Mr. Perfect on Paper
A Novel
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2.0 • 1 Rating
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
From the author of The Matzah Ball comes a pitch-perfect romcom following a third-generation Jewish matchmaker who unwittingly finds her own search for love thrust into the spotlight...
The perfect Jewish husband should be:
A doctor or lawyer (preferably a doctor) Baggage-free (no previous marriages, no children) And of course—he must be Jewish
As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting love—at least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, she’s been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Dara’s checklist for “The Perfect Jewish Husband” on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Dara’s search into must-see TV.
As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesn’t check any of Dara’s boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Dara—a task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if “perfect on paper” can compete with how hard she’s falling for Chris…
"A warm, heartfelt ode to self-acceptance, honesty, and tight-knit Jewish communities…a true pleasure to read."—Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert, on The Matzah Ball
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Meltzer (The Matzah Ball) lovingly highlights Jewish Modern Orthodox life using rom-com tropes people of all faiths love. Dara Rabinowitz, the creator of a successful Jewish dating app, is mortified when her grandmother reveals on national TV that Dara doesn't have a love match herself. Dara wants romance, but her criteria for a husband is very specific, and her anxiety disorder makes her wary of dating. After the segment with her grandmother goes viral, newscaster Chris Steadfast convinces Dara to try dating on TV, hoping to save his show's ratings, promote Dara's app, and bolster her chances at finding love. Despite Chris's best intentions, the quest for Dara's perfect match is comically disastrous and the strongest connection that forms is between Chris and Dara themselves. Widowed father Chris easily helps Dara through anxious moments and his daughter charms her as well—but Chris isn't Jewish, and to be together Dara will have to reconsider her criteria for a perfect match. Meltzer's refreshing characters and the grounded, real-world obstacles to their relationship make them an easy couple to cheer. Jewish readers will enjoy seeing their culture reflected, and Meltzer provides plenty of context on Jewish holidays and culture for the nonobservant and non-Jewish audience. It's an accessible, adorable romance.
