A review by emmareadstoomuch
Match Made in Manhattan by Amanda Stauffer

3.0

I was sent an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Amanda Stauffer!

Note: The quotes in this review are from an advance reader’s copy and subject to change.

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Sometimes, it’s really fun to write negative reviews. Like when a book is totally offensive and you’re a Goodreads Superhero and you write a one-star rant thing and everyone’s like You queen! Thank you for your service! I will stay away from this book forever and it’s all thanks to your holy blessed work!

Sometimes a book is just really dumb, and that’s ALSO a blast and a half because who doesn’t love pointing out fallacies? When a book makes you angry or offended or annoyed, writing a negative review is the BEST THING IN THE WORLD. (Excluding a good chocolate chip cookie, which will forever hold the record of best thing in the world.)

But sometimes writing non-positive reviews is not fun, and this is definitively one of those times.

Boo!

I am going to have a very bad time, but this will still be fun for you, probably, if you ever find me fun. Really, I give and I give. I’m generous. It’s what I do.

This book didn’t make me angry or offended or annoyed. I actually really wanted to love it. There are parts of it I did appreciate. And I think the author will write super great and fun stuff in the future. Stauffer just hasn’t hit her stride yet.

To summarize this book: Our protagonist, Alison, has a breakup and launches into the world of online dating in New York. We follow her through what feels like one million dates with one million men and it is straight up IMPOSSIBLE to keep them all straight. (Hehe. “All straight.” Because every character in this book is.) That’s pretty much it.

So we did that. Now I’m going to get the bad stuff out of the way. Frowny face.

One, this contains the not like other girls trope in a really outright and confusing way. And you guys know I literally HATE the not like other girls trope. But I’ve never read it like...this before? Example: one very unmemorable dude’s response to Alison asking what made him go out with her:

“But also, you’re not like the girls I usually date.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. You’re just not.” He shrugs.
“Well, you must have meant
something by it.”
“I don’t know. You’re...different. Maybe classier?”
“Are you about to make fun of my dress from Friday night again?”
He laughs, “No. I’m serious. You just...you’re different. It’s a good thing.”
“So I take it you haven’t dated many architectural conservators before.”
“Fine, fine. Make a joke about it. I was
trying to be nice.”
“You didn’t
say anything!”

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN. It’s like…almost a rejection of it as a compliment, but then, like, still a compliment. And not a rejection at all. And still a nice thing. And the conversation just moves on.

ALSO. Another example. Which is a worse one. When Alison is making the incredibly bold move of actually eating a meal on a dinner date (while wearing, gasp, a cowl neck shirt!!):

“It’s not a critique. I’m actually really impressed. You’re not like most girls.”

We all must take a moment of silence for Alison’s bravery. While you’re all doing that, I’m going to go take a shower and try to scrub the trope away.

My other complaints are just more...eh ones. It can drag a little. It’s hard to distinguish between the countless men. The plot gets repetitive. Alison can be soooOOOOoooOOOO unlikable. She is so hard to impress! She is so unfair to her parade of online-dating dudes! She is so judgmental!

The dialogue, which you can maybe tell, is very…italicized and ellipsis...filled and a little - choppy.

But I feel bad. Because it’s not a bad book. It’s just a debut novel.

And also there is good stuff! This has an ending that is very different from a lot of chick lit. There are really great female friendships in it. Alison is a woman who prioritizes her career, which you don’t see a lot AND WHICH I WANT TO SEE ALL THE TIME. And the plot isn’t as repetitive as it could be. (Even though this means dudes taking Alison on amazing dates and then her being really not nice to them.)

Overall, there are aspects of it that are really refreshing and great and unique, and aspects that are the opposite. Y’know??? Life is hard. Reviewing is hard. Books are hard.

Bottom line: This was kind of an eh read for me, but I still recommend other people give it a try. Especially because I see a lot of promise in Amanda Stauffer and I will tooooootally be picking up her next one, my guy.



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I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A fast/fun read, but I had some significant prooooooblems with it. Frowny-face, boo, etc.

Review to come