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, Cozy, Small Town Romance, Retellings, Fiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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

[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.

[Kat Sloane · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio)]

Book Review
The Matchmakers Cottage by Kat Sloane

What Its Got
✔️Dual timeline
✔️Second chance romance
✔️Small town
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Celebrity/Publicity matchmaking
✔️ Cozy fall vibes

MMC- Ethan- charming
FMC- Julia- stubborn, independent

Thoughts
📖 Something was off for me with this book- not sure if it was the pacing or timelines, the “twist” - I cant pinpoint it
It may just have been a case of being wrong timing for my mood

I think some people will love it, I might pick it up again in the future and try a re-read

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed 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.  

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley, Kat Sloane, and Berkeley Publishing for an arc read of The Matchmaker’s Cottage.

Summary:
Julia is the owner of Donwell Cottage, a charming romantic bed and breakfast in upstate New York. She loves what she does, even as mounting financial troubles threaten the future of the inn. Everything changes when Ethan unexpectedly reaches out, desperate for her help to save his career. Once inseparable childhood best friends, they haven’t spoken in eight years, and their relationship has been strained—if not completely ruined—by time and unresolved hurt. Now forced back into each other’s lives, they’ll have to confront the past and decide if they can rebuild the friendship they lost.

Thoughts:
* PERFECT fall vibes.
* I loved the premise of this story: a celebrity PR matchmaker and a charming cottage owner team up to help each other while possibly mending their broken friendship.
* The pacing was slow at first, and I occasionally found myself losing my train of thought. However, it picked up significantly around the 25% mark, and I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know what had happened between the two main characters in the past and whether their second chance would work out.
* The character growth was one of the strongest aspects of the story. Watching Julia and Ethan grow as individuals and rediscover themselves—and each other—was beautifully done.
* There were moments when I questioned Julia and Ethan’s childhood friendship. While they were there for each other when they were together, they also seemed to avoid each other at school. Because of that, I never felt fully connected to their relationship once they reunited as adults.
* Maggie was such a fun character and added so much heart and personality to the story.
* This is a wonderful debut novel and one I’ll definitely be recommending to my friends. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
* This story is told in dual POV, which is one of my favorite storytelling formats.

[Susan • BryantParkBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @berkleybooks @katsloanewrites @bookswithnopictures and @just_talking_to_my_shelf for including me in the #ttmbtravelingarc! The Matchmaker’s Cottage is out August 11.

I really enjoyed this second chance romance that takes place at a cozy inn in upstate New York. Julia is the Jill of all trades innkeeper who wears many hats trying to keep her inn up and running. She’s shocked to hear from her childhood friend Ethan, who is in need of her help. They haven’t spoken in many years, so this comes as a shock to her. Ethan works in PR and has a matchmaking scheme for two of his celebrity clients. He desperately needs us to work to help save his job in New York City.

Julia goes along with it because she needs the business and she hopes to get some promotion from the celebrity photos, even if it means talking with Ethan after all these years. They didn’t end on the greatest of terms and now she has to deal with him back in her life. Julia along with her one woman team of Maggie help create the perfect autumnal week of fall activities. (I would love to go on their exact itinerary and stay at Donwell Cottage!)

It’s a slow start to rekindling what they once had. Julia is working through a lot of feelings of her family and their connection with the cottages. But once it gets going, it’s gets steamy!! (That scene in the shed! 🔥🔥🔥)

This novel is such cozy ambience! I adored the small lake town setting and the cottage is soooo charming. I appreciated the author didn’t overly glamorize the inn life- Julia and Maggie were both working incredibly long hours making things perfect. Their relationship was definitely giving Lorelai and Sookie vibes!

[Brittni Whitesell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Kat for an early copy of The Matchmaker’s Cottage!

First, can we appreciate how BEAUTIFUL this cover is?! It absolutely screams fall and completely matches the vibes of this book!

Let me say, Kat’s writing in this was beautiful! It made me feel like I was right there at the cabin seeing the story play out! And the humor! From the comments about feeling like the characters of The Little Mermaid during kiss girl to Temu Harry Potter 😂

And this was a DEBUT?! Sign me up for any upcoming releases!

I always love when books are told in both past and present timelines because I feel like it lets us, as the reader, see how the relationship developed and grew. I especially love this in both second chance romance and childhood friends to lovers. This story was no different!

Was there miscommunication? Yes. Did I want to sometimes scream at our characters to just talk to each other? Also, yes, but aren’t we all guilty of that in our own lives? Kat gave us a messy story that was realistic and had a lot of emotional depth, as well as growth! I loved everything wrapped up and finally getting our HEA for Julia and Ethan!

If you’re looking for a book to add to your fall TBR, look no further!

[RijaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC!

**Release Date: August 11, 2026**

This book creates the perfect autumnal backdrop. Between the charming location, the cozy bed-and-breakfast, and all the baking, it truly feels like a warm hug on a crisp fall day.

That being said, the actual romance fell a little flat for me. Julia carried so much sadness and trauma throughout most of her life, while Ethan constantly seemed to be protecting or rescuing her. It started to feel like too much unnecessary trauma, and I never fully connected with their relationship.

I also felt like we could have come up with a better storyline for Ethan being at the cottage.

The grandfather and Emily were both unnecessary characters. However, one thing this author does exceptionally well is create memorable side characters. I would love to learn more about Maggie and Norman.

Overall, this was a cute, cozy, and easy read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an autumnal romance filled with baking, small-town charm, and comforting fall vibes.

[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!

[Chelsea Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE MATCHMAKERS COTTAGE ⭐️⭐️💫/5. Release date 8/11/26. Julia and Ethan grew up as best friends. With summers spent on their neighboring lake cottages in upstate NY. As young adults they had a falling out that left them on non-speaking terms. Almost a decade later, Ethan needs a cottage and Julia’s help to salvage his career. This book had the elements that I love in a romance novel, cozy setting, characters with history and depth, and a silly plot to bring them back together. It just felt clunky, it took too long for the characters walls to come down, and then they came down so quickly that it felt almost forced. The unraveling of their personal and familial relationships felt like it either came on too strong, or maybe just not at the right place. The parts I enjoyed where the story had a good flow felt short, a wrench that didn’t feel necessary got thrown in. Thank you NetGalley for the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alecia (aleciareadsitall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia and Ethan were once inseparable best friends whose families owned cabins next door to each other. Eight years ago, Ethan and Julia went their separate ways and haven’t spoken since. That is, until Julia receives a random email from Ethan, who is desperately trying to save his job and his reputation.

I really enjoyed this childhood friends, second chance romance. The fall vibes were lovely, and the setting was so lush and woodsy and beautiful. There are lots of small town charm moments throughout, and Julia’s bed and breakfast was so beautifully described that I wish I had the opportunity to visit it myself.

I love childhood friends to lovers so much, and there was such a perfect balance in the time spent in each of the dual timelines. Ethan and Julia are really lovable characters, and their chemistry was written well.

The characters struggled with communication, and I’ve seen a lot of reviewers say that they were really frustrated with the conflict in the story. I was expecting to get to the end and be disappointed with the background/history of these two, but I was not at all. I thought the conflict made a lot of sense for the story and for the characters. Do with that information what you will 😂

A great romance read if you’re looking for a romance with a cabin/rural setting and cozy fall vibes!

[Abbeys Book Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

I cannot believe this book was a debut! It was so well done, and I thought it was so fun that this book was a modern day retelling of Emma by Jane Austen (although I haven’t read this book yet). It was such a beautiful love story and both the MCs felt like real people, and the depiction of mental health was very well done. I am so excited to see what Kat Sloane does in the future.

[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!

[Ally Chism · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Former friends-to-lovers, cozy, cottage romance! I was lucky enough to receive and ARC of this novel and I reallyyyy enjoyed it!

[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!

[amazenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC of this book!

Overall, I found this to be a really good debut! The premise was really intriguing, and the writing is comparable to that of many well-seasoned authors. I found myself hooked from the first few pages and only realized, after reading for a bit, that I had already read 100+ pages. Kat Sloane writes in a way that leaves you wanting to speed to the next chapter. That being said, here’s my review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

✨What I liked✨

The writing in this book was so good and evocative. The author's descriptions of each scene and element were so immersive. The way the cottage, scenery, food, etc were all described really made it feel like I was there! Very much giving “I’m watching a Hallmark movie” in the pages. Also, I will say this to the day I die, WRITE MORE MMC’S WHO GO TO THERAPY!! Ethan mentioning that he goes to therapy made my heart so happy! I find in a lot of romance we only really get the FMC’s seeking professional help, so whenever an MMC is mentioned doing the same, it’s such a treat and a good reminder that seeking help to improve your quality of life and mental wellbeing is for EVERYONE!
And lastly, I really liked that the main conflict wasn't copied and pasted like other books that follow a similar pattern of “the main leads don’t talk, and we must slowly learn why”. I was scared at first, based on what was being hinted at throughout the book about what the main reason was going to be. That being said, however, I did find that the conflict was sort of odd and out of the blue. More on that below.

✨What I didn’t like as much✨
I’m not sure what is what specifically, but the chemistry between Ethan and Julia in the present chapters just seemed to be lacking a bit for me. Especially in comparison to the "past chapters", their pull towards each other then seemed so evident and raw, and I fully believed the “will they, won’t they” of it all. But for some reason, I wasn’t feeling it as much once we got to where they were now. It was a bit repetitive that they slowly move closer but then immediately back off over and over again. Like grievances with each other aside, we don’t get any yearning, like at all, which was really disappointing because I feel like Ethan would’ve been such a good yearner. I also found that the secondary characters felt a bit flat. I totally get they aren’t the main focus of the story, but I wish we got a bit more insight into each of them. Like Maggie is the dinner cook, Norman is the groundskeeper but what else is there to them? I wanted to know more about the supporting cast so that I could root for them just as much as the main leads. Speaking of secondary characters...what the hell was that kiss between Noah and Julia??? It felt a bit too non-consensual… She just walks upstairs, and he just grabs her and kisses her?? Really wasn’t a fan of that, and also it seemed like it came out of nowhere?? There’s no instance before the kiss where I was like oh maybe Noah has a slight crush on Julia or finds her attractive, so his just kissing her out of the blue seemed so random. The main conflict also seemed so out of the blue, too?? Like, yes, Ethan has issues with his parents that we’re barely privy to before the reveal of the conflict and all of a sudden, he’s so insecure about it he explodes and projects it onto Julia? I’m glad Julia told her to screw off cause damn, she didn’t deserve that at all. But I’m also just so confused about why Ethan would say those things and sort of blame her for the way his life turned out. Based on the previous “past” chapters, it really seemed that Ethan was her biggest cheerleader, so for him to turn around and act like that, insecurities aside, was out of character in my opinion (but maybe that’s part of the reason why they split apart)

Overall, I still really did enjoy this one and can't wait to see what else the author puts out in the future!

Thank you so much again to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC of this book!

[Mare · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group & Berkley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book follows Julia, owner of a cottage, and Ethan, who works at PR firm that helps launch couples, who meet as children and form a friendship but they go their separate ways after 7 years but when Ethan needs her help, they reunite.

I wanted to love this as it has many elements that I usually enjoy in books but I unfortunately I didn't. The reason why this isn't a total 1 star is because the writing is beautiful and I could envision every scene well. The atmosphere the author created was cosy and I could see this becoming a movie that I would watch.

I started this book with an expectation of having a good time as the premise is right up my alley, but I quickly became bored and I felt no connection to or between the characters. I don't mind complex characters that are unlikeable at first but even after finishing, they still felt like only characters and not people. That's probably why I felt nothing for them. The author gave them these issues but they felt like they were only their issues and not anything else.

The romance felt so underdeveloped and they should've stayed away from each other. The present day reconciliation felt forced and it felt like the author shoved it in there for the sake of it. I felt the connection more in the flashbacks (that were so oddly placed) and it should've stayed there as I couldn't forgive Ethan for how he treated Julia. She seems to have forgotten it all in the present day and they got together so quickly. Both the Noah and Emily things felt like they existed simply to make the MCs realise their feelings for one another and I didn't enjoy those scenes.

I know that the book can change upon publication but I have to include these quotes to properly explain why this book went so downhil for mel. Context: the reason why they fell out is to do with the cottage itself as they both used to spend a lot of time there as children and she became a part of his family so when Ethan's parents offered Julia their family cottage to do up, both Julia and his parents hope he would help but instead he doesn't and says some really hurtful things. They were wholly unnecessary even if he was hurting inside and I couldn't understand how she was able to be near him in the present day.

'Before he could fully grasp what he was doing, he was in front of her in a few strides, his hand coming up to cup her cheek almost of its own volition. He wanted to - what? STRANGLE her? SILENCE her? Whatever his animalistic intent was, his fingers veered off course and slid across her smooth skin, his thumb resting on the corner of her lips, his fingertips in her hair.'
...
"Good luck role-playing perfect daughter in a place you'll never really belong. Just don't expect me to come running when it all falls apart."

Overall, I would not recommend this book but I can see this being someone's cup of tea. I also won't be re-reading but I did like the writing so I may pick up another of this authors books.