3.5 🌟 (rounded up)

The story started off great. Fantastic setting in a small irish town, the characters and the premise were promising.

And while I absolutely loved the story about the festival, the battle of the small town community against the big corporation, the romance fell flat for me, unfortunately. To me it felt forced. I just didn't get to experience that spark and belly flutter feeling I had during Holiday Romance.

That said, apart from the romance the story kept me turning the pages, the humour was on point and had me laugh out loud. So while I missed the big love emotions I still enjoyed the rest and will keep reading Cat Walsh's books!!

This is a sweet story that would be a fantastic Hallmark movie (small town threatened by big-time developer but the town’s biggest champion accidentally falls for the bad guy’s brother is like the perfect plot, no?). I absolutely read this in a poorly done Irish accent in my head and yes it absolutely made Callum at least 5 times hotter. My main criticism is that it dragged for me at the beginning/middle - I think this could have been about 100 pages shorter. The length caused the pacing to feel off and I found myself having to push through at times. I also wish we’d had more to go on with Callum. We get a good amount of history and character development for Katie and her friend group but just have to trust Callum is decent based on a handful of interactions and anecdotes. Like he reads? And is polite and helpful? And skips rocks? I need more. Katie is strong-willed and confident and I just didn’t believe she’d fall for this guy so fast without a little more substance. The insta-love was also a bit much. Like they’ve known each other how many weeks and he quits his job and says he’ll follow her anywhere? If this wasn’t a romance, that would definitely have raised some red flags, I’m just saying. Still a fun, cute read and I’m glad I was introduced to this author thanks to NetGalley and the publisher providing an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of Catherine Walsh's books and loved most of them. Unfortunately I feel they are now all becoming same same.

I don't feel this one had as much swoon worthy romance. The main character kind of got on my nerves pretty quickly. I feel there was too many characters at the start of the book that didn't have a chance to develop, rather just being there for no reason.

Still an easy read, but I would really like to see some more progression in the next book.

This book had everything I love in a great rom com: great female lead who struggles but eventually figures out what she wants, a handsome and supportive guy, witty banter, and a great town with awesome people.

Kate is fighting to keep her village and pub from being taken over by a big business company. Callum is part of that and they clash right away, but sparks fly as well.

As I said before, this book had everything I love in a great book. Callum is swoony and he fights for Kate. Kate also learns to fight for herself. I love that!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for the ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Just give me all the Catherine Walsh books at this point!!
This book was ridiculously cute and Callum was one of THE best male love interests I’ve read in a while. Seriously, I love that he wasn’t perfect (burnt pancakes anyone?) and yet emotionally he was perfect!!!

The story moves at a pretty good pace. I found a little bit of drag towards the end of the book. I think some of the dramatic plot lines could have been edited better or cut altogether. Between the festival and the last dramatic twist I was a little bored BUT the book was still a great read.

3.5 stars but I’m rounding up to 4 because I liked more about the book than I didn’t.

This book was adorable.

It’s a small town love story with a fierce and loveable lead willing to do whatever she needs to save her town.

My favorite part of the books were the characters. Our main girl is a gem, and had me laughing out loud too many times to count. Her grandma, Maeve fantastic. And her girlfriends. Sigh. All the supporting characters are just as charming as can be.

I think you’ll fall in love with the town, the people, and fight for it, just like our main girl does. Read this when you need something to laugh about and someone to root for.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

With vibrant characters and vivid descriptions, The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh talks about a community of people fighting against an organisation that seeks to take them down (while pretending that they want to keep the locals happy). This story also shows that love is more than fulfilling checkboxes.

Summary: Katie Collins revives an old tradition to save her village from getting destroyed by the construction of a hotel, meanwhile falling for someone who works at the site – Callum Dempsey, who also happens to be an enemy of the community by default because of who he works for.

Tropes/Genres:
• enemies to lovers
• forbidden love (a bit of the vibe)
• small town
• wholesome community
• culture and tradition
• contemporary rom-com
• chick lit

Review: Such a sweet book! I enjoyed it a lot. Not only did our beloved Katie Collins and Callum Dempsey have so much chemistry, but every character in the story was lovable! Yes, even Jack Doyle, the guy nobody liked at the start. He was so funny, and I think he got his redemption arc. He's just an ambitious city boy who doesn't understand things beyond economic value – such a shame, but I would LOVE to see him have his own book where he falls for someone who HUMBLES HIM and TEACHES HIM about sentimental value.

The point is that none of the characters in the book is bland. They all have their own place to shine. Anyway, here's a shoutout to Nush, Gemma, Adam and Noah! You are all amazing. AND FINALLY, GRANNY. Granny is the best. I love her wicked and dark sense of humour – maybe a bit too dark. I love her anyway.

I really loved the world in this book, with the references to fairy myths and all. It really got me absorbed in this book. It was like a whole other world. The story is set in Ireland, and I really loved how the author brought Ennisbawn to life with all the myths, culture and tradition seamlessly being inserted into the story. I really loved the world in this book, with the references to fairy myths and all. It really got me absorbed in this book. I felt like I was part of this world.

I recommend this book to people who love light-hearted enemies-to-lovers rom-com books with a bit of the forbidden-love vibe. I love the dynamic between Katie and Callum – it's really Callum vs Katie and the rest of Ennisbawn. Nothing better than falling for the enemy of the community! It's also sweet that the situation was written humorously, and no one really had the pitchforks up, so it was good to laugh about.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the book!

A sweet, laugh-out-loud rom-com that will leave you loving the characters and wanting to move immediately to a small town!

The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh is a light, fun novel about friendship, family, and the love of your community. Katie Collins lives in Ennisbawn and loves her quaint Irish village, working at the local Pub Kelly’s since she was able to get a job. However, when land developers from Glenmill come to town to put in a huge Hotel, they also find a way to take over the pub to extend their hotel amenities. Katie decides to show Glenmill that the pub, and the people who work there, won’t go away that easy – and decides to bring back the local Matchmaking Festival to raise money and support to keep Kelly’s Pub right where it is! Unfortunately, Glenmill worker Callum Dempsey – is good looking, charming, and has his eye on Katie. The only thing left is for tension between Glenmill and Katie . . . oh, and chemistry between Katie and Callum!

This book will deliver exactly what you are expecting – cute, endearing, and yes, predictable. However, its charming and delightful qualities will win you over. This is not the novel that you need to think about, connecting plot lines, remembering important details, or left to solve a mystery – it is fun and engaging and sometimes that is all you need from a novel! You will laugh and roll your eyes, but overall it’s an easy read worth reading.

Did I possibly want more? Yes! More steam. More romance. More depth. More intricate plot lines. (But some of Callum’s lines were pretty good – though cheesy, and I will take it.) A Shakespearean masterpiece? No. But a quick, enjoyable break – absolutely! The characters all meshed well, and some of the underlying themes were what this world needs more of now: community, coming together for what you believe in, love, and kindness.

This heartwarming story is the feel-good read that will give you a break from crazy thriller novels and just let you slow down and escape to Ireland for a little bit! I give this 3.7 stars rounded up to 4 for giving me what I wanted and not disappointing me in the process. Walsh makes you smile!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC on this cute, easy, loving novel – all opinions are my own!

The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh

Published: April 18, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 382
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She lived in London for a few years before returning to Dublin, where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing, she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

“To believe in a little bit of magic.”

Katie is a hardworking bartender in her small village. She is just as furious as the other residents about the big construction company that has come in to destroy their waning life to build a fancy resort. Callum was unprepared for the sassy woman who came barging into his construction site in her pajamas to scold him about the noise. But he is captivated.

This was such a sweet story. I loved the scenery and how the village was described. The village was a character, and I loved how that was incorporated.

Katie was fantastic. Bold, vibrant, and fun. I love that she was not afraid to speak her mind, even if it got her into trouble. I loved Callum’s calm and steady presence. He was the perfect balance for Katie.

I loved how this story was a generational tale of love and romance. The concept of a matchmaking festival seems so fun, and I enjoyed it being executed throughout this story.

Catherine Walsh is such a brilliant storyteller. She creates characters you love and love to hate but end up loving. All of these characters added something so unique to this book.

The humor was spot on. You fall into this story and can’t stop reading. The shenanigans are all so comical but so relatable. Everything about this book was beautiful.

I’m really a fan of Catherine Walsh! I loved Romantic Holiday and was super excited to get this arc. Lots of wit- a very sweet town to fall in love with- excellent characters- swoony grumpy love interest- all the things I love in a good romantic comedy.

Katie Collins is a fun main character with lots of personality and her relationship with Callum is a sweet one. Really appreciate no 3rd act breakup. Adults talking and communicating like adults should do. I didn’t feel frustrated with lack of communication or feeling like things weren’t reality….Catherine Walsh did an excellent job just purely writing a sweet love story of people supporting one another. Loved it.

Main character, Katies, whole world is her small village, Ennisbawn. Everything she possibly could want or need is right here in her village. When a new developer arrives and wants to build a golf course, Katie and the villagers are up in arms about it.
This story was a cozy, cute, fun and somewhat steamy/spicy read that I enjoyed very much.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
@shortbookthyme
@catwalshwriter
#irishromcom #catwalshwriter #bookouture

This book… I loved it! It is a definite page turner in the best ways. I loved the main character Katie. Sometimes quirky female leads can lean toward annoying but Katie’s quirks were just enough to make her so endearing. I laughed out loud so many times from Katie and Callum’s banter. You guys know my love for small town romances with interesting towns people and this is another one that does this perfectly. I loved every character in this book (even Jack! eventually…). I rarely include quotes in my reviews but this book had so many quotable moments that I was highlighting in my Kindle. Swipe to see some of my favorites. I loved Catherine Walsh’s book Holiday Romance so I was hoping this one would live up to that for me and it definitely did. If you are a romcom fan…you have to read this one!

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

📆This book releases on April 18, 2023.

Read if you like:
▫️quirky female leads
▫️zany townspeople
▫️swoon worthy quotes

3,5 stars!

This book is set in Ennisbawn, a little Irish village that has been selected by a company (Glenmill properties) as the perfect place to build a new and exclusive five star resort.

Katie is a 29 years old woman who works at the only one bar of the village and, like all of her fellow citizens, hate the idea of a project that will ruin the beauty and calm of her town.

When Katie meets Callum, one of the most important supervisors of the construction site, she confronts him and his boss about their project and the consequences that will have. When the debate doesn't end well, Katie decides to fight back and bring again the matchmaker festival that in the past made the village famous.

This is the perfect book for the lovers of the small town trope, the vibes are amazing and the fact that it's set in Ireland made the setting even more intriguing. I enjoyed the story, Katie and Callum were really cute but they didn't catch me completely. However, I loved a secondary couple: Gemma and Adam! I appreciated their storyline a lot. All things considered, it's a funny and quick read.


ARC provided by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

Love this book it was so good she does good work all the time and can't wait for the next one thanks netgalley for letting me review this book

thank you to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

for this review I'm going to keep it short and sweet. I loved it. I don't care to know anyone's rating or opinion, I really f*cking loved it. Catherine Walsh puts something so personal to me in these books. I was kicking my feet, giggling while listening to One Direction at three in the morning. What an experience.

Catherine, babe, you've made onto the instant buy/request list. Cannot wait to see what else you do xx

LOVED IT! I'm a big fan of Catherine Walsh since her first book "One night only" and even this time she didn't disappoint.

The main character, Katie, lives in a small village in Ireland. She loves it and she has never left her hometown, but then a hotel firm decides to replace the local pub where she works to build an hotel. To try to save the pub she organises a "matchmaking festival" where she will meet Callum Dempsey who works for the hotel firm.

I loved the pace of the story, how well the characters were written and also the focus on Katie's friends who have their own side stories with happy endings. Loved the chemistry between Katie and Callum and THE BANTER!

Super recommended!

I love love LOVE this book! My first Catherine Walsh read and I'm one of those manic people who finds her person and then doesn't stop until she has read everything they care to put out there. Interested by the blurb and the fact that it's set in Ireland, because who doesn't swoon at the irish accent or thought of a hunky Irishman whispering things in it...
The banter and sense of humour had me absolutely hooked from page one. It is not often you find a book with such likable characters that don't turn Hallmark-y at the end. I am in love with Katie and her quirks, foibles and flaws. The writing was just brilliant and its definitely a 5 stars from me. A thoroughly enjoyable, humourous read. Many thanks to Catherine Walsh, her publishers and Netgalley for a temporary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh is a clever, quick book. Katie Collins lives in a small town in Ireland where she has barely left. A big town developer is building a hotel with more plans to knock down the local pub where Katie's parents met and where she works. She decides to revive the local matchmaking festival to save the pub and town from further destruction. Callum Dempsey works for the company and Katie considers him to be the big, bad wolf.

The characters were so well written and fleshed out. Not just the MCs but everyone. Katie's friends, who I was happy to see have their own happy endings. Callum and Katie as the MCs were the best. Callum is so intense and invested in Katie. Katie is very proud of her town and very determined. They have such a great spark between them and I loved it.

The story was sweet and told in such a unique way. You root for the town the whole time. I would highly recommend this book. I am off to read more by Catherine Walsh.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Catherine Walsh for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

I couldn’t get enough of this book! The setting was fantastic, and the whole plot was fun. It made me want to visit a small Irish town for a festival. I love enemies to lovers, and this was no exception. I think it missed the slow burn I craved, but it was still a fantastic and quick read that had a lot of fun.

This was such a charming romantic comedy. The banter between the two main characters {and other side characters} was amazing from start to finish! I really enjoyed the side plot that was happening along side the romance. I really felt like I was in this small town through-out the book. The only thing that would have made this book better, in my opinion, would have been to have Callum’s point of view. I can’t wait to read more from this author!