Lauren Holbrook has devoted the best years of her life to matchmaking her friends --- but she is not happy to finally get a taste of her own medicine!
In MATCH POINT, the final book in Erynn Mangum’s Lauren Holbrook trilogy, Lauren realizes that she has somehow managed to marry off all her friends and family members. Distraught to no longer have a project, she desperately looks for any single person to pair off. While conducting her search, her friends have a project of their own. Now all married, and some even with children, Lauren’s successful matches think that it’s high time for Lauren herself to tie the knot. After all, she and adorable construction worker Ryan have been happily dating (when she is willing to admit it) for nearly two years.
Lauren’s girlfriends and new stepmom arrange a surprise girls’ weekend away, where they hope that nice restaurants and lots of shopping will be just the prescription for commitment phobia. While they try to get marriage on Lauren’s mind in Phoenix, back in Colorado the guys are doing the same to Ryan. When they are reunited and realize they have been plotted against, Lauren and Ryan decide to play a little trick on their friends. Instead of following through with an elaborately planned engagement setup, the impossible pair stage a dramatic fake breakup. But, reminiscent of the fake relationship they staged before they started dating, this made-up separation only serves to bring the two closer together.
Before she knows it, Lauren somehow has the answer to the question that has been troubling her for so long. She realizes that she, in fact, is completely in love with Ryan. Once this is finally out in the open, it is only a matter of time before the fake engagement turns into a real one. But without the master of matchmaking to ensure a romantic proposal, what will happen? And with caffeine-fueled Lauren at the helm of a wedding, chaos is sure to ensue!
MATCH POINT provides a satisfying conclusion to this enjoyable trilogy from first-time author Erynn Mangum. Each title in the series is stronger than its predecessor, and Mangum shows tremendous growth as a writer. While forward-thinking teen girls could certainly enjoy these books, they are far more aimed at the twenty-something age group, given the subject matter and age of the characters. Some readers might be disappointed that Lauren ditches her woman-power-single-forever ambitions only to go the marriage route at a young age. Nonetheless, chick-lit fans will love the final installment in this upbeat coffee-filled adventure.
--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby
