We Can't Keep Meeting Like This follows Quinn, a teen harpist who works for her family's wedding planning business. The thing is, though, she doesn't want the business to be her future. However, she also has no idea what exactly she DOES want her future to be. After experiencing heartbreak the summer prior, living through her own parents' separation when she was younger, and witnessing happy couples get married only to learn that many of them end up divorced, Quinn is hesitant to enter into a relationship. Tarek, the handsome hopeless romantic and childhood friend who works for the catering business they often use, has a thing for grand gestures and epic love stories—but he's also the one who broke Quinn's heart. And now, they're back together for the summer before they both leave for college, navigating their differences and discovering their similarities—and themselves—while falling in love, even if Quinn doesn't want to admit it to herself.

I loved this book (but I love every Rachel Lynn Solomon book, let's be honest), but there were a few things that really stood out to me: 1.) it was so sex-positive! 2.) The representation of and discussion about OCD and depression, and normalizing not be ashamed of mental illnesses and the willingness to seek help. 3.) Representation of teens being uncertain as they go off to college!

Quinn drove me bonkers at times because she was pushing the amazing, romantic Tarek away, BUT I did understand WHY. Rachel developed characters with very clear arcs, who you can't help but root for the entire time! The harp aspect of the story is so unique and was actually very interesting to learn a little about. Oh, and the ultimate embarrassing scene (no spoilers) had me laughing and feeling second hand embarrassment. :) This book was adorable and so much fun.

Like every other one of her books, I highly recommend reading this!

Just because you've graduated doesn't mean you are grown. And Quinn, who is in the transformative summer between high school and college is due for a come-to-Jesus moment. But Quinn is Jewish, as Rachel Lynn Solomon puts front and center in characterization (because representation matters, so good for her). Quinn's family has a wedding planning business and they work closely with a catering company whose son, Tarek, has just come home from his first year at college . . . and he kind of ghosted Quinn after she sent an "I really like you" email as a sort of "Hail Mary pass" to kickstart a relationship. And when there's no real response to the message besides an "I've been busy" text, Quinn sinks further into the "there's no such thing as real love" mode than has her losing interest in weddings, scoffing at relationships, and wondering if there's more to life than just going through the motions. But as the nonstop action of event planning throws Quinn and Tarek back together, they reconnect and start to figure out the pulsing connection that brings them together and helps Quinn realize that she needs to pull off some major maneuvers to prepare for the next part of her life.
We Can't Keep Meeting Like This is a realist's love story that explores what gets in the way of a real relationship, whether it is with friends, parents, or someone you want to kiss in dark hallways and call in the middle of the night. The book should be praised for acknowledging that there should not be a stigma about acknowledging physical or mental illness. And the interfaith Muslim/Jewish relationship of Tarek and Quinn makes for a hopeful presentation of love.

What a great story! Quinn, the daughter of a pair of wedding planners, is having some serious doubts about going into the family business. Good thing she's got a summer full of nuptials and high-profile-weddings to think about what she does want to do before college starts. Now if she could just stop running into the son of the caterers her family partners with while he's home from school for the summer that would be great. Especially since he hasn't spoken to her for nine months. Not since she torpedoed the grand romantic gesture he planned for the next girl he wanted to date and then sent him an e-mail telling him she liked him. His silence was deafening, but now that he's back they have to at least try and be friends because they can't keep meeting like this.

Oh how I loved this book! I loved the witty banter between the characters, I loved the weddings, I loved the open feel to teenage love. I really liked how Solomon discusses learning about yourself and how you feel even in sexual ways. I think it can be so hard to write about that and get it right and I think here is was really done right.
I liked the family dynamics and how they worked everything out together.
Tarek and Quinn, their relationship was sweet but real. And I adored that. I liked that Quinn learned its okay to fight in a relationship and that somethings can really be real, they just take time and hard work.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
A fun read with witty banter and also some heavy issues being dealt with.

This book was thoroughly engaging and solidly written. I enjoyed Quinn's journey as she discovered what she wanted and who she was. in this life.

With witty and engaging writing, this book drew me in from the start. I loved the idea of an entire family working together to bring happiness to others. I also enjoyed how she brought together different religions into the job as well.

Most of the characters were well developed and I wanted to see more of them. The only downfall I had to reading the book was I felt that the approach to mental health, while important, seemed a bit inauthentic, pushed, if you will. I do think it's important that people and teens talk about these things more, but I also want to read authentically. At times it felt like a forced conversation was being had amongst friends just for the sake of "OH, SEE, IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT, SO IT'S OKAY!" It wasn't every time, just sometimes. Her conversations with Tarek about it seemed the most natural. Perhaps that was on purpose. Her conversations with Noelle and Julia seemed stilted and forced, like they were thrown in for good measure.

That aside, I loved the fun parts of B + B, the romance, the music - it all came together for a fun and engaging coming of age story that I fully intend to push upon people. :)

Rachel Lynn Solomon has done it again. The characters, friendships, and relationships she crafts are always marvelous to read about, and her excellent, sharp writing makes you unable to put the book down. I will never not recommend one of her works, and WE CAN’T KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS is no different. The characters are fascinating and imperfect in the most relatable of ways, and the mistakes they make and emotions they feel are ones that almost every teenager can relate to. Solomon explores themes of love and family and what a healthy relationship of both of those looks like, and in a story that is just as addictive as all of her other books.