A review by lisaluvsliterature
Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Once I was finally able to pick this up and start reading, I really did enjoy it, even with it being 3rd person instead of my preferred 1st person. Even in third person we had alternating chapters from both Evie and Adam’s viewpoints. That helped me too, as it was definitely told from their viewpoint even in the 3rd person. I honestly wish if this was a real thing it was something I could afford to do. Even if I didn’t plan to fall in love, just being able to go on a tour like this would be incredible. It reminds me of how perfect my Scotland/Outlander tour was, even as expensive as it was.

Evie was a poet, kind of stuck in her writing. Her background was a father that had passed away, and her mother kind of stepped back from any challenges, or anything that was her husband’s culture. Fortunately for Evie, she still had her Auntie Hao, her father’s sister, to keep her in touch with not only that side of the family, but with putting her out there and trying to do the things she loved. But she had fallen into the easy side of life, especially once her aunt passed away. She had a boyfriend that was easy, no stress. At least until it turned out he was going to fire her because her unusual methods of teaching and lack of publications had made the school look elsewhere. Honestly I think her awesome creative ideas would be great for high school students. If only those teachers didn’t now almost have to completely follow scripted curriculum in so many places. 

Adam came from one of THOSE rich families. Where it all had to be proper, and things had to look good. Only when he’d been humiliated as he asked his girlfriend to marry him, he’d been the one blamed by his parents. So right away that made me dislike his parents. His sister was the golden child as far as he could tell. Their parents seemed to think she could do no wrong. She’d married the right person and kept with him. Even as we found out that maybe her life wasn’t as perfect as she let on with her parents. Adam went along on their inaugural first matchmaking tour. Mainly just to be the face of the company with his sister, but he ended up having someone there his sister had thought would be a perfect match for him. Instead, he and Evie had sparks between them, even as their meet-cute wasn’t necessarily the best. 

It was impossible not to adore Evie though. Even with her craziness. The way she was so sweet around the kids and so friendly, and just so willing to try all kinds of things. The banter between her and Adam was really good at times too. I got so frustrated with Adam though for how he went all hot and cold with her. Even as his misgivings with his family and what he was “expected” to do might have made sense for him, it was frustrating.

Of course this is a romance, so even with the third act breakup, we know there will be a happy ending. This is another book for me where the third act breakup made sense. With the two of them being from different countries, it was really hard to see how in the world they could be together. I mean who was going to give up their life? So I loved the way things became possible for one of them to go to the other one and do what could help them to be together. 

I really enjoyed this, and I know my review is a bit after the pub date, but it was definitely worth fitting in!