Reviews

BIPOC Romance Retelling of Austen's Emma in which a young magazine writer in Mumbai, India must prove her matchmaking skills and contend with her growing feelings for her close family friend.

1/5 stars: This is Hegde's debut novel that takes place in Mumbai, India that is a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma about a magazine writer who'd rather be matchmaking than writing clickbait “relationship” articles for a popular periodical sets out to prove her matchmaking skills. But things don't go smoothly and she's also contending with her growing feelings for her close family friend, a struggling pub owner. Not only is Hegde's writing well done but the character work is excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Jia and Jaiman are great, very Emma and Knightly but both are dealing with very modern issues. I very much appreciated that this was set in Mumbai and that it celebrates all things Indian, including great food, traditional dress and the Diwali holiday. Jia and Jaiman's romance is swoony but there are no OPS scenes. And while there are plenty of sweet and humorous moments, Hegde does tackles some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, Emma's my least favorite of Austen's novels. I loved Jai and Jaiman's relationship but I really didn't like how Jai was using her matchmaking for personal gain; leading me to DNF it at 49%. I will be trying this author again in the future.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dell in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

drops_everything_and_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

I love that the book is set in Mumbai, India; it’s a nice change of pace from the many books set in the USA. Accordingly, in the audiobook, the narrator would use Indian accents for some of the characters which was fun to hear.

The story itself was great. Jia is an aspiring matchmaker who, herself, is looking for love while also trying to matchmaker other people. Jaiman owns a pub and has been in love with Jia for years but has put that notion aside, thinking she’s not interested.

I love how each MC is so well developed; there is vulnerability, emotion, confidence, and uncertainty. the pressure to succeed while also staying true to their ambitions. I enjoyed how Jia and Jaiman kept being pushed together, and the attraction and chemistry was obvious.

I’m definitely going to pick up the author’s second book

tagoreketabkhane31's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

ynaiita_5896's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted slow-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

This was such a refreshing read! I've read many romance novels, but experiencing a story centered on women from my country, set in a city I've visited and loved, felt uniquely special. The food references, Bollywood nuances, and the way the book captures the contrast between traditional Indian culture and modern influences added so much richness.

Jaiman and Jia are adorable characters, but what makes them truly stand out is their honest realism. Jia is sweet, annoying, kind, selfish, generous, and dramatic, while Jai is vulnerable, lonely, giving, contradictory, and loving. Their flaws make them incredibly relatable.

However, I wish the focus had remained more on their relationship rather than Jia’s work projects, which sometimes distracted from their chemistry. While it’s clear they were familiar and comfortable with each other, the storyline didn’t emphasise their connection enough to make their attraction feel fully convincing.

mynerdylibrary's review

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hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

chitra1111's review against another edition

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4.0

Swati Hedge is a Bangalore based freelance editor & mindset coach and "Match Me If You Can" is her literary debut with desi romance that is filled with charm & vibrancy.

Book starts with Jia Deshpande who is a confident fashionista & writer at a leading Mumbai magazine- Mimosa. Jia narration at work was very relatable because a lot of times our true potential is not recognised in our offices. Jia is a natural matchmaker but then her life takes an unexpected turn when her match attempts at work go awry. Then, we have Jaiman Patil who is in love with Jia for years now. Jaiman owns a local pub and his deep feelings for Jia with running his business adds multiple layers to his character.

The story is very relatable when Jia struggles between personal & professional life trying to balance out her career with personal ambitions. Everyone desires success and this adds to the pressure and Jia struggles to maintain her blog and with her feelings for Jaiman creating a perfect storm at work and personal life. Book is a quick and enjoyable read.Also,one can not forget to mention the beautiful purple cover which is perfect for the vibrant & playful nature of the story.

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