The Matzah Ball

I really, really wanted to like this book because there are not enough good Hanukkah romance novels. Unfortunately, there were too many problematic aspects to give it anything more than a qualified recommendation.

It's easy to identify what did/didn't work for me:

YES to the lovely portrayal of Judaism as a religion/culture that focuses on family, community, and food. The Jewish Geography (the habit of trying to figure out what fellows Jews you might know in any given city), the long-lasting friendships made at Jewish summer camp, and the double-edged sword of being a rabbi's kid all ring true.

YES to having a heroine with a chronic disease who has made a life for herself despite her limitations. I learned a lot about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (more commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and the careful way Rachel has to dole out her activities to avoid a flare up, which can disable her for months. (Interestingly, ME/CFS is getting a lot of attention these days because of its similarities to Long COVID.)

NO to the stereotypical Black gay best friend. If you're going to show that Judaism can be a diverse religion, don't make the Black guy a walking cliché.

And NO (unfortunately) to the entire romance plot. First of all, the entire premise rests on the fact that Rachel and Jacob had a brief relationship that ended badly at summer camp when they were 12 years old. And we're supposed to believe that they have been holding a grudge/pining for each other since then? FFS, they were not even teenagers. I don't even remember the guy I crushed on when I was 12, and I certainly have grown and changed so much since then that I doubt he would appeal to me at all anymore.

And the relationship between them now is more frustrating than romantic. Rachel is bristly and secretive, and Jacob is frankly pretty much a jerk for at least half of the novel. There are numerous, unnecessary Big Misunderstandings that could have been avoided if the two talked to each other. There's a lot of slapstick humor as well, which never appeals to me. Plus one minute Rachel is talking about how overexertion can cause her to be bedridden for months, then the next she is eschewing a cab and running multiple blocks for the final grand gesture without any apparent impact.

There are other aspects of the plot that engaged and frustrated me, but I don't want this review to become a magnum opus. I wish I had liked The Mazah Ball more than I did, but I can't recommend it unless you are starving for a Hanukkah romance and can overlook some significant flaws.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.