Match to Love by Johana Gavez is a new adult romance pairing an unassuming law student with a world-famous tennis player.
After months of anonymous and increasingly flirty Tumblr chats, Ari and Dani finally reveal their true identities. A video call is enough to affirm their physical attraction, but Dani still has one very important secret. She’s a world-famous tennis player.
When Ari peeks at Dani’s Instagram and sees millions of followers, she immediately worries she’s being catfished. Why would an actual celebrity be interested in her?
Match to Love takes us on a journey around the world as Dani chases grand slam titles and a chance at love with Ari. These two young adults have plenty to figure out. Ari’s only serious relationship to date didn’t end well. Can she overcome her insecurities and put her heart on the line? And can Dani stay focused on tennis while still giving Ari the attention she deserves?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Miranda: As someone who enjoys playing and watching the sport, I felt like Johana Gavez got the tennis scenes just right. Dani has dedicated 20 years of her life to being the best, and we get a taste of the hard work, pressure, and satisfaction that comes along with that pursuit.
Tara: That’s great to hear! I don’t know anything about tennis, so I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to follow everything.
What else worked for you, Miranda?
Miranda: Ari and Dani spend much of the book exploring and defining their boundaries. How much of yourself is reasonable to give to a career, to the public, or to a lover? These are relevant questions at any age, but particularly appropriate for a new adult romance.
Tara: Yes, I agree. This was probably the strongest aspect of the story for me, because it feeds into both of their character arcs. Their relationship forces Ari and Dani to confront aspects of their lives that they didn’t like, but had previously been able to ignore. I appreciated seeing how they change and grow as they negotiate what a relationship could look like between them, ensuring they each get what they need.
Also, my favourite part of Match to Love is the opening scene. Dani slides into Ari’s Tumblr DMs because she’s a fan of Ari’s The Bold Type fanfic. I was DELIGHTED by this because it’s so freaking cute and gives a very “Celebs! They’re just like us!” vibe to their online meet cute.
Cons And Heads Up
Miranda: No cons for me. This was a solid, enjoyable romance.
Tara: Same. No cons or content warnings that I could see.
The Conclusion
Miranda: Sports fans will find a lot to love about Match to Love, but I recommend this book even to those who are not athletically-inclined. Could an online crush secretly be a gorgeous, rich athlete who also happens to be totally into you? Top-shelf fantasy material.
Tara: I completely agree, Miranda.
If you’re into celebrity + non-celebrity pairings, this would be an excellent choice. It’s sweet, sexy, and I had a very hard time putting it down. Plus, it has enough angst to keep things interesting without ever getting overwhelming. If you’re looking for escapism, this is definitely the book for you.
Excerpt from Match to Love by Johana Gavez
Firegirl94: Hey, beautiful. Ready for tonight?
She answered back to let Dani know she was ready while grabbing her phone and waving desperately toward the door. “Get out, dude!”
Tom stood at the door, ready to close it, when her phone started to ring. She hit the Answer button as fast as possible.
“Hey,” Dani said with a bright smile.
“H-Hey,” Ari whispered, momentarily stunned by Dani’s beauty. She cleared her throat and tried again, louder and with more confidence. “Hey.”
She had no clue when Tom had closed the door and left. She was too lost in the woman in front of her, in the soft brown eyes staring back at her through the screen and the flawless smile that grew with every second Ari remained speechless.
Dani tilted her head, watching her with what looked like appreciation and a hint of amusement. Ari was aware that the longer she stayed silent, the more awkward it would be, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
She didn’t believe in love at first sight. How could you love someone when you knew nothing about them, only because fate or some outside force decided it? She refused to imagine she didn’t have a choice. The moment she saw Dani, though, she almost had to change her mind. Even with miles of distance between them, Ari’s heart skipped a beat when their eyes met.
But she knew Dani, Ari realized. It wasn’t love at first sight—only the confirmation of the feelings she’d harbored inside for months now.
Technically, they’d already met. But her body was reacting in ways she’d never experienced before. Ari saw her own reflection on the phone screen. Saw her lips move without her authorization, her tongue licking dry lips while her eyes roamed over Dani’s face. She swallowed hard and forced herself to speak, even if Dani seemed happy to let Ari bask in her beauty.
Ari cleared her throat. “How’s Melbourne?”
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Series
Match to Love
Score to Love
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9789584932396
Publisher: Indie author
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