A review by courtneyfalling
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was so positively surprised by this book! I don't normally rate romances so high, but I really loved Rachel and Jacob and Rachel + Jacob together. Rachel's ME/CFS and chronic illness experience is really well-handled*, I liked how this book balanced lighthearted Jewish representation with slightly heavier moments of reflection on religious weight and generational trauma (but keep in mind that I am a non-Jewish, chronically ill reader), and there's so much witty banter and clever campy (literally) backstory. And like, Rachel's obsessive and hidden love of Christmas? Golden plot device... this whole concept is so carefully constructed and it's as hilarious as it was heartfelt. And even the side characters felt real and whole! Also, I'm a perpetual hater of third act conflicts, but this one felt deserved, the logical culmination of Rachel and Jacob's personalities.

*
SpoilerThe caveat here to the third act conflict and the chronic illness representation is that Rachel runs to the Matzah Ball and breaks in flamboyantly through the windows, and I was waiting to see Rachel's crash the following week, or another acknowledgement of limited energy levels and accompanying flares since that had been such a prominent theme through the book. And the ending offered only a quick, all-hopeful wrap-up, which, okay, fine, but I was cringing the entire time that Rachel was running and the toll never got mentioned again. And there's like a very quick reference to Rachel finding an obstetrician, but like, getting pregnant and parenting while disabled is a huge decision and I feel like this merited more attention or weight!


Edit: Moving down to 4 stars after a book club with friends! Some valid critiques and more obvious gaps the second time around. 
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