“Meant To Be” was another quick read by Emily Giffin that follows a couple who were raised totally differently as they grow up and then meet and develop their relationship. It appears to be loosely based on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s romance. I flew through the pages and was interested in how this couple from “opposite sides of the track” could make it work, especially with one of the main characters being essentially American royalty. I found myself invested in the story and finding it to be a rather cute romance. Overall, I liked this book. It certainly was a good start to kicking off the summer 2022 reading lists. 4 stars ⭐️. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy for review.

What if John Jr and Carolyn's plane wouldn't have gone down? I didn't have an issue with keeping history separated from what I was reading and the story actually helps you imagine what could have been going on between the two. Loved this one, read it quickly.

This book was amazing just like every Emily Giffin book I've read. It was definitely a take on the JFK Jr/Carolyn Bessette romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Kennedy family. Joe and Cate had amazing chemistry and Joe was such a great guy, as I imagine JFK Jr was as well. 5 stars!

I have read and enjoyed Emily Giffin's books in the past, but I had a hard time with this book as it's loosely based on the Kennedy family, in particular JFK, Jr. and is wife Carolyn Bessette. While reading, all I could keeping thinking of was John, Jr. and Carolyn rather than Joe and Cate. If you can focus more on their story and not the similarities to the Kennedys than I think you will like this book. Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

Emily Giffin is at it again with an amazing new book! I was so excited to get a copy from NetGalley to read in advance of the release.

I love starting books with no expectations aside from the familiarity of the author's name, only to be instantly propelled into the parallel lives of two young adults struggling to find their place in the world.

Joe is the son of American royalty (think the Kennedy's) trying to make his own mark. Cate is trying to escape an abusive and lonely childhood. You wouldn't expect them to ever meet, but fate disagrees and over the course of a year two people struggling with their own inner and external demons, find that love is stronger than any tabloid news story.

When I first started this book, I didn't know how it was influenced by the Kennedy family, but it didn't take long to start feeling the exact emotions Giffin was trying to portray. It was every emotion, and in some shape of form, I think everyone one of us can relate to a character or a moment in the story. I don't often cry in books, but this one had me in tears at the end as the journey of Joe and Cate finished into the last pages.

I loved the alternate points of view, the imagery, and the pull of emotions with every chapter. These weren't just characters in a book. I felt like I really knew them.

For a reader of a certain generation, this book will be nostalgic and healing in equal parts. A fictionalized version of John Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette, the main characters are sympathetic and real, sometimes annoyingly so. Honestly, it's a cliche to say it at this point, but this might be the beach read of 2022 - for women who remember those glorious glamourous late- 90s.

As usual Emily Giffin pulls your heart strings and makes you really feel like a part of the story. This one is the story of Cate and Joe, whose lives are very different but their attraction to one another is definitely pulling them together. A story that has very similar tones to John Kennedy Jr.s life story made me remember the times of Camelot and an American family that felt like royalty. As I was reading I wondered if this book would have the same tragic ending as John Jr. and Caroline's. This would be a great beach read for anyone who likes romance, with a whimsical feel of rewritten American history.

It has been years since I've read an Emily Giffin book, and man did this one hit my sweet spot. I went into it relatively blind, but quickly saw the Kennedy connection and really enjoyed reading this story.

Joe has the country's (and his family's) expectations on his shoulders. He's a golden boy, and the world is quite literally his oyster. Cate comes from an abusive home, is simply trying to get ahead in life, and his very cautious about letting people in. However, once they meet, sparks fly. Will this last?

Both Joe and Cate were protagonists I was cheering for. They were genuine people who made realistic choices. As someone old enough to remember JFK Jr and Carolyn Bassett in the 90's, I liked how Giffin got her inspiration from them, but made this story uniquely Joe and Cate's. I flew through the book, and was holding my breathe till the end.

My only critique of this book is that the secondary characters were not developed at all, and were really just in place to serve a purpose. I especially would have liked to see more of Cate with her friends. But overall, this was a really enjoyable holiday weekend read!

Meant to Be is an enchanting new novel by Emily Giffin. Giffin tells the love story of Joe and Cate, Joe and Cate were raised in completely different worlds but Giffin skillfully brings them together. Joe is famous and considered American royalty. Cate had a middle class upbringing that featured a violent step-father. Cate blossoms as a teenager and becomes a successful fashion model and eventually meets Joe. Giffin's writing is crisp and realistic and the story is told alternately by Joe and Cate. All of Giffin's characters are interesting and Meant to Be is definitely one of the most enjoyable books of the year.
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Joe Kingsley is America’s sweetheart. Losing his hero dad at a young age, Joe is constantly in the limelight and often reminded that much has been given and much is expected.

Cate Cooper has led a completely different life, pulling herself up from her bootstraps and coming into her own, she doesn’t have the right pedigree to be in the same room as Joe.

A chance encounter on the beach leaves Joe wondering what he’s missing out on. Cate, on the other hand questions everything, is she worthy of someone like Joe?

Joe and Cate will find a place in your heart as you cheer for them through thick and thin, but will their love conquer all?

Giffin’s newest novel is a Kennedyesque against all odds love story that asks the deep rooted question of what if?

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for allowing me to read this book and give an honest opinion. I was approved to read this book months ago and the similarities between John Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bissett were too much for me. I stopped reading it until this weekend when I convinced myself to just read it for the story. It was an interesting twist on a famous family and their life.

I LOVE JOE! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read

Meant to Be is a story of two people from different backgrounds with some similar situations. Neither finding their true hearts home. One they finally meet as adults they have obstacles thrown in their way, Joe is so in love that he weaves them through each one. I LOVE JOE!!! Cate must give into being happy stop looking over her shoulder for the next blow. She is worried that the next one will have Joe walking away. Their happiness comes and it’s so beautiful.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meant To Be is inspired by John Kennedy and Carolyn Bassett-Kennedy. The author writes in an authors note at the end of the book about the inspiration. I know of the couple and picked up on some similarities but this story stands on its own. It is about two people with different backgrounds forming a relationship with the added pressure of fame and expectations. The book is told from Joe’s POV and Cate’s POV. Often I got to see the same discussion from each characters POV which let me see more info their minds. I absolutely loved this book for the romance, can love conquer all, story. I’ll admit I thought of John and Carolyn throughout the book and wondered how many of the scenes were from their lives vs fiction. It added another element to an amazing book! This is the perfect escape read!

I loved this book from the very first page! I loved how easy it was to follow and the writing just flowed so nicely.

I liked how you got the characters back stories right in the beginning and how their love story grew. Joe and Cate’s love was just so genuine and pure and I truly believed that they were mean to be together.

When a book makes me feel something, and in this case lots of things, it’s almost always an immediate 5⭐️ for me. This book had me happy, sad, shocked, and almost crying by the end. It was just so great ❤️.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this though.

Overall, I loved this book so so much and I know it will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend!

I have read everything that @emilygiffin has written and I have loved everything. Her latest book, Meant to Be, is no exception! I definitely stayed up way to late reading about Joe and Cate’s relationship.

Cate has a rough childhood after the death of her father and her mother remarries an abusive man. She leaves home at the first opportunity that arises. She’s modeling on the beach when she meets Joe Kingsley- the son of the famous family. His family is American Royalty. She tries to stay away from him and his fame, but she can’t deny she has major feelings for him. The book follows their ups and downs; I just absolutely loved it.

Joe and Cate bond over their shared loss of their fathers. But Joe had a decent childhood, although one in the spotlight with family pressure to live up to his father’s name. Cate tries desperately to keep her abusive stepfather away from her life and career, although this also means she keeps her mom at an arm’s length. A big part of this book is also based on chosen family, aka friendship. I love both Berry and Elna who always looked out for their BFFs.

This story is loosely based on the relationship between JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette. I knew a little about them before reading and I’ve gone on a massive binge read about them after. It’s such a tragic story about what happened to them, but I loved their love story.

Thank you so much to @penguinrandomhouse and @emilygiffin for my gifted ARC. Meant to Be is on sale on Tuesday, May 31!

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite writers so I recognized immediately that she was drawing parallels to the main characters in the book and John F. Kennedy Jr’s life. I’ll admit that at first, I wasn’t so sure about this. Her characters are usually normal people - down to earth with interesting happenings in their life but not American royalty. Over time though, I really did come to love Joe and Cate and their story together. I especially loved Joe. Cate was always a more reserved character so I think Joe’s warmness was able to come out more in the chapters. There was a moment towards the end where I wasn’t sure I liked the direction but ultimately, I loved it and understood the choices made. This is the kind of book I’d love to talk about with others that have read it because I’m trying to avoid spoilers in my review! Definitely a strong book club selection option.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing with me an ARC of Meant to Be in exchange for my honest review.

Are some relationships simply meant to be? This book will make you think so.

In addition to the fact this is an Emily Giffin book (I have them all! 😍) the title, Meant to Be, totally grabbed me.

I am a huge lover of the "meant to be" storyline and once I read the plot- I was hooked!

Loosely inspired by the lives of beloved JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, Meant to Be is an epic love story of the two worlds of Joe Kingsley, who comes from American Royalty, and Cate Cooper, who hails from a problematic childhood but grows up to make a name for herself as a model. When they meet, it’s magical…but two people + two different worlds and a lot of outside opinions? Cue the obstacles!

Will love overcome it all? Will the ending mirror the tragedy of JFK Jr. and Carolyn?

No spoilers here. But I will say that I loved this book and devoured it in a sitting. (Then went down an internet rabbit hole reminiscing about John-John 😭)

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story is about a Kennedy-like family, the Kinglseys, starring Joe whose path crosses with Cate, a regular girl turned model. The two then become intertwined with each other and eventually fall in love. The story is told between alternating viewpoints from Joe and Cate.

The author's note at the end goes into more depth about the inspiration for the story and how the story is inspired by John Kennedy Jr and Carolyn.

I flew through this like like love story and enjoyed the historical inspiration behind it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of Emily Giffin's latest novel - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Joe Kingsley III is the descendant of American royalty and was raised with the motto of "to whom much is given, much is required. But Joe has a bit of trouble following that and he flounders a bit under the expectations of a nation. Meanwhile, Cate had a troubled childhood and escaped as soon as an opportunity presented itself - modeling. When Joe and Cate have a chance meeting, there is no denying the spark. But can two people from such different worlds make their love last?

This book is a fictionalized account of JFK Jr., and his wife Carolyn and what might have happened to their love story. In Giffin's very capable hands, you will fall into this romance tale and not want to emerge until the end. I loved the characters - a great cast of supporting ones as well! This book made you think about how we treat celebrities and what it really does to them - maybe especially those that are born into their celebrity and the expectations they must live under. It's also a story of how our past defines us and our future. Definitely add this to your TBR list!

Those who have a fascination with JFK Jr. and Carolyn Besette, or perhaps even better, those who don't know their story, will find this more interesting than I did, I'm a fan of Giffin for her storytelling and it's as strong here as ever. What didn't work for me was the plot, which is a too thinly fictionalized retelling of the romance of Kennedy and Besette, right down to the initials of their names. Besette seemed a bit of a cipher in real life and if there's an upside here, it's that Giffen has given her, in the body of Cat, more heft and a bigger back story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.. I'll be the odd one out.