The Matchmaker's List

Sonya Lalli

Image | Book cover: The Matchmaker's List

Raina Anand may have finally given in to family pressure and agreed to let her grandmother play matchmaker, but that doesn't mean she has to like it — or that she has to play by the rules. Nani always took Raina's side when she tried to push past the traditional expectations of their tight-knit Indian-immigrant community, but now she's ambushing Raina with a list of suitable bachelors. Is it too much to ask for a little space? Besides, what Nani doesn't know won't hurt her…As Raina's life spirals into a parade of Nani-approved bachelors and disastrous blind dates, she must find a way out of this modern-day arranged-marriage trap without shattering her beloved grandmother's dreams. (From Berkley)

From the book

Nani opened the front door as I was still crossing the lawn. Her nose twitching, she looked me up and down as I forced myself up the steps.
"Is that what you're wearing?"
I shrugged and glanced down at my weekend jeans, my favorite checked shirt. It's what I always wore home during one of my weekly visits, but I supposed today wasn't an ordinary day.
I was twenty-nine today, and walking into an ambush.
"I was hoping you would dress up, nah? We have guest."
A guest. A guest implied a cup of chai and a tray of sweets quickly defrosted from the Deepfreeze. A guest was small talk, compliments, gossip.
A guest was not an unannounced blind date chaperoned by your grandmother.

From The Matchmaker's List by Sonya Lalli ©2019. Published by Berkley.

More about The Matchmaker's List

Media Audio | The Next Chapter : Aparita Bhandari on romance novels by diverse authors

Caption: The Next Chapter columnist Aparita Bhandari is a lifelong fan of romance novels, but she rarely came across writers or characters who weren't white -- until recently. She talks about the need for more diversity in the romance industry and reviews a few titles by Canadian and American writers.

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