The Matchmaker

by Catriona Innes

For Caitlin Carter, love means business.

She's taken matchmaking back to basics. There is no swiping left. No creepy location tracker. Definitely no unsolicited pics of areas of the anatomy literally no one wants to see. She's made dating great again: personal, patient... and profitable. Her startup is going from strength to strength, the brand her very own happy marriage (her wedding went viral), and now she even has celebrities wanting to use her services.

Caitlin is living the perfect life.

Except it's all a perfect lie. And Caitlin doesn't know how long she can keep it up.

In an era of social media and dating apps, when we have never been more connected yet more isolated, the matchmaker is a story about love, loss and loneliness, and learning to accept your reality.

This is an emotionally charged, funny and warm novel, perfect for fans of THE MAN WHO DIDN'T CALL by Rosie Walsh, SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL by Giovanna Fletcher and IT STARTED WITH A TWEET by Anna Bell.

Genres: Romance

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Tilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

I was excited about this book as I had never read one about a matchmaker before and thought it was a really unique idea.
Firstly, the things I liked. I thought the best scenes had Verity (the main character's best friend), because she added another dimension. I also liked thengeneral storyline.
Unfortunately, I just didn't click with the characters and the writing wasn't quite as good as I hoped.
I guessed the big shock from quite early on as well.
The main female lead Caitlyn wasn't as I had expected. It was all too cheesy and corny and felt really fake, especially the parts with the influencer. Sadly there was a depth missing that considering the subject and twist to the book, should have been there. It also lacked any real humour and so I got bored at many points.

I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i so wanted to give it 4*s because the ending and overall message was sweet but unfortunately guessing the big plot twist pretty early on let it down for me so would have to be around a 3.8

[booksofallkinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the tour organiser.

Emotional, compelling, and downright heartbreaking at times, THE MATCHMAKER by Catriona Innes is ultimately a story about accepting the past and learning to live again and to be open to those who love who best.

Caitlin is running her own business, helping people to fall in love and find their happily ever-after just like she did with her husband, Harry. This isn't some modern app but an old-fashioned matchmaking agency where Caitlin really gets to know her clients and feels that kick in her stomach when she finds their perfect mate. But with business slowing down, a celebrity client seems to be the answer to her problems, as well as sharing more about her perfect marriage with Harry. Except that Caitlin is living a lie. Her wonderful love story has changed and Caitlin has been lying to so many people. And as everything begins to spiral for her, will Caitlin admit the truth and have a real chance to move forward with her life?

From the cover, you could assume that this book is an easy, pick-up put-down read with plenty of laughs, but looks can be deceiving. There are moments of humour in this book but there is also a deeper, emotional element that is dealt with in a very sensitive and authentic way. I guessed the twist early on but that didn't take away from the characters or story and I cared so much for Caitlin and wanted to see her flourish from beginning to end. I'm warning you now, the tears they came a calling, so have your tissues at the ready when you sit down to read THE MATCHMAKER because you will definitely need them.

​THE MATCHMAKER by Catriona Innes is about the highs and lows of love and life and will touch your heart in many ways. Catriona Innes certainly has a new fan in me.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chick-Lit and Romance aren’t normally the genre I read, I prefer a dark gritty crime thriller, but something about the blurb above really interested me so I jumped at the chance to read it and take part in the blogtour to celebrate the publication day on 28th November.

The Matchmaker starts off in the usual rom-com way (light-hearted with some slapstick situations) and I must admit that for the first several chapters I was wondering if I had made a mistake and should stick to the gore and murders, however I carried on and I am so glad I did.

Caitlin Carter is a matchmaker, she finds love for other people, she has a gift of finding the perfect match and all she wants to do is share the happiness and love she has with her husband Harry with her clients to ensure they find their significant other. However Caitlin is hiding the truth about her marriage and eventually the truth has a way of coming out which potentially could ruin her business and reputation.

It’s difficult to review this book without going into too much detail and giving away spoilers, so all I can say at this stage is that The Matchmaker is more than a rom-com/chick-lit book, it’s about love and hope, loss and grief, friends and family and at the heart of the story is the wonderful, brave and caring character, Caitlin Carter.

Yes, I cried (can’t believe I just admitted that in public), yes, I got emotionally involved and attached to the characters and storyline, yes, I definitely recommend it and yes, I will be reading more by this author.

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caitlin Carter is a matchmaker, and she's perfect for this job, usually depending on her gut feeling when matching people together and usually having right! She simply wants to share love, happiness and joy that she herself shares with her husband Harry. But while everything is well on the job - front and it even attracts celebrities, Caitlin is, in fact, hiding the truth about her marriage, worrying about the reputation of her business.

The characters were well written, however I couldn't connect with them. Also, I couldn't understand, for example, what was the point of adding the Instagram influencer subplot, she was so unsympathetic and in the end, well, it didn't add much to the story, right?

Altogether, right from the beginning, there was something missing from the story for me. I think my main problem is that I was expecting something totally different - a light - hearted, lovely story with the promised humour. However, it turned out that the book is rather sad, sometimes even depressing and I didn't get any of the positive vibes that I was hoping for. Also, I think that keeping the "secret" a secret for so long was not the best idea. Yes, I was wondering what has happened with Harry, has he left, betrayed, run away, went on a journey around the world on his bicycle, no idea, but eventually it started to feel too flat, you know? There was no tension, no interest more and Caitlyn's actions and reactions stopped making some sense. Sure, I've guessed what has happened, and this time it turned out I was right but to be honest this revelation didn't have any impact on me. On the other hand, after the secret becoming an open case, the book focused only on this part and it felt as if I was reading two different stories.

"The Matchmaker" touches upon reality and the unfairness of life, not too light but also not too deep. I am really sad that it didn't wow me, that it didn't work for me as much as I hoped but it doesn't mean that it wouldn't work for you - I've seen also raving reviews of this book. Actually, I've notice people are in two minds about this story, while some says it was full of emotions and feelings the others state that it lacked in those features, and unfortunately I belong to the latter ones - but I mean it's because of my own expectations and however clichéd it sounds, book - it's not you, it's me.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I just didn't get the gist of this one. The blurb appealed, but the book seemed to be very different.

Caitlin has her own matchmaking business. She has had successes, but none so great as her own marriage to Harry. She doesn't invest in modern methods, believing in the old fashioned way and trusting her gut instincts. The business is going from strength to strength, and is even attracting celebrities. How much better could life be?

I'm not sure what I expected from this novel but, in all honesty, I found it hard going. I'm sure there are others who will find the wit and cleverness referred to in the blurb, but it's not one for me. Right from the beginning, there was something missing in the story and it was fairly obvious things weren't as they seemed - it just took an awful long time to get there. I struggled through it but was relieved to reach the end. I'm fairly certain it just wasn't for me - we can't all like every book, after all - and that other readers will 'get it'. Sadly, it's two stars from me.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf

[The Glass House Online Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Breath of Fresh Air in a Tinder Obsessed World

This book is a perfect example of why I love to take part in blog tours. I have come to enjoy reading books outside of my 'norm' and discovering new authors that will become firm favourites in the future. I can honestly say that not only will this book be one for recommending to many others, but Catriona Innes will also be an author to keep my eyes open for in the future.

When I first read the blurb, I expected a nice easy 'sunday morning' style novel. One where I got the warm and fuzzies and could whip through the pages feeling satisfied by a happy ever after, but I think the blub is a little deceiving.

The Matchmaker has more depth than I expected. More emotion, more roundness of character and much more heart. Catriona Innes writes with such heart and emotion and truly makes you feel for the characters on the page. Her descriptions and small but perfectly places observations paint the world on the page and carve Catriona's secrets right onto your heart.

Without giving away any spoilers, I truly feel Innes tackled the issues in this book with such sensitivity and truth. I felt all the emotions alongside Catilin and championed until the very last page. Although the 'twist' was fairly obvious early on, it did not stop the tear from prickling, or the ball from forming in my throat. There were no big surprises, no big 'what?' moments, but the charm of the book meant I did not once miss a shocking twist. Instead, I allowed myself to simply enjoy being on the journey with Caitlin.

Innes reminds us that in a world where we are so obsessed with social media apps, finding our 'mate' by swiping left and right, it's reassuring to know that deep down in our souls, if we listen we can still hear that whisper, and feel that 'kick'.If you are a fan of David Nichol or Nicholas Sparks, The Matchmaker will see you adding Catriona Innes to your list of favourite authors. Heart, soul, love, and pain. The Matchmaker has it all.

Reviewed by Emma-Claire Wilson for The Glass House Book Club

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlin Carter loves her job, but lately it seems that she is living only to work… she is married but no one has seen her husband for a while, is she still married? Her job is not working as well as she wants but she is ready to do anything she can to help it; a strong advertisement, a famous client… but before everything starts to work she will have to solve some personal problems that she has been postponing for a while. Ready?
This had been a refreshing but deep read, with humour and touching characters you can not stop reading till the last page!
I was totally surprised with this book, is Christmassy, funny but it felt so real and charming that I felt part of the Cait family since the beginning. Because she is not perfect, she has some very good friends/co-workers but is so scared to deceive them that she is keeping all her feelings hidden from all of them. But this was one of those times that you could totally relate with the main character, I could understand her fear and pain; but she knows too that sooner or later the truth will be revealed, with consequences, of course.
There are some really hilarious situations in the book, because you’ll be able to read some of the first dates that Cait arranges as a Matchmaker, with the funny situations and sparkles too! Because we can’t never forget that the first date can go really well or really bad! But don’t worry, Cait is really good in her job, so having a bad date is not something that happens often on her dates!
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a few hours surrounded by love, friendship and humour; because what’s more important during Christmas that your loved ones around you?

[Vanessa (bookfairy95) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Das perfekte Date" war eine schöne Story, die mich zwar durchaus zum nachdenken gebracht hat und mich in der ersten Hälfte auch emotional gemacht hat... richtig einnehmen konnte sie jedoch nicht...

Besonders am Anfang war die Story wirklich sehr gut geschrieben. Man hat gerätselt wo Harry denn wohl sein mag und was wohl zwischen den beiden passiert sein mag, denn, dass etwas nicht zu 100% in Ordnung war hat man schnell gemerkt. Ich hatte natürlich so meine Theorien und tatsächlich lag ich eine Weile mit meiner Theorie auch richtig, allerdings hatte ich diese dann irgendwann doch verworfen, weil es nicht so richtig zu passen schien. Als es dann schließlich doch so kam war ich geschockt, emotional und habe sogar ein paar Tränen in den Augen gehabt.

Leider fiel die Geschichte danach doch etwas flach für mich aus. Ich hatte mir Romance gewünscht. Eine zweite Chance in der Liebe und das habe ich nicht bekommen. Dieses Buch behandelt schwierige Themen von Verlust und Heilung, allerdings fehlte mir das gewisse Etwas. Und es gab ja sogar einen Kandidaten..... und das Kapitel mit Willem hat dann auch irgendwie einen schlechten Nachgeschmack gehabt...

Alles in allem denke ich, dass die Themen in diesem Buch Themen sind die wichtig sind und die in diesem Genre vielleicht öfters behandelt werden sollten. Trotzdem hat mir etwas gefehlt und vielleicht bin ich auch mit etwas falschen Erwartungen an dieses Buch herangegangen... Ein Happy End im klassischen Sinne gab es jedoch nicht.

[Lily · Rating 1 out of 5]

For f*ck’s sake, if you want to write a novel with chapter after chapter of blandly-written breakdowns and focus on the deep bonds of female friendship, don’t give it a cutesy cover and put it in the romance section.

What I was hoping for: A cool protagonist who continuously matches people together using a combination of intuition, sensitivity, and flawless execution. Her own relationship, though seemingly ideal, is unhappy, and she begins falling in love with someone else, which is obviously stressful given her profession.

What I got: A pathetically incompetent protagonist who wears wigs to shadow her clients, often forgets valuable details about them, and impersonates staff members/spills wine on her clients to “help”. There is no information on how she really creates good matches, which could have been really fun to read about: just two very strange dates. There is literally not ONE likeable character in the book, and the longer you read for, the worse it gets.

The first half sets you up to believe her husband is cheating on her. Then PLOT TWIST: he’s actually dead. The second half then focuses on how she stops pretending he’s not dead (no-one knew except their families, apparently), and how amazing her husband actually was and how much she misses him. Which version do we believe, the one where they fought every day or the one where he’s posthumously an absolute Prince Charming?

This is not a romance novel. This is an annoying-protagonist-gets-her-groove-back kind of novel. 0/10 would not recommend.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off as a bit of light relief after reading some intense (but brilliant) crime and psychological thrillers. It soon became apparent that this book was much deeper than I realised and the emotional narrative of love and loss took centre stage.
Caitlin is a professional matchmaker, building her fame and reputation on her ability to find perfect relationships just like her own with Harry. Gradually, little clues are dropped that Caitlin’s life is not so picture perfect and her marriage is full of secrets.
The reveal half way through the book is heartbreaking and raw. Author Catriona Innes’ writing is impressive in the way it changes direction.
Caitlin is an interesting character to review as she has worked hard to create a social media identity, but reality is very different. As an influencer, content creator, blogger (whatever I am!) I try to present my real life on my blog and social media but most of the time it is only the best photos that end up on there and there may have been ten or more attempts to get the kids smiling. Plus the difficulty of capturing our experiences to put on the internet means that some of the pictures are slightly staged (and I try to cut out a lot of the mess in our house!)
There is plenty of humour in The Matchmaker which softens the intensity of the emotional narrative in the second half of the book. Overall, this is a real rollercoaster of a book in terms of the hope and heartache, drama and mystery, laughter and tears.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may look like a light hearted read but even though it is uplifting, it is actually quite sad!

The story centres around Caitlin, a professional matchmaker...but there is so much more to it. To the outside world, she has the perfect life, the kind of life that people want to replicate and therefore sign up for her matchmaking service. But her life isn't what it seems, I won't give anything away as it is pivotal to the plot.

Social media pressure and the detrimental impact it can cause is explored. We all know that what is presented on Instagram etc is not a fair reality of peoples lives generally. The pressure to be perceived as perfect is a theme that comes through really strongly.

My main takeaway from this book is how important love in every part of our lives. It is not all about the romantic relationships, it is your friends, your parents, your colleagues....these all contribute to your wellbeing, growth and sense of self.

I enjoyed it overall. I could tell how it was going to evolve quite early on but that is not a negative on the storyline and the messages in it.

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[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful mix of witty dialogue, amusing episodes and poignant moments where grief and loss are exposed. Caitlin's secret gnaws away at her and erodes all her friendships and family relationships. She tries to bury her raw feelings and her true situation is only revealed to the reader as the story evolves.

The writing is fluent and easy to read so it is one of those that when you start, you just have to keep going to the end. There are some lovely cameos from the cast of characters and Caitlin's attempts to smooth the way for the people she has matched leads to some laugh out loud moments. You see some attempt to come to terms with the past and learn to be honest, so that they can move on. There is a real seam of humanity running through the centre of the story and in the end, authenticity proves to be the winner.

In short: light and dark- love and loss. Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I loved the description on the back of the book! But I didn't find this novel to be smart, witty or sharp. It did not live up to the blurb. This novel was so ridiculous and contrived to me. I couldn't stop cringing and getting angry. As someone actually experiencing grief after the losses of multiple loved ones, I couldn't relate to Caitlin at all. I didn't like her best friend Verity either. Why does grief/the death of her husband have to be some big secret? Her reasoning didn't make sense and I don't like that this was the mystery, 'the big reveal'. This novel disgusted me. I don't recommend to anyone. This was not fun or fluffy. DNF about 60% of the way through.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising gem of a book, it sounded interesting from the blurb however the story was far better than I anticipated and well told from the perspective of Caitlin who is the Matchmaker of the title. The concept of a matchmaker in the era of Twitter was quirky and Caitlin operates in an unusual way, mostly relying on her own gut instinct and supporting the dates during their initial interaction. The cast of characters were all delightful and the story unfolded well, there were no real surprises for me however I really enjoyed this gentle and heartfelt tale.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be another cheesy love story about a cheating husband and finding love again — and while Caitlin did find love, it was in her friends and family, in her job and her life, not a partner. There’s something raw about her grief, how, even after a year, it’s still an open wound that she won’t let heal — because that would mean letting Harry go, in a sense. I really enjoyed this and her journey to accepting that her life HAD to be different now, and that she was going to change, but it wasn’t a bad thing. A really nice read <3

[Pam Devine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will struggle to write this review without giving away spoilers. This book is marketed as chicklit and, while there are solid elements of this, the book isn't the entirely uplifting read that one would think from the blurb. I was hoping for and expecting a lighter hearted but this wasn't that. The characters were all a little too "in their own box" and I didn't get a fantastic level of depth with them. That being said the book did have some funny first date moments which did make me smile.

[Rebecca Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much that it made me want to use all of the clichés in my review…

‘Thought-provoking’

‘It made me laugh and cry’

‘A rollercoaster of emotions’

‘I couldn’t put it down’ / ‘unputdownable’

Full review on my blog, here: https://theoverduebookreview.wordpres...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of chick lit, you'll love it. It's an uplifting read that gives you a sense of empowerment, reminding you that you are the master (or mistress) of your own destiny and, whatever life throws at you, you can reinvent your own destiny and find your happy ending.

Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...

[Abigail Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

First heard about it in Cosmopolitan and loved the idea behind it! Wasn’t just your usual happily ever after story that many romance books are but had some impressive twists that made it feel so much more real and genuine

[Laurie Grainger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but the pace dropped in places and I didn't entirely believe the plot twist despite having worked it out well before the big reveal. The writing was warm and witty and the characters and setting worked over all, but the holiday abroad was overwritten and the ending lacked impact.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An easy read. I predicted the plot twist early on and found the second half a slower read than the first.

[Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than expected - actually quite enjoyed it. A light read but covering serious issues. Guessed the plot twist but I think possibly you’re meant to?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burner but ultimately a lot of heart in this story.

[Roha Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its 7 am in the morning and I am crying!!! OMG this was such an emotional rollercoster of a book. I can't stop crying!

[Liezl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about keeping up appearances then letting it all come crashing down... a reminder to celebrate love in all its glorious forms ❤

[N.L. Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlin is an expert in love, that's why she is a matchmaker. But she is hiding her own secrets and soon she will have to be honest to those around her and admit love isn't perfect.

This novel takes a somber tone, where reality kicks in and this narrative does not follow your everyday romance novel but shows you a realistic outcome. I loved how Innes put in some red herrings that I assumed would be the love interest and was completely wrong.

This novel is told in 3rd person through the main character, but with each character being just as important.

This novel had me intrigued and with tears rolling down my face in many different chapters but was well worth it.

[Sukanitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it's good, some parts are boring like a diary style. It's kind of love story, no excitement.

[Roslyn Devlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. Easy to read, but also good story line. A bit predictable, but not in a bad way.