As a Jewish person, I rarely get to see myself represented in books, especially in such a heartwarming way, with my traditions at the heart of the story. This was so lovely to read!

An enjoyable read highlighting the coming of age . I found the characters likeable and it was way to read. Good to learn more about the Jewish community.

A light and fluffy romantic read , the characters are so sweet and it’s so heartfelt , if you want to read something that will make you smile this is the book

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was a different take on romantic comedies and I found that it had a satisfying ending. There was a bix mix of characters, one of my favourites being Uncle Doodle.

I'm loathe to admit this was my first novel with a Jewish protagonist, but I really enjoyed learning about Jewish culture and traditions. It felt a little Bridget Jones-esque and I enjoyed that aspect immensely.

Relatable, heartwarming, and comforting. I loved this and can't wait to see more from Amber.

I believe That Jewish Thing is the first book I have read with a Jewish main character in, which is really bad I know, but I was excited to learn more about what it means to be Jewish as I am trying to read more from different cultures. I really enjoyed getting to see just how intertwined Judaism is with everyday life for many people and also learn a bit about the Jewish communities within the UK. I will say that I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the words used which made it a bit harder to read but I did find the glossary at the end cleared things up a bit for me. As I read it on my kindle it was difficult to just flip back and forth and the format of the glossary didn’t appear quite right on the pdf.

The main reason this only got 3 stars for me was how much I dislike Tamsyn, our main character, at the beginning. She came across as rude, judgemental and dismissive to everyone around her and it got to the point where I considered DNFing. But I’m not one to give up and I’m glad I didn’t in the end. The second half really redeemed it for me, once we started getting a bit of a learning curve going for Tamsyn.

The book really covers a lot of issues the Jewish community faces, and although I can’t speak for how accurate it is, I did really appreciate that. It addressed antisemitism, death, sexuality very briefly, the expectations of you when growing up Jewish and a lot more. I think it gave me a really nice insight in to what it’s like to be Jewish in the UK.

For once I didn’t find myself rooting for either of our love interests that much and I think that’s because the other characters could have done with a bit more fleshing out. I didn’t really feel like I got to know anyone except for Tamsyn so it was harder to get invested in the relationships she had with others. I think because so much time was spent focusing on her family and culture that outweighed the romantic part of the story. I’m really glad there was such a focus on her family, but I think too much tried to be covered in one novel.

Overall I did really enjoy That Jewish Thing, it was just the struggle I had at the beginning that meant I couldn’t give it a higher rating. Still I would definitely recommend it and would be happy to read more books by the author in the future.

So as a Jewish 30 something living in nth London this book was totally familiar to me, the places the words the Jewishness. I wasn’t sure whether I would like it but I was strangely drawn to it! Predictable but still a great read .

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me access to these books, thank you to the publisher and the author for giving me access to this eARC.

Apologies for the late review life has been crazy.

I liked this book overall but I think there was a gap between myself and falling into the novel I am unsure if this is me or the writing style. I did enjoy this book besides this the writing style was descriptive and I liked the first point perspective. Overall I would recommend as it was cute, fun and enjoyable. i would read more from this author in future.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was fun to read this lighthearted contemporary romance which we follow through the eyes of the main character, Tamsyn.

As the title suggests, Tamsyn is a Jewish woman whose mother is constantly arranging for her to 'accidentally' encounter suitable Jewish men. The story begins with her being sat with one such man at a table during her cousin's wedding reception, and from here we witness her rebellion at the confines which she considers her culture places her.

I found the story to be a little predictable but in a positive way. I enjoyed the comfort of this scenario. I was not expecting any big surprises. There was more a sense of accompanying Tamsyn on her journey of self-discovery, even if the reader probably foresees her destination long before the character does.

I have read many books which have a Jewish connection, and whilst this is a fun read, it does not shy away from the acts that have happened to Jews in the past. Centuries of persecution and antisemitism have left their mark, and this contextualises the novel and the attitudes of the characters.

However, the author has accomplished this with a light and sensitive hand and, it by no means dominates the book. I think anyone who enjoys entertaining women's fiction will enjoy this book.

hank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

This was just so cute. A sweet, fun novel about the torture of weddings.

I feel like there is a decided lack of Jewish chick lit novels, and this really fills the void. Saying that though, I don’t think you need to be Jewish to recognize the universal experiences Tamsyn goes through. There’s also a handy glossary for anyone unfamiliar with certain terms.

Tamsyn and Ari have delightful chemistry and you just want to root for them and their families. Tamsyn is so funny and clever, and she feels so real. The book almost feels like reading a friend’s diary.

Tamsyn’s evolution into accepting her heritage and faith as well as a cute guy make for a heartfelt, warm, and funny story.

Five stars!

I was so pleased to get approved for this book. I loved it! Romance is the key to this book! Finished this book in one sitting as I was engrossed from page 1.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved Tamsyn and the journey she went on in this book, and reading about her family life. Although I must admit, she wasn’t my favourite character in it, I really did love her and it was close, but Uncle Doodle stole the show for me! He made me heart feel so full, he was the uncle I think we all need in our lives, he made me so happy and he made me cry, I loved him!

And our male characters, ooh I loved them too. Euan genuinely sounded like the perfect man, he was kind, he would listen and he could cook, plus he sounded quite hot 😂 I could say more about him but I don’t want to give any spoilers. And Ari, oh Ari, I loved him as well, honestly, can you tell I enjoyed this one?

I felt like I learned so much about Jewish family life and traditions, yet it wasn’t a preachy formal lesson, it was written in the fun contemporary fiction format that I love. There were some Jewish language and terms that I wasn’t quite sure of, but I ended up googling as I went on, however when I got to the end I found a glossary which was so handy! I read this on a NetGalley format so didn’t realise until the end but in the physical copy that would be fab!

I can’t quite remember what made me request this book on NetGalley but I’m so glad I did! I love the brightness of the cover, I think that’s what drew me in, and the synopsis sounded great, and the whole book really was! So I’m so glad I got it!

I enjoyed learning more about Jewish culture and the glossary at the end was very helpful and provided more explanation when I was a bit lost. The story between the characters is also very sweet, and the themes involved made the story more full; rather than simply being a romance, it also tackled things like antisemitism, death (and millennial culture...).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with this Advanced Reader's Copy!

*SQUEALS*

Reader, I LOVED this.

Our plot: Tamsyn Rutman is attending a family wedding but what is a Jewish wedding if not the perfect opportunity for the bride to do a bit of matchmaking on behalf of her single, workaholic cousin? Enter Ari Marshall. Ari is everything Tamsyn doesn’t want for herself, and everything her family want for her. Stubbornly determined not to fall into the trap of someone else’s happily ever after, Tamsyn decides to focus on work, and while interviewing London’s hottest new chef, finds herself being swept off her feet . . . by someone her family definitely wouldn’t approve of.

With multiple references to Jane Austen in the opening two pages, I was sold. I enjoy a good rom-com every now and then and this was a perfect choice. It’s very, very cute. And yet, with the story’s connections to Jewish history and culture it sets itself apart from your usual rom-com read. There were some references that I didn’t understand but that’s a good thing – I was able to raise my awareness of a culture completely different to my own. A sign of a good book, if you ask me.

It’s a heartfelt read, too. Tamsyn doesn’t feel connected to her heritage and, as a result, to her own family, but as the book progresses she starts to reconnect with her history and parents. It’s quite moving in parts as she works to understand why she struggles with her own history and identity.

And, of course, there’s also her two love interests. Who will she choose? It’s very funny, and while perhaps a little predictable, I didn’t enjoy the book any less as a result.

If you’re looking for a story that will put a smile on your face, then read this one.

That Jewish Thing by Amber Crewe will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 13 Jan 2022. Thanks to them and the author for my advance copy. This is, as always, an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I have no knowledge of Jewish tradition and to start with I was rather confused with the terms mentioned throughout but as the story continued they felt quite warm and comforting.

I really enjoyed getting to know Tamsyn and her family and felt like I’d like to be a friend of hers, or a cousin.

The journey she undertakes in the book was slightly profound, yet very easy to read and quite relatable.

I would definitely read another book by this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Love this one a lot. I needed a light fluffy romantic read and this fitted the bill perfectly. Can't wait to read more from this author.

It’s difficult to categorise this book which is a kind of Jewish love story, for me totally relatable as I am of the faith but maybe more difficult for others to understand as there is a lot of Jewish “jargon” in it so there is even a glossary at the end to explain the many words that the average reader would not understand.
Once I got into the book I realised it was not just a “chick lit”romance as it explored many themes including antisemitism, death and the difficulties that the millennial generation has in finding themselves and working out what they really want out of life.
Tasmyn is working for a magazine, hoping to eventually be in charge when her boss retires. One day she goes to interview celebrity chef Euan and they start an intense relationship. However Tasmyn’s Jewish family are trying to set her up with someone else, Ari, which really annoys her and despite a developing attraction for Ari she decides to continue with Euan who is mad about her but who would be considered unsuitable by her family.
This book reminded me of a Jewish version of a Marian Keyes novel- all the Irish nuances had morphed into Jewish references and I really loved it!
It was an enjoyable read that held my attention from the very first page and I skipped through it in a couple of days. If you are Jewish and read it you will love all the cultural references and locations and if you are not I am sure you will find these references interesting. At the heart of the story there is a “romance” which would appeal to all regardless of religious affiliation.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

This book really resonated with me, as it was full of situations, locations and even the odd bid of Yiddish that were so familiar to me.

Even Tamsyn's thoughts on Judaism are similar to mine, add in her parents live in same town I used to live in and know well, and I recognise so much from my own experiences and well this was certainly a great book for me to read.

I loved the various romances in this book, as well as all the family dynamics.

The writing engaged me, and I just thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, from the big Jewish Wedding, to the incredibly lavish and OTT Bar Mitzvah, from the various Friday night meals, be they full Shabbat or not, to even just mentions of Tour (which I never did but know plenty that went). This was fabulous!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

That Jewish Thing is a cosy romance that will sweep you off your feet in the most unexpected ways. Tamsyn was an absolute delight to read about, the typical small girl in a big city but with tonnes of character and charm. She didn't always do the right thing or make good choices, but do any of us?

As someone who doesn't know much about Judaism, it was a wonderful insight into the life of a British Jewish family - respectfully exploring the ideas of being born into something you didn't exactly choose, of family traditions and rules and trying to balance that with finding your own path along the way.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an independent review.
An easy to read story with lots of familiar places and events, and attitudes to being born Jewish but not fully immersed in the “whole North West London bubble ”.
There was much to make me smile - the familiar Yiddish terms, the attempts to try to set up Tamsyn with a nice Jewish boy, the pressure from the generation above to settle down and conform.
Then there was the romantic element with two potential male love interests. But no spoilers here!!!
Written with humour and honesty, this was an enjoyable story