Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this early access! This book really surprised me in the best possible way. I highly recommend.

This book really surprised me and I absolutely loved it. It has a feel of crazy rich Asians with the Indian matchmaking. I blew my way through this book so fast.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It felts like mashup between Emma and You've Got Mail and it was wonderful!

New to me author Swati Hegde has captivated me with this sweet desi romance. Magazine writer Jai denies her attraction to long time family friend Jaiman until she realizes he might just be the one.

I will say that though I did enjoy this book, I did get annoyed with Jai on several occasions and I thought the slow burn was tooooo slow. I do like a book with slow burn romance but this one doesn't start until like the last ~20 pages. Ugh. I wonder what else we could have seen between these two if their confessions had happened earlier.

I really loved all of the descriptions of the celebrations and different clothing, foods, decorations, etc. I think this definitely adds to the vibe of the book and the setting being Mumbai doesn't hurt.

Overall I thought this book was well crafted and would recommend to readers looking for a slow burn, sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dell and Swati Hegde for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

MATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a sweet, feel-good love story of a matchmaker, Jia, who finds her match in a family friend, Jaiman. It's been a year since the Incident and Jia won't let herself feel her buried feels for Jaiman and believes if she's made it this far without love and a partner, she will be just fine on her own. Not to mention Jaiman has never been in a serious relationship but certainly has had his fun, so he's not relationship material. Plus there's the fact, she thinks Jaiman only kissed her on a dare, when actually he has been in love with her for quite some time. As a matchmaker, when will she realize that she and Jaiman are the perfect match and let herself find love? 3.5 stars rounded to 4. A fun and cute debut!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

Match Me If You Can follows Jia, a young, chronically single, relationship advice column writer for Mimosa, as she works on her personal blog and her passion for matchmaking on the side. We also spend a lot of time with Jaiman, a chef and mixologist who is also Jia's childhood best friend. Jia is working on matchmaking her coworkers to prove to her boss that she can write a matchmaking column, but things are not going well. Through all of this she starts to complicate many of her friendships and other relationships. Jia realizes she needs to reevaluate her views on love and relationships to repair what is starting to break.

Overall I enjoyed this book for what it was, a quick and breezy rom com, but the miscommunication between Jia and Jaiman started to get old pretty quickly for me. The poor communication between the two led to a very very slow burn in this novel, but if you like that in a book then this is for you! I did appreciate reading about Mumbai and the Indian customs when it comes to matchmaking and I loved the descriptions of all the food!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the e-copy of this ARC.

This is a sweet romance story about two friends who both are looking for love and don’t want to admit they may have already found it. Jia longs to start a match making business and she knows can help others find love, even though she hasn’t found it yet herself. Jaiman knows he has found his match, but Jia doesn’t seem to feel the same way about him. Yet he will do anything to show his best friend support no matter what. Overall, Jia and Jaiman as fun characters and they are easy to see getting together. I wish this book had more match making. I think it would have added some comedy into the story and helped just a little bit. The romance is predictable but tolerable. I wouldn’t say that it swept me away. Which kind of made me sad. I can see myself recommend this book, I just don’t know if I would pick it as a top new romance novel.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Dell, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

✅ Emma, but set in current day Mumbai
✅ Gia writes listicles for a lifestyle magazine (and is trying to launch a matchmaking column) and her childhood friend Jaiman owns a pub. Both are in their mid/late 20s
✅ dual POV
✅ friends to lovers
🌶️: no. All off page.

A heartwarming debut novel set in the bustling city of Mumbai, India, "Match Me if You Can" is a slow burn friends to lovers romance. I loved the subtle nod to Jane Austen's "Emma", but I loved the author's own desi twist to the story. Jai's purpose of match making isn't out of selfish and egotistical reasons, but as a way to find connection with her mother who had passed away, an aspect that I found refreshing and touching. I found Jaiman to be a very sweet character who balances out Jai quite nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

The premise of this book was really fun! I loved the setting in Mumbai, I don’t think I’ve read any romance novels set there before. The biggest downside for me was both of the main characters. I was constantly frustrated by their actions and feelings of superiority. I didn’t mind Jaiman, but Jia was seriously making me want to pull my hair out at some points. I loved the side characters, I would love a sequel following Jia’s friends or family. Overall, I loved some of the parts of it (Indian MCs, side characters, SETTING), but everything else fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was cute, but I, myself, struggle with the character of Emma. I understand she’s spoiled and self-centered and learns as the book goes on, but I struggle with it in a modern setting. It was good, but I ended up not finishing it! I hope to pick it back up, but the tale of Emma is always a struggle for me.

This was a fun cute read. I will say, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Thanks NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What I liked: different setting than traditional rom-coms, friends to lovers trope, the deepness of exposing a failure and problem solving that, the family connections, matchmaking!

What I didn’t like: sometimes Jia seemed pretty oblivious about Jaiman, and it was borderline too cliche. I will also say Jia and Jaiman were names that were hard on my dyslexia. I know that a stupid dislike for some, but the names being so close and both starting with the same 3 letters made me have to slow down and figure out who I was reading about.

ia has a dream of becoming a matchmaker. She's just two successful set ups already but she is stuck writing fluff pieces about love for a fashion magazine. Her editor gives her a chance to prove herself by setting up the new woman in the office but nothing is going as planned. Jaiman is the son Jia's family never had and he's been in love with Jia for years. Everyone sees it but Jia.

As the story unfolds, we see how friendships are important in life and that we can't always make life work out exactly how we want it too. The story is set in Mumbai and centers around different holidays celebrated there. I always enjoy learning about places that are different from my own.

This was a cute first book from Swati Hegde, and I was super excited to be able to give this a read! I'm not Indian, but my best friend is so the customs and traditions aren't lost to me and adds to the story. That said, if you aren't in the Indian target audience, I feel you would miss a lot. This is an easy read as the characters and story aren't complex, so I worked through it quickly. However, it left me wanting more and every time I put it down and picked it back up, I was again hit with the feeling that the characters were immature, and the story was a bit simple. I wanted Jia to have more depth, and I wanted more insight into her matchmaking skills - I think a bit of this comes across in her blog posts, but those are sporadic. I was disappointed at moments when she is upset like when her attempt to set up Charu failed at the coffee shop, and her response was to go shopping. I just struggled with the aspects of whether this was an actual scenario or just stereotyped. Moments like those didn't help her character development in my eyes. Overall, I liked the premise and think the story had a lot of potential with some witty banter and a great golden retriever MC in Jaiman (would give it a 2.5-3), but sadly this one was a miss for me. Thank you so much to Swati Hegde, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc.

This one wasn’t for me. I did not finish it. However, I think it’s more of a me issue than the book. I felt like there was a lot of extra dialogue and descriptions and honestly, the formatting on my copy was hard to read. I may actually try to re-read it again later as many others really enjoyed it. So don’t let this review dissuade you from giving it a try!

I had the pleasure of diving into "Match Me If You Can" by Swati Hegde, courtesy of NetGalley & Random House Publishing, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on this vibrant debut.

From the get-go, the book captivated me with its stunning cover art. The allure of a story set in India, a setting not often explored in my reading repertoire, added to my anticipation.

Within its pages, Hegde skillfully weaves together several beloved tropes, including the tantalizing allure of a slow burn romance, the heartwarming journey from childhood friends to lovers, the whimsical art of matchmaking, and the magnetic pull of opposites attracting.

The narrative kicks off with a brisk pace, drawing readers swiftly into its world. However, as the story progresses, I found the pace slowing down, particularly towards the end. Despite this minor setback, Hegde's rich portrayal of Indian culture shines throughout the narrative, immersing readers in its vibrant tapestry. The vivid descriptions of tantalizing food had me practically salivating with each turn of the page.

Readers familiar with Jane Austen's "Emma" will notice striking parallels, as Hegde expertly transplants the essence of Austen's classic into the colorful backdrop of India.

In summary, "Match Me If You Can" proved to be an enjoyable read, particularly for fans of the aforementioned tropes. While the pacing may falter towards the conclusion, the book's exploration of Indian culture and its homage to classic literature make it a worthwhile addition to any reading list.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend "Match Me If You Can" to those seeking a charming romance set against the vibrant tapestry of India.

2.5⭐️



El 60% estuvo entretenido, pero luego pasó lo de la cita y fue difícil creer en que él tenía sentimientos por ella.

Jia tenía razones muy válidas para ignorar sus sentimientos por Jaiman.

Me dio pena Jia con el tema de Eshaan y Charu, estaba tan aferrada a que todo saliera bien para ella que se cegó a lo que pasa en su cara.

Jaiman estaba enamorado de Jia, pero no hizo nada para que ella viera que sus sentimientos eran reales, no intentó conquistarla, pero si tenía tiempo para acostarse con otras mujeres



Spoilers ⚠️ ⚠️
-Jaiman fue célibe durante un año después del beso, pero luego empezó a tener citas y se beso con alguien.
-Jia era virgen. 🙄
-Jaiman no tenía relaciones, sólo sexo


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Set against the vibrant tapestry of Mumbai, "Love in a Mumbai Minute" unfolds the tale of Jia, whose quest to land her dream matchmaking column inadvertently entangles her in a web of emotions. Her attempts to orchestrate the perfect match for her coworker collide with the revelation of her childhood friend Jaiman Patil's hidden affections. As Jia's matchmaking escapades unravel, risking not only friendships but also her bond with Jaiman, she learns that love is a labyrinth far more intricate than she ever envisioned.

The narrative evolves gradually, teasing with the tantalizing prospect of "will they? won't they?" that holds readers enthralled till the very end. While some may find the pacing leisurely, the endearing love story compensates, rendering the journey a worthwhile one. Hegde's prose is magnetic, weaving a tale that elicits gleeful gasps with each twist.

What distinguishes this debut is its authentic Desi flavor, a refreshing departure in American literature. Hegde masterfully captures the essence of Mumbai, paying homage to Jane Austen with a contemporary, multicultural flair. The characters, endearing and relatable, inspire unabashed rooting, even in their most endearingly oblivious moments.

"Love in a Mumbai Minute" is a gem for aficionados of Desi romcoms and friends-to-lovers narratives, offering a generous serving of unsolicited relationship wisdom. Swati Hegde crafts a spellbinding narrative that envelops readers in the enchantment and complexity of love amidst Mumbai's bustling streets. Prepare to be ensnared from the opening lines to the final page, eagerly anticipating Hegde's future literary endeavors.

Heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Dell for graciously providing this digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the story line however felt it a bit of a repeat of "Emma"

The story takes place in Mumbai and is about a matchmaker young woman who seems to have time to match everyone except herself. Things don't go as planned when she matches the wrong guy up to her coworker and also leaves her best friend brokenhearted.
She eventually learns to take time for herself and realizes what she has been missing all along.
It is an easy, short read and has no explicit scenes.
This is my honest review.
Thanks for the opportunity to review this book. :)

Song of the book: I Love You Too – Peter McPoland

I totally get that some of my issues may be a matter of personal preference, but unfortunately, I found myself struggling to enjoy the romance in this book because of the way the FMC was so wishy-washy about her feelings. I get that she was supposed to be somewhat in denial about how she felt about the MMC, but it was genuinely difficult to buy that based on some of the other thoughts she was having about him AND based on the way she acted around him. If I did buy that premise, it just made reading the book even more unpleasant, because the MMC was 100% in love with her, and the way she treated him just made me feel a little sad. I guess I just didn't love the relationship dynamic here.

Additionally, I found the FMC hard to root for at times. I mean, how was I supposed to support the idea of her running a matchmaking business when she throws her poor co-worker at the first guy she smiles at, even though that guys is literally a sexist jerk? Like, that's irresponsible. I know that this is based on Emma (sorry, I haven't read it! I have seen Clueless, though!), and the point is that she learns her lesson by the end of the book, but I was expecting for at least half of the book that maybe she would realize she wasn't qualified to be a matchmaker. Nope! Oh well.

However, I did enjoy the atmosphere of this book and liked reading about a romance set in Mumbai. I thought it was a cute set-up for the main characters, and I appreciated the two-person love triangle element! However, I thought the two-person love triangle part was handled a bit weirdly, since I think the author may have wanted it to be a plot twist, but it was kind of obvious. As a result, the MMC never thinks about his involvement in the "love triangle," I guess to keep it secret during his POV chapters. It just felt kind of odd, since you would expect he would spend time during his chapters thinking about how he's writing letters to the FMC.

I don't think I'll actively be recommending this book to anyone, but I wouldn't advise someone against reading it. I might check out future Swati Hegde books!