The Matchmaker's Gift

I found myself humming Matchmaker, Matchmaker throughout this gem of a book! Packed with historical accuracy, the power of family, the strength of two women, and oh yes…….love. This book had a little bit of everything and whole lot of heart. I highly recommend this read. Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.

This was a gorgeous, beautiful story. One that I truly fell in love with. The author delicately, gracefully, and strongly shares the stories of Sara and Abby. This is such a touching story and I truly enjoyed following along. I loved these women so so much and found their story simply beautiful. I highly recommend this! This is such a cozy read. Pick it up!

I've read all of Loigman's books, but I was particularly drawn to her latest because of the gorgeous cover. And this is the case where the inside is even more beautiful than the outside. I devoured this generational story of matchmaking and the powerful lessons of love and family. Loigman exquisitely writes with heart and history, two women bravely charting their own course with the help of a little magic. Fantastic, insightful read.

Really adored this one! Told by two perspectives Abby and her grandmother Sara, who has a divine gift of seeing soulmates. This book kept me up reading long past bedtime. A magical, intriguing story and memorable characters make this one a 5 star. A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC. Highly recommend it!

Jumping between modern day (well, mid-90s) and various points from 1910-1994, this book follows both Abby and her grandmother, Sara, as they go about their lives in the lower East Side. Sara makes her first match at the age of ten, and continues to matchmake most of her life. Abby doesn't realize she has the gift, too....until she does. It's a sweet, intergenerational story, sprinkled with Jewish culture and Yiddish sayings that bring an authentic vibe. I liked that it was set in the 90s, before life was complicated by social media and too-much technology. The story focused on the people, and the relationships that were organically created. This was a first from this author for me, but I'll be looking for more!

Oh my! This story is both captivating and sweet to the core. It’s one of those stories that takes you in and makes you want to . become a part of the family. I enjoyed wandering the New York streets in two time periods with two strong female characters. And really loved learning about the Jewish match making culture.

Sigh! I just loved this so much. Now I need to figure out how to incorporate some of my newly learned Yiddish (soulmate worthy) words into my vocabulary.

Note: Alice Huffman fans will like this one. Slightly magical and a lot of heart.

Wow, just wow! I really enjoyed reading this book! It is beautiful written, I was invested in the story within the first chapters! I love that this is the kind of book you can read easily, it’s so good that you don’t want to stop! It took me a day to finish it and I even didn’t feel the time. The characters are well written too, it’s easy to connect with them specially with Sara and Abby.
I definitely recommend reading this! Can’t wait until it comes out so more people can discover this amazing story! probably i will read it again!

Three for three!!

I loved this book just as much as I loved Ms. Loigman's first two novels: "The Two-Family House" and "The Wartime Sisters". Although the story explores Sara's matchmaking skills, it evenly shares the special bond of Grandmother and Granddaughter. The story was incredibly laid out and hooked me from the beginning! The true test of a novel is whether or not I am thinking about the characters when I'm not reading....I needed to know about Sara's path and about Abby's self-discovery.

This book absolutely did not disappoint! I am so happy to have had the opportunity to read the ARC and I'm glad that Ms. Loigman decided to pause the story she was writing to pursue this one. Good Call!! I am looking forward to your next wonderful novel....hopefully very soon!

This may be the best book I read all year! The Matchmaker's Gift is a dual timeline novel which tells the story of Sara who in 1910 at age 10 realizes she has a gift for helping others find love and makes her first of many love matches. The second timeline is that of Sara's granddaughter, Abby, who is a lawyer in 1994. The writing and the story line are just so much fun to read. Towards the end, I really didn't want this novel to end. I hope someone in the Hollywood elite decides to turn this book into a movie - or at least the author writes a sequel! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A dual timeline novel that is a wonderfully enjoyable read- but also one which weaves threads of historical fiction, magical realism, family, loyalty, and a dash of what it means to be a feminist at the beginning and end of the 20th century. While I loved Loigman's prior novels, this one somehow felt both lighter and deeper than her prior books - as grandmother Sara and granddaughter Abby both tap into their own parallel journeys to find true purpose in their lives - and how that definition both evolves and morphs as they grow up, grow older and develop wisdom that is both passed down and yet ultimately can only be found inside oneself. I loved the sprinkling of Yiddish and and Sara's many sage observations about life, love, family and finding one's bashert (soul mate). Many little pearls of wisdom are sprinkled throughout this multigenerational story. Highly recommend! *Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved everything about this novel. Any book about the lower east side at the turn of the century has my heart from the first line, but Loigman's story and characters are so endearing they will stay in my heart forever. I was equally invested in both Sara's and Abby's stories and the author's descriptions of settings, dress and food really made each of their stories come to life. The Yiddish phrases and touches throughout reminded me of my grandmother and the moments of magical realism made the story even more emotional and satisfying. I couldn't possibly love this book any more and will read anything and everything Loigman writes. Don't miss this wonderful book!

I absolutely adored this novel! The Matchmaker’s Gift is a heartwarming story about Sara Glikman and her beloved granddaughter, Abby. Starting in the early 1900’s Sara discovered she had a gift for matchmaking. In the wake of her death in 1994, Sara leaves her matchmaking journals to Abby who isn’t quite sure what to do with them. Abby just so happens to be a divorce attorney, which is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum than her grandmother’s profession. It was at this point that I found this book unputdownable!

I had such a close relationship with my own grandmother, so I was initially drawn to the gradmother/granddaughter aspect of this book. Lynda Cohen Loigman created such realistic and endearing characters that hooked me immediately. I think she completely nailed the intricacies of the familial relationships throughout the novel which is the reason I felt so emotionally invested the entire way through—love that! The storyline was very original and The Matchmaker’s Gift will definitely be a novel that stays with me! I highly recommend this 5+++ star novel to everyone!

Thank you to the author, net galley and publisher for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book from Lynda Cohen Loigman that I have read and loved. This cozy, curl up novel hits all the feels in all the best ways. Written in a dual timeline between a grandmother and granddaughter who share the gift of matchmaking. With just the right amount of magical realism, the novel hits on family, Jewish tradition and the belief that everyone has a love match that will last forever.

I really cannot praise this book enough. It is exactly the type of book that you want to slow read and savor every word. The kind of book that stays with you and you are a bit disappointed when it ends. I am giving this all the stars. Happy Reading!!

A heartwarming gem of a gift to its readers! I absolutely loved, loved, loved this charming, gorgeously written, well researched tale of a Jewish immigrant woman blessed with magical matchmaking skills and her divorce lawyer granddaughter. From the setting on the Lower East side of Manhattan during the early 20th century, to the experiences of the granddaughter working at a high-powered law firm in Manhattan in 1994, this novel struck me as pitch perfect. And its cover is exquisite. The Matchmaker’s Gift will unquestionably be one of my favorite reads of 2022. Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin’s for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really (REALLY!) enjoyed this book. Sometimes "Matchmaker" books can be a little trite and predictable, but I just loved these characters and would love to read this book again (and I don't say that very often). This one grabbed my heart-strings and didn't make me cry.

Loved this book so much that I'm going to try to read other books by Lynda Cohen Loigman; as once again I thank NetGalley for introducing me to GREAT authors that I've overlooked. So The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters are now on my To Be Read list.

Sara (the grandmother) has the matchmaking gift and passes away. Abby is a divorce lawyer and "inherits" her grandmothers journals.

Wonderfully written. (heart emoji, heart emoji) Also really loved the authors note and how much Lynda Cohen Loigman pulled historical events into portraying this book. Kudos.

Thank you very much to NetGalley, the author Lynda Cohen Loigman (who wrote in the midst of covid and travel restrictions) and St. Martin's Press the publisher for the opportunity to read the advance read of The Matchmaker's Gift in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 20 Sept 2022.

I was a big fan of Lynda Cohen Loigman's previous books so I was excited to read her latest without even seeing the premise. But then... the premise... and... that cover ... and I was even more excited. I knew very little about the profession of matchmaking and found it endlessly fascinating and I love the way in which Loigman decided to bring matchmaking to life through Sara's and Abby's story. Hands down. I adored this book.

This is one of the very best books I have ever read! The story was unique and the characters were marvelous! The story is told from two timelines. It begins with Sara in 1910 and then to Abby in 1994. Sara is Abby’s grandmother and the story opens with the recent death of Sara. Sara was a matchmaker, a genuine one, at a time when women should not be matchmakers especially when not married. Sara finally stands up for herself, determined to use her gift. She has left many journals for Abby. Has Abby inherited her grandmother’s gift? Read on to find out! This was a simply delightful and heartwarming story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In THE MATCHMAKER’S GIFT, matchmaking is as much a curse as a blessing; our two heroines definitely do not spend time wishing they could become ‘matchmakers.’ Rather, they find themselves bestowed with a gift, almost a second sight, wherein they see connections between people in love. In this regard, they work against the popular stereotype of the matchmaker as someone who ingratiates themselves into the community and searches for matches, as much to earn a living as to make a match. Author Lynda Cohen Loigman has written an engrossing dual timeline story about a grandmother/granddaughter, both able to detect matches despite their own misgivings about true love, and both struggle to overcome obstacles as they come to terms with their skills. This is a book that is difficult to put down and once finished, impossible to forget. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A wonderful and heart-warming read about the connection between a grandmother and her granddaughter, and the power of love. Learning about the history of Jewish matchmakers was a fascinating aspect to this book, and the character development was well thought-out. A highly recommended read!

Lynda Cohen Loigman has quickly become one of my very favorite authors! And this new book did not disappoint. I loved the dual timeline stories equally, which isn’t always the case for me. Highly recommend preordering this one! And I hope Lynda will hurry and write another! 💜

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC.

You are going to love this book! And maybe by the end you will believe in soulmates. It’s a beautiful storyline bouncing through the timelines of a grandmother and granddaughter. A story of love and in the belief of soulmates as well as a peek into beautiful cultural traditions. It’s been hard to put down! Highly recommend you pick it up when it releases in September. You will not regret it.

Absolutely loved this book! My fave of 2022 so far. Loigman weaves a story that needs to read, rich characters that reveal deep cultural history and immerse the reader into a world they want to be a part of. A bit mystical, an engaging historical, and at its heart a love story.

The Matchmaker's Gift is a beautiful story interweaving two generations with a delicate balance of cause and affect. Grandmother and granddaughter share a gift of matchmaking. Sara navigates the male dominant Jewish matchmakers of the early twentieth century while Abby struggles to understand the gift passed to her from her grandmother. This book is a reminder to learn from the past because some of the lessons can make our future so much easier.
I voluntarily received a copy of the book from Netgalley.

This cover is amazing. Hard copy of this book is a must for my collection. You will love every single page of this book. I laughed and cried. This is one of those that will surely be rereading. Love love love it

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for my ARC

I really enjoyed this book! I like reading books with dual storylines and really appreciate historical fiction based on true events. Learning more about other cultures is an added bonus! This book checked all the boxes. I loved characters, the family relationships and references to food. Thus book was a joy to read.

The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The stunning, colorful cover grabbed me, and I adored the author's last book, THE WARTIME SISTERS. Although fantasy is not usually the genre I crave, I had to give Lynda Loigman's latest novel a try.

And I'm so glad I did!

Abby, a late-century divorce attorney, comes across journals belonging to her beloved grandmother, Sara. Sara had a gift for matchmaking at a time when only Jewish men on New York's Lower East Side earned money in that vocation. Is it possible Sara has passed this gift along to her granddaughter?

Along with a delightful and heartwarming storyline, I loved learning about Jewish culture and the historical tradition of Jewish matchmaking.

Beautiful. Charming. Heartwarming. Timeless. Romantic. Emotional. Compelling. Absorbing. Delightful. Magical. This novel is a gift to readers. One of the best books I've read in 2022.

So sweet & perfect. This book had everyone that I love in it, historical fiction, romance, and a little magical realism. This book was also heartwarming and was just an all around lovely tale. I hope to read more from this author!

When I first read the synopsis of this book I knew that this was going to be a reading experience unlike any other I've had. The Matchmaker's Gift is a what I'd imagine people who were fans of Disney/Pixar films in their youth would be interested in and it won't disappoint! I was thoroughly entertained by the journey through time this book takes you on and thought that the plot twists were amazing. The only critique I have for this book is that I felt like I didn't get to see Sara or Abby's romances in enough detail to where I would be invested in their relationships.

Right now I’m experiencing a combined euphoria and frustration that only happens when I’ve finished a book that is so good, I wonder if I can do it justice. Even explaining what The Matchmaker’s Gift is about does not come easily, but I know it is about things that mean a great deal to me, personally: family, ancestors, tradition, connections, intuition, and a bit of the unknown.

In two brilliantly woven story lines we learn about Sara and Abby. Sara is an immigrant in the early 1900’s. Crammed into New York tenement housing with her traditional Jewish family, she learns early on that she has a gift for matchmaking. A gift that borders on the supernatural. This does not bode well with the community matchmakers, a bullying group of stodgy men who care more about profit than people. Add to that, the fact that Sara is a young, unmarried girl who demands no fee. Most importantly, she is never wrong.

Fast forward to the 1990s. Abby is Sara’s granddaughter. An attorney who works in family law (i.e. divorces and prenups,) Abby has grown up listening to her grandmother’s stories and imparted wisdom. Jaded by her parents’ divorce, her father’s broken promises, and continual office drama, Abby’s expectations for love are pretty low. Thankfully, her innate sensitivity and relationship with her grandmother sustain her.

When Sara dies and leaves Abby several notebooks for her to read, the parallels begin. Side by side we see a young Sara and Abby, the struggling lawyer, navigate a harsh world that is all about the bottom line. Both crusade to change their little corners for the better, rallying against others who think they know better. They have their allies, their obstacles and–through a special gift–they have each other.

The more we learn about those they help, the more we see that thread that binds us all. I even found myself making guesses about which characters were destined for each other. “A lid for every pot,” as Grandma Sara would say. And, speaking as someone who met her spouse in the most unlikely way in 2009, you just never know.

Mark your calendars for September 20 when this book becomes widely available. It’s a gem.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Rivka Holler of St. Martin's Press for bringing this story to my attention

Oh my gosh I absolutely adored this dual narrative! The tale of matchmaker Sara Glikman throughout the decades of the 1900's and her granddaughter Abby, a divorce lawyer in 1994 was a heartwarming story that I fell so intensely in love with. I am crowning it with a 5 star rating because I can honestly find no flaws. There was honestly NOTHING that bothered me or made me feel it didn't fit with the character's actions or the author's writing. I enjoyed both female protagonists and the journey that the author takes us on with the story. I was fortunate to have a fantastic relationship with my maternal grandmother and so that grounded me to Sara and Abby's stories.

The sad thing is that I am going to recommend the heck out of this book and most of my friends will have to wait until September to read it. 🤣🤣


Expected Publication Date 20/09/22
Goodreads Review Published 28/07/22

The Matchmaker’s Gift has all the right ingredients for an enthralling read—history, humor, romance, mystery, and a dash of magic! (cue matchmaker song from Fidler on the Roof). If you have a fondness for the special relationships between a grandmother and her granddaughter, then this is exactly the type of book to warm your heart. Growing up Jewish this book really touched me and I didn't want it to end. This book brims with optimism, a cast of colorful characters, and two smart heroines who dare to forge their own brave paths in life. I was completely charmed by this clever dual-timeline novel!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

Lynda Cohen Loigman's The Matchmaker's Gift is a sensational book that will grab your heart. The story is refreshing and without violence. The Matchmaker's Gift is a delightful uplifting read that you should not miss.

Synopsis:
Abby is a successful divorce lawyer. Sadly, her grandmother Sara passed away. Sara left Abby her private journals, which surprised her. Sara was a matchmaker who was forced to keep secrets. What will the journals reveal about the truth?

The Matchmaker's Gift is a beautifully written novel told in alternating timelines. Loveable characters, Sara and Abby share a deep bond that is inspiring to read about. A joy to be swept up in, this book lifted my spirits.

The Matchmaker's Gift is available on September 20th. (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for sharing this heartwarming book with me. Your kindness is appreciated. I love every page of it!

I picked up this book at night - what a mistake! I had to force myself to put it down so I could get a little sleep! From the first chapter on, it had me engrossed in the story. What I really loved was the background of traditions and the evolution of thinking of these traditions in a new land. The characters were so wonderful and fun to get to know. I just loved this book!.

I loved this book! The Matchmaker’s Gift is a delightful read written in dual timelines consisting of the story of a young divorce attorney, Abby, in 1994 and her matchmaking grandmother, Sara, starting in 1910 until the timelines converge in 1994. I adored both timelines. The story is filled with hope, loss, a bit of conflict, and a lot of love!

To top it off, the cover is absolutely beautiful and the author’s note (which I typically skim) was informative and interesting. This book will give you the warm fuzzies and keep you thinking about it long after the last line!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

I adored The Matchmaker's Gift. Told from the dual perspectives of Sara, a Jewish matchmaker in early 1900s NYC ,and her granddaughter Abby, a divorce lawyer, it is the type of escapist novel the world needs right now -with a touch of magic, incredibly well drawn characters, fascinating historical details and two protagonists that you root for from the very first page. It's a beautiful, whimsical story of family and love and finding your place in the world. I loved it!

This plot is so good that I hated to put the book down. The pages kept turning.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A feel-good book about the magic of love -- and the mysterious way connections are made! Abby's grandmother, Sara, was a matchmaker -- a power that Abby, a single New York divorce lawyer, confronts in unexpected ways as she figures out the right path for herself in life and love. I enjoyed all the elements of Jewish culture and history In this novel, especially surrounding the very important role of the matchmaker. And I also loved the secondary characters in this novel -- the colorful Victor, the desperate Evelyn, the earnest Jessica, and more. This was a fun, hopeful novel with a message about love that transcends the generations. Highly recommend!