Love this series by Alexander McCall Smith. The characters are so entertaining. Looking forward to the next volume.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the storytelling and narrative voice of Alexander McCall Smith. When his exceptionally popular series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency first appeared in 2002, I was enamored with his style and with his characters. While my interests have branched off over the years, I still scour the book sales for this author with my dad, who remains an avid devotee.

I stumbled into a more recent series of his, The Perfect Passion Company, on it’s second installment Looking for You. I realized quickly that I had missed the first, but was not deterred. Though I may have missed out on some wonderful story progression, it was not hard to quickly pick up the nuance and flow of the Scottish world created for these characters.

Katie Donald has “temporarily” taken over her cousin’s matchmaking business in Edinburgh, while cousin Ness is in Canada finding herself. Inheriting a business, a delicious neighbor, and the lovelorn of this bustling and quirky city.



Leaving behind her previous life and lack of love in London, Katie seems to have reluctantly taken a great affinity to her new role. Her ability to read people and set aside personal prejudice would be well suited to a legal career, but is wonderfully paired here with finding love for the interesting, uninteresting and sometimes downright odd people who cross her threshold looking to cross the marital threshold.

The love lives of those around her, while interesting, pale in comparison to her own growing love for her neighbor William. An Australian whose own love story played out in the first volume, William is described as being distractingly attractive, but also kind, loving, artistic, and all round wonderful. He is an artist sojourning on the British Isles, and takes a keen, often very involved, interest in the matchmaking world. He is quicker to jump to conclusions about clients than Katie, but otherwise proves to have some very keen instincts.

The story spends much of its time in Edinburgh, but does not forget erstwhile traveler Ness, proprietor of The Perfect Passion Dating Company, who is taking an adult gap year in Canada. Ness is a perfect foil to Katie, as they are both on similar journeys of discovery. Ness is learning all kinds of things about herself, the people she meets, and about North America’s tick borne diseases! The communication between the cousins makes me envious of how little I see my own cousins across the Atlantic and reminds me of how I enjoyed them all as a child. Being the youngest, I had seven older cousins to torment and bother, but I adored them. I moved from England when I was 22 so never really got to know them as an adult. I expect I will forever be that little cousin in their minds!

While the dulcet tones of Morgan Freeman are the soundtrack to the ultimate voice over, were my life to be narrated, I would want Alexander McCall Smith to write the script. His turn of phrase and descriptive brilliance are at play whether describing a work of art or a piece of toast. While it is not necessarily the natural cadence of everyday life, much as Joss Whedon’s teenagers were not typically spoken, it is the style, speed, and substance that I would aspire to (and yearn for) in my own day to day.



McCall Smith a highly prolific author, having penned 25 volumes in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, 15 in The Sunday Philosophy Club, 17 in The 44 Scotland Street Series, and many more, with no signs of slowing down. Only the extended Star Wars Universe is harder to keep up with.



Looking for You is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read. I will certainly be seeking out the first volume and waiting for more from the residents of Mouse Street. Time passes easily when you are in the company of the words of Alexander McCall Smith making his stories the perfect read on winters night or while watching waves on the Beach.

GeekMom received a copy of this book for review purposes

Another cozy novel by Alexander McCall Smith. A lonely hearts novel that us well written, carefully and sweetly plotted and draws you in immediately. Not to be missed.

I have yet to find an ARC this month I actually have enjoyed. I have no clue if I'm in a slump and that is what is making me not enjoy any of these writing styles or actually become interested and invested in any character

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

Great read! Very inspirational and needed in this season and time. It makes me want to read more from this author

I normally love Alexander McCall Smith's books, especially the Edinburgh ones, but this one just wasn't for me. I really enjoyed the first one in this series, and although this was a gentle read, there just wasn't much happening. It may be that I wasn't in the right mood for it-the writing is certainly up to his usual standard.

Katie matches the lonely hearts of Edinburgh in LOOKING FOR YOU, the latest installment of Alexander McCall's Smith's Perfect Passion Company series. With his trademark wit and incredible storytelling chops, McCall Smith offers a view into the twists and turns and chimerical beauty of love between well-drawn, relatable characters. I can't say that any one particular match or event stands out for me -- the entire story is so well done, I like and believe in them all, feeling relieved and inspired and warmed as always by McCall Smith's portrayal of perfectly imperfect individuals finding their ways to connection. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

I hadn't realized I was picking up the second in a series, but the book was still enjoyable and made sense! I think readers at my store will enjoy this thoughtful yet lighthearted book. It's not a trope-y romance, which is a nice change of pace to have something different on the shelves.

Another pleasing installment in the Perfect Passion Company series. McCall Smith is such a cozy storyteller. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Matchmaker Katie Donald is ready to take over her cousin’s business, The Perfect Passion Company, while Ness goes on a gap year in Canada. Katie is ready to jump in and help people find love, along with the help of William, an artist who lives next door.

Clea is wanting to find love again. She is ready to start dating, but she can’t get one particular man out of her mind. She had met him about a year ago at the grocery store, and they’d had a coffee together along with a wonderful conversation. But she hadn’t seen him since and figures she missed her chance. So she’s going to take a chance on someone new.

Horatio comes from a family with a long Scottish heritage. He’s looking for someone who also comes from a significant family. Katie is reluctant to help him, as he comes across as a bit of a snob. But she realizes it’s not her place to judge her clients. So she just puts her head down and tries to find someone he could be happy with.

And while working with clients like these, Katie finds herself facing a bigger problem. She’s become close to Will. He comes to her place every morning and makes coffee, and she enjoys starting her morning by talking to him. But she can’t be falling for him. He’s told her that he’s not looking for a relationship. He’d been engaged, and it had ended badly. He’s wanting more time before jumping into something new. But Katie can’t deny her growing feelings much longer. She may be falling in love with him.

Alexander McCall Smith is known for writing stories that are gentle but compelling. His characters are smart but imperfect, and there is a sweetness that permeates the pages. Looking for You is a lovely look at modern love and friendship, told with grace and compassion and a bit of humor.

I am a big fan of Smith and his heart-warming stories. This is my first dip into the Perfect Passion Company series, but it won’t be my last. With hand-written letters between Katie and Ness, honest conversations, and references to popular culture, this love story brought joy and peace into my day, like a warm cup of tea that can be savored slowly. And there was a shoutout to one of my favorite novels, Cold Comfort Farm, so he gets bonus points from me for that one.

Egalleys for Looking for You were provided by Vintage Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I’ve always enjoyed the author’s books but hadn’t picked up any of his newer novels. Looking For You was a quiet and cozy read with a matchmaker for a lead character. Therefore it’s not surprising that there was a lot of musing on love and the underpinnings of attraction between two people.

I enjoyed the somewhat philosophical musings, but I felt like the story was a bit slow in places and there was a bit too much focus on Katie and William and not enough on the matches she was working on. The book also ended a bit abruptly. I think I may have missed a bit of the main plot line by starting with the third book instead of at the beginning of the series.

If you are looking some kindness, and for an escape from the madness and frenetic pace of real life, though, this book would definitely fit the bill. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

The writing is phenomenal in the book, but the story plot just couldn’t keep my attention. The story is very easy to follow and I hope this book has a lot of success! The characters are very relatable especially in today’s time when it feels almost impossible to date over apps.

This next installment in the series is cozy and smart. Setting up clients for the Perfect Passion Company, Katie shares insight into the qualities people look for in a partner and what gives relationships sparkling chemistry. At the same time she is match-making, Katie is secretly pining for her friend and neighbor, William, which hopefully turns into a slow-burn romance further into the series.

Katie is back to match a few more couples in this story. This is complicated by the fact that William is no longer engaged, so she can no longer deny her crush on him. The book begins with Katie attending a lecture about how people select their spouses. The lecturer posits a couple of ideas, and the rest of the book puts those ideas to the test. What makes a good match? What is the most important thing about a partner? What about their flaws? There are lots of good questions to chew on and lots of the author's style of humor.

I missed the first book but that didn't much matter. This is a gentle slice of life in Edinburgh novel that sees Katie, who is running an introductions agency for her aunt Ness make some matches and find a friend in William the Australian who has the next door shop. The humor is dry, the characters engaging and really, while nothing much happens, that's okay. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a good one to read after a long day.

For me a title by Alexander McCall Smith is a comfort read. Currently, that is the kind of read that I really need so I was delighted to pick up Looking for You.

This title is another in the Perfect Passion Company series about a matchmaker in Edinburgh. For those who don't know (though there are probably not many), McCall Smith has written several other series. I especially love the Scotland set Dalhousie ones but another favorite is The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. These are worth searching out.

This book speaks to the common wish to find the right relationship, the one where a person feels understood and loved for exactly who they are. Follow Katie Donald as she tries to help any number of people.

With Valentine's Day upcoming, this book that reminds us of the wonder of love, would make a perfect gift for yourself or a person in your life. McCall Smith writes in a lovely style that displays warmth, understanding and humor.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for this title. All opinions are my own.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/02/02/book-review-looking-for-you-by-alexander-mccall-smith/

I'm glad to see the tale of the Perfect Passion Company continue in Looking for You. Katie Donald continues at the helm of her aunt's introductions company while her aunt, Ness, is away in Canada. In addition to helping others find love, both women learn about their own capability for love in this second installment of the series. My only qualm is that the book ends rather abruptly, and that I have to wait another year for the next installment to find out what happens! I am so glad that Alexander McCall Smith decided to add Katie and Ness to his cast of Edinburgh leads.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What you need is love (& a matchmaker?)💗

4.5🌟 stars
I love where this series is going and especially find the occasional glimpses of cousin Ness's Canadian adventure dryly amusing mixed with sincerity. The bones of the story are plain, simple narrative, steeped in the small routines of daily life in Edinburgh, with an occasional flight of philosophizing. There's (no surprise) some matchmaking going on, but the overarching romantic plot involves matchmaker Katie herself and her seemingly unrequited feelings for Australian Adonis William, her business neighbor and frequent matchmaking assistant.

Katie's quandaries remind me a bit of Isabel Dalhousie, another Edinburgh character of Alexander McCall Smith's who wants to do the right thing. Katie's charm for me is her kindness and constant striving to be non judgmental even with some of her most problematic clients. Two of her clients in this story have attitudes that rub Katie and William the wrong way but Katie is ready to convince William and herself that they deserve the same courtesy and help as any other client. All while Katie is dealing with the heartache of loving a man who's oblivious and says he's not interested in romance.

I originally found Ness, in the first book and early in Looking For You, a bit too full of herself and too ready to spout off rants of philosophizing. But she got me on her side after her health scare. The letter she writes to Katie about her experience really hit me in the right place.

Alexander McCall Smith has a unique writing style that appeals to me. When he introduces humor, it's dry wit and whimsy rather than LOL and he really digs into character psyche, good traits and bad. This is best read if you want a break from heavy drama and fast-spaced action to reflect on the foibles of the human character and heart. Looking forward to more of this series.

Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on Waterstones, Goodreads, Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble on 1/28/25. To be shared on kobo and Google Play when published.