The Matchmaker

Full of life, charm, and wonderfully observed detail, an utterly delightful debut.
JODI McALISTER

Sparks fly in this glittering romantic comedy about love, marriage and mistaking your own identity.

'A wonderful addition to Australian romance literature.'
BOOKSELLER + PUBLISHER

Matchmaking is easy. Falling in love on the other hand ...

Saima knows that she's a great matchmaker. She has the weekly wedding invitations to prove it. So why has her community started turning against her?

The desi community in Sydney has eyes, ears and mouths everywhere, and Saima's feeling firsthand the impact gossip can have. Too modern, too focused on compatibility.

She's about to pack it all up and move back in with her Ammy when an eligible bachelor's wealthy parents show up at her door. They're offering the biggest payday she's had in years, but there's a catch- she has to convince their son to accept her services without letting on that it's his parents pulling the strings.

Kal is handsome, successful and starting to worry about his path in life. What does it mean to be a third culture kid? When a woman falls into his life challenging everything he thought he knew about heritage, life and love, it might be the answer he's been searching for.

But Saima wrote off love a long time ago - has she hardened her heart too much to see what's right in front of her?

Can a matchmaker recognise a perfect match?

About the Author

Saman Shad is a writer, editor, journalist and teller of stories. Much of her work is inspired by her experiences as a third culture kid, growing up and living in Pakistan, the Middle East, the UK and Australia. Her writing credits span mediums, including radio scriptwriting for the BBC in the UK and the ABC in Australia, and playwriting, with works commissioned by theatres across London and Sydney. She is a regular writer for several publications, including the Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald and SBS. She has also worked on screen projects, including developing the feature film One of Us with funding from Screen Australia. She is currently working as a screenwriter on a number of upcoming projects. Saman is a proud mum of three children and lives with them and her husband in Sydney.