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Matzah Ball Surprise

(Matzah Ball Surprise #1)

Laura Brown (Goodreads Author)

3.71 · Rating details · 239 ratings · 91 reviews

This Passover is starting to feel like the ten plagues might be coming back to haunt them before the weekend is over...one hilarious misstep after the next.

Gaby Fineberg just wants to get through Passover Seder without her “well meaning” family playing matchmaker. She needs a date, just for one simple meal - that includes singing, the history of her forefathers, and not on ...more

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Paperback, 249 pages

Published March 16th 2020 by Entangled Lovestruck

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Average rating 3.71 ·

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· 239 ratings · 91 reviews

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Mar 23, 2020 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-to-review-arc, net-galley, holiday-story, disabilities-or-chronic-illness, m-f, contemporary, i-spy-a-fellow-jew, romance

*2.5 stars*

When I requested this book to review, I was pumped to find a Passover romance, and one with a deaf main character at that. It was both exciting and refreshing, and I couldn't wait to dive in. Of course, this year, my big at-home Passover seder with my extended family is completely cancelled (if you are reading this from the future, Covid- 19 sucks and ruins everything), so this book gave me big twangs of nostalgia and regret. While I was wistful reading some scenes and happy about how ...more

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Feb 21, 2020 Mara rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, ebook-owned

3.5 stars -- I was totally charmed by the character and story of this one. Yes, it has it's faults (the writing is quite choppy in a few places, and the ending is rushed), but overall, I really appreciated 2 things: a) that the two key parts of the characters' identity (for both of them, that they are Jewish, and for the hero, that he is deaf) are integral parts of the story in a way that I thought was handled gracefully, and b) the heroine's emotions around her father's passing. The latter I am ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 Lynn Spencer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Oh, my heart. I loved this book. I see the Christian side of my family reflected very often in romance, and in fiction in general. However, very rarely do I see stories where I recognize the Jewish side of the family. Matzah Ball Surprise is just such a book. It’s sweet, hilarious, uplifting, and made me nostalgic for things I hadn’t even realized I was missing. If you enjoy romantic comedy, you’re in for a treat.

Even though Gaby Fineberg thinks that her breakup with her ex-boyfriend was the rig Oh, my heart. I loved this book. I see the Christian side of my family reflected very often in romance, and in fiction in general. However, very rarely do I see stories where I recognize the Jewish side of the family. Matzah Ball Surprise is just such a book. It’s sweet, hilarious, uplifting, and made me nostalgic for things I hadn’t even realized I was missing. If you enjoy romantic comedy, you’re in for a treat.

Even though Gaby Fineberg thinks that her breakup with her ex-boyfriend was the right decision, her family has bemoaned her single state enough that she feels the need to acquire a fake date for the family Passover Seder. She drums up her courage to approach the cute guy she’s been admiring at the gym. Her initial invitation flounders as it turns out that Levi Miller is Deaf and completely missed Gaby’s awkward overture. However, the two figure out how to communicate via cellphones and not only do they set up their fake date for Passover, but their chemistry definitely starts to build.

Levi has a few secrets of his own, including a recently ended engagement. However, his background comes out much more slowly in the story than does Gaby’s, but perhaps because they spend most of the book at Gaby’s childhood home, this works. At times I found Levi a little overly mysterious, but his interactions with Gaby worked so well that my mind easily brushed off questions – as did Gaby, as it turns out.

Much of this book takes place at Gaby’s childhood home, so while we get plenty of interaction between the leads, we also get a lot of family time. The author balances this incredibly well, and the familial interactions enhance rather than swamp the romantic plot. Some of my own family are Jewish and the mixture of tradition and good-natured family jokes felt very familiar to me as I read. The blend of tradition and family togetherness makes this a warmly emotional story.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi... ...more

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Feb 29, 2020 Maria rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, sexy-hero, deaf-hearing-loss

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A yummy Deaf hero falls head over heels for a hearing woman in "Matzah Ball Surprise", by Laura Brown (Entangled Lovestruck). No angst, no unrealistic lip reading, just two people with a strong chemistry.

A cute and quick read where a yummy Deaf hero falls head over heels for a hearing woman. There’s no unneeded angst, no unbelievable lip reading, just two people with an instant, strong chemistry, ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Felicia Grossman rated it it was amazing

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was so cute and so fun and just so sweet and lovely. Gaby and Levi have the absolute hottest chemistry, which is not easy to achieve in a book that is so, well loving. I adored both of their arcs and the way they worked through their issues with their families (I really appreciated that they both loved their families and their families loved them, but didn't always know how to communicate right or wanted to push things that were well-meaning but not needed, i.e., ...more

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Oct 22, 2020 Kin rated it it was ok

Shelves: romance, american

Started out cute, but I grew progressively more exasperated as I read.

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Mar 31, 2020 Heather❀Book and a Blanket❀ rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-2020, contemporary-romance, disability

This was a cute fake dating story. I loved learning about Jewish tradditions and the challenges the hero faced as a deaf person was insightful.

The romance was enjoyable starting with great flirtatious banter that slowly built with growing attraction. This book had some great steamy moments and while this couple obviously had certain challenges, the sexual tension was always lingering.

Gaby takes Levi home during Passover as her fake boyfriend to appease her meddling mother who always wants to s ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 beachbum bookworm rated it really liked it

To begin with I will always give a separate rating on my romances for their level of steaminess...that way if this is something that makes or breaks your potential to read a book, you are not wasting your time.
💖very mild. Either no sex at all or just eluded to.
💖💖 sex scenes are described in this book
💖💖💖little left to the imagination. The author is really painting you a picture
💖💖💖💖 wowzers! this could be the amount of sex, detail, dirty talk, etc.
I gave this book 4 stars and 💖💖. There are only a To begin with I will always give a separate rating on my romances for their level of steaminess...that way if this is something that makes or breaks your potential to read a book, you are not wasting your time.
💖very mild. Either no sex at all or just eluded to.
💖💖 sex scenes are described in this book
💖💖💖little left to the imagination. The author is really painting you a picture
💖💖💖💖 wowzers! this could be the amount of sex, detail, dirty talk, etc.
I gave this book 4 stars and 💖💖. There are only a couple of scenes, and although described they are not erotic. They definitely are not the focal part of the book.
Matzah ball surprise...was well just that filled with lots of great surprises.
For a single Jewish girl Passover with your overbearing family can be a nightmare. Gaby decides to combat the “single blues and the endless matchmaking sessions” by concocting a “fake boyfriend”, and the hot guy at the gym will do just fine. Gaby gets up the courage to approach “mr free-weights”, and asks him to be part of her scheme...and nothing, nada. He didn’t even react...she soon realizes the hot guy isn’t rude...he’s deaf.
Levi has issues of his own. He’s already involved in one fake relationship. Yep. He is already fake taken. Only it’s a little more serious then “fake-dating”...try fake engaged. Him and Monica really were involved at one time. Thrown together because of family friendships, and both are hearing impaired. They realized soon enough...they were only friends, but not wanting to disappoint their families and other complications kept them from revealing their breakup to the family.
Levi being a “fixer” agrees to help Gaby out, and do a little avoidance of his own problems.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed learning all the customs of a Passover weekend. Although traditions might be different one thing remains the same...family gatherings. I really felt like I was at my own family dinner.
The author does a great job, and what felt like a realistic portrayal of the barriers that someone in the deaf community faces.
Now to the real reason I read the book. The romance. I loved the chemistry between Gaby and Levi. This book did a good job of showing that no matter what the barrier chemistry is chemistry, and they have it. It really was a fun read!

The only reason this book isn’t getting a five from me is…. it was too “insta-love” for my tastes, I mean...I think the whole book takes place over a weeks time lol.

check out my website at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Laura Brown, and the publisher for this opportunity. ...more

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Mar 16, 2020 Jill S (Love Affair With Fiction) rated it it was amazing

I was beyond excited when I saw that there was a romance coming out that incorporated Passover as a main theme in the book. In fact, I may have squealed and shot off a rambling email saying that I NEEDED the book right now! LOL.
Passover is my favorite holiday ever. It incorporates all my loves: tradition, history, memory, community, family, story, and song. And now I finally get to read a book that takes place at the Passover seder in my favorite genre — romance! Thank you so much, Laura Brown, I was beyond excited when I saw that there was a romance coming out that incorporated Passover as a main theme in the book. In fact, I may have squealed and shot off a rambling email saying that I NEEDED the book right now! LOL.
Passover is my favorite holiday ever. It incorporates all my loves: tradition, history, memory, community, family, story, and song. And now I finally get to read a book that takes place at the Passover seder in my favorite genre — romance! Thank you so much, Laura Brown, for this gem of a romcom. I truly hope to see more books like this from you in the future!
Matzah Ball Surprise is a fun and flirty read. This romcom hits all those great spots… wit, laugh out loud moments, and believable characters that you could see sitting down and sharing a meal with.
Gaby needs a date to her family's seder (ceremonial meal to celebrate the start of Passover) in order to get them off her back. So she decides to ask the hunk that she has been ogling while she works out. She gathers up the courage to ask him to be her fake date (what a fun trope!), but… he doesn't hear her. Levi, it turns out, is deaf. Let the fun and shenanigans ensue as this unlikely pair try to fool Gaby's family for the holiday.
I loved how Laura Brown seamlessly integrated both Levi being deaf and the Jewish holiday into the story. Neither seemed like just a prop or setting... both were integral to the story itself. I could just imagine how easy it would be to feel like an outsider at a seder when conversation and songs flow around the table the entire time. I appreciated how this experience with his fake date's family made him appreciate his own family that much more. I think it is so natural for us as humans to focus on what isn't right, what could be better, that we sometimes don't appreciate how good we have it.
The characters in this book were great. I loved how their imperfections made them so much more realistic. From our main couple to the family and friends they were surrounded by. These were characters you could imagine bumping into in your own life. And can we talk chemistry? Gaby and Levi had it in spades! I couldn't wait for them to rip off each other's clothes and realize how good they truly were together.
I found Matzah Ball Surprise to be a delightful read. One that I can see myself re-reading next year just in time for Passover! I am hoping (begging) that we can see some of the side characters get their own story (I would love to see books with Meyer, Monica & Izzy!)
...more

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Apr 21, 2020 Wendy'sThoughts added it

Recommends it for: Laura Brown Fans, Romance

4 Worth It Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free A Quick Review
It was with such pleasure to see something like this. It covered the holidays for a group of people usually ignored and gave a significant story with heart and care.

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

...more

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Mar 17, 2020 marieke rated it did not like it

This book seemed promising and original: Jewish holiday, sexy deaf guy, fake date...
But then it turned out that the conflict revolved around my most hated trope: 'the BIG secret'.

Here is how it went down:

Hero: has a messy situation he won't tell the heroine: (view spoiler). I don't really understand why he has to keep it secret, but he hardly knows her so I c ...more

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Mar 12, 2020 Rachel Solomon rated it it was amazing

This was an absolute delight!

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Mar 15, 2020 Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2020, romance, contemporary, review, holiday-romance

Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Matzah Ball Surprise is a bright and fun romance that will make you smile. I admit I picked up this book simply because I’ve never read a romance set during Passover and I was thrilled to see one out there. I’m so glad I did, because Gaby and Levi are endearing characters and their love story is delightful.

I have been in Gaby’s place at Passover, so I totally sympathize with her wanting a fake boyfriend to play buffer against a well-meaning family. Gaby is a vibra Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Matzah Ball Surprise is a bright and fun romance that will make you smile. I admit I picked up this book simply because I’ve never read a romance set during Passover and I was thrilled to see one out there. I’m so glad I did, because Gaby and Levi are endearing characters and their love story is delightful.

I have been in Gaby’s place at Passover, so I totally sympathize with her wanting a fake boyfriend to play buffer against a well-meaning family. Gaby is a vibrant, colorful character who absolutely hates change (something I also sympathize with). She isn’t perfect, but she’s got a genuinely good heart and is on guard against being lied to because she’s been hurt before. Asking the hunky guy at her gym to be her fake date may have been a spontaneous act, but it was the best thing she could have done for herself. Levi is a sensitive, caring hero who will make you swoon. He’s a Deaf Studies teacher and is deaf himself, so he is patient and understanding while teaching Gaby how to communicate. Levi has his own family issues and an ex-fiancé who is making things complicated for him. Because he tries so hard to take care of everybody, Levi makes mistakes. But they’re mistakes that come from being too nice and giving a person, so you really can’t hold that against him. Gaby and Levi’s whirlwind romance is sweet and enjoyable, though there is some unwanted drama I could see coming due to the aforementioned ex-fiancé that I didn’t quite love. Still, they made Levi and Gaby made a wonderful couple and I liked their romance overall.

What makes Matzah Ball Surprise stand out are two things author Laura Brown weaves into the story incredibly well: (1) Passover and (2) two strangers – one hearing and one deaf – learning to communicate. It’s clear on both topics Ms. Brown knows what she’s talking about and the story is the richer for it. Both protagonists are Jewish, which I loved (it’s surprisingly rare to find this) and Ms. Brown does a fantastic job of showing Passover traditions, adding layers by portraying not only characters who keep Passover but those who are more lax. There are a number of things that felt incredibly real to me, but you absolutely do not have to be Jewish to enjoy this story. As for Levi and Gaby learning to communicate, this was incredibly well done. Gaby doesn’t pick up ASL overnight and it’s eye-opening for her how many things hearing people take for granted or do and are unaware that it excludes deaf people. Levi has grown up with a family who easily communicates with him and he has plenty of deaf friends. I appreciated his patience and instructiveness and found it added a lot to the story. There is a richness and a depth to this otherwise fluffy story that comes from injecting realness into the fantasy. All in all, Matzah Ball Surprise is a fun contemporary romance that – unlike matzah itself – is thoroughly enjoyable.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ...more

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Mar 22, 2020 Bea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews, holiday, romance, read-in-2020, coyer, arc, kindle

3.5 stars

Both the cover and the blurb were cute, and bonus, the story featured a non-Christian holiday; how could I pass this up?

The book mostly lived up to it's blurb; it was cute, sweet, and lovely. I loved Gaby and Levi together; they made a great couple, though communication was a problem. Levi kept secrets from Gaby, lied to her, and made her feel foolish. One of Levi's secrets was that he was Jewish, the same as Gaby. But he wasn't clear about that and Gaby didn't realize he was Jewish. Wh 3.5 stars

Both the cover and the blurb were cute, and bonus, the story featured a non-Christian holiday; how could I pass this up?

The book mostly lived up to it's blurb; it was cute, sweet, and lovely. I loved Gaby and Levi together; they made a great couple, though communication was a problem. Levi kept secrets from Gaby, lied to her, and made her feel foolish. One of Levi's secrets was that he was Jewish, the same as Gaby. But he wasn't clear about that and Gaby didn't realize he was Jewish. Why didn't he say something when he realized her mistake? It was stupid and could have been cleared simply. They had one other communication issue and that was Gaby's lack of ASL knowledge. Gaby and Levi communicate via cellphones while she learns ASL, which I thought was a clever technique. Levi, who teaches ASL at a college, also teaches Gaby, and she is an enthusiastic learner. She makes mistakes but accepts correction gracefully. Brown did a fantastic job showing Levi interacting with his hearing family and his deaf friends. Levi's deafness affects his life of course, but it wasn't his defining feature. It was a part of who he was just as Gaby's hearing was a part of her.

Another good feature was that while neither of their families is perfect, neither are they dreadful. They're decent families, trying their best, and making mistakes. The way they worked through their issues with their families was adult and realistic. Levi had some difficulties concerning his x-fiancée Monica and honesty with his family, but he eventually does the right thing. I will say, I thought Levi was spineless when it came to Monica. His behavior felt less like respect for her and total wimpiness on his part.

Brown did a good job showing us traditions and familial togetherness. Holidays can be stressful, it's why Gaby invited Levi to be her fake date, but we also see the joy and fun. Levi, attending Seder at Gaby's family home, sees differences in how they conduct the ceremony and Seder traditions from how his family does them. They're not wrong, just different, and he respects that. I also enjoyed seeing and learning more about Passover and Seders.

Some things I didn't enjoy - Levi had a savior complex, both Leo and Gaby needed to be more assertive, and the ending was rushed and a bit abrupt. Still, "Matzah Ball Surprise" was an easy, enjoyable read. ...more

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Mar 16, 2020 Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews rated it liked it

Shelves: guiltypleasures-leigh

3.5 stars

Having grown up experiencing the Jewish culture firsthand and attending my fair share of Passover seders, I was interested in reading a story that reflected some of the traditions of my childhood. And in that respect I was not disappointed. The well meaning yet tactless questions, the loud and dramatic family interactions, the gossip, the Yiddish sprinkled in like seasoning to give everything a distinct flavor, this was all familiar to me.

Coupled with the unfamiliar life of a deaf man w 3.5 stars

Having grown up experiencing the Jewish culture firsthand and attending my fair share of Passover seders, I was interested in reading a story that reflected some of the traditions of my childhood. And in that respect I was not disappointed. The well meaning yet tactless questions, the loud and dramatic family interactions, the gossip, the Yiddish sprinkled in like seasoning to give everything a distinct flavor, this was all familiar to me.

Coupled with the unfamiliar life of a deaf man who lives in a hearing world, I was looking forward to reading this unique romance.

While I found the premise to be a novel one, I couldn’t put my finger on just one thing, but this story just didn’t hold my interest the way I had hoped it would.

As the heroine, I found Gaby’s utter lack of self-confidence to be frustrating. On the other hand, as the imperfect hero, Levi was a bright spot in the story. The nice, hot guy from the gym, patiently teaching Gaby to sign while he is thrust into the fake role of boyfriend to keep her family from asking her uncomfortable questions about her love life. He’s calming, sweet, and I really enjoyed him.

Unfortunately, I found him carrying a story that was otherwise rife with a plot that was just too contrived. For a whole host of reasons, who asks a stranger to attend a family dinner, much less travel out of town with them overnight to do so? I’m not talking about someone you don’t know well…I’m talking about the first conversation you have with this person being an invitation?? Isn’t it easier to deflect questions on dating status than to go through the charade of bringing a total stranger home to mom? And the storyline of Levi and his fake fiancé who was still pretending to his family that they were engaged? When combined, the improbability of it all was just too much for me.

The idea for this book was certainly cute and the writing sweet. However, much like Passover bagels, I just found the premises underlying this story a bit too hard to swallow.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review. ...more

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Mar 22, 2020 Lenore Kosinski added it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, chose-not-to-finish

https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/03/...

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

DNF @ 14% — I really really wanted to love this book, what with its double whammy of diversity. I rarely find religious diversity books, so I was super excited!

But. *sigh* I had a hard time getting sucked into this one. The writing was okay, but I wasn’t connecting with Gaby (or her friend), or Levi, and seeing the obvious set up for miscommunication, I just didn ...more

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Feb 23, 2020 Megan rated it really liked it

Look, I've been waiting for a romance with a Jewish protagonist since I discovered the genre, and there's nothing more emblematic of Judaism than a good ol' Passover dinner. The main interest, Levi, is both devastatingly handsome and deaf, and I thought Laura Brown gave voice to the barriers he faces in every day life and in the very kosher and unorthodox situation he finds himself in, as a fake date for Gaby Fineberg. Even though the setting itself is explicitly Jewish, I thought that the relat ...more

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Mar 12, 2020 Shirley Cuypers rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, ebooks, arc-beta

Original review

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled: Lovestruck!

Matzah Ball Surprise is a standalone Romance book about Gaby and Levi.

Since I read Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, I’ve always been fascinated by deaf people and sign language. I’ve never really read or watched anything about the deaf community and that book was really eye-opening for me. When I saw that Entangled: Lovestruck is going to publish a book about someone falling in l ...more

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Mar 08, 2020 Rosie Danan rated it it was amazing

Reading an ARC of this book was such a treat. Curling up with Gaby and Levi provided all the coziness and charm of watching a Hallmark movie—except the major difference is Laura Brown gives us excellent portrayal of multiple marginalizations in her story (and a lot more sexual tension).

Levi was the first Deaf hero I've read and I really appreciated seeing the world through his perspective, through both challenging social situations and celebratory occasions. In addition, both protagonists are J ...more

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Mar 08, 2020 MsArdychan rated it really liked it

Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.

If you've been looking for a fun, sexy rom-com, look no further than Matzah Ball Surprise, by Laura Brown. From the cover to the charming characters, this book was super fun to read. A bonus is that one of the main characters is from an under-represented group, and is represented realistically, which makes this a wonderful novel. This c ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 Living My Best Book Life rated it really liked it

Matzah Ball Surprise is a sweet and charming novel about a fake relationship developing into something more. Gaby and Levi have amazing chemistry and engage in genuine conversations.

Gaby has just ended a relationship and needs to find a date for The Passover. Her family is always pressuring her to find 'the one' and if she shows up without a date she won't hear the end of it. When she works up the courage to talk to the hot guy at the gym, he doesn't say a word. Levi is actually deaf so he coul ...more

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Mar 20, 2020 ⚜️Trea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: challenges-2020, netgalley-arc-reviews-2020, series-challenge-2020

FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH ONE OF A VARIETY OF SOURCES. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!

This was more of a 3.5 star read for me, but not good enough to be a 4 star rating. I really liked the premise of this story, being especially excited for a deaf hero, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expe ...more

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Apr 07, 2020 Elizabeth rated it it was ok

I wanted to like this meet cute / fake date story that takes place around Passover. The writing felt choppy at times and I found myself skimming it more than reading. Gaby noticed Levi at the gym. She didn't know he was deaf. She needs a date for Passover seder to bring to her mom's. She assumes Levi isn't Jewish, even though she likes him. While he kept his fake engagement from Gaby, at this point she only knew him a few days so I'm not sure he owed her the truth UNTIL they slept together. Gaby ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Teresa rated it really liked it

**I received a copy of Matzah Ball Surprise from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinion is my own and not solicited in any way.**

Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown was definitely a pleasant surprise for me and I loved it. Ms. Brown is a new author to me and I love how she wrote the texts back and forth for both Gaby and Levi plus I'm going to be checking out her other books.

Gaby Fineberg needs a date for her mother's Passover dinner as her ...more

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Sep 10, 2020 Jane Wheeler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very sweet. Definite low-key fluff, but enjoyable. The writer is HoH herself, so the details of communication - both Deaf or hearing characters chatting with each other, and the ways Deaf characters communicate (or don’t) with hearies. The way she expresses the nonverbal, non-ASL communication of Levi’s face and touches is beautiful. I would NOT mind having him around!

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Mar 26, 2020 Christa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, contemporary, favorites-2020, deaf

Cute contemporary romance with a Deaf hero who goes on a fake date to the heroine’s family Passover

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Feb 21, 2020 Lizzy.Writes rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. **DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine, and this did not affect my review process.**

This book wrapped me up in swaddling clothes, fed me warm soup, and soothed my soul. I can't rave about this book more! Not only does it contain deaf AND Jewish #ownvoices rep in it, it also takes place almost entirely over Passover weekend! I am slightly familiar with Judaic customs, considering I grew up Catholic, but I kn ...more

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May 15, 2020 Aimee Smithline rated it liked it

I was very excited to read the book based on the premise. I love rom-coms with fake dates and people unexpectedly falling in love. I was also intrigued to read about a hearing impaired character and how they communicate. Being Jewish, although not religious just like the characters, it was unusual but enticing for me to read such a book with the main characters being Jewish.
Gaby needs a fake date to attend her family Seder. She is egged on by her friend to invite a hot guy from her gym to help h ...more

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Apr 12, 2020 Marlene rated it really liked it

Originally published at Reading Reality

Passover starts this evening, which is why this review is scheduled for today. I’d say to just call me Captain Obvious, but a romance wrapped around one of the Jewish holidays isn’t all that obvious at all – or all that common – so I wanted to celebrate that this story exists at the time when it seemed the most germane. Especially since it’s a light and fun romance that is just perfect for this holiday season.

The story in Matzah Ball Surprise is a lovely li ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Lauren loves llamas rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, romance, arc, netgalley, contemporary, jewish, fake-relationship

Content warnings: (view spoiler)

Hello, fake relationship, my favorite trope! Yes, I read a ton of these, so I’m always looking for something with a new spin on it – in this case, the fake date is for Passover, and the hero is Deaf. The author herself is Jewish and Hard of Hearing, so while I can’t speak for the rep, it’s adorably sweet, fluffy and funny.

“Le

“Levi probably had come to his senses in the few hours since they’d met. Which would be fine; she’d just go back home, alone, and feel as though she were the one, instead of her ancestors, about to wander the desert for forty years in search of something familiar.
Ahh, the good old days, when fleeing a Pharaoh in Egypt would undoubtedly top being single on a Jewish holiday.”

I empathized so much with Gaby. Like me, Gaby doesn’t like change, and she especially doesn’t like that every time she goes home her mother has removed one more thing that reminds her of her father. She has a complicated relationship with her mom and feels pressured into being in a relationship. While her mom seemed to love her last ex, he was the absolute wrong person for her and left her feeling small and unworthy and with a lot of trust issues, and she’s not sure she’s ready for another relationship… at least until she starts fake dating Levi. Levi has his own reasons for avoiding going home for Passover, but his involve avoiding his ex-fiancee, Monica. Levi and Monica had been thrown together since they were children because Levi was Deaf and Monica was Hard of Hearing, so obviously their families think they belong together. Monica’s trying to start her own business, but for convoluted reasons, she needs their families to believe she and Levi are still together. Levi’s a people “fixer,” so he can’t quite work up the energy to tell her to knock it off with her games… at least until he starts wanting to turn his fake relationship with Gaby – who doesn’t know about Monica – into a real one. They’ve definitely got great chemistry, and I thought the tension built well.

And yes, Levi’s Deafness is definitely part of him, but he didn’t feel like a caricature or token character because of it. There’s a lot in the book about how he’s left out of family traditions – and, well, basically everything – because no one thinks to make accommodations for him, and I think that could be troubling for other readers. Gaby did do her best to include him, and I loved how, in return, Levi asked Gaby what would help her cope better at home, and did his best to be a buffer between her and her mom.

As you’d expect, the main issue in their “relationship” is communication – but not because he’s Deaf and she’s hearing. Levi’s an ASL professor and Gaby’s a quick learner, and there’s always texting to fall back on. In fact, the “big gesture” speech actually takes place over text (though still in-person), which added a whole other layer to it. The one thing that was a bit confusing was that Gaby spends a good part of the book thinking that Levi isn’t Jewish, though she never actually asks him and he never says he isn’t. I’m guessing this was a device to give more information about Passover to us non-Jews, in the guise of her explaining it to Levi, but it felt a bit weird to me. Levi’s already got one pretty big secret he’s keeping from her, anyway, and that’s what causes the strain in their relationship.

“Gaby shook her head and rubbed the growing throbbing at her temple. “It’s Passover, are you about to torture me for forty years?”
Aunt Faith put an arm around her. “You aren’t forty yet, my child, what do you think I’ve been doing since you’ve been born?”

Despite everything, I loved Gaby’s family, even her interfering Aunt Faith. While her mom and Gaby have their problems, her mom is motivated by love, and they have a tearful reconciliation talk. As for cons, the ending felt rushed to me, both how Levi’s entanglement with Monica was resolved and Levi’s hiding things from Gaby. I wanted much more groveling from him than we got, especially given Gaby’s previous experience with her ex, but that might just be my particular baggage.

Overall, I thought this was a delightfully fun fake relationship book, with plenty of humor and steam. I’ll definitely be looking for more books from the author in the future!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ...more

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About Laura Brown

Laura Brown

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Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky family. Her husband’s put up with her since high school, her young kid keeps her on her toes, and her three cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.