Happy book birthday to THE MATZAH BALL by Jean Meltzer, out today from MIRA!
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK SELECTED BY * POPSUGAR * BUSTLE * BUZZFEED * GOODREADS MEMBERS
“The Matzah Ball had me laughing out loud. It’s witty, funny and an all-around terrific read.”—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A love letter to Judaism and an utterly charming romance. With two irresistible leads, a scene-stealing bubbe, and plenty of holiday magic, The Matzah Ball is 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
“Funny, bright, and lovingly crafted! The Matzah Ball healed a piece of me I didn’t know was hurting.”—Rosie Danan, author of The Intimacy Experiment
“A trendsetter in holiday romances.”—BookPage
“Delightful.”—PopSugar
“I devoured this book like a batch of Jacob’s Bubbe’s Rugalach. It is the perfect blend of funny and magical but also tender and thoughtful. It lit me up like a menorah.”—Jenny Bayliss, author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
“A warm, heartfelt ode to self-acceptance, honesty, and tight-knit Jewish communities, The Matzah Ball gently—and rightfully—insists we don’t need to be perfect or ‘normal’ to deserve and find love. The story was a true pleasure to read.”—Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert
“Heartwarming, romantic, and funny. The Matzah Ball is simply a joy to read.”—Sarah Morgenthaler, author of The Tourist Attraction
“A sparkling holiday romance told with both honesty and heart.”—Kirkus
“Heartwarming and hilarious, The Matzah Ball is a fantastic, festive, fresh take on a holiday happily ever after.”—Karen Schaler, Emmy Award-winning writer
“A funny, fresh holiday read to tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.”—Sheila Roberts, New York Times bestselling author
“A laugh-out-loud treat. Written in bright, witty prose and with a heroine to root for, it’s a light holiday concoction that delivers a deeper message about love and acceptance at the same time. The perfect addition to your holiday reading!”—Anita Hughes, author of Christmas in Vermont
“Grab a jelly doughnut and get ready for a holiday rom com unlike any other! The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer brings the fun while also delivering an important message about being true to yourself. A refreshing and delightful read.”—Brenda Janowitz, author of The Grace Kelly Dress
“What do you get when you cross the holiday of Hanukkah with a summer camp feud on steroids and a slow-burn romance? You’ll have to read this heartwarming novel to find out!”—Yaffa S. Santos, author of A Taste of Sage
“A charming holiday romance… This heartfelt rom-com should be unwrapped by people of all faiths this holiday season.”—Publishers Weekly
“Meltzer’s enemies-to-lovers debut romance hits all the high points… A fun read and a good addition to holiday romance collections.”—Library Journal
“Fans of second-chance and holiday romances will find much to enjoy in this welcome variation on the holiday theme.”—Booklist
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.
Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch and has earned numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. She spent five years in rabbinical school before her chronic illness forced her to withdraw, and her father told her she should write a book―just not a Jewish one because no one reads those. The Matzah Ball is her first novel. Jean is represented by Carolyn Forde and Marilyn Biderman.