Book Blurb:
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.
My Review: 4 stars
The Matzah Ball was a joy to read; it literally felt a like Jewish Hallmark Movie came to life! Honestly, the title alone drew me in, so how lovely it was to have a good story inside the the covers as well. Like many holiday themed novels, we know there will be a HEA (Happily Ever After) so I can’t judge this on its obvious predictability.
What spoke to me most, was the #ownvoices aspect of the novel as the author suffers from a chronic illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, that is often met with a shrug, like its no big deal. In, actually it’s a huge deal and the author deftly weaves what it feels like to suffer silently into her character’s life. It probably resonated with me because I too have a chronic disease that unless it’s understood, people just don’t get it.
She also tackled the magic of Christmas and how Jewish people often wish Hanukkah could have that same sense of wonder and enchantment. Hanukkah is a celebration of a miracle, and The Matzah Ball event in the book brings that to light. Holiday books are enjoyed by all people, of any religion, and this one should be no exception to that. Meltzer did a good job explaining anything that a non-Jew may not get.
Lastly, much of this story revolves around Jewish summer camp. Some of Rachel’s memories from camp became repetitive, rehashing the same moments over and over. Regardless of that, for me, this brought back a lot of fond memories of my time at Camp Louise, especially the socials with our brother camp, Camp Airy.
I can’t wait to see what’s next from Meltzer. I’ll be first in line to read and review!
Quotes I liked:
But what I always explained to Jacob is that these candles are a metaphor. They remind us we always have a choice. We can become someone who snuffs out another person’s candle, and, in the process, makes the world a darker place. Or we can be the type of person who spreads light.”
“Your other half exists to make you better. She exists to complete something you lack, and vice versa. You challenge each other, like chavruta, two blades which sharpen each other. But that’s different than love, Jacob. In some ways, it’s more powerful. In some way, it’s more. Because only your Bashert, your other half, can fill up what you lack…and help you fulfill your destiny.”
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