The Unmatchmakers- Review
The Unmatchmakers
By Jackie Lau
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: June 28,2022
Publisher: Kobo Originals
Source: Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 Stars
Description:
From the author of DONUT FALL IN LOVE comes a perfect summer love story set in the forested paradise of Canadian cottage country that asks the question: can love beat the odds when the odds are two mothers dead-set against it?
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You’d think my mother would be trying to set me up with architect Neil Choy, the unmarried son of her best friend. But you’d be wrong.
My single mother has always been fiercely independent. Since I was a small child, she’s always told me not to believe in fairy tales and that I don’t need a man. So she’s failed to mention that Neil is a total hottie in glasses. When I see him for the first time in a decade, on a multi-family cottage vacation, I’m in for quite a shock. (In fact, I nearly fall in the lake, but let’s keep that a secret.)
He sure can grill a mean steak and mix a killer cocktail, plus he’s pretty impressive in a kayak. Yes, he’s a little stern and grumpy, but that just makes him more fun to tease—and makes it more satisfying when he quirks his lips in my direction.
Even though my mind is spinning romantic fantasies, I’m not entirely sure how he feels. And I’m afraid that if anything happens between us, it’ll screw up the friendship between our staunchly anti-relationship mothers. Especially since they’ve been acting increasingly weird since we arrived—I will never forgive them for the S’mores Incident. In fact, I think they’re trying to sabotage my love life, and I’m starting to worry that I won’t make it through this bizarre summer vacation…
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Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang’s THE BRIDE TEST and THE DONUT TRAP by Julie Tieu, THE UNMATCHMAKERS is a forced-proximity, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy that explores finding the balance of meeting expectations and being true to yourself, and how even the best of intentions can sometimes backfire.
Review:
Jackie Lau’s books are always a delight and that holds true for The Unmatchmakers. In this story, she takes the stereotype of match making Asian mothers and turns it on its head. Told from Leora’s point of view, this story centers on a reunion of sorts. Leora joins her mother, her mother’s friends, and their children for a week at their new lake house. There she is reunited with Neil (one of the friend’s sons) and is immediately head over heels for this shy, attractive guy in glasses. As Neil and Leora grow closer together and are clearly attracted to each other, their mother’s start to get in the way. Hilarious antics ensure as the moms try to keep them apart. Even amid the humor and heart, there is the undercurrent of generational trauma; the moms are being influenced by their past heartbreaks in trying to keep Neil and Leora apart. This leads to heartfelt healing throughout the book as well. The only think that would have made this book better is scenes from Neil’s POV. But even then, Leora’s voice worked as the story teller and I didn’t mind it. Honestly, this book was a quick read, engaging and as delicious as S’mores!
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