Sara Glikman first discovered her matchmaking gift on the boat to America when she was a child in 1910. In her new home in New York, the men who make their living matching Jewish couples see Sara as a threat. At first, Sara does her best to make her matches in secret, but as an adult, Sara decides to stand up for herself and go into business as a matchmaker. In 1994, Sara’s granddaughter Abby works as a divorce lawyer for a powerful New York firm. When her grandma dies, Abby inherits her grandma’s journals, leaving Abby with questions. When Abby meets her grandma’s eye doctor, she discovers Sara told the woman that Abby would be able to make her match. Does Abby have her grandma’s talent, and can she get the answers she is seeking?

This is a sweet dual-timeline story where I liked both stories equally. The book started a little slow for me, but soon I was invested in both women’s lives. I recommend this book for those who want a heartwarming book with happily ever afters.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT Linda Cohen Loigman Historical Fiction

Two women from two different generations within the same family are featured. This tells a story of true love and the people behind the scenes who seemingly make it happen: the matchmakers. Those matchmakers in the Jewish community were always men. The first female matchmaker faced scrutiny by these matchmaker men who were watching closely to see this strange girl child matchmaker.

While I don’t believe in matchmaking services for myself, I found this to be a charming book. It’s fascinating about how some talents and abilities seem to span generations. This was a very fun and light read. I would give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

I adored The Matchmaker's Gift, it was the sweet and delightful story story that I was in need of. I also, love multigenerational stories. I am so picky about anything "historical fiction," but I loved the writing in this one. Historical Fiction and magical realism are two of my least favorite genres because they are so tough to pull off, but I think the author nailed it.

I felt a special connection to the story since we get to witness a beautiful bond between granddaughter and grandmother. I miss mine and their relationship reminded me of mine. Also, the story setting is in New York and I always love this. This story was so sweet and unique. I will be recommending it!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC audiobook for an honest review.

The Matchmaker's Gift
by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Pub Date: 20 Sep 2022

This book was just really special! While not my first "matchmaker" book this had a dual timeline (past with Sara and current day with Abby the granddaughter) and the two narratives perfectly balanced each other. I enjoyed the history of the Jewish matchmaker and the culture itself. I applauded Sara for fighting for her right to be a matchmaker even though she wasn't a man or married. Abby had her own struggles too. She fought against her own belief (or disbelief) about the matchmaking gift/curse and how to fit it into her life and the modern world.

There was so much about this book I loved! Our two heroines were so vividly written. Even with the magical elements to the story they just felt so real. The reader can't help but be invested in their lives and the outcome of all those who crossed their paths. The side characters and their stories captured you just as much as our two matchmakers. All the stories and histories of the matched couples were just so lovely to read.

This book didn't have flash, but that is exactly what made it so brilliant. It was simply amazing storytelling with words that were powerful in its presentation...words that stay with you beyond that last page.

Highly recommend!
5 Stars

Sara Glikman has a natural talent that of a matchmaker. Unfortunately, in the early 1900s, the Jewish community did not allow unmarried women to join their profession. Despite the vocal admonishment of her community, Sara continues to make matches, beginning with her sister when she was ten years old and continuing to the end of her life. The story continues with Sara's granddaughter, who inherits Sara's matchmaking journals. Not knowing why she receives this inheritance, Abby slowly learns of her grandmother's talent and begins understanding her own knack for making matches.
The Matchmaker's Gift has parallel timelines focusing primarily on matchmaking and relationships. There are little tidbits behind the roles of the shadchanit or shadchan and not a great deal on the historical backdrop of the early 1900s. This would be my most significant critique of the novel as I would have enjoyed reading more about the history.
I recommend this lighthearted book to readers who enjoy romance and happy endings.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced reader's copy. The opinions voiced are my own.

Such a fun whimsical read , I liked the dual timelines with Saras backstory and Abbys current story .I liked the concept of the story , matchmaking is a magical experience ,

I really enjoyed THE MATCHMAKER'S GIFT. I loved the way the author wove Jewish culture and history with a sort of rom-com with just a dash of magic together. Abby was a really endearing character. The grandmother-granddaughter bond at the heart of this story was really well-crafted and was an instance where dual timelines and dual POV narration worked really did. Reading about Sara Glikman and seeing how her granddaughter Abby grapples with her life in the aftermath of her grandmother's death really made me want to hug my own grandmother even though I am clearly not in the same situation as the protagonists of this novel. Sara's story was compelling and was a testament to the resilience of Jewish women throughout history. THE MATCHMAKER'S GIFT is a story about reinvention and grief, but there is a beautiful sort of joy that laces these pages that the reader cannot miss. Loigman has done a fabulous job with this story and I highly recommend it for all its heart and charm.

I adored this book and the narration. The dual timeline story is one that is hit or miss for me but I loved the weaving together between the past and present. The matchmaker who needed to hide her talents and the hesitant matchmaker provided a nice balance. I loved learning the Jewish history of matchmaking. I enjoyed the Jewish representation in the book as a whole and loved the narration to give it a true voice.

Pick this one up if you want a bit of a love story mixed with solid storytelling and writing.

This book is a delight. I’m not usually drawn to sweet stories but this one is done so well.

This is the story of two generations of matchmakers. It alternates in timelines and I loved both perspectives. There’s lots of Jewish traditions shared behind the practice of matchmaking.

I loved the relationship developments, the historical aspects and even the bits of magic sprinkled throughout.

LOVE! This is such a special book! This is a new-to-me author and I am absolutely going to read more of her work. The narrator was incredible! I would have never decoded the written words correctly on paper had I been reading a hard copy and she really made the characters come alive!

“The Matchmaker’s Gift” is a delightful dual-timeline book. I loved the opportunity to hear stories of the Jewish community in early-20th century New York and I loved that the “modern day” storyline took place in 1994–the characters leaving messages on each other’s landlines was a quaint touch! Above all, this was a book that exuded joy and I enjoyed it completely. The characters were very interesting and I found myself wanting to know more about them, especially the protagonists, Sara and her granddaughter Abby. I think that what I loved most was the fact that, while this is a book about love (and romance and marriage and matchmaking), it is not about the romances of the two central characters. Instead, we see others falling in love through their eyes and this is novel. Plus, despite the perfect matchmaking that is made over and over, there is also love that results in loss. The audiobook was beautifully narrated and engaging. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book! I’m sure that “The Matchmaker’s Gift” will find many admiring readers, and I will highly recommend it.

Such a sweet story. I enjoyed both timelines but this was a little slow around 20-50% but it did pick back up. A hopeful, feel-good story.

What a FANTASTIC book! I loved it and wished it were longer. I hated to say goodbye to these characters. I listened to the audio and had an advanced copy from NetGalley. The split timeline of a grandaughter and her grandmother encompassing NYC from 1910 to the 1990's. The women were intuitive and intelligent facing challenges navigating life. THEN they might have this Matchmaker's Gift thing going on! I can't wait to read more by this author. ENJOY!!

What a magical, enjoyable read! Sweeping over generations, this book is about the magic of finding love & coming into yourself.

I love how it shows the parallels of a gramma and granddaughter, both battle their magic in different ways. The stories of love were so endearing & make the ordinary feel magical.

In some aspects, the story slowed in places where it lost me. I think jumping from so many love stories had that effect on me but may not on others.

Overall, it was a sweet fall read with a hint of magic & touch of historical aspects.

I was incredibly charmed by The Matchmaker’s Gift. The magic that went into Sara and Abby’s matches was fun to read about, and I found myself wanting to know more of Sara’s stories. This was my first Lynda Cohen Loigman book and I will certainly look out for more in the future. Someone described this book as “feel good” and I think that is a very apt description. It felt good to read it. I am also always looking for more love stories in which pickles feature prominently, and this book did not disappoint.

The book itself was not really a love story, and I enjoyed that aspect as well. The focus was on the love stories of others, and the way that Sara and Abby’s own love stories were made peripheral made sense.

I was at first skeptical of the dual story lines, and was the most interested in Sara’s storyline which began in 1910 on the lower east side, but then progressed through much of the 20th century. I still could have had more detail there, but I actually ended up really loving Abby’s story as well. It was also more connected to Sara’s gift than I had anticipated, and I became very invested in both plot lines.

Eva Kaminsky and Gabra Zackman were both lovely audiobook readers, offering a variety of voices for the characters they portrayed that really clarified the story.

This was such a beautiful and endearing story. I loved the history woven into one family's generations of women. Th idea of the women's special ability to match make was so cute, but it had depth and drama woven into the story too. Highly recommend!

Just a lovely family story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Had a positive message. As a grandmother myself I loved the wisdom the grandmother in the book was able to impart and share.
I look forward to hand selling this book and audio

Ok I absolutely loved this book. The narrator did an amazing job giving each of the characters a distinct voices. I loved reading about Sarah's matches and then Abby's reluctance to embrace her gift. There are so many important lessons in this book. The heart has enough room for grief AND love and that love can be messy. Ugh this book just gave me so many warm feelings and my ears HURT so bad from me wearing my headphones all day just so I could keep listening.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a beautiful story, and I enjoyed every second of it. Wonderfully written with strong, loveable characters. The narrator was great for this as well.

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review (via netgalley), all opinions remain my own.

This story is a journey of two women, Sara Gilkman in the early 1900s and her granddaughter Abby, two generations later.

I loved every chapter of this book. I loved the small bits of magic that were woven into the story. Words can't really capture the feelings I had when reading this book. I loved reading about how Sara made her matches, about how she lived during her lifetime in the 1900s. In an alternating story you see her granddaughter Abby, learning of her beloved grandmothers death, grieving her loss, learning more about her amazing life. You see through both women's eyes, the things that happened.

Then in the end, how things come together. No spoilers, but this is simply a beautiful book. FIVE STARS