Such a beautifully written story about family, traditions and love. It touched my heart. I never wanted the it to end!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio version of this book. Everything I write is of my own opinion and feeling.
I loved this dual story timeline book! I enjoyed everthing about this book

This book will make you think about the love connections in your life, and ones you've observed in other people's lives. Wouldn't it be nice to see a flash of light connecting two people that tells you those people were meant to be together? It would have saved me a lot of heartache over the years! :)
I LOVED this story, the hope and determination laced through Sara's story, and Abby's. Sara's begins from the time she's ten and witnesses that first flash of light to make her first match, and ends at her death in 1994.
Abby's story is cemented in 1994 after her beloved grandma, Sara, dies and leaves Abby her old matchmaking journals. I won't get into the details of the story, but it is so good that every time the chapters changed from Sara's POV to Abby's, and visa-versa, I didn't want it to change. Both stories are captivating and enchanting.
I listened to the audiobook of this and the narrator did a fantastic job with this heartfelt, heartwarming story of hope and trusting your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me a copy of this must read!

Never having read about it before, the concept of MATCHMAKING really intrigued me as a reader and this book did not disappoint! I listened to this audiobook after receiving a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Sara Glickman (beginning in 1910) and her granddaughter Abby (1994) in dual timelines. It is narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Gabra Zackman who I must say did an excellent job. Sarah has the gift of matchmaking which she discovered at merely 10 years old and Abby is a divorce attorney working in NYC. While these women may seem like complete opposites, the similarities between them are substantial.

Overall I enjoyed this historical fiction audiobook. I preferred Sara’s timeline and hearing about all the matches she made as a young woman. I also found reading about her Jewish heritage to be very interesting and appreciated the Yiddish the author included. Abby’s story was still good but I did find everything came together at the end a bit too “neat” for my liking. Particularly how she chose her career path and how she helped her clients. It seemed unrealistic compared to her grandmother’s story.

If you like historical fiction, this book is definitely worth the read.

What would you do if you could learn or gain an understanding of yourr Grandparent after they were gone? For Abby that is exactly what happened. Her grandmother, Sara, died in her sleep one night. Suddenly Abby is left with her notebooks from her life as a matchmaker.

This book was so captivating. Both of the timelines, Sara’s and Abby’s, were so interesting that I needed to keep reading to figure out what happened.

The epilogue was the most beautiful ending that could have been given to this story without over sharing. I would highly recommend reading this book. It was too good to miss.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 has a little something of everything: historical fiction, Jewish representation, strong women, magical realism, and of course romance.

Sara, in 1910, knew from the age of ten that she had the gift of making matches. She must fight to earn the respect and right to work as a matchmaker in her community. Going against tradition and standing up against devout old men, Sara will change the course for many.

Abby, Sara’s granddaughter in 1994, is working as a successful divorce attorney in Manhattan. When Sara passes, Abby inherits Sara’s journals that list all her matches. Abby begins to realize she may have the gift as well, and it begins to cause chaos in her life. But the further she digs into Sara’s journals, the more wonders she finds, and the more she realizes what she wants for her life as well.


I loved these characters! Lynda Cohen Loigman is a wonderful storyteller; she balanced humor with grief and romance with the magical matchmaking just right. I look forward to reading more from her soon.

Thank you @stmartinspress for this beautiful copy and @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook.

3.5 light fun stars, rounded up to 4
The Matchmaker’s Gift is a historical fiction romance. Of the two timelines, I liked the older Jewish one better, where the grandmother, Sara, just immigrated to New York City and ran into problems with Orthodox male Jewish matchmakers. The modern character, Abby, was more artificial as a divorce lawyer with a stereotypical mean boss. As with most romances, the plot line is a bit predictable, but the characters are interesting and the writing and plot development solid. The author did her research. She cites matchmaking articles from old editions of The New York Times in her acknowledgements.

The voice narrator was professional, with solid character differentiations and accents. Everything was clear and easy to understand and made the time pass quickly.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story that gives one a glimpse into the life of Sara, a Jewish immigrant who has the gift of matchmaking. A long career that expands over 80 years. A dual timeline from 1910 and 1994. In 1994 Abby’s beloved grandmother passed away, leaving her with wonderful memories and many journals that Sara had kept to document the matches she made. Starting at the age of 10 years old on the ship to America she sees a spark, a thin thread between her sister and a gentleman. Was is a sign? It started her matchmaking others, but she needed to do this in secret, because professional matchmakers are always men, must be married and collect a fee. All things Sara isn’t, but when there is financial heart ships for her family, she breaks the rules. There is also differences in Sara’s methods….never a contract, a fee is never discussed and always, only a love match.
As Abby reads the journal, she sees another side of her grandmother. Of course she knew of some of the matchmaking stories, but was surprised and impressed with how many. And then Abby sees a spark, has she also the gift?
So well written, the story just grabs you and holds your interest till the end. The characters are wonderful and narrator was fantastic. I truly enjoyed the story and definitely will look forward to reading more. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheMatchmakersGift

Thank you to MacMillion Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. 5/5 stars! I am mostly a thriller reader, but I absolutely adored this! I could not stop listening to it. The story alternates between Abby (present day) and her grandmother (past). Her grandma, Sara, has the ability to match people to their soulmates, and Abby is a divorce lawyer. Wonderful narrator and story!

“The heart is big enough to hold both grief and love.”

I read Loigman’s debut novel, The Two-Family House, followed by The Wartime Sisters, and I loved them both, so when Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press invited me to read and review The Matchmaker’s Gift, I leapt. Once again, Loigman has me at hello. This outstanding historical novel is for sale now, and you should get it and read it.

The story is told from the point of view of two protagonists, a woman and her grandmother; they were close, but Sara the grandmother has died, so her story is told in the past, beginning in 1910, when she arrives in the U.S. as a child, along with her family. Abby is her granddaughter; her story begins in 1994. Their stories are told alternately, but both are in the third person omniscient and told in a linear time frame, so I am free to lean back, relax, and get lost in their stories, without any confusion or doubling back to check things.

Sara was a matchmaker, although she initially had to be very careful, because Jewish tradition dictated that matchmakers be married men, and she was still just a girl. But she was gifted with visions of a sort, and could tell who belonged together. And so she was forced to create matches “in secret, pairing people together like a rogue puppeteer.” She never missed. And upon her passing, she leaves a cryptic message indicating that upon her death, Abby will inherit her special talent.

Abby is nonplussed by this, and even as she grieves her beloved grandmother’s death, she is confused as to what she should do. She’s a divorce lawyer, for heaven’s sake! Is she to toss her education and become a modern day yenta? She hasn’t even found a man for herself yet, let alone for others.

It’s always a joy to find a story that diverges from the well-worn path, and novels involving Jewish matchmakers—or any others, for that matter—are thin on the ground. But that is only a small part of this novel’s appeal. I love Sara and Abby; I almost feel they are my friends. I feel their sorrows and admire their courage and integrity. When either of them meets with unfair opposition, I want to smack their detractor with my cane.

But there’s something extra that’s infused into Loigman’s stories, an intangible but unmissable warmth. Nobody can teach anyone this. I can count on one hand the number of authors that can write heartwarming stories that don’t follow formulas or insult the reader’s intelligence. Loigman is one, and this makes her golden.

When I was halfway finished reading this glorious novel, I saw that an audio galley was available. I was a bit cautious, because I had already developed a firm sense of how these women sounded in my head, and I was afraid I might not like the narrators’ interpretations, but my concern was unfounded. I had a road trip ahead of me, and I listened to the next forty percent as I drove, and there wasn’t a single moment that I didn’t love. Narrators Eva Kaminsky and Gabra Zackman do a lovely job, and I have never had such a seamless transition from the digital galley, to the audio, and back again.

Highly recommended, and bound to be one of the year’s best loved books.

Sara Glikman, age 10, was on a boat headed towards the United States with her family in 1910. While on the boat, she was talking to a man and notices a light connecting that man to her older sister. Sara goes and introduces the two. They soon marry after arriving in the US. This is Sara’s first matchmaking experience. As Sara begins to make more matches, the schadchan become very angry. They see it that Sara is an unmarried girl steeling away potential clients of theirs that would have paid them for their services. Sara’s only purpose is to connect two souls. Fast forward to Abby, Sara’s granddaughter in 1994. Abby is a divorce lawyer and is trying to find her way after her grandmother passes away. Does Abby have the same gift as her grandmother?
The storytelling was amazing as well as the strength of the women in the book. I always love reading stories about strong women, not push overs, and this one was perfect. What a beautiful story that should be shared. I loved the Jewish culture throughout. In general, this book just made me happy.

“There’s a lid for every pot.”

When this book was available on NetGalley with Jewish representation and a spark of the divine or magic I was drawn in.

I LOVED this book. The people felt so real to me. I enjoyed the dual timelines showing me religious old world Jewish immigrants and present day Reform Judaism. The book does a great job breaking down the whys of certain jewish practices, I hadn’t known the why for a couple, it was just a comforting learned behavior. The characters were warm and given depth by allowing us to see their insecurities. The narrators for this book shone like the magic the book speaks of bravo to Eva Kaminsky & Gabra Zackman for bringing Lynda’s story to life. I have so many notes saying - 'my Jewish camp friends will like this' or 'this reminds me of the high holidays or my traditions growing up'. Thank you to Lynda for giving me the comfort of a Jewish book that sparks joy. This book is out now so you could wrap yourself in its comfort by Rosh Hashanah. Thank you to St. Martins Press and Macmillian Audio for the gifted copies. My review is an honest account of how I feel about the book.

New Audiobook Release.
The Matchmaker's Gift
by: Lynda Cohen Loigman
narrated by: Eva Kaminsky, Gabra Zackman
Macmillan Audio
Release Date: 9/20/22

Love is abundant in New York in The Matchmaker's Gift, in both the past and present. If the process of meeting and matching with one's soulmate was helped along by Sara in the early 1900's and then her granddaughter Abby in the nineties, I think that's magically romantic. The power of family ties and Abby's inheritance of her grandmother's journals blended in Loigman's lovely story of two generations of matchmaking.

I adore getting lost in an audiobook of a good multigenerational story, romantic such as this. Kaminsky and Zackman, the talented narrators, splendidly accomplished the goal of bringing the story to life. They vocally cover the sentiment, intrigue, and dual timelines with class and style.

Layered with aspects of Jewish culture, thoughts about what really matters in our life calling, and the beauty of finding true love, this book is so gratifying. For anyone who believes in the power of love and family tradition, I recommend listening to this gorgeous audiobook. It will warmly sweep you away.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio from St. Martin's Press for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheMatchmakersGift #NetGalley #LyndaChoenLoigman #EvaKaminsky #GabraZackman

Lynda Cohen Loigman, whose breakout debut The Two Family House was a USA Today bestseller, is back with The Matchmaker’s Gift! I’m not going to lie, I was drawn initially to the stunning covert art (seriously…this cover!), but I was intrigued by the idea of a historical fiction with magical realism. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the advance listening copy.

Told through dual timelines, Sara arrives in NYC in 1920, a young woman only beginning to understand she has a gift for seeing true enduring love, matchmaking. In 1994 her granddaughter Abby is grieving Sara’s death and questioning her career path as an attorney. This is a story about women stepping into their power, into their worth, despite obstacles or societal norms. It’s about the bond between a grandmother and granddaughter, a mystery left behind. The author does a beautiful job weaving in Jewish customs that are integral to understanding the motivations and actions of the characters.

The audiobook is narrated by Eva Kaminski and Gabra Zachman. Audiophile friends take note, this is a fantastic choice for this book! I am a huge lover of audiobooks but always check the voice actors first. If it’s a mismatch for me I’m switching mediums. I’ve listened to many books narrated by Gabra Zachman so knew I was in good hands (earbuds? 😉) . I’ve now added Eva Kaminski to my list of ‘absolutely yes narrators’. Their intonation, timing, inflection really added that extra dimension I’m looking for when listening to an audiobook. I want to be immersed further into the story, the voice actors elevating. A+ here.

I highly recommend The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman on audiobook to lovers of magical realism, dual timelines, strong female characters, Jewish representation, stories set in NYC, books about matchmaking. I think this makes a fantastic book club pick or buddy read, and a great first audiobook for those that may not have tried one before!

My very favorite stories are those with multiple genres beautifully blended together, and presented with a pretty little bow. That’s exactly what you get with the author’s latest, The Matchmaker’s Gift. (Seriously, though. Check out that stunning cover!) It’s not very often that I’d describe a historical fiction novel as heartwarming, but that’s the first word that comes to mind when I think back on this story. Add a touch of magical realism with some romance to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a well-written tale about two women with a special gift for matchmaking!

A few things I loved:
- Dual timelines/perspectives
- Grandmother/granddaughter bond
- New York City setting
- Great representation of Jewish culture and traditions
- Themes of family, true love, and human connection

There’s honestly something for every reader in The Matchmaker’s Gift! Grab a copy of this unique and compelling story today!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a copy of Lynda Cohen Loigman newest novel, The Matchmaker’s Gift. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This is my third book by writer Cohen Loigman and easily my favorite!! It’s wonderful to see the evolution of her storytelling skills. This book was perfection and the audio narration was outstanding.
A reader’s delight!
Told in dual timelines meet Sara & Abby; grandmother & granddaughter. Sara has #TheMatchmakersGift the ability to recognize people’s soulmate. And Abby, scarred from her parent’s divorce doesn’t believe in true love, in fact she’s a divorce lawyer. But when Sara bestows Abby her beloved notebooks will Abby realize there might be something to #TheMatchmakersGift ?!!!
Everything I love was found in this historical fiction. Strong characters, evocative setting, charming romance, page turning plot and a believable storyline. I was truly smitten.

I highly recommend this book in both print and audio format. Available today - September 20, 2022. Pick up your copy, my reader’s intuition lets me know you won’t be disappointed.

I was drawn to this book by the cover - it is so beautiful and joyous. I was excited to be able to listen to the audio version of the book and hear the characters come to life.
The story follows Sara Glikman, beginning in 1910, as she brings together various people, joining soulmates. She has to overcome the objections of men who don't think this is a job for a woman. however, Sara's successful matches speak for themselves. Sara tells her granddaughter, Abby, a successful divorce attorney for very high-powered wealthy clients, that one of the couples Abby is representing won't get divorced. Abby doesn't understand how her grandmother knows these things, but when she inherits her grandmother's journals and reads about the matches she made, Abby starts to understand that she also has the gift.
This is a very sweet and lovely tale about love. It is about fighting for love vs. a career. I really enjoyed listening to the story and I liked the lessons that Sara tried to impart to her granddaughter, Abby.

I absolutely adored this book by Lynda Cohen Loigman. This is my first book by this author and I can’t wait to go back and read her first two books.

1910…Sara and her family arrive in NY and Sara makes her first match while they are still in the ship. She will continue to make matches for many years but she must do this in secret as she is female and unmarried.

1994…Abby is a divorce attorney but she is really searching for her place. After the passing of her grandmother, Sara, Abby is left with her grandmothers journals and she must decipher what it all means to her. Will she find magic in the journals? Will she find happiness in the journals??

This book is so beautifully written and so captivating!! I was immersed quickly into it with the lyrical prose and beautiful story!! A favorite read of 2022!!

I received an early audio copy.

I picked up this book on a whim and wasn't sure what to expect from it, but I'm so glad I took a leap and listened to this audiobook. The dual timelines of the novel was very well done, and I loved the parallels that were in each of the different timelines.

The concept of this book was very interesting, and I found that the execution of it did not fall flat at all. I really liked all of the characters, and they felt very fleshed out and like people that I was rooting for the whole time.

At times, the pacing of the novel was a little weird - I feel like pretty much everything happened in the last third of the book - but the whole story was very engaging!

This was such a fun read. This book is about a Jewish woman named Sara who can see each other's soulmates. Her granddaughter is a successful divorce lawyer who never believed in her grandmother's abilities until she dies and she starts to see auras and get these strong unexplainable gut feelings. This book goes back in forth in time to Sara's story and Abby's story. Sara has to fight back the men at the temple from making matches because it is a man's job and they feel their traditions being threatened. Then to see Abby's turmoil of listening to her inner voice vs trying to please her boss was interesting at well. It was such a unique story and I really liked it.