⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️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.
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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.

I liked this love story. I like that it centers on the folklore of the golem for the basis of the romance. I also like that the "meet cute" is more tragic than cute but still cute in a way.

I'm not sure why I keep reading romances, they're all the same to me. Kind of boring and mostly fine.

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer is a delightful, feel-good romance that combines magic, charm, and plenty of heart. The story centers around two characters who meet in a quirky, unexpected way—thanks to a dash of magic and a dash of fate. Set against the backdrop of a whimsical and enchanting setting, the book explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the serendipity of life.

Meltzer’s writing is warm and engaging, with a great balance of humor and emotional depth. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their journey together is both entertaining and heartwarming. The magical elements add a unique and fun twist to the classic romantic meet-cute trope.

Overall, Magical Meet Cute is a charming, lighthearted read perfect for fans of romantic comedies with a touch of whimsy. It’s an enchanting story that will leave you smiling and filled with warmth.

It’s not everyday you see a book where someone seems to make a golem for their heartache. But that’s the premise of this book, and it was adorable. Of course, there’s more to it than that, but you’ll need to read to learn more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer!

A golem as a love interest? A romance novel that touches on antisemitism? Love it, this was my first Jean Meltzer novel and it won't be the last.

Don’t you just love a title of a book that perfectly defines itself? A Meet-Cute. And it’s magical on top of it!! Yes, it is. But not exactly in the way we as readers would expect it. Because Faye, our main character, is a strong and resilient woman who has been through a lot. Her 10-year relationship, with only 3 months before the wedding, was broken off by her fiancé, Stuart. And she has a past that has shaped her into the person she is today. So, what is she to do? Well, readers meet her at her place where she lives and works as a talented ceramicist. She also has a dog she rescued named Hillel who is quite the loyal companion. She lives in a vibrant and diverse Jewish neighborhood that has now been attacked by racist anti-Semitic flyers and other acts of violence. So, what could possibly go wrong now? Instead of heading off to the community meeting to discuss the flyers and determine a community action plan to find who is behind these vicious attacks, she gets herself drunk on the wedding wine and creates a pottery Golem. A Golem, you ask? According to the Rabbi, a Golem is an undeveloped substance of the earth, created entirely from inanimate matter, usually clay or mud. And that is exactly what she creates and buries in her garden while drunk. “The Art of Imperfection: What a Jewitch Learned about Craft from a Golem.” The next day, still recovering from her drunken rampage in the garden, Faye rushes off on her bicycle to her friend’s place. But because she is not paying attention, Faye hits Greg with her bicycle and he ends up in the hospital with amnesia. What is Faye to do now? Could Greg be her Golem? Well, she kind of adopts him and lets him stay with her in hopes he can regain his memory. And, of course, readers wonder, will this ‘magical meet-cute’ bring these two together? And who is Greg really? Will he ever recover his memory, and if he does, what will Faye and readers discover about him? Also, will Faye ever have her happily-ever-after ending? And what about Greg – will he? “You don’t see that something doesn’t need to be perfect to be lovable.” And what about the Paper Boys who are spreading all this hate? Who is behind this hate cell? Will this mystery be solved? You didn’t think I was going to answer all these questions, did you? This is a delightful page-turner, with a little mystery and romance that will keep readers captivated, along with a recipe for magic cakes that appears absolutely delicious. It’s a story about embracing imperfections, finding love, and discovering one’s true strength. It’s a reminder that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but with courage and resilience, we can overcome anything.

After getting dumped, Faye a former lawyer flees to Woodstock New York where she opens a pottery studio. Swearing off men, Faye gets drunk one night and sculpts a legendary Jewish creature that in her opinion is the perfect male. The next day Faye meets Greg, a man with a head injury. Could Greg be the golem she sculpted.
Read this cute and quirky story to find out.
Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC.

I went in blind reading this book, knowing that I’ve enjoyed her previous books, and I had no idea what to expect. This book was heavy and quite emotional to read, and I felt like it worked well in the story line, but I had to put this book down several times to try to finish it and take breaks reading it.

I wish it ended up being a little less dense of a story, but I really liked reading this from a Jewish POV, so I could wrap my head around what people actually go through in this day and age.

If you loved the Netflix show HOT FROSTY, Jean Meltzer's MAGICAL MEET CUTE is exactly your cup of tea. While the story wasn't my favorite, it does have enough moments that hit the spot for a feel-good magical romance. I really enjoyed the exploration of the golem mythology. I'm not Jewish so I cannot say so with authority, but it seems like the representation is decent and that it adequately addresses issues of antisemitism. Nice to have this kind of Jewish representation in the romance genre.

A take-it-or-leave-it romance with a charming premise, but the magic doesn’t quite hit its mark. Sweet moments, yet nothing to really make it stand out.

Wasn't exactly what I was expecting. It was interesting, it was full of religion, and hate crimes against that religion.

This was not my normal read, but I enjoyed it enough for what it was. I had a hard time connecting with the characters at times, and because of that it took me a bit longer to get through. For the right audience I think it would be perfect.