Evie’s beloved aunt bequeaths her San Francisco house to Evie with one caveat - she has to go on a matchmaking tour in Vietnam. The timing is actually perfect since Evie just go fired from her professorship which also led to her breakup with another professor. Adam is helping his sister run the matchmaking tour after stepping down from his high powered roles in the business world and his engagement ends in a humiliating way (which is why his sister is also making him be a part of the tour). The two personalities clash at first, but the two realize that, as in most romantic comedies, the passionate hatred they have for each other can actually be channeled in an opposite manner.

✨My Review✨
This was a light and fun romance that showed up on my kindle right when I needed it. As an added bonus the author featured so many elements of Vietnamese culture, topography, and history that it was like @noranguyenwrites was writing a romance novel for Vietnam as well. Many of the ancillary cast of characters (i.e. the other tour guests) were adorable and definitely added to the story. This is a nice, fun (slightly spicy) romance with the bonus of a dash of culture.

4.25 stars

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC to review

I loved the setting of Vietnam for this book! The descriptions of the food, places they went, and activities they did were so vivid. It did give slight "Crazy Rich Asians" vibes, had that book been way more focused on the romance. I thought a matchmaking tour was also a fun set-up for a romance, especially when the circumstances for both our main characters sort of "forces" them to do it. It opens up a lot of self reflection about what they want out of not only a relationship, but their careers and lives.

I thought the banter and tension was great and I was invested in Evie and Adam as individuals. I really related to Evie wanting to connect to her father's heritage and homeland. My couple of cons: the family issues they both had felt like they wrapped up a little too quickly at the end, and I think Evie and Adam could've had even more conversations that were rooted in showing their (not physical) connection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the arc!

Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour is a romance of the title characters, but it’s just as much a love letter to Viet Nam. Nguyen uses a luxury matchmaking tour service run by Adam’s sister Ruby as a way to introduce readers to culture, food and beauty of the country. The romance aspect of the book is enjoyable, but the love the author has for the country is what really brings depth to the book and keeps it from being a standard enemies to lovers romance. It is that. Adam is very tightly wound, and forced by his sister to go on the inaugural tour so he can understand the value of the service they’re providing. On the tour he meets Evie, a much more free-spirited individual who decides that she’ll take full advantage of a required trip to claim her inheritance from her aunt to familiarize herself with her father’s heritage. She does not expect Adam, and sparks predictably fly. The only thing standing between them is an ocean and his wealthy, proper and seriously uptight family. Nguyen fills out the story with fellow tourists, some necessarily boring, but the irrepressible and confident Fen is an enjoyable show stealer. A reader won’t find anything too unpredictable here, but it’s a romance worth reading for the setting itself. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(You'll have to forgive me for not knowing the way to type the correct characters for the Vietnamese names/words in this review - I wish I did, it's so beautiful!)

Evie's Auntie Hao leaves her San Franscisco row house to Evie in her will, with the condition that she goes on the flagship matchmaking tour of the new, exclusive, Love Yeu company. It's three weeks in her father's home country of Vietnam, a place Evie never got to visit with Auntie Hao, as they had once dreamed of. With her career as a poet in a stagnant lull, and a recent betrayal in her romantic relationship, she has nothing to lose. Adam is Love Yeu's CMO, having left a lucrative job in business to help get his sister's matchmaking tour business off on the right foot. After a disaster of a previous relationship, love is the last thing he's looking for, but his sister convinces him to join the tour anyway, so he can get firsthand experience of the company's offerings.

Adam's family is wealthy and very traditional. Patriarchy is very rampant in the family culture, and everyone is expected to play their role. In contrast, Evie lives largely on a whim. Above all, she is free. It attracts Adam immediately, and holds his attention, even when he tries to talk himself out of it.

Vietnam sounds incredible. The wild(er)ness, the history, the people, the food; Nguyen's writing makes the tour experiences pop off the page. In a book about a matchmaking tour there is obviously quite a large cast of characters required. I found myself skimming over some of the dense character scenes, because I knew most of them weren't playing a crucial role. I didn't care much about the extraneous characters. The ones who did stick out though, were beautifully complex and compelling, especially our two leads.

One character I didn't jive with was Ruby, Adam's sister. At the beginning she seemed okay, she was the one who got Adam to agree to go on the matchmaking tour, however, she quickly changed her tune when he started actually getting something out of it. She was the great Reversing Ruby, with a heavy side of Negative Nancy thrown in. And I didn't care much for her overall, even given the third act revelations about her.

The themes were well integrated and supported by backstory, however, I felt like it could have probably been shorter. Some things felt revisited a few too many times, or a little too blatantly. Overall though, the story was done very well.

This book is a great escape. Beautiful scenery, lots of heart, growth, and passion. Definitely worth your time!

Evil makes a deal to go to Vietnam Nam to meet her match- she doesn’t have to commit to anyone as long as she goes. She does end up falling for the culture and beauty of her family’s homeland as well as Adam, the owner of the match making company.

This book was not for me, I found it to be a tad boring and I found myself skimming. While I appreciated the descriptions, I found the dialogue to be forced and I didn’t feel the chemistry of the two main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC. Book to be released September 17, 2024.

This book transported me to Vietnam. I never found myself completely invested in Adam & Evie as characters and their relationship though so it fell short for me in terms of being a romance book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This book pleasantly surprised me! What seemed like a typical rom-com turned out to be much deeper, exploring cultural identity, family expectations, and personal growth. Despite my usual dislike for third-person narration in romance, the dual perspectives worked well here. The setting in Vietnam added richness with its vivid descriptions. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a summer rom-com that’s both entertaining and emotionally resonant!

Evie is down on her luck and the only way to dig her way out and receive her late aunt's inheritance is to attend a 3 week Match Making Tour in Viet Nam.
Adam is the reluctant, grumpy CMO of the tour company and out of duty to his older sister, he attends the Match Making Tour as a guest to view the tour from their point of view.
As the guests of the tour start to couple off, Adam and Evie find themselves in each others company more and more.

What a fun read! I loved adventuring through Viet Nam with Adam and Evie and their crazy cast of side characters as they look for love. Adding Viet Nam to the travel bucket list! I was looking up all the places they visited as the book traveled along. I love a good crazy relative that is intuitive even from beyond the gave, I wish I could know Auntie Hao more, she sounded like she lead a beautiful life!

This was a great summer read,

Thank you Net Galley for an Advanced Reader Copy!

This book was so much fun! I loved the banter between Adam and Evie and all of the heart. Adam is the CMO for his sisters matchmaking cruise company and he has a set path in life. He needs to become successful and settle down with a good girl he can make a family with. Evie doesn't really want a man, but she does have to go on this cruise to gain the inheritance that her aunt has willed to her. Her aunt was never about getting hitched so she isn't sure why she is pushing her into this, but with her life in shambles, she is ready to shake things up.
She doesn't expect to fall for Adam, or to feel the things she is feeling when he is around. Adam knows Evie is a mess and has no life plan and is the exact opposite of everything that he has been told he needs to look for, so why can't he pull himself away from her and take the safer route?
Love isn't always practical and your soulmate might not be the person you have been told you are looking for, but the one that draws you in and won't let go.
I really enjoyed their love story and Adam's growth of character. I would love to read a story about his sister, Ruby next. She made me angry a lot of the time, but I think she needs her HEA too.
Thanks to Avon, Netgalley and Nora Nguyen for an early copy.

I loved how descriptive the author was with Vietnams history and lush scenery, but I think the story fell short when it came to the romance and chemistry between the two characters.

This is a fun RomCom, and I loved both Evie and Adam's characters. They go on a matchmaking tour for very different reasons and they end up spending lots of time together. They both think the other person has traits they can't stand in a partner, but with a few fun family members and some adventures this book is fun and an enjoyable RomCom. Look for this book out on September 24th 2024

As a Vietnamese American woman who is navigating life in a modern, growing world while trying to be filial and meet the parents’ expectations, I felt this book on a whole other level outside of the rom-com aspect!!!

I loved this love story that let us look into not only Adam and Evie’s lives and how they meld together through so many obstacles, but the growth of other couples as well. I also loved how this was a love letter to modern Vietnam and how matchmaking has changed over the last few decades, but again, there is still so much cultural expectation in every decision we make.

The author does a great job of ensuring that the main characters AND side characters have beautiful and personal character arcs that get resolved wonderfully. There is definitely a HEA that makes me want to read this book over and over again.

Thank you Nora Nguyen and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There was a lot to love about this book, but also a lot that I…didn’t love.

To start with the positives, I actually really liked this author’s writing for the most part (save for some of the dialogue). The setting was really lush, and I felt like the characters had great chemistry. A lot of my issues aside, I don’t actually think this is a bad romance. I still had fun with it and wanted to finish it.

The chemistry between them wasn’t enough for me to actually like them together though. Things moved so quickly between - they hate each other immediately for almost no reason and then things from 0 to 100 between them at one point after they’ve only known each other for a few weeks. These are two characters who aren’t super likable on their own and who I don’t know if I really buy them together as a couple past the physical aspects.

I also was so distracted by the idea behind the matchmaking company! Even with funding from their father, I couldn’t stop thinking about how there was no way they’d actually be making any money on the tour. Plus, they Adam and Ruby kept talking about how every deserves to find love, but their business was built solely on targeting the uber wealthy. And they hardly did any actual matchmaking??

I’d still be interested to read more by this author and there was moments where this really worked for me, but it wasn’t my favorite.

This book had everything I could have wanted: a disenchanted academic, sweet friendship sideplots, a beautifully described setting, a sprinkling of navigation across cultural differences, a healthy dose of wish fulfillment.

After losing her adjuncting job (her contract terminated by her now-ex, no less!) struggling and disaffected poet Evie finds herself with unexpected summer plans. Her beloved Auntie Hảo has died and left her an inheritance, but to collect, she must first go on a matchmaking tour across Việt Nam. Adam (Bảo) helps his sister run Love Yêu Tours, is successful in all things except love, living up to his father's astronomical expectations, and keeping his eyes off of a certain unruly tour guest.

The writing is often gorgeous: lyrical, sumptuous, with pockets of unexpected imagery. You can tell the author has a background in poetry. Việt Nam serves as a beautiful backdrop for a story about two adults at turning points in their lives, coming together and learning from one another. Both Evie and Adam are struggling with the weight of expectations, just in different ways that are shaped by family experiences and cultural differences.

Seeing Adam's growing confidence and realization that his own desires matter was a real highlight. Adam also grapples with his privileged upbringing, and how that privilege buoyed him in many ways, but failed to protect him in others. Evie's development was more subtle, but in a lot of ways, mirrored Adam's. I loved the moments when Evie chose not to take the path she'd been told she was supposed to want and fit into, but instead figured out what she really needed.

I do think the third-act breakup happened quite quickly and suddenly. I know a lot of folks don't like this part of the romance structure, but I don't mind it. It just didn't quite fit these characters and their issues, IMO. But there's so much to love packed into this story that I didn't even get to touch on (Fen and Mei!!). If you want a sweet, heartfelt, escapist romance, definitely pick this up!

What a fun romance! I got to enjoy Adam and Evie's story AND tour a country! I think this book will inspire a lot of people to book a tour of Asia. Definitely one of the best romances I've read this year.

Absolutely loved the setting(s) in this book! Also, how gorgeous is the book cover?! Gushing so much about how dreamy Adam & Evie were. Highly recommend to all the romance book lovers. Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen is an absolute delight, blending romance, adventure, and cultural exploration into one irresistible package. Nguyen's witty and heartfelt writing brings to life the chemistry between the grumpy yet charming Adam and the spirited, unpredictable Evie. Their journey through Việt Nam is as much about discovering each other as it is about reconnecting with their own pasts and futures. The vibrant settings and the playful banter between the leads make for a story that’s both entertaining and emotionally satisfying. If you’re looking for a romance that’s rich in humor, heart, and a touch of wanderlust, this book is a perfect pick.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. This book is really cute. The beginning gave me similar vibes of The Seven Year Slip and I am here for it. The characters growth and setting and it was just so good!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the author Nora Nguyen and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I first read the premise of this book, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it—and luckily I was able to score an ARC.

I deeply appreciate the respect with which the author describes Việt Nam, as it really takes you on a summer tour around the region.

However, I think it was both a mix of the third person, and the unrealistic dialogue—I knew Evie’s a poet but constantly talking in prose must be tiresome even to the greatest—as well as my unableness to connect with the main characters and their backstories made it an effort to stay hooked.

All in all, the story was fine, and I can see how other people might enjoy it but sadly, this one wasn’t for me.

This was a sweet and fun romance novel with a bit of spice. It was a fresh premise that took me on a compelling tour of Vietnam. It a fun read with a great escape.