This book is adorable, I felt very bubbly and smiley reading through it. I was a little frustrated because it suffered from the tried and true “WHY DON’T YOU JUST
TALK ABOUT IT?!” romance novel method of conflict - but other than that, it’s a great holiday read. I also loved seeing a heroine with a chronic illness.

It almost lost a star for how hungry it made me, but it isn’t Meltzer’s fault I don’t have a rugalach recipe! Fair warning, enter on a full stomach, or with munchies near by!

This is a light, laugh out loud funny, intriguing read all rolled into The Matzah Ball!
I related to Rachel the main character, as someone who also absolutely loves Christmas and would be thrilled if everyday was Christmas!
Rachel's dilemma is that she is Jewish and is a best selling author of Christmas novels.
She writes under a secret alias!
Why? Because her family who is very strict about their faith would never understand their daughter loving Christmas.
Life is about to change for Rachel when her publisher has a new request for a Hanukkah book. What?? Hanukkah is SO boring and not a big holiday!
This is the story about how it all comes about and all the research needed to get this book finished.
This is definitely a wonderful novel! I really enjoyed it!

I was in the mood for something light and easy, and with my husband being Jewish while I am Christian, this book was a must for me.

This was an easy, fast read. In some ways it was the typical friends to lovers romance. But it added more - it added some interesting facts about being Jewish and the traditions. It added family relationships, and friendship and the power of accepting yourself. I really liked all of the characters and the story.

All that being said, it was perhaps a little TOO sweet for my taste. One reviewer wrote that this read like a Debbie Macomber book and I highly agree. If that's your kind of book - you will love this. If, like me, you need a lttle more "zest" or tension in your books, this might not be for you. It depends on how sweet you like it.. :)

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
I think it is a 5 star read for those who love these cozy books. It was a 3 for me.personally. So I am compromising with 4 stars..

This book was so so so sweet. Yes, I am reading a holiday book in the dead of spring, but I am living for this!

I will preface this by stating that this book gave me major Debbie Macomber vibes, so if you're a fan of her wholesome holiday novels you'll love this! Our book begins as Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is reunited with her childhood first love/ mortal enemy Jacob Greenberg. Things get heated as old misunderstandings are resolved, and they come together to create a holiday fundraiser event everyone is sure to remember.

At first glance, this book could be misconstrued as a fluffy holiday piece, and it does have those elements. However underneath the holiday sparkle, is a surprising depth into a holiday we seldom hear about. I am not Jewish, However, I love hearing about this holiday, a well as understanding the meaningful philosophy that comes with it. It was these elements that morphed this book into more than meets the eye.

As for the characters, if you have read any of my other reviews, you know I LOVE the quirky heroine. Rachel fits this to a T. Fuzzy socks and sneakers with a ball gown? Yes. Besides her quirky personality, I liked the fact that this book chose the opportunity to explore the stigma behind chronic illness. She is more than her illness, and there is no shame behind embracing a moment of weakness. Having a moment does not mean you are weak.

Jacob, our hero was equally as wonderful, as we explore the beta hero. I love when an author paints the traditional hero in such a loving light. Jacob allow Rachel to help him (even though this is something he clearly had trouble doing). Additionally, he was obviously smitten, and his gushy head over heels actions was adorable.

Overall, this book was a sweet holiday read, with surprising depth. Go out of your comfort zone, read something different this holiday season, Christmas shouldn't have all the fun.

Heat Level: 🔥

I devoured this in one sitting the second I got it approved on netgalley! I absolutely adored this book. The own voices representation was brilliant and much needed in a publishing world that typically only publishes these stories from outside perspectives. I love learning about the different Jewish cultures that both characters came from. The romance was also great! It was wonderful to see ME/CFS incorporated into the whole story and see how it affected her life, without the typical twist of the character dying or ending up heartbroken. A favorite breed of the year!

Cute, sweet, and the perfect amount of holiday sparkle! I loved the entire story. Jean Meltzer wrote great characters who were very likable, and the mishugas that happened throughout the story kept me smiling and laughing along.

I have been through 10 holiday seasons as a bookseller, and every year I shelve and make displays out of all the Christmas romance book and wish for just one Hanukkah book in the mix. FINALLY! Jean Meltzer has given me this book! And it's flippin' adorable!

On the surface this story seems like the typical enemy to lovers trope, with a Jewish twist. But it's also so much more than that. It's about history and traditions, about family and friends who are like family, about needing to be yourself while wanting to live up to everyone else's expectations. This story is all of these things and more. I hope this is just the beginning of many, many Hanukkah romances. But if it's the only one we get I'll still be happy.

The only negative thing I can say was how many time Maltzer used "smart" to describe inanimate objects. I wanted to start taking shots of Manischewitz every time the adverb was used.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was so sweet and charming. I loved Rachel so much and just wanted the best for her. I loved all the Hanukkah elements and how emphasized Jewish customs were in this!!

A lot of books on NetGalley look intriguing and then disappoint. This was not the the case with The Matzoh Ball, which hits it out of the park on so many levels! Admittedly, I was intrigued by the title, but a little off put by the Harlequin romance brand as not my usual choice of reading material. So I dove in, with middling expectations. Well, dear reader, I was surprised and delighted by the authentic voice of a Jewish narrator in a book that is not about the Holocaust. What a relief. The "own voices" canon needed this kind of representation.

Let's add in a discussion about the main character's (and author's) chronic disability. This was also refreshing in both its inclusion and inclusivity and in its honest take on how chronic illness is dismissed and derided.

Moving on, the secret (not secret) fascination of Jewish folks with Christmas is explored with grace and humor. Honestly, who doesn't love Christmas music and also feel overwhelmed at Christmas time as well. (Don't get me started on my Xmas eve birthday!).

For audience, there is a delicate balance between appealing to those without much Jewish knowledge, both members of the tribe and others, and those who are frum and frum-adjacent. This is a delicate line to walk and very well handled by the author.

Including summer camp shoutouts and Easter eggs (Pesach eggs?) such as an image of kids wearing matching blue (I think) bandannas is a nice way to reference color war for those who have bunk experience.

Finally, the truth about growing up in long cast shadow of the Holocaust resonated with me. For example, the mention of Bubbe's matzoh stash, well not specifically familiar, spoke to some of the ways next gens were cognizant of the Shoah's influence on modern American Jewish life.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

The premise of this was what sold me. A Jewish gal (her father is like THE Rabbi) is secretly a writer for Christmas novels complete with an insane collection of Christmas decor that no one in her family knows about. In comes Jacob Greenberg, tormentor extraordinaire from camp days to really add more stress to the Hanukkah season. Things are always what they seem, and memory is a finicky thing sometimes.

I thought this was a sweet novel that was funny and heartwarming.