Each and every sentence of this novel was a joy to read.
I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I loved.
I lost myself to this with each gorgeous page I read.

I read this over the course of less than twenty four hours. It is as of writing this review (8 May, ‘22) one of the best upcoming books I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of reading this year.

This will be a definite re-read and when I'm ready, I'll likely listen to this as an audio book. I am truly hoping that Sara’s narrator really puts the New York Yiddish inflection in her voice - it is a voice I can still hear, growing up in NJ (an hour outside of Manhattan) in the 70’s and 80’. I spent the majority of my childhood summers with my grandmother and her friends, many of whom were old country Jewish (I feel like I’m probably among the last generations to see camp survivors and the numbers tattooed on their arms) and that accent and the food - I can still hear it and smell the deliciousness of the food that these other grandmas made for me that became my lifelong comfort food.

And one last thing - how have I never come across Ms Cohen Loigman's books previously?? (Please know that after I read this book, I grabbed her two other books and really look forward to reading them.)

This was a rare book, a true gem and one I’m so so very thrilled to have read. The Matchmaker’s Gift has my strongest recommendation.

So sweet & perfect. This book had everyone that I love in it, historical fiction, romance, and a little magical realism. This book was also heartwarming and was just an all around lovely tale. I hope to read more from this author!

Beautiful. Charming. Heartwarming. Timeless. Romantic. Emotional. Compelling. Absorbing. Delightful. Magical. This novel is a gift to readers. One of the best books I've read in 2022.

Gosh, I loved this one! This one was a delight. I love when magic realism is done well in a story, and this one really did a good job. The magic element only created space to speak to the complexities of romantic relationships and love. I loved both storylines, and was rooting for both granddaughter & grandmother alike. I thought the look at matchmaking in the Jewish community to be fascinating and I learned so much. This one was such a bigwin for me.

The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The stunning, colorful cover grabbed me, and I adored the author's last book, THE WARTIME SISTERS. Although fantasy is not usually the genre I crave, I had to give Lynda Loigman's latest novel a try.

And I'm so glad I did!

Abby, a late-century divorce attorney, comes across journals belonging to her beloved grandmother, Sara. Sara had a gift for matchmaking at a time when only Jewish men on New York's Lower East Side earned money in that vocation. Is it possible Sara has passed this gift along to her granddaughter?

Along with a delightful and heartwarming storyline, I loved learning about Jewish culture and the historical tradition of Jewish matchmaking.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this sweet book.

Stars: This was a fast, easy, enjoyable read. A little chick-litty, but more interesting - and lots of little romances instead of one big one. A topic I don't think I've seen before - that of two Jewish female matchmakers; one working her literal magic in the 1900s and beyond, and one who discovers her gift in the 1990s. I was very impressed by all of the author's research as noted at the conclusion of the novel.

Wishes: This book teetered on the predictable and hokey a bit but I still enjoyed it.

4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars

What a wonderful story this is! A little backstory first. I chose this book based on who wrote it. Several years ago, I was reading thrillers only. In 2016 I was hearing a lot of good things about a historical fiction debut novel called The Two-Family House by Ms. Loigman. I really liked the blurb except for the part about it being set in the past. On a whim I decided to try it. I loved it. Must have been a fluke, right? Nearly 3 years later, I was invited by the publisher to read her second book, The Wartime Sisters. I loved that one too! Maybe the first hadn’t been a fluke after all so I put Ms. Loigman on my radar. Around the same time, being emboldened, I decided to enter a Goodreads Giveaway for a historical fiction novel with a lot of buzz called The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I entered. I won. I read. I was now officially hooked, not only on Ms. Loigman, but Ms. Hannah, and on historical fiction in general. I’ve only read a handful of thrillers since. My historical fiction reads gave me the courage to take even more chances, and now I am a huge fan of many genres. I will always give Ms. Loigman the credit for expanding my reading horizons, and I plan to read everything she writes.

The Matchmaker’s Gift is told in 2 timelines: Sara’s story from 1910 to 1994 and her granddaughter Abby’s timeline totally set in 1994, the year that Sara died (not a spoiler as she passes very early in the book). I loved the characterizations of Abby and especially Sara. Sara is a shadchanteh (a Jewish matchmaker) on the Lower East Side in New York City in the early 20th century. Abby is a divorce lawyer with a cutthroat boss in Manhattan. Though Sara and Abby have a wonderful relationship, Abby does not find her grandmother’s matchmaking stories all that believable. It’s only after Sara’s death that Abby begins to see how remarkable and wise her grandmother really was and uses that realization to really think about transforming her own life.

Ms. Loigman did an impressive amount of research for this book and speaks of the process in her Author’s Notes. Many of the people in this novel are Jewish, and we get a good sense of the Jewish culture in NYC in the early 1900s. I found this fascinating, and I absorbed it all like a sponge. Furthermore, the prose is just excellent and the story glides. The individual stories of the matches are so heartwarming. The themes are several-fold and include loss, heartbreak, women’s rights, religion, soulmates, and the wisdom of our elders.
There is an epilogue, which I always appreciate. And just look at that cover! Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the unexpected very last sentence of the book sent waves of chills up and down my spine. Absolute perfection.

This book made me happy! I highly recommend it to all interested in a captivating and very satisfying story weaved by a terrific storyteller. I hope we don’t have to wait long for another novel by this author. Well done, Ms. Loigman!

I would like to thank Ms. Rivka Holler of St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to review the book. Thank you, Net Galley and Ms. Loigman as well. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

4 Stars

Lovely, heartwarming story about the love between a grandmother and granddaughter.

Abby is a divorce attorney and, due to her parent's painful divorce, has little faith in love or marriage. Her grandmother Sara used to be a matchmaker. When Sara leaves her journals to Abby, Abby begins a journey of discovery into her grandmother's past, her mysterious gift and the stories of those Sara helped to find love.

I especially loved reading about Sara's life in New York as a young girl. Her struggles to abide by the customs of her community while forging a new path for herself make great reading. The long tradition of matchmaking by men in the old country and the changes brought about by life in a new country with it's greater freedoms and opportunities, particularly for women, are the source of much trouble for Sara, who is determined to help her family and do what she knows is right.

For Abby, the journals are a source of hope, a different way of looking at relationships, and an opportunity to decide what really matters.

This book is like a cup of hot chocolate, a warm fire, and comfy chair. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

This story was SO cute; I couldn’t put it down! 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.

I absolutely love reading about Jewish culture, in any genre of book. The characters are always so vibrant! And this story is no exception. Sara and Abby are both determined, passionate women with sharp minds and quick wits. They are also both kind, compassionate souls looking to do good in the world around them. They are a fun juxtaposition at the start — an early-century matchmaker full of optimism and a late-century divorce attorney feeling a bit burned out. You come to realize that the goals of these two professions are not really so different as they first seemed.

The pace of this book is fast, and it is relatively short — I didn’t want it to end! I actually got chills at the man in the café scene, and at the end over margaritas. Fabulous storytelling that swept me along effortlessly! I would (and will) highly recommend this feel-good read to anyone and everyone.

Thank you to Lynda Cohen Loigman, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Such a sweet and delightful book!
Dual timelines, a grandmother’s and a grandaughter.
It starts with the grandmother, Sara in 1910 as a young girl in New York’s lower east side.
The grandaughter Abby’s timeline is set in Manhattan two generations later where she is a divorce attorney.
Both of these women have a special gift of matchmaking that includes a bit of magic.
This book has a lot of heart!
4+ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Wonderful, absorbing and mystical. Grandmother and granddaughter, both sharing some many qualities and both fighting against the traditional view of life and profession. Add in some glamor and a big dash of romance and you have this delightful tale.
I love the idea of a thread of light that connects two people who are destined to be together. The historical facts were fascinating and I loved how it interspersed with a matchmaking success.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I loved it.

This was a beautiful book about the magic of love, and the bond between generations.

Sara grew up hiding her gift, for fear is being run out of her neighborhood by certain individuals. Eventually, she comes into her own, and begins to stand up for herself. She makes hundreds of live matches, and even saves a few lives. Abby is Sara's granddaughter, and after her grandmother's funeral, Abby begins to learn more about Sara's gift. After realizing the depth of her grandmother's gift, Abby begins to question her own life decisions, and wonder if she's more like her grandmother than she initially thought.

I love how the book jumps between Sara's youth and life experiences and Abby's timeline. It does it so eloquently, and each chapter leaves you wanting more. In the beginning of the book, you really get to know both Sara and Abby, and how alike they both are; whether Abby realizes it or not.

The author did a beautiful job at capturing the magic of love, and turning it into a literal thing when both Sara and eventually Abby see the sparks between individuals. Side note, I love how it was explained as a kind of path of light, that was poetic.

This will be a quick, fun, and extremely emotional read. The last few pages had my eyes watering, but the last two lines - I completely lost it. In fact, I get goosebumps now just writing about them. I also particularly enjoyed how Sara's gift wasn't only to witness love between two individuals, but also danger. It gave Sara - and her gift - some versatility.

The book is a poetic emphasis on the connection between generations, and how love is multifaceted.
I absolutely recommend this book.

Huge thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The book will be publshed in September 20, 2022.

When I first read the synopsis of this book I knew that this was going to be a reading experience unlike any other I've had. The Matchmaker's Gift is a what I'd imagine people who were fans of Disney/Pixar films in their youth would be interested in and it won't disappoint! I was thoroughly entertained by the journey through time this book takes you on and thought that the plot twists were amazing. The only critique I have for this book is that I felt like I didn't get to see Sara or Abby's romances in enough detail to where I would be invested in their relationships.

I really enjoyed The Two-Family House, so I was eager to read Lynda Cohen Loigman's newest book. The Matchmaker's Gift is another lovely story and did not disappoint. Fans of historical fiction will love this one, as it covers an interesting bit of American history and is a nice break from all the historical fiction about war. This is the tale of Sara, a young woman who has a gift for matchmaking. Her methods are not conventional, and this threatens the men who have established themselves as traditional Jewish matchmakers on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the early 20th century. The history of bringing the old world tradition of matchmaking to New York City by Jewish immigrants is fascinating, and the author does a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. Told in a dual timeline, we also meet Sara's granddaughter, a young divorce attorney who is mourning the loss of her grandmother and who begins to question her choice of career as she learns more of her grandmother's history. At first I was worried this would be just a romance novel, but it's really so much more than that. I really enjoyed it!

If you’re looking for a novel with a captivating premise, this one is for you! Beach-readers, add this to your TBR!
Matchmaking is an occupation back in 1912 and Sara has a knack for it. Her mystical ability to see another’s soul mate is what brings her to the attention of other matchmakers of the day. This is a duel timeline novel involving Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, in 1994 who works as a divorce attorney on prenups. There’s a lovely tie in as Abby discovers she may have “the gift” after reading her grandmother’s journals. You’ll have to read it for yourself to see all the little gems unfold as the characters overlap and carry into the 1994 timeline in unique ways.
This book was a lovely escape and I certainly enjoyed the mystical aspect. However I wished the author added more of the mystical. I felt the book ended abruptly and I found myself making sure I was indeed on the last page. The epilogue helped. I also enjoy a good author’s note and this one provided some of the history and references used. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

So sweet and unique with the colorful cast of characters.

The Matchmaker’s Gift is a captivating novel told through alternating narrators Sara and Abby, respectively matchmaker of the early 1900s and her high-profile divorce lawyer granddaughter in the 1990s. Though this novel had a slow beginning, by the middle I was hooked. I loved how the story lines become intertwined, with Abby learning how to trust love and her own intuition from Sara’s posthumous records of the matches she had made. I also loved how the reader got to go into the world of Sara and see how the matches were actually made. This is definitely a feel-good novel, and great for a beach read.

Sara, the grandmother, and Abby, the granddaughter, both have this almost supernatural ability to see soulmate connections. Sara identified her ability as a child, but Abby doubts her ability until she is tested. I loved this book. I'm always happy to learn from a book and this one was a lesson in the historical tradition of Jewish matchmaking. So interesting, and the book is so well written that we feel we are learning about real people not just book characters. I highly recommend this fascinating book.

This is one of the very best books I have ever read! The story was unique and the characters were marvelous! The story is told from two timelines. It begins with Sara in 1910 and then to Abby in 1994. Sara is Abby’s grandmother and the story opens with the recent death of Sara. Sara was a matchmaker, a genuine one, at a time when women should not be matchmakers especially when not married. Sara finally stands up for herself, determined to use her gift. She has left many journals for Abby. Has Abby inherited her grandmother’s gift? Read on to find out! This was a simply delightful and heartwarming story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Matchmaker’s Gift sat on my TBR pile for a long time because, while the storyline intrigued me, I hated the title. It sounds like a cheesy Lifetime movie. However, I am glad I finally gave it a chance because, while it is a bit cheesy, it is a delightfully charming read – not something I would usually say about historical fiction! It is thoroughly researched, funny but poignant, and there is a bit of mystical realism thrown in to keep you guessing. I loved the fully developed world of the Lower East Side in the early 1900’s and appreciated all the insight into Jewish customs and traditions that I knew nothing about. Plus, unlike other novels set in two different time periods, this one hopped back and forth with ease. The two main characters are fully developed, and I was truly invested in each of their separate stories and how they eventually came together.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lynda Cohen Loigman for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.