The Matcha Maker Café

by Lily Chen

The only person harder to match than her clients . . . is the matchmaker herself.

The Matcha Maker Café is a sweet, small-town slow-burn romance set in a charming matcha cafe, perfect for readers who love Laurie Gilmore, B.K. Borison and the gentle magic of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

At Matcha Moments, owner Sasha Lee is a star matchmaker, helping customers find love over a smooth cup of matcha. You’d think that as the master she’d be living her fairytale ending, but Sasha is allergic to commitment.

With a growing reputation, her successes are challenged when the ‘unmatchable’ Ben walks in - a man who believes he’s too boring for love. As Sasha tries to match him, she slowly finds herself drawn to his quiet charm.

As their daily banter becomes the highlight of her day, Sasha must confront the possibility that her own love story might be brewing. Will she embrace the unexpected romance, or let her past fears keep her from true love?

Genres: Romance, Adult, Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

Reviews

[carolina]

This seems like a big advertisement for matcha 🫠

Unfortunately I had to dnf this book! I feel like I’m forcing myself to read it and that’s not something I enjoy doing. I’m not liking the writing at all!

I want to thank Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the arc 🫶🏻

[Eve 🌷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to begin to thanking Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC.

When I begin this book I really enjoyed the energy, mood and cosy atmosphere of The Matcha Maker Café.
I found this storied atypical: a cosy paranormal small town romance that I never experienced before.
I honestly like it even if I find the dynamic sometimes a little too long. It isn’t the kind of books you will read if you love many actions but if you want to breath, take a long road to thinking about messages and thoughts we can have.

I like Sasha. This woman is a psychic tea reader who sees visions of her clients' futures. But everything is going to change when she meets a newcomer in her town and café : Ben. She cannot read him nor see visions of his future and it’s becoming a problem for her. At the same time she feelings attracted to him, she can’t be trusted Ben. It gives her in internal conflict and tourments.

I honestly didn’t feel any sparkles for Sasha and Ben together. But I like their own characters with their failures. I enjoyed too the final plot and I had a good time.

3/5

[daylightjocelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for this e-arc!

I really wanted this book to be my next favorite small town romance with a little paranormal aspect, but it sadly could not catch me at all.
I did like the setting of it, with a cute café in a small town as the backdrop of the story and lots of side characters that were really adorable at times.

But I found the third person POV to not be a good fit for this type of book, the inner monologue of our main character Sasha really confusing and at times irritating. Her psychic abilites felt misplaced in this otherwise very normal everyday life kind of story.
The writing style was my biggest issue. It was all over the place, a lot of telling instead of showing when it comes to the characters emotions and inner turmoils, really repetitive and juvenile.

Since this is a debut novel, I hope to see some improved work from the author in the future, because the potential is definitely there!

[Kim (readerbydusk) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matchmaker? More like Matcha Maker. I can't get over how many times I read the word 'matcha.' So many times, it honestly stopped being a word to me.

Fair, The Matcha Maker Café has a cute premise, but it didn't feel fully fleshed out. I also felt like we were told a lot rather than shown. This is something that really irks me when I see it in books, so that's another star docked just for that aspect.

On top of that, we’re dropped into the story without much context, and the café’s whole 'matchmaking' spiel didn't feel properly explored. Normally I can enjoy a lighter, vibe‑driven story, but there just wasn’t enough here to hold my attention.

There are some charming moments, and the concept has potential, but overall it felt like a draft of a stronger book. And yes.. the matcha mentions just about broke me.

↪ 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, the only enjoyable part of this book was the matcha!

I was really hoping for a cozy story set in a small town near Oxford. But the writing style and the character work made it extremely hard to enjoy the story or feel anything that wasn’t pure irritation!

The story is told from the perspective of the main character, Sasha, who runs the matcha café and supposedly has the hidden talent of being able to read love matches for her clients from matcha bubbles. Unfortunately, I just didn’t think the author did a good enough job convincing me of this “magical” ability. And it felt a bit ridiculous that she was judging a complete stranger (who also happens to be her future love interest Ben) for not believing in it straight away - which feels like a completely valid reaction in the real world!?

Sasha’s internal monologue was really, really difficult to listen to, and I think that mostly comes down to the writing style.

This is the author’s debut novel, so I’m hoping that with more writing her work will improve, and that we won’t have to be told how a character is feeling but instead see it through their body language and how they interact with the world.

If café books , which seem very trendy right now , are something you enjoy, you might still appreciate the vibe of this one. Or if you’re particularly obsessed with matcha.

2/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very lovely small town romance with a quirky twist. Match making using matcha is certainly something that I’ve not read before, and I would have loved to have learned more about this “power” but still, it made for a very sweet story.

This one was a super easy read that focused around the town and a very cute matcha cafe. It definitely had so much potential, and I think I would have preferred if the story was written in first person as it would have helped me connect with Sasha a bit more. I also find it odd that her “power” wasn’t questioned by anyone and that the town just went with whatever she said 😅

That being said, I did like the twist at the end. even though the third act was a little frustrating. It was a little more complex than a usual twist (not just a “reveal”) and was something I hadn’t even thought of and wasn’t expecting it.

•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Paranormal Vibes
•Small Town
•Cosy
•Matcha Teashop
•Slow Burn
•Closed Door

[Rachael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this - sooo cosy xx

[Lysandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

3.5/5

The Matcha Maker Café is a cosy paranormal small town romance; our heroine, Sasha Lee, is a psychic tea reader who sees visions of her clients’ futures. She mostly uses her talent to matchmake, however she sees scenes which also bring people joy as well. All is well in her world until she faces two challenges, both of which consist of the two conflicts of the book. One internal, and one external.

The internal conflict within Sasha consists of her controversial feelings regarding a newcomer in town, Ben. She cannot read him nor see visions of his future, and she has several internal battles; first, regarding her own abilities, whether they are fading or not, and secondly, concerning the spark of attraction she feels towards this new person in her life. Having quite a traumatic experience with her last boyfriend, and a very distant relationship with her family, Sasha’s conflict arises mostly due to her lack of comfort and love in her life. While she has her friends and her community, it is not the same to have someone who is there for her unconditionally. Consequently, the barriers she has placed around herself are challenged, forcing her to become vulnerable.

A direct parallel to her internal conflict, the external discord of the book is regarding the state of her business. In the year 2026, there are challenges which most of the hospitality industry faces, and she is sadly not spared of that either. Sasha is once again forced to break out her usual rhythm, and adjust to the new requirements.

Ben’s character is absolutely delightful, and he is definitely one of the best male leads out there. He is bold when he needs to be, but patient and discreet when the time requires it. Truly a knight in shining armour.

The romance between the two is naturally developed, extremely sweet, and sunny (meaning they both bring out the best in each other). It can be considered a slow burn, but I daresay it’s just a well-paced, realistic advancement, with the added touch of mutual healing. Their chemistry? 10/10, not only do they understand each other perfectly, but their flirtatious banter is delightful.

Despite my elaboration, the plot is simple and cute, somewhat reminiscent of old Hallmark movies, in the best way possible.

The narration is done in third person, which is definitely a bonus, as it elevates the literary aspect of the writing. Regarding the prose, I admit I have mixed feelings. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and I believe that the author is a good writer, however, I found the exposition a bit too mechanic for a romance and the overall organisation of the book set in a manner in which everything important happens in the last quarter. While one can easily merely say it is the added nuance of a slow burn, it is not quite that — the structural arrangement is extremely reminiscent of how a thriller would be written. The exposition being so direct and sharp reminds me more of how it is normally executed in an espionage novel (it actually made me think of the detailed directness of John le Carré) and the culminating point being so close to the end, along with all the dramatics occurring all at once, was more fitting for a murder mystery or a suspense. And while she is an endearing character, I found Sasha’s personality a bit too stubborn at times, with no good reason whatsoever aside from her behaving in this manner being used as a plot point, again something quite common for a thriller, but not quite naturally fluid for romantic prose.

Overall, this is a sweet and lovely read, a light romance with nothing too overly dramatic, perfect for a fun read during an afternoon or the weekend, when one just wants to read something just for positivity and relaxation. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison and My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cosy Paranormal Slow-Burn with a Psychic Twist

I want to begin by thanking Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC. Entering the world of The Matcha Maker Café felt like stepping into a sanctuary; I immediately fell in love with the energy, mood, and cosy atmosphere that defines this story. It is an atypical find, a paranormal small-town romance that prioritizes reflection and "breathing room" over high-octane action.

The story follows Sasha Lee, a smart and gentle psychic tea reader who uses her visions to matchmake for her friends and community. Her world is upended when she meets the newcomer, Ben. For the first time, Sasha’s gift fails her: she cannot see his future or read his intentions. This creates a fascinating internal conflict. Because of past traumas and a distant family, Sasha has built high walls, and Ben’s "unreadable" nature makes it difficult for her to trust him, even as she feels an undeniable attraction.

Ben is the ultimate "golden retriever" MMC, bold when necessary, yet patient and discreet. While the "sparkles" between them take time to develop, their chemistry is grounded in mutual healing and a realistic, slow-burning advancement that brings out the best in both of them.

The book masterfully balances two parallel conflicts:

The Internal: Sasha’s battle with her own fading abilities and her fear of becoming vulnerable.

The External: Set in 2026, the story touches on the very real challenges the hospitality industry faces, forcing Sasha to break her rhythm and adapt her beloved business to a changing world.

Prose & Structure:

The writing style is unique and elevated by a third-person narration. Interestingly, the structural arrangement is reminiscent of a thriller or a suspense novel; the exposition is sharp and direct (evoking the detailed directness of John le Carré), and the most dramatic plot points are saved for the final quarter. While Sasha’s stubbornness can occasionally feel like a plot device, her dedication to her friends and her growth as a character make her deeply rooted and admirable.

My Verdict:
The Matcha Maker Café is a sweet, lovely read packed with laughs, swoons, and sweet treats. It is perfect for a relaxing weekend when you want something positive and atmospheric. If you enjoyed Lovelight Farms by B.K. In " Borison or My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella, you will find a lot to love in this stellar cast of characters.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful reminder that some futures don't need to be seen to be believed.

[Lixiezil · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

This was a cute little small town cosy romance. I enjoyed reading about the matcha matchmaking service and getting to know the different side characters that frequented the cafe. Overall it was an enjoyable, easy read. I wouldn’t say it was anything mind blowing, however if you enjoy cosy romances then I’d say give it a go.

I think I loved the side characters more than the main character and love interest. There was a good, diverse range of characters of different ages and backgrounds.

The cafe really felt like it was a place for everyone to enjoy, and had a soft, cosy feel. It makes me wish there was somewhere like that where I live as it sounds like exactly the place I’d spend hours sitting and reading a good book in.

I do feel like this book could have benefitted from being told in the first person as opposed to third. I think it would’ve helped understand more about the main character, and provide more details of her psychic abilities. First person might have also made us feel more connected to the characters and believe in their feelings for each other. I wasn’t really feeling much of a spark between the characters to be honest, and I feel like if we had more instances of them together then it would’ve come through more.

To be honest, I was starting to get worried the main character and love interest weren’t actually going to end up together at the end as it took almost to the end of the book for her to actually get her shit together and admit she liked him.

The really late, third act conflict was kind of annoying and out of place. It also felt like it was all resolved a little too quickly without any drama.

Matcha was mentioned way too many times during this book. It started to not feel like a real word by the end of the book.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Sasha, who against her parents wishes, runs a lovely Matcha cafe in a small town and who is loved by quite literally everyone there. Sadly she’s met with a challenge that could potentially mean the end of the cafe. But for this journey we get to join as well as the journey of potential love.
That brings us to Ben. Ben seems dark and broody at the beginning but over time we get introduced to different sides of him and they’re quite endearing. Ben and Sasha start to cross paths more and how that turns out? Well, read the book and you know. :)

✨

Honestly this was such an adorable cozy read and I felt like I was part of their little community. Also, it made me crave a matcha badly but I finished this at 12am so :(
The plot isn’t overwhelming in the slightest, it feels nicely paced with us being introduced to more and more characters who have their own little side stories. It’s hard to not fall in love with all of them (except one because boo a party pooper) because they’re all endearing in their own ways. As a reader, you feel engulfed in the book the whole time and it’s simply perfect to snuggle up and read this in one go. It also felt important on how Sasha honours her grandma. But also highlights the struggles that can come with family pressure and wanting to prove yourself. All in all, beautiful cozy read.

I definitely would recommend this book especially now for the upcoming spring/summer time. This book is perfect to either read inside with a cup of tea or to read outside with a nice cold matcha. If you love a small town romance with a slow burn romance, this book is basically written for you!

[Karo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light and sweet story, with a touch of paranormal.

Sasha, the owner of a matcha café, has psychic abilities. While preparing a matcha tea, she can see visions of her clients' future, mostly their love matches.

She herself has sworn off love after being deeply hurt in the past, which resulted in major trust issues. On top of that, her café is facing an increased rent, and she needs to figure out how to afford it.
 
Then there’s Ben, the MMC. Sasha can't read him or see his future, which leaves her doubting her abilities. Ben is a great character, he made me wish this story had been written in dual POV. He was nothing but understanding the whole time. We didn't get his inner monologue, but he must have been down bad for Sasha to put up with her self-sabotage.
 
While I liked the beginning of the book and how it set up the atmosphere, the middle part was unfortunately too repetitive and therefore too long. It made Sasha and her inner monologue a bit annoying. I totally get why she acted the way she did, but I didn't need the majority of the book to focus on her sabotaging and doubting herself. 
 
There’s potential in this story, I enjoyed the final plot, but I wish it hadn't come so close to the end. I wish it had been placed sooner and explored more deeply than Sasha's ongoing insecurities. The small-town and found family vibes were cute and enjoyable.
 
What to expect:
• paranormal vibes
• small town
• slow burn
• closed door
• third person narrative style

Thank you so much to the PanMacmillan team for sending me this arc.

[Honey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong, I was expecting a book called 'The Matcha Maker Cafe' to talk about Matcha...but the word Matcha was used 295 times in this book, which considering it is 320 pages long (according to Waterstones website).. this feels a tad excessive, and I like Matcha.

I enjoy a small town romance and have been loving a cosy read recently so this sounded like it had potential, especially with the comparisons to Laurie Gilmore and B.K Borison, but I struggled to connect with this story. I think the third person POV didn't help here. I also found it went into maybe too much detail about unnecessary things such as how to exactly make all the FMC's customers favourite orders.

I think also the fact the FMC can just have visions felt a bit brushed over/out of place in a seemingly otherwise non-paranormal world and I think the MMC not fully believing in this at first made sense yet the FMC seemed surprised by this??

I think we were also told a lot as readers rather than shown it which is something I don't enjoy as it makes it feel really juvenile.

I did enjoy the community/found family aspect of the book and the relationship between Sasha and her customers and the cosy small town feel to it, but overall I struggled with this one as I couldn't get invested in the story, the characters or their relationship. For this reason I ended up DNF'ing this.

Thank you to Pan Macmillian and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tereza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a question for you: how much matcha is too much matcha? It’s a tongue-twister in and of itself.

Unfortunately, even the lovely setting didn’t save this book for me. I’m very sad to report that I didn’t enjoy it at all — and that rarely happens.

One of the biggest issues for me was how incoherent the book felt. On one hand, the writing reads extremely immature and childish. At times, I couldn’t even pinpoint the characters’ ages based on how they acted. Then suddenly the narrative would switch to awkward, very basic “adult” conversations, which gave me second-hand embarrassment. This tonal inconsistency made the reading experience frustrating.

Another issue was the plot, which felt very weak, and the characters, who were not developed enough for me to fully connect with them. I wanted to care more about Sasha and the shop, but there simply wasn’t enough depth provided for that emotional investment. At one point she loses the café, and only a few pages later she has it back again. I understand that this is meant to be a cozy book, but in this case the pacing and resolution didn’t translate very well.

Overall, this story had a charming premise and a setting with a lot of potential, but the execution ultimately didn’t work for me.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Overall rating: 2 stars

[Danielle McGrath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Final rating: 2.5 stars

The Matcha Maker Café started off with so much promise—the cosy café setting and hint of magical realism immediately drew me in. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver on that early potential.

One of the main challenges for me was the third-person narrative style, which created a sense of distance from the characters. I found it harder to fully connect with Sasha and her emotional journey, which made the story feel less immersive than I’d hoped.

The magical element also felt underdeveloped. Sasha’s psychic abilities were an intriguing concept, but I would have loved to see them explored in more depth, as they felt quite underutilised.

Sasha’s relationship with Ben also didn’t quite land for me. Their connection felt underdeveloped, and I struggled to see the chemistry between them. Because of this, the romantic aspect lacked the emotional payoff I was expecting.

Overall, while the premise and setting were charming, the execution didn’t fully come together for me. I think readers who enjoy gentle, atmospheric reads may still find something to like here, but I was left wanting more depth, both in the characters and the story’s magical core.

Publication date: 14 July 2026

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matcha Maker Cafe is a slow burn, closed door, small town romance with a touch of psychic ability woven into the story. It is written in third person, which is not my usual preference since I tend to gravitate toward first person POV, though I do occasionally enjoy third person narratives.

Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. I found both main characters to be quite flat and uninteresting, and I never felt myself rooting for either of them. Their personalities lacked depth, which made it difficult to connect with them on an emotional level.

The dialogue often felt clunky and at times cringe worthy. Much of it came across as childish and immature, which pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in. The romantic development between the FMC and MMC also felt awkward and unnatural. Their relationship did not flow smoothly and often felt forced.

There was also a noticeable amount of repetition throughout the book. By the end, I was especially tired of seeing the phrase "por por" repeated so frequently. Overall, the story could have benefited from being several chapters shorter, as trimming it down may have helped with pacing and reduced some of the repetition.

While the premise had potential, this one ultimately fell flat for me.

[Flo✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matcha Maker Cafe by Lily Chen offers a cosy small-town romance with some standout minor characters.

However, the story has its challenges. The female main character comes across as flat, often allowing others to take advantage of her, including Dominic, her family, and Eleanor, the mean coffee shop owner. Her thoughts can be repetitive and seem a bit too childish and naive. The handling of the first kiss with Ben is particularly frustrating, as the FMC’s reasoning feels unconvincing, especially given her profession as a matchmaker. Her inability to recognise chemistry and her passive approach to saving her cafe are also disappointing.

The male main character initially shows promise with more depth than the FMC, but unfortunately, his character development also falls short as the story progresses.

Additionally, the book could benefit from better editing, particularly in terms of punctuation.

Overall, while The Matcha Maker Cafe has its charm, it could be improved with more nuanced character development and attention to detail in editing.

2.5 stars ✨

[Ary ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just fine.

Whilst I did find this book quick and easy to read, I did have a little bit of an issue with the way the FMC seemed to find miscommunication in what felt like every situation. This book would have been a lot shorter if she had just talked about her feelings to literally anyone instead of making things up in her head for days on end.

I do feel like romance books have it hard to be unique these days and I think this one just suffers with being very, normal. I don't mean to sound harsh because I understand that some people enjoy normal and cozy and that's totally fine, I just think I'm not the target audience for this one unfortunately.

I do however think the author has a talent in describing places really well because even if I wasn't a fan of the characters I did enjoy the setting and I definitely felt the cozy vibes throughout the book.

Overall, a quick to read romance but just a bit too normal for my tastes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Author letting me have access to this ARC.

[Fiorella Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A small town, cosy, grumpy x sunshine romance set in a cute matcha café. Personally i have never been a matcha fan but the drinks and desserts mentioned throughout the story did make me want to to try out some more matcha flavours. I liked the quirky idea that the main character Sasha is a psychic matchmaker for those seeking love. What I didn’t enjoy was that Sasha’s reasoning for everything she did was a tad silly, the fact that she couldn’t be with her love interest because he was her ‘client’ when he never even wanted to be wasn’t really a plausible problem to overcome in the story. I also felt that it was missing chemistry between the characters. Ben went from being super grumpy to all of a sudden being completely enamoured with Sasha. The small town world that was created was very sweet and I liked getting to know some of the side characters.
It was an easy read, low stakes and had lots of cosy vibes. It very much reminded me of the pumpkin spice cafe, if you were a fan of that book then you will enjoy this I am sure.
2.5 stars!

[Sylviane BM · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'est le titre qui m'a attiré en premier, et puis on va dire que c'est la mode les romances Small Town où il y a un café.
Et là l'originalité tient dans le fait que l'héroine peut lire dans le Matcha.
Enfin trouver l'âme soeur grâce au matcha. Je vous l'accorde c'est original.

Donc ça se lit facilement, c'est original, c'est mignon, mais je ne suis pas comme les autres lecteurs, la 3eme personne ne me dérange pas. Donc oui j'aurai aimé plus de, mais ce n'est pas à cause de la narration.


Quant à l'histoire allons plus profond:

Sasha est intriguée par Ben, le nouvel arrivant de la ville, mais elle ne voit rien. Ce qui est frustant car elle aimerait savoir. Ce qui est bien d'un côté , ne rien savoir, découvrir par soi même , même si elle a eu des désillusions dans le passé.
A cela s'ajoute une entreprise en difficulté. Donc oui ce malaise est présent, elle ne sait pas quoi sera fait l'avenir, malgré son pouvoir.

Donc en conclusion une romance charmante mais qui manque de plus de ...

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨2 stars✨

I think the idea behind this book was to deliver a cosy small-town romance, however personally I found the execution severely lacking. The writing felt juvenile and clunky, especially with all the run on sentences and the millions of commas. I found that this made it feel like a rambling mess with lots of extra descriptions of unnecessary points or long winded tangents. I definitely think there could have been another rounds of edits in order to improve the flow of the narrative.

As a result, I found myself struggling to connect or care about any of the characters or their motivations. Also, here psychic abilities felt out of place with little explanations.

That being said, this is a debut so I’m sure the author’s next book with be an improvement yet sadly this book just wasn’t for me.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Chloë · Rating 3 out of 5]

3✨

Publication date -
📧Ebook: Available Now
📗🎧Paperback & Audiobook: 23rd April 2026

A cosy, small town, opposites attract, slow-burn romance for readers who enjoy:
➸ Matcha, lots & lots of matcha.
➸ Laurie Gilmore
➸ B. K. Borison
➸ The gentle magic of ‘Before The Coffee Gets Cold’
➸ More matcha…

~

PLOT ➸
The Matcha Maker Café is a pleasant, easy-going, lighthearted, closed door romance with a hint of ‘paranormal’ that tells the story of Sasha Lee, a successful matchmaker/café owner who despite fearing commitment herself uses her ‘abilities’ to help others find love. But when Ben, an unreadable stranger walks into her life, she’s left questioning everything she thought she knew because this is the one thing she never saw coming.

~

REVIEW ➸
I have to start by saying the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. It’s bright, energetic, inviting & would stand out on any shelf. I wouldn’t be able to walk past this book without picking it up to see what it’s about so huge props to the cover artist! 🌸💚

As a lover of cosy romance The Matcha Maker Café is a book that really jumped out at me so I was thrilled to have been invited to read this eARC.
In terms of atmosphere it was exactly what I was hoping for. Warm, comforting & homely with Hallmark-esque small town community vibes, good humour & a sense of found family that instantly put a smile on my face!

But even with the ideal setting & strong premise, I struggled to get into the story & connect with the characters. That however was not due to issues with the plot but instead, issues with how it was written.
The story itself was sweet, fun & had a huge amount of potential so executed differently, I’ve no doubt it would be absolutely brilliant!

In this instance, there were a few issues with the writing. The 3rd person POV made everything feel less personal & had that been the only issue, you could easily breeze past it. But when you add in repetition, writing that feels disjointed & things such as the inclusion of a a single ‘magical’ element that good or bad just felt totally out of place, it’s much harder to brush everything aside.

However, I do think it’s important to remember that this is a debut novel & despite issues with the execution, there’s no denying the strong foundation & good bones. The book has all the ingredients, it’s just about getting the recipe right! So while it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea (or matcha!) I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what Lily Chen does next!

~

❣️Thank you to Pan Macmillan, NetGalley & Lily Chen for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweetest book ever. It is finally a huge win for the “reading for the vibe” girlies. Especially for the young adults and teenagers since it’s a cute closed door romance.

I loved reading this book, it was really cute and vibey. I would give it 3.5 stars if goodreads would let me. It takes place in a small town, where our main character is a matcha cafe owner with intuitive powers to find love from so called matcha readings. It has the perfect setting and i loved the characters and the vibes, they were so comforting after the complex and confusing real world. And did I mention that it’s actually a romance? With a slow-burn that excruciatingly slow? Does it sound like your cup of tea (or matcha)? If yes, you’ll love this book too!

Thank you Pan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, i finally got to relax a little while reading something and it felt lovely!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for review, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Such a cute small town, slow burn romance!

As a fan of The Pumpkin Spiced Cafe series, I was hopeful for this but there's always a concern that it would just minic the other series and be completely unoriginal but this was different. It was great in its own right, and I do hope this becomes as series in the same way - I would love to have a book from Nathan's POV for example!

Not a matcha fan personally, but this book definitely made me wish I were - the drinks and pastries sound absolutely to die for! It's so well written I genuinely forgot it was a book and not real life at some points... I was very close to googling the cafe to see what the bad reviews were until I remembered I were reading.

It was a little repetitive at points but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would 100% recommend.

[Aina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ✨
The Matcha Maker Café is such a warm, cosy read! I had a great time reading it and it’s perfect if you need to escape for a bit into this lovely small town!

This story sets up a gentle, slow burn romance, but also touches themes of family pressure, self-doubt, and honouring her grandmother’s legacy.

As for the plot is one that builds slowly,
with lovable characters. I will say that sometimes Sasha and Ben’s story felt a a bit too slow at times, but overall the setting and emotional growth was really sweet!

This is a sweet, comforting read, perfect for spring and summer. Definitely read this one if you enjoyed Gilmore Girls or the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore!

🌸 Small town romance
💚 Opposites attract
💐 Slow burn
📖 Cozy/ Magical realism
🩷 Forced proximity

Thank you to PanMacmillan and NetGalley for the ARC, all my thoughts are my own!

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha runs the Matcha Moments Cafe in the small town of Bramleigh Green. In between whisking up the perfect matcha lattes, Sasha is also a matchmaker and, using the gift inherited from her grandmother, she has matcha-inspired psychic visions of her client's romantic happy endings. But when the gorgeous Ben moves into town Sasha can't get a read on him.

This book has strong small town cosy romance vibes, think Stars Hollow or Virgin River, and is perfect for fans of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe series.

This book also make me crave matcha, or at least made me wish I actually liked matcha. It's so green and so pretty! And the descriptions of all the matcha baked goods definitely made me hungry...

Verdict: The book...a charming, whimsical romance. The matcha lattes...not for me, sadly.

[Adri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the diversity, the match making and the community aspects. There was a nice community and supporting characeters who came together for Sasha.
Sasha was a little frustrating in not accepting Ben and the developing relationship. Also around the the cafe and not accepting the help from the community. This made the story feel like it wasn't really moving forward. There was a little repeation of explaining situations at the start of the book.
I liked the late twist, and how it was more than just Ben who helped to bring the solution together.
Overall, it was a sweet caring book, with a HEA and generally good relationships built within the story.

[Laura-Elise Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosy slow burn romance with a stellar cast of characters!
I adored smart, gentle Sasha. Her matcha cafe was a gorgeous setting, and her dedication to helping her friends find love was admirable!
I liked the way she handled the obstacles that came her way, and stood up for what she believed in.
Ben was the perfect golden retriever MMC, who adored Sasha, but obviously couldn't tell her.
If you're looking for a cosy romance, with awesome characters who you will really root for, this is the one! I couldn't put it down and was desperate to see if Sasha and Ben found their happy ever after.
Packed with laughs, swoons and loads of sweet treats!

[Marlies Rasinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is as cute and beautiful as the cover.
I think the whole story being built around the cafe and what this place means to its community is beautiful. The aspect of people also going their to find their love matches makes it even more touching and beautiful.

I like how the FMC is portrayed as a great, fair and loyal person but that we can also see how torn she is and that she only wants to live up to her family‘s expectations in the end. The only thing that is a bit annoying is how blind she is or tells herself to be when it comes to his feelings for her.

The MMC is a green flag. When she asks for space, he gives it to her without second guessing her decision. I sometimes feel sorry for him as he obviously falls hard for her and she just does not want to acknowledge it.

I really enjoyed this read. It is a fast, fun and romantic book which every Romance lover will enjoy.

[suetyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is such a cosy read. much needed to regulate my nervous system. i did enjoy this.

i loved the small town setting but i do feel like something was missing. i wish i knew a little bit more about sasha and ben. i wish her powers were explained more. i wanted to know ben’s pov. i just wanted more overall.

i was kind of shocked at the first kiss, i did not expect to happen in that moment, but it did make my heart flutter :) oh boy i could hear his raspy voice and smell his scent 🫠

i really loved the cafe, i felt like i was a customer there as well - thank you for letting me escape just for a little while :)