Matchmaking the New Girl

by Kaylynn Sweet

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

Kaylynn Sweet writes sweet, swoon-worthy small-town YA romance. Her books feature young girls discovering their place in the world and the boys who capture their hearts. When she’s not turning kernels of her angsty teen love life (or lack thereof) into adorable HEAs, Kaylynn can be found making up silly stories for her kids, tending her growing collection of house plants, and roaming her local library in search of her next favorite book.

Reviews

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matchmaking the New Girl by Kaylynn Sweet (Mar. 2026) [reading in Feb]
Cardinal Ridge #1
71-page Kindle Ebook story pages 2-62

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Short Stories, Clean Romance

Rating as a movie: PG

Featuring: Unknown Midwestern Small-Town, Summer, North Carolina, Soccer Team, New Kid, Amusement Park, Matchmaking, Teens, High School, Military Brat, Text Graphics, Drama, Crush, Dual POVs, Setups For Future Books, Exclusive Deleted Scene from Playing with the Heartbreaker - Book 2, Series List

Books and Authors mentioned: The Shining by Stephen King, The Muppet Show by Jim Henson, Where's Waldo? (Where's Wally?) by Martin Handford

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⚽️🎢🎡

My thoughts: This was okay. I think it would be a great series for 12+ but I didn't love it. I've read middle-grade romances that were good so it wasn't that. My issue was that this story was a bit all over the place and focused so much on future couples that the actual story was quite thin. Thank you to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Recommend to others: Sure, if they're young. People are always asking for Romance safe for tweens.

Cardinal Ridge
1. Matchmaking the New Girl (2026)
2. Playing with the Heartbreaker (2026)
3. Crossing the Line (2026)
4. Faking it Festive (2026)
5. Evening the Score (2027)

[Federica 🪐 · Rating 4 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW |

Piper has just transferred to a new school and is focused on blending in when her teammates decide to make her the center of a matchmaking scheme during a trip to an amusement park, like they are used to every summer. Since the entire story unfolds over the course of one day, it moves at a brisk pace and is easy to breeze through but the characters are well developed and I can't wait to read more of them.

This was a charming, quick read that left me feeling warm and happy, and I flew through it in just few hours. I would have loved if it has been a little bit longer because I wanted to know more about her connection with Jake, but I hope to see more of them in the periphery of the next romances of this series.

Given the book’s short length (about 70 pages), this story reads more like a novella than a full-length novel and it's targeted to a younger audience than myself but I think it's the perfect read for everyone who needs something cozy and loves to read about the high school vibes without any spicy scene.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Kaylynn Sweet for gifting this eBook in exchange of an honest review.

[Mya Sarnowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Yeah. I’m gonna leave it at that. Not the best but not the worst..?

[Makayla Reich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matchmaking The New Girl by Kaylynn Sweet is a short and sweet YA Romance about Piper Jones, the new girl in this small town, Cardinal Ridge. She comes from a military family, always moving while she was growing up. Now that her father has retired, she's in this town to stay.

All of that moving got Piper to get used to people around her not being permanent, so she's grown to be in her shell for the most part around all these new kids. She's on the girl's soccer team, which is basically where the story starts when the school all goes on a field trip to the Amusement Park.

I really enjoyed reading Matchmaking The New Girl. The dynamic between Piper and Jake was absolutely adorable and I found myself gushing over them numerous times. However, a few things did lead to me not giving this book a 5-star rating like I thought I would have.

I hadn't realized until I opened the book on my kindle that it was only 79 pages long, which really baffled me. Most romance books need more pages for efficiency in the chemistry build-up and burn as the couple gets closer and closer to getting together, but this book didn't have that.

There are many things that I felt that this book needed as I read through it, and one of the things that kept popping up in my head was the fact that this book only spanned across a few hours at an Amusement Park. You don't see the beginning of Piper's year at Cardinal Ridge as she settles into this town (the first time she's ever been allowed to genuinely settle somewhere, by the way). You don't see the first moment that Jake sees Piper at soccer practice. You're just launched straight into the field trip where Piper is immediately trying to get through the boys on this list that her friend Kendry gave her. And in some books, that works, but I didn't see that working in this book.

With how short this book was, and the fact that it was basically Strangers-to-Lovers, I felt like it needed that build up to the field trip, instead of the field trip being the whole plot. Piper didn't know Jake until the field trip, so it seems unrealistic for her to want to date him after a few hours of hanging out with him. What if he was a serial killer or just a narcissist? A few hours can't disprove that.

When I was looking at other reviews for this book, I saw someone say that the story was mainly focusing on the future couples for this series and I couldn't agree more. Every boy that Piper was hanging out with would be looking at another girl. Every boy except for Jake. She hung out with other boys and pointed out the chemistry they had with specific girls so much that it felt like I wasn't reading about Piper and Jake, but just a little build up to Rhoads and Chloe's story near the end of it. It set the ground for who all the other couples are going to be in the future books so hard that there was no room for chemistry build up between Piper and Jake. The way Jake gained his crush on Piper was really cute and I adored that, but Piper just started liking Jake on no basis except for the fact that she got vibes every time she was with him. And back to the low page count, I feel like it was very difficult for the build up to be satisfying with it so short.

Despite those facts, I really enjoyed the story. It was adorable and I still loved Piper and Jake getting together. Maybe I'm just a romance geek who doesn't care how all-over-the-place the rest of the story is; as long as they get together in the end, I'm happy - but I still absolutely adored these two and will be reading the next book with Rhoads and Chloe. I'm hoping that with Rhoads and Chloe it'll be a little easier for tension to build up, seeing as she's sworn off dating and everything. I enjoy shorter books because it helps me get closer to my reading goal that I've set at the end of the year, but when books are so short that there's no room for the plot to breathe, that's when I get a little disappointed.

Nevertheless, I'm walking away from this book with a 3 1/2 stars for this book. I really enjoyed reading it, despite those things that distracted me from the actual story, and hope that the next book can get at least a 4 star rating next time. Maybe this first book wasn't exactly my favorite, but I'll continue reading the series anyway just because I'm a sucker for the guys being the ones doing the pining. (Sue me.)

Thank you to Netgalley, Kaylynn Sweet, and the publisher for granting me permission to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

[Little Batties · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Kaylynn Sweet's debut novella is akin to an over-frosted cupcake: it doesn't last long and you're a little nauseous after finishing it. It is filled with enough cliches, tropes, and predictability that this might not be a story for everyone. There enough moments that were so sickly sweet that it made it hard to believe at times too.

This being said, if you are someone who likes the sweeter, corny romances that has no edge to it, then this might be something that interests you. It is sweet (too much so for me), but it also has this cozy small town romance vibes I can see some teens truly enjoying. The point of a story is to let us escape for a while, sometimes into world that are not believable in the real one, and this story falls into that category.

Plotline

Matchmaking the New Girl follows the new girl in town, Piper, at an amusement parks with the boys' and girls' soccer teams. She had been given a challenge by her captain, Kendry, to go out on "dates" with boys in their school listed on a note card. It's meant as a way to help Piper get to know some of her school mates, get her out of her shell, and maybe find someone she vibes with along the way.

Now, the kicker, the boys on the list are not supposed to know about Piper being the one given the challenge this year, despite the fact that this seems to be a common tradition to provide this challenge every year to a girl on the team/school. It's not supposed to be a form of hazing, but it does seem like one since, as the new girl and the new teammate, it would be hard for Piper to say no in fear of disappointing her new friends. This aside, she follows through, meeting different boys from the soccer team along the way without even trying.

It's fast paced, cute, but a little unbelievable. There are too many moments that line up perfectly (pun intended in this case) to create a will they, won't they trope for her and Jake, one of the boys Piper meets early on in the story. Overall, it feels rushed and leaves you wanting more to the overall story than just the sweet moments cramped into the 79 pages. It was like the author picked out the sweetest moments of a bigger story and only published those.

Characters

Piper was someone who I wanted to like, but as the story progressed, I had a hard time liking her. She didn't seem believable, and I feel like the fast pace of the story hurt her character more than anything else. She is doing all sorts of different things she's afraid to do or wouldn't want to do, all under the guide of "getting out of her comfort zone," but it doesn't seem like it ends up being a big deal. It's also a little weird how quickly she seems to develop a crush on our other main. Her character goes through all this change and "growth" in less than a day.

Sadly, Jake felt so under developed considering he is one of the main characters. When we were lucky enough to get his perspective, it didn't add as much as I would expect for someone who's getting to tell the story from his perspective. We honestly get more about who he is from secondary characters that are only around for a few pages than we get from him himself. It's another instance in the story where the readers are left wanting more but, sadly, don't get.

Final Thoughts

Personally, this was a little too sweet and cutesy for my taste. I tend to like my romances to have a bit of an edge to them, but it does hit the mark of being a sweet, teen romance novella. It does have some of the typical cliches and tropes you might see in a teen romance movie, but it has the potential to be what draws do younger readers in. It gives off those feels good, cozy vibes for a quick, teen romance read that I can see its intends audience enjoying.

Thank you NetGalley and Kaylynn Sweet for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Raven Bork · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, quick, feel-good read that I finished in one sitting.

Piper is new to school and just trying to fit in when her teammates decide to turn her into their matchmaking experiment during an amusement park trip. The story takes place over a single day, making it fast-paced and fun to read. Watching Piper push herself out of her comfort zone and try to make connections was relatable and endearing.

The instant attraction between Piper and Jake was my favorite part. Their moments together—especially at mini golf and on the Ferris wheel—were soft, wholesome, and full of first-crush energy. I found myself rooting for them right away.

Because this book is very short (around 70 pages), everything happens quickly. While there was decent character development for such a short story, I really wished it had been longer. Piper and Jake were so sweet together, and I would have loved to see more of their relationship develop beyond just one day.

This is more of a novella than a full novel and is clearly intended for a junior/young YA audience, so I’m not the target reader. That said, it still delivered a cute, cozy story that gave me Lynn Painter–style vibes.

If you’re looking for a light, heartwarming read you can finish in under an hour, this is a great pick—especially if you enjoy stories about first crushes and stepping outside your comfort zone.

[Eve 🌷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this short story built around an original speed-dating day!
Piper isn’t a social butterfly; she prefers being alone, or at least staying within her routine. But she is ready for a fresh start and to open herself up more to others. What better idea than spending a day running an experiment by dating several boys from her school until she finds the right one?

On paper, I truly enjoyed the concept of this novella. It’s light, funny, and easy to read. But unfortunately, the very short format gave me the feeling of a sequence of events unfolding without any real connection between the characters or genuine chemistry. In the end, nothing felt natural, logical, or authentic to me. 🫠

I also couldn’t grow attached to the characters or feel the emotions I usually love experiencing while reading. But I think this is solely due to the short format.

It was a reading experience that will certainly find its audience—I’m sure of it. I just don’t think I’m the right audience for it.

Many thanks to StoryOrigin and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Michaela · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️1.25

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this! It was a 70 page book, which is the size of a small novella, leaving no time to connect or care for our characters. I do understand this was a debut novel, but I personally did not enjoy this one bit. I found it extremely cringey and unbelievable. This is set over one day and she dates three different guys in one day and ends up with one of them at the end of the day. Personally, I thought that was just really weird. I found things that the FMC said very cringey such as, “I got a pleasant whiff of his spicy boy deodorant”, and it honestly made me cringe. I did not like our MMC, his behavior felt almost stalkerish to me, he was infatuated with someone he had never spoken a word to for 8 weeks and I didn’t think it was cute. Overall, I am grateful for this ARC, but I would not read this again or recommend it.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been a big romance reader, so I don't have a ton of experience with rom-coms, but I'd say for a short little romcom novella, this one was really good! It wasn't at a length where I was able to really connect to the characters or anything, but I had a good time and I think the romance and the concept was pretty cute. Plus the summer vibes were peak and just what I need rn because I HATE February weather 😭😭
I also really appreciated that there was no spice or profanity (as far as I remember), aside from one not-at-all detailed kiss and mentions of the MC swearing without the book actually saying the words.
I will hopefully continue this series whenever I can get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc :)

[Once Upon a Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short to leave much of an impression.

This novelette was focused more on creating interest for future books in the series rather than using the limited word count to build a relationship between our main characters.

As such it was a little disappointing, but it was fine to fill some time and if the next book wasn’t about a player mmc I’d be happy enough to continue the series.

There were a few things I didn’t like - the mmc was a little creepy in that he’s been obsessed with her for weeks, and for a clean ya, I didn’t like the focus on the physical - she can’t remember the soccer teams faces but she can remember their abs? Would it have been acceptable for the mmc to say he can’t remember the cheerleaders’ faces but he can remember their boobs? Gross.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper is new to school and at their amusement park trip Kendry tells Piper that her teammates chose her as their matchmaking experiment, and that Piper needs to go on rides with different guys from school. Piper reluctantly agrees because she wants to fit in. Her first ride is with Lucas at the coasters but then she sees Jake where she feels an instant attraction. As Piper goes on different rides with a few others she keeps thinking of Jake. The two end up at mini golf where they exchange numbers. They see each other later and go on the Ferris wheel. Will she end up with Jake?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this short story. All opinions are my own.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very short (like 70 pages) so everything happens quickly. This book takes place over 1 day at the amusement park.

Piper is new and trying to make friends or as her teammates want a connection. I liked seeing her go out of her comfort zone and do some things she normally wouldn’t.

I just wish this book was longer and we got to see their relationship grow. She and Jake seemed so sweet together and I just wish we got more.

This book was a sweet short read. It’s perfect if you want to read a book but don’t have a ton of time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

[nadjsim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this, I was expecting a cute and swoony YA romance to cleanse my palate a bit after a few horror and thriller reads. Not to say the story wasn’t cute, but it ended up reading more like Middle Grade at best. The story was also incredibly short and surface–level, barely giving the characters any time to develop and get to know each other before it all wraps up.

All in all, it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. But even though I didn’t like it, Matchmaking the New Girl could be a great read to teens and tweens looking for something quick and easy.

[Suri (suriscozyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute YA story that is sweet even for middle schoolers. You can read it in one sitting and it's so adorable that you will feel giddy the entire time. The characters were sweet and I loved all the friends. There was no toxicity in this story and everyone was nice and caring. It was so fun to see Jake like Piper even before she knew who he was. It was charming to see his nerves and how much he wanted to get her attention.

I could see that this story was leading the way for future couples in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
Very cute summer YA read.

This book is about Piper, a soccer player, who has just moved and started a new school yet again. She is with her teammates, and the boy's soccer team, at an amusement park and her friends try to get her out of her comfort zone by going on mini-blind dates(rides) with members of the boy's team.

So cute and quick & easy to read. Perfect for a quick summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley for early access

[Shateau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC from StoryOrigin. This is the start of a series. The intended audience is junior or young YA, so I am not the target audience. This was more of a novella than a full novel. It got the point across and you got quite a bit of character development, but I wouldn't have been opposed to a bit more. It gave me flashes of a Lynn Painter novel. Cute, quick, young love story.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matchmaking the New Girl by Kaylynn Sweet

This was a super cute YA novella set at an amusement park.
Piper is tasked by her soccer team captain to get to know the available boys throughout the day.

As book one this introduced us to future potential couples so hopefully their stories will be more involved as Piper and Jake didn’t get much time on page together.

Thanks to Netgalley

[Avarie Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for access to this arc! This book was super cute and fluffy, and I loved the double povs. I can’t wait to read the other books in this little series! I loved the characters so much and how each had their own little personality, even if they weren’t talked about a ton. This was really well written!

[Justine Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute read. It felt like walking through the amusement park right alongside Piper. Even though it was short, it still felt full and complete, like so much happened in such a small window of time. I loved the reminder that being new somewhere can still lead to really sweet, unexpected moments. Such a cozy, quick read.

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Matchmaking the New Girl by Kaylynn Sweet thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute and sweet. It is short but I think that's what makes it special. Definitely worth picking up for a quick read!

[Rebecca Janzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca

this book was amazing. I was just looking for something short and lighthearted that didn’t make me cringe and this was exactly that. I love this book and will definitely be talking to my bestie about it!!

[addison☻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and short YA romance book! It definitely got straight to the point, and I wished we could see more of Piper's and Jake's relationship.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable story. It was quick, and I would’ve loved it to be longer, but it was an intro to a new series. It did its job and now I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Lihanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it but….

I loved this book so much, i just hate that it was a short story 🥲. I absolutely loved the writing, the characters, and the plot in general. 9/10 😊

[Harmony Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

[Aria Ramsamooj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. I wouldn’t say it was a full on book but it is definitely worth reading. The yearning between the two MCs was adorable and I wish there was more of the story. This review is probably the shortest I’ve ever written but it’s only because of the length of the book even if the humor and romance were endless ;) This was an ARC review so make sure when the book is officially published to get your copy of Matchmaking the New Girl!

[C.L.S. Willman · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute cozy read! I enjoyed their chemistry but it definitely left me feeling like I was missing more. it IS a novella so that's to be expected. perfect fluffy YA romance

[Kristin MacQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun intro to a new series! I fell in love with the characters and I loved getting a sneak peek at multiple possible couples. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[Carrie Hearle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet read of one day in the life of Piper. She is learning to go out of her comfort zone to make connections. It is fun read of first loves and crushes. The only bad thing is I wish it was longer. I would like to have read more of how her and Jakes relationship develops.

If you are looking for a quick feel good story I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Luna Gerrits · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was such a cute little read. it just puts me right back into the high school romance feels. i remember all that tension and the friends matchmaking and seeing matches before they see it themselves. i loved that.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review