Jean Meltzer

Oy! to the world Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she's hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah's not magical. It's not merry. It's not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel's determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy--Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven't seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah--and Jacob--in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

A Novel

The Matzah Ball

emma

yeah jokes about genocide, colonization, imperialism, and the iof are definitely fun and fresh 💀
also the author compared coming out as lgbt to liking christmas and that is really unsettling to me as well

dija

"Look,” she said finally, “just because I’m a top-secret spy for the Israel Defense Forces, and I don’t want you to blow my cover to my parents...”
He raised an eyebrow in her direction. “A spy, huh?”
“A trained assassin,” she whispered. “Mossad.”
“In a flower headband?”
Rachel leaned in dramatically. “I’ve killed seventy-six men with headband"

IDF "soldier" who is proud to confess to be commit genocide and participating in an army that steals land of other. It's not cute to joke about this. At all

Jennifer mitchell

it really pains me to leave this review because I was SO EXCITED to finally have a Hanukkah romance story! but this was truly the most cringeworthy book I have ever read. also it’s a romance novel with basically no romance in it? the main characters knew each other as kids, lost touch, reconnect and a few days later (with little conversation in between) are apparently in love with each other.

the world deserves more Hanukkah stories and I’m happy to see more Jewish representation in novels, but this one is not it.

how did an adult romance feel SO juvenile?

ash (smokedshelves)

A beautiful and heartbreaking reminder to never take even the littlest things for granted. Learning about myalgic encephalomyelitis was a real lesson in thankfulness. Amidst this busy season, when I’m feeling physically tired or overwhelmed, at least I can get up and shower and cook for myself without becoming literally drained of energy. 

Given how strong and how long the MC held a grudge, I’m surprised she didn’t give Mickey a harder time for his actions (did not see that twist coming). Some parts still aren’t so believable, but they didn’t shadow the heart of the story.

It’s not the best of romance novels as I’ve come to enjoy, but it gave me a deeper appreciation my health. I adore Toby. She’s utterly delightful and makes me miss my own grandmothers. I alternated between reading and listening. The audiobook left something to be desired, but I still sped through it. I would definitely recommend this book to all lovers of holiday romance.

Adelia French

A beautiful and heartbreaking reminder to never take even the littlest things for granted. Learning about myalgic encephalomyelitis was a real lesson in thankfulness. Amidst this busy season, when I’m feeling physically tired or overwhelmed, at least I can get up and shower and cook for myself without becoming literally drained of energy. 

Given how strong and how long the MC held a grudge, I’m surprised she didn’t give Mickey a harder time for his actions (did not see that twist coming). Some parts still aren’t so believable, but they didn’t shadow the heart of the story.

It’s not the best of romance novels as I’ve come to enjoy, but it gave me a deeper appreciation my health. I adore Toby. She’s utterly delightful and makes me miss my own grandmothers. I alternated between reading and listening. The audiobook left something to be desired, but I still sped through it. I would definitely recommend this book to all lovers of holiday romance.

Samaa alaa eldin

Merve A. 

Jana Jenkinns 

Oh man, this story. Where do I even begin? It was a cute holiday romance. I did love all the Jewish and Hanukkah references, the food descriptions were relatively well done, and there were actually a few things I learned about the Jewish culture that I never knew before. Though I'm usually not one for a romance book with zero smut, I pushed myself to finish this book, despite my insides screaming at me to stop. 

Anyway, I digress, I will say, there were a few things about this book that bothered me, which is why it only got a 2.5 rounded down to 2 since half stars don't exist on Goodreads/NetGalley, and I believe the things that bothered me about this novel deserve the three star deduction. 

First: “Rachel wanted to tell people the truth about what she did for a living, but coming out wasn’t that easy. She couldn’t just stand up on the bima, like Mickey had done at his bar mitzvah all those years prior, and tell everyone the truth.“ --- In case you’re a little lost, though this does happen in the very first chapter, the main character is comparing her telling people she writes Christmas themed romance novels to her friend coming out as gay. I was honestly so taken aback by this comparison that I really had to push myself to continue. As a bisexual, the fact that coming out was compared to basically telling people Christmas is your favourite, really hurt. Coming out isn't easy. For some, its traumatically life changing - for the author to compare it to something so trivial, made me feel shame for Meltzer.

Second: The MC joked about being a part of IOF and killing Palestinians and it was supposed to be flirty banter. Nothing about IOF killing Palestinians is funny. The author deserves to take a good long look in the mirror and think before using genocide as "witty, flirtatious banter" SMH. 

Those were my two biggest concerns, and why this book won't get recommended by me, or even purchased and added to my shelf. I refuse to support an author who can easily and without hesitation write these things.

Shelby Caldwell

DNF @ 38%. I had an issue with the love interests—they were “in love” at age 12 for a couple weeks. Still pining about it too in their 30s. It was very boring, very quickly.

Lauren Stewart

“The Matzah Ball” by Jean Meltzer

On top of trying to please her parents, Rabbi Goldblatt and Dr. Rubenstein, and manage a chronic illness, Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is secretly a best-selling author. Why is it a secret? Because she writes Christmas romance novels! When her boss requests a Hanukkah romance, Rachel isn’t sure she can find enough inspiration in the Festival of Lights to create the same magic as her Christmas books. Just when life couldn’t get any crazier, Jacob Greenberg comes back into her life, arriving in New York City to throw the ultimate Hanukkah party with his successful entertainment company. The two of them have very different memories of what transpired eighteen years ago, but one thing is clear: both of them walked away from that summer at Camp Ahava with a broken heart. Can Rachel work alongside Jacob long enough to find book inspiration at the Matzah Ball, or will the reappearance of her camp archenemy ruin the double life she’s worked so hard to maintain?

Jews come from so many different backgrounds, making our worldwide family equal parts incredible and meshuggeneh. Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt’s upbringing doesn’t mirror my own, but this messianic Jewish girl still found common ground and comfort in her story. Rachel’s dad is a rabbi so she grew up under intense scrutiny, trying to meet the high expectations of her family and community. I was nodding my head at every single sentence because my dad’s a pastor, and life as a pastor’s kid is the same as that of a rabbi’s kid; eyes are on you at all times, people scrutinizing everything you do and gossiping the minute something doesn’t meet their approval. I do not say this lightly: I get it. I totally get it! That’s the biggest reason why I connected to this book beyond surface-level enjoyment.

If you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, Jacob and Rachel’s romance is for you. Thanks to miscommunication spanning eighteen years, they hold a grudge against one another for post-summer camp broken hearts. I am ridiculously persnickety when it comes to character flaws and couldn’t help feeling annoyed at the lies and secrets for no good reason. However, I fully understand that’s a major detail supporting the plot and don’t officially consider it a negative. Afterall, the conflict is what makes the ending that much sweeter. Sweeter than Sufganiyot! 

For the most part, this book is a home run. Minor details were repeated when unnecessary, such as adult Jacob’s memory of young Rachel’s high ponytail and hot pink shorts (pages 56 & 78). Some Jewish phrases were explained while others were not. There are enough context clues to keep you out of the dark, but I can understand why it might frustrate non-Jewish readers, though I would encourage a quick Google search for the sake of education. In the final pages the onstage moment between Rabbi Goldblatt and his wife Dr. Rubenstein led to a sweet parent-daughter moment, but the set-up was too cheesy for my taste, the overheard dialogue unnatural.

There were very few negatives within 385 pages, but I’m leaving room for improvement because this is Jean Meltzer’s author debut, a mighty impressive one I might add. Four out of five stars. There is familiarity for members of the tribe and common ground for gentile readers. No matter who you are, it will take mere pages to feel like you’re wrapped in the cozy warmth of a Hanukkah blanket. Read this book with my blessing. Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Favorite Quote:

“My journey of Hanukkah,” Toby said simply, “has spanned ninety-one years. I have celebrated this holiday in Germany, France, New York and Paris, all over the world with my grandson, during good times and bad times alike.” She quieted, a small sadness sitting there at the tip of her throat. “But what I always explained to Jacob is that these candles are a metaphor. They remind us that we always have a choice. We can be someone who snuffs out another person’s candle and, in the process, makes the world a darker place. Or we can be the type of person who spreads light. Better to be the shamash–one candle that lights all the others and brightens an otherwise dark world.” - Bubbe Toby Greenberg, Page 182

Content Warnings:

Grammar & Spelling
Page 107 - “Symbols” instead of “Cymbals”
Page 166 - “Kendell Jenner” instead of “Kendall Jenner”
Page 242 - “It that strange?” instead of “Is that strange?” or “Is it that strange?”
Page 307 - “Leaning into whisper” instead of “leaning in to whisper”
Page 354 - “Once Esther Shapiro is finished her set” instead of “Once Esther Shapiro has finished her set”

Language
A$$ or Hard-a$$ - Pages 24 & 243
Bastard - Page 251
D*mn - Pages 18, 26, 27, 32, 106, 147, 191, 250, 260, 281, & 371
Gawd - Pages include 61, 206, 239, 294, 300, & 377
G*d (as a swear) - Pages 230 & 377
G*dd*mn - Pages 102, 147, 233, & 259
H*ll - Pages 78, 325, & 368 
J*sus or J*sus Chr*st (as a swear) - Pages 22, 141, 162, & 205 
Screw ‘Em - Pages 250, 260, 281, & 378 

Sensual/Sexual Moments:
Page 89 - Sensual inner monologue about a man’s body
Page 239 - Sensual inner monologue about a man’s body
Page 307 - One kiss
Pages 307 through 313 - Jacob visits Rachel’s apartment at night. It’s implied that they might sleep together, but nothing happens.
Page 371 - One kiss
Page 378 - One kiss, Jacob carries Rachel into her bedroom

Other: There are mentions of alcohol & drinking throughout the book plus an instance or two of drunkeness.

Tatiana Alvarez 

Actual Rating: 3.5

I did enjoy this book, but I also felt so conflicted over so many things. Specifically how it felt that the main character's "struggle" was represented as an LGBTQ person coming out. Rachel is Jewish and she is obsessed with christmas. This is often times referred to as shameful, which is why she hides it from her family and most of her friends.

I can't speak on behalf of being Jewish. I can't understand the struggles and hardships many Jewish people had to overcome. I just don't know comparing loving Christmas needed to be a coming out story.

Rachel is fiercely independent, but to a fault. She made so many bad decisions and withheld so much information. She was also extremely rude to Jacob, almost every time they interacted. It made me so mad to see her attempt to stand up for herself by belittling him. Didn't seem fair.

Like I said, I did think the story was cute, but there were just a few things that didn't sit right with me.

Liz Whitehead

I thought the Jewish and chronic illness aspects of this book were great but I had a hard time believing why Jacob and Rachel were into each other? It felt like they just kept being like “they’re a horrible person…..but I can’t stop thinking about them”. Also Jacob and Rachel didn’t have an actual conversation until well after the 50% mark.

Candyce Kirk

"The Matzah Ball had me laughing out loud...an all-around terrific read."--Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author Oy! to the world Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she's hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah's not magical. It's not merry. It's not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel's determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy--Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven't seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah--and Jacob--in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze. "A luminous celebration of all types of love, threaded with the message that everyone is worthy of it."--Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk

Anna Agarwal

Salam Kabbani

If you are looking for a five star cozy heartfelt holiday romance that is equally enlightening, educational, funny, and deeply moving then let me tell you all about this delightful Hanukkah romcom called "The Matzah Ball". In a nutshell our heroine Rachel is forced to work with arch enemy Jacob for 8 days to secure her ticket to a very coveted Matzah Ball event in order to save her writing career. An event so extravagant and lavish that it includes chocolate spa treatments, spinning classes by candlelight, and so much more. Except Jacob is obviously the Hannukah Grinch who has been her enemy since summer camp when they were 13. Except she kind of has a love-hate relationship with him. Except she is also hiding a secret illness that makes his jokes towards her very cruel without his knowledge of course. Will these two archenemies end up being each other's "bashert" or destiny like everyone thinks they are destined to be, or will their mistrust of each other from camp prevent them from anything else? You will have to read the rest to find out but let me tell you, this novel is witty, heartfelt, and full of comedy. Bedazzled wheelchairs, hotel break-ins involving fuzzy socks, and a fountain of information on Ashkenazi culture and religion will keep you wanting more! This novel is the romcom of the season! For a more in-depth review read below! 

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt the daughter of a renowned Rabii and two very devout Jewish parents has a very large secret. She loves everything about Christmas so much that she is actually a famous Christmas romance novel writer, except she uses a pen name because surely no one will accept her in her community if they know about her dark secret. Until now her secret job has afforded Rachel the luxury of working from home as a writer while dealing with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a disease she has had to deal with for years and hide from everyone except her best friend and her parents given how stigmatizing it can be. 

Unfortunately for Rachel, her publishing agency no longer wants Christmas novels. Instead they want a Jewish romantic comedy from her, otherwise they will not sign her on for another year. Rachel does not know how to come up with such a story line, because in her mind one does not exist. That is until she hears that her archenemy from Jewish summer camp Jacob Greenberg is throwing a very lavish and extravagant Matzah Ball. The only task is securing a ticket to the most coveted event of the season and getting through 8 days of Jacob while dealing with her love-hate relationship for this "Hanukkah grinch" as she came to recognize him. Of course, he feels the same way too. Their feud goes way back, and we learn the cause of it as the story is revealed. 

Throughout the story our two protagonists constantly interface and constantly misunderstand each other. Jacob cannot get past Rachel's secrets that he knows she is keeping, but does not know what they are, and Rachel cannot get past all the hurt that she thinks Jacob is causing her intentionally. Their loved ones think they are each other's "bashert" a Hebrew term for soulmate or destiny, but they are not so sure themselves. Furthermore, Rachel is grappling with her hidden identity while Jacob is fighting demons of his father abandoning his family during his childhood years. In the end the story is a beautifully written romcom but the author does so much with her work. 

She sheds light on ME/CFS a condition that afflicts 30 million people worldwide, 75% of which cannot work full time secondary to this disease that has a high level of medical neglect due to it often being dismissed as a psychosomatic condition. The author also fills the novel with education on Ashkenazi Jewish culture and religion and its diversity and we learn all about Shabbat dinners and Kiddush luncheons. The author also states that everything in the novel pertaining to Judaism is actually Halachically accurate, which to my understanding means it is religiously accurate, and I think this is so wonderful and needed. As a Cleveland, Ohio native, and specifically having lived in Beachwood a place that has a very large Jewish population I think it is so important to learn about the religion, the culture, and the variation in practice between people. I know for me the documentary "Unorthodox" was very heavy, and I think books like this are wonderful because they show that like any religion there are many different levels of practice and there is a large diversity in the community. And that was shown very beautifully in Rachel and Jacob's respective stories, where she went to Jewish day school and knew so much, and he went to Hebrew school and seemed to not know many things about the religion. Also being from Cleveland, this book gave me the warm and fuzzies, because I had a lot of elderly Jewish neighbors that always invited me to community dinners in our building, and it just made me remember them any time Jacob's grandma wanted to bring Rachel food or her mom wanted to invite him for dinner. In addition, I loved how much female body positivity this book included in addition to the exploration of family bonds and mending any damage that may have happened from an absent parent and not letting it dictate one's future.

Finally I will end by talking about the author's note because this book is actually her story. I think it is so brave and wonderful that she shares with the reader that she has suffered from ME/CFS for over 20 years and had to drop out of rabbinical school because of it. It is also incredibly heart warming to read how her husband has been her true bashert through the years and shown up for her in the little ways like washing her hair for her when she couldn't, or setting up her coffee and laptop for her by the bed before he went to work every day. It's the spark that inspired this romantic story, and I think that's why it truly felt magical. If you've read all this then thank you, and I hope I have convinced you to pick up a copy of this book this holiday season! 

I absolutely cannot wait for Jean Meltzer's next novel in 2022 "Mr. Perfect on Paper" where we follow the main character as she is cast on a reality TV show "The Perfect Jewish Husband". 

CW: Paternal abandonment, maternal loss, CFS/ME. 

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin publishing company for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Heather Harrington

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt might be Jewish, but that doesn't stop her from loving all things Christmas. For the past ten years, Rachel has hidden her obsession and that she's a bestselling Christmas romance writer from her family. Rachel, who suffers from a chronic illness, has always loved the magic surrounding Christmas and uses that to weave the perfect romances she's always wished for herself. But when her publisher asks her to write a Hanukkah romance, suddenly Rachel's never-ending creativity fails her. 

Rachel will do anything to keep her contract, even if that means working with her summer camp archenemy, Jacob Greenberg. Jacob is the mastermind behind The Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration held on the last night of Hanukkah, and Rachel is determined to use the event as inspiration for her story. Though the pair haven't seen each other in years, the grudge they hold still burns brighter than ever. As the two work together, Rachel starts to see Hanukkah--and Jacob-- in an entirely new light, and maybe they're the spark she needed to relight the fire within herself.

I was intrigued by this since most holiday books are about Christmas, so it felt like a fresh take on the trope, but it left me very mixed. It totally nails the Hallmark movie vibe, and there were some cute moments, but there were other times it left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. Let's start with what I enjoyed. I loved the representation of chronic illness and how it affects a person's day-to-day life. It felt very honest and real. I also thought the writing was easy to digest, and I flew this in almost one sitting. However, the writing was also my main issue. There were a few times where Rachel would make a joke or act in a way that seemed very callous and left a bad taste in my mouth. Both her and Jacob came across as a bit mean and childish which I also didn't love. It was almost as if they fell back into being their teenage selves when they were together pulling pranks on one another. They did mature and have decent character growth by the end which I appreciated. Overall, I think the idea of this was great, but the execution needed more work.

Sali Nim

"Look," she said finally, "just because I'm a top-secret spy for the Israel Defense Forces, and I don't want you to blow my cover to my parents...."
He raised an eyebrow in her direction. "A spy, huh?"
"A trained assassin," she whispered. "Mossad."
"In a flower headband?"
Rachel leaned in dramatically. "I've killed seventy-six men with this headband."


Hahahaha, how quirky of her, right. We love a heroine who jokes about the IOF and the killing of people. Genocide is such a funny matter, right.

Anyway, apparently this isn't the only time Israel/the IOF are being mentioned in a distasteful manner. 

Some people apparently still don't get that Judaism ≠ Zionism. You can write a book about Jewish people without making them Zionists, but ok. 

That's all the info I needed about the book and the author for them to land on my shit list. I hope this book flops.

Conni

Abby Gaudreau

"The Matzah Ball had me laughing out loud...an all-around terrific read."—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author Oy! to the world Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze. "A luminous celebration of all types of love, threaded with the message that everyone is worthy of it.”—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk

The Matzah Ball A Novel

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