This was such a fun read - I got along with the writing extremely well, the story flowed so perfectly and the characters were a delight.

I really kept hoping this would get better, but the FMC and MMC felt so immature it was hard to imagine how they’d got to the points in their careers they were at. I appreciated the depiction of Rachel’s disability, but beyond that she feels so fixated on something that happened to her as a teenager, and comes across as all too happy to manipulate the people around her. It also felt like there was so much exposition and repetition, it quickly got incredibly boring. Some of the explanations felt a bit too much – it didn’t come through in a well written, natural way, but more not trusting the reader to actually understand what they were doing and why, or willing to let them research more if they were inclined. The whole plot came to a standstill to overexplain things. I found myself getting more and more frustrated at the plot and characters, and ultimately not enjoying this as much as I’d hoped.

Thank you to Piatkus for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The writing style was easy to follow, easy to read and it just clicked with me. Having been initially drawn to the book due to a character with an invisible illness, I’m happy to report was written about in ways that I xiumd completely connect to. Sooo worth a read!!!

I was hooked by the premise of this book. A story about a Christmas romance writer who has to write a story about Chanukah? What more could you want?!

Whilst I loved the idea, I struggled with the actual book. It didn't hook me in the way I hoped, and I didn't find myself desperate to keep picking the story back up where I left it. I did enjoy the will-they-won't-they aspect between Rachel and Jacob but it just didn't hit the spot in the way I hoped.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

This one was a lovely read. I really enjoyed reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me

This was a fun seasonal romance with lots of details to learn for someone clueless about Judaism like me. A swoon-worthy main couple and for an extra bonus- inclusivity!

Would recommend this one for those wanting a fun, flirty read.

Best moments are definitely the main love interest's relative!

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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rachel Rubinstein-Goldblatt is a Jewish New Yorker with a secret. It’s not a dangerous or frightening secret, it’s just one she’s keen to keep quiet about. Rachel is a novelist, award winning and TV movie successful, yet all her books are published under a pseudonym as they are Christmas Romance novels, not what the world and in particular her synagogue community, would expect from the daughter of the esteemed Rabbi Rubinstein-Goldblatt. In addition Rachel has a life limiting auto-immune disease that’s got the ridiculous name of chronic fatigue. This illness has impacted all parts of Rachel’s life often leaving her unable to leave her bed. Out of the blue Rachel’s agent informs her the publisher wants her to drop the Christmas theme and write a Hanukkah romance, or else it’s likely she will not get another book deal.
Like every Jewish mother Rachel’s wants her married to a nice Jewish boy and so regularly invites random single men to stay over for Shabbat to meet Rachel. One such visitor is Jacob Greenberg is one such visitor. Only Rachel and Jacob have some unfinished business from their time at summer camp when they both fell in love only to leave camp with broken hearts, each blaming the other. Now, Rachel needs Jacob as in order to write her Hanukkah romance she must get invited to Jacob’s Matzah Ball. Despite her overwhelming anger and disappointment with Jacob she is determined to get the ticket. Her career depended upon it.
This is a lovely , light hearted read that brings together two people for their ‘happy ever after’. A wonderful read that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy with a desperate need for rugalach.

As soon as I saw this I knew I wanted to give it a go - there aren't nearly enough non-Christmas holiday romances written or published by big houses, so I wanted to show my support. I really liked Meltzer's writing and found that the alternating of chapters between Rachel and Jacob's POV allowed for good character development of them both. I also think the way in which she incorporated Jewish practices and culture into the story was very accessible but still informative and actually taught me a lot. While I am a big fan of the romance in the story, I thought the fact that such a big part of the story is about Rachel becoming more confident in herself was great. I also really appreciated that Meltzer used her own experience with a chronic illness in writing Rachel while acknowledging that everyone endures it differently. The Matzah Ball was such a great example of a refreshing take on a holiday-themed novel and there definitely needs to be more!

I really wasn't a fan of this one--my pet peeve in romance novels is when problems could be solved by a simple conversation, and this unfortunately happened SEVERAL times in this book. For a novel with adult protagonists, this felt really juvenile, not only is there the issue with miscommunications as mentioned before, but both of the main characters continually refer back to their experience at summer camp aged 12/14 as though it was pivotal to their lives as successful adults. I will give this book credit for its exploration of Jewish culture (I don't know much about it, but it really interesting to learn about) and for its depiction of a character with a chronic illness, both factors I believe are true to the author's life, so it's no surprise that they were the most authentic and interesting feeling parts of the book.

(Many thanks to Netgalley and Little. Brown Book Group UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher with providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Although I enjoy the romance genre, I tend to avoid the holiday romance subgenre and was a little sceptical about this one. However, I was completely wrong as this was the first holiday romance that I didn't hate! I loved how the enemies to lovers trope was portrayed, and it was a laugh out loud clean romance. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a different type of holiday romance that still has some of the features of that subgenre!

I adored this book! Such a sweet romance with a well crafted storyline, hilarious details, and brilliantly rounded characters. As a chronic illness sufferer I saw myself reflected in the heroine, but also saw worlds I didn't know. The hero was also a great character who dealt with his own battles. And the characters surrounding them were lovely and finely drawn. I particularly loved the Camp Ahava stories, scenes in the Rabbi's home and Rachel's organisation skills demonstration!!! Sparkling, witty, seasonal, and fascinating. I laughed and cried. Such fun.

Excellent novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

From the moment I spotted this book on Netgalley I knew I needed to read it, and I had a very strong feeling I would love it.

What I didn't reckon on was just how utterly fabulous it actually is, and how for the first time in absolutely ages I was able to just sit back and read the second half of a book in one sitting, without a slight thought of all the real world things I should be doing. And even from the moment I had started the book, it was on my mind when I wasn't reading.

I am Jewish, I went to Hebrew school until about the age of 11 at weekends, and so I do have some knowledge of the religion and Hanukkah customs. But I'm not remotely religious and in fact I'm an absolute Christmas nut, so that along with sharing a name with Rachel, the main character, means I had something clearly in common with the book.

But that may be where the similarities end as I certainly am not the daughter of a top Rabbi and doctor, nor did I ever do Camp America (which I believe would have mean that Rachel's recollections of her own Camp experiences would have resonated even more).

And Rachel needs to keep the fact she is a bestselling Christmas novelist a secret from everyone, and she also tends to keep her chronic heath condition secret too.

And then there is Jacob (took me until it was practically spelt out towards the end to realise the sheer genius of our two protagonists names), who had a difficult childhood and has returned to New York to put on a giant Matzah Ball - basically a Jewish music festival with a difference to celebrate the final night of Hanukah.

Elements of Jacob's life resonated with me, as his mother and the small bits we learned about her, had the same medical condition as my dad, again making me feel this story a lot more closely than maybe others will.

And what a Matzah Ball he is putting on, it sounds both like an amazing event but also something I perhaps would never want to go to, as I really would rather go to a giant Christmas party! But I loved how the two festival of lights were presented through the book, and Rachel's relationship with Christmas.

There is so so much that I loved about this, the odd Hebrew and Yiddish words that were filtered in, which I always heard in my head with a thick accent, the description of Shabbat at a Rabbi's house was fascinating, and I hearing about Jacob and Rachel's past was great.

This book contains a lot from chronic illness depicted sensitively, to journeys of personal development, a fabulous Jewish mother, and even better Bubbe (grandmother), and well a large large amount of food!

I am struggling to believe that this appears to be a debut novel and I am already incredibly eager to find out what this author will write next. This hit all the right boxes for me and more. Just brilliant.

Thank you to Piatkus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This should be made into a movie! I really enjoyed this story; such a refreshing change from the usual Christmas holiday romances. It was quite the education learning about Jewish traditions and words, but it came across really well; I only wish there was a key as to what some of the words meant. Although slightly absurd in parts, it was so humorous that I feel it would have everyone in stitches if they were to watch it play out on a screen. I couldn't put it down, and am hoping to find more by this author

An enjoyable read once you got past the full on Yiddishkeit and were able to absorb the story. Might be off putting if you don’t know much about Judaism but if you can get past the early stages you’ll learn about the Chanukah traditions and the shameful secret of the Rabbi’s daughter who LOVES Christmas!!! An enjoyable twist on the usual Christmas tales… 4*

It wasn’t my usual type of book but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a good book and I will look for other books but the author.

I didnt know what to expect from this book but i found it an enjoyable read, there were some tough themes that were dealt with in a real and lighthearted way infused with a sense of humour that I loved.

The Matzah Ball introduced me to a culture and religion with which I am familiar only in passing. Rachel is not just Jewish but she is also the daughter of a well-regarded rabbi. Brought up to behave in a way that will not reflect badly on him, she is now an adult hiding secrets from those she loves. And those she loves are the only ones who know the bigger secret she is hiding. Throw in the boy she loved twenty years ago and you have all the makings of a seasonal romance.

The appeal of the whole sentimental mush that passes for Christmas in fiction and film has passed me by. But not Rachel. Secretly, she loves all things Christmas. It is her guilty secret, kept from her parents. And they are the keepers of a less guilty secret: that Rachel is living with a chronic illness. Trying to hide a part of her life from all but her old friend Mickey has always caused Rachel stress and her life gets more and more complicated as the book goes on.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to reading more by Jean Meltzer.

Sometimes you let go of childhood irritations….but in this book they form the essence of the relationship between the two characters.
Rachel and Jacob met at Jewish summer camp. They were twelve, loved pranking each other but also each thought there was a chance of something more developing. Unfortunately, things were not to be. Rachel got upset that Jacob told everyone he was going to kiss her (he didn’t) and he got cross that she stood him up at the dance (she didn’t). Since then, they haven’t spoken.
Of course, in this scenario it’s then inevitable that they will end up forced into a situation where they have to spend time together. They, naturally, still like each other but they, oddly, can’t talk about what happened so keep falling out.
This romance is played out against a backdrop of a Hanukkah ball, an attempt to make Judaism trendy. There’s also a rather weird storyline concerning Rachel and her guilty secret of how she makes her money when she has a crippling chronic illness. It was t quite what I expected.
This was a bit of a crash course in Judaism, with the romance coming to the fore as and when there needed to be something moving along. It was light-hearted fun, and an entertaining enough read though the book would have been much shorter if they’d just spoken to each other.