Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Friends to lovers and roommates to lovers.
WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT.

After a fire breaks out at her own place Giselle finds herself staying with her brother in law’s best friend and professional football player, Devon. She is twenty-four and a virgin and Devon has been warned against her but he’s struggling to resist her, in an attempt to push away the way he is feeling he steps into the role of wingman for Giselle, tagging along to her dates to help her vet them. The more they become friends the more they see they’re both craving more, they know they can’t but each other is oh so tempting.

I have read a book or two from this author before and really struggled to get into them but honestly really enjoyed this one so it was a pleasant surprise.

Okay so this is actually the second book in this series which I was not aware of until like half-way through but that honestly might have been a good thing. From what I can gather you really wouldn’t have liked Giselle in the previous book so honestly glad I started with this one. But I am totally going to go back and read the first one now.

I was engaged the whole way through this, there were points here and there which I felt maybe moved too quickly but overall it was super entertaining and kept me wanting to read it.

I loved Giselle, she’s obviously made some mistakes in her past and you can see her trying to find a way to forgive herself for what she had done. Her character was super sweet and adorably nerdy. We love a woman in STEM who is also using that knowledge to write a space romance. Devon !!! The way he treated Giselle was so endearing he didn’t hesitate to give her a place to stay and was so protective of her but never in a way that went overly creepy.

Their romantic connection was a supreme slow burn it took them a while to get there and then when they did it felt super rushed but honestly didn’t even mind. Their romantic connection was super present and believable and I loved how soft they were with each other. Again the drama at the end of the book was pretty quick but entertaining nonetheless.

Overall I honestly really enjoyed reading this and I certainly hadn’t been expecting that but am looking forward to reading the first one in this series now and giving this author another shot.

Not My Match is my first book by Ilsa Madden-Mills. I was expecting a straightforward light and fun contemporary romance, and in a way this book was exactly that. However, I was just missing something in this book. The characters Giselle and Devon were okay but I didn't fully connect to them. There were a lot of great moments between them and that was what kept me interested until the end, but I just didn't really feel a spark between them.

Devon has abandonment issues and doesn't want to come out and tell Giselle how he feels about her, but he also gets jealous when she gets attention from other guys. Giselle had a very fun personality and I loved all her characteristics. She was patient with Devon and gave him enough time to realize that they were made for each other. I overall enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I do look forward to reading more books by this author.

I know Giselle's actions in Not My Romeo were questionable. I mean, come on, kissing your sister's boyfriend then getting engaged to him? Sketchy. I wasn't sure she was redeemable but was glad to find she totally was. We really didn't hear too much of her in NMR, she was obviously a pretty big secondary character, but ultimately not the focus so it was easy to draw (inaccurate) conclusions about her. I adored the little bit of a hot mess that she really was underneath her polished exterior, she was sweet and feisty and really has a heart of gold (no trust me, she does). And Devon *sighs* I have a super huge soft spot for anyone (real or imagined) who has a parent with addiction issues and comes out on top despite their upbringing. I hate to admit that I loved Giselle and Devon more than Jack and Elena, Not My Match is a hilarious slow burn with palpable chemistry. Definitely recommend.

I really wanted to love this. The premise is one of my favorites! An innocent virgin who falls for a football bad boy. Unfortunately the book was just ok for me. The beginning held promise but it quickly deteriorated for me.
90% of the book was Giselle and Devon avoiding each other and the remaining 10% was filled with made up drama and angst.

I was very excited to read this book after we are introduced to the characters in “Not my Romeo”. Honestly at first I was very wary of Giselle given the back story and backstabbing her sister. I was unsure if she will be fully redeemed.
Devon and Giselle were such a fun read. I loved their connection and that it developed slowly from friendship. I think this is so important and gives the story romantic and intellectual depth. As someone who majored on physics, I adored the fact that we get a nerdy heroine and that’s a big part of the plot. Moments when Giselle and Devon have fun banter about movies, the universe were a treat.
In addition to the romantic parts, the steamy scenes (especially the car scene) were off the charts.
Overall great read with not a lot of angst.

We first met Giselle in Not my Romeo & not under the best circumstances butttt...fast forward to Not My Match & OMG Giselle is the most loveable nerd with the biggest heart. The love she has for her students, Myrtle, her family & Dev is beautiful and comes from the purest place. Her love helps Dev drop his barriers and realize that he is worthy of love and can be someone’s first choice. One can only dream of having true love in any universe🥰

I loved this but there is something that doesn't sit right with me about this story.

I never read the first book so I don't have a preconceived perception of Giselle as other readers may have so that did not affect my overall feeling of the story.

I found the narrative of 'she's not like other girls because she likes science and wears slacks and blouses' to have been pushed very hard in this story, especially in the beginning and that put me off a little.

Something was just off for me and I don't know if it was the pacing or how the relationship between Devon and Giselle progressed. I can't put my finger on it. As much as I enjoyed Devon (man oh man book boyfriend material for sure especially if you love alpha male characters!) there was something I just didn't gel with.

The winner of this story is Devon for sure. I loved Devon, how he opened up and how intense his feelings for Giselle were. The build up to their romance was great and the steam factor was intense. So I guess it boils down to Giselle and her character really hence, the four star rating.

Just wrapped up this wonderful romance!! I loved the first book in this series and this one was just as good! Giselle was sort of kooky and really fun to read, she just storms into Devon's life and takes over. These characters are so fun and lovely. Such a great escape and distraction reading this the last couple weeks. Off to go read the rest of Ilsa Madden-Mills backlist I haven't read yet!

Yeah!! We get Devon and Giselle's story!! Opposites certainly attract when you but a buttoned-up, tight knitted woman and a grumpy professional football player. But it is amazing story of a true and honest connection when the layers are removed and the slow burn begins. From the opening pages to the very last page this book had me hooked and I did not want the story to end. Loved it!!

I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. I struggled to get into it, and then I struggled to finish it. But I do enjoy this cast of characters. Hopefully we get another story in the series!

A great read, the latest in this series.

They met when his best friend and her sister got together, but Giselle was engaged back then so off limits. Now she is single again and he is trying to look out for her while her sister is away.
When she ends up staying with him will they be able to keep things platonic between them?

Looking forward to more books in this series

I have no idea how I missed the first book in this series - but the second one is definitely a must-read! It is hilarious, sweet, and sexy as hell. Giselle is getting her PhD in Physics and is a bit of a mess. In the last year she "stole" her sister's boyfriend (and has a ton of regrets about it) and was subsequently cheated on by said boyfriend after she wouldn't immediately have sex with him. Since then she's been trying to date by using an app - but that definitely isn't working. Her sister just married the love of her life and is extremely happy - she and Giselle have made up, but Giselle is still struggling. Around her birthday (thanks to a birthday curse) things go from bad to worse. She has a horrible date and then her house burns down. Devon is there to save the day and give her a place to stay.

Devon is Giselle's brother-in-laws best friend and teammate. He (clearly) is very in to Giselle but seems to feel he isn't good enough for her. He holds back, tries to connect her to someone new, but ultimately can't stay away. My heart broke for Devon's back story. After everything - and all the loss in his life - he really is a good guy and very sweet.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and is paced really well. It is definitely a slow burn between Devon and Giselle - but you can almost hear the clock ticking down to when they will finally physically connect. I loved Giselle's kooky persona and adored her family. There is a scene at Sunday dinner towards the end that had me in tears I was laughing so hard.

I can't wait to read more in this series.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

This was the first book I read in this series. I did not read the first book. However, this did not keep me from understanding the story. I thought Giselle was an interesting character. I loved her quirkiness. Devon was a charmer. I loved how he took care of Giselle and didn't try to change who she was. A supporting cast of quirky characters was awesome.

I loved this book so much! We only know bits and pieces about Giselle and Devon from Not My Romeo, but this book blew me away.

Giselle is so different than she was portrayed. She smart, thoughtful, and innocent in more ways than one. She is always looking for the good in people.

Devon is a product of his environment and has been hurt in the past. He is just trying to protect himself, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

The chemistry was off the charts and watching the slow burn eventually combust made for a hot, intense connection. I loved how these two became friends first and their interactions and quirky ways made some of the scenes absolutely hilarious.

I loved getting glimpses of past characters, and I cannot wait for Aiden to get a book. There is so much more to him than meets the eyes.

I went into this story unsure of how I felt about Giselle getting her HEA. It was hard to forget what happened in Not My Romeo and how she betrayed her sister. But as I read each chapter, I have to admit, the author did a stellar job of giving me enough insight into Giselle's psyche for me to want her to finally find happiness. In this story, she's working toward her PhD in physics and was recently rejected for an intern position abroad. With a birthday nearing and so many things going wrong, she's determined to punch the Vcard that has been a problem (and a curse) for her for years.

Devon. Sigh. I loved Devon. Absolutely, totally, and completely loved him. He was protective, caring, thoughtful, and the rock solid guy others count on. He's a flirt with an ever-present smile. He traded in his purple mohawk for posh clothes, cars, and style—although he still sports blue streaks in his hair. But all that bling is a front for the guy who guards his heart to avoid getting hurt since those around him always leave.

The connection between these two was slow-building and pulsed throughout the story. But Devon's history often caused him to pull back, even when Giselle pushed. The teasing between them accompanied by the push and pull led to some funny moments. The science talk with students was frequent and sometimes shifted the focus off the romance storyline, but it did show a different side of Giselle and her deep love of science. One of the things I loved most about this relationship...the way Devon just went with the flow with Giselle's quirks and made-up universes (the sci-fi story, the spider, etc).

There are tons of character reappearances and a cast of new ones. Myrtle (and her dog) always brought a smile to my face when she appeared on page. And Giselle's mom with her dinner table prayer was hilarious. Was the story perfect? No and that surprise twist nearing the end felt thrown in. But my love for all things Devon was fierce and I was smiling with the absolutely beautiful epilogue.

/I received an advanced edition of this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book or content of my review./

Allow me to re-read this story again and again. Giselle and Devon story was fun. They fit like a hand in a glove. Not caring what others said or tried to say, when in the penthouse they were in their own bubble.

The support from Giselle is what Devon heart and soul needed. She allowed and encouraged his demons to fly. He in turn got her quirks and enjoyed the woman she kept behind the glasses. A friend who you can joke with, desire, and worship from top to bottom. From shark week to French films, from letting your hair down to letting your feet dangle.

Feeling free and finding the strength to know when your forever or next chapter has been right there in your faces.

Ilsa delivers yet another football classic. Opposites that attracts. Both who never personally as if they were enough. Doubts of what may not even happen to laughs and live that brings you tears.

I have been eagerly awaiting Not My Match from the moment I finished Not My Romeo. I simply adored that romantic comedy and couldn't wait for more. If you've read the first book in this series, you know Giselle is Elena's younger sister. With how everything went down between the sisters in Not My Romeo, I was very curious to get to know Giselle better. Devon, too. 

Giselle was a great surprise. I imagined her being super put together from hearing about her from Elena's perspective, but she wasn't. Honestly, Giselle was kind of a hot mess and I loved that. I loved her. 

Devon was a character I enjoyed in the first book, but I ended up loving him even more in this one. He was very different from Giselle, but they fit perfectly. He had an interesting back story of his own that fit well into everything that was going on. 

The chemistry between Devon and Giselle was off the charts. It somehow managed to be a slow burn romance while giving off heat the whole time. They had this sweet friendship that turned into a scorching connection. I loved the way their romance progressed.  Plus, there was just the right amount of humor involved in their romance.  I got to laugh multiple times. Devon and Giselle falling for each other was a lot of fun to read.

Another fun thing about this one was the side characters. Giselle's neighbor Myrtle cracked me up. I loved her and her dog. I also loved getting more of Mrs. Riley's antics and some from the other characters I had met before. There were a few other new ones that brought some special stuff to this romance. 

There was one thing I wasn't a huge fan of. Sadly to say, it was the big problem toward the end of the story. I was just disappointed in the decision Giselle had to make and how that all resolved. I mean, I got it. Decisions have to be made and it's important to make the right decision for oneself. I just didn't like what her choices were in this day and age. It frustrated me as a woman. 

That being said, I did love it Devon and Giselle. I loved that together and the fun they had. I had a great time reading this book and would recommend it. I'm hoping there is more to come in this series. I would love to get to read a book about Aiden.

Giselle isn’t who I thought she was!

After reading Not My Romeo I wasn’t so sure how the author could redeem Giselle Riley after she stole her sister Elena’s boyfriend, but expect the unexpected with Ilsa Madden-Mills because Giselle is not who or what I thought she was.

Physicist Giselle Riley is a virgin and Devon Walsh knew it so when she asked him to help her find a one-night-stand after then end of her engagement, he knew that it was going to lead to trouble for both of them when everyone found out.

Not My Match has a nerdy virgin physicist, best wide receiver in the country and I want a Daisy Lady Gang in my hometown.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked this book a lot although it contains one of my least favourite tropes, the nosey male relative who forbids his friends to touch the heroine, or else. Usually it's a jealous brother but in this case it's a protective brother-in-law. The saving grace is that the hero doesn't take him too seriously. The romance develops in a slow burn but it's mostly for other reasons. Both Devon and Giselle are gunshy after previous relationships gone awry. He is worried about his addicted father, and she has problems with her thesis supervisor. There is a fire in her apartment building and she moves in with Devon. The physical attraction is undeniable but they take their sweet time doing anything about it.

I liked the writing style, the editing was flawless, and there are some sweet scenes and feelings that felt real.. I liked Devon but I had some issues with Giselle's character. Her previous boyfriend cheated her sister with her, and this was a problem for me, although it is no longer a problem for her sister Elena (who I think met the protective BIL in a previous book in this series). Giselle is supposed to be a huge science nerd in the middle of a thesis project but apart from talking about CERN and a couple of encounters with her students and supervisors you hardly see her thinking about science. A supervisor said she didn't appear to be focused on the science and this supposedly made him a sexist idiot but honestly, I agreed with him. She is writing an alien romance but doesn't seem to be doing anything to further her research. I'm not even sure if we were told what her thesis project was. It just didn't seem to be a priority to her. I would have liked to see her doing something related to her research just so it became a more real part of her character. Now the reader is told that she is smart and really into science, but it doesn't show.

“Love hurts when people leave, no matter the reason why.”

So, Not My Match doesn’t actually publish until January 19, 2021, but I knew I would love this pairing so much that I couldn’t RESIST picking it up as soon as the arc was available. So hello extra early review.

I just love Ilsa’s characters. She truly never fails to make me fall in love with them, and feel for the struggles they have in life or on their way to love. Giselle and Devon are just surprisingly perfect together. If you’ve read Not My Romeo you’d think they weren’t even a possibility, because the are seemingly polar opposites. Yeah, by the end of NMR I sort of saw that Giselle wasn’t just a smart buttoned up woman, but in NMM she TRULY shines. She’s fun, loving, incredibly brilliant, and has this hidden personality that’s just infectious even just reading it. Devon is like this grumbly teddy bear and I LOVED him. He has a tough back story and it just adds another layer to his character that outwardly just seems like a hot, lady killer football player. The way he cares for Giselle, but also the others around him. So perfect.

Anyway. This book is a bit slow burn. The tension is through the roof though, and I personally feel that the pacing in this book works well considering each characters personality and their history. We get glimpses of Elena and Jack. Giselle’s mom and aunt, and Topher. Devon’s cousin, Selena. More Aiden 😂 Daisy Lady Gang matchmaking antics. Ilsa ties the other characters in this series in smoothly without having Giselle and Devon losing any shine. I only hope that she ends up writing for more of the characters, because they truly are an entertaining group.

All in all this was a great read. It’s just a love story about taking chances and go for what you want and what makes you happiest. Sure there’s angst, but it’s pretty mild.