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.

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.