The Matchmaker's Cottage

by Kat Sloane

The Instant International Bestseller!

A cozy fall romance wrapped in small-town charm reunites the owner of a bed-and-breakfast with her childhood sweetheart for a celebrity matchmaking scheme which has them both seeing stars.

Julia Schaeffer might run the most romantic little bed-and-breakfast in Upstate New York, but as far as that infuriating Ethan Duchamp is concerned, this older, wiser Julia has a strict “no vacancy” policy. Sure, she’s teetering on the edge of a financial cliff, and his half-baked plan to pair up his celebrity clients at her inn will undoubtedly be good for business…but how much forced proximity with the man who abandoned her is she supposed to take?

Ethan needs this to work. The dreamy, autumnal—and blissfully secluded—cottage from his childhood summers is the ideal setting for playing matchmaker to Hollywood’s next power couple. It’s the only way to save his PR career from the tabloid toilet. He knew that the inn and Julia’s warm, comforting homemade touch would inspire real feelings—he just didn’t expect them to be his. Again.

But as old wounds reopen, and their connection rekindles, Julia and Ethan are forced to confront the truths they’ve both tried to bury. In a town where nothing stays hidden for long, they’ll have to decide if they can rebuild what was lost—or if their second chance will be derailed by scars that have yet to heal.

Genres: Romance, Autumn, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Second Chance, Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2026

About the author

Kat Sloane has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, with a particular knack for dreaming up new ways to get her characters to kiss. These days, as a teacher, she also channels her English literature and fine arts degree into other outlets. When she’s not teaching, she’s spending time with her family in the suburbs of Toronto. Most of her writing takes place late at night, during her coveted revenge bedtime procrastination hours.

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Reviews

[Jaime Fok · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just very average for me. If you're looking for something like a Pumpkin Spice Cafe... go for it. We have a cute, cozy setting, with some spice thrown in there. And I will say, this one was a bit more "serious" feeling vs the cutesie, comedic vibe of the Laurie Gilmore books.

I just honestly don't have much to say about this one, as nothing really stood out for me unfortunately. The premise had potential to setup this tension-filled forced proximity situation, but I didn't feel any of the tension. The storytelling aspect felt very much like "and then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened" rather than feeling like a naturally flowing and connecting story about characters truly living these experiences. It felt like a stage blocking, but we didn't fill in the actually feeling and performance part.

There is also the issue that sometimes, the ongoing roadblock between our main couple can feel very juvenile in second chance romances - since the problems usually start at a younger age in our characters' past timelines. It's definitely possible to seamlessly transition these teenage issues into the adult timeline, but I don't think it worked here. The big "problem" just felt annoying to me, sadly.

It's OK. It's not terrible, but I don't read romance too often anymore and so when I do - I just want it to be GREAT.

[Kat Sloane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book, and I think it’s pretty neat!

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of this one is soooo good!! So beautiful and giving all the fall vibes. The author did an amazing job making it easy for you to imagine you were right there at the bed & breakfast. She really made the bed & breakfast come alive! This book is told in dual POVs which worked out well for this book. There were a few twists at the end which I didn't see coming and felt a little off, almost like they didn't belong in the book. The biggest downfall of this book for me was I didn't love and connect with the characters. I understand having flawed characters but there wasn't too much I loved about them, so it made it hard to root for them. Also, the pacing was a bit slow for my liking. But I have to say overall, for a debut novel, The Matchmaker's Cottage was pretty good! I would be interested in reading what this author writes in the future. I can see lots of autumn pumpkin spice lovers picking this one up for the charming fall vibes!

Thank you, Berkley, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍁🏡 The Matchmaker’s Cottage 🏡🍁

✨Happy Release Day ✨

I’m not usually a fan of dual timelines, and I tend to be pretty critical of stories structured that way. Second chance romance also isn’t normally my thing. But somehow this one worked for me. I ended up really enjoying this fall romance.

Also, I have to say it. This cover is stunning and absolutely one of the main reasons I picked this up. I will judge a book by its cover every time 😌

The story kicks off with Ethan in the middle of a career crisis, heading back to his hometown and asking Julia for help. Julia has her own problems, with her bed and breakfast struggling to stay afloat.

I really loved the banter between Ethan and Julia. Even when things were awkward, you could feel the history between them. It was clear how much Ethan cared about her, even from the start. I was a little unsure about him at first, but the lake flashback completely changed my perspective.

🧡 What to Expect
• Second chance romance
• Childhood sweethearts
• Small town
• Forced proximity
• Bed and breakfast
• Fall cozy vibes
• Dual timelines
• Celebrity matchmaking
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to really enjoy this book I really did. I could not for the life of me get into it. I didn't enjoy the characters or the romance. Even the whole side plot with matchmaker fake hollywood relationship...meh.
I'll be honest..
The best thing about this book is the cover.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia and Ethan used to be best friends, but they haven't spoken in eight years. Now his job brings them back together at the cottage where they spent some of the best years of their childhood.

This is a second-chance, cozy romance that feels perfect for a fall read. I enjoyed the author's writing style, and the characters were likable, especially Julia. She was doing everything she could to save the bed-and-breakfast, and I genuinely felt for her.

That said, the story felt a bit slow at times. The flashbacks evoked more emotion in me than the present-day storyline. I also appreciated that the characters were complex and layered, but the book wasn't quite what I expected. Personally, I would categorize it more as women's fiction than romance.

I should also mention that I didn't like what Ethan did to Julia in the past, and there was a plot twist near the end that felt unnecessary to me.

I think fans of Hallmark movies will enjoy this book more than I did.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓second chance
✓friends to lovers
✓forced proximity
✓slow burn
✓small town

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, I think????? I am still unsure. Ask me on a different day, and you could talk me down to a two, or maybe up to a full three?? Who knows at this point...

Kat Sloane's "The Matchmaker's Cottage" had so much potential, but it never came to fruition. I LOVE the cover of this book. It evokes autumn in a way few book covers do. The cover is why I picked it up in the first place. Looks can be deceiving. This is one of those books where I said, "I think this is going to be one of those books where the conflict could have easily been fixed with a conversation," and I was sadly right. The ending conflict was so contrived and expected that I almost laughed. The miscommunication trope rears its ugly head once more!! I also started to wonder at about 11% into the story whether we were going to know *anything* about what happened between the MMCs and why they didn't talk to one another for eight years, or if the author was going to force us to wait until the very end of the book for an ultimate "GOTCHA!!" moment... and, surprise surprise, we find out what happens at the very end of the book, and it was...... is there a worse word than "lackluster"? I was excited about the premise of this story: a second-chance romance between two friends who fell away from one another and reunite years later at the lakeside cottage where they spent their summers. I am sorry to say, I felt nothing for Ethan (MMC) and Julia/Gem (FMC). There is virtually no chemistry between them in the past OR in the present. The flashback chapters that slowly (AND I DO MEAN SLOWLY) "unravel" "their story" made me feel nothing for them as a couple. They don't even feel like they were ever friends, let alone more. The author constantly reinforces how close they were growing up, sharing in their respective traumas and *~really seeing each other~*, but when they were at school, they had an unspoken agreement that they basically stayed away from each other?????? How am I supposed to feel the yearning or the pining or the chemistry between them at that point??? They both "had feelings for each other" while they were growing up, but Ethan's always felt purely physical. This gets even worse when they go to college and then again when they reunite in the present, where he turns into a caveman and basically p1sses on Julia to mark his territory because "you were always mine." K, I guess?????????????? Not the best way to get readers invested in a ~*sweeping romance~* in my opinion, but you do you. As I mentioned, these two people have not spoken for eight years because of a falling-out between them. Out of the blue one day, Ethan texts Julia begging for her help to get him out of a jam at work. Even without knowing what happened between them, I'm sitting here going, "DON'T YOU DO IT, GIRL. DON'T GIVE IN TO HIM! THINK OF WHAT HE DID TO YOU!" (again, I did not know what he did to her!!!), but I just had a hunch it was ALL HIS FAULT, and Julia, the idiot, didn't listen to me! Apparently, she needs monetary help for her fledgling bed-and-breakfast business, so she was willing to debase herself and allow Ethan and Katie and Noah (???), the Hollywood "couple" he's doing PR for (aka he's a p1mp), to rent out her entire cottage house, hoping the exposure will eventually put her business on the map and make them a destination stop. Ok, I guess I can get on board with that, you get that dough, girl! But then once he gets there, he basically acts like nothing happened between them and ALSO keeps saying it's her responsibility to help him????!!!!????? That she HAS to help him??!!?????? EXSQUEEZE ME? Back UP, dude, she doesn't owe you anything!! She doesn't know you anymore, and I am willing to BET that the entire miscommunication was YOUR FAULT, F*** BOY. I just wanted Julia to slam the door in his stupid, smug face and see where he'd be without her cottage to help him out!!! Everything is going along well??? (I GUESS??) (SLOWLY), And then, the woman who basically blew up Ethan's entire life stalks him via his business associates and SHOWS UP ANNOUNCED TO THE B&B, AND THEN THE PLOT LINE JUST........ GOES NOWHERE???!!!!!!? Nothing really comes from this plot point??? Honestly, several plot points feel thrown in as "GOTCHA!" moments, but they either miss the mark, don't work at all, or feel, frankly, stupid. Beyond all of this, the book's pacing is soOOoOoOO slow. By the time the source of their ultimate argument is revealed, and by the time "the twist" is revealed, THERE IS STILL 20% OF THE BOOK LEFT!!!!! WHAT!!?!? And at that point, I was done, checked out, ready to move on. Something something something grandpa, something something embracing change, something something about how Ethan always wanted to do photography and had to tell Julia right away (the author does the photography thing throughout the book; it's not like it's tacked on at the end, he just takes paparazzi-type photos for his pR relationships *eyeroll*), something something "it's always been you except those either years when it was plenty of other women to drown out *~the pain,!* yada yada blah blah. Great. Whatever. Good luck with your photography, Ethan. With peace and love, I hope you fall into the river.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kat Sloane, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one, especially since it was marketed as a cozy fall second chance romance. Unfortunately, the characters and the author's writing style just wasn't for me. The hero and heroine haven't spoken in eight years. The heroine is running a bed and breakfast and the hero needs help with some clients at his PR firm, so he reaches out to her and asks if he can bring his clients for a week long stay. She says yes, so he shows up. The setting was definitely cozy, but the romance was just...not it? This book is really slow as it really only spans the week they are staying at the bed and breakfast, and I feel like every character except the main couple were just there for the plot and we never really go to know them or felt connected to them. And then the romance...that hero was just SUCH a red flag. The drama that broke them up felt annoying to me and it was just a man complaining when he actually had a pretty good life. It was just...a weird choice? Then, with the writing, these characters spent a lot of time thinking on page and it would break up some scenes and made the book feel even slower to me. So while I wish that I had enjoyed this one more, I didn't end up loving it.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS!
Small-town romance. Fall feels. Second-chance romance. Yes, please

The author definitely fulfilled the promise to hit the main tropes in this story, and I am here for it.

Her descriptive mode was on high, and the visualization of the story was in full effect throughout.

But there are some books where the author seems to love tormenting you. The Matchmaker’s Cottage is one of those stories where best friends become lovers, and their breakup issues are fractured throughout the entire story.

Tidbits of the breakdown are scattered throughout, but it’s not until about 75 to 80% in that we learn why the fracture occurred. Call me frustrated with that.

I felt separated from the story in many spots. I enjoyed the characters, but it was hard to connect with their feelings for each other until later in the story.

Don’t get me wrong. Sloane wrote an emotional story as the two characters were deeply intertwined, and she delivered several emotional scenes. She also adds the right amount of spice for the story.

Overall, The Matchmaker’s Cottage is perfect for those loving a hometown second-chance romance with secondary characters who add much to the story in a fall setting you will remember.

~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-matchmak...

[Shelly | VixenReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a good read. I loved the bed & breakfast concept!
Where this falls short, for me, is that I didn’t believe the connection between the two main characters. The side characters also felt very underdeveloped.
This does have some dual timeline, which doesn’t bother me, but I felt the backstory was underwhelming & slow. I also feel the “fallout” was a bit lackluster.

I liked the vibe but that’s where this started & ended for me.

The audiobook was done well but only has a single female narration.

[Hannah Stob · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I’d like to start by saying that I think many people will enjoy this story. The setting was dreamy and if you like childhood friends to lovers this book will be for you!

However, I was bored. I couldn’t convince myself to pick this book up! I was not invested in story whatsoever and just wanted it to end. I definitely think I was not the target audience but that’s okay!

The flashbacks felt random and interrupted the flow of the story. And the twist at the end felt so random and unnecessary, especially the way Ethan responded to it. OH AND the spice was all together too much. Especially the scene at the end, felt so out of place.

I’m definitely in a place where romances need to be more than a quick hook up here and there and must have more maturity in their characters.

But again, I think many people will love this book and I’m happy for them!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

[tahaslibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

did anyone read this before it got published? like anyone with a functional capacity to think?

let me not even get into the chemistry between the main leads feeling like old paint you find in the corner of a basement. the plot alone makes so little sense that the characters feel vapid and idiotic at their big age. fmc wants to run a cottage and is offered by their best friend's parents to run it with him. he doesn't want to but gets pissed that she got offered and verbally brutalizes her. he does this OFTEN. it takes him nearly a decade to realize he was mad at the wrong person and should have been dealing with his parents. it all gets resolved in about 20 pages or less but takes the entire book to get to!

numerous plot lines just turn into sea foam and disappear. the side characters are equivalent to the fake plastic plants you find in the corner of every motel. i guess we don't need them to advance the plot in any way when the author just gives up on it.

the mmc works in PR for no reason. he's advertised to be a GOLDEN RETRIEVER. being blond and a fake doesn't make you a golden retriever. he's just stupid as hell. like i simply don't understand that character. he's basically stalked and harassed by an ex client and that's just brushed under the rug and she disappears. the concept of bringing two celebrities to essentially do PR setting and training at a cottage with little to no focus on that aspect was so bizarre. we're force fed this trauma between the main leads since they wont shut up about it and it comes down to miscommunication and the guy refusing to listen! amazing!

the author's note being a whole 4 pages at the beginning set off a bulletin alarm in my mind. the seriousness with which the concept of giving second chances and grief is described only to depict the most surface level exploration of either? a set up by the editor truly.

i'm truly left thinking "girl you want THAT man?"

boring story. boring characters. boring plot. boring "climax". boring concept. i genuinely think the synopsis is a fakeout.

[siri megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the matchmaker’s cottage was exactly the kind of book i wanted to read while desperately waiting for summer to end and fall to arrive! i loved the lakeside setting, the bed and breakfast, and all of the autumn atmosphere. kat’s writing is so picturesque and made it really easy to experience donwell cottage and all of the small-town charm that came with it.

the story follows julia, who is trying to keep her struggling bed and breakfast afloat, and ethan, her childhood best friend and first love, who returns after eight years apart. when ethan’s pr career starts falling apart, he comes up with a plan involving julia’s inn and a couple of celebrity clients, forcing them back into each other’s lives.

the dual timeline was probably my favorite part of the book. i loved getting to see julia and ethan’s friendship from childhood and how they eventually ended up where they are in the present. i just wish we had gotten more of the happier moments between them as they got older because i wanted to feel more of the connection they had before everything went wrong. in the present timeline, i struggled a little more with their chemistry because of all the unresolved hurt between them.

ethan was also a difficult character for me to fully get behind. i understood where his insecurities and resentment came from, but some of his choices were frustrating at times and made it hard to really root for him and julia. there were also a few plot points and side conflicts that felt a little unnecessary. that being said, underneath all the romance, there are themes of grief, abandonment, forgiveness, family, and learning to let people back into your life after years of hurt that added a lot of depth to the story. i also really loved the supporting characters, especially maggie and katy, and would have loved more time with them.

overall, this was such a strong debut, and i think it would be a great summer-to-fall transitional read! it just might convince you to take a trip to the nearest bed and breakfast and experience some small-town charm for yourself! also, the cover??? absolutely gorgeous.

a special thank you to berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good
4.5

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Ethan and Julia after years of not talking to each other.

Ethan has made a mess of things at his job and needs Julia to host one of his meetings at her Bed and Breakfast.

Tension is there since he abruptly left at least ten years ago, but the feelings both have for each other is definitely in tact.

We follow them as they work through this time together.

Will the romance be reignited or will it fizzle again?

Find out in this cozy debut romance that will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy flashbacks to previous years of togetherness and a sweet fall read.

I am not a reader of romance, but this was a change of pace. And that gorgeous cover will pull anyone in. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie I had high expectations for this one. The synopsis sounded so good I could not wait to dive into it. It was nothing special and I was so sad that it didn't get better. I'm really sorry. this is just one person's opinion; you just might feel different about it.

[Jen]

DNF @ 45%

I got excited for the vibes this cover promised, as well as a potential Emma inspired story, but unfortunately this one was just a bit dull for me. I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters, and the plot was a bit slow. The writing wasn’t bad and there were some things I liked but not enough for me to power through. Bummer!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

This was a really impressive debut and I ate it up in less than 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down!

I feel like a broken record that contemporary romances have moved away from using beautiful prose or descriptive words but Kat Sloane has proved me wrong here, the writing is so vivid and rich that I just felt so immersed in the story and the setting and it’s all thanks to her brilliant writing. More of this in contemporary please! (Also YAY for third person pov!!!! Again more!!)

The romance. This is a second chance at a first chance romance between childhood friends turned ex friends to lovers and while most of those things don’t really call to me I was pleasantly surprised that this worked! Ethan and Julia’s story is dispersed through present and past tense chapters and usually dual timelines really mess with me but this was done really well and there wasn’t so much back and forth that it took me out of the book.

Mental health. I really need to commend Kat here, I think she did an excellent job at highlighting these characters and their struggles without going overboard or making it trauma porn-y to the point of trying to provoke some kind of emotion for shock value. I think it was handled with care and never felt egregious.

The sex. It suited the writing style and story whilst still being hot! This is what I’m looking for when it comes to explicit scenes in romance books. It was descriptive without being overkill and lent to the emotions of both character and the development of their relationships.

Family dynamics and the set up are the only issue I had with this we don’t see how they interact with family past or present so I felt a disconnect there and ultimately didn’t know how we got from A to B because we weren’t given any scenes with each of their family memebers until later on in the book and there wasn’t any at all in the past chapters. This would have been fine but it’s obvious that their relationships with their parents impacted them a lot and I would have loved to have seen how and why on page instead of just being told.

Overall this was great and I can’t wait to see where Kat brings us next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to sell me a book, use the following words in the synopsis: cozy, autumnal, small town charm, childhood sweethearts, forced proximity, slow burn, and second chance. This is one of my all time favorite romance recipes, so I was very excited to read The Matchmaker’s cottage.

The only issue is that this is a lot of people’s favorite recipe. The second chance, dual timeline, friends to lovers story is a pretty saturated market at this point, with some pretty incredible novels already out there setting the standard for our expectations. It’s difficult to make a new book stand out in this arena, and for me, this one was pretty average.

There was a lot to like, don’t get me wrong. The setting was beautiful, idyllic, and every bit as cozy as advertised. Kat Sloane has a very descriptive, flowery writing style, and I could visualize the bed and breakfast, lake, and surrounding town as though I was standing there myself. Setting is a very important component of a story to me, so I loved that this one was so vivid and inviting. I also enjoyed the majority of the characters. They were realistically portrayed and likable without being small town caricatures. Maggie and Katy’s subplot was a highlight of the book for me!

The other sections I really appreciated were the flashbacks to Julia and Ethan’s past, from the time they were children up until their falling out as adults. Truthfully, I didn’t particularly enjoy their relationship in the present day timeline, because I didn’t really feel their chemistry or connection. However, in the flashbacks it’s easy to see how sweet and emotional their friendship was, and how much love they had for each other. I wish these chapters had been longer and more frequent, especially as they got older. There are only a couple short scenes showing their previous relationship as adults, and they’re overrun with jealousy that makes the characters feel unlikable, particularly Ethan. If there had been just a couple more flashbacks to times that they felt genuine love and yearning for one another during positive moments, I think that could have made the present day timeline more satisfying.

As I read, that quote from 500 Days of Summer kept going through my head: “This is not a love story, this is a story about love.” Now, the plot of this book is literally nothing like the plot of 500 Days of Summer, but I saw some parallels. The characters are flawed, make bad decisions and are messy and selfish at times. I didn’t really think this felt like a romance, although it was chock full of recognizable tropes. I’d say this is better characterized as women’s fiction that happens to include a romance. It’s very real and raw, with an emphasis on the characters being human and imperfect. I think if you choose to read this knowing that ahead of time, you will be more likely to really enjoy it.

Personally, it’s not exactly what I was looking for, but I can certainly still recognize the beauty of the writing and the importance of the message. There are many readers out there that are going to connect with and love this story. Congratulations on your debut, Kat Sloane! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!

Thank you so much to Kat Sloane, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to reading this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

I was disappointed in this one. The premise sounded cute, but for me, there was way too much going on. A celebrity fauxmance staged by the MMC, a struggling bed and breakfast, drama over the ownership of the building, a past-present timeline AND a duel POV. It was a lot and kept pulling me out of the story.

This will not make it on my Master Post on the Best Rated Fall Romance Books but check that post out for all the cozy fall romance books you need to know about.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some romances sweep you away with grand gestures, while others quietly work their way into your heart. The Matchmaker’s Cottage is the latter. Set in a cozy bed and breakfast in Upstate New York during peak fall, this debut blends gorgeous seasonal vibes with an emotional second chance love story that lingers long after the final page.

Julia has poured everything into her charming inn, but financially she’s barely staying afloat. When Ethan—the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart years ago—returns with an unusual proposal involving two celebrity clients, she’s forced to spend time with the one person she’s spent years trying to forget. What I loved most was how thoughtfully Kat Sloan unfolds their history. The story moves between pivotal moments from Julia and Ethan’s past and the present day, allowing every reunion, misunderstanding, and lingering feeling to hit with even more emotional weight. Instead of simply telling us they once loved each other, we get to experience why. The yearning is absolutely the star of this book. There’s so much unresolved emotion between Julia and Ethan, creating that delicious tension only a well written second chance romance can deliver. Their chemistry feels earned, and both characters experience meaningful growth as they confront the hurts they’ve carried for years.

The setting deserves its own standing ovation. The cozy bed and breakfast, crisp autumn air, colorful leaves, and small town atmosphere are described so vividly that I wanted to book a weekend getaway immediately. It’s the kind of setting that wraps around the romance and makes every scene feel even more magical.

I also appreciated how the novel explores mental health with honesty and compassion. It never felt sensationalized or used simply for drama. Instead, it became an important part of both characters’ healing journeys and added even more depth to an already emotional story.
For a debut novel, this is incredibly impressive. Kat Sloan delivers beautiful writing, memorable characters, and a romance full of heart, longing, and hope.

Perfect for readers who love:

* Second chance romance
* Cozy bed and breakfast settings
* Small town romance
* Fall books
* Childhood sweethearts
* Forced proximity
* Emotional romance with lots of yearning
* Character driven love stories

[Kaitlynd The Hopeless Romantic]

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma set in a Carley Fortune-esque landscape

[clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

if no one's got me, i know an estranged childhood best friends to lovers book's got me!

second chance plus childhood best friends is by far my favorite tropes and when they're together i know i'll have an amazing time. however, after reading several books that combine both of these, it's hard not to feel like they aren't bringing anything new or just feel very similar to a bunch of stories already out there. but this story? it felt refreshing in a way i haven't experienced in a long time!

my absolute favorite thing about this book is how their dynamic felt so real, both in the past chapters and in the present ones. ethan and julia's conflicting emotions with confronting each other after years of no contact felt so palpable, alongside all the care and intimacy that remained. everything about these characters and their relationship felt so raw that i couldn't help but get emotional about it a few times.

and speaking of the past chapters, that's one of the things that made this story feel like it stands on its own. instead of the usual past chapters that only follow the time when everything went wrong, we get to see julia and ethan in several different phases. getting to read how their dynamic was different, or the same, during all those years was amazing, and it made me wish more stories had followed that path.

from the hormonal days of puberty, to the chaos of college parties and the innocence of children making big plans, the matchmaker's cottage shows what a romance between childhood best friends is all about.

the only thing that didn't make this a 5-star read for me is that i wish we had seen more of them transitioning into these feelings in the present. the last few chapters felt a little bit rushed. however, it had a very minor effect on my enjoyment overall (if you couldn't already tell).

this a stellar debut! i know i'll be looking out for all that kat slone publishes next.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generously rounding up from 3.5

Sadly, I could not get myself past 40%. Idk, the writing flowed beautifully, setting was wonderful but I honestly could not stand the mains. I can do a miscommunication, second chance trope but this one felt hella stretched out for a full novel when it could have been a shorter and sweeter novella/short story. I do hope to be able to actually get to the end of this, but until I stop getting aggravated at the end of every chapter, I have to let it go. Maybe I have to get to a certain point not far from where I am currently leaving it, but I have not been enticed to forgive these two characters for not acting like the full grown adults they say they are. I hope to update this is the near future with better thoughts.

I really did love just about everything else -the writing, the setting. The characters just ticked me off enough to the point I did not want to continue reading.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC from Goodreads giveaways.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The reviews made me a little iffy to start this one, but I actually thought it was a decent read. I love a cozy New England setting and the cottage by the lake turned B&B sounded like the perfect fall getaway. This is a second chance, childhood friends to lovers romance with a dual POV and dual timeline. I always enjoy the buildup and tension a dual timeline creates and I think the author did a nice job developing Julia & Ethan’s history and connection.

There wasn’t necessarily anything ground breaking about their story and the celebrity fake dating PR stunt storyline was just okay. It also gave me the ick that they both had blonde hair and blue eyes, idk. But overall this is a good one if you’re looking for something quick, cute & cozy.

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

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

This was a cozy fall romance and the cover might be one of my most favorites ever. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes, too, but honestly, by the end of this, I just wasn’t convinced that these two should be together. I’d say over half of their interactions both past and present were negative and/or fighting. That said, it was still a cute story, especially if you’re looking for a little fall romance. Full review to come.

[Stacey Beane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
This was actually a really cute story! I liked the characters, the story it’s one I’d recommend if you have it on your TBR!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very boring.

[Franky · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐

(+) :
- What this book does well (and frankly, the only thing I enjoyed) is the atmospheric autumnal vibes. I felt the fall chill, especially when they were out on the docks or among the leaves. Upstate New York at fall is really nice. The leaf peepers aren’t wrong.
- The conversation that Ethan has with his parents about feeling like not enough was endearing. I am not an only child, I don’t know what that’s like. But a mother having numerous miscarriages and carrying that hurt with her and letting that hurt seep into their relationship with him was definitely sad.
- Yeah the title is apt. It sure is ‘The Matchmaker’s Cottage’.

(-) :
- This book really felt like it was written tropes first and then filled out from there. Like, here are some boxes to check, here is a skeletal structure and now here is just a veneer. It is so disappointing because a lot of these tropes are ones I gravitate towards.
- How are these people even friends?? We don’t see ANYTHING from their past that connects them in any way that would denote them being best friends at any point. They have nothing in common except for proximity and it’s VERY obvious.
- Going off of that, there is no chemistry between these two. None. Or really between anyway. Except MAYBE Katy and Maggie. Maybe.
- The past timelines are wholly unnecessary and add nothing but slog to the story. We don’t see them being friends, like I said. Honestly, they maybe do more harm than good in that regard.
- Why does Emily even exist. She needed way more nuance to be anything beyond a cartoon. It was dumb.
- The reason these two have a falling out in the past is NOTHING. It’s also mentioned at one point that they were friends with benefits or rather that one of the other characters guesses that they were, and Julia thinks that he nailed their history…but they weren’t? At all? It’s weird. I am a forgiver of miscommunication, but this one is just a conversation. One single conversation. Either of them. Good god.
- The way that the author handles Julia’s panic attacks really bugs me. They’re treated like they are this disease that is terminal, which, as a sufferer of panic attacks, they are terrifying and awful and I don’t want to say that they should necessarily be treated lightly. But it…feels odd in how they’re handled. Like they were just a pick out of a hat of a chronic illness.
- I don’t like this cover for the most part. I like the cottage (can you even really call this a cottage) and the leaves are nice. But the characters and the art style is just…not my favorite.


WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : No.

(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : A year. Tops.

*Thank you to Berkley & Netgalley for providing this ARC!


SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'No Place Like You' by Jillian Meadows
- 'Our Perfect Storm' by Carley Fortune
- 'Anywhere with You' by Ellie Palmer

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love a cozy cottage story, so after absolutely loving The Heartbreak Hotel, I thought this would have similar vibes.

Julia has renovated her best friend’s childhood home into a charming B&B by a serene lake in a small town. She hasn’t seen or heard from Ethan in years, ever since their falling out. Out of the blue, Ethan texts her for help—he’s a celebrity matchmaker tasked with curating the perfect couple after a massive PR disaster.

For me, the celebrity drama outweighed the cozy vibes. While neither main character is a celebrity, the surrounding chaos distracted from the small-town charm and peaceful, lakeside setting I was hoping for. That said, if you enjoy a mix of celebrity drama and cozy stories, this might be a fun mash-up you didn’t know you needed!

The romance is slow to start—Ethan doesn’t arrive at the B&B until about 25% in—but we do get some early flashbacks to their childhood together at the cottage. Overall, it’s a well-crafted book with a sweet romance; it just wasn’t my favorite trope combo.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.