Had a blast reading this one and absolutely loved the characters. 10/10 would absolutely recommend simply on vibes alone, everything else is just a bonus!

5/5 stars! I absolutely adore any book written by Jean and this one is no different!! Grab this and step away from reality for a bit. Thank you netgalley for a gifted copy for my honest review.

"Mr. Perfect on Paper" by Jean Meltzer is a charming romantic comedy that delves into the complexities of love, family expectations, and personal growth. The story revolves around Dara Rabinowitz, a successful matchmaker with a meticulously crafted list of qualities for her perfect partner. When her list is made public, it sets off a series of humorous and heartfelt events that challenge Dara's preconceived notions of perfection.

Meltzer excels at creating a warm, engaging atmosphere with relatable characters. Dara is a well-drawn protagonist whose journey is both humorous and touching. Her interactions with her grandmother, the endearing Bubbe, add a layer of warmth and authenticity to the story. The depiction of Jewish culture and traditions is handled with care and respect, offering readers a glimpse into a vibrant community.

However, the novel does have its shortcomings. The plot, while entertaining, is somewhat predictable. The trope of discovering that perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be is well-worn, and Meltzer doesn’t introduce many new twists to keep it feeling fresh. The romantic tension between Dara and her unexpected love interest, Chris, a TV news anchor, is enjoyable but follows a fairly standard rom-com trajectory.

Character development is another area where the book could have done more. While Dara and Chris are well-developed, some of the secondary characters feel one-dimensional. This is particularly true for the other potential suitors who appear more as plot devices than fully realized individuals.

Pacing is another mixed aspect of the novel. The story starts strong, with plenty of humor and engaging dialogue, but it slows down in the middle before picking up again towards the end. Some readers might find their attention waning during these slower sections.

Despite these issues, "Mr. Perfect on Paper" is a fun and light-hearted read. Meltzer's wit and the cultural insights she provides are definite highlights. It’s a book that emphasizes the importance of looking beyond surface-level perfection to find genuine, lasting love.

In summary, "Mr. Perfect on Paper" earns a solid three stars. It’s an enjoyable romantic comedy with a lot of heart, even if it doesn't break new ground in the genre. If you’re looking for a feel-good read with a dash of cultural flavor and a relatable heroine, this book is worth picking up.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

A fun and quick read that I loved ohh so much! I'll be recommending this book to everyone! I absolutely adored the characters.

4/5
such a cute romance, loved the plot upon reading the description and it definitely lived up to what I expected. I really enjoyed reading about the Jewish culture that was a huge aspect of this book. I caught myself grinning while reading this book multiple times. just an all around feel good read!

This was a cute story. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't stop.
As someone who did online dating and had her fair share of weird, awkward, and embarrassing dates, this really brought back memories and made me so thankful I never have to go through that again.
Additionally, as someone who suffers from anxiety and other mental health issues, it was refreshing to have a main character who struggles with her own mental health and a MMC who is understanding and supportive. Well done, Jean Meltzer.

Mr. Perfect on paper is simply perfect. Jean does it again. Smart witty and relatable, the characters pull you in. I read this book in one sitting. I couldnt put it down. Do yourself a favor and grab this book. Jean has a way of bringing reality and joy to all she does. A must read.

Jean Meltzer is one of my favourite authors for a reason, her books are always amazing. If you’re looking for a heartfelt romcom, this is it.

I absolutely loved Jean Meltzer's debut novel and was highly anticipating Mr. Perfect on Paper. It did not disappoint. As a fellow Jew, I loved that it centered around the High Holidays. I don't ever recall reading another novel, especially a romance novel, that talked about them, so I appreciated seeing such an important part of Judaism represented on the page.

I also really appreciated the discussion of interfaith relationships that was had through Dara and Chris' budding romance. This is a conversation my friends and I have had over and over again as we navigate the dating scene as Jewish 20-somethings, so it felt super authentic and realistic to see Dara struggle with it as well.

Speaking of Dara and Chris, I also really loved how their relationship developed over the course of the novel. I thought that they had great chemistry and I loved how easy and effortless it was for them to open up to one another from the beginning.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable read. I highly recommend picking it up, whether you're Jewish or not, and will definitely be buying this one as gifts for my friends.

I took way too long to read this book but it packed a heartwarming parts. I am not Jewish so cannot speak in anyway to how that was represented, but as a reader I can speak to the fact that this was an enjoyable read. There were a few nit-picky things (I found Lacey was written much younger than her supposed age, etc.) Again though, little things that didn't take away from the enjoyment, but didn't flow quite as smooth as I'd have liked.

In Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer, Dara runs a dating app while still looking for her own perfect Jewish husband. Chris is a news anchor looking to save his morning show when he brings Dara on for an interview. He convinces Dara to bring her search to TV.

Read this is if you love:
🩵 a feisty grandma
🩵 single parent
🩵 sweet male hero
🩵 sweet rom com
🩵 diverse representation

I usually like a little spice to my romance but this one was just so sweet. I really enjoyed The Matzah Ball by the same author - a good choice for the holidays!

This book was quite a difficult read. It has a very slow start and moves slowly.

--SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT--

What I liked about this book:
- The main characters - Chris and Dara - were well thought out and developed. You can really tell that the author put effort into getting to know her characters and understanding them.
- The backstories of the characters were heartbreaking but believable. It helped to put their actions into perspective.
- The discussions about interfaith marriage throughout the book seemed to be done with respect.
- Strong, wealthy female representation in a book was a huge plus!
- I am not Jewish and I really enjoyed learning more about Jewish holidays and culture. It seemed to be portrayed in a respectful and almost joyful way.

What I did not like about this book:
- Dara is immediately unlikable and, at least to me, unrelatable. She has generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which I also have, but it is almost weaponized to have everyone around her walking on eggshells to keep her happy.
- The dates she goes on with other men have events that are honestly unbelievable and do not make her relatable (which I believe was the author's intent).
- Chris did not seem to have a consistent character. He was rude and snapped way more often than was appropriate.
- In the end, Dara compromises way more than should be necessary. She literally gives up on an entire part of her faith for a guy that she - realistically - knows very little about.
- Chris' daughter is not written in any believable way. I have worked with middle school children for over a decade and her behavior was completely out of the realm of reality.

In summary, the book seemed to focus more on Dara's anxiety and Chris' grief more than their actual relationship. While there were good components, the book left me bored and kicked me out of story many times with it's unbelievable plot points.

I've been on a humor and romance mix kick lately and I'm loving every minute of it. This was hilarious and heartwarming and such a treat to read.

This was a fast and enjoyable read. I appreciated the way in which the story unfolded. It was somewhat predictable but still a great read.

I did enjoy this book, thank you for this arc. This book reminded me of a Hallmark movie. And also this book has me thinking about other religions and I learned a lot.

Predictable but OH so delightful, Mr. Perfect on Paper is about a third-generation matchmaker living with generalized anxiety disorder. Dara Rabinowitz has become a Jewish dating app tycoon and is looking to take J-Mate to the next level. During a media push with her matchmaker grandmother, Dara is horrified when Bubbe takes over the interview and plays the shidduch, challenging Dara to look for her perfect match; the dreamy single-dad goyish host Chris Steadfast offers to capture the whole thing as a recurring segment as double duty to help out their family business (over 10,000 matches made!) and save his failing good news show.

Dara’s perfect husband list limits occupation to doctor or lawyer; no baggage of past marriages or children, and MUST be Jewish. She meets a few men who seem perfect on paper, but all of the dates that trails on end laughably horribly–until she meets an actual doctor who a family member has been trying to set her up with. Maybe it’s beshert! Meanwhile, Chris is (steadfastly) in the background on each date, providing comfort and support, and while the reader can see they are meant to be, it’s clear Dara can’t break tradition to marry a non-Jew, no matter how much she likes him… or can she?

Meltzer beautifully incorporates modern-day Judaism into a rompy dating app rom-com where everyone just has best interests at heart. She doesn’t shy away from the realities of chronic illness, and these details make the story more real, more compelling, and more authentic.

I read #MrPerfectOnPaper via OverDrive from my local public library; after finishing Kissing Kosher, I needed to get my hands on everything else Jean Meltzer ever wrote, and while I didn’t love The Matzah Ball as much, partly because the formatting of the galley edition made it difficult to read, I think this an author who gets better with every book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I so enjoy learning about a new culture and the author did such a good job at enveloping me in Jewish culture with this one. Such a fun feel good romance.