Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

Published August 9th 2022 by MIRA

About the Book: From the author of The Matzah Ball comes a pitch-perfect romcom following a third-generation Jewish matchmaker who unwittingly finds her own search for love thrust into the spotlight…

The perfect Jewish husband should be:
* A doctor or lawyer (preferably a doctor)
* Baggage-free (no previous marriages, no children)
* And of course—he must be Jewish

As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting love—at least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, she’s been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Dara’s checklist for “The Perfect Jewish Husband” on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Dara’s search into must-see TV.

As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesn’t check any of Dara’s boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Dara—a task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if “perfect on paper” can compete with how hard she’s falling for Chris… 

4.5 Stars:

Dara Rabinowitz is a third generation matchmaker, but she does it with technology. She is the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, but she has not yet found Mr. Right. She knows what she wants in a man, and thus, she has created Mr. Perfect, on paper. When she and her bubbe are invited to appear on national television to celebrate matchmaking and the launch of the updated J-Mate, her grandmother shares Dara’s list for what she is looking for in the Perfect Jewish Husband. The show is a ratings hit, but Dara is mortified. The anchor of the show, Chris Steadfast, is a single dad and non-Jewish, so is completely off the table, but there is something there. The network wants Dara’s story and they plan to set up dates for her based on her list and film them for the show. One of Dara’s biggest issues is that she has Generalized Anxiety Disorder and this is going to be one of the hardest things she has done. Chris also deals with anxiety and he understands what Dara is dealing with and is there to calm her whenever her anxiety rears up. What follows are some pretty hilarious dates as well as a wonderfully developing friendship.

This was a wonderful, uplifting romance, with humour, great characters, frustration, family and friends. The idea that we all have that perfect match in our minds and how it might prevent us from finding our real match, flaws and all was a great theme. The story is told from both Dara’s and Chris’ POV, so we can see what both of them are thinking, dreaming and hoping. I loved the relationship between Dara and her grandmother. She lives in a retirement home with her best friends, “The ChallahBack Girls” and they were a hoot. They looked out for each other and poked and prodded Dara. Chris was a great character. He was a widower, with an eleven year old daughter, Lacey, who was delightful. She was a mix between a lonely little girl, and preteen who loved Dara from the moment she met her. Who wouldn’t love Dara. She was a caring, loyal, smart women who had not had much luck with men. I loved seeing her with Lacey. She is completely open about her anxiety, and I liked how it was portrayed in the story. The storyline was wonderful and the pacing right on. There was a great mix of kindness, frustration, humour and love. The way Jean Meltzer handles the anxiety issues was brilliant. She is honest and compassionate, while bringing out the reality people deal with. With Dara being a devout Jewish woman, I learned a lot about the Jewish customs and beliefs, and I could also see how it can affect the decisions and actions. I was thrilled to see how this story ended, it made my heart happy. If you enjoy romance, humour, family, friendship as well as characters that are well-developed, then you will enjoy Mr. Perfect on Paper. I did a read/listen of this story with Dara Rosenberg narrating. She does a great job with this story, giving the various characters their own voices. She uses her expression to add emotion to the story and if definitely added to my enjoyment of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

Purchase Links: BookShop.org – Harlequin – Barnes & Noble – Amazon – Books-A-Million – Powell’s

EXCERPT – Chapter 1

“Now,” Dara said, glancing down at her watch. “If you don’t mind, we’re on a tight schedule here. I need to get out of here before the coming of Moshiach.” With that, the entire room jumped into action. Dara took a seat at her vanity. Bobbi laid out the makeup palettes, flipping on two nearby lights to mimic the high-intensity lighting of a studio. Simi took the clip out of her hair, allowing Dara’s thick black corkscrews to fall free around her shoulders. Naveah moved to the center of the room, by the built-in island that housed an impressive array of shoes, and began unzipping the plastic packaging. Hanging the outfits up on a mobile rack, she worked hard to carefully display each item. “Okay, we have three looks for you to choose from this morning.” Dara analyzed her choices. There was an elegant pleated skirt and tight cashmere sweater. It was Jewy, which went with her brand, but possibly too Jewish for a nationally syndicated televised event that needed to appeal to a broad audience. She glanced over to her next choice, a pair of smart silk pants and a floral blouse. Finally, there was the casual tech look. A pair of tight blue jeans, Converse sneakers and a Patagonia vest. “Number two,” Dara said. “Fabulous,” Naveah swooned, hanging it up on the room divider screen.              Dara stepped behind the screen, tossed off her robe and changed into the outfit. After a few moments, she returned to the center of the room, taking her usual place in front of the full-length mirror to analyze the final look. The black silk pants, cinched at the ankles, gave her more curves than usual. The dramatic blouse, made from the most luxurious of fabrics, was imprinted with stunning large white orchids. It achieved the right type of look for her interview. Professional yet feminine. Assertive without feeling aggressive. It was all the things she needed to accomplish as a powerful female executive—often held to a different standard than her male counterparts. “What do you think?” Naveah asked, looking over her shoulder. “It’s perfect.” Everyone applauded. Dara sat back down at the vanity. Simi ran her fingers through her curls, while the rest of her staff gathered round, peering down at her with tablets and makeup brushes in hand. “And what’s the look we’re going for today?” Cameron asked. “Professional,” Dara instructed. “Got it,” Cameron said, moving to pick out a pair of maroon heels. “A pop of color to go with all that black and white!” “And the hair?” Simi asked. “Just put it up.” She smiled. “A stylish bun, nothing too sexy.” Bobbi and Simi began working on her hair and makeup. Meanwhile, Naveah pulled up a chair and turned on her tablet. “Now, I know you’re taking this afternoon off to be with your grandmother, so what do you need me to work on in your absence?” “I sent you a list this morning.” Naveah tapped on her screen. Moments later, she had the to-do list that Dara had sent her at four o’clock in the morning. “‘Grocery,’” Naveah said, reading the items aloud, “‘laundry, check with caterers for Yom Kippur breakfast, confirm travel for all executives attending October J-Mate sales conference, confirm all of Miriam’s oncology and radiation therapy appointments for September…’” Dara was always making lists. Always trying to figure out how to turn her chaotic and extremely busy life into some-thing manageable and organized. In truth, her to-do lists, like her obsessive planning, helped her control her anxiety. She was certain that her nonstop list-making drove every-one she worked with—including Naveah—straight-up meshugana. Janet had even once jokingly referred to Dara as the Good List Dybukk, a dislocated soul who appeared without warning and sprinkled to-dos on every person who crossed her path. Fortunately, as Dara paid her staff extremely well for their efforts, they kept the majority of their criticisms to themselves. Dara heard the familiar refrain of an incoming Skype call. “Got it!” Naveah said, snapping at Cameron to grab Dara’s phone. “It’s Janet.” Dara waved Simi away from her face. She asked everyone to give her a minute, and her entourage left the room. Dara waited for the door to shut firmly behind them before continuing. “Good morning!” Janet beamed from her home office in Colorado. “What time is it there?” Dara asked. “Early.” Janet laughed. “You got the whole crew with you today, huh?” “You know it,” Dara said, glancing at her half-done makeup in the mirror. Just as Dara’s generalized anxiety disorder was well-known among those she worked with, so, too, was the fact that she genuinely despised all types of public appearances. Alas, that didn’t stop her from doing them. She had learned early on that selling herself on television, in interviews and on Instagram was a necessary evil. Everybody wanted a face, a real person to support, behind the brand. Over the years, Dara had devised all sorts of systems for handling her anxiety regarding these appearances. “And how are you feeling this morning?” Janet asked, getting right to the point. “Oh, you know me,” Dara said. “I’m only nervous for the three days before and the six days after…so in terms of the actual interview, I imagine it will go just fine.” Janet laughed. “You’re going to do great, Dara.” In truth, she always did great. She was a perfectionist, after all. She always had a plan and always said all the right things. She smiled in all the right places. She was never caught off guard, and therefore, never floundered. Though the glam squad and to-do lists may have seemed overkill to some, her obsessive-compulsive tendencies worked. Her business was thriving. Her reputation in tech, and the Jewish world, was flourishing, too. “Like we already discussed,” Janet continued, “there shouldn’t be any surprises, okay? Everything has been worked out between our publicity people and their producers. You want to run through the script one more time?” “No,” Dara said, firmly. “I got this.” Janet nodded. “Then I hope you have a blast with your bubbe today.” The camera shut off. Dara put her phone away, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had been arranged into a sophisticated bun. Her angular features had been softened with light contouring. On the surface, she was the picture of poise and finesse. And yet, her hands were shaking. She cracked her knuckles, took a sip of tea. She knew it was ridiculous, being this nervous about going on Good News New York, a show that nobody even watched…but she couldn’t help herself. Dara watched it. Religiously. It was a habit of hers to keep the television running in the background while she worked. She liked the noise, the hum of familiar voices. It helped her anxiety. She especially liked the deliciously handsome head anchor of Good News, Christopher Steadfast, and the easygoing way he ended every episode with the words, “I’ll be waiting for you.” Unfortunately, it had a weird time slot. Midafternoon, during the week, squeezed between the morning talk shows and the soap operas. Plus, it was an oddity in the world of live broadcasting in that it only focused on positive stories. Good news and human interest tales, like the two kids who donated proceeds of a lemonade stand to a homeless shelter, and Bucky, the vegan golden retriever. Dara adored the segments on Bucky. She watched all of them, often on repeat, staying up late into the night, scrolling through all his reposted videos on the Good News New York Facebook fan page. In fact, the only reason she had even suggested going on Good News New York to begin with was for a chance at meeting the King of Aww himself. Though she was far too mired in her own busy schedule (and anxiety) to ever own a pet herself, she had adopted the quirky golden retriever in her heart. As for Christopher Steadfast, it could never happen. And the reason it could never happen was right there in his name. Christopher Steadfast was not Jewish. As such, and thanks to a very clear rabbinic prohibition against interfaith marriage, she regarded the man the same way she would some beautiful non-Jewish Fabergé egg you passed by in a museum. Some-thing to gaze upon and admire…but never, ever touch. She couldn’t believe she would be meeting him today. The dog, obviously. Not the man. She had no interest at all in some sexy Southern heartthrob with a voice that could melt schmaltz and the pectoral muscles of a Norse god. Dara shook the thought away. Then, as her own ema, or mother, had taught her, she focused all her energy on dealing with practicalities. She had Simi and Bobbi come back to the room, finish her hair and makeup. She did one final run-through of her schedule with Naveah. She had Cameron and Alexa double-check her bags at the front door, packing up her phone and tablet. Eventually, with well wishes and air kisses, Naveah and the entourage departed for the day. Normally, she would have someone from her staff accompany her to her events. But today, she wanted to focus on spending time with her grandmother. Dara found herself alone in her apartment once more. She glanced down at her watch. She still had fifteen minutes left before she needed to head out to her bubbe’s. Fifteen minutes. It was a long time to sit around staring at the concrete walls of her apartment. Quiet was dangerous for Dara. It left her open to obsessing. She moved to fill the space. She brushed her teeth again. Double-checked the bedroom, making sure the bed was made and everything was neat and tidy. She turned off her computer monitors and all the lights. She unplugged her coffee maker and double-checked the third bedroom for any hair straighteners or curling irons left plugged in. She made sure all the knobs on the oven were turned off, and that the patchouli candle was blown out. She pulled out her phone and snapped a photograph of both. Just in case her brain started obsessively worrying that she had left something on by mistake, and she was single-handedly responsible for burning down all of Hoboken. Dara landed at the front door. Her eyes wandered down to her red high heels. She hated wearing heels in the city. Not for any practical reason, or because they gave her blisters. But because in case of emergency, the zombie apocalypse or an-other mass casualty event, she was worried about having to traverse sixty city blocks—or, God forbid, a bridge—to get back home. She debated her options. She could pack her heels and wear sneakers for the commute, but that would require yet another bag for the simple day trip into Manhattan. She hated that it had to be that way. That she couldn’t just be judged on who she was and what she created. Sadly, Dara was a realist. A huge part of her success in life had been understanding how the world works, and the way people inter-act with each other. Whether she agreed with it or not, first impressions were important. Like a shidduch sheet, or a profile on J-Mate, everybody went to the photo first. Otherwise, she looked perfect. The house looked perfect, too. Perfection was the layer of armor she wore to protect her-self from the swings and swipes of an uncertain world. She reminded herself of the positive. She was going to be spending the day with her beloved bubbe. They would be making important memories together. Necessary memories. Any anxiety she felt—any sense that something terrible was about to happen—was simply the neurons in her brain misfiring. Her feelings could not be trusted. Forcing her shoulders back, and her chest upward, she projected confidence. And then, slinging her messenger bag over one arm, she grabbed that box of black-and-white cookies from the kitchen counter and headed out. Excerpted from Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer, Copyright © 2022 by Jean Meltzer. Published by MIRA Books

About the Author: Author Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch, and served as creative director at Tapestry International, garnering numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. Like her protagonist, Jean is also a chronically-ill and disabled Jewish woman. She is an outspoken advocate for ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), has attended visibility actions in Washington DC, meeting with members of Senate and Congress to raise funds for ME/CFS. She inspires 9,000 followers on WW Connect to live their best life, come out of the chronic illness closet, and embrace the hashtag #chronicallyfabulous. Also, while she was raised in what would be considered a secular home, she grew up kosher and attended Hebrew School. She spent five years in Rabbinical School. She is the author of The Matzah Ball and Mr. Perfect on Paper.

Social Media: Author Website – Facebook: @JeanMeltzerAuthor – Instagram: @JeanMeltzer – Goodreads

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