Reviews with content warning for Genocide - The Matzah Ball

Cute romance, bogged down with constant explanations on details of Judaism, Hanukkah and her illness. Wish it was just integrated more seamlessly as part of the story.

Content Warnings

i__y's review

Go to review page

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

annahamburger's review against another edition

Go to review page

inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

marpaige's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

the_vegan_bookworm's review

Go to review page

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

I really wanted to like this book, because I've never read a Hanukkah romance before!

But the characters were flat and one dimensional. There was a weird amount of detail to Jacob's appearance compared to virtually none for Rachel's. The chemistry was based almost entirely on their relationship from age 12. It's fine to have the origins of your love story start from a young age, but if virtually all of your feelings and perceptions of that person are from that time, it gives me a weird vibe. The conflict between Jacob and Rachel felt a bit ludicrous, and the ending seemed kind of rushed and unrealistic.

Content Warnings

readergonewilde's review

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

foreverinastory's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was so much fun, I really loved this one!!

Rep: white Jewish cishet female MC with chronic fatigue syndrome, white Jewish cishet male MC with depression and past instances of suicidal ideation, adopted Black gay Jewish male side character, Jewish lesbian WLW side couple, Jewish male side character who uses a wheelchair, Jewish side characters.

CWs: Ableism, abandonment, alcohol, chronic illness, grief, mental illness (depression). Moderate: past mentions of bullying, past mentions of terminal cancer, cursing, death, death of parent (past), pregnancy of side character discussed and talk of babies, past mention of suicidal thoughts. Brief: mention of IDF and joking of being a Mossad agent--genocide and colonisation of Palestinian people.

Content Warnings

courtneyfalling's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was so positively surprised by this book! I don't normally rate romances so high, but I really loved Rachel and Jacob and Rachel + Jacob together. Rachel's ME/CFS and chronic illness experience is really well-handled*, I liked how this book balanced lighthearted Jewish representation with slightly heavier moments of reflection on religious weight and generational trauma (but keep in mind that I am a non-Jewish, chronically ill reader), and there's so much witty banter and clever campy (literally) backstory. And like, Rachel's obsessive and hidden love of Christmas? Golden plot device... this whole concept is so carefully constructed and it's as hilarious as it was heartfelt. And even the side characters felt real and whole! Also, I'm a perpetual hater of third act conflicts, but this one felt deserved, the logical culmination of Rachel and Jacob's personalities.

*

The caveat here to the third act conflict and the chronic illness representation is that Rachel runs to the Matzah Ball and breaks in flamboyantly through the windows, and I was waiting to see Rachel's crash the following week, or another acknowledgement of limited energy levels and accompanying flares since that had been such a prominent theme through the book. And the ending offered only a quick, all-hopeful wrap-up, which, okay, fine, but I was cringing the entire time that Rachel was running and the toll never got mentioned again. And there's like a very quick reference to Rachel finding an obstetrician, but like, getting pregnant and parenting while disabled is a huge decision and I feel like this merited more attention or weight!

Edit: Moving down to 4 stars after a book club with friends! Some valid critiques and more obvious gaps the second time around.

Content Warnings

More...