Thank you to Net Galley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you read between the lines, this book is more than just Chick Lit. It's about a girl who discovers what she is capable of and her empowerment, both career wise and the confidence she gains as a person.
There were obvious flaws - one of the major flaws was the time difference between NYC and the UK. Also, Americans using British words like, "flat" instead the word apartment. I'm not sure why Derek's wife was just heard about and not seen. She seemed to be made up. Another glaring fact was the lack of interaction between Polly and Olly plus the age difference. Weird.

An unexpected romance, that's funny, heartfelt and nostalgic.

Polly's life did not pan out the way she planned it. She lands up taking a job as a matchmaker even though her heart is in photography. She doesn't believe she can matchmake as her dating life is a bit slate. But life has other plans for her.

Olly is 20 years senior to Polly and runs a competing matchmaking agency. He has a clinical take on love, having never been in it.

Both the protagonists develop new lifeskills as they interact with each other in more than one way. Their opposites attract dynamic gives provides for comic relief and character development.

The side characters also are witty and well written, serving as foils and confidantes to the protagonists.

I really loved the book, it was a nice quick read that kept me engaged throughout.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own.

Luanna

This was a fun, heartwarming book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Zoe May is one of my favourite ‘chick lit’ author’s and I always find myself keeping her books for a time when I can enjoy them properly.

I absolutely loved Polly who was a very likeable lady who was easy to get behind. She’s trying to make a name for herself in the big bad world and I found I was completely behind her all the way. The chemistry she has with Ollie is utterly adorable. I loved the fact that two such unlikely characters could get together and work so well together. I found I loved watching the relationship develop and found myself wishing I was her on occasions.

New York is one of my favourite cities ever ( I actually got engaged there) so I loved following Olly and Polly as they go about their lives there as I could really imagine where they were. This book has definitely made me want to go back and visit there as soon as possible.

This was a thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable read with lots going on to keep the reader’s interest. I so enjoyed watching everything unfold and found I flew through the pages as I wanted to see how everything would end up. If you are looking for a fun summer read I’d definitely recommend this one.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to HQ Digital for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

A light hearted book about online dating ( something I’ve experienced myself) a fast read with humour, funny stories and a happy ending. Enjoyed Polly and the very handsome Olly.

This book was certainly an easy and enjoyable read. I especially loved Olly and Polly's banter pre and post endgame and I was rooting for them the entire time.

Polly deciding to take the job at To The Moon And Back makes her a bigger woman than me, because I certainly couldn't do it. Selling love while every aspect of my life was out of whack? Not this girl.

If you're on the lookout for a contemporary romance where you can't help but fall in love with the romance of it all, then this one is for you. If you're not into insta attraction and angst caused by a lack of/poor communication then this might get rough for you.

Was hooked from the very beginning. Sweet, relatable. Everything that is right about chick lit. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Ahhh, I really don’t know what to think about this one!

Polly has found a new job working in a dating agency, despite her own love life containing more tumble weed than Texas. Her actual niche is photography, but seeing as jobs like that are few and far between, Polly needed something to tide her over. By tiding her over I mean ending up actually enjoying her new job.

Like supermarkets and other businesses, dating agencies have to deal with the competition too. I mean, if you’re wanting someone to find you ‘the one’, they had better give you an experience never to forget….right? Owner of the competition, Olly, is a ladies man and one to watch. Polly clearly didn’t get that memo as she ends up having a major crush on the man who is twenty years her senior.

I was gutted that Gabe was gay as I thought him and Polly would have made THE ideal couple. I couldn’t see her with Olly, and to be perfectly honest, i found their coupling a bit too rushed and unbelievable. There wasn’t enough storyline about Olly as a character, and the only parts of the book which focused on the pair, ended up being quite short and sweet which surprised me given the title of the book.

Polly’s character is definitely that, a character. She had me giggling at times, but she also irked me at times. I found her to be someone who was far too easily led and didn’t seem competent enough to think for herself, relying on other people to point her in the right direction for every little thing. It was sweet at first as I put it down to vulnerability.

Overall, ‘When Polly Met Olly’ is a romantic read that is ideal for lovebirds everywhere. I did enjoy the easy to read storyline and unique characters and, whilst I did feel as though the storyline itself was a little bit weak, the premise was fun and certainly one of a kind.

5☆ Unputdownable!


Wow what an Enchanting and Endearing Romance with so much Wit and Humour. Definitely one of my Top reads this year!

Polly is down on her luck, she's a great photographer, but just can't seem to get her lucky break.

So when a job comes up at To The Moon and Back Dating Agency she decides to go for it!
Now Polly hasn't got a great track record with Men or dates so when Derek informs her that their clients expect them to woo their potential date for them whilst pretending to be them, she definitely has reservations. But she's a natural and Derek hires her!

But there's a Rival Dating Agency.... Elite Love Match run by the very handsome and successful Olly.
So Derek sends Polly in under cover as a potential new client to see why he is poaching all his clients.

It's here I'm going to stop my summary as i highly recommending you read more for yourself as it gets really juicy!

I absolutely adored Polly and Olly's flirty Witty Banter. I can honestly say i didn't see that twist coming!! Although I kind of, should of, guessed considering the nature of the job!
In fact all the Characters are Endearing, Charasmatic and likeable.
I really liked Gabe too, who is Poppy's flatmate and friend.
I could go on as all of the characters are superbly written, even Derek and the oh so Dashingly Charming Brandon!

When Polly Met Olly is a Feel Good, Charming, Witty Romance, with lots of laugh out loud moments, loveable characters, a fantastic plot and a few juicy twists.
This is definitely going on my Top Books of 2019!

If you are looking for an all round feel good, funny read that has swoon worthy characters, a quirky plot then you will adore
When Polly Met Olly by Zoe May!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really struggled with this book because I found it boring. I found it had potential. Characters who aren't British should sound like they are when you read it.

I do not recommend this book at all.

Absolutely fantastic had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from.this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to.connect with

Thank you for the advanced copy

2 stars: This book is hard to rate. For the positives: I loved the main character. This book is more like a Sophie Kinsella/Mhairi McFarlane "General Fiction with a side of Romance" than a true romance book. Yes, romance is a big subject in it, but the actual romance between two characters is more of an (awkward) side-plot. But I loved Polly, and I think May captured really well that feeling of being lost at 25, of constantly feeling like you're not living up to expectations, of wanting more but not knowing how to get it. She felt very really to me and could see her in the countless 25 year olds pursuing their dreams in New York.

Now the negatives: Olly is another story--we never really get a sense of Olly. He's the handsome, cool, romantic lead but has no substance to him. Honestly, I found him majorly suspect and was put off by a lot of his actions.

And the pacing! One minute we've spent three pages describing what Polly did all day, and in the next three pages A LOT happens. A lot of the plot decisions also seemed to come out of nowhere, and so it made it really hard for me to get really into the book. There were chapters that seemed to drag, and then chapters that were crammed with action but not in a good way, because there was no build up to that action.

Bottom line, I enjoyed reading about Polly, but the rest of the book was sub-par. There's better general fiction out there!

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.**

Polly’s sweet and artistic. Olly is experienced and analytical. Can these two make a go at it? You’ll have to read When Polly Met Olly to find out!

I’ll start with one of my favourite parts of this tale: The New York City setting is descriptively entwined in the narrative giving us readers a taste of the touristy side, the posh life and the simple day to day. I quite enjoyed these little clips as they brought out aspects of the city that are meaningful to a transplanted resident of the city.

Polly’s boss, Derek, is quite a sweetie and a very enjoyable character to read. He’s not perfect, far from with his dodgy past, but he’s got Polly’s best interests at heart. In the beginning I wasn’t too sure about him but time and time again his caring side is revealed and Polly certainly appreciates him.

The romance between Polly and Olly is cute. Their first meeting is awkward yet there is chemistry. Their continued run-ins are funny and their banter is entertaining. The comparison between their relationship and the relationships they help form through their dating agencies is striking and helps develop their characters too.

The story is told from Polly’s perspective, so we get a great look into her life. We meet her parents, get good insight into her life in Cornwall and why she wanted to move to New York, and see different sides of her through her interactions with the varied people in her life. Polly’s dreams of being a photographer and all that she’s done working towards that goal is another interesting element to the narrative.

What I liked:

~Descriptions of New York City including some swanky restaurants.

~All the different aspects of Polly’s life that are explored.

~Polly’s relationship with her boss.

~Polly’s photography work and her commitment to it.

What could be better:

~Story is a bit slow to start.

~A touch much on the typos (but I was able to ignore most of them).

~More background on Olly would help readers fall for him too.

~More exposition of how the romance unfolds would have been icing on the cake.

Dates, love, heartbreak, chemistry and a great city setting… this cute romance is a fun summer read for sure.

What made this such an enjoyable read was the character of Polly, in particular, and the cast of characters who she meets in the story. There is an element of kindness around her, typified in her attitude to her job as a matchmaker. She doesn't judge and her friendship with her boss seems genuine. Her self esteem has taken a knock but she slowly rekindles her passion for photography. All of the characters in the story are well drawn and you can visualise them clearly.

I also liked the New York element. Although brought up in Cornwall, she has had a yearning to live in New York and you get a feeling for the bustle of life there. With some laugh out loud moments and keen observations, it is an uplifting read as Polly comes to terms with her life post University.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

This has a really cute start. Now, it is totally a British story, because I had to look up what an aubergine emoji would be, it is in fact an eggplant emoji. And throughout the story there were a lot of things that were totally British sayings or names for things. This was an issue for me because the book takes place in New York City, and most of the people are not British. I feel like the story was good in a lot of ways though. The way people behaved towards each other was pretty real. The way they reacted to others was realistic in my opinion. I liked that when we got some bad news about the love interest, it was actually true, for the most part, and Olly owned up to his part in it. I enjoyed Polly's foray into the world of dating apps, even as she was using them to help other people find dates. Like her, I really feel like I want to meet someone in real life. Why can't that happen for me? And also like her, I find that when I do get on an app, like Tinder, etc., I spend a lot of time swiping left and right, and it almost becomes like a video game in a way. So I really connected with her on that aspect. The story was really witty and a very quick read, even if the true romance didn't really get started other than a crush until about halfway through.

Polly has just landed a job as a matchmaker, which is ironic considering the love life leaves a lot to be desired. She gets sent uncover to spy on a rival dating agency as a 'client' where she meets oh-so-handsome Olly (head of the rival company), he reduces love to stats and ticks boxes whereas Polly believes in fatal attraction, butterflies and fireworks.... when fate keeps throwing this unlikely pair together can anyone stop the sparks flying?

This novel is a laugh-out-loud romance with heart! Polly's lacklustre dating tales and her corny matchmaking one liners will not fail to bring a smile to your face. The whole cast of characters are brilliant and engaging, her flatmate Gabe was my favourite. There are touching moments too and you'll find yourself really rooting for Polly to be happy in the end. It just missed out on the five stars because I guessed the ending! Overall it was an entertaining, light-hearted read, perfect for your summer reading lists.

Thanks to Netgalley & HQ Digital for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

Romance? - check!

Humour? - Check!

Quirky characters? - Check!

A fun and fabulous read? - check!

Looking for a fun romance with fabulous characters?  You've found it. 

Polly Wood is an aspiring and talented photographer but taking photographs just isn't paying the bills so she accepts a job working for a dating agency.  Additional to matchmaking, she doesn't realise the job will entail is messaging prospective dates on behalf of clients and spying on a rival, glossier agency.

This is such a sweet romance with adorable characters who capture your heart from the opening pages.  Polly herself is a very relatable character and I love that she is just down to Earth and 'normal'.  Her best friend Gabe (Gabriella on a weekend) provides her with hugs, sound advice and snuggles but cannot give her the big romance and fireworks she desires so much.  Derek the boss is the type of boss we all wish for and the customers of the dating agency are quirky but equally lovable. 

The story is a little predictable but who cares?  You kind of know what's coming but still become engrossed and delighted in the moment when it happens because as a reader you become so invested in the characters. . I think this novel is more about the growth of the characters and the plot development than the actual ending.  I loved seeing Polly grow and find her strengths more than anything else.  

This is my first outing with Zoe May but I'm hungry for more.  Highly recommend this fun and enjoyable read.

What a wonderfully written book. It was both heartwarming and thought provoking. Zoe May is a new to me author but I wish I had discovered her sooner. The way she writes makes the setting and characters feel real. The one thing that really stuck out for me was the age gap between the characters, it's not something that you read about very often so it was nice to see it being portrayed in a positive light. I thoroughly enjoyed When Polly met Olly, I think i'm going to go and hunt down more books from Zoe May because if this book is anything to go by she is an absoutely wonderful writer and this book is an absolute must read for anyone.

Zoe May has written a lovely and heartwarming tale full of love. Polly just landed herself a job as a matchmaker, the irony is she’s not very successful at love herself. I found Polly’s work as a matchmaker quite interesting, I wish there had been a little more of her on the job in the book. Loved her relationship with her roommate Gabe. He was such a great friend and an engaging character. Her boss Derek was also a great character who brought a lot to the story, we all would love a boss as supportive as him. Where the story fell a little short for me was the relationship between Polly and Olly. I am not certain if it is that it didn’t really begin until maybe about 60% in the book? Or that I just didn’t feel the connection between them? Then again I did love the happily ever after? So I realize I am kind of contradicting myself. I think it is because Zoe May is such a wonderful storyteller that even though I didn’t always feel it she made me feel it in the end.

The highlight of this book for me really was Polly’s interaction with all of her friends. I thought it was very strong when it came to the secondary characters. And I would love a future book with any of them. I found a lot of Polly’s past dating escapades quite humorous. I was also definitely surprised by Olly’s little twist, I knew he was hiding something just didn’t know what it was. All in all this was an entertaining story that put a smile on my face. A lovely story that will warm your heart, really made me think about what is important when it comes to love and finding your perfect match.

*** thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***

I requested this book from Netgalley because the blurb really took my interest, I'm a fan of a bit of rivalry and this book seemed to present just this, so I thought I would give it a go.

As I said I loved the concept of this story, and found this a pretty easy read, that I got through quite quickly. I found the characters quite relatable, and loved how Zoe May effortlessly added in a message about love and perfect matches.

However, for a book all about Polly and Olly, I felt there wasn't actually all that much Polly and Olly action. In fact there was so little that it seemed odd when the ultimately ended up together. I can appreciate that people sometimes fall in love really quickly, but in a romance book I expected there to be just a little bit more romance between the actual main characters. Furthermore, main dating scenes between the two of them were only briefly touched upon, leaving a lot to the readers' imagination. This probably didn't help the lack of romance that I felt within the book.

I also found that Olly being so much older than Polly occasionally brought me out of the story. May occasionally reiterated that he was older than Polly at the same time as saying that he was very fashionable for someone his age etc. This combined with the fact the Olly seemed to get very little screen time, it just felt like an unnecessary inclusion that the age difference be so dramatic and emphasised. Although, this was a tiny little part of the story that didn't really have any impact other than making me question its importance.

With a little more actual relationship I think this book would be a major hit, and I would recommend it to anyone.

A fun, flirty and fabulous read that will have you giggling on many an occasion, When Polly Met Olly is the latest delightful page-turner from Zoe May!

Polly might be a professional matchmaker, but her own love life is certainly nothing to write home about. While she spends her days looking for suitable matches for her elite clients at a top New York dating agency, Polly’s own personal life leaves a lot to be desired! While she is a dab hand at finding the one for other people, her own knight in shining armour seems to be taking quite a long time finding her. Still, even though her love life might be a complete and utter shambles, she can at least live vicariously through her clients and enjoy all of the romance without any of the stress and complications – until the line between the personal and the professional starts blurring when she finds herself unable to stop thinking about the very person she is meant to be setting her latest client up with! What is Polly going to do? Should she listen to her heart and throw caution to the wind and grab this unexpected chance at happiness with both hands? Or should she keep her feelings firmly under lock and key and keep things strictly professional?

Olly is handsome, charismatic, intelligent – and her rival! Heading up her company’s greatest competitor should entail Polly giving him as wide a berth as possible. However, when fate seems determined to thrust the two of them together, that proves to be easier said than done! With everything to play for, Polly must keep all of her wits about her and not get distracted by anything or anyone – not even by the one man she seems unable to stop thinking about!

Will Polly finally get the happy ending she has been searching for? Could Mr Right be the last person she expected? Or will there be more surprises in store for her? One thing is certain: the gloves are off in the dating game and all is fair in love and war.

A fantastic feel-good read that is sophisticated, witty and romantic, When Polly Met Olly sparkles with delicious repartee, zingy banter, hilarious one-liners, intense emotion and plenty of heart. Zoe May writes romantic comedies you simply cannot stop reading and When Polly Met Olly is no different.

A breezy and feel-good page-turner I read in a single sitting with a dashing hero, a fantastic heroine and plenty of hi-jinks, charm and mischief, When Polly Met Olly is an effervescent romantic treat that is far too good to resist!