In the Bible, it takes Jacob 14 years of labor to win his Rachel... in the Matzah Ball, it takes over twenty. A prank-filled summer at Camp Ahava made Rachel and Jacob frenemies then sweethearts, but the fledgling relationship disintegrated into nothing when a publically staged first kiss led to Rachel's humiliation. A good Jewish girl - -daughter of a well-known Rebbe, even -- she now moonlights writing very successful Christmas themed holiday romances. She still holds a grudge, years later, against Jacob, who is now a successful event planner and fundraiser, and is back in NYC to pull off a seasonal party for the Jewish population that coincides with a demand from Rachel's editor for an authentic Hanukkah romance. The Matzah Ball is the hottest -- sold out -- party in town. Rachel, who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, agrees to volunteer her time in preparing for the event to score a ticket so she can write her next novel.

The banter throughout (not just between Rachel and Jacob, but between Rachel and Jacob's grandmother, Jacob and his right hand man Shmuel) and the humor of gentle poking fun at stereotypes strive to balance out the disdain for All Things Jewish Rachel spouts to her (gay) best friend Michael--I found it a little cringe-worthy. I didn't want Rachel to come off as a self-hating Jew, and at the beginning, for me, she did.

The romance is well-paced, if predictable - but again, I'm not sure I loved how they talked to one another, all the time. All these years later, and they are still keeping secrets and misunderstanding intentions?! I wanted to yell at them to grow up!

I appreciated Shmuel's definition of bashert - not soulmates, but destiny: a person who exists to complete something you lack. Like you've found your missing piece that makes you better than you are, that calls you on your shit. I do think it can be done more respectfully than he conveys happens with his wife, and than we experience with Rachel and Jacob: in one scene, she tells him repeatedly to stop talking. It's a bit old-fashioned and discomforting.

Still, Melzter's story has a heart of gold. Her author's note at the end speaks to finding a balance in her story to appeal to Jews who love Christmas, Christmas celebrators who know nothing about Jewish practices, a sprinkling of Yiddish and halakhah, and appeal for day school kids and Hebrew school b'nei mitzvot alike. In this, she is successful.

I wanted The Matzah Ball to read like The Intimacy Experiment and Get a Life, Chloe Brown had a baby, but it didn't achieve that level for me. Stronger editing and intimacy more on the page, than off, would have made this a 4 or 5 star book for me.

I received a free copy of #TheMatzahBall from #NetGalley.

I liked a lot of aspects of this book and I liked seeing all the different aspects of the Jewish culture. I think Jean Meltzer did a really good job of showing us an inside look into Judaism. I wasn't totally sure how I felt about Jacob. He seemed kind of full of himself and I don't know if I really consider him a hero. I liked Rachel and I liked that she was open to being involved with her Jewish birthright and her families traditions again. I think that it was sweet that Jacob sent help for Rachel when she was having some bad days, but in another way, he should have asked. This is a really fun, Jewish holiday book, I am glad to see more popping up in the book world.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I love Christmas movies, but being Jewish, I always felt guilty about liking them. Growing up, there were not a lot of Hanukkah related books and movies, and even though I didn't celebrate the holiday, watching Christmas-related movies allowed me to experiencing some joy about the holiday. The Matzah Ball was everything I could have ever wanted in a Hanukkah romance book, there are not enough words to express how much I loved it!

Rachel, the daughter of a Rabbi, who loves everything about Christmas, writes best-selling Christmas novels under a pen name. Aside from her best friend, no one knows about this secret. Her publisher wants her to change things up and write a Hanukkah book, but Rachel is stumped on how to translate the magic of Christmas to Hanukkah. When Rachel finds out her old camp archenemy Jacob, who also happened to be her first love, is hosting the popular party the Matzah Ball Max, Rachel is determined to do anything in her power to get a ticket to use as inspiration for her book, even if it means spending time with Jacob. As Rachel and Jacob work on the party together, they both are forced to deal with the past.

This book is so much more than just a holiday romance book, it also details Rachel's chronic illness and how she lives with it every day. There were so many points where Rachel could have given up and she pushed through, despite the protests of her body. From the start I loved how Meltzer portrayed Rachel in her personality and she is an easy character to root for. Jacob is also an easy character to like, while Rachel might not think so right away, he is truly a good guy who will do anything for those he cares about. I really enjoyed the conversations they had about Judaism and how the values related to their lives.

The Matzah Ball is the perfect love letter to Hanukkah and Judaism!

I loved everything about this book. From the first page I really couldn't stop reading. It is a charming, delightful, thoughtful tales. There is sensitivity and hilarity and I can't wait to get my hands on Jean's next book. Bravo!

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt a nice Jewish girl whose father is not only famous, he is a highly respected rabbi, and her mother, a top fertility expert. But Rachel has a secret. She loves Christmas. In her experience, Christmas is more magical than Hanukkah. Writing under the name of Margot Cross, Rachel has built a career as a best selling author of Christmas romances with a few made into movies. Christmas is her brand. That’s the secret she keeps from her family. The secret she keeps from the world is her chronic fatigue syndrome. Two secrets, but the biggest one is kept from her family, Christmas!! What a shanda if they were to ever find out. Oy!!!

Now her publisher wants new ideas to appeal to a more diverse audience. They want her to write a Hanukah story, something other than Christmas. But Rachel loves Christmas and cannot not even think of anything that remotely would take its place, and certainly not Hanukah.

Upon finding out that there will be a big event coming up on the last night of Hanukah, the Matzah Ball Max, she finds the inspiration to write a Hanukah novel and keep her publishing contract. Now Rachel is determined to attend the sold out Hanukkah event of the century. The event is the brainchild of Jacob Greenberg. He was her first kiss at twelve at summer camp. The same Jacob Greenberg who ended up humiliating her after letting all the boys spy on them during that kiss. Yes, Jacob Greenberg!! Will they be able to leave their 12 year old personalities in the past? Was this Ball meant to bring them together, was it destiny, was it fate, or was it a big mistake?

With this book Jean Meltzer takes us into another world, into Jewish culture and traditions. Through this book she describes these traditions with wit and humor, a world many of us are able to relate to. "Not in my house" were the words I heard when I wanted a Christmas tree, when I wanted to celebrate the season! Words spoken in many Jewish homes to children who wanted the magic of Christmas. This was a different type of holiday story and Ms. Meltzer wrote it with confidence, aplomb...way cool! This story was a joy to read, absolutely delicious! So bring it on Jean Meltzer, I'm ready for more.

My thanks to NetGalley and Mira Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be reviewed on my blog https://bookreviewsbylulu.blogspot.com/, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook

I loved this story.
I’m Jewish and often find Hanukkah stories schmaltzy. The characters in this book really touched me. It brought back memories of growing up and having family around and lovingly in all your business..

Eighteen years ago, Rachel had a summer camp prank romance with Jacob. They were twelve. Ketchup was involved. But it ended badly. Now chronically ill, Rachel writes romance for a living. But not just any romance... oh no.. the dutiful Rabbi's daughter writes schmalpy and sensual Christmas-themed romances. In fact, she's written 20 of them. She's even got 4 movie deals out of them. Now her publisher wants more diverse works and so they give her an ultimatum... Write a Hannukah-themed Romance or they won't renew her contract. Rachel doesn't know what to do, until she hits upon an idea. An idea that puts her squarely in the path of her summer camp nemesis - Jacob.

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This review is going to contain some spoilers. And there are some very frank discussions about difficult topics including bullying, chronic illness, ableism, and suicidal ideation. Also, as in many romantic comedies, there may be a lot of secondhand discomfort with the situations the characters find themselves in. Make sure you're in a good place before reading this.

I'm really quite torn in how I feel about this novel. Like seriously torn. I loved parts of it and hated others, so I'm going to explain why I think this book is really good and I'm glad it exists, but also why I don't love it fully.

On one hand, I absolutely loved the Jewish representation and the very excellent way that the author explained very Jewish concepts so that non-Jewish people wouldn't feel left out. I liked that there were people who had varying levels of observation. While the author didn't identify which sect of Judaism Rachel and her family practices, it felt like Conservative Judaism as opposed to Reform, Orthodox, or Reconstructionist. From my experience, there is definitely different levels of observance from people who will eat shrimp and definitely have a bacon pan to those who have wholly separate kitchens for cooking and at least 6 sets of dishes. It felt real. And I loved that.

On the other hand, I didn't love the Hero. His actions in many instances really landed wrong with me. For instance he treats Rachel very poorly refusing to listen to her when she says "No, I can't do something." and constantly pushes her to share her secrets with him without being willing to share his own. He does something to her that quite literally had me crying because what he did brought back memories of my own bullying both as a child and later as an adult. Then, once his prank backfires, he does performs a sweeping gesture that removes a lot of her agency and doesn't give her a way out. (I'm going to come back to this) Even later still, he violates her privacy in her home reading a document that is confidential... and then doesn't even apologize for that. I didn't like him. Rachel deserved better.

I did like Rachel for the most part. In fact, my biggest complaint with her is something wholly personal--she doesn't stand up for herself--but it's part of her storyline so... I did like that Rachel is chronically ill and her feelings about it echo my own as a spoonie. Rachel lives with ME/CFS and the author nails what that is like -- likely because she has lived it.

That said (and here's your second spoiler alert) when the hero hires an executive assistant to oversee cleaning up Rachel's apartment, cooking her food, and caring for her while she is recovering from a series of triggered bad days brought on by the hero's bullying -- I told you I'd get back to this -- he does so without checking with her first. Worse, the executive assistant doesn't take her no as an answer. And while in the story it is presented with kind intentions there's a problem with this and how it's handled in real life. So yes, Rachel is overwhelmed. Yes, she is having a bad day to the point that heating up soup isn't possible. But she's the one who needs to decide what she can live with. It's like grabbing the handlebars of a disabled person's wheelchair and pushing them... the intentions are pure but they are often misguided. Worse, it builds into the very damaging real world consequence that disabled voices are ignored and infantilized. The way that Jacob and the Executive assistant treat Rachel is infantilizing. They are overriding her wishes. They aren't talking to her. They are treating her like a child. I really, really, really had issues with this whole scene and what it stood for. And while in the end, Rachel was okay with the help... it's bad consent. Really bad consent. And people learn from fiction and I feel like this is modeling bad behavior and rewarding it narratively.

I really adored how the publishing industry was portrayed. Especially the big push by publishers to have their authors out themselves as ownvoices and to write about their lived experience.... often when they aren't ready.

I didn't like how the event planning industry was portrayed. Some of the things that the author had volunteers doing would never be allowed in a union town like NYC. Look, I work in the convention industry. Teamsters or Hotel employees set up tables, chairs, etc... They also don't tend to allow things to be hung on the walls. or have things dangle from the ceiling. While I'm letting this go and it didn't affect my rating of the story, it was something I noted. There was a lack of research done.

What I did like was that at the end the author acknowledged that their experience isn't a universal experience. No marginalized person is a monolith. And that was actually lovely to see.

So yeah, I was torn.

I liked this, but I didn't love it. Parts of it really bugged me. It's got great character voices and wonderful representation. This is a nice sweet romance with no sex and very minor swearing. But because I'm so torn I'm going to rate this:

Three Stars

Rachel and Jacob really take Chanukah to a new level. Romance doesn't always have to be Christmas. Some really funny moments especially getting past childhood revenges.

First, praise: Rachel's secret life as a Christmas Romance writer pays for her Upper West Side two-bedroom and allows her a work-from-home career that helps manage her Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, keeping stress at bay. And it has been years of this Hallmark movie life - except Rachel's dad is a Rabbi, a major player in the world of Torah scholars and overseers of Jewish law. So, Rachel's work life is kept behind a closed door of her apartment, which means she has secrets and not much of a dating life. But then her publishing contract is challenged because, after ten years of Christmas, her publisher wants a Hanukkah story. And despite the candles in the menorah, Hanukkah just doesn't have the sparkle of Christmas, Rachel's trapdoor to happiness when she needs to escape her pain and discomfort from her illness.
Now, Jacob is coming back to New York for the first time since he was at Camp Ahava - where he and Rachel had a prank war, a first kiss, and a falling out that has left them both reveling in the mishegas of young love. Jacob, now a world-renowned party planner, is hosting an epic Hanukkah party at the Four Seasons and he needs a big-name Rabbi to light the candles on the last night of Hanukkah. So he plays everyone's favorite game of "Jewish Geography", and asks Rachel's parents to do the honors. Which puts Rachel and Jacob back together. And now, Rachel needs a favor from the boy who broke her heart - she needs to go to his party to keep her career on track. He agrees to give her ticket, but she has to earn it by helping. CFS be damned, Rachel is doing it. But of course, eight crazy days lights a path to each other. And it's a fun romp through the holidays in New York - pure holiday magic!

Okay, now I'm getting out my soapbox, so don't read if you are avoiding spoilers. 1. I appreciate the consideration for autoimmune disease, but OMG - Rachel is the poster child for a flare-up. Manage those symptoms - watch what you eat, girl! And that last email to her mother - No. Nope. It is not that easy to get pregnant. That is a dagger in the heart of all the women out there who struggle. Ouch.
2. The world needs more Jewish stories like this - but this shiksa needs to remind everyone that Christmas is a season and all of the Santa Claus artifice and magic that Rachel likes is secular. So, for that reason, this story needs a bit of a pivot. Christmas in New York is great, magical, wonderful, and full of sparkling sites. But if you want "Real Christmas" maybe go with a Manger and some wise men, and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (and not just Macy's in Herald Square). Just saying.

I very much enjoyed reading "The Matzah Ball"! It resonated with me on a few levels- I enjoyed the opportunity to read Jewish fiction, and also because the main character, Rachel, deals with a chronic illness that is familiar to me as my older daughter deals with the same- chronic fatigue syndrome. I could really empathize with Rachel's struggles, knowing what my daughter has experienced. Jean Meltzer tells a lighthearted at times, and at times deep, enjoyable story about Rachel trying to write a Hanukkah romance, and being thrown together and reunited with a summer camp love. One of the aspects I truly enjoyed was reading about her loving family and their Shabbat and holiday observances. It felt so familiar and comfortable, as I grew up Jewish and my husband and I have created a loving Jewish home for our family. I heartily recommend "The Matzah Ball, and look forward to more novels by Jean Meltzer.

Rachel is Jewish but she loves Christmas. Not only does she have a room dedicated entirely to Christmas but she writes Christmas romances under another name. Her publisher wants her to write a Hanukkah romance but she has no inspiration to find the magic. Jacob and Rachel spent time together at a Jewish summer camp. He was her first love. Rachel believes he let her down and Jacob believes Rachel is responsible for their break up. Years later Jacob, now living in Paris, is coming to New York to put on the Matzah Ball. He is a wealthy party planner. Rachel thinks if she can get a ticket to the ball, she can find some inspiration to write and save her career. Even though they resent each other, when together there is still a strong force igniting feelings from long ago. I really like this book. Rachel and Jacob share times of fun and times of anger and tears. I gained insight into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as Rachel struggles to keep her illness private and continue to work and volunteer for the ball with Jacob. I also appreciated learning more about the traditions of the Jewish faith. Great characters who are creative, smart, and loving. Scenes that are fun and bring the community together. I felt like I was a part of all the festivities.

Cute book! Leans heavily into Jewish archetypes, which was challenging for me as a Jewish person trying to fight against those. A good read for a rainy day.

The Matzah Ball, a fun, romantic, holiday book. The heroine has a chronic disease but she doesn't let that define her. The heroine is a Jewish girl who has a secret fascination with all things Christmas. Such a good twist and a joy to read.

Being Jewish, I could not resist a book called The Matzah Ball even though I don't normally read chick lit. But this is a cut above just chick lit as it explores Jewish traditions and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with real authenticity due to the author's background. If an author should write what they know, Jean Meltzer has certainly done that. The story itself is very predictable, but it is a nice addition to the genre of holiday stories and readers will enjoy it.

What a good slow burn story! Its nice reading about different backgrounds! And this was a hit with me!
This was a cut, funny, heartwarming story! And I devoured every second of it!
What I loved most was reading and learning more about Jewish culture and traditions.
This was a fun book! Y'all will enjoy it!

Do you like Hallmark movies? If so, this is the book for you! It's very fluffy and sweet (other than the main character's chronic illness) and a quick easy read. I loved learning more about Jewish traditions and some of the descriptions of the food had me drooling. I also liked Mickey and Toby's characters a lot and they really added to the story.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about a young woman from an Orthodox Jewish family. The conflicts she faces with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and her career as an author of Christmas romances, (which she keeps from her family) makes for interesting reading.

Rachel Rubinstein-Goldblatt, daughter of a famous rabbi and fertility doctor has a secret. She’s crazy about Christmas and under a pseudonym has published 20 Christmas romance novels and 4 TV movies. She can’t let her parents and anyone else know because that would shatter the image of the perfect Jewish daughter she feels compelled to live up to. When her publisher demands she write a Hanukkah romance under her real name or not be renewed, her life as she knows it is threatened. With a chronic illness that daily impacts her life she needs this career. Enter Jacob, the boy she liked at middle school summer camp, the one who broke her heart. He’s throwing the hugely anticipated and completely sold out Matzah Ball that Rachel desperately needs a ticket to so she can find Hanukkah inspiration. Only he remembers that summer very differently insisting Rachel broke his heart. A perfect rom com.

The Matzah Ball, by Jean Meltzer, is a fun, romantic holiday book, that is different than the usual Christmas book we’re all used to. The heroine, Rachel, has a chronic disease, but she doesn’t let it define her, and she’s one tough cookie.

Rachel, the daughter of a famous Rabbi father, and her mother is a top fertility specialist. As a good Jewish girl, she hides her love of Christmas and especially her job as a Chrismas Romance writer. Only her best friend Mickey knows her love of everything Christmas and knows her pen name is Margot Cross, the famous Christmas Romance author.

When her publisher tells her to write a Jewish holiday story, Rachel is distressed, as she loves Christmas and can’t find the magic in Jewish holidays that she finds in Christmas. But, when she sees an ad for a huge Matzah Ball celebration, she hopes she can find some holiday magic at the ball. The only problem is the event coordinator for the Matzah Ball is her old summer camp nemesis, Jacob Greenberg, who she hasn’t seen in over twenty years.

The Matzah Ball is a nice holiday story that is so different from the usual Christmas stories, and I enjoyed reading about a different holiday tradition. The book started off a bit slow, there were a lot of explanations about the Jewish holiday traditions of Hanukkah and Rachels’ chronic illness. I didn’t know much about Hanukkah traditions, nor Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and I appreciated the explanations, however, it did drag the story down a bit at the beginning.

At first, I didn’t think much of Rachel and thought she was very defensive and somewhat whiney. But, after a bit, she found her zip and her voice and she was fearless. I enjoyed her growth during the story and found myself liking her and rooting for her happy ending.

Jacob was perfect for Rachel, he knew how to deal with her illness and yet force her to see herself as a fearless woman who should demand more of herself.

I recommend this delightful holiday story to anyone and everyone who loves a good holiday story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In what could be a Hallmark answer to Chanukah, this book will make you laugh out loud, and cry along with Rachel, every step of the way! The characters are fabulously flawed and perfect just as they are, and the story line is so inconceivable at times that it feels like a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moment. I loved this book so much, I've already made up Instagram graphics with quotes to promote it this fall! Cannot wait to see what the author produces next....