This was a cute first book from Swati Hegde, and I was super excited to be able to give this a read! I'm not Indian, but my best friend is so the customs and traditions aren't lost to me and adds to the story. That said, if you aren't in the Indian target audience, I feel you would miss a lot. This is an easy read as the characters and story aren't complex, so I worked through it quickly. However, it left me wanting more and every time I put it down and picked it back up, I was again hit with the feeling that the characters were immature, and the story was a bit simple. I wanted Jia to have more depth, and I wanted more insight into her matchmaking skills - I think a bit of this comes across in her blog posts, but those are sporadic. I was disappointed at moments when she is upset like when her attempt to set up Charu failed at the coffee shop, and her response was to go shopping. I just struggled with the aspects of whether this was an actual scenario or just stereotyped. Moments like those didn't help her character development in my eyes. Overall, I liked the premise and think the story had a lot of potential with some witty banter and a great golden retriever MC in Jaiman (would give it a 2.5-3), but sadly this one was a miss for me. Thank you so much to Swati Hegde, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc.

This one wasn’t for me. I did not finish it. However, I think it’s more of a me issue than the book. I felt like there was a lot of extra dialogue and descriptions and honestly, the formatting on my copy was hard to read. I may actually try to re-read it again later as many others really enjoyed it. So don’t let this review dissuade you from giving it a try!

I had the pleasure of diving into "Match Me If You Can" by Swati Hegde, courtesy of NetGalley & Random House Publishing, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on this vibrant debut.

From the get-go, the book captivated me with its stunning cover art. The allure of a story set in India, a setting not often explored in my reading repertoire, added to my anticipation.

Within its pages, Hegde skillfully weaves together several beloved tropes, including the tantalizing allure of a slow burn romance, the heartwarming journey from childhood friends to lovers, the whimsical art of matchmaking, and the magnetic pull of opposites attracting.

The narrative kicks off with a brisk pace, drawing readers swiftly into its world. However, as the story progresses, I found the pace slowing down, particularly towards the end. Despite this minor setback, Hegde's rich portrayal of Indian culture shines throughout the narrative, immersing readers in its vibrant tapestry. The vivid descriptions of tantalizing food had me practically salivating with each turn of the page.

Readers familiar with Jane Austen's "Emma" will notice striking parallels, as Hegde expertly transplants the essence of Austen's classic into the colorful backdrop of India.

In summary, "Match Me If You Can" proved to be an enjoyable read, particularly for fans of the aforementioned tropes. While the pacing may falter towards the conclusion, the book's exploration of Indian culture and its homage to classic literature make it a worthwhile addition to any reading list.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend "Match Me If You Can" to those seeking a charming romance set against the vibrant tapestry of India.

2.5⭐️



El 60% estuvo entretenido, pero luego pasó lo de la cita y fue difícil creer en que él tenía sentimientos por ella.

Jia tenía razones muy válidas para ignorar sus sentimientos por Jaiman.

Me dio pena Jia con el tema de Eshaan y Charu, estaba tan aferrada a que todo saliera bien para ella que se cegó a lo que pasa en su cara.

Jaiman estaba enamorado de Jia, pero no hizo nada para que ella viera que sus sentimientos eran reales, no intentó conquistarla, pero si tenía tiempo para acostarse con otras mujeres



Spoilers ⚠️ ⚠️
-Jaiman fue célibe durante un año después del beso, pero luego empezó a tener citas y se beso con alguien.
-Jia era virgen. 🙄
-Jaiman no tenía relaciones, sólo sexo


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Set against the vibrant tapestry of Mumbai, "Love in a Mumbai Minute" unfolds the tale of Jia, whose quest to land her dream matchmaking column inadvertently entangles her in a web of emotions. Her attempts to orchestrate the perfect match for her coworker collide with the revelation of her childhood friend Jaiman Patil's hidden affections. As Jia's matchmaking escapades unravel, risking not only friendships but also her bond with Jaiman, she learns that love is a labyrinth far more intricate than she ever envisioned.

The narrative evolves gradually, teasing with the tantalizing prospect of "will they? won't they?" that holds readers enthralled till the very end. While some may find the pacing leisurely, the endearing love story compensates, rendering the journey a worthwhile one. Hegde's prose is magnetic, weaving a tale that elicits gleeful gasps with each twist.

What distinguishes this debut is its authentic Desi flavor, a refreshing departure in American literature. Hegde masterfully captures the essence of Mumbai, paying homage to Jane Austen with a contemporary, multicultural flair. The characters, endearing and relatable, inspire unabashed rooting, even in their most endearingly oblivious moments.

"Love in a Mumbai Minute" is a gem for aficionados of Desi romcoms and friends-to-lovers narratives, offering a generous serving of unsolicited relationship wisdom. Swati Hegde crafts a spellbinding narrative that envelops readers in the enchantment and complexity of love amidst Mumbai's bustling streets. Prepare to be ensnared from the opening lines to the final page, eagerly anticipating Hegde's future literary endeavors.

Heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Dell for graciously providing this digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the story line however felt it a bit of a repeat of "Emma"

The story takes place in Mumbai and is about a matchmaker young woman who seems to have time to match everyone except herself. Things don't go as planned when she matches the wrong guy up to her coworker and also leaves her best friend brokenhearted.
She eventually learns to take time for herself and realizes what she has been missing all along.
It is an easy, short read and has no explicit scenes.
This is my honest review.
Thanks for the opportunity to review this book. :)

Song of the book: I Love You Too – Peter McPoland

I totally get that some of my issues may be a matter of personal preference, but unfortunately, I found myself struggling to enjoy the romance in this book because of the way the FMC was so wishy-washy about her feelings. I get that she was supposed to be somewhat in denial about how she felt about the MMC, but it was genuinely difficult to buy that based on some of the other thoughts she was having about him AND based on the way she acted around him. If I did buy that premise, it just made reading the book even more unpleasant, because the MMC was 100% in love with her, and the way she treated him just made me feel a little sad. I guess I just didn't love the relationship dynamic here.

Additionally, I found the FMC hard to root for at times. I mean, how was I supposed to support the idea of her running a matchmaking business when she throws her poor co-worker at the first guy she smiles at, even though that guys is literally a sexist jerk? Like, that's irresponsible. I know that this is based on Emma (sorry, I haven't read it! I have seen Clueless, though!), and the point is that she learns her lesson by the end of the book, but I was expecting for at least half of the book that maybe she would realize she wasn't qualified to be a matchmaker. Nope! Oh well.

However, I did enjoy the atmosphere of this book and liked reading about a romance set in Mumbai. I thought it was a cute set-up for the main characters, and I appreciated the two-person love triangle element! However, I thought the two-person love triangle part was handled a bit weirdly, since I think the author may have wanted it to be a plot twist, but it was kind of obvious. As a result, the MMC never thinks about his involvement in the "love triangle," I guess to keep it secret during his POV chapters. It just felt kind of odd, since you would expect he would spend time during his chapters thinking about how he's writing letters to the FMC.

I don't think I'll actively be recommending this book to anyone, but I wouldn't advise someone against reading it. I might check out future Swati Hegde books!

As someone who loves anything Jane Austen, this modern twist on Emma was very satisfying! It was fun to see a contemporary story that wasn't set in the Western world, and how the unique cultural aspects of modern India (particularly matchmaking) really leant itself to the story. Very satisfying and cozy to read!

I now have a new favorite author!!! OMG!!! I cannot get enough of this book! I’ve had so many good reads lately, I thought for sure I would’ve gotten a 2-3 star read but I’m shocked with another 5 star!! I had high expectations with this read and the author smashed it outta of the park! I loved everything about this book!! It deserves 10 stars!

I really loved this book! I loved the characters and the plot felt really realistic. I think it’s such a cute story!

I enjoyed the beginning of the book and felt some parts of the book was cute, overall. I especially loved the setting in a magazine publication office. The MMC, Jaiman is also a lovely character!

Based on the premise, there was an excellent potential for a neat slow burn romance! But somewhere around the middle of the story, I felt that it was hard to keep up - several side characters and the FMC's matchmaking efforts were distractors from the main characters and the development of their relationship. I felt the premise was misleading on another account. Since it's set in Mumbai, I was expecting a more desi vibe immersive experience, but that wasn't the case and this book missed the mark.

If you love contemporary, matchmaking stories set in India, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#MatchMeIfYouCan #Netgalley

- Slow Burn
- Found Family
- Childhood Friends to Lovers
- Always Been You
- Jane Austen's Emma with Desi Rep (like Aisha)

As a sucker for a childhood friends to lovers this story hits the spot. Jia and Jaiman are very much in love with one another but clueless to how the other feels. This debut by the author is a modern desi version of Jane Austen's Emma set in Mumbai, India. Also pretty similar to Aisha, a Bollywood movie based on Emma.

Jia is a well intentioned, loving, (meddlesome) matchmaker and self appointed relationship expert. Jaiman is the owner of a struggling bar and childhood friend of Jia's; he's basically the unofficial adopted child (found family) as his parents live abroad and aren't very present in his life. Their cluelessness and misunderstandings brings a lot of pining and will they won't they energy lending itself to the slow burn of their romance story. However, at times it was downright exasperating to witness their lack of communication but understandable given how much they both were afraid of losing one another being as they were so intertwined with the rest of the family.

Match Me If You Can was an adorable debut of a classic story with Desi rep. Certainly a good read!! The ending was HEA and is a closed door romance.

Thank You #NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Swati Hegde, and Random House Publishing Group, Deli for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a heartwarming Desi narrative, skillfully reimagining Jane Austen's Emma within the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai, India, infused with a contemporary, multicultural flair! This is a friends-to-lovers journey with an EXTREMELY slow burn, which I found too gradual for my taste. While I appreciated the dual point of view, which added depth to the story, I couldn't help but find the constant misunderstandings between the two main characters frustrating. Nonetheless, the sweet love story culminates in a satisfying happily-ever-after, making it a rewarding read overall. 💜💜💜💜

Match Me If You Can is about a confident fashionista, Jia, who spends her days churning out cliche-ridden listicles for Mimosa, Mumbai's top women's magazine. Yet, behind the scenes, she reveals the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog and navigates her family's weekly game nights, all while suppressing her true feelings for her childhood friend. To top it off, Jia must successfully set up a coworker with her perfect match to earn the green light for her new matchmaking column. Fortunately, orchestrating meet-cutes has always come easily to her.

Local pub owner and cocktail genius Gaiman finds himself captivated by Jia's meddling spirit. Though he's always been an honorably member of her family, his own move to America only strengthened their bond. Life with the Deshpandes may be chaotic, but it's also filled with more love than he's ever known. However, when his pub begins to struggle and hid hidden feelings for Jia intensify, managing it all becomes increasingly challenging. As Jia's attempts at office matchingmaking backfire, jeopardizing new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she's forced to reconsider her views on love. For the first time, Jia realizes that love is far more complex than she ever imagined!

In summary, if you are looking for a diverse, closed door, delightful rom-com with a modern twist on Jane Austen's Emma then this would be the book for you! Congratulations to the author on a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more of her future works! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this debut by Swati Hedge, you can find charming characters, quick banter, and a romantic ending. I adored a setting that was in Mumbai, rather than somewhere in the states or Europe. I would have loved a little bit more descriptions of the city to compliment the story. I devoured this book in one and a half days! The compelling arc of Jia and Jiaman is what will keep readers engaged in this dreamy, Jane Austen retelling. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-childhood friends to idiots to lovers
-pining
-sloooow burn
-denial
-you've got mail vibes
-opposites attract
-demisexual rep

This was such a sweet and messy story of two people shifting from being just friends. Jia adores meddling in other people's lives especially their dating lives and is slolwy realizing that this is something she wants, with someone specific. She's messy, meddlesome and so concentrated on everyone else's lives she doesn't even think to consider herself and her own needs. Even the small things she does that she and Jaiman don't even realize are her conveying she wants something more with him.

Jaiman was so sweet, and careful around Jai, never wanting to ask too much from her, but just secretly observing and wanting her to get everything she wants. Wathcing these two finally figure it out was the sweetest slow burn and just a tender story with a great cast of supporting characters. A great all-Desi cast. So pour a cocktail or a cup of tea and curl up with this lovely slow burn as we wait to see what Swati has next in store for us.

A Diverse, friends to lovers romance that giving Emma vibes?! YES.

This was so easy to get lost in, the vibes were so cute and the almost slow burn romance paid off! (I do love a good slow burn romance)
Definitely recommend!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing for my ARC!

In trying to set up a matchmaking business, Jia doesn’t realize that her childhood best friend is the right man for her all along. Zany schemes to set up a coworker and save his business help her realize he’s always been there for her.

3 ⭐️
0.5 🌶️ (closed door, but some mature language near the end)

I was so excited about the concept of this one. I really enjoyed reading a book focusing on Indian characters and culture. All the descriptions of the food and the drinks sounded soooooo good and made me hungry lol.

I enjoyed the first half the most, when Jia was actively match-making and trying to prove to her boss that this could be a successful column idea for their magazine. She was a fairly strong and independent female character who cares about her family and friends. I loved all her friends and family, and getting to see their relationship dynamics throughout the book as well. Jaiman was also a really sweet character. I really loved how he was in touch with his emotions and feelings, even crying during his difficult times in the book. That is something that you so rarely see depicted in romance novels!

But as the book went on.... I feel like the got kind of lost for me, and nothing was really happening. The characters also started to annoy me, and I am not sure the character development was clear enough for me to understand how they got from their initial Mindset A to Mindset B at the end of the book. I wish we had dug into these characters heads a little bit more, got to see more of Jia's matchmaking skills, and had a little bit more tension/tender moments between the two MC's

But the ending was really sweet. We love a good HEA for all of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of “March Me If You Can.” All opinions are my own.

Love the beautiful cover, and the title is clever. The story reminded me of Emma by Jane Austen and I am curious if it was inspired by that. Either way I loved the setting and narration the author provided.

Jia was sort of frustrating and unlikeable at times, but I appreciated her growth by the end.

Overall I liked the authors writing style and am interested to read their next book.

I am an avid fan of friends to lovers so I take reviewing this trope very seriously. Unfortunately this didn't quite meet my mark for what I look for with FTL but I still think it's a well written and interesting story. The matchmaking aspect was so fun and honestly inspiring. I loved the way the FMC Jai described the balance of tradition but also wanting people to feel empowered to make their own choices in love separate from their parents. I loved the insight she had to people on how to be an effective matchmaker, when she would nudge, orchestrate meet cutes for example, behind the scenes. It is such a sign of caretaking the way she looked out for how to best match others, although still reminiscent of Austen's Emma because it is still for Jai's personal gain and she is so endearingly confident in her convictions.

The part that fell flat for me was parts of the romance. When we start the story it starts based off of a dreaded miscommunication. There was a kiss between the love interests that ended with the FMC making them promise to never discuss it again. So of course I'm just waiting for them to finally talk about it. I was also expecting more mutual pining but the story really has their POVs more concerned with the risks of them being together, the MMC is basically a part of her family and doesn't want to mess that up. Of course this is an important and compelling aspect but I wish there was more *want* from either of them and I don't mean steam or lust, just romantic love would be fine.

One really awesome aspect of this book for me was the setting. I have never been and I am not familiar with Mumbai and the workplaces and city was very vividly written. The writing overall really is great.

Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for this eARC.