I’m loving this new McCall Smith series about the Perfect Passion Company — an old fashioned matchmaking service based in Edinburgh. This is book number two. On the surface, it is a story about a variety of characters and how the matchmaker — Katie — works to find the perfect match for them. But as with all McCall Smith books, it’s teeming with hidden depth as it explores life, love, and the pursuit of happiness (liberty isn’t really an issue here).

The writing is lovely — McCall Smith never condescends and he can make the most exquisite sentence out of utter mundanity. I couldn’t exactly explain why, but he is the only male writer whose female characters I absolutely love. He explores individuals, relationships, and various social and cultural milieus with a process that seems to incorporate detailed observation, in-depth reflection, multi-faceted synthesis with an output of clear and tender explanatory prose. He has written over 40 books and still manages to include “musings” that either teach me more or brings me fresh insight. What appear to most to be light and accessible novels, are for me books of rich meaning.

In this episode, the relationships barriers explored include missed opportunities, poor timing, external expectations, and reevaluation of one’s own criteria. So many different forms of love, so many different people trying to understand their own relationship to happiness. As always, we are treated to many interesting asides on poetry, music, art, and other intellectually spicy aspects of life.

Some Quotes:

“She cherished this too, the place in which she lived and worked, and the land beyond its bounds, because love spilled over from one person, one object, to embrace so much else. Love spread.”

“This is an achingly, beautiful city, he thought, and I fall more in love with it every single day. I still love, Melbourne, of course, but the heart is large enough, has enough chambers, to allow for more than one love. Not everybody knew that, he said to himself, but he did.”

“What a strange, frustrating, mysterious thing was love. In a world in which there would never be enough of everything, in which not all desires could be met, love was rationed, just as happiness was. Some were perfectly happy with the share they were allocated; others felt they got too little And then there were some who failed to grasp a fundamental truth about the way love worked, which was that you got back roughly the amount you put in. That was so basic that you would think that everybody would understand it, But they did not, for some reason, and had to learn the lesson — if they ever learned it — the hard way.”

Looking for You is a cozy read to pick up when you’re looking for an easy, fast read. The writing is good, and the characters are likable, but occasionally, the dialogue is heavy on advice/messaging regarding relationship topics, like a self-help book. The characters were interesting, and as they developed, I found I was interested in everyone's future outcomes. Though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I was delighted to find this new series by Alexander McCall Smith. I read the Sunday Philossophy Club books and these were very similar in style and feel. I thought the main characters from one might run across the other, in fact. Overall, a good read for fans of the Isabel Dalhousie series and one I will keep reading. I'm already working my way through the preceeding titles too. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Looking for You has all the charm and beauty one can expect from McCall Smith (even if the setting and stakes for searching are quite different from The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency). The writing is occasionally heavy-handed in its messaging or pretentious in its allusions. The characters, though, feel drawn directly from the earth: real, flawed, complex, lovable. I wasn’t expecting it, but Ness’ story became just as compelling to me as Katie’s and William’s. I adored all three of them - and Herb most of all! - and hope to read more about them in a future installment. While this is the second book in a series, I read it as a standalone with no problem. Reading this book was as cozy as curling up with a hot tea and soft blanket, and while the ending felt just right, it left me eager to read more! Five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon and Instagram upon the book’s publication.

A truly enjoyable read, blending sweetness with a heartfelt storyline. While some of the dialogue may feel lengthy, it’s well worth the investment, offering valuable insight into the characters and enriching the overall experience.