Format: 📱
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

As a Brown Girl, you don't always get to see yourself represented within the characters you read about in contemporary romance novels, so you can imagine how excited I was to read about Jia and Jaiman's story in Swati Hedge's "Match Me If You Can." I loved the setting of Mumbai (hoping this city is on my 2025 bingo card) and the South Asian representation from drinks and food to the Diwali celebrations. Swati did an awesome job of setting the backdrop as we followed the v e r y slow burn that is this childhood friends to lovers romance.

The MMC, Jaiman, has my heart. I loved that there was mention of his wish to define his own success, outside of the shadow of his parents' wealth, as it was nice to read and relate to a lesser-spoken struggle of South Asian millennials. I also enjoyed following Jia and seeing her growth throughout the novel regarding her relationship with Jaiman, her friends, and of course, her ambition to be the Millennial Matchmaker of Mumbai.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Swati Hedge for sharing her debut romance novel with us all and creating the space for Brown Girls who love romance to read about women who look like them.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this new, diverse book while on vacation. I adored it! I loved learning about different cultures and customs. The modern take on match making was fantastic. Every detail was wonderful, and I look forward to more books by this author. Thank you for this wonderful read, and I hope more people enjoy it as much as I did!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I wish I had the opportunity to drop everything and go to Mumbai but that is just not my life but this book was such a wonderful escape! Kudos to Jia, a young lady with her own realistic perspective that there are no universal rules to love or perfect relationships. And while her job as a columnist might be counter to this, she knows that she must balance her ideals with paying the bills and that is something we can all relate to! The universe always sends us funny little signs and although her life has always been intertwined with Jaiman , she has the opportunity to challenge her own beliefs as their relationship takes a new journey. Match Me If You Can is an absolutely amazing read- from the setting to the characters! Love love love!!!!

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of publication!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I give this book a 3.25⭐️

Going into this book I was very excited to dive into a fun matchmaking and Indian culture world. It was a cute story full of found family, yummy foods, beverages and celebration with a very very slow burn.

I was very invested at the beginning and then felt really frustrated with Jia as she seemed very selfish and the rest of the characters were trying to reach in and she was not breaking. Around 60-70% into the book it picked up and after that it was easy to feel the connection and fast pace of the story.

Things I loved about this book:
- The connection Jaiman had with his found family and how they took him in and made him feel loved and valued.

- Loooved all the details of the Indian clothing pieces, the descriptions of Mumbai’s weather, environment, vibes and people. Made me feel like I was there.

-Also really enjoyed and really connected to Jaiman’s pub and how much it meant to him. The story made it a place of comfort to go to celebrate as well as chill when things weren’t go so well.

Things I didn’t really like:
- Although Jia was the main character, it was kinda hard to connect with her. She was very self-centered and selfish, and although it was because she was holding on to a lot of unresolved feelings, it still didn’t justify how she treated most, specifically Jaiman and Charu.

- I didn't really feel the connection/chemistry between Jia and Jaiman, and kinda felt like he was super in love and she didn’t really like him and then all of a sudden around 60% into the book she was into him.

Overall it was a cute story and loved learning more the Indian culture 💜

I love the cover and the title and was intrigued by the synopsis so was excited to read this set-in-Mumbai Romance by debut author Swati Hegde. I think it's a pretty big missed opportunity not to mention in the blurb that this book was heavily inspired by Emma, and to a significant extent You've Got Mail. A lot of readers would be drawn specifically because of that!

For me there were too many distinct threads happening, and sticking so closely to the storyline of Emma rarely works well in modern adaptations. Jia doesn't come off as a relatable sympathetic character, especially as she uses Charu to try to further her career.

I loved the setting, and mainly enjoyed the characters, but overall this book got bogged down with trying to do too much. Be inspired by Austen and 90s RomComs absolutely, but move away from them enough that your characters have their own identities and storyline.

*Review will be posted to Goodreads after the pub date.

Received an ARC of this book through Netgalley.

Read this book in a weekend! There's a lot I liked about this book -- the Desi cast of characters, the backdrop of Mumbai, the Jane Austen inspiration and the world of Indian matchmaking among others. I didn't always understand the motivations of the characters (i.e. Jia's initial dislike of Jaimun) but those are small gripes for a book that was ultimately light, fun and romantic.

I'd be excited to see what Swati Hegde does next!

This book was so delightful! It took me a few chapters to realize this was a reimagining of Emma, which is a fave of mine so that made me excited to keep reading.

Jia and Jaiman were wonderful. I really could see this as a movie and kept picturing different Indian actors as them. I liked that we got so much of Jaiman’s POV and his struggles throughout the book.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF at 20%. Was excited to dive into this one but at 20% in, I found myself lost and uninterested.

4 stars because even though this isn’t for me, I can tell the target audience will absolutely love this.

Overall it was a very easy book to read and I really enjoyed it. I love the Indian culture you get in this book, and I think that most people would really enjoy it

Thank you to Random House/Dell Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of Match Me If You Can!

Emma fans assemble!!

Jia is a writer for Mimosa, a women’s magazine in Mumbai, while she also maintains her own online blog. Jaiman is working on increasing the customer base for his pub.

These two have been friends since childhood - yes, friends to lovers fans, this is one to check out!

Jia’s dream is to open a matchmaking business and at the beginning of the book has already had two successful matchmaking attempts. For her third, she looks to set up Charu with Eshaan. For those who are fans of Emma, if you love Robert and Harriet then you are going to LOVE love love Charu and Manoj.

If you love friends to lovers or stories where each character is unknowingly pining for the other, you’ll adore Jia and Jaiman’s story. These two are so cute. Jaiman makes dinner for Jia and her dad; Jai bringing Jaiman breakfast in the mornings before work.

Match Me If You Can weaves together elements of Emma and You’ve Got Mail in a really creative way. At the same time, this is a story that stands on its own. You’ll be rooting for Jia and Jaiman as a couple, and you'll be rooting for them as they both work to achieve their professional goals.

This was a DNF for me at 10%.

I had high hopes for this one, considering the unique premise and the Desi rep!! Unfortunately, the writing style didn't jive with me. It was very tell-y and info dump-y, and I didn't feel sucked in. I think another round of edits just to tighten things up would have helped me feel more connected.

Match Me if You Can is a celebration of South Asian romance centered around our main character, Jia, and her childhood best friend Jaiman, as they respectively struggle to succeed in their careers. Jia is a magazine writer who wants her own column; to do so, she has to play matchmaker to a coworker. Jaiman is a chef/pub-owner who is struggling to make his business successful.

As an Asian-American reader, I appreciated the diversity represented in this book: our two main characters grew up in India and come from wealthy backgrounds - and the author doesn't shy away from speaking about their wealth. It was nice to have a story that wasn't about the immigrant struggle, but also wasn't "Crazy Rich Asians." Just truly adding diversity to Asian representation in popular literature. The writing itself was full of details - about food, settings, and the author clearly put a lot of thought into setting up each of our two main leads. Their jobs and struggles felt real. I love a good childhood best friends-to-lovers romance but somehow, this book didn't bring the chemistry to me. We meet Jia and Jaiman after they've had a falling out, and despite all the language about them being two peas in a pod, it just never felt like a friendship to me. Maybe it's because of Jia's perspective, where she never is able to delve deeply into Jaiman's personality and motivations; it almost feels like he's just this boy that her family loves and exists in her periphery. Similarly with Jaiman, he is constantly reiterating how Jia is his first love - but this feels more believable when it feels like he genuinely sees her for who she is.

The start of the book was slower-paced. At the 50% mark, the story has only slowly progressed in plot, even though we know exactly where it's going. The buildup to the first failed matchmaking attempt is so, so slow going - and ultimately because it is so slow, makes me frustrated with Jia and her personality. Her recovery from completely embarrassing our matchmaking candidate is to go out, shop, cry, and lean on Jaiman (and his internet alter ego) to lift her spirits. I love a good pining and grovel, and Jaiman is great at representing that - but c'mon, it has to feel a liiiitle reciprocated! I get it, this is giving re-telling of the Austen classic, Emma.

The second half is really where the book hits its stride. Jaiman was truly the emotional center, and I really felt his devastation and frustration with Jia - and it felt warranted because of her consistent denial of their relationship. I found it odd that our female main character's virginity status was mentioned multiple times, particularly in a book that is fade-to-black.

Overall, I'm giving this book 3.5 stars, or slightly above average for its rich writing, imagery, and the fully fleshed out characters; it falls short for me on the plot pacing in the first half. (4 for me, would be giggling and kicking my feet!) I hope this author continues to write more stories with fully-fleshed out diverse characters, and would be excited to read her future work!

I requested to read and review this for free from Dell an Imprint of Random House Publishing Company. This book is a great Indian culture read that can be read by anyone. Doesn't matter your culture match making is a thing for everyone. Love for some is easy for others it's harder. If you never been in love can you really know what it is. Or what happens when one person meets their soul mate but the other person doesn't think so? Jia has never been in love how will she know she is in love? Jaiman has been in love with the one for a long time but what happens she doesn't feel the same way?

Read if you like:
- SLOW burn
- Friends to lovers
- Indian representation
- Pen pals
- Found family

Match Me If You Can follows Jia Deshpande spends her days writing for a famous magazine in Mumbai. Although she is good at her job, she finds herself constantly fighting to be heard, and writing things that although might get "Clicks", are not things she actually believes in. However, she lets it all out with honesty (often refuting her own articles) through her anonymous Blog "Love Better with J". Our mmc, is Jaiman Patil He’s always been an honorary part of Jia's family and for as long as he can remember, he has been involve with her. Both have bottled up their feelings and their attraction for decades. But when their lives start to get a bit messy, both of them find themselves reevaluating what love truly means.

First and foremost thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet debut, but I can't say I can't say I've enjoyed it as much as I wanted to. I will start with what I liked. I adored the Indian culture representation. It was so well described, so beautifully presented and it made me want to research more about it. I think Swati Hedge did an excellent job putting into writing her culture. I also loved the Blog entries. They were cute and it showed that Swati is knowledgeable when it comes to relationships. Sadly, those were the only things I liked about the book.

It has NOTHING to do with her writing, I do believe it was a good debut and I could see myself reading other books by Hedge, but this one was just not for me. Both Jaiman (mmc) and Jia (fmc) acted like children. I couldn't believe they both were in their mid 20s (especially the mmc, that was 29). The miscommunication was just too much for two grown adults that could have solved A LOT of their problems if they just COMMUNICATED. That miscommunication paired with the slow burn (trope that I usually like), make it so extremely hard for me to believe they were good for each other. I just didn't believe the love story. The ending felt somewhat rush, and I didn't understand how Jia came to the realization that she was in love with Jaiman.

All and all, although the book was not for me, I would check other books from this author when the time comes. Again, Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Uplifting romance at its best! This was such a sweet story! I loved everything about this friends-to-lovers Emma retelling combined with Indian cultural traditions.

I adored how supportive Jia and Jaiman were to each other. They were both willing to champion each other’s dreams while not being afraid to call one another out when they were in the wrong. I loved how Indian culture was a huge feature of the story - the holidays, the food, the places. I spent most of the book torn between wanting to shake Jia and Jaiman and drooling over all the descriptions of food and cocktails.

The cast of side characters were so well developed and I equally championed their success and relationships. If you’re looking for your next feel-good romance book, I highly recommend picking up Match Me If You Can!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Swati Hegde's "Match Me If You Can" is a charming novel that takes us on a delightful journey through the vibrant streets of Mumbai. The story revolves around Jia Deshpande, a fashion-forward protagonist with a natural talent for matchmaking but struggles to confront her feelings. Her lifelong friend Jaiman Patil, the charming pub owner, has a secret affection for Jia, which adds depth to their relationship.

Hegde's writing is witty and warm, immersing readers in Mumbai's sights, sounds, and flavors. The story shows Jia's family gatherings, the cozy ambiance of Jaiman's pub, and other scenes, bringing them to life and creating a rich culture and emotion.

The novel's strength lies in its well-crafted characters, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities, making them feel like old friends. Whether it's the noisy banter of Jia's family or the endearing company of Jaiman's patrons, every interaction is authentic and charming.

As Jia navigates the complexities of love and friendship, readers are treated to a heartfelt exploration of themes such as forgiveness, self-discovery, and the transformative power of connection. Hegde's storytelling is captivating and nuanced, striking a delicate balance between humor and emotion that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

This is perfect for romance readers who enjoy the friends to lovers trope set in India and definitely reminded me of modern day "Emma". It is light hearted, slow-burn kind, includes adorable extended family and friends who are always supportive but lacked pace a few times. As a retelling of Emma, the MC Jia is too interfering and a bit immature for a while so it took me some time to get invested into this one but thankfully Jaiman is so adorable.

It was more like 3.5 for me but rounding it off to 4. Thanks for the advanced copy!

4/5 stars!!

overall, i had such a fun time reading this book. i always enjoy reading desi rep books, and this one was SO AMAZING! i loved the relationship between jaiman & jai, but i also really loved the friendships & family relationships along the way as well.

Thank you for this ARC!

Modern Day Emma + You've Got Mail set in Mumbai, India

Interesting and progressive characters

Positive LGBTQIA+ inclusion in background characters

Extremely on point for its sources of inspiration

Also on point for modern Bollywood vibes

Childhood friends to lovers

I appreciate that the concerns and goals of the characters is so well woven throughout that everything feels connected and you can't help but want to know what happens next and how they solve their personal and connected issues

Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde is a fun, lighthearted, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers that provides a unique and modern twist. The story's pacing and romance can be slow at times; However, the author does a fantastic job with world-building and providing exciting side characters that keep readers engaged and interested. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!