I enjoy reading about cultures other than my own. However, there were so many words I did not know that I basically had to keep google open. This really took me out of the story and distracted from the characters.

I knew I had to read this once I read the synopsis. It sounded so unique.

I liked the magical realism here. I think the author did a great job with the golems and how they were relevant to the story and Jewish community. This reminded me a bit of the Hallmark movie called Made for Each Other. It has a similar premise but Magical Meet Cute has a more serious tone since it deals with anti-Semitism. I felt the author did a wonderful job handling the more serious topics. She was able to balance serious issues with humor well.

The characters were fun. I really enjoyed Faye's character a lot. I found her to be relatable and quirky. A heroine I could root for. The romance was sweet and had its romantic moments.

A unique romcom. Would recommend!

Jean has quickly become an auto-buy author for me in the genre of Jewish romance. This book was written a bit differently than her 3 prior books and I’d argue this one borders on Women’s Fiction as well. There are parts of the book where I felt the romance plot was more secondary but still a well developed love story if that makes sense.

That said the story was well written and fast paced. I was hooked quickly and the book was also quite suspenseful and full of twists and turns. I don’t want to spoil anything but there were parts I guessed at and other parts that surprised me.

Jean has managed to write a love story that’s set against the backdrop of a very serious and timely topic: antisemitism. Again, this definitely has a more serious tone than her prior romance books but I also found it to be fun and also educational. One of my favorites of the Summer so far!

Thank you MIRA and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such an interesting read!

Faye swapped her high-powered legal career for a quieter life as a potter, but things get messy when anti-Semitic flyers start appearing in her town.

Desperate for comfort, Faye decides to create a golem—a mythical protector—only to wake up to find a seriously hot guy named Greg, who checks all her boxes, mysteriously in her life.

This was a cute and quirky story! It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and it was a nice change of pace!

It’s perfect for readers who love romance stories that are a little different and care about different religions.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great read, the story of Faye and Greg. Some great characters and I liked learning more about Jewitches too.

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer is not your typical romance. Girl meets boy, girl thinks boy is a golem set to help protect her town. Thrown in some meddling neighbors, jewitch magic, and some accidental amnesia and you have this thought provoking piece of writing.

I love this new take on Jewish books. Our lead is not the most religious or traditionally knowledgeable about her faith and identity, but she uses what she knows to make deeper connections to herself and those around her. The addition of her being a Jewitch was a fascinating choice since it gave another dimension to her identity and the story. This book takes traditional Jewish folklore and traditional, then makes it modern and accessible to those unfamiliar with this culture. Romance is not the main part of this novel, but rather how these two characters grow together to become the best versions of themselves.

As a Jew myself this book was humorous, but at the same time it was a difficult read. The theme of this book is antisemitism, both surviving and experiencing it. In a politically charged climate full of antisemitism, such as one we have today, this book should be read by many. This book addresses antisemitism in a way that does not put blame, but rather seems to educate. There was such real emotion tied up in this romance that highly impacted me.

Rating: this books was a great read with humor, great friendships, and some light romance that also talks about conflicts in our real world. This book was much needed after the raising tensions involving antisemitism in our real world. The folklore and traditions surrounding what it means to be a Jewitch was also a unique way of framing this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jean Meltzer, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 20%

I’m not sure what it is about this book that’s not clicking for me, but something just isn’t working. The writing is good and the setup of the conflict and romantic action is what drew me to the book in the first place, but something is lost in translation for me. I think it has a lot to do with how the FMC talks to the MMC while he is recovering from amnesia. Granted, I don’t have a full working medical knowledge of how to treat it, but she frequently talks to him like he’s a child and that’s rubbing me the wrong way.

I might try again at some point but for right now, it’s a DNF. I read 2-3 books while trying to slough my way through this book. So that’s a sign that it’s got to go for right now.

Thank you to Jean Meltzer, MIRA and Netgalley for an advanced e-arc.

Faye used to be a lot of things... a promising artist, a lawyer, engaged and hopeful.
Now she finds herself, once again under attack. This time from antisemites who are attacking her small-town safe haven and livelihood with flyers, bricks and fear. Desperate for some semblance of peace (and drunk off left over wedding wine) she creates a golem - who happens to also represent her dream man. When a mysterious red headed stranger steps in front of her bike, Faye feels responsible to care for him. As time passes, she cannot help but wonder if her Jewitchy nature actually created her perfect Gregolem (Greg + golem) or if something else is a foot.

Like all of Jean Meltzer's books I truly enjoyed learning new things about Jewish culture and lore. Especially about the history of golems and well as Jewish witches. I realize that many Jewish people in America and around the world experience real generational trauma and fear - and that it is not a Jewish authors responsibility to create a balanced view, and it's probably because of current political events but, this one felt a little heavy handed in its presentation of Jewish victimization and the us against them mentality that is breed within the FMC. Faye is indeed a life-long victim, suffering not only from being othered through her ethnicity and religion but also by being abused by her mentally unstable mother. I just wish that her <spoiler> only non-jewish friend, hadn't ended up being the leader of a local antisemitism cell </spoiler> in her town. It felt a little like being bludgeoned by a retelling Faye's reality instead of being able to see and experience it.

What to expect: small town, forced proximity, amnesia, closed door, slow burn, black cat FMC vs cinnamon roll MMC

Representation: c-PTSD, chronic pain, Jewish/Jewitch

3.5/5 stars rounded to 4/5 stars
1/5 steam

TW/CW: toxic parental figure, physical and verbal abuse by parent, absent parent, antisemitism, vandalism, amnesia

This book will definitely appeal to readers who enjoyed Sally Thornes Angelica Frankenstein Makes her Match and those who enjoy stories that are inspired by magical realism and the "monsters" humanity creates.

This was an enjoyable read! I really liked a lot of the messages and information in this book. There were themes involving self-help and therapy, abuse, and anti-Semitism. I felt like all of the themes and the overall story flowed really well between the characters' personal struggles and the hate crimes occurring in this small community.


I do, however, think the romance fell a little flat or was maybe sort of lack-luster. I definitely think making it open-door rather than closed-door could have helped especially after we get details of what Greg wanted to do with Faye - I prefer a show me, don't just tell me romance and this tended to err on the side of tell rather than show. I also think the dynamic they had early on mixed with the unsureness of Greg's personality made it difficult to believe the love there. That didn't hurt my enjoyment of the story too much, but I felt myself constantly waiting for more that pretty much never came so that was a bummer.


The side characters were wonderful and I loved how everyone had a well developed personality! The world building overall was excellent in this regard and I'd love to visit these folks again.


I think as a story this book works really well, but as a romance it wasn't necessarily my favorite (although Greg did sound super dreamy!!)


Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

In the wake of a lengthy but failed engagement, Faye Kaplan moves to Woodstock, New York. Attempting to reclaim her peace and explore her Jewish heritage, she opens a pottery shop and `begins practicing Jewitch magic, One night after a disastrous speed dating event, Faye finds her town covered with anti-Semitic flyers. Frightened, Faye creates a clay golem, inscribing it with protective traits and everything she could want in a prospective partner. But when Faye runs over a handsome redheaded stranger (who is then diagnosed with amnesia), she begins to wonder if her desperate magic actually created a protective golem...and what her growing feelings for him might mean.

Overall, cute fast read. Not as much spice as I could have wished for, but still enjoyable. Interesting discussion of golem history, although for a "magical" premises, the explanation of Jewish magic/rituals was next to none.

3.5/5 stars

I am big fan of this author. I have liked every single book I have read by her. I was really looking forward to this one. But this was just not good. I really didn’t care about the characters. It was kind of hard to understand. I am so sad because I like this author. Just did not like this book.

This was, okay. I felt the romance to be lacking a bit - based on what I was expecting, so maybe it was just a me thing? I was hoping for more of a rom com read, as I've head Jean excels at those. This was more magic and important topics which were discussed so well, with romance sprinkled in.

I did love the dual POV to it and will read another of her works! Miranda was my fabourite character, with Greg being a close second. I also like that given the topics of the book it did feel both heavy, yet light at the same time, which is a different vibe for me.

A huge thanks to Mira & HTP for my advanced copy of Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer. I've enjoyed her romances and always learn so much about Jewish culture and religion by reading her books.

While Magical Meet Cute isn't a favorite, I still enjoyed reading it. I'm not a huge amnesia or magic storyline fan so I struggled with that aspect, but I did like how this book looked at antisemitism and PTSD. I felt like the romance was a little lacking too .

This was a quick read and I liked the dual point of view.

I absolutely loved Kissing Kosher so I was excited for this book. Then I had the privilege to see Jean Meltzer in conversation with another author at a local bookstore and I was just blown away by what an extraordinary, thought provoking, and engaging human being she is which made me extra excited to read and review this book! So yes, I love her past work and think she is an amazing person but I still am here to share an honest review!

Faye may have been deemed too much by her ex-fiancé, but she has worked really hard to find herself and her place in the world. Life is much quieter since leaving her law firm in Manhattan to find her true calling as a practicing Jewitch and potter in Woodstock. However, the events of October 7th have changed the world for Jewish people and disturbed the peace Faye has worked so hard for; Meltzer illustrates both the anti-semitism that has no place in 2024…but also the love and support from communities that counter the hate. In an exhausted world where ugliness has showed up, Jean Meltzer brings Jewish folklore to life in an enchantingly beautiful and powerful read!

I love Jean Meltzer books so much! This one did not work for me. Greg was the most annoying character. I didn’t feel this book matched the premise at all.

This was a really cute book! Jean Meltzer writes such cute romances and I love that she writes Jewish joy! This one was so funny and such a quick read

I loved Faye and her community of people-the ones who believe in her more than she believes in herself. When the town is faced with antisemitism, Fay wants to stand strong. Around that same time she accidentally hits a man, Greg, with her bike, and he has amnesia as a result. Their meet-cute is fun and their relationship evolves, but Faye struggles to believe in love, so she believes Greg isn’t real, but is a result of her Jewitch magic. This was a heartfelt read with a warm and fuzzy ending.

3.5 stars, thank you to netgalley, Jean Meltzer and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eArc.

I thought this was an inspiring romance story. It was quirky and I usually love that but I might have found this a little too much at times. I loved the magical realism and how the author showed modern day anti-Semitic in the story. It is not your typical romance story because it does focus on some heavy topics but there is some humor to break it up.

I cannot lie; this one got weird. Even though it was written by a Jewish author, the tone felt like it almost fetishized the experience of being Jewish. I am giving it 2 stars because I know that was not the author's intent. I'd genuinely like to see representation and I do appreciate that the author is writing from her heart.

I really wanted to like this book. The author is good: the writing and characters were funny.

I DNF after the first few chapters. I was expecting a spooky, paranormal romcom with a Jewish main character—cool, on board.

But I admit the trauma references and the anti-semitism took me out of the cute vibes and I didn’t want to finish. Obviously, these are real issues many (all?) Jewish people face and it may land differently for them. (I’m not Jewish, but my husband is by genetics and history, though not a practicing).

I like the “Jewitch” references and the experiences of a modern Jewish woman in paranormal romance. But the super serious side made me sad and I didn’t want to be sad when picking up this book. Might be a good fit for other readers though.