I cannot say enough good things about this book! I was already a fan of the author's, but THE MATCHMAKER'S GIFT is my new favorite and will definitely be one of my favorite books of 2022. The writing flowed so well, and the dual POV/timeline story was riveting from beginning to end with both timelines being equally entertaining (which is rare). I loved the matchmaker premise and the slight speculative/magical element. I highly recommend this book to lovers of commercial fiction, romance, women's fiction, and historical fiction.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

I truly enjoyed this story. I cared about each character, and felt their emotions with them. This is a light-hearted story that made me happy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a dual timeline story that is set in New York City. It’s about a grandmother and granddaughter and their skills at matchmaking.

1910: Sara Glikman found out she was a matchmaker when she was ten years old and found a match for her older sister. She soon learns that in New York City, the matchmakers are all older men, and they don’t want any competition from a young girl. In fact, they forbid her to practice matchmaking, so for years, Sara practiced in secret, matching couples and making love matches.

1994: Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful divorce attorney in New York City, and when her beloved grandmother dies, Abby inherits boxes of journals documenting all of Sara’s matchmaking. Abby finds more questions than answers in the boxes and now she must decide if she’s fated for more than helping others dissolve love matches.

This is one of those dual timeline books where I enjoyed both timelines equally. I was fascinated with Sara, and how she used her matchmaking gift, but I was equally fascinated with Abby as she struggles to figure out what she really wants to do in life. I especially enjoyed learning about the Jewish matchmaking traditions in the early 20th century. And the setting was vividly described, both early 20th century New York and modern day New York. But I especially enjoyed learning more about the Jewish culture and traditions of the early time period.

I also loved the relationship between Abby and her grandmother, and it’s clear that they are two of a kind. Both are fighters and have compassion for others. I loved how Abby changed her opinion of love throughout the course of the book, and how comments and conversations with her grandmother came back to her at critical moments in her journey.


I highly recommend The Matchmakers Gift to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The MatchMakers Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman was a touching story about following your heart and using your gifts and legacy to help others. It follows two different women at different times who have a gift for seeing love matches. Sarah is an orthodox Jew in the 1900s who has to fight the social norm to be able to prove that she's gifted as a matchmaker. Her granddaughter Abby has a timeline in the 1990s and is a divorce lawyer. Quite the opposite of a love match but a gifted woman all the same who sees past the hurt and frustration of her clients to find what their hearts really desire. This book is such a feel-good book and even when there's tension in the storylines you can see the characters moving forward towards a satisfying conclusion. I learned a lot about Jewish history and matchmaking and I was reminded of how gifts can be generational and should be respected and cultivated. This was a great story so if you're looking for a feel-good uplifting tale definitely check it out.

I was totally surprised to learn at the end, where the acknowledgments were made, that there were in fact Matchmakers in Jewish communities throughout the years, and that they were paid for this service, bringing couples together for marriage, recognizing love through a special gift that the couple may not even know yet. Several research references are made to this by the author.

This fictional story is based on two of them, one in the past, and one in more modern times, 1994. Abby (in 1994) is mourning the loss of her grandmother Sara, a 90-something elderly lady who claims she made hundreds of "matches" through the years, of couples meant to be together for life. She had a gift of how to recognize them. She thinks Abby may have the same gift, and leaves her volumes of notebooks she has kept and left for Abby to refer to and learn from.

Abby is a divorce lawyer, working for a demanding senior officer in their divorce firm and her intuitive nature doesn't always agree with her boss's who is more concerned with the financial aspect of a contract than whether it's right or wrong.

I found the topic interesting but it didn't captivate me. The character development was limited. It was a pleasant enough read, but nothing unput-downable for me. I was provided a review copy prior to publication for my own unbiased opinions. Release date 9/20/2022
#NetGalley #St Martins Press #The Matchmakers Gift

| About |

Is finding true love a calling or a curse?

Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. But among the pushcart-crowded streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Sara’s vocation is dominated by devout older men—men who see a talented female matchmaker as a dangerous threat to their traditions and livelihood. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves.

Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney, representing the city’s wealthiest clients. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? Is Abby willing to sacrifice the career she’s worked so hard for in order to keep her grandmother’s mysterious promise to a stranger? And is there really such a thing as love at first sight?

| Thoughts |

Interestingly the inspiration for this book came from Jewish history of matchmaking. Loved the time periods and the authenticity of the story. Instantly loved the two main protagonists. They each eventually came Into their own and made for a heartwarming story. It was thought provoking and funny at the same time. Lots of little tidbits of wisdom on love and life.

A heartwarming, enchanting and pitch-perfect tale full of character, wit and wisdom that reveals the secret of fulfillment. What is the secret? Could it be that generosity and compassion are the true key to finding a way to true happiness and achieving your destiny?

Set in New York during dual time periods (the 1920’s and the 1990’s) it tells the story of two women Sara and Abby (grandmother and grand-daughter) who share an unusual gift……..connecting soulmates. Sara is dedicated to her calling…..Abby is more dedicated to her career as a divorce attorney.

So get comfy on the couch and allow THE MATCHMAKER”S GIFT to take you on a magical journey with these two women as they fulfill their individual destinies.

The Matchmaker's Gift is a gift to all readers. Using two widely separated time periods, Lynda Cohen Loigman elevates what could have been a run-of-the-mill book into one that sings. The storylines are compelling and she draws her characters with care. I'm impressed with the amount of research she did for this novel and am happy yo say that it paid off. I could not put it down. Recommended highly.

Abby thinks she is doing her dream job: working as a divorce attorney. It’s ironic, because her grandmother Sara was a secret matchmaker, setting up couples for almost her entire life. When Sara passes away, she leaves her journals to Abby. Heartbroken and confused, Abby begins reading the journals, trying to find out why Sara left these to her.

Told in alternating points of view, we see Sara’s journey as a matchmaker beginning as a young teen in the early 1900. She hides her gift from the elders in her church until she can’t anymore. Then we see Abby’s perspective, reading through the journals in the present. Slowly, Abby begins to question the career she worked so hard for and consider what her grandma believed in. This was such a sweet, feel good novel! Sara’s gift was magical and I enjoyed seeing her story unfold with Abby through her journals. I thought the author did a fabulous job tying their stories together and bringing a touch of magical realism to a family story.

Thank you to Netgalley, Linda Cohen Loigman and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! “The Matchmaker’s Gift” releases September 20th.

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 🙂

This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last! I loved everything about the characters and the storytelling. This tale is told from two POV’s, Sara’s beginning in 1910 and Abby’s in 1994. Both of these strong & capable women have intriguing stories and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the magical quality of the matchmakers and the historical component.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel good story full of magical realism.

A heartwarming story about a Sara, a Jewish matchmaker, who had to fight for her place among the traditionally male dominated profession. The big difference, Sara had the gift. She could actually visualize threads between two people which indicated their love match. While many of the "Shadchanteh" (traditional Jewish matchmakers) made matches based on family compatibility, Sara made matches based on love. As she was growing up in the early 1900's, marrying for love was not widely accepted, it was seen more as an arrangement between families that had the future possibility of becoming love.

When Sara was 10, she made her first match, for her sister. As she grew up, she became more in tune with her gift and her inability to deny her destiny, a move that angered the establishment. An unmarried female was not allowed to be a recognized matchmaker. The story follows her life as she grows up and learns to accept and use her gift. The dual timeline is shared with her granddaughter, Abby in the 1990's. Abby is a lawyer and her relationship with Sara was very close. In the later timeline, Sara has passed, and Abby must deal with her overwhelming grief and move on with her life. She discovers that her grandmother shared with another that Abby also has the gift for matchmaking. This is a revelation to Abby and she really doesn't believe it. The story follows her remembrances of moments with Sara, and the moments in her past that shaped her life. It also explores her career as a lawyer and the unwelcome integration of her job and her gift.

There was a lot to like about this story - the characters were easy to love and root for. The background into the Jewish traditions and expectations were so interesting and the story was easy to read. I think the letdown for me was that the book felt predictable and wrapped up a little too neat. But a lot of people enjoy that - so if you do, I definitely think you should pick this one up. I liked this book, I just didn't love it - but I think I will be in the minority on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 9/20/22

This is such a tender and lovely story!

A beautiful dual timeline story of Sara in 1910’s and 1920’s growing up a Jewish girl in New York with a special gift of matchmaking. This is a sacred practice in her church and is done only by older men, but Sara has a magical gift. In mid 1990’s New York, her granddaughter Abby, a divorce lawyer of all things, is mourning her loss while realizing she may share her grandmother’s gift.

This book is tender, heartwarming, and clever. The characters are lovable and funny and real. Sara is such a full and rich character that anyone will want to reach in the page and hug. All the secondary characters enrich the story in a great way. I enjoyed the history and learning about the “shadchan”, or Jewish religious matchmakers. Learning the Yiddish words throughout the book was also fun.
Review to be shared to Instagram closer to publication day.

An interesting story with a dual timeline. Sarah,from 1910 to 1990’s and her granddaughter, Abby, from 1995 . Sarah is a Jewish woman who has spent her life as a matchmaker. Abby is a young divorce attorney . Both reside in New York.
Sarah’s story is very detailed with all the matches she makes. I loved the historical portion and looking up the Yiddish words sprinkled throughout her history.
Abby has a very close relationship with her grandmother. When changes occur in her life, Abby must concentrate on what is really important in her life
The start, really first half of the book was slow moving. Id recommend it on the Historical elements but it did take me a long time to read.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc opportunity

I so enjoyed this book. A sweet story about a Jewish woman’s gift as a matchmaker and her granddaughter’s gift too. I enjoyed the back and forth of the two women.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartin’sPress and #LyndaCohenLoigman for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

An author I follow on Instagram recommended this book and I was lucky enough to get it from NetGalley. I would probably actually give it close to a 4.5. It was well written and charming. I learned a lot about the Jewish practice of matchmaking which I was not familiar with before. The book goes back and forth from the 1900s to the early 2000s with each chapter alternating between characters. I like the back and forth and that it is a pattern. This helped my brain distinguish between the time period and character. Overall a wonderful, heartfelt story about love and family!

I received an ARC of The Matchmaker's Gift from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book has so many things that I love!

1. Dual timelines. We see Sara coming across the ocean to America. In her journey, she must fight against the male matchmakers to find her place. She holds onto her faith that there is true love. Then there's Abby, Sara's granddaughter, a divorce attorney—jaded from her parents' divorce. When Abby inherits Sara's records of matches, Abby must decide who she is and what she believes.

2. A different place. We get to see New York through both Sara's and Abby's eyes. I've never been to New York, so these descriptions made me feel like I was there. I can imagine if you've been to New York, it will turn your mind to nostalgic memories.

3. Jewish culture. I love to learn about other people and cultures. The Jewish culture is fascinating to me because of their history. Sara and Abby live their religion and it's not preachy, but we also see the sense of how their belief works in their lives. It's beautiful.

4. A woman finding herself. Both Sara and Abby have different journeys as they come to understand themselves. This is so universal, I think everyone can enjoy watching someone else on their path.

I adored how the story wove together. This is truly a feel good read with romantic elements.

I highly recommend it!

The Matchmaker's Gift
Author, Lynda Cohen Loigman
Pub date: 9.20.22

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this e- arc!

Told in dual timelines at the turn of the century and in the 90's, The Matchmaker's Gift weaves readers through Sara Glikman's journals beginning in 1910 when Sara was just a young girl growing up in New York's Lower East Side amidst a devout Jewish immigrant culture. After her beloved grandmother passes away, Abby inherits her grandmother's handwritten journals that are detailed recordings of all of Sara's matches. Sara was an extremely talented matchmaker, who matched couples solely for love, despite the dangerous threat of the traditional Jewish male matchmakers who did everything in their power to hold Sara back from her calling. So much so, that Sara matched in secret for more than a decade before she took matters into her own hands and demanded that she be recognized and respected by her peers.

Abby, a successful divorce attorney, while reading of her grandmother's matches and life experiences, now begins to question her life choices as she represents Manhattan's wealthiest clients and works for a woman who has no moral compass. And while reading her grandmother's journals, also begins to question why her grandmother wanted her to learn of her matchmaking past so intimately. Until she learns that her grandmother promised a stranger that Abby would make her a match, the only match that Sara was unsuccessful in making. Now Abby is beginning to see her world differently- clearly and exactly how it should have always been.

Written with a deep appreciation for the Jewish culture, family, and traditions, a passion for falling in love and matching soulmates, and with charming and entertaining magical realism, The Matchmaker's Gift is a beautiful story of second chances, hope, and love. Filled with history, romance, and even a little mystery, this new novel will be sure to be a favorite of many this September!

4.5 stars!

What a truly lovely story that connected two women, a grandmother, Sara, and her granddaughter, Abby. It is not only a relationship that is loving and sweet, but these two ladies share a special git, that of being matchmaker's.

Sara, herself suffers because in her era, only devout older men were given the job of matchmaking, and while Sara hid her talent, she eventually decides because of family needs, to become a matchmaker. Sara is so very successful and writes of her matches in journals that after her death, Abby finds.

Abby herself, is a divorce attorney with a boss who is full of herself and overbearing. Abby has the gift, the same as Sara, but she keeps on pushing it back, until she starts to recognize that this gift was special, one that could and does help the clients she sees, enraging her boss. Can she fight the feeling that her career can be managed with her knowledge of the couples who come before her.

This delightful story tells the readers about the age old custom practiced by devout Jews and some other cultures of matching a man and a woman. The story switches back and forth between Sara and Abby's struggles to be recognized as women who can and do achieve what life has given them.

It gave me a look into the practice of match making and with the stories that involved such skill made for an enjoyable read and one that provided the concept that for everyone there is a soulmate.

Thank you to Lynda Cohen Loigman, and Netgalley for a copy of this charming story.

I loved this book from the very beginning. I enjoyed the perspectives between Grandmother Sara and Granddaughter Abby, and learning about each of their lives. I loved the whimsical notes in this book. It was a sweet and feel-good read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback. Would recommend!