This was a fast paced book about Nura, a matchmaker, and those who are around her. I will admit, I enjoyed both the rom-com aspects and the mystery/thirller aspects separately. However, together they kind of took over one another at every turn. I would get into the mystery of who was sabatoging Nura's company and then we would move to the rom-com parts with her and Azar. I feel like those are two big genres that make it difficult to combine them. I did not dislike the book, I just think the storylines pushed one another down to where they were not the main focus. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

‘The Matchmaker* by Aisha Saeed is a heartfelt, twisty read that blends romance, mystery, and cultural tradition in such a compelling way. I loved Nura—a strong, complex heroine trying to balance family legacy with her own desires. The mystery added real tension, and the fake-fiancé romance had just the right amount of charm. A satisfying, emotional ride.

Debut novel ~ Generations of Matchmakers ~ Interesting characters ~ Set in Atlanta ~ Fast-Paced Action ~ Love and Romance ~ Murder Mystery ~ Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. This is my honest review.

3.5. I'd read Aisha Saeed's YA books, so I picked this one up. It wasn't quite as engaging, and I guessed the perpetrator fairly quickly (though there were a few red herrings sprinkled in), but it's a fun mystery with an air of romance.

I thought this was a cute, fun read. I did enjoy the mystery and the romance aspect of it. I did find it a little predictable but enjoyable

The description really had me so excited to read this book! I got 20-25% through this book and it just wasn’t drawing me in/making me want to come back for more. I might go back to finish it one day, but for now I’m going to DNF it.

I adored this story so much. The writing was easy to follow. I was not expecting the twist of who it was causing all the drama. The relationship dynamics was amazing, and I loved the character growth from everyone. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author.

Thank you so much for the access to this book in exchange for an honest review!

Nura comes from a long line of matchmakers and has proven to be quite good at it. Everything seems to be going as planned for her until someone tries to ruin her reputation, her family’s reputation. Nura must find out who it is to keep her reputation and herself safe.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the main character and her family especially. The family dynamic paired with the relationships with her friends allowed for so much investment into the story. I honestly didn’t know who was behind all of the commotion, and I can usually spot it early on. I have already recommended this book to others!

THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed is a page-turning women's fiction-cozy mystery layered with romance, family drama, and long-buried secrets.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed is a vibrant, genre-blending mystery that pulses with cultural richness, emotional depth, and a slow-burning suspense that sneaks up on you. As my first read by Saeed, I was impressed by how seamlessly she transitions from her acclaimed YA work into adult fiction retaining her signature empathy while adding layers of psychological intrigue. Set in Atlanta’s South Asian community, the story follows Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker whose business, Piyar Matchmaking, caters to elite clients seeking curated love. Nura’s professional success is shadowed by personal complications she’s thirty-one, single, and relying on her childhood best friend Azar to pose as her fiancé at weddings to keep up appearances. But when a series of weddings she’s arranged begin to unravel in disturbing ways, Nura realizes someone is sabotaging her and possibly targeting her personally. What begins as petty disruptions escalates into a dangerous game of psychological warfare, forcing Nura to confront not only external threats but her own buried fears and unresolved feelings.
Nura is a standout protagonist: confident in her work, vulnerable in love, and deeply loyal to her family legacy. Her internal conflict balancing tradition with modern independence is beautifully rendered. Azar is charming, grounded, and emotionally available in ways that complicate their “pretend” relationship. Their dynamic is tender, funny, and frustratingly real. Khala, Nura’s aunt and mentor, adds warmth and wisdom, anchoring the story in generational continuity. The antagonist (no spoilers!) is cleverly written both shocking and believable, with motivations that reflect deeper themes of envy, betrayal, and identity.
Saeed explores: Cultural expectations around marriage, reputation, and gender roles; The commodification of love in high-society matchmaking; Friendship vs. romantic love, and the blurry line between the two and Mental health and professional boundaries, especially in emotionally charged work. The tone shifts from light-hearted banter to creeping dread, and Saeed handles these transitions with finesse. The pacing is deliberate but never dull, building tension through emotional stakes rather than cheap thrills. The Matchmaker is a smart, emotionally resonant mystery that delivers more than just plot twists it offers insight into the complexities of love, legacy, and self-worth. Aisha Saeed’s adult fiction debut is a confident, compelling read that left me eager to see what she writes next. If you enjoy stories that blend romance, suspense, and cultural nuance, this one’s worth matching with.

A fun ride that i wish were a bit more suspenseful! It was entertaining, funny and at times: mysterious. Still a cute read if you're into cozy romantic mysteries, this is a good pick!

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed is such a fun novel. I really enjoyed reading this book with such interesting characters and scenario. I loved the matchmaking business and the mystery that develops. I did not guess what would happen and it was crazy! I also just loved the ending. What a great book overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The Matchmaker was a beautiful story that tied in romance, mystery, and South Asian culture wonderfully!

First looking at the cover I felt it would mostly be a thriller with light romance and it did have the feel to it. I appreciated the focus on the thrill and mystery of who was trying to take Nura's business down. The romance throughout was balanced well as she continued to try and work her match making magic despite all the obstacles being thrown at her. I also enjoyed the details of Desi culture throughout the story and getting to learn more about South Asian culture.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

There were a few shocking twists throughout the story that keeps you on your toes wondering who, what, and why?! I did not see the ending coming! I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a mystery-romance who enjoys or wants to learn more about Desi culture as there are many mention of Desi culture throughout the book.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Sayeed is a compelling contemporary novel that delves into themes of love, tradition, and cultural expectations in South Asian society. The story follows the journey of a professional matchmaker who navigates the complexities of arranged marriages, modern romance, and familial pressures. It was altogether charming, well executed and a good read. If you liked Sara Desai's book (for the life of me I can't remember the name of it, but I can see the cover in my mind's eye and I'm again, too lazy to go look) you'll like this. 4 stars

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a matchmaker who is in danger when she realizes that she is in danger when she starts getting threats and weddings that she helped set up get sabotaged.

I was not a fan of this book. I found the romance to be unnecessary and it distracted from the mystery. I also felt like the main character was annoying and the mystery was just not interesting either.

I hope others love this book but it was not for me.

Nura Khan spends her life running a distinguished matchmaking business. The work consumes gher from finding the matches to helping organizing the weddings. One would think with her expertise she would either be married or in a relationship , but she is single and struggling with that aspect of her life. We see the character of Nura deal with caring for the aging relative , who raised her after her parents death, helping a client who is in an abusive relationship and trying to connect / reconnect with a friend that could result in just more than a friendship. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy for an honest review.

The mystery is really what shines in this multi-layered novel! Nura is a matchmaker who is being targeted by a saboteur, and Saeed keeps you guessing about the culprit until the very end. While some of the description and the build-up makes for a slow start, there's enough family drama and intrigue to keep readers invested. It's a fun combination of many genres that has some pacing issues, but is overall an enjoyable read.

I understand why this book has a lower rating that I would expect - it is a very strange mixture of romcom romance and twisty thriller. It was a bit jarring how it switched back and forth from these very different genres.

Nura is a third-generation matchmaker. Her parents died early in her life, so she was raised by her aunt, who built an incredible matchmaking business that Nura has now taken over. Now Nura is working day and night to keep the business growing and expanding, including a new app for those who can't afford or don't meet her exacting standards for personal matchmaking. She has a great team working with her, and if she doesn't have a match of her own, that's alright, because her friend Azar is willing to be her plus one at any wedding.

But someone is trying to sabotage her business, from leaving bad reviews to actually trying to break up couples right before their wedding. Someone is very angry with Nura, and will stop at nothing to ruin her business and even her life.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because I did really enjoy both aspects of this book. But I can understand why thriller readers would stop after Chapter 3, wondering when the twisty thriller stuff was going to happen, and I understand why romance readers would put the book down in the middle and ask, how did this get so dark and crazy? Some romances are thrillers, and some thrillers have a little romance. But this was like two books about the same person, combined.

I love a good romance & mystery and that's the vibe I went into The Matchmaker with - I was so pleased to find it much deeper than the typical read and felt it was a beautiful story. The Matchmaker has a lot of heart and a lot of suspense.

I was pretty well hooked from the get-go, but it was around a quarter of the way in that I felt I couldn't put it down. This novel has mystery and intrigue, as well as underpinnings of love and family matters. It truly was beautifully written. I also enjoyed learning about Pakistani traditions while reading The Matchmaker. I couldn't tear myself away from the glitz or the danger in Nura's life.

Throughout the story, I had theories about who was out to get Nura Khan and make a mockery of her matchmaking firm... but ultimately I didn't guess it! I was caught by surprise and liked the way Aisha Saeed tied it all up (so tidy, tbh) and think that this is an awesome debut.


Thank you to the author and publisher (Random House, Ballantine) for the eArc of this novel. 💖

Nura Khan is a matchmaker, and she runs a successful agency that has been around for three generations. Her aunt was running the business, but after she had a stroke and was diagnosed with early stages of dementia, Nura took over. She has a small but dedicated staff, and her best friend Azar pretends to be her fiancé when they are at her public events so the world doesn't know she cannot find her own match.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC !