Two women in love and in danger. Mob families at war. An explosive and enthralling contemporary reimagining of the Helen of Troy myth set against the splendor of the Grecian islands.
“In Mary E. Roach’s smoldering novel, WE ARE THE MATCH, a modern retelling of the Trojan War, star-crossed lovers maneuver against a powerful crime family for revenge…The book teems with gripping subterfuge and duplicity that’s rendered in eloquent prose…Resplendent and sensuous images also abound…A passionate dark romance, WE ARE THE MATCH is about family, vengeance, love, and freedom.” – Foreword Reviews
“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.” – The Lesbian Review
In 2024, Mary E. Roach wowed critics with Better Left Buried, her debut YA mystery. “A groundbreaking thriller that is as heart pounding as it is heartfelt. No one writes like Mary E. Roach. Fan for life,” raved J. Elle, New York Times bestselling author of House of Marionne. And USA Today bestselling author Meryl Wilsner cheered, “Roach’s sapphic characters are messy, complex, and intensely readable in this page-turning thriller.” Now, Mary E. Roach is poised to turn the romance genre on its head with her explosive and enthralling sapphic adult novel debut, WE ARE THE MATCH (Montlake; July 29, 2025). Set against the decadence and splendor of modern-day mobster Greece, Roach reimagines Helen of Troy and Paris as you’ve never seen them before. Helen is the daughter of a powerful crime lord, and Paris is the woman hellbent on destroying her—if they don’t fall for each other first.
When a bomb goes off at Helen’s party, Paris volunteers to investigate—a ploy to get close enough to take revenge on the family she blames for the death of her own. Paris and Helen are thrown together in an opulent world of privilege, power, and cover-ups. As their unexpected bond deepens, the fragile balance of power of the crime lords begins to fray.
Helen wants nothing more than to abandon the violent world in which she was raised―and worse, an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. In Paris, Helen sees the perfect tool to help her escape. And in Helen, Paris sees a desperate woman who will be the perfect revenge. When murder sends them fleeing to Troy, danger only brings Paris and Helen closer together―in love, in fury, and in the will to survive. If Helen’s father wants a war, Paris and Helen might just be ready to ignite it. Wildly imaginative, action-packed, and simmering with sexual tension, WE ARE THE MATCH is sure to be on everyone’s must-read lists this summer.
To celebrate the release of WE ARE THE MATCH, we are hosting a virtual book tour starting in late July through the end of August featuring this outstanding list of book influencers. Follow along for features, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!
Tuesday, July 29 – BRIANA’S BEST READS and DAISY AND ME BOOKS
Wednesday, July 30 – CASSIE’S BOOKS REVIEWS
Thursday, July 31 – SUE THE BOOKIE
Friday, August 1 – 2 MANY BOOKS 2 LITTLE TIME
Saturday, August 2 – KIM READS AND READS
Monday, August 4 – A BLUE BOX FULL OF BOOKS
Tuesday, August 5 – RED REVIEWS 4 YOU and THE BOHO BLOGGER
Wednesday, August 6 – DANISH MUSTARD READS and FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS
Thursday, August 7 – SARAH’S BOOKISH REVIEWS and DREAMING IN PAGES
Friday, August 8 – ALWAYS READING CO
Saturday, August 9 – PURRFECT PAGES
Monday, August 11 – SPEEDREADSTAGRAM and FOREVER IN A STORY
Tuesday, August 12 – BOOKS AND COFFEE MX
Wednesday, August 13 – ELSIE LOVES LIT
Thursday, August 14 – BOOKED WITH JULIA
Friday, August 15 – MICHELLE LOVES BOOKS
Saturday, August 16 – SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF
Monday, August 18 – NISSA THE BOOKWORM
Tuesday, August 19 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY
Wednesday, August 20 – GRAYCIOUSLY GREY READER
Thursday, August 21 – BETHANY BURIED IN BOOKS
Friday, August 22 – MEGAN IS MY NAME OHH
Monday, August 25 – BOOKS CATS TRAVEL FOOD
Tuesday, August 26 – LEXIJAVA
Wednesday, August 27 – CAROL DOSCHER READER
Thursday, August 28 – WE BREAK FOR BOOKS
Friday, August 29 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR
