3.5 stars rounded up to four. It was a fast read that kept me entertained. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

This was such a fun read! I loved the mix of mystery and suspense with a dash of romance. This story kept me hooked from start to finish!

I really enjoyed the matchmaking themes, the creativity of the Piyar app, and the infusion of Desi culture. Nura is such a complex main character, and I loved how the story focused on how wedded she was to her career.

In addition to a phenomenal mystery, The Matchmaker also touches on heavy topics including the onset of dementia, complicated familial relationships, domestic abuse, cultural appropriation, and debt. I appreciated how multilayered this story was, including all the red flags for the true villain, and thought the author handled all the topics in a compelling and sensitive way. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of romance, I highly recommend picking up The Matchmaker!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be more of a romance with mystery on the side and instead was the exact opposite. I enjoyed all of the characters in the book, especially the protagonist; however about midway through the book, I figured out who the villain of the story was, and once I figure that out-it was hard for me to stay engaged with the book. I love a romantic element in the book, but I almost thought it distracted from the main plot. This was a cute read, but not my favorite book I’ve read this year..

So good! This was such an interesting intersection of romance and thriller and I absolutely loved it. Can't wait to see what this author writes after this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Matchmaker is a beautiful, heartfelt exploration of love, tradition, and self-discovery. Saeed’s emotional writing and relatable characters make this an unforgettable read.

This review will be published at https://bipocbooks.co/book-review/the-matchmaker-aisha-saeed on April 1, 2025.

This mystery meets family saga takes us behind the scenes of desi matchmaker Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker living in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nura's service at Piyar Matchmaking Agency is highly sought-after. Applicants go through a vetting process for both their matchmaking app and personalized services, to help them through the difficult job of finding "The One."

Despite the intricate process her clients take on in order to find a match, Nura deals with the misconception of matchmaking being perceived as arranged marriages. Yet, Nura isn’t most concerned with public perception—she avoids press interviews entirely. What truly matters is how the wealthy see her, since they are the ones who can afford her personalized services.

As a part of her work, Nura attends her clients’ glamorous and luxurious weddings full of bright flowers, hand-stitched lenghas, sparkling saris, and gold-plated wedding favors. At these weddings, her soon-to-be-wed clients introduce her to potential future clients who want to find the same kind of true love.

When disaster strikes at two of her clients’ weddings, it becomes clearer someone is targeting Nura and her services. 

If you’re like me, you picked up this novel because you’re fascinated with matchmaking: getting to know clients and helping them get to a point in their lives where they are ready to meet their perfect match. 

Aisha Saeed successfully brings you into the world of matchmaking, pulling from her own memories of her mother’s phone conversations discussing matches for others. 

At the same time,  Saeed presents a mystery: why is someone targeting Nura, and who is the person behind it all? 

Overall, The Matchmaker is a lighthearted mystery with some hints of romance and family relationships. While marketed as a romance, the romance feels like more of a side quest.

Pick this book up for a lighthearted, page-turning mystery with a dash of romance!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I enjoyed the premise of this book as well as the connection between the main character and her best guy friend. However, towards the end of the book, all of the things that were happened since a bit unrealistic and dramatic.

So, imagine a mystery and a romance had a baby.

Nura Khan is a Desi matchmaker whose business has been passed down from generation to generation. Suddenly her business begins getting targeted. Wedding events are thrown off, couples break up, and suspicious things start occurring all over the place.

Just when you think you know who's is behind all the madness, there is another twist that I can't say I really saw coming.

This was perfect for somebody like me who is in to romance and starting to try new genres.

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a chance to preview this book. It was pitched as a mystery but it is so much more than that. There is romance, family drama and a mystery as to who is trying to sabotage the matchmaking business.
Nura Khan is a heroine I very much enjoyed getting to know. She lost her mother when she was young and moved to Atlanta with her aunt and cousin. With her aunt she has built a very successful matchmaking business with many wealthy and high profile clients.
Things begin to go wrong and ensues a madcap series of disasters that are pretty crazy to follow. Nura and her staff are working hard to find out who is behind them. While the mishaps were pretty outrageous there was a sense that things like this could happen. The reader is led nicely along with plenty of clues as well as red herrings along the way!
This was a totally fun and entertaining book that I managed to figure out just before the ending was revealed- perfectly satisfying.
As an adult debut I think this will be a big success. Hope to hear more from Nura and company!

I am a long time fan of Aisha Saeed's work. As a teacher, I started reading her middle grades work first. I've always found her work whether YA, picture book, or middle grades outstanding. I was so excited to see that she had written her first adult novel. Even though I typically don't read this genre, I had to check it out! I was not disappointed! The characters are well-developed and interesting. I enjoyed the at times light-heartedness mixed in with at times suspenseful and serious flow of the story. I look forward to more work for adults.

This book was a ride. Just when you think everything is working out and we are shifting to a new focus… bam!

Matchmaker Nura has an exclusive list of clientele, she vets them with a fine tooth comb, and will not be persuaded to take on clients who are less than stellar — you follow the rules or you’re out. Some powerful people do not like to be told no… and Nura finds herself amidst a whirlwind of bad press, threats, and unexpected family drama from all angles. Nura must rely on her friends and family to help her figure out what is going on and save the business, while helping her cousin care for her sick aunt, and navigating her own nonexistent love life.

I loved the imagery in this book. The author did such a beautiful job of giving the reader insight and visual into Desi wedding culture and the ceremonies involved - Mehndi and Sangeet. I also really liked how the author tied the matchmaking business to a throwback of parental arranged marriages, but with a modern and elite twist.

Very well written and thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Aisha Saeed's first adult novel is a knockout! A thriller threaded through with family secrets and a slow burn romance that kept me turning the pages. As ever, Saeed's dialogue sparkles when it needs to and is a gut punch when the story calls for it. Fantastic.

This was tough to get into and, while an interesting premise, just didn't really hit for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I believe this is a debut mystery by Aisha Saeed and I hope there are more to come! 9 times out of 10 I have sorted out the villain long before the reveal, but this one was such a shock I literally threw my phone. BRAVO!

Nura and the whole cast of characters were utter delights and I loved every second of this book. From the magic of the weddings to the gripping mystery, all perfectly executed. Plus a bit of romance? Phenomenal

Nura Khan is at the top of her game. Her matchmaking business is thriving: her clients are guaranteed their happily-ever-afters, and couples are clamoring to get on her list. The one flaw in her otherwise perfect life is that she's single. But all of that is about to change. Threats are becoming commonplace, weddings are being sabotaged, and everything is spiraling out of control. But with the dedicated assistance of her team--and her pretend fiancé--Nura is confident she can find out who's behind the targeted attacks before everything goes off the rails. Buckle up--this Atlanta-set mystery takes you on a wild ride through the luxury wedding business, carting plenty of nuanced characters along for the ride.

I couldn’t get into this book. But just because I didn’t care for it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I struggled with the start of this as I wasn't seeking so much family history and setup, and it ended up being a fine book but nothing memorable. I probably won't pick it up again.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery Suspense, Thriller
Language: Brief moments of profanity, including F-bombs
Spice Level: Complete fade to black
Representation: Most of the characters are South East Asian

THE MATCHMAKER completely drew me in—I even dreamed about this book and had to finish it as fast as possible to know whodunnit!

I loved the twists in this book. That's one of my favorite things actually because I kept trying to figure out who was guilty. AND I was surprised! (The author gets a standing ovation for pulling it off.) Another fun element is all the cultural details from Pakistani Americans.

There is a romance (that shouldn't be a surprise since it's about a matchmaker, but it's not the main plot). I wanted these characters to really talk to each other and not stuff their feelings. It worked out to my satisfaction.

The main reason I recommend this book is for the twisty, fast-paced action.

Happy reading!

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but this was not it. I wasn’t expecting a family history mystery, a stalker, or a kidnapping. This was a wild ride and I really enjoyed it. I did end up predicting the ending but that didn’t take away from the story. I think a lot of people will love this one.