Thank you to Thoughts From a Page, St. Martin’s Press, #partner, for an advanced copy of The Matchmaker’s Gift in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published: September 20, 2022
Summary:
From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker’s Gift.
Is finding true love a calling or a curse?
Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. But among the pushcart-crowded streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Sara’s vocation is dominated by devout older men—men who see a talented female matchmaker as a dangerous threat to their traditions and livelihood. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves.
Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney, representing the city’s wealthiest clients. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? Is Abby willing to sacrifice the career she’s worked so hard for in order to keep her grandmother’s mysterious promise to a stranger? And is there really such a thing as love at first sight?
My thoughts:
I was thrilled when Cindy from the Thoughts of a Page Podcast selected this book for her Patreon group to read early as I had already had my eye on it. I’ve read both of Lynda Cohen Loigman’s previous books and really enjoyed them, but I have to say, this might be her best yet, and definitely her most delightful one – and once you read it, you will definitely understand.
This book grabbed me from the get-go and never once let up. It’s told using a dual-narrative and I was equally invested in both timelines, loving both main characters and their individual journeys. The modern-day timeline is Abby’s story, a young divorce attorney who finds herself reevaluating her life choices after the death of her grandmother. The historical timeline is Sara’s story, starting with her and her family emigrating to New York in 1910 where she first discovers her gift for matchmaking.
I loved how both stories unfold, with each woman coming into their own. We see them face issues in all areas of their lives – with their families, in their workplace, in their love life – and yet they find ways to navigate through. Along the way, we get insight into the Jewish culture and see a side of NYC that I have never seen, which I absolutely loved. I definitely want to visit some of the places mentioned in this book!
And of course, the highlight of the story was the matchmaking and how that was woven into the story. Sara’s gift and her ability to use it was fascinating. It definitely contrasts well with the traditional Jewish matchmaking customs of the time.
I loved every minute of this book. This is historical fiction that will make you smile, and it’s not too often that you can say that! It’s a feel-good, delightful read that I highly recommend!
