I went into this one super hopeful but ended up not liking it as much as i expected. The dialogue felt forced and the romances were just okay. It's worth a read maybe for younger readers just getting into more adult romances but overall, wasn't for me!

What a relatable rom-com for millennials!

I loved the main character and her interesting career trajectory - who really gets a job in their preferred industry immediately after graduation? Her job was just way more interesting than my first job out of college!

I found the cast of characters flawed and relatable, while they still had enough drama and intrigue to keep me unable to stop reading until I finished the story. This author had a great writing style and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I have followed Hannah on Instagram long before it was announced that she was publishing a book. I went through a phase where I followed tons of writers for Seventeen and Cosmo.
The articles that Hannah wrote were always so funny! She had a great voice in her writing and I knew I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book!

This story is almost autobiographical for Hannah. I thought that was a cool aspect. People always say, "write what you know" and this was the perfect example of that.

She has a new book coming out soon called Love at First Like and it sounds equally fun!

DNF. This story had a semi-promising start, but the main character is immature (she is young and naive I suppose), and around the 3/5 point, I was bored with the story.

The pacing felt off to me. It wasn't a zany romance as billed, and the pacing felt off — the relationship with the best friend was hollow (at least up to the point I finished), the new relationship the MC starts with a man 11 years her senior was only mildly interesting, and the matchmaking job was undeveloped when it could have been so much fun. Also, the MC's "big family secret" was unusual but not exactly earth shattering (nor did it make any sense to me that it would be the reason she landed a job in matchmaking.) So...eh. Not for me.

3.5 stars. This was an above-decent read. It was kind of like Sex and the City if Carrie were a matchmaker and really young and not quite as seasoned in the ways of the bit city world. Sasha finds herself working as a matchmaker, without really intending for that to happen. She isn't necessarily qualified to do so, but she throws herself headlong into it. After all, she found her perfect man, so how hard can it be to troll Tinder and JDate and every other dating website, and find the perfect match for someone else. However, things aren't always as easy as they sound. Her Mr. Perfect? Not so perfect! And there's a lot of fish in the sea you have to wade through to get the best match for your picky clients. And what if your client is someone who is impossible to satisfy or even find a match for? And what if you kind of fall for one of the matches you picked for someone else? It's a really messy and tricky path she's chosen, and it was an interesting trip to take with her!

Playing With Matches is a romcom. Sasha works as a matchmaker in New York city. She's young and naive. Her character is fun and engaging. The story is lively and cute. It's just the thing if you want a fast entertaining read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

'Playing with Matches' was a fun girly read about the life of a young woman that wants to be a journalist yet somehow finds herself working as a matchmaker at an elite dating service. Her talents are grossly underused in her new role yet she's certainly in the midst of hilarious inspiration for her writing. When she discovers something horrible about her boyfriend her life is turned upside down.

This was one of the most laugh-out-loud books I've read in a while... I literally found myself chuckling out loud only to look up to see people looking at me in confusion as to what I was laughing about. It's the book people! I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a women's fiction/chick-lit vibe book that's filled with drama and chaos and a bit of unexpected romantic situations.

I really enjoyed this book!! The main character was very relatable and hilarious! Her adventures in matchmaking were very funny to read and enjoyable. I would love to read another book with the main character in it again! The only part that I found to be a bit disappointing was the ending—it ended rather fast and I found myself wishing for more in-depth details about what happened next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. Playing With Matches follows Sasha, a recent college graduate trying to navigate her life. Sasha's first job out of college is as a matchmaker at a prestigious company. This book is a fast and fun read.

Charming book that puts a matchmaker in the middle of the difficult New York City dating scene. I loved getting a peek into how that kind of job works, and the author deftly threw in the struggles in the character's own dating life as well. I've been married for 21 years and am happily not in the dating scene, but with several daughters approaching that age, I enjoy reading contemporary books that address this issue - and in such a page-turning way.

Once I read the book synopsis for <I>Playing with Matches</I>, I ADORED the title's double meaning. The cover is super fun too, but the title got me. I needed to read this book.

I know the rule is to never judge a book by it's cover, but I learned that the same can also be said about the title. I did not enjoy the book as I wanted to. The concept of a recent college graduate living in NYC getting a job as a private match maker sounds ludicrously fantastic. But as I kept reading, I realized it was just plain ludicrous. Sasha is naïve enough to think that company policy and real world rules don't apply to her. Maybe because I am now beyond the coming-of-age myself, I can't relate anymore. I'm not sure, but I just wasn't as in love with the story as I was with the double meaning to the title.

Playing with Matches was a very fun read. I loved the uniqueness and fun story line. I look forward to Orenstein's next book.

A light read, but will probably get lost in my "not that memorable" brain file. I enjoyed the premise of this book - "matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match!" (Fiddler shout-out) Dating life seems so hard these days and this book was a little window back into the world of dating. XO

I'll start by saying that I follow Hannah Orenstein on Instagram and I'm a little obsessed with her. You want A1 outfit inspo and book posts and everything lifestyle? Follow her ASAP. But I digress...I heard about her book through her Instagram and was instantly intrigued.
That cover? Cute. The plot? A young woman who uses her family's shameful secret to secure a job as a matchmaker in NYC? That smells like a beach read to me--and it is!
From the first mention of protagonist Sasha's "shameful" family secret, I was hooked! I couldn't put this down and sped through it in less than two days. It had romance and a little heat, and drama that made my stomach hurt as if I were the one living it--trust me, that's a good thing! It was juicy and sweet and honestly, if you need something light and fun for your summer reads, pick up Playing with Matches!! I highly recommend it and I can't wait to see what Orenstein does next!
(I received a free Netgalley of Playing with Matches for review from Touchstone)

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The word that keeps coming to my mind to describe this novel is delightful. No other word sums it up better. Sasha is a great protaganist: clever, quirky, and full of self doubt. When she lands a job at age 22 working as an elite matchmaker, the reader gets to come along for the roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows, equal parts exhilaration and nausea. I enjoyed every second of the ride.

If you are in the mood for a light romantic comedy full of social media and New York city references, this is the book for you. I can't wait to read Orenstein's next book.

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Hannah Orenstein. From the cover to the contents, I loved it all. Sasha was a delightful character and I could really relate to her. I have been using a lot of dating sites recently so this book really hit a home run for me. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

A quick and fun read, Playing with Matches makes a great beach read. The cover of the book initially drew me in and the story, which is fast paced, kept me entertained. Watching the main character Sasha evolve from a recent college graduate who takes a job as a matchmaker while searching for her dream job as a journalist to a strong woman who comes in to her own despite the obstacles she is thrown, made the book so much more relatable. At times, the book was predictable, but without spoiling anything, I think the ending was my favorite part.

This was a super fun read! I love stories that thrust me back into being a youngin in NYC. It was interesting to be taken on a ride into the world of matchmaking with a character who is just figuring it out (aren't we all?). The family dynamic aspect added a bit of depth which I appreciated. I was a bit miffed with the delicious older gent but overall, very enjoyable read that I devoured in two sittings.

3.5 stars

I initially assumed that the high-end matchmaking business described in Playing With Matches was simply one of those fantasy jobs dreamed up for romantic comedies. But last week I heard an advertisement for a company exactly like Bliss, so I guess I’m just out of the loop!

I increasingly feel that I’m a little past enjoying books about the lives of recent college grads in New York—I’m more than a decade older than them, and I’ve been there, done that, and left New York with a sigh of relief. But Sasha, the protagonist of Playing With Matches, was one of the less annoying versions of this character, so I could deal with her and get sucked into the story.

Yes, this is a pretty familiar plot—The Devil Wears Prada for the gig-economy generation—but very well-executed by Orenstein. She’s a former matchmaker herself, so while everything about that industry sounds ridiculous, I know she’s drawing from her own knowledge and experiences. I also thought she did a great job filling out Sasha’s friendship with Caroline, which is changing as they both struggle to deal with the transition from college students to semi-employed adults. If you’re looking for a rainy-day weekend read, or something light to entertain you while traveling, Playing With Matches is just right. And as a jaded 35-year-old, I especially appreciated the not-so-neat ending; not everyone gets a happily ever after at 22. Even in my romantic comedies I appreciate a bit of realism!

This is a fun, readable book about a recent college graduate who becomes a matchmaker for an elite service. There are a couple lines that stand out, like this one that describes the inside of a shop: "It smells like the inside of Shailene Woodley's dreams." Alas, the ending is disappointingly abrupt.

Thank you to Touchstone and Netgalley for this unbiased review.