Book Review: We Are The Match by Mary E. Roach

Official Synopsis: In this glittering, sapphic reimagining of Helen of Troy set in modern day mobster Greece, Helen is the daughter of a powerful crime lord on Paris is the woman hellbent on destroying her—if they don’t fall for each other first.

They’re thrown together in an opulent world of privilege, power, and cover-ups—and the closer they grow, the more the fragile balance of power in the world of crime lords begins to fray.

Because if Helen doesn’t choose to abandon her newfound connection with Paris and marry into the alliance her father arranged, they could all go to war.

And Helen and Paris might just be ready to let them.

This book is a wild ride from beginning to end, and takes place in what feels like only a few days to weeks of time.

Paris has been hurt by Zarek and the choices he made that destroyed her home and the people she loved. Though Paris has tried to keep herself out of working for any of the crime families, she is drawn in when her friend can get her into one of Zarek's parties, and therefore close to his daughter, Helen. Paris has had plans to make Zarek suffer for what he has done and she is determined to cause him the same amount of pain he has caused her, by killing his daughter. But Helen is kept in a tower, only seen in their home and barely ever by the public. As Paris finally sees her chance to get the revenge she seeks, she messes it up when she ends up saving Helen when a bomb goes off during the party.

Helen is sick of playing her father's game, and being a pawn in his plans. She has intentions to disappear during the party, fake her death and escape this home and is also a prison. But when a bomb she didn't set goes off during the party, Helen is saved by a girl she's never seen before. Now this girl has her intrigued, but has unfortunately caught the eyes of her father as well. As Helen tries to figure out how to keep Paris safe, while also working with her, she starts to develop more complex feelings.

Now Paris is employed by both Helen and Zarek, with vastly different goals. One is to figure out who is trying to kill Helen and the other is trying to figure out how to save Helen from the future she doesn't want. But Zarek only uses people until he has no more need for them, leaving Paris in a position that will eventually lead to her death.

As both Paris and Helen fight for their lives, while trying to figure out their feelings for each other, they find themselves in more and more danger. Paris becomes a target for Zarek's anger as Helen tries to take over and fix all of the terrible things that Zarek has done.

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't sure what I expected from this book. I'm definitely not usually a mafia romance reader and wasn't sure how I would enjoy it, but having it be in a modern setting and play on a Greek myth was the perfect way to get me hooked. Both Paris and Helen are characters who have done things they might regret, and even some they don't. They have been surrounded by blood, guns and chaos, and have had to learn how to survive it. They also have had to navigate a world that might not be behind them. This book has a lot of tension, both sexual and in general. The girls fall for each other fast, while also having to pretend they haven't. They are constantly in danger and fighting to make it to the next day without ending up dead.

The whole book is filled with survival while also trying to find truths in things that are above both of them. There are a lot of moments of violence and blood, for those that might be worried about that. Plus having sexual scenes that are sometimes intense. Overall, the book is a story of survival while also showing the love between Helen and Paris.

Though the book feels chaotic at times, even the writing does, it was a really great read and definitely something new for me. I really enjoyed the modern retelling as well as the pacing of the story. It is all dual POV as well, with us being able to see the thoughts of both Paris and Helen at important moments. As the events in the book become more intense, I feel like the writing also becomes chaotic, which really fit the vibe overall.

Also, without spoilers, Tommy is a great character and I really enjoyed him and how he treated the girls during the story.

I rated this book 4.5 / 5 Stars!

We Are The Match is available now!

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