2.5 stars. I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not Jewish, and maybe I would’ve had a different reading experience if I were. Meltzer is clearly working through some (understandably) big feelings about anti semitic attacks and their effect on Jewish communities. But the book itself is kind of underwritten. We get a whole chapter on the history of golem in Jewish traditions. There are long lists of historical attacks and atrocities. The plot is sparse in comparison, and the romance is very thin. The magical realism element was ambiguous and unnecessary.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was just so cute and fluffy. I flew through it with ease and loved the magical elements of the book. Like all her other books, Jean writes this cute meet cute romcom that checks all the boxes and had me giggling a few times at the cuteness.

Definitely a book I enjoyed and would pick up during spooky season.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Absolutely enchanting! Jean Meltzer's "MAGICAL MEET CUTE" is a captivating blend of humor and romance that sweeps readers off their feet. Faye Kaplan, a young Jewish woman on a quest for a fresh start in Woodstock, New York, takes center stage in this heartwarming tale. As she opens a pottery shop and befriends an unusual hairless dog named Hillel, Faye's journey takes an unexpected turn following an unfortunate anti-Semitic incident in her new town.

Despite the gravity of the theme, Meltzer skillfully transforms the narrative into a delightful romantic comedy. Faye, grappling with a painful past, finds herself in a whimsical situation where, after a night of revelry, she crafts a clay golem to protect Woodstock and fulfill her ideal man fantasy. The plot takes a delightful turn when she inadvertently collides with a man suffering from amnesia, fitting the criteria she had embedded into her clay creation.

While the book addresses serious issues, Meltzer maintains a delicate balance with humor and genuine emotion. Faye's quirky character, her unwavering belief that the man she collided with is her creation, and the burgeoning romance with Greg, who falls for her despite memory loss, infuse the narrative with layers of charm. The supporting character, Nelly, Faye's eccentric neighbor, brings humor to the story with her portrayal of a spirited older lady ready for some mischief.

Navigating the delicate theme of anti-Semitic sentiments, Meltzer artfully crafts a tale that remains lighthearted and entertaining. The book tackles significant subjects while maintaining an overall feel-good ambiance. Despite some character eccentricities, such as Faye's occasional outlandish behavior and Greg's swift affection, the novel remains an utterly enjoyable read.

Heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy. "MAGICAL MEET CUTE" is an enchanting narrative that seamlessly blends romance, humor, and meaningful themes, creating a truly immersive and delightful reading experience.

This one was a little out there for me. There were things I truly loved about this book, but the golem storyline—specifically when Faye engages in some sanity-questioning moves in the last half of the book—became too much. I also was thrown by the tone of the book. The book is billed as a romcom, and the title plays off that idea. However, I saw very little “com” in this book. Some very serious and dark themes are addressed here—and they should have been! But they’re not the stuff of comedy.

What I loved about the book was that, like all of Ms. Meltzer’s work, it had a ton of heart. Her writing makes me feel all the feels—it’s what I love about her. I really appreciated what the book had to say about abuse and trauma, including intergenerational trauma. There were light moments in the book that helped us recover from the darker moments. Finally, I loved Greg and Faye, even though I felt like her reality break was too much.

This book wasn’t favorite by Ms. Meltzer (few books can live up to Mr Perfect on Paper for me), but it is a very good book that I enjoyed reading.

It was like no book I ever read before. I was a cute read and I really enjoyed it. I have never read a book with a golem before and it was very interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book before publication.

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this one. The cover and title drew me in, as well as the promise of a good time (according to the synopsis). The characters were eccentric and sweet, and I could not get enough of the FMC and MMC (interacting with each other and people within the town). Some authors struggle to dig their way out of the amnesia trope, but I felt that Meltzer came out of it swinging with this one. The magical part of the story was well done and fascinating. I knew next to nothing about the Jewish experience and culture before reading this and now I’m interested in diving into the rest of Meltzer’s catalogue.

I laughed out loud, cringed, shed a few tears, and learned some good lessons from the story. As a slow burn, I was expecting a little more naughtiness toward the end, but the kisses and lack of sex on the page didn’t leave me dissatisfied.

If you want something wholesome and funny, this book needs to be on your shelf.

Magical Meet Cute is a slight departure from her other books, as Ms. Meltzer takes on a bit of Jewish folklore and fantasy. With a small town setting, this book is set up for that cozy romance feel. For me, the best parts of the books are when the author's sense of humor shines through with a little bit of slap stick humor and snappy dialogue between the two main characters. Looking forward to book number 5!

This is a timely story featuring Anti-Semitism and how it plays out in the real world...including ways that may surprise the reader if they aren't part of the Jewish community (no spoilers). Faye has had to start over, and she's overcome her share of tragedy in her life already, so when her community and store are targeted, she reaches to a little magic, molding a golem one night...and then this guy shows up! Is he a golem? Is he not? What is going on in the sleepy little town of Woodstock? And then there's the hilarious little woman next door, Nelly, who is the perfect supporting character! Meltzer doesn't usually write connected stories...but I'd still love to see more of Nelly in the future.

I've loved Jean Meltzer's other Jewish rom-coms, but this one was just awkwardly done. Every time anything remotely sexy was mentioned, it felt like the movie "Meet the Parents" where everything went wrong in the most embarrassing and awkward way possible. The story itself could have been good, but the fixation on certain body parts and the abrupt way the story would stop and then start just couldn't reel me in. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved the FMC! Freaking PERFECTION. 10/10. This was just so so good. I couldn’t get enough of it and wanted a thousand more pages of this.

When faced with an act of anti-Semitism in her close-knit community, Faye finds solace in alcohol and takes matters into her own hands by creating a golem imbued with all the qualities she desires in a companion and protector for their town. However, her world takes a surreal turn when, in a drunken accident, she collides with a man on her bike, leaving him with amnesia. As he gradually recovers, he starts displaying the very traits that Faye had instilled in her golem. Now, Faye is left questioning whether her creation has somehow come to life.

When an act of Ant-Semitism hits her small town, Faye gets good and drunk and makes herself a golem, imbuing it with everything she’d like in a man and to help defend their town. The next day she accidentally runs into a guy on her bike leaving him with amnesia. As he recovers, he begins exhibiting all the traits Faye had put into her golem, and she wonders if her golem actually came to life.

A very timely story. As a Jew, I really liked the stories of the golem and how it changed over time. I liked how Greg fell for her even when she hit him with her bike, and how he was already perfect for her. And Nelly was a hoot! I definitely recommend this story.

This was a really cute read. I have never read a book about golems so the premise really intrigued me. Faye's story was very compelling, having to start over with a new career after a failed engagement and trying to get back out there and trust people. She also identifies is a Jewitch which means she mixes magical elements with her Jewish heritage and culture. So after a scary incident she creates this golem to protect herself and her community and it starts a series of event that lets her to find her courage and confront her trauma. Greg was such a sweet character, trying to help her while also trying to find himself. And Nelly's character was a hoot, I laughed every time she appear. I really liked that they really work on their problems at the end before committing to each other.

Thank You to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Aww it’s one was so cute! The opening with trying to conjure a golem and then running into him come to life? Or did he? Who knows! Thanks for the arc