The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed – 1/20 Books of Summer

In this contemporary novel that includes elements of suspense, Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker who has grown her business to new heights, realizes she can’t guarantee her own perfect match – especially when someone is trying to sabotage everything she has worked for. 

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed reminded me a little of Emma and would probably appeal to Austen fans because of its determined heroine and appealing snapshot of a community. It is original and charming

Nura has a lot of her mind: the illness of the aunt who brought up when she was orphaned and who trained her in the matchmaking business, the fact that her best friend Azar is willing to be her plus one at events but doesn’t share her romantic feelings, and the sudden onslaught of threats against the Piyar Matchmaking Agency. Her staff become worried about Nura’s safety when frightening notes aren’t just from online trolls but turn up on her windshield:

“Apparently whoever left this note knew all about their cameras. Or at least how to get around them.”

“What do you mean?” My stomach drops. “There’s no footage of who left it?”

“Kind of?” He glances at me. “You have to see it for yourself.”

He loads a video of the intersection across from our agency. Rain bouncing off concrete. A car zips by. And then –

A hooded figure wearing all black, including a black face mask – practically blending into the night. They raise a hand toward the camera. I lean forward to make it out when there’s a splash against the screen. I flinch. The screen blurs.

This book captivated me from the beginning. I enjoyed the Pakistan-American family and the way they have made Atlanta their home, continuing a tradition begun back in Lahore, and the description of the matchmaking process added interest to the story. Nura is not perfect – she can be self-centered but she is a loyal niece and friend, as well as a dedicated businesswoman with a sincere desire for her clients to be happy. However, like Emma Woodhouse, she does not always see what is right in front of her and that makes this book very entertaining – in fact, I began it about 11 pm and read the entire book before I turned off the light.

This is the first of my 20 Books of Summer and it is also my fourteenth book for the Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge. I gave it 4 ½ stars.

Title: The Matchmaker
Author: Aisha Saeed
Publication: Bantam, trade paperback, 2025
Genre: Fiction/suspense/romance