Do you believe there is someone out there you are fated to be with for the rest of your life? Well Edie sure did and her grandmother had perfected when everyone in her family will meet their soulmate for decades. So when Edie meets a sexy rockstar on the day her grandmother predicted to be her day, she knew it was fate. But as time went on she began to question the very thing she’s based her entire life around… This book was cute and flirty, a perfect quick read for the beach or pool this summer!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this advanced copy!

When it comes to Hannah Orenstein, she absolutely knows how to deliver. I was hooked from the first page, and only fell deeper in love with this book when I saw references to some of my favorite Brooklyn spots, Strokes references, and a stubborn-but-likeable protagonist. Though I wish readers got to see more of the happily ever after, I loved that the conflicts that the main couple faced didn't pain either out to be bad because of their opinions/beliefs, just different/incompatible in that regard. I fell in love with the family at the heart of the novel, and am hoping to see them cameo in Hannah's next one!

A woman meets her supposed soulmate on a prescribed day but struggles with whether he really is “the one.” As she tries to keep an open mind about love, she comes to realize that lifetime happiness may be more complicated than a simple prediction. Author Hannah Orenstein takes an interesting concept but gives it fairly dull treatment in the lackluster novel Meant to Be Mine.

Most people don’t know if or when they’re going to meet the person meant for them for life, but Edie Myers doesn’t have that problem. Her grandmother, Gloria, has a gift that takes away all of the uncertainty. Since predicting the date when she’d meet her own soulmate, Gloria has intuited every single match in the family. It becomes a ritual and a shared experience, then, for everyone to receive the information from her, and Edie can’t wait for her own date to arrive.

When the day coincides with the surprise proposal her twin sister’s boyfriend is planning, Edie can practically see hearts. She boards the flight from New York to Maine for the celebration, convinced she’s going to meet the man of her dreams on the plane. As she settles into her seat, musician Theo Larsen sits down next to her and Edie knows this is it. Love is officially in the air.

They begin a whirlwind romance, and on the surface all the right things happen. Edie and Theo have chemistry, and she can see them as a “power couple” with her as the independent fashion stylist and him as the up-and-coming musician. But pesky, nagging thoughts make Edie question things too.

She has deep connections with her immediate and extended family. Theo’s barely on speaking terms with his. While Edie doesn’t consider herself super religious, there are aspects of her Jewish faith that are important to her. Theo doesn’t share the same heritage and can’t relate there either.

Also, memories of a previous relationship keep cropping up at the most inconvenient times, and Edie can’t help compare Theo to her old boyfriend. But how can that be? She didn’t meet the old boyfriend on the date Gloria announced for her; she met Theo on that day. Shouldn’t that be enough? True love is the one thing people should be able to count on, so why can’t Edie count on this? As she navigates her relationships with Theo and her family and friends, Edie must decide whether she’s willing to take a chance on something even bigger than love: her heart’s truest desire.

Author Hannah Orenstein offers readers an interesting premise: what would you do if you knew when you were going to meet your soulmate? With various supporting characters and scenarios, Orenstein shows how the prophetical aspect of the story plays out in realistic ways. Not everyone’s love story is straightforward, but everyone Gloria “blesses” with their date is comfortable and happy. Readers may find themselves drawn to the more philosophical aspects of the plot.

Unfortunately, the execution of the idea in many places falls flat. Edie compares Theo with her old boyfriend, Jonah, constantly. While initial comparisons are reasonable and expected, after the fourth or fifth time readers may begin to wonder why Edie broke up with Jonah in the first place. From everything Edie shares, Jonah was perfect for her. Even with her grandmother’s prediction as a guiding force, and even though Jonah doesn’t have the opportunity to present his side to readers, it’s painfully obvious who is better suited to Edie.

Her insistence on continuing to date Theo, despite glaring differences that both agree are deal-breakers, becomes tiresome. Throughout almost the entire narrative, readers are subjected to Edie’s constant doubt and the comparisons. She shares her thoughts with best friend Shireen and twin sister Rae, but the collective shrug they share does nothing to accelerate the situation to any kind of satisfying conclusion.

The “climactic” moment that leads to Edie’s epiphany comes too late in the book to feel earned; both feel rushed and forced, as if the plot had meandered long enough and just needed to end already. Another potential love interest sticks out in a glaringly obvious way. With all of Edie’s romantic, old-world beliefs in true love, her abrupt change of heart at the end tarnishes everything she seemingly stood for.

Those wanting a romance that is a quick read may want to check this out; others less tolerant of characters who spend most of their time wondering how to fix their problems without doing anything to actually fix them may want to skip it.

3.5 stars
Given the prediction of when you meet your soulmate - would you believe it?
Edie with the help of her gifted grandmother knows when her day will come. Do things go as easily as she'd hoped, well the future is always a little bumpy.
A slightly edgy read to distract and also entertain the idea of being given this insight and what little control we really have in matters of the heart. Not a traditional rom com but worth a look if you can get past that.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this cute, heartwarming story about a girl looking for her soulmate and what that really means. I loved the magical realism aspect, especially the grandmother! I also really enjoyed the wonderful descriptions of New York City.

Meant To Be Mine is an adorable story about Edie who is 29 years old and has known the exact date she would meet her soulmate and her date just so happened to be the same day her twin sister was set to be engaged. This is because her grandmother Gloria has a gift that has allowed her to predict the meet cute of every member in the family. I loved that culture was a reoccurring think in the book as Edie’s family is Jewish and there were talks of food and traditions displayed beautifully throughout. This was such a fun read for me, thank you so much NETGALLEY and Atria Books for the digital Arc, I loved this book and I look forward to reading more from Hannah Orenstein.

This story had such potential. In a similar vein to The Immortalists (a favorite of mine) I was curious to see where the author would take the concept of knowing the date of meeting the love of your life. I loved the authors previous book so this was an auto read for me. At 30% I have to throw in the towel. These characters are so bland and boring and I have zero interest in their relationship. It’s a struggle reading their mundane dating life and the spark is missing.

I absolutely adored this charming, vibrant romance that asks does love choose us or do we choose love? I loved that it was set in NYC, the Jewish rep, the influences form the author’s own life and that it was written during the pandemic. I couldn’t put it down; it’s definitely a book you could read in one sitting. There was so much to keep you interested - fashion, travel, politics, music and at it’s heart - fate, love, family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & atria books for the advanced copy!

I loved this book so much and have been thinking it love after I finished it. ♥️
A story about love, family, and free will. Below are some of the main highlights for me from the book:
The main character Edie is a successful stylist who loves her job!
The family dynamic and relationships between Edie and her sister, mother, grandmother, & extended family.
The Jewish representation including the traditions and food.
The reminder that it’s important to listen to your heart but more so to follow it.
Written during the pandemic, Hannah wanted to write about the New York City she loved and missed while the city was quiet and shut down. The vibrance, life, and love of the city is detailed so beautifully.
The meaningful authors notes and dedications to her grandparents. Noted as her inspiration for the book. Probably my favorite part ♥️
Just the right amount of magic

This is cute. I consider it a lighter romance, even though the heroine goes through some heavy things. The downside is that I felt like the author spent so much time on relationships that weren’t endgame (82% and she was still mentioning her ex, Jonah, and how amazing their love was) and then spent very little time on the relationship that was. That was frustrating.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Edie's grandmother can predict the day you will meet your soulmate. When Edie's day finally arrives, she begins to struggle with how much of her life should be left up to fate.

Review: I honestly could not put this book down! This is not your typical romance novel—personally I think it reads more like women’s fiction despite the heavy romantic elements. The first half of the novel had me eagerly wondering which direction the story was going to take (there were three different possibilities that I saw and I loved the unpredictability). Then the second half of the story had me completely wrapped up in emotion. I really connected with the main character and her predicament, and we are absolutely nothing alike (Edie is a stylist and I’m a chronic sweatpants wearer whose mascara always seems to be expired), which I think is a reflection of the author’s skill as a writer. I did want a touch more from the ending. The whole time I was anticipating a twist that never came. It also felt a little abrupt and I wasn’t quite ready to let this story go. Despite that, I enjoyed getting to the end so much it remains a recent favorite. Highly recommend!!!

Overall, an out-of-the-box love story that’s hard to put down.

I was so smitten with this premise, I can’t express how excited I was when Netgalley allowed me an advanced copy. I love romances, especially those with a splash of magic or fantasy. It was a great story, and the characters were interesting- especially Gloria and Edie. It’s got a good flow to the story, and there’s a lot to love… but I found that I couldn’t fully invest myself here. I kept getting distracted. It’s sad, because I so wanted to love this book.

There’s nothing truly wrong with it to point my finger at. Edie’s a great character, if a bit fixated on fate. I mean, who drops a relationship with a guy she obviously cares about because of a date her grandmother predicted? Why start that relationship at all? (Yes, I know that’s not terribly fair… is she supposed to be single until her late twenties?) Still, part of me hated her for that, and for wanting her new relationship to have that level of perfection from day one. Theo was… interesting. I liked that he was constantly honest about his views whether he thought Edie would like it or not. I also like that when she explained their fate to him, he didn’t completely freak out. I just couldn’t get into their relationship. Bennett was a favorite character of mine- straight-laced, overachiever on steroids that can still let himself stop if need be. I loved how he gave his time to the wedding planning as Max’s best man and made himself available to Edie who was her sister’s maid of honor. That said, I never saw them as being a couple- and not just due to both of them being in a relationship when they met. Maybe it’s just me… but I wasn’t feeling it.

For me, this was a three star book- it was good, but forgettable.

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there’s drinking, language and sexual content. While none of it is over-the-top it’s still safe to say that this was meant for readers ages 18 and over.


I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

The book is out now, is it on your TBR? Let me know your thoughts!

What a cute book! It not going the way Edie thought it'd be was perfect. Love is not always what it seems to be. I also love that everyone had a vision of them meeting the love of their life and when exactly itd happen. What if that happened in real life. I give it a 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book was intriguing, Edie’s grandmother has a gift of knowing the exact date her family members will meet the love of their life.

I felt this story leaned more towards Edie’s family relationships and her career. I enjoyed hearing about her family’s traditions and the relationship with her grandma. However, the romance in this book fell flat for me as it felt too forced and rushed.

3.5 stars!

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein is a romance about fated love and what happens when your destiny might not be what’s best for you. I was thoroughly intrigued by the concept of this novel: What if all your life you knew the day you’d meet your soulmate? And while I thought this would be a fairly straightforward romance, I was surprised to find I wasn’t sure which direction it would ultimately take.

I’m having a harder time reviewing Meant to Be Mine because while there were things I really enjoyed, there were also aspects that bugged me. Things I won’t be able to share if I’m avoiding spoilers. I was so torn, I even had to sleep on my rating, which never happens for me. So I’ll be breaking this one down into what I liked and what I didn’t—as best as I can without spoilers.

What worked:

Orenstein is a compelling writer. She drew me into the story and I actually read the bulk of this book in one sitting. I was invested and intrigued with the possibilities of the storyline. Would Edie meet her soulmate? Would it be an instant connection? What happens if her “day” arrives and no one piques her interest? Is Edie so insecure she can’t be happy alone? I honestly didn’t know which path I wanted Orenstein to take.

I adored the setting of New York. It’s very reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City—with less sex. Edie is a stylist, so her passion is fashion, much like Carrie, but Orenstein does a good job of not overwhelming the reader with it. As a reader who has no clue about fashion, I enjoyed the scenes of Edie working.

I enjoyed all the side characters, as well. Edie’s date-predicting grandmother Gloria is a hoot! Everyone should have a grandmother like her. And Edie’s relationship with her is sweet. Edie’s twin sister Rae, whose soulmate date was over ten years ago and is now preparing to marry her match, provides the ultimate goal for Edie. And Edie’s various friends and acquaintances all make distinct impressions.

Edie is from a Jewish family and experiencing their family traditions was one of my favorite parts of the book, as well. There’s even a recipe for Gloria’s Matzo Ball Soup included at the end!

Now, what didn’t work for me:

Edie frustrated me several times throughout the book. I wanted her to be more confident, even just consider the possibility that she didn’t need a soulmate to be happy. Yes, I know this is primarily a romance, but she was so dependent on not being alone, it was often off-putting.

There were so many directions this date-predicting magic could have taken, but didn’t. I so wanted there to be a big twist or surprise. It’s what kept me reading furiously, and while this romance does have a few twists, they’re not what I was hoping for.

One of the threads of the story is Edie’s ex Jonah, who she broke up with recently so she could be free to meet someone on her soulmate date. She talks about how happy she was with him, how in love they were, but I never felt like I knew him. And knowing she was happy and just walked away from it made me a little angry at her, to be honest. I kind of felt like she didn’t deserve to be happy if she was and just threw it away.

I was satisfied with the outcome of the story, but I wanted more build-up, more time spent with the conclusion.

Overall, Meant to Be Mine was a fun read, I was invested in the story, but it left me wanting more as I imagined the different (and more preferable) routes I wished it’d taken. I would be happy to read another book by the author, however, who had me dreaming of New York again.

I enjoyed Orenstein's latest but not as much as her others. I felt like the pacing was off in Meant to Be Mine and spent a lot of time on pieces of the story that didn't move the plot along, there was a lot of dead space. Sometimes I didn't fully understand the main character's thoughts/opinions which kept me from connecting with her. The ending was incredibly rushed and I would've liked to see that fleshed out more so the reader could be further invested.

I think I'm just never going to be able to get into her writing. Her books just keep on falling flat for me. It was extremely disappointing.

Edie’s love life is all planned out thanks to her Grandmother Gloria’s premonition. Gloria has been able to predict the exact date her family will meet “the one”. Edie has been living her life according to that date even so much as to break up with her boyfriend in preparation for her date. But how much is she willing to sacrifice in order to make it work?

I enjoyed this charming book and the characters as well. I loved learning about the Jewish culture and family traditions. I also loved the New York setting, and learning about Edie’s job as a New York Stylist! Such a fun quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my review. Book is out 6/7/22!

Do you believe in fate?? This is the question Edie has had to ponder all of her life. In her family, Jewish matriarch Gloria has a reputation for being able to predict the day someone will meet the person who will be their perfect match.

Knowing she's destined to meet this mysterious person, Edie breaks up with a man she's in love with, trying to make herself available for the one who's her 'destiny.' As someone who doesn't hold a lot of faith in this kind of thinking, I really struggled with Edie's decisions. Especially when the man she meets on the so-called day of destiny turns out not to be a perfect fit, despite her best efforts to make it so.

What I did love about this closed door romance was the heartwarming Jewish family, the friendships and the nuanced way the author tackles the question of destiny versus choice and the benefits of being with a partner who shares your values/religion/beliefs. Personally I wanted to shake Edie throughout most of the book but I was happy with how the ending turned out in the end. Much thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of Meant To Be Mine!

I absolutely loved my time reading this one! I loved the setting of NYC throughout the duration of the novel. And Gloria. Gloria was such an amazing character and made me miss my grandmother who passed a few years ago.

This was such a fun and sweet rom com that I highly recommend to anyone wanting a light hearted read that showcases fate, love, and the perfect timing.

Happy release day to this beauty! Highly recommend to everyone!