An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

 

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

Let’s begin with the summary: 

Can a librarian's matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories? 

If the covers of every romance book ever published didn't convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn't heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what's a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that's what. Armed with library patrons' check-out histories, she's determined to make at least one love connection—even if it's not her own. 

Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn't surprise him when the town's quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can't help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline's secret matchmaking scheme, he's not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can't judge a book—or each other—by the cover. 

And now, my review: 

I appreciated the author’s mention of alopecia. I hadn’t seen that in fiction before, and it felt original and relatable. Most women have probably worried about losing their hair. Society places such a strong importance on a full head of hair. The matchmaking element is fun. I loved the tie-in to libraries, books, and a quirky librarian.

Another original ingredient is the MMC’s involvement in the FMC’s schemes is their forced proximity element. I usually see matchmakers as side characters. Here she’s central. 

We begin with the first four full chapters in the FMC’s POV and unfortunately, this character rambles quite a bit. She’s very short and he’s very tall, and that’s a romantic trope I fear tends to infantilize women. She has reasons to misjudge him too, and in that way, they mirror each other—both feel judged and each feels misunderstood.

The deeper issue of being rejected for appearance is a valuable one, and the author tackles its layers with courage. Her heroine recognizes she doesn’t have everything figured out, and that makes us cheer for her. 

I highlighted a few instances of the heroine ogling the hero, which got old. I also didn’t always like the heroine, and for that reason I did not finish reading this book. While there was a lot of potential with the lesson being “not judging a book by its cover,” the story didn’t keep me engaged.