3.5 stars
I liked this one. I thought it was going to be more rom com. It was notify favorite Helena Hunting book. It was good though.

Loved Meet Cute! Modern day romance with plenty of sizzle and humor. Perfect contemporary romance for a spring/summer read.

"Meet Cute" tells the story of Kailyn and Daxton who meet in law school but run into each other again later in life where their initial sparks fly again. The book was of course cute (it's in the title and also, look at that cover!) but also covered some serious topics and had a rather dark main story line. The title is also slightly misleading. There is an adorable meet cute in the first chapter but then we jump several years in the future for the rest of the story line. All in all, "Meet Cute" is a warm romantic story between two lovable characters.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting: Kailyn has always been smart, but she's become more driven and focused on making partner before turning 30. She's one of the best lawyers within her area, but she's given up a lot of her personal life in pursuit of this goal. She's a major fan of a hit TV show from her teen years and she has the memorabilia collection to show for it.

Dax gave up acting and ended up finding a passion for the law. He enjoyed a more normal life while in college and law school and the years since he stopped acting. He's still recognized as the heartthrob lead after all this time. Now, he's putting in the hours to make partner in the near future and not really in the market for a relationship.

Kailyn has had some memorable run-ins with Dax, who is the object of her every teenaged fantasy. They ended up in law school together and they pushed each other to do better every step of the way, until Dax screwed her over to graduate at the top of their class. Kailyn is not pleased to run into him again years later, especially since she has to help him.

Dax is stunned to be given custody of his teenaged sister and both of them are reeling from all the changes. Dax has very different memories of their time in law school and he's grateful to have Kailyn in his corner. There was always chemistry between them, and now they have a chance to find new common ground while also addressing their past. Kailyn is a much needed support system and Dax shows her just how sweet, generous, funny, and thoughtful he can be. Getting involved romantically would be complicated, but it's hard to deny their feelings.

Meet Cute is entertaining, funny, and emotional. Helena Hunting provided banter, conflict, tension, teen drama, and heat. Ms. Hunting created a wonderful cast of characters, especially Dax's sister. Fans of Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, and Katy Regnery will enjoy Meet Cute.

Alas, Meet Cute did not click for me. Another cute cartoon-cover that seems to promise a rom-com, but this was decidedly not fun and frothy for me. The plot was all over the place and I just wanted Kailyn to be able to fan-girl over finally getting to bone her teenage crush.

Parental death, worrying about a tween hearing you have sex, and lies were the major plot-movers and those are not for me.

Also, the fact Kailyn is Daxton's sister's lawyer/advocate made me really squicked out, especially when they started having sex. Talk about a conflict of interest. Kailyn did acknowledge this conflict, which I appreciated, but it didn't stop her and Daxton from continuing to sneak around.

There is also some "not like other girls" syndrome (when Kailyn bashes a woman hitting on Daxton for having dyed-blonde hair and breast implants) and some dubious behavior by Kailyn's boss and Kailyn herself when they agree to try and entice Daxton to join their law firm.

Overall not for me. I think Helena Hunting and I just don't suit. I'm sure other readers will enjoy this one.

Meet Cute was definitely cute, funny and swoon worthy. The dynamics between Dax, his thirteen year old sister Emme, Kailyn and her best friend Holly were absolutely fabulous. Every character had so much heart and charisma.
Dax and Kailyn know one another from law school and had a fierce competitive relationship. Both strived to be the best at everything and enjoyed riling each other up. When they meet 5 years later it’s not with fond memories of their past. Not when it comes to Kailyn. She holds a grudge.

Their bantering was amazing because of the delicious and heated tension between them. I really enjoyed following Dax and his relationship with sister Emme and also with Kailyn who with every day got closer to the both of them. With Dax it was a wonderful blooming romance where they got to know a new and different side of another.
Even though it’s only my second book by Helena Hunting I can honestly say her books make me feel good and I just enjoy the story for what it is. A wonderful break from real life.

4 Fangirl Stars

DNF @ 51%

I know! I already hit the halfway point so why DNF? This book turned out to be different than what I was expecting it to be. I’m pretty sure that people will love this book by the early reviews that are already out there. However, I don’t even care to see how this ends.

From this freakin’ stunning cover I expected a rom-com. I was expecting something funny and lighthearted. However, what I got was something very sad. The characters are dealing with the loss of parents and custody battles. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing wrong with that. I just didn’t expect for this to be a heavy novel.

Along with it being a heavy novel, our characters turned out to be quite bland. I can’t really recall anything interesting about either Dax or Kailyn. I didn’t feel any chemistry and I felt both of their POV’s to be boring.

Like I said before, I know a lot of people are going to love this book. Just personally it wasn’t for me or even what I thought I was getting because of the cover.

Oh this book. This big beautiful adorable book.

It's so funny when I read books from Helena outside of her Pucked series. I love them all tons. But nothing ever seems to beat out that crew for me.

But oh man. I honestly think this one did.
I could not put it down (shocker I'm sure haha)
But it just pulled me so thoroughly from the start, and I was just so wrapped up in these characters.

This book was just a beautiful story. It had all the silliness and fun that a typical Helena book has. But that serious and caring undertone was also there. And it all just worked so well as one cohesive piece.
It made me laugh, and pulled at my heart strings. It left me guessing and pondering. And it made me ridiculously happy.
There were so many adorable parts that just made me smile and giggle. And the chemistry between all the characters just sucks you into the story itself too. The way they interact and lead the story down its path.
And the way the "big baddie" in this one causes havoc and mayhem around them. I really liked how Helena went about that part of the story. and it had my super spidy powers working overtime trying to put all the clues together.

So it's no surprise the biggest part for me was the characters. Dax and Kailyn are this adorable and strange team that bring so much tension and romance to the story. And honesty each had ways to do the unexpected. They were both very strong characters and were written to be so dynamic and interesting.
Kailyn was such a fierce female. She took charge of her job and her heart. And the compassion that she showed over the entire book warmed my heart so much. No matter the tragedy or hard times that got thrown at her she used it and found a passion from those things. and it shaped her to be some kind and caring.

And Daxton. Oh Daxton. He just pulled put all the stops.
We get this initial impression of him. And I mean. Why not? With his previous career choice and the way he presents himself... It all fits.
But then we really get to know him and see so many more sides. and just gahhh! He's so unexpected. And such a beautiful fictional soul.
And like Kailyn. Hes broken in some ways. And those ways just make him all the more stronger and relaly bring out the type of person he really is.

And then there is Emme.
This poor girl. She faces what no 13 year old should. And yet while there are road blocks. She picks herself up. And learns to create her new normal. She is such a. Strong light in not only Dax's life. But even on Kailyns too.
And I love the part she plays in this book.
Because when it comes down to it. This book is as much her story with her brother and fighting for herself, as it is between Dax and Kailyn.

I love the dynamic between the 3. And I just want to hug them all after reading this.
It just had a way of making me so completely happy and created so many feels. And maybe it's just the sleepless nights the last 2 days while I was reading or what. But I'm so blissed out after this one.

And it is by far at the top of my favorites list.

I give MEET CUTE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh, I absolutely loved this book! As usual Helena wrote a book that I could not put down. I loved the dialogue between the characters. It was real and organic, flowing beautifully from page to page. The chemistry was fun to read and watch it build as the story went on.

Definitely recommend and I am already counting down the days until the next book!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Kailyn Flowers is a huge "It's My Life" fangirl and when she happens to be in law school with the former lead actor of the series, she not only meets her biggest crush, she embarrasses herself not once, but twice. How will he ever pay her any attention after those encounters?! She figures she never has a chance and after an incident in law school, she really never wants to see him again. But fate has a different idea and unfortunately, the reasons she is seeing him again are less than happy.

Daxton Hughes felt very similarly about Kailyn as she did about him in law school, but he never got around to doing anything about it. Now eight years later, he sees her again when his parents choose her to set up a trust for his younger sister. After the trust is set-up, Dax ends up back in Kailyn's office under the worst possible circumstances. His parents have died tragically and he is left custody of his thirteen year old sister, Emme. But he's got a fight on his hands because his Aunt Linda feels she's the one who should be caring for the teen, not Dax.

When it's clear Aunt Linda is going to fight Dax with everything she's got, Kailyn ends up more involved in the situation than she could have ever imagined. Is there a way for everyone to win in this situation while making sure that the focus is kept on Emme?

"Meet Cute" is a book that is filled with much more than romantic interludes and sweet nothings. There is angst, there is emotion and there is growth. Every single character in this book goes through quite a transformation from beginning to end. Helena Hunting has taken us on quite the journey and I was very happy to be along for the ride.

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Cute was a great quick read. I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this story but I was drawn in by the characters from page 1. The flashback which starts the story nicely sets up the main characters and their conflict from a misunderstanding. I laughed out loud at parts and other parts really tug at your heart strings.
I loved this story and was sad when it ended.
I'd love a sequel which goes into Felix's story or even Holly's.

Helena Hunting is one of my go to authors; when I need a story to life my spirits, to find a happily ever after and to make me laugh several times out loud.
Daxton and Kailyn are adorable together; and their meet cute was perfect. What person doesn't dream of their teenage heartthrob falling on top of them accidentally?! On a college quad...that seems to be one of my own fantasies for sure.
When Kailyn and Daxton meet years later by chance that particular spark that fueled them to compete all throughout law school is still there but Kailyn can never forget what Daxton did to her during finals senior year...and she definitely can't forgive him. But when tragic circumstances force Kailyn to be involved with Daxton she begins to see that maybe he isn't the person she thought...
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

If you're looking for a romance novel with substance, look no further than Helena Hunting's latest: Meet Cute. Kailyn has been a dedicated fan of Daxton (Dax) Hughes, the heartthrob from her favorite teenage soap, It's My Life since she was young. She meets her TV lover in real life just as they're both beginning law school. Throughout their time in school, they maintained a friendly rivalry, but one gesture severed that relationship. When Dax and his parents come into her office looking to set up a trust for Dax's sister Emme, Kailyn and Dax have a chilly reunion. Months later, when Dax's parents die in a car accident, a surprise in the will leaves Emme in Dax's care, rather than Aunt Linda, his mother's sister. Because Kailyn has been involved in Emme's financials since the Hughes parents were alive, she's appointed as Emme's conservator. Hunting mixes in just the right blend of legal jargon, steamy romance, intergenerational friendship, and a couple cups of drama.
pinch or two of drama. Definitely a quick, satisfying read that you'll be invested in from the get-go!

This book was nigh perfect.

I have had a small Helena Hunting collection for the last few years but I could never actually get to them to read. But this one called to my soul.

The characterization was great. Kailyn was willing to put aside her prejudices of Daxton and work with him to help Emme. She was also very self-aware.

Having gone through something similar to what Dax and Emme go through in the book, Kailyn was the perfect person to add to their lives at this point.

Kailyn was understandably bitter about Dax messing up her chances at [Spoiler] and was extremely clear about it to him. She was upfront about almost everything to Dax and I think that’s super admirable.

Of course, the book has to have some drama and Helena Hunting does this so well. She makes it seamless and effortless and not overtly dramatic.

Honestly, the drama was something totally plausible. I would have done the same thing. Right down to the letter. Kailyn was well within her rights to do this. I do think that, obviously, she should have told Dax sooner rather than later, but it all worked out.

Dax was genuinely interested in her. There was hints and indications of a really cute crush from the beginning. And that was the most adorable-st thing I had ever read!

The relationship with Emme and Dax was so genuine and reminded me so much of my relationship with my siblings. Emme and Sax are simultaneously becoming daughter and father while trying to maintain brother and sister relationship. Helena Hunting does this so well. Emme rebels, as teenagers and most other people are wont to do when something traumatic happens. She was hurt and in a vulnerable spot that some people will take advantage of. In fact the villain of the story, their relation, does attempt to take advantage of Emme.

But Kailyn is honestly the best and was not willing to let her responsibility to Emme be waylaid.

The characters were so easy to love and root for. The literal Meet-Cute was movie perfect. This is one for the favorites pile.

I have read Helena Hunting's material in the past - I really enjoyed both the Clipped Wings series and the Pucked series. But this one ... there could not be more shoehorned into the first 10% of this story if the author tried. We have a former child star, a fangirl, a slap-stick attempt at a meet cute, an adversarial/competitive law school relationship that felt like it didn't fit, adoption, a car accident, orphans, trust funds, an adult sibling caring for their minor sibling ... ugh ... this was exhausting. With too many underdeveloped pieces, this felt rushed and inauthentic. It felt like characters and plot were developed via checklist instead of creatively. I would most certainly be interested in Hunting's other/future titles ... this one just really fell short for me.

I also am worried about the cover and how it will work with the ambient findability of patrons. Although these illustrated covers are apparently a thing now, in a library setting ... they only work to sell a rom-com. I think library patrons will see this cover and think rom-com. Then they will read the prologue and the first chapter and feel justified that they were able to select a rom-com from the shelf. But then chapter 2 hits and while it is a romance, it isn't really a rom-com throughout. I think this is going to leave readers frustrated, the same way that it left me.

One woman's most embarrassing moments is one man's meet cute...

Kailyn is the world's biggest "It's My Life" fangirl. So when she has not one but two embarrassing encounters with Daxton Hughes--former child star of the show and her teenage crush--on her first day of law school, she is certain that she will never stand a chance with him. Now, years later, he is walking into her office under the worst circumstances.

Dax liked Kailyn the moment he met her, and fell in love with her throughout law school. He never got an opportunity to tell her that, so he's surprised when his parents choose her to draft up the documents for his little sister's trust. However, he's soon in her office again for painful reasons: his parents just died in a horrific car accident, leaving him custody of thirteen-year-old Emme.... custody that his aunt will fight tooth and nail to have.

Meet Cute is equal parts heartbreak and fluff. All of the characters go through personal growth, while also staying true to themselves, following their hearts, and learning to heal. Emme plays a large role, more than just being the reason for Kailyn and Dax to reunite, but she doesn't steal the show from the developing romance and passion between the heroine and hero. Told in alternating point of views between Kailyn and Dax, we see both sides of the story as well as fall in love with both characters as they fall in love with each other.

Meet Cute is a heartwarming yet heartbreaking novel you don't want to miss!

I really enjoyed this book, even the lawyer speak which this book was FULL of. but that means I kind of found the title misleading. to me, it wasn't really a meet-cute at all, it was very awkward and cringe to get past the first meeting of these characters, however, I really liked the story of this couple meeting and falling in love later and that's the only issue I had, also I HATED the villain of this book. Like who does that?!?

This boo was a bit different from the Helena Hunting we typically sell in the store. However, I loved the story and the characters. I have absolutely been a fangirl just never had the chance to meet any of my crushes. So, I lived vicariously through Kailyn and Dax. Sweet story.

I am a sucker for a single hottie and his ward trope! This book was ADORABLE and such a fun, heartwarming read. It had lots of emotion and some speckles of humor, too. I really enjoyed it.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc copy of Meet Cute.
In starting off, I had never read Helena Hunting before so I didn't have a high expectation of what I was getting. I am so glad that I didn't because this book is a absolute treat. It will win you over within the first chapter. I am not a huge romance reader and found the book to be irresistible. The main characters Kailyn and Dax have great chemistry. It is hard not to like this book.