A Match in the Making

January 2, 2023
Turano (To Disguise the Truth) takes readers on a lighthearted romp through matchmaking season in 1888 Newport, R.I. Twenty-five-year-old Gwendolyn Brinley accepts a job as a paid companion in Newport for the summer, but her employer, Mrs. Parker, puts her to work as a matchmaking assistant. As Gwendolyn begins attending lavish balls to gather information on eligible bachelors, she learns society ladies will stop at nothing to snag the “catch of the season,” Walter Townsend. Wealthy and handsome, Walter has finally entered the marriage market after his wife’s death five years before, and is looking for a “new mother” for his three unruly children. Though he’s drawn to Gwendolyn’s confidence, beauty, and ease with his children—she even teaches them to pray—Walter fears her low social status makes their union impossible. As the two grow closer, Gwendolyn convinces Walter to get more involved in his children’s lives and to prize love, not convenience, in marriage. It’s then up to Walter to flout rigid social rules and go after what he wants—though he’ll have to see whether Gwendolyn agrees. Gwendolyn’s a dynamic character, and readers will enjoy following her through a gauntlet of society misadventures, with moments of surprising tenderness sprinkled throughout. This is a delight.