I really enjoyed this story that was kind of a twist on the Kennedy dynasty using a fictional family, the Kingsleys. Joe is the golden child that lost his dad, an American hero, at a young age. He was bucking at being a Kingsley & what it entailed. Cate was trying to get away from her mom & abusive step-dad & ended up being a model then working for a fashion designer. When she was a teen, she had Joe's picture on her wall. When she is on a modeling shoot, Joe spots her & uses his dog for an introduction. I highly recommend reading this book to see how the whole story unfolds. Emily Giffin has written a great one again!
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Meant to Be is a sweet romantic story loosely inspired by the life of John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. The fans of anything Kennedy will enjoy this story. You see the Kennedy dynamic played out throughout the book.

This is a light, fun, entertaining, chick-lit. Fans of Emily Griffin will love it.

Like many women my age, I remember where I was when JFK, Jr. died in a plane crash with his wife Carolyn and sister-in-law in the summer of 1999. I remember the People Magazine coverage and the retrospectives that highlighted his life. Like many, I was riveted by this tragic story.
Emily Giffin was too. This is a fictionalized story based on characters that are reminiscent of John and Carolyn (in this story, Joe and Cate.) The story is told in alternate perspectives and is equally riveting as you switch learning about his and her takes on their lives and their relationship.
I found this book absolutely impossible to put down. One of the most engaging books of the year for me so far. If the Kennedy/Bessette love story is at all of interest to you, this is a must-read!

Thank you to @randomhouse Ballantine and to @netgalley and especially @emilygiffinauthor for this amazing book-which releases on 5/31!
#meanttobe #emilygiffin #summerreads #bookstagram #beachread #bestof2022 #mayreads #impossibletoputdown

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Read if you like:
*loves stories that will move you
*chicklit, but not cheesy books
*anything involving the Kennedy family

It has been a while since I’ve read an Emily Giffin novel and I’m now realizing I missed them. I forgot how much her writing is the perfect mix between contemporary romance, chick lit, and women’s fiction. Meant to Be did not disappoint and you should absolutely be preordering it! “Loosely” based on the life of JFK Jr and his wife (it’s very similar!), this story was sexy, but not raunchy, chick lit, but not cheesy, real, raw, and beautifully told. I absolutely loved it. I loved the alternating timelines and POV and the history woven throughout. I especially liked how when we switched perspectives little bits of the story were told again from the opposite POV for much of the story (This did not feel redundant at all, though.) It spans a long period of time, which I really enjoy in books. This novel shed light on the heartbreaking side of fame, specifically for those that are in politics and how every move in your past or present has the possibility of ruining you. This is a perfect summertime read— I binged it in 24 hours between audio and my kindle and I just could not get enough. If you’re an Emily Giffin fan or someone that just loves a romance that will sweep you off your feet, pick this one up at the end of this month. You won’t be disappointed!

Meant to Be is a romantic tale laced with expectation and burdens that come with privilege. This novel is loosely based on the love story of JFK, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette and what might have been. Joe Kingsley, III is part of an upper-class, high-profile family the equivalent to American royalty who has spent his entire life in the public eye surrounded by expectations and privilege. However, as Joe learns as he grows older, along with privilege comes great burdens and expectations. Cate Cooper grew up with a single mother who engages in a series of bad relationships until she marries a physically and abusive man causing Cate to look for a means to escape. She ultimately lands a modeling job and embarks on a new life in New York City, while continuing to overcome her insecurity and low self-esteem. Joe and Cate are brought together when he comes upon her working during a modeling shoot in the Hamptons and there is an instant, undeniable connection. Will these two individuals from different backgrounds make a go at it and can their relationship survive the media frenzy, constant attention and family expectations and secrets?

The novel is told from alternative perspectives, Joe, and Cate, which really gave the reader a glimpse into each’s personality and feelings. The characters in this novel are well-developed, likeable, and genuine. The author does an excellent job of developing them through their families, friendships, strengths, and weaknesses. The author keeps the reader intrigued with this romance and its continued success. The author did a good job of presenting the romance in a real light sprinkled with both up and down moments. The characters persevered and overcame some challenging obstacles making it more relatable for the reader.

This novel is captivating and was a quick and enjoyable read. It is like watching a romantic comedy that you just don’t want to end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

What isn't there to love about Emily Giffin's books? I look forward to them coming out every year and this one was no different. This was such a fun story with hints of the JFK era. Everyone must read this and fall in love with Joe and Cate! Great summer read!

Thanks to the publisher for letting me read and review this one early!

4.5 stars! I've been a fan of Emily Giffin since the beginning, and I think this is one of her best books in recent years. I loved the historical fiction vibe (the book was loosely based on John F. Kennedy, Jr.) and got so wrapped up in Joe and Cate's story. Once I really got into it I flew through it! If you've been a long time Emily Giffin fan but her books have been hit or miss for you lately--absolutely give this one a try. It's excellent!

Clearly a reimagining of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bassette-Kennedy’s lives. I was more invested in Cate’s story as someone who left behind a dysfunctional family and took charge of her own life rather than the rest of the story about growing up with wealth, privilege, and the burden of a family legacy.

Thank you Penguin Random House, NetGalley & Emily Giffin for this advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The QUEEN is back & BETTER THAN EVER. Emily Giffin is an auto-buy author for me and I was SO EXCITED to be able to read this. I will not be able to stop raving about it. The book is loosely based off of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessett's relationship and I absolutely enjoyed every single second of it. I finished it in a day & when I wasn't reading it I found myself thinking about it.

Pre-order this book, purchase it on pub day, do whatever it is you have to do--> but this is a MUST READ for this summer.

things i liked
- The dual POVs of Cate and Joe. I loved getting the different perspectives from each of them & felt like it helped us get to know them both a lot better.
-The character building! I loved how we got to know Cate and Joe before they ever met. I felt like we got to know them as individual people really well before getting to know them as a couple.
- Joe & Cate's relationship. It was honest & real & flawed & all the things AND under the microscope of the press. I love how Emily made them into normal people despite who they were.

I really don't have any negatives. Without going into much detail to spare people I think the obvious twist with Joe's best friend Berry could have been left out all together.

But TRULY, this was another Emily Giffin masterpiece!

This book was an easy read. I didn’t fall in love with any characters like I have in her previous books but I think that was because the two mains are very clearly based on two real life people who are no longer with us. I would have liked more time to be spent on the later part of their life; the aftermath of the big event in the book seemed very rushed and that was actually the part I was most interested in reading. That would have made this more of a fictional book rather than what felt like a fictionalization of real life events with a different ending.

I’m a huge fan of the author and when I found out that she was releasing a book that was loosely inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette I was swooning even before I got a chance to read it. The characters were cute, the story was cute, it was overall just a really cute story that I flew through in two days.

I did not expect to love this book, but love this book I did!

When I initially saw the cover of this book, I thought it was a beautiful children’s book. It’s not often you see this type of cover on adult fiction, but after reading the story, I can see why the cover was chosen.

Before I began reading this book, I did a little research (okay, Google search) about JFK Jr & his wife, Carolyn Bessette. I knew this book was loosely based on their lives, but to be honest, I didn’t know much about them going into this. I’m glad I did a little online reading before starting this book. It made it more enjoyable as I was able to find commonalities and differences from real life.

I sunk into this story in a way I haven’t in other books, I think because it’s so different from anything I’ve read before. I was captivated & completely enamored by Joe & Cate’s love story. I felt the push and pull of their story & was completely immersed. Knowing what happened in real life had my heart POUNDING the last couple of chapters. I was dying to find out if it was going to mirror real life or go a different route (you’ll have to find out for yourself). The epilogue was the perfect ending & left me completely satisfied.

This is the perfect summer/beach read. Highly recommend!

Most everyone is familiar with the Kennedy family, their charisma is legendary and the Kennedy curse is well known. In Meant to Be, Emily Giffin tells the what-if story of Joe Kingsley III, a thinly disguised JFK Jr., and Cate Cooper, modeled after Carolyn Bessett, as they meet and fall head over heels in love.

As a romance, Meant to Be is swoon-worthy, with main characters that are beautiful inside and out. Joe's self-deprecating nature made me fall for him, and Cate's background and hard-scrabble life made me root for her happiness from the very beginning. The obstacles they must overcome to be together are what make a love story incredible.

I think I would have enjoyed the novel even more without the obvious Kennedy parallels, which the author acknowledges openly. While contemplating what might have happened between John and Carolyn was entertaining to a point, I just don't think it added significantly to the story, which is wonderfully romantic anyway.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Meant to Be. The opinions in this review are my own.

Joe Kingsley is the “It” guy of the eighties. Born into a high achieving, wealthy family - Joe always had that special something. Carrying the memory of his father, an astronaut and American hero who perished a tragic death, Joe is smothered with love from his stylish, well bred mother. With his all American good looks, athleticism and natural charm Joe finds it’s smooth sailing to pretty much get whatever and whomever he wants. His mother repeatedly reminding him that as the receiver of many gifts, much is expected. The pressure of being a Kingsley and barrage of unwanted publicity leaves Joe constantly on the search for true happiness and often his next adrenaline rush. One day, on a windy beach in the Hamptons, he stumbles upon a photo shoot and meets the most stunning woman he has ever seen. After continuous begging and pleading Cate finally agrees to a date. And just as Cate feared there is no turning back. Their pasts cannot be more different. Cate grew up in another world, a dysfunctional home filled with dread and disappointment. Until Joe, Cate never dreamed there was a love this great. Succumbing to the terrifying paparazzi and harsh public opinion, Cate cannot resist her full heart and Joe’s eternal optimism. Their romance is one people write books about. Loosely (very loosely!) based on the Kennedy’s these characters were easily imaginable and beloved. This “what if” novel is beautiful all on its own - but with JFK Jr’s handsome face in mind, Meant to Be comes instantly to life and melted my heart. This imaginative, well written, captivating love story is unputdownable and the absolute PERFECT summer read!

*Thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine via NetGalley for the ARC*

Confession. Oftentimes I don’t read blurbs or know very much about books before I actually start reading them. Sometimes, I regret it and other times, I’m pleasantly surprised. This was neither of those instances. I was floored. I had this whole other write up about Giffin’s work and my connection to her books growing up, but that was before the lightbulb finally went off in my head…wait, what?! This book was loosely based off of JFK jr. and Carolyn Bessette!! After I belatedly made that very obvious connection, I was completely hooked, a total goner. I love a good historical fiction but I especially love ones that feature elusive characters. Suddenly the world building became a lot clearer and to say I was invested would be a drab understatement. I started googling to see old pictures to compare and contrast fact vs fiction. I read the entire book including the author’s note then I went on a wiki deep dive. I was almost disappointed I had several other books waiting in my queue to review cause I just wanted to marinate in my book hangover and lose myself in a Kennedy related rabbit hole.

Famous connections aside, the premise of Meant to Be centers on American royalty Joe, whose late father’s legacy (but really his entire lineage) has dampened his future aspirations, as he coasts along living the life that is expected of him but not quite feeling his potential. Meanwhile, there’s Cate, who comes from a broken home but her determination to leave her troubled past behind comes to fruition in the form of modeling. Their paths converge and although there’s an intense connection, their polar opposite backgrounds prevent their journey from seamlessly aligning as they’d hoped.

Back to my previous spiel on Giffin’s work. Meant to Be evokes strong emotional responses from me not just from the content itself but also from Giffin’s style of writing. Her books are a staple, constant and comfortable, and I mean that in the best way possible. Just like Mariah Carey being the soundtrack for my damn life, Giffin might possibly be the same for me as an author. (Side note: I just unlocked a memory of me in Walden Books picking up Something Borrowed as a little bridal shower gift for someone but ended up reading and keeping it for myself, oops).

5/5 solid stars. If you’re anyone like me who has any type of celebrity fascination or are old enough to remember about that fateful plane crash, you can’t miss this one.

CW: parental death, domestic abuse, eating disorder, plane crash.

Lately I have not been liking her books but this one was like how she use to write! It was highly enjoyable and fun! It made me feel like I was reading the old Emily and I want her to stay around for a long time!

I always enjoy Emily Giffin's books. Meant to Be was good. It tells the story of Joe and Cate, a fictional couple based on JFK Jr. and his wife. I was so glad there was a happy ending in this case, though. I am not particularly interested in Kennedy history nor was I a big Kennedy fan. I say that because I don't want people to think you have to be in order to enjoy this book.

Meant to Be is a story of two people who have completely different backgrounds finding love and trying to make it work. Giffin drew inspiration from the Kennedy family. It is a very quick read that will have you wishing for this couple to find their happily ever after.

In the vein of JFK Jr and Caroline Bessett, Joseph Kingsley Jr meets model Cate Cooper and is immediately drawn to her. She is not from the same rich and famous upbringing as him, but she is self-made, honest, and interesting. Can they overcome their backgrounds and find love?

I read this book in one day; I could not put it down. If you like fictionalized books about the Kennedys or just star-crossed lovers, this one is for you. It does not stick to their real-life story so much to be a foregone conclusion and I really liked how Giffin just used them as examples for her characters and not just created a fictionalized timeline for them. This book is much more than I had expected, in a good way. The only thing I disliked about this book is the terrible ecru colored cover with pastels- just awful. Here's to hoping a different cover will entice more readers. Long time readers of Giffin will love this one as she keeps getting better and better.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review. 4.5 stars

Emily Giffin does not disappoint! I adore Emily Giffin. This is a departure from her other works. But a lovely Change.