Though single herself, Nura Khan has been a successful matchmaker and is running the family business. That is until one dissatisfied customer starts seeking revenge. Nura’s life is in danger as well as her family’s and friends’. The mystery.

Nura has been secretly in love with Azar, though he’s not expressed interest in her after years of friendship. These feelings are not helped when Azar masquerades as her fiancé for the sake of the business. The romance.

I enjoyed the voice of the narration as well as being immersed into a culture I’m only moderately familiar with. As for the overall plot lines, I feel it was too crowded. There was a lot going on and I felt pretty ‘meh’ about it all. I wouldn’t personally categorize this as a full-on thriller. I think I might have enjoyed it more if there was a more solid central focus: mystery or romance. I typically enjoy the pairing, but it felt loud here from both sides. That said, I’m sure there are some people who will love this combination.

Thanks to Ballentine and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book.

This book had me completely hooked! Maybe it's because I rarely read books in this genre but this book had me guessing the exact perfect amount, and I already want to reread it to look for hints throughout that I missed. I know how hard it is to get those things right in a mystery, and I felt like this book got those parts so, so right.

The romance was cute, and I did ship them, but it was pretty frustrating to find out that it was "all a misunderstanding" gah. Ten years of mutual pining that they both think is unrequited?! My god.

Minor nitpicks: the conclusion felt a bit too hurried. I wanted a couple more things addressed by the villain that we never saw directly addressed, and I wanted to hear more about how Nura was affected by everything that happened at the end. Her app continued to thrive but did she continue to offer VIP services? Did she make any changes to the way she ran the company? Just various things like that kept this from being a 5-star book for me. I still loved it, though!

This book had so much potential, but it didn’t fully come together for me. It follows Nura Khan, a matchmaker in Atlanta who’s built a thriving business…. That is, until someone decides to destroy it. What starts as small, petty sabotage quickly escalates into full-blown chaos. Weddings fall apart, her family is threatened, and even her life is put at risk. At the same time, Nura’s trying to sort out her feelings for her best friend, Azar, who, frustratingly, is dating someone else for most of the book.

The premise was so interesting, and I loved the cultural details about Indian weddings and matchmaking—it was fascinating and added so much texture to the story. But the book tried to juggle too much: a mystery, family drama, and a romance. None of it felt as developed as it could have been. For example, the romance between Nura and Azar felt predictable and lacked spark for me. And honestly, the fact that he was with someone else for so long made it hard for me to root for them.

The mystery started off strong, and I was hooked at first….. But I found that as things went on, the pacing became a little strange…. As in it dragged in the middle, then rushed through the big reveal at the end. I also felt that Nura wasn’t very proactive in solving the mystery….. it kinda felt like she was relying on everyone else to figuring it out for her, which I found to be a little disappointing.

That said, Aisha Saeed’s writing is really engaging, and I did enjoy the family dynamics and the insight into Nura’s world. I just wish the story had gone deeper into either the mystery or the romance instead of trying to balance both. It’s a decent read, and if you enjoy light mysteries with a bit of family drama, you might like this one. For me, though, it was just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

This book was part mystery, part thriller, with a dash of romance. Nura is a matchmaker in Atlanta Georgia but someone is extremely upset with her and is determined to ruin her business and her life. On top of that, she herself has no love life as she is in love with her best friend but he is not interested in her that way. Things go from bad to worse when angry podcasts start airing, weddings disintegrate, her friends, and family are threatened, and then Nura's own life is in danger.

This book was a little slow for me. I enjoyed reading about the Indian culture and some of the wedding ceremonies but at times I felt a little lost. I also had trouble understanding the amount of hatred that someone had for Nura. It felt extreme considering she was just a matchmaking service. I enjoyed the ending of the book and the action however the romance felt off for me. I don't want to spoil it but it just seemed a little implausible. Overall, this was only an ok read for me.

Thank you to Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.

I think this is a wonderful first adult novel for Aisha Saeed. It began slowly, but was beautifully written. Nura Khan is matchmaker who inherited her business from her beloved aunt. As her company is flourishing, she is targeted by someone trying to sabotage her firm. The Matchmaker is a great combination of thriller, mystery, and romance. I loved the different relationships throughout the story - romantic, friends, and family.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advance Reader's Copy in return for my honest review.

This was just not a compelling read and I almost did not finish, but pushed through due to receiving an advanced copy from NetGalley. The story is slow, the writing is repetitive, and there is little to no action or suspense for a mystery/thriller novel. The book relies heavily on clichés to move each scene along and the romance aspect felt like a forced subplot, adding no value to the overall story. I felt entirely disconnected from the characters and the plot, mostly because of the style of writing (specifically, the way the characters spoke). I am assuming the setting to be in or around 2020-2024 given the use of influencers and social media, but the characters spoke to each other as if they were 50-70 years old and grew up in the '70s or '80s. Phrases like "I'm famished", "Bollywood flicks, "musical romp", or "finagle you a doggy bag" were jarring in the middle of a book about 30-year-olds in Atlanta, Georgia, and ended up taking me out of the story each time.

The characters are one-dimensional and although a well-written, self-absorbed main character would have kept my interest, Nura just ends up coming off as annoying, childish, and insecure. I would have loved less Nura and more of the supporting characters, rather than them being used as plot devices to conveniently move everything in place for Nura to come in and save the day. On top of all that, the underlying theme of desi culture and family should have been the redeeming part (or at least relatable) but the writing made all the "cultural duties" seem surface-level and preachy.

Thank you to NetGalley for this one but it was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley for access to this book early! This was a mix of romance and mystery that was fun to read. I really enjoyed the characters and the family themed ties around the story. I’m excited to see what else this author puts out on the future. The author did a great job at addressing matchmaking and the misconceptions it can have. The characters were believable and she tied in familial and love issues that many can relate to as well as.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine.. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: April 8, 2025
Pages: 320

A debut mystery novel by Aisha Saeed, new author to this reader. “The Matchmaker” It is well-written thriller with a bit too much romance thrown in it for me. Although a good read, I did love the blending in of the Pakistani cultured weddings, tensions, danger, and bit of humor. This story did keep me on the edge until the very end…something I like in a good mystery thriller. Quite different…page turner and recommend the read.

Nura Kahn has matchmaking in her blood. She’s from a long line of successful matchmakers and she’s turned her calling into a booming business. Or at least it was until the sabotage began. Someone is out to sink Nura’s clients, business, and they are to get Nura herself.
Complicating matters is her childhood best friend, Azar. He’s her fake fiancé, but he may be ready to move on with someone else even as Nura is figuring out if he’s “the one.”
This is another great read from Aisha Saeed- a fantastic mix of Romance and Mystery.

The Matchmaker
by Aisha Saeed
Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from the New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.
This is a debut adult novel for the author and it is a great effort. It just wasn't a fit for me. I think it is difficult to write a romance/mystery.
The suspense was well written I just didn't buy into the romance.

The story's was very suspenseful and engaging, I couldn't get enough of the it..I'm excited to read more from this author. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to get my copy.

I tried with this one, but it just wasn't for me. A little too much romance paired with not quite enough mystery meant that I was not as engaged as I hoped I'd be. I liked the concept but just couldn't find my way into the story or writing.

I really enjoyed The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed. The author knows so much about traditional matchmaking and does a great job of explaining the details of running a matchmaking agency, all while keeping it light and fun. The descriptions of the over-the-top ceremonies and weddings were also fun. The romance and mystery thrown in really added to it, and of course there was a very good twist near the end. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an e-book of Aisha Saeed's The Matchmaker.

this book i really enjoyed reading! i loved the bits about indian culure, the food, clothing, and wedding customs......besides that the story was very compelling.... the characters we well written and the story line of family and friendship were very interesting.....add in a bit of suspense and it made for a great read! thank you very much for the advanced copy

This is a fun book. The theme of the matchmaking that was inherited and the
good,, thr bad, and the deadly make this book past paced with great characters
from start to finish. I was literally glued to my chair because I was so worried
about what might happen to Nura and her family… Not to mention why a
woman with such. a talent had somehow failed to find her own match. I
love the way it will turn out, along with the how and the why. It’s a great
journey. Luckily nobody in the family had to die.
I highly recommend this book! My thanks to Random House for the
download copy of this book for review purposes.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed is a captivating blend of romance and mystery that had me hooked from the start. Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker in Atlanta, is a character I couldn't help but root for—her dedication to her clients and her complex feelings for her childhood friend, Azar, added depth to her persona. As her meticulously arranged weddings begin to unravel due to sabotage, the tension escalates, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to uncover the culprit. Saeed's portrayal of Nura's internal struggles and the evolving dynamics with Azar made me feel deeply connected to their journey. If you're looking for a novel that masterfully intertwines heartfelt romance with a suspenseful plot, The Matchmaker is a must-read. It's a delightful page-turner that will keep you guessing and leave you thoroughly satisfied.

3.5 mystery with a romance? Romance with a mystery? I loved a lot about this book. The matchmaking with so many beautiful details about the Pakistani culture and family ties. I did think it fell off a bit after the first item was resolved. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A very good story about a generational business of matchmakers. So much rich, wonderful information about the Pakistani wedding culture wound around a story that has three or four different storylines wrapping through it. There is romance, danger, humor, and so many twists and turns I could not put it down and read it in two days. I never saw the ending coming either - which makes it a really good book to me - if I can't guess the ending, that is a excellent book!!

OH MY GOSH! First off I am so freaking glad I got an ARC of this! This book was fun and exciting and I thought it was a really unique romance book! I could not reccomend it more!

One of the standout aspects of "The Matchmaker" is its vivid and immersive portrayal of Pakistani culture. Saeed's writing is rich in sensory details, making it easy to become fully immersed in the world of the story. The characters are well-developed and complex, with nuanced motivations and relatable struggles.