Sara has a gift, she 'sees' the connection between those meant to be together. Her granddaughter, who we meet in 1994, discovers the grandmother's secrets in the journals left to her and fights hard initially to deny her own skills in matters of the heart.
This is a lovely, heart-reaching story of the drawing together of beloveds. Sara in 1912 is confronted by the shatken, the traditional male matchmakers, who believe that a single woman could not/should not be a matchmaker.
Decades later, Abby fights against the belief of true love as a divorce lawyer. However, her bond to her grandmother gives her the faith to put kindness and humility first for a non-conventional meeting of partners and is told with humour and insight. 'The heart us big enough to hold both grief and love.'
The sprinkling of Yiddish phrases and Jewish customs were a bonus and lend depth to the history of matchmaking. The descriptions of food, dress and old NewYork culture were wonderful too.
You will cheer on these characters to their individual happy endings.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin'sPress for this early copy of a truly enjoyable book.

This book was a sweet easy read, but “fantasy twists” in the story were not my thing! I liked the two different timelines and the way one would easily lead into the other, and I liked most of the characters. I thought the little part at the end was sort of cheesy, though, and that lowered my rating from 4 stars to 3.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me!

Loved it!!! This book was everything and so much more. Before I started reading it, I was worried it wasn't going to be the right book for me. I was completely wrong. I was hooked from the start until the very end. Loved how it alternated between Sara and Abby. I was sad when it was over because I wanted to see what was next for Abby. "When you weep, the one you are meant for tastes the salt of your tears." That ending may have caused me to shed a few tears. I loved Abby, but Sara's story was my favorite. I would have loved to read more about her matchmaking, especially the time after WWII and until her death. She led such an interesting life. Sara was such a brave woman. I loved how she stood up to all those old shadchanims in court. They harassed her for years. Sara was better at matchmaking than all of the men combined. She truly had a gift and they were jealous and set in their old world rules. Loved the chapter titles that were associated with Sara. I loved how the stories all intertwined.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. This was such a beautiful and magical book. I loved everything about it. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book. There's pickles on it for the Pickle King!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Matchmaker’s Gift is a gift itself, to all the readers lucky enough to read it! When she is only 10 years old, Sara discovers that she has a special gift—being able to find couples who are meant to be together. Even as a teenager, Sara faces scrutiny, condescension and threats, but she knows what she knows and she brings joy to the couples and families she helps. This heartwarming, dual timeline story begins in 1910 with Sara’s story; the contemporary timeline is set 80 years later, and features her beloved granddaughter Abby. Abby’s life and career were shaped by her parent’s divorce, and when Sara dies, Abby starts looking through boxes of journals her grandmother left to her. Reading those journals, and remembering all the wisdom her grandmother imparted, Abby starts to question her own path in life. Each of their stories are rich and compelling, and the magic within the pages of this book often took my breath away. Both women faced conflict and pain, but their stories also contained many layers of hope and, especially, love. True love is the thread that weaves these stories together, as couples across the decades find their soulmates, with a little nudge from a gifted matchmaker.

“The Matchmaker’s Gift” by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Arc of this book! This review is entirely my own.

The description of this book was what caught my attention at first. This story includes dual point of views and dual timelines. It is a heartwarming story of love and ancestry between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
The book begins in 1910 telling the story of Sara Glikman and her family as they migrated to New York. On the ship over, Sara discovers that she has the gift of matchmaking– seeing love connections between persons. Unfortunately for her, the journey of becoming a professional matchmaker faces threats from older men steeped in tradition, poverty, loss, heartbreak and acclimatizing to a new life with a different culture.
The other timeline introduces Sara’s granddaughter, Abby who is a divorce lawyer which is ironic as the matchmaking gift seems to have been passed to her. After her grandmother’s death, Abby is gifted journals allowing her to understand her grandmother more and even to become at peace with her own gifts.
This is a wonderful and heartwarming story of love that spans through the years. The real love story is between the grandmother, Sara and her granddaughter, Abby as she reminds her to not let her negative past experiences define her view of love.
This book was well written and kept on drawing me in chapter after chapter. It was also eye opening to learn about matchmaking within the Jewish culture. The author did a great job of differentiating between timelines and characters, but still allowing the reader to clearly follow the storyline! Even more so, it was lovely to journey with Sara and Abby as two women striving to find acceptance, happiness, and love in a world more rooted in what they can see than what they cannot.
Easily one of the most refreshing reads! I would highly recommend it!

The Matchmaker’s Gift is a story told from 2 perspectives; one the grandmother and the other her granddaughter. Both are matchmakers but they come to it from very different ways. The grandmother, Sara, is very persuasive and stands up for herself once she realizes her gift of matchmaking which started for her at age 10. The granddaughter, Abby, comes to realize her gift of match making much later and by the end of the story is comfortable with it. The story is beautifully written jumping back in forth from the 1900s on the Lower East side of New York City to the 1990s where Abby is an attorney with a prestigious law firm doing divorces for the rich and famous. A great read!

“The one that is meant for you tastes the salt of your tears.” Can that be true? The Matchmaker’s Gift is an engaging, sweet, whimsical story of a grandmother and granddaughter who share an amazing gift. A gift that one embraces and appreciates and one disbelieves and thinks is frankly ridiculous. Their gift: matchmaking. And not just looking for common interests or “proper” matches, but a real, special gift where they can literally see when two people are soulmates.

As you might expect, this kind of gift often meets with skepticism and resistance. For Sara, an immigrant who first discovers her gift in 1910, the official matchmakers of her time and culture think she is a fake, an interloper, and worst of all a girl, trying to push her way in where she is not wanted and does not belong. Sara perseveres but at great cost to herself and her family. And in matters of her own heart, being a matchmaker for yourself can be tricky.

Sara’s granddaughter Abby first really learns and thinks about this matchmaking thing when in 1994 she inherits a collection of journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. Interesting reading, but this stuff isn’t real, is it? Why on earth would Sara think Abby has use for them? And as for matters of Abby’s heart, she’s not even sure she believes in soulmates.

But Abby is drawn to the journals and begins to see some people in a different light. Is that the gift? Not possible, is it? And why is Abby suddenly doubtful about the career she has chosen as a divorce lawyer? Her boss is not happy when Abby starts counseling her clients, trying to keep them together because she suddenly “feels” that’s how it should be. Abby’s job is to get the best settlement for her client. The divorces must happen.

Sara’s life is intricately drawn, vividly describing the mores and rules of her era, her culture, her religion, her neighborhood. Each chapter leaves you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen to Sara next and how she will respond. But being transported to 1994 and Abby’s very different life is also exciting. She has emotional scars and wariness from her parent’s harmful relationship. Her job is demanding and less and less satisfying as time goes on, and her love life isn’t setting off any fireworks.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of The Matchmaker’s Gift via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest review. Lynda Cohen Loigman is an author whose work I have previously enjoyed and she does not disappoint this time. I recommend this book without hesitation, and all opinions are my own.

I loved this book and for some reason, I’m having a hard time writing a review of it! Not sure why.
This is an absolutely charming story, one told with heart. Delightful, charming, sweet - those words may put off some people from reading this book and that is the opposite of what I would recommend.

It’s categorized as historical fiction and that’s true, but it’s story of love, of people finding connections, and of family. As a bonus, I’m always pleased when I find a book with realistic Jewish characters and this one certainly fits the bill. We have two timelines, told in alternating chapters. Sometimes this technique irks me, pulling me right out of one interesting story into another one, perhaps not as interesting. This time it totally worked, probably because both women’s stories were captivating and partly because the connections felt so right. (Are you tired of those books where, many decades later, someone finds an old letter or something? I am.) Abby is Sara’s granddaughter and her story takes place in 1994, just after Sara has died. They were very close, so the connection is real and immediate. Gradually we learn Sara’s full story, and it’s quite a story.

Sara came to the United States in 1910 with her family, when she was 10 years old. On board the ship, we get the first glimpse into Sara’s gift, as she winds up making a match for her oldest sister, with a young man on the same ship. Sara somehow sees a strand of light between two people (a bit of magical realism, if you will) and knows they will be a wonderful match. “I see what I see and I know what I know.”

Abby’s parents divorced when she and her sister were young and because of this experience, she decided to become a divorce lawyer. I don’t want to give away too much, but you can guess that being a divorce lawyer is not exactly the best use of her talents.

Along the way we get a good look at what life was like in the early 1900s in New York City, specifically the Lower East Side, where so many Jews crowded together after their arrival in this country. You get an understanding of what the more traditional matchmaking profession was back then - mainly men and mainly making matches without love in mind. Among others, there’s a great story about The Pickle King that should not be missed.

If this is an indication of what Lynda Cohen Loigman’s other books are like, I’ll be a big fan of those as well.

Note: I don’t usually go ga-ga over book covers, but this one is so gorgeous! You really have to see this one “in person.” It will jump off the shelf for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Uniquely sweet but not saccharine, THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT is a heartwarming read that explores the Jewish tradition of matchmaking.

Told in dual timelines, the story follows two women with the unconventional gift of helping people find their soulmates. Sara is a single woman in 1910 facing resistance from men in her community who typically serve as matchmakers. Sara’s granddaughter Abby discovers she shares her grandmother’s gift despite her career as a divorce attorney. Although the women can identify true love matches in others they can’t seem to find love for themselves.

This was a light read in which I also learned more about Jewish culture and the centuries-old tradition of matchmaking. I found it fascinating that the story was inspired by an old New York Times article featuring a local Jewish matchmaker.

Pick up this hopeful little novel for a spark of light in your reading life!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: September 20, 2022

Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication

The Matchmaker's Gift was a truly enjoyable read. Full of heart, the book effortlessly transports the reader between timelines and stories. I enjoyed learning about the cultural significance of matchmaking in the Jewish faith and was deeply invested in the lives of the two protagonists. An easygoing pace and fascinating subject matter make this book perfect for a Sunday afternoon. 4 Stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and the Thoughts From a Page podcast for my NetGalley ARC!

Pub date: 9/20/22
Genre: historical fiction, family drama
In one sentence: In 1910, young Sara is blessed with the gift of matchmaking, and two generations later, her granddaughter and divorce lawyer Abby may have inherited her gift.

I just loved this book - it felt like a day spent with family. The author did a wonderful job making Sara and Abby come alive - I especially loved watching Sara make matches without alerting the older male matchmakers of her activities. The magic came through so well in the pages. Abby's story was also compelling - she was juggling a divorce and a prenup for her high-powered law firm, but her intuition told her that neither were right. What could go wrong? In short, a lot, and I was quite entertained and moved.

The Jewish representation here was also a highlight - I loved the sprinklings of Yiddish in the text and the Romeo and Juliet knish shop matchmaking! Sara was so strong in standing up against the old-fashioned matchmaking traditions in her community.

If you want a heartwarming but not cheesy read, this is a perfect choice. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

The Matchmaker's Gift is the readers gift! This is an endearing story told in the early 1900's and in 1994. Sara Glickman was only 10 when she saw a beam of golden light between her sister and her future husband, She wasn't sure where the light came from, but she was sure that this boy and her sister needed to meet and were meant to be together. Sara's gift had been revealed at that moment and thus began her unplanned career as a matchmaker. The Jewish faith does not allow unmarried women to be a matchmaker, let alone a 10 year old girl! Trouble was to come.
Sara's granddaughter, Abby, is mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother, Sara left Abby her books of all the matches she made and even told one of her last clients that Abby could help her. Abby did not know what to make of this. As a divorce attorney, she was more accustomed to severing relationships than forging them. But as her grandmother said, "If you can't decide what you want to fight for, love is as good a cause as any, "
This story has two strong female leads. Sara has to stand up and be judged by the Jewish community and Abby has to determine if her true purpose is to bring and keep families together. The characters from both time lines are well thought out and contribute to the story.
I truly loved the time I spent with these characters. Lynda Cohen Loigman's Matchmaker's Gift is one worth opening!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Matchmaker's Gift is so delightful, I read it in one long sitting. I felt sad whenever I tried to put it down, so I kept going. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy before the publication date. I won't blame you for my lack of sleep!

The book is charming, heart-felt, funny and fun.. It blends history with strong characters and even has slices of early women's liberation from a Jewish perspective. I love the two main characters, Sara and Addy, grandmother and granddaughter. Sara has a gift for helping people find their beshert, a Yiddish work akin to soulmate. She pairs people out of wanting to see love flourish, not as a money-making enterprise. Still, she runs afoul of traditional Jewish male matchmakers, who feel threatened by her. Meanwhile, her granddaughter, Abby, copes with Sarah's passing, reads Sarah's old diaries, and realizes that she, too, has a talent for recognizing when people belong together. Miserable at work as a high-pressured divorce lawyer, she risks it all to find her purpose and her truth. This is a great beach or anytime read for those who believe in romantic love. I would have rated it a 4.5 if that were an option.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: September 20, 2022

I would have to rate this one two stars unfortunately. I am a big fan of historical fiction so when I saw this synopsis about a piece of culture that I could learn from, I was excited to dive in.

This was a beautifully written book that took it's time with giving the reader the groundwork for the story. I think I was not the right reader for this book because there are a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews already out there. I found this hard for me to read mostly because I kept losing interest and I personally struggled with connecting to the story.

It felt like I was reading part of a textbook with fictional elements in there. This book reminds me of "All the Light We Cannot See". Another beautiful book with high reviews but one I also struggled with.

Perfect for fans: cultural fiction, Jewish fiction, dual POV/timelines, Anthony Doerr

Sometimes, you luck onto a book that you instantly connect with. Each page turned brings you closer to the characters and their situation, brings you in as part of their family. This book is one that I immediately fell in love with. It’s a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

Sara Glickman, at ten years old, made her first marriage match. It wasn’t something she did purposefully, but it was as if she was guided by a power beyond herself. She would continue making matches for another eighty years. Her granddaughter, Abby, a divorce attorney, might be ready to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps.

This is a sweet, touching, charming story. It follows Sara as she faces challenges and pursues her gift. The writing flows beautifully, the story is engrossing, and you won’t want to put it down until you reach the end. Even then, if you’re like me, you’ll want more.

I highly recommend this book. It left me smiling.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This isn't my typical read, but being Jewish I was very drawn to the subject matter. I remember as a child meeting a friend of my grandmothers who was a shadchanit. I can still picture them sitting and talking in yiddish at the table in my grandmother's apartment. Because of that connection I found it very easy to completely fall into this book. The characters felt real. The two timelines were both really interesting (although I definitely liked Sara's better). The stories sweet and lovely. And the ending was everything you'd hope for. A pretty perfect summer read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a little magic, history and romance in their reads.

Such a unique story, beautifully written. I loved the time shifts, going to the grandmas youth and back to current time. The parallels between the two main characters really moved the story along well. Loved watching both of their journeys to grow into themselves. I also liked that while romance/love was a main theme for the story- it was not for the main characters. I grow tired of the female main character only finding herself with the help of a romantic partner. I read a lot of paranormal/fantasy and I also enjoy regular fiction and historical fiction, this book was a combination of all of those. I loved that the paranormal/fantasy element is not overpowering and also realistic and more spiritual in nature. The glimpse into traditional Jewish culture as well as early immigrant life was interesting and adds depth to the story. Great story I would recommend to anyone! Also would be a wonderful book club book- so many possible discussions.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Matchmaker’s Gift is an engaging read that explores the old Jewish tradition of matchmaking, a job that was traditionally held by men known as shadchanim. I found this book to be very interesting as I learned so much about this cultural tradition. The story that follows is told by two women over two different eras.
Both women quickly realize that this rare gift is a complicated business that can be a blessing or a burden. What happens when you learn that the man you love is destined to be with someone else? What happens when your gift is seen as a threat to the men who typically hold this prestigious position?

If you enjoy historical fiction, I definitely recommend this book. It’s well written and had a unique storyline. Well done @lloigman 👏🏻
Also, how beautiful is this cover? 😍 This book comes out on September 20th. Thank you to @stmartinspress press and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#smpinfluencers #stmartinspress #thematchmakersgift #lyndacohenloigman #bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram

This was a charming book. It tells the story of matchmaking grandmother, early 20th century, and her divorce lawyer granddaughter. We learn of grandmother Sara's gift for seeing when two people match and of her struggles to become a matchmaker in a time when this was a man's profession. When Sara dies and leaves notebooks recounting her matches to granddaughter Abby a change begins to take place. Will Abby follow her grandmother in uniting couples rather than divorcing them?

I hate to say this but I actually could not finish this book. I found it so hard to get into. I do 80% of my reading before bedtime and it just seemed to drag on and on for me and it did not grasp me like I wanted it to.
I could not connect to any of the characters in this story either. It almost needed a bit more in the beginning for me to get hooked on it. I usually try to finish every novel I start, and especially those that I get from netgalley. I did not post this to goodreads so it would not change the ratings you already have. I made it to about 30%.