| Title | : | The Matchmaker |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 346 |
| Publication | : | Published April 18, 2023 |
Or it was peaceful. Until Callum Dempsey turned up. A hot-shot (and, Katie has to admit, hot is annoyingly apt for him…) developer with zero eye for beauty or charm, in spite of his chiselled jaw. He’s not only building some hideous hotel just outside the village, but now he’s also planning to knock down Ennisbawn’s only remaining pub, to make way for a good view from the golf course.
It’s the final blow to the village and the last straw for Katie, who refuses to see her home disappear. Not to mention that the pub is the last connection to her parents, who had met at Ennisbawn’s once-famous matchmaking festival, both throwing coins into the wishing well that sits in the pub garden.
In an instant, Katie knows what to do. She’s going to uncover the now disused wishing well, she’s going to revive the matchmaking festival, and she’s going to single-handedly bring the town back to life again.
She might even help her two best friends find love as well. Since, heck, what’s another project when you’re taking on the world’s hottest, evilest man?
But what Ireland’s newest matchmaker doesn’t know is that even when someone’s really not your type on paper, love might be a little bit more than just a formula…
The Matchmaker Reviews
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An Irish love story-just in time for ☘️ St. Patty’s Day!
Katie Collins isn’t going to let the fact that she is still wearing pajamas which feature yellow ducks in rain jackets stop her!!
She needs to confront the managing director of Glenmill-the company that is destroying her sleepy Irish town of Ennisbawn, one building at a time, and it just CAN’T wait.
You would think that the visitors of the soon-to-be Ennisbawn Hotel and Golf Club, would want to at least have one authentic Village Pub to visit, during their stay.
But the developers seem determined to eliminate Kelly’s Pub, despite the fact that it’s the kind of building that you see on postcards or tourist adverts, with whitewashed stone walls, and bright red windowpanes.
Inside has dozens of cozy nooks for two and larger booths for groups to gather in. There is no television or karaoke-just conversation and a sense of community, served up with salty soups and cheese toasties, by Katie and her boss, Adam.
The most charming feature of all is the WISHING WELL, out back, overlooking the lake.
Legend has it that people would drop a coin down the well and wish for true love, dating back to the late seventeen hundreds. And, one of the town’s oldest traditions was a matchmaking festival, held by this well, year after year.
Katie’s parents met that way, their initials carved into the stone-and it’s the only thing she has left of them after losing them to a tragic car accident when she was just nine years old.
She isn’t about to let Kelly’s Pub or the well get destroyed without a fight.
Can she and her determined friends use the festival to save the Pub?
After “Holiday Romance” made my favorites list last year, I was hoping that this book would possess that same magic!! But, unfortunately despite the charming locale and premise, it didn’t quite measure up.
Katie and her friends were likable, and there was definitely chemistry between Katie and Callum (the leading man) BUT- their romance was too “Insta Love” for my tastes-too much like a “Hallmark movie” this time, for me.
I fell “IN LOVE” with Kelly’s Pub and Ennisbawn, Ireland.
I only ”LIKED” the romance element of the story.
AVAILABLE NOW!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Was she more enamored by this one? Be sure to check out her review!
Thank You to Bookouture for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review! -
Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match …
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a love match, but we can definitely still be friends!
Katie Collins is a 29-year-old born and bred resident of charming Ennisbawn, Ireland. When developer Glenmill swoops in and starts building a hotel/golf complex to revitalize this close-knit, once robust village, it seems like a great opportunity. Then they start wanting MORE land - including the land that Katie’s workplace, Kelly’s Pub, sits on. It’s the last pub left in Ennisbawn, steeped in personal and community history, and she’s not about to give it up without a fight.
On the other side of this issue is Glenmill liaison, Jack Doyle, and his handsome, tattooed project manager Callum Dempsey, who pajama-clad Katie meets one morning after storming into his office to demand a solution to their traffic noise. While Jack is the guy whose picture decorates the dartboards at Kelly’s Pub and is the real threat, quiet Callum is more a victim of guilt-by-association. The blurb reads like he’s the ‘baddie’ in this story which is misleading.
Long story short, when Jack comes to lay claim to Kelly’s Pub one day due to a contract clause that gives Glenmill ownership, a desperate Katie fights back arguing the historical and cultural significance of Kelly’s and Ennisbawn for its annual Matchmaking Festival. She fails to mention that it hasn't been held for several years due to dwindling participation! Calling her bluff, Jack gives her a chance to prove the importance of this festival to save the pub.
I’m sure with a bit of imagination, you’ll figure out the rest of this David vs. Goliath story regarding Ennisbawn vs. Glenmill, and if I rated the book solely on that part of the story, I’d give this four stars. The festival, side characters and Irish setting were charming! I would’ve loved a story featuring more of Katie’s best friends, Gemma and Anushka, or her boss Adam.
Where the story lost some shine for me was the spotlight relationship: Katie and Callum. I was SO smitten with Catherine Walsh’s last book, Holiday Romance. Its MCs, Molly and Andrew, set the bar VERY high! Unfortunately, I just never felt that same spark with this couple.
Instead of a meet cute, Katie and Callum have a meet ugly (not my term … look it up), yet he’s utterly besotted and ready to go to the ends of the Earth with her soon after! They both had their cool, likable qualities, but there was so little time spent fleshing out why they even liked each other, that I couldn’t fully buy into their sudden love and passion for each other.
All-in-all, it’s a cute story with its own charms which I genuinely enjoyed, but this one won’t be a love for a lifetime book!
★★★ ½ (rounded to 3)
Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and author Catherine Walsh for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on April 18, 2023. -
Delightful and charming! Catherine Walsh has created another cute book that put a smile on my face.
Katie Collins loves her tiny Irish village of Ennisbawn. She loves that she knows everyone, she loves the pub, the beautiful surroundings and quiet. Yes, it is quiet that she loves most of all. But things are not quiet anymore, a hotel is being built not far from where she lives, and she has not been getting any sleep. She comes home late from working in the pub and when she falls asleep - construction begins! This prompts her to walk down and onto the construction site to give them a piece of her mind in her yellow duck pajamas and sleep mask.
Callum Dempsey is working at his brother Jack's construction site. His good looks don't get past Katie. Her good looks don't get past him either.
She is already hot under the collar when she learns that they are going to tear down the pub as well. Not on her watch they won’t! Katie makes a snap decision to bring back the matchmaking festival with those looking for matches, throwing coins into the wishing well.
I admired Katie's quest to save the pub and her wanting to keep her community as it has always been. She is equally creative and determined. With some help from her friends, she is convinced that she can save the day, I mean pub! Callum is a nice guy who helps her out and well, you guessed it, is successful in charming Katie. I enjoyed their banter and interactions.
I enjoyed this wonderful enemy to lovers’ story. It was entertaining, charming, endearing, and delightful. Romances to me are all about the journey and I enjoyed the journey that Katie and Callum went on in this book.
I have read several books by Catherine Walsh and never fail to create characters that I like and grow to care about. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
3.5 stars
#TheMatchmaker #NetGalley #Bookouture #CatherineWalsh
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
www.openbookposts.com -
This is a cute rom com book.
It felt so much like the plot of a Hallmark movie: evil corporation is buying up all of the land in the tiny Irish village, and they discover that their local pub is in danger. Cue Katie Collins, bartender and lifelong resident of the village, who proposes they resurrect the Matchmaker festival to save the pub and the town. On the other side, working for the hotel is the oh-so-handsome Callum Dempsey. Sparks fly between the two, can they both achieve their purposes?
I've read one other book by this author (
One Night Only). The romance here is fun and this is a very quick, entertaining read, but I didn't really connect with it like I did with that other book. The Matchmaker was just a little too Hallmarky for me, and I don't love the evil corporation vs small town trope.
Overall though, if you're looking for a light, fun read, this one is delightful and worthy of the time it takes to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
"So I made a decision. And my decision is you. I chose you."
my blog review
When I received an arc of this book, I was over the moon because I love Catherine Walsh's books. She's one of my favorite authors ever! I love the way she describes Irish towns, so I had to read this one!
Katie Collins has always lived in her little town, Ennisbawn, feeling comfortable and happy... Until one day some guys start to build a big ass hotel, disturbing Katie's sleep and making her grumpy. And then, she mets Callum Dempsey, a really hot guy who's planning to knock down Ennisbawn and take away the pub: the place where Katie works and has spent a lot of time there.
This was really cute. I love the descriptions of Irish places/towns because they make me feel like I'm there (and I want to. I'll sell my kidney to go and live in Ireland, lmao). The romance was good and cute.
Somehow, some CW's characters remind me of Luke from Gilmore Girls. Luke (from The Rebound) reminds me of him, and also in this book, Adam seems like Luke as well!
CW's mcs are really amazing and wonderful, but her side characters are always the one who steal my heart. In this case, Granny Maeve really is my favorite. She's amazing and for a moment I was about to cry for her, but ma queen knows better. Nush, Gemma, Adam, Noah, Frank, and even Jack were pretty great, I loved them all.
I liked this book as well. And I need a book of Nush and Monica!
Overall, it was cute, funny and emotional. -
The matchmaker by Catherine Walsh was a heartwarming reading experience that left me wanting more.
The plot of the book is original. A development team are building a new hotel and the people from Ennisbaw are afraid that this will ruin their little town. When the local heart of the community (the pub) have to be knocked down, this is the final straw for Katie. She will save her town, no matter what it takes.
The book starts with our heroine walking into a building site in her PJs, meeting a handsome man and his boss. It’s a fun way to introduce Katie, and I immediately felt that this would be interesting. I loved the last book I read by Walsh, and in this one I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters. It was witty and interesting. The best part of the book was when Katie started to fix the barn to hold a matchmaker festival. Before that I felt there was a bit too much of ‘i have no idea how to do this, but I will still try’. Her strong will and determination were more interesting to see when her ideas took shape. The love story between her and Callum was lovely. I liked that they were so straightforward with their emotions when they first started to get involved, and the more heated scenes weren’t too much. There is also a grand gesture in the book that brought tears to my eyes.
I would love a sequel to this story, as I don’t want to let them go just yet.
Thanks to bookatoure and netgalley for the arc -
4 ⭐ Another delightful Irish rom-com from one of my favorite authors, Catherine Walsh 💕
"You told me once that Kelly's was your favorite place in the world. Well, you're mine. You're mine and I'll go where you go. For as long as you want me to, I'll be right there with you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ small town romance
✨ ireland setting
✨ matchmaking festival
✨ enemies(ish) to lovers
✨ opposites attract
✨ she's a witty bartender with a bleeding heart for her hometown
✨ he works for the company building a hotel in the town
✨ he falls fast, first and hard
✨ slight denial of feelings
✨ hilarious banter
✨ strong family bonds + found family
✨ small secret-keeping
✨ .5/5 spice (not detailed)
✨ HEA
✨ single POV
✨ TW: death of parents (past), panic attacks, being a caretaker
My Thoughts:
The Matchmaker was my fourth Catherine Walsh book and I can easily say she is my favorite/go-to author for romcoms! Every single one of her stories is an absolute delight and easy to digest. I adore Catherine’s humor, which shows up as hilarious inner dialogue and top-notch banter. And all of her characters are incredibly charming in their own way. If you're a fan of rom-coms and haven't read Catherine Walsh, you're seriously missing out.
So what did I think about The Matchmaker???
I thought it was so cute! From the quaint small-town setting to the revitalization of a matchmaking festival to save the town from corporate greed, The Matchmaker is the perfect feel-good story.
Katie is a fun FMC. She has some of the most hilarious inner dialogue and is a tad dramatic but all in good fun. There are some sad elements to her story (death of parents when she was a child), but for the most part, that tragedy doesn't define who she is and instead of letting that loss consume her, she's loves with all her heart. Katie is content with living her small town life, which I found refreshing. But with the construction of the hotel, Katie is pushed to fight for what she loves and proves she's more capable than she originally thought.
Callum is simply a nice guy and I love that. He's an unproblematic hero, with absolutely no drama, and falls head over heels for Katie from the moment they meet. And even when there was drama between them at the beginning (because Katie refuses to believe he likes her), Callum immediately sets the record straight. Gotta love a man who knows what he wants and isn't fair to voice his feelings.
The romance was so simple and sweet. I always love a story where the guy falls first. It was funny watching Katie resist a little at the beginning, since Callum works for the hotel threatening to tear down the bar she works at, but in the end, she can't resist his charm and persistence.
I liked that the conflict of this story was mostly the hotel taking over the town and the matchmaking festival instead of the romance. This allowed the story to focus more on Katie's character growth, friendships, family dynamics between Katie and Granny as well as Gemma and her son, and the trials of putting on a massive matchmaking festival. The romance might have felt more simple because of this but, don't worry, it was still endearing.
Granny, Nush, and Gemma were the best side characters. Granny is a funny, little troublemaker who may be old but is young at heart. Nush and Gemma are amazing friends. Seriously, can they be real and become my besties? Nush is a wildcard - kind of crazy but in a lovable, fun way. Gemma is basically the mom of the group - responsible and a realist - because she is a mom. And Katie is a combo of these two, so all together, they really balance each other out. I really enjoyed seeing them laugh together, but also how they turn to each other for support in times of need. This found family aspect of the story was beautiful and such a highlight for me.
With everything I loved about The Matchmaker, there were a few small things that didn't quite land.
The insta-love was cute, but I didn't really feel like we dove into why Katie and Callum liked each other. It sort of gave me Hallmark vibes, which is totally fine, but it lacked some depth. I think the story might have benefited from dual POV because then we would have Callum's explanation as to why he fell for Katie so fast.
Pacing was slightly off at some parts, but not enough to really be a problem. Katie and Callum get together around 40%, but they don't have sex till around 75%. I was a little confused why this took so long when there wasn't anything holding them back. During that time, the romance sort of hit a lull for me. And then, after 80%, the romance is sorted and so is the drama with the festival, which were the two major events of this story. But every story needs drama at the end, so something unrelated happens and becomes the final conflict. It totally works for the story, but I think I would have liked to have seen the romance, festival, and final conflict mesh together a little bit more.
Overall, The Matchmaker was a lovely rom-com that will make you wish you lived in a small Irish town and ran a matchmaking festival. I'd definitely recommend reading!
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Reviews for books by Catherine Walsh:
One Night Only - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Rebound - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Holiday Romance - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Matchmaker - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Snowed In - Coming November 1, 2023
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Before I give you my star rating let me give you a one-second summary of The Matchmaker: A plucky young heroine living in a small town in Ireland must plan a festival to help save her local pub. The name of said pub? Well, it would be called Kelly's of course!
Obviously, a book written by the phenomenal Catherine Walsh with a pub named after ME (😏) is going to be a five-star read! I fell head over heels for Ms. Walsh's writing and humor and storytelling with Holiday Romance and she has now officially solidified herself as one of my top ten favorite authors.
Walsh's sense of humor is my favorite thing ever. I chuckled my way through every single page of this book and the banter and sarcasm is top notch. I loved every single character, especially Granny!
Katie and Callum's relationship may have happened a little quicker than I expected but 1) I'm not a slow burn girl and 2) it didn't feel like the dreaded instalove. Instead, it felt more like "I'm 30 and I know what I want and I'm happy with my decision."
The main focus of this book isn't really Katie's love life which was refreshing because I love a heroine that doesn't have all day to obsess about a cute guy. Katie has a job and a community and friends and family that she is wholly devoted to. There's even a little side plot romance and a swoon-worthy declartion that had my eyes sweating a bit.
Overall, highly highly recommend this one! Don't go into it expecting the typical romance novel but rather a cute plot, hilarious banter, and a sweet love story. -
Review coming soon.
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(ARC review)
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Genre: Romance/Romcom
Series: N/A – Stand-alone
Tropes: Small town romance
POV: 1st person, Katie’s perspective
Characters: F/M Romance
Writing: This was such an easy read with short chapters and descriptive writing. The characters were great and the chemistry built between Katie and Callum was perfect. I adored the side characters, Granny Maeve – I want her to be my Granny! I also loved the secondary love interest in the story too! Another thing Walsh did well was the friendship between the characters, it was beautiful and hilarious and I really enjoyed the banter between them all – the dialogue was great!
Plot: When developer Glenmill starts building a hotel in Katie’s neighbourhood and preventing her from getting her precious sleep, she marches over to give them a piece of her mind and ask them to stop. During the altercation she meets Callum Dempsey, the project manager for Glenmill and his boss Jack (who so happens to be his brother!). Callum tries to rectify the situation a little, but she drew the line when they then attempt to tear down the Town’s pub, the oldest and only pub in Ennisbaw where her parents met and where she has worked for the past 10 years. Katie organises a matchmaking festival, a festival that used to be a tradition and how her parents fell in love in order to try and save the pub, but will her feelings for Callum get in the way?
Trigger warnings/Adult themes: Violence, death of parents (off page)
My thoughts and views: I loved the way Katie and Callum were introduced in the story, I immediately knew this was going to be a fun read, I found Callum to be hilarious. It was so heart-warming and sweet. I did feel as though it got a little slow at times, and i felt like i wanted more from the two main love interest too, but it was an easy and enjoyable read. There was also a lot of laugh out loud moments too – I could see this being a feel good romcom movie! This is actually the first book I’ve read by Catherine Walsh, but it won’t be the last.
Recommend: I certainly would!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review! -
It’s settled. Catherine Walsh is now of my top favorite authors. Every book of hers I read makes me go insane because her writing is like a drug to me. I need to keep reading or else I feel like crying.
In my previous reviews of her books I have always mentioned that her dialogues are what I love the most, and it was exactly the same in this book. Catherine’s chatacters are so lovable because the dialogue is a gold mine she perfectly exploits. Katie was so fun and passionate, doing everything to save the pub and her small town. And I am completely in love with Callum. He’s the most serious guy ever (I think he smiles once?), and so in love with Katie. He literally worships her and the ground she steps on. I have so many highlights of the romance… I am so obsessed with them. The secondary characters, once again, were delightful. It’s amazing how different everyone’s personalities are, but how equally witty they can be.
You won’t know what truly good humor is until you’ve read Catherine’s romcoms. Laughs, romance, and a bit of tears are always guaranteed.
PS. If you want a more perfect reading experience, listen to Lover by Taylor Swift while you’re reading. That song is Katie and Callum’s anthem for me!
ARC provided by Bookouture and NetGalley. Opinions are my own! -
I'm a BIG fan of Catherine Walsh and her settings in Ireland, but this one left me a bit underwhelmed. I liked it overall, but perhaps I've just read one too many save-the-small-town-from-a-business-developer stories.
As soon as I met the hilarious Katie in her duck pyjamas, I knew I'd get many more laughs from her (and her amazing grandmother). She loves her tiny village of Ennisbawn and will do absolutely anything to protect it, especially now that the demolishment of the beloved local pub is planned to accommodate a golf course.
Enter the revival of the Ennisbawn Matchmaking Festival, Katie hoping to in turn boost the community. I wanted more emphasis on the actual event, but the process of building it to completion was fun!
Within this is a romance with her enemy—the on-site project coordinator for Glenmill Properties, Callum. I had high hopes, but the pacing was off for me. It seemed to go from zero to sixty. I was longing for more significant moments between them to build their connection, to make it believable. Because of that, I was finding myself more invested in the secondary characters, whom I LOVED!
A cute story, but not my favourite from this author!
(heat level: a couple open-door scenes, mild details) -
Katie Collins is perfectly content in her small town Irish village of Ennisbawn. That’s is until hot shot developer Callum Dempsey strolls into town, intent on knocking down the last remaining pub. Determined to save the pub and rejuvenate the town’s spirit, Katie decides to revive the local matchmaking festival.
This book is chock full of small town charm and quirky characters. I loved the deep familial roots in the town and how connected Katie was to her village and it’s traditions. I also loved her tight knit group of friends and getting to see their relationships blossom throughout the course of the novel, as well as Katie’s.
While I did enjoy the story overall, it began to drag for me towards the half way point and I struggled to connect to the romance. That said, I still think this was a cute read and would recommend it to those who love small town romance. Catherine Walsh is an auto-buy author for me, so I am very much looking forward to her next one.
Read if you like:
•small town romance
•Ireland setting
•feel good stories
•matchmaking
•great friendships
Thank you Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. -
I read one book by Catherine Walsh and absolutely loved it (have also another book of hers in my tbr-list). And seeing all these positive reviews on her new book is making me more excited to read this one.
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This was a surprisingly funny and heartwarming read, and I will definitely be adding more Catherine Walsh books to my TBR.
This book is a small town romance between a local bartender and the man working on the project to knock down her beloved pub. Whilst the story is somewhat basic, the author manages to add so much depth and love that I ended up loving the book anyway!
The writing style was so easy and enjoyable, and I found myself flying through this book. I even stayed up until 12:30am to finish it (and on a work night!). She manages to write such complex main characters, while also doing the same for her side characters. Her side characters were so well-written that I found myself crying on and off for the last 20% of the book!
If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood, Amy Lea or Chloe Liese, I can see you enjoying this book.
I received an advanced copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
3,5 ⭐
“You’d go with me?”
“Why not?” he asks, as if that’s not a big deal.
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“To Timbuktu.”
He smiles faintly. “If you asked nicely.”
This book is set in Ennisbawn, a little Irish village that has been selected by a company (Glenmill properties) as the perfect place to build a new and exclusive five star resort.
Katie is a 29 years old woman who works at the only one bar of the village and, like all of her fellow citizens, hate the idea of a project that will ruin the beauty and calm of her town.
When Katie meets Callum, one of the most important supervisors of the construction site, she confronts him and his boss about their project and the consequences that will have. When the debate doesn't end well, Katie decides to fight back and bring again the matchmaker festival that in the past made the village famous.
This is the perfect book for the lovers of the small town trope, the vibes are amazing and the fact that it's set in Ireland made the setting even more intriguing. I enjoyed the story, Katie and Callum were really cute but they didn't catch me completely. However, I loved a secondary couple: Gemma and Adam! I appreciated their storyline a lot. All things considered, it's a funny and quick read.
ARC provided by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. -
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture publishing for this arc. 💙
I was absolutely delighted when I got it.
What I love most about small town romances is that it feels like it’s a big, huge family where everyone might fight sometimes but ultimately are there for each other.
Catherine is great at making the reader feel exactly what her characters are feeling. Which made me constantly sympathetic towards most of the characters. Reading this was so much fun.
The Matchmaker had it all from relatable characters, to a heartthrob butterflies-in-my-stomach romances (the side couple was just as endearing), to strong friendships, to a sense of belonging. Plus it’s set in Ireland. Stories set in Ireland own my heart. 🍀
This gave me a book hangover in the best kind of way. And I highly recommend. 💙 -
4/5⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for a review!
It’s been some time since I read an arc so I was excited when I decided to pick up this one and I’m not disappointed. It was delightful!!!
Small town romance with a lovely main character and a hot and sweet love interest… what else can we ask for?
Katie is a small-town girly, she has always lived here and is comfortable and happy with her friends and community... until one day the town is taken over by a construction company looking to build a hotel resort, and that also means taking over her favorite place, the pub where she works at. So Katie decides to organize a matchmaking event, one that used to take place years ago and had disappeared, will she be able to save the town?
During this, she also meets Callum, a developer that works for the enemy. What could go wrong?
It's your typical small-town romance but it's such a comfy and lighthearted read, perfect if you're in a reading slump or for the summertime. I can't wait for yall to read this!!
The only thing I have a complaint about is the insta love since we're not even halfway into the book and he's already telling her that he will follow her anywhere she goes. I felt like the relationship could've had more substance to it like they didn't really have a reason for getting together, not much chemistry, you know? I still think they're very cute and all, but it was missing something.
“You told me once that Kelly’s was your favorite place in the world. Well, you’re mine. You’re mine and I’ll go where you go. For as long as you want me to, I’ll be right there with you.” -
“Callum?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re my favourite place, too.”
It’s been a while since I read a romantic comedy and I am so happy that The Matchmaker was my come back to genre.
This is the first time that I am reading any of Catherine Walsh’s works and after reading this? It won’t be my last.
The banter and chemistry between Katie and Callum are what makes every romcom fantastic and what has me kicking my feet like a teenager and giggling like an idiot. I can’t stress enough how much fun this was to read.
Katie is so chaotic and her constant resorting to humour was something that I truly related to. I loved how headstrong and powerful she was and that she was never diminished to just being a love interest. Katie was passionate and determined and I knew she was always going to accomplish and work hard to do what she believed in, regardless of whether Callum was in the picture or not.
Callum was such a great male protagonist. He was charming, loveable and completely swoon-worthy.
The found family in this book is what truly tied it all together for me. These characters felt like a breath of fresh air and I found myself smiling as I read along. I mean it when I say I believe I have a crush on every single one of these characters.
My only critique is that I would’ve liked it if the romance between Katie and Callum was a more slow-burn. I personally would’ve loved some more moments between them so I could feel like I was falling in love with them. Keynote being personally because maybe I just love my slow burns (Very Likely)
I can see this becoming a comfort read and something I read when I need a breather and a laugh. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this to have on my shelf whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
“Anywhere you want to go. If you want me to, I’ll follow.”
All the books that I've read until date written by Catherine Walsh have not disappointed me and this one was no different. Callum & Katie were so cute together! The plot and setting was easy to get into and I loved the vibes it gave off. All the side characters were perfectly constructed too. Especially Katie's grandma! She and her dark humour were the highlight of this book for me lol! Sometimes Katie's actions were over dramatic but I found her quirks to be adorable somehow. Callum was the right guy for her. He handled her freakouts pretty well and made her see how much he loved her by his actions. Overall, the book was fun, lighthearted and full of amazing characters with their own stories who would keep you entertained!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review -
Loved the characters. Loved the small town. Loved the resolution at the end. Loved everything. I chuckled and laughed out loud a quite a few times 🤩🤩 I just really loved the sweet romance and the good, good people and the happily ever after.
Thank you to Catherine Walsh, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the eARC! -
3 Stars
I really loved the first half this book, Unfortunately the last half of the book me lost the charm of the characters and I struggled with the pacing.
This is a story of a big company coming in and taking over a ton. Ruining the small things that make it special. A community and specifically one person does everything in her limited power to stop them. While ultimately falling for one of the partners of the enemy,
The love interest Callum and Katie started out very cute. I really enjoyed their interactions. The first half was definitely a sold 4⭐️. Somewhere in the half way point I feel like Callum did a 360. He becomes instantly smitten but then also came off super possessive and controlling to me. The charm he had that I loved felt gone, I think I would have actually loved to see this book longer and turn into a love story twist with Katie and Jack.
I will be reading more from Catherine Walsh. I absolutely loved her previous book Holiday Romance and this one showed great potential. She does do a wonderful job telling a story beyond the romance, I really appreciate the depth in her stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own. -
Super cute
Banter-filled and playful, this was super cute. After seriously enjoying Holiday Romance over the winter, I was excited to check out Walsh's next book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I figured it'd be similar in vibes to the rom com that stole everyone's hearts during the holiday season. And while the two do share some similarities in terms of the banter and lighthearted feel, this one spins in an entirely different direction. This couple falls for each other hard and fast - 100% instalove - which is SO different from the slow-burning friends to lovers vibes of Holiday Romance. They also don't share as much time on the page together, and there's more of a community feel to the story. So it took a little bit for me to acclimate to the tone, but I ended up really enjoying the story. Callum is such a sweetheart, and it is clear that he is gone for his girl (almost) from the moment they meet. Their chemistry was apparent right away, and this ended up feeling so wholesome and light. Not quite what I was expecting, but a fun read for sure.
The story follows Katie, a woman who has not been getting any sleep recently. A big corporation has come to her small town, and the construction crew has been seriously messing with her sleep schedule. Overtired and irritable, Katie stomps onto the construction site and demands to speak with someone. She ends up voicing her complaints to Callum, one of the crew members. He thinks she's ridiculous(ly adorable), and it's clear that Callum is amused by Katie's chaotic personality. After several more run-ins, Katie realizes that Callum might not be as terrible as the company he works for, but that doesn't change the fact that it's his job to tear apart the community she's loved for her whole life.
You'll notice that I didn't mention the matchmaking element, and that's because I honestly couldn't care less about it, lol. Sorry. Katie and Callum stole the show here, and I was living for the moments when they were on the page together. There's a whole subplot revolving around the matchmaking festival, and I ended up skimming a lot of that. I can see why some readers were disappointed that the sole focus is not on the romance, but there are still plenty of great moments between Katie and Callum. I loved their banter, and every interaction made me smile. Sure, Callum is smitten almost from the start, but that was a big part of the appeal for me. It was exceedingly low angst and lighthearted, with plenty of humor and some swoony situations. So maybe not as memorable or as all-around great as Holiday Romance, but certainly worthy of a 4-star rating from me. -
Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
The Matchmaker is a love letter to small towns and rural life. I loved the friendships, the unique characters, and the deep emotion running through this story, particularly between Katie and her grandmother. But, unfortunately, I never really bought the romance the entire book is supposed to be about.
Not only is Katie basically a raving lunatic the first time she meets Callum, she never really improves. They constantly run into each other in awkward situations and have stilted conversations. And while I came to appreciate how incredibly devoted he was to her, it never really made sense. There was nothing that could justify the steps he chooses to make when the range he’s gotten from her is ‘yelling and blurting out non-sequiturs while wearing my PJs and you’re trying to work’, ‘being rude in public places when you’ve been stood up on a date’ and ‘assuming the worst of you and pushing you away because I like to make superficial judgments’.
On the other hand, the relationships between Katie, Gemma, Nush, and Adam were pretty great. They cared for each other without having to be sentimental about it; sarcasm and banter were much more prevalent than anything emotional or supportive. And I have to admit there was something about Katie and Noah’s relationship that was sweet and hopeful and had me looking forward to their strange interactions.
If you read the blurb, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you're getting from The Matchmaker. There’s nothing genre-shattering or life-changing, but it is a sweet and enjoyable read.
Review originally posted
here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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It's been two days since I finished this book, and I'm still thinking about it. It was so much fun! Granted, I finished reading it after finally doing my taxes but the prospect of it got me to deal with them in record time!
It's a delightful romantic comedy that will get you laughing, swooning, and wishing for more. It's my first book by the author, but it will certainly not be my last because what a gem! So happy I got to discover Catherine Walsh through The Matchmaker. The romance was pretty sweet, and I was pleasantly surprised by the last bit of the book! There are relatable side characters that add life and fullness to the story, and the small Irish village where it takes place is charming and cozy, which creates the perfect atmosphere to want to stay there forever.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! -
There are so many books with similar cute cartoon covers, yet books by Catherine Walsh are exceptional, perfectly balanced feel-good romcoms that deserve more recognition. The Matchmaker is not an exemption because of:
* great writing, capturing reader's attention from the first page, delightful banter between characters, no stupid miscommunication or ridiculous third act breakup;
* great story, full of heart, depth, laughter and some tears, set in Ireland, in a village, which fights against a big company, building there a hotel and bringing changes that might destroy the community and its cultural heritage;
* great characters - quirky selfless Katie, her grumpy granny, sarcastic single mum Gemma, radical best friend Nush, cute teenager Noah, and many others, and let's not forget Callum, a perfect bookboyfriend, who is kind, supportive and immensely hot, I've rooted for that man since his first appearance, and, oh boy, he hasn't disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of honest review. -
I love Catherine Walsh's writing ❤️
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We spent our weekend living every introvert’s dream: curled up with a mug of hot cocoa and an even sweeter rom com! Catherine Walsh’s newest novel- The Matchmaker- transported us from the comfort of our respective couches to the quaint Irish village of Ennisbawn, home to a young bartender Katie Collins, her sassy grandmother, Maeve, her best friends, Gemma and Anushka, and her boss and brother-figure, Adam. When Glenmill, a property developer, decides to build a large resort and golf course in Ennisbawn, it disrupts everyday life and threatens to demolish Kelly’s, the bar where Katie works, and the wishing well behind it, where her parents met during the village’s annual matchmaking festival. Will Katie manage to save her village from Glenmill’s (and it’s oh-so-dreamy project coordinator, Callum’s) evil claws?
The Matchmaker was the perfect weekend read: short, sweet, and packed with numerous laughs and quips, and although the plot wasn’t ground-breaking, it was certainly well-executed. Ennisbawn, with its narrow streets, peppered with stores and homes, was the perfect setting for the tale. And it's quirky residents, who exuded a strong sense of community, were the icing on the cake.
Katie was perhaps one of the most relatable protagonists- she was awkward, had a “chairdrobe”, wore duck pyjamas, and was hilarious. Callum was the quintessential rom-com lead, with his green eyes and charisma. And while their equation felt a little “Hallmark meets Netflix movie”, it was still sweet and made us go “aww” on several occasions. The supporting characters were just as brilliantly written and well-rounded and each of their characters packed a punch.
However, what stood the most was how Walsh dealt with the various relationships between the characters. The loyalty and supportive nature of female friendships, the protectiveness displayed by Adam, and affection between grandmother and granddaughter were heart-warming. She also never shied away from tackling the more realistic facets, including parental loss, absent parents, single parenthood, sibling rivalries, and even the fear and guilt one experiences as a caregiver. She handled each of these with the utmost sensitivity yet successfully infused humour into even the most serious situations.
The Matchmaker was a truly enjoyable read, and we can assure you we will definitely be reading more of Walsh's work.
The Matchmaker releases today and is available on Amazon- get your copy asap!
We would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book.
L&L Rating: 4.5 stars
TL;DR: Small-town romance, packed with LOL and AWW moments; we recommend! -
Catherine's books, by now, feel like a warm hug. Reading The Matchmaker gave me a sense of familiarity (the writing, the humor, the relatable characters), and yet this book was as unique as Walsh's previous books.
The Matchmaker takes place entirely in Ireland, in Ennisbawn where Katie Collins goes up against Callum Dempsey, the Big, Bad site manager of the new hotel being built. Katie and Callum were taken with each other from the very beginning. She was often rendered briefly non-functional whenever she faced him, while he seemed to be utterly infatuated.
(Sidenote - Callum, an ode: Smitten, smitten man; maker of grand gestures; empowerer of (his) woman; a complete goner).
As taken as I was with the romance part of the story, I was very much invested in the outcome of Katie's fight to revive the matchmaking festival. I loved how this was the story of her relentless fight for the place where she had grown up and had no plans to leave. And the secondary characters were charming - the grandma, the best friends, the owner of the bar, the almost-teenager, or the other residents. Special mention for Jack (is it too much to hope to have his story? I feel like he needs to be knocked stupid by love).
I love Walsh's comedic timings - I cannot tell you the number of times I burst out with laughter. The author knows how to bring a certain levity to a more serious scene. She makes it seem so natural for her to inject her brand of humor into her books. I say "make it seem natural" because if you read the acknowledgments/follow her on social media/subscribe to her newsletter, you'll see that it's that same humor that is present in her books.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Walsh's books play like a movie in my head. She paints a vivid picture and sets the scene in such a way that the reader feels like a spectator (one of my notes reads "feels like I'm there"). Once more, I'm a fan.
Also, Stone Skipping™ is the new golf teaching. IYKYK.
Thank you to Bookouture and Catherine Walsh for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
