Nura is a third-generation matchmaker for high society, and business is thriving, even if she’s working herself ragged for it. But when a series of bizarre incidents starts plaguing her clients, Nura begins to realize that someone may have it out for her.
Though arranged marriage is becoming less common among desi immigrants in the United States, there is definitely a thriving market for it. Nura’s methods are far more intensive than the folders with photos and personal and professional details that my dad sometimes let me and my siblings shuffle through back when we were looking for a match for my cousin, though.
This is definitely a compelling, anxiety-inducing read. Nura’s targeted for reasons she doesn’t understand, her reputation smeared and her identity stolen, and the stakes are extremely high both because she loves her work and because it’s important for her family. I also enjoyed reading about Nura’s methods for matching clients and the crazy huge weddings she attends. No one does a wedding like a desi couple with a lot of money to splash around (I’m still waiting for an invite one day).
However, there’s pieces here and there of the story which rankled. Nura’s romance with her best friend Azar, while cute, doesn’t really add a lot to the story, and I disliked that he had a girlfriend for about half the book – from the girlfriend’s perspective, Nura is definitely that attention-seeking female friend you read about on Reddit. It also gets hard to suspend your belief in regards to all the computer hacking and poisonings that go on. I don’t know anything about either subject, but the depiction of both didn’t feel too realistic.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
