We Met Like This was so sweet!! Opening in the middle of a very spicy scene was a unique choice and made me worried that the rest of the book would be spice forward in favor of a real plot. BUT I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in Margot's life and how much I was rooting for everything to work out for her personal and professional life.

I really liked Margot and Oliver's relationship. There was so much fun banter, and their conversations had a specific cadence that felt like a very real couple talking to each other. And it's just nice to read about people who care for each other deeply.

This is the exact type of book that I could see becoming a comfort read that I'll revisit every few years when my goldfish brain forgets what happened.

This had a really Interesting premise and great chemistry between the main characters. The writing was very accessible, and I can see the book finding an audience with light rom-com lovers. I would have liked to have seen more groveling from the MMC and some more tension and personality.

I’ve gotta say, I really enjoyed this book. Margot works in the literary industry and is hoping to move up the ladder to become a publishing agent. She’s also hoping to find her dream guy via a meet-cute and not through the dating apps. Enter Oliver, who she had a bad first date with three years ago on an app.

I loved the banter she had with Oliver and easy rapport between them. Minor characters like her bff Sloane were fun as well. The only thing I didn’t care about was a certain ex of Oliver’s.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

10% DNF:
-Heavy family element that was unexpected based on the blurb
-Humor is not connecting for me (this is a me thing perhaps)
-Writing style is not connecting for me
-The first spicy scene I was not feeling, and that’s usually a bad sign for a romance book (In my personal opinion, I think I should have been pulled in a lot more, but I was confused, trying to figure out what was happening, and did not personally feel the heat, but other readers might really feel it!)

What I liked:
-First person POV
-Cover

I think this is a great romance book to bring to the beach and enjoy. I just do not think I am the reader for it unfortunately. I also think I am likely a bit picky when it comes to romance books.

Thank you for allowing me to read this eARC! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters had me laughing out loud most of the book. It gave me Mr. Wrong Number vibes mixed with Well, Actually. Definitely recommend!

✨3.5 stars rounded down✨

I am so excited about Kasie West branching out and writing a book that is not YA. However, I struggled with the first 20% of the book and heavily considered DNFing. I’m so glad I didn’t and kept pushing through though because it got so much better and I ended up really enjoying it.

I loved the banter between Margot and Oliver. It was so much fun and had me laughing out loud and swooning multiple times. However, I had a really hard time understanding who was speaking in the dating app scenes. I had to go back often and reread so I knew what was going on. 🫣

All in all, I enjoyed this book and I’m still happily a Kasie West fan. If she writes it, I’m going to read it.

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

We Met Like This is a heartfelt romance that quietly works its way under your skin. At the center of it is a strong emotional journey—especially for the female main character, who experiences tremendous growth throughout the book. Watching her come into her own was one of the most satisfying aspects of the story.

The male main character was a standout—steadfast, thoughtful, and exactly the kind of presence she needed. Their connection felt natural, and the romance unfolded in a way that was both emotionally grounded and deeply rewarding.

If you enjoy character-driven romances with emotional depth and satisfying development, this one is worth picking up.

This book was PHENOMENAL. I was worried the book wouldn't have the Kasie West feel to it, but I was completely wrong!

Margot, was completely relatable and had my busting at the seams with her quick wit. I don't think I have ever laughed as hard as I did reading "We Met Like This". She was unapologetically herself, even if she didn't believe in herself. Having to feel unapproved by her family, especially her perfect sister.. needing a change in her job and not sure how to ask her boss for the promotion she deserves.. and the never ending HORRIBLE pick up lines by men on dating apps. I can't get enough of this worlds.

I recommend this book 10/10!

Margot dreams of making it big as a literary agent and has a soft spot for romance novels—but real-life romance? Not so much. She has a love-hate relationship with dating apps: downloads them, gets annoyed, deletes them... repeat. One familiar face keeps popping up—Oliver, a guy she went on one painfully awkward date with three years ago, right after his breakup. But when they reconnect in person years later, their chemistry is undeniable and the banter is genuinely fun.

That said, despite a strong setup and engaging premise, the story doesn’t quite hold together. I'm sad to rate this book a 2.5, especially since the premise had promise. Unfortunately, by the halfway point, the story starts to lose its way. The pacing feels uneven, making it challenging to stay invested. While the setup and plot are intriguing, I was not fully hooked, so I won't recommend it.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book for an honest review. This is the author's first adult book. I've read many of her YA books so I wanted to read this book and it didn't disappoint. Margot is an aspiring literary agent who is looking for her big break. She loves romance books, but in her own life, she hates dating apps. She'll join apps, get frustrated, and then delete them. This goes on for years as she keeps seeing and matching with Oliver (who she had 1 date with 3 years ago that was kind of a disaster...he had just gone through a break up and their conversations were awkward). The banter and chemistry between Margot and Oliver (after they meet again years later) is really fun. Kasie West branching out of YA was a definite success.

We Met Like This follows Margot, a literary agent determined to prove she can succeed in the cutthroat world of publishing, without help from anyone, especially not from her perfectly put-together sister. But when she’s matched on a dating app with Oliver, her sister’s ex, things get awkward fast… and unexpectedly complicated.

As someone who’s read Kasie West’s YA books, I was curious to see how her style would translate to adult romance, and for the most part, it works really well. The banter is fun, the setup is clever, and the chemistry between Margot and Oliver is warm and believable. There’s a lightness to the story that makes it perfect for a weekend read, and I appreciated the behind-the-scenes glimpse into publishing life.

Some of the family drama could’ve used a bit more depth, and a few plot points wrapped up a little too neatly, but overall, this was a sweet, feel-good romance with a fun premise and a lot of heart. I’m excited to see where Kasie West goes next in adult fiction!

I've never used an app to find a mate, but it intrigues me. I enjoyed West's exploration of this dating ritual and how the main character uses it to find more than a hook-up. The story is paced perfectly, and I think West crafted flawed but likable characters. The witty texting banter was great. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

We Met Like This by Kasie West is a sweet, swoony, slightly chaotic love letter to all of us who secretly (or loudly) wish our love story started with a spilled coffee, a wrong number, or a chance encounter in an elevator — and definitely not a swipe right.

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic with an unshakable dream: finding love the old-fashioned way. Which is precisely why she is appalled when her most promising connection — steady, golden-retriever-energy Oliver Gray — is someone she met... on an app. (The horror!) But fate has other plans, and this "accidental" love story is filled with hilarious online dating disasters, slow-burn longing, and a refreshing focus on emotional connection over insta-love.

Kasie West's adult rom-com debut sparkles with charming banter and relatable messiness. Margot is the ultimate lovable hot mess: passionate, determined, deeply flawed — and therefore entirely real. Oliver? Well, he’s the guy you claim you want (kind, stable, funny) but secretly fear will bore you... until he flashes that hidden dimple and quietly wrecks your heart.

The texting scenes between Margot and Oliver are an absolute highlight: funny, flirty, and genuinely modern without feeling cringey. (Seriously, the random dating app messages from other matches had me laughing and slightly traumatized — if you know, you know.)

The pacing was great, the prose was deliciously easy to devour, and the epilogue had me grinning like I'd just gotten my own happily-ever-after.

Tropes you’ll love:
✨ Swipe Right to Love
✨ Slow-Burn Romance
✨ Golden Retriever x Hot Mess Energy
✨ Second Chances (with a side of texting banter)
✨ Meet-Cute Obsession
✨ Found Family/Supportive Friends

Huge thanks to Kasie West, St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC! I loved diving into this fresh, feel-good story and can’t wait to see what Kasie West gifts us with next.

From the very first page, it captures your heart with its warmth and natural flow. The narrative is perfectly paced, allowing the plot to unfold seamlessly without ever feeling rushed or forced. What struck me most was how believable the characters and their relationships felt; everything developed organically, drawing you deeper into the story with each turn. If you're looking for a read that leaves you smiling and thoroughly satisfied, this book is an absolute gem worth experiencing.

title: We Met Like This

author: Kasie West

publisher: St. Martin's Press; Saturday Books

publication date: September 16, 2025

pages: 368

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: name-calling, drunkenness

summary: Margot Hart has been stuck as an assistant and receptionist for a publishing agent for four years while her boss alternates between sleeping with her and telling her that they can talk about a promotion later. Meanwhile, for the past three years since their one horrible date, Margot and Oliver keep matching on the dating app. They banter on the app, joking about how even though they had physical chemistry, they were completely horrible in person. Eventually, they decide that they can use each other to help better navigate the dating apps.

tropes:

second-chance romance
perfect sister
what to do with my life
sleeping with the (unavailable) boss
fired from my job
bad first dates
heroine obsessed with romance novels

what I liked: 

humor
banter
some unexpected twists
publishing industry information
she's good at her job

what I didn’t like:

maybe she's a little too juvenile
ex-boss is too icky

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

I don’t normally give romance books over 4⭐️s because even if they are enjoyable, they are mostly forgettable. This is the exception. Absolutely delightful and funny with interesting and well-developed characters and a story I had trouble putting down. I read most of it in one sitting. A nice amount of 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - open door but not blow by blow (pun intended) - hot but still sweet.

I haven’t read any of Kasie West’s YA books. But I guarantee I’ll read any future adult romances (or other genres should she choose to go in that direction - a reference to a plot point). Margot and Oliver are interesting as individuals but their complicated relationship has dimension and isn’t forced to fit into a trope. They don’t have a lot in common but have chemistry. And Margot isn’t sure if just chemistry is enough. That description may make it seem simple but the book addresses this conflict where many just kind of gloss over it.

The complicated relationship with Margot’s sister is also interesting. As with most siblings they’ve fallen into certain “roles” in their family dynamic and Margot needs to break out of hers. Her sister is a little one-dimensional, but I also wasn’t interested in hearing more about her. Sloane was a great best friend - actually telling her when she’s doing something stupid.

The banter is top tier. Honestly, I wish there was more of their text and app conversations before (even after) they meet (again) IRL. The discussions about the dating apps were so spot on and funny, plus we learn more about how both of them approach life.

Loved it. Highly recommend.

Very cute and funny overall. I normally hate second chances, but this felt fresh. I hated Margot in the beginning, she was very selfish, and maybe that was by design. I loved Oliver immediately. I feel like Margot should have appreciated his font chatter more being in the publishing industry! Anyway, cute banter between them and Margot grew on me.

As a teen I loved a good Kasie West book, as an adult I loved this Rom-Com.
Margot is a 27 year old trying to figure out dating.
I really enjoyed the pace of the book, it dives right into it. We met the hero right away, which it made for a really fun start getting to know Margots personally and relate to her.

The banter is great, the slow burn of then getting together makes so much sense and I don’t know if it was just me but while they both had secrets , his, I didn’t figure out right up until the end.

•Complex family dynamics
•Slow burn
•Dating Apps
•Second Chance
•Friends to Lovers

Thank you NetGalley for this amazing ARC

We meet like this. This book proves that we need to give people more than one chance. A true hea sometimes getting to truly get to know someone is a real bonus