I did not finish this book. It was unrealistic and not witty banter between two extremely unloveable characters. I couldn’t force my way through it.

Y'all, Meet Cute did things to my heart. Lots of things. Now, I'll be the first to admit I totally thought this was a rom com. It's not. It has some cute and funny moments — and plenty of swoons — but it's a much deeper story than you might expect based on the cover or blurb. So while it wasn't exactly the book I thought I was getting, it was absolutely perfect.

I think I've mentioned before I have a bad (is it bad?) habit of not reading blurbs before I jump into a book, particularly when it's from an author I love. Chances are I've read the blurb at some point, probably when the book first came to my attention. But for whatever reason, I kinda like to go in blind. I did that with Meet Cute and I was pretty much wrecked early in. I did not see the situation with Dax's parents coming and it pretty much destroyed me. There were tears. And they weren't the only tears I shed while reading Meet Cute either.

Kailyn, Dax and Emme gave me all the feels. Sure, there was the delightful slow burn of the friends to enemies to friends to more romance between Kailyn and Dax. I was here for their pairing. But, there was so much more to this story. The tragedy with Dax and Emme's parents, the way his life changed when he became her guardian and everything else about that storyline made this book absolutely unputdownable. The connection Kailyn and Dax had — as well as the one that developed between her and Emme — warmed my heart. They all needed each other. It was that simple. Kailyn had her own share of tough situations growing up, so she could relate to Dax and Emme. They made quite the team.

There are so many layers to Meet Cute that I could spend forever talking about them. But, I'm not going to. It was the total package. I swooned, laughed and cried. I felt SO MUCH for these characters and everything they were going through. It was charming and heartwarming, even through the sad stuff. Kailyn was amazing. Dax was no slouch either. And Emme? Well, I just wanted to give her a hug. If you're looking for a rom com, this isn't it. But if you're in the mood for an amazing book with characters who will find their way into your heart, look no further. It's easily one of my favorite Helena Hunting books to date.

Favorite Quotes:

"Boyfriends are too much work. They want things, like time and energy."

"You know, generally when a man is close enough that I feel his breath on my face, he's looking to rip my clothes off, not my head."

Sometimes the darkest tragedies bring us the brightest lights. I'm lucky enough to have found not one, but two.

Who knew being a fangirl could lead to HEA? Kailyn meets Daxton in college in a fantastic meet cute moment. Not only is he a hot guy but he is her teenage Hollywood crush. Her fangirl moments are awkwardly adorable. Despite the heartbreaking event that brings them back into each others lives, they flourish around each other. I FLOVED THIS BOOK!! Heartwarming, tender, witty, sad, full of family (both by blood and by choice), heat, a touch of drama, and a whole lot of love. I feel all warm and happy after reading it! I almost read this in one sitting (sleep forced me to stop). I want to start at the beginning and re-read and feel it all over again! All the feels!! I received an advance copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review

4.5 Stars for this cute funy read from Helena Hunting. If you love romantic comedy Meet Cute should certainly be on your radar and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Kailyn is on a mission she is determined to make partner at the law firn where she works and when an opportunity presents itself and which also means she gets to spend time with her childhood crush she doesn’t hesitate to take on the job of convincing Dax to join the firm.
Dax a former child TV Star is now a lawyer but it’s not all about work for him because he is also the legal guardian for his teenage sister and that’s his priority but what happens when Kailyn and Dax start spending time together when she is ordered by a judge to oversee all formalities and monies spent by Dax while it’s decided if he is a fit guardian for the teenager......
I loved Dax he stole a piece of my heart with his kindness and selflessness, his sister was always his priority even when she acted like a spoiled teenager and she tried to push all his buttons. The chemistry between Kailyn and Dax was sizzling and banter was witty and it flowed but this book is not all fun and games there are some moments that will tear at your heartstrings as Dax fights to keep his sister with him. This book was an easy read with all the feels you expect in a great read.

Totally adorable.
I read this cute little book in one sitting. I couldn’t help it, it was the perfect way to spend a lazy day.

Daxton was an actor on a sitcom when he was a teenager. He had a big, passionate fan base. Kailyn was one of many to have a crush on Daxton growing up. She had his picture on her wall, she had his doll, a T-shirt with his picture, she had it all.

Then one day, Daxton and Kailyn Met. You could definitely say they had a meet cute.
They were in law school and Kailua was distracted in the park. Daxton accidentally threw a frisbee her way and round up colliding with her.
Only when he toppled her did she realize this was her childhood crush in person.

They went on to share classes in law school. Kailyn’s crush continued til the day she thought Daxton betrayed her. They were the top two in the class. They had a healthy rivalry. But she asked him to turn in her paper for her and she got the paper back saying points were deducted for turning it in late.

So, poor Kailyn’s crush ended that day. She’s felt like she misjudged him. And she’s held a bit of anger for him the last 5 years since she last saw him.

They met again when his parents set up a trust for his younger sister.
None of them could expect that they would see each other again a few months later when Daxton’s parents pass away and he gets custody of his sister.

Kailyn is assigned to assess Daxton’s right to custody when his aunt challenges him for custody.

Soon Kailyn is brought into Daxton’s life in a very serious way. She finds herself getting attached to both him and his sister.

I thought this was sweet, light and adorable.
I lucked out and got an early edition of this ebook through NetGalley. Considering I had preordered the book, you know I was excited to read it early!

I loved Meet Cute. I decided to read this one base on the cover, I love the cover for this one. I looked up what meet cute was before reading this one because I hadn't heard that phrase used before. Kailyn and Daxton do have a funny first meeting but it was a little bit of an embarrassment for Kialyn. Daxton is a former child star and Kialyn was a major fan so when she meets him on their first day of law school she goes into fangirl mode. They kind of a have a friendship until something happen. Years later their paths cross again. Daxton is still a sexy guy and Kailyn is still mad at him. Kialyn wants to still hate him and I probably would have held a grudge too but when she finds out the true about what happen she can't stay mad at him. When bad stuff happens Daxton starts to lean on Kailyn and the more time they spend together the closer they get. Even though there was a lot of stuff happens around them, I was rooting for these two to be together. I loved the ups and downs and just everything about this story was perfect.

The title of the book says it all; it's a meet cute like you would have seen in old movies, but with a Helena Hunting twist. And let's be honest, for those of us who have already read her work, we know her caliber of writing is always above par - this book is no exception. For newbies, get ready to be sucked into the pages of the book and into the lives of Dax and Kailyn.

The beauty of the story is how Hunting takes a concept and weaves lives, emotions, and angst into a page-turning drama. You feel the "feels" and sometimes want to rage at how things unfold. As a dual POV, you get the inside track to each characters thoughts and feelings and a deeper understanding of their motivations.

We start out with Kailyn and how socially awkward phase in school (I'm sure many of us can relate). As she meets and comes to hate Dax, you want to see her vindicated. And she does find herself and her way (major fist pump). But then we jump into Dax's head, and darn it, you understand his behavior and thoughts. Especially when you see how the tragedy of losing his parents and having to be a parental figure to his teenage sister impacts him. But this is really where the story starts; it only begins with a college meet cute.

We watch Kailyn struggle to figure out how to balance her emotions and professional roles as they relate to Dax and his sister. We get to see different sides of their personalities - flaws, smiles, tears, and all. I liked this story because it was a bit unorthodox and we saw the characters being thrust into uncomfortable roles, forcing them to reevaluate not just the present, but the past and what they hope for the future.

I found it to be a fun, quick read that sometimes pulled at my heartstrings. Solid effort by Hunting.

This book was such a heart-warming, sweet story packed with so much more. The cover in all it's adorableness makes it look like this is a rom-com but honestly it felt so much more than that.

It was packed with some more serious moments dealing with grief and family that pull at your heart strings. But plenty of sweet and sexy moments mixed it. The way it kicks off was perfection.

The characters in this were so wonderful! Kailyn was so sweet and compassionate. I could relate with her when she's being a nerd over her crush. Cause I've been there! Daxton is put in a difficult situation but handles it was such love.

The romance in this was adorable, fun, sexy and heartfelt! Everything I love in a story! If you're looking for a book that's charming and heart-warming, check this one out!

Imagine meeting the person of your dreams…the guy who stars in your favorite show. Now imagine that he does something to make you very bitter. Hmmm. Fast forward a few years and he comes back into your world. What do you do? Well, if you’re Kailyn, you make every effort to ignore the hunky former man-of-your-dreams and try to move on with your life. But, once they’re entangled through unforeseen circumstances, that becomes very hard to do. This is a sweet romance that brought some unexpected feels and maybe even a couple of moments that made me misty. It had me at hello…and it kept me turning the pages until the very end!

These characters have great chemistry and, as seems to be the trend with Ms. Hunting’s leading men, I fell for Dax lock, stock, and barrel! His desire to do the right thing by his sister and the fact that he wore his heart on his sleeve for Kailyn had me sighing happily. I loved the banter between these two and I really enjoyed the sexual tension…and the steamy times. I also loved the fact that Kailyn represented the strength that Dax needed during some very trying times. But, what I really enjoyed was that these two had a deeper connection – they understood each other based on history and on similar tragedies. This gave the story a very real feel.

I got more than I expected here. I though it would be a fun, quick read…and it was. But it also had a depth I really enjoyed and the tension and angst that brought some drama to the table. If you haven’t read a book by Ms. Hunting, this might be a great place to start.

'Meet Cute' is one of the best new romances I've read in a while. The set up, or meet cute I should say, with Kailyn and Dax is the perfect build-up for what's to come. There's a history between them that impacts these characters later on in a major way. Kailyn and Dax have electric chemistry from the start.. There's also an emotional hook that will keep you captivated. 'Meet Cute' is a sexy and fun novel that you'll devour. Don't miss out on this one.

Let my start off by stating that if you are a HUGE fan of the <i>Pucked</i> series, like I am, than be prepared that <i>Meet Cute</i> is NOTHING like it! While there were well written humorous situations and a good amount of fun dialogue, I would not call this a romantic comedy in the way we might know from Helena Hunting.

Now, if you’ve read Helena’s <i>Clipped Wings</i> series AND the <i>Pucked</i> series, I would say <i>Meet Cute</i> would be the what would happen if those series had a baby.

All of that said -- I really and truly thoroughly enjoyed and could not get enough of Dax and Kailyn.

I’ve been a fan of Helena’s for a long time and it has been a joy to watch her writing continue to grow and evolve. I think <i>Meet Cute</i> is the perfect representation of her writing continuing to do so.

As for the story -- I mean, who doesn’t love a story where someone ends up with their hollywood crush? Helena did a superb job of making that situation realistic and believable which can be hard to do.

<i>Meet Cute</i> also deals with the characters facing tragic events and how those events impact their lives and how they deal with grief.

As someone who also lost both of her parents before she should have, I found the way these characters handled themselves to be extremely believable and obviously very relatable to my own personal life.

I strongly encourage you to give <i>Meet Cute</i> a try! Just be prepared to give a few tears along with a few laughs. ;)

This is one of those rare romance novels that can showcase a tender romance even in the midst of overwhelming grief. While sorrow is ever-present, Hunting takes great care to convey how the emotional bond is not one solely of comfort and pity. While there is empathy and care for each other, there is also sexual attraction, an intellectual meeting of minds, admiration, respect and an adult emotional connection that transcends the quotidian.

Thus, Hunting daringly and sensitively shows that even in the midst of a custody battle and bone-deep grief, it is possible for love to bloom. As the Dalai Lama says, “Sentient beings strive to survive and they do so by having a desire for happiness.” People are made to be happy — that is our norm – and we survive despair by aiming for happiness. That is how Kailyn survived the loss of her parents and that is how Dax and Emme deal with their loss.

Meet Cute is a novel where you will laugh and cry — sometimes, on the same page. It is a story of kindness and affection, sassiness and tenderness, where joy and sorrow are intermingled. You don’t want to miss this book.

https://frolic.media/the-heart-of-a-story-meet-cute-by-helena-hunting/

All the romance stars!!!

This was an absolutely adorable read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I immediately loved the characters, was completely sucked into the plot, and cried happy tears at the ending.

While Kailyn and Daxton's meet cute is adorable, the resolution and fighting between them seemed contrived. Thuroughly enjoyed the character development, but wishing for additional lead up to the climax.

I'm gonna start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was emotional with some angst, and I'll be honest when I say that it was not what I expected at all.

Bare in mind, I didn't read the blurb at all. I full on expected a rom com but what I got was more Contemporary Romance then a Romantic Comedy. Now this book definitely starts out with the makings of a rom com and their meet cute is absolutely hilarious. In fact, I had a few giggle snort episodes at the beginning of this book as Dax and Kailyn first interact.

Fast forward and these two meet again but under some very different circumstances. What happens next is emotional, sweet and definitely had moments where my heart went out to the characters in this book. The love story is heartwarming and I loved how the relationship progressed.

This was a fairly easy read and without a doubt I enjoyed it. It was not what I expected but nevertheless it was still a read I would recommend to others. Especially for those looking for a heartfelt romance.

This book is being marketed as perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient. As a massive fan of TKQ, coupled with the super cute illustrated cover, I was all in on this book, fully expecting to love it.

Hah. Unfortunately, that was not the outcome, and I had to DNF at about the 40 percent mark.

This book will absolutely, 100 percent appeal to a lot of people, but for me, it felt overly dramatic in plot and underwhelming in writing. The characters were okay, but forgettable, and the writing felt emotionless and like it was lacking any spark. There was a good deal of telling rather than showing and that made the pages drag. I found myself skimming for the most part and only really reading the dialogue until I hit the point where I didn’t care enough about the outcome to keep reading.

I wish I would have loved this. It made all the promises of things I love, but sadly it just didn’t quite deliver.

*Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Based on the cute cartoon cover and title, one might think this is a romantic comedy, but one would be wrong! This is a pretty standard contemporary romance and while there is certainly nothing wrong with that, the combination of the title, cover, and description felt misleading. I had difficulty getting into the story because I was expecting something different. This contemporary romance is about an attorney who becomes enmeshed with a custody case involving her childhood crush and his thirteen-year-old sister after their parents are killed in a car accident. As the hero and heroine bond over their mutual love for the teenager, they start to have feelings for each other, too. It was standard contemporary romance fare with family drama, sexual tension, and sex scenes that are in the moderately-spicy range. The writing was solid, the characters were fine, but none of it stood out in particular to me. It was my first Helena Hunting novel and I’m sure she has legions of fans who will snap this right up. I just hope the new readers aren’t too confused/disappointed when they realize this isn’t what they were expecting. Overall 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases April 9–that’s next week!

Meet Cute…. One of the most highly anticipated romance book of the year. And it is worth the hype.
I’m still fairly new to Helena Hunting.. I’ve read a total of just five books including Meet Cute. And I am going to be honest here and say that the cover was one of the reasons why I wanted this book ASAP!

As cliche as it sounds, I feel like Meet Cute was the perfect contemporary romance! Helena Hunting just hit the nail with two of my favourite tropes in this book:
A second chance romance ✔️
An enemies to lovers kind of romance ✔️

Meet Cute is an adorkable book. seriously. It’s cute, it’s HILARIOUS, it has heartwarmingly endearing moments and scenes that will make your romantic heart melt into a puddle of swoons.

Kailyn and Dax’s story in Meet Cute is beautifully written. It has just the right amount of drama and just the right amount of sweet and comforting and just the right dose of sass, wit and sexiness.

You should definitely read Meet Cute. You won’t regret it.

Don't let the cover fool you, its not a rom-com. I really liked the characters backgrounds on this one especially how they met. This one does deal with a sad subject matter. My only complaint is that I don't really think the aunts motives were on point, it almost should have been something different. I thought overall it was great. Cute epilogue.

A stand alone novel from the very talented Helena Hunting.

An embarrassing meeting between Kailyn and former actor Daxton Hughes in college morphed into a friendship that eventually left Kailyn feeling betrayed. Now 8 years later Dax is in need of a lawyer and Kailyn is the one he turns too. Can she get past her anger and hurt to help Dax when he suddenly finds himself guardian to his 13 year old sister?

Ms. Hunting wove a story that drew me in and held me captivated. The camaraderie, banter and friendship that Kailyn and Dax had made this a joy to read and I really was cheering for these two to get their happily ever after.

The chemistry between them was intense and you could feel the sizzle in the air. I loved how all in Dax was when he stepped up and put his sister Emmie and her needs before all else; what a swoon worthy man. It was also heartwarming to see the relationship between Kailyn and Emmie develop.

I love Ms. Hunting's style of writing, she ensures that her characters are not “perfect”. I found it easy to relate to Kailyn and Dax. This was a story that had me entertained and I happily recommend Meet Cute.

I was received an ARC of this book through the publisher and Netgalley