"Magical Meet Cute" by Jean Meltzer offers a whimsical journey into the life of Faye Kaplan, a Jewitch potter navigating love, identity, and the consequences of her magical creations. While Meltzer's witty prose and exploration of serious themes add depth to the narrative, the fusion of romance, fantasy, and weighty topics did not resonate with me.

Set in Woodstock, New York, Faye's life takes an unexpected turn after a night of drinking leads her to create a golem, a Jewish protector against anti-Semitic attacks. When the golem transforms into Greg, Faye's dream man, after a chance encounter involving her bike, she questions the limits of her magic.

Meltzer skillfully addresses themes such as abuse, trauma, and identity, allowing for genuine character development and emotional depth in the slow-burn romance between Faye and Greg. Faye's relationships with her friends and her journey of self-discovery add layers of complexity to the story.

Known for her delightful romcom stories, I felt she tried to throw too much at me in her latest book. The inclusion of "Jewitch" practices and the exploration of anti-Semitism alongside the romance felt disjointed and detracted from the overall narrative cohesion.

Despite its flaws, Meltzer's adept writing style and exploration of complex issues make for an interesting read, although one that may require a willingness to accept its eclectic mix of genres.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc <3
I enjoyed majority of this book. I learned a lot about Jewish culture & pottery lol. Luckily my kindle was able to define certain Jewish terms too.
I felt like it could be a bit shorter, but once the plot thickened, it got interesting towards the end.

This sounds amazing, but unfortunately the formatting of this arc was unpleasant to read. No chapter breaks (or chapters in the drop down menu), and the pages themselves had no indentations for paragraphs and it was messy. HTP please fix your ebook formatting!

Magical Meet Cute is a heartwarming story of faith and resilience. Faye Kaplan is following her dream of being a ceramicist as the owner of Magical Mud Pottery in Woodstock, New York. In the wake of an anti-Semitic attack on the town, Faye finds herself sculpting a golem, a protector from Jewish folklore, to help herself feel safer. Thanks to some kosher wine, she ends up imbuing the golem with the qualities she hopes for in her perfect man along with the qualities of a good protector. The next day, a bike accident has her stepping up to take care of Greg, who is left with amnesia as a result. The more she gets to know Greg, the more suspicious Faye becomes that the magic she worked on her golem may have actually brought it to life.

Faye carries a lot of trauma from her past which colors everything she does, and it was really interesting to see this in juxtaposition with Greg, a man who cannot remember any of his past before he met Faye. Their journey shows that one's past does not have to define who they are.

Magical Meet Cute is a sweet and charming read that deals with some difficult topics, including anti-Semitism and parental abuse. I did feel like these difficult topics were approached with the appropriate gravitas, which can be a difficult balance to strike in a romance. I really enjoyed Meltzer's writing style and will definitely be looking to pick up more of her work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review!

3.5 stars, thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of Magical Meet Cute. Faye is a Jewitch potter who owns a pottery shop, After a night of drinking she creates a golem, a Jewish figure meant to protect against anti-semi attacks. What she doesn't expect is her creation to come alive in the form of her dream man who she hits with her bike. As Faye attempts to nurse Greg back to help, she starts to wonder did her magic create this?

This is not your typical romance and this deals with some heavy topics such as abuse, antisemitic attacks, and trauma. The author manages to balance out the heavy stuff with the romance, found family, and magic. As someone who is not Jewish, I enjoyed getting to learn more about it and the history behind it.

This was my first Jean Meltzer book and I really enjoyed it.
This book was a sweet fluffy romance, but also hit upon topics that were very real in the Jewish community. The way it was done was excellent and it allowed the reader who may not be able to relate, to feel like they could understand.

The magical aspects were nice, and not over the top which I enjoyed - I've read too many books where its too much and takes away from the real feel of the book.

I enjoyed the main characters and their chemistry, and found myself not wanting to put this book down.

I will for sure be reading more books by Jean in the future.

Jean Meltzer is the queen of Jewish romance. This one was cute and has a great mix of the Jewish religion and magic.


Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my second Jean Meltzer read and just like the first- I truly enjoyed it.

I loved the melding of religion with magic. I enjoyed the character development- their growth and self actualization. The conflict was heavy and upsetting- but that's real life- and that's the point! I would totally dive into a whole book or even a novella about Nelly- what a hoot!

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meh, this was okay. I wasn't overly attached to the characters or their romance. I didn't swoon heavily and kick my feet like I do when I'm super into a romance. I liked the magical witchy elements, though.

3/5 ⭐

I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who has read this author before. I have a feeling this one is going to be in the top charts and libraries will want to order a lot of additional books for lending.

This was my first read by this author so I was very excited to finally be able to read her work. I love anything relating to Halloween and magic so the title and the cover drew me in right away. This had such a good plot and it kept me hooked. The characters were so easily likable too. I cannot thank netgalley enough for this opportunity to read this book.

I love Jean Meltzer's wit!! Weaving in magic with history and real life events makes this a real MAGICAl and sexy read!

Thanks for the ARC from NetGalley.

It took me a bit to get into this book. I love the paranormal, religion has always been a thing I could not get past, but with this book it helped some. I enjoyed the plot as it got me guessing who he really was. Was he her creation or someone that just happened to be in the neighborhood.

When trying to figure out who we can be before what we are capable of become was told fairly well. With the right push Faye was able to figure out what was needed to get past her fears and imperfections. It reminded me of times when I’ve had to do the same. Finding someone you can grow with is the most amazing thing because when you can’t find the value in you that special someone will show you.

Normalizing that your family can be anyone you decide to enter your tribe is refreshing. Yes blood can be good, but for most of us that have had to learn the lesson that family is whoever we invite into our lives more than who we are born into. It’s nice to see others have the same and feel that it is ok to have our tribe be what we need for us and nothing more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital arc!

It was eye-opening for me. I learned more about Judaism, modern antisemitism, and the inter-generational trauma that Jewish people endure every day. The book also deals with harsh topics such as familial abuse. I liked how it was counterbalanced with serious, enlightening, and funny moments of putting power to words, actions, and accepting/loving your flaws. I loved how excerpts from other books were also used to demonstrate it.

I loved how it is a love story about two people finding their community and learning to love and heal themselves.

The magic and the golem aspect was so hilarious! It cracked me up! The rest of the plot was so engaging and interesting. When the plot twist was revealed, I already had a feeling of what it was! It is so satisfying when you have a hunch and you end up being correct!

You know how there are funny and crazy side characters who will help and protect their friends? Yep! That would be Nelly! Her character made me laugh so much!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magical Meet Cute" by Jean Meltzer is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and a touch of magic that will leave you enchanted from start to finish.

Faye Kaplan, a former lawyer turned potter, finds herself in the midst of chaos when her town is plastered with anti-Semitic flyers. Seeking solace in her pottery, she unknowingly summons a golem protector. But when a handsome stranger named Greg appears the next day, with a memory loss no less, Faye can't help but wonder if there's more to his arrival than meets the eye.

Meltzer weaves a charming and whimsical tale filled with witty dialogue, endearing characters, and just the right amount of magical realism. Faye's journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance is both heartwarming and entertaining, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages.

Overall "Magical Meet Cute" is a delightful read that will leave you smiling and believing in the magic of love. Whether you're a fan of romance, fantasy, or simply enjoy a well-crafted story with memorable characters, this book is sure to captivate your heart.

Jean Meltzer is a fantastic writer and I am obsessed with every book I read by her. This one did not disappoint and I am so glad I was approved to read it ahead of publication. I would definitely recommend it to my patrons at the library.

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer was an interesting read. The characters were very vibrant and fun. This book was admittedly not my favorite. I found the characters slightly annoying and just quite irritating especially the FMC. I did enjoy the "jew-witch" themes of the book. This was a quick read and it definitely is a quick read. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this for free but the copy did not alter my opinions on this book.

This book had a really solid plot. I loved the development between Greg and Faye HOWEVER I wish there was more development of the story after Greg’s memory came back. I almost wish his memory came back sooner in the book and there was more of a struggle to figure himself and his feelings for Faye out. As a Jewish woman I loved the Jewishness of the book, but found a lot of the mystical “Jew-itch” moments were dragged out and too much. The part when Faye visited the rabbi at NYU was my least favorite narrative. I wish there was more romance development and less mystical Judaism in all honesty.

Magical! Beautiful! Funny! Emotional! I couldn’t put this book down. Read it in one day. There’s so much that I loved about this story. The culture, the justice, the love…everything was so good. I need a sequel or two! Faye and Gregolem were adorable! I wish it was real and I could go to the town and engage with these interesting characters. I’d have to go see Faye to craft my own Greg and some beautiful pottery pieces. Overall the story left me feeling inspired and hopeful! Bravo Author!!

The gasp I guspt when Jean Meltzer announced this book was surpassed by the screamt I scrumpt when I saw the NetGalley approval come through. THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Jean Meltzer is so unapologetically Jewish in her writing and her characters (and in her every day life), and I love her for it. It is so, so refreshing as a Jewish reader; I do believe this is the first JeWITCH rom com I've ever seen so you can imagine how ecstatic I was. I'm not as familiar with divine feminine side of Judaism, so I was excited to not only see Faye and Greg(olem)'s love story unfold, but also learn even more about Judaism's rich history and religious and spiritual practices. It was infused in every page of this book, and I loved it.

Faye is a Jewitch potter who has sworn off men, but when her small town suffers an antisemitic attack by a far right hate group, she (drunkenly) creates a clay golem to protect them. Imagine her shock when the next day she hits a man almost identical to her clay man with her back. When he wakes up he has no memory of who he is, and Faye can't help but wonder -- did she bring a golem to life?

I loved everything about this book. It boldly addresses antisemitism - how Jews move about the world on a daily basis, how they respond in different ways to attacks, the pursuit of a feeling of safety and security in a world that is anything but for Jews. I loved Faye's unapologetic embrace of her spirituality and heritage, and how supportive Greg was through it all. I loved Faye's friends and fellow towns people. I loved that this book was part romance, part suspense and mystery. and part educational on Jews, Judaism, and antisemitism. Also the cover -- I am obsessed!!

I cannot wait to hold this book in my hands in August, and share it with me friends. Even if you're not Jewish, I think you should give this book a chance - you never know what you'll learn!