Author: Heidi Shertok
Published: October 30, 2025 by Embla Books
Format: Kindle, 416 Pages
Genre: Romance
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Blurb: For five years Ashira Wernick has thrown herself into the company her mother built, continuing her work as a matchmaker in the Orthodox Jewish community. But when a small (read: huge) faux pas lands her in hot water with one of the most powerful families in Brooklyn, Ashira's future starts to look a little shaky.
Now, her only hope of saving her mother's legacy is to make the match of the century and she has just the person in mind: New York City's most eligible (and eternally single) bachelor, Caleb Kahn. Her older brother's best friend, and the man she is determined to keep her distance from.
As each match goes from bad to worse, with Caleb seemingly intent on sabotaging every date she sets up, Ashira will need to take a more hands-on approach if she is going to repair her damaged reputation. She just never figured that her heart would be on the line too.
My Opinion: I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going into Match Me If You Can. Heidi Shertok’s debut, Unorthodox Love, set the bar high, and we all know that second books don’t always capture the same magic. But this one? It absolutely delivered.
From the very first chapters, the humor sparkles, the banter feels effortless, and the romance is flirty without ever tipping into excess. What really impressed me, though, was how Shertok weaves cultural insight into the story. Without ever feeling heavy handed, she opens a window into the Orthodox Jewish community, showing how tradition, reputation, and personal longing can collide in ways that are both poignant and relatable. I love it when a book teaches me something new while keeping me entertained, and this one did exactly that.
At the heart of the novel is Ashira Wernick, a matchmaker caught between duty and desire. Her professional role demands she help others find love, yet her own heart is drawn to Caleb Kahn, a former Navy SEAL turned CEO, whose past and present make him both intriguing and complicated. Their dynamic plays out against the backdrop of communal expectations, with the friends to lovers trope adding sweetness and tension. Miscommunication, longing, and the fear of repeating past mistakes all swirl together, creating a story that feels both lighthearted and emotionally grounded.
What makes Match Me If You Can shine is its balance. It’s undeniably a romcom, with humor softening the edges of cultural and personal struggles, but it also carries depth. Shertok reminds us that love isn’t just about sparks, it’s about navigating the spaces between tradition and individuality, and finding joy even when life feels like a string of mismatched dates.
In short, this book is witty, heartfelt, and unexpectedly illuminating. It’s the kind of story that makes you laugh, root for the characters, and walk away with a deeper appreciation for the world it portrays.
Now, her only hope of saving her mother's legacy is to make the match of the century and she has just the person in mind: New York City's most eligible (and eternally single) bachelor, Caleb Kahn. Her older brother's best friend, and the man she is determined to keep her distance from.
As each match goes from bad to worse, with Caleb seemingly intent on sabotaging every date she sets up, Ashira will need to take a more hands-on approach if she is going to repair her damaged reputation. She just never figured that her heart would be on the line too.
My Opinion: I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going into Match Me If You Can. Heidi Shertok’s debut, Unorthodox Love, set the bar high, and we all know that second books don’t always capture the same magic. But this one? It absolutely delivered.
From the very first chapters, the humor sparkles, the banter feels effortless, and the romance is flirty without ever tipping into excess. What really impressed me, though, was how Shertok weaves cultural insight into the story. Without ever feeling heavy handed, she opens a window into the Orthodox Jewish community, showing how tradition, reputation, and personal longing can collide in ways that are both poignant and relatable. I love it when a book teaches me something new while keeping me entertained, and this one did exactly that.
At the heart of the novel is Ashira Wernick, a matchmaker caught between duty and desire. Her professional role demands she help others find love, yet her own heart is drawn to Caleb Kahn, a former Navy SEAL turned CEO, whose past and present make him both intriguing and complicated. Their dynamic plays out against the backdrop of communal expectations, with the friends to lovers trope adding sweetness and tension. Miscommunication, longing, and the fear of repeating past mistakes all swirl together, creating a story that feels both lighthearted and emotionally grounded.
What makes Match Me If You Can shine is its balance. It’s undeniably a romcom, with humor softening the edges of cultural and personal struggles, but it also carries depth. Shertok reminds us that love isn’t just about sparks, it’s about navigating the spaces between tradition and individuality, and finding joy even when life feels like a string of mismatched dates.
In short, this book is witty, heartfelt, and unexpectedly illuminating. It’s the kind of story that makes you laugh, root for the characters, and walk away with a deeper appreciation for the world it portrays.
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