The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh Published by Bookouture on April 18, 2023
Pages: 346
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley
"BRB, booking a flight to Ireland... one of those stare at ceiling, giggle and kick your feet kind of romcoms!... Add to your tbr if you're looking for: THE SWOONING. THE TENSION. THE BUTTERFLIES." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Katie Collins has barely ever left her tiny Irish village of Ennisbawn. Why would she? With its tightknit community, friendly local pub, surrounded by glistening lakes and perfectly mysterious forests, it's a place of peaceful beauty.
Or it was peaceful. Until Callum Dempsey turned up. Part of a hot-shot (and, Katie has to admit, hot is annoyingly apt for him...) development team with zero eye for beauty or charm, he's not only building a hideous hotel just outside the village, he's also just announced a plan to knock down Ennisbawn's only remaining pub. To make way for a view from the golf course.
It's the final blow to the village and the last straw for Katie, who refuses to let her home-from-home disappear. The pub is her life - her job, but also her last connection to her parents, who had met at Ennisbawn's once-famous matchmaking festival that was held in the grounds.
But, after being laughed off the building site in her best flannel pyjamas for demanding the builders leave, Katie decides enough is enough and hatches a plan. She's going to revive the matchmaking festival, save the pub, and 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...
A gorgeously escapist and utterly hilarious small town romcom perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Christina Lauren.
Readers love Catherine Walsh:
"Can I rate this more than 5 stars?... The build-up was *chef's kiss*. There was no way I could put this book down." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"SOUND THE ALARM!!! IT'S A BANGER ALERT!!!... THE CUTEST AND FUNNIEST ROMCOM I'VE EVER READ!!!... The chemistry? Even Marie Curie couldn't handle it!!!" NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"OH MY GOODNESS!... I looooooved this so much!... Their chemistry!... Sizzling... I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE... PERFECTION!" Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"BRB, booking a flight to Ireland... one of those stare at ceiling, giggle and kick your feet kind of romcoms!... Add to your tbr if you're looking for: THE SWOONING. THE TENSION. THE BUTTERFLIES." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"OMG I ADOOOOOORED THIS BOOK... My heart melted'" Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The ABSOLUTE cutest... One of the most adorable new books... the perfect romantic comedy... made me happy, from start to finish!" Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Review
I received an ARC copy of The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh in return for an honest review. Everything that I write here is completely my own thoughts and opinions. Before I start though I do want to take a moment to thank Netgalley and Catherine Walsh for a chance to read this book before it is released to the public.
I wanted to read the newest book by Catherine Walsh because I absolutely loved the two Christmas books I read by her in the past. I am happy to say that this new book was not a disappointment and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cozy rom-com that takes place in a small town in Ireland.
This is the story of Katie a strong-willed twenty-something willing to take on the big bad construction company that wants to take over her sleepy little town and destroy everything that she loves. She has lived in this town for as long as she can remember and it is the place where her parents met and fell in love. Katie’s life revolves around taking care of her granny, her friends, and her beloved place of employment Kelly’s Pub. One of the special things about this town is the Wishing Well which is located right outside of the pub where she works. It is a place where people go to make all kinds of wishes including wishes for love. Her parents once long ago carved their initials into this very same well so it really holds a special place in Katies’s heart. You see her parents were killed in a car accident when she was only five years old and so she was raised by her granny. The accident did have an impact on Katie beyond losing her parents however it also has caused terrible anxiety in her especially when it comes to driving or riding in cars. So needless to say she sticks close to home.
Katie is fed up and sleep deprived which may be a terrible combo when she decides to stand up to this company. Throughout the book, you see Jack the boss of the Glenmill crew, and Katie going at it. I found the bickering to be entertaining and the coldness of Jack to be frustrating. Needless to say, it all comes to a front when Jack decides he is going to demolish her beloved workplace and the Well. Katie manages to get Jack to agree to give her some time so that she can get The Matchmaking Festival up and running again. She hopes it will bring people to town which in turn might get the local papers and news stations involved. It is her hope that this might save her little town. Jack only agrees because he doesn’t think it will work and he still plans to destroy the pub. The question is will it work? Will she save the town?
Lets not forget though that this is also a rom-com. It is in my opinion an enemy-to-lovers type of situation for the main characters. I enjoyed their banter and best of all the way they met. I am not going to say to much about it because I do not want to give things away. I will say though that they never would have met if it wasn’t for Glenmill coming to town.
The side characters I also found to be entertaining in this story. They had some depth to them which had me rooting for them as well. I also loved that the romance in this book was not just focused on two characters but multiple characters which made me happy. Oh and I can not forget to mention that Katie’s granny had me giggling throughout the book with her bluntness and how stubborn she could be. I would say that all in all I enjoyed this story and will continue to read books by Catherine Walsh.
Trigger Warning:
Parental Death
Absent Parent