The FMC was not tolerable. She was a hypocrite in terms of communication being the saving grace of relationships and then she did not communicate at all!!!!!!!! The male main character Jaiman was a fantastic character.

The way I squealed Everytime it was Jaimin's POV! this had my favorite tropes: best friends to lovers, anonymous emails, no real third act breakup! I definitely didn't put it down, and I truly loved how he was there for Jia all her life. I didn't enjoy the miscommunication but it happens so you go through it. I think Jia's character development was great, I did like her at the end!

I think a big part of life is being able to say that you want your dreams and to truly go for it. They both finally figured out how to work together and it was glorious! :)

I'm so grateful to the publisher and net galley for providing this advanced reader copy, but I'm afraid this book isn't for me. Nothing about this book was bad; I just couldn't connect with the characters.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing/ Dell for an eARC 🔥

Ah, Jia and Jaiman, you two are just the cutest☺️ “Match me if you can “ is like a warm hug for your heart, a delightful romp through Mumbai's bustling streets and the ups and downs of love. Jia, with her confident style and hidden vulnerabilities, is a total charmer. And Jaiman, oh Jaiman, the way he's been pining for Jia from afar is just *swoon*.

The way their friendship blossoms into something more is like a sweet, sweet slow dance. You can't help but root for them as they navigate the ups and downs of relationships, family expectations, and finding their own happily ever after.

The writing is witty and engaging, like a fun night out with friends, and the cultural references and settings add a depth and richness that will make you feel like you're right there in Mumbai with Jia and Jaiman♥️

I absolutely loved ,how Swati Hegde weaves in the complexities of Indian culture and tradition, exploring the tensions between family expectations and personal dreams. And the supporting cast of characters? Absolutely delightful! You'll fall in love with Jia's quirky family and the whole gang at the magazine🔥

This book is like a cup of hot chai on a cozy evening - it'll warm your heart and leave you feeling all the feels.🥰

MATCH ME IF YOU CAN by Swati Hedge

Thank you @randomhouse for the ARC 🩷

Everyone deserves a friend like Jaiman, I was rooting for him from the start.
Damini and Charu are also absolutely incredible people, it feels like you’re part of their friend group when you get to know them.

If you’ve been looking for a romance set in Mumbai, India then this book is for you! (Also!! A Whipped Rose cocktail sounds like heaven) 🌹🍹

What a cute & quick read! Read this one in one sitting!!🥹
Will post the full review near publishing date🫶🏼

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Swati Hegde's "Match Me If You Can" is a charming rom-com that sizzles with the vibrant energy of Mumbai and the irresistible allure of love. Set against the backdrop of a bustling cityscape, this novel captivates readers with its endearing characters, witty banter, and heartwarming romance.

At the center of the story is Jia Deshpande, a confident and vivacious fashionista whose knack for setting up perfect meet-cutes is matched only by her reluctance to confront her own feelings for her childhood friend, Jaiman Patil. As Jia navigates the complexities of love and friendship while juggling her career aspirations, readers are treated to a delightful tale filled with humor, heart, and plenty of surprises.

Hegde's prose is as effervescent as a perfectly mixed cocktail, effortlessly blending humor and emotion to create a story that is both entertaining and heartfelt. From Jia's hilarious escapades in the office to her heart-to-heart conversations with Jaiman, each scene crackles with authenticity and charm.

What sets "Match Me If You Can" apart is its richly drawn cast of characters, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities. Whether it's Jia's meddling family or the eclectic patrons of Jaiman's pub, every character leaps off the page with vivid personality, adding depth and dimension to the narrative.

As Jia's attempts at matchmaking go awry and her relationship with Jaiman takes an unexpected turn, the novel explores themes of friendship, forgiveness, and the true nature of love. Hegde deftly navigates the ups and downs of romance, delivering a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

In conclusion, "Match Me If You Can" is a delightful romp through the streets of Mumbai, filled with laughter, love, and plenty of heart. Swati Hegde has crafted a feel-good novel that will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next literary offering. Whether you're a fan of romantic comedies or simply looking for a fun and uplifting read, "Match Me If You Can" is sure to hit the spot.

This one is tough for me. I really don't like to give lackluster reviews, but that's exactly what this book was for me. The main characters, Jia and Jaiman, are seriously unlikeable. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot, and honestly found them quite annoying. But, I do think there is probably people that will truly like this book, so give it a chance.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

A fairly faithful Emma retelling, this contemporary romance follows Jia and Jaiman, two lifelong family friends as they navigate love and work in Mumbai. I ended up really liking this book but let me start with the negative, to get it out of the way. All that are familiar with Emma know what to expect from the female protagonist and Jia is no different. Oblivious and immature, she thinks that she knows what’s what but of course she doesn’t. I always find this hard to read in these retellings and Jia’s perspective was sometimes so very hard to read. I almost wish it was toned down a bit in this book because, alternatively, Jaiman is such a good male love interest, maybe one of my favorites. His perspectives were by far my favorite and it made me want only the best for him, which often was not Jia. She came around in the end, though, as the Emmas always do, and the setting of Mumbai and the fun side characters made this an entertaining read. I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank Netgalley for the ARC copy. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with the book, but there was nothing I loved either. It was just a bit slow and subtle for my taste.

Enjoyable read. It didn’t start to really pick up until around 2/3 the way through the book, but I enjoyed the overall storyline.

This was a super fun Emma reimagining, fresh and sweet with the angle of the anonymous blog, the Mumbai setting, etc. Really enjoyed it!

This is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. There are certain aspects of the story that are also inspired by You’ve Got Mail.

What I liked:
- The author’s writing style
- How seamlessly the author was able to weave in an ensemble cast with multiple supporting characters into the story
- I was emotionally invested and cared enough about the protagonists to want to keep reading
- The Mumbai setting
- Friends to lovers trope
- Some of the relationship advice through the female MC’s blog seemed sound and helpful.

What bothered me:
- There seemed to be a lot of miscommunication/misunderstandings between the MCs. It felt like if the MCs could just communicate and clear the misunderstandings, their issues could have been resolved easily.

SPOILER ALERT:
- The male protagonist’s passive attitude towards his failing pub and that the female protagonist had to be the one to come up with an idea to save it (like a role reversal of the damsel in distress trope).

However, if you are a fan of Emma or the movie, Clueless, you may enjoy it.

I really enjoyed this book. The romance wasn’t the best but the story was really good. I love reading books involving Indian culture and life. I myself am not Indian but there’s just something about it that I love learning more about. I will definitely read more by this author.

I was reading the authors post on Goodreads and saw her mention Jane Austen and it resonated in my mind. This book gives big Jane energy but also in such a bright colorful way. I love the cover and the concept of matchmaking and figuring out that the person you want has been there all along

“Match Me if You Can” is a sweet debut romance! Jia is a secret blogger and relationship writer for a “woman’s” magazine, Mimosa. Her ambition is to open her own matchmaking business, so her boss tells her if she’s able to set up someone in the office, they’ll give her a matchmaking column. Jiaman, her childhood best friend, runs his own pub, which is struggling. The two have a bit of ~history~ they are trying to work around.

This book especially shines in its best friend characters: Charu, the horoscope writer Jia is setting up; Manoj, the musician that attracts a crowd to Jiaman’s pub; Jia’s sister Tanu.

Very Emma-inspired, but I’m here for all love letters to Jane Austen.

Match Me If You Can

3/5 ⭐️

You will like this book if you enjoy;
•frenemies to lovers
•slow burn
•closed door spice

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC opportunity to read this book!

This FMC was hard to connect with, she was very obtuse, self absorbed, and unrelatable. Horrible communication until rhe end —- but I’m glad I pushed through to see MMC get the HEA he deserves, I did not leave this story feeling satisfied with how it went down. It fell flat, and felt like it was glorifying poor communication and treating your partner badly.

This is a quick, shorter read that has no explicit or raunchy scenes.

Thanks so much for the chance to read and review. I love Clueless and most Emma retellings, so I was excited to read this one. The setting was great, and I thought Jaiman, in particular, was a compelling character. It's a very slow burn with rampant miscommunication--frustrating to read at times.

Overall, this was a solid story and a fresh, modern spin on a classic tale. But I think I would have enjoyed it more (and bumped it up to 4 stars) if there had been a few more cute moments between Jia and Jaiman to sell their chemistry and enjoyment of each other. That said, I liked it enough to check out whatever is next from Swati Hegde.

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.


This was a great desi romance and it was a debut! Like waht, how?! The writing was so flowy and pretty. It was so easy to read and flow through. I loove matchmaking romances. This was done so well.

Swati Hegde's debut is a charming hug of a romance. With witty and lovely voice and characters, it embodies all the sweetest parts of Austen retellings and friends to lovers romances. So looking forward to what Swati does next!