The Merry Matchmaker is a heartwarming Christmas romance that follows Frankie Lane, a well-intentioned matchmaker, as she navigates love, loss, and the holiday spirit in a charming small-town setting.
Length: 336 pages.
Genre: Romance, Holiday
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to MIRA and Edelweiss + for the ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Summary:
Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, this festive Christmas tale follows Frankie Lane, a well-meaning woman who is constantly trying to fix the love lives of those around her, even when her meddling leads to chaos. Frankie is determined to help her divorced sister, shy employee, daughter, and best friend, all while running her store, Holiday Happiness. Despite her good intentions, her interference often results in disaster. Among those she tries to “help” is her long-time friend Mitch, the local hardware store owner who supported her through the loss of her husband. Though Mitch seems perfectly fine on his own, Frankie is bent on finding him a new love, whether he wants her help or not.
My Thoughts:
The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts was the first Christmas book I read in 2024, and it certainly set the bar high. With its cozy holiday setting and relatable, middle-aged characters, this story quickly became a comforting escape each time I picked it up.
Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, this novel centres around Frankie Lane, a well-meaning but sometimes overzealous matchmaker who can’t help but meddle in the love lives of everyone around her. Frankie is a widow who has already experienced her great love. Since losing her husband Ike in a tragic accident, she has regained balance in her life and is content focusing on her shop, Holiday Happiness, while steering clear of romance for herself. But for everyone else? Frankie’s matchmaking enthusiasm knows no bounds.
Her sister Stef, who’s recovering from a divorce, her new to town shy employee Elinor, and her best friend Mitch, the owner of the local hardware store, all become targets of her well-intentioned (if somewhat misguided) efforts to find them their happily-ever-afters. It’s clear she cares deeply for them, but watching her attempts often backfire was both humorous and heartwarming. Even her mother Adele has opinions about Frankie’s meddling, warning her to stop pushing too hard, all while holding onto a secret of her own.
One of the things I loved most about this story was how grounded it felt in the holiday spirit. The small-town events, especially the pageant to select the next Mrs. Claus for the Christmas Parade, added such charm. When Frankie realizes she’s being replaced for the first time as Mrs. Claus, it’s a moment of real clarity for her—life is moving on, even when she’s not in the centre of things.
What made this book stand out for me was the way Sheila Roberts crafted Frankie’s journey. Frankie has experienced great love and loss, and you can feel her hesitance about opening herself up again. Her concern for those she loves drives her, but it also serves as a way to keep her own vulnerability at bay. I found this deeply relatable, and it made her character so much more layered.
Final Thoughts:
The Merry Matchmaker has become my favorite Sheila Roberts book to date. It’s full of heart, humour, and holiday warmth, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a festive, feel-good read this season.
Some Of The Other Books I’ve Reviewed Written by Sheila Roberts:
The Twelve Months of Christmas
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Wonderful review, Jodie💜 You’ve made me excited about listening to this one.
thathappyreader
I hope you love it as much as I did Jonetta!
Molly | Transatlantic Notes
Anything that inspires some positive holiday spirit sounds like a lovely read to get into, especially during this time of year! I haven’t read anything like this before, but Sheila Roberts sounds like a great author!
thathappyreader
I hope that you decide to read this book Molly.