Delightful summer read! A modern day romance with plenty of emotional and romantic moments. Perfect contemporary romance for a quick read.

This story was so adorable!! I LOVED how Kailyn had hated Daxton at the beginning of this book!!! It made things so much more interesting. I also really enjoyed that they had a past and that their past really caused a lot of growth for each of them!

Stemming from this love/hate thing, I thought it was super cute how they would fluster each other, but really had no clue how each other felt. Especially how they had felt in the past. I loved that they even had a past, I think this definitely made a difference in this story. Having seen Kailyn and Dax as battling college kids versus grown adults was super interesting. It was neat to see what had changed and how some things hadn't changed. I think these things really helped ease that there was a sore topic in the books.

Adding in the death of Dax and Emme's parents was quite the plot twist. Although it was a super touchy subject, Helena did an amazing job with it! I love how she showed the absolute truth about going through a tragedy like these two did, and really showed how a person truly struggles. Poor Emme had such a normal teenager reaction. Add in the roller coaster of an awful Aunt and bringing in Kaitlyn on the legal ends of things, It was quite a ride!! It was a super interesting angle and I think it was played really well.

I really like how Kailyn wasn't eased into Dax and Emme's life at all, she was thrown in there full speed! Having that female perspective when it came to dealing with a teenage girl and then having the male protector perspective made it super entertaining! It was the perfect amount of drama to balance out the adorable parts of Kaitlyn and Dax's budding romance!

From the beginning I was in love with all of these characters, you did an awesome job Helena!

2.5 stars?

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one, tbh. I was entertained throughout, the chemistry between the two leads was great, the enemies to lovers angle intriguing and Holly was a sheer delight, but there are some really problematic things about this books that just did not sit well with me.

Ethics
“Technically, no, since Dax isn’t my client. I’m sleeping with my client’s brother, so maybe it’s morally ambiguous, but it’s not unethical.”/i>

Hooooo boy is this one a doozy. This is Kailyn's justification for sleeping with Dax. Sweetie, your relationship with him is not a morally ambiguous gray area because yes he's your client's brother but he's also your client's guardian and he is in the middle of a custody battle over said client. And your job is to be impartial. It's kinda hard to be impartial in a custody battle when you're fucking your client's guardian.

Aside from this one quote right here, this ethical dilemma wasn't mentioned at all. Kailyn's hang-ups on the relationship focus on her job's non-fraternization rule, the pressures of what'll Dax think when he learns that she'll make partner if he comes on board with her firm, and what'll Emme think about her brother getting jiggy with her conservator.

Fangirls
The women are something else though. They simper and fawn. It's embarrassing and infuriating.

Pot, meet kettle. Pot and kettle, meet your cousin Kailyn, aka Dax's Number One Fan.

I'd thought this would be kind of a cutsey thing in the story, but in reality it was pretty cringe-worthy, particularly Kailyn's I'm not like those fangirls attitudes, where she pretends to see Dax as the person he is and not the character he was...while still openly obsessing over the show in his presence even when it clearly makes him uncomfortable.

Dax

Oh, did you think this would be a review just flaming the heroine? Oh no no no no, our hero is just as problematic.

He openly physically intimidates Kailyn in the beginning, using his greater size to attempt to persuade her and influence her. She calls him out on it, but he keeps doing it—it's just becomes "ok" when they get together.

He also openly objectifies and ogles her, and treats her as possession—a prized possession, but one nonetheless. He gets jealous and very possessive over her waaaaay early on in the relationship too.

Plus when they first meet (again) he always has his hands down his pants adjusting himself to hide his massive boner.

Personally, it would skeeze the hell out of me if I ever caught a man doing this, particularly when we are both in a professional setting and are rivals/does it matter? I would probably contact the EEO rep in my office and file a sexual harassment complaint.

And again there's that whole fangirl aspect of everything that just...doesn't really get addressed by them? That he's suddenly okay with?

And yet, despite all of these pretty problematic issues, I did enjoy this book. I actually liked it a lot more towards the end, when Linda's motivations were finally uncovered (many of her doings were painfully obvious tbh) and Emme's unsubtle maneuvering was revealed. And again, Holly is a delight, even if her relationship with Kailyn never passed the Bechdel test.

So read for the entertainment and don't think about how this violates basic ethical laws?

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Meet Cute
By:Helena Hunting

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Powerful together!

Well let me start by saying I am a huge fan of this Helena Hunting. She writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Kailyn Flowers was always calm, rational, and controlled-until she ended up sprawled all over Daxton Hughes, the former actor she totally crushed on as a teenager. Then she did the unthinkable: She became a mortifying fangirl in five seconds flat, which may or may not have included professing her undying love. And oddly, he didn't run away. In fact, their meet cute led to a friendship she never saw coming. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming, either...
Now Dax needs her help. As guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister, he's in way over his head. And though Kailyn hasn't forgiven Dax, she isn't heartless enough to make him fend for himself, either. Soon their friendly meetings turn into flirty dinner dates, and Kailyn can feel their chemistry is as explosive as ever. But how can she possibly let down her guard again to a guy who has heartbreak written all over him?

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

Meet Cute is an emotional roller-coaster, taking from the highs of flirtation to the lows of responsibilities all while making you fall in love with all of the characters.

Kailyn is adorable in all her fan-girl glory especially when the object of her teenage crush is also a fellow law student.

Both Kailyn and Daxton thrive on the playful competitiveness they have between them, making them exceed their own expectations thanks to their interactions with the other. However, an incident near the end of law school overshadows their friendship and weighs heavily on Kailyn as she navigates her way post-college.

A chance of fate places Kailyn and Daxton together again after they are both settled into their respective careers. While there are still unresolved issues between the pair, a tragedy forces them into closer proximity and makes them confront their unresolved issues as well as the undeniable chemistry between them.

There is a lot going on in the pages of Meet Cute; with the romance being only a small part of the whole. Meet Cute deals with a lot of emotional issues while retaining an air of hopefulness throughout. The events that have led both Kailyn and Daxton to this point in their lives make them both re-evaluate what they want out of life. It is the way in which we handle change and tragedy that shapes our identities the most.

I would love an extended epilogue for all of the characters set a few years in the future to know exactly what their happily ever after entails **SWOON** 4.5/5

Loved everything about this book!
It was such a heartwarming story of Dax & Kayilyn who meet in such a cute way.
This book had me giddy from the first moment they met and had me rooting for Dax and Kayilyn's story to get their happily ever after.
Such great characters, development of story and yes tons of emotional moments that had me crying my cherry heart out. And Emme is the teenager we all can relate to as girls. Author Helena Hunting matched
Unfortunate events throw these two characters into a journey they both did not see coming and the bonus is that through out it all, they find what matters most, love unexpected.
Go get this book and be Dax's #1 fangirl with Kaylin.
**ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
5 🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒popped!

4 Stars!
Kailyn Flowers is excited to attend Law school at UCLA. On her first day she’s so caught up in her schedule she doesn’t see the hot guy coming her way until she collides with him. Then she’s on the ground looking up into the eyes of her teen crush, child TV star Daxton Hughes. She’s been infatuated with him and his show for years, and had a massive crush on the fictional character he portrayed. To make things more awkward, he’s also in her class. Soon they become rivals who enjoy a little friendly competition. Then he unexpectedly betrays her and she holds a grudge for years.

Kailyn is now a top lawyer in LA. She is shocked when Dax shows up in her office asking for legal help. She’s no longer the college girl with a crush, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t notice how ridiculously gorgeous he still is. Dax is going through a difficult time, and she can’t help feeling bad for him. As she spends time with him, she realizes how incredible he is. This is the first time she’s connected with someone in a very long time, and she’s scared of the way he makes her feel. As their chemistry heats up things between them become real, and their situation gets complicated.

Meet Cute is a fun, flirty romance full of passion and heart. It’s packed with humor, emotion, and sexual tension. I loved Dax so much! He’s super sexy and swoon worthy to the extreme!

Meet Cute is Helena Hunting's newest romance. I'm a huge fan of Helena's and this book really has everything I love about reading. Fun, sexiness, heartbreak, angst, sadness, hope, family, friendship and love. Helena always gives us characters to fall in love with, get angry at and cheer for. Kailyn and Daxton meet in one of my favorite meet cutes ever! She literally runs into him only to land on the ground underneath him. She then realizes he's her favorite actor from childhood who she has a major crush on. Then there's the fangirling! And more tripping and finally they become sorta friends. They are competitors but they push each other to be better. She didn't see the betrayal coming and it stings but she moves on. Only to come face to face with him eight years later. She's still bitter but he needs her help and she knows how he and his sister are feeling so she gives him what he needs. Turns out they still have amazing chemistry and she can't fight her body's reaction to him. Dax always had a thing for Kailyn but the timing wasn't right. Now she's a part of his life for a while and he knows it's not the perfect time, but he can't help himself. She drives him crazy in her pencil skirts and crazy stockings. But what happens when she becomes too distracting? Can they make it work with so many obstacles and secrets? I loved this story! It has so much heart! I had so many emotions: happy, sad, mad, hopeful, and hot and bothered!

I absolutely loved this book and the cover is perfect! I am such a huge fan of Helena Hunting, she writes some amazing rom-coms but this was so much more. Meet Cute was packed full of emptions and had me teary eyed many times with some funny moments thrown in as well.

Kailyn and Dax went to law school together and haven’t seen each other in years. Dax was a child tv star and is just trying to live a normal life. Kailyn had a crush on Dax and was a true fan girl. She never expected to see Dax walk into her office years later and have to work with him.

It’s been eight years since they finished law school and Dax can’t figure out why Kailyn still doesn’t like him. They have to have a working professional relationship, which becomes hard at times with how intense the chemistry is between them. Working together they slowly form a friendship that later turns into more. I loved the relationship between Kailyn and Dax’s little sister. The banter between all these characters was great.

I really enjoyed Meet Cute. If you are looking for an enemies to lovers book that will give you all the feels and make you laugh, look no further. I highly recommend this book.

It’s no secret that I adore Helena Hunting, and after reading over a dozen of her books, I will automatically read anything she writes. So, when I saw the cover and blurb for Meet Cute, it immediately became one of my most anticipated reads of 2019. With that charming illustrated cover, I was expecting a hilarious rom-com about a grown-up fangirl, but Meet Cute is much more emotional and deeper than I was expecting. But, because it’s Helena, I rolled with it and ended up falling in love with the characters and the story became that much more heartfelt.

We’re introduced to Kailyn and Daxton through an awkward first meeting (aka “meet cute”) in the quad of their law school. Kailyn’s fumbling adoration of Dax’s former childhood television character is both cringe-worthy and adorable. Dax, being the sweetheart that he is, finds Kailyn’s fangirl status endearing and discovers she’s stiff competition for top billing in their class. Their friendship turns sour after a misunderstanding and they part ways until years later when Dax’s family needs Kailyn’s lawyerly services.

Both Kailyn and Dax are driven and focused on becoming partners at their respective law firms. However, tragedy strikes Dax’s family and he suddenly finds himself the guardian of his 13-year-old sister. Emme is as lost and heartbroken as Dax, which makes their situation that much more heartbreaking. Kailyn forges a bond with both Dax and Emme, helping them navigate the legal and emotional issues surrounding their new situation. Those old feelings of hate Kailyn harbored for Dax suddenly find themselves turning into something deeper—and much more enjoyable.

I loved the depth of the characters that Helena brings to this story. Dax is a caring and responsible role model for his sister, outside of a few bumps in the road as he adjusts to his new life. Kailyn is professional with a side of quirk, especially with her dorky obsession with Dax’s old television show. Their chemistry is potent from their first meeting and slowly simmers throughout the storyline, striking the perfect balance of tension with their hilarious banter.

Even though Meet Cute wasn’t the light and happy rom-com I was expecting, the story is filled with heart, heat, and humor that I found irresistible. I may have shed a tear or two, but the laugh out loud moments made up for any sadness I felt. There were a couple of characters I wouldn’t have minded throat-punching, but that aside, I highly recommend having a Meet Cute of your own.

*3.5 Stars*

This book was an easy, quick, read that didn’t really hit home for me. I really enjoyed a lot of this book but I had some issues with it as well.

I’m one who doesn’t always read the synopsis before diving into a story, especially if it’s by an author I have read and loved in the past. I have to admit, I judged this book by the cover, and was expecting a rom-com. Because of the heavy topic that runs throughout this story the cover doesn’t quite go with the story.

The writing was very good. It was easy to read and the plot flowed very nicely. I do love this author’s writing style. I just have to admit, this story wasn’t my favorite by her.

My favorite part of the story was Kailyn and Daxton’s romance even if the characters themselves weren’t. Their relationship progressed at a very believable pace and wasn’t insta-love at all. However, I didn’t love the characters themselves too much. It was hard for me to connect with them.

This was overall a very likable romance and I loved the way everything was wrapped up.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

"I look back up at him, and my explanation gets stuck in my throat when I stop to really take him in. I recognize his face as one I’ve had endless fantasies about all through my teen years. And into my adult ones."

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting, is a friends to lovers romance with the perfect amount of steam and angst. Dax and Kailyn meet during their first year of law school. You see, Dax is Kailyns biggest Hollywood crush back in the day. . . and she goes gah gah over him. But a misunderstanding leaves these two on hostile territory.

Several years pass when these two cross paths again, when Dax and his family want to set up a trust fund for his sister Emme. The attraction and chemistry was more than there. But Kailyn is still holding on to that grudge. But when an accident forces these two together, Kailyn see's a side to Dax that she slowly falls in love with.

Meet Cute is a rom com that made my heart pitter patter.
A must read for Helena Hunting fans!

Unfortunately Meet Cute just didn't live up to what I expected to be a fun rom-com as inferred by the blurb. And while I enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance, this fell a bit flat. I really liked Kailyn and Dax individually, but together they just didn't work for me. I was a bit bored with their interactions.

This book was kind of adorable. There were a lot of different sentiments throughout the book, you had happiness, pleasure, sadness, shock, and just overall enjoyment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and finding out what happens to all the characters. You have the two main rival lawyers and total fan-girl and star dynamic, but then throw in a teenager who's going through a tough time and you've got quite the story. I really enjoyed watching Kailyn and Daxton's interaction, when it was good, it was good. But then they had some serious moments and reality checks. The two of them have amazingly crazy chemistry with each other and they complement each other well. But I think my favorite was all interactions with Emme’s character. This child broke my heart sometimes, and I could relate well because I have a child around her age, and I understand the changes she’s going through and having to go through them without parents is not an easy thing to do.

Overall this was a great quick read and I enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, the story was interesting, and it was worth the read. I don’t really want to get too much into it without giving the plot away but there were some steamy scenes, some happy scenes, some sweet ones and sad ones. Everyone made me feel many feels throughout the book.

3.5-3.75 stars. I liked Meet Cute, but I didn't love it. The cover (and the title, really) is super cute, cheerful and screams romantic comedy. But Meet Cute is actually a more heavy book dealing with some serious subjects. This book is Daxton and Kailyn's story. Daxton is a former 90s teen tv star (think Dawson's Creek). After his show ends, he leaves for college and law school. He meets fellow law student, Kailyn, who runs into him (literally) and fangirls hardcore. They have some law classes together and hold a friendly rivalry, but nothing ever comes of their attraction. Now, eight years later, Kailyn practices trust law and Daxton's parents hire her to set up a trust for his thirteen year old sister, Emme. But their lives are all irrevocably changed when his parents die, leaving him as Emme's guardian. Kailyn is thrust into their lives as the trustee of Emme's trust, which gets especially complicated when a custody battle ensues between Dax and his aunt. As she spends time with Emme and Dax, helping them through their legal issues and their new normal, Kailyn becomes close with the siblings and develops a romance with Daxton.

I liked the story and was entertained by it, even if it was a bit heavy. I liked Dax. He's a good guy. Not cocky or a manwhore. I didn't love Kailyn for the first half of the book. She is rude to Dax and considers him an enemy for a misunderstanding in college. I understood the romance was an enemies to lovers story, but I could not see how the situation could develop into love. I did not feel any chemistry there. The story was so heavy and slow moving, not at all cute or funny. But as it moved on, I did feel a friendship feeling start to develop between Daxton and Kailyn, and also with Emme and Kailyn. And then Dax and Kailyn's relationship very slowly develops into a romance. So the book did get better towards the latter half, for me, despite feeling it was slow at first. I ended up liking all of the characters in general, even if I didn't feel a huge connection to them. Dax and Emme's recovery from their parents' death was sad and emotional. They had so much to deal with. Kailyn was the perfect person to help them through their hardship and they both grew to lean on her. I was happy that they all had each other and could help each other heal.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was not what I expected and was a much heavier tone, but it was entertaining. While this wasn't my favorite Helena Hunting book, I still am a fan and look forward to more from her in the future.

Cute. Yep, that was my immediate thought when I had reached the end of the book, but don't let the word fool you. Kailyn and Dax had the sort of love story that had a great deal of heartache to it, and I'm not necessarily talking about the romantic sort. They have missteps along the way to their happily-ever-after, but I couldn't help but cheer them on, even when I wanted to smack them both upside the head for those aforementioned missteps. This may sound weird but I liked that Kailyn and Dax had to do some work when it came to the rekindling of their friendship and, later on, their romantic relationship. Kailyn is no pushover. She's a woman with ambition, but she also happens to be someone filled with compassion, and she's easily become one of my favorite Helena Hunting heroines. I adored Dax, as well, and hooray for flawed heroes who fumble and stumble from time to time yet continue to get back up. As much as I loved them, there was one character who stole the spotlight repeatedly: Emme. Dare I hope she gets a book sometime in the future? Have your own meet-cute with Meet Cute. Five stars. ♥

Feels 3
Steam 4
Storyline 5
Overall Rating 4.5

From the first embarrassing encounter, Kailyn and Dax were thrown together in college. Quickly they become competitive classmates until Dax betrays her and Kailyn moves on in her new job. Eight years later, tragedy has struck and Dax is in her legal office for advice. While begrudgingly helping Dax, Kailyn is pulled into different directions with a boss who wants her to woo Dax to their legal team and helping to guide him into guardianship of his sister. Will they be able to move on from past mistakes or are they cursed to keep secrets that will only hurt one another?

“I’m attracted to the man I’ve gotten to know, the one who clearly loves his sister and will do anything for her. The one who gets riled up and riles me. The same man who knocked me over in the quad all those years ago and who told me I had pretty eyes.”

Usually I can count on Helena Hunting for hilarious romantic comedies. This story just had more emotion and grit and I loved it so much more! After tragedy strikes, Dax has to step up and how he loves his sister, parents and cares for people around him makes him more attractive than just a former teen heartthrob. Kailyn is jaded from her college interactions with Dax but the chemistry they had is still sparking away. These two just fit together and the way they want what’s best for Emme just pulled my heartstrings. This story is about love, laughter, family and fighting to protect those closest to us. Just freaking beautiful.

If you like those emotional stories that push your “feels” button, you will enjoy this new book by Helena Hunting. It has just enough angst to pull for Dax and Kailyn to come together without leaving you in a bucket of tears. My kind of book.

NO SPOILERS!

Meet Cute was a fun, sweet, and entertaining standalone romance, and I really enjoyed it. Helena Hunting created a wonderful storyline and likable characters, and I really enjoyed her writing style and sense of humor. While I very much enjoyed Dax and Kailyn’s story, there were a few aspects that I didn’t like as much. It was a little boring and frustrating at times, and I wished there had been more excitement, as well as romance, between Dax and Kailyn. However, Meet Cute was a very enjoyable read that encompassed multiple tropes, and I was happy with the conclusion. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Helena Hunting!

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4.5 out of 5

MEET CUTE had me hooked pretty much from the prologue with the Kailyn and Dax's meet cute. I was hooked by the humor of that moment and was ready for a fun and sexy romantic comedy. Yet, MEET CUTE wasn't the book that I expected based on the cover and the title. I suppose that's what happens when you don't read the synopsis. MEET CUTE surprised me in the best possible way.

After Dax and his sister Emme experience a terrible tragedy, Kailyn is brought back into their lives in a significant way. She begins to see Dax as more than her competitor from college and her teen crush. And this is when I was really hooked and began to fall for Dax just as Kailyn did. They have incredible chemistry and genuine admiration for each other and that's when I realized MEET CUTE might not be the book that I expected, it is the book that I wanted.

MEET CUTE is in no way bogged down with sadness. I loved Kailyn's fangirl moments - when she tried to play it cool and Dax discovers just how obsessed she was with his show. And the signs of her fandom popped-up everywhere - her Daxton crying meme water mug "I like cups with handles", her It's My Life t-shirts, and wanting to "check out the memorabilia in the basement". At least part of that was true.

There is humor in the shopping trips - Dax's solo trip and then when they all go clothes shopping together. Dax just doesn't have a clue what a day of shopping with a teenager is like, but he found out.

What I loved the most was the connection between Kailyn and Emme, and the friendship that develops between them. Emme really opened up to Kailyn when she needed someone the most. It was endearing and touched my heart.

Favorite Lines:

"I always imagined that if I met one of my favorite celebrities, I’d act cool, be all casual about it, treat them like a regular person. Obviously I was very wrong about that."

"I'm a much better fangirl." - Kailyn
"Hands down the best." - Daxton

MEET CUTE is a wonderful read. There were many moments that touched my heart, and even more that made me smile and laugh out loud. I am admittedly a fangirl like Kailyn and I'm not ashamed about it. I like to embrace the things that bring me joy and tell everyone about it and now I can add this book to that list!

Meet Cute is the newest standalone from Helena Hunting, and it's definitely not what I was expecting. While Helena Hunting is most known for her own personal brand of comedy, she is also quite skilled at laying on the angst. And with this book, she layered the two so seamlessly it became something completely new.

One of my favorite things about Helena Hunting's books are her heroines, and Kailyn definitely didn't disappoint! She embodied Hunting's signature quirkiness, exuding the perfect balance of professional awkwardness. Now a successful lawyer, Kailyn still harbors her secret love for her childhood crush turned law school enemy and isn't the least bit thrilled when he walks through the doors of her office. But when tragedy strikes she has to learn to put her personal feelings aside and do her job, which ends up being a lot harder than she thought.

Dax is a literal heartthrob - child actor turned successful lawyer, he's living up his bachelor lifestyle and enjoying every minute of it. Until one moment changes everything and his life is completely turned upside down. Everything is on the line and the one person who can help seems to hate him. He's in the for the fight of his life, but he might be fighting for way more than he originally thought.

While I went into this expecting a light & fun read, Meet Cute is anything but. Yes, there are laughs and sweet moments thrown in, but the emotions are heavy. Kailyn & Dax had me laughing one minute and crying the next, and I was sucked into their story until the very last page. Emme is a shining star, bringing everything together and making me wish I could jump through the pages and give her a hug.

Whether your a Helena Hunting fan or newbie, a lover of angst or romcom enthusiast, this book has something for everyone and I highly recommend it!