I am a brand new reader to Tay Marley. I love finding new authors I haven’t heard of!

This is a story of a woman, with the help of fate, finds herself on a journey of self healing from trauma as well as grieving the loss of her sister. The story is full of wonderful portions of live, Grace, learning to live for today & not tomorrow while also battling some of the ugly, some of the loss off a loved one & finding yourself when you feel the most alone in the world.

There is also the story of strength! Through Addie’s journey she really proves to be incredibly strong. While struggling emotionally, she finds ways to find the good in it all, while truly finding her way through life. From accepting help from strangers to friends she realizes some things can’t be done alone.

There were portions of the storytelling that I didn’t love. The “fate” of Allie meeting her daughter, felt wonky. Like a layer that should have been shared earlier in the character development. I honestly wish more development was done in earlier pages because the “fate” part of all of it seemed almost too unbelievable. Again this is just personal choice of story telling.

My hope is the author placed a trigger warning in the first pages as there are discussions of assault, adoption, fertility issues & grief.

All in all I give this a 3.75. The characters are well developed, story overall theme doesn’t get lost in the mix & the general premise was delightful.

Huge thank you to Frayed Pages & NetGalley for this copy in return for my honest review!

Meant for Me takes you on an emotional roller coaster. This book certainly explores some heavy topics, so please research trigger warnings beforehand. Despite the trigger warning this is a beautiful story. Tay's writing was so captivating, it kept me hooked, kept me wanting more and kept me flipping those pages. The characters were well written and I adored them! This story will take you on an incredible journey. I would definitely recommend this book. I can't wait to see what Tay Marley writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books fro letting me read this ARC for my honest opinion.

***ARC Review***

"Meant for Me" by Tay is a captivating journey through the complexities of grief, love, and self-discovery. Transitioning from YA to adult fiction, Tay delivers a raw and heart-wrenching narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story follows Addie, who is grappling with the devastating loss of her sister. As she embarks on a journey from California to Texas, the author skillfully unfolds the layers of Addie's grief, gradually revealing the circumstances surrounding her sister's death. Addie's attempt to escape her pain leads her to Georgetown, Texas, where she finds unexpected connections and confronts the ghosts of her past.

Tay expertly crafts the dynamics of friendship and romance in the novel, allowing the relationship between Addie and Zac to evolve naturally over time. Their connection is portrayed with authenticity, as they navigate the complexities of grief and healing together. The slow-burning romance adds depth to the narrative, capturing the essence of love's transformative power.

The author's portrayal of small-town Texas adds a rich backdrop to the story, although some details may deviate from reality. However, this does not detract from the overall immersion in the setting. Overall, "Meant for Me" is a poignant and unforgettable read that resonates long after the final page. Tay's debut adult book is a triumph, blending raw emotion with bittersweet moments of beauty

This book was so beautifully written, filled with tragedy, love, laughter and found family.

I loved how the story starts with Addie running from the tragedy in life, only to discover a connection to her past that she tried to move past, but couldn’t. And the connection she has with Zac is beautiful and real.

I just really enjoyed this book and the realness it brought. Suggest this if you’re looking for a tearjerker with a HEA!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I have LOVED every single thing that Tay Marley writes! I first got introduced to her on Wattpad and have since been a longtime follower and supporter of her work. I loved how in Meant For Me she can bring the adult themes to life while also helping build the relationship between the main characters. She always knows how to make readers understand the characters and their backstories and cheering for them! She takes us through the journey as a whole.

Adi May is walking the streets of Georgetown, Tx like a homeless person. In a sense she is homeless because her whole life was taken away. She is bereft and devastated at the loss of her sister. As Addie is grieving, she is taken in by the local policewoman who found her and took her to the hospital when she passed out from dehydration, the Ryan family take her in and feed her and find a place for her to stay. Zac is not too sure of Addie. She wears fancy clothes and is one of this California types. He doesn’t approve when his sister brings her around. That is until he realizes that there is more to this girl than meets the eye. As they all get to know Addie, secrets are revealed and Addie must come to terms with decisions made, the overwhelming grief that consumes her, selling her business, and realizing what her future holds including love and support from the family in Texas.

“With well-crafted emotions, a captivating small-town setting, and a satisfying happily ever after, this book is a must-read that beautifully captures the complexities of rebuilding one’s life after profound loss.” - thindbooks

This is a story about a woman whose sister passed away and she escapes to a small town in Texas where she hopes to find herself again. I really enjoyed this book. I have to say that at first I was about to DNF it because I wasn’t getting into the story but once we meet Raine, the story becomes so much better. This book mainly deals with grief and finding themselves again after the MC goes through so much loss. I loved the storyline which was so well-written and emotional. The author did a great job bringing different emotions to the story and capturing the perfect moments in the book. I loved the small-town setting and briefly going to Cali. This book is told from Addie’s pov and there are flashbacks of a couple of years throughout the book.

Addie is the MC of this book who deals with a lot of grief and doesn’t know how to begin with her life again. I enjoyed her character and the way she was written. She developed so much throughout this book and I loved seeing her grow. There are many side characters in this book. Raine is such a sweetheart and Willa is the cutest, kind little human. Then there is Zac who is the main love interest and let me say that I loved his character. He was caring and protective of Addie but there were moments he made mistakes. There is slow burn romance with enemies to friends to lovers romance that has 1-2 steamy scenes but other than that its closed door.

The ending was well done with a cute HEA of the characters. I loved how the story ended and I have to say that I was a bit worried about how it was going to be finished. This book was first published on Wattpad which I heard is different compared to this one with more content and povs. I really enjoyed this story and wouldn’t change a single thing about it. I recommend checking because it’s a fantastic book you don’t want to miss out.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

this book broke my heart at least 2 times while reading. Addie had gone through so much at such a young age and was still trying to recover from it years later. More than once something happened that I didn’t see coming! There were several heartwarming scenes with Willa, the step daughter of Zac’s sister. Willa was probably the best character in the whole book! Protect Willa at all costs!
I loved how this book talked about life after loss, the benefits of therapy, and healing yourself without expecting another person to heal you.

This book was so beautifully written, filled with tragedy, love, laughter and found family. It reminded me of Hannah Bird’s writing.

I loved how the story starts with Addie running from the tragedy in life, only to discover a connection to her past that she tried to move past, but couldn’t. And the connection she has with Zac is beautiful and real.

I just really enjoyed this book and the realness it brought. Suggest this if you’re looking for a tearjerker with a HEA!

Thank you NetGalley, Wattpad and author Tay Marley for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 23%

I’m sorry, but I couldn’t continue this. I really tried. The writing style isn’t it for me. I’m sorry. The cover is so beautiful tho🥹

This was such a sweet book! I loved the characters, and their love story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable.

"Meant For Me" by Tay Marley is an absolute gem! With captivating characters and a heartwarming plot, this novel swept me off my feet from the very first page. Marley's writing is engaging and filled with emotion, making it impossible to put down. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the romantic tension kept me eagerly flipping pages. If you're a fan of contemporary romance, this book is a must-read. I couldn't recommend it more highly!

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It had love, friendship and unexpected turns.

If you’re looking for an emotional heart felt book this is it.

I've not read anything from this author before but I really did love it.

This books is about loss and healing. It'll definitely pull on your heartstrings. It was an emotional book.

Healing happens when you let love in
Life happens when you start living it.

A story of loss and healing that will pull on your heartstrings.
Certainly a very emotional read.
I loved Willa…..she was so adorable and endearing.
The story is full of big reveals!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is so a real feeling and has you immersed from from the moment that it starts. I didn’t put this one down from start to finish. I loved this book. It does have a little bit of spice and it was well written. I really enjoyed it. The FMC is relatable and their personalities are incredible. This is realistic and gripping and a ride of emotions. This has twists and turns and I love how the characters grow over time and the story progresses instead of staying still. This is a wholesome swoon-worthy story. This has a lot of emotions that keep you feeling all your feelings. This story will keep you turning pages and I love that its based in a small town in Texas and that it was portrayed so well for someone who is not familiar with the area you can tell how much effort, work and attention she put into this.

Addie wakes up in a hospital in the middle of nowhere Texas having no idea where she is or how she got there. She appears to be running away from something, but what?

As Meant for Me unfolds, we learn just what drew Addie away from her life as an event planner in LA to a farm in Texas. She is taken in by a nice family who realize her need for protection and safety.

My only complaint about this book is how far fetched it is. Some of the plot lines made me roll my eyes a bit. If you don’t mind just your regular old story about a girl who runs away from tragedy to a new life she isn’t sure she really wants, this book is enjoyable. Tay Marley does a good job of conveying some pretty heavy topics and emotions.

This was a very enjoyable story. Addie lost her sister and felt lost herself. She decided to go to Texas. When she landed in Austin, she started walking around & ended up many miles away from the city. She met a policewoman named Raine who invites her to her family’s Sunday brunch. This leads Addie to meet the rest of the family and takes her on an unexpected path. Highly recommend reading this one to see how Addie’s story played out.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

This book blends romance, friendship, and family strife. The author hits just the right note on all three, which will draw you into the lives of the characters and potentially take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Addie is grieving for the loss of her sister. We don't know how she died until much later in the book, and once certain details are revealed, her attempt to disappear makes sense. Addie runs from her home in California to Texas and Georgetown at that. Knowing that the author lives in another country, I always wonder how well they will portray a smaller town in Texas and how closely the town resembles fact. While I think it might be off just a little bit, since Georgetown is a little larger than portrayed in the book, it isn't too far off.

The friendship between Addie and Zac grows over time. There is an attraction between the two, but it takes time to grow into a full-blown relationship. But I like that because many times, relationships are rushed. This one meanders, much like Texas folks.

There are several twists and turns, and fate has stepped in to give Addie more than she ever bargained for. To share any of that would spoil the book, so you will have to pick it up and read it for yourself.

This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I can say that it truly did delight. We give it 4 paws up.

First of all - thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested to read this book because the cover is really beautiful and the storyline sounded up my alley.

Unfortunately, the writing was subpar and it was hard for me to get into the plot. Lots of tropes going on, the romance fell flat for me, and the combination of plot points just seemed unbelievable.

I think this book could have been great if it had more extensive proofreading and editing. Overall, this was a 2 star read for me.