ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || THE MATCHMAKER [thank you to PRH Audio & Berkley Publishing for my #gifted copy!]

Title: The Matchmaker
Author: Aisha Saeed
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: audio
Star Rating: ★★★☆☆
Narrator: Tiya Sircar
Narration: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Nura Khan’s matchmaking business is thriving—until a couple’s disastrous wedding sets off a chain of terrifying events. With her childhood best friend, Azar, posing as her fake fiancé (even though her feelings for him are very real), Nura is determined to protect her clients and her reputation. But as the threats escalate, she’s caught in a dangerous game that could cost her everything—her career, her heart, and maybe even her life.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
While this wasn’t my favorite cozy mystery I’ve ever read, it was also not my least favorite. I appreciated the cast of characters and the idea of a modern matchmaking service. It was interesting to see Nura’s process and how she made sure that not only she found her clients a match, but that those matches were ready to accept love when it came their way.

The thing I did not love was that it was so difficult to tell what genre the book was trying to be. The mystery didn’t seem to be the focal point, the romance didn’t seem to be the focus, and the family drama hopped in and out. I think if one of these genres had been more fleshed out, it may have caught my interest a little more.

🎧: The narration here was really well done and it definitely made for a fun 8.5 hour car ride audiobook! I appreciated reading this one with my ears so that I wasn’t’ making up pronunciations in my head. 😂 Sircar did a great job of keeping me interested and of keeping th story moving along.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Cozy Hijinx
Found Family
Dial A for Aunties
Arsenic & Adobo
Diverse MCs

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.90 ⭐️
# of Hours: 8 hours, 24 minutes
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

I was immediately hooked while reading “The Matchmaker.” How much I loved this book really took me by surprise. I would like to suggest that this book belongs in a new genre that we need more of - the cozy thriller! Nura took over the family Matchmaking business from her aunt. She and the business are wildly successfully until an anonymous podcast is posted spreading hate of her business and its purpose. That’s only the beginning - threats start popping up and a customer’s wedding is sabotaged. Nura and her coworker friends must get to the bottom of this to save the business and maybe her own life. Nura also has to navigate difficult family dynamics and her own personal journey of love. This is one of those genre-bending books that I think many readers will enjoy - a thrilling romantic mystery.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is an entertaining cozy mystery/romance about Nura, an Atlanta matchmaker who finds herself in danger when her clients' weddings begin to be sabotaged and her business comes under attack. There is also an element of romance, and I think this novel suffered a little from being pulled in both the mystery and romance directions. The suspense could have been amped up more, and I couldn't buy in to the romance storyline. I enjoyed Nura's family dynamics with the aunt who raised her and her standoffish older cousin, and the writing was solid. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital review copy.

Received an ARC via NetGalley.

I went into this thinking it was a cozy mystery and it sort of checks that box but it also gets a little more dramatic towards the end so I don’t really know how to classify it.

I think the solve sort of comes out of left field and I can’t really go into my thoughts on it without spoiling it. In some ways, it made sense bc there were a couple red flags but in others.. it didn’t ring totally true.

But the story was fast paced and I wanted to know what happened so I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much to Random House, Ballentine and NetGalley for the ARC of The Matchmaker.

4.75 rounded up to a 5.

I loved it! I absolutely loved this book. There was A LOT going on though. We have a romance, family drama, and multiple mysteries all wrapped into one story. But Aisha Saeed did a fantastic job of intertwining all of these elements together; so instead of feeling like the story had an identity crisis, it felt more like a miniseries. We come up with an answer to one thing about halfway through and I was so confused about what else could happen. And then something else pops up! The story kept me hopping and on the edge of my seat the entire ride. I loved all of the characters and there was such a feeling of dread about who the villain was going to be! I read this in one day and it was honestly, so much fun! I highly recommend!

Unfortunately this was not for me. I usually give books until the halfway mark before put it down but I just could not get into this. I enjoyed the premise but it felt like it moved too slow. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and PRH Audio for the ALC.

I must admit, I almost DNF'ed this book. However, I am so glad I didn't! I really enjoyed this book and the elements of mystery and romance. I enjoyed all the characters. I also did not see the ending coming (which is always a good thing) I also think that Tiya Sircar was the perfect narrator for this book and she had a very pleasant voice. I hope she continues to narrate more audiobooks in the future. I will also be sure to look for more books by Aisha Saeed in the future too!!

The subject of matchmaking seems to be gaining popularity but The Matchmaker offers an original premise. Nura is the owner of her family’s matchmaking company in Atlanta and, in particular, it attracts young clients who share her Indian roots.

There are tidbits throughout the book about the Indian culture – customs, food, and traditions. What a lovely addition to an already enjoyable story. It’s a mystery intertwined with the characters’ personal lives and ambitions. But, it also deals with memory loss, family tensions and, yes, a little romance, too. The author does a stellar job balancing all these different aspects.

I wouldn’t classify this book as a cozy. It isn’t silly or shallow and there aren’t any over-the-top quirky characters like the ones in some of the cozies I’ve read. Instead, the characters have depth and are believable, and the story has a nice and consistent pace. It’s a well written book and it definitely held my interest until the very last page.

The Matchmaker was a surprise read for me. I would have never anticipated how much I enjoyed this book. It’s Ms Saeed’s first adult novel, after writing award-winning books for younger readers, and I certainly hope there’s more to come. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

This was a fun read! Definitely more on the mystery side than the romance one. Maybe I’ve watched a bit too many true crime documentaries, as it was pretty obvious to me who the culprit was pretty early on, but I still really enjoyed it.

The premise is a really interesting one- a successful matchmaker realizes that she, and some of her matched couples, are being targeted and with the help of her team, tries to figure out who it is. The romance is more of a B-plot, and comes in the form of her childhood best friend.

I loved the flow of the book, and the writing style. I hope Aisha Saeed has many, many, many more books in her future. I will be reading them all!

Seemingly straight out of a Netflix drama, this story follows a matchmaker to the elite who finds herself entangled in a whirlwind of secrets and suspense. Though it’s a mystery at heart, the narrative weaves in themes of love, family tension, and unexpected twists. The plot unfolds smoothly, keeping you guessing about who’s really at fault until the very end. A light, well-written read that kept me hooked throughout!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Nura Khan, yes, <I>that</I> Nura Khan, has a pristine record as Atlanta's most successful, and exclusive, matchmaker. Her business, inherited by her beloved aunt, has been modernized for the 21st century and, despite a few critics confusing the idea of a matchmaker and arranged marriages, the business has blossomed under Nura's watchful guidance. Dedicated, hardworking, and more than a little in love with her unavailable best friend, Nora made the decision years ago to devote her life towards her matchmaking passion. However, after a recent article brought more than the usual crowd of haters, Nura begins to suspect her business (and thus, her reputation) are under attack. Weddings are sabotaged, threats are made, and soon it isn't just Nura who fears something is going on behind the scenes.

What a fun book! THE MATCHMAKER is being marketed as a romance/murder mystery, but I would say it falls more firmly in the cozy mystery/thriller category than romance. Sure, I was rooting for a certain couple to get together, but the romance was definitely a sub-plot to finding the perp. There was a twist towards the end that took me by surprise, and I loved the suspense of the story.

3.5 Stars

Fast paced and entertaining, reading The Matchmaker makes me want to go and read Aisha Saeed’s backlist. There’s something for everyone in this book: suspense, relationships, culture, and laughs.

Nura is a renowned matchmaker in Atlanta who runs her company with professionalism and passion. Yet not everyone seems to be thrilled with her work as threatening letters and a podcast appear and her clients nuptials are sabotaged. Nura relies on her employees (who are really more like friends) and her best friend Azar (who she longs to be more than just friends) to help her solve the mystery and keep her sane.

Nura’s close relationship with her aunt is also prevalent as is the rocky one with her cousin, and it was great seeing the family dynamics of a close knit group who make mistakes but still love each other.

It becomes a balancing act as Nura attempts to run her business, find the culprit, accept the changing dynamics between her and Azur, and stay present in meaningful ways for her family. And while it seems like a lot, the story seamlessly moves between each piece, bringing it altogether in the end.

Nura is fulfilling her role in her family's successful matchmaking business. Just as everything seems to be going really well for her and her clients, bad things continue to happen, putting Nura in the path of danger.

I read the blurb, but I did not expect to read what I read. I liked the book overall, but felt like there were two different tones that switched around the half-way point. The first seemed really like a love story and then the mystery-thriller part of it got so intense and then it just....ended? The mystery was interesting, but it felt a little out of place and felt it could have been a little more smooth! I really liked the main character and her family and enjoyed learning more about the desi culture!

Nura is a matchmaker and is very successful. She genuinely wants to find the right match for her clients. It turned into a mystery/thriller when some of the weddings were sabotaged and Nura finds herself being stalked. Very interesting and thoroughly entertaining.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was a really fun genre mix for me, the ending felt a bit rushed but i really enjoyed the depth the characters had and how their relationships grew and changed throughout the novel

thank you to netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for my #gifted copy via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Nura Khan is a third-generation matchmaker in Atlanta. She has taken the business she inherited from her Aunt and grown it with the times into a thriving, exclusive, sought-after service beyond the Desi community. She's single, but her best friend Azar is willing to fake-date her at events to keep people from asking questions. Besides, she has enough to worry about with her Aunt's health declining and her cousin pushing her out of the family more and more. But when the regular-grade hate mail (from rejected prospective clients) starts scaling up, and when things start going wrong at weddings for couples she has facilitated, she gets scared. When she and her matchmaking team start to fight back there is suddenly no going back and Nura may have to make some very tough decisions.

I'm not gonna lie, I was super stressed out by this book, lol. The family dynamics were realistic and stressful, the danger was creeping, and I was seriously worried for her and her business. That is to say, the story was very well-crafted! It's a high-stakes game (at home and in the office) and poor Nora was very much balancing it all very carefully. Very, very well done.

Trigger warning: dementia of a loved one

2.5⭐️

Based on the synopsis, I was really excited to read this book, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. I've seen this book described as a thriller and as a romance novel, but I don't think that is accurate. It reads more like contemporary fiction with lots of family/work drama. There is the underlying mystery of who is sabotaging Nura, the MC, but it didn't feel like the main focus of the story, probably because there are so many subplots. The mystery did get more interesting toward the end of the book, but it didn't really hold my attention in the first half. And if you're expecting a rom-com, that's not what you're going to get with this book. Nura's love life takes a backseat to her matchmaking business, so the main romances you'll read about are her clients'. While this one wasn't for me, I am still interested in reading more from the author in the future.

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

This was a DNF for me I tried to get into the story which I thought was promising but was just wasn't able to really grab my interest. This was a miss for me but have seen a lot of positive reviews and would still recommend anyone to give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aisha Saeed, and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review (Unpaid).

The Matchmaker is an incredible story about family, work-life balance, and love (in all shapes and forms). The mystery had me on edge the entire time I was reading (and every time I had to set the book down), and while I caught the big twist pretty early, I still loved watching everything unravel. The backstory about Nura's parents felt a little unnecessary since nothing came out of it.

Nura Khan is a third generation matchmaker. Her grandmother was a matchmaker in Pakistan and Nura is now taking over for her aunt continued the business after moving to the USA. Nura is a natural at matching people except for herself. I appreciated the setting was Atlanta as I used to live there. When a couple of incidents show that someone is trying to sabotage her business she is on the case.

I enjoyed having a “Desi” lead and learning bits of culture and marriage traditions. Nura relies on her best friend to play boyfriend at events but it felt cliche that he would be the perfect boyfriend if she opened her eyes. There is a lot of family drama mixed into the story as well. I’m not sure if this is a stand alone novel or the the beginning of a new cozy mystery series. But either way I would like to read more from this author. (3.5 Stars)