This one wasn’t for me. I had a really hard time getting invested with the characters until close to the end. The concept has been done so many times I found it boring. However, the audio was well done.

This was such a fun read! I loved the slow-burn romance, and the setting just sparkled. While I didn't fall head over heels for the FMC and a few moments made me want to scream, overall, I had a great time reading this one.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

This book was a surprisingly enjoyable read, with a storyline that pulled me in more than I expected. The characters felt genuine, and the pacing kept things moving without dragging. It wasn’t just entertaining—it had a few moments that really made me stop and think.

Match Me If You Can is pure rom-com gold, dipped in Desi drama, spiced with irresistible tension, and wrapped in the chaotic charm of found family, unspoken love, and Mumbai monsoons. Swati Hegde didn’t just write a romance—she gave us a warm, sparkling hug of a story.
The best part of this book is how real it feels. Jia and Jaiman’s friendship-to-lovers arc is slow-burn perfection. Their banter is witty, their chemistry sparkles like a well-garnished mocktail, and their emotional connection? It’ll tug at your heartstrings in the softest, most satisfying way. Throw in Jia’s lovable (and delightfully nosy) family, a matchmaking subplot gone hilariously wrong, and Mumbai’s vibrant energy, and you’ve got a story that’s equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.

Match Me If You Can is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance set in Mumbai. Jia, an aspiring matchmaker, tries to prove her skills while ignoring her own growing feelings for her childhood friend Jaiman.

The story is charming and full of heart, though the pacing was a bit slow at times. I enjoyed the cultural setting and the warm chemistry between the main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC!

This friends to lovers romance is Swati Hedge's debut novel and had me kicking my feet. I loved that Jaiman was already in deep in his infatuation with Jia and that their long shared history was a priority to both of them as well. Found family is such a fave and this was such an ode to it.

There was a lot of miscommunication, which didn't bother me at all. Especially since it was very clear that they both love each other and their families, and genuinely want to see them succeed and find happiness and connection. I loved the slow burn that gave them both time to work through some issues that came up. I wish more had been sorted, but I also know that life doesn't often get neatly tied off so it makes sense for there to still be some unresolved stuff.

This world was delightful to get lost in for this sweet read and I look forward to exploring more or reading whatever Swati writes next!

Thank you Swati Hegde, Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Swati Hegde’s debut novel was a friends to lovers romance between Jia and Jaiman with wonderfully written found family, a long shared history, and slow burning tension. They truly do care about each other and supporting each other as they navigate their personal lives and careers. I love that Jaiman was already obsessed with Jia when the book starts. It plays so well with Jia’s hesitancy.

There was a lot of miscommunication, and while that can get frustrating, it didn’t bother me as much as it has in other books. I wish Jaiman had resolved things with his family, but I think it’s realistic that not all issues get resolved.

I enjoyed Swati Hegde’s writing and world building, and Match Me If You Can made me want to read more from her!

Thank you Swati Hegde, Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a friends to lovers rom-com. I felt like the slow burn was way too slow and then the ending was really rushed. The middle of the book was boring to me and I found myself having to put it down and take a break from it. I did enjoy the descriptions of India culture and food. I think the miscommunication or lack of honest communication made the romance part a little more difficult to cheer for. I loved the side characters, they made things move along in the book. I did appreciate the closed door romance, I don't think spice would have added anything necessary to the story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

It has nothing to do with this book or the author, but I hate how PC books have become recently. And it just feels so performative sometimes ecause they have to point out every time they have people of different genders and sexualties and pronouns. I just can't do it anymore.

This was so sweet! Match Me If You Can is a perfect debut. Childhood friends to lovers with a letter writing element was so fun.

3/5 stars! I loved the representation in this book and appreciate it is an own voices book. I just wish the pacing was smoothy and the characters had a bit more chemistry. The book was a cute rom-com; it just needed more depth.

If you're looking for a feel-good, heart warming romance, then this debut desi gem is your perfect match.
Jia Deshpande is the kind of heroine you want to text for advice (and maybe borrow clothes from)—smart, sassy, and secretly sentimental. Her side hustle? Writing listicles. Her true calling? Playing Cupid. But when her next big break hinges on orchestrating the perfect office romance, things get delightfully tangled—especially when it comes to the one man who’s always been right in front of her: Jaiman Patil, the charming pub owner with a heart as golden as his cocktails.
The chemistry between Jia and Jaiman simmers like hot chai on a rainy day—sweet, slow, and oh-so-satisfying. Their love story is laced with warm family game nights, hilarious missteps, and moments so tender you’ll want to pause and swoon.
This book is a love letter to Mumbai, to messy emotions, and to that one person who’s always been home. If you're into rom-coms with heart, heat, and a hefty dose of desi charm, Match Me if You Can will leave you grinning from ear to ear long after you have turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. While it was entertaining to read and had one of my favourite tropes (childhood friends to lovers!), I constantly struggled to connect with the characters and the main character frustrated me to no end. Personally, I feel like in part, that put a damper on my reading experience and affected my overall enjoyment.

This is a romance that blends humor, cultural exploration, and a touch of modern-day matchmaking. Naina, a successful yet single woman who is navigating the pressures of family expectations, societal norms, and her own desires for love and happiness. When a marriage proposal from a charming man arrives, Naina is caught between her own career-focused ambitions and the possibility of finding love in the most unexpected places.

I dnf'd this book around 50%, as I just couldn't get into it. It was a bit too slow for me, and I was getting somewhat bored. However, I do hope to try again with it, as I've seen a lot of great reviews! I think it was just a case of right book wrong time for me.

First, thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!

This one was a bit of a miss for me, unfortunately. It was somewhat hard to follow with there being so many characters seems a little all over the place. The FMC, Jia, also annoyed me quite a bit. She comes off as very entitled and all the meddling she does during the book is just over the top. I also really, thoroughly dislike the miscommunication trope and I feel like that's what had been going on between, Jaiman, the MMC for YEARS. Not to mention Jaiman is also just horrible at showing emotions.

All in all, the relationship between the MMC and FMC was all just too confusing, along with all the other characters in the book. It felt like too much all at once. And there is nothing I dislike more than a miscommunication trope and a man who does not know how to express their feelings. This is a 2 star read for me.

Jia's a magazine writer that secretly wants to be a matchmaker. Jaiman is Jia's best friend (since they were kids!) and has been in love with her just as long. She has no idea. There's a long slow burn that occurs.

This is an Indian take on Emma and I think it's really refreshing! Especially in a country like India, it makes sense that Jaiman hasn't really acted on his feelings minus a bad kiss a year prior, because love is still somewhat taboo in Indian general society. I'm Indian, don't knock me out for commenting on my own people. The book takes place in Mumbai, which is definitely one of the more modern cities, so it's the perfect place for the romance to be set.

Jia as a character was pretty frustrating. She wants to be a matchmaker but can't see when she's setting her friend up with a pretty shitty dude? She knows Jaiman loves her but she treats him like shit?

Match Me If You Can is a charming and lighthearted friends-to-lovers romance set against the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai. Jia’s journey from matchmaking cynic to someone grappling with her own feelings for her childhood friend is relatable and fun, though the plot can feel a bit predictable at times. The dynamic between Jia and Jaiman is sweet, and their chemistry adds a nice layer to the story. However, while the characters are endearing, the pacing occasionally drags, and some of the conflict feels resolved a bit too neatly. It’s a delightful read for fans of cozy, feel-good romances but doesn’t quite push any boundaries.

I love that the book is set in Mumbai, India; it’s a nice change of pace from the many books set in the USA. Accordingly, in the audiobook, the narrator would use Indian accents for some of the characters which was fun to hear.

The story itself was great. Jia is an aspiring matchmaker who, herself, is looking for love while also trying to matchmaker other people. Jaiman owns a pub and has been in love with Jia for years but has put that notion aside, thinking she’s not interested.

I love how each MC is so well developed; there is vulnerability, emotion, confidence, and uncertainty. the pressure to succeed while also staying true to their ambitions. I enjoyed how Jia and Jaiman kept being pushed together, and the attraction and chemistry was obvious.

I’m definitely going to pick up the author’s second book.

Match Me If You Can is a delightful and heartwarming read! I really enjoyed the mix of humor, romance, and the unique matchmaking premise. The characters felt relatable, and their chemistry kept me engaged from start to finish. While some parts were a bit predictable, the writing was engaging, and the story had plenty of charming moments. Overall, it’s a fun, feel-good read.