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| L to R: Amanda and Jessica |
Introduction by Melissa Amster
We are so happy to have Amanda Usen and Jessica Topper visiting us today to talk about their delightful Hanukkah rom-com series, The Matzo Ballers. The fifth and sixth books in the series are now available and we're excited to share those with you. If you missed the first four books, you can get them in one ebook set for only 99 cents! I binged all four last year (and loved each one) and am currently reading Challah-day Fling and enjoying it so far. I invited them here today to talk about the series and celebrating Hanukkah. They have TWO ebook sets of the latest books in the series to give away. More on these books below. All can be read as standalones, although the newer books do reference past events and couplings.
Longtime friends and creative partners Jessica Topper and Amanda Usen first met in 2011 while waiting to pick up their kids from Hebrew school—bonding over coffee, kids, and conversation.
What started as playdates for their children turned into a lasting friendship and, eventually, a shared dream of writing Hanukkah romances that celebrate love, laughter, and light.
Together, they created The Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance series, born from Sunday brainstorming sessions in Amanda's kitchen over carrot muffins and Nespresso, and fueled by their mission to bring more joy and Jewish representation into the world.
Jessica, a former New York City librarian and touring rock band bookkeeper, broke the rock-romance mold with her acclaimed debut Louder Than Love and followed it up with Dictatorship of the Dress, named one of Publishers Weekly's “Best Books of 2015.”
Amanda, a chef turned romance author, writes deliciously emotional love stories filled with humor and heat, including Scrumptious, hailed by Booklist as "smart, sexy, simply irresistible contemporary romance."
They're thrilled to welcome readers aboard the Matzo Baller—because every cruise (and every Hanukkah) deserves a happily ever after.
She’s not her famous sister. He’s not her bodyguard. But their feelings? Genuine.
Smile, wave, fake it.
Tzipora Solokoff was once half of America’s favorite sitcom twins. But while her sister became known as Hollywood star Kara Koff, Tzipi chose a quieter life off-camera. Now Kara’s secret elopement leaves Tzipi posing as her twin on the annual Matzo Baller Hanukkah cruise—smile, wave, fake it for one night. Easy enough…until she meets the man she thinks is her bodyguard.
Until secrets start to unravel.
Jonah Klein has always been the dependable sidekick: loyal friend, fixer, joker. But as his friends chase careers, marriages, and milestones, Jonah can’t shake the feeling he’s been left behind. Determined to turn things around, he boards this year’s cruise to finally thank Kara for helping him after his very public drunken faceplant last Hanukkah. Instead, he finds himself drawn into her orbit again—only something doesn’t quite add up.
Eight hours. Two mistaken identities. One very real connection.
With holiday hijinks, hidden truths, and sparks flying on deck, Tzipi and Jonah must team up to keep her sister’s reputation afloat…without sinking their own hearts in the process.
It was only a fling.
Pastry chef Libby Sugarman planned to spend her Palm Beach getaway making Hanukkah donuts—not getting swept into a whirlwind weekend with the mysterious, devastatingly handsome artist who painted her like one of his muses and kissed her like he already knew her soul. Two nights, no strings. Easy, right?
Until their worlds collided…
Rabbi Micah Wasserman thought he could keep his worlds separate: rabbi in New York, secret artist in Palm Beach. But one unforgettable weekend with Libby shatters his resolve. When their paths collide again on the Matzo Baller cruise, Micah is desperate to hold on to the woman who makes him feel both holy and undone—if his carefully guarded secret doesn’t sink them first.
She thinks she’s too much. He thinks he’s not enough. But eight nights of Hanukkah have a way of working miracles…
(Both synopses are courtesy of Amazon.)
Jessica: I think I relate most to Sylvie, the photographer and ex-girlfriend of Avi, the rock star. She’s quietly creative, very empathetic and a bit misunderstood. I haven’t finished writing her full story yet (it’s coming next year, in Four Chuppahs and a Shiva) but I am looking forward to Sylvie getting her day in the spotlight and her HEA (happily ever after) moment.
Amanda: Talia, a.k.a. the Jewish Grandma caterer. She was the first character to come to me when we started spit-balling about the series. Since I’ve worked in kitchens for most of my career, it’s a world I know and love. Talia is also a problem solver and a straight shooter–two of my strengths (and sometimes flaws…ask Jessica lol).
Which of the six (so far) books has been the easiest to write and which has been the most challenging?
Amanda: The Dreidel Do-Over was easiest because we were building the world and had zero constraints. It was so much fun to create the Matzo Baller cruise! Jessica would text me, “By the way, there’s a champagne tower now…with an aerialist suspended above it, filling the glasses!” And I’d write back, “Awesome! What do you think about strip dreidel?” Most challenging to write? Challah-day Fling. Oy vey, I was schvitzing about writing a rabbi, especially because the premise of the book involves an ENORMOUS lie of omission. Fingers crossed readers love Micah!
Jessica: This latest book, Latke’d and Loaded, was by far the most challenging due to it having a double mistaken identity plot that had to be handled very carefully, pacing out the reveals and keeping track of who knew what at which time.
The easiest was my first, The Hanukkah Hook-Up, for the same reasons Amanda shared. Now that we are six books in, some things have been established about personalities and situations, so you are a bit more bound to honor them.
If this series were made into a TV series, what are some songs you'd include?
Jessica: I always weave songs into my stories and the Matzo Baller books are no exception! Everything from Matisyahu (“One Day”) to Beastie Boys, who have had a nod in each of my three books so far. I’d love to pay tribute to the late Sharon Jones (of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings) with “8 Days (of Hanukkah)” playing during the opening or closing credits. Clearly I have daydreamed about this way too much!
Amanda: I would (wisely) let Jessica choose all the music, and she would let me style the food. Oh! Except for one song. “Summer Nights” from Grease would have to play in the background at some point because the rabbi’s lie of omission comes back to bite him in the tuches.
What is your favorite Hanukkah tradition?
Amanda: Latkes! I think I grated fifteen pounds of potatoes last year, and we had a latke bar with tons of toppings, including Bison chip dip, which is popular in Western New York.
Jessica: We have been collecting menorahs over the years, and it’s always fun to let my daughter (now in her early 20s) choose which one to light each year.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in relation to Hanukkah?
Jessica: I think it’s about to happen on December 19! My local PBS station is airing a program about holiday traditions and I’ll be discussing Hanukkah – on live television. I’m equal parts elated and nervous but I think it has the potential to be fun AND funny, hopefully in a good way and not the stuff TV bloopers are made of…
Amanda: One year, I put the potato peelings from the latkes down the garbage disposal, and clogged a pipe in the basement. My then-husband got a faceful of nasty potato water when he cleared the drain. But that’s not the funny part. I did it the next year, too! (But never again.) There was also the time I lit the wooden menorah the kids made at Hebrew school, and nearly set my sister’s table on fire. Tragedy was averted, thank goodness.
Do you prefer applesauce or sour cream with your latkes?
Amanda: If I am forced to choose one or the other…sour cream. With sriracha. But I can really get behind a latke slider with a fried egg in the middle. And latkes with sweet chili sauce are really good, too. Now that I’m thinking about it, peanut sauce and sliced avocado are going to hit the latke bar this year!
Jessica: Team sour cream if I have to pick one…but I, like my character Jonah, would choose ketchup over all other choices. Please don’t judge!
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3 comments:
My new volunteer role has brought light into my life. I absolutely love it!
My sister has been helping me with a health issue.
Annual holiday lunch with a friend.
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