Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kander (Do Not Eat This Book) serves up a fizzy story of the desperate lengths to which a Chicago woman goes to find a date to her sister's wedding. Eve, a Jewish woman who was born during Hanukkah, is about to turn 40 and serve as maid of honor at her younger sister Rosie's Hanukkah-themed wedding. Perpetually single, Eve's more focused on her annual tradition of ironically celebrating Christmas than on lining up a date. During a drunken night out with friends, she works up the nerve to invite her hot British neighbor, but he can't make it. The next morning, she crafts a golem out of clay, names him Paul Mudd (he looks like rom-com staple Paul Rudd), and decides to take him instead. In Jewish folklore, golems often serve as protectors as well as companions, and Paul's presence comes in handy during the dramatic third act, when the wedding is interrupted by antisemitic violence. Kander does a fine job making the mythical creature believable, and she ably captures Eve's mixed feelings about Rosie's happiness. It's a delight. (Dec.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Evie Goodman is stressed. She doesn't have a date for the wedding of her perfect sister Rosie, her social and romantic life is in tatters, her job is threatening layoffs, and she is about to turn 40. To solve at least one of these problems, she builds a tall, gorgeous golem named Paul Mudd. Though he speaks mainly in grunts, Paul and Evie are magically able to communicate. Evie brings Paul to Rosie's wedding, where the golem's compulsion to protect leads to near disaster. Evie neutralizes Paul, the wedding attendees suffer collective amnesia, and her life improves in every way. Kander's ("Original Syn Trilogy") frothy adult debut has the makings of a light Chanukah romantic comedy, complete with awkward encounters with a neighbor who is a "Jewnicorn" (he's Jewish, British, single, and hot). However, Evie's frustrating behavior toward family and friends can be irritating, and far too many plot points rely on her never reading her texts, listening to her voicemails, or letting people finish sentences. Throw in her blithe creation, use, and destruction of an important figure from Jewish legend, about which she expresses a few lukewarm misgivings, and the book becomes problematic. VERDICT The breezy narration, millennial slang, and fast-paced story don't quite make up for sloppy plot contrivances or the many loose ends either tied up too neatly or left hanging.--Eva Mitnick
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When a lonely woman creates a golem from clay, the mythical figurine magically comes to life in the form of a hot guy who may or may not be the perfect boyfriend. Eve is about to turn 40, and she's just so sad. Her father died a year ago, and since then, her life has been a lonesome slog. Her job is uninspiring, her best friend's been unavailable, the dating market's a nightmare, and she can't stop stress eating. Her mother is selling their family home, and her younger sister is getting married--on Eve's birthday weekend. There's a glimmer of hope when the cute guy who recently moved into her building reveals that, like Eve, he's Jewish. But when "Hot Josh" seems uninterested in her, Eve's only solace is an overly sweet bottle of kosher wine. Remembering an old Jewish legend, Eve drunkenly constructs a golem, a clay figure that's said to come to life to protect people in need. When Eve wakes up the next morning, the golem has transformed into a full-sized, shockingly handsome, and very much living man who wants nothing more than to protect and serve Eve. The golem, whom she names Paul Mudd, seems like the answer to all her problems--a perfect companion and a plus-one for her sister's wedding. As time passes, Eve realizes that Paul is causing more harm than good, but she's not sure she'll ever find happiness without him. Told from Eve's perspective throughout, the book is captivating and witty from the get-go. The author leans into Eve's identity as a secular American Jew, showing her family's deep connection to their Jewish roots despite their lack of religious observance. The story also examines issues of antisemitism and generational trauma with heft and grace. Of course, the story does require a significant suspension of disbelief--Eve accepts, with barely a moment's doubt, that the inanimate figure she molded has come to life, quickly deciding that the next logical step would be to bring him to work with her. Even so, with well-developed characters, poignant romantic humor, and brilliantly described family connections, this is still a thoroughly engaging read. A romantic comedy so charming that its ridiculousness hardly matters. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
