4.5/5 (rounded up)

It has been a while since I have read an Emily Giffin novel, and what a better way to get back to her than by reading Meant to Be. This is a slow-burn, women's fiction/romance story that was inspired by Giffin wanting to create a bit of a "what if" scenario with John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Caroline (thank you author's note!). I loved that the book rotated between Joe and Cate's viewpoints, and how unique each of their voices was. Even though I don't really know much about the Kennedys, I can't help but think Giffin nailed her idea for the story, and I adored her author's note at the end of the book since I had no idea going into this that it was supposed to have anything to do with the Kennedys. I tend not to see connections though, and I'm sure other readers will easily be able to pick this out.

And if you are looking for an amazing audiobook, you will find it with Meant to Be. The narrators Caroline Hewitt and Robert Petkoff felt like they were made to voice Cate and Joe, and I LOVED their narration. For this reason, I would highly recommend listening to the audio, and I thought their voices and talent brought a lot to the story and characters. To me, this felt like a very character-driven story as opposed to plot, and I really enjoyed the fact that we got to know our MCs so well. They felt like real people that I wanted to be friends with, and that is something I always love and appreciate. I definitely had tears in my eyes at the end, and even though there was one thing that I thought was pretty cheesy, I couldn't help but still love it. If you are already a Giffin fan or just want a lovely romance with a lot of depth, you will certainly want to read Meant to Be.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A young love, based loosely on the Kennedy family and the era. A woman from the wrong side of the tracks, who has been discovered and is becoming a famous model and a man from a famous family with many obligations. Is their love a once in a lifetime love?

⭐️⭐️⭐️This started out VERY slowly for me… I didn’t really become interested until 1/4 of the way through. I am a HUGE Carolyn Bessette fan (RIP) so was curious to see if it would do her justice… I think too much was changed about her life story to really compare it. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

As I was reading Meant to Be by Emily Giffin, it reminded me of the Kennedy's and specifically John Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. I know how obsessed Emily is with the Kennedy's and the British Royal family so it didn't surprise me that she created a story about a couple with a little bit of John Jr. and Carolyn in them. This story sucked me in from the beginning and I read it in two days. Emily is great at weaving a love story with many twists and turns, heartaches and deep love. She shows that despite differences and roadblocks, if it was "meant to be" then it will happen. That is the love of Joe and Cate. Great Giffin book that is well worth the read.

This was a pretty good read but it wasn't my favorite of her books. The story is highly readable and the characters are very likable. The story was just a bit fluffy for me. It will make a great beach read. If you are a fan of rom coms and you want an uplifting hopeful book this one will be a good fit for you!

Incredible! First book by this author and it won’t be my last! Loved the alternating narration, the characters, and the real-life connection to the Kennedy dynasty, I did not want this amazing tale to end. Highly highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this story. Being in my upper 30s I am only slightly familiar with the true story, so I did look up some of the facts before hand to see what liberties she took (obviously a lot). I read a lot of romance and I am used to it being a little more personal, so the writing style had a little bit of a disconnect emotionally... it felt more factual than truly pulling me into their thoughts in emotions. I could have used just a little extra emotion to fully pull me in and make it a 5 star.

I loved this book! Joe and Cate’s story was perfect and I definitely had the Kennedy vibe from the start. The characters were intriguing and the writing was flawless.

This novel, based loosely on the romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, was a real page-turner. There’s so much fascination about the life and tragic end of this couple, and this book gave us an up-close inside look at their feelings and the challenges as two people from different backgrounds trying to connect. I liked how the chapters alternated between Joe and Cate, but I felt the ending was rushed and a bit contrived. Although it was entertaining to read, I disliked the creative liberties taken with the story—it almost felt like a betrayal of sorts—especially the fake names. I wanted the story to be more realistic, not a reimagining of history, and kept wondering about what I was reading. I plan to read more nonfiction about the couple to set the story straight in my mind. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Emily Giffin is back! I've adored her work since the early days, but have been somewhat disappointed by some of her more recent efforts. But I really enjoyed this one.

Yes, this book was somewhat predictable (JFK Jr, anyone?), but you really couldn't put it down. It was a fast, light, easy summer read and the characters were worth investing in. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this one, but I didn't love it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love Emily Giffin's fascination with royalty...not only the British royals, but also the Kennedy famly, once viewed as America's royal family. In Meant To Be, she creates the fictional characters of Joe Kingsley and Cate Cooper, modeled after JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, and tells their love story.
The story is told by Joe and Kate, in alternating chapters. Joe grew up in a life of privilege and ease (although he tragically lost his father when he was 3). His family history is deep in wealth and public service and he graduates from prep school, Harvard and then NYU Law School. On the other hand, Cate's life was challenging. Raised for many years by a single mother, who eventually marries an abusive police officer and moves them to her mother's dream town (Montclair, NJ - and it really is a lovely town, btw). Her home life wasn't pleasant and she escapes as soon as she's able, dropping out of high school. Their relationship begins with a meet cute moment on the beach and their story takes off. But, with such different backgrounds, is this a relationship that can last? Will they have their fairy tale happy ending?
The book had two challenges for me. At one point, Joe describes Cate as brilliant and worldly and she does seem to have a depth of knowledge. But, that aspect wasn't really developed as their stories unfolded. The other challenge for me was that perhaps I know too much about the JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette. This knowledge, for me, was a distraction from the story. That being said, there are MANY differences between the fictional characters and the real life people, especially Ms. Bessette, and I hope this isn't distracting for others.
The ending pushed my overall rating to 4 stars and I look forward to Ms. Giffin's next novel! Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Meant To Be in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve loved every book that I’ve read by Emily Griffin, Meant To Be was no exception. Although loosely based upon the relationship of JFK jr and Carolyn: and knowing the final tragedy of them, the ending was sweet and romantic

Thank you Netgalley
For the opportunity to read Meant TO Be in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sprawling romance filled with rich history, lush writing, and powerful chemistry.. The perspectives were clear and distinct but really allowed you to get a fully realized picture and highlighted Joe and Cate's difference and also why they work together.

Surprising enough, this was my first Emily Giffin book - and I really got sucked in. I love that she loosely based it on JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessett’s story - I don’t know a whole lot about the Kennedys but this book makes me want to!

Emily wrote Joe and Cate’s story so beautifully - they came from absolute opposite backgrounds, but their relationship never felt forced or too trope-y. Their connection was raw, lovely, and heartbreaking, and that ending was so good.

This was a super celebrity romance with an almost too good to be true male MC - definitely a great summer read!

She had a poster of him on her wall in high school. From the wrong side of the tracks, Cate never thought her paths would cross with American golden boy Joseph S Kingsley III, much less fall in love with him. This summer, Emily Giffin brings readers back to a gilded moment in American in Meant to Be, a retelling of the next generation of Camelot.

Loosley, based on the romance of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessett Kennedy, Meant to Be is an against-all-odds love story set in the glitz and glamour of New York City. Despite a successful modeling career, Cate Cooper's humble New Jersey beginnings have left a chip on her shoulder. She couldn't believe it when she ran into her childhood crush Joe in her trendy NYC neighborhood. Even with her guard up, Joe was instantly smitten and pursued Cate until he broke down her walls.

They sneak around town for a while, but eventually, the power couple accepts their place on Page 6 and attends galas, benefits, and Broadway plays. Paparazzi spotted them at all the New York splashy scenes where you'd expect to see a former model and up-and-coming politician. Not without trials, the intrusion of the media and figures from Cate's past plague the couple.

Giffin's storytelling is so descriptive and world-building so strong that it seeped into the real world as I dug in my makeup stash for an old tube of Mac Ruby Woo. One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Cate's style jumps off the page. I often found myself Googling what Carolyn Bessett Kennedy wore to the Met Gala or her looks with menswear lines. Emily Giffin wrote a beautiful afterword about her inspiration for the novel.

I won't spoil the ending, but if you're in the airport trying to make a call on a book to take to the beach, you won't go wrong with Meant to Be. It's an incredible love story with deeply developed characters and a magical setting! The perfect summer read!!

This is a 3.5 ⭐️ read for me so I rounded up. I liked the book I just expected more. I liked Joe and Cate just fine. Their relationship was sweet and I loved reading about them. I guess I felt like the story, especially in the beginning, was a bit lackluster. Like who is Berry and why do we care? Her character was random and provided nothing to the storyline. She wasn’t the only one either. It just felt choppy and forced in certain parts. Like there was more written that got edited out. Luckily as the story went on it got better and went faster. I started really getting into it and then the “conflict” came about. I didn’t love that part. I am not a fan of characters making it harder on themselves. And then the big event leading up to the ending was kind of out of the blue. Not bad just not sure where it came from. Overall I did like the book I just didn’t love the book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy!!

I know a lot of people are raving about this one and it's definitely a beach read but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. I enjoyed the JFK Jr./Carolyn Bessette-inspired story but wanted more. 3.25 stars

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. While I wasn't alive during the Kennedy era, I have seen many posts that this book follows them. To me, it was a cute love story with a good ending. Quick read with good flow.

Emily Giffin’s latest novel Meant to Be is a captivating romance that is loosely inspired by the Kennedys, specifically John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. It’s the story of two people from very different worlds who are both trying to find their place in the world and, in the process, manage to find each other. Can their love overcome all the obstacles that stand in their way?

Meant to Be follows Cate and Joe. Joe, or Joseph S. Kingsley, III, comes from a family that is practically American royalty. His father was devoted to public service, first in the military, then in politics, and then in the space program, where he was tragically killed in an accident. Everyone in the country, including Joe’s mother, expects him to pick up his dad’s mantle and carry on with the Kingsley legacy. Joe doesn’t know how he feels about this and has a tendency to behave recklessly as he’s trying to figure out what he wants out of life.

Cate comes from a poor background, having spent her early years living in a tiny apartment with just her mom and a revolving door of men. Cate hates living this way and when she is a teenager, she finds her ticket out of poverty when she has the good fortune to be discovered by a modeling agency. When she meets Joe while on the beach doing a photoshoot, their attraction is instant. Cate wants to keep the relationship secret because if word gets out about her poor background, it’s all over for them since she doesn’t believe there’s a place for her in Joe’s world.

Giffin does an amazing job using Joe and his family to capture America’s obsession with the Kennedys and “Camelot” while at the same time creating a wholly fresh and engrossing love story of these two young people who just want to be together in spite of the pressures of class and society. Both Cate and Joe are just so well drawn. I loved the complicated dynamic of their relationship, the realistic angle as to whether their love is strong enough to withstand what would happen if Cate’s past were to be exposed. I was completely rapt by Cate and Joe’s story that I couldn’t put the book down and actually found myself sobbing by a huge unexpected twist at the end.

Meant to Be is a beautifully written story that will capture your heart, emotionally wreck you, and still manage to leave you feeling hopeful.

It's been a few years since I've read an Emily Giffin book and WOW do I remember now why I enjoy her writing so much! I love a good love story, but the historical fiction-esque twist in this one really pulled me in.