3 stars = I liked it (but wit nits) I was a big paranormal romance reader, so I loved the idea of soulmates and I was very excited by the premise that leading lady Hannah knows the day she is destined to meet 'the one'. I would say though that this didn't really end up being a romance read despite the premise - or maybe because of it. If you 'know' you are going to end up with someone (eventually) it changes everything about falling in love. And honestly, I spent most of the book wanting Hannah to get back together with the boyfriend she loved but who she didn't meet on the right day. So I wasn't very invested in her 'soul mate'.

But even though I was a bit disappointed in the romance aspect, viewing this as Women's Fiction there was still much that I liked about Meant to Be Mine. I liked the vibrancy of the leading lady and her strong connection to her family and I especially liked her fiesty grandmother.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley - Pub Date June 7, 2022. This is an unpaid review

Hannah Orenstein does it again with Meant to Be Mine! I like the idea of cosmic fate but tend to look for moments of serendipity in my life. Edie’s grandma, Gloria, has managed to predict the day each of her family members would meet their soulmates. Growing up, Edie watched her grandma’s magic in action as each of her family members found true love. So her special date, Edie has taken special care to look extra nice as she travels through the airport to surprise her sister. She even gets there a little early and spends extra moments over-analyzing each man she crosses paths with. When she meets the guy, Edie can’t help but wonder if timing does matter.

I devoured this book in one sitting as I read it on my phone (which I never do!). I started the book on my phone in an effort to quit doom scrolling through my Instagram feed and all of a sudden it was dark outside and I had read 60%. So I charged locations and kept on reading right to the end. I loved Edie’s family and how we get to know a little more of each of their paths to their soulmates. The characters in the book are relatable and the book will just pull you in.

If you liked other books by Hannah Orenstein this will undoubtedly be a winner for you. If you’ve never read anything by her before, this is a great place to start!

Hannah Orenstein, author of the enjoyable Olympics-themed romance "Head Over Heels," explores fate and soulmates in her new novel, "Meant to Be Mine." Edie's beloved grandmother Gloria has a special gift: she can predict the date on which all of her relatives will meet "the one" -- their perfect match. Having seen the prophecy come true time and time again, Edie is convinced Gloria knows what she's talking about; she even breaks up with her perfectly-nice boyfriend shortly before The Day.

When The Day rolls around and Edie is seated next to a handsome musician on an airplane, she just knows he's the one for her. Indeed, they start dating, and Edie... tells him about the prophecy on their second date! I wanted to shout "Girl, no!" That sounds like something you might reveal on the eve of your wedding, if ever. Naturally, a would-be rock star who longs to tour the world is going to be somewhat alarmed to learn about the prophecy, but he agrees to continue dating Edie to see what happens.

"Meant To Be Mine" is fairly unpredictable as rom-coms go, and I enjoyed following Edie's journey, including her relationship with her grandmother and the Jewish traditions they celebrate together. The twist of magical realism gave this book a little extra spark.

Thanks to Atria Books for the review copy, via Netgalley.

Well, this was just a DELIGHT. I love when a rom-com is done well, and Hannah Orenstein absolutely did well with this one. It was a nail-biter as we watched Edie sort through her “destiny” to find what was really in store for her. Loved Gloria, loved the heritage-love-magic - it was just delightful.

3 1/2 stars

I think I have to officially retire the idea that "these books" are not my "usual fare" because, gosh darnit, the right ones are just so cute. Its like reading a warm chocolate chip cookie and I am officially HERE FOR THAT.

This book is adorable. Like most of this genre, I found it to be predictable, but in a quaint way. I knew from the outset that nothing horrible was going to happen, that I likely wouldn't cry or feel any deep emotion, but, again, I would be wrapped in the warmth of a cute story. I was right. I also laughed a good deal because Orenstein can write a good, quippy character. I've never read anything else by her before, but I imagine this is par for the course for her.

The idea that anyone can intuit when we're supposed to meet our destined match, our soulmate, is a very interesting concept. Because our heroine, Edie, does meet a man she judges to be up to her standards on her fated day, but from there its all a bit... unsettled. I think, seeing what Edie sees in her match and somehow knowing, as the reader, that he was NOT actually meant for her, could be a little frustrating at times. The level to which Edie was apparently prepared to sacrifice her TRUE happiness to satisfy a so-called prophecy was a little unsettling and at times annoying. I wanted to scream "GIRL RUN" because they were so obviously poorly matched.

However, knowing that all that frustration was leading toward a revelation and an understanding that fate and destiny and choice are all intertwined and no one is more important (except maybe choice) made it all worth it.

Side note: why do all characters in these books, especially the ones that live in NYC live such FABULOUS lives? I definitely found myself jealous of Edie's lifestyle more than once.

Sensational. Grab the tissues, and take your anxiety meds cause if you’re anything like me you’re going to be clammy the whole ride. The writing was fantastic. Orenstein has a way with words that make you want to keep going. This story is about love, soulmates, family and traditions. The way the author weaved in Jewish traditions was beautifully done. Her love for her grandparents and Gloria specifically was so tender. Please read the authors note to get a better picture of why this is so special. I was so nervous about how this was going to end, but it delivered and with tears.

*Possible Spoilers*

This book kept me captivated the whole time. I loved everything about Edie's family, particularly her relationship with Gloria and Rae and how important their heritage was to the story and their lives. I thought that all of the characters had a really strong sense of self and really clear voices, and the setting of Brooklyn was a vibrant backdrop. The story brings up some big topics like grief, individual vs. community, fate vs. freewill, but it does so in a way that feels realistic and thoughtful. I love Edie's push and pull with Theo, and I think their relationship was really well told in a bittersweet way.

My only real disappointment was the resolution. Once Edie broke things off with Theo, she jumped right into it with Bennet with very little build-up. I loved them as friends and would have either liked a slightly slower burn of them realizing that they had romantic feelings for each other or an ending where Edie felt confident in her single self for a bit before finding someone. I think it just felt rushed to me, and after so much leading up to Theo's significance, to have him just out of the picture so quickly and almost erased from her memory felt strange. I loved Bennet's character, maybe there could have been some more sprinkles of attraction throughout, even though they were dating other people? I did love the twist at the end with the photos of their grandparents, that made me so happy.

This review reflects my honest opinions in exchange for an eArc from NetGalley and the publisher.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this novel early!

This was my first Hannah Orenstein book and I couldn't let it pass me by with such an endearing premise! It was such a creative idea to feature a grandmother's prophecy providing the family with certainty in their love stories. I couldn't wait to see how it would play out.

Unfortunately, the execution of such a fabulous idea was slightly lacking for me. I felt the beginning of the story was quite slow and dragging, which made it difficult to stay focused. There were also too many mundane activities and thoughts described in elaborate detail, especially in the beginning, which was honestly...boring. However, as the story crept on, I did find my interest was piqued again. The second half of the book was certainly stronger than the first. Without giving too much away, I enjoyed the questions the prophecy raised within the characters' lives. They were logical questions I think anyone in the main character's situation would ask. I also quite liked the main character, despite her waffling. She was fun and upbeat, driven, and I liked that one of her greatest desires was to be a mother. The ending was a winner for me as well, as the main character chose the things that benefitted her life without too much hesitation. She chose well, and while I saw the resolution coming, it wasn't overly predictable.

One thing that bothered me, however, was the steady stream of conservative bashing. I don't understand why an author would want to alienate a group of her readers by blatantly hating on their views. From poking fun at a "bland, pro-life conservative" to the very next sentence talking about gun-control just doesn't make sense to me politically or personally. For the author's handling of these issues, I will not be seeking out any of her books in the future. There's a way to incorporate one's views into a story without being hostile or alienating. I can look past opposing views, but it's the attitude with which they are communicated that leaves something to be desired.

I settled on a middle-of-the-road rating for Meant to Be Mine since there were some issues that made the story challenging and were difficult to overlook, but overall I was quite happy with how the novel concluded. The characters had enjoyable personalities which made them "fun to be around".

The day is finally here! For decades, Edie’s grandmother has known the exact date each family member will meet the love of their life, and it is finally Edie’s turn! So when the strapping man finds himself seated next to her on the plane, she knows this must be her man! As the two begin to date, Edie has a nagging feeling deep down, Theo doesn’t believe in marriage, that is something she really wants. Could he really be her person with such a difference on beliefs on something so important to her?

Ok so first of all I apologize to @hannahorens for filling her inbox with my thoughts basically from half way until the end of this book….I just couldn’t help myself! I absolutely loved this book! I could feel the push and pull tension Edie was feeling while she tried to force her relationship with Theo because she knew he was her “one.” Gloria was my favorite kind of character…the fun, quirky, lovable, all knowing Grandma. I just adored her and the relationship she had with Edie. While the story is about Edie herself, there were so many fantastic side characters that helped make the book as amazing as it was. I highly recommend preordering this book or grabbing a copy when it comes out on June 7th!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Loved it! I really loved the insider look at the fashion industry, great fun for someone like me who loves clothes. I enjoyed the family closeness. All in all, a fun read.

Edie is stylist that knows the exact date she will meet the love of her life, thanks to her grandmother Gloria who has a gift. Gloria also successfully predicted when other family members would meet their true love. On said day, Edie meets Theo on a plane and they chat the entire flight. However, once they land he fails to ask for her number and they simply part ways. On her return flight, she runs into him again and makes sure to initiate that they keep in touch. Edie is convinced Theo is her true love and is set on making it work. She's still thinking about her ex Jonah on occasion and is not sure what the future holds for her and Theo as they don't really seem to want the same things out of life. This book comes out in June and I highly recommend preordering as this is a great way to support authors. It was really a delight to read and I finished it in a day.

I absolute love a book with a speculative edge. Meant to Be Mine hinges on a grandmother's gift to determine the date on which fated mates will meet. The book starts on that date for Edie and takes off from there. I particularly enjoyed that unlike most romances where it is clear which couple will end up together in the end, there was some unpredictability in this book. The novel straddled the line between women's fiction and romantic comedy, but I assure all romance fans that there is a HEA. As a Jewish woman living in NYC, I appreciated the wonderful Jewish representation and the vivid descriptions of Manhattan and Brooklyn. One of the plot twists made me very sad, but it was necessary for this story, and I understood the author's decision.

Trigger warnings: death of a relative, mention of gun violence (off the page)

Edie Meyer know exactly when she's going to meet her soulmate. Her grandma has a gift, she has been able to tell when her family members love is going to show up, down to the exact date. Meant To Be Mine was a charming read with a unique storyline. It's filled with lots of great characters and a really sweet family that you will fall in love with! I really enjoyed this one!

I really enjoyed this sweet, romantic story. I loved Edie's close knit relationship with her grandma. I enjoyed Edie finding her own path in love. I have been wanting to visit NY for quite some time and this story made me want to visit even more. Great read!

Meant to Be Mine was truly such a sweet read. I gave this book 4 stars only because I found that we didn't have too much insight into Edie's love interest for a majority of the novel, Theo. His character felt very surface level, considering he played a crucial role in Edie's decision to pursue love outside of her grandmother's prophecy. At the same time, maybe this was intentional to prove that they weren't meant to be together. That being said, I flew through this novel and loved the references to several Manhattan and Brooklyn institutions.

Meant To Be Mine

This was a lovely, heartfelt book! I loved getting to know Edie and her quest for love.I thought the plot was original and I loved reading about Edie’s job in the fashion industry. I always love a book that takes place in New York City, so that was another plus for this book. Getting a look inside the Jewish culture was another part of the book that I loved. Edie’s grandmother was my favorite character in the book, although I did love Edie, too. I was rooting for Edie the entire time to find her true love. The ending left me satisfied💖

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.

"Meant to Be Mine", by Hannah Orenstein, centers around an interesting premise: Edie Meyer's grandmother has the uncanny ability to predict exactly when her grandchildren will meet their significant other. Once Edie's assigned day arrives, sure enough, she meets a handsome and charming musician. But will Edie's insistence on believing in her grandmother's prediction keep her from noticing the perfect guy who's been by her side the whole time?

I thought this was a cute book, but the chemistry was a little light for me. Overall, a quick and easy read! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

June 24, 2022 is going to be an epic day in the life of Edie Meyer. According to the family prophecy, it will be the day she meets her future husband.

Hannah Orenstein has written a tale of love, the belief in fate, and knowing when to look that fate in the eye and say ‘no thank you.’ No spoilers here, but I will say that some of the plot points felt forced/unnecessary and a couple of the supporting cast seemed to hang around too long in the characters’ minds.

I was introduced to Hannah Orenstein's writing only a few weeks ago, and after devouring Head Over Heels and Playing With Matches in one day each, I knew I needed to get my hands on an ARC of her newest novel, Meant to Be Mine. I am a sucker for any book set in New York City, but being a New Yorker myself, I tend to be pretty picky about the details. This one did not disappoint! I felt like I was strolling through Brooklyn with Edie and I loved the callouts of actual bars and restaurants that I know and love.

The story's MC, Edie, is immediately likable and the premise is so fun. What if you could know the exact date you would meet your soul mate? Edie's grandmother's prophecy has a 100% success rate, and Meant to Be Mine follows Edie on her own quest for love, starting on the date she is destined to meet her match. Orenstein writes characters in such a lovable and relatable way and I found myself feeling like part of Edie's family. I sped through this book and loved the will-they-or-won't-they energy.

I also have to say I am an identical twin and Orenstein did an excellent job bring the twin sister bond to life, which is not easy and has not been done well in other books I've read.

Definitely recommend adding this one to your shelves. Fans of In Five Years, One True Loves, and any of Orenstein's previous books will love!

In her latest effort, Meant to Be Mine author Hannah Orenstein proves she's come a long way since Playing With Matches. The premise, which centers around a woman who wholeheartedly believes in her grandmother's abilities to predict the day in which each member of her family will meet their perfect match, takes a beat to settle into. My first thought was 'seriously, the MC's entire life revolves around this?! But it works. No, really, it does. Orenstein weaves such an intricate, full life for her heroine, Edie, that she feels grounded enough that we're able to stomach what could easily have been unbearable. Edie is an accomplished businesswoman who manages to balance that with a strong friend group and an even stronger family unit. She has ambitions that pertain to more than just her love life; she has goals for pushing her career to the next level, goals for her living situation, goals for her family life and social life. Her desire to find the 'perfect match' isn't about finding someone to complete her, and it's deeper than just checking a box on her long list of life plans; at its core, it's about carrying the torch of tradition and honoring her grandma. But what is most telling of her character is that when she's confronted with a tough truth, she's forced to re-evalute her relationships, decisions she's made in the past, and even her core beliefs-- and she manages to reconcile with everything and learn from the new information provided to her, so she doesn't continue down the wrong path. She chooses to change, which is the hallmark of a solid story.