A Match Made for Thanksgiving
by Jackie Lau
Thanksgiving is a bit shorted in the romance world. I suppose this is because some people think that fighting with your family, consuming your body weight in pie, and entering a food coma are not romantic activities. To them I say…what kind of pie are we talking about here? After all, one of the most romantic lines in all of literary history refers to Thanksgiving – I refer of course to Rose saying “He ate my turkey and he didn’t get sick!” In The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler.
A Match Made For Thanksgiving offers a multi-cultural, funny and sexy Thanksgiving romance set in Canada. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. The USA’s Thanksgiving is in November, and there are a few other differences, but eating an enormous dinner with family members is a practice common to both countries.
Lily Tseng has always been “the responsible one” in her family, but when a boyfriend breaks up with her because he thinks that she is “boring,” she decides to step out of her comfort zone and have a one-night stand. Luckily she meets Nick Wong, a well-to-do playboy who specializes in one-night stands. The sex is so amazing that both Lily and Nick keep thinking about each other.
Things become complicated when Nick shows up to his family’s house for Thanksgiving post-one-night-stand only to discover that his mother and grandparents have set Nick and his siblings up with dates – and Lily is Nick’s brother’s date.
I’d like to begin this review with an apology to Canada. I had NO IDEA about Butter Tarts and Nanaimo Bars. Canada, I salute you.
I had so much fun with this story. I enjoyed the multi-cultural elements that blended with the fun family traditions. A lot of families have some specialThanksgiving food and in this story we get “Ah Yeh’s noodles” (a childhood favorite of Nick’s that his grandfather makes), char siu (Nick’s contribution from Toronto) and, in Lily’s family, a beloved tradition of KFC and store-bought apple pie. These details made the families seem real and grounded and fun.
I also loved that, while the Chinese relatives were excited about match-making, Nick’s mom, a White woman who loves romance novels, was equally invested and had the relatives trying to find dates based on romance novel tropes like “second-chance romance” and “runaway bride” and “opposites attract,” which leads to the Thanksgiving dates being hilarious mis-matches.
I’m happy to say that the whole “she’s dating my brother” thing lasts for about an hour (of plot time, not reading time) with Greg being a good sport about the confusion. The story is quite short but gives us quite a bit of hot sexytimes, character development, food, and hilarity. It’s not especially deep and there is zero angst although there are fond memories of deceased relatives. The communication is decent and every one is reasonably mature.
Overall, this is just a really fun book, one in a series of novellas about holiday romances. It stuck in my head because it respected culture without relying on stereotypes and because I felt at home with these families. I hope you all have a lovely holiday and that your favorite food is included, whether it be a loved one’s recipe or something from a store. I guess I have to try making those Nanaimo bars now!
– Carrie S
Advertising executive Nick Wong loves living in Toronto. He loves late nights partying and taking women back to his penthouse. And so it is with great reluctance that he returns to his boring hometown of Mosquito Bay for Thanksgiving.
This year, however, is even worse than usual. His interfering parents and grandparents, frustrated with the lack of weddings in the family, have invited blind dates for him and his three siblings. Nick’s brother Greg has been set up with Lily Tseng, who just so happens to be Nick’s latest one-night stand, the one he can’t get out of his mind.
Although Nick has never been interested in settling down, Lily has him reconsidering. If only he can get through this painful weekend with his family and convince her that she should be with him, not Greg, and that he’s good for more than just a single night of sex, dumplings, and bubble tea…
Contemporary Romance, Romance
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Thanks!
I really like this whole series, and I’d agree with your grade. They’re generally low angst, there’s communication, and the surrounding family characters are fun. And I’m sorry for any of you who don’t have Nanaimo bars and butter tarts 🙂
Personally, iI would skip the Nanaimo bars – they are very, very sweet. Butter tarts are heaven, however. My favorite butter tart recipe comes from my Laura Secord cookbook: https://ifood.tv/dish/1031213-laura-secord-butter-tart-recipe. We have lived in the US for over 25 years now, but if I want to remember home, this will do it for me.
It is so nice to be able to read stories with Canadian settings too – it used to be that Canadian authors had to change their settings to somewhere in the US, as the publishers felt that Americans couldn’t relate to anything other than an American location.
I feel really sorry for those who have never experienced the sublime deliciousness of a butter tart. (I make mine in a sheet, cut into bars or squares depending on how many people will be indulging.)
As a granddaughter of a Canadian family, I agree with Laurel that Nanaimo bars are too, too sweet. But butter tarts are delicious.
The two main characters are great, but didn’t like the interfering family and some of the humor fell flat for me. But in the interest of fairness, this was the first Lau I read, and now that I’ve read a few others, I would say her books don’t quite work for me. I really not a fan pushy family dynamics or humor drawn from embarrassing situation.
I just got this book free at Amazon.
CarolynM, thanks for the head’s up!
I’m willing to try something warm and fuzzy like this even more when it’s available as a freebie. 🙂
I got this last year and then forgot to read it when it became buried under a TBR avalanche. Rediscovered, I read it last weekend and enjoyed it. I thought the parent inviting a date for each adult child was crazy, in a well-meaning and clever way. Look forward to reading more of Lau’s books.
Oooh butter tarts! I also am among those courting diabetes and like Nanaimo bars. I lucked into marrying a Canadian who introduced me to both, and on rare occasions makes them.
No, no–try the Nanaimo bars! Don’t give up. There is discussion on whether or not currents or raisins should be in the butter tarts. Some people like pecans (not a Canadian nut) or walnuts . All should be eaten in small quantities unless you’re seven years old. Also the quality of the pastry in butter tarts is important–store bought may be questionable. Flakey and buttery is part of the charm. Enjoy and don’t forget your tooth brush!
I find Jackie Lau’s books to be uniquely welcoming, encouraging, and entertaining. The main characters are always strong and intelligent if not entirely self-aware. It’s the evolving self-awareness that is the gift of each story. Can’t help but be fond of the interfering family members, the sense of rootedness despite histories dating back to times of new arrivals to their chosen Canadian destinies. Lau’s books are spicy, never lacking for heat. I experienced A Match Made for Thanksgiving as another gift for the holidays and recommend it highly.
I like Nanaimo bars a lot, but they’re fussy to make. Butter tarts, on the other hand… mmm. There’s even a butter tart tour in the area where I grew up! https://buttertarttour.ca/
I loved this series – you get exactly what it says on the cover and sometimes goofy, tropey rom-coms are exactly what you need.
Love me some Jackie Lau, and I loved this book!