Member Reviews

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC of Meant to be Mine by Hannah Orenstein !

This little gem of a book has all the elements that a Romcom lover would look for.

-NYC
-travel
-Hot musicians
-a wedding
-Magic

I could go on an on.

I enjoyed this book so much (even if I guessed what would happen)

I really like Hannah’s writing style - I feel transported into the characters lives. I can’t wait for her next book!

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I'm a romantic but also a skeptic, so Edie bothered me for much of the book, but I loved Gloria and all of the Jewish cultural references. The storyline and Hannah Orenstein's great writing made me suspend much of my skeptic beliefs and I ended up really enjoying it despite my initial misgivings. I can't wait for her next book!

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I had no idea where this book was going, but the payoff was worth it. What if you knew exactly when you were going to meet your one true love? Would you still date? Would you enjoy life? Would you believe it when you met them? And what if you didn't like them when you did? There are so many "what ifs" in Edie's life as the date she is meant to meet her one true love approaches. And when the day comes how exactly is she supposed to know if the one is actually the one?

Edie's discovery of relationships, love, and family secrets really makes this book.

5/5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it had the one “magical” element but it wasn’t actually magic. I really liked Edie and her family and her grandmother was great. I liked the twist with her sister and I really liked the evolution of how Edie thought about her life and her choices. I also really liked how much Judaism was in the book just as part of her life. Overall I really enjoyed it.

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I absolutely adore all of Hannah Orenstein's books, especially Head Over Heels, and so I couldn't wait to read this new one.

I really loved the writing; the author always provides wonderful descriptions of locations and people, so you really feel like you are part of the story. At first I thought the 'prophecy' was a little hokey, but soon I was hooked. I loved how Edie really wrestled with the prophecy - and what it could potentially mean, and how she works her way through her emotions. A fantastic, happy read with fabulous characters. A must read!

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I didn't love this one and I didn't hate it but me as a reader does not click with the author's writing style. That's not on the author but that's on me as a reader.

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Meant to Be Mine is the perfect city girl romance. It made me miss pre-pandemic summers in New York, and a very specific part of dating in the city. That wandering around freely, going into bars, plans that don’t require so much planning, that weekend without obligations energy.
Edie’s grandmother Gloria has a family tradition in which she predicts the soulmate for everyone in their family. So when Edie’s time is up, she meets a musician named Theo, who is nothing like what she expected. Edie has to ask herself who she is and what she wants.
This book is so sad, sweet, romantic, hopeful. I enjoyed spending a few days in this much more pleasant world. I tried to take my time with this book, and I could not, it is such a gripping read, and I only wish I had Gloria’s book to read next!
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Edie's grandmother Gloria has predicted many relationships of meeting "the one" over many years. When Edie boards the plane to join her twin sister's surprise engagement she is looking for her "man" high and low. To her surprise she can't seem to connect with anyone until a gorgeous stranger sits next to her on the flight, but to her surprise, he doesn't ask for her number. Could Gloria's prophecy be wrong?

She does see Mr. Wonderful on the way home, but they never seem to connect. Edie can't figure it out, Gloria has never been wrong on this. Edie isn't sure what to do and mentions the prophecy to "Mr. Wonderful". Is he the one for her?

I have always been a fan of Orenstein's work and this book did not disappoint. Look for this book in June of 2022!

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Ms. Orenstein writes novels with such refreshing and new plots. In Meant to Be Mine, a grandmother with almost psychic ability has stated with accuracy the dates that her loved ones will find their soul mates. What if she is wrong? For Edie, she meets her soul mate on her date but things cause her to struggle with the assuredness of the relationship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I really love Hannah Orenstein's writing and this book was no exception! It was funny and sweet, and I devoured it in less than a day. I loved all the descriptions of New York, the many intricacies of family relationships, and the character of Gloria, who reminded me a bit of my own grandmother (must be the Shalimar!). The whole prophecy aspect could have been silly, but the author treated it so delicately that it wasn't. I enjoyed Edie's struggle with the whole idea of fate/destiny vs. free will, and really loved the way everything was wrapped up. Would highly recommend and can't wait for this author's next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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A huge thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this Meant to Be Mine ARC.

A fun, love letter to NYC, family and the idea of fate that we may hold onto in times of uncertainty. Edie is a stylist in NYC who is preparing for the big day - the one her grandmother prophesized she would meet her future match. Her grandmother, Gloria, has a gift of being able to tell her family members when they'll meet their soulmate and has yet to be wrong. But, as tragedy strikes Edie, she begins to question what we believe in when we need something to believe in, the role of fate and true love,

It was a cute and romantic women's fiction book with well-developed characters that I wasn't able to put down. It moved very quickly and was well-paced. This book comes at a time where we need to be reminded of family, community, traditions and closeness.

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This book was WONDERFUL. It was funny, it was sweet and endearing, and I simply couldn’t put it down. I’m a huge fan of Orenstein’s work, and I have to say that I think this is her best book yet. ❤️ I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters.

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Great read! Devoured it in a day!

So many of the books I've read lately are predictable and this one kept me guessing. It's women's fiction, not romance, but the overarching theme is finding your true love. Edie's grandmother, Gloria, has a track record for predicting when her family members will meet their soul mates. She's never been wrong. Since Edie believes in the prophecy, she broke up with a man she loved, Jonah, six months before her predicted date. Sure she was in love, but how could he have been "the one" if she met him too early? Then, on her specified date, she has a total meet-cute with Theo, an aspiring musician. Will Edie find long-term love with Theo? Will she go back to Jonah, despite Gladys' prediction? Or is there someone else waiting in the wings? Read to find out!

What really resonated with me was the idea of self-fulfilling prophecies. How many of us have had our parents and society put labels and limits on our futures? How many of us let that change the trajectory of our lives? Edie has bought into her grandmother's prophecy instead of living her own life. Will she ultimately regret it?

As someone who was born in New York, I loved the backdrop of Brooklyn and Manhattan, I especially enjoyed the inside view of Jewish culture - there was such a feeling of community and tradition.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

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