Unique premise - Edie knows the date she will meet the love of her life - how does this change how she views relationships? I wanted more of Edie with other guys in her past to better understand her and her motivations. Great family dynamic and storyline!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, this book is about a large, Jewish family and their Matriarch, Edie’s grandmother, Gloira. Gloria has predicted the exact date everyone in the family will meet the love of their life without fail. So, when Edie is traveling to her sister’s surprise engagement on the day her grandmother has predicted for her to meet her match, she is on high alert. She meets a handsome man named Theo on a plan but leaves without his number, until they run into each other again a few days later.

This books then shows the progression of Edie and Theo’s relationship, Edie’s past relationship with a man she loved name Jonah and Edie planning a combined bachelor and bachelorette party with the best man in her sister’s wedding, Bennett (while also working as the stylist for Bennet’s politician girlfriend).

The close knitedness of the family was one of the best things about this book, and seeing so many of the things that make up Jewish culture and families (this was really cool to read and learn about as a non-Jewish person). I really loved that in the author’s note at the beginning, the author noted how much characters in the book were inspired by her beloved grandparents and you could really feel the love of family radiating off the pages.

I will say I wasn’t sure where Edie was going to end up, with one of several men presented, a new man or alone and while I think there was too much time spent on certain aspects/men I really, really enjoyed the ending. It was the perfect bow to tie up this story at the end. I also wish a bit more time was spent on Edie’s personal growth all by herself.

Overall, this was a heartwarming book about family, love and fate. A worthwhile read.

I’m giving this one 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to love this book as much as I loved Head Over Heels. It got off to a good start, but there wasn't enough development on the page for the relationship with the man she ultimately ended up with so I found it incredibly hard to feel invested in the ending.

Edie Meyer has known that she would meet the love of her life on June 24, 2022 since she was sixteen years old. Her grandmother, Gloria, has accurately predicted the exact day every member of her family would meet their soul mate. When the fated day arrives, a handsome musician sits next to her on a plane. But the man who Edie thinks is her perfect mate, may not fit into her life the way she expects.

Meant to be Mine is told entirely in the first person from Edie’s perspective. Edie is a stylist in New York City. She owns her own agency and has been very successful. I loved the light magical realism element to it. It reminded me so much of In Five Years. But overall the plot felt a bit disjointed to me.

I found the story to fit more in the contemporary/women’s fiction genre than the romance genre. I enjoyed the familial relationships in Meant to be Mine more than the romance. Edie refers to her grandmother as Gloria. She is a fabulous Jewish woman who cares deeply about her family and her traditions.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me a chance to read and review this ARC early! It was entertaining enough, but so short that I felt like it had almost no staying power for me to remember it. I liked that it didn't follow exactly what I thought it would as so many romances do, but at the same time nothing really stands out to me as great.
This book is about Edie. Her grandma supposedly had a gift to be able to know the exact date that someone would meet their soulmate. So she tells Edie her date and that date is quickly approaching. She meets a musician on a plane and assumes thats the guy so they start a relationship. She had a boyfriend before that she was in love with but broke up with him because he wasn't the soul mate her grandma predicted. We find out some family secretes and follow Edie's love story, then it ends. I didn't love who she ended up with and felt like it was kind of underdeveloped, but 3 relationships are discussed in less than 300 pages so theres no surprise there. It all just felt convenient and flat, though not stereotypical so thats good. Overall, just okay.

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein is the romantic tale of a native New Yorker and her family's tradition of meeting their soulmate on the date that her Grandmother predicts. Edie's day is June 24th. She does meet someone, but he may not be all that special. Can Edie go against her grandma Gloria's prediction?

Edie is a top stylist, loves her family, and is looking for someone who fits into her comfort zone. Edie believes in her Grandmother's prophecy so much that she breaks up with her boyfriend so that she can find "the one" on June 24th.

As Edie flies in to meet her family for her twin sister's proposal, she meets an up-and-coming rockstar. Of course, he must be her soulmate. Only they couldn't be more different.

Edie and Bennett pair up to help out with wedding plans. Bennett is in politics and is her brother-in-law's best friend. The couple tackles their tasks with ease without a second thought.

Bennett can't be it. Edie did not meet him on June 24th. Later at her sister's wedding, there's a big surprise that maybe fate is more than just a date.

Gloria's prediction is still right. It's just not how anyone imagined it.

I liked this easygoing read. It's great for summer. It's light-hearted and can be finished in a day at the beach or by the pool.

I have been following Hannah Orenstein on social media for a while now and was excited to finally read Mean to Be Mine. It was a concept I wasn’t too sure about—a grandmother predicts the date when each family member will meet their soulmate—but it really worked for me. I found this book to be enjoyable, heartwarming, and relatable with just the right amount of RomCom magic. I think Orenstein straddles the line of women’s fiction and romance very well.

Synopsis:

“What if you knew exactly when you’d meet the love of your life? Edie Meyer knows. When her Grandma Gloria was a young woman, she had a vision of the exact day she would meet her soul mate—and then Grandpa Ray showed up.

Since then, Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edie’s day arrives on June 24, 2022, when she’s twenty-nine years old. She has been waiting for it half her life. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sister’s surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows it’s meant to be.

But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected and she can’t fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesn’t have perfect timing. After a tragedy and a shocking revelation rock Edie’s carefully constructed world, she’s forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves.” —StoryGraph

What I Liked:

The Ode to New York City—I’ve followed Hannah for awhile and I know how much she loves New York City. That love leaps off the page and made my New Yorker heart sing. And to read that this is the book she wrote during the early days of the pandemic in order to showcase wall that NYC is, amidst the pain and suffering, was all the more special.

The Atmospheric Writing—You can really tell which authors Orenstein has been inspired by. Her descriptions of food and clothing are deliciously sensory and crate the atmosphere very well.

The Family—I loved the family at the center of this book. While it is Edie’s story, we get to know so much about her extended family and how they made her who she is. I thought it was lovely. As someone who is not Jewish but grew up in a family where faith and culture intertwined, I was really fascinated by the Jewish elements, like food and holidays.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Pacing—This is a short book, roughly 300 pages and it still felt long at points. I loved how the setting was created but would have liked a little more plot driven language.

Ending—So quick! I didn’t feel like I had enough time with the characters to be excited for the ending. I just needed one more chapter or a showcasing the date.

Character Authenticity: 4.5

Steam Rating: 0/5 (fade to black)

Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

Loss, grief, heart attack, mention of school shooting, death of a sibling

I finished this book like a week ago and I already had to look up what it was about again. I love a little romance book about fate, but this one felt so predictable and then the author made weird choices with the ending. I didn’t really like any of the characters? except maybe Gloria. And I absolutely couldn’t stand the internal dialogue/struggle that comprised like 60% of the book. It was exhausting.

This is Orenstein’s best yet. Meant to Be Mine is a love letter to so many things (people, places, travel) that we missed out on in 2020 and beyond and this book is like a warm hug, encompassing al large things we cherish and missed for so long. I have often pondered the question of what if relating to knowing the date major life events/milestones would happen (meeting your solemate, birth of a child, date of passing, etc.) and what life would be like knowing those things. Would it make you act differently and write off all the other things that come before that time and not cherish them? Would it give you the ability to be more carefree and enjoy life more? Would the deadline be intimidating and you somehow make a mistake that damages things because the date stresses you out? Orenstein does a great job exploring this topic with the MC’s grandmother predicting the day everyone meets their sole mate and if this date is set for her, how will she follow the path seemingly laid out for her or will she forge her own? Delightful and beautifully written.

I loved the premise of Hannah Orenstein’s Meant to Be Mine, and I was really looking forward to the read. However, the execution fell flat for me. The book is repeatedly described as a romantic comedy, however, I didn’t find situations or dialogue particularly funny. In fact, the many heavy, emotional scenes that influence the story line more made it more of a women’s fiction book.

The grandmother’s prophecy of finding love is a great way to bring in a multi-generational story. I enjoyed the cultural references. Edie’s obsession with forcing a square peg into a round hole to make her grandmother’s prophecy come true instead of being open to the real possibilities in her love life, was frustrating and didn't make the character sympathetic.

Had Ms. Orenstein stayed focused on the romance storyline, I would have enjoyed the story more. With just one focus, Edie's ultimate romantic relationship could have been developed more and the ending might not have felt so rushed. Personally, I don’t care to have an author’s political views thrown into a romance, and if one strongly feels the need to do so, I feel it shouldn’t be done with such a heavy hand. The focus on Ms. Orenstein’s views and bashing of people/points of view that differ from her own detracted from the story.

A creative idea but overall, Meant to Be Mine didn’t work for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein
A special thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I voluntarily read reviewed this title all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Edie has obsessively planned out her life. In her family her Grandmother predicts when you’ll meet your soulmate. She’s been right so many times they all take it has fact.
Well today’s Edie’s day and she traveling to watch her sister get engaged. The handsome stranger it’s next to her on the plane has to be the one. Does Edie find her perfect match?! I’m not gonna spoil it for you so pick up Meant to Be to find out!
It was a sweet story. Edie lives in her head a bit and the author did a great job reflecting those thoughts on paper.

I enjoyed this book, it’s a fun romance. Edie’s grandmother has successfully predicted the date that her friends and family would meet their significant others. Edie knows her date, and when she meets a good looking guy on a plane on that date, she thinks she’s set, regardless of who else she meets for the rest of the day.

Edie is extremely invested in her grandmother’s legend, to the exclusion of anyone she didn’t meet on the “right” day. Her naïveté was a little annoying at times but she loves her grandma and believes in her.

Is the man on the plane Edie’s soul mate? What would her life be like if her date was off by a little, or worse yet, totally wrong? Edie goes on a complicated emotional journey before she realizes just how important true love is. 4 stars.

Synopsis:
From the author of Playing with Matches, a sweeping love story in the vein of Rebecca Serle and Chloe Benjamin about a woman who knows the date she’ll meet her true love—only he isn’t quite as perfect as she always imagined.

What if you knew exactly when you’d meet the love of your life? Edie Meyer knows. When her Grandma Gloria was a young woman, she had a vision of the exact day she would meet her soul mate—and then Grandpa Ray showed up.

Since then, Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edie’s day arrives on June 24, 2022, when she’s twenty-nine years old. She has been waiting for it half her life. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sister’s surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows it’s meant to be.

But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected and she can’t fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesn’t have perfect timing. After a tragedy and a shocking revelation rock Edie’s carefully constructed world, she’s forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Love this author! A unique concept and fun read. Only critique was I got a bit tired of hearing about Jonah after a while (though I understand why it was necessary). Overall, really enjoyed.

I knew I would like Meant to Be Mine based on the description, but I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love it. The story follows Edie, who received a prophecy from her grandmother Gloria that she would meet her soulmate on 6/24/22. While at the airport, Edie is on the lookout for her "person" She meets a handsome musician on the airplane when he sits down next to her.

The book is a beautiful story of family, love, and relationships, and sometimes it's more important to trust your instincts and gut. I also loved all of the weaving of Jewish culture and traditions, as I don't know much and I really learned a lot.

Overall, a beautiful book that is a perfect summer read (or really anytime read!) I highly recommend checking it out.

5/5 stars!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Imagine knowing the day you'll meet your soulmate by your beloved grandmother. You wait decades for that day and you finally meet them and it's besheret (meant to be). In theory, I should've liked this. Between some of the mysticism and allllll of the Jewish representation, this should've been a slam dunk for me. But it wasn't.

It was all very, very surface level. I felt like I never got to know the main character, Edie, beyond her job and the day she was supposed to meet her soul mate. And when she met him, it felt incredibly forced and I didn't feel a connection at all. I just wasn't a fan of Edie's journey.

I think a really cool way of approaching this book would've been doing a novel with the interconnected stories of all the couples Gloria predicted. That would've kept me engaged and been a fresh spin on this story.

I've read a few of this author's books and they just never click for me. I can see why so many people like her writing, but it just never clicks for me. Maybe it's time for me to give up the pursuit of this author.
•••
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you could know the exact date you are supposed to meet the person you’re meant to be with, would you want to know? In Meant to Be Mine, by Hannah Orenstein, Edie’s grandma can predict the day each of her family members is supposed to meet their match, and Edie’s day is finally here. However, after meeting someone and starting a relationship, things aren’t feeling quite the way she expected. Should she stay with him because it was predicted, or should she say forget it and follow her gut?

I enjoyed this book! I got nervous for Edie as she was about to meet her match, and was upset for her with all the things that made her uncertain. I did predict the ending, but I’m glad everything panned out the way it did!

There’s also fantastic Jewish representation in this book. Edie is Jewish and there are several scenes depicting various Jewish traditions. I always love seeing that in a book!

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted e-copy - this book is available now!

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒
The right book, at the right time. A nice little romance that gave me Rebecca Serle vibes while being more ‘wiling suspension of disbelief’ vs magical realism.

I loved the relationship between Edie and Rae, and of course between the women and their larger-than-life matriarch Gloria. Having been lucky enough to have a close relationship with my own Nonna, the page count that was dedicated to the reverence, love, and admiration they had for their grandmother easily burrowed its way into my heart.

I was really happy with how the Edie/Jonah storyline played out - I felt like it was very true to life, and appreciated that the author used it as experienced-based reflection vs a stirring-the-pot resurrection.

I do have thoughts on the end, but it basically impossible to discuss without delving into spoilers, so I shall refrain, but hit me up if you wanna chat about it, aka let me ramble on.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for a family-centered romance, especially if you’re one to believe in the power of fate.

~👩🏻‍🦰

⧞ Meant to be Mine hit shelves on June 7th, and we are very appreciative of @netgalley & @atriabooks for a digital advanced readers copy of this lovely little book.

I somewhat struggled with this book. I picked this book up as a light-hearted romance to balance out some of the heavier topics I was reading. The premise of the story revolves around a Twin named Edie, who’s grandmother who has the gift of prophecy for meeting one’s soul mate, as she meets “The Maybe One.” From the start, I knew that Theo wasn’t her actual soul mate as she continuously compared him to her ex which she’s totally in denial about missing. Everyone around her sees that Theo isn’t the one for her, but no one including Edie who also knows this fact wants to acknowledge it because of their “faith” in Gloria’s prophecies. Uhm, okay.

Honestly, I wasn’t even upset about this. I’m more upset that 85% of this book is about this failed relationship. We don’t really get to see Edie develop as a character nor this love with her real soul mate though there are enough breadcrumbs for it to feel somewhat plausible. We just kinda meet them in the last chapter with a quick update of where they are now and how they’re happily in love with a slight hint at how they’re grandparents were connected.

If you’re looking for a quick and somewhat funny romance novel, this will be a good summer read for you. I just wouldn’t go in with any actual expectations.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Meant to Be Mine is a fun tale of matchmaking and putting too much faith in the wrong thing until you nearly lose out on the perfect person. Orenstein's characters are interesting and Edie was sweet.

When Edie meets the perfect man, Theo on the way to her sister's marriage proposal. How does she know Theo is perfect even before speaking to him? It's her day. She knew love once but it wasn't The One so she broke both their hearts to be available when the real one arrived on the date her grandmother, Gloria, promised they'd meet. She's even more convinced when he's sitting next to her again on the return flight. They embark on a dating relationship but the more Edie tries to believe he's the one, the more she's not convinced. They're compatible, it's not that, but they have some fundamental differences when it comes to life goals. When she runs into the love she broke up with and finds he's moved on, she's further questioning her life choices and her grandmother's predictions.

So much time was spent on the wrong man that the right man and the revelations about Gloria's predictions seemed hurried. I was glad the Edie found her HEA and sad when Gloria passes. The family was sweet the way her mom and sister were close to her.

While an enjoyable read, I just wasn't as invested as I wanted to be.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for the ARC.

I always feel guilty when i give a bad review because i know the author worked really hard on the book. Sigh. But I didn’t love it. I didn’t even really like it. The story just kind of drug on. The book is based on the idea that Edie Meyers knows the exact date she will meet the love of her life. Her grandmother has a psychic gift for predicting when every member of the family will meet their soulmate. Edie gets so caught up in the idea of her grandmother’s prophecy that she tries to force love with a guy named Theo because she met him on “the day.” I don’t like it when an author tries to push political views in little ways through a book (hmmmm….clear throat….Jodi Piccoult)….it distracts from the plot. Those things were tiny but they kind of bothered me. I felt like she included a lot of unnecessary details about what characters were wearing, smells, decor. It just wasn’t one that I would recommend.