Usually I am not a huge fan of shorter stories since they don't provide me with enough time to connect to the characters and plots are sometimes a bit choppy. Having said that, this story was cute and I really enjoyed it.

The story, told from Leora's single point of view, follows her as she meets her mom and some friends for a week long trip to the lake. As with it being a short story, there isn't a ton of character development.

A bit of steamy romance makes for the cherry on top, to make this story a great easy summer read.

This book is about Leora and Neil that meet up after years in a newly purchased house for holidays! They end up falling in love…and you know. This book was pure fun I had so much of it. From the very first page I was like “omg it’s so cool I like it”. And yeah it was a 4/5 stars. Just a fun read, nothing else.

A cute read.

Sometimes Leora’s thoughts got a little too chaotic. But mainly, she just came across as a woman who knows what she likes and who she is.

I really liked the switch on the Asian mother not wanting her daughter to settle down. The mothers go a little too far but that’s what interfering mothers do. And their banter with each other had me cackling…

There was spice too which wove in nicely into the story.

A fun, easy read with plenty of heart!

This was a fun, quick summer read.

Our two main characters were Leora and Neil. They have known each other from a young age because their moms are best friends, but haven't seen each other in years until they run into each other on a vacation being hosted by their moms. Neither of their moms is big on love anymore, after being walked out on after having kids. With that being said, Leona and Neil know their moms would never approve but their connection is too hard to ignore and needs to be explored.

Leora has also loved love and the idea of it, even if her mom tried to raise her against it. While Leora and Neil try to keep their developing relationship a secret, the drama does come.

There is a lot to be unpacked in this book, such as the expectations from parents of their children. Although a lot happened, there was still a HEA, which I enjoyed.

I love Jackie Lau's writing! The setting of this book (a lake cottage in Canada) was lovely and provided a perfect lead into a forced proximity trope (although sadly, there was more than one bed). I thought the whole idea of these three single mothers raising their kids together and eventually buying a vacation home together was heartwarming. And the idea of all of their kids reconnecting now, as adults, was wonderful. I loved Leora's imagination and positivity as much as Neil's inflexibility and literal-ness. It was an opposites attract trope that really worked for me. Their chemistry was hot and I appreciated their straightforward communication.
I was so glad when they both called out their parents for how ridiculous they were being.
The only real issue I had with the book was it felt a wee bit rushed at the end. I could have used a bit more. Overall, this would be such a great beach read!

Very cute story, perfect for a quick read at the beach or pool. Liked the main character and her love interest, although the moms were so frustrating. Some of the things bordered on emotionally abusive and very toxic. There were some laugh out loud moments, but I appreciated the deeper parts too about dealing with past trauma. Would love to read more from the author.

Note: I couldn't find the book on Amazon to review.

This is the first ARC that I have read so I was very excited to receive this book! It was a fun and quick read which I enjoyed because I love reading books that are easy to get through. However, I felt that the chemistry between the two characters was lacking at times and there are a few moments where I wanted more depth. Coming into the book I was expecting a childhood friends to lovers romance but it felt more like an insta love, which i'm not usually a big fan of. But i absolutely loved the diversity in this book and the representation of Asian main characters was refreshing to read about.

"I want to kiss you right now. Because if I kiss you, you won't be able to think of any damn scene from Shrek. Trust me."

The Unmatchmakers is told from Leora's perspective. She's on a week-long vacation at the Canadian lake house her mum recently purchased alongside her two best friends. Here she reconnects with her mum's best friend's son, Neil, an architect she hasn't seen in about a decade. However, while the pair lean into their feelings, their meddling mothers are surprisingly trying to keep them apart. Will their relationship last longer than a summer fling?

Ok, here's what I liked:
- The Canadian lakeside setting, complete with kayaks and s'mores and scavenger hunts.
- Childhood friends to basically strangers to lovers.
- Forced proximity is always a winner.
- Neil was a sweetheart. He was quite reserved in the beginning, but it didn't take long for Leora to make him feel out of control in the best way.
- Cute lines like this: "You make me feel like a s'more inside."

The main thing I didn't love was that it felt too rushed. I know it's a short read, so you can't expect massive character development, but it was also their relationship went from 1 to 100 and I was like, slow down, kids! *SPOILER* So they kissed a couple of times, finally snuck away to sleep together, and then in bed afterwards he calls her his girlfriend?! Where's the romance, Neil? You let me down 😂.

The meddling mums also had selfish and self-centred reasons for keeping them apart and honestly said some pretty rude and hurtful things about each other's children, but then this was just swept under the rug?

Anyway, not my favourite Canadian romance but a fun escape nonetheless.

Thank you to Kobo Originals for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

!! happy publication week to the unmatchmakers 💐

This is a family friends-to-lovers & forced proximity rom-com. The story is set in the forested and lakeside paradise of Canadian cottage country.

The main female character Leora, is spending a week of her summer vacation at the co-owned holiday house of her mother and her mother’s two best friends, as well as their own children.

One of these children is Neil Choy, who Leora quickly comes to like more than a friend after a long period of not seeing each other.

The only problem with this romantic interest is that Leora’s mother is very much anti-relationship/love and will try anything to ensure nothing pursuits between them.

The book was quick however their were many parts that were quite cringe worthy and not relevant to the story. In saying this, it was still an enjoyable story that explores finding the balance of meeting expectations and being true to yourself, and how even the best of intentions can sometimes backfire.

thank you to @valentine_pr_ @kobobooks @netgalley for the ARC. This book is out now to purchase through Kobo

This was a short and fun read! I loved the Asian representation! Also the fact that the mothers tried to keep their kids apart was a new one and took i matching to a new level. I did have some problems with the romance, as I felt that it was very fast. But all in all, it was enjoyable and a fun quick summer read!

I received an ARC in exchange for my review:

Jackie Lau's books always surprise me. I often find them a little bit hard to get into or to have a slightly slow start, but they always have the most creative plots and a great mix of fun and sincere. This was no exception.

In The Unmatchmakers, Leora goes to a summer cabin with her mom, her mom's closest friends, and their adult children (people she hasn't really hung out with in adulthood). Sparks fly almost immediately with Neil (ultra-serious, architect to Leora's romantic-at-heart 2nd grade teacher), but they each try to squelch their attraction because they think it will be awkward with their mothers as close friends. Then they find out their parents are each trying to keep them away from each other and drama ensues.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I didn't necessarily "get" the heavy focus on familial guilt, but I do think that it was authentic to the characters' cultural backgrounds and handled well.

I really wanted to love this one but it was just ok for me. I don't know...it just didn't grab me and I found myself skimming through parts.

The premise itself was intriguing as usually you would have a parent who is trying to matchmake not stop the child from having any sort of relationships but I guess it just didn't capture me as I thought it would :/

I've really liked Jackie Lau's indie/self-pubbed romances, and I certainly enjoyed this trad. pub romance. The characters are certainly fun, and the romantic development was satisfying and pretty hot from time to time.

I loved this book. Everything about it was great. The childhood friends to lovers premise was executed very well. The plot and pacing of the book were amazing; I was never bored. This was also such a cute book. I loved the themes explored, and the ending was perfect. I will recommend this to everyone I get a chance to.

This book is a fun time. It plays on the parody of the matchmaker mothers, but with two mothers who do not want their children to date, and will do anything to keep them apart. This book was funny and romantic. I had a great time reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I did not realize that this was a Canadian read-- so that was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I found most of the characters likeable and thought the plot progressed at a good pace. It's a bit of an insta-love story line, so if that is something you do not like, maybe stay clear, but these are characters who grew up together and had a shared history.

The one place this novel really felt short for me was that I assumed the two mothers had a more nuanced motive for wanting to keep their children apart. I thought there might even be a twist that the MOTHERS were secretly dating and they were trying to avoid a step-siblings dating situation. Alas-- the novel was pretty cut and dry with the intentions of the mothers.

A quick summer read!

Everything about this book was cliche. It seems even Asian American books have created cliche. I couldn't enjoy it. The plot had potential but it felt like none of the characters had depth.

This book it was a super quick read. It was my first book from Jackie Lau, even though I do have a copy of her other book called donut fall in love.

It follows a group of childhood friends and their mothers who are best friends as they take a week vacation away at their getaway home.

MC is Leora who arrives to the vacation home first. She then reconnects with Neil who is also one of the first people there. There is some insta-attraction and the book continues as these two try to fight their connection because they don’t want to make things harder for their mothers.

Overall I found myself wanting more out of the characters, but near the end of the book I did enjoy it more because I felt like I understand the hero/heroine more. I loved the autism spectrum rep, and the overall message about letting people live/love the way they want despite your own insecurities.

Can’t wait to see how I like Donut Fall in Love!

My first touch with the author's writing and Was a delightful journey. I enjoyed a lot being immersed in the chinese culture with the main characters, and the reading was light and funny almost all the time. My only dislike was the mothers' behaviour, because sometimes it droves me crazy about, but anyway It was part of the story and, at the end of the day, everything has turned out fine for everyone.
Thanks Netgalley for the gift of the ARC .

Leora and Neil’s mothers are close friends so they grew up together. They haven’t spent much time together recently- at least not until their mothers purchase a vacation cottage together. They are reunited when visiting the new cottage and sparks fly instantly. Instead of the delight you might expect from their children getting together, Leora and Neil’s mothers immediately try to sabotage the relationship.

This was a super cute and quick read! I love reading books set in Canada and this truly just made me want to go on a little cottage vacation of my own. This is definitely a good summer read!

I am such a fan of Jackie Lau’s writing style and her romances are quickly becoming some of my favourites!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kobo Originals for the advanced reading copy.