The Matchmaker by Saman Shad
“It was this sense of familiarity that had made her turn and run into the comforting arms of the inner city where nobody knew who she was. There, everyone was equally anonymous, and no one looked you in the eye to judge you, because you were just another obstacle on their way to somewhere else.”
The Matchmaker (2023) is the debut novel from Sydney-based writer Saman Shad. It’s an engaging romcom that ticks all the boxes fans of the genre will be looking for, with a refreshing cultural twist.
Saima is a 33-year-old professional matchmaker to the desi community in Sydney – and she’s been getting attention for all the wrong reasons. Her methods veer away from traditional matching of couples based on religion, ethnicity, and caste and instead focuses on matching couples based on genuine compatibility, interests and values. When dealing with the parents of those she’s matching, it becomes increasingly apparent her modern methods are less than desirable, and gossip is flying:
“There is already talk in the community. Maybe you’re not aware of it, or you choose not to listen. We heard many disturbing things. They say you brought together a taxi driver’s child with that of a lawyer. Another family found out the man you matched their daughter with has epilepsy? The couple is going ahead and getting married, but you must realise this is wrong. This is not our way.”
Along with questions about Saima’s own unmarried status, her business is suffering. Her finances are dwindling along with her client list, but instead of facing up to things, Saima finds herself popping her troubles into the ‘Too Hard’ box, and burying her head in the sand.
When a wealthy Aunty and Uncle walk into her office with a proposal to secretly convince their son, Kal, to sign up for her services, Saima questions whether to go along with their plan. After showing Saima a photo, she realises it’s the same man she mistook for an Uber driver a few nights before – the same man she exchanged strong words with about his lack of interest in and commitment to his cultural heritage:
“You know, you can hate your culture all you want, but you can never get rid of it. Just like you can’t wash the brown off your skin, as much as you may want to.”
Saima is unsure – until Kal’s parents make it clear that money is no object: could this be the answer to her financial woes? How will she convince the man who wants to dismiss his culture to sign up with a Pakistani matchmaker and finally date women from his culture?
It’s a trope, of course: woman and man meet, they hate each other, they gradually spend time getting to know each other and – surprise – a deep, knowing affection develops. It’s the stuff romcoms are made of, and while it’s a dependable narrative, Shad wonderfully injects the story with so much more.
Wrapped around the central ‘will they, won’t they’ of Saima and Kal’s growing chemistry is a subtle exploration of the desi community, tradition, third culture experiences and belonging. Shad also explores mental health stigma in non-western cultures with care and heart, especially amongst men. Kal is surprised to learn his father is seeing a psychologist and his openness to discussing the topic with him, something “unheard of among desi fathers.”
When Kal is experiencing a low point later on in the book, his close friend, Tom, confesses to a troubled childhood and shares how seeking help was vital for him, encouraging Kal to reach out and talk through things:
“Look, Kal, you’re one of my best mates, but you never tell anyone what you’re thinking. It’s okay to tell someone what’s really going on.”
From the secrets parents keep from their children to the whopper of a secret between Saima and Kal, the damage of things left unsaid is another central theme. “Do you ever wonder whether the way we were brought up taught us to stay quiet about the things that matter?” Kal asks Saima at one point, who replies, “Open conversation wasn’t really our parents’ forte.”
Naturally, it’s facing up to their feelings and having the open conversation they avoid for so long that brings the two together – but not without a heavy dose of drama, a little bit of steamy home cooking and quintessential romcom shenanigans.
Saima and Kal are well-developed characters, as are their peripheral friends and family, with whom I really found myself connecting. Shad delivers an entertaining, fun read that introduces readers to new perspectives and cultural lives against the fabulous backdrop of Sydney. While this wouldn’t be my usual go-to genre, there’s no denying how much I enjoyed the journey. If you’re looking for a little romance that offers thoughtful insights outside of western culture, this is a great book to pick up.
Elaine Mead is a freelance writer and book reviewer, currently residing in nipaluna (Hobart), Tasmania. She is passionate about the ways we can use literature to learn from our experiences to become more authentic versions of ourselves and obsessed with showing you photos of her Dachshund puppy. You can find her online under www.wordswithelaine.com.
