What a lovely story! This was a fun romance full of humor and lovable characters. This book is beautifully written, and the character development was excellent.

I give this book a 3.5*
There was so much I loved about this story. I really did enjoy the concept. That knowing of the date you’ll meet your soulmate, and once you believe you’ve met them you willl do what you can to be with them. It made Edie question herself and what she really wants in life, believing in this prophecy or doing something else which feels like going against her family.

However there were some things I didn’t like. How the relationships played out. Too quickly. Too much. It wasn’t real at all.

Ever wonder what life would be like if destiny was mapped for you? If the possibilities of your life were in fact presented to you as a fait accompli rather than the results of your personal choices? Would this be liberating or terrifying? That is the central question faced by Edie, the main character of Hannah Orenstein's Meant to Be Mine.

Edie, a stylist living in Manhattan, has kept herself out of romantic relationships, not because she was focusing on her career, but because her grandmother Gloria has successfully predicted the matches of everyone in her family. With Grandma Gloria's prophecy informing her of the date that she will meet her one true romance, there is no need to shop around. In fact, it almost seems cruel to the suitors that are obviously not "the one". However, as the fateful day and its aftermath unfold, Edie grows nervous that maybe Gloria's rumored abilities have lead her astray - causing her to say goodbye to worthy mates in the past and pointing her in the wrong direction in the present.

<p>Can she save her future?</p>


At this point in the review I usually dive into a nice description of the love interest, but I would like to divert from that to focus on the MC, because the book diverts from what I think of as a typical romance structure. While it does follow a couple, there are many other love interests, both past and present, that appear and we are not always rooting for the one most frequently seen on the page. Similarly, while I can promise you there is a happy ending in store for Edie, it may not take the form you are expecting.

Which is a lesson the reader learns right along with the characters.

<p>The book has several references to cultural and reform Judaism, but this is not the crux of the story and Edie is open to dating both Jews and non-Jews. The romance is closed door - meaning there is no graphic sex depicted on the page and it is safe for reading on the commute or in public spaces. </p>


<p>I enjoyed spending some time reflecting with Edie and pondering the what -ifs. Because sometimes the mystery is worth more than the sure thing.</p>

This book was a solid, steady read, but I didn’t feel overly excited about it. For some reason, it wasn’t memorable and I struggled to remember the plot line a few days later. I actually had to go back and reread the ending. I do appreciate this authors writing style and I’ll continue to read her future books.

Thank you!

Orenstein has delivered another romance story but with a twist: what if you knew the person you were supposed to end up with and the exact day you'd meet them? This was such an interesting premise and her book also felt like a love letter to New York City and it's vibrancy!

It was an entertaining book. Had lots of fun moments but the second half of the book just didn’t work for me. Eddie was a bit annoying and all over the place for me.

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.

I loved this book and this is saying a lot because I'm NOT at a all a rom-com fan but Hannah Orenstein writes in such a fresh refreshing way that I just can;t help but fall in love with all of her characters. I loved the portrayal of Brooklyn and New York in this book - it felt so real. Edie was also a fantastic character but Gloria was my favorite! I thought this was a perfect balance of being sweet without being saccharine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

4.5/5 stars

This story was so interesting and unique. I had no idea how it would end, and I loved the ending that happened. I would definitely recommend this book!! I will be checking out this author’s other books.

I loved Head Over Heels, so this was a no brainer for me. Hannah Orenstein knows how to write an interesting rom com with twists different from the normal plots you see.

Edie knows the exact date she will meet the love of her life. Her grandmother has accurately predicted every match in the family. Unfortunately for Edie, her match does not meet her expectations. When things go wrong, she begins to wonder if maybe people have been settling for what happens on their date instead of waiting for fate itself.

I adored this book SO much! I loved the relationship between Edie and her twin sister, Rachel. I loved how centered the book was around family. The Jewish representation was beautiful. The writing sucked me in from the first second I started reading. I love Hannah's books and I can't wait for what she writes next.

The relationship between Edie and Theo was a whirlwind, they were magnetic and fun. But the relationship with Bennett was solid and had substance. I adored the ending

Meant to be Mine is a lovely tale on love --- idea the of sole-mates destined to be together comes into question, as the main character, Edie, grapples with her grandmother's tried and true prophecy, and the reality of different individual wants and needs. Orenstein did a great job writing about a world that is realistic and palpable. I felt like I was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and all around New York City with these characters which makes it very enjoyable to read. My only qualm is the first 170 pages are a bit predictable, but the ending holds a nice twist that makes it all come together so nicely. Well done!

This books synopsis is so interesting. The grandmother of the main character has accurately predicted the date her relatives will meet the love of their life. Edie’s date is the day she is to fly to help her twin sister get engaged. Edie is going through a recent breakup. Since her relatives have ahead such success she isn’t surprised she gets on with a guy she meets on her plane. On her predicted date. She begins to overlook things in the relationship that aren’t perfect. She’s determined to believe her grandmother. Once her grandmother passes Edie’s sister tells her she didn’t actually meet her fiancé on her predicted date. This sets up the rest of the story so well. I won’t ruin anything.
*thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this ode to New York City -- so fun to see so many places and neighborhoods I love portrayed through the eyes of a new character!

Meant To Be Mine was absolute delight! I read it in one sitting because it was just so engaging. While it is a rom com, some little extra elements elevate it to a different level. I loved the little nuggets of wisdom and small details like playing Mah-Jongg scattered throughout the book. The overall concept of knowing the date you’ll meet your soulmate was fascinating. I enjoyed that the character was just as surprised as the reader as the story developed. Overall, an excellent read that I plan to recommend to all of my family and friends.

Thank you to Hannah Orenstein, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really interesting read! I liked the premise and think that the story was well done. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read it early.

I absolutely loved Orenstein's latest release! In fact, I think it might be my favorite romance from her thus far. It delves into the idea of soulmates and fate vs. free will in such a compelling and creative way. Highly, highly recommend MEANT TO BE MINE!

This is a sweet read about fate and making your own decisions. I enjoyed this but wasn't wowed. I found the main character to be quite annoying and having a grating personality and just tough to root for.

Thank you so much for my gifted copy!

I wanted to enjoy this, but I couldn’t connect with the main character. She seemed much more interest in the story behind the relationships in her life than she was in actually building relationships. The ending was pretty transparent from the beginning, but there wasn’t a great build up to the end. The author knew where she wanted to be and left out some key elements on her way there. I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 genre: romance, women's fiction
🔥 steam: PG

This was my first Hannah Orenstein novel & I really loved how cute and sweet it was! I am a HUGE sucker for meddling grandparents in romance novels and Gloria did not disappoint. The idea that she has some kind of "ability" to know the date you'll meet your soulmate is a little far-fetched, but I did love how it positively affected everyone in Edie's family.

I could have done with less of Theo though - the whole time that Edie & Theo were together I just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like - how could two people so different be soulmates? I kept reading to figure out the answer to that question!

I'd like to say more on this one - but it's hard without giving spoilers.
But I loved the ending. And I loved who Edie ended up with.

Do you believe in fate? Knowing she's destined to meet this mysterious person, Edie breaks up with a man she's in love with, trying to make herself available for the one who's her 'destiny.' There was a point on the book where the concept of leaving a partner is brought up. It can be truly scary to give up a relationship you put time and effort into and if you’ve ever broken up with someone before you know the feeling. It was quick to read, kept me engaged, and was a great premise.