There was many aspects of this book that I really liked. I liked the MC reinventing herself by doing something she is passionate about. I love that she finds comfort in her religion and is exploring that openly. The plot of the story is fun. The main character Faye hits Greg with her bike and he hits his head causing him to have amnesia. Faye feels guilty that no one has claimed him and takes him home to nurse him back to health and hopefully figure out who he belongs to.
I felt like the Golem aspect was strange and didn’t fit well. I like a magical aspect to a story, but thought it took away from the meet cute romcom.

Sweet story blending Jewish folklore & magical elements. But beware -- A big focus of the plot is around anti-semitism acts in the FMC’s community. If anti-semitism is triggering for you, be careful reading this book.

Well-written but slow paced until the end where everything comes to a huge climax! I loved the message in the book about how you don't have to be perfect to be loved or to give love. I love the development of the characters!

I loved the mystery of who Greg (MMC) was and who was behind the anti-semitism acts! I had suspiciousness toward the discovered leader of The Paper Boys way before the mystery was solved in the book.

With the heaviness of the book, low spice/closed door/low chemistry between characters is understandable -- but I really wish there had been one spicy scene at the end.

After a troubled childhood and a traumatizing breakup Faye has finally found happiness asa ceramicist in Woodstock NY, even if she is alone. She also enjoys dabbling in Jewish magic and mysticism. Then antisemitic flyers are distributed around the town, and target her and her store making Faye feel vulnerable so one night she drinks (quite a bit) of wine and creates her own perfect man out of clay (and uses a bit of magic). When she accidentally hits a man with her bike the next day and takes him home to heal, he just seems to be too perfect - could Faye have created a golem the night she created the clay man? Did Faye create her ideal man, did he walk in front of her bike and is he now living with her?

This slow burn romance went into deeper topics than most, it touched upon Faye’s childhood trauma and also present day antisemitism. I think Jean Meltzer did a great job addressing antisemitism (not surprising, her account often addresses Jewish history and antisemitism) and I loved that the seriousness of the topic was mixed with the lightness of a romance. As for the Jewish magic and mysticism - I would love more of this in novels - it’s such a rich topic and I’m so glad Jean went there in this novel (and I am a sucker for a golem). Basically this novel will give you the romance you want but in the end you’ll learn something along the way.

Thank you to Mira Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

The main character of this novel, Faye, is a ceramic artist who survived a difficult childhood but has now established herself in small town Woodstock, NY, where she also is interested in Jewish magic and mysticism, calling herself a “Jewitch.” One morning she literally runs into a handsome guy with her bicycle - is Greg the perfect guy, albeit with amnesia - or could he be a golem come to life that she drunkenly made the night before?

This certainly was a unique plot for a slow burn romance, and it was a fun one. But the book also gets pretty deep, both about all the trauma Faye has experienced and how it has affected her, but also about antisemitism. Plenty of books deal with historical antisemitism, but few address it in the present day, so I really appreciated how this book dealt with it, especially now when antisemitism is really on the rise. But yet, the book was also a fun read which I appreciated - the way it balances the darkness with lightness. But I guess it shouldn’t surprise me because author Jean Meltzer herself does so much to spread Jewish joy and light in the world. So read this one and you can know you’ll both be getting a good story, and also reading and supporting a truly nice author.

Enjoyable and Informational - I will start by saying that I do not have extensive knowledge about jewish history. I learned a bit and researched a little more as a result of picking up this book. The various characters bring a bit of laughter and levity to the story and overall it is worth the read and am glad that I read it.

ARC Review: Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Faye Kaplan accidentally hits a handsome stranger with her bike, she doesn’t know how her world is about to change. An avid member of the Woodstock, NY Jewish community and owner of Magic Mud Pottery, Faye has been content in her solitary lifestyle.
Faye decides to take the stranger under her wing when he wakes in the hospital with amnesia. As he heals, the stranger begins to develop the traits of Faye’s dream man. Or at least, the one she wished for when she got drunk and performed a Jewitch protection ritual. Faye is torn between falling in love with the man of her dreams or believing that this mysterious stranger is born of her own magic and could have devious intentions?

Magical Meet Cute is exactly that - cute and magical! Faye is a fantastic FMC, she is dynamic and relatable and learns the important balance between strength and vulnerability. I loved the small town feeling of Woodstock, NY and the close-knit feeling of the Jewish community there. Meltzer’s discussion of how antisemitism affects reach into everyday life was conveyed with emotion, and it was clear that the anxiety and fear on the page wasn’t just fiction.

My struggles with the book came with the handsome stranger, Greg. I learned that the amnesia trope is not my cup of tea. I couldn’t find Greg attractive with no memories or personality, he seemed child-like and I got the ick in a major way.

Please check trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading, this book discusses themes of antisemitism and depicts crime/derogatory speech. There are also discussions of child abuse and disability resulting from that abuse.

Magical Meet Cute will be published August 27th 2024!

The writing in this book is excellent, and it's my own fault that I had to DNF. I didn't read the description of the book carefully enough and missed the fact that it involves amnesia. Amnesia is one of a very few romance tropes that I just can't tolerate. But already in just the short part that I read, I fell in love with the character, I thought the description of the town of Woodstock was true to life, and I loved her pottery business. Fans of this author who are unbothered by amnesia will love this!

It didn’t take me very long after starting this book to draw a connection between it and a 2023 Hallmark movie named ‘Made for Each Other’. Thankfully, because of that movie the idea of golems was not a foreign concept.

I enjoyed the characters and the setting. Probably the most well-done aspect of the story, in my opinion, was the portrayal of Jewish characters and how each one was both affected and coped with antisemitism. Jean did a wonderful job of portraying this very current topic and putting the reader (no matter their own background) into these character’s shoes.

Where I struggled was the vehicle that theme was shown through. At times it was hard for me to get into the love story part of the book. I also felt a lot of the emotions/feelings were told rather than shown, making Faye and Greg’s relationship one I couldn’t relate to in a lot of ways. I also felt a few scenes/topics could have been removed to help with pacing issues (especially experienced in the first 25-30%).

Still, it was a solid book and my first in Jewish romance. I’ll be back.

The story follows Faye, a former lawyer from
NYC who has uprooted her life, moved to the small town of Woodstock and opened her own pottery studio after being dumped by her long time fiancé. Faye considers herself to be a “Jewitch”, and one night following an anti-Semitic attack on her town she gets drunk and creates her own Golem to match what she considers to be the perfect protector….

I struggled to be drawn into this story, I made it to 18% before deciding it wasn’t for me and DNF’d. I do think it has its place for a particular audience but I didn’t fit the bill.

Although I am not Jewish and know very little about the religion/culture, I was intrigued to read a story with this background, the problem for me arose when there was a constant use of “Yiddish” terminology. It took me out of the story every time I had to google a term to understand what it meant. I also felt as though Faye was a difficult character to connect with. She clearly had suffered a lot of trauma at a young age, and the hits just kept coming, but I felt she was going to continue playing up her “victim” mentality to a fault. I thought the golem could be a fun, whimsical premise, but as soon as we met Greg I was quickly distracted by his lack of personality and primary focus on Faye’s physical attributes. I didn’t feel a spark between them and just felt I wouldn’t enjoy continuing this story.

I sincerely hope others can read and find enjoyment from this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to share my honest opinions on this ARC.

I wish this book had had a content warning for child abuse. I wasn’t prepared for that. This book is not for me.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

When Faye is dumped by her fiancée, she sells her law firm and moves to Woodstock, NY to start a pottery store. Unfortunately, a wave of antisemitism in the town causes Faye to feel unsafe, so she creates a golem with features she is attracted to, including red hair. The next day, when Faye mows down a hot red-head who gets amnesia from the accident, Faye takes him in and promises to take care of him and help him figure out who he is. He ends up staying a lot longer than expected, and the two form a bond that they both know can't be anything more than friendly for various reasons. Eventually, the antisemitic acts escalate and Greg vows to keep Faye safe at any cost.

This was my first time reading something by Jean Meltzer, and from other reviews I'd read, I thought I was really going to enjoy Magical Meet Cute. I was surprised by how many heavy topics were covered in what looks, by the cover, to be a light-hearted rom-com. There were a few funny moments, but a lot of the humor felt forced and cringy. I didn't love the book excerpts thrown in and found myself skimming a lot of the book.

I loved the setting (Woodstock is such a fun little town), Faye's back-story was interesting and complex, and Greg had big golden retriever energy - I could understand why Faye thought he wasn't a real man because the things he said were so sweet, understanding, and delightful.

The plot had a lot of potential but it didn't quite live up to the promise. I was interested enough that I'd like to go back and read Jean Meltzer's previous titles.

Thank you Harlequin for the ARC. I received on Netgalley.

The story follows Faye, who has been operating the Magical Mud Shop, a pottery store in Woodstock, where she is surrounded by wonderful, supportive friends. Faye moved to Woodstock after a traumatic breakup with her fiancé. One day, while cycling to an event, she accidentally knocks over a man who ends up with a concussion and amnesia. Feeling guilty and concerned for his well-being, she decides to invite him to stay at her home for a few days to help him recover his memory, rather than letting him end up in a shelter.

This book is more than just a romance; it delves into serious topics, such as the increase in antisemitism that Jews have been facing over the past few years. This troubling trend has escalated, making many people feel uncomfortable within their own communities, both in person and online. The book also addresses childhood trauma and its lasting impact on individuals later in life, exploring these issues with care and depth.
I particularly enjoyed the book's exploration of Jewish mysticism, especially the intriguing concept of golems, which I've always been curious about. The banter and friendship that develop between Greg and Faye throughout the story are delightful, and the elderly neighbor, Nelly, is such a wonderful character—she truly deserves her own story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it. It offers a touch of romance, a bit of magic, and plenty of humor.

2.5/5 - Felt kind of long. I really appreciated the discussion on anti-semitism, but outside of that, it just wasn’t my favorite story overall.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The description of this book sounded very interesting and I was looking forward to reading it. But then in the very first chapter, the main character mentions a trip to the Sápmi region (Northern Europe - Norway/Sweden/Finland/Russia) by using an outdated term that is considered to be derogatory by the Sami people. Clearly the author did not do enough research on this area before choosing to include it in the book. It especially didn't fit in a book where anti-semitism is a big theme. I decided to keep reading, to see if the book had any redeeming quality, but the writing was just not that good. I had to give up at 20%.

I received a digital ARC thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

As a Jewish reader I love reading Jean's books and was so excited to be granted the chance to read MMC early

Jean Meltzer conjures up another winner with Magical Meet Cute, blending humor, heart, and a dash of the supernatural in her latest delightful romantic comedy. Meltzer is a master at writing lovable, charmingly chaotic characters while keeping me laughing out loud with her banter and wit (seriously, just read that first line!) Faye's journey from heartbreak to hope is as relatable as it is hilarious, and her love story with Greg is layered, emotionally satisfying, and of course, *magical.* Meltzer incorporates timely, relevant issues into her stories in a way that still feels light and balanced, and just as with her previous novels, the heavier topics (trauma, anti-Semitism) are handled with depth, insight, and care.

DNF at 7% wow, how am I already tired of Faye mentioning her fiancé dumped her. Truly sorry but I do not want to read more and I cannot continue with the current state of my brain.

I live for Jean Meltzer's books and this one was no different. My only qualm was that I felt like the first chunk of the book was a little slow to get into. I also would have loved a smidge more romance but that's just me. But other than that the Jewish representation was incredible, the characters were important, and the heavy topics were discussed gracefully and meaningfully. I thought Faye's disability was significant as well and I liked how it translated into her art. This cast of characters was funny, entertaining, and full of heart. Shout out to Nelly for being a badass and Shulamit and Miranda for their unwavering friendship. I loved how Jean touched on many relevant and important real-world events. The anti-semitism was heavy throughout this story, but I think it was important to bring it up as well—especially as a Jewish person living in America. I loved how Greg and Faye developed and grew with each other. Their friendship was really nice to witness and I liked watching it turn into something more. Overal, I'm always here for Jean's stories. Thank you to Mira books for sending me and ARC to read and review!

This book was full of magic and heart. I quite liked The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer and was thrilled with an idea of a jewitch rom com. But this was so much more. It was a story of healing, recovery, and found family. And a splash of romance. Though, be warned, there are antisemitic acts that happen throughout, which are hard to read at times, so take care when reading this book. Overall it was lovely and I would recommend to anyone looking for a beautiful story.

Super fun supernatural romance that I wish I read in October, this feels a little too
Supernatural for the summer but nevertheless I enjoyed this one a lot !

Faye Kaplan prefers her life as a potter in Woodstock, New York to the engaged lawyer she used to be. She's missing a man in her life, but it doesn't seem to matter until she sees anti-Semitic flyers in town. Upset, Faye drunkenly creates a golem protector for her town that looks like her ideal man. The very next day, she hits a gorgeous stranger named Greg with her bike. He lost his memory, but that is exactly what she hoped for in a man. Is it a coincidence, or has her golem come to life?

Faye completely changed her life after her ex unceremoniously dumped her three months before the wedding, leaving her to tell everyone it was canceled. After an abusive childhood, this confirmed the belief she's unlovable and too much. Woodstock is a welcome harbor afterward until the flyers show up. She truly believes that she created an actual golem, as Greg seems too good to be true. He reads her books, helps her in her shop, understands her, thinks she's wonderful, and is incredibly easy on the eyes. They're attracted to each other, her friends like him, and he's protective as the dangers in town escalate. The actual threat is someone she doesn't expect, and in addition to the external dangers are the internal fears that Faye deals with. Greg has his own journey to go through, trying to regain his memory, protect Faye, and find a future. The happily ever after is earned and well-deserved, and I enjoyed the story.