Mick - guppy scientist and victim of her self-inflicted dating adventures. Miri - astrology whiz and promoter of steamy sex for the greater good. Derrick - data genius and life idiot.
Meet the match team at MatchMakers.com, the web 2.0 online-dating service with a personal touch.
Can Mick lead her team, find a guy, and finally win Match the Loser? Enjoy a little humor, a little romance, and occasional trivia about guppies.
Matchmakers 2.0 is humorous romance with a chick-lit flavor.
What a cute story about a young woman trying to find her way in the world. She works for an online dating agency trying to match difficult people, yet has trouble dating herself. She has great friends, likes to knit, and has a fabulous sense of humor. I really enjoyed it.
This is the story of Mick, former guppy studier and current employee of MatchMakers.com —a local South Carolina company that matches up their customers based on a fancy computer algorithm. Obviously, computers don't always work. Which is why the company then sends the profiles to their crack team of professionals who use their wits, education and the occasional coin flip to figure out who goes with who. This is a charming story, filled with multiple snappy comebacks and witticisms that reminded me a lot of the dialog from Gilmore Girls, without the endless drama. The characters are interesting, the story moves along well, and the ending is perfect for a "novel nibble". Overall, I would recommend this novella to anyone wanting a short story to get them through a long line at the DMV, etc. There's just one thing. Just one little thing that kept this story from being a 5 star for me. There are NO descriptions of what the characters look like. Seriously NOT A ONE. I get that this is a novella. I get that any descriptions there are would be short and to the point. But come on... not one eye color, height, weight, hair color, nose shape, mouth size, etc. to be found in the ENTIRE story. I thought I was going crazy at first, so I went back and double checked it. I read the whole thing again and sure enough, not one. Cute is the best description you're gonna get, people. I haven't read the other books of hers, but frankly, it makes me afraid to fork out the cash for a NOVEL. I need character descriptions. Now, I went back and read every review of Matchmakers 2.0 (there are 73 of them) and no one else commented on this issue, so I guess I'm in the minority here. But if that kind of thing is a big deal for you, then you might want to take this novella with a grain of salt.
What a pleasure it was to read this novella after some of the other crap I've read lately. Matchmakers 2.0 tells the tale of Mick and her matchmaking team. They all have different approaches to getting the job done but it seems to work for their matches. Mick, who studied guppy mating habits, is the team leader. She is a young woman who can't seem to find a date for herself. Miri and Derrick are her team. Miri depends on astrology. Derrick, a likable geek, always wants new algorithms to make matches. Mick loses a bet with her best friend, Jazie, and must put her profile in the pool. Her match with Sam might just work. The match of Hazel and George was a cute sidenote. I thoroughly enjoyed this light and happy story. I'll be looking for more of the "Novel Nibbles" quick reads by this author. A note on the Kindle edition: Someone actually edited this story. I don't think there was an error in the entire book. That is absolutely appreciated. So many ebooks are riddled with errors it made reading this one, so well done, a joy.
Since I have started to support ebook authors, I found Debora Greary in the paranormal romance section. I was pleasantly surprised with Greary's book. This particular book is more normal than her other books. Mick works at an internet Matchmaker site, but has some problems with her own romance capabilities. And she also has a degree in guppy love.
When her friend wins a bet, Mick puts her name into the system and meets Sam. When she finds out that he is an erotica writer, (it pays the bills), she is not sure that she really wants to continue dating Sam.
It is fun, funny, and really fun. If you are into chick-lite, this one is for you. It is much lighter than her other ebooks.
Really enjoyed this story. As another reviewer said, it left you wanting more. Can't help but wonder if Geary won't return to this world someday. I read this book after I'd read every other single possible Witch Central (Geary's Modern Witch series (of series! lol) related stories available (at the time); this story has nothing to do with those stories .... and yet, like those worlds, I really loved immersing myself in this world. It feels like maybe this world has more tales to share, maybe :-)
Very sweet and fun novella. The plot couldn't have supported a full-length novel, but as it was it was just perfectly paced. I really enjoyed it and found myself smiling to myself on several occasions. Sam was too cute for words and I LOVED Mick's friends and their reactions to Sam :)
Debora Geary proves that a good story can be delivered in a small package, or rather, a "novel nibble". In roughly 20,000 words, we follow the antics of Derrick, Miri, and Mick, a quirky group of matchmakers with very different approaches towards the process. This year, Mick finds herself pulled into the fray and discovers what it's like on the client end of Matchmakers 2.0.
This novelette is refreshingly successful in its delivery of pure chick lit. Humor gives it that sense of buoyancy, while the writing itself manages to be accessible without becoming simplistic. The story is concise enough to be canvassed fully within the length of the book, and the plot follows a logical progression. In short, Matchmakers 2.0 is fun, flirty, and perfect for an afternoon at the beach. (I think I just quoted a magazine tagline. Whoops.)
Getting back to the humor, I feel a pressing need to elaborate. This is an area in which many chick lit authors tend to overdo the comedy, creating situations that are more ludicrous than they are endearing or funny. Not so with this book. From "pants on fire" filtering for clients to love interest Sam's unusual occupation, everything is delivered in such a way that it makes complete sense but still makes you want to laugh out loud.
In case the cover hasn't made it patently obvious, yes this is a light, "fluffy" read. It will not have you obsessing over themes and mulling over plot points for days to come. It will, however, keep you happily entertained through your lunch break or morning commute without leaving you too emotionally strung out to be productive afterwards.
Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews (Review copy provided by the author)
4:52 p.m. I don't know why it took me so long to start this Novel Nibble, because it's really good so far. It's a quick & enjoyable read - at least until now. :)
10:00 p.m. I finished the book. It was an easy-read. Nothing that'll cause you a heart or headache. It's funny, short and worth the hour it took me to finish it.
Considiring Debora Geary's book-prices you won't do much wrong. She also enabled the lend-me-function, which I appreciate. :)
Next to Matchmakers 2.0 I won "A Modern Witch", which is a full lenght novel and if I like that as well , I will make sure to buy whatever she's going to write next. ;)
A little warning: This novel is SHORT and if you're looking for something romantic with much drama, depth and thrill you won't find it here. This is more the "I'm having lunch and I want to calm down because my boss is a b'tch" or the "Okay, so I'm sitting here, waiting for my doctor to call me in and all those other patients look incredibly weird and I'm bored and annoyed and I also tend to become bitter when I'm bored, annoyed and surrounded by weird people.. why don't I read something?"-book. ;)
By the way, I really LOVE the Novel-Nibble thing! I hope she (and other authors, for that matter) is going to write more of them. - And that's a strange thing to say, because I actually always liked "real" novels more than short novellas. Huh.. But then, I also want to read the real thing, because I'm hoping to see more characterdevelopment et cetera.
I did not know what to expect when reading this book, as I had never heard of the author, Debora Geary before.
I didn't expect it to be written so well and with such a solid story! Very well done! Also, it's short. I read the book in like an hour. But it's full too.
The main chick is Mick, and she is leader of the team at matchmakers.com that hooks up all the people that are finding it hard to find there match.
The focus of the book is Mick, who in losing a bet, has to add her own profile to matchmakers.com. In doing so she meets Sam....is he her perfect match?
Miri and Derrick are great side characters who we also get to see fall in love! Okay, here's the blurb:
MICK Guppy scientist and victim of her self-inflicted dating adventures. MIRI Astrology whiz and promoter of steamy sex for the greater good. DERRICK Data genius and life idiot.
Meet the match team at MatchMakers.com, the web 2.0 online-dating service with a personal touch.
Can Mick lead her team, find a guy, and finally win Match the Loser? Enjoy a little humor, a little romance, and occasional trivia about guppies.
I really enjoyed this read. Like I said, it's a quick one, but was complete. Sometimes when you read books like this, the writing falls short or even the plot is a little lame. I thought this was well written and very solid.
I'm going to be on the outlook for more Novel Nibbles from this author!! Novel Nibbles...what a cool idea!!
This is a short novel, a novella really that was very enjoyable to read. The story moves along at a nice pace, and the characters are all pretty likable. They are not fully-developed because there isn't really time to make them into 3-dimensional people, but they are not flat or unlikable. Ms. Geary has created a fun, very light and enjoyable read.
I don't normally read novellas or short stories, but I'm glad I gave this one a chance. I don't give it 5 stars because it wasn't something that really had me thinking deeply or challenging myself in any way. I understand that deep thinking isn't the point of this story, but a little more depth might have made it stick with me more. Also a couple of the characters (MIri and Sam in particular) are skirting the edge of caricatures, and Sam has a moment where he reminds us 3 times in as many paragraphs that "I'm a guy," which serves to make him seem a little shallow.
If you're in the mood for something light and fun I recommend this story. I especially recommend it if you have an hour and a half to kill on an airplane or while waiting for your car to be fixed. I will definitely return to Ms. Geary's work for future light reading.
Kindle specific info: This "novel nibble" rings in at 938 locations and can be read within a couple of hours. It is nicely edited, and there were no formatting or grammatical issues that I noticed.
What does a girl who researched the mating habits of guppies do for a living? She works as a qualified professional matchmaker at one of the country's most popular web-based matchmaking companies, of course! Mick, whose own dating life leaves much to be desired, is the head of the personalized matchmaking group at MatchMakers.com. With astrology-crazy Miri and technogenius Derrick, she tries her hardest to match up the failures that fail the company's computerized matching service. When she loses a bet to her best friend and has to find a guy by signing up for her own services, Mick gets to put the system to the test. Will she find love through a computerized algorithm? Maybe, just maybe, she can...and can learn some important lessons about first impressions and second chances along the way....
Impatiently waiting for the next book in Debora Geary's wonderful series caused me to search for her other works...a search that turned up a few delightful "novel nibbles," short stories told with as much warmth, humor and light as her longer novels. They lack only in length, having just as adorable and likable characters and interesting plots as her full-length books. Though I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other nibble I found (To Love a Witch), I'm still glad I gave it a try! Cute and quirky, it made me laugh and brightened my day.
Matchmakers 2.0 is a novella that goes so fast that you are left wanting more. And I mean it. I read the pages really fast and when it ended up I wanted to know what happened after the last period. The characters are so likeable, it isn’t even funny.
A team of people are employed by Matchmakers to… erm… match people, and this is where—and doing what—we start this story. Micki is an amazing character and I found myself cheering for her. A scientist of shorts working matching people can only be really funny, and she has thoughts that can put you rolling on the floor laughing. The rest of the team consists in the geek Derick, manager of databases, and Miri, the astrological matcher.
Things get really funny when Micki loses a bet and need to put her own name in the system. Her first date is a disaster—that kind your friends will forever laugh about—and the second one seems to go better. But is it possible to find love via Matchmakers?
I think you can see I really liked this novella. In my opinion, it had everything that a enjoyable book needs to have, and I had a really good time reading. Debora Geary truly knows how to captivate the reader.
Matchmakers 2.0 is not a novel. The author, Debora Geary, calls it a Novel Nibbles which is a cutesy way for saying short story. I finished this short while enjoying the day at the beach with my sister and cousin. It was very light and entertaining, the prefect beach read.
Since Matchmakers 2.0 is a short story there is not a lot of room for the character development that I am use from novels. The story is told from the point of view of Mick, a scientist turned online matchmaker. Mick is corky and smart. I like the fact that Geary was able to develop Micks character in such a short story and makes the reader feel like they know her. It makes her more relate-able. In fact, most of the characters that were in the story were memorable and well thought out.
I found myself wishing that this was a longer piece. The problem with a lot of short stories is that ending seems rushed and Matchmakers 2.0 suffered the same fate. All the little storylines were wrapped neatly into a little bow. Which isn't bad since the genre is romance but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been dragged out a little bit more. If there had just been a little bit more “action”.
To start...this book was gifted to me though I am in no way a friend or even an acquaintance of this author (gotta love the Amazon community discussion boards :)
That said, I would buy this book in a heartbeat. I will definitely buy future Debora Geary books. If you like romantic and sweetly funny stories, this one is for you! Mick (Michaela) and Sam are a great couple. Smart and funny with well thought out attitudes and responses. All characters including the secondary ones are interesting quirky people that I would like to know. Very likeable, all of them. The story is short but well filled in without anything vital missing. The only even slightly negative thing that I could say is a matter of personal preference. I usually like a little more sex and danger in my fiction and there is no sex or danger at all in the book though sex is (lightly) discussed. This did not stop me from enjoying Matchmakers 2.0 and I expect to enjoy any future 'nibble' Debora writes! I really liked this very well crafted story and will follow this author in the future.
I read this on the "read ALL the Debora Geary books" principle, because I love her Modern Witch series and its spinoffs. This isn't in the same setting and has completely new characters. In fact, it isn't in the same genre; no fantasy here, only romance (and humour). I enjoyed it anyway, if not as much as her main series.
Like most novellas, it would benefit from being filled out a little more, maybe even to novel length, but what there is is good. I found the humour actually funny (always a plus), and the characters rang true, as did the clueless company making bad decisions. There was some nice interplay between he cynicism of the main character and the cheerful optimism of her friend and co-worker, a New Agey type who wasn't vapid and ineffectual, but had her own kind of strength and even wisdom. I liked all the main characters, in fact (Debora Geary's great skill is creating likeable characters, so we care about what happens to them).
The reason for three stars? I was left wanting more. With another couple of complications, it would make a four-star novel.
Matchmakers 2.0 is a charming and engaging short story. Surprisingly complete, Matchmakers 2.0 has a well crafted plot with well balanced elements in such a condensed format. I really enjoyed the light touch and sense of humor Geary bought to the story. The author establishes her likeable main characters easily, developing a slightly quirky cast comprised of the staff and clients of Matchmakers. It's really Mick's story though, having lost a bet with her best friend she has to enter her details into the matchmaking database. After a false start with a trio of musicians she meets Sam, who may not be perfect but just may be perfect for her if she is willing to give him a chance. This light-hearted "Novel Nibble" is a fun and relaxing read when you have an hour spare and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face. It has certainly piqued my interest in other writings by Debora Geary and is available at a bargain price.
Now I know what Novel Nibbles are. Debora Geary certainly presents a lovely reading nibble to everyone who loves chick lit. Admittedly though it is a short piece, more a novella than an actual novel, but don't let this keep you from reading the book. Romantic and funny, highly entertaining, the story takes you on a hilarious trip into the world of dating, or more precisely, the world of online dating. The team around Mick is both distinctly drawn and wonderfully quirky which not only reflects in their very special methods to achieve the matchmaking. For others and themselves. The one complaint I have is really the relative shortness of the book. I hate when something so enjoyable is over before it's really begun. Can't wait to read "A Modern Witch" now, because I really liked Debora's writing style AND this time it's more than just a nibble! In short: Lots of lovely brain candy potential - I really wished this would have been a full-length novel!
Clearly the author takes great pride in her art as there were no typos or the requisite misuse of there vs. their vs. they're so often found in the writing of independent authors. This novel "nibble" as the author refers to them reminds me of the 30's era radio shows whose purpose was to entertain - to allow the listener to sit back, relax, and enjoy a simple story. The main character Mick, short for Michaela, has a few insecurity issues. Her friends encourage (push) her to put her foot to the fire and experience more of life rather than stand on the sidelines and survive. Yes, I took that from Garth Brooks - so sue me. I took a liking to Mick right away because of her witty remarks. I often found myself smiling, if not laughing at the comments she would make. In short, this was a very enjoyable read and I hope to read more from this author in the future.
I stumbled upon this book while looking for something quick and suitable to read on lunch breaks and fifteen minute breaks. This book is perfect for that. It is a quick, easy read, with really short chapters. It was a humorous and cute read, as well.
The story follows Mick, who works for a matchmaking service. However, Mick has had trouble finding a match for herself in the past. She is surrounded by interesting and funny coworkers, friends, and potential matches to round out the character set.
The only awkward thing about this book was the constant mention of iPads and Kindles. It almost felt like a commercial at times.
Otherwise, this is a great read when you are short on time but want an actual story with substance. I look forward to reading more Novel Nibbles in the future.
A delightful short story with characters that everyone will know and love. I'm amazed at how comfortable Ms. Geary's characters come across. These are people who we encounter in our lives daily (although some are a little quirky). Once the empathy starts, you have to root for your favorites. Even the HR person matches all those you've encountered throughout your life. I was especially gladdened by the results that emerged. I enjoy sympathetic characters that get together and seem to be headed for a happy conclusion to that elusive dream. Couple that with friends and family members that are really interested in best results for their significant "others". An interesting, fast read that will definitely leave a smile on your face.
I’m really happy that I read the witch based books first. Don’t get me wrong, this is a cute story – fast paced & quirky – but it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi that the other stories have.
This is much more along the lines of a short traditional romance. I fell in love with the characters especially Mick. I really identify with her. So stuck in my head that I fail to see what is happening in my life. It would probably take a bet with a friend to get me to open up. I loved the pseudo scientist using guppy research to help her match real life people – she is absolutely hilarious especially in her thoughts.
This was definitely a "nibble" of a novel. Matchmakers 2.0 by Debora Geary was a pleasure to read. I just love Library Thing as you get to experience new novels and authors that you wouldn't normally pick up on your own. This was one of those. Even though it was short, it was enjoyable. Mick is an employee of an online dating service who sets up her own account. Essentially she becomes the client as well as the matchmaker. What a combination!! I don't think I would be able to do that. Very fun and cute story.
“This novel was a fun, quick read. All of the characters were very believable and likable and I found myself wanting to know more about them. It's a statement of the authors talent that such a short story can engage the reader and draw them into the story. The story was romantic without being cheesy or cliched and I was sad that the story ended. I would really like to see a series of these books following the characters lives. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick believable feel good book.
I am not a fan of short stories. I hate that they end just as I am really getting into them, but this one looked cute and light. I needed something to get me out of my reading slump and this was it! I totally loved every character right from the beginning. For a short story they were developed enough to really know them. The story moved along at a nice pace with just enough details. The ending was good and you felt satisfied with where all the characters were.
If you are looking for a short story and a fun read DEFINTELY pick this one up! I can't wait to read more by this author.
This was a really cute short. Mick, aka Michaela, is a post-doc who studied the mating habits of fish, and was hired at an online dating company to help with their match-making system.
The story actually focuses on her budding relationship with a date she meets from the online service she works for. Mick had been on the wrong side of an agreement with her BFF about whether she could find a dating companion on her own.
Upbeat storyline, populated by some interesting characters, very enjoyable way to pass the time while waiting to pick up someone who was running late.
Sometimes it's the antidote to a bad day, or my hope of inspiring goods dreams but I love reading this novella. It makes me happy. The protagonist has crazy friends and a weird job. She knits as a paying hobby and is a yarn enabler for her best friend. To pay off a bet she has to sign up for online dating (where she works) and the results have me laughing to tears even though this was probably my fifteenth reading of the book. Tomorrow night I might need help winding down again and Geary has another novella I love, actually, several.
Matchmakers 2.0 was a very quick, yet very satisfying read. I read it in one sitting, and loved the main character Mick who is an employee of a dating service. After making a deal, she herself ends up with her own profile on the database. It’s really easy to read, and quite believable. My only complaint was how it ended…too soon! A must read, I know I will be looking for more from author, Debora Geary.
I got this book through the LibraryThing Member’s Giveaway Program.
Wasn't quite sure what to expect when I received this novella, but it was a quite enjoyable read. The main character, Mick, works for a Matchmaking firm in North Carolina. And although this is 2011, she is quite naive in many ways but entirely believable. A quick read that is well-written, funny and timely in this era of online dating. This was my first novella by Ms. Geary but I can't wait to read more.
I liked it was cute fast read. I wanted more of the characters. they were fun for the most part. It dose not make me want to do on line dating. mick,derrik & Miri are the human match that work together fixing the matches after the computer ones. they work together in a fun way. Mick lost the bet with her friend so she has to enter her profile to the computer. first date does not work out but second is interesting one. lots of talk about dates, dating and fix ups. I enjoyed it.