Book Review: Impossible Match by [Author Name]
When I stumbled upon Impossible Match, a sapphic arranged marriage romance set in the vibrant city of Toronto, curiosity tugged at me. I mean, what could be more captivating than two strong businesswomen navigating love and family pressure? But as I dipped my toes into this audiobook, my experience was less enchanting than I had anticipated.
At the heart of the story are Ingrid and Cecilia, both entrepreneurs facing an unexpected parental ultimatum: enter into an arranged marriage. If you’re imagining an explosive love affair ignited by heated glances and dramatic monologues, you might want to adjust your expectations. This book leans heavily into the slow burn, emphasizing the obstacles each character must face—Cecilia with her toxic family dynamic, and Ingrid, who finds herself disowned.
Unfortunately, while I appreciate the setup, I found that the chemistry between Ingrid and Cecilia was almost non-existent, leaving me yearning for more meaningful exchanges. Their journey towards love felt stilted and underexplored. I often found myself wishing for deeper discussions between them, or a hint of passion to keep the momentum going. Instead, I found long stretches where it felt like nothing was happening.
Now, regarding the arranged marriage plot: it felt surprisingly weak. Given that both women are in their late 20s or early 30s and financially secure, it left me wondering why they didn’t assert their independence and decline this impending nuptial. The lack of visibility into their motivations made the whole premise feel contrived.
Ah, and then there’s the narration. For a book marketed as spicy, I anticipated at least a couple of steamy moments to sink my teeth into. Sadly, I counted about 1.5 spice scenes, which was quite underwhelming. The narrating style could best be described as, well, technical. Ingrid’s voice was meant to embody a "sexy rasp," but it came off more like an awkward Batman impression, which I enjoyed—of course, not quite in the spirit of seduction. Her delivery often felt overly precise, like a robotic rendition of the text that lacked the warmth I had hoped for.
The funny moments weren’t lost on me; the narrator’s frequent breathlessness during lengthy sentences had me chuckling more than I would like to admit. More than once, I found myself heaving a sigh of relief when a particularly long sentence concluded, and that’s when I realized this wasn’t quite the experience I had signed up for.
Overall, Impossible Match wasn’t a bad book, but it simply didn’t hold me captive. If you’re someone who adores slow burns with a focus on character development and can handle a little monotony in narration, this might be your cup of tea. However, if you’re after sizzling chemistry and dynamic storytelling, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
In the end, while I didn’t find magic in these pages, I appreciate the exploration of love and family pressures woven into a sapphic narrative. Like Ingrid and Cecilia, it seems their journey just isn’t quite finished, and perhaps one day they’ll find that spark I was hoping for. Happy reading, everyone!
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