The Matchmaker's Cottage

by Kat Sloane

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, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, New York, Retellings, Fiction, Forced Proximity

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 21, 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

[Kat Sloane · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[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!

[Kaitlynd The Hopeless Romantic]

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

[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.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍁🏡 The Matchmaker’s Cottage 🏡🍁

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.

[Chloe C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I would give this book a solid 3.5. It gives hallmark movie vibes which I loved. The MMC and FMC being childhood best friends and giving us flashbacks over the years was a super cute touch. I will say I had a hard time with their total buildup. It was enemies to then giving in because of that crazy Emily girl. Also, her story seemed pretty thrown in.

Overall it’s very cute and the setting sounds beautiful. I like the little other stories of the people around them as well!

[Emilie]

The Matchmaker’s Cottage was a decent read! Julia and Ethan were layered characters. They had a messy history, and it was nice seeing them find their way back to each other and get their happily ever after. I appreciated the anxiety representation with Julia, and I liked the growth we saw from Ethan toward the end. Even though I didn’t feel 100% connected to them, I still enjoyed their personalities and was rooting for them. I wish we had gotten more flashback scenes between Julia and Ethan. It was hard to fully feel the angst and emotional tension Kat Sloane was going for when so little of their past was actually shown. There were some parts in the story that slowed the book down for me and I struggled in a few spots. There was a moment in the book where a lot suddenly happened (Emily showing up, the random Noah kiss, the granddad reveal) and it threw me a off a little bit. The pacing could have been smoother overall. The side characters weren't bad! I liked Maggie and was happy with how her story wrapped up. Kat Sloane did a great job with the setting; it was charming and cozy. I am curious to see what she comes up with next. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.  

[Clara Gilleland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that was good, not great, but an overall enjoyable read!

The setting was absolutely beautiful - I could not get enough of the descriptions of the cottage, the lake, the town, even just the day-to-day details of the happenings at the cottage. Each of these details sparked so much joy for me! I think the story could have used a touch of refinement, as I feel like the twist at the end wasn’t necessary and therefore felt a bit out of place - we could’ve gotten to the ending we had by removing the twist entirely and just having the emotional climax take place and I think it would’ve felt cleaner this way! I also wish we got more flashbacks! They all offered little nuggets to set the tone for the tension between Ethan and Julia present-day but I feel like we needed more to really make me YEARN for them to work out their differences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so cute and just gave me the Northeast vibes I love. Childhood friends coming back to each other after years of a messy fallout and a cozy bed and breakfast cottage with scenes of a small town and a lake really makes this the perfect book to read from summer going into fall.

Many thanks to Berkley Romance and Berkley Publishing for the early digital copy!

[Hannah Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

As this is not published yet, I want to do my best to provide a detailed review, but I tried to clean up any spoilers along the way of writing this. First of all, I'm immensely grateful to have received an early copy of this book, thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. Starting out with the structure, I think the dual timeline and third person style worked well in the author's favor for this book. Third person writing just feels more sophisticated to me especially when switching POVs, I somehow feel like we get more insight into the characters and their circumstances and environment. I don't always love dual timeline, but it works for this novel. I don't think I've ever seen the use of the actual years as the markers in a dual timeline, usually it's written as "X Years Ago." I think this way might be a good tool for a book where you're trying to be more mysterious with the timeline so you don't know how close you're getting to the big confrontation, because we don't know what year the present is, but I didn't love it in this one. I think I would've preferred the latter structure of the years as I struggled with the allusions used as build-up for this revelation. It moreso came off as confusing. I feel like rather than grow in anxious anticipation, I was just experiencing rounds and rounds of confusion, to a point of frustration at times.

I understand after reading the Author's Note at the beginning of the book, that this story was intentionally written to portray realness and an almost anti-hero vibe from both MCs, but truthfully I just felt epically annoyed at Ethan by the end. The offer (intentionally vague for spoiler purposes) from Ethan's parents after Julia expressed her dream as well as even a conversation in a recalled chapter between Ethan and Julia about doing that exact thing, resulting in Ethan viewing it… the way he did (intentionally vague for spoiler purposes), was not well received by me. The extent of which Ethan reacted and felt the way he did, was absolutely asinine. Julia presented the offer as something she was hopeful and excited about, only ever considering it to be a partnership. Ethan viewed it as, quote, [redacted for spoiler purposes]. Now, I understand his insecurities, but the degree to which this was exaggerated was truly infuriating

There is one other major point of contention I had with this book, and that was the contrived relationships. Truthfully, the grandad situation (intentionally vague for spoiler purposes) felt random and unnecessary, though I suppose it led to some long awaited communication. The relationship between Emily and Ethan was epically confusing to me. I suppose she was just loony-bins because it took me a while to decide they hadn't actually had any romantic encounters to justify her obsession. Her obsession was also confusing as I don't understand how her "wanting" Ethan while also attempting to tank his career, were simultaneous thoughts/actions. I guess it's just chalked up to her being a nutcase. Emily's placement just felt like a convenient reason to push the plot, except it wasn't convenient because her character didn't make sense in these spots- like the way she simply stopped being an issue when the plot movement didn’t require her anymore. Lastly, the Noah x Julia moment- I thought Noah was going to admit he [redacted, for spoiler purposes] to push Ethan toward her, but that did in fact, not happen. This was, as I mentioned, a contrived and awkward encounter that came and went. I got pretty bored during the middle of this book. There weren't strong connection points to the side characters, they didn't have much substance to me.

Though this sounds like a largely negative review, I do have an overall positive reflection of this book. I respected and appreciated the addition of the mental health concerns, the deep backgrounds into each MC's family life, the flow was generally productive, and I'm surprised to find this is a debut novel. The author uses literary tools very well in her writing and has an obvious deep well of vocabulary (though I do perhaps wish the use of "chagrin" and "nonplussed" were more limited), and I appreciate her storytelling. I also want to make sure I add that I absolutely adore the cover of this book. Thank you for gifting me the ability to pre-read this book!

[The Polished Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was cute cute cute. But not only that, it had me totally HOOKED!! The build up of finding out what happened was near excruciating, near impossible! In the best way. My evil twin side kept wanting to just… take a little peek! But I didn’t. I couldn’t! I just had to keep reading! For a pretty low stakes storyline, I could not stop.

The setup of this story was addicting… and while relatively drama free, I would not say it was angst free. These two! I just want to hold them up like little dolls and make them kiss! Make them talk about it!

The setting, too, was perfect. I could see the glimmer off the lake. I could feel the dock planks screeching and shifting as they walked down them. And now there are TWO cottages I’m desperate to visit.

The romance was very realistic. And while still really romantic, I think really often romance books overlook the real questions and decisions happening behind making a grand gesture. Super often there isn’t a lot of thought put on the page outside of I love you I’ll do anything for you (and don’t get me wrong I love a down bad man willing to throw it all away for her). But I also really loved and appreciated the care taken to showing how both characters worked through their thoughts and feelings.

I only have one complaint and it’s just a small plot tool I personally don’t jive with. I think saying too much would be considered a spoiler and it’s not that serious. It actually takes up so little of the story I don’t really know why it was included and I don’t think the situation was ever fully explained. I just kind of wish I would stop seeing women put into roles like this, but unfortunately it still happens a lot. And if they are, I need to understand why it was important or at least the truth of what happened. There was a he said she said situation and while I guess I’m supposed to trust Ethan does that mean she was totally dalulu? So much as to fabricate something happening? Idk it was weird and I’m confused on this one.

This book was such a treat! It would be perfect for a fall TBR and I can’t wait to see everyone else under the absolute spell of this books timeline! Thank you so much to Kat Sloane and Berkley for this Gem of an eARC!

[Lochi's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, Canadian romance novels are picking up speed!

One thing about me I really don’t like reductive reviews, especially after reading Kat’s letter at the beginning of this book which is so vulnerable, heartfelt, and you feel an author welcoming you as a reader to a space they’ve created.

Kat is a fellow Canadian, and the cover art for this book knocked the breath out of me. The Matchmaker’s Cottage embraces cottage-core, and yes there’s a reference to the highly praised Emma and this is very much an Austen coded book.

We have flashbacks of Julia and Ethan two friends that grew up with one another that had a falling out, and are unexpectedly reunited. Ethan a PR specialist needs to save his career by bringing to actors (to fall in love) together successfully to save his PR career, and Julia now runs a bread and breakfast at the quaint cottage (that she painstakingly refurbished) they visited as children.

Personally, Julia is far more favourable than Ethan. He will get on your nerves but stick with the book, and stick with this knuckle-head. At times, he's immature, hindered by inaction and his in-action and unwillingness to simply act, overall hurts Julia. That is an essential brick in his character that readers need to understand, he’s not the likeable romance hero and will take sometime for you to warm too. He’s quite simply at times: frozen in his own end-game until he's forced to act.

There’s a sadness that lingers over Julia. You feel her wave of stress, the secrets she’s hiding, the pain that riddles her. Once she sheds her fears Julia is a peaking ray of sunshine. Kat embodies and gives so much to her characters and has definitely secured her seat in the Canadian romance class.

My thanks to Berkley Romance and Berkley Publishing for the early digital copy! Always an honour to say that I'm a #BerkleyPartner.

[The Beachy Booknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkeley, Kat Sloane, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of The Matchmaker's Cottage in exchange for my honest review! This was a super cute feel good read and gave me cozy Fall vibes.
What I liked:
- Second chance romance! Normally second chance can be hit or miss for me, but this one was very interesting. I liked the flashbacks from the past and how they gave us glimpses of the MCs, Julia and Ethan, in the present.
- I loved how Ethan and Julia are tied together through their childhood vacation spot. And I love the lakehouse/lake setting I could really see myself there.
- There was a lot of complicated dynamics between Ethan and Julia, and a lot of family issues that played into their relationship. It was really interesting and added to the story as well as the depth of the characters.
- The PR relationship subplot was interesting, and I liked the secondary romance of Katy and Maggie.
- Both characters had a realistic struggle with anxiety.
- Spicy scenes were >>>

What I didn't like:
- Although the PR relationship plot line was interesting, it felt a littttle too unrealistic to be believable. And the reveal at the end about Ethan's boss was just a little too unbelievable.
- The lack of communication between Ethan and Julia was frustrating. It felt like a lot of their issues could have been solved through a conversation.
- I didn't get super invested in their romance. It felt like they spend the entire book arguing or not being friendly and then to get together in the last 20-30% felt a little forced. They did nto seem to be a super compatible couple.

[Rhiannon Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this lovely romance ARC! Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This book was a beautiful second chance best friend romance. I think the author did an excellent job of writing the emotional connection between best friends and how affection can turn to love without one even knowing it.

Like most Romance books, this one also tackles hard topics such as mental illness, abandonment, and death. I think those particular pieces of the plot were explored but did dominate the storyline. I also think there was a nice growth arc for both of the main characters emotionally.

The couple of critiques I have is, one, there was an overuse of unnecessary big words throughout the book. Don't get me wrong, I can be a Sesquipedalian (ha!) from time to time, but it felt more like a thesaurus was used for even basic sentences. It just felt less than genuine at times. Secondly, there was an incredibly lengthy author's note before the book detailing the reasons why she wrote the characters as she did with their flaws and issues. It felt like an attempt to justify her character development. I just don't think it was necessary. We readers expect the characters to not be perfect. To have serious flaws to overcome. These characters were certainly imperfect but seeing them grow their emotional intelligence was what made this story good!

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I found myself wanting to pick it up and see how Gem and Ethan were progressing. I also appreciated the flashbacks as I feel it helped provide a deeper understanding of them both. I've already pre-ordered a physical copy for my home library!

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a two-timeline second chance romance. There's the past timeline in which they screwed up the relationship (how they messed up is kind of a slowly unfolded mystery). Then there's the present timeline in which the MMC tries to save his job by booking rooms in the FMC's B&B. The romance is really sweet with two character who genuinely fit together nicely. There's a very cozy feel to the book and the small town and the lake. Unfortunately, this is one of those romances where the biggest dilemma keeping the characters apart is a failure to properly communicate. I usually hate that and I usually take a star or two off for that. However, this book is so well written and reading it gave me such joy that I just can't give it less than 5 stars. Plot-wise, I found the premise that staying at the B&B will save his job a little unbelievable? Why that would solve his problems? I didn't understand. Luckily, I was having so much fun that I decided not to care. The twist was also a little unbelievable but ditto with the not caring. Overall, I really enjoyed this one for the setting and the chemistry and my little nit-picks were easy to shrug off.

[Olivia Garrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC of The Matchmaker’s Cottage.

As I was saying during my reading process, a lot of this book felt like over explanation. The author had some really great ideas, and I loved the premise of the story itself. It just failed to hit the mark for me. The story arc felt very unoriginal (like a ‘been there, done that’ sort of romance), and bland at that. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Julia and Ethan.

The “twist” was completely random to me and was honestly a little confusing. I wasn’t sure why it would be so upsetting to either of them. I also found myself wishing that if the cottage were the reason Ethan and Julia stopped talking (because he thought it meant his parents didn’t see him as responsible enough) that his insecurities around his parents would have been incorporated in the story a little better. I just found myself going ??? at a lot of the reasons behind their feud, and when he went back home to visit his parents at the end I just didn’t see the stake there, because in my opinion it hadn’t been properly included in the story beforehand.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of cosy fall romance that is easy to sink into.
The small-town bed-and-breakfast setting is really the star here. It has that warm, slightly dreamy atmosphere, and it pairs well with the autumn vibes and the whole matchmaking premise.
Julia and Ethan have a second-chance romance with a lot of history behind it, which adds some emotional weight. There is definitely tension from the start, and I liked that their conflict felt rooted in something real rather than something easily fixable. That said, some of the back-and-forth does get a little repetitive as the story goes on.
The celebrity matchmaking storyline is a fun addition and gives the plot some movement, though it sometimes feels like more of a backdrop to the main romance.
The romance itself is a slow build with plenty of forced proximity, lingering feelings, and unresolved hurt. It leans more emotional than dramatic, which fits the cosy tone.
Overall, a warm, autumnal read that delivers on small-town charm and second-chance romance, even if it drags slightly in places.

[M. K. Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good match for its stunning cover, really bringing to life the bed-and-breakfast owner's experience actually saying yes to herself, even if it means confronting the complications in her past. Sloane did a great job overall in weaving together the past and present timelines in a compelling arc for the central romance that also allowed for individual character growth, though I definitely would not have minded more scenes in the past. I was interested in the side characters, too, and found the plot mainly believable (which is not always the case with contemporary romances involving celebrities), though the pacing was sometimes inconsistent for my personal taste. I'm not sure this had specifically "fall" vibes to me like the blurb said; as they spend a lot of time by the lake, and the summer home aspect is emphasized, it felt more like a summer book to me.

I received an e-ARC from Berkeley Publishing through Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

[ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

How is this a DEBUT?!?! Kat’s writing is beautiful. The world building, character building, and emotional depth were all so well done. I loved the premise so much. A cozy small-town romance set at a bed-and-breakfast with second chance romance, forced proximity, and celebrity matchmaking drama?? It felt so fresh and different in the best way.

I’m usually not a flashback lover, but I loved them here. They were done SO well and truly added so much to the story and Ethan and Julia’s relationship. Getting to see their history alongside the present day made everything hit even harder emotionally. I also loved that this was a reverse modern retelling of Emma. It was executed beautifully while still feeling completely its own.

Julia was such a great character and ugh… Ethan. I loved him so much. The tension, history, yearning, and chemistry between them had me completely hooked. Also can we PLEASE talk about the shed scene?!?!? I’m going to be thinking about that scene for a VERY long time.

I’m so excited to have found Kat through this book and genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next. Such an incredible debut 💛

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Cute, cozy, and totally giving Hallmark movie vibes! 💛 Childhood best friends turned enemies turned lovers? Yes, please. The flashbacks sprinkled throughout gave such a sweet look at their history—it made me actually care about them.
The setting is everything—cottage, lake, small-town charm—it was impossible not to picture myself there. The little stories about the townspeople added so much warmth and joy.
My main critique: this is in third person POV, and for a story so heavy on emotion and character connection, I really wanted first person. It would have made the moments between Ethan and Julia even more intimate and impactful.
The enemies-to-lovers buildup felt a bit rushed, and the end twist? Not really needed. More flashbacks would have made the emotional payoff even sweeter. Still, it’s a light, enjoyable romance that hits the cozy, heartwarming spot perfectly.

[✨Poppy✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that was a really enjoyable read overall!

The setting was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t get enough of the cottage, the lake, the town, and even the small, everyday moments at the cottage felt so vivid and cozy. I loved those details! I do think the story could have benefited from a bit more refinement, though. The twist toward the end didn’t feel entirely necessary and came across as slightly out of place. I also wish we’d gotten more flashbacks! The ones included added nice layers to the tension between Ethan and Julia in the present, but I wanted more of those glimpses into the past to really make me ache for them to finally work things out. I'll be sure to check out anything else this author writes though, as I saw so much potential!
Thank you Berkley Romance & NetGalley for this ARC!

[Tay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this is such an atmospheric read. I am a HUGE FAN of small town romances and absolutely loved the small town cottage aspect of this story!! I think the cover does a great job of representing how cozy and quaint this story is and the overall atmosphere was my favourite part of the book :)

I think it took me a while to warm up to both our main characters. For some reason I just couldn't click with either of them (that is definitely just a me problem though). The twist at the end really got me... it kinda came out of the blue and I'm not too sure how believable I found it. I did really appreciate the the mental health rep, Kat did a great job at capturing the feelings and sensations that come with being in that particular situation.

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this arc :)

[Jess Firlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb interested me, but the author's note from the very beginning hooked me. Sloane states that this is a modern take on Jane Austen's Emma, except she intentionally swapped the genders of the characters. Mental health is also a large part of this story as it is an ever present undercurrent in our daily lives so it deserves to be adequately represented in our stories too. Sloane acknowledged the universal instinct to hide and minimize in an attempt at being "normal" in a world where feeling emotions is an act of courage.

I reallllly enjoyed the author's note, okay?

Now onto the actual novel lol

Cozy autumnal cottage
Childhood friends to lovers
Mystery of a rift between them
Emotional ties to the land
Endless nostalgia

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another book that I was expecting to like a lot more than I did. This sounded like it would be funny and chaotic, but I just found myself a bit disinterested.

I really couldn't connect to the characters, and because of that, I couldn't really care about their relationship or backstory at all.

The writing and characterization was a bit flat as well, I'm sure that didn't help me.

I just wanted a lot more from this. This could've been so fun, especially given its setting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[lucialeelibros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for letting me read this advance copy. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. I don’t think it was 100% my cup of tea.
It bored me a bit; I didn’t feel that connection, and I was on the verge of giving up on it, but I gave it a chance and finished it. I’ll keep my opinion to myself; I actually liked the ending.

[Natasha Glasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story line. The slow burn chemistry between the two main characters was a ride! I love a good rom-com setting. A cute B&B and put two people in a close proximity is going to be a good time! Thanks for the ARC

[Izzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rtc

[Calista Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful from start to finish. Dreamy and romantic.

[Maria]

The Matchmaker’s Cottage captures the kind of atmospheric, lakeside setting that fans of Carley Fortune will appreciate. It’s rich with vivid scenery and the nostalgic charm of a Northeastern waterfront town, and the setting itself becomes a huge part of the story. But at the heart of the novel are Julia and Ethan, childhood friends whose relationship fractured after a pivotal moment in their past. The story slowly unravels what happened between them (both in present day and flashbacks) letting the tension and unanswered questions simmer.

Kat Sloane has a way with words. Even the simplest of moments and sentences are compelling, drawing out the deep yearning and emotional undercurrents between the characters. Whether it’s a glance, a memory, or a passing line of dialogue, the prose is charged with feeling. Sloane does an amazing job portraying pining and yearning, along with the complicated anger that can grow out of betrayal or hurt caused by the people we love.

The side characters were well written, with a charming subplot. Maggie and Norman were especially enjoyable, and I felt like I got to know them rather than having them fade into the background. Without giving too much away, the introduction of Katy and Noah add another layer to the story and you come to appreciate them as well.

The book is methodical and patient in its scene-building and character development, and Sloane takes her time letting the world and relationships unfold which makes the very busy (but ultimately rewarding) third act land with real emotional weight.

Whether or not you typically gravitate toward romance, there is absolutely something to appreciate in Sloane’s prose and emotional depth, but romance readers in particular will find plenty to love.