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Matchmaker
Emerson “Em” sees no problem with her matchmaking business at her Christian college. She successfully helps couples to find their forever spouses, and she can pay off her student debt on the side—despite her best friend Noah’s objections.
But when an unmatchable girl, Harmony, enrolls in her senior year on campus…Em is determined to find a match for her, and prove to Noah that what she does is good and helpful.
Meanwhile, a bitter apartment mate heightens the stakes by enlisting Em in a five-figure bet to see if Em is willing to put herself through what she subjects her clients to. If Em can find a fiancé in two semesters, she’ll win enough money to pay off the rest of her student debt.
With many nods to Jane Austen’s Emma, Matchmaker is a funny and often scathingly satirical look at the world of dating for young adults, especially amongst Christians.
But when an unmatchable girl, Harmony, enrolls in her senior year on campus…Em is determined to find a match for her, and prove to Noah that what she does is good and helpful.
Meanwhile, a bitter apartment mate heightens the stakes by enlisting Em in a five-figure bet to see if Em is willing to put herself through what she subjects her clients to. If Em can find a fiancé in two semesters, she’ll win enough money to pay off the rest of her student debt.
With many nods to Jane Austen’s Emma, Matchmaker is a funny and often scathingly satirical look at the world of dating for young adults, especially amongst Christians.
- GenresContemporary
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 9, 2025
Oh. My. Goodness. This brought so many memories to my undergrand years at a small Christian college in the Midwest. I'm now wondering if all Christian colleges have versions of the same events for students.
I get Em's matchmaking and why she does it. I was disappointed in her reluctance to match Harmony with someone she like simply because he was "different." For all of Em's frustration with the dating/married community being dismissive of singles, she was prejudiced against those who failed to meet societal norms/expectations.
I loved Noah and how supportive he was, even when he disagreed. It's totally doable to say, "Hey, maybe you should think this through more" in your support. It's not because you don't like what they're doing and want them to fail, but because you want them to be successful. Noah struck that balance well.
**POTENTIAL** spoilers ahead...
Two things irked me (not enough to lower my rating, though): 1) Noah didn't seem romantically interested in Em until she was with Frankie. Then we got hints, but still nothing obvious. 2) Speaking of Frankie, WHAT WAS EM THINKING? I was surprised to see her accept all that from him and even more surprised by how low she sank after the break up.
Overall, a great, fun read.
I get Em's matchmaking and why she does it. I was disappointed in her reluctance to match Harmony with someone she like simply because he was "different." For all of Em's frustration with the dating/married community being dismissive of singles, she was prejudiced against those who failed to meet societal norms/expectations.
I loved Noah and how supportive he was, even when he disagreed. It's totally doable to say, "Hey, maybe you should think this through more" in your support. It's not because you don't like what they're doing and want them to fail, but because you want them to be successful. Noah struck that balance well.
**POTENTIAL** spoilers ahead...
Two things irked me (not enough to lower my rating, though): 1) Noah didn't seem romantically interested in Em until she was with Frankie. Then we got hints, but still nothing obvious. 2) Speaking of Frankie, WHAT WAS EM THINKING? I was surprised to see her accept all that from him and even more surprised by how low she sank after the break up.
Overall, a great, fun read.
January 10, 2026
Missing the “com” in rom-com…
The writing is really good… but nothing about the FMC’s dates/life was funny. I had hoped when she was invited in to an on campus ministry where she finally felt less burden that there might be some direction/analysis of why all these expectations and scenarios were just flat out wrong, but none was given.
I don’t read rom-coms for theological discussion or to find people who agree with all of my convictions, but when a book delves into the twisted expectations it’s helpful to right the ship at some point. I felt that equilibrium was missing.
The writing is really good… but nothing about the FMC’s dates/life was funny. I had hoped when she was invited in to an on campus ministry where she finally felt less burden that there might be some direction/analysis of why all these expectations and scenarios were just flat out wrong, but none was given.
I don’t read rom-coms for theological discussion or to find people who agree with all of my convictions, but when a book delves into the twisted expectations it’s helpful to right the ship at some point. I felt that equilibrium was missing.
December 28, 2025
A bitingly satirical reimagining of “Emma” set on the campus of a Christian college, “Matchmaker” offers commentary on how the church views dating, singleness, and marriage. If you appreciate heroines who have room to grow, cheer for “he was right there all along” romances, and have a piece to say about purity culture, this might be a really vindicating and entertaining read for you!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews