This was just an okay read for me. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything special about it that pulled me into the story. The characters were so unlikeable and the plot felt like it had been done before. Not a bad book, but unfortunately not for me.

3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ January 19, 2023
Est page Count ~ 309 (51 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 5 minutes
Narrator ~ Helen Keeley
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & before, toxic relationships, murder, r@pe

Zara & Ivy have been BFF's for 10 years, since uni. Zara meets Henry and things progress with that relationship rather quickly.

This is a classic case of poor girl from a broken home going out of her way to please her rich, toxic best friend and also going all in when someone bats an eye at her. Unlikable characters and dumb choices galore going on here.

Overall, it was like a train wreck that you can't turn away from because you just want to see what dumb move is made next. Middle of the road decent.

A well written read with a gripping storyline. Fascinating characters and a huge amount of tension throughout given that we know early on that something big has happened.

I thought this was wonderfully written. The ending was the perfect balance of dramatic, raw and realistic. The characters in this were enigmatic and fun to follow. I really enjoyed the plot of this and found myself questioning the intentions of the characters the whole way through. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I wasn't big fan of this one. I didn't connect with the characters much, and though there were some decent twists nothing groundbreaking. I think it's more the fact that I'm an avid thriller reader and it's easy for me to guess the plot. I would however recommend this book to a new thriller readers, as it's enjoyable.

I received an advance copy of The Perfect Match by Dandy Smith from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions. This was a great read that at times made me hold my breath and wonder what was going to happen next. Absolutely loved this and highly recommend for a fun summer read.

I was drawn to this book by the front cover and it didn't disappont. It is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that I loved. I really enjoyed it. The storyline was engaging and really pulls you in, with the suspense level increasing as the story progresses.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This thriller follows two BFFs Zara and Ivy. These two live together and as we learn rather quickly, a bit codependent with a possibility of attraction. When Zara meets a well of man, Ivy becomes jealous trying to push the two apart. Zara feels that Ivy is jealous and continues with her rapid relationship with Henry. Along the way we see a few red flags that continue to evolve, but who do you trust? Your best friend of many years, an ex boyfriend who claims he is back in town for you, or your new boyfriend?

I'm pretty torn about this one!

The writing was visceral and so full of voice, and it sucked me in right away. The characters were fully-fleshed and messy, and I loved watching Lily's chaos. I thought I'd had all the twists figured out, but there were a couple at the end that were excellent, and I hadn't seen them coming.

I'd have a hard time recommending it because of the unnecessary sexual content, and some of the strange undertones about whether or not the mc is in love with her (female) best friend.

Still, very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc! I'll be keeping an eye on Dandy Smith's future books for sure.

-A

This was the perfect domestic thriller that kept you guessing from the start until the end. This was my first book by this author but will not be my last!

The best mystery novels keep readers on the edge of their seats, leaving them eager to unravel the mystery until the very end and this ticked all the boxes.

Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?
Zara has always felt a little ordinary next to her spirited best friend Ivy. Even her dreams seem mundane: a boyfriend, marriage, children... Besides, who would pick her when they could choose Ivy?
So when Zara meets Henry and there's an instant spark, she can't believe her luck. A wealthy CEO who wants to settle down? He's perfect... until Ivy insists he's too good to be true.
As Henry and Ivy repeatedly clash, doubts creep into Zara's mind. Could it be that Ivy just doesn't want to share her best friend with anyone else? Or does Henry have a hidden agenda? Zara is caught in the middle, constantly trying to prove who she loves more.
Then someone winds up dead, and Zara realises there's more to this than jealousy...

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with this book, but I decided I wanted to give it a read and see what I think.

Overall, I think the book was really good and written well. There were a lot of twists and turns. It was a story too many women know too well. One of domestic abuse. As the reader, we could see so many red flags along the way, but could understand how one may look past them when in love with a person or the idea of that person.

I just need to know, HOW DID IT END?????

A fantastic psychological thriller that had me gripped right from the very start. It was well writen with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. I was kept guessing all the way thorugh and I couldn't put it down.

After reading One Small Mistake I did not think twice about requesting Dandy Smiths second novel. and this truly one of my best decisions. It was a fast paced story full of subterfuge and deceit., i believe obsession can make someone extremely dangerous and the narrative in this book illustrates that perfectly. I was pulled into this story instantly and didn't want to put it down for a second, it was so complex and twisty making you doubt everything you are told. I love deliciouly dark thrillers and if you do too it's a must read of 2023.

Three's a crowd. When Zara meets the wealthy and charming Henry, her best friend Ivy responds with coldness. Zara finds herself torn between the two. There unfolds a story of obsession and lies. As readers, it is difficult to pin down which of the three we believe and feel aligned to. This psychological thriller will have you gripped until the end, trying to work out your allegiance. Very cleverly told through first person narration, we are pulled into Zara's thought processes, but this serves to blind us to the true story. Another superb book from Dandy Smith. #theperfectmatch #dandysmith #netgalley #embla

Zara and Ivy are roommates and best friends. While Ivy cherishes her independence, Zara wants nothing man than to settle down to a life of domesticity. After her longtime boyfriend departs yet again for work she vows to start dating other men and magically meets Henry, the ideal man. Unfortunately for her, Ivy and Henry clash and Zara doesn't know what to believe. Is Ivy right to warn her about Henry or is she jealous and worried about losing her grip over her best friend. I enjoyed racing through this well-written novel to find out the truth.

I one hundred percent, thoroughly enjoyed every chapter of this book! It literally kept me hooked until the very end.

I first came across the author when I heard about her debut novel, One Small Mistake. I was so impressed with that book that I knew I’d want to read more from Smith, so was delighted to get the opportunity to read her follow up, The Perfect Match.

The book follows Zara, a wedding planner whose father abandoned her and her alcoholic mother for a new family when she was young. Zara met her best friend, Ivy, when they were both at university. Polar opposites, Ivy is care free and vibrant, and though she has been cut off by her grandfather, she comes from a wealthy background, whilst money has always been a worry for Zara.

Zara finally makes a definitive break from her on-again, off-again boyfriend Luke, who just can’t seem to choose her over his globe trotting lifestyle. Dragged to a wedding by Ivy, Zara meets the charming, wealthy and handsome Henry, who is everything Zara is looking for. But Henry and Ivy cannot seem to get along, and Ivy is stuck in the middle, lost as to who to believe and who to trust, when the relationships with the most important people in her life are in competition.

This is another compulsive read from Smith, I whizzed through it in a few days.

Class, status, wealth and their impact on our behaviours are a recurring theme in this book. A lot of Zara’s choices are made due to her position in society, and the odds she is often at with the lives and upbringing of Henry and Ivy. Some of this is down to Zara’s own insecurity.

I did feel for Zara. Her father favours her step sister from the woman she left Ivy’s mother for and her mother drinks herself into oblivion on a regular basis. Adding into that, the love of her life is also putting her second to his own desire to travel. Ivy is her sanctuary and the only constant in her life.

Henry is a pretty despicable individual, but actually, Ivy is far from perfect and the reader, along with Zara, has to make their own judgement as to who to believe and how innocent Ivy might be.

For me, this cements my thoughts after reading One Small Mistake, that Dandy Smith is an author whose thrillers stand out from the crowd and I wish her every success with this book.

Lies And Secrets Galore..
Lies, secrets and subterfuge galore as potentially toxic relationships spark, fizzle and degenerate in this pacy psychological suspense. As hidden agendas and lies surface, secrets are exposed and the question becomes who to believe and are some things really too good to be true? A tension fuelled read with a well crafted cast of characters, a fast moving plot and an edgy narrative. Nothing is as it seems.