Unmatched: An Orthodox Jewish woman's mystifying journey to find marriage and meaning

With her sometimes funny, always intimate, uncensored memoir, Sarah Lavane puts a human face on the challenges of being “unmatched” in a “matched” Orthodox Jewish world. She takes us along on her journey. We learn how her background shaped her relationships and perceptions of God from a young age. She then delves into the ups and downs of dating, the tug-of-war she feels between men she may date and those who are off-limits, her heartfelt attempts (conventional and not) to change her fate and her poignant struggles with God through it all. Thoughtful and humorous, this page-turner draws the reader in.Unmatched aims to bring solace and comfort to the “unmatched” as well as foster sensitivity and awareness to the “matched.” This memoir is a must-read for the currently “unmatched,” anyone who’s ever wondered, “Why isn’t so-and-so married?” and readers who enjoy memoirs that give insight into the human condition.Glossary for Hebrew and Yiddish terms included.Unmatched in the world of Orthodox Jewish literature... in a conversational style that is refreshing... Lavane is impeccably honest about her pain, her mistakes and her resolutions to work on herself...– The Jewish PressLike the immersive experience of a visitor to a museum of the blind, the reader is plunged into an alien environment – the quest of a Jewish woman in search of a compatible mate, along with the raging emotions, the humility, grief, betrayal, despair and faith. The book gets an A+ for achieving the author's expressed goal of sharing the mystifying journey of a lonely woman of faith.– Jewish ActionUnmatched is superb in that it illustrates the quandary of the single woman that most of us simply do not understand. Lavane shares her struggles and bares her soul of her frustrations and challenges, and it is a heartbreaking read. Some of the dating stories are funny and par for the course. Others are devastatingly brutal... Lavane does not play the blame game or launch irrational rants. She shares her struggles and challenges in an honest and often humorous manner. I have never read anything like this before.– Jewish LinkUnmatched is one of the best books on Jewish dating you will ever read, and will force you to look at single people in a new and more compassionate way.– The AlgemeinerUnmatched is a memoir bringing awareness, compassion, and understanding to the complexities of dating for Orthodox Jewish women. Lavane provides readers with a brief glimpse into the ‘unmatched’ world. Her stories are relatable and amusing.- Jewish Voice and OpinionAn important book... potentially cathartic for long-time singles and an eye-opening lesson in sensitivity for others.– Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, author, The God BookI never had such an experience reading a memoir. I was captivated throughout. When it ended, I mourned as though I had lost a profoundly decent, most hilarious and loyal friend. Unmatched indeed.– Ruchama King Feuerman, author, Seven BlessingsAnother person in Sarah Lavane's situation might have written a diatribe against her community or her religion. But Lavane holds on to her faith with admirable tenacity and is always able to see all sides of a situation. Even when writing about her often-awful dates, she displays sympathy and sensitivity. The writing is excellent and often funny... a lesser woman might have cracked after so many years of disappointments. Yet she keeps her tone positive. All power to her!- Barbara Bensoussan, author, The Well-Spiced LifeI hung onto every last word and visualized each situation. A poignant memoir that speaks of the heartbreak and stereotypes when you are unmatched in the Jewish world. Her stories are not hers alone.- Jodi Samuels, JIC Read more