CREDIT: TOUCHSTONE (AN IMPRINT OF SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC.) COVER ART BY SINEM ERKAS
Playing with Matches is an enjoyable read from Hannah Orenstein, about a young woman who turns to working as a matchmaker in NYC and ends up finding out who really is after a bombshell is thrown her way.

A recent New York University (NYU) journalism graduate trying to make sense of her post-grad life in the big apple, all while dealing with a bombshell thrown her way, is a brief, but fair description of what Playing with Matches is about.

The debut novel from Hannah Orenstein, takes readers through the twists and turns, adventures and misadventures of Sasha Goldberg, a twenty-two year old who finds herself working as a matchmaker in New York City to make ends meat after her dreams of working as a journalist/writer don’t go according to plan.

Playing a legitimate matchmaker at all hours of the day and night, for clients who are much older, quite complex and picky, tests Goldberg to her limits, but with a job where she’s attempting to “fake it until she makes it”, Goldberg at least has her best friend Caroline and her gorgeous boyfriend, Johnathan by her side.

However, just as things are looking up and Goldberg is starting to feel confident in her work and her personal life seems rosy, a secret from her inner circle comes out and alters much of what she has going for her (or so she thinks).

While Goldberg tries to navigate the start of life after school, without being in a classroom with readings, little does she know she’s about to learn more in her life than any textbook could ever help her with. She’ll soon discover who she really is and what she’s capable of handling.

Playing with Matches, a novel from Touchstone (Simon & Schuster), is a real treat and captures a rare look into the brain and world of a young New Yorker who’s trying to navigate life on her own terms as best as she can.

With just being over 300 pages, the novel is a quick, easy and interesting read that leaves readers wanting more. This could be due to the fact that the plot grabs you in and brings you into a world you never knew you needed to know about.

Perhaps because it’s a story about a millennial, those who are around the same age as Goldberg can relate to the story in one way or another.

The writing is sharp, witty and modern and with a plot that uses modern technology such as dating popular apps, it’s clear to understand the picture being painted with the use of Orenstein’s words.

New Yorkers might also find this read like déjà vu, because according to Orenstein, some of the places and details in the plot are similar to actual spots in the city.

Playing with Matches is a fun read and something perfect to breeze through one’s busy life. It fits perfectly for millennials, even having specific details like “millennial” pink as the cover, which is a nice touch. The cover alone is eye-catching and lures a reader in.

The whole packaging of the novel is a perfect layout and adding a juicy plot to it, makes Playing with Matches golden.

According to the author’s bio section of the book, Orenstein, a NYU journalism and history graduate herself is currently “a dating editor at Elite Daily, formerly a writer at Seventeen.com and at twenty-one, became the youngest matchmaker at a top dating service”.

Orenstein also posted about the process of writing Playing with Matches from beginning to end and how the idea sparked from a piece she wrote for a university class.

Followers of Orenstein, via social media were also given updates of the novel’s progress, which made being able to purchase Playing with Matches and dive right in feel like it came full circle.

Overall, Playing with Matches is an exceptional read and something worth investing in if you’re a fan of New York City, gossip, love and ultimately the life of a millennial who’s trying to find her place in the concrete jungle and beyond.