Dr. John A. KingIndigenous Australian. 100% Human. Neo-Noir Novelist. Poet. Speaker. Performance coach. More than a Survivor. Terrible Golfer, Awkward Dancer🕺

Review: The Match — Harlan Coben #shorts

28 Jun 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:58

In this informal YouTube short, the speaker (identified as SPEAKER A) gives a quick, enthusiastic review of Harlan Coben's novel The Match. He frames the book as a "beach read"—a fast‑paced, 300‑page story that he finds enjoyable and worth reading. He praises Coben’s standalone storytelling and says he reads Coben to learn the craft, calling the author’s storytelling "phenomenal." He contrasts this with a negative view of Coben’s Wind series, labeling it "pompous" and expressing personal dislike. The speaker intends to rate The Match as "Brilliant," though he notes he hasn't formally entered a rating yet. Overall, the content is a brief, conversational endorsement of The Match alongside a critique of Coben’s other work.

Chapters

Right, a beach read. Harlan Coben. Yeah, so some people think like, uh, saying something's a beach read is an insult. I'm an author. People read my books, leave them all over the country stained with beers and tears. Best day I'll ever— it's actually not formulaic. I like this one. I think his premise is really different. The Match. It's worth a read. It's a quick read, 300 pages. Um, and it's a fast-paced read. I like, I like Harlan Coben's standalone stuff. I don't like his other stuff, um, like Wind series. I think that guy's a pompous ass. It's just not my take. But I like Coben as a writer. Like, I'll read Coben, however you say that. I'll read that fella because I like to learn the craft off a guy like this. Phenomenal. Love his storytelling. The Match, worth it. Did I rate it? I don't think I did. I should have. Brilliant is what I'm going to give it. Sorry about that. I'll get back on track.