Absolutely loved this one so much! It's always fun to read books outside my own religion and culture and this felt like it was beautifully written. Enough knowledge was sprinkled in that it didn't feel like a lecture but instead like I was learning fun little tidbits alongside the story. It felt whole, which was nice. Jean Meltzer wove a tale of love and magic so well, it felt like I'd known these characters forever and not just from page one.

I know the book revolved around some heavy topics that I'm not so well-versed in but it didn't feel like I was outside the story. I was learning as well as enjoying the tale. I did find the chemistry between some of the characters a bit lacking but it was a thoroughly magical story filled with Jewish folklore, history and so much representation it's wonderful!

Another excellent read by the always delightful Jean Meltzer

Thank you to NetGalley, Jean Meltzer, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a difficult read for me. I had a hard time getting into the story with the style of writing. I'm not sure this author is for me. It has great representation in it, which is why I wanted to read it. I can see why many people love this book. Don't let my review deter you.

Magic realism, Jewish folklore…I enjoyed this author’s other novels and I do believe so many other people have,or really will, enjoy this, but this story wasn’t for me. It was a bit heavier than a rom-com and I didn’t relate to Faye, the FMC at all. I was not invested early on and I found the plot a bit difficult to hold my attention—I didn’t fly through this like a lot of romances and set it down quite often.

I don't always love magic in my rom-coms but I trust Jean Meltzer. She captures the essence of the rom-com so well with flawed and lovable characters that you root for all the way. Plus the kissing.

A Jewish witch? Is that a thing? In love with her golem? Cute story don’t love the antisemitism but cool. The paperboys is a weird name for a nazi gang too.

3.5 rating
Magical Meet Cute was sweet, heartfelt, and so much deeper than I expected. I initially went in assuming I’d get a light romance with a quirky magical twist-and while it definitely delivered on the cute, it also tackled some really heavy and important topics like antisemitism, grief, and self-worth.
Faye was such a relatable main character-flawed, funny, and trying her best to find peace in a world that keeps throwing punches. I loved watching her fall for Greg. Their dynamic was such a unique blend of weird and magical. I also really appreciated the way Jewish culture and folklore were woven throughout the story, it added so much depth without ever feeling preachy.

My only complaint is that i wished there is more focus on the romance side of the story.
Overall however, it was heartwarming and clever. Definitely one to add to your TBR if you like your romance with a side of folklore and a whole lot of heart.

Magical Meet Cute was my first book by Jean Meltzer who has been on my radar for quite some time to read because I know that she’s a force when it comes to representation of Judaism in the romance genre.

I was immediately intrigued by this new romance because of the idea that a woman creates her ideal man through clay. Who wouldn’t want that to be possible?

While Faye’s struggle to determine if she did indeed create the man of her dreams was fun throughout this story, Magical Meet Cute really became a lesson on Judaism and golems and an introduction to Jewitches which I had never heard about before. Plus, Meltzer does an amazing job of portraying past and present examples of anti-Semitism. For these reasons, this book is so educational!

The slow burn romance between Faye and Greg was cute but I struggled to get into their story because the first 50% of the book felt really slow and repetitive, reiterating that he had no memory and her struggles with her past and her mom. I felt like we needed more interaction between the two to really move the story along that just wasn’t there.

After the halfway point the story picked up with the mystery of the Paper Boys but by then I wasn’t really invested in the story and found myself skimming.

Did I think this was a cute premise for a story? Absolutely. Did I learn more than I expected? You bet. Was I wowed by the romance or execution of the story? Not really, but the writing itself is fantastic.

*I received a copy of this book, but all opinions are my own.

This is a sweet book where our heroine literally makes and then meets her match. This book also presents a light hearted view of Jewish culture, while also shining a lens on anti-semitism. This is a very timely, and needed, love story for today’s world - along with a reminder that love and kindness always wins!

An absolutely charming rom-com where the MMC isn’t just written by a woman but… maybe made by one, too? I inhaled this one over two nights and loved how close I felt to the characters. Faye is a FMC you 100% want to root for, and I loved the mental health, disability, and Jewish American representation. If you’ve ever worried that your imperfections will keep you from finding love, this is for you. I *am* taking one star off for a very important reason, though. This novel is much heavier than I anticipated, so be aware of that when going in. Much of the plot revolves around anti-Semitism + prejudice, and there’s some physical violence. I’m not taking the star off because these are poorly handled or “bad” inclusions, but because I just wish I’d had more of a heads up going in. Overall, this is a funny, charming, magical read that’ll have you debating whether you, too, should try crafting your perfect partner out of clay….or maybe that’s just me…? 😂

A cute read… less romcom then I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I loved bringing the cultural aspects of Judaism into this story & felt it was very original.

This is an amazing story. I love the world building and back story. The history involved is beautiful. The characters are so rich and inviting. I fell in love with the characters and with the Woodstock community. The plot was so multilayered and emotionally impactful. This story gave me a new perspective. The love story was so lovely. I highly recommend this book.

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer really charmed me. It’s a quirky, heartfelt romance with just a sprinkle of magical realism and a strong focus on Jewish culture. The story centers around Faye, a ceramicist who’s been through a traumatic event. In a moment of desperation, she creates a golem—a mythical protector made of clay. The next day, she runs into (literally) a man who’s lost his memory, and she starts to wonder if he might actually be the golem she brought to life.

What I loved most was how Meltzer weaves humor, heart, and Jewish spiritual traditions into the narrative. I found the concept of a “Jewitch” fascinating and refreshing. That said, I did expect a bit more actual magic, and sometimes the cultural references felt a little over the top. Still, the story had so much warmth and emotional depth, especially in how it explored trauma, healing, and love. It’s a feel-good read with a unique twist—I’m glad I picked it up.

Magical Meet Cute absolutely swept me off my feet. From the very first chapter, I was enchanted — not just by the magical premise, but by the emotional depth and rich character dynamics Jean Meltzer wove into every page.

Faye is fierce, messy, and completely lovable — a potter just trying to take back control of her life after heartbreak. But when she unknowingly brings her dream man to life during a golem ritual? That’s when the magic really begins. Greg is everything: kind, steady, a little mysterious, and so full of heart. Watching them fall for each other felt like witnessing something tender and true unfold.

Their romance is equal parts swoony and soul-deep, with moments that made me smile, tear up, and fully believe in fate. I also adored the Jewish cultural threads and how the story explored identity, purpose, and the weight of expectation — all while still feeling like a warm, comforting rom-com.

This story was whimsical, heartfelt, and full of charm. I devoured it in just a couple sittings and genuinely didn’t want it to end. If you love romance with a touch of magic and a whole lot of heart, Magical Meet Cute is one to add to your shelves immediately

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From the publisher Harlequin Trade: Faye Kaplan used to be engaged. She also used to have a successful legal practice. But she much prefers her new life as a potter in Woodstock, New York. The only thing missing is the perfect guy.

That is, until she finds her town papered with anti-Semitic flyers after yet another failed singles event at the synagogue. Desperate for comfort, Faye drunkenly turns to the only thing guaranteed to soothe her—pottery. A golem protector is just what her town needs…and adding all the little details to make him her ideal man can’t hurt, right?

When a seriously hot stranger mysteriously turns up the next day, Greg seems too good to be true—if you ignore the fact that Faye hit him with her bike. And that he subsequently lost his memory…

But otherwise, the man checks Every. Single. Box. Causing Faye to wonder if Greg’s sudden and spicy appearance might be anything but a coincidence.
*******************
My review: Faye has a lot of baggage that we find out about bit by bit. But she is an independent woman living the life she wants. I admit that taking an amnesiac stranger in is a bit off...but fiction and all. It definitely kept me reading as I waited to find out who Greg really was, I could feel his frustration.
Love the nod to witches and spells and the idea that Faye conjured Greg out of clay. A little magic is always fun. At first. It got absurd near the end and I had trouble believing that Faye really believed she created Greg.
While the book obviously is about romance, the mystery had me a little on edge. In this age of increased antisemitism it was stressful to not know enough about Greg's background or connection to the threats against Faye and the Jewish community. I worried about other characters too and Faye's fear jumped off the pages. About 3/4 through Faye's attempt to rid her life of the golem was a bit ridiculous and I skimmed some pages (and I read a lot of supernatural fiction as romance novels) but the book moved a long quickly enough. It was enough of a mystery to keep you reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publisher for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

3.5 stars - true rating
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I love Jean Meltzer! I've read all of her books so far and I end up really enjoying every single one for one reason or another. Like this book, which had a unique and unusual premise might not have grabbed me if it had been written by someone else, but I always get sucked into Jean Meltzer books and end up enjoying storylines I might not think I would. I love the Jewish folklore elements and the consistent disability rep for chronic pain. I will be eagerly awaiting her next book!

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer was such a delightful read! I loved the cozy, feel-good energy with just the right dash of magic. Meltzer has such a warm, engaging writing style—she really nails that balance between heartfelt and fun.

The romance was super cute, with great chemistry and banter that made me smile more than once. I also appreciated how the magical elements were handled—they added a whimsical twist without taking over the story. And of course, the characters had depth, which gave the whole thing more emotional weight than I expected.

It was really lovely and exactly what I needed to read. A sweet, slightly magical rom-com that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Plus, I'm always a sucker for Judaism being displayed in romance books!

DNF - I tried very hard to love this book and I just couldn't get into it or relate to the characters. After 75 pages in, I made the difficult decision to DNF.

3


Magical Meet Cute had a really sweet start. The possibly of Greg being golem, Faye sorting through her own identity and being a Jewitch etc. I enjoyed most of the storyline.

Now, what I did not enjoy was how victimy this book got and quickly. I understand that Faye had some not so great experiences, but some of the talking points were beyond self-deprecating. And then some of the self-victimizing felt insensitive to the current climate. It was a bit of a turn off.

💙Forced Proximity
💙Jewish Representation
💙Jewish Folklore
💙Scrabble
💙Chronic Pain Representation
💙Amnesia
💙Small Town Romance

This book was a 4 star read for me. It is a great blend of romance, with a hint of magical realism, first read from this author i would read another for sure

Despite the cute cover and lighthearted description, this book felt more like a mystery-drama with a pinch of romance sprinkled in. The anti-Semitism and graphic childhood abuse/trauma were heavy topics that were the focus for most of the book. Plus, I thought the idea of being attracted to a possible golem was kinda odd. Ultimately, I liked the author's other 3 books more than this one.