I recently finished *The Matchmaker* by Aisha Saeed, and while it’s a finely written novel, it didn’t quite grip my attention as I’d hoped. The prose is beautiful, and Saeed’s exploration of cultural expectations and personal choices is thought-provoking. However, the story itself just didn’t draw me in. I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the characters and their journeys.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing the ARC.

There were some moments in the first 1/4 of the story that I struggled to get into it. But once the drama ramped up I was hooked and couldn't stop reading.
I loved how the story came together, and was mostly surprised about the outcome, even though I had guessed some of it.
I am not well versed in Desi culture and enjoyed learning more about these wedding rituals.
Absolutely enjoyed this mystery and look forward to others getting to too.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Do you believe in matchmaking? It’s not something that has been on my radar but it’s a rich and beautiful part of the Desi culture. Nura seems to have a true gift for it and her career has been on fire. Her own love life may be sidelined but with her childhood best friend, Azar by her side as a faux date, she is making it work and hiding her own personal feelings deep inside. Love blooms all around her it seems but sadly, we live in a world where hate does its best to overshadow love and joy and unfortunately that is where our story leads us. Nura’s matchmaking magic has turned into a mystery growing more perilous by the minute. Everyone is a suspect in this page-turning, gripping read that seamlessly blends from romance to thriller in such a unique style. Aisha Saeed creates a truly remarkable story in The Matchmaker!


Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

I've always loved the mix of mystery/thriller and romance, so this was a great addition to the genre. I also liked that it wasn't completely predictable, like a lot of books in this vein are.

This was riveting (and surprisingly dark despite the sweet and charming romance plot). Nura is a hugely successful matchmaker. Unfortunately for her, that means she's the target of much jealousy, and perhaps even sabotage?! With her business in danger and her reputation at stake, Nura must discover who's out to get her while also grappling with some long-held feelings for her best friend and some family drama.

It is an unusual, thrilling read and I enjoyed it very much! While I'm not a fan of miscommunication as a barrier to romance, the pacing, plot, and lovely rapport between Nura and Azar kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

If you enjoy mysteries that revolve around a tight group of characters, sprinkled with romance and an astute feel for family dynamics, then THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed will work for you. If you’re looking for something that eschews genre conventions or is a bit more noir, then you’ll be disappointed. I guess what I’m saying is don’t buy a tuna sandwich and complain it’s not sushi!

THE MATCHMAKER is told from elegant marriage professional Nura Khan’s point of view. She has adapted the family tradition, along with her aunt, into a successful business in Atlanta, Georgia. She offers personalized service, including attending the wedding ceremonies of her clients. This offers the author space to delve into desi cultural traditions, which adds an interesting layer to a well-written book. When her business begins imploding, so does her personal life, until the final denouement which clarifies both.

With thanks to NetGalley and the Bantam Books Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.25/5

the matchmaker was nice mystery book with a sprinkle of romance and lot of focus on family. it was a nice read, i flew threw it and managed to finish it in one sitting. it was nice to read about nura and her relationship with her khala, her cousin nina, and her niece, the mystery part was engaging even though i personally guessed the culprit well before the end, but it was nice to see it all come together in the conclusion. i recommend it to people who are looking for a light mystery novel.

arc provided by netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam in exchange for an honest review.

Oh boy, what happens when a matchmakers weddings keep ending in disaster? Find out in The Matchmaker.

Although known for her many fantastic YA novels, I think adult readers will be delighted to discover Aisha Saeed with "The Matchmaker". This is a twisty, heart-pulsing read that contains enough heart and hope that readers of all genres can find something to love.

This was such a unique book! I have truly never read anything like it before and it is always so cool when that happens.

If I could sum this up in one sentence it would be "matchmaking gone wrong, very wrong."

This book is part mystery, part romance. A matchmaker is being targeted, her couples and her career are being destroyed. And it's one of those mysteries where, once you're finished, you can look back and see all the little hints and puzzle pieces that were pointing to the ending/culprit. And not in a way where it was super obvious who did it, but in that way that makes you sit back and go "oooooooh, that makes sense in hindsight."

The characters of this book are Desi, and this dives a bit into that culture and those traditions (specifically around marriage). This shows a modern version of arranged marriages and how that has developed overtime - that was very interesting to me, since I didn't know much about that before this book.

If you like White Lotus (tv show) and Crazy Rich Asians (book and movie), then I think you'd really like this. The mystery gave me the vibes of White Lotus and the super rich weddings reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians.

This was a fun time! And you'll speed through it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review is already up on Goodreads and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

A 4.5/5 from me.
trigger warnings: abusive relationships, domestic violence, stalking, drugging, kidnapping

This was a great combo of mystery and romance. The mystery quickly takes a dark turn as Nura is targeted by someone who will stop at nothing to sabotage her career and life. When the culprit was revealed, I felt really bad for Nura. She's gone through a lot in her life, has a lot of trauma from the death of her mom, and a lot of what she knows about her own life is not exactly as it seems. She really has a small circle of trusted confidantes, and it was nice to see how they came together in support of Nura when she was in need. Oh, and by the way, Nura has been in love with her best friend and fake fiance, Azar, but has been discouraged from acting on her feelings after one mistake during a boozy night. But after years of being each other's number 1 person, Azar now seems to be interested in dating... another woman, who might not be as accepting of Azar having a girl best friend. There's a lot of yearning and angst as we see how Azar and Nura's relationship evolves throughout the book as it teeters on the edge of friendship or something more/less.

Looking back, I can see how the author drops subtle hints about the culprit's motivations and issues, but I was surprised nonetheless and felt absolutely betrayed for Nura. There is also a huge cultural component to this book. I liked reading more about Desi culture and how it impacts family dynamics, and how the concept of "arranged marriage" has evolved with modern times. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a fast and easy read, and action-packed.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love a good romantic mystery and Saeed has created one with The Matchmaker. The story took a little time to get moving for me but once it did I had a hard time closing the book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book!!! Such a good story and great writing style. This was my first by this author and will not be my last! Such a thriller romance book!

The Matchmaker is a brilliant rollercoaster of mystery and romance. The unraveling plot keeps you guessing and gasping, while the emotional depth of Nura’s struggles and desires is truly compelling. This book is a sensational blend of heart-pounding intrigue and irresistible romance. In short, utterly captivating.