Mismatched in Manhattan by Tash Skilton

 

From Goodreads

'A sweet, genuinely funny, banter-filled delight of a rom-com. I absolutely loved this modern day You've Got Mail' Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks

Leave it to the experts - to break all the rules.

Online Dating Ghostwriting Rules to Live by

Dumped by his fiancée, not only is Miles couch-surfing across New York City, but downsizing has forced him to set up shop at a café. Also, he no longer believes in love. Not a good look in his line of work . . .

Do not present a 'perfect' image. No one will trust it. Nor should they.

Zoey's eccentric L.A. boss sent her packing to New York to 'grow'. But beneath her l Cali demeanor, Zoey's terrified to venture beyond the café across the street . . .

Think of your quirks - such as cosplaying B-movies from the 1980s - as a 'Future Honesty'. Save these as a reward only for those who prove worthy.

The only thing Miles and Zoey share is their daily battle for Café Crudite's last day-old biscotti. They don't know they're both ghostwriting 'authentic' client profiles for rival online dating services. Nope, they have absolutely nothing in common. . . . Until they meet anonymously online, texting on the clock . . .

Never remind the client you're their Cyrano. Once you've attracted a good match, let the client take over ASAP.

Soon, with their clients headed for dating disaster, both Miles and Zoey's jobs are at stake. And once they find out their lines have crossed, will their love connection be the real thing - or vanish into the ether?

The perfect love letter to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher and all the wonderful rom-coms that act as a pick-me-up when we most need it.

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. 

I gave this a 3 stars or 6/10.  I found this a read that at times held my attention and at others I felt quite ambivalent about.  After having looked at a few other reviews and the ratings given for it, I have noticed that I am not the only one giving this book the same rating.

This book is also known as 'Ghosting' apparently, due to the fact that the two main characters act as ghostwriters as a job.  Telling the story of Miles and Zoey two ghostwriters that work for competing online dating services, as they form an online relationship with one another as other people, they eventually find out that their real lives crossover too unknown to them, they have known one another for some time.  Similar in some ways to other modern stories that centre around other ways of having a relationship in modern times when online and virtual lives feature so heavily in everyday life.  

Will the real life connection they have be the real thing or will their relationship be doomed?  If you feel that this is a book that you could immerse yourself in, then grab a copy from all the usual retailers.