Sasha Goldberg's plans as a writer are quickly derailed when her boss tells her he doesn't have the funds to hire her on after her graduation. She's stuck--in New York City--without a Plan B. When she sees a job listing for a matchmaker, she's intrigued. Sasha's secret is that her parents met through a kind of matchmaker: her father chose her mom through a catalog and paid for her to come to the United States from Russia. Of course, it didn't exactly work out (they're divorced), but Sasha uses the story to get hired on at Bliss, an exclusive NYC matchmaking service. She's hopeful the job will tide her over while she waits for a writing gig. And, she thinks, she has to know something about love, since she's successfully with her boyfriend, Jonathan, who works around-the-clock in his Wall Street gig. But matchmaking isn't as easy as it looks--it's a lot of stressful Tinder swiping and tracking down potential mates in random ways--and it becomes even more complicated when Sasha develops a crush on one of her client's matches. One of the firm's rules is that matches are off-limits. Sasha's struggling: can she keep it all together?

This is one of those books where I find myself going into it warily, because you just know things are going to come crashing down, and you (me) are not 100% sure you want to be there for all of it. It's not a secret (it's in the book description) that Sasha and Jonathan break up and that she gets into a relationship with Adam, one of her client's matches. For some reason, I often have an issue with these sorts of books where the character just makes bad choices: Sasha makes no attempt to avoid what will be an inevitable downfall with Adam, so I found myself cringing as she made a string of poor decisions.

That's not to say Sasha isn't an engaging character. This book is very readable, and I certainly liked Sasha and reading about her life. However, I can't lie:I probably am a little older than the target audience for this novel. It offers a fun and engaging look at the dating scene in New York, but there wasn't a lot I could relate to. I felt protective of Sasha, not empathetic to her, if that makes any sense. Honestly, the book just made me feel relieved I no longer have to date or deal with basically anything Sasha had to endure during the course of this novel.

Still, Orenstein does a good job at capturing Sasha's voice and what it's like to be a young twenty-something trying to survive in the city. Sasha's relationship with her best friend Caroline and her mom are well-done. I didn't think there was as much overall about matchmaking as a job as I'd hoped--it seemed to be a lot of Tinder swiping and chatting--so that was a little bit of a bummer, but there was enough to know it's a job I'd never want!

Overall, if you're young and still dating, you'll probably really enjoy this book--especially if you live in a city. If not, some of its essence may be a bit lost of you, but you'll still like Orenstein's witty writing and the arc of Sasha's struggles. 3.5 stars.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A clever and fun romantic comedy brimming with heart.

PLAYING WITH MATCHES is a wonderful escape into world of right-swipes, matchmaking, and the New York city dating scene. Sasha is one of those character's you will pull for as she figures out her life. Added bonus, the cooky and demanding clients she works with will bring levity as well as give us all something to think about as they search for their quest for love.

What I truly enjoyed about the book is the author's voice. Orenstein gives her reader a cast of flawed characters which you can't help but want to get to know better. Their lives are packed with the ups and downs we all know too well. Though the wit and fun nature of the book will no doubt captivate many, I was hit with the honesty and underlining message of the book. After all, a romantic coming of age novel isn't at its best if the author doesn't shed light on some of the pressures of society and what we put on ourselves. And this, my book loving friends, is a rom-com at its best.

One of the first things I thought when I started this one was, thank god I don’t have to navigate dating anymore! Back when I was single the internet was in it’s infancy, there were definitely no apps much less dating apps. Mybfirst cell phone was a travesty, there was nothing smart about it. It wasn’t quite as huge as Zach Morris dinosaur phone, but it wasn’t much better. Hats off to all you guys trying to date in this crazy era, I don’t know how you guys manage! Through Sasha, Orenstein brings this world of matchmaking and Tinder to life with hilarity and genuine warmth, singles and smug marrieds alike will be cracking up at some of these matches.

Sasha is a recently graduated early twenty something with big hopes and dreams and no money. Her new job at Bliss seems like the easiest way to earn a living in the world, but as messy as her life is before she starts, it gets worse. Her professional and personal life starts to blend together and she has some seriously difficult clients as well, girlfriend has her hands full. The clients of Bliss were one of the best parts to me, they represented all ages, races and sociological statuses and they well all pretty picky and demanding as well. So many funny scenarios and situations came about through these dates, you can read this for the comic relief alone and be satisfied.

This was just a really fun and silly read, ideal when you really want to escape your own reality and just be entertained by someone else’s drama. I didn’t have much in common with Sasha but I did still really like her and was rooting for her all the way through. The ending wasn’t as wrapped up as I usually prefer but it did work here and I respect the author for leaving things how she did, it was bold and realistic which is always refreshing.

Playing With Matches in three words: Fresh, Easy and Entertaining.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this book as I have been following the author on twitter for a long time. I was very pleased for such a young first time author. This book was a super sweet, easy read that would been perfect by a pool on vacation or even just a change of pace from heavy or dark thrillers. Definitely worth the read.

A light, frothy read that's ideal for a vacation or travel. Sasha is an aspiring journalist who stumbles her way into the world of high profile matchmaking, and shenanigans ensue. The character development was on the shallow side, and the story was somewhat predictable, but Sasha's emotional journey is beautifully captured and developed in the book. It's a quick, easy read - and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

The premise of this book is a fun one- Sasha becomes a matchmaker for an elite dating company and ends up falling for one for one of the men she sets her client up with. It was a fun book and a quick read :)

Playing with Matches is a cute, light read about a 22 year old matchmaker in NYC, just trying to make her way at her first job out of college while balancing friendship and her own relationship. This book reads like a rom-com, and I enjoyed that there were doses of reality in the storyline. For those of us who have lived through the swipe right era, some of the frustrations of dating in the digital age will definitely ring true. I’d recommend this book for anyone in their 20s, or those just looking for a breezy summer read!

Undoubtedly one of the more unique concepts of the "beach books" I'll pick up this summer. Only wish the ending didn't feel so rushed and abrupt.

Sasha is fresh out of college, in love with her financier boyfriend Jonathan, and living with her best friend. She's desperate for work and interviews with Bliss, the ultimate matchmakers in New York City. Despite her lack of dating experience, Sasha throws herself into work, toggling between Tinder, OKCupid, & JDate, managing her clients crazy demands, and still trying to have some sort of relationship with Jonathan.

It all come tumbling down quickly and Sasha finds herself fumbling through life - dating an off-limits client and watching her friendship with Caroline putter out. Sasha tries to figure out what to do - go the easy route or try and make it on her own.

This is a delightful read, a quick beach read. This is Hannah Orenstein's first novel and it shows a talent for a quick wit and a nice way with words. There are VERY New York references and this is a very 'current' book. It's easy to see Sasha and her friends running around the city, teetering on heels and clutching an iced coffee in one hand and an iPhone in the other.

This is book candy, sweet and easy to savor - but not so sweet it'll hurt your stomach. It was exactly what I needed to read right now and it's a great summer release. There's plenty of cute moments, romance, and humor.

The main character is quite charming, a young college graduate living in Manhattan. Job offers in her chosen field of journalism aren't exactly falling in her lap, so she's keeping her options open. Browsing the job offers on Craig's List one day leads her in an interesting direction: a matchmaking agency. At only 21, she doesn't have a lot of relationship experience, but uses the story about how her parents met to get her foot in the door.

When Sasha got the job, she thought she was headed to a ring on her finger one day from long-term boyfriend Jonathan. Until he makes a confession, and she finds herself single. Stunned and out-of-sorts, she invites a man she had unsuccessfully set up with one of her clients out on a date. It's strictly forbidden, but she had been drawn to him as soon as she met him... what harm could one date do?

The stories of Sasha's clients alternate between hilarious and heartwarming. It's a really fun, immensely readable book. And can we just mention the adorable cover?! If you're in the mood for something light with romance and humor, I'd absolutely give it a shot.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Touchstone, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

This book was exactly what I was hoping it would be, a light and breezy read. I have been reading a lot of heavier things lately and thought this would be the perfect book to relax with and was right! The author's writing style was perfect for this genre! I am definitely going to seek out more of her work!

Ummm can I please be a matchmaker for my job so I can just date cute boys all day and my husband has to let me cause um hello - it's my JOB! OK that sounds weird, and I think I'm a bit old saying "cute boys" but hey, I'm just dreaming right?!

Sasha Goldberg is young, pretty, fresh out of NYU, has a gorgeous boyfriend working in finance, and an amazing roommate who is basically a sister to her. When her dream job working for People.com falls though, she applies to work at Bliss. An elite matchmaking service for those who can afford such a thing. With ZERO experience in the match making business (and almost equally the same amount in dating in general) - she gets hired because of a family secret she reveals, that makes her stand out.

She soon realizes matchmaking is hard work! It's definitely a full time job pairing up the desperate, the picky, the insane! But she is all in - swiping on Tinder for matches for her clients, setting up unique dates, wrangling and fielding calls and texts, giving "advice" to women twice her age!

Her boyfriend Jonathan is perfect and perfect FOR her. She initially thinks, 'hey I've found my forever guy - how hard could it be to help find someone else their one and only?' Until something happens that makes her question if Jonathan really is THAT guy. And question basically every life choice she makes.

I really wish there was a bit more matchmaking stories in this - they were so fun and interesting. But we mostly delve into Sasha and what's going on in her life - and some really horrible choices she makes. I found a lot of her choices a bit unbelievable and her struggle to make them a bit annoying. It's mostly probably because I found her a bit unlikeable and snooty - same with most of the other characters. The storyline was fairly predictable but I zipped through it one day. It was well-structured and easy flowing and fun to follow. The concept and the way the story unfolded was fun as well, and I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Touchstone for the opportunity to read and review!

Sasha had only told a few people he family’s mortifying secret. They were her boyfriend of two years -Jonathan. Her best friend Caroline, and the girl she had trusted in H S who had told the whole class. Now Sasha’s new boss-Penelope at Bliss- an elite matchmaking service whose roster of clients included successful entrepreneurs, politicians, lawyers and artist. . Until two months agi Sasha had expected People.com -the site she had interned for in college- would hire her as an editorial assistant but the week before graduation her boss told her she didn’t have the budget to hire Sasha. Sasha was desperately trying to get a job she refreshed Craigslist, and NYU job board every fifteen minutes and sent out dozens of desperate applications and was worried she would have to go back to N J with her father. Then Sasha got a call from Three days later at her training Sasha learned -per Penelope status and looks were the most important things to match. But matchmakers should be intuitive, creative, and above all passionate about the quest for love. Sasha’s family’s most dreadful secret was her parents didn’t meet at a bar, or at college, or through friends. Her parents had met through a certain kind of matchmaker. Her father was lonely, so he chose her mom out of a catalogue and paid six thousand dollars to bring her mother from Russia - she had been a farm girl. Her parents had not been a good match and after a decade divorced. Her parents had never loved each other. Caroline is getting annoyed because Sasha is spending so much time meeting up with people to match with her clients. Jonathan is spending more and more time with his boss and getting more and more distant with Sasha and having less ad less time for her then he betrays her. Sasha’s life seems to be coming apart instead of getting better since she got her job.
I had mixed feelings about this book.It dragged for me at times but usually it was fast paced. But for me the ending though realistic didn’t work for me. I also would have like more information on matchmaking and all it entailed in modern times even if only fictional. At times it was hard keeping my interest. I would say this book was more for people in their twenties which I am not. It was a good summer read for the most part just not a favorite. I did like Sasha and was sad when Jonathan betrayed her but she should have seen it coming. But there were things I liked and things not so much so as I said I had mixed feelings.

REVIEW

They say you cannot judge a book by its cover, but this flirty and fun cover holds a sizzling summer read by Hannah Orenstein. She builds off of her own experience as a matchmaker to bring a hot summer read: Playing with Matches.

Sasha Goldberg takes her newly minted NYU degree in journalism, and when her leads to get a writing job don’t pan out, she takes a job as a matchmaker at an elite firm in NYC.

What makes this book so intriguing are the couples who Sasha interacts with throughout her adventures in matchmaking, as well as her own journey of discovery. This book will be great for sitting poolside, beachside, or wishing you were there.

PRAISE

“Struggling post college, Sasha takes a job as a matchmaker. So what if she lacks expertise? But when she falls for a client, she’s thrown into it’s complicated limbo. Hannah Orenstein’s debut is a hilarious look at dating – and swiping.”
—Us Weekly

"Millennials looking for their perfect beach read this summer need look no further than this delicious romp through the madness of dating in your twenties."
—Jo Piazza, co-author of The Knockoff

"The perfect Summer read — smart, funny, escapist, and bursting with charm."
—PopSugar

AUTHOR

Hannah Orenstein is a writer and editor in New York. She's the dating editor at Elite Daily. Previously, she was a writer at Seventeen.com. At twenty-one, she became the youngest matchmaker at an elite dating service. She was born and raised in Boston, studied journalism and history at NYU, and lives in Manhattan with her fat cat, Eloise.

Many thanks to Touchstone and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Playing with Matches by Hannah Orestein is a story of Sasha Goldberg being hired as a New York City matchmaker, she is twenty-one. For me this book was just OK, I enjoy this type of book, but I really didn't care for any of the characters.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

SO GOOD. This book was truly enjoyable from the first page until the last. I think I probably could have invested at least another hundred pages into Sasha's life because this book was so multi-dimensional, creating several storylines that were interesting and worth developing.

It's been awhile since I've found a protagonist who I loved, who I didn't roll my eyes over, who didn't make stupid, cliched decisions just to fit the genre. Sasha was likable, unique, and fun to read about. Her personality was relatable and I found myself laughing several times when her clever and witty commentary popped out.

I do wish that the supporting characters would have been given more time and pages. Like I said before, this book definitely could have been longer. I don't hate that it ended where and how it did, but I sort of felt like after being introduced to so many interesting characters, I wanted to have a more conclusive ending. However, this was definitely Sasha's story so I can appreciate the book for what it is.

In ending, this is a SHOCKINGLY wonderful debut from Hannah Orenstein and I hope she shares her talent with us readers again very soon.

Playing With Matches is a funny, laugh out loud book. It was very refreshing to laugh and smile while reading this book. Orenstein sheds light on the current dating game in NYC. This book is very relatable to young single readers. I will definitely be reading Hannah Orenstein ‘s next novel.

Light summer read

I think Hannah Orenstein had some good ideas in Playing with matches but I expected a romcom and this really wasn't one. There were some fun moments but then the ending spoiled it for me making it just an average read.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

I was looking for a quick read to breeze through the weekend, and Playing with Matches did not disappoint. Fun and fresh, it makes a perfect vacation read; or, if you need something light to break up those ugly cry drama reads – well then, why not pick up this one?

Sasha Goldberg has the life other’s are envious of – which is why they hire matchmakers, right? – a successful, handsome boyfriend in the dating abyss of what is New York City. She lands her first job as a matchmaker learning the inner workings of the single scene and is more thankful for Jonathan every day – until she isn’t.

Her head and heart are not aligned and she gets into a predicament that while keeping her mind off serious things (like her life), it can get her into hot water at work. Will Sasha figure it out? What is “it” that she needs to figure out anyhow? Have a read and find out!

Playing with Matches is author Hannah Orenstein’s debut novel.

I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

A fun, light debut novel in the chick lit genre that nonetheless creates a heroine of substance. I underestimated this book when I started, and am still not quite sure about the ending, but the ending (without spoilers) both surprised me and made me have more respect for the rest of the book.

It apparently comes from the author’s experience working for a matchmaking service and now writing as a dating columnist, and as implausible as having that career path might sound, it was fun to learn about it through the book. And Sasha may be young, but she’s not as naive as one might initially expect, and handles herself well in some complicated situations.

If you like books about single women and men navigating what it’s like to date in NYC, this is a very good example of the genre. I didn’t know that BlackBerrys were still around, much less talked about so much in the iPhone/Android era, but otherwise, the book felt reasonably authentic to me. And quite enjoyable as well.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.