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Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance #4
The Rugelach Road Trip
Meet the OG Matzo Eight friends who became found family, living and loving their best lives on a yearly Hanukkah harbor cruise around Manhattan…
Worst Hanukkah Ever.
Indie rock star Avi Wolfson is freezing his strings off in a snowy Ohio rest stop, watching his tour bus vanish in the distance. He needs a miracle to get to his last gig on the tour before heading to Manhattan for the Matzo Baller Hanukkah harbor cruise, where his found family awaits. Instead, he gets the girl whose bat mitzvah he unintentionally ruined fourteen years ago. And she’s not about to let him forget it.
Matzo Baller or Bust.
Leah Gellman has her Hanukkah all mapped drive from Ohio to New York, deliver her hand-painted Mahjong sets to eight crucial influencers, and make it to the Matzo Baller cruise by sunset. Her road trip is packed with favors along the way - including delivering rugelach to a friend’s single doctor grandson. What's not on her itinerary? Bailing out an arrogant rock star with a wicked sweet tooth he’s desperately trying to hide.
Three Days. Two hearts. One blinking oil light.
With just three days to reach the boat, Avi and Leah find themselves tangled in a wild journey full of unexpected detours, old grudges, and sparks neither of them anticipated. But with Avi’s old flame waiting at the dock and Leah’s prospective doctor on her Hanukkah to-do list, will their budding connection crash and burn before they reach Manhattan?
The Rugelach Road Trip is Book #4 in the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance a second chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, rockstar romance that warms the heart and brings the laughs.
Worst Hanukkah Ever.
Indie rock star Avi Wolfson is freezing his strings off in a snowy Ohio rest stop, watching his tour bus vanish in the distance. He needs a miracle to get to his last gig on the tour before heading to Manhattan for the Matzo Baller Hanukkah harbor cruise, where his found family awaits. Instead, he gets the girl whose bat mitzvah he unintentionally ruined fourteen years ago. And she’s not about to let him forget it.
Matzo Baller or Bust.
Leah Gellman has her Hanukkah all mapped drive from Ohio to New York, deliver her hand-painted Mahjong sets to eight crucial influencers, and make it to the Matzo Baller cruise by sunset. Her road trip is packed with favors along the way - including delivering rugelach to a friend’s single doctor grandson. What's not on her itinerary? Bailing out an arrogant rock star with a wicked sweet tooth he’s desperately trying to hide.
Three Days. Two hearts. One blinking oil light.
With just three days to reach the boat, Avi and Leah find themselves tangled in a wild journey full of unexpected detours, old grudges, and sparks neither of them anticipated. But with Avi’s old flame waiting at the dock and Leah’s prospective doctor on her Hanukkah to-do list, will their budding connection crash and burn before they reach Manhattan?
The Rugelach Road Trip is Book #4 in the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance a second chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, rockstar romance that warms the heart and brings the laughs.
- GenresHoliday Romance
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2024
9 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Topper
14 books278 followersRock. Write. Repeat.
Jessica Topper broke the rock romance mold with her 2013 debut novel LOUDER THAN LOVE. Her follow-up romantic comedy, DICTATORSHIP OF THE DRESS, was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2015.
After working almost two decades in the music industry, Jessica hung up her touring boots in order to concentrate on her writing. She lives in Western New York with two cats who love to walk across her keyboard, a teenage writer girl and a husband who wishes to remain anonymous. You can visit her at www.jessicatopper.com.
Jessica is the author of two series:
LOVE & STEEL
(Louder Than Love, Deeper Than Dreams, Softer Than Steel – NEW EDITIONS COMING SOON)
MUCH “I DO” ABOUT NOTHING
(Dictatorship of the Dress – January 2015, Courtship of the Cake – June 2015) from Berkley/Penguin RandomHouse.
Jessica Topper broke the rock romance mold with her 2013 debut novel LOUDER THAN LOVE. Her follow-up romantic comedy, DICTATORSHIP OF THE DRESS, was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2015.
After working almost two decades in the music industry, Jessica hung up her touring boots in order to concentrate on her writing. She lives in Western New York with two cats who love to walk across her keyboard, a teenage writer girl and a husband who wishes to remain anonymous. You can visit her at www.jessicatopper.com.
Jessica is the author of two series:
LOVE & STEEL
(Louder Than Love, Deeper Than Dreams, Softer Than Steel – NEW EDITIONS COMING SOON)
MUCH “I DO” ABOUT NOTHING
(Dictatorship of the Dress – January 2015, Courtship of the Cake – June 2015) from Berkley/Penguin RandomHouse.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This is the fourth book in the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance Series.
This is Avi’s story. He is a famous rockstar.
These books are about a group of friends. Each book features the romance of one friend. And each pair of books takes place simultaneously.
I am completely obsessed with this series. It makes me so happy to read books where Hanukkah and Jewish Rep is such a big part of the story.
In book 3 (The Menorah Matchmaker) Avi was missing. In this book we find out what happened.
I really enjoyed this book. I love the Hanukkah cruises that are such a big part of the series. In this book the cruise is only the last part of the book. I loved seeing more of Nora and Talia. I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series.
This is the fourth book in the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance Series.
This is Avi’s story. He is a famous rockstar.
These books are about a group of friends. Each book features the romance of one friend. And each pair of books takes place simultaneously.
I am completely obsessed with this series. It makes me so happy to read books where Hanukkah and Jewish Rep is such a big part of the story.
In book 3 (The Menorah Matchmaker) Avi was missing. In this book we find out what happened.
I really enjoyed this book. I love the Hanukkah cruises that are such a big part of the series. In this book the cruise is only the last part of the book. I loved seeing more of Nora and Talia. I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series.
December 26, 2024
3.5
I loved the first two books in the Matzo Ballers series, and this was also cute. Avi and Leah were a smidge of enemies to lovers, but their relationship developed quite nicely. I loved the forced proximity and all the cute moments the pair shared on the road. This book's rugelach sounded incredible, and I loved that it was a common theme. I loved that both main characters were Jewish, and I love seeing that in books. I was glad to see the boat trip made another appearance, and it was cool to see the cameos from previous characters. This was a fun read, and I'm excited to see the other relationships that form!
I loved the first two books in the Matzo Ballers series, and this was also cute. Avi and Leah were a smidge of enemies to lovers, but their relationship developed quite nicely. I loved the forced proximity and all the cute moments the pair shared on the road. This book's rugelach sounded incredible, and I loved that it was a common theme. I loved that both main characters were Jewish, and I love seeing that in books. I was glad to see the boat trip made another appearance, and it was cool to see the cameos from previous characters. This was a fun read, and I'm excited to see the other relationships that form!
December 31, 2024
Since I enjoyed the first two books of the Matzo Ballers series, I decided to keep going and am so glad I did. As of right now, The Rugelach Road Trip is my favorite from the series, but I still need to read The Menorah Matchmaker.
I love a good road trip romance and this story definitely fit the bill! This enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity story lit up my Hanukkah. I loved the banter between Avi and Leah and all the situations they ran into while trying to get from a rest stop in Ohio to the Matzo Baller Hanukkah cruise in New York City. The trip was just so much fun and I felt like I was enjoying it vicariously. I am not a fan of snow when it actually happens, but I love the idea of being snowed in and the coziness that exudes. All the Hanukkah themed parts of the story added to the essence and ambience.
While I was already prepared for this novel to be more "closed door", there was still enough chemistry to warm up the cold winter days described throughout. I really loved how thoroughly Jewish this story was and I am glad it's out there for people to appreciate and enjoy.
If you're looking for an entertaining way to start 2025 (it's also still Hanukkah for another day or so), don't hesitate to pick this one up!
(Trigger warning below.)
Movie casting suggestions (I am only casting the main characters for each book in this series):
Avi: Carter Jenkins
I love a good road trip romance and this story definitely fit the bill! This enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity story lit up my Hanukkah. I loved the banter between Avi and Leah and all the situations they ran into while trying to get from a rest stop in Ohio to the Matzo Baller Hanukkah cruise in New York City. The trip was just so much fun and I felt like I was enjoying it vicariously. I am not a fan of snow when it actually happens, but I love the idea of being snowed in and the coziness that exudes. All the Hanukkah themed parts of the story added to the essence and ambience.
While I was already prepared for this novel to be more "closed door", there was still enough chemistry to warm up the cold winter days described throughout. I really loved how thoroughly Jewish this story was and I am glad it's out there for people to appreciate and enjoy.
If you're looking for an entertaining way to start 2025 (it's also still Hanukkah for another day or so), don't hesitate to pick this one up!
(Trigger warning below.)
Movie casting suggestions (I am only casting the main characters for each book in this series):
Avi: Carter Jenkins
December 26, 2025
so cute
This one so far has been my favorite. I love a good roadtrip with unexpected adventures! Can’t wait to finish the next one!
This one so far has been my favorite. I love a good roadtrip with unexpected adventures! Can’t wait to finish the next one!
December 29, 2024
4.5 stars
I was so happy to be back in the Matzo Baller world and very excited that Avi, the rock star of the Jew Crew, was the focus of Ms. Topper’s book. Ms. Topper is the author of one of my all time favorite rock star romance, so getting a holiday rock star romance and a road trip romance all in one was exciting.
Avi’s band is on the last leg of their tour and has one show left when he is “oil-spotted” and thus stranded in Kismet, Ohio with no phone, no coat, and no wallet of his own. Trying to figure out who to call was quite the issue but his former mentor promises he’ll be picked up as soon as possible. Little does Avi know that it’s his mentor’s daughter Leah picking him up and she’s had a grudge against him for over a decade.
From the start I was all in with these characters and while Leah started out with an attitude towards Avi, they worked things out pretty quickly which I appreciated. With each setback in their plan, with their road games, and playlists, I fell more in love with these two as they fell in love with one another.
I loved how much they connected in so many ways and the fact that while they had some shared history it didn’t overshadow what they were building as they made their way to New York City and the Matzo Baller cruise. The cruise itself was a big turning point in solidifying their relationship and the way it played out was at times intense, but also emotional and gratifying.
A cameo by Riff Rotten was as yummy as the rugelach that was a big part of this story.
Jessica Topper never disappoints and The Rugelach Road Trip was a sparkling holiday story and one of my favorites of this season. I am already looking forward to next year’s books by Ms. Topper and Ms. Usen and can’t wait to see which of the Jew Crew will fall in love next!
I was so happy to be back in the Matzo Baller world and very excited that Avi, the rock star of the Jew Crew, was the focus of Ms. Topper’s book. Ms. Topper is the author of one of my all time favorite rock star romance, so getting a holiday rock star romance and a road trip romance all in one was exciting.
Avi’s band is on the last leg of their tour and has one show left when he is “oil-spotted” and thus stranded in Kismet, Ohio with no phone, no coat, and no wallet of his own. Trying to figure out who to call was quite the issue but his former mentor promises he’ll be picked up as soon as possible. Little does Avi know that it’s his mentor’s daughter Leah picking him up and she’s had a grudge against him for over a decade.
From the start I was all in with these characters and while Leah started out with an attitude towards Avi, they worked things out pretty quickly which I appreciated. With each setback in their plan, with their road games, and playlists, I fell more in love with these two as they fell in love with one another.
I loved how much they connected in so many ways and the fact that while they had some shared history it didn’t overshadow what they were building as they made their way to New York City and the Matzo Baller cruise. The cruise itself was a big turning point in solidifying their relationship and the way it played out was at times intense, but also emotional and gratifying.
A cameo by Riff Rotten was as yummy as the rugelach that was a big part of this story.
Jessica Topper never disappoints and The Rugelach Road Trip was a sparkling holiday story and one of my favorites of this season. I am already looking forward to next year’s books by Ms. Topper and Ms. Usen and can’t wait to see which of the Jew Crew will fall in love next!
December 28, 2024
The Rugelach Road Trip by Jessica Topper
The Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance series launched last December with a pair of holiday romances by Topper and Amanda Usen. The stories focus on a group of friends who’ve organized a gala holiday cruise around Manhattan to celebrate Hanukkah. This year’s offering by Topper stars rock musician Ari and artist Leah on a wild three day road trip after Ari is left behind at a rest stop by his band’s tour bus. The end goal is the lavish annual eight hour Matzo Ballers cruise from Manhattan, but getting there involves winter storms, multiple detours, sentimental side trips, and lashings of Jewish-American food and culture. This book has the feel of an intense slow burn, closed door romance despite the truncated time line. There are also warmhearted encounters with new friends and found family, something Topper does very well. All in all, a delightful celebration of holiday spirit.
The Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance series launched last December with a pair of holiday romances by Topper and Amanda Usen. The stories focus on a group of friends who’ve organized a gala holiday cruise around Manhattan to celebrate Hanukkah. This year’s offering by Topper stars rock musician Ari and artist Leah on a wild three day road trip after Ari is left behind at a rest stop by his band’s tour bus. The end goal is the lavish annual eight hour Matzo Ballers cruise from Manhattan, but getting there involves winter storms, multiple detours, sentimental side trips, and lashings of Jewish-American food and culture. This book has the feel of an intense slow burn, closed door romance despite the truncated time line. There are also warmhearted encounters with new friends and found family, something Topper does very well. All in all, a delightful celebration of holiday spirit.
December 28, 2024
I have always enjoyed a road trip romance & add in a little enemies to lovers /childhood to adulthood ? It's kismet. I wasn't quite prepared to love this book as much as I did. Between the rock star stranded at a restaurant stop, to the daughter of a cantor who felt betrayed by the boy who ruined her Bat Mitzvah party... the mahjong and rugelach, trekking from Ohio to New York for the Matzo Baller Hanukkah cruise... I loved this book. ❤️ 5 stars all around.
December 21, 2025
What I liked: Latkes & Rugelach & Mah Jong, Oh My! When a rock star is left behind at rest stop in Ohio, it’s a “road trip romance” on a snowy drive to NYC. 15 years earlier, he was the boy who unwittingly ruined her Bat Mitzvah party.
What I disliked: The flat tires at Niagara Falls was a fun way to continue the “forced proximity,” but typically there aren’t tire spikes when leaving a parking lot, even if going out an entry lane.
What I disliked: The flat tires at Niagara Falls was a fun way to continue the “forced proximity,” but typically there aren’t tire spikes when leaving a parking lot, even if going out an entry lane.
December 30, 2024
This is an adorable Hannukah holiday romance. Some of my favorite tropes rolled into one, making peace with the past, forced proximity, and rockstar. This is absolutely the holiday romance I didn't know I needed. Jessica Topper balances Jewish tradition and modern living. This book left me with a happy and warm getting when I was done.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews