The Merry Matchmaker is now my third time reading Sheila Roberts not to mention seeing the Hallmark movie version of The Nine Lives of Christmas (adorable). I love Roberts’ writing and I haven’t read a book of hers I haven’t liked, but this one wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I found myself getting rather annoyed with Frankie and her constant need to set up people around her instead of looking internally to fix her own issues. I have never read Emma so I have no idea how it compares to this book, but I have to hope Emma is better in that regard. Minus that, I thought this had lots of funny moments and I loved the Christmastime setting.

The Merry Matchmaker is at times quite dramatic, and I thought this was perfectly captured on the audiobook thanks to the narration of Ann Marie Gideon. I would have liked more narrators since Frankie isn’t the only viewpoint, but Gideon did a great job on her own despite not doing anything to differentiate her voice between characters. As with any book that reads like a Hallmark movie, you can feel that HEA coming, and the touching ending really made the entire story for me. Read this if you enjoy Hallmark holiday rom-coms, older main characters (Frankie is in her 50s and a widow), and small-town charm.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately I just didn't like this book. I found many of the characters annoying especially Frankie. She's trying to help half the town find love but she's really just meddling and making a mess of things. She fixes up her employee and then gets jealous when she flirts with Frankie's best friend enough so that Frankie takes back her "man" betraying the employee. It's supposed to be a cute little Christmas story about everyone finding love but I didn't like it.

This one was a miss for me. I struggled to connect with the main character and that made it hard for me to connect with the story in general.

Maybe if you detest meddlers in real life, it is not a good idea to read a book that follows the antics of one in the fictional world. Such is my plight, having read and not enjoyed Sheila Roberts The Merry Matchmaker. Our protagonist Frankie is NOT a merry matchmaker. In fact, I cannot think of any redeemable characteristics she has at all. She is a shallow, messy, busybody, and it was not fun following her around through over 300 pages of a story where she interferes with everyone else’s lives while turning a blind eye to her own. This book will have an audience that will enjoy it - those who enjoy small town, gossipy sorts of novels - but that is not me.

As a devoted Austen fan, I was eager to delve into The Merry Matchmaker. However, despite its promising premise inspired by Emma, the story didn't resonate with me as I had hoped.

I found it challenging to connect with the characters, and the plot lacked the engaging charm I anticipated. I think I went into it expecting it to be a closer adaption than what it was meant to be. If you don't have this expectation, it might be the perfect read for you!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

My first book by the author. It was a quick Christmas book that was just okay. The main character got on my nerves but I loved some of the side characters! Thank you net galley for the ARC.

The Merry Matchmaker is a cozy small-town romance. The story centers around Frankie,a shop owner with a knack for matchmaking. She’s on a mission to set up her friends and family, which makes for a heartwarming premise, though it does lean a bit on the predictable side.

The book’s marketing compares it to Jane Austen’s Emma, but honestly, I didn’t see much resemblance beyond the matchmaking theme. The characters are likable enough, but they often felt a bit flat, and the plot didn’t throw in many surprises.

There were also a few moments that didn’t sit right with me—some unnecessary fat-shaming and a few religious overtones that felt a bit out of place. Those elements pulled me out of the story and made it less enjoyable.

All in all, The Merry Matchmaker is a decent, quick read if you’re looking for a simple holiday escape. Just not my particular cup of tea.

Merry Matchmaker… not a perfect match for me but could be for you!

The Christmas festivities and activities in this book are perfect! The town and traditions are packed with charm! However, I would have preferred to have fewer romantic storylines so that we could actually get to know the couples. There were several romances being set up by Frankie Lane–our merry matchmaker! After reading, I found out it is a book inspired by Emma where a lot of happily ever afters happen within one book but somehow it doesn’t work the same in this one. I wanted more from each character and couple. I wonder if this would have been better as a series where the author could have explored each relationship a little more... but then again, that might alter the whole matchmaking aspecft of the book.

If you are looking for a Christmas romance to read that is closed door, this is a great option!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book didn’t quite do it for me. I get that it was a loose Emma retelling, but it feels much more awkward in modern-day America for middle-aged adults to be as focused on everyone’s romantic lives as the people in this book were. It also felt a bit old-fashioned in a way that didn’t match the age and era of the characters. It was slow for me and I didn’t really enjoy it.

I adored this book full of Christmas celebration and strong women. Frankie is content running her Christmas store, hanging out with her buddy Mitch, being Mrs. Claus to his Mr. Claus in the town Christmas celebration, and trying to match everyone else in her life. But when Mrs. Claus is taken from her and there is a new Mrs. Claus she needs to confront her feelings. Does she have the courage to love again? Add in her sister Steph who answers the Dear Santa letters for the newspaper and her mom Adele who suddenly has a very active social life and there is a family of strong women I want to learn more about. I liked that they had life experience and were there for each other. The town Christmas celebrations added all the holiday feels to the story. .

A holiday cozy read. There are many characters and many points of view. Frankie is a busy body and determined to help her friend find love. Definitely a romantic holiday read that ends up happy at the end.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. It features a cute premise but I just couldn't get into it and did not finish.

This had the potential to be an amazing story.

I did and didn't care for Frankie. She was too busy worrying about everyone else. Frankie tried to butt into too many people's lives and at times came across ruse. Because she was too busy worrying about others, she almost lost those important to her.

Because there was no much going on, it was hard at times to follow. It took a while to figure out who were in the scene and how she was connected to them.

This was an okay read with so much potential. I do think there will be people who will love The Merry Matchmakers. It just wants for me.

This was a cute story that was perfect for a quick, fluff read. It felt a bit clunky and all over the place, but I enjoyed it.

I thought this was a sweet holiday read. Loved the age ranges for the characters and the small town setting

1/5 stars - This book was so very un-enjoyable! Frankie is horrible, annoying, judgmental, and such a meddler. I don't know how anyone kept telling her she was this brilliant shining star that the world revolved around. And the whole storyline with Brock was so gross -- everything from his misogynistic, unwelcomed behavior to the slimy way he acted and spoke, was just yuck. And WHY did Frankie not have the wherewithal to simply tell him she wasn't interested? What was with the being nice into leading him into thinking they had an actual future together -- the repetition was insufferable! She just had to keep trying to tell him about their age difference being the issue, when she's the same age difference as her and Mitch?? Idk, nothing makes sense, all the characters were obnoxious. And it was SO SLOW. The book could've ended in the middle and that still wouldn't have been short enough. It was like a terrible Hallmark movie that I regret watching.

What a sweet holiday story! Frankie is motivated to match everyone up except herself. She works her way through family and friends, even business acquaintances. Santa granting wishes, or not, depending on the request. This all happens in a small town filled with Christmas spirit. The Santa walk brings the town together. Amidst snow and chilly weather, everyone gets outside to enjoy the season. Side note: Frankie makes and serves Pasties. I didn’t think they were served near Seattle. I think of them as part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I would love a sequel!

Unfortunately this fell a little flat for me. I think a lot of the charm of Emma is that she is young and naive enough that it excuses a lot of her actions, and so by aging up this retelling, it becomes a lot less “cute” to see the same lack of self awareness etc. However I did very much appreciate the cozy small town atmosphere and depictions of grief.

Five Reasons to Read Merry Matchmaker:
1. Because you love a contemporary retelling of a classic, MerryMatchmaker is based on Jane Austin's classic Emma. I don't know if it gave me Emma vibes, but it definitely has the foundation of the original at its heart.

2. Because you love heartwarming stories.  Losing someone significant—be it through divorce or death—and trying to find love again is not just inspiring but also uplifting. Merry Matchmaker is chocked full of all of this, and at Christmas time, it's the perfect read to lift your spirits.

3. Because you enjoy reading about middle-aged people getting a second lease on life. The predominant characters are more mature, with the youngest being 38. This relatable age group may resonate with readers going through similar life changes, making the story feel real and relatable.

4. Because you love complex characters, Frankie is the main character. She is a vibrant, relatable woman who finds herself in a bowl full of matchmaking trouble for all her single loved ones. Her interactions with the other characters, each with their own unique personalities and struggles, add depth and intrigue to the story.

5. Because - and this is a big one - you love stories that give you that special feeling that only the Christmas spirit can give.  They fill your heart with a warm glow and make you want to go out and hug the first person you see. In Merry Matchmaker, the Christmas spirit is not just a backdrop but a key element influencing the characters and their relationships. Frankie, in particular, might not like sharing her man, but she loves sharing the holiday spirit with everyone.

Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. She tries to help others even if it results in disaster.