At her time of need, British implant in New York, Polly, acknowledges having the means of paying her rent is more important than struggling to make ends meet as a photographer. The result, she lands a job at To The Moon and Back, a dating agency. When her new boss Derek asks her to check out their main rival, Polly masquerades as a chartered surveyor looking for love. On arrival at Elite Love Match, she's greeted by the charismatic owner Olly and realises she might be in the market to find love too.

The hilarious narrative is set against the competitive dating scene in Manhattan. The secondary characters shone brighter than the protagonists for the most of the story where they support Polly in and around her new job...one she's surprisingly good at. I only felt the connection to her and Olly around three-quarters of the way into the book. Once I passed this mark, I began to feel the attraction between them as I became invested in them as a couple.

I like how the author challenges the reader by making this a May to December romance. Polly and Olly at their point of meeting don't seem like a good match for a potential long term relationship. Yet, as we get to know more about their backgrounds, it becomes clear their differing ages are not an issue as both are at a point in their lives where they are re-assessing what is important to them including the tentative attraction to each another.

Overall, this is a fun and flirty novel full of laugh-out-loud playful banter. If you're looking for a novel with fascinating characters set in an imaginative, yet realistic story, you'll love this. It's a perfect beach read.

***review copy generously received courtesy of HQ Digital via NetGalley***

Polly is a talented photographer, but is struggling to find work after finishing her degree so is starting to work as a matchmaker instead! She didn’t anticipate this meaning her going undercover to check out a rival agency or her finding the boss there attractive! Her usual job involves her using online dating sites to endeavour to find the perfect match for clients – including messaging potential matches pretending to be her client to set up their initial exchanges and see if she thinks it worthwhile them pursuing. It seems very strange when one such series of exchanges finds her growing attracted to the woman she’s messaging . . . . if only she was a man!

This is a fun, humorous romance with romance at the heart of the story. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, including some somewhat corny one-liner plays on words. It is a story of being brave enough to follow your dreams and there are some inspirational exchanges that actually help both main characters re-evaluate themselves, their dreams and their expectations. Maybe love can find a way to bring the matchmakers to find their own match – but they’ll have to be brave first!

This is a lovely, light-hearted, quirky and fun read, simply great to escape into. I requested and was gifted a copy via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

As a failing professional photographer, the last thing Polly expects is to end up working in a dating agency; never mind clashing with their competitor, Olly.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This follows Polly who, after struggling to make a living with her career as a freelance photographer, resigns herself to taking a job working for Derek at his dating company. As much as she hates to put her dreams on hold, they aren't going to pay the rent, plus Derek is a pretty sweet guy and fun to work for.

Olly is the competition. Where Derek's company is small and personal, Olly's is shiny and corporate, and New York can't get enough of this handsome businessman's every move.
When fate seems determined to keep bringing Polly and Olly together, sparks are bound to fly.

This was another fun and light romance from Zoe May.
I do like how the leading ladies in her stories have more going on than the leading man. Yes, Polly has a crush on Olly, but she's not only thinking of him.
She has her new job which, although it wasn't what she ever imagined doing, she enjoys the challenge and soon picks up Derek's enthusiasm for helping hopeless lovers. It does touch on the ethics of online dating, and how far is too far when you try and get your customer the right dates.
Polly has her best friend Gabe. They support each other, and even though Polly's dreams have stalled, she tries to coax him into taking his singing more seriously.
Then of course, there's the trouble that Polly is having with her own dream. She has put her heart and soul into her photography, and has done some work <i>in exchange for good exposure</i>, and she discovers all the pitfalls that come with that particular agreement.

There is some cheese and some questionable choices, but overall, I enjoyed it and can't wait for more.

I thought When Polly Met Olly was an adorable rom-com book and I enjoyed watching the story unfold. I couldn't get past the fact that while the story was set in NYC all of the characters, who were all American besides Polly, were speaking in British English. It just drew me out of the story every time it happened which I absolutely hate because I think this could have been a great novel. It did take away my enjoyment of the novel, but it didn't make me hate the book. I just would have loved it more if the dialect were more accurate.

I love stories about dating agencies, as they're usually a lot of fun. This one certainly is, as it depicts the rivalry between two companies and their differing methods of matchmaking. 

Polly is feisty but lost professionally. Ollie is successful but cold. And of course, neither of them have had much luck in love. But all that changes when the two pretend to be other people...

Hopeful yet struggling photographer Polly is desperately in need of a job that pays. She’s tired of doing work for free – spending more time and aggravation, not to mention her skills, with little to show for it. To that end, she answered an advert for a matchmaking service – and soon finds herself working to find, connect with, and set up the men who have paid for the service. Her boss has this true desire to help people find love, but it means that his agency is often ‘second best’ to the highly publicized competitor run by the designer clad gem of the press, Olly.

To see what makes the agency so different (and purportedly better) Polly pretends to be interested in the services, and while she finds that Olly is everything she could want (and never aspire to) in a man, their ‘by the numbers’ approach to matchmaking doesn’t account for attration, or even lead the client to feel good. Sure, the agency she’s with may not have the publicity, but the personal touch and warmth they provide is worth more.

This was adorable: from Polly and her roommate – a part time drag queen when he puts away his corporate gig, to her boss, and even the clients and matches. Polly’s actual romantic streak comes through strongly, and her talents with portrait work, may be the key to her using her photography degree. With a dash of humor, a bit of communication with a possible match for a client, and a lovely party that has everyone surprised, the story is truly a balm for the romantic hidden deep within all of us. A clever read that balances the angst with heart, and watches dreams and cupids running amok, the story is the perfect escape read when you want to be left smiling for hours.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-atL/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

The title is fun and put a smile on my face straight away. It was the first thing that attracted me to the booK.

The title is not the only humourous thing. The author has sprinkled the story with some funny bits but the main focus is on romance.

Everybody is keen on finding the 'one' and we have ticked boxes on a (mental) list with how we want our ideal partner to look, but looks are not everything! Maybe we should delve deeper and extend our list with things we want or don't want our ideal partner to have or do.  Not very romantic though, is it, but it might keep heartbreak at bay. 

Anyway when you (finally) meet your better half it can be quite an eye opener and love can make you make a u-turn. No matter how many people might think you are not suited, the only thing that matters is how you feel about each other.

A fun read and remember there's a lid for every pot. 4 stars.

Thank you, Zoe May and Rachel's Random Resources.

What a delightful book!! Such a sweet love story of two imperfect people making a go of it with each other. A very very good book!

I found “When Polly Met Olly” to be the a cute book. To me, this book was what you’d think of when you thought rom com. Polly has been down on her luck with dating for quite sometime. Taking a job as a matchmaker is surprising to not only her friend, Gabe but to Polly herself. The book was lacking in a few things: the ending with Alicia was a little bit of a cop out and I left that Gabe and Scarleet just kinda fell off the face of earth. But all in all, it’s a book that I would recommend.

*This book was sent in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley*

Parts of this book I really enjoyed, and then other parts just seemed a bit pointless and unbelievable.

Love love love

Polly is a photographer who dreams of hitting it big. Things aren’t working out at the moment though so she applies for a job at a high class New York dating agency and starts to work with Oreo addict Derek, her new boss

Derek sends Polly undercover as a mystery shopper to a rival agency to see what they have and he doesn’t. Polly gets interviewed by Olly, the owner of the dating agency and a cool fashionable guy, adored by those around him (think half a million Instagram followers)

They have an instant connection but can’t admit it to themselves, they are business rivals! 

They end up messaging each other on behalf of their clients, neither realising who they are messaging and form a strong bond which makes them want to meet the client who they are messaging. When they find out can they form a relationship? Can they trust each other and open up? 

I really enjoyed this book and found myself really routing for Polly to realise her dreams and becoming the person she could be instead of just being

I think I would have liked to see more from Olly's point of view as that would have been really interesting and I really really want to know what happens next!

I would recommend this book to those who dream of love and enjoy the twists of a good story with people trying to follow their dreams and be who they can be

This book was very cute and adorable :)

It was beautifully written, heart-warming story, perfect to take with you on a vacation or snuggle with it in cosy blanket in your bed.

I immediately fell in love with the characters and the writing and reading this book made my day brighter and better.

Polly and Olly were never supposed to meet…
Polly might spend her days searching for eligible matches for her elite list of clients at her New York dating agency, but her own love life is starting to go up in smoke.

Even worse, she can’t stop thinking about the very person she’s meant to be setting her latest client up with… surely it can’t get any worse!

But then Polly bumps into oh-so-handsome Olly, who heads up a rival agency, and realizes that perhaps all really is fair in love and dating war…

I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn't. It was lacking substance and the actual main characters had so few interactions that it seems to defeat the purpose of the book, which was Polly and Olly meeting/getting together. They didn't even meet until half-way through the book!
The romance itself was pretty dead. There was no spark, no 'ooh!' moment, nothing that made this say romance like I wanted it to.

A decent contemporary story. A good relationship plot with good character dynamics but not quite enough growth/development. Would recommend.

When Polly met Olly, a quick read about a girl, trying to make her way in NYC as a photographer, To pay the bills she gets a job at a dating agency. Her new boss sends her over to the rival agency to spy- enter Olly.


I enjoyed the light-hearted-ness of this book. Nothing too crazy, little silly mishaps, but not too many dramatics.
I thought Polly's boss seemed very sweet, her BFF a little bit of a cheek, and that social influencer? Huge cow.
There are only two things that bothered me in this novel. The names Polly and Olly. On their own, completely fine. When a pair? It sounds like they are little blonde 4 year old twins in matching overalls. Not adults with a potential love match.

Was it predictable? Yes, but why else would we read these rom-com novels? It was exactly as it should have been.

2.5 stars. This story was just okay, honestly. Polly starts working for To the Moon and Back so she can have a steady paycheck while trying to get her photography business up and running. She almost immediately goes undercover to check out the competition, Elite Love Match.
While I liked the premise about two competing matchmaker agencies, it didn't turn out as expected. Something was missing from this story as a whole. This lacked passion and intensity. It was cute but that's all it was. I wanted to read more about the clients of To the Moon and Back and how they were doing with their matches. I would have read an entire book on her friend and roommate, Gabe. There were some plot lines that seemed shoe-horned in and a little clunky. Olly seemed like an okay character but I wasn't necessarily rooting for them to get together. The spark that they talked about at one point wasn't there for me either. Basically, this is a cute book that could have been done better. The execution is lacking and so are the characters.

This book had so much potential, but it fell flat. I didn't think the characters were people worth rooting for, they were just bland. I feel like there was more focus on the relationships between Polly and the other men in her orbit than there was with her and Olly. I did like the little twist with the matchmaking profiles.

I was completely lost in this book and read it in just under 2 days. It's a little different to my usual reads but I kept it to read on holiday and would recommend!

Catching melodious title ,got me interested and while the story didn't start out with a bang, the tapes kept rolling and the big picture became clear.Polly inadvertently gets a job she is not well suited for but grows into it and finds that she is loving it.She meets a handsome gentleman and begins having naughty thoughts about him only for her heart to take a sharp detour towards another less likely candidate for her affections.I liked the depth of character development as well as their idiosyncrasies that come to light.Loved that the main characters could acknowledge their flaws but didn't allow it to stagnate their life and their happiness.Book was well done with some lighthearted moments thrown in for balance.

3.5 stars
A refreshing story about a woman who wants to start a photography Career but she needs to get a job before setting up her dreams. Polly starts working at To the Moon and Back, a matchmaker company, and without wanting she gets herself in spying on the competition which is Elite Love Match owned by Olly, a divorcee man twenty years older than her.
While the settings, the story itself was quite interesting and the secondary characters are that great that maybe deserves their own story/book, the couple didn't scream a perfect match for me, they are great people with insecurities and everything you expect but their chemistry felt a bit forced and has nothing to do with their age difference.
#WhenPollyMetOlly #NetGalley