In addition to Jewish representation we also have a main character dealing with a chronic illness and all the obstacles and challenges that comes along with one. This book also touched on parental abandonment and how that can impact us into our adulthood. Sadly, I know all too well about both issue so even though I’m not Jewish, I found this book to be a very relatable read. I would love to see this book turned into a movie looking at you Hallmark. This was my first holiday read of the season and it didn’t disappoint. Since I enjoyed the book so much I had to buy a copy for my shelf!

This was such a cute winter romance story. I am glad I kicked off the winter season with a story like this.

The one semi unbelievable thing in this story is how long both Jacob and Rachel hold onto these feelings of their first love gone wrong, but ultimately it really works with the story.

I love the development of Jacob and Rachel's relationship throughout the book. And I also loved Rachel's journey of learning to love and find magic within her own Jewish holiday festivities. Nothing is wrong with finding magic in Christmas, but it was fun and heartwarming to watch Rachel's journey. There were a lot of rocky patches between them but ultimately they figure out what to do with themselves.

would highly recommend. especially this holiday season!

Let me start by saying, please read the author’s note after you finish reading this book. It may be something people normally skip over but this one made me cry, I think it needs to be read especially if you deal with chronic pain or a chronic illness. I’ve never cried reading an author’s note before.

Rachel and Jacob met at a Jewish summer camp as pre-teens and were each other’s first loves. But each of them has different beliefs about the way their young love ended.

Rachel has been living with a chronic illness for all of her adult life. She’s also been secretly writing Christmas romance novels. Her father is a very famous, well respected rabbi and Rachel would not want her love of Christmas to get out. She also doesn’t tell most people that she has a chronic illness. She’s keeping two big, whopping secrets from almost everyone around her and it’s making her life even harder.

Right around the time that Jacob makes a reappearance in New York, Rachel’s publisher asks her to write a story with Jewish characters telling a love story. She doesn’t feel prepared. When she finds out Jacob is throwing a huge party for the Jewish community called The Matzah Ball Max, she knows she needs to get an invitation.

As she and Jacob start falling for each other again, her secrets and their past threaten their future happiness.

As someone who has dealt with chronic pain all of my adult life, I really see myself in Rachel. I can’t even imagine trying to live with it and not tell anyone. That would be a colossal challenge!
I loved seeing a love story like this. I loved that Jacob understood her. Instead of bringing her flowers, the man actually knew how to help her when she was having a bad day. Jacob is a great love interest. I also absolutely loved Rachel’s best friend Mickey, everyone should be so lucky as to have a Mickey in their lives!

Reading this story, you could always tell that the author writes from her heart and her own experience too. She also lives with a chronic illness, she mentions her husband in her dedications and that’s a beautiful love story too.

I loved this. It’s a special book.

I got a chance to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thank you!

I loved this book! Definitely need such a great read and laugh-out-loud book like this one! Jean Meltzer definitely knows what she's doing. Nice Jewish girl, Rachel, loves Christmas. She has become a well-published Christmas Romance writer and kept it a secret from her family. That right there is enough to make you want to pick up this book. Families are crazy, and when you keep a secret like that it's bound to come out somehow. Oy! The romance and the holiday fun will have you reading this one in one sitting. Definitely recommend!

The Matzah Ball was a bingeworthy read. Rachel is a successful romance novelist but has been keeping it a secret that she writes about and loves Christmas. She doesn’t think that her family will understand her love of all things Christmas given the fact that her father is a well-known and respected Rabbi, and her mother is very involved in their synagogue. Now Rachel’s publisher has asked her to write a romance about Hannukah and she is having trouble writing or finding the joy of the holiday.

When Rachel finds out that Jacob, her summer camp nemesis, is hosting a Matzah Ball music celebration on the last night of Hannukah she decides she must attend the event to find some inspiration and push past her writer's block. Unfortunately, Rachel doesn’t want anything to do with Jacob after their history and the fact that they still cannot seem to get along. Regardless, Rachel makes a deal with him to attend the Matzah ball in exchange for volunteering to help with setup of the event.

I loved Rachel’s character! She has strength and determination that pushes her to achieve her goals, all while dealing with a chronic illness that is devastating at times. She has a quick wit and is able to contend with Jacob throughout this story. Jacob is a likeable character who you can’t help but love. There were plenty of hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud and I loved how this story unfolded. I really enjoyed this book and it is one that I will love to reread during the holiday season.

I absolutely loved this story, even though it took me a while to read it, which just meant I got to savor it that much longer. A positively delightful holiday story with a twist that I have been recommending to our patrons who are looking for something lighter and heartfelt.

I learned a lot about Jewish culture from this book in the package of a fun holiday romcom! It was a fun clean romance full of heart and family. I also liked the perspective on chronic illness and how that didn't stop the main character from having her happiness.

Rachel Rubenstein- Goldblatt finds herself in an unenviable situation. She is about to lose her book deal unless she comes up with a book worthy idea for a Hanukkah romance. The problem? Rachel, though Jewish, is an unabashed Christmas fan and it is the primary source of her inspiration. In a desperate attempt to get inspired by Hanukkah, Rachel finds herself forced to volunteer at The Matzah Ball, a high end party being hosted by her summer camp nemesis/former crush, Jacob Greenberg. As the two find themselves in forced proximity old feelings rush back to the surface, but can the two overcome old hurts and misunderstandings to find their own happily ever after?

In my opinion, with The Matzah Ball, Jean Meltzer has created a fantastic Hanukkah romance. She manages to maintain the magical happily ever after atmosphere that we often associate with the holiday season while also tackling the challenges and stigma associated with chronic illness. In many ways The Matzah Ball is not only the story of how Rachel and Jacob fell for each other, but also of how they learned to love and accept themselves as they are.

In terms of the characters, I found both Jacob and Rachel very relatable and lifelike in their imperfections. I saw a lot of myself in Rachel in terms of her struggling with family expectations and doubting her self worth. I think most of us could relate to how the idea of a parental remark in childhood that “people are watching” could become internalized and continue to affect us as adults. I also really liked how, in the words of Shmuel, Jacob and Rachel “complete something [the other} lack [s]”. It really was a pleasure seeing their love story unfold and Rachel’s confession towards the end was truly epic.

Aside from Rachel and Jacob, I loved the characters of Mickey and Toby. Mickey is really the best friend we all need in our life, who will be there whenever you need him. And Toby, reminded me so much of my own grandma, who would always want to feed you, but would also never hesitate to set you straight when it was necessary.

If you are looking for a book that is thought provoking, but also leaves you feeling warm inside at the end then this is the book for you. I thought this was a great debut by Jean Meltzer and honestly can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

DNF. The blurb made this sound light and funny but reading it made me uncomfortable. I'm not religious but it felt yucky to see how much shame Rachel had about the fact that she loves Christmas. I didn't connect emotionally to her or any other characters so I decided to quit.

Love the Jewish rep! This book is wonderful, heartwarming and a great addition to your holiday reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed this charming rom com starring Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt, a nice Jewish girl who is obsessed with Christmas. Not a big deal, except her father is a well-respected rabbi. And she lives a secret double life as Margot Cross, a prominent author of over twenty Christmas romance novels and four made-for-TV movies. But now her publisher wants her to write a Hannukah romance, but Rachel is not enamored with Hannukah.

To get some inspiration, Rachel is determined to get a ticket to the sold-out Matzah Ball. However, one thing stands in her way. The party’s organizer is Jacob Greenberg, her summer camp archenemy. Jacob - her first kiss; Jacob – who humiliated her.

Both Rachel and Jacob are likable characters, and I had an emotional connection with them. Rachel has a chronic medical condition – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – which tends to isolate her. It was interesting to read how her condition impacted her life. They both had trust issues that I could easily relate to. But my favorite character was Mickey, Rachel’s best friend. He is always there to support Rachel and give her courage. I also loved Toby, Jacob’s grandmother. I would love to have a bubbe like her in my life. This is the perfect book for when you just want to be entertained. I laughed at Rachel’s and Jacob’s antics, I ached at their misunderstanding, I applauded Mickey’s straight-shooting approach, and my heart warmed from Toby’s compassion.

The story has strong elements of friendship, family, tradition, building trust, and Jewish values. It is about being accepted for who you are. (Note: The reader does not have to be Jewish to understand and enjoy the story.)

Oy to the world, indeed!!

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a strong, Jewish woman through and through, except that she absolutely loves the comforts and coziness of all things Christmas so much that she writes Christmas romance novels as a full-time occupation. When her publisher demands she write a Hanukkah romance to diversify their offerings, Rachel is hesitant at best. What's romantic and captivating about Hanukkah??

Enter her childhood nemesis, Jacob Greenberg. When Rachel is forced to reconnect with Jacob to score a ticket to his famed Matzah Ball for literary inspiration, mishap and miscommunication abound until the sparks start to fly and the holiday of lights burn bright for these two unlikely enemies turned lovers.

I really liked this one! For thinking this would be just a light, holiday romance, I really learned so much about the Jewish faith and their holiday traditions and beliefs. I also really enjoyed the diverse representations of not only various faiths, but also people with chronic illness that doesn't always present itself physically. My only real complaint is that this had sooo much going on and tried to represent so many aspects of diversity that I got lost trying to remember what the main purpose of the story was. Overall, though, I am so happy I was able to read this one this year. I love a good holiday romance and even though I celebrate Christmas, I am so excited to expand my knowledge base with new diverse titles that still appeal to the romance reader in me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a good quick read. It gave an excellent depiction of what life if like with an "invisible" chronic illness is like.

It's a light and entertaining story, well plotted and engrossing.
The characters are well developed, I rooted for them, and I like the unusual setting and the specificity of the characters.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book is legitimately a Hallmark movie but for Hannukah. It meant there were some things that needed to be overlooked (a large NY apartment on a writers salary, the way the security worked at the event, etc). But this book was still delightful. It's clear that Meltzer deeply loves the Jewish faith, and does her best to show different levels of faith and what that looks like. I loved how this book integrated Jewish words with either explanation or enough context clues that it was understandable to a non-Jewish person that hopefully wouldn't be too odd for someone who speaks Hebrew.
The book suffered slightly from too much "Just talk to each other once in a while" syndrome, but again, Hallmark movie. That being said I love that both characters had to learn how to rely on someone else, but in different ways.

This was SO sweet and fun and I’m so very happy to finally see a romcom about a Jewish holiday!

Populated with lovable characters, loads of humor, and not too much sap, this is the perfect holiday romcom book for those who love a happily ever after story without a heap of schmaltz.

I love a Christmas book, but I’m thrilled to finally see a Hanukkah book hit the mainstream. This is not only lovely for representation but also a good primer education on the Jewish faith for those who aren’t very familiar.

And of huge importance to me in a book like this, the story is legitimately funny. I loved the humor, the sweet love story, the friendship story, and the ode to familial devotion of The Matzah Ball. And if this brings attention to the oft-misunderstood and all-too-frequently dismissed disease that is chronic fatigue syndrome, that’s even better.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Melzer stands out in a sea of standard Christmas stories and gives representation to some groups that don't often get a lot of visibility. Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a "nice Jewish girl" who has a secret in that she not only loves Christmas but has a covert life as a Christmas novelist. She also lives with a chronic illness.

As a person who also lives with chronic illness, so much resonated about trying to manage the world (and my spoons) while trying to meet job and life expectations.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this wonderful novel about a devoutly Jewish woman who is secretly a famous author of Christmas romances. She also suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I learned a great deal about Judaism and about the misunderstood and seldom talked about disease CFS. Rachel absolutely loves all the hoopla and trimmings of Christmas but feels that she must keep this secret from all but her best friend because she believes it can't coexist with being a good Jew. A new love interest and complications from her illness plus her obsession with keeping secrets make for a humorous and enjoyable story.

The Matzah Ball was literally a Hallmark holiday special, where the rabbi’s daughter secretly longs for the magic of the twelve Santa-filled days that the eight crazy nights of Hanukkah just don’t fulfill. And growing up in a Jewish household, this was a sentiment that I completely understood! The author perfectly captured the feeling of being left out of the magic that the rest of the world seemingly was experiencing. I could sympathize with Rachel’s secret longing for festive trees and Christmas tchotchke, and the descriptions of traditions that reminded me of my childhood.

But, had I not been familiar with the Yiddish, the customs, I’m not sure if I would have found it charming or tedious that so many terms were thrown in that I would most likely have had to look up to understand what they were. We did not eat, sleep and breathe Jewish customs and vernacular, but perhaps Rachel’s family was just way more devout than mine ever was!

Regardless, I understood Rachel and her feelings towards Christmas. What I could not sympathize with, and what was new to me, was Rachel and her chronic fatigue. I thought that the author did a wonderful job of describing the challenges that Rachel experienced, having a disease that wasn’t visible. The fact that Rachel appeared to be healthy belied how she was feeling inside, causing the dreaded “but you don’t look sick” attitude of many, and I felt that Rachel’s condition was handled beautifully, and woven into the plot of the story as a necessary component of this character and her limitations. At times, however, I was beaten over the head by the concept. There was so much focus on this at points when I felt that there didn’t need to be. Almost as if I needed to be continually reminded about Rachel’s condition lest I forget. There was so much more to Rachel than her illness.

I did love Jacob and his bubbe. She was the typical Jewish grandmother, showing her love through food in a way that was so familiar to me. Their relationship was adorable and sweet and I could find no fault at all with it.

The issue I did have with this story was the entire premise on which it was built. These are two adults that knew each other when they were young kids and hadn’t seen one another since. No letters, no communication, no gossip about each other through friends, nothing. And yet they were harboring old longings and hurts and feelings that existed since summer camp when they were in middle school?? So much so that all of their relationships since, and all of their insecurities stemmed from this? I found this idea to be quite simply preposterous. Yet, it was the building block for the entire story. Jacob coming back and these two falling in love over the course of a week? I didn’t feel it. They knew each other as children ,not as the people they are now. They spent more time at odds during the week before the Matzah Ball than they really did getting to know one another, so how did they go from strangers to being in love in that short of a span of time?

I thought the premise was cute and the characters were sweet. I found that this being set against the background of summer camp memories and Jewish traditions to be charming. But I did have some issues with the fact that I felt the romance was a bit contrived.

So while I did enjoy reading The Matzah Ball reading some reviews like this one have brought to my attention some problematic dialogue. In one scene, the main character Rachel jokes about being part of the Israel Defense Forces and having killed 76 men in a childish headband. At the time I was reading it I did not see what was implicated here.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, if I'd known what the banter was and that it was not challenged in the book, that would have impacted my enjoyment.

The author does have ME/CFS which was what brought it on my radar by an Instagram mutual who has ME/CFS. The book learnt me something about the chronic illness as well as life as an Ashkenazi Jew in New York. But -- and this a big but -- there are probably similar books who do not have problematic jokes.