The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
CW: Child/Family Abandonment, Death of a Parent, Cancer, Grief, Described Chronic Illnesses, Shame, Ableism, Internalized Ableism, Internet Bullying, Mention of Infidelity, Antisemitism, Discussion of the Holocaust, Breach of Privacy, Drunkenness, Suicidal Thoughts
4.5/5
Being a popular book amongst romance readers, I have no idea how I first came across The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer. It came out in 2021 and I've wanted to read it since. I tend to pick out books that don't have a waitlist on Libby as it can be overwhelming when the books end up coming in all at once. It's because of this that I took a while to get to The Matzah Ball, and even longer because I decided I'd read it for Hannukka 2023. I'm so happy that I finally got to read it. Meltzer is a wonderful author!
Rachel Rubinstein-Goldblatt is the daughter of a popular rabbi and a successful doctor. She's been raised to be the perfect Jewish woman, often reminded that the synagogue of over 1000 families is always watching. She's kept her secrets close to her chest; that she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and that she loves Christmas. Needing a job that allows her to work from home, she became a successful Christmas romance writer. Unfortunately, this Hannukka, her world is going to be sent spinning like a dreidel. Her publisher tells her to write a Hannukka novel in the same week that her middle school boyfriend, Jacob, comes back to New York. Though they would love to avoid each other, they'll be forced to air out their grudges as they prep for the Matzah Ball together.
This book knows exactly who its audience is. It's accessible for both Jews and non-Jews. The book takes the time to explain certain things that are pretty basic, like sufganiyot, the fact that Hannukka isn't a major holiday, that the 10 Commandments were received at Mt. Sinai, and more. These are for the non-Jewish readers. The book also has plenty of things that are treated as a part of life, like knowing what the Berkshires are, using two sets of table/cookware, and many Yiddish words. One of my favorite Jewish moments in the book is when Jacob is setting up the menorah and has to melt the bottoms of the candles to get them to stick. My family does this too and it filled me with glee to hear it described. I appreciate that The Matzah Ball was written mostly for a Jewish audience without alienating any other readers.
If you enjoy tropes and trope analysis, this is definitely the Hannukka romance for you. The Matzah Ball isn't just a holiday romance novel, it's about holiday romance novels. If at times it feels a little cheesy, unrealistic, or rushed, there's a reason for it. These are important elements of the sub-genre. You can have the romantic tropes featured, enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance, in any romance sub-genre, but there are certain elements that make this a holiday romance. Obviously, it has to take place during a Festival of Lights holiday and there has to be snow, it also should take place (at least partially) in a big city like New York, each love interest should have just one friend, and they should be in love within an extraordinarily low number of days. Meltzer has set up Rachel to be a writer, a hint to the audience that everything tropey/cliche is intentional.
I'd have loved this book even if it was just a fluffy Hannukka romcom, but it is more than that. The Matzah Ball features a main character who is surviving through a chronic illness and a love interest who was raised by a chronically ill single mom. I face my own chronic illnesses, fibromyalgia and IBS, so I always appreciate when a book explores what it's like to have one. Even better if the character is Jewish. Rachel has a best friend and family that care about and support her, but she has so much shame about her CFS that she has a hard time accepting enough help. The way Jacob approaches Rachel's CFS is accepting and reminds me a little of my own boyfriend. Both men have been close to someone who needed extra help and came away better people for it. Some of it is written in a way that takes away Rachel's agency, but he learns from it. Overall, representation matters!
Jean Meltzer's The Matzah Ball is sweet, hopefully, and delightfully tropey. It also had me guessing how a few things would go and made me invested in all of the characters. If you want a little light in your December books, I highly recommend getting your hands or ears on this novel!
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