246 books
—
1,013 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Matzah Ball Surprise (Matzah Ball Surprise #1)” as Want to Read:
Matzah Ball Surprise
(Matzah Ball Surprise #1)
by
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
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
Get A Copy
Paperback, 249 pages
Published
March 16th 2020
by Entangled Lovestruck
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Matzah Ball Surprise,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Matzah Ball Surprise
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Matzah Ball Surprise (Matzah Ball Surprise #1)

*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
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

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

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 ...more
Even though Gaby Fineberg thinks that her breakup with her ex-boyfriend was the rig ...more

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
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

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

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
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

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 ...more
💖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 ...more

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, ...more
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, ...more

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
* * * * 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

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
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

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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
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

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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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

**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
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

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!

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

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
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

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
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

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.
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...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
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.
Other books in the series
Matzah Ball Surprise
(2 books)
Related Articles
Mistaken identities, one-night stands, forbidden love, fake engagements—oh my! There's no denying it: The romance genre has got some of the...
215 likes · 28 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »