Emily Giffin's newest book is loosely based on the life of JFK Jr. and Carolyn. Joe Kingsley is from a famous family and has grown up in the spotlight carrying on his family's legacy. Cate grew up poor with a single-parent. Her mom re-married an abusive husband and Cate struggles to hide her family's secrets. She is discovered for her looks and starts modeling as a way out of her home. Joe and Cate meet and have instant chemistry. Cate struggles to hide her anxiety and family secrets from Joe and the spotlight that dating him brings. She fears that she isn't good enough for him.

This book is written in 2 POV Joe and Cate’s. It was so captivating that I got through this book fairly quickly because I needed to know what was happening. Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors so I expected this book to be exciting and good, she did not disappoint.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley. Giffin delivers again! I recognized the Kingsley-Kennedy connection in the very first chapter. It's a light, fun, can't-put-it-down, wildly entertaining book. I would have given it five stars, except I found the character Berry not credible. Did John F. Kennedy Jr. have a friend like Berry? This book is chick-lit at its very best.

Meant to Be is a dream you'll wish your heart could make real. A fictionalized account of the courtship between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr., Meant to Be is sweet and sentimental without turning sappy. Retelling such a tragic tale, especially one involving someone as beloved as JKF Jr. is always risky-but Miss Giffin gives her characters Cate & Joe enough of their own personalities, backgrounds, and desires they don't rely solely on the Kennedy name. You'll race through the pages of Meant to Be even though you know how it ends- (not so fast, since Meant to Be is fiction anything is possible!), praying it turns out differently just this once. Meant to Be is a beautiful mix of what was, and what could (should) have been for two people just beginning their time together. We'll never know how John and Carolyn's lives would have turned out if they had not died (along with Carolyn's sister Lauren) in a plane crash nearly 23 years ago, but Meant to Be gives us a chance to dream, to believe-in fate, love, and destiny. The best thing about Meant to Be is it can be whatever we want-fantasy or history. If only it could be reality.

As a long-time fan of Emily Giffin it was a joy to read Meant to Be, a novel that is loosely based on JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's relationship. Privileged Joe is born into wealth and fame as the son of a premier astronaut father and fashion icon mother. His family, the Kingsleys, are dedicated to service to others and the military. Joe III, however, is a little more wayward and doesn't always meet everyone's expectations. Cate Cooper, growing up with a single mother, was never expected to amount to much-least of all a model on billboards and runways who catches the eye of the world's most eligible bachelor. Enter fate. Despite the odds, Joe is determined to prove to Cate they are meant to be. Cate, hating the spotlight, isn't sure this is the right path for her and with the Kingsley curse in the back of her mind, how can she be sure Joe is right? With well-developed characters, countless research and Giffin's imagination, Meant to Be takes readers through a storied, glitzy period of American history. Cozy up with this one and journey back to a golden era. This is Giffin at her best.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Using fictional characters, this author tells the 'what if' lives of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and 'what could have been' if they didn't die in a plane crash.

This story was beautifully written. I fell in love along with the characters. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the past of the characters so you could feel and understand the conflicts.

I was riveted on page one and finished in one day, becoming physically anxious when I was forced to stop reading to make/eat dinner. I rushed back to finish the story, barely surviving the gauntlet of emotions that came reading this story: love, anger, fear, happiness, terror, relief, excitement (in no particular order).

A must read.

If you read People Magazine or are a Page Six follower, you will absolutely adore Meant to Be. It is written in Emily Giffin's best-seller style so that even if you are not a celebrity follower, you will likely keep reading to the end. As you may have heard by now, it is a re-telling of the love story of Jeohn F. Kennedy Jr. and his love, Carolyn Bessette. Here, though, Giffin gives Cate (Carolyn) an abusive home life and lack of education the real Carolyn did not have.

Told in alternating chapters by "Joe" and "Cate", it describes the world of fashion, wealth and Paparazzi. There are also a few "must have" sex scenes which will probably offend some people. (Don't they always?)
But this love story moves along apace. There are also some minor characters that are not memorable. I'm torn between a rating of 3 and 4, so I'll split the difference at 3 1/2.

I hope, that before final publication, a correction is made to an error in geography. Cate's mother tells her that the Cherry Hills Mall is hosting a modeling contest. That would be a very long drive from Montclair, New Jersey, where Cate and her mother live. I'm certain she means the Short Hills Mall.

I appreciate receiving an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this entertaining book.

I love Emily Giffin and absolutely squealed when I received my copy of Meant to Be! Her newest novel did not disappoint. It was the perfect story to lose myself in. Like the perfect Netflix show that you binge in one afternoon. While the premise is similar to many stories that came before, she has a way with character development that connects the reader with the characters at the deepest levels. I feel in love with this story. Girl from the wrong side of the tracks reinvents herself to fit in with the popular crowd. Girl morphs from an ugly duckling to a swan and gets discovered. Girl becomes well known model, despite her stepfather trying to intervene and control the narrative. Girl meets her childhood heartthrob crush on a whim. Girl still doesn’t feel that’s she fits in and self sabotages the relationship. Despite the similarities to other stories, you will fall in love with Joe and root for Cate every step of the way! A wonderful story that is well worth the read.

I absolutely loved this book. The love story that develops between the two main characters was heart-warming. I loved the references to the failed space launch rehearsal and an American family that has had a powerful impact on society. It was a beautiful story.

This story is a modern cinderella story. It is the perfect romance story. The characters Joe and Cate are likable and compliment each other. I enjoyed that the story was told from both of the main characters' perspectives. This is a story to be read in one sitting on a lazy weekend day with a cup of tea. It is that good!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book for you! Emily Giffin is one of my absolute favorite authors and she did not disappoint. This book was great. I read it in one sitting. Could NOT Put IT Down! I felt all the emotions in this book. Happy, sad, anxious, nervous, fear, worry... and I was so absorbed into the story. I was cheering Cate and Joe on and I wanted only the best for them. I saw what Ms Giffin was laying down for them, the path that I thought they might take but I was still surprised at every page. There was so much depth to these characters. They were more than what you saw. More than what you expected! I wanted to cheer out loud for them when the good moments happened (but shhh cause my family was sleeping). I didn't want the story to end either. There were a few steamy scenes that I really didn't think were completely necessary (it's just not my thing) but they were fine and spaced out well enough. I was too young to follow the Kennedys or Princess Diana and I hadn't realized that this was modeled after them until after reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It was a wonderful read.

Thank you NetGalley for my Ebook Meant To Be by a Emily Gffin. I love this author and this book did not disappoint. If you are looking for a sweet beach read with a happy ending, this one is for you. My only negative comment is the main character, Joe, is just a little too sweet and nice. I highly recommend this book.

MEANT TO BE, BY EMILY GIFFIN
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced romance
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Minimal
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Perfect read for a beach vacation (or in my case a perfect read during a cold winter weekend). It felt a bit like a good Netflix binge - light enough for easy reading but not trashy.

On the surface, Joe and Cate are modeled after a certain elite American "royal" family. But Emily Griffin thoughtfully and imaginatively fills out their characters with friends and families, hopes and dreams, life pressures and challenges. While there were similarities to the tragic real life couple that might have implications for any iconic couple who is in the public spotlight, Cate and Joe are their own people - individually and as a team. I found myself rooting for them and concerned for them as they navigate love and romance in a world very different from my own.

The first part of the book focuses on their back story with just the right pace and details so that there is enough to care about once we get to the heart of the story early on.

Some of the fourth quarter before the epilogue used a similar strategy but felt a bit rushed. A relationship with a pivotal character who appears later in the book is resolved but I would have liked to have some more conversations and deeper insight into the character.

The epilogue included a sense of forgiveness and redemption and tied up some loose ends but I wouldn't have minded an extra chapter - or even 50 more pages to fill in some of those details more fully (maybe I just wanted to spend more time with Cate and Joe?). The author's note was worthwhile and respectful.

#MeanttoBe #NetGalley
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Eating disorder

Wow, I felt like I had an inside peak into John and Carolyn Kennedys life! I loved everything about this book, but especially the love between Joe and Cate. A wonderful read!

Cute rom com that felt all too predictable at times. At the same time, it had its good moments and I didn’t want to put it down. 3.5 stars.

This is an interesting roman a clef about one of the greatest, most legendary, American families. The author reimagines an episode in the lives of the Kennedy family. The story is narrated by young Joe “Kingsley” and Cate Cooper.

It retells their backstory and brings the reader up to the singular event that shaped their lives. This is a hard story to retell since much of the reader’s attention is captured by the actual history. I was so glad that tge author included a satisfactory epilogue.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I think reading groups will enjoy discussing and recalling this story.

Joe feels a lot of pressure to live up to his name. His grandfather was a hero in World War II, and many believe Joe’s father was a hero. His father served in the Korean War and was elected to the Senate after the war, but he left the Senate for NASA and Cape Canaveral. He was blown up when a space capsule caught fire in 1967. Joe was three. Joe felt the world wanted him to be the next Kingsley hero. He did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Cate’s father died in a car accident when she was three. Her mother was constantly trying to find a husband. Cate did not care if she was poor, she just wanted happy times with her mother. When her mother married Chip, a cop, she left home as soon as she turned 18. Chip’s verbal and physical abuse toward her mother and Cate were unbearable. Cate became a famous model and while on a photo shoot she met Joe who could not seem to get her out of his mind. When things became serious, Cate felt it best that she break their ties. Unlike him, she had no education and no family to be proud of.
This is a great book about the impact of family on lives and relationships. I loved Joe’s devotion to Cate and could sympathize with the unhealthy relationship she had with her family. Good examples of support from friends, great characters, humor and sadness as Joe and Cate work through their relationship. I really liked this book.

The similarities between JFK Jr. and Caroline Bessett were so obvious in this book. The developing relationship between the son of a famous politician and a beautiful model just turned me off completely.. The only difference was the ending of the book. I did not care for this book at all and I will not be recommending it.

Emily did it AGAIN. I have read every single book that Emily Giffin has written and this one is going up as one of my favorites. When I picked this up, I didn't know it was loosely based on JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. As I read along , the two of them came right in mind and I after I did some googling I realized that is exactly what Emily was doing. I fell in love with Cate & Joe from the start...perfection. This book was so good, can we make a movie?

Loose fictional account of JFK and Caroline Kennedy (aka Joe and Cate). I enjoyed it, but there isn't much to say about it other than it was good but felt so similar to their story that it was almost distracting. It lacked the moral quandary this author's books often pose.