4.5
Okay, Talia and Asher were incredible. This one had the steam and more of the romance that I was looking for in The Hanukkah Hook-Up. The dreidel competition was so much fun! I loved seeing things from Talia's perspective on the boat. The concepts of Jewish good were incredibly and I loved the innovative food and beverage options seen throughout the book. Food is such an important part of Jewish culture and I think Amanda showed that off brilliantly. I also loved the how Judaism was portrayed here and that varying levels of practice doesn't make someone more or less Jewish. I felt I saw a lot of myswlf in Talia with what she wants from a partner and it was, nice to see on the page. Asher also had dealt with trauma but had immense growth in the short time the story took place. I really enjoyed this installment of the series and I'm excited to see where the other characters come back into play. Thanks to Amanda for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review!1 BookishlyJewish82 17 Read

This review first appeared on my blog BookishlyJewish

Although I am reviewing The Dreidel Do-Over second out of the two currently available Matzo Baller romance books, it is by no means secondary. This book, written by Amanda Usen, is full of food, flirtation, and heat. Plus many interesting games of Dreidel (yes strip dreidel is included). Plus, when read together with its counterpart, The Hanukkah Hook-Up, it is a stunning testament to the power of creative collaboration. 

The main character, Talia, is no stranger to collaboration herself. A professional chef who owns a catering company called The Jewish Grandma, Talia is busy ensuring everybody is fed when the Matzo Baller casts off for its yearly Hanukkah cruise. However, that doesn’t stop her from participating in a flirtation via missives and foodstuffs shuttled by servers to and from the hot bartender who is all too happy to reciprocate. When supplies run low, the two end up collaborating on several cocktail and food solutions and Talia discovery that Mr. Sexy Bartender is in fact her long lost friend Asher from Jewish summer camp. 

I don’t know what is more quintessentially Jewish - the fact that his name is Asher, the fact that they both went to summer camp, or the fact that Talia has decided to deep fry sweet noodle kuggel in ravioli dough. Either way, it’s delightful and the mixologists' among us may also find it intriguing to try and mimic the Hanukkah cocktails which come with such names as “Gelt-y Pleasure” and “Halla-Day hangover”. Ingredients are provided, but proportions are not, so this could result in a very fun, very tipsy, book club event for anyone feeling ambitious. 

As I read Talia and Asher each sharing their unique strengths and talents, I could not help but notice that the book was set up to focus on the authors unique strengths and talents. This book is much higher heat than its counterpart, with two explicit sex scenes that are hotter than latkes straight out of the fryer, and delves deep into the culinary side of Jewish culture. Hanukkah Hook-Up was more fade to blank with heavy banter/humor. The two books contain no spoilers and can be read in either order, but I do recommend reading them together for the full experience. This will allow you to pick out just how different the styles of the two authors are while also grinning at how the puzzle pieces of the two books fit together. I’m actually really excited to see how they continue the series. 

I would also be remiss if I did not mention that this book focused on practicing Judaism your own way, without being judged for “not being Jewish enough”.  On a holiday that celebrates our refusal to give up our particular identity and assimilate into the larger Greek culture, it’s particularly apt. It doesn’t matter how you Jew, just do so proudly and without apology for being true to yourself, Talia the Jewish Grandmother.

Note: BookishlyJewish received an e-copy of the book from the author after she filled out our Suggest A Book form. JessicaAuthor 9 books276

For anyone who has ever harbored even the tiniest crush on a childhood friend – whether it’s the boy next door, the cute “new” girl at school, etc – then you will absolutely love THE DREIDEL DO-OVER by Amanda Usen! I’ve read all of Amanda’s books and thought she was the master of the enemies-to-lovers trope, but this friends-to-lovers/second chance love story that she has crafted is SO well done. Asher Stein has had a complete GLOW-UP, as they say, and I am here for it! As is her heroine, Talia…who I found to be strong, sassy, and so authentic.

Full disclosure – I’ve had the privilege of knowing about this book from its first story seed until its final, triumphant word (since Amanda and I are collaborating on this Hanukkah Romance Series together) but can I say, she still managed to make me gasp in surprise, grin a fool…and blush brighter than a fully-lit menorah on the eighth and final day of Hanukkah! She brings the heat, but also the heart. And she will make you hungry, because all of the food references are EPIC.

If you’ve never read a romance, if you’ve never read a Hanukkah story – why not start here? Her writing invites you in from the very first page. And gives HOLIDAY FEELS for days!
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Title: The Dreidel Do-Over
Author: Amanda Usen
Pub Date: December 5, 2023

If you know me, you know I love a good second chance romance. Combine that with a bit of opposites attract and you’ve got two of my favorite tropes! The Dreidel Do-Over was so fun and I really enjoyed it!

Talia loves the Matzo Baller cruise and looks forward to it every year. When her brother needs someone to fill in as chef, Talia has to step up. Luck would have it, the bartended hired for the event also gets sick, and Asher Stein, who loathes Hanukkah, steps in to work the eight hour shift on the cruise. Things start to look brighter for Asher, when he discovers an attractive chef working the cruise. It doesn’t take long before they realize the two were friends at Jewish Day camp. With both Talia and Asher keeping secrets, will these two have a chance at friendship or something more?

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