This was a cute read. I think the early part of the book, when Margot and Oliver are reconnecting, really shone. Later on, I began to find their will-they-won't-they a bit tiresome and I was not a fan of the ending—it didn't feel very true to the characters. But, it was generally lighthearted and a nice escapist romance. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A big thank you to Marissa at St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read *We Met Like This* by Kasie West early! I received this out of the blue and almost passed since it’s not my usual genre—but I’m so glad I gave it a chance.

Margot and Oliver’s story had me curious from the start. I kept wondering what really happened between them all those years ago, and when they re-matched… bam! I did *not* expect the twist Oliver was holding onto. It added a layer of complexity that made the story even more memorable.

Overall, a wonderful read if you're in the mood for a relatable adult rom-com with humor, heart, and a bit of mystery. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Kasie West!

It's safe to say Kasie West's first adult rom-com was a success. I absolutely adored Margot Hart and found her so relatable. Her chaos matches my chaos for sure. Watching her navigate through her late twenties and trying to find her place in the world felt like a song to my millennial heart. West also did a great job of humanizing her as well, Margot wasn't perfect but I can 100% say I was rooting for her the entire time.

The banter between Margot and Oliver was absolutely electrifying, it was so funny reading their back and forth- both of them quite sarcastic and witty. I loved that they seemed to have been orbiting each other for years as well. The 'second chance' after a horrible first date component was so fun to read!

If you are looking for a sloooow burn romance, with the wittiest of banter- I would highly recommend reading We Met Like This.

This was my first Kasie West read but will definitely not be my last! Overall I thought this was a cute story. I love a second chance romance, and this was equally sweet and steamy. I really, really loved Oliver and his story, but I was frustrated by their conflict. It felt a little predictable so having to wait so long for the reveal and resolution wasn't my favorite, but overall I loved Margot and Oliver together and just wanted them to get their HEA! It was a great, quick read!

“We Met Like This” by Kasie West is a charming and heartwarming young adult romance that captures the excitement and uncertainty of first love. With relatable characters and witty dialogue, it delivers an engaging, feel-good story that’s perfect for fans of sweet, coming-of-age tales. To summarize- you will love this book!

Okay so- I don’t normally rate books three stars but this one I had a hard time rating it anything other. Kasie West is a great YA author and while I didn’t hate her first adult debut, I wouldn’t say it was great either. There were some things that I loved about it (the main characters relationship, the banter, etc.) but there were just more things that I didn’t.

One of things that I wasn’t a huge fan of was most of the story being written in text blocks to show the main characters tinder messages. It was cute at the beginning but the longer the story went on the more I felt myself not being able to fully understand what the characters were feeling. Another thing was the switching between past and present tense. It was just sort of jarring to switch between the two so constantly and took me out of the book.

I did love the banter though! I thought it was adorable but again the cons just outweighed the pros for me. I think I would give her next adult novel another chance but this one didn’t quite do it for me unfortunately.

4.5 ⭐️

this was an ABSOLUTE blast!! you don’t understand- i have loved kasie west since her debut and grew up with her romcoms throughout my preteen years, so to have her release her debut adult romance as a 20 year old myself felt so full circle 🥹 this had her classic kasie magic and the banter was top notch!! i really hope she continues in this space 💖

This author’s adult debut, We Met Like This, was every bit as witty, heartfelt, and charming as I hoped it would be! As a longtime fan of her YA romances, I was excited to see how her signature humor and lovable characters would translate into an adult novel, and she absolutely delivered.
Margot was such a relatable protagonist—quirky, hopelessly romantic, and determined to write her own love story the right way. Her resistance to dating apps made for some hilarious inner monologues, and her ongoing (and often exasperating) history with Oliver was the perfect slow-burn setup. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry kept me hooked, and I loved how their dynamic evolved from near-misses and misunderstandings to something genuinely heartfelt.
Oliver was a total golden retriever of a love interest—steady, thoughtful, and always there when Margot needed him, even when she didn’t realize it. Their contrast (her chaos, his structure) made for some great moments, and the way he supported her as she tried to build her literary agency was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
If I could make one minor change, it would be that some of the conflicts, especially surrounding Oliver’s past and his hesitations, would have been explored more deeply. I wanted a bit more emotional payoff toward the end, but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed their journey.
Overall, We Met Like This was a fun, swoony, and feel-good read, perfect for fans of smart, playful rom-coms with heart. If you love witty banter, forced proximity, and a romance that sneaks up on the characters just as much as it does the reader, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

we met like this - arc review

margot is absolutely head over heels for romance and is particular about finding the love of her life in a “meet cute” story sort of way, something worthy of the romance novels she reads and loves so much, but all of her attempts thus far have amounted to nothing. the longest standing relationship margot has had in the last three years is with oliver, a guy she always winds up rematching with on dating apps. they went on a date once and it was a disaster, so margot swears there won’t be a second date, regardless of how witty his banter is through a screen.

i loveeeeeddd this read. so quick, easy, and witty. this was such a good adult rom-com debut, and i can’t wait to see what Kasie writes next.

the details ✨
- second chance
- opposites attract
- “we’re just friends”
- messy fmc
- golden retriever mmc
rating : 4 stars

Margot Hart is an aspiring literary agent that is desperate to have her meet-cute. With much pressure from her roommate, Margot falls back into the world of dating apps. Through years of failed matched, one name stands out, Oliver, the font obsessed, programmer who she keeps matching with on the apps. Margot knows they cannot be compatible if their first date three years ago was any indication.

When Margot finally decides to take her chances with Oliver, she quickly realizes she may not be the only one stifling this relationship.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

Well, I am thoroughly impressed! I loved every second of this book. An amazing debut romance novel from YA author Kasie West! I’ll be preordering to make a forever home on my shelf!

The wittiness and angst between the two main characters had me sucked in! I couldn’t put this story down! I laughed, I gasped and punched my pillow approximately 32 times.

Listen, toothpaste will forever be sexy to me. I will be turned on anytime I squeeze toothpaste onto my brush.

I freaking love that Margot talks to herself and that the monologue is added to the book.
IT WAS SO RELATABLE!!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Saturday Books and Kasie West for the ARC and opportunity to enjoy this book!

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was fresh and interesting and I really enjoyed the characters, as well as their different personalities!

Kasie West absolutely crushed her adult debut with We Met Like This!! I was hooked on Margot and Oliver from page one, and I didn’t put the book down until I finished it. The characters are so real and relatable- I truly feel like I am a combination of Margot and Oliver- and it was impossible to not root for Margot’s success as well as her love story.

Margot’s obsession with having a meet-cute is incredibly relatable as a romance writer. And her meet-cute is PERFECT. Kicking my feet in the air and squealing perfect. I adored Oliver and his witty sense of humor and genuine kindness towards Margot. He showed up for her in a messy place in her life and it was the most touching thing.

Basically, I’m obsessed with this book and now everyone I know needs to read it. I loved the tenderness between these characters in between their banter and wicked chemistry. I loved Margot’s life as a literary agent and her real struggles there. This happily-ever-after truly felt like the perfect fit for them & I am so utterly content after reading this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

This was cute! Margot was super relatable. I figured Out the big secret somewhat early on so maybe it was just me but it kind of dragged to get to the point. My only issue with book was the formatting- there were a lot of text conversations and obviously dating app chats and it got a little difficult to discern them between chat and Margot’s inner thoughts. I would definitely pick up another book by this author!

Obsessed! I'm a longtime Kasie West fan and her adult romance debut was absolutely mesmerizing! I loved the chemistry between Margot and Oliver. The premise was unique and a delightfully messy protagonist is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance tropes. I really appreciated Margot's growth throughout this story and Oliver is a unicorn of sorts with how much he wants to get to know her. All of the dating app commentary was on point and hilarious. As a lawyer I was briefly distracted by the borderline-noncompete agreement between her and her former boss, executed in California where noncompetes are prohibited--but this is my cross to bear! All I want to do is serve as a legal expert for romance writers and sadly that's not an actual job.

If you love flirty text banter and opposites attracting, you will love this romcom. I tore right through the pages late into the night.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I devoured this one! After one failed date, hopeless romantic Margot and predictable Oliver continue to match on the apps. Continuing on and off conversation for the better part of three years, their relationship builds and they finally agree to meet again. As Margot processes the disaster of her last relationship, her need for some romance, and the loss of her career she also juggles the feelings she seems to have developed for her failed fling. Oliver has a rocky romantic past of his own, having been cheated on twice, and is cautious about starting anything new. I am all for second chance romances and cute banter, this one delivered both. 4.5 rounding up.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Margot has dreams and aspirations, and is a romantic at heart. She wants to bring romance to the world via books, and despises dating apps because swiping right is certainly not a romantic story to tell when relaying how she met someone. That isn't to say she is not on the apps - indeed she is, and keeps getting matched with the same guy, Oliver. They went on one date, had some great chemistry, but overall the date itself didn't work out. But since they keep getting matched, they stay in touch through the apps, and still have good intellectual chemistry. Then everything for Margot comes crashing down when she loses her job and things with Oliver turn sour when he questions her motives with him. But as the two get closer through her revamped career, she begins to wonder if she should look beyond compatibility lists and give app love a chance. Except, maybe the balking at more romance is not really coming from her, but from Oliver?

There is a level of relatability here, with Margot's need for a meet-cute; it certainly factored in a lot with her desires, and I desperately wished she would move on from that and let her life pan out as it may. I can't say I found Oliver likeable, particularly with his past - I feel he should have been more open about it sooner than he was. That being said, the chemistry between Margot and Oliver was believable, and I felt this was a good book about modern romance. Also, kudos to the very inviting cover!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone loves a good rom-com, and after stumbling into this debut (to the genre) author, I cannot wait to see future releases.

The voice of Kasie West hits so close to some of my favorite well-known and loved authors and I just know this novel will be a hit. From the witty banter to the jaw-on-the-floor twists in Margot’s story, I was hooked.

Put this one on your TBR and pre-order for the September pub date because you do not want to miss this gem!

Margot and Oliver have a disastrous first date after matching on a dating app - the restaurant part of the date is a bust but there is a chemistry that is undeniable. For the next 3 years they often rematch on dating apps and continue a light-hearted banter. Then Margot and Oliver connect again in person and the sparks continue to fly as Margot's business life implodes. I'm not doing this book justice - it has fun banter, slow burning romance, family drama, and self reflection and growth. I really enjoyed it and breezed through it in 2 days which is a sign of a good book!

This was somehow both cute and romantic yet also bonkers and a roller coaster. I felt that I didn't understand half the plot but the romance was cute.

Kasie West’s adult romance debut, A Cute Meet, is a charming and witty exploration of modern love, meet-cute expectations, and the unpredictable nature of true connection. With her signature humor and engaging dialogue, West crafts a fun, banter-filled romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic in every sense. She dreams of literary success, working as a romance-focused literary agent, and believes in grand, serendipitous love stories—none of which include swiping right on a shirtless dating app profile. That’s why she refuses to take Oliver seriously, despite their long-standing app banter and the undeniable chemistry they shared during their one (disastrous) date years ago. When Margot unexpectedly loses her job and is forced to start her own agency, Oliver, with his golden-retriever energy, becomes an unlikely source of support. Though they seem mismatched—he’s structured and logical, she’s all about spontaneity and passion—their relationship slowly develops into something neither of them expected.

The romance between Margot and Oliver is full of electric banter and swoon-worthy moments. Margot’s quirks, meet-cute obsession, and career ambitions make her a relatable and lovable protagonist. Oliver, on the other hand, is the perfect balance to her chaotic energy—steady, reliable, and subtly charming. Their dynamic is delightful, and the push-pull tension between them keeps things interesting.

While the story is entertaining, the final conflict—without revealing spoilers—felt somewhat rushed. The “big reveal” was a surprising twist that, in hindsight, seemed obvious, but its placement so late in the book left little room for deeper resolution. Margot handled it gracefully, but some well-earned groveling from certain characters would have made the ending feel more satisfying.

Overall, A Cute Meet is a fun, engaging romance with fantastic chemistry, lovable characters, and an inside-joke premise that romance readers will appreciate. Though the final conflict could have been handled with more depth, the journey itself is well worth the read. Fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and unexpected love stories will enjoy this book!