In this bewitching romance that follows a magical meet-cute gone awry, two reluctant soulmates are forced into a live streaming matchmaking competition—and are determined to fail spectacularly.

If there are two things massage therapist Cristina Palmer is done with, it’s men (thanks to her manipulative ex) and magic (it can make a girl lose control). All she wants is to run the spa at the new Summit resort, make her clay figurines, and avoid her frustratingly attractive boss, Rhett Maddox.

Unfortunately, magic has other plans.

To boost publicity, the resort is hosting the very first magical matchmaking competition in Mystic Meadows. But when Rhett and Cristina are paired as supposedly perfect soulmates, they’re determined to prove the magic wrong. Six weeks of live stream challenges designed to make them fall in love? Easy. They’ll simply fail.

Except their chemistry is anything but fake.

And the stakes aren’t, either. A six-figure grand prize could bring Cristina’s manipulative family crashing back into her life—and getting close to Rhett means risking her heart all over again.

Because the real challenge isn’t the competition.

It’s trusting each other.

And maybe—just maybe—embracing the magic.

My Review

Christina is starting a new job, and whether it’s magic or just her own anxiety, it is interfering to the point that she needs a quiet minute to breathe. But her peaceful kitchen escape goes awry when Mr. Tall, Dark, and Hot walks in to check on her.

Rhett is a cool guy. Maybe he’s the owner of the hotel, maybe he’s her new boss, but either way, he has great banter and a fantastic sense of humor. Somehow their meet-cute turns into magical matchmaking in Mystic Falls. They both find themselves bombarded and spotlighted in a competition completely against their will. I loved Christina’s sass and Rhett’s quick wit. The live-stream aspect of the competition makes it feel like an awkward reality TV show in the best way.

Magical matches, mischief, and mayhem are all wrapped up in this charming rom-com. This book is light-read perfection. The forced proximity, competition, and banter had me smiling and kicking my feet the entire time.

Christina and Rhett are both carrying emotional baggage. They struggle with trust, and at least one of them is hiding a secret that could affect any future relationship. The cookie competition is absolutely absurd and so much fun. Their interactions slowly warm as they get to know each other, and while their relationship starts with a boss-and-employee dynamic, it develops naturally over time. I loved the magical premise and the little ways the magic interferes throughout the story.

Christina deals with real-life issues that many readers will relate to. Her coping methods may not always be the healthiest, but they feel authentic. I also appreciated the chronic illness representation in the story. Watching these two characters share their worries, fears, and vulnerabilities as they inch toward that slow-burn chemistry is incredibly rewarding. They may have been magically matched, but where does the magic end and their real feelings begin?

I was also excited to finally discover that this magical town is set in Georgia, giving me another state to check off for my reading challenge this year. This story balances heartwarming moments with heartbreaking ones, and healing is woven throughout its pages.

This is absolutely my kind of read. It has so much heart that you cannot help but swoon. It is filled with love, laughter, and surprises, while also exploring topics like asthma, PTSD, and difficult past experiences. The way the characters learn to embrace the future despite their struggles made me fall in love with them even more. I appreciated that the story tackles difficult subjects because it adds depth and authentic emotion rather than feeling like just another romance.

The ending is sweet, but I will not spoil it because part of the magic of this story is watching these characters overcome the obstacles in their way. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming romance and its quirky cast of characters. If you love magical towns, flawed but lovable main characters, slow-burn romance, and a story full of heart, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book. I am leaving an honest review.

If you would like to read Stupid Matchmaking Love by Amy Boyles you can find this book on Amazon. It releases October 27th, 2026.

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