The Matchmaker’s List: A Novel by Sonya Lalli

The List/Artwork by Kate Dorsey

              If you have ever seen the documentary Meet the Patels, I suggest you read this book.  Even if you have never seen the film, read this book.  It is a funny story about families who care, even in ways you don’t want them to.    

            Raina Anand has hit the dreaded age of twenty-nine.  For some this is not a dreaded age.  In the Indian community Raina grew up in, it is.  At least it is for Raina.  Because at the age of twenty-nine, she is not married.

            Years ago, Raina made a deal with her grandmother, Nani.  If she was not married by the time she turned thirty, she would let Nani help her find a husband. 

Only Nani decides to start on this deal a year early.  She gives Raina a list of eligible men to go on dates with.  Raina reluctantly goes on them, which is why it should come as no surprise the dates do not got well.  Yet, still, Nani keeps trying.

With the dates always going badly, and Raina being uncooperative with the process, Nani eventually asks Raina if she is gay.  Wanting the matchmaking over and done with, Raina doesn’t correct her grandmother’s assumption.  She plans on telling her grandmother the truth at some point, but for now, she wants to go live her life as she wants to.  Raina never suspects, by remaining quiet, her grandmother’s assumption will get out, and divide her Indian community.

Her grandmother’s desire for her to marry is not the only thing Raina has to deal with, though.  There are a lot of other things going on in her life. 

One is Riana is starting to question her career path. 

Then there is the secret relationship she is having with an old love who is back in town. 

This secret leads to a separation between Raina and her best friend who is wrapped up in wedding plans. 

She must also deal with the negative feelings she has about herself, and people have towards her, because her mother gave birth to her as a teenager and then became an absent figure in her life. 

Finally, there is her friendship with Depesh.  A young man who is actually gay and has a hard road to follow.  A road Raina is only pretending to have to go along.

          At first this book seems to be all about Raina finding a husband.  It’s really about so much more.

          This book is about family expectations and finding your place in the world.  It’s about acceptance and those reluctant to see how the world is changing.  It’s about how someone can be seen differently and relationships can be altered when new information about a person comes out.  Forever they can be seen differently, even when the information is untrue.

           I am glad to say things end happily for everyone, even when it looks like it may not.  The only one who doesn’t have a perfectly happy ending is Depesh.  Still, even he is heading in the happiness direction.

          While this book is not exactly like Meet the Patels, it is funny like the documentary.  It also gives insight into a culture and way of doing things that is different from the way we usually see things happen in North America. 

Most importantly, this book shows people who care, and come together when they are needed most.