I very much enjoyed reading "The Matzah Ball"! It resonated with me on a few levels- I enjoyed the opportunity to read Jewish fiction, and also because the main character, Rachel, deals with a chronic illness that is familiar to me as my older daughter deals with the same- chronic fatigue syndrome. I could really empathize with Rachel's struggles, knowing what my daughter has experienced. Jean Meltzer tells a lighthearted at times, and at times deep, enjoyable story about Rachel trying to write a Hanukkah romance, and being thrown together and reunited with a summer camp love. One of the aspects I truly enjoyed was reading about her loving family and their Shabbat and holiday observances. It felt so familiar and comfortable, as I grew up Jewish and my husband and I have created a loving Jewish home for our family. I heartily recommend "The Matzah Ball, and look forward to more novels by Jean Meltzer.

Rachel is Jewish but she loves Christmas. Not only does she have a room dedicated entirely to Christmas but she writes Christmas romances under another name. Her publisher wants her to write a Hanukkah romance but she has no inspiration to find the magic. Jacob and Rachel spent time together at a Jewish summer camp. He was her first love. Rachel believes he let her down and Jacob believes Rachel is responsible for their break up. Years later Jacob, now living in Paris, is coming to New York to put on the Matzah Ball. He is a wealthy party planner. Rachel thinks if she can get a ticket to the ball, she can find some inspiration to write and save her career. Even though they resent each other, when together there is still a strong force igniting feelings from long ago. I really like this book. Rachel and Jacob share times of fun and times of anger and tears. I gained insight into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as Rachel struggles to keep her illness private and continue to work and volunteer for the ball with Jacob. I also appreciated learning more about the traditions of the Jewish faith. Great characters who are creative, smart, and loving. Scenes that are fun and bring the community together. I felt like I was a part of all the festivities.

Cute book! Leans heavily into Jewish archetypes, which was challenging for me as a Jewish person trying to fight against those. A good read for a rainy day.

The Matzah Ball, a fun, romantic, holiday book. The heroine has a chronic disease but she doesn't let that define her. The heroine is a Jewish girl who has a secret fascination with all things Christmas. Such a good twist and a joy to read.

Being Jewish, I could not resist a book called The Matzah Ball even though I don't normally read chick lit. But this is a cut above just chick lit as it explores Jewish traditions and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with real authenticity due to the author's background. If an author should write what they know, Jean Meltzer has certainly done that. The story itself is very predictable, but it is a nice addition to the genre of holiday stories and readers will enjoy it.

What a good slow burn story! Its nice reading about different backgrounds! And this was a hit with me!
This was a cut, funny, heartwarming story! And I devoured every second of it!
What I loved most was reading and learning more about Jewish culture and traditions.
This was a fun book! Y'all will enjoy it!

Do you like Hallmark movies? If so, this is the book for you! It's very fluffy and sweet (other than the main character's chronic illness) and a quick easy read. I loved learning more about Jewish traditions and some of the descriptions of the food had me drooling. I also liked Mickey and Toby's characters a lot and they really added to the story.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about a young woman from an Orthodox Jewish family. The conflicts she faces with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and her career as an author of Christmas romances, (which she keeps from her family) makes for interesting reading.

Rachel Rubinstein-Goldblatt, daughter of a famous rabbi and fertility doctor has a secret. She’s crazy about Christmas and under a pseudonym has published 20 Christmas romance novels and 4 TV movies. She can’t let her parents and anyone else know because that would shatter the image of the perfect Jewish daughter she feels compelled to live up to. When her publisher demands she write a Hanukkah romance under her real name or not be renewed, her life as she knows it is threatened. With a chronic illness that daily impacts her life she needs this career. Enter Jacob, the boy she liked at middle school summer camp, the one who broke her heart. He’s throwing the hugely anticipated and completely sold out Matzah Ball that Rachel desperately needs a ticket to so she can find Hanukkah inspiration. Only he remembers that summer very differently insisting Rachel broke his heart. A perfect rom com.

The Matzah Ball, by Jean Meltzer, is a fun, romantic holiday book, that is different than the usual Christmas book we’re all used to. The heroine, Rachel, has a chronic disease, but she doesn’t let it define her, and she’s one tough cookie.

Rachel, the daughter of a famous Rabbi father, and her mother is a top fertility specialist. As a good Jewish girl, she hides her love of Christmas and especially her job as a Chrismas Romance writer. Only her best friend Mickey knows her love of everything Christmas and knows her pen name is Margot Cross, the famous Christmas Romance author.

When her publisher tells her to write a Jewish holiday story, Rachel is distressed, as she loves Christmas and can’t find the magic in Jewish holidays that she finds in Christmas. But, when she sees an ad for a huge Matzah Ball celebration, she hopes she can find some holiday magic at the ball. The only problem is the event coordinator for the Matzah Ball is her old summer camp nemesis, Jacob Greenberg, who she hasn’t seen in over twenty years.

The Matzah Ball is a nice holiday story that is so different from the usual Christmas stories, and I enjoyed reading about a different holiday tradition. The book started off a bit slow, there were a lot of explanations about the Jewish holiday traditions of Hanukkah and Rachels’ chronic illness. I didn’t know much about Hanukkah traditions, nor Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and I appreciated the explanations, however, it did drag the story down a bit at the beginning.

At first, I didn’t think much of Rachel and thought she was very defensive and somewhat whiney. But, after a bit, she found her zip and her voice and she was fearless. I enjoyed her growth during the story and found myself liking her and rooting for her happy ending.

Jacob was perfect for Rachel, he knew how to deal with her illness and yet force her to see herself as a fearless woman who should demand more of herself.

I recommend this delightful holiday story to anyone and everyone who loves a good holiday story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In what could be a Hallmark answer to Chanukah, this book will make you laugh out loud, and cry along with Rachel, every step of the way! The characters are fabulously flawed and perfect just as they are, and the story line is so inconceivable at times that it feels like a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moment. I loved this book so much, I've already made up Instagram graphics with quotes to promote it this fall! Cannot wait to see what the author produces next....

This book is adorable, I felt very bubbly and smiley reading through it. I was a little frustrated because it suffered from the tried and true “WHY DON’T YOU JUST
TALK ABOUT IT?!” romance novel method of conflict - but other than that, it’s a great holiday read. I also loved seeing a heroine with a chronic illness.

It almost lost a star for how hungry it made me, but it isn’t Meltzer’s fault I don’t have a rugalach recipe! Fair warning, enter on a full stomach, or with munchies near by!

This is a light, laugh out loud funny, intriguing read all rolled into The Matzah Ball!
I related to Rachel the main character, as someone who also absolutely loves Christmas and would be thrilled if everyday was Christmas!
Rachel's dilemma is that she is Jewish and is a best selling author of Christmas novels.
She writes under a secret alias!
Why? Because her family who is very strict about their faith would never understand their daughter loving Christmas.
Life is about to change for Rachel when her publisher has a new request for a Hanukkah book. What?? Hanukkah is SO boring and not a big holiday!
This is the story about how it all comes about and all the research needed to get this book finished.
This is definitely a wonderful novel! I really enjoyed it!

I was in the mood for something light and easy, and with my husband being Jewish while I am Christian, this book was a must for me.

This was an easy, fast read. In some ways it was the typical friends to lovers romance. But it added more - it added some interesting facts about being Jewish and the traditions. It added family relationships, and friendship and the power of accepting yourself. I really liked all of the characters and the story.

All that being said, it was perhaps a little TOO sweet for my taste. One reviewer wrote that this read like a Debbie Macomber book and I highly agree. If that's your kind of book - you will love this. If, like me, you need a lttle more "zest" or tension in your books, this might not be for you. It depends on how sweet you like it.. :)

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
I think it is a 5 star read for those who love these cozy books. It was a 3 for me.personally. So I am compromising with 4 stars..

This book was so so so sweet. Yes, I am reading a holiday book in the dead of spring, but I am living for this!

I will preface this by stating that this book gave me major Debbie Macomber vibes, so if you're a fan of her wholesome holiday novels you'll love this! Our book begins as Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is reunited with her childhood first love/ mortal enemy Jacob Greenberg. Things get heated as old misunderstandings are resolved, and they come together to create a holiday fundraiser event everyone is sure to remember.

At first glance, this book could be misconstrued as a fluffy holiday piece, and it does have those elements. However underneath the holiday sparkle, is a surprising depth into a holiday we seldom hear about. I am not Jewish, However, I love hearing about this holiday, a well as understanding the meaningful philosophy that comes with it. It was these elements that morphed this book into more than meets the eye.

As for the characters, if you have read any of my other reviews, you know I LOVE the quirky heroine. Rachel fits this to a T. Fuzzy socks and sneakers with a ball gown? Yes. Besides her quirky personality, I liked the fact that this book chose the opportunity to explore the stigma behind chronic illness. She is more than her illness, and there is no shame behind embracing a moment of weakness. Having a moment does not mean you are weak.

Jacob, our hero was equally as wonderful, as we explore the beta hero. I love when an author paints the traditional hero in such a loving light. Jacob allow Rachel to help him (even though this is something he clearly had trouble doing). Additionally, he was obviously smitten, and his gushy head over heels actions was adorable.

Overall, this book was a sweet holiday read, with surprising depth. Go out of your comfort zone, read something different this holiday season, Christmas shouldn't have all the fun.

Heat Level: 🔥

I devoured this in one sitting the second I got it approved on netgalley! I absolutely adored this book. The own voices representation was brilliant and much needed in a publishing world that typically only publishes these stories from outside perspectives. I love learning about the different Jewish cultures that both characters came from. The romance was also great! It was wonderful to see ME/CFS incorporated into the whole story and see how it affected her life, without the typical twist of the character dying or ending up heartbroken. A favorite breed of the year!

Cute, sweet, and the perfect amount of holiday sparkle! I loved the entire story. Jean Meltzer wrote great characters who were very likable, and the mishugas that happened throughout the story kept me smiling and laughing along.

I have been through 10 holiday seasons as a bookseller, and every year I shelve and make displays out of all the Christmas romance book and wish for just one Hanukkah book in the mix. FINALLY! Jean Meltzer has given me this book! And it's flippin' adorable!

On the surface this story seems like the typical enemy to lovers trope, with a Jewish twist. But it's also so much more than that. It's about history and traditions, about family and friends who are like family, about needing to be yourself while wanting to live up to everyone else's expectations. This story is all of these things and more. I hope this is just the beginning of many, many Hanukkah romances. But if it's the only one we get I'll still be happy.

The only negative thing I can say was how many time Maltzer used "smart" to describe inanimate objects. I wanted to start taking shots of Manischewitz every time the adverb was used.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was so sweet and charming. I loved Rachel so much and just wanted the best for her. I loved all the Hanukkah elements and how emphasized Jewish customs were in this!!

A lot of books on NetGalley look intriguing and then disappoint. This was not the the case with The Matzoh Ball, which hits it out of the park on so many levels! Admittedly, I was intrigued by the title, but a little off put by the Harlequin romance brand as not my usual choice of reading material. So I dove in, with middling expectations. Well, dear reader, I was surprised and delighted by the authentic voice of a Jewish narrator in a book that is not about the Holocaust. What a relief. The "own voices" canon needed this kind of representation.

Let's add in a discussion about the main character's (and author's) chronic disability. This was also refreshing in both its inclusion and inclusivity and in its honest take on how chronic illness is dismissed and derided.

Moving on, the secret (not secret) fascination of Jewish folks with Christmas is explored with grace and humor. Honestly, who doesn't love Christmas music and also feel overwhelmed at Christmas time as well. (Don't get me started on my Xmas eve birthday!).

For audience, there is a delicate balance between appealing to those without much Jewish knowledge, both members of the tribe and others, and those who are frum and frum-adjacent. This is a delicate line to walk and very well handled by the author.

Including summer camp shoutouts and Easter eggs (Pesach eggs?) such as an image of kids wearing matching blue (I think) bandannas is a nice way to reference color war for those who have bunk experience.

Finally, the truth about growing up in long cast shadow of the Holocaust resonated with me. For example, the mention of Bubbe's matzoh stash, well not specifically familiar, spoke to some of the ways next gens were cognizant of the Shoah's influence on modern American Jewish life.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book!