A Match in the Making by Jen Turano Book Review
Set in the late 1800s, this is a fun historical fiction book that focuses on romance and family. A Match in the Making is sure to be a fun read if you’re interested in matchmaking and witty banter.
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A Match in the Making
Author: Jen Turano
Publishing Date: February 21, 2023
Series: book 1 of The Matchmakers series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Rating: 4/5 stars
Content Warnings: blood & kidnapping
Synopsis:
Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the company of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond annoying.
Walter is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle.
The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.
Spoiler-Free Book Review
Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the advanced reader copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
This was my first Jen Turano book, but I could definitely see myself reading more of her books in the future. She has such a fun and witty writing style that made A Match in the Making such a fun and enjoyable read.
What I Liked
My favorite aspect of this book was the dialogue. Gwendolyn (the main female character) always had such witty and intelligent comebacks which made me laugh out loud.
Walter had great chemistry and friendship (eventually) with Gwendolyn, but what I appreciated even more was the relationship between Gwendolyn and Walter’s children. From the start, the kids had respect for Gwendolyn compared to every other adult they interacted with.
Without spoiling anything, I very much enjoyed the fishing outing and the guinea pig. Also, kids sure know how to create chaos at a society event.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy…
- Witty banter
- Society ladies being put in their places
- Female protagonists that don’t adhere to the societal standards of the time
- Kids and their hijinks
What I Didn’t Like
The main reasons that I didn’t give this book 5 stars was because I wanted a little bit more romance, and the ending conflict seemed a bit out of place compared to the rest of the story.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase a copy of this book at the following retailers:
Bethany House Publishers (if you want to buy directly from the publisher)
Bookshop.org (supports independent book stores) [affiliate link]
Books a Million (BAM) [affiliate link]
Have you read A Match in the Making or any other books by Jen Turano?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment down below.
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