The Love Rematch

The Love Match #1

by Kay Marie

She’s the new lead of a hit dating show.
He’s the producer.
And seven years ago, they were in love.
Let the games begin…

Emily Peters spends her days working at her mother’s flower shop and her nights working on her startup jewelry business. She has no time for romance, and she’s happy that way. Until one morning she wakes up to find her mother on national television practically begging America to find her a boyfriend.

When the clip goes viral, Emily is swept away in a Hollywood dream, set to become the new lead of the hit dating show, The Love Match. But it all turns to a nightmare when she arrives on set and comes face-to-face with Jake, the man who broke her heart seven years ago—and her new producer.

She's hellbent on revenge. He's determined to secure a promotion. But the more they face-off behind the scenes, the harder it becomes to deny their attraction and ignore the secrets of their past. Jake will soon realize the only thing worse than abandoning the love of his life is finding her a new fiancé.

Love and Other Words meets The Hating Game in this Bachelor-inspired romantic comedy perfect for fans of forced proximity, second chance romance, reality television, revenge, working with an ex, emotional scars, and dual POV!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Second Chance Romance, Adult

374 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2023

About the author

Kay Marie writes sweet romantic comedies with a touch of spice. Her books are full of humor and heartache with lots of swoony moments and, of course, a HEA! Under the name Kaitlyn Davis, she also publishes YA fantasy. Publishers Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."

Find more on her website: www.KayMarieBooks.com

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Twitter - @DavisKaitlyn

To learn more about her young adult novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kaitlyn Davis here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kaitlyn_Davis

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

Writing: legitimate | Plot: tons of potential | Ending: FINALLY LOL

SYNOPSIS

When Emily finds herself cast as the new lead on Love Match (fictionalized The Bachelorette), she doesn't expect to be working with Jake, the love of her life that quite literally left in the middle of the night and never returned.

MY OPINION

This one is honestly hard to rate because it is brimming with potential. First, the writing is GREAT. Definitely better than your average book. And the premise? JUICY. I've never seen an episode of The Bachelorette, but I'm a hoe for Love is Blind. The behind-the-scenes look at how reality dating TV shows are produced was really interesting. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it sounds like hell. All of that just to get a bad edit and be harassed by randos online? No thanks.

Where I struggled was the actual love story. This was the miscommunication trope on bath salts. And sure, all romcoms have a lil bit of miscommunication, but it's annoying AF when the only thing that makes them "enemies" is the fact they won't have an honest conversation about what happened 7 years ago. They aren't enemies because one of them is a developer trying to buy out her cupcake shop to turn it into overpriced condos—they're enemies because he literally dipped out on her 7 years ago without saying boo and she won't simply ask WHY??

In fact, these two nitwits do EVERYTHING but sit down and have an honest convo about what happened. I was so lost because I couldn't understand their priorities. Ole dude climbs through her bedroom window and lures her into the bathroom for an incognito chat only to ask her why she dropped out of college after the first semester and ogle her left buttcheek (from the front? I don't understand the logistics of this). I mean at one point they naked bungee jump together (is that even allowed? my titties would come clean off my chest). But actually speak about that fateful night? Absolutely not. Risk your life jumping 3ft across to his balcony? No problemo!!!!

Anyways. I was also surprised how deep this went. There's some serious issues raised here so brace yourself. One of them kinda rubbed me the wrong way but I'm going on vacation tonight so I don't wanna get too worked up 😂 I think the author has tons of potential, but she needs to tighten up that love story because I've had more productive conversations with my dog, Nobu, than these two dummies had with each other.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: great writing, interesting premise, good jokey jokes at the beginning, loved the BTS look at filming a reality dating TV show (accuracy tbd but it made sense)

Cons: love story was legit painful to watch unfold, miscommunication trope on bath salts, hard time connecting with the characters because they were so illogical, reading about horny teens kinda freaks me out

[bee 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bachelorette meets second chance romance? I was sold from the very first page.

This is the type of energy that you want when you pick up a second-chance romance. You want angst, you want slow pining and you want the urge to bang the two character’s heads together so they finally get back together. I loved this. I’m not afraid to admit that I enjoyed how messy and chaotic it was.

Emily is a character that you couldn’t help but fall in love with. She’s been through so much and I instantly felt a connection to her. I wanted to hug her and erase any of her suffering but her strength was unmatched and I was just wishing for her deserved happy ending throughout the entire book.

Jake’s fear of breaking everything he touches and the trauma of his childhood continuing to follow him into his adulthood resonated with me deeply. It was truly heartbreaking to read about his struggle with his past but I loved reading about his growth and journey to self-acceptance and forgiveness.

I am so excited to read Sam and Cooper’s story. I knew from the minute they both appeared in the story that I would love them and want more of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Esther]

I need safety info

[jaz ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Wow, what an AMAZING read, The Love Rematch is a witty, faced past, second chance romance novel that has you hooked from the first line. ( and dual POV!)

Imagine waking up one morning to see your mum on a morning news segment practically begging for you to go on a reality dating show, well that's what happened to the FMC Emily Peters. Not only did Emily end up going onto this bachelorette esque reality show but her childhood love who broke her heart 7 years prior is the producer.

As you can imagine this premise has you on the edge of your seat. Immersive plot and satirical dialogue had me reading this in one day!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it was so entertaining seeing Emily date 30 different men in front of her ex and make him suffer, Emily was a funny realistic and likeable mc and had me rooting for her the entire book. Not to mention her sister is ICONIC, had me actually laughing out loud with some of the things she said.

I literally can not fault this novel at all (which is extremely rare for me) Loved it.

[aisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 70%

I dislike second chance romance in general. But the whole reality tv dating show theme seemed very intriguing so I went in expecting a lot.
A lot, in fact, was not delivered.
Instead, it was turned into a cliched story of a caveman-ish male lead and a hot n cold female lead. Extremely unexciting. Emily’s personality was hard to understand. It’s like author had multiple ideas and tried to morph them into one boring person. And Jake was just generally unlikeable. The tension and chemistry between them felt so forced.
The pacing was off. The flashbacks were timed in way that was hard to comprehend if it was a present event or from the past.
The way they went around doing everything other than communicate irked me to no end.
I did not enjoy for a single moment and was put off by the whole thing.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”“Since when?”“That’s not fair.”

This was such a fun and entertaining book! I liked both Jake & Emily. They were both right on their sides and had their equal shares of past traumas and issues. The reality show concept was super amusing and kept me interested. It was clear from the start that Jake & Emily were meant to be together. They not only found their way back to each other but also grew individually. The side characters, Sam & Cooper have intrigued me and I'm definitely going to read their book when it comes out! Overall, the book was full of fluffy moments, some shocking revelations and I really enjoyed read it!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me the ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Love Rematch was a second chance romance that was filled with reality tv show fun! This story started off absolutely hilarious and as the pages flew by, we got to see the emotional side too. With a little bit of spice and a lot of heart, this story had the perfect amount of angst.

“Revenge,” Sam repeats. The word emerges like the sun bursting over the horizon of a brand-new day. “Do it, Em. Make him hurt.”

The first chapter pulled me right in and I couldn't stop laughing. When Emily's twin called her, and said their mother was on TV with a sign to get Emily a date I was glued to the pages. Her mortification became my own! And she went viral. When she was offered the lead on The Love Match, similar to the Bachelorette, Emily couldn't say no. It was the publicity she needed for her business to go to the next step. Yet she had no clue that her ex, Jake, worked on the show. Seven years ago Jake left her in the middle of the night. The story unfolded in both Jake and Emily's POVs, making it so easy to fall in love with their story.

The undercurrent in the air clicks into place.
He finally understands her hidden message.
Game on.

Emily worked at her mom's flower shop and did her jewelry business on the side. She had hoped that her jewelry business would become her full time job someday. So while she was hesitant about being the lead on The Love Match, her twin sister gave her the nudge she needed. To grow her business. And when she realized that Jake was on the shower, her sister nudged her again. Revenge was what was going to get her through this experience. She got to flirt with 30 different men as her ex-boyfriend watched it all. Emily was strong, witty, quiet and so easy to adore.

“America will love you, if you give them the chance.”
The floorboards creak as he climbs onto the sill.
“Give them that chance, Em. Let them in, and they’ll fall. Trust me. It’s impossible not to.”

Jake's reaction to Emily being the new lead on the show he was producing was priceless! And as he watched her interact, flirt and even kiss the men, I loved seeing how jealous he was! I wanted him to feel all the pain! Yet as the story unfolded, we got moments into their past when they were younger. Those peaks showed how beautiful their young love was, and it was so easy to fall in love with younger Jake. Then as we got to see what his life was like, my heart towards him continued to soften. Especially when he was kind to Emily in the present. I literally wrote in my notes 'I don't want to like him, but he is making it impossible'. If you love tortured heroes, Jake is for you. I understood him inside and out, and even why he did what he did in their past.

She stops and spins on her heels to face him, wrath personified. “My name is Emily. And you know what? You’re right. I didn’t cheer in high school. I wasn’t the type. I couldn’t have cared less about football . My first boyfriend was the school loner. He wanted to be a director, a bit like you actually. And you know what he taught me? Even the nerdy boys can break your heart, so you might as well date the ones with muscles and enjoy yourself.”
He should admit defeat.
He should apologize.
He should relent.
Instead, he puffs up his chest.

The fire and anger between Jake and Emily felt so real. Neither of them seemed to hold back, except when it came to talking about their past. It felt like that was the line that couldn't be crossed. So as Jake offered Emily peace offerings, helped her out at times, or was thoughtful, she too found herself softening towards him. It didn't help that she was still attracted to him and that their past love was so beautiful. I was nervous for her and her heart. All the while, we got to see the behind the scenes of the show and it was fascinating! As Emily kissed some of the men, I was smiling while also gasping out loud. Somewhere along the way I was head over heels in love with Jake. And I wanted them together. But there was so much healing that they both needed to do. And they desperately needed to talk about their past too.

A lump forms in the back of her throat. It’s full of the what-ifs— questions she’s never been able to get rid of, even after seven years of wondering, because deep down she wants the other life, the one she thought they were going to have until it all fell apart.
Does he feel the same?

I would love to see The Love Rematch turn into a movie! The writing was so easy to read, the storyline was smile inducing and the characters were multifaceted. When you add to that two plot twists that I didn't see happening, this book made for a fabulous second chance romance. Now I'll be patiently waiting for the next book.... by Chapter 16 I was begging for someone to get their own story and I can't wait to see how that story plays out!

“You were everything, Em,”Jake whispers. The soft confession hits her with the force of a tsunami. She can’t move, can’t run. She’s caught in the wave with no control over her sense.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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[Sarah Heitkemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley x KM for an advanced copy to read prior to its release. Just finished this one in two nights and had dreams about it last night after. Loved it! KM’s unique take on the bachelorette with a little second chance at love. It had plot twists that i didn’t see coming and was a sweet read.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He'll never be her hero. But that doesn't mean he has to stay her villain."

I absolutely loved this book, I read in just about one sitting. While I was going to sleep due to fibro pain.
If you love second chance romance, reality tv show settings- think Bachelorette, slow burn but doesn't feel like one and finally the want to bang to characters heads together than this is for you.

Emily wakes up one morning to her mum appearing on national morning tv, broadcasting that Emily is single and her mum is trying to help her find love. Her mum hopes she gets selected to go on the new series of the reality tv show- The love match. When Emily is chosen, she finds out her ex-boyfriend Jake, is a producer on the show. Where he has to watch Emily get to know and date 30 men, who she then has to choose who goes through until there is only a handful left and Emily hopefully will find someone to fall in love with. But it turns out Jake is still in love with Emily and hasn't been able to move on- What could possibly go wrong?

I loved this book. I enjoyed that you get both Emily and Jake p.o.v- which added so much to the story. You get flash backs to their previous relationship. You get the knowing looks they give each other, the watching when the other is watching. You get their history weaved into their present lives and you get to watch as their love is rebuilt.

I think 'The love rematch' is one of my favourite romance books I have read this year so far.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[mim reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

* ARC review via NetGalley , all opinions are my own
* Find my book board for this book here💌: https://pin.it/4d6Bkpq
* The Bachelorette chooses the man behind the camera as her leading man? Yes please
* A tv show setting with a mix of a second chance grovel, this book really did do it for me. Emily is looking for revenge, and Jake? Well he’s just signed up for helping his ex-girlfriend find the love of her life.
* My verdict: I loved it! The premise was unique for a book and it worked out well. It wasn’t cringey or too flat.
* The book was really good, I loved the characters, the theme - finding [love] on a dating show isn’t something I’ve come across so for my first exposure, this was amazing.
* In the book we see a lot of flashbacks to Jake and Emily’s first run which makes you understand the characters a lot more. What I will say is that this didn’t ‘excuse’ Jake’s behaviour. The boy definitely has some red flags about him, even when he’s a grown man, but you can see his priorities change and for that it was a realistic grovel.
* Jake and Emily are great together and it didn’t take long to fall in love with them myself. There’s small little reminders of their past relationship that draw Emily back in and it’s great to see them develop and understand their character attributes that make them do the things they do.
* I loved the tension, I’m a big fan of seeing a man jealous in a book and seeing Emily come out of her shell to do so? Chef’s kiss.
* The drawling between them was what I loved. They both aren’t over each other and them toeing the line made me devour this book. It wasn’t too rushed, there were moments where each of them nearly gives in and doesn’t and there’s a whole lot of me screaming at Jake and Emily to get it together! But those are the books I love the most, the ones where I’m rooting for the couple to get together, the ones where I’ll think “one more chapter” and it ends up being 4am (which is true in this case).
* Writing style : not too cliche, it was all in third person which I surprisingly loved but I didn’t understand why each chapter was named Jake or Emily if this was the case. Despite being in third person, we still got to saw what each protagonist was thinking and feeling throughout so it didn’t feel too distant from the characters personal thoughts.
* The final plot twist? A heart puller, it yanked on my heart strings so hard but I was thankful that every avenue that was opened was also explained and answered.
* This was my first read from this author, and this book has convinced me to give her other books a shot.
* I will love when Sam’s book comes out, I’m very excited to see her story play out having seen her bold personality in this book - a very tentative reader.
* A recommended read for sure and probably one of my recent favourites!!

[Fannya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good light and quick romance read and I enjoyed every second of this book! It took me less than a day to finish it along with the bonus scene!

Here’s what the story is about. Emily Peters works at her mother’s flower shop while building her own jewellery brand. One day, she found out her mom is on national television holding a banner asking America to find her a boyfriend. The clip goes viral and now she is a lead in a famous dating show, The Love Match. She arrived on set and her nightmare comes true. There, in front of his face, his ex, Jake, is the field director of the show. Emily wanted revenge and Jake is hellbent on keeping is position. But they cannot deny their attraction towards each other despite what happened 7 years ago.

If you love second chance romance, this is such a perfect read. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I do because normally I am not a huge fan of second chance romance especially when there is a miscommunication involved. But this one!! It hooked me from the start because the plot is very interesting to me! The topics discussed are deep but the author describes in in a light way that is easy to understand. Also, I love the writing style of the book. It flashes back into the past seamlessly, it just feels like I was watching a movie.

I love the characters! It’s not hard to love them, although there are some characters that you can’t help but to despise. I feel like the author develops the character so good. I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend it to those who like second chance romance, forced proximity, also, it’s dual pov!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book’s arc! This is my honest review <3 also if you pre-ordered the book, you can enter a giveaway from the author to get 2 post-cards (US residents will receive physical while international residents receive digital copies) the links are in the author’s bio 🫶🏻

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Love Rematch made me a believer in second chance romances! Never thought the day would come, but here I am, whew! There was so much heart in this one. Within this book you’ll find belly full of laughter, hearts breaking but also mending, endless swooning and fainting spells, and spirits lifting with hope. It’s such a lovely, delightful read.

》The Leads《

Emily. That’s my girl right there! She is the facet of this story I loved most. I loved her and felt so fiercely protective of her. I wanted to end all her hurt, to make the source of it pay, and to see her off in a happy ending. Oh how she deserves a happy ending! She has secrets that hide a life of pain and uncertainty, yet she courageously marches one foot in front of the other, squaring her shoulders, holding her head high, and she keeps on going. Game on, indeed.

My love for Jake didn’t come as easily as it did for Emily, but for me, that just makes him an even more interesting character. I really had to sit back and pay attention to him, to figure this enigma out…to give him the same chance Emily did. Sometimes his actions really grated me, other times they turned me to jello, but most times? Most times, I understood him. Even when I was mad at him, I understood his actions, and I rooted for him to dismantle the hurdles he placed in front of his own path. I wanted his redemption. He is a worthwhile hero, and that I never doubted.


》At the Heart of Romance《

I am not one commonly fond of second chance romances, especially when the initial romance happens during the protagonists’ adolescence. But the synopsis of this book haunted me. There was something special there that I just knew would make me click into one of my least consumed romance tropes. And click I did! The more I read, the more I was sold on this second chance love story. My heart ached and hurt so many times! At times I wanted to tuck Emily into my arms and take her away from the source of all her pain and angst. Sometimes I wanted to shake reason into Jake’s head and tell him to go run after his girl! But all the time I was swooning and cheering for these two to find each other along the way. That said, the more jealous scenes the better, haha! And with 30 men vying for Emily’s attention, the jealous scenes quota was most certainly filled up to the brim.

It was a beautiful, sweet, heart-aching, devastating, hopeful romance.

》A Missed Beat《

The sole caveat I had was Jake’s back-and-forth. I grew frustrated with his fickleness, the way he’d disarm Emily, bring down her defensive walls, only to walk away from her again and again. It became too repetitive. Although we do get his POV and along with it the understanding the why of it all, I think I would have liked some groveling on his part. That said this is truly a minor nitpick that says more about me than the book. This did not deter my enjoyment whatsoever, this is basically me wanting more because I didn’t want this one to end anytime soon. I was all in!

》Second Chances《

This story throw my heart in all directions, it needed bandages at times! But it left whole and complete. I am so happy with this story.

But before I go! Can we talk Cooper, please!? Even at my most angry at Jake I never wanted another guy to interfere between him and Emily. But let me tell ya..Cooper came close. No, there was no chemistry there between him an Emily, and they themselves knew that. But he’s such a good guy, to the point I felt offended on his behalf (and perhaps a bit jealous) they were trying to set him up as the next star of Love Rematch! It filled me with ick, just, no. No thank you, he deserves more than that!

Then Sam showed up.

And everything changed.

I cannot express how utterly excited I am for their book! I am seated and eager for so much more! I cannot wait!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Marian. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 3.5

this was a cute second chance 💌

This is a romantic book that follows Emily Peters, a woman busy with her jewelry business and her mother’s flower shop. Her life takes a turn when she becomes the protagonist of a dating show (thanks to her mother) to find her a boyfriend, produced by Jake, her old love who broke her heart. Despite the tensions and problems from the past, a spark arises between them.
The story is a balance between joyful and serious moments. I really liked the second chance here and that’s rare to say because I’m not a big fan of this trope.

It was a good story to read, entertaining and with charming characters.

📌I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

---

Esto es una novela romántica que sigue a Emily Peters, una mujer ocupada con su negocio de joyería y la tienda de flores de su madre. Su vida da un giro cuando se convierte en la protagonista de un programa de citas (gracias a su madre) para encontrarle un novio, producido por Jake, su antiguo amor y el cual le rompió el corazón, a pesar de las tensiones y los problemas del pasado, surge una chispa entre ellos.

La historia es un equilibrio entre momentos alegres y serios, me gustó mucho the second chance aqui y eso es raro de decir porque no soy muy fan de este trope.

Fue una historia buena para leer, entretenida y con personajes encantadores.

[Emma Ní Mhurchú · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Kay Marie for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

RIGHT! Imagine this, you're single, living your best life when you turn on the tv one day to find out that your mother is on national television, advertising that you need a man in your life. She's gunning for you to become the next star of a Bachelorette-type show, called 'the Love Match'. Somehow, her stunt lands you on the show! Here's the kicker: your ex-boyfriend is the producer of the show. That's the way the story begins for our protaginst Emily Peters and her ex-boyfriend Jake. Things ended badly between them but now Emily can get her revenge by dating thirty different guys in front of him.

A really fun, second chance romance, I highly recommend for fans of Beth O'Leary! I have never watched the Bachelorette but I would hoenstly love a real version of the Love Match! I loved the angst between Emily and Jake and all the secret pining they did for one another. I especially love how their history was woven into the present day story, I'm already excited for how the author is going to manage the events of the second book in the series!

The Love Rematch comes out on 16th October 2023 so set your alarms! Kay Marie is defintely an author to watch out for!

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Kaitlyn Davis for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.

Meh.

Miscommunication is the worst romance trope. Adults who can't have a discussion about what is bothering them should not be in romantic relationships. They probably shouldn't even have friendships. If the only thing keeping you apart is an honest conversation then what's going to happen the next time you disagree or just misunderstand each other? Destined to fail.

Besides this, the pacing felt off, second chance romances are dumb, and the main characters were too inconsistent to nurture any connection.

I may be in the minority here - there are a lot of gushing reviews, but there was just too much going on here for me to feel anything other than meh.

[Lissanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book a bit sceptical. I'm not usually someone who enjoys watching dating shows or someone who's a big fan of second-chance romances, yet that's what this entire book is centered around! But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Even though I sometimes wanted to strangle the love interest(s).

Emily is a sensible, introverted jewelry designer who has been single for quite some time. When her mother takes matters into her own hands and declares on PUBLIC TELEVISION that her daughter is still on the market, Emily is contacted by TV-show The Love Rematch. She agrees to go on, even if it is to challenge herself and put her own business on the market. But can she survive meeting and dating with 30 men while followed by a bunch of camera's and, maybe even worse, her ex?

I quite liked Emily as a character, because she hit close to home. Am I an aspiring jewelry designer? No, but I can relate to wanting to stay at home to do my own thing and being absolutely mortified if my mother would out me as chronically single on public television. During the entire show, Emily is a bit hesitant around all the men she's meeting, and WHO CAN BLAME HER??? You're meeting with 30 men, 20 of which you're kicking off the show within the first week of filming.

Jake, I couldn't really get on board with. Sure, he's the ex and he's really portrayed that way, but honestly, so many of his issues and problems with Emily could've been solved if they just had an honest conversation. I know his storyline is one with family issues, but still. There is nothing more that can irritate me in a book than a miscommunication trope.

Having said that, the writing style and the sheer unbelievability of the tv-shop concept (I mean, flying people around the world for a few dates, how cool and insane is that?!) made up for so much of the miscommunication. I was even rooting for some of the contestants of the TV-show to win Emily's hand! I love how Kay Marie set up the sequel as well, because I'd love to get my hands on that very soon. I need me some more Cooper in my life!

I would absolutely recommend this book if you enjoy watching shows like the Bachelor/Bachelorette, enjoy second-chance romances and a smidge of spice.

[gudtanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

ARC Review

I couldn't pass up The Love Rematch. Kay Marie has collected in this book everything that I love so much. Thanks to NetGalley and Kay Marie for the Arc.

If you're a fan of The Bachelor/Bachelorette, you definitely need to read The Love Rematch.

I didn't expect this book to give me so many emotions. Towards the end of the book, the real American races began. I couldn't stop crying and worrying about the characters.

7 years have passed since Emily's first love left her, unexpectedly leaving. She still cannot heal her wounds and broken heart. One morning, she sees her mother on national television, practically begging to find her a boyfriend. Now Emily is the main character of the show “The Love Match”. She is ready to change her life and try to find her love. But she doesn't expect to meet her ex there. Jake is the producer in charge of finding Emily a groom by the end of the season. After a difficult breakup, they are not ready to meet each other again, but they have no choice. Now they need to maintain a professional relationship and try to hide their past together. But things spiral out of control when they realize they still have feelings for each other.

I couldn't tear myself away from this book. I was so worried about the hero, I was hurt because they were unhappy. What everyone went through broke my heart. Kay Marie brings up a lot of important topics in this book. You will empathize with the characters from the beginning to the end of the book.

I also liked the relationship between Sam and Emily. They are support and support for each other. I'm looking forward to Sam's book.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This was so good! I think books about a dating show where the contestant isn’t falling for one of the suitors is one of my favorite things EVER. Got a little tired of all of the drama towards the end, but still a great second chance romance!

[Ekta M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

***3.5 STARS***

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book. It ticks off a lot of boxes in the tropes that I like second chance romance, forced proximity, and dual POV. This book felt a lot like a mix of The Bachelorette (a US-based reality TV show)and Happy Place by Emily Henry.
The story was absolutely messy and chaotic in a good way. It even starts off in a fun way and will leave you gripping from page one.
I like how our main lead Emily wasn’t shown as a dumb and shallow character who trusts everyone easily. Infract she is shown as being vigilant and keeping her guard up. There was also good character development on Emily’s part as she starts making her own rational decisions and gets more independent as the story goes on.
The background for Jake felt derivative maybe because I have read something similar before. But it was so heartbreaking to read his part of the story and to know why walked away from her all those years ago. It’s always tough to see the male leads being shown as vulnerable but I loved it. I loved to see him grow and accept and forgive himself.

OHHH also I cannot wait for book two which is about two of our other favorite characters.

This will definitely be a tiktok/bookstagram hit when it releases.
Book release: October 16th, 2023.

[Hannah Nowak · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 rounded down* This one felt a little insta-love to me since they dated for 10 months in high school and 7 years have passed.. but it was cute and heartwarming nonetheless! There were quite a few heavier topics involved, but I think they were well done and the ending didn't feel rushed. One complaint I have is with the writing style - the flashbacks to their memories in high school weren't always clear and I found myself getting confused how we jumped back in time and having to re-read. I think just a page break would help make it more clear what was happening, but the way it is now, it did not flow well. I liked having both POVs, though Jake's back-and-forth was a little annoying. The characters did have good growth throughout and I am excited for the second book about Sam/Cooper (if that is actually a thing haha)

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

⊰ 5 stars all the way oh my goooooood

Actual review to come! Currently on night shift so typing on my phone lol
But I just need to tell you all that you need to pre-order this book. It’s EVERYTHING

Update 19-6:

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Love Rematch follows Emily Peters as she suddenly gets cast as the new lead for the dating show, The Love Match. Emily works in her mother’s flower shop and owns her own startup jewelry shop. Emily arrives to start filming for The Love Match, when suddenly she finds herself face-to-face with Jake, her ex who disappeared without a trace, leaving her heartbroken. Emily decides revenge is the way to go and sets out to do whatever it takes to sabotage Jake. But will Emily be able to go through with it when their attraction seems to still be there after seven years? And will they be able to overcome the secrets and insecurities of their past?

This book really took me by surprise, I absolutely loved this book and it is currently one of my top favorite romance novels!
The book is ticking all the right trope boxes for me; forced proximity, second chance romance, dual POV and much more. I absolutely loved the setting of the book, it gives off major Bachelor vibes and gives us a small peek behind the scenes of how shows like that work.
Even though the title pretty much already gives away that the story is a second chance romance, there’s still a lot of plot to be discovered and tension building in this book.
I love that we jump right into the story and take off running, it really motivated me to keep reading and finish more chapters. I’m also super excited that we get to read a book about the other two major characters in this book (not spoiling this, you’re going to have to read it yourself to find out!).

I absolutely loved Emily’s character and her story arc! I was happy to see her come out of her shell for the filming of The Love Match, but still staying true to herself. I love that she didn’t immediately trust everyone around her and kept her guard up, because usually with these tropes the FMC trust everyone IMMEDIATELY and it makes it so much more difficult to read for me as a person with major trust issues. I love that Emily is a boss babe and even decides, before things get serious again with Jake, that she’s not going to get engaged to any of the other guys. This really showed her growth and independence for me.
I loved Jake’s character almost as much as Emily’s and his struggle with his past was so heartbreaking to read. Feeling like you’re the bad seed in someone’s life is such a relatable feeling for me and I could really understand his thinking process here. Him being strong enough to walk away from Emily was such a big character trait for him and it was absolutely heartbreaking to read his process while doing so.

As I said, this book is one of my top favorite romance novels at the moment! I am so grateful to have received an e-arc from this book and am very excited to read the next book in this series. I will also be looking into the other books this author has written, because I love her writing style and the pace she set in this book.
All I can say is; if you are into second chance romance, forced proximity, dual POV, revenge story lines, please please please read this book! Mark October 16th in your calendars, because you might want to finish this in one sitting!

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Love Rematch” is a bachelorette reality show inspired second chance romance that left me wanting more. Literally.

Of course with reality shows running rampant in the last few years, I was immediately intrigued by the premise and of course off-set romance between the once upon a time lovers but it was difficult to connect with Emily or Jake. Maybe it was just me but I found them to be terribly boring. The side-characters, moreso—the producers, contestants and my girl Sam were far more entertaining.

What’s more—I wasn’t a fan of how the author would weave in details of the past/previous memories in the middle of present tense dialogue. There were a few instances that I had to reread the passage to verify what tense I was in and where the heck I was at. It didn’t flow naturally nor was it consistent. It threw off the pacing and I had difficulty immersing myself into the read because of that.

All in all—predictable storyline, dull characters, odd and confusing pacing, and lack of wow factor to really lock me in.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured The Love Rematch. Like, within 12 hours devoured. It would have been a one-sit book if I hadn't started it before I got on a plane. The set-up is ridiculous: Emily wakes up one morning to her mother managing to attract the attention of morning show hosts in New York (one of whom is named Matthew Starhan, which, lol) with a sign begging people to date her daughter. And it works, sort of. The producers of the hit reality show The Love Match are in desperate need for a new lead, and there's no harm in jumping on the viral bandwagon, right?

Unless you are Jake, one of the producers in charge of the male talent, and ex-boyfriend of Emily. After leaving her in the middle of the night 7 years ago. And now, here they are, forced to work together, except that working together means Jake is watching Emily date 30 male contestants.

I really loved Emily and Jake. Although I generally don't like second chance stories where the characters haven't been able to get over their exes for years, I liked the spark between them that went from "I am so mad at you" to "I am sabotaging your place on this show, but just a little" to "we should probably be civil" to "oops, being civil means I like you now." The story, along with all of the hijinks of a reality dating show, has major chaotic good energy, which I enjoy.

This story also deals with some heavy topics (content warnings for cancer (past) and domestic violence (past) -- I do think the description would benefit from including content warnings), and the last third-ish of the book are an emotional roller coaster. I cried quite a bit at the end while I was in a literal glass case metal box hurtling through the sky of emotions. It does have a HEA and is a romance; it just comes with a lot of feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eARC of The Love Rematch in exchange for my honest review.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a heartwarming and hilarious romance that takes place behind the scenes of reality TV show with a little bit of revenge.
I can't imagine seeing my mom on the news begging me to go on a reality TV show. That's what happened with Emily. The twist in this is that she ended up in the show, but her childhood love (he broke her heart 7 years ago) is the producer!!!! It was so good to see to get her revenge. She dated 30 men in front of her ex!!! I can already see you on the edge of your seat 😉
Emily's sister is ICONOC her remarks were so amazing 👏 and had me laughing out loud.
All in all, it was an AMAZING read! If you want a hilarious book with a second chance and a dating show, then I recommend this to you!
Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice 🌶 🌶

[carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ [𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬]

"Seven fucking years we've wasted being scared. We were so afraid of what the other person might be giving up, we forgot what we'd be gaining. Each other. I don't want to spend another day of my life without you in it. Be with me. Now. Forever."

[Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. The Love Rematch releases October 16th]

❤️‍🩹Second-chance romance
👥Forced proximity
🎬Reality TV setting
✨Dual POV

I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. It’s so cute and it put the biggest smile on my face.

This was the first time I read a romance with a reality show setting and I loved the vibes. It was so much fun, I loved seeing the true reality of a reality show (because we all know what they show on tv is fake) and it provided me some laugh out loud moments.

I enjoyed the writing so much, it’s easy to read, and the author doesn't waste time repeating the same information. The pacing of the book was great. This is a slow burn romance, which I love, and it didn’t feel slow to me. Plus, we have dual pov, which is always so great to have in romances.

Emily and Jake won my heart so quickly. I love them individually and I love them as a couple. They both had so many issues, a lot of insecurities and fears preventing them from truly living their lives and be 100% honest with each other. The problems in their relationship would’ve easily been solved if they just communicated, however, they were so young when the relationship fell apart and I understand they were not in the right state of mind to be everything each other deserved. I don’t mind miscommunication, as long and it makes sense to me, and even though I wanted to scream at them sometimes, their lack of communication wasn’t something that made me enjoy the book any less.

Something I love about second chance romance is getting to see those little moments when the couple looks at each other and reminisces on their past relationship. I loved seeing that connection, the love that’s still there, the shared memories. It makes my heart fluter and fills my stomach with butterflies. Jake and Emily have great chemistry, there was a lot of tension between them and I loved every second of it. They were both pining for each other the whole time.

This is a light, fun rom-com, but it does delve into some serious topics and I like the way the author handled them.

Overall, I’m so happy, this was such a great read. It’s a little cheesy at times, but it just feels so good to read romances like this once in a while. We all need cute and wholesome romances in our lives. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

[Alicia López Montero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, allow me congratulate Kay for this amazing accomplishment that is publishing a book. Girl, you should be so, so proud. Also, a big fat thank you for sending me the ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

My rating: 3.75 stars

Read if you like:
- Dual POV
- Forced proximity
- Second chance romance
- Semi-rivals to lovers
- Reality TV


My review:
Let me start by saying I was not expecting this book to be written in 3rd person. In fact, I don't remember the last time I read a contemporary romcom that was written in anything else than 1st person.

Is it a bad thing? Absolutely and 100% no.
Did it feel a bit odd? Sometimes it did, yes. But I'm sure it had more to do with my own preconceptions and preferences and nothing with the story and style.

In fact, Kay's writing is fun and curated and you can tell she put a lot of care in the words she picked. As a language nerd myself, I do appreciate when authors take their time and give the word choice the weight it deserves.

The story itself gives a fun twist to the rivals-to-lovers + forced-proximity tropes, with Emily being chosen as the lead for a Reality Show and the love interest and man who broke her heart as teens being the producer of said TV show. As you can imagine, this scenario leaves the door open to lots of banter, jealousy and cute tension between the two.
Their journey back to each other overcoming their own fears and insecurities is truly beautiful. Moreover, the representation of infertility issues and domestic abuse is written very tastefully but without taking anything from the pain and trauma that come with those situations.

Why isn't this a 4/5 star read to me, then?
One simple reason: on occasions, I found the use of metaphors and analogies to be excessive. Not because they weren't evocative or suggestive, but because I believe the message could come across by using way simpler phrasing and not that much fioriture.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good metaphor and they can be a turning point in defining the author's style. But when you abuse the use of it, it defeats the purpose and the final result can be somewhat tiresome.

Again, this is only personal preference and I'm sure there are tons of readers out there who enjoy it, but to me, I found myself skimming some of those sections that felt a bit too extra (which only happened about 4 or 5 times in total, which isn't all that bad.)

Once again, congrats to Kay Marie!
I can't wait to read the 2nd book.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am usually not a fan of revenge and miscommunication tropes, but the book blurb for The Love Rematch just caught my eye and made me take a.chance on it. I am so glad I did, because I would have missed out on a funny and well developed second chance romance that is really showcased on the cover. The writing was good and the alternating dual point of view style that is all the rage now, is well used by Marie to enhance the tension and angst along with sharing each characters hopes and memories. This style of storytelling was used to its full potential because we get just enough of the history between the characters gets without slowing down the pace or losing the book's focus on current moment. Beautifully written this is is a book that will draw you in.

[Anila · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this book since I had a very busy week. I felt like that impacted my reading experience since I was reading only a few chapters at a time. It was still a cute read, but honestly a bit forgettable. The premise and the characters were likeable and entertaining, but I wasn’t a fan of the MMC’s reason for breaking up with the FMC in the past though. But that is the case with most second chance romance books, the reasoning always sucks… The flashbacks didn’t really work for me either. They just didn’t flow smoothly with the story. All in all, this was a fine read, but nothing spectacular. I am intrigued to read Sam’s story. I feel like her book might be more interesting than Emily’s.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun read! The Love Rematch had everything I love in a romcom—dual POV, great chemistry, and just the right mix of humor and heart.

The FMC was spunky and full of sass, and I loved how bold and feisty she was. The MMC played the jealous ex without being toxic, which I really appreciated. He felt like a real, down-to-earth guy just trying to figure things out, and it totally worked.

The dating show setting was such a fun twist, and the supporting characters added a lot to the story without taking the spotlight away from the main romance. It also had just enough emotional depth to balance out all the laughs and flirty moments.

I finished this in 24 hours—it was the perfect binge read and exactly what I needed for a light, feel-good romcom.