Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

10 reviews

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

Loved this hilarious read! I found both Rachel and Jacob so relatable in their own ways, which makes you want to root for them so much. It’s also been great to learn more about Hanukkah and other Jewish traditions throughout the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Antisemitism and Alcohol

lost_windsock's review

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? Yes

4.0

This book was pretty fun. I really liked the concept of this high profile Christmas author secretly being a famous rabbi's daughter. The fact that she loved the magic of Christmas so much and had to hide it from her family as a really interesting character background. Also the fact that she and Jacob had that complicated history, both thinking the other had broken their trust and their heart, was a fun set-up for a second-chance romance. This book was dropping in Jewish culture, and it felt like a really well-sculpted representation of a loving Jewish community. This book had great flow, great characters and an interesting plot, and I really enjoyed it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Cancer, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts

kyrstin_p1989's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-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

Very cute romance story that is traditional and non-traditional at the same time. I appreciated that the story centers around Hanukkah while exhibiting all the tell-tale signs of a typical Hallmark Christmas movie. The themes of this book are lovely and withstand the test of time and the differences between faiths. The love story is a frenemies to lovers with a bit of miscommunication trope thrown in. All in all, I thought it was a good holiday rom-com to read during Hanukkah.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, War, Bullying, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Minor: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Ableism, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

annahamburger's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Antisemitism, Grief, Genocide, Body shaming, Alcohol, Ableism, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Infertility

kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Medical content

Minor: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Antisemitism

Although there are no direct examples of Antisemitism in the book, it is referred to a couple of times by the characters. Also, one of the characters describes her experience escaping Germany during the Holocaust.

bedtimesandbooks's review

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Terminal illness, Infidelity, Medical content, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts

readergonewilde's review

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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Genocide, and Pregnancy

linesiunderline's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

The Matzah Ball was a really sweet, gently humorous read with strong rep for chronic disability. It was completely pleasant, start to finish, and for audiobook fans, the narration was on point.

I think this is about as clean / PG as an adult romance can be and still be considered a romance. This book makes Kerry Winfrey’s romances look racy. I’m good with a bit of open door action in my romances, so I did find myself wondering at the 2/3 mark if this couple was actually going to kiss in the book. I would have liked more evidence of their spark on the page.

Charming, comforting and heartfelt, I could easily picture this one as a sparkly holiday movie. Recommended for anyone who doesn’t mind low steam romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, and Xenophobia

foreverinastory's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Colonisation and Genocide