This book made no sense in the best possible way. The premise (lesbian mafia romance in the ancient Greece inspired world) was what had me hooked at first. Having said that, the world building was not great, so if you enjoy learning all the details about the universe in which the book is set, it might not be for you. It was all so strange, importing the characters and their surroundings from the Iliad and choosing this way the characters speak gave it a weird timeless quality that made a mention of a phone or a car feel so out of place. It didn’t bother me too much, it was more like iphone face actress in a period drama, weird but with no merit on quality.

I did enjoy the writing a lot, even if the insta love romance is usually not my thing, but with the chemistry oozing of the pages I didn’t mind that the relationship between Helen and Paris was a bit like that. And speaking of chemistry, Mary E. Roach certainly can write it in a convincing manner. The style at times reminded me of lit fic aspiring ao3 fanfics i read religiously in 2016.
I mean.

“I bite back the last of what I wanted to say: that I like Helen’s hair, wild like this. That I like when she looks at me like I am an explosive she cannot wait to light.”

And there’s also that one moment when covered in blood Helen says “your wife” while staring at Paris and listen. It was so worth reading for this scene alone. The context was phenomenal and the execution so good, to me it was what dark romance is supposed to be about!!

The plot, just like the world building, felt messy and at times very deus ex machina, which is often the case in mafia stories, but overall it was a quick and fun read, so I’d recommend it to people who are into the darker themes and don’t mind the trigger warnings.

Delivers exactly what it promises: a fiery, fast-paced, and passionate reimagining of the Helen of Troy myth, this time against the glittering yet dangerous backdrop of modern-day Grecian mob families. Mary E. Roach has crafted a story that sizzles with revenge, romance, and high-stakes intrigue.

This is very much one of those guilty pleasure romances where you know it's bad in a trashy Wattpad romance type of way but you love it (and t least it's not boring). We Are the Match is for fans of Elle Mae and people who will not be offended by the horrendous mythological inspiration that is clearly here for set dressing.

It is disappointing to me because I was looking for a Trojan war retelling but instead got a terrible renaming system (see Milos and Zarek for Menalus and Zeus is smart. Characters named Tommy in Greece not so much). Also this is very much a dark mafia romance that does whatever it wants with the plot.

Is it good? Not really. Is it readable and enjoyable? Probably. Would I recommend it to you? Yes but only if you have a soft spot for those Elle Mae romances or dark mafia romances. I am very happy the sapphics are getting these, I'm just not the audience.

We Are The Match is an intense, emotionally charged story that mixes raw action with beautiful writing. With its vivid descriptions, complex characters, and a world full of danger and desire, this book keeps you hooked from start to finish. The journey of Paris and Helen—driven by pain, power, and an unexpected connection—sticks with you long after you've turned the last page. It’s a powerful story about survival, taking control, and transformation. I couldn’t put it down, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. If you’re into stories with high stakes, slow-burn tension, and lots of emotional depth, this one’s definitely worth a read.

This is such a clever reimagining! If you love mafia-style romance and the idea of a sapphic Paris and Helen of Troy sounds like your thing, this is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed the premise of this book and was satisfied with where it ended up going for the characters, something about the way this book read didn’t sit right with me and I struggled to get through it. It felt closer to a Wattpad book. This is not said in a way to bring down the author, the story itself was good I personally just couldn’t fully get into it at this time.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“I am (redacted). I am half god, half girl, half fury, half grief. And though they do not know it yet, my death is what they have all come to see.” - This quote had me HOOKED from the very beginning!!

I have not read a good sapphic mafia romance in a longgggg time, and the fact it is a Greek retelling is just so much better. Helen and Paris are both amazing FMCs. Both have power and destruction in their veins, and the chaos they release is just...delicious. And Tommy, my man...if you know...my heart is broken (tears were shed).
A few spelling and grammatical mistakes were found (especially with Erin's name), but that’s understandable since this is an ARC.
Overall, I will DEFINITELY be reading more of Mary E . Roachs work in the future. This book was a five-star book through and through. Goosebumps...literal goosebumps!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

We Are Match by Mary E. Roach is a sapphic retelling of the story of Helen and Paris, with a mafia theme. In this version, Paris seeks Helen’s death as revenge for what Helen’s parents did to Troy (here reimagined as an orphanage for girls that was destroyed).

I found the author's writing very good — it’s fluid and quick to read. I started the book one day and finished it the next. The story and its characters are interesting, but I was a little disappointed (which is entirely my fault, I admit). I was expecting more references to the Iliad and the Trojan War, but the only ones I found were Athena, Hera, Aphrodite, Eris, and an object meant to represent Eris’s golden apple of discord.

Still, it’s a good book if you're looking for a dark, sapphic mafia romance.

I made it to about 40% to try to give this book as much of a chance as I could and I still did not fully understand what was going on. I think it's due to the writing style. I wanted more hand holding maybe? The cover is quite cool and the blurb is promising, I just do not think I am the reader for this one. I think if I had enjoyed this particular writing style more, I would have enjoyed the book more, I just felt rather detached as a reader and struggled to get engrossed in this world.

Thank you for approving me for a free eARC of this book! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

This book is more than likely someone else’s cup of tea, but I DNFed it. I couldn’t really latch on to the storytelling with the main characters. All the love to Mary roach and those who love this, it just sadly is not for me.

We Are the Match is a sapphic mafia romance brimming with desire, betrayal, and suspense. Not only is it refreshing to see two fierce female leads (we definitely need more of this), but both heroines are total badasses, each on her own mission of savage revenge.

This is a clever and gritty reimagining of Helen of Troy, with Helen as the daughter of a powerful crime lord, and Paris determined to bring his empire to the ground. The result? A high-stakes enemies-to-lovers tale dripping with tension, action, and juicy family drama.

One of the standout elements is how much care went into the character work; not just for Helen and Paris, but for the side characters too. I found both leads deeply unlikable at first, but by the end I was shocked by how much I cared about them. That’s a testament to Mary E. Roach’s writing, which is fluid, engaging, and consistently well-paced. No filler, no fluff—just solid storytelling.

I’m not typically a romance reader, but this one hit the mark. If you’re into dark romance, mafia stories, or a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn, you’ll want to pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary E. Roach and Montlake Publishing for an ARC of this book.

We Are The Match - A beautiful reimagining of the Helen of Troy myth and it hits where it needs to. Emotional and raw but powerful and inspiring as well. With a little spice thrown in, this Sapphic retelling is everything I needed it to be and I am very happy to have read it. It is one that I would happily re-read as well. It gave me chills and made me smile and made my heart ache all at once. Highly recommend this read.

ARC review - thank you to netgalley and montlake for the arc of We Are the Match

3.75☆

i thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend to those wanting that dark sapphic mafia romance vibe but with complexity. this book was refreshing, thrilling, compulsively readable, and has great prose!!

there's an air of maturity that i sometimes don't find in other stories in the genre. the characters feel real and well rounded. for example, Helen's naivety is not insufferable and suffocating but still believable. Paris' personal goals and motivations are not overshadowed by the love and care she feels for Helen. this depiction of love and romance makes it more believable and swoonworthy in my opinion.

the last 20% felt a little undeveloped in a way, and i had to definitely suspend my disbelief a bit but overall i still think this was a great read and i want to read more of the author.

ARC Review of We Are The Match by Mary E. Roach
* * * * *
A dark mafia romance just steaming with secrets and lies and revenge, backed upon a legendary greek myth.

Paris wants revenge.
Helen wants to escape.
Neither of what they want is simple to obtain.
Paris's desire for revenge to take down the crime empire could lead her to a horrible and brutal end, ignoring the pleas of those around her to change coarse...but she is confident in her plan. She plans to use Helen - her target and tool, the cold princess engaged to a powerful man and daughter to an even more powerful one.
Only, things go a little haywire for the both of them.
Soon an intense and electrifying connection snaps between them, and they may be what each other needs in this world.

An interesting spin on the greek myth but also the genre. It's not easy to come across a well written dark steamy FF read, as most are short or just plain erotica. Thankfully, we are taken on an actual thrilling journey with these two, where side characters also gained my adoration and attention. We dive into the rabbit hole of crazy family drama, a world filled with controlling men and total psychos we can't wait to have killed off.
Things are explosive in this read.

Greek mythology + toxic sapphics + mafia romance? Immediately sold.
While I quickly realized how little I remembered of Helen of Troy, that did not deter me from enjoying this modern retelling. The world-building wasn't as solid as I'd hoped but the characters and chemistry kept me engrossed. We Are the Match was jam-packed with morally grey, contradictory characters, Helen and Paris most of all. The pair's relationship was frustrating at times but fiery, with a truly explosive ending. Would recommend for dark romance fans.

DNF at 30%.
An interesting premise and a romantic arc full of potential, but the writing didn't do it for me. I was also quite confused with the setting, I feel like I needed more details to understand this world.
However, I've truly enjoyed the main couple's chemistry so far. Great dynamic.
Thank you for this ARC.

This is a great retelling of the Helen of Troy. The dual poverty between Paris and Helen give us just enough to try and piece together what's going on behind the scenes. All the while the feeling brewing between the two MC's has you hoping for the best outcomes. This is an amazing dark sapphic romance that gets messy and intense. Highly recommend.

I found this book gripping from start to finish. Mary E. Roach’s story telling is exquisite and I can’t fault her. I love the main characters and how descriptive the writing for them are. If you like crime lord / mafia type stories you are going to love this book, especially when you find love in the most unexpected of places.

I’d say do you remember Helen of Troy, but to be honest with you I had to google it. Of course I would do that after reading this book. I picked up this ARC because I love Greek mythology. The addition of making and sapphic and mafia based was a bonus. I enjoyed that both FMC’s were strong independent women that didn’t need to rely on others to get things done. The action and not being able to completely guess what move was next had me on the edge of my seat. I wish there was a bit more to the relationship between Helen and Paris. It felt like there could’ve been more than just the trauma bonding. The repetition of some phrases felt unnecessary and would take me out of the story for a bit. Overall, a gripping tale of love and loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

This book is absolutely perfect for fans of Greek myth retellings. I loved Mary E. Roach’s unique, modern twist on the story of ‘Helen of Troy’. Despite the contemporary setting and modern technology references, the story's ambiguity regarding its precise time period, coupled with Paris’ perception of the 'Families' as gods, creates a mythological atmosphere. Roach seamlessly blends contemporary and classical elements, adapting a traditionally heterosexual narrative into a sapphic romance within a Greek mafia setting.

I can normally gauge from the first meeting of a pairing whether or not I’ll enjoy their story, and Helen and Paris’ initial meeting had me captivated. The immediate connection between the two, despite Paris’ hostility towards Helen, creates a tension that has you on the edge of your seat. This tension is maintained throughout the book, leading to a scintillating chemistry as the two characters become increasingly fascinated, and infatuated, by one another.

The story is told through the dual perspectives of the pairing. It is impossible to not immediately fall in love with Paris, who is driven by vengeance and a rebellious spirit. Her sharp tongue and unapologetic nature immediately won me over. Helen, on the other hand, is initially shrouded in mystery, although it is difficult not to sympathise with her, given the loneliness that permeates her initial chapters. Despite having all the power she could want, she finds herself wanting to escape her world and run from everything she knows. The complexity and depth of both characters, and their morally grey depiction, is a testament to Roach’s skill. I am a huge lover of messy sapphic characters, and this book certainly delivers on that front!

However, what truly stood out for me was the book’s pacing. As a newcomer to the mafia genre, I was immediately drawn in by the thrilling, unrelenting action of the novel’s first few chapters. I ended up reading this in one sitting! Each time I thought to myself, go on, I’ll take a break now, or, I might be able to (finally!) get some sleep, something wild happened and I found myself utterly unable to put this book down. I won’t say anymore otherwise I’ll leave spoilers but We are the Match is an absolute must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling sapphic romance, with a unique Greek mythological twist!