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Summary
Summary
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK SELECTED BY * POPSUGAR * BUSTLE * BUZZFEED * BOOKPAGE * GOODREADS MEMBERS
"The Matzah Ball had me laughing out loud...an all-around terrific read."--Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Oy! to the world
Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she's hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.
But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah's not magical. It's not merry. It's not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel's determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy--Jacob Greenberg.
Though Rachel and Jacob haven't seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah--and Jacob--in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.
"A luminous celebration of all types of love, threaded with the message that everyone is worthy of it."--Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Meltzer debuts with a charming holiday romance. Rabbi's daughter Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt has a secret: she loves Christmas. So much so that she's built a career writing Christmas romance novels and made-for-TV movies under a pen name. Her success allows her to work from home, vital for a person living with chronic fatigue syndrome. But Rachel's thrown when her editors decide her next series should be Hanukkah-focused, a holiday she considers minor and not very magical. Seeking inspiration, she agrees to volunteer at a high-end Hanukkah soiree being thrown by her old sleepaway camp boyfriend, Jacob Greenberg. Jacob's just as attracted to Rachel as he was back in camp days, but wary of her potentially breaking his heart again. Refreshingly, Rachel's illness is not one of the barriers to their happy ending; instead, the pair weather the typical misunderstandings of a contemporary rom-com. Rachel is a fully formed character whose illness has shaped her choices, but doesn't define all of who she is. Meanwhile, Jacob's bubbe, who serves rugalach for every occasion, and Rachel's best friend, Mickey, are scene-stealers--and deserve happily ever afters of their own. This heartfelt rom-com should be unwrapped by people of all faiths this holiday season. Agent: Carolyn Forde, Transatlantic Literary. (Sept.)
Library Journal Review
DEBUT Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is Jewish and the successful author of an impressive number of Christmas-themed romance novels, some of which have been turned into movies. Rachel also suffers from myalgic encephalomyelitis, more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a frequently misunderstood and often mischaracterized condition. While working on the Hanukkah romance her editor wants, Rachel is stymied by writer's block. She's desperate for inspiration and decides to find it at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music festival hosted by her summer camp rival and first love Jacob Greenberg. Meltzer's enemies-to-lovers debut romance hits all the high points often found in holiday romances--the love who got away, misunderstandings from past and present, humorous and heartfelt interactions that draw the couple back together, as well as interfering but well-meaning family members. The story also incorporates Jewish traditions in a way that will be accessible to many readers, and it does the same for ME/CFS. While some events are predictable, getting to the HEA is an enjoyable journey. VERDICT A fun read and a good addition to holiday romance collections.--Courtney Pentland, Omaha, NE