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The Matchmaker  By  cover art

The Matchmaker

By: Elin Hilderbrand
Narrated by: Erin Bennett
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Publisher's summary

In this moving story about losing and finding love again, a woman sets out to find the perfect matches for those closest to her.

Forty-eight-year-old Nantucketer Dabney Kimball Beech has always had a gift for matchmaking. Some call her ability mystical, while others, her husband, celebrated economist John Boxmiller Beech, and her daughter, Agnes, who is clearly engaged to the wrong man, call it meddlesome. But there's no arguing with her results: With 42 happy couples to her credit and all of them still together, Dabney has never been wrong about romance.

Never, that is, except in the case of herself and Clendenin Hughes, the green-eyed boy who took her heart with him long ago when he left the island to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. Now, after spending 27 years on the other side of the world, Clen is back on Nantucket, and Dabney has never felt so confused, or so alive.

But when tragedy threatens her own second chance, Dabney must face the choices she's made and share painful secrets with her family. Determined to make use of her gift before it's too late, she sets out to find perfect matches for those she loves most.

©2014 Elin Hilderbrand (P)2014 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about The Matchmaker

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Very Entertaining

Any additional comments?

I thought The Matchmaker was very entertaining! It had just the right amount of romance and adventure. I was very engaged in the story and it definitely kept me awake on my long daily commutes. I would even sit in my car after parking to listen to a little more. I thought the reader was also excellent. She did a great job reading the different voices. It was easy to distinguish the characters. I would highly recommend this book.

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71 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Sooooooo depressing

Abandonment, alcoholism, heartbreak, mutilation, abusive unpleasant characters, agoraphobia, cancer, death.
If all that is enjoyable for you to meet characters possessing, then you’ll like this book. I did not. The narration was decent is probably the only positive thing I could say about this awful book. I’ve listened to other Hildebrand novels, but this one just bombed. I tried again to listen and it is still depressing, but Hilderbrand’s novels always seem to have some of society’s Misfits. I liked it better this time around, but it’s still not a favorite.

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64 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Just OK

The story line was good, but the prose was mediocre. I wouldn’t recommend it if you like literary works or even just fine writing. Reminded me of romance novels I read as a teen.

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54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Well written....awful people

I love reading about flawed people as that it what makes us interesting. These people are beyond flawed. I almost stopped listening more than a few times, but kept wanting it to get better. I was hopeful that at some point one of them would show some sign of decency, maturity or just a little kindness. I was disappointed, yet finished as hope is eternal. There is one likable person in this book and he is a secondary character. The rest are truly awful. There is closure for everyone and it does tie up nicely, but these are unkind, nasty, egomaniacal thoughtless people. They think they are better than everyone else and yet are ignorant as to who they are. Liars, cheaters who believe that because they have Ivy league education that they they are better than everyone else and more deserving. I know I am in the minority, but this is not my cup of tea.

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unusual, for sure!

Have you listened to any of Erin Bennett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes and so far I like this one the best... by far.

Any additional comments?

I think we all expect an interesting story, with a few twists and turns... but this book had so many possible real life situations. Choices in life are not always easy and coincidences dealt with differently.
THIS book just hit life straight on. I really loved that. I wish more of her books were less predictable and more thought provoking.

I've only listened to a couple, but now going back to try and find one I enjoy as much as this one.

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I couldn't stop listening!

What did you like best about this story?

I kind of knew what the outcome was...but I thought the characters were great. I couldn't wait to listen to the entire story. I listen to audio books during my long work commute and I would sit in the car at work to listen to the end of a chapter and wish I had more time to listen to the rest - all in one shot!

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

very poorly written.

the author constantly uses the characters first and last names nearly every time they're said. this is annoying. the narrator is somewhat robotic.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed this!

Good love story! I like Elin Hilderbrand as an author and story teller. Thought this book was well written! Enjoyed it!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Just couldn't get into this one

I usually enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's books, and I definitely enjoy listening to Erin Bennett, but this book just didn't grab me. I found it in my library when I was looking for something else and realized I hadn't downloaded and listened to it -- even though I've had it for nearly a year.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Awful, or just awful for Elin Hilderbrand ??

I think I have listened to everything Hilderbrand has ever written, and I am usually a big fan.
But, although the narration is very good, this story is just awful. I was very disappointed.

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7 people found this helpful