Devi Nair
๐ฑ๐ Read on Kobo ๐ 320 pages โฑ Duration: 4 hours Read as a part of AAPI Heritage Month Challenge by Goodreads ๐ท๏ธ Publisher: Bantam Books ๐ Published: April 8, 2025
I picked this up for the Goodreads AAPI Heritage Month challenge, but it was already sitting pretty on my TBR. Aisha Saeed handed me exactly what I didn't know I was craving for: cozy mystery vibes wrapped in the chaos and colour of desi wedding season. Because let's be real, the cozy mystery genre is drowning in apple orchards and fall festivals. Give me mehendi nights and biryani drama for a change. The Pakistani representation isn't just sprinkled in. It's baked into every event, every interaction, every wedding setup. This brings the vibrancy in the book making it more textured and refreshingly different.
Nura Khan is third-generation American, running her aunt's matchmaking business with a tech-savvy upgrade and a no-nonsense attitude. She's good at her job. Really good. And the weddings she orchestrates are chef's kiss. Even if you've never attended a South Asian wedding (first of all, you're missing out), Saeed paints every detail so vividly you'll practically be smelling rose water and listening to the drum beats. I was fully immersed in the wedding season energy of multiple events, family politics, outfit changes, and I loved every second of it. Add to it a nice contemporary edge, and a fake fiance troupe, and there's always a win when done right. The emotional undercurrent there quietly builds without hijacking the plot.
The mystery itself plays the long game. It lingers in the background while you are distracted by the wedding chaos and the cultural details, and then slowly tightens its grip. I'll admit, I didn't see the final twist coming, and that reveal, paired with the buildup, made the payoff genuinely satisfying. The pacing was tight, the stakes felt real, and the conclusion was truly satisfying. I can't wait to read more of Aisha Saeed. This was truly brilliant.
Would I recommend it? If youโre craving a cozy mystery that breaks out of the usual mold, this oneโs an easy yes. It blends romance, culture, and suspense in a way that feels both comforting and fresh. Plus, the wedding-heavy backdrop makes it weirdly addictive. If you're tired of the same recycled small-town settings and want something that feels both familiar and new, The Matchmaker is your next must-read. Come for the matchmaking, stay for the mystery, and that twist.
๐ฑ๐ Read on Kobo ๐ 320 pages โฑ Duration: 4 hours Read as a part of AAPI Heritage Month Challenge by Goodreads ๐ท๏ธ Publisher: Bantam Books ๐ Published: April 8, 2025
I picked this up for the Goodreads AAPI Heritage Month challenge, but it was already sitting pretty on my TBR. Aisha Saeed handed me exactly what I didn't know I was craving for: cozy mystery vibes wrapped in the chaos and colour of desi wedding season. Because let's be real, the cozy mystery genre is drowning in apple orchards and fall festivals. Give me mehendi nights and biryani drama for a change. The Pakistani representation isn't just sprinkled in. It's baked into every event, every interaction, every wedding setup. This brings the vibrancy in the book making it more textured and refreshingly different.
Nura Khan is third-generation American, running her aunt's matchmaking business with a tech-savvy upgrade and a no-nonsense attitude. She's good at her job. Really good. And the weddings she orchestrates are chef's kiss. Even if you've never attended a South Asian wedding (first of all, you're missing out), Saeed paints every detail so vividly you'll practically be smelling rose water and listening to the drum beats. I was fully immersed in the wedding season energy of multiple events, family politics, outfit changes, and I loved every second of it. Add to it a nice contemporary edge, and a fake fiance troupe, and there's always a win when done right. The emotional undercurrent there quietly builds without hijacking the plot.
The mystery itself plays the long game. It lingers in the background while you are distracted by the wedding chaos and the cultural details, and then slowly tightens its grip. I'll admit, I didn't see the final twist coming, and that reveal, paired with the buildup, made the payoff genuinely satisfying. The pacing was tight, the stakes felt real, and the conclusion was truly satisfying. I can't wait to read more of Aisha Saeed. This was truly brilliant.
Would I recommend it? If youโre craving a cozy mystery that breaks out of the usual mold, this oneโs an easy yes. It blends romance, culture, and suspense in a way that feels both comforting and fresh. Plus, the wedding-heavy backdrop makes it weirdly addictive. If you're tired of the same recycled small-town settings and want something that feels both familiar and new, The Matchmaker is your next must-read. Come for the matchmaking, stay for the mystery, and that twist.