Fake Date Required for Passover.
I know very little about Jewish festivals nor the trials of being profoundly deaf, so this was an unusual and interesting read. When communication is difficult there is always the likelihood of a a budding new relationship going haywire, throw in a secret where one of them is “sort of” engaged and an explosive denouement was guaranteed. Now Levi has to work hard to regain Gaby’s trust and win her back.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello, fake relationship, my favorite trope! Yes, I read a ton of these, so I’m always looking for something with a new spin on it – in this case, the fake date is for Passover, and the hero is Deaf. The author herself is Jewish and Hard of Hearing, so while I can’t speak for the rep, it’s adorably sweet, fluffy and funny.

“Levi probably had come to his senses in the few hours since they’d met. Which would be fine; she’d just go back home, alone, and feel as though she were the one, instead of her ancestors, about to wander the desert for forty years in search of something familiar.
Ahh, the good old days, when fleeing a Pharaoh in Egypt would undoubtedly top being single on a Jewish holiday.”


I empathized so much with Gaby. Like me, Gaby doesn’t like change, and she especially doesn’t like that every time she goes home her mother has removed one more thing that reminds her of her father. She has a complicated relationship with her mom and feels pressured into being in a relationship. While her mom seemed to love her last ex, he was the absolute wrong person for her and left her feeling small and unworthy and with a lot of trust issues, and she’s not sure she’s ready for another relationship… at least until she starts fake dating Levi. Levi has his own reasons for avoiding going home for Passover, but his involve avoiding his ex-fiancee, Monica. Levi and Monica had been thrown together since they were children because Levi was Deaf and Monica was Hard of Hearing, so obviously their families think they belong together. Monica’s trying to start her own business, but for convoluted reasons, she needs their families to believe she and Levi are still together. Levi’s a people “fixer,” so he can’t quite work up the energy to tell her to knock it off with her games… at least until he starts wanting to turn his fake relationship with Gaby – who doesn’t know about Monica – into a real one. They’ve definitely got great chemistry, and I thought the tension built well.

And yes, Levi’s Deafness is definitely part of him, but he didn’t feel like a caricature or token character because of it. There’s a lot in the book about how he’s left out of family traditions – and, well, basically everything – because no one thinks to make accommodations for him, and I think that could be troubling for other readers. Gaby did do her best to include him, and I loved how, in return, Levi asked Gaby what would help her cope better at home, and did his best to be a buffer between her and her mom.

As you’d expect, the main issue in their “relationship” is communication – but not because he’s Deaf and she’s hearing. Levi’s an ASL professor and Gaby’s a quick learner, and there’s always texting to fall back on. In fact, the “big gesture” speech actually takes place over text (though still in-person), which added a whole other layer to it. The one thing that was a bit confusing was that Gaby spends a good part of the book thinking that Levi isn’t Jewish, though she never actually asks him and he never says he isn’t. I’m guessing this was a device to give more information about Passover to us non-Jews, in the guise of her explaining it to Levi, but it felt a bit weird to me. Levi’s already got one pretty big secret he’s keeping from her, anyway, and that’s what causes the strain in their relationship.

“Gaby shook her head and rubbed the growing throbbing at her temple. “It’s Passover, are you about to torture me for forty years?”
Aunt Faith put an arm around her. “You aren’t forty yet, my child, what do you think I’ve been doing since you’ve been born?”


Despite everything, I loved Gaby’s family, even her interfering Aunt Faith. While her mom and Gaby have their problems, her mom is motivated by love, and they have a tearful reconciliation talk. As for cons, the ending felt rushed to me, both how Levi’s entanglement with Monica was resolved and Levi’s hiding things from Gaby. I wanted much more groveling from him than we got, especially given Gaby’s previous experience with her ex, but that might just be my particular baggage.

Overall, I thought this was a delightfully fun fake relationship book, with plenty of humor and steam. I’ll definitely be looking for more books from the author in the future!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown is a delightfully sweet fake boyfriend tale that takes place during the Passover holiday. Gaby needs someone to distract her family and the hot guy from the gym she’s been ogling for months might just be the thing. Levi has issues of his own. But they may each be just what the other needs. These two are funny, bright and adorable together. I loved that the author featured a deaf hero. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this story.

I loved this romance: it's sweet and a fun read.
I loved the two interesting MC, their chemistry, and how well developed they are.
The plot flows and entertains.
It was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Funny! Different! I think those two words aptly describe this story. Levi being deaf, and Gabby, hearing, definitely brings a new perspective to dating. There are miscommunications and periods of silence. As they interact with her family the missteps continue. The dog, Bengi, plays a motor role as ice breaker and showman. It is definitely an interesting story that opens a window in a world that is often closed to outsiders.

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown ☆☆☆
Pub date: March 16, 2020
Publisher: Entangled Lovestruck

I saw this on Netgalley, read the description, and went hell, yeah, I want that.

A deaf hero, with fake dating and a Jewish holiday romance. I don't think I've ever read anything with a deaf hero, and Jewish holiday romances are still pretty rare. I mean, there are the standard 2 Hanukkah romances that drop in November, but there is still an area of opportunity for the romance community. 

The heroine, Gaby Fineberg, has broken up with her controlling douchebag boyfriend, and she doesn't want to deal with her family's judgement so she decides she needs a fake date for Passover. Why not ask the hot guy she's been ogling at the gym? Levi Miller has recently ended his engagement and is not really looking for someone to date, but he has a weakness for helping people. So when this woman comes up to him at the gym and starts talking to (more like at) him, he decides to help her with her family problems.

I enjoyed watching their friendship/relationship develop. Levi is deaf, and he and Gaby have to navigate communication. Gaby does not know ASL, but Levi teaches it at a local college and has the patience to help her master the basics. Otherwise they text or use the notes app on their smartphones to talk. I liked how the communication issue was handled, and how authentic the moments when people are talking around Levi and his feelings of being disconnected from the people around him. 

I had some issues with other aspects of this book, so I will be getting into spoiler territory now. Turn back if spoilers bother you.

A lot of the tension in this book revolves around communication and miscommunication. Levi's ex-fiance Monica is still wearing her engagement ring and is lying to their families that they are still together, all in an effort to get a loan from their parents for her business. For some reason, Levi does not explain his whole situation with Monica to Gaby, and there is a whole subplot about him lying about being engaged. He doesn't want to tell Gaby because he promised Monica that he wouldn't tell anyone about it, but it didn't come across as a very convincing reason to keep silent to me. I get not telling people they known who also know their families, because it could come out at an awkward moment, but Gaby literally does not know anyone Levi knows. She doesn't know Monica, she doesn't know Levi's parents. Who is Gaby going to tell that will ruin the ruse? It seemed like Levi didn't have much to lose and had a lot to gain if he just told Gaby at the beginning about his weird deal with Monica.

Another issue I had was that Gaby gets very upset when she learns that Levi is Jewish, because she thinks he lied to her about it. I get that her previous boyfriend Tom was a controlling, lying douchecanoe, but she immediately jumps to the worst conclusion when she thinks he lied to her. He never actually said he wasn't Jewish and made a couple comments early on that pointed to him being Jewish that she didn't catch, so he never "lied" to her about anything. She like flips out completely and runs away to the bathroom to cry. She has known this man for like 2 days at this point, so duh you're not going to know everything about him. It was just something that made me go "whaaaat is your malfunction" as soon as that scene was over.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I love me a fake dating trope, and I loved seeing unique characters on the page. At the back of the book, that author says that she is Hard of Hearing herself, and wanted to write a deaf character, which I think is so great. I think it added an interesting twist of the usual communication issues that can come up in the "I just met you, fake date me please" plot.

I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Delightful slice-of-life romance!

As I eagerly look forward to Passover with my adult hearing-impaired children, I knew I wanted to read this one based on the premise alone. Don't worry if you're not familiar with either the holiday or the disability; this book is beautifully written to cover all the basics and focuses on the universal themes of family, love, and communication.

Gaby wants to avoid the usual questions and matchmaking from her family over Passover, so she bravely asks the gorgeous guy from her gym to accompany her as her fake date. Levi has his own reasons for avoiding his family during the holiday, so he readily agrees. Thus the stage is set for these two to work out their communication issues as Levi teaches Gaby sign language and to address their undeniable chemistry that seems to have no language barrier at all.

From the delightfully outspoken Aunt Faith to Gaby's protective sister, Isabelle, and all the other extended family and friends on both sides, this story is filled with memorable characters who are proof that a relationship almost always involves the whole family, especially families as close-knit as the Finebergs and the Millers.

I loved every bit of this story, and appreciated the understated authenticity throughout. Levi and Gaby prove that love needs no words, and that hearts can communicate in a language of their own. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I read the acknowledgment from the author and couldn’t believe this is her first time writing romantic comedy because this book was incredibly funny, not only that but like naturally funny. It wasn’t too contrived or over the top just realistic. Like I could be sitting at the family table with Gaby and Levi. I love when I am able to connect with a story like that. While this is kind of an instant love romance it’s not like how they usually are where things move too quickly. This is a story of two people who are very suited for each other and how their relationship began.

All in all this is a cute, fun, romantic comedy with some great characters with a lot depth and it’s original in that unlike a happily ever after you get most of the time this is like a happy beginning.

I did receive a free advanced readers copy of this book courtesy of InkSlinger Pr and Laura Brown and of course Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and all my thought in the above review are very much my own.

If you've been looking for a fun, sexy rom-com, look no further than Matzah Ball Surprise, by Laura Brown. From the cover to the charming characters, this book was super fun to read. A bonus is that one of the main characters is from an under-represented group, and is represented realistically, which makes this a wonderful novel. This comes as no surprise, as the author is from this group. I love that we get a novel about an under-represented group from someone actually from that community. Diverse voices!!!

What I Liked:
Premise:

I enjoy the "fake" relationship trope so much. There were strong reasons for both Gaby and Levi to want to present a fake partner. Both had to do with family expectations and pressures. This often become more intense during a holiday, and Passover was the perfect backdrop.

Characters:

Gaby and Levi are both very charming characters. I love how the author delves into each character in a substantive way. We get to understand how they normally relate to romantic partners, and why this new relationship is different.

Portrayal of Deafness:

The author's presentation of deafness and the deaf community is well done and accessible to non-deaf readers. Laura Brown shows how gatherings might be a mixed bag when some people in your family can sign, and some cannot. She also illustrates some of the assumptions hearing people have ("I thought you could read lips", one of Gaby's relatives tells Levi), and how insensitive this is.

Story:

This was a fun story about a Passover weekend with family drama, humor, and sexy romance. I liked that the author went through the entire ritual meal of Passover, with all it's meaning and symbolism, As with any holiday, Gaby's family has a few of its own traditions and family dynamics that make their Passover dinner unique, but also universal.

What I was mixed about:
Insta-Romance:

I thought that the romance of Gaby and Levi was a bit rushed. Even though I could see a strong attraction between the two, I wish the author didn't jump to saying they might love each other. I would have been just as happy for the characters to be excited to keep learning more about each other by the end of the book.

Sex On The Page:

If you enjoy steamy sex, then you will love this book. I have to say that a play by play of everything happening between the sheets is not my cup of tea. But the scenes were well done, with several small moments that built up the sexual tension effectively.

What a Fun Ride! From Fake Date to Real Romance

I absolutely loved the hero in this fun romance. He was sexy, funny, patient, kind, and despite being deaf, had an innate ability to see to the heart of who people really are and point them in the right direction when they seem lost. However, he has a secret he can’t yet share with his fake date, who is quickly becoming more real by the moment. Gaby is coming off a bad breakup, and needing a quick diversion date for Passover, enlists the help of hunky Levi, whom she met at her gym. Gaby has a big heart and loves her family, but is afraid to stand up to her mom to get her to stay off her back about needing a boyfriend. Her Ex did a number on her self-esteem but hunky Levi is more than ready to boost her spirits.

There is great chemistry between these two characters. Plenty of steam. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. These are believable characters and I was really pulling for these two.

Can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Tropes identified:
• Failure to communicate (albeit using different languages) except the language of love
• Fake boyfriend and only one bed
• Secret that can’t yet be shared
• Misunderstandings “It’s not what you think”/owes a childhood friend a favor
• Jewish Mamas
• Insta-love (but it feels so good)

My copy was provided in advance from the publisher Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book. I am here for a fake relationship book. But Some of the language disappointed me. The hero referred to the heroine as a “hot chick” to his friend. And it used female/male as nouns. I was trying to stick with it. What pushed me over the edge was when the author was describing the heroine and hero’s chemistry and I was picking up on any chemistry as the reader. It felt like I was being told and not being shown. So I opted to DNF.

It was ok, but a bit difficult to follow and neither character really had much appeal. I skipped through chapters.

Look, I've been waiting for a romance with a Jewish protagonist since I discovered the genre, and there's nothing more emblematic of Judaism than a good ol' Passover dinner. The main interest, Levi, is both devastatingly handsome and deaf, and I thought Laura Brown gave voice to the barriers he faces in every day life and in the very kosher and unorthodox situation he finds himself in, as a fake date for Gaby Fineberg. Even though the setting itself is explicitly Jewish, I thought that the relationships that both characters have with their family (siblings, parents, extended) was one of the most culturally Jewish components of the book. The relationships are far from perfect, but in both cases, they are central to the identities, dramas, and emotional support of the characters. I would love to follow Gaby's sister in a future (maybe Yom Kippur themed?) novel.

The only place where the novel didn't work for me was the very convoluted side story of Levi's ex girlfriend, and his ongoing relationship with her. This was the setup for the central conflict of the book, but I think that there could easily have been enough conflict just in the inability for Gaby and Levi to effectively communicate at all times - and for Gaby, who had previously no relationships with a deaf person, to understand and not unintentionally create a difficult situation for Levi. As many folks have noted, the ending was rushed and introduces a host of characters that we only very peripherally knew prior to the last few pages. That being said, it didn't take away from the experience of reading and enjoying this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked this story. Being Jewish I found it quite amusing. You never know when love will hit you and as they say you can't tell a book from its cover

A yummy Deaf hero falls head over heels for a hearing woman in "Matzah Ball Surprise", by Laura Brown (Entangled Lovestruck). No angst, no unrealistic lip reading, just two people with a strong chemistry.

A cute and quick read where a yummy Deaf hero falls head over heels for a hearing woman. There’s no unneeded angst, no unbelievable lip reading, just two people with an instant, strong chemistry, trying to work through their different languages, experiences and issues.
I loved how Laura Brown wrote the charming, blue-eyed hero’s POV, how Levi really turns into a vivid and complex wounded hero; watching him communicate using ASL or his phone seemed so natural. Levi is an intelligent, very well-adjusted Deaf person, but nevertheless experiences the obstacles, the social isolation that not even the most advanced technology can avert.
Levi and Gaby are great together and complement each other. I loved how they met, the chemistry and sensuality between them. I also liked the author’s writing style and even the convoluted mess Levi finds himself in is fun to watch.
It was wonderful that the hearing characters tried to adapt to a new reality by learning a different language.
Most of all, I found the Deaf protagonist to be so realistic and I really loved the positive vibes he gives off.

A quote (from ARC):
“Lip reading was a crapshoot and speech therapy never amounted to anything, not that he really tried. As a kid he was more interested in running around outside than watching some old lady’s lips, trying to match that to words. Language was visual, not verbal.”

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was so cute and so fun and just so sweet and lovely. Gaby and Levi have the absolute hottest chemistry, which is not easy to achieve in a book that is so, well loving. I adored both of their arcs and the way they worked through their issues with their families (I really appreciated that they both loved their families and their families loved them, but didn't always know how to communicate right or wanted to push things that were well-meaning but not needed, i.e., that their families weren't the "bad guys," they were imperfect but caring, and not caricatures).

The Jewish representation was spot-on and comforting, at least for me. And there were so many feels. This was a couple you WANTED to be together so badly which made their HEA so absolutely special. I am so, so, so, happy I got to read this!

I know I should write something comprehensive about this book, but I'm too busy being very happy that a Jewish rom-con exists and it doesn't deal with Hannukah. Representation is important! I love this charming book a lot and I hope the author writes more! The romance, while rushed in parts, was equal parts charming and sparking with life, the Other Woman wasn't demonized (here's hoping Monica gets her own book someday!), Gabby's family was made up of a delightful cast of characters...even though the dog is my favourite, and the #OwnVoices .disability rep warmed my heart! It does make a whole difference when there is someone who shares the background of the characters writes the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Matzah Ball Surprise is already in my top 5 books of 2020 and it isn't even March yet! This book is absolutely gorgeous and perfectly romantic - a perfect use of fan-favorite tropes combined with characters who are so easy to love and root for. I can't wait to recommend this one to all of my friends! 5 enthusiastic stars!

**I received a copy of Matzah Ball Surprise from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinion is my own and not solicited in any way.**

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown was definitely a pleasant surprise for me and I loved it. Ms. Brown is a new author to me and I love how she wrote the texts back and forth for both Gaby and Levi plus I'm going to be checking out her other books.

Gaby Fineberg needs a date for her mother's Passover dinner as her current boyfriend off just ending their relationship. So even a fake one will do because when her mom is in a match making mood watch out. So when she decides to ask the hot man at her gym little does she know he's deaf but so when Levi Miller suggests using a text messages on their phones she's all in. But Levi has a secret of his own and hopefully Gaby will never know his ex-girlfriend still has his ring. Can two people take a fake dinner weekend where the turkey is gobbled by the dog and somehow Levi and Gaby find out that this date could turn into something forever.

So be prepared to giggle and fall in love with the Fineberg and Miller families as they meet during Passover where you'll fall in love with everyone including Benji the dog.

To keep her mum off her back, Gaby wants a fake relationship. She meets Levi at the gym and thinks he would be perfect for the job. He is deaf but they manage to communicate enough anyway.
Soon the relationship is feeling far from fake, but Levi has been keeping his won secrets so what will happen when Gaby finds out?