Review: Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
First of all, let’s talk about this cover. It’s a stunner. Second of all, I saw a few of my favorite authors (like Annabel Monaghan) recommend this book so I knew I had to give it a read. The setting of this book was so rich and visceral, it really transports you to the lush lands of Vietnam. It has never been on my bucket list of travel but after this read, I need to see it in person one day.
Synopsis:
“Evie Lang’s life is in shambles. On the heels of losing her beloved aunt, she's unceremoniously fired from her poetry professorship by her secret boyfriend. Lacking income and inspiration, she's stuck in Ohio with no idea how to move forward—until hope arrives in a surprising letter.
Auntie Hảo left Evie the deed to her San Francisco row house, a place full of Evie’s happiest memories. The catch? To inherit, she must go on a pre-arranged matchmaking tour in Việt Nam. The last thing Evie wants is to spend time with a group of strangers looking for love. But she can't resist the chance to finally visit her family’s native home.
A world away, Adam Quyền has a chip on his shoulder. He’s working around the clock as CMO for his sister’s elite matchmaking business, a job complicated by her insistence that he knows nothing about love. He’s desperate to prove himself, so when she challenges him to join the inaugural tour, he reluctantly agrees.
Adam thinks Evie is chaotic and unpredictable. Evie thinks Adam is grumpy and uptight. But from the bustling streets of Hồ Chí Minh City to the soaring waterfalls in Đà Lạt, they keep getting thrown together, their animosity charged with attraction…and they discover that true love may be out there, if they are willing to take a leap.
Two stubborn hearts, one whirlwind adventure, Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour is a story of how loving (and living) bravely can lead you to the most unexpected places—and the most imperfectly perfect loves.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—Like I said, I loved this setting. I really felt like the author brought it to life and reading the author’s note at the end solidified how important it was that she share this part of her.
The Concept—Maybe it’s because I’ve never used dating apps, but I am fascinated by the idea of matchmaking. There’s also the stakes of a wealthy, prominent family keeping the main characters apart.
The Writing—This was my first experience with Nguyen and I really liked her prose! I look forward to reading more of her work.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Chemistry/Pacing of the Relationship—One thing about me, I am very picky about the Insta-Love trope. I don’t think this book was quite insta-love but it had some aspects of it that didn’t leave me connecting to the main characters’ attraction to each other.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
grief, death of a loved one