The Matchmaker's Gift

The Matchmaker’s Gift alternates between Sara’s narrative and Abby’s narrative. Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other?

Sara is a matchmaker and Abby is a divorce attorney. How does the juxtaposition of these two careers work to move both the narrative and the two character arcs forward?

Discuss Abby’s father. How do you think he influenced Abby’s life decisions and her opinions on love?

Consider the weight of the statement, “Love is not always a straight, shining line. Sometimes, love is a shady path, full of unpredictable turns,” on page

How does the truth of this come to light throughout the novel? In what specific instances does love feel the most complicated?

In The Matchmaker’s Gift there are several unique and strong female characters. Each of these women tells us something important about the two time periods explored in the novel. What qualities and strengths do these women express, and where are they illuminated in the novel? What do these women reveal about the times and places in which the novel occurs? DISCUSSION GUIDE

On page 246, Sara says, “If you can’t decide what you want to fight for, love is as good a cause as any.” Which character in the novel do you believe fought the most for love?

Consider the statement on page 231, “Tradition should never be used as an excuse to keep people from reaching their potential.” In what ways does tradition work to hold back the characters in the novel? In what ways does it work to benefit them?

In your opinion, what is the biggest gift / lesson that Sara leaves Abby with, both from the time she was alive and from Abby ’s reading of her journals?

The Matchmaker’s Gift asks the question of whether being able to find true love is a blessing or a curse. When you initially learned of Sara and Abby’s ability to sense a true match, what was your opinion on this? Did it evolve over the course of the novel? In what moments does matchmaking seem like a gift, in what moments does it seem like a curse?

Overall, how did the end of the novel make you feel? What do you think comes next for Abby? Do you think she will continue to make matches? Do you think she will find love for herself?