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Matchmaker
A modern day Pride and Prejudice.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Marita Conlon-McKenna
30 books221 followersBorn in Dublin in 1956 and brought up in Goatstown, Marita went to school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, later working in the family business, the bank, and a travel agency. She has four children with her husband James, and they live in the Stillorgan area of Dublin.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.
Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.
Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.
Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.
Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 23, 2021
Charming, Comforting, Enjoyable.
The sibling bond between the three sisters Anna, Sarah and Grace is very strong. I love that the author has each sister in a completely different stage in their lives. I find it very comforting when I read this book, realising everyone is at a very different stage in their lives and you shouldn’t compare yourself to anyone else. 💕There really is a certain charm to this book and the locations it is set in, mainly Dublin and the West of Ireland. The mother of the girls is the absolute definition of a typical Irish mammy especially in terms of the matchmaking. Each character and romance worked very well together which really made the book even more enjoyable. Personally I think, Anna is my favourite character. I feel that there is definitely a character in the book everyone can relate to which makes it a very relatable books. Each character is well developed throughout the novel. I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. ❤️ It was a 4 ⭐ read for me
The sibling bond between the three sisters Anna, Sarah and Grace is very strong. I love that the author has each sister in a completely different stage in their lives. I find it very comforting when I read this book, realising everyone is at a very different stage in their lives and you shouldn’t compare yourself to anyone else. 💕There really is a certain charm to this book and the locations it is set in, mainly Dublin and the West of Ireland. The mother of the girls is the absolute definition of a typical Irish mammy especially in terms of the matchmaking. Each character and romance worked very well together which really made the book even more enjoyable. Personally I think, Anna is my favourite character. I feel that there is definitely a character in the book everyone can relate to which makes it a very relatable books. Each character is well developed throughout the novel. I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. ❤️ It was a 4 ⭐ read for me
October 22, 2011
The first few chapters of The Matchmaker were really enjoyable, and then I realised I was starting to skim over bits here and there. In the end I cheated and went to the last chapter and read that, lol.
November 29, 2025
I really enjoy a book set in Ireland.
This is a wonderful story about three daughters and a meddlesome mum who can't help steering her daughters towards available men that she meets and thinks will make good husbands.
Maggie misses her husband dearly and has heaps of time on her hands. She just can't help herself in matchmaking family or friends to available men she meets, but her heart is in the right place.
It has a wonderful ending, and Maggie will not be lonely anymore.
Loved it.
This is a wonderful story about three daughters and a meddlesome mum who can't help steering her daughters towards available men that she meets and thinks will make good husbands.
Maggie misses her husband dearly and has heaps of time on her hands. She just can't help herself in matchmaking family or friends to available men she meets, but her heart is in the right place.
It has a wonderful ending, and Maggie will not be lonely anymore.
Loved it.
June 2, 2017
Excellent family chicklit, great Irish story
March 27, 2021
Another lovely fluffy read. A little mistitled, and definitely predictable, but very enjoyable to listen to! The audiobook reader's lilting Irish accent gives a real warmth and sense of place to this sweet, romantic story.
December 2, 2017
"Maggie har tre snygga, smarta singeldöttrar som hon gärna skulle hitta lämpliga män till." Detta citat anger tonen på denna roman. Personskildringarna är mycket ytliga. Männen de träffar har i alla fall olika färg på håret. Romanen kunde ha blivit bra, men ytligheten och brist på gestaltning förtar nöjet. Kioskromantik.
January 15, 2020
3.5 stars
A cute chick-lit romance which is utterly predictable from start to finish, but is none the worse for that. The characters are well written and the plot moves at a steady pace. Even though you can easily see who will end up with whom, this is still an easy enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the chick-lit genre.
A cute chick-lit romance which is utterly predictable from start to finish, but is none the worse for that. The characters are well written and the plot moves at a steady pace. Even though you can easily see who will end up with whom, this is still an easy enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the chick-lit genre.
June 30, 2022
I am giving it 5 stars because I am a sucker for a love story.
This book is 100% a page turner even though you know what most likely will happen. None the less the happy ending is always nice to imagine and read about.
This book is 100% a page turner even though you know what most likely will happen. None the less the happy ending is always nice to imagine and read about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2024
På gränsen till en etta. En spretig bok med alldeles för många huvudkaraktärer, när man väl fattat tycke för någon historia så försvann den nästan helt och blev bara till en bi-berättelse. Den beskrivs som feel-good men det blev lite too much feel-good för mig i alla fall.
May 27, 2018
nice, easy ready
feel good book
feel good book
April 27, 2019
A cute little holiday read
May 10, 2020
Irritating and naive story.
May 18, 2020
Nice easy to listen to sweet story.
May 30, 2020
For the read harder prompt "read a romance starring a single mother", with not one but two single mothers in this story! Lots of fun, lovely happily ever afters, just felt like a warm hug really.
August 14, 2020
Great book about a matchmaking mother and her three daughters. I really enjoyed it. I think my mom would have really liked it as well.
August 7, 2021
I lovely book to unwind and warm your heart. A lovely little Irish tale.
September 4, 2023
En av de få böcker jag frekvent läser om!
Mysläsning på hög nivå!
Mysläsning på hög nivå!
April 21, 2012
Fun read
August 21, 2022
A typical romantic feel good. All easy and predictable, but a nice read.
April 28, 2013
loved this book from start to finish
July 6, 2015
A feel-good read
December 30, 2015
Boken kanske upplevs som en banal historia men författaren lyckas få med läsaren (i detta fall mig ) så att det är fullständigt svårt att lägga den ifrån sig. Läsvärd!
April 28, 2025
An Excellent family saga. 2nd time reading. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews