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A review by erica_reads_itall
Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde
4.0
In this Emma retelling set in contemporary Mumbai, wealthy fashionista and self-styled relationship guru Jia challenges herself to find love for her naive new coworker, Charu. She's certain she knows all about romance and love even though she's never experienced it herself. Meanwhile, her lifelong friend Jaiman is ready to give up on Mumbai: his business is struggling, his college nemesis has come to town, and the woman he's loved his entire life has forbidden him to mention his feelings. If only Jia could turn her relationship expertise on herself...
The first half of Match Me If You Can was delightful, with an ensemble cast just as varied and interesting as the original Emma's. But Jaiman, with his failing business and emotional neediness, was an odd update for the Knightley character, and his helplessness seemed a poor match for Jia's ambition and arrogance. I kept waiting for Jia's "Badly Done, Emma" moment (in the original, Emma insults Miss Bates in front of their friends, and Knightley reprimands her, causing her to examine her interpersonal responsibilities for the first time) but it never really came.
Fortunately, much of Emma is about other people's relationships, and Match Me If You Can is faithful enough to keep Austenites satisfied (although the Frank Churchill plotline is abbreviated) with a unique setting and milieu that will keep general readers interested. Despite its uninspiring central pairing, it's a good Match for rom com lovers of any stripe.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.]
The first half of Match Me If You Can was delightful, with an ensemble cast just as varied and interesting as the original Emma's. But Jaiman, with his failing business and emotional neediness, was an odd update for the Knightley character, and his helplessness seemed a poor match for Jia's ambition and arrogance. I kept waiting for Jia's "Badly Done, Emma" moment (in the original, Emma insults Miss Bates in front of their friends, and Knightley reprimands her, causing her to examine her interpersonal responsibilities for the first time) but it never really came.
Fortunately, much of Emma is about other people's relationships, and Match Me If You Can is faithful enough to keep Austenites satisfied (although the Frank Churchill plotline is abbreviated) with a unique setting and milieu that will keep general readers interested. Despite its uninspiring central pairing, it's a good Match for rom com lovers of any stripe.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.]