An Unorthodox Match tells the story of Leah Howard. The author begins the "Lola" story with a few pieces of her growing up. so what I found intriguing was the fact that her father, whom she meets just a few times, is Jewish. Her mother was semi jaded and bitter, the author takes care in addressing a lot of that. Now her mother is with Ravi an man from India that doesn't embrace his beginnings either. They lead a life in California living together and not doing anything to help Lola with her troubles. She was born Lola but changes her name to Leah when she decides to embrace the world of Orthodox Judaism. This is what I found so interesting. Leah's father was a Jew too and she sort of suddenly embraces this religion because she has always been searching and never belonged to anything. 

Leah moves to Boro Park, Brooklyn- the place where I grew up. She is trying to recover from the death of her fiancé. This is the first huge plot twist. The death is finally spoken of. Leah finds a place to volunteer, a purpose, a way to give back, which is a huge part of her religious exploration. Sometimes the rules are not easy to follow. I know a lot of people may not get the book like I did, but growing up around Chassidic Jews, I found it very interesting. 

The other component is Yaakov Lehman, a widower who has five children. His wife passed and through the struggles with his Mother-Inlaw, he accepts volunteer help. This part of the story has a lot of DRAMA. His oldest daughter Shaindele is a B*tch. A somewhat troubled teen. This is exposed as well as his wife's death. HUGE

Will Yaakov and Leah be able to overcome these family obstacles? WOW what a book. I hope that IF you are searching for something to quench your thirst in the heat, you grab this. I totally loved the author's style, the scenery in Brooklyn and the tale of how the community can help and hurt a person. For me, the book brought back very happy memories.

I admit that I’m not well educated in the different sects of Judaism. I depend on great authors like Naomi Ragen to help me understand that extremely complex world. Usually, she does a great job.

Lola is looking for a sense of purpose and roots. She has known the world and all it’s twenty-first century trappings and tragedies. Yet she longs for a simpler life. That is why she has decided to join a Jewish Orthodox community in Brooklyn, New York. She has even changed her name to Leah.

Yaakov has recently lost his wife. He is struggling to raise his five children and continue his studies of the Torah. He has gotten a lot of support from family and friensds, but he know she needs more; he needs a wife.

As Leah and Yaakov navigate the idea of an arranged marriage, the attraction the feel for each other creates problem after problem.

I had an extremely difficult time with this book. At times, as in the first 40 pages, there was too much information on the various forms of Judiasm, which I had to read at least three times. I was never clear if some of the words were Yiddish or Hebrew. And if it was explained, I missed it. I’m sure that this is why I didn’t care about the characters for the rest of the story.

The story seems well-written, the plot seems strong. But this just wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s the reader, not the writer in this instance. I feel bad about my ranking, but it’s an honest opinion. “An Unorthodx Match” receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Leah Howard feels ungrounded in life. When she suffers the greatest trauma, witnessing her fiancé’s death, she makes a decision that is dismissed by her mother as insane. Traveling to Brooklyn to learn about the orthodox Jewish community, she finds a new peace. Trying so hard to learn, understand and embrace the strict laws and practices, she meets several members of the community resistant to accept her.. While volunteering to help a widowed scholar with keeping his household, she falls in love with caring for his young children. Yaakov Lehman, the scholar, is lonely, troubled and miserable, bearing a guilt for his wife’s death. Experiencing firsthand Leah’s compassion, he sees a new light in his dark existence. Naomi Ragen pits this couple against the hypocrisy of a community which preaches acceptance but practices intolerance. Facing what seems to be insurmountable obstacles, will they find a solution? Another richly textured work by this author.

First of all I want to thank Netgalley and St Martins Press for the arc. of this book. I have always been a fan of Naomi Ragen. This was a very interesting and eye opening read. I loved the story and the character development so much. If you don't know anything about the Chassidic community, you will certainly learn a lot from this read.

I was very disappointed in this book. I have read almost all of Naomi Ragen's books and have really enjoyed them. However, I just didn't like this one. I found the story to be very predictable; you knew how it was going to end up both with Leah, her mother, Jacob and his children. The book became bogged down in the middle. I felt that some of the time the ultra orthodox community was accurately portrayed while at other times it just seemed a little too far fetched such as some of Leah's "dates" and her comments following them.
I, also, did not like all the jewish/yiddish/hebrew words throughout the book. Some I knew, some I didn't but I didn't find the glossary until I was at the end of the story. When reading an advanced copy on a kindle/ipad you have no idea there is a glossary at the end of the book until you get there. By then it was too late to go back to try and figure out which sayings I didn't understand. I think there was just too much of that throughout the entire story.

A very interesting a slightly unusual look at a woman, a man, and an Orthodox Jewish community. It did slow down a bit in the middle which was unfortunate because I liked the idea of the woman finding herself in the community but it made the book more of a slog than it could have been.

Not sure if this is a three or four star book for me (maybe a 3.5?) It's a unique and compelling romance that's also doing a lot of cultural heavy lifting. The first element, I perhaps appreciated more than the later. I think I struggled that this book sometimes wanted to have it both ways--to be both an outsider's tale, while selling us on the value of being an insider too.

I can see where this book might not be a hit with wide audiences. There is a lot of terminology specific to the Orthodox Jewish community in it. If you're reading on a Kindle, it's easy to look up most of these terms. (Less so if you're reading in print.)

There is a also a lot of education being provided about this community and why you would choose to join or not join it. Sometimes all of that information can feel a little overwhelming (and, when it comes to the role of women in t that community, perhaps a little shallow in scope?) and some of the side characters (like the doctor friend) seemed to exist merely to present us with differing perspectives, rather than serving a more authentic role in the plot.

Ultimately though, this is a character-driven story and Leah, Yaakov and his children are interesting characters. You want these two to finally end up together, even if you sometimes question their motivations in doing so. I was really drawn in by the central conflict of this community being open to Leah wanting to join them, at the same time they're continually closing ranks to protect and isolate themselves--how piousness can sometimes devolve into exclusion/isolation.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast read, it didn’t take me too long to finish this. It was captivating and enjoyable. It was interesting and different , a bit out of my norm, but so nice to read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

I enjoyed the book very much. Part of my enjoyment was, admittedly, because I'm Jewish and there are few books that show Orthodox Judaism with any accuracy. This book shows a specific segment of Orthodox Jews in Boro Park and is a fairly accurate portrait.. Non-Jews reading the book might enjoy a visit to a different culture, with both the joys and the warts. Leah's journey from a secular person to a religious Jew was enlightening and involving, as was the description of her experience in the insular Boro Park community. I admittedly was confused as to why she picked that community, of all places to live in, when there were other, less closed Orthodox communities.. It was never really explained well.. It did make for an interesting plot, though, so maybe I'm being picky. I also felt that things were too neatly resolved at the end - romance novel style. It is a feel good book, cleanly written, about a culture that gets little light shed on it.

I enjoyed the story although I always remind myself that this is a work of fiction and only one woman’s viewpoint. I also thought that Ragen’s characters were sometimes a bit one-dimensional and predictable. That being said, this was a good quick read.

In the beginning, I struggled to get interested in this book. It started slow, and there were a lot of words I didn't understand (I didn't know there was a glossary in the back until I finished the book). The portrayal of the autistic man (and Leah's other dates) were very problematic for me, and at that point, I nearly quit reading. I didn't, and I do think the story did improve somewhat in the second half.

4 Incredibly Insightful Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
No author wants a low scoring review. After all, writing books and then hitting that publish button is like giving birth. Once their creation is out in the world, all control is lost and how it is received is up to the reader. I mention this because I learned of this book through a review which crossed my feed. It had not been well received and I was curious as to why. I discovered it was on NetGalley and was lucky enough to get it.

Now this book may not be for everyone, but for me, I was drawn in from the start. This had moments of clarity and insight. There were moments of pain. But above all else, if you stripped away all of the "extra verbiage and unique cultural nuances", it was a story about who we as people can either be generous and loving or hypocritical and cruel or actually a combination of all of the above.

Which is universal.

It was not perfect for me but it had a definite perspective and was willing to go all-in with it. If you were open-minded, there was much to learn...Again, there was a type of agenda presented...but as an openly religious book, that was to be expected.

For me, it made me think, analyze, be retrospective and appreciative. Any book that encourages all of those actions, is a positive one for me.


A gifted copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley - enjoyable read with a satisfying, if not predictable, ending.

This novel opens the world of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish enclave of Boro Park Brooklyn. A lapsed Jew has returned and become more religious. She lost her fiance in a freak accident. She meets a widower who lost her wife and left him with five children, three of whom are still living at home. The two star-crossed non-lovers -- for after all, the religious don't date the same way the rest of us do -- eventually become more involved, trying to stay in their observant lanes and still work around the limits of their community and faith. There is a lot of Yiddish expressions in their dialogue that is realistic but still some rough going for those of us that haven't brushed up on the language. Having known a few religious members of other communities, it is a very realistic portrait of the foibles, fears, and motivations behind this culture. The issue of accepting converts -- even from someone who was born Jewish, just not Jewish enough -- are also discussed and the characters have some difficult choices to make along the way too. Well worth reading.

This book was very good! It was very interested in the lives of the characters and thought they had well built out lives, including everyone who wasn't exactly on the side of the main characters. There were a few unexpected twists and they were well written. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately, I stopped reading this book early on. My interest was lacking but it had nothing to do with the Jewish culture or subject. It seemed too detailed for me.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Although I am an agnostic, I absolutely love seeing anything about the Hasidic community in New York City. I find the culture absolutely fascinating, the sense of community is something I really envy. This is a great book, it gave me a whole different insight into the culture of this community . It was a great love story, all the great characters. I look forward to reading more from this author, Who has great insight into who these people are, their family values, and all the little things that go on when you are part of such a great community. The characters of Leah , her mother, Her husband to be an all his children play simply fabulous. Thank you so much for my advanced copy. I will look forward to reading more from this author..

I like reading Ragen’s book for the unflinching look at the world of orthodox Jews. Ragen offers honest insight about both sincere faith and judgmental hypocrisy. Her characters and storytelling, while not the most sophisticated, are generally engaging. In this latest book, Ragen examines the journey of a Baal Teshuva, a Jew who chooses orthodox lifestyle without having been raised in that environment.
I was intrigued by the contradictions she illustrated in which the community both encourages all Jews to be observant of Torah law, but treats those newly observant with suspicion and disdain. Several other aspects rang false however. The descriptions of a the secular world (bar hopping, casual hook ups, loneliness) lacks so much realism and nuance as to be laughable. Non-Orthodox Jews and non Jews alike live rich, fulfilling, and meaningful lives full of faith, religion, kindness, charity, and modesty. There is not a dividing line and Ragen does touch on that somewhat at times, but at others (particularly with the main character Leah), describes secular life as hedonistic and empty.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would continiue to read Ragen’s work. I must take issue, however, with her callous and one note descriptions of the characters who are described as obese and autistic (the bottom of the barrel potential matches for Leah ). Ragen does a disservice to us all by making them cartoonish and unappealing, rather than nuanced human beings. The author is similarly out of touch with her description of an African orthodox man (Leah’s jaw drops simply at the sight of him) and Leah’s lament that what was next, a “midget?”This kind of careless cruelty in unacceptable to me a reader. If the author is unaware of it, her editors should certainly have brought it to her attention.

From the first page to the last, I was totally entranced by this book. I am a reform Jew and have many family members who are orthodox.
I was familiar with the customs and the emotional issues these families face.
My family members are wonderful people, but are not interested in the reform members of the family. They do keep themselves apart from us.
But we do know they love us and would do anything we needed.
I have read many of Naomi Reagan’s books. This one was one of the best!

Naomi Ragen’s “ Unorthodox Match” is a fascinating insight into the world of life in Borough Park, Brooklyn. It is a beautiful and touching story of Leah and her long journey to find herself and ultimate happiness. The author does a spectacular job of research and pulling the reader into this wonderful story. The depth of knowledge she shares is amazing. Filled with such warmth and understanding of a culture most are never privy to. I could not put this book down. It is just a fantastic read. I can’t wait to pick up another book by Ms. Ragen.