Review: The Matchmaker's Cottage by Kat Sloane
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I’m devastated cause I wanted to love this book so much. It’s set in the Finger Lakes region of New York, which is stunning and somewhere I love to visit. The cover screamed lake vibes, with a hint of Fall. But sadly, this book decidedly did not work for me. And I am SO SAD it didn’t.
Synopsis:
“Julia Schaeffer might run the most romantic little bed-and-breakfast in Upstate New York, but as far as that infuriating Ethan Duchamp is concerned, this older, wiser Julia has a strict “no vacancy” policy. Sure, she’s teetering on the edge of a financial cliff, and his half-baked plan to pair up his celebrity clients at her inn will undoubtedly be good for business…but how much forced proximity with the man who abandoned her is she supposed to take?
Ethan needs this to work. The dreamy, autumnal—and blissfully secluded—cottage from his childhood summers is the ideal setting for playing matchmaker to Hollywood’s next power couple. It’s the only way to save his PR career from the tabloid toilet. He knew that the inn and Julia’s warm, comforting homemade touch would inspire real feelings—he just didn’t expect them to be his. Again.
But as old wounds reopen, and their connection rekindles, Julia and Ethan are forced to confront the truths they’ve both tried to bury. In a town where nothing stays hidden for long, they’ll have to decide if they can rebuild what was lost—or if their second chance will be derailed by scars that have yet to heal.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—As I said above, I was so excited for this book because it’s set in an area of New York I love to visit and have spent a ton of time in.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Writing—It didn’t click for me at all. Some of the language felt so forced.
The Characters/Chemistry—I didn’t vibe with either of the main characters and couldn’t root for them. Their chemistry also felt forced, I didn’t connect the tension to their romance.
The Conflicts—I didn’t like the premise. None of it felt natural or believable to me at all!
Character Authenticity: 2/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Content Warnings:
abandonment, injury, panic attacks, death of a parent