Falling for the Rabbi

Matchmaker, Matchmaker #1

by Jennifer Wilck

Can opposites attract when tradition stands in the way? 

Josh Axelrod is incensed! His matchmaker date brought along her annoying best friend—Emma something-or-other. The same Emma who’s ruining the house filled with the young rabbi’s childhood memories and turning it into a bookstore. Sure, she captures his attention but—no. Just no. Emma is too impulsive. Too out there. And he’s a Rabbi, for God’s sake! Except now, it seems impossible to avoid her. And with every encounter, “no” feels more like “yes.” Perhaps the unwitting Josh and Emma were always the match meant to be… 

From Harlequin Special  Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker…

Book 1: Falling for the Rabbi

Genres: Romance, Jewish, Harlequin

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

Reviews

[Louise]

(4.25 stars)
Thank you so much to Harlequin Special Edition for the chance to read a review copy of Falling For The Rabbi by Jennifer Wilck. I’m not sure why I let it sit this long before reading it. It was a delight.

The story takes place in the winter, but this is not a winter holiday book (post-Hanukkah). Just winter in New Jersey. The two main characters are a young rabbi, Josh, who is in his hometown for a while, helping his grandmother move out of her big house (the one he grew up in) and the young woman, Emma, who is buying the house, to turn it into a bookstore.

Josh is very sentimental about the house and is having a tough time with the change his grandmother wants - even though he knows that his grandmother can no longer handle all the stairs, etc., and that she is looking forward to moving into a senior living complex in the town, where a number of her friends have already moved. So he’s not favorably disposed toward Emma when they first meet. At the same time, his grandmother has signed him up with a local matchmaker service and he has begrudgingly agreed to give it a try, since his experience with dating apps hasn’t led to anything serious. He works as an assistant rabbi at a very large Manhattan congregation, but has taken some time off to help his grandmother deal with her big move, so he’s going to have some time on his hands in his hometown.

Josh gets set up with Samantha, who happens to be Emma’s best friend. But he’s more interested in Emma (once he’s gotten over the shock of her buying “his” house). I could tell right away that Samantha wasn’t going to be a good match for Josh! (Even though this is the first in a series focusing on a matchmaker; I guess the matchmaker can only go off what people tell her or what they put in their questionnaires!) For most of the book, I didn’t care for her personality at all. There is, however, a development late in the story that gave me a glimpse of why Emma was such good friends with her in the first place. So now I’m looking forward to the next book, which will feature Samantha.

I enjoyed watching Josh and Emma get to know each other and realize that they would be good together, despite their different levels of religious observance. (Josh is a Reform rabbi, but Emma doesn’t have much background beyond having had a Bat Mitzvah back when.) In addition, they both had (very different) childhood issues to get over. Emma’s parents were awful for most of the book too. And I wish we had gotten to see more of Josh in his rabbinical role, but he was, after all, taking a break from his job, and just agreed to fill in for a couple of things for the local synagogue.

I loved Josh’s grandmother, Muriel. And her friends were great too! I wouldn’t mind reading more about them!

All in all, I recommend this romance!

[Courtney Shapiro]

Jennifer Wilck's books always bring me so much joy, and this was no exception. I loved that all the characters are Jewish because that representation always means a lot. I thought the love story was done well, and I liked watching them grow both individually and together. I also enjoyed the fact that Emma was opening up a small-town bookstore. What didn't work for me was the side characters, except for Josh's grandmother. Emma's parents were so unsupportive, and her best friend was even worse. The nastiness from both of them took me out of the love story a bit, and even the reconciliations felt one-note. I thought this was cute, and I'm curious if Sam gets a redemption arc when her book comes along.

[Yvonne]

Emma Geffner is on the verge of starting a new chapter in her life. She buys a building with the intention of turning it into a bookstore. The building is owned by Muriel Axelrod whose grandson happens to be Josh Axelrod, a Rabbi from New York City. Josh is not thrilled with this new venture since it means his childhood home will be torn down and replaced with a bookstore. However, he can’t talk his grandmother out of this plan since she’s looking forward to moving to Marble House, an assisted living facility where many of her friends already live.

Muriel decides Josh needs a distraction and a woman would be perfect. So, she signs him up for the services of a matchmaker. Josh is less than thrilled when he hears about this but decides to give it a try. The first date he is set up with is Samantha. Much to his shock and dismay, she brings another couple on their date. Not the easiest way to get to know someone. He’s even more shocked when he sees one of the friends she brought is Emma Geffner. The woman he holds responsible for destroying his childhood memories.

The double date doesn’t go well. Josh and Samantha make plans for a date on their own, which also doesn’t go well. Josh can’t seem to get his mind off Emma.

Meanwhile, Emma has her own issues starting with getting her new bookstore off the ground. She desperately wants to prove to her parents that she can be successful.

So many obstacles are thrown in their way. It looks as if this is one relationship that will never make it.

I fell in love with Josh from the start. Emma I wasn’t so sure about, but she quickly won me over. Two lost souls just looking to live their lives. They are surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters. I particularly liked Grandma Muriel. She is fun and keeps everyone’s spirits up.

This is the first book in the Matchmaker, Matchmaker series and it’s off to a great start. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. I’m sure Samantha will get her own story soon. I will also check this author’s backlist as I really liked her writing style and want to read more. It's a feel-good story that keeps you smiling even after the last page is turned.







Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Alyson (alysonbookishthoughts)]

Jennifer's books are some of my favorite comfort reads and I'm very excited for the new Matchmaker, Matchmaker series! Falling for the Rabbi was the perfect book to being the series with Emma having purchased Josh's grandmother's house to turn into a bookstore, and Josh, a rabbi who isn't thrilled with Emma's plan at first.

Josh is back in his hometown helping his grandmother pack up her home as she is ready to downsize, even though he isn't thrilled with her moving. His grandmother has some tricks up her sleeve and works with a local matchmaker to set him up with Samantha, the best friend of Emma, who just bought his grandmother's house to turn in to a bookstore. Despite trying with Samantha, Josh doesn't feel a spark, but does feel one with Emma who he gets to known between run-ins around town and at his grandmother's house. As Emma realizes she has feelings for Josh as well, things get complicated between her and Samantha and Emma has to decide if she can see herself having a long term relationship with a rabbi.

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story and watching Emma and Josh come together. They were a great balance for each other with Emma trying to look on the bright side of things and encouraging Josh to try to understand that his grandmother moving on from her house was the best thing for her at her current stage in life. I adored Muriel, Josh's grandmother, and loved that she was a sounding board for both Josh and Emma. I would definitely read a spin-off series that featured Muriel and her friends!

Thank you to Jennifer Wilck for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Pam]

Jennifer Wilck can be a little hit or miss for me. Sometimes I find her dialogue to be a little too cringey or the conflict to be a little left of center, but I am happy to report that Falling for the Rabbi was just the right amount of cringey for my taste.

Emma Geffner is finally getting her dream. Through a combination of her savings and a business loan, she has enough to buy a location to open a bookstore in her small town in New Jersey. All she needs to do is sign the papers and the site will be hers. But during her signing, she's confronted by the very grumpy Josh Axelrod, the grandson of the owner. He's not happy that his grandmother has chosen to sell his childhood home, despite the fact that he lives in Manhattan, where he works as a junior rabbi at a large synagogue.

But the sale is done, and he doesn't have to see Emma again—or at least that's what he thinks. Over the next few weeks, he keeps running into her: around town, running errands, and even as a tagalong during a first date the matchmaker his grandmother hired for him set up. He just can't avoid her. And as they keep bumping into each other, they both realize that there is something between them. But with Josh's role as a rabbi and all the challenges Emma is facing as she gets her business off the ground, the timing for them couldn't be worse.

I really enjoyed Falling for the Rabbi. It's a low-stress, uncomplicated read that dives into many of the familiar beats of contemporary romance with a decidedly Jewish twist. Josh's faith is obviously very important to him—he's a freaking rabbi—but he's a Reform rabbi and isn't at all pushy about his level of observance. Emma is culturally Jewish but hasn't observed much beyond the food since she had her bat mitzvah. I really liked seeing their different experiences of the same religion on the page, especially since Emma's experience with Judaism mimics what so many of us have lived.

The real conflict of this book is all about change: the way people respond to it and how it alters relationships. I really liked that Jennifer Wilck connected the major changes in both Josh and Emma's lives to all their major relationships. We see friendship, family, and romantic relationships all represented and explored in different ways.

True to form for Jennifer Wilck, I did find some of the dialogue to be epically cringey, especially some of the things Emma and Josh said when they were talking about their relationship. I could forgive more of it this time because Josh is a rabbi and has a more objective way of looking at the world—he counsels people as part of his job—but some of the things Emma said were a little therapy-speak-y for me. Still, it wasn't enough to lessen my enjoyment of the book.

If you're looking for a fun contemporary romance that will be a quick and easy read, this one might work for you. 4 stars.

[Jennifer]

4.5/5 stars

This is the first book in the new Matchmaker Matchmaker series. It is a Jewish romance featuring a rabbi and a woman opening a bookstore.

I am obsessed with characters who run bookstores. I’m obsessed with hot rabbis. I love a fun meddling grandmother. And I love books with Jewish Rep.

Josh is a rabbi. He lives in NYC but is spending some time in his hometown to move his grandmother into a seniors home.

Emma has just bought his grandmother Muriel’s house. And she is turning it into a bookstore.

I do wish that we had seen a bit more of him working as a rabbi. And he definitely started the book a bit grumpy. But I just adored the special relationship between him and Muriel. And given his past I definitely understand why he did not like change.

The book features a matchmaker, which is so fun! But Josh is not matched with Emma!?! At first I was a bit surprised by this. However as the book progressed I really found this so interesting. And especially seeing who the next book is about… it is so perfect! Overall this book will make you smile and fill you with Jewish joy! I can’t wait for book two!



Thanks to the author, Harlequin Romance and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

[Ashley]

This book is full of endearingly quirky characters that help make the story entertaining and relatable. Grandma Muriel was definitely my favorite! Though they navigate some tough situations, it's balanced with plenty of humor and heart. I especially appreciate and enjoy the Jewish elements that Jennifer Wilck has woven into the story. Regardless of if you celebrate the same traditions, I think anyone could find something they identify with.

[Lisa M.]

I love thrifting and this title caught my eye at Goodwill. I live in an area with a high Jewish population; my last partner was Jewish. I have always admired the culture and religion. I read this right away (I rarely get to new books quickly!) because I am going away to a work retreat last week and I wanted a quick read before I started something new there. I am new to Harlequins. This line is a little confusing to me--I initially thought the small-tone setting was supposed to be reminiscent of a Hallmark movie, but I think they're supposed to be relatable to the average reader. If you want the Hallmark vibes, there's a small-town, winter festival, and the opening of a book store! I found some of the conflicts to be too close to real life (pipes bursting, flooding, unsupportive parents.) I don't need to read about financial concerns, especially in this climate. Joshy, as his grandmother called him, shined as he supported Emma with her problematic parents. I really appreciated his comments and took a photo so I won't forget.

I also appreciate that the setup is that Joshy and Samantha are matched but attraction grows with Emma. Due to this, there needs to be a mismatch between Joshy and Samantha needs to be portrayed as different from Emma. I haven't read such a hateful character in a long time (and I read a lot of horror!) Samantha is almost a caricature; she tells Josh on their first date that sometimes big corporations are the real victims and tells him how shitty the second date was. She made me really uncomfortable and not in a pleasurable way. Even her best friend concludes the book by saying she no longer likes her but respects her. Why would a grown woman care if Emma got the attention of her crushes when they were in ELEMENTARY and HIGH SCHOOL?

I also found the other characters challenging. Joshy is a pretty stereotypical man in this book; angry, doesn't listen to the women in his life (his grandmother's desire to change,) and saved by Emma's love. Emma is surprisingly conflicted about his level of religiosity later in the book. He invites her over to family Passover and she freaks out. It's ok she's not observant, but she should have expected this to come up in their relationship LOL.

Despite this these characters did feel like they had realistic motivations--each had difficult upbringings and I felt their characters were realistic, they just needed to be toned down a little bit. I did like what Josh and Emma did for each other and both sounded attraction. The sex was great without being super explicit, if that's a concern.

Lastly, the editing in this is very consistent. There's a scene early on in which Joshy says he's not kosher; Emma later states she's nervous about dating a rabbi because she doesn't want to become kosher. He is unprepared when they first have sex and doesn't have a condom; he later gives a monologue about how he always has a condom. It seemed really strange. I'm afraid that AI is getting involved in editing, it seemed strange.

Not bad for a quick read but not without its issues.

[Susan]

Good small-town, enemies-to-lovers story. Emma is a young woman who dreams of owning a bookstore. After years of saving, that dream is about to come true. She purchased a Victorian home just off Main Street and plans to turn the first floor into a bookstore and live on the second floor. The owner is a feisty older woman who wants to move into a senior living complex where many of her friends already live. The only fly in the ointment is Muriel's grandson, Josh.

Josh doesn't like change. He grew up in that house after his parents died and Muriel took over raising him. Though he is now a rabbi in Manhattan, he hates the idea of his grandmother not being in her home, despite her desire to be with her friends. His hostile attitude at the closing irritated me, and I liked how his grandmother called him on it after it was over. Being the terrific grandmother she is, she used his remorse to get him to accept a matchmaker's help finding a date.

In an ironic twist of fate, the matchmaker sets Josh up with Emma's best friend, Samantha. Emma and a male friend insert themselves into Josh and Samantha's first date, creating a very awkward situation. Though Josh tries to focus on Samantha, his attention keeps drifting to Emma. Meanwhile, Emma makes no secret of her opinion of Josh.

But it is a small town, and with Emma buying his grandmother's house, they run into each other often. It doesn't take long for them to realize that beneath the antagonism is a growing attraction. I liked seeing them get to know each other. Emma helps Josh understand that his grandmother moving on to the next stage of her life isn't the end of the world. I loved how Josh gave Emma the emotional support she doesn't get from anyone else and desperately needs. While Josh quickly understands how his feelings for Emma have grown, her experiences left her wary of believing his feelings are real. It takes time apart and some straight advice for them to get past their insecurities and find their way back to each other.

I enjoyed seeing Emma's determination to make her dream come true. It isn't easy, and a renovation disaster creates even more stress. At the same time, Josh is at a crossroads in his personal and professional lives and has some hard decisions to make.

Secondary characters play an important role in the story. The best of them was Josh's grandmother, Muriel. She is feisty, loving, and doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. Her close relationship with Josh is undeniable. I laughed at so many of her antics. On the other hand, Emma's parents and best friend were awful. Emma's parents constantly compare her to her sister and are entirely unsupportive of her bookstore plans. Though they somewhat redeemed themselves in the end, I'm not sure if it will last. Samantha was just plain awful. She is self-centered, has zero empathy for anyone else, and constantly brings up things from the past that shouldn't matter anymore. I could tell from their first date that she and Josh weren't at all suited for each other. She desperately needs an attitude adjustment, and I hope she gets it.

[Heidi Shertok]

Jennifer Wilck is a genius, and I don’t use that term lightly. Do you people even grasp just how talented and brilliant she is??? The sheer number of books she writes—each one beautiful and inspiring—is literally insane. INSANE. One year, she wrote three books.

THREE!!!!!

And I’ve found a new favorite in her latest novel, Falling for the Rabbi—and I know you’re going to love it, too.

Not only is the hero of the book a smoking hot rabbi, but he’s got a soft spot for his grandmother. Which is the only reason why he agreed to use a matchmaker in the first place. And though he didn’t know what to expect on his blind date, he definitely wasn’t expecting a second woman to join—especially not a petite, feisty brunette who kept interrupting the conversation and shooting him dirty looks.

By the end of the night, one thing was very clear: this woman didn’t want him anywhere near her best friend. And as if things couldn’t get worse, he soon discovered that she was also the woman buying his grandmother’s house—the one he grew up in and isn’t ready to let go of without a fight.

But with every encounter, the tension between them rises—until they discover that perhaps the best matches are the ones least expected…

I was thinking—when we lose ourselves in a good book, I think it’s partly because we see versions of ourselves—and our stories—on the page: the good, the bad, the ugly. We see the things we misconstrued about our relationships with our parents, or the friends we lost through no fault of our own. We see the vital role our grandparents played in our lives.

Fiction allows us to see elements of ourselves on the page. But truly great fiction—such as Falling for the Rabbi—reveals things about ourselves we hadn’t known.

Such is the magic of fiction.

QUESTION: Has a book ever stayed with you long after you finished it? Comment below 👇

#FallingForTheRabbi #BooksThatStayWithYou #BookLovers #MustReadRomance #StoryMagic #BookObsessed #FictionThatMoves #BooksAndLife #HiddenTruths

[N.N. Heaven]

The moment Emma met Josh, she dislikes him immediately. He obviously hates her as well. He chooses every moment to put her down and make snide comments. A matchmaker matches Josh with Emma’s best friend, Samantha, so there is a definite hands-off vibe. Which is fine with Emma…until it isn’t. The more time she spends with Josh, the more her annoyance turns to joy. Could the matchmaker have been mistaken? Is Emma the right woman for Josh? Is Emma falling for the rabbi who seems to have stolen her heart?

Falling for the Rabbi is a humorous opposites attract, enemies to lovers, Jewish romance I couldn’t put down. There are plenty of rom com moments with the help of an interfering grandmother and a simmering attraction neither Josh nor Emma can ignore. The descriptive narration is immersive and filled with Jewish tidbits, traditions, and language. The dialogue is filled with humor and banter. The characters are colorful and many of them have small town charm. The romance is comical and I found myself laughing while reading.

Jennifer Wilck has penned another flawless contemporary romance. I always enjoy her romances because she writes about relatable characters dealing with life issues. Her romances will make you fall in love with the characters and with romance. Falling for the Rabbi will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. If you’re a fan of Jean Meltzer, Hannah Orenstein, and Stacey Agdern, you’ll want to read Falling for the Rabbi.

My Rating: 5++ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...

[Kate]

Emma can see all the pieces coming together for her. Her business plan to open a bookstore in her home town was coming into fruition. Too bad her parents have no faith in her. And the grandson of the place she bought to house the bookstore is less than pleased with losing his childhood home. That grandson, Josh is not good with change. He's not happy his grandmother sold her home to Emma. He's not happy that she's moving to an assisted living home. And he's not happy that Emma has shown up on his matchmaker date with Emma's best friend Samantha.

There was a lot about this novel to like. Especially the main characters. You can't help but root for Emma and her bookstore plans (every reader's dream right?). Josh is sweet. His grandmother is the best. But the other characters are pretty awful. Emma's best friend is selfish and cruel. Her parents are neglectful and cruel. Emma's sister seems good, but she doesn't feature enough in the book. I wish she had because it would have been nice for Emma to have someone since Josh has his grandmother. I think the conflicts were resolved without much interaction between the characters. We don't get to understand why they go through a 180 degree flip in thoughts and behaviors. My biggest gripe though is that I thought more could have been done with the matchmaker character. I was really hoping she was magically behind the "real" setup of Josh and Emma, like a wink and a nudge. Especially since there was so much talk about her looking young but being very experienced.

[Susan Ross]

I was very excited to read a book with Jewish content but, although most of it was enjoyable, I found Josh hard to like. He resents his elderly grandmother for selling the family home. And I understand that but she was living in a 3 storey home. How is she supposed to care for such a large home or walk up and down all those stairs? And she's lonely. Moving to a retirement home gets her into a social environment. Josh's option, if he could afford it, was buying the home himself. Instead, he gets mad at the woman (Emma) who's buying the home to turn it into a bookstore with a two storey apartment above it.

There were inconsistencies. After two dates Josh and Emma have sex (really?, so quickly? a rabbi?) and he has no condom. Later in the book he says he always carries a condom. When Emma responds to his declaration of love with little enthusiasm, saying it's too soon for him to be in love, he gets mad and walks away. After being apart for several months, while they're making up, he says, "I'm not the kind of guy who walks away when things get hard." But that's exactly what he did!

Josh was fixed up by a matchmaker with Emma's best friend, Samantha. Emma comes on the first date with a friend to make Samantha's date less awkward. It does the opposite. After two dates it's clear they're not meant for each other. Emma and Josh are attracted to each other but Samantha doesn't want Emma to date Josh. Emma does so anyway but feels guilty. It's ridiculous.

The ending was a disappointment. "We'll try to make it work" is not my idea of an ending.

[Verity W]

Josh is a Rabbi whose grandmother has got a matchmaker involved to try and find him a partner. Except when he turns up on the first date that the matchmaker has arranged she has bought her best friend along with her - a best friend who happens to be the same person who is buying his grandmother's house. Emma is buying the house so that she can fulfill her dream of starting her own business and opening a bookshop. The two of them have more chemistry than Josh does with his actual date, but are there too many obstacles in the way for them to have their happy ending. This was my first actual Harlequin-Harlequin romance in I don't know how long and I thought the premise was really promising. However it felt a little 2D in the execution - the side characters felt very black and white and you didn't really get to know a lot about Josh or Emma's inner life beyond her issues with trust and his with change. Now I would say that this is partly a limitation of the format, except that I've read some really good Harlequin/Mills and Boons that managed to flesh out the characters and conflicts really well - and this is a Harlequin special edition, so I think it actually has more pages/word count at it's disposal than some. Still, it's always nice to read a romance with a bookshop owner and it was a perfectly find way to pass a few hours.

*****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****

[Karen]

Falling For The Rabbi by Jennifer Wilck is a heart warming story about learning to accept change and forgiveness.
Josh Axelrod is a man of faith who struggles with accepting change in his life. This lack of acceptance has created conflicts within his life including finding a life partner. And this is where his life gets a little more complicated. Out of concern, his grandmother Muriel, sets him up with a matchmaker and that’s when things get a little more complicated.
Emma Geffner has always felt like she’s never good enough. Because of this she fears failing in most aspects of her life and being with someone who may be different from her creates even more anxiety.
Both Emma and Josh have their own internal struggles that many readers can relate to. With Emma’s fear of failure and Josh’s fear of change, the two of them have a long road ahead of them even though the attraction is there. And it’s these internal struggles that I really love about them. And on a side note, I love Josh’s grandmother. She's caring, sometimes overbearing (in a good way), and very smart at reading people and plays a very important role in this story.
Between the plot and the character development, Falling For The Rabbi encompasses everything a reader could ask for. From the internal struggles, to the personal growth, this is a very heartwarming must read.

[Mommy’s Book Escape]

Falling For The Rabbi by Jennifer Wilck is a heart warming story about learning to accept change and forgiveness.
Josh Axelrod is a man of faith who struggles with accepting change in his life. This lack of acceptance has created conflicts within his life including finding a life partner. And this is where his life gets a little more complicated. Out of concern, his grandmother Muriel, sets him up with a matchmaker and that’s when things get a little more complicated.
Emma Geffner has always felt like she’s never good enough. Because of this she fears failing in most aspects of her life and being with someone who may be different from her creates even more anxiety.
Both Emma and Josh have their own internal struggles that many readers can relate to. With Emma’s fear of failure and Josh’s fear of change, the two of them have a long road ahead of them even though the attraction is there. And it’s these internal struggles that I really love about them. And on a side note, I love Josh’s grandmother. She's caring, sometimes overbearing (in a good way), and very smart at reading people and plays a very important role in this story.
Between the plot and the character development, Falling For The Rabbi encompasses everything a reader could ask for. From the internal struggles, to the personal growth, this is a very heartwarming must read.

[Gwen]

#theJewishJoyBox and this book found its way into my home. Do matchmakers still have a place in this day and age? Josh doesn't think so, but his grandmother, who raised him after his parents died, thinks so. Emma doesn't think so, but her best friend Samantha, who's a Manhattan corporate lawyer, thinks so. Josh and Samantha get set up, but Emma (who kinda crashes their date) are the ones who have sparks.

Some recalibration is necessary all around. Josh dislikes change, and is unhappy that Emma is buying his grandmother's house (his childhood home) to turn it into a bookstore. Samantha doesn't feel sparks with Josh, but also wants Emma to stay away from Josh. Emma has never felt supported (or even loved) by her parents, always playing second fiddle to her sister. And Josh's grandmother? She's delighted to move into an assistive living facility (which sounds more like independent living, TBH), and maybe playing a little matchmaking of her own. Of course, she only wants her grandson to be happy.

What happens when a rabbi decides that maybe he can embrace change, including shifting to a new pulpit, and a woman who believes everyone she loves walks away decides that she is enough and she should be enough? Even though you know the answer, it's still a perfect Shabbat afternoon read.

[Erica]

Falling for the Rabbi by Jennifer Wilck is one of those books that you don’t want to end! Josh and Emma are so imperfectly perfect for each other. This is an enemies to lovers story with a twist-Emma’s best friend and Josh actually are matched by a matchmaker! Emma being a true friend, of course needs to check this guy out during their first date- which sets Josh and Emma up for not really liking one another at first. Adding into this, the fact that Emma is buying Josh’s grandmothers house, which makes Josh uncomfortable, Emma and Josh have quite a bit to work through for their HEA. Along with all of this is the fact that Josh is a rabbi and Emma isn’t particularly religious, so how would that even work? Emma truly has her doubts. But their story and building of their relationship, though tested at times, winds up to be a wonderful story that you’ll happily sink into! Add in Josh’s delightful grandmother and you’ve got a strong dose of warm zaniness that will keep you entertained! Besides these wonderful characters, I really love the space that Jennifer’s Wilck creates in each of her books, they’re so comforting and warm. She makes you want to live in one of her books! Absolutely check this book out!

[Kendall]

This book was super cute! I absolutely loved Emma, and found her incredibly easy to root for. The story felt like a perfect blend of real stakes without losing all of those good rom com vibes. I also loved the way the author talked about Judaism. She articulated why I love being Jewish in such a beautiful way. It helped add some heart and realness to the story. I also finished the book in like a day because I just couldn’t put it down.

Mild spoilers below:


I was surprised that, given the series title is Matchmaker, Matchmaker, the matchmaker is benched super early on in the book. It looks like the next book will have more of the matchmaker aspect, and I’m not sure what I’ll think of that as Ms. Match just isn’t in the story long enough for me to like or dislike her. But it sounds like book 2 will focus on Samantha, and I’m not sure how I feel about her. But I enjoyed this book so much that I’ll definitely read book 2, even if I’m unsure if it will be as much fun as this book. But I’m a big fan of this world and I fell in love with Josh and Emma (and Muriel!) pretty easily, so I’m hopeful the same will happen in book 2 (even if Samantha REALLY bugged me in this book—because I think the author intended me to feel that way). Anyway! Excited for book 2!

[Ivy Kaprow]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Harlequin romance book (like 20 years at least!) but I have been wanting to read Jennifer Wilck’s books and I figured starting with her new one was as good a place as any.
I really enjoyed this. This was a very sweet romance and while the bedroom door was open, it isn’t spicy or graphic at all- exactly how I like my romances. The characters were great and the story flowed well.
I especially loved that this featured two of my favorite things in books- bookshops and Judaism. Watching the bookshop form from conception to reality was lovely, especially since lately I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to open a bookshop in my area.
I love books where Judaism is a main focus and it’s one of the things I love in books. It’s so important to be able to see yourself in books and while I am more religious than the characters in this book, I still saw myself on every page.
This was really such a great entry back into the genre of Romance (not RomCom, which I read often) and I look forward to reading Ms. Wilck’s backlist in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin- Romance for an advanced copy of this. Falling for the Rabbi hit the shelves on February 24th.

[Pattie]

This book was a mixed bag for me.
Things I liked: the integration of the beliefs and practices of many Jews. Obviously with “rabbi” in the title, our MMC is a rabbi. I appreciated how he explained living in the world as a practicing Jew, the practices of mitzvah and tikkun olam, and how welcoming he was to our FMC who is Jewish, but not religious. I enjoy reading those kinds of discussions about Judaism in real life today. Plus, if you’re looking for a Harlequin HEA romance, here we are. I like Emma and Josh very much.

Things that were frustrating: editing errors that I usually see in eARCs, but that were in the published Kindle version I checked out from my library Libby app (I can proofread, Harlequin–let’s chat!). Some big leaps in logic that yes, are probably like real life, but no, don’t work as well here in this shorter novel. Additionally, one of the love scenes seemed a little bit forced and quite a bit too early for this story.

Nevertheless, I did like the story overall and will certainly read more in the series once they’re published. Thank you to Jean Meltzer for the Jewish Joy Summer Reading List recommendation.

[Maria]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, given to me by Harlequin - Romance via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
“Falling for the Rabbi”, by Jennifer Wilck, is a sweet, enemies-to-lovers, love story between a man afraid of change and a woman fearing rejection.
I loved the initial antagonism between Josh and Emma and the peculiar circumstances under which they meet.
The dialogue and some scenes in this context are very amusing.
Emma is vibrant and feisty, an opponent who doesn’t give in, yet shows an appealing honesty, intelligence and determination.
Josh is a devoted rabbi and grandson. The love between ‘Joshy’ and his grandmother is heartwarming. Her meddling is funny.
He resists change and we get to watch this in his personalty and reactions throughout the story.
I liked how the leads worked through their divergences and emotional fears to finally become together.
I also liked the hero’s occupation and learning more about what it entails and about the Jewish faith, too.

[Carrie]

Thank you so much to Jennifer Wilck for reaching out to me with an advanced copy of Falling for the Rabbi, releasing on February 24, 2026! 🩷

Chaos is sure to ensue when Josh Axelrod's grandmother sells his childhood home to Emma; Emma who is planning to turn that home into a bookstore and who shows up at a date he is on coordinated by the local matchmaker! Josh is a Rabbi and this is all just not what he planned. 🫣

Josh is working with a matchmaking service and talking to Samantha, but cannot stop running into Emma. Are Emma and Josh actually the match meant to be, against all odds?! 🫶🏻

Jennifer Wilck knows how to tell a good story and this is the prime example of that. This book is a lot of fun and I hope to see more to come in the Matchmaker series! Congrats Jennifer! 🩷

[Rita]

3.75

Oh, boy. So many thoughts on “Falling for the Rabbi” by Jennifer Wilck. The bones of the novel were good - and I may have finished reading the book with slight crush on the rabbi… BUT what is with the Jewish inaccuracies?! I’m not here to fact check - especially since this is a romance novel but a rabbi (even reform) eating a meatball pizza? Spare ribs? Yeah, no.

Grandma Muriel was my favorite and I hope that she gets a book of her own! She’s definitely the reason for the round up on the rating.

Those of you that have enjoyed “Nobody Wants This” and want to continue riding the “hot rabbit” high, do it up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate Vale]

First in the Matchmaker, Matchmaker series, in which rabbi Josh Axelrod is not happy that his grandmother wants to move into assisted living. She's already sold her big house to a young woman who wants to renovate the structure into a bookstore with living areas on the 2nd and third floors.

Muriel likes Emma and can't understand why her grandson doesn't, but she's not really seen how they seem to rub each other the wrong way. But then the matchmaker who has matched Josh with Emma's best friend and that doesn't go well.

What does go well is when Emma agrees to go out with Josh, but that, too, seems to go wrong. Or does it? Because he declares his love too soon or to the wrong person? A great tale with lots of information about Judaism, not always included in romance tales.

[Ade]

I enjoyed this small town romance for its celebration of Jewish culture and practices and its quirky and lovely characters.

Falling For The Rabbi follows the story of Josh, whose grandmother has signed him up with a matchmaker and sold his childhood home to Emma, whose grandmother signed is opening a bookstore.

I love the quiet spark between the two and how they moved from enemies to friends to lovers. I also loved how relatable both of them were and how the author captured their vulnerabilities and emotions.

Josh’s granny, Muriel, stole the show for me with her words of wisdom, wit and subtle pranks.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Tara L]

A heartwarming story about falling in love with the wrong person. By the time Emma realizes she's falling for Josh--her best friend Samantha's arranged match--the damage is already done. Josh is falling for her, too! Even if she can get past the guilt of hurting Samantha, there are more hurdles to clear. Josh is a rabbi, and she is a non-practicing Jew.

With a delightful supporting cast, including Josh's busybody grandmother Muriel and Emma's perfectionist parents, the story unfolds with a unexpected surprises (and a few steamy scenes!)

[Julia Gulia]

As a matchmaker myself, I absolutely loved reading this book! Jennifer Wilck is an amazing storyteller and Falling for the Rabbi is her latest wonderful work! What a heartfelt and inspiring love story and characters - and so relatable. I kept thinking about my own matchmaking clients and what advice I give them. I wanted this story to keep going and going and never end. Thank you for writing such a beautiful story!

[JXR]

sweet enemies-to-lovers romcom that's told quite compactly. the style worked really well and the romance was really effective throughout, especially as it continues to build up throughout. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

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[Lori]

Falling for the Rabbi was a good Jewish romance. The characters were interesting. I really enjoyed reading about Grandma Muriel. That was my mom's name. She just passed away this fall. My mom would have loved to know that a book character was named after her.
I enjoy Jennifer Wilck's ability to incorporate so many Jewish themes into her books. It makes it very easy to relate to the stories. I look forward to more matchmaker books in this new series.