“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%.

This is a sweet story about two generations of matchmakers within the same family. Sara, the grandmother started making matches at 10 years old and continued throughout her life. Her granddaughter Abby is a divorce attorney who didn’t realize she had the gift until later in life. The author uses two timelines, early 1900’s and mid 1990’s to tell her tale. The two time periods are expertly depicted which kept my interest throughout. I loved following both women as they spun their magic and helped make their love matches. Both timelines are seamlessly interwoven as the the story concludes. #TheMatchmaker’sGift #LyndaCohenLoigman #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Rivka Holler of St. Martin's Press for bringing this story to my attention

Oh my gosh I absolutely adored this dual narrative! The tale of matchmaker Sara Glikman throughout the decades of the 1900's and her granddaughter Abby, a divorce lawyer in 1994 was a heartwarming story that I fell so intensely in love with. I am crowning it with a 5 star rating because I can honestly find no flaws. There was honestly NOTHING that bothered me or made me feel it didn't fit with the character's actions or the author's writing. I enjoyed both female protagonists and the journey that the author takes us on with the story. I was fortunate to have a fantastic relationship with my maternal grandmother and so that grounded me to Sara and Abby's stories.

The sad thing is that I am going to recommend the heck out of this book and most of my friends will have to wait until September to read it. 🤣🤣


Expected Publication Date 20/09/22
Goodreads Review Published 28/07/22

The Matchmaker’s Gift has all the right ingredients for an enthralling read—history, humor, romance, mystery, and a dash of magic! (cue matchmaker song from Fidler on the Roof). If you have a fondness for the special relationships between a grandmother and her granddaughter, then this is exactly the type of book to warm your heart. Growing up Jewish this book really touched me and I didn't want it to end. This book brims with optimism, a cast of colorful characters, and two smart heroines who dare to forge their own brave paths in life. I was completely charmed by this clever dual-timeline novel!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

Every now and then you read a book that speaks to you. For me this was that book. I am Jewish and I when’s ever I meet a single person I just assume that they want to be fixed up. And of course I’m the women for the job..
This book was sweet, and funny and filled with touching moments.. Who doesn’t want to read a book about finding your soulmate and living happily ever after.

What a lovely, unique book! Sara was born at the turn of the 20th century, her impoverished Jewish family leaving Romania on a steamship for a hopefully better life in New York City in 1910. It was on that ship that Sara first realized she had a talent for knowing when two people will make a stellar match.

The marriage brokers in New York are all male, motivated not by love but by money. They also lack the otherworldly gift young Sara possesses. But they are outraged and threatened by her when they hear of her perfect record of successes. They argue that she is infringing on their livelihood, even though she doesn't accept payment, and that matchmakers must be married men.

In the 1990s, Sara's granddaughter Abby idolizes her, although she is a bit skeptical of Sara's talent. Abby has taken a different path, as a divorce lawyer in Manhattan. The story successfully alternates between the two timelines. Sara struggles throughout her life to conceal her activity from the male marriage brokers, all the while dedicated to her calling. Her story is told through her interactions with her family and those whose lives she changes forever. Abby finds some journals after her grandmother's death that make her look at her Sara's life--and her own--in different ways.

I fell in love with both of the protagonists, and with the author's attention to authenticity of time and place and her loving detail of all of the supporting characters. To top it all off, I found the last page to be a perfect ending

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.!

Sara Gilkman is just ten years old she makes her first love match. On a boat from the Pale of Settlement, Sara is sent to find a handkerchief for the tears her sister is spilling over the man she left behind. Not only does she come back with a handkerchief but a soulmate for her sister as well. Sara’s granddaughter, Abby is just ten years old when her father walks out of her life and straight into a posh 5th Avenue apartment leaving her mother to raise the two girls on a pittance in comparison. Seeing the injustice of the circumstances, Abby grows up to become a divorce attorney with a jaded outlook on true love.
Abby not believe in soulmates but she also grew up listening to the stories, which seemed like tall tales, of the matches that her grandmother Sara had made for others. Sara never gave any clues on how she knew the two people she brought together would have a lasting union except for her common refrain of “I see what I see, and I know what I know.” It wasn’t until Sara’s passing that Abby was given the old leather-bound journals dating back to 1910, the year Sara made her first match, that Abby began to truly learn about her grandmother and by doing so begins to understand that she may have more to offer others than a good divorce settlement.
The Matchmaker’s Gift weaves in an out of past and present, moving from granddaughter to grandmother and back again with the threads of stories of the couples who were paired by Sara to those that are seeking divorce and prenuptial agreements from Abby. With a touch of magical realism, a little bit of history, a scattering of Yiddish and a whole lot of love, Lynda Cohen Loigman delivers not a woven tapestry with The Matchmaker’s Gift but rather a big, beautiful, cozy blanket.