Carla Recommends: Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein

Playing with Matches is a book I picked up on a whim at Barnes & Noble, mostly because it had an illustrated cover that fit in with my September reading challenge. However, it turned out to be a pleasant, page-turning surprise! While it’s billed as a rom-com, I’m going to classify this one as Millennial chick-lit with a twist… and you’ll just have to read it to know what the twist is.

What It’s About

A new college graduate desperate for a job so she doesn’t have to move back home takes a position as an elite New York City matchmaker. Hilarity ensues.

What I Loved

I’m a couple of decades past my college graduation year, and it’s been over twenty years since I dated… so I love books about what it’s like to be a young woman looking for love in the modern world! Orenstein captures both the angst of dating in a post-Tinder world and the excitement and sense of possibility of being young in a vibrant global city like New York. Quirky characters abound, along with realistic portrayals of female friendships.

What I Didn’t Love

There wasn’t much I didn’t love, but for those sensitive readers, I should mention some language and sexual situations (though nothing graphic).

Who Should Read It

If you’re a Millennial or older Gen-Z-er, you might think that romance novels are fun but ultimately unrealistic in an age where you’re more likely to swipe right on a potential match than to bump into your soul mate at a coffee shop… and this is one of those books that gets you. If you’re a fellow old like me, you’re probably wondering why people don’t date like they used to… this is also the book that shows why. Plus it’s quirky, fun, and well-written. Basically, if you liked the movie Friends with Benefits or books by Jennifer Weiner and Sophie Kinsella, this is probably right up your alley.

Tags: chick lit, Hannah Orenstein, Playing with Matches