybe seeing them chat about what brought them together on Tumblr throughout the book would've been nice, or on the other hand turning this into a novella. Regardless, this was a really fun read and I'm looking forward to picking up Johana's future works!
Thanks to the author for sending me an eARC in return for an honest review!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
Match To Love is a really fun debut novel from Johana Gavez that I was really excited to read after loving her novella Leap To Love earlier this year, and I was not disappointed! I'm a sucker for sapphic sports romances so I jumped at the chance of reading an ARC and it was a lot of fun after reading some heavier fantasy and horror novels prior to picking it up! Dani and Ari's friends-to-lovers romance was so sweet from it's online relationship start to it's adorable ending and their dynamic was definitely the star of the show - consent was such a big part of this book, not only in regards to sex, but to all parts of their relationship and I was so happy to see that. There was also a part where Dani takes Ari on a surprise date but after Ari says she hates the not knowing of surprises and how much they stress her out, Dani gives her a run down of what they're going to do - and as someone who is both autistic and has clinical anxiety, that scene made me so, so happy to read! Of course, the sports aspect was also a lot of fun and I also really enjoyed all the side characters, from Ari's hilarious best friend Tom to Dani's coach and manager, Arantxa and Igor!
As someone who reads quite a lot of romance, though, I did feel like the plot was nothing that I haven't seen before - but that's not necessarily a bad thing, I'm just not a huge lover of the whole third act breakup thing - however, sometimes your classic romance is exactly what you need at a given moment, so I'm looking forward to returning to this story when I'm really in the mood for that - maybe after a fantasy novel binge! I do wish there had been a tad bit more depth to the main characters, maybe seeing them chat about what brought them together on Tumblr throughout the book would've been nice, or on the other hand turning this into a novella. Regardless, this was a really fun read and I'm looking forward to picking up Johana's future works!
Thanks to the author for sending me an eARC in return for an honest review!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
December 12, 2021
4.5 stars
I love tennis. I love romance. If done well, I knew this would be right up my alley. And it was.
This is the stuff of fantasies - finding a strong connection with someone anonymous online, only to discover that someone happens to be a world-renowned tennis player at the top of her game.
Kudos to the author because it never seemed far fetched. In fact, as much of a fan of the sport I've been for so many years, I never really thought about how lonely a life it might be or what kind of toll being an athlete of that caliber would take on your personal life.
A self published work, I was thrilled to find that it was very well written and edited. Tagged as an "international sports romance" it was so refreshing that both MCs are Hispanic - one from Colombia and the other from the U.S. That's so rare in lesfic! This is a prime example of why it's vital to have more diverse voices available to us, as the author is from Colombia herself.
For those that aren't big sports fans - don't let that deter you. This story is much more focused on the romance than tennis, and the two main characters are really likable. It's very romantic, has some swoon-worthy sexy moments, and their backstories are strong as well.
Very excited to find a talented new Hispanic lesfic author on the scene! She has a follow-up enemies to lovers sports romance between rival soccer players coming out in 2022. After this read, I'm most certainly in.
I love tennis. I love romance. If done well, I knew this would be right up my alley. And it was.
This is the stuff of fantasies - finding a strong connection with someone anonymous online, only to discover that someone happens to be a world-renowned tennis player at the top of her game.
Kudos to the author because it never seemed far fetched. In fact, as much of a fan of the sport I've been for so many years, I never really thought about how lonely a life it might be or what kind of toll being an athlete of that caliber would take on your personal life.
A self published work, I was thrilled to find that it was very well written and edited. Tagged as an "international sports romance" it was so refreshing that both MCs are Hispanic - one from Colombia and the other from the U.S. That's so rare in lesfic! This is a prime example of why it's vital to have more diverse voices available to us, as the author is from Colombia herself.
For those that aren't big sports fans - don't let that deter you. This story is much more focused on the romance than tennis, and the two main characters are really likable. It's very romantic, has some swoon-worthy sexy moments, and their backstories are strong as well.
Very excited to find a talented new Hispanic lesfic author on the scene! She has a follow-up enemies to lovers sports romance between rival soccer players coming out in 2022. After this read, I'm most certainly in.
October 17, 2021
4 stars. A lighthearted new-adult sports romance.
It works as a fun way to pass some time. A bit predictable perhaps and doesn't thread any new ground, but I guess you get what you expect... sorta.
I kind of expected it to tackle some more serious topics like the regular person being thrust into the spotlight of their celeb partner. Or parent drama. Perhaps long distance issues. Or the difference in their economic status. The book kinda touches upon these but never does a proper deep dive and is only superficial.
There's plenty of sugar and chemistry, however. So if you're up for some mostly drama less fun, this is it.
It works as a fun way to pass some time. A bit predictable perhaps and doesn't thread any new ground, but I guess you get what you expect... sorta.
I kind of expected it to tackle some more serious topics like the regular person being thrust into the spotlight of their celeb partner. Or parent drama. Perhaps long distance issues. Or the difference in their economic status. The book kinda touches upon these but never does a proper deep dive and is only superficial.
There's plenty of sugar and chemistry, however. So if you're up for some mostly drama less fun, this is it.
November 11, 2022
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would - some good secondary characters and liked the way the MCs had to work out what was best for themselves Vs best for them as couple. First I’ve read of JG so will look out for others.
August 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Ari has been through a bad relationship and is focusing on her studies except for her internet friend. Dani is a tennis player at the top of her career and can’t have any distractions but her one bright spot is her growing connection to Ari via Tumblr. They finally meet and spend time together which is so adorable and romantic. The tennis matches had me at the edge of my seat. I wanted to read ahead just to see who wins. I got totally absorbed in this story.
I received an arc copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I received an arc copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
August 10, 2021
This was my first book by Johana Gavez and I had no idea what to expect. I’m a huge fan of sports romance stories, so I was excited for this story.
And I didn’t get disappoint. Ari meets Dani on social media. They hit off right away and talk for months about all kind of things. What Ari doesn’t know is that Dani is a professional tennis player that is famous and very popular. And because Ari is more of a nerd (the sweetest 😍) and isn’t much into sports it’s not like she is starstruck when Dani finally tells her. It’s more the thinking of not being good enough. He lack of self-confidence definitely is something she struggled her whole life with.
But Dani is so sweet and slowly convinces her of her own worth and that’s really her she wants. Their first meeting is again so very sweet. I was smiling the whole time. What follows are many romantic and sweet moments I loved very much. I know I mention the word sweet a lot but it’s just the perfect word for this love story.
My smile stayed with me for a long time while I continued reading. But of course it couldn’t be happy and sunshine the whole time. But that made the experience even better because I wasn’t only feeling the happiness with them but also the sadness. My heart definitely went out to both of them at some point. Even if I have to say that my sympathy definitely was more with Ari. She is just the person you wanna protect and only want the best for her. Dani on the other hand seems to be cold on the outside but when you look a bit closer she definitely isn’t. They are definitely the perfect match.
Besides that I loved their love story I also enjoyed the tennis matches that are a big part of the story. I was cheering for Dani and sad when something didn’t go as expected. And this was actually something I appreciated a lot too. To read about lost games because you can’t always win and it belongs to the sports.
One thing I missed during the book was that Ari‘s writing wasn’t mentioned again after this was actually the reason they both met on social media. To me it would have made sense that they talk about that again during their chats or later after they met in person.
All in all I enjoyed this story very much and will look out for more by the author.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and voluntarily leaving a review.
And I didn’t get disappoint. Ari meets Dani on social media. They hit off right away and talk for months about all kind of things. What Ari doesn’t know is that Dani is a professional tennis player that is famous and very popular. And because Ari is more of a nerd (the sweetest 😍) and isn’t much into sports it’s not like she is starstruck when Dani finally tells her. It’s more the thinking of not being good enough. He lack of self-confidence definitely is something she struggled her whole life with.
But Dani is so sweet and slowly convinces her of her own worth and that’s really her she wants. Their first meeting is again so very sweet. I was smiling the whole time. What follows are many romantic and sweet moments I loved very much. I know I mention the word sweet a lot but it’s just the perfect word for this love story.
My smile stayed with me for a long time while I continued reading. But of course it couldn’t be happy and sunshine the whole time. But that made the experience even better because I wasn’t only feeling the happiness with them but also the sadness. My heart definitely went out to both of them at some point. Even if I have to say that my sympathy definitely was more with Ari. She is just the person you wanna protect and only want the best for her. Dani on the other hand seems to be cold on the outside but when you look a bit closer she definitely isn’t. They are definitely the perfect match.
Besides that I loved their love story I also enjoyed the tennis matches that are a big part of the story. I was cheering for Dani and sad when something didn’t go as expected. And this was actually something I appreciated a lot too. To read about lost games because you can’t always win and it belongs to the sports.
One thing I missed during the book was that Ari‘s writing wasn’t mentioned again after this was actually the reason they both met on social media. To me it would have made sense that they talk about that again during their chats or later after they met in person.
All in all I enjoyed this story very much and will look out for more by the author.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and voluntarily leaving a review.
August 21, 2021
A big armchair tennis fan, I couldn't wait to jump into this read and I was not disappointed. Dani and Ari meet via Tumblr and click over time - it's so easy chatting with each other. Ari concentrating on studies after a rocky relationship, somewhat insecure and not really happy with her career choice. Dani a confident, famous tennis player. Both hidden behind their Tumblr handles. Back and forth they chat then they physically meet and Ari initially has no clue that Dani is rich and famous. Game, set, match!!!
I really appreciated the tennis scenes - written realistically but without completely overshadowing the growing romance between our two leads. Side characters Tom and Arantxa were nicely fleshed out adding to the storyline. There's a bit of angst, humor, ups and downs, great food descriptions and sweet love with a HEA.
Easily recommend this book and look forward to more from Ms. Gavez.
I rec'd a copy from the author however this is a completely voluntary and unbiased review.
I really appreciated the tennis scenes - written realistically but without completely overshadowing the growing romance between our two leads. Side characters Tom and Arantxa were nicely fleshed out adding to the storyline. There's a bit of angst, humor, ups and downs, great food descriptions and sweet love with a HEA.
Easily recommend this book and look forward to more from Ms. Gavez.
I rec'd a copy from the author however this is a completely voluntary and unbiased review.
June 18, 2024
Super cute book! I really like Gavez’s writing style. But…whatever happened to Ari writing fanfic and Dani reading it? Considering that was what brought them together, it’s weird that it was mentioned on the first page and never brought up again…
August 14, 2021
You don't need to love tennis to love Match to Love. (see what I did there lol)
In this day and age, finding someone isn't the easiest. The concept of being a tennis celebrity is made realistic in Dani. Dani's just a person trying to find a connection. Ari is a law student focusing on school. Dani and Ari meet over online chat forum with no photos and no real names. I enjoyed the manner in which the story is told - narratives and then DM conversations to emails. It made it that much more genuine (This coming from someone who developed a relationship in a similar fashion). Even the side characters are supportive and well-rounded.
Johanna Gavez writes with a witty sense of humor. Gavez is a new author to keep an eye out for new releases.
I received an ARC copy for my honest review.
In this day and age, finding someone isn't the easiest. The concept of being a tennis celebrity is made realistic in Dani. Dani's just a person trying to find a connection. Ari is a law student focusing on school. Dani and Ari meet over online chat forum with no photos and no real names. I enjoyed the manner in which the story is told - narratives and then DM conversations to emails. It made it that much more genuine (This coming from someone who developed a relationship in a similar fashion). Even the side characters are supportive and well-rounded.
Johanna Gavez writes with a witty sense of humor. Gavez is a new author to keep an eye out for new releases.
I received an ARC copy for my honest review.
October 15, 2021
A sports romance it not something I would easily pass by and I am really glad I was able to read this! It gave me the nostalgic feeling from way back when an IM ping meant someone from the other side globe was talking to you. (yes, I am ancient and can still remember the beginning of email en internet) And even though it never really happened it was a secret fantasy of mine that my contact would turn out to be a certain hot argentinian tennis player. Needless to say this story about Ari and Dani ticked all my boxes. The romance between the broke law student and rich tennisplayer was very sweet and I got swept up into the story from the beginning. I liked the supporting cast and even though some problems were solved rather easily it *is* a romance and as such this was a great read!
I would recommend this one to every sport romance lover out there.
I would recommend this one to every sport romance lover out there.
March 3, 2025
A beautiful slow burn, sports (tennis) themed love story. Dani is the #1tennis player in the world. She's in a tumbler conversation with Ari. Ari is a law student, who knows nothing about tennis.The two women connect while messaging. This goes on for a year, and they start to flirt. Will they meet? Will the relationship hurt Dani's tennis? You'll have to read this gorgeous book to find out. I really enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
September 28, 2022
Match to Love
This was the first book I've read by Johana Gavez. I loved the premise and the way the MCs met. Their chemistry is outstanding. It was an easy read. I look forward to the next in the series.
This was the first book I've read by Johana Gavez. I loved the premise and the way the MCs met. Their chemistry is outstanding. It was an easy read. I look forward to the next in the series.
August 29, 2021
Oooh. I was torn. On the one hand the beginnings of the book seemed unlikely. Major tennis star having online interactions. However the writer actually set it out well. I could appreciate that one space where there are no expectations, no demands would be treasured. Also, I’m not reading a documentary!
The part when reality intrudes, one main finds out who the other actually is…. I’m not sure I totally bought it, but I am totally sure I have no idea what the reality of the situation would be so I can’t say if it realistic or not. To repeat my comment of earlier, I am not reading a documentary. I had to keep reminding myself it isn’t a documentary but I don’t know why. Many books are set out with my experience and it doesn’t usually bother me. This stopped me being fully immersed which may be why I thought the pacing was slightly off on the run up to the mains actually meeting. When they do meet it’s all a bit perfect. Maybe I am so far away from first time dating, and have never done online dating so perhaps have no knowledge of that nervousness of first meeting, but they have FaceTimed so some of the concern from image versus reality should have been removed? I have to be totally honest, this is not a bad book, but I am encouraging myself to pick it back up….. it’s not bad but it’s not enthralling….. maybe there has, for me as the reader been a lack of will they, won’t they…. Aka pacing! To sum up, when I picked it up, was fine but when not reading, there was not that magnetic pull I get from some books.
Reading a book where one of the mains wasn’t out to their parents was unusual for me. I wondered if that plot arc would deliver the missing tension and an antidote to the sweetness. I didn't enjoy the face time sex description, I never got in to it as a set up. I certainly wasn't moved by it. This is a great read if you want sweet and read about love being wonderful. The the fall out, as it does in most romance arcs, happens. It's written really well and for me was the best bit of the book. Those that have loved the previous sweetness may hate this part. I enjoyed the last segments of the book more than the rest. I think the jeopardy bit was missing, but when the writer did insert it, she did it well.
The part when reality intrudes, one main finds out who the other actually is…. I’m not sure I totally bought it, but I am totally sure I have no idea what the reality of the situation would be so I can’t say if it realistic or not. To repeat my comment of earlier, I am not reading a documentary. I had to keep reminding myself it isn’t a documentary but I don’t know why. Many books are set out with my experience and it doesn’t usually bother me. This stopped me being fully immersed which may be why I thought the pacing was slightly off on the run up to the mains actually meeting. When they do meet it’s all a bit perfect. Maybe I am so far away from first time dating, and have never done online dating so perhaps have no knowledge of that nervousness of first meeting, but they have FaceTimed so some of the concern from image versus reality should have been removed? I have to be totally honest, this is not a bad book, but I am encouraging myself to pick it back up….. it’s not bad but it’s not enthralling….. maybe there has, for me as the reader been a lack of will they, won’t they…. Aka pacing! To sum up, when I picked it up, was fine but when not reading, there was not that magnetic pull I get from some books.
Reading a book where one of the mains wasn’t out to their parents was unusual for me. I wondered if that plot arc would deliver the missing tension and an antidote to the sweetness. I didn't enjoy the face time sex description, I never got in to it as a set up. I certainly wasn't moved by it. This is a great read if you want sweet and read about love being wonderful. The the fall out, as it does in most romance arcs, happens. It's written really well and for me was the best bit of the book. Those that have loved the previous sweetness may hate this part. I enjoyed the last segments of the book more than the rest. I think the jeopardy bit was missing, but when the writer did insert it, she did it well.
January 12, 2022
Well, this was a nice suprise of a novel! Match to Love has a lot of elements I really like: a sort of friends-to-lovers, sports-themed, rich/poor, celebrity romance. And this one features not one, but two (two!) Latinas as main characters.
Ari, a law school student, writes fan fiction on tumblr and after a reader comments on one of her fics, a virtual friendship is born behind the safe anonymity of tumblr handles. (And, side note, it wasn’t tumblr, but this is exactly how I met my wife). That reader, unbeknownst to Ari, is Dani, one of the best women’s tennis players on the planet. But they continue to exchange messages via tumblr until slowly they reveal more and more about each other and Ari finds out that Dani—her fanfic reading Dani—is not merely a “professional tennis player” as Dani initially reveals. She’s currently the world’s top-ranked player with over 5 million Instagram followers. Meanwhile, Ari can’t afford food more expensive than pre-packaged ramen. And, also, she’s not out to anyone in her family.
Johana Gavez could have used a ton of elements she sets up to provide us a story with a lot of angst, and while I would have been okay with that, there’s actually much less angst than I expected, which I also didn’t mind. And while things happen a little too easily for them, I really didn’t mind. I just liked this story. That’s it. And I’m looking forward to reading the next novel in the series.
Ari, a law school student, writes fan fiction on tumblr and after a reader comments on one of her fics, a virtual friendship is born behind the safe anonymity of tumblr handles. (And, side note, it wasn’t tumblr, but this is exactly how I met my wife). That reader, unbeknownst to Ari, is Dani, one of the best women’s tennis players on the planet. But they continue to exchange messages via tumblr until slowly they reveal more and more about each other and Ari finds out that Dani—her fanfic reading Dani—is not merely a “professional tennis player” as Dani initially reveals. She’s currently the world’s top-ranked player with over 5 million Instagram followers. Meanwhile, Ari can’t afford food more expensive than pre-packaged ramen. And, also, she’s not out to anyone in her family.
Johana Gavez could have used a ton of elements she sets up to provide us a story with a lot of angst, and while I would have been okay with that, there’s actually much less angst than I expected, which I also didn’t mind. And while things happen a little too easily for them, I really didn’t mind. I just liked this story. That’s it. And I’m looking forward to reading the next novel in the series.
February 2, 2022
This was an entertaining read. Two young women meet online in a book club and like each other well enough to chat outside of the group. One is a college student struggling to make ends meet while the other turns out to be a tennis star. Ari, the student, doesn’t have very high self-esteem and doesn’t pay attention to sports so when Dani reveals her profession, she doesn’t know who Dani is until Ari’s best friend Tom clues her in. Those two factors influence the rest of the book. Their friendship progresses slowly to video chat and then to an in-person visit. While Ari deals with her insecurity, Dani is extremely patient. The insight into the life of a tennis star was interesting. Quick, fun read.
September 3, 2022
This was too insta-lovely for me. I get that they were supposed to be friends online first, but it still felt way too quick for me. I also found the characters to be undeveloped. The third act conflict was annoying and resolved too quick.
That being said, I did like Ari and Dani's interactions and their cute moments.
That being said, I did like Ari and Dani's interactions and their cute moments.
February 22, 2023
This book was amazing. I loved it and can’t wait to read more by this author. It has all the hallmarks of a well written romance! ❤️
August 5, 2022
A great read
Honestly this was a good read. It was very...predictable but it was a comfortable, easy book to follow. The characters are great and the way their romance developed was a lot of fun to follow.
Honestly this was a good read. It was very...predictable but it was a comfortable, easy book to follow. The characters are great and the way their romance developed was a lot of fun to follow.
August 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read wlw romance. The characters were all very likeable which meant you were rooting for them all the way through and although you don’t have to like or understand tennis, and the tennis world, to enjoy this story the author obviously does which makes the story feel more real and believable. There are grammar errors in the book but they do not detract from the overall reading experience. All in all a good read.
August 3, 2022
I’ve always been a huge tennis fan and follow the WTA year-round. I enjoyed the rigorous training requirements and recounts of the matches. This was a sweet, romantic low-angst story with modestly passionate moments obviously geared to a young adult audience. It was very-well done and I can’t wait to read other sports stories by Gavez.
October 12, 2024
Cozy story about a professional tennis player and college student who meet through tumblr. The anonymous identity part was handled well and did not drag on more than it needed to. Both characters talked about their feelings and clearly communicated what they needed. There was enough time to also watch them process new developments, which made both mains feel very relatable.
Time jumping was a thing in this read. It made sense, but there were opportunities missed to help me understand the relationship growth over the 6 month time period.
If you want to read a what if? Story about two people who would never typically cross paths in real life this might be for you.
Time jumping was a thing in this read. It made sense, but there were opportunities missed to help me understand the relationship growth over the 6 month time period.
If you want to read a what if? Story about two people who would never typically cross paths in real life this might be for you.
October 5, 2021
Well, I'm hooked
This story had everything going on that is necessary for a great romance novel. It had engaging characters with fully developed personal lives and relationships, useful and well written side characters that were far more evolved than the common best friend tropes, a steady build towards more, and when the characters make poor decisions that lend to the necessary angst for any love story, those choices were in line with their personalities and even understandable. I didn't find myself cussing out the characters as I read for contrived misunderstandings/poor communication, instead I felt I actually understood where they were coming from and acknowledged that in their shoes, I might have a screwed up similarly.
I felt more sympathetic to Ari's character, yet it was Dani who had the fully developed character arc. I would have liked to see a bit more of Dani's family who apparently sacrificed much to support thier daughters dreams. It was odd that they weren't actually in the story at all for how positively Dani spoke of them on the rare occasion they were mentioned. I would have also liked to see more development of Ari's self esteem issues, her arc felt a little unfinished. All the work was done by Dani, and while yes, Ari learned that sometimes risks are worth taking, she never really resolved the insecurities that seemed to stem from her prior toxic relationship.
While I was very satisfied with the ending, I actually think a sequel would work here. I haven't checked to see if there is one yet, but there's clearly enough left unfinished here between Ari's past relationship trauma, her career goals/her constant need to meet perceived expectations of her family, her debt situation and how it relates to her job choices and the sacrifices she's pressured to make in regards to her dreams, the differences in life experience and finances between the two, and the opportunity for more story as it relates to Dani's family.
As a stand alone novel, I'd give this four stars.
But as a lead in to a sequel or trilogy, I'd give it five. It was hard to put down, I got emotionally invested, and I'm on the hook for more if the author writes more, even though it seems the set up for another book was more between the manager and the footballer, since there was no real reason to introduce that football character of they weren't going to be used. I'll read that too, but I hope there is or will be more for Dani and Ari.
This story had everything going on that is necessary for a great romance novel. It had engaging characters with fully developed personal lives and relationships, useful and well written side characters that were far more evolved than the common best friend tropes, a steady build towards more, and when the characters make poor decisions that lend to the necessary angst for any love story, those choices were in line with their personalities and even understandable. I didn't find myself cussing out the characters as I read for contrived misunderstandings/poor communication, instead I felt I actually understood where they were coming from and acknowledged that in their shoes, I might have a screwed up similarly.
I felt more sympathetic to Ari's character, yet it was Dani who had the fully developed character arc. I would have liked to see a bit more of Dani's family who apparently sacrificed much to support thier daughters dreams. It was odd that they weren't actually in the story at all for how positively Dani spoke of them on the rare occasion they were mentioned. I would have also liked to see more development of Ari's self esteem issues, her arc felt a little unfinished. All the work was done by Dani, and while yes, Ari learned that sometimes risks are worth taking, she never really resolved the insecurities that seemed to stem from her prior toxic relationship.
While I was very satisfied with the ending, I actually think a sequel would work here. I haven't checked to see if there is one yet, but there's clearly enough left unfinished here between Ari's past relationship trauma, her career goals/her constant need to meet perceived expectations of her family, her debt situation and how it relates to her job choices and the sacrifices she's pressured to make in regards to her dreams, the differences in life experience and finances between the two, and the opportunity for more story as it relates to Dani's family.
As a stand alone novel, I'd give this four stars.
But as a lead in to a sequel or trilogy, I'd give it five. It was hard to put down, I got emotionally invested, and I'm on the hook for more if the author writes more, even though it seems the set up for another book was more between the manager and the footballer, since there was no real reason to introduce that football character of they weren't going to be used. I'll read that too, but I hope there is or will be more for Dani and Ari.
September 26, 2021
What a breath of fresh air this book was!
Honestly, I read the description alone and I was hooked because for once, I didn’t read it and think, ‘We’re gonna get some drama, I need to prepare for that’. Instead, it just described that we would see how the characters evolved both separately and apart and boy did that deliver!
First of all, the pacing for me was great. With these shorter books, they tend to move along super quickly and while I have nothing against that, I liked the pacing of this one, despite how short the book was overall. We knew from the get go that this was going to span over months, as it’s literally in the first line of the book but it was reassuring to know that maybe for once, we weren’t going to get any unnecessary drama just for the sake of it, which is always a win for me.
Dani and Ari really worked well together. Not only did their banter just flow naturally but their ability to lift each other up both in moments of upset or fear, was really warming to read. This book had you rooting for them from page one and I know if a book can get my heart to soar from happiness and clench from sadness, it’s an extremely good one.
I’ve also gotten to really love sports books. I’ve read Catch & Cradle which is about Lacrosse and that really sparked my interest for it. I’ve read about Soccer (Football for me), now Tennis and I’ll more than likely read other books that Johana Gavez has to offer because sport and a happy ending to look forward to every time? Sounds like book heaven to me!
Honestly, I would probably go back and read this book again, which is rare from me but I really did enjoy it for what it was and I’m excited to read what the author has planned for the future.
Honestly, I read the description alone and I was hooked because for once, I didn’t read it and think, ‘We’re gonna get some drama, I need to prepare for that’. Instead, it just described that we would see how the characters evolved both separately and apart and boy did that deliver!
First of all, the pacing for me was great. With these shorter books, they tend to move along super quickly and while I have nothing against that, I liked the pacing of this one, despite how short the book was overall. We knew from the get go that this was going to span over months, as it’s literally in the first line of the book but it was reassuring to know that maybe for once, we weren’t going to get any unnecessary drama just for the sake of it, which is always a win for me.
Dani and Ari really worked well together. Not only did their banter just flow naturally but their ability to lift each other up both in moments of upset or fear, was really warming to read. This book had you rooting for them from page one and I know if a book can get my heart to soar from happiness and clench from sadness, it’s an extremely good one.
I’ve also gotten to really love sports books. I’ve read Catch & Cradle which is about Lacrosse and that really sparked my interest for it. I’ve read about Soccer (Football for me), now Tennis and I’ll more than likely read other books that Johana Gavez has to offer because sport and a happy ending to look forward to every time? Sounds like book heaven to me!
Honestly, I would probably go back and read this book again, which is rare from me but I really did enjoy it for what it was and I’m excited to read what the author has planned for the future.
January 4, 2022
This sweet and tender friends to lovers sports romance is everything I wanted and more. With great characters, cute and hilarious dialogue, and a fantastic slow burn romance, Johana Gavez has delivered a stunning debut novel that left me bouncing with anticipation for the next in the series and anything else she writes in the future.
Dani and Ari build an online friendship that grows and evolves into something truly special, but conflicts both internal and external threaten the new relationship as they have to face the spotlight and how to balance the pressures of ambition and romance.
The slow burn romance built at such a sweet and steady pace that I absolutely adored. The cute flirty friendship that naturally grew to more felt so natural and right. The romance was so soft and lovely and brought me back to those feelings of first love.
Ari and Dani have such an amazing dynamic. Ari is so shy and cute, while Dani has this cool confidence paired with a very forwardly flirty nature. Dani constantly flustering Ari was just perfect. I also loved how respectful and understanding Dani was in regards to Ari’s self-consciousness and needs to go slow with their relationship. The romance was adorable and cute but also very healthy and emotionally mature. Well mostly, hello conflict!
This story is beautiful and smart. Gavez’s writing is strong and fun. This romance is so well done, and I recommend this funny, romantic story to any and all fans of the genre. An absolutely terrific debut novel.
Dani and Ari build an online friendship that grows and evolves into something truly special, but conflicts both internal and external threaten the new relationship as they have to face the spotlight and how to balance the pressures of ambition and romance.
The slow burn romance built at such a sweet and steady pace that I absolutely adored. The cute flirty friendship that naturally grew to more felt so natural and right. The romance was so soft and lovely and brought me back to those feelings of first love.
Ari and Dani have such an amazing dynamic. Ari is so shy and cute, while Dani has this cool confidence paired with a very forwardly flirty nature. Dani constantly flustering Ari was just perfect. I also loved how respectful and understanding Dani was in regards to Ari’s self-consciousness and needs to go slow with their relationship. The romance was adorable and cute but also very healthy and emotionally mature. Well mostly, hello conflict!
This story is beautiful and smart. Gavez’s writing is strong and fun. This romance is so well done, and I recommend this funny, romantic story to any and all fans of the genre. An absolutely terrific debut novel.
January 24, 2022
Dani and Ari first connected through Ari’s fanfic, which was a fun detail. Ari has no idea Dani is a famous tennis player. Their lives are very different but the connection is real and it was fun to watch them finally meet in person and see what could come of it. The plot took some predictable turns but it wasn’t bad for a debut.
I’m starting to wonder if I’m no longer able to read New Adult. Ari and Dani were both sweet characters but they felt SO YOUNG to me. I mean, they are young but there was an immaturity there as well that's fine for characters in their early 20s but not necessarily what I want to read about. Ari’s worries about law school and her future career were reminiscent of when I got my MSW almost 20 years ago and that’s not really a period I like to revisit. I wish we’d gotten to read some of Ari’s fanfic or at least learn how it fits in with law school. Dani’s career as a pro tennis player was interesting and intense, even if I wish the story had explored other things about it. If you’re looking for a sports romance that’s on the fluffy side, this might be the one for you.
Characters: Dani is a 23 year old Colombian lesbian tennis player. Ari is a 24 year old Mexican American lesbian law student, library worker, and fanfic writer. (I wondered if Ari might be demisexual but it’s not labeled on page.) This is set in Melbourne, Miami, Paris, NYC, Mallorca, and Virginia.
Content notes: closeted MCs (no forced outing), past emotionally abusive relationship, on page sex, virtual sex, alcohol (mostly secondary characters)
I’m starting to wonder if I’m no longer able to read New Adult. Ari and Dani were both sweet characters but they felt SO YOUNG to me. I mean, they are young but there was an immaturity there as well that's fine for characters in their early 20s but not necessarily what I want to read about. Ari’s worries about law school and her future career were reminiscent of when I got my MSW almost 20 years ago and that’s not really a period I like to revisit. I wish we’d gotten to read some of Ari’s fanfic or at least learn how it fits in with law school. Dani’s career as a pro tennis player was interesting and intense, even if I wish the story had explored other things about it. If you’re looking for a sports romance that’s on the fluffy side, this might be the one for you.
Characters: Dani is a 23 year old Colombian lesbian tennis player. Ari is a 24 year old Mexican American lesbian law student, library worker, and fanfic writer. (I wondered if Ari might be demisexual but it’s not labeled on page.) This is set in Melbourne, Miami, Paris, NYC, Mallorca, and Virginia.
Content notes: closeted MCs (no forced outing), past emotionally abusive relationship, on page sex, virtual sex, alcohol (mostly secondary characters)
August 13, 2021
I am a sucker for sports romances and this one did not disappoint. Ari and Dani meet online - Ari is a shy grad student and Dani a top ranked tennis player. This book is the story of their journey from internet friends, to revealing themselves, to Ari finding out who Dani is and how they navigate their new relationship alongside Dani’s tennis career and Ari’s grad school.
The tennis scenes were really well written and enjoyable - I’m not a huge tennis fan but I was sucked right in and always rooting for Dani. The romance was sweet, though the inevitable angsty/rough-patch I saw coming a mile away (I think I read too many romances!). Great secondary characters in Dani’s coach and agent and Ari’s best friend who helps her through her cluelessness. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read overall and I definitely would recommend it.
I received an ARC and am leaving a completely unbiased review.
The tennis scenes were really well written and enjoyable - I’m not a huge tennis fan but I was sucked right in and always rooting for Dani. The romance was sweet, though the inevitable angsty/rough-patch I saw coming a mile away (I think I read too many romances!). Great secondary characters in Dani’s coach and agent and Ari’s best friend who helps her through her cluelessness. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read overall and I definitely would recommend it.
I received an ARC and am leaving a completely unbiased review.
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