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Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club
A new heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.
Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud--she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast.
In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life.
Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud--she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast.
In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
153 people are currently reading
12116 people want to read
About the author
Roselle Lim
7 books1,000 followersRoselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood.
She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels.
An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words."
She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels.
An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews
March 21, 2022
I think this is the finest, sweetest, most well executed work of Roselle Lim. Another exemplary story of vivid magical realism meets with Eastern symbolism with romantic vibes. This is more a self growth, learning to love yourself women’s fiction than a romance ( actually our smart, gold hearted , determined heroine Sophie’s love story takes only minor part of the book)
The book is mostly focused on Sophie’s working too hard to sharpen her matchmaking skills to bring octogenarians together for helping them have their HEAs by acting against very demanding and strict Chinese mother’s wishes.
There are so many lovable crowd of supporting characters in this book with their well crafted stories that make you sigh and put a smile on your face. But I have to admit I was so close to punch Sophie’s mother at several times for treating her daughter so unfairly. She acted a worse kind of villanelle and I hated the guts of her! But Ms. Lim is talented enough to find a way to make us forgive that character by wrapping up the story in a most harmonized way.
If you read the previous books of Roselle Lim, you already know how she can create real magic with words, melting our hearts with dreamy and promising stories that give us hope, happy smiles and cries at the same time! This book is truly special and you shouldn’t miss it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
The book is mostly focused on Sophie’s working too hard to sharpen her matchmaking skills to bring octogenarians together for helping them have their HEAs by acting against very demanding and strict Chinese mother’s wishes.
There are so many lovable crowd of supporting characters in this book with their well crafted stories that make you sigh and put a smile on your face. But I have to admit I was so close to punch Sophie’s mother at several times for treating her daughter so unfairly. She acted a worse kind of villanelle and I hated the guts of her! But Ms. Lim is talented enough to find a way to make us forgive that character by wrapping up the story in a most harmonized way.
If you read the previous books of Roselle Lim, you already know how she can create real magic with words, melting our hearts with dreamy and promising stories that give us hope, happy smiles and cries at the same time! This book is truly special and you shouldn’t miss it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
June 13, 2022
the real romance in this book is between the protagonist and desserts.
and that's a love story i can get behind.
there are such insanely, wildly yummy food descriptions in this book that it's almost impossible to focus on anything else. and i am double not complaining, because 1) food is the best thing about being alive, and it isn't close, and 2) ...i didn't like a few of the other aspects.
this book was, to put it simply, very silly, both in good ways and bad! it's light magical realism about matchmakers who can see connections (literally), and our protagonist is cute and goofy and (dare i say it) quirky and spends most of the book befriending septuagenarians. it's fun.
but the same unrealistic vibe was brought to other, more serious storylines? our main character's relationship with her parents was almost surreal in how non-negotiably awful and almost cartoonish it was, to the point of being out of tune with the rest of the book. a subplot involving said protagonist's financial status was nearly absurd. there was a nightmarish third-act plot point that i felt did nothing but detract from the rest of the story.
and yet...the lighthearted parts were completely adorable?
i untagged this as romance (because it really isn't one!) but it's a very sweet contemporary, with bonus fun magical realism components, and i'll try this author again for sure!
bottom line: a very fun time, except for when it wasn't!
------------
currently-reading updates
i added this book to my tbr and then 2 days later the publisher sent it to me.
i love my life.
(thank you netgalley etc)
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
and that's a love story i can get behind.
there are such insanely, wildly yummy food descriptions in this book that it's almost impossible to focus on anything else. and i am double not complaining, because 1) food is the best thing about being alive, and it isn't close, and 2) ...i didn't like a few of the other aspects.
this book was, to put it simply, very silly, both in good ways and bad! it's light magical realism about matchmakers who can see connections (literally), and our protagonist is cute and goofy and (dare i say it) quirky and spends most of the book befriending septuagenarians. it's fun.
but the same unrealistic vibe was brought to other, more serious storylines? our main character's relationship with her parents was almost surreal in how non-negotiably awful and almost cartoonish it was, to the point of being out of tune with the rest of the book. a subplot involving said protagonist's financial status was nearly absurd. there was a nightmarish third-act plot point that i felt did nothing but detract from the rest of the story.
and yet...the lighthearted parts were completely adorable?
i untagged this as romance (because it really isn't one!) but it's a very sweet contemporary, with bonus fun magical realism components, and i'll try this author again for sure!
bottom line: a very fun time, except for when it wasn't!
------------
currently-reading updates
i added this book to my tbr and then 2 days later the publisher sent it to me.
i love my life.
(thank you netgalley etc)
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
July 27, 2025
Alright so this rating is really throwing me off to be quite honest. I didn’t want to rate this so low because I absolutely loved the elderly men (the Old Ducks club). If it would’ve focussed solely on them - this book would’ve gotten a 4 stars from me.
I sincerely didn’t expect this book to focus on toxic parental relationship. To the point this needed trigger warnings. The manipulation, disrespect, financial/physical/psychological/verbal violence, requesting for money nonstop, undermining her, humiliating her in front of everyone and ruining her career, etc. (I swear, this list could go on and on).
I sincerely thought I’d DNF the whole way through. This book doesn’t put emphasis on the fact that it’s unacceptable. For 95% of it - it’s almost normalized! To the point where it’s frequently written : they’re your family, the only parents you have, you have to help them out for all they did for you, etc. It just wasn’t worth the 5% of resolution at the end.
And just let me finish on this note ; it’s not because they’re your *family* that you need to put up with anything. It’s completely okay to cut out toxic *family* members and don’t let anyone guilt trip you about this.
I sincerely didn’t expect this book to focus on toxic parental relationship. To the point this needed trigger warnings. The manipulation, disrespect, financial/physical/psychological/verbal violence, requesting for money nonstop, undermining her, humiliating her in front of everyone and ruining her career, etc. (I swear, this list could go on and on).
I sincerely thought I’d DNF the whole way through. This book doesn’t put emphasis on the fact that it’s unacceptable. For 95% of it - it’s almost normalized! To the point where it’s frequently written : they’re your family, the only parents you have, you have to help them out for all they did for you, etc. It just wasn’t worth the 5% of resolution at the end.
And just let me finish on this note ; it’s not because they’re your *family* that you need to put up with anything. It’s completely okay to cut out toxic *family* members and don’t let anyone guilt trip you about this.
August 25, 2022
Review coming soon.
August 9, 2022
i haven’t smiled this much in my entire life i hated her mom so much i wanted to throw my kindle but the rest of the time i was absolutely giddy
April 20, 2022
Sophie has come back to Toronto after attending a matchmaking school in Shanghai. Her first clients are a group of older gentlemen who call themselves the Old Ducks. Her mother is a greedy harridan who has tried to undermine Sophie at every turn, disrespecting her daughter--demanding money to satisfy her need for prestige and higher status. (Mother wants a diamond tennis bracelet? A dinner at an expensive restaurant to impress her new friends? Sophie must pay for them, or else she is an ungrateful daughter.) Sophie learns the hard way that family isn't always our blood relatives, and that she is indeed worthy of love. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
August 17, 2022
I loved this heartwarming, feel-good coming of age story featuring a young Chinese Canadian woman who returns home to Toronto to help establish herself as a matchmaker.
I loved the touch of magical realism in this story that has Sophie gifted to see people's 'red strings' - the thing that indicates someone's potential for love matches. Sophie gets taken in by a group of seniors she calls the old 'ducks' and sets about making matches to win them over and get endorsements. She also has to deal with a toxic mother who belittles her work and is constantly putting her down.
Great on audio and truly a pleasure to read. This was a magical story in so many ways, full of found family, memorable characters and perfect for fans of books like Jean Meltzer's Mr. Perfect on paper. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I loved the touch of magical realism in this story that has Sophie gifted to see people's 'red strings' - the thing that indicates someone's potential for love matches. Sophie gets taken in by a group of seniors she calls the old 'ducks' and sets about making matches to win them over and get endorsements. She also has to deal with a toxic mother who belittles her work and is constantly putting her down.
Great on audio and truly a pleasure to read. This was a magical story in so many ways, full of found family, memorable characters and perfect for fans of books like Jean Meltzer's Mr. Perfect on paper. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 28, 2022
So freaking good. Amazing Asian representation!! And Toronto!!
August 9, 2022
After enjoying Roselle Lim's previous novels, I was excited to read Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club. I can easily tell you that this is her best one yet. This is also the second book I've read about matchmaking this year that I've fallen in love with. (The first being The Matchmaker's Gift.)
The story was just fantastic the whole way through. I loved Sophie's relationship with the Old Ducks and how they looked after her. Sophie's mom was so frustrating and borderline abusive. She was definitely the conflict in the story, since Sophie would have been on the road to success if not for her. Even so, she did her a favor because Sophie might not have met the Old Ducks otherwise. In any case, I just wanted Sophie to just cut her mom out of her life without any regrets.
I like how Sophie went about making the matches. She was so genuine and thoughtful about each one. The nicknames she gave everyone were great, even though I ended up forgetting why some had the nicknames they had earned. Confession: I almost confused Mr. Particular and Mr. Porcupine a couple of times. However, Mr. Particular was a lot easier to warm to...
The story just felt so honest and earnest. There were also great descriptions of people, settings, and even food. It made me wish I could go to Toronto right now! I encourage you to check it out as soon as it hits shelves this month. It's a sweet and unique love story that will get you teary-eyed at times!
Movie casting suggestions:
Sophie: Adeline Rudolph
The story was just fantastic the whole way through. I loved Sophie's relationship with the Old Ducks and how they looked after her. Sophie's mom was so frustrating and borderline abusive. She was definitely the conflict in the story, since Sophie would have been on the road to success if not for her. Even so, she did her a favor because Sophie might not have met the Old Ducks otherwise. In any case, I just wanted Sophie to just cut her mom out of her life without any regrets.
I like how Sophie went about making the matches. She was so genuine and thoughtful about each one. The nicknames she gave everyone were great, even though I ended up forgetting why some had the nicknames they had earned. Confession: I almost confused Mr. Particular and Mr. Porcupine a couple of times. However, Mr. Particular was a lot easier to warm to...
The story just felt so honest and earnest. There were also great descriptions of people, settings, and even food. It made me wish I could go to Toronto right now! I encourage you to check it out as soon as it hits shelves this month. It's a sweet and unique love story that will get you teary-eyed at times!
Movie casting suggestions:
Sophie: Adeline Rudolph
Mr. Particular: Ludi Lin
Sophie's mom: Kelly Hu
Yanmei: Leah Lewis
Mr. Durian: George Takei
Mr. Porcupine: Tzi Ma
Mr. Regret: Chow Yun-Fat
August 5, 2022
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑
Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim is a heartwarming story of love, loneliness, and the power of love to heal.
Sophie Go is back in Toronto after attending a matchmaking school in Shanghai. She’s ready to take on the Toronto matchmaking scene with her new skills. However, her own mother outs her at a large party as a fraud. Her mother is partially right, she did fail to graduate from the matchmaking school, but all she needs are a few clients to prove herself and she’ll be able to petition the school to get her qualifications.
Sophie, now unable to find any clients due to her mother’s interference, is determined to prove herself as a matchmaker. She stumbles upon a group of older Chinese men who meet regularly in her apartment building and they call themselves the Old Ducks. She overhears them discussing their loneliness, and decides to make a deal with them to find matches for them.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club is a very heartwarming story. Sophie has a terrible relationship with her family, especially her mother, and only has her best friend, who still lives in Shanghai. Her mother is horrible, and a bit over the top terrible, and I never did understand her relationship with her parents.
The romance was pleasant and I was rooting for both of them to figure it out. Sophie doesn’t believe that as a matchmaker, she can be matched to anyone. But, the romance was definitely the second place to Sophie’s own growth and realization of her own worth. Working with the Old Ducks and finding clients, and making impossible matches does more for her self-esteem than anything else.
There is a bit of magical realism which just added to the beautiful story. I loved how Sophie could see the red threads and know who was destined to be matched and to whom. For me, it added a bit of whimsy to the story that I just loved.
I highly recommend Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club to anyone who enjoys Women’s Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim is a heartwarming story of love, loneliness, and the power of love to heal.
Sophie Go is back in Toronto after attending a matchmaking school in Shanghai. She’s ready to take on the Toronto matchmaking scene with her new skills. However, her own mother outs her at a large party as a fraud. Her mother is partially right, she did fail to graduate from the matchmaking school, but all she needs are a few clients to prove herself and she’ll be able to petition the school to get her qualifications.
Sophie, now unable to find any clients due to her mother’s interference, is determined to prove herself as a matchmaker. She stumbles upon a group of older Chinese men who meet regularly in her apartment building and they call themselves the Old Ducks. She overhears them discussing their loneliness, and decides to make a deal with them to find matches for them.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club is a very heartwarming story. Sophie has a terrible relationship with her family, especially her mother, and only has her best friend, who still lives in Shanghai. Her mother is horrible, and a bit over the top terrible, and I never did understand her relationship with her parents.
The romance was pleasant and I was rooting for both of them to figure it out. Sophie doesn’t believe that as a matchmaker, she can be matched to anyone. But, the romance was definitely the second place to Sophie’s own growth and realization of her own worth. Working with the Old Ducks and finding clients, and making impossible matches does more for her self-esteem than anything else.
There is a bit of magical realism which just added to the beautiful story. I loved how Sophie could see the red threads and know who was destined to be matched and to whom. For me, it added a bit of whimsy to the story that I just loved.
I highly recommend Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club to anyone who enjoys Women’s Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 16, 2022
Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club
by Roselle Lim
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Pub Date: Aug 16
Sophie, the diffident but lovable MC, is a matchmaker without credentials trying to succeed in the tough Toronto market. Her mother is emotionally abusive and it's no wonder Sophie lacks confidence.
But all that is soon to change when she discovers a secret group -- the Old Ducks -- in her condo community. They're seventy-something men looking for love and the relationship she develops with them is my favorite part of the book. Poignant, hopeful, utterly compelling, and highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#SophieGosLonelyHeartsClub #Roselle Lim #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #matchmakerfiction #HEAfiction #bookstagramcommunity
by Roselle Lim
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Pub Date: Aug 16
Sophie, the diffident but lovable MC, is a matchmaker without credentials trying to succeed in the tough Toronto market. Her mother is emotionally abusive and it's no wonder Sophie lacks confidence.
But all that is soon to change when she discovers a secret group -- the Old Ducks -- in her condo community. They're seventy-something men looking for love and the relationship she develops with them is my favorite part of the book. Poignant, hopeful, utterly compelling, and highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#SophieGosLonelyHeartsClub #Roselle Lim #berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley #matchmakerfiction #HEAfiction #bookstagramcommunity
October 28, 2022
After reading Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune, I was very taken with Roselle Lim’s writing and characterizations. Her delightful portrayal of her Asian American backdrop and characters brought a gentle story into vivid life. I spotted this latest release set in Toronto, Canada with another Asian heroine needing to find her way and I confidently settled in for a comfy coze.
Sophie has recently returned from Matchmaker training in Shanghai and is setting up in her own lovely place within a condo complex in Toronto. She has confidence in her ability to be a successful matchmaker and establish herself right up until her own mother sabotages her chances at an easy acquisition of clients by telling a whole social gathering her daughter is a liar and a fraud- she didn’t finish her training.
Her mother wants her living at home under her thumb, taking the bank job for steady, but boring existence, and never forgetting that mother knows best and Sophie needs to apologize and show respect.
Fortunately, Sophie’s one bid for independence and self-satisfaction in her work brought her into contact with a quirky group of seniors in her building who are called the Old Ducks. Most wouldn’t notice or would consider them too high maintenance, but Sophie’s big matchmaking heart sees hurting, lonely people who need her brand of help and she dives in to fun results.
Somewhere along the way, Sophie starts to find herself, a bit of romance, and the importance of found family.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club was light and quirky in general, but has some strong undercurrents of more. Her parents were toxic, to put it bluntly, and, because of the Asian culture, Sophie comes from, to defer and show respect for parents and elders, she has been trapped and her esteem is in tatters. She broke free long enough to get trained and learn to love her calling of matchmaking only to have her mother’s hooks back into her when she returns and it is a tug o’ war who will be in charge of Sophie’s life. Her mother was a particular over the top shrew of a character and I was waiting for the big money moment when Sophie would finally give her back some of her own.
While there is a bit of a romance for Sophie and I was cheering for her to step away from fear and doubt for the chance (she had been taught that matchmakers never got their own romance and her mother definitely didn’t give her what was needed to do well at a relationship), this is not a romance. This is the story of Sophie finding herself and finding the Old Ducks.
The Old Ducks were an impressive cast of seniors. They were a hoot and scrappy for their age even while they needed a different brand of stirring up. Sophie taught them that their old dreams of love and companionship could still be fulfilled. And, as they opened up and let her help work on their relationships, more of their lives grew colorful and exciting. The interactions with this group and Sophie was the best part.
Magical Realism fills the book with Sophie’s gift of seeing the potential connections or state of a person’s contentment with their romantic relationship situation as represented by red ribbons dangling from people that are only visible to Sophie.
All in all, it was a fun and poignant story that left me warmed and satisfied. It got frivolous at times, but this balanced with the serious elements, too. Those who want their chick lit or women’s fic flavored with humor and diversity should give Sophie a Go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Oct 19th.
Sophie has recently returned from Matchmaker training in Shanghai and is setting up in her own lovely place within a condo complex in Toronto. She has confidence in her ability to be a successful matchmaker and establish herself right up until her own mother sabotages her chances at an easy acquisition of clients by telling a whole social gathering her daughter is a liar and a fraud- she didn’t finish her training.
Her mother wants her living at home under her thumb, taking the bank job for steady, but boring existence, and never forgetting that mother knows best and Sophie needs to apologize and show respect.
Fortunately, Sophie’s one bid for independence and self-satisfaction in her work brought her into contact with a quirky group of seniors in her building who are called the Old Ducks. Most wouldn’t notice or would consider them too high maintenance, but Sophie’s big matchmaking heart sees hurting, lonely people who need her brand of help and she dives in to fun results.
Somewhere along the way, Sophie starts to find herself, a bit of romance, and the importance of found family.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club was light and quirky in general, but has some strong undercurrents of more. Her parents were toxic, to put it bluntly, and, because of the Asian culture, Sophie comes from, to defer and show respect for parents and elders, she has been trapped and her esteem is in tatters. She broke free long enough to get trained and learn to love her calling of matchmaking only to have her mother’s hooks back into her when she returns and it is a tug o’ war who will be in charge of Sophie’s life. Her mother was a particular over the top shrew of a character and I was waiting for the big money moment when Sophie would finally give her back some of her own.
While there is a bit of a romance for Sophie and I was cheering for her to step away from fear and doubt for the chance (she had been taught that matchmakers never got their own romance and her mother definitely didn’t give her what was needed to do well at a relationship), this is not a romance. This is the story of Sophie finding herself and finding the Old Ducks.
The Old Ducks were an impressive cast of seniors. They were a hoot and scrappy for their age even while they needed a different brand of stirring up. Sophie taught them that their old dreams of love and companionship could still be fulfilled. And, as they opened up and let her help work on their relationships, more of their lives grew colorful and exciting. The interactions with this group and Sophie was the best part.
Magical Realism fills the book with Sophie’s gift of seeing the potential connections or state of a person’s contentment with their romantic relationship situation as represented by red ribbons dangling from people that are only visible to Sophie.
All in all, it was a fun and poignant story that left me warmed and satisfied. It got frivolous at times, but this balanced with the serious elements, too. Those who want their chick lit or women’s fic flavored with humor and diversity should give Sophie a Go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Oct 19th.
January 3, 2022
I really loved Roselle Lim's first two books, but I think this is her best yet. The emotions are so rich and deep in this story about love and family and friendships. I definitely cried at the end.
September 5, 2022
I really enjoyed Roselle Lim's other books and wanted so much to like this one but it just didn't do it for me. There were a lot of storylines going on here and I'm not sure any one of them was executed well, except for maybe Sophie's developing relationships with the Old Ducks. Sophie's mother was just horrible and it made it very hard to read the book because that portion was so unpleasant and uncomfortable (and is not satisfactorily resolved in the end!). It was a near DNF for me.
Want to read
April 18, 2021April 17, 2021: author says 'magical matchmaking' and 'slow burn romance', okay sounds so good.
October 22, 2022
Sweet book!
Read
January 26, 2022I went into Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Clubs with no idea what kind of book I was reading, and honestly—I was not expecting what the story had to offer. Instead of a mere bubble gum romance, as the title suggests, the novel uses magical realism to further legitimize the professions of matchmakers. While I, personally was rather disinterested in Sophie’s love story (which was—to my pleasant surprise—only a minor plotline!), her attempts to matchmake the octogenarians throughout the novel creates the ultimate heart of the story (especially Mr. Durian and Mr. Dolphin). Despite the large cast of characters, Lim does a good job creating really vibrant characters with distinct personalities that made it easy to remember the sheer number of people Sophie interacted with. Also, Lim’s conscious decision to reference Toronto (and the Great Toronto Area with mentions to the other boroughs) was such a lovely touch to the book overall. Her attempts to create setting were quite vivid without overtaking the narrative itself.
That being said, the structural quality of Lim’s sentences veered on choppy and stilted at times. In fact, I’m quite curious how the novel will translate over to the audiobook format due to the overuse of simple/short sentences. While the characters and the setting were quite engaging, the narrative (due to the writing style) often struggled to move along at a steady pace. As a result, major developments in the plots felt abrupt and this made it difficult to construct a continuous reading process.
Furthermore—and this may be a testament to Lim’s writing ability—but Sophie’s mom was truly one of the worst characters I have ever read. She was just this horrible gaslighting, morally reprehensible, and incredibly abusive mother that I wanted to slap every time she showed up in the book. At times, I just wanted to stop reading because I was so frustrated with the way Sophie was treated. This particular plot-point may be a deterrent for a number of readers (and also quite triggering!), but I do think Lim adds an emotional quality to the book which proves she has the literary chops to build a diverse range of characters (from pieces of garbage to loveable characters).
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
That being said, the structural quality of Lim’s sentences veered on choppy and stilted at times. In fact, I’m quite curious how the novel will translate over to the audiobook format due to the overuse of simple/short sentences. While the characters and the setting were quite engaging, the narrative (due to the writing style) often struggled to move along at a steady pace. As a result, major developments in the plots felt abrupt and this made it difficult to construct a continuous reading process.
Furthermore—and this may be a testament to Lim’s writing ability—but Sophie’s mom was truly one of the worst characters I have ever read. She was just this horrible gaslighting, morally reprehensible, and incredibly abusive mother that I wanted to slap every time she showed up in the book. At times, I just wanted to stop reading because I was so frustrated with the way Sophie was treated. This particular plot-point may be a deterrent for a number of readers (and also quite triggering!), but I do think Lim adds an emotional quality to the book which proves she has the literary chops to build a diverse range of characters (from pieces of garbage to loveable characters).
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
July 22, 2022
I went into Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club with only a vague idea of what it would offer and I'm glad to say this book warmed my heart through Sophie and the Old Ducks' characters. I love the found family and intergenerational relationships developed throughout the story. Sophie's interactions with all seven of them and how she matched them with their pairs were so wholesome and with their distinct personalities it was fun to read their stories. Love the vibes of the Asian community in the book. Also, the magical realism aspect, about the red threads of fate connecting the couples.
Where it lacked was probably the pacing because some of the side plots felt rushed and the stagnant (for lack fo better word) writing didn't deliver the emotional impact sometimes and a certain plot point by the end felt abrupt. Besides, Sophie's own romance was a very minor plot line and while this book is all about love and connecting with the feeling, I do wish we'd gotten more of her relationship with Mr. Particular.
This is overall, a fun, emotional book with enjoyable character interactions!
thank you netgalley and berkley publishing for the ARC!
Where it lacked was probably the pacing because some of the side plots felt rushed and the stagnant (for lack fo better word) writing didn't deliver the emotional impact sometimes and a certain plot point by the end felt abrupt. Besides, Sophie's own romance was a very minor plot line and while this book is all about love and connecting with the feeling, I do wish we'd gotten more of her relationship with Mr. Particular.
This is overall, a fun, emotional book with enjoyable character interactions!
thank you netgalley and berkley publishing for the ARC!
August 1, 2023
The best part about this book is the descriptions of the food, because food is life. The real love story is between Sophie and food.
I feel like the relationship between Sophie and her parents was so toxic, they could never see eye to eye on anything. Her mother was one of the worst characters when it came to being judgmental and unsupportive of Sophie, that I almost didn't even finish reading the book.
The idea of matchmakers is interesting but I never know if it's really a career or just a hokes that people say is a career and make money off of desperate people wanting love.
I did like the touch of magical realism that was throughout this book with the whole 'red thread', being open for a soulmate. But I also felt bad for Sophie because she would never have a love interest or a 'red thread' because she was a matchmaker.
I found Sophie's nicknames for her clients to be hilarious. I did forget how some of the clients got their nicknames and did confuse them with each other a couple times as well.
Overall it's a good book but not 5 star worthy in my opinion.
I feel like the relationship between Sophie and her parents was so toxic, they could never see eye to eye on anything. Her mother was one of the worst characters when it came to being judgmental and unsupportive of Sophie, that I almost didn't even finish reading the book.
The idea of matchmakers is interesting but I never know if it's really a career or just a hokes that people say is a career and make money off of desperate people wanting love.
I did like the touch of magical realism that was throughout this book with the whole 'red thread', being open for a soulmate. But I also felt bad for Sophie because she would never have a love interest or a 'red thread' because she was a matchmaker.
I found Sophie's nicknames for her clients to be hilarious. I did forget how some of the clients got their nicknames and did confuse them with each other a couple times as well.
Overall it's a good book but not 5 star worthy in my opinion.
August 5, 2022
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim. Thanks to @berkleypub for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sophie Go is a new professional matchmaker but after her community finds out she didn’t actually graduate matchmaking school it’s difficult for her to find clients. Until she finds the Old Ducks, a group of bachelor Chinese septuagenarians open to finding love.
The best part of this story was the characters! I loved each of the old men and while there were a handful of them,
I didn’t get them mixed up. The author did a great job of writing unique personalities to remember. I also liked how there was a bit of magical realism, and also all the good food descriptions!! In the end though, it’s just not really my genre. I think if you like rom coms, you will enjoy this but it wasn’t my favorite.
“By default humans were shallow creatures seeking to mate with another who matched or exceeded the same level of beauty.”
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club comes out 8/16.
Sophie Go is a new professional matchmaker but after her community finds out she didn’t actually graduate matchmaking school it’s difficult for her to find clients. Until she finds the Old Ducks, a group of bachelor Chinese septuagenarians open to finding love.
The best part of this story was the characters! I loved each of the old men and while there were a handful of them,
I didn’t get them mixed up. The author did a great job of writing unique personalities to remember. I also liked how there was a bit of magical realism, and also all the good food descriptions!! In the end though, it’s just not really my genre. I think if you like rom coms, you will enjoy this but it wasn’t my favorite.
“By default humans were shallow creatures seeking to mate with another who matched or exceeded the same level of beauty.”
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club comes out 8/16.
September 5, 2022
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club is a whimsical and heartwarming story about overcoming loneliness and finding your place in this world. While it does contain a bit of romance, it is secondary to the main character’s journey to become who she was meant to be.
Sophie is a Chinese Canadian woman who has recently returned home to Toronto after studying to become a matchmaker in Shanghai. She is trying to establish herself as a professional matchmaker in her community but is carrying around a secret – due to circumstances beyond her control, she didn’t actually graduate from the matchmaker program. When Sophie attends a community event in hope of introducing herself and handing out her card to drum up business, her mother of all people outs Sophie as a fraud and seriously impairs her ability to secure clients. Sophie fears that all hope of becoming a matchmaker is lost until she stumbles upon a secret group called the Old Ducks. This group of elderly gentlemen has all but given up on love and have formed this group so they won’t be alone. After talking to Sophie, the Old Ducks agree to be her first clients.
Sophie’s growing bond with these Old Ducks are what really made this book a special read for me. One of the author’s biggest strengths is her ability to write vibrant and realistic characters and that strength really shines through in this book with Sophie and with the Old Ducks. As she gets to know each one of them, she becomes so invested in finding them a perfect match. I loved Sophie for her big heart and was touched by how much she wanted these men to find love again. On the flip side, I also adored the old men for the same reason because as they each got to know her, they began to treat her like family and became invested in her success and in her happiness. I loved this for Sophie, especially since her own family was not only lacking in support but her mother actually bordered on being verbally abusive.
While the characters are definitely the highlight of this story, I also loved the touch of magical realism the author gives us with respect to the matchmaking. As a matchmaker, Sophie is able to see red threads attached to people’s hearts. Matchmakers like Sophie read the movement of those threads in order to gauge whether or not her potential matches are meant to be together or not. I just loved this added touch of whimsy.
Lastly, I cannot leave off without mentioning the author’s ability to write the most delicious descriptions of food. Lim’s books always make me so hungry and this book was no exception, especially because Sophie has a major sweet tooth and is always looking for delicious sweet treats to satisfy her cravings.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club is an all around delight. Highly recommend to fans of women’s fiction, found families, and the healing power of friendship and love.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Sophie is a Chinese Canadian woman who has recently returned home to Toronto after studying to become a matchmaker in Shanghai. She is trying to establish herself as a professional matchmaker in her community but is carrying around a secret – due to circumstances beyond her control, she didn’t actually graduate from the matchmaker program. When Sophie attends a community event in hope of introducing herself and handing out her card to drum up business, her mother of all people outs Sophie as a fraud and seriously impairs her ability to secure clients. Sophie fears that all hope of becoming a matchmaker is lost until she stumbles upon a secret group called the Old Ducks. This group of elderly gentlemen has all but given up on love and have formed this group so they won’t be alone. After talking to Sophie, the Old Ducks agree to be her first clients.
Sophie’s growing bond with these Old Ducks are what really made this book a special read for me. One of the author’s biggest strengths is her ability to write vibrant and realistic characters and that strength really shines through in this book with Sophie and with the Old Ducks. As she gets to know each one of them, she becomes so invested in finding them a perfect match. I loved Sophie for her big heart and was touched by how much she wanted these men to find love again. On the flip side, I also adored the old men for the same reason because as they each got to know her, they began to treat her like family and became invested in her success and in her happiness. I loved this for Sophie, especially since her own family was not only lacking in support but her mother actually bordered on being verbally abusive.
While the characters are definitely the highlight of this story, I also loved the touch of magical realism the author gives us with respect to the matchmaking. As a matchmaker, Sophie is able to see red threads attached to people’s hearts. Matchmakers like Sophie read the movement of those threads in order to gauge whether or not her potential matches are meant to be together or not. I just loved this added touch of whimsy.
Lastly, I cannot leave off without mentioning the author’s ability to write the most delicious descriptions of food. Lim’s books always make me so hungry and this book was no exception, especially because Sophie has a major sweet tooth and is always looking for delicious sweet treats to satisfy her cravings.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club is an all around delight. Highly recommend to fans of women’s fiction, found families, and the healing power of friendship and love.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2022
Sophie spent the last three years out of the country training and studying to be a certified matchmaker. But something happened and she wasn’t able to get fully certified. She’s gone back to Canada and she can practice as a matchmaker but she can’t get certified until she meets certain requirements. So she doesn’t have a bunch of potential clients lined up.
She’s just moved into her new apartment and she’s met new neighbors. They are a group of older men who call themselves The Old Ducks. The Old Ducks have given up on love and are spending their golden years with their best friends.
Sophie decides to take on the Old Ducks as her clients. She talks the first person into it by offering to match him for free. She makes her first match rather quickly and she impresses the rest of the Ducks enough for them to employ her too.
In the midst of her challenges getting certified Sophie is also dealing with truly awful parents and wondering if she’s allowed to fall in love herself. Matchmakers are usually prohibited.
I loved the Old Ducks. But Sophie’s parents were so awful that I found myself wanting to skip sections of the book that were devoted to Sophie’s interactions with her parents. Her mom constantly used Sophie for money while also constantly belittling her. And her dad allows it because he’s either blind to her mom’s actions or not strong enough to stand up to her. I really didn’t enjoy the parts of the books that dealt with her interactions with her parents, it made me uncomfortable and I didn’t know how to give a heads up. I read content warnings on StoryGraph to see if anyone else found a way to explain it and they did: emotional abuse. I definitely agree. I thought this book would be lighter. I wish it was more Ducks and that the parents weren’t even part of the story.
She’s just moved into her new apartment and she’s met new neighbors. They are a group of older men who call themselves The Old Ducks. The Old Ducks have given up on love and are spending their golden years with their best friends.
Sophie decides to take on the Old Ducks as her clients. She talks the first person into it by offering to match him for free. She makes her first match rather quickly and she impresses the rest of the Ducks enough for them to employ her too.
In the midst of her challenges getting certified Sophie is also dealing with truly awful parents and wondering if she’s allowed to fall in love herself. Matchmakers are usually prohibited.
I loved the Old Ducks. But Sophie’s parents were so awful that I found myself wanting to skip sections of the book that were devoted to Sophie’s interactions with her parents. Her mom constantly used Sophie for money while also constantly belittling her. And her dad allows it because he’s either blind to her mom’s actions or not strong enough to stand up to her. I really didn’t enjoy the parts of the books that dealt with her interactions with her parents, it made me uncomfortable and I didn’t know how to give a heads up. I read content warnings on StoryGraph to see if anyone else found a way to explain it and they did: emotional abuse. I definitely agree. I thought this book would be lighter. I wish it was more Ducks and that the parents weren’t even part of the story.
August 14, 2022
"There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. "
SOPHIE GO’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Roselle Lim is a delightful women’s fiction novel with a touch of romance. Sophie is trying to start a new life as a matchmaker. Things are very complicated with her overbearing parents, and the limited amount of time that she has to get accredited as a matchmaker.
This story was delightful, humorous, and whimsical. We are introduced to the idea that Sophie sees red threads in the people who she is trying to match. Her goal is to find someone to connect their red thread to. Sophie starts by working with a group of septuagenarian men in her new apartment complex to find them matches. I fell in love with the “Old Ducks” and rooted for all of them to find a happily ever after. The author uses Sophie’s parents to explore Asian culture and family expectations in such an interesting way. I appreciated her perspective.
I found this a delightful read, and appreciated the whimsical yet serious nature of the story. I recommend Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy, and I was not required to write a positive review.
SOPHIE GO’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Roselle Lim is a delightful women’s fiction novel with a touch of romance. Sophie is trying to start a new life as a matchmaker. Things are very complicated with her overbearing parents, and the limited amount of time that she has to get accredited as a matchmaker.
This story was delightful, humorous, and whimsical. We are introduced to the idea that Sophie sees red threads in the people who she is trying to match. Her goal is to find someone to connect their red thread to. Sophie starts by working with a group of septuagenarian men in her new apartment complex to find them matches. I fell in love with the “Old Ducks” and rooted for all of them to find a happily ever after. The author uses Sophie’s parents to explore Asian culture and family expectations in such an interesting way. I appreciated her perspective.
I found this a delightful read, and appreciated the whimsical yet serious nature of the story. I recommend Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy, and I was not required to write a positive review.
June 25, 2022
Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pub Date: August 16, 2022
I went into this book with very low expectations because I didn't know much about the premise or the author...and I was definitely wow'd! This book was such a captivating story, and it pulled me in from start to finish. This is such an exemplary story of magical realism, Eastern symbolism, and romanticism. I found this to be more accurately described as a women's fiction than a romance, but it really had all the elements of both.
I loved Sophie! She was such a caring, kind, endearing character, and I was so invested in her. The supporting characters were also flawless in this story! I just thought everything worked in this book from start to finish, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! As much as Sophie motivated me with her determination...her mother straight up vexed me, and not in the Anthony-Bridgerton-vexing-style. Her mother made me want to scream at times! I know that was the point of her character, but still. By the end, all was forgiven by not forgotten by me. 😂
This book was just magical and I cannot recommend it enough!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pub Date: August 16, 2022
I went into this book with very low expectations because I didn't know much about the premise or the author...and I was definitely wow'd! This book was such a captivating story, and it pulled me in from start to finish. This is such an exemplary story of magical realism, Eastern symbolism, and romanticism. I found this to be more accurately described as a women's fiction than a romance, but it really had all the elements of both.
I loved Sophie! She was such a caring, kind, endearing character, and I was so invested in her. The supporting characters were also flawless in this story! I just thought everything worked in this book from start to finish, and I was just so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it! As much as Sophie motivated me with her determination...her mother straight up vexed me, and not in the Anthony-Bridgerton-vexing-style. Her mother made me want to scream at times! I know that was the point of her character, but still. By the end, all was forgiven by not forgotten by me. 😂
This book was just magical and I cannot recommend it enough!
August 20, 2022
Roselle Lim did a fantastic job of mixing heartbreaking topics alongside a novel that was heartwarming. Adding in the amazing ability to describe food that made me wishing I was eating alongside it, I am now digging into Lim's backlist wondering what I have missed.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
July 9, 2022
My, oh my. What a ride.
At its heart, Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club is a found family story. Not a love story. And it's one worth reading.
Final impressions to follow. But final verdict? Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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At its heart, Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club is a found family story. Not a love story. And it's one worth reading.
Final impressions to follow. But final verdict? Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
November 5, 2022
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/ros...
This book had my emotions absolutely all over the place. I laughed, I cried, my heart was warmed, and I wanted to throw the book across the room at how frustrated I was for Sophie when she was dealing with her awful parents!
First, the great: oh my gosh, the Old Ducks. I loved how they welcomed Sophie into their found family. I adored that they were still looking for love in their old age, and how they all cheered each other on in their romantic attempts (even the grumpy ones).
There is a hint of magical realism in the matchmaking side of this story. I've known about the Chinese legend of the Red Thread for a long time--it is special to some of my family members--so it was really interesting to see it in a fictional book and applied to matchmaking.
Even the parts of this book that frustrated me were amazing in their own way. I obviously hated Sophie's terrible parents, and loved to see Sophie's growth in regards to them. Some of the scenes made me want to throw the book across the room, though, when Sophie's mother was abusing her and her father wouldn't stand up for her.
The only thing I didn’t like was how the chapters would break mid-conversation, and not just in the case of needing to create suspense. For example, a chapter ended right in the middle of one of Sophie's client interviews--not a cliffhanger at all. It made it hard to find stopping points in the book.
So many emotions in one book certainly is a testament to how great it is. Roselle Lim is a new-to-me author, but I can't wait to read more from her!
This book had my emotions absolutely all over the place. I laughed, I cried, my heart was warmed, and I wanted to throw the book across the room at how frustrated I was for Sophie when she was dealing with her awful parents!
First, the great: oh my gosh, the Old Ducks. I loved how they welcomed Sophie into their found family. I adored that they were still looking for love in their old age, and how they all cheered each other on in their romantic attempts (even the grumpy ones).
There is a hint of magical realism in the matchmaking side of this story. I've known about the Chinese legend of the Red Thread for a long time--it is special to some of my family members--so it was really interesting to see it in a fictional book and applied to matchmaking.
Even the parts of this book that frustrated me were amazing in their own way. I obviously hated Sophie's terrible parents, and loved to see Sophie's growth in regards to them. Some of the scenes made me want to throw the book across the room, though, when Sophie's mother was abusing her and her father wouldn't stand up for her.
The only thing I didn’t like was how the chapters would break mid-conversation, and not just in the case of needing to create suspense. For example, a chapter ended right in the middle of one of Sophie's client interviews--not a cliffhanger at all. It made it hard to find stopping points in the book.
So many emotions in one book certainly is a testament to how great it is. Roselle Lim is a new-to-me author, but I can't wait to read more from her!
March 3, 2023
“The future, though uncertain, was my own”
This book was great! To be honest, when I first picked it up, I thought it was just a contemporary romance, but it was so much more than that.
Being a magical realism novel in a contemporary setting, Lim encapsulated the journey of not only finding yourself, but also building true connections to those you’d least expect to befriend.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 was because the romance that did occur within the book lacked chemistry to me. To not spoil, I liked the end result, but I felt the development could have been better.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book with lots of lovable characters!
This book was great! To be honest, when I first picked it up, I thought it was just a contemporary romance, but it was so much more than that.
Being a magical realism novel in a contemporary setting, Lim encapsulated the journey of not only finding yourself, but also building true connections to those you’d least expect to befriend.
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 was because the romance that did occur within the book lacked chemistry to me. To not spoil, I liked the end result, but I felt the development could have been better.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book with lots of lovable characters!
August 20, 2022
Loved, loved, loved this book. For most of it I had a big smile on my face but I cried as well. Such a heartfelt and wonderful book. It will definitely be on my top list of the year!
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April 23, 2022This book is so cute and so sweet!! A full review to come. But in the meantime, read it!
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