The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh
Published: April 18, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Pages: 382
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She lived in London for a few years before returning to Dublin, where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing, she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.
Or it was peaceful. Until Callum Dempsey turned up. Part of a hot-shot (and, Katie has to admit, hot is annoyingly apt for him…) development team with zero eye for beauty or charm, he’s not only building a hideous hotel just outside the village, he’s also just announced a plan to knock down Ennisbawn’s only remaining pub. To make way for a view from the golf course.
It’s the final blow to the village and the last straw for Katie, who refuses to let her home-from-home disappear. The pub is her life – her job, but also her last connection to her parents, who had met at Ennisbawn’s once-famous matchmaking festival that was held in the grounds.
But, after being laughed off the building site in her best flannel pyjamas for demanding the builders leave, Katie decides enough is enough and hatches a plan. She’s going to revive the matchmaking festival, save the pub, and single-handedly bring the town back to life again.
She might even help her two best friends find love as well. Since, heck, what’s another project when you’re taking on the world’s hottest, evilest man?
But what Ireland’s newest matchmaker doesn’t know is that even when someone’s really not your type on paper, love might be a little bit more than just a formula…
“To believe in a little bit of magic.”
Katie is a hardworking bartender in her small village. She is just as furious as the other residents about the big construction company that has come in to destroy their waning life to build a fancy resort. Callum was unprepared for the sassy woman who came barging into his construction site in her pajamas to scold him about the noise. But he is captivated.
This was such a sweet story. I loved the scenery and how the village was described. The village was a character, and I loved how that was incorporated.
Katie was fantastic. Bold, vibrant, and fun. I love that she was not afraid to speak her mind, even if it got her into trouble. I loved Callum’s calm and steady presence. He was the perfect balance for Katie.
I loved how this story was a generational tale of love and romance. The concept of a matchmaking festival seems so fun, and I enjoyed it being executed throughout this story.
Catherine Walsh is such a brilliant storyteller. She creates characters you love and love to hate but end up loving. All of these characters added something so unique to this book.
The humor was spot on. You fall into this story and can’t stop reading. The shenanigans are all so comical but so relatable. Everything about this book was beautiful.