I do not give five stars easily but “An Unorthodox Match” earns each of those five stars! At its simplest, it is the story of Leah a women recently converting to Orthodox Judaism, and Yaakov, a Talmud Scholar, and recent widow. The book explores the challenges they face in searching for a meaningful relationship while honoring the tenants of their faith. The book takes nothing for granted, however, and there is not simply one right answer on how to live. The grace of this book is that it takes the assumptions we make not only about our own religion but others’ religion and holds them up to examination and light. As the characters struggle to be true to their faith in a rich and meaningful way we are taken on a journey that allows the reader to explore their own spiritual choices. And while the focus is Judaism, the book touches Catholicism, Buddhism, and Sikhism as well. Reading “An Unorthodox Match”, left me feeling like I had just taken a wondrous adventure to a foreign country! And like all foreign travel, it expanded my knowledge and challenged my own beliefs. I thoroughly recommend this book! It was the first time I have read Naomi Ragen, but it certainly will not be the last! I was honored to receive a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

At first, I thought this book was going to show, how the secular world is bad, and Jewish Orthodox is good. However, it turned out to be a very honest insight into both worlds. There is a lot of soul searching, looking for what matters, finding an anchor, dealing with loss, and loneliness. The author is not hiding any flaws of the religious community, she is exposing the hypocrisy, but in a kind and humorous way. The story is not heavy on tradition or kosher laws, but rather on human heart, and doing what is right.

The characters are well developed, we get to know everyone, and can sympathize. The cover of the book does not do it justice. Leah is a lot more modest than the pictures shows. Also she has a small tattoo on her wrist, and not a huge one on her back. There is neither huge contrast between them, nor scandal. Both Yaakov and Leah are very proper characters.

I really enjoyed diving into the Orthodox world of New York, which felt like a completely different place and time, and getting to know these characters. The author does a great job with backstory and character development, making you feel as though you're voyeuristically observing them, and also really takes care to add lots of little details and Yiddish to educate the reader (who may not be familiar with the subject) about Judaism and orthodoxy. There were parts that moved a little slow for my tastes, but the last 10% of the book made up for it, with some surprise twists and a sweet ending.

This special book will stir all your emotions - it is a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The author has managed to shine a light on a community that seems to be so different but learning about this community shows us that we are all alike, that we all have similar thoughts, feeling and emotions. This book and these characters will stay with you long after you have finished the last page.