“The Matchmaker’s Gift” is a dual timeline historical fiction book by Lynda Cohen Loigman. In this book we meet Sara Glikman, in 1910, and her grand-daughter, Abby, in 1994. Sara has a special gift - the gift of matchmaking. In this book, we learn that while Sara has this gift, it’s not appreciated by those who are professional matchmakers. Part of this book is reading about Sara’s matchmaking - from what she sees, to setting up meetings, to dealing with a “trial” by the matchmakers themselves. Abby is a divorce lawyer who inherits Sara’s journals noting the matches Sara made over time. Abby is bewildered by this gift, but when some strange things happen, Abby wonders if she might’ve inherited a glimmer of her grandmother’s gift.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from this book. The cover pulled me in and I think it’s a fitting cover for this book. Usually in dual timeline books, I prefer one over the other (and usually the older timeline). In this book, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I liked both timelines - shocker! I enjoyed reading more about the professional matchmaking, Jewish culture, and Yiddish (I know some, but great to learn a few more words). I also liked learning a bit more about pre-nups, as crazy as that might seem. There is a bit of magical realism, but (for once!) I was able to accept it - as it was there but not harped upon. I greatly liked that Ms. Loigman included her sources, including both books and newspaper articles. I also liked that Ms. Loigman set Abby’s story in 1994 - right before online dating became “the thing.”

Overall, an enjoyable, informative, and quick read. I can see this being a book discussion book and there being a bit of discussion about the book. A really solid 4.25 stars and I'll look into reading Ms. Loigman's other books.

Loved the story of two related matchmakers, with scads of Yiddish woven into the text and a wonderfully written narrative. A fine tale I thoroughly enjoyed! Out September 20.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

#thematchmakersgift #stmartinspress #netgalley

I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book since I had read and loved Wartime Sisters. I appreciate that the author's books are each unique and not formulaic. I enjoyed learning about life during the historical part of the book, and, although I generally don't like "magic" in the books I read, I was able to suspend my disbelief and thoroughly enjoy the story. I also liked the more contemporary part of the book and the issues it raised. The book is a nice combination of history, romance, family, feminism and ethical decisions. I think it would make a great choice for book discussion groups. I highly recommend this book.

I loved this story from the opening pages on the boat I was drawn in by the characters the story.Really enjoyed the Yiddish expressions I grew up hearing Yiddish spoken.I’ve read other books by this author and really enjoyed each one.I will be recommending the author and her latest as I’ve done with her previous books.#netgalley #st.Martins

I absolutely adored this book. The Matchmaker’s Gift is a beautifully written historical fiction that tells the tales of grandmother and granddaughter coming to terms with a magical gift of being matchmakers, learning to fight for love, and perhaps even what it means to lead a meaningful life.

The novel shifts between Sara’s experience growing up as an immigrant child in New York during the early 20th century, to Abby’s life decades later in the same city. I loved how so much of their stories were interconnected and paralleled,, and how wonderfully the Lower East Side was brought to life off of the pages.

Both characters were wonderfully crafted and fleshed out, especially against the backdrop of their respective decades. For Sara, her Jewish roots informed so many aspects of her life, and eventually her life’s purpose. I loved that this story was a window into Jewish culture and traditions, with bits of Yiddish sprinkled throughout.

Beyond coming to terms with their matchmaking gifts, Sara and Abby are also united by the challenges they face of being a woman in a man’s arena. Sara’s experiences as a matchmaker as well as Abby’s experiences in her legal profession are a microcosm of the misogyny engrained in so much of our society and it’s traditions. Both of them learn to empower themselves and blend the best of the old tradition with then new.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read an advanced copy.

This novel certainly has charm, but I found the story very thin and predictable. Essentially, the question is posed, does Abby have grandma Sara’s gift as a matchmaker? Over and over, the reader gets vignettes of their matchmaking activity, in 1994 and in the early 1900’s.

When Sara dies, Abby becomes fascinated by her history and begins using her “inherited” gift for some unlikely, unbelievable matches.

I found this too “magical” for my taste. The author did a great deal of research, and I loved reading about the old Lower Eastside. Despite my excitement about a new novel by Cohen, this didn’t live up to her last book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review . This is another heartwarming story by Lynda Cohen Loigman. The story is a dual timeline following Sara, starting in 1910 as a 10 year old coming to America with her family and Abby , Sara’s granddaughter, in 1994. Throughout her life, Sara was a “shadchan “ or matchmaker with a God given talent to “see” perfect matches. Abby is a single divorce attorney working for a big , prestigious NY law firm. When Sara passes away , she leaves Abby all her journals , newspaper clippings and notes about life and career as a matchmaker. Abby has many flashbacks about her beloved grandmother and those memories help guide her throughout her life. This was a very enjoyable story with lovable characters and Yiddish words and expressions throughout that enhance the reader’s understanding and appreciation for the storyline. I’ve loved Ms Loigman’s other two books and I look forward to the next one !

I loved this book! Beautifully written, I read the whole boom in less than a day. Truly this is what storytelling should look like. I love all of the Yiddish thrown in and the connection between Sara and Abby. I kind of want to test out my matchmaking skills now.

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a magical realism tale inspired by old world Jewish matchmakers featuring a dual timeline of early twentieth century New York and the 1990s. Sara Glikman has a special gift…she can see soulmates. A flicker of light connecting one person to another reveals who they are destined to be with. Her special gift is rare but also a threat to the more established, acceptable, and male matchmakers of her community. The story recounts Sara’s adventures as a closeted matchmaker who defies conventions to connect destined souls together. In the 1990s, Sara’s granddaughter Abbey is a divorce attorney who does everything in her power to keep souls apart…until she discovers that she may have her own special gift in the making. As Abbey begins learning more about her grandmother’s matchmaking abilities, she realizes that they share more in common than she initially thought.

Love and light cast a warm glow on this enchanting and heartwarming story. The magical aspects of the story were charming and mystical with powerful messages about destiny, fate, and choice. The research and descriptiveness of the era and culture felt authentic, and the magical realism was perfectly balanced between the old world and new. The story was intricately layered, full of connections and clues that tied everything together. I would have liked to learn more about why certain couples were destined for each other…did they end up all having blissful marriages? What did they teach other? What is the purpose of a soul mate?

Overall The Matchmaker’s Gift is a spellbinding story about the power of love to illuminate who we are and who we need to become…the most important relationship of all.