Book Blurb:
Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade sheâs 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. Hanukkahâs not magical. Itâs not merry. Itâs not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachelâs 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 archenemyâJacob Greenberg.
Though Rachel and Jacob havenât 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 Hanukkahâand Jacobâin 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 canât judge this on its obvious predictability.Â
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 itâs a huge deal and the author deftly weaves what it feels like to suffer silently into her characterâs life. It probably resonated with me because I too have a chronic disease that unless itâs understood, people just donât get it.Â
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.Â
Lastly, much of this story revolves around Jewish summer camp. Some of Rachelâs 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.Â
I canât wait to see whatâs next from Meltzer. Iâll 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 personâs candle, and, in the process, makes the world a darker place. Or we can be the type of person who spreads light.â
âYour 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 thatâs different than love, Jacob. In some ways, itâs more powerful. In some way, itâs more. Because only your Bashert, your other half, can fill up what you lackâŠand help you fulfill your destiny.â
