Cover Image: Match Made in Manhattan

Match Made in Manhattan

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Match Made in Manhattan by Amanda Stuaffer was a fun, honest exploration and revelation about online dating experiences, finding connections while maintaining integrity and self concept. Was rooting for the heroine in finding a relationship, and I thought the ending was clever. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Great idea for a book and really well executed. A thoroughly good read. Highly recommended. .

Was this review helpful?

So I have had this copy on my Kindle for ever and seem to have passed it numerous times and not clicked on the cover for some reason. I am a bit of a sucker for a nice or funny cover and I guess this one just doesn't appeal to me as much as some other may.

When I read the synopsis of the book, I thought it would be really funny and it is, in fate hilarious in places. It gave a feel of 'Sex in the City' back in the early days when the girls were looking for that perfect date which seemed impossible in New York City. There are various guys in this book, too many to mention in fact that Alison meets on Match.com, it makes me so happy that I am not on the dating scene in this digital age. Alison has her work out out for her some dates and magical and swoon worthy and other so cringeworthy I am sure I was pulling faces whilst reading. I am certain lots of women out there can relate to this book which makes for a fast paced, entertaining read. I will definitely check out the authors other work, just sorry it took me so long to get around to this one.

Thank you for Netgalley UK and the author, and publisher for a ARC on this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I didn't hate this book and didn't like it either, that's the review in a nutshell. But if I expand on why I didn't like this book, it's because of the dialogues being choppy, the inclusion of the "not like other girls" trope A LOT OF TIMES, all the countless men literally look and sound the same (which given could be true in real life but still) and most of all, the plot felt repetitive. I feel like this book could've been way stronger if it was shorter. The good things were basically the strong female friendships and Alison being focused on her career which you don't see too often in books.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book! It’s possible that’s because I too have been through this horrible dating spell and know what it’s like to have to nickname the guys you go out with and then recount everything about yourself to people over and over again, but it was fun to read it in Alison’s perspective because she is different. Her career is awesome, she has amazing friends and lives in the great NYC. I think it’s a quirky and fun read. The ending was my absolute favorite, I wasn’t expecting it at all and felt like a lot of girls who are caught up in the god awful online dating world could benefit from the last few pages.

Was this review helpful?

I learned two important things reading this book: online dating sucks for fictional characters too and I want to be friends with Alison. This book really nailed all the highs and horrible lows of trying to find a date online. From bad dates to worse dates, it hits all the right spots.

Seriously though, if you are single and trying the online dating thing, read this. If you aren't single read this and see how hard it truly is for those of us that are online dating.

Was this review helpful?

. . . . .

Was this review helpful?

This book is fantastic. It has humor, heart and characters that you will certainly remember! There is sheer and utter genius in this book and anyone reading it will be rooting for love from start to finish. A great read for gal pals to read together or for those wanting to have a book at book club that will certainly spark great conversations. A must read!

Was this review helpful?

Match Made in Manhattan was fun, insightful and interesting. Enjoyed reading this.

A sweet, witty, honest and cool Alison is at the heart of this novel and will keep you headily entertained with her dating life.

The realistic epiphanical ending was satisfying but I would have liked a bit more closure for Alison—but more for myself. If you know what I mean.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this review copy.

​Match Made in Manhattan hit shelves on January 23rd 2018.

Was this review helpful?

A fun, light story about getting back into dating using online services. It was fun reading about Alison's different dates and getting a different perspective on the online dating world. Would be a fun bookclub book!

Was this review helpful?

Having never used an online dating service, this was hard for me to relate to. I feel younger people will enjoy this book and get more from it than I did.

Was this review helpful?

After breaking up with her boyfriend of three years, Alison decides to try online dating for the first time. Going through many first dates, less second dates, and even fewer follow-up dates, Amanda is looking for The One but all she seems to find are more friends to add to her already wide circle of friends.
I wanted to like this novel because the synopsis seemed very intriguing but I can’t say I did. The plot is enjoyable, there are a few funny moments and a surprising ending but the story drags too long. The book is completely – and I mean completely – focused on Alison’s dating life. Each chapter is about each man she goes out with, their dates, and their messages. Her friends and family are only a support as they listen to her dating stories. There are no other storylines or subplots (just a tiny bit about her job) to change the pace of the story. I know this was a story about the dating life of a twenty-something woman in Manhattan but I think the dating part was a little overdone. (NoemiP)

Was this review helpful?

After breaking up with her boyfriend of three years, Alison decides to try online dating for the first time. Going through many first dates, less second dates, and even fewer follow-up dates, Amanda is looking for The One but all she seems to find are more friends to add to her already wide circle of friends.

I wanted to like this novel because the synopsis seemed very intriguing but I can’t say I did. The plot is enjoyable, there are a few funny moments and a surprising ending but the story drags too long. The book is completely – and I mean completely – focused on Alison’s dating life. Each chapter is about each man she goes out with, their dates, and their messages. Her friends and family are only a support as they listen to her dating stories. There are no other storylines or subplots (just a tiny bit about her job) to change the pace of the story. I know this was a story about the dating life of a twenty-something woman in Manhattan but I think the dating part was a little overdone.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free ecopy of this book from #Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an honest review. This was a fun light book. Alison and her boyfriend have just broken up after having dated for years. She decides to try online dating. We follow Alison on her dating adventures and there are many. After each disaster she picks herself up and gets back online. The conversations between her and her suitors are witty and fun. The book takes place in NYC and I always like to read about the different locations in the city. Alison also has an interesting job and great supportive friends to round out the book. I enjoyed the writing and the style of the book with a lot of it through email, text etc. (less)

Was this review helpful?

This book....this book....was okay. It's not groundbreaking literature that is going to change the world...and it's not the worst book I've ever read. It's just...a simple, 'chick lit' type book.

Dating and New York are easy topics to write about. Adding in technology is an easy way to add a 'date' to the premise. Allison has a job as an architectural conservator and distracts herself with online dating. Through all of the flirty email exchanges and 'Pants On Policy, Allison grows up. See....nothing too ground breaking. It's an easy read for a rainy night when going to the bars would require you to put on pants.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Fun light debut novel about dating and life in your thirties. Alison is having a rough time between failed relationships and work, which has always been her priority. Is using a data app the solution? Well, it's something different for her and it does introduce her to a lot of mostly unsuitable men. She keeps her sense of humor, which is good because sometimes this sort of novel goes sideways and bitter. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This isn't deep but it made me chuckle more than once.

Was this review helpful?

Alison had two dead end relationships. Alison is looking for someone to settle down with. Alison is mature, focused, and knew what she wants in a guy. Alison’s job, boss, and stress she has. Alison with the support if her girlfriends and family sign up for Match.com which was an internet computer dating site.
I liked this story a lot also the plot and pace. I liked how Alison’s prioritizes her career. I also liked how Alison’s attitude changed as times went on in this book. I also liked the humor of this book. I also enjoyed finding out about the next guy Alison had a date with. I really liked how Alison gave her dates “ the pants speech”. I also liked how this book showed some of the weirdness of online dating. This did drag at times for me. Sometimes it was also hard to tell between the many men in this book.I didn’t like how judgemental Alison could be to her dates. But to me the pros outweigh the cons. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This is between 3 and 3.5 for me, though I’m leaning closer to 3. I found the character, Alison, to be so rude and snobbish that I hated her. I truly rooted for the guys to wise up and realize she wasn’t worth it each time. She was picky about stupid stuff and found flaws in all these great guys. She was embarrassed by one guy that I actually thought she’d end up with! She complained to her friends about how weird he was. She needed to get over herself.

At a point in the book, she says that she previously thought a guy to be funny and then realizes she was actually the funny one. No, so wrong. The guys were the best part about this story and made it worth reading.

I do think the author has potential to write enjoyable chick lit in the future, but I think this one misses the mark slightly.

I read an ARC of this through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Rating 3.5/5
This novel is about Alison, a woman that after two long-term relationships she doesn't know how the Modern Adult Dating work. Encourage by her best friends she sign to a Match.com account and she started having dates with a lot of men. Her biggest struggle is that is expected that after the third date she get sex with her date, which is something she won't do because she strongly believes that in order to have sex with someone she needs to be sure their relationship is going somewhere -not marriage but that is not a one night stand.
It was interesting to see how she manages the pressure around her with the sex subject because she had strong ideals. She was a very independent, open mind woman and her best friends did not necessarily had the same beliefs as her but they supported her 100% which was nice.
I found the book more interesting that I expected and had fun reading it... However there are things that I found annoying. 1. There where a lot of guys... So it was hard for me to remember which one she was dating. 2. There is not that 'Manhattan' setting as I was expecting, and because of the title I was a little disappointed. They kind of trick me! I mean, the setting could fit anywhere in the planet and it would still be a fun read. 3. I felt the book was also Match.com adversiment.
Overall was a fun read as I already write, is a contemporary, chick lit novel

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun and addictive read—I felt like I was having a flashback to my own dysfunctional experience with online dating.

After a break-up from a long-time boyfriend, Allison jumps into the online dating pool full force, and the stories that result are a series of sometimes unfortunate but always hilarious dates. Each chapter of the book represents a different online guy, and the conversations and experiences are SO true to real life. I have been on many online dating sites myself, and Allison’s experiences definitely mirrored my own. Allison struggles to find her Mr. Right, but she learns more about herself and what she values in a partner throughout the book.

At times, the number of characters gets overwhelming, but it doesn’t take away from the flow of the story. This is a great read for anyone who has experienced the world of online dating—you will definitely be able to relate to the off-color emails and the in-person awkwardness that comes with the territory of Match.com and other sites. A quick but fun read!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

Was this review helpful?