Emily Giffin does it again. I ignored my family for 24 hours because I could not stop reading this. Inspired by the relationship between John F Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, this story follows Cate Cooper and Joe Kingsley. Their upbringings could not be more different as Joe is American royalty and Cate is a high school dropout who was discovered as a model at age 16. Through the highs and lows of their relationship, it’s hard not to fall in love with Cate and Joe and root for them. Absolutely one of the best books I’ve read. I can’t wait to see what Emily Giffin does next.

Did not finish. Pretty people falling in love, portrayed in a simplistic writing style. I couldn’t make myself care.

A thinly disguised what if book about JFK Jr and his life as a public figure. The what if part is the romance between him and the main character rather than a rich trust fund wife. It was a really interesting read and of course very sad given how his life really played out. I enjoyed the book and anyone who has followed the Kennedy’s will probably enjoy it too. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Well worth reading.

As a fan of Emily Giffin, I was excited to read her latest novel. Once again, she did not disappoint! The development of the characters leaves the reader feeling as if they are a part of their lives. As the plot progressed, it was the perfect combination of lighthearted and serious. I'm so glad I had the chance to read an advanced copy of the novel!

This book is completely captivating from the very first page. This is the type of book that grabs your attention with characters that are deeply complex yet relatable. The author created this fantasy of two people from opposite worlds finding commonality within their hearts. Joe is the quintessential American Prince. From a well respected family, perfect pedigree, and a bit of a rebellious side, he’s just a man trying to navigate a life and a legacy that was bestowed upon him at birth

I enjoyed how this book felt like diary entries from both Cate and Joe's POV. There was a level of intimacy in the author's writing that made the reader feel connected to the characters and a story. As a person who has always found the Kennedy family and legacy an intriguing topic to learn, I enjoyed how this author brought elements of their life into the story. This was an interesting story that was hard to put down. It’s unlike any other book I have read with elements of intrigue and surprise. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC

To most of us, the Kennedy family has become part of our lives. In this book, the similarities between JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette are real the what ifs… But it is also a book about two people from extremely different backgrounds finding love. A good summer read!

This story is almost a parallel to the story of JFK and Jackie Kennedy. Joe is expected to follow his father's footsteps into politics but struggles with his life. Cate is desperately trying to hide her family's background while achieving her goals. This is an enjoyable story with a somewhat predictable ending.

Emily Griffin is such an excellent storyteller. This story is completely different from her other books but in the best way possible. I couldn’t put this book down.

I didn't read Giffin's Author's Note until after I finished the book. So, it didn't come as a surprise to know that this story is an homage to the Kennedys, especially JFK Jr.'s life.
Emily Giffin does a wonderful job describing how stressful a political heir's life would be like. You root for Joe Kingsley, and you want him to get everything he's ever wanted, including Cate ... who is grounded and who grounds him.
Gosh, when that plane went down .... I was devastated.

DNF My first time reading Emily Giffin. Made it to 50%. How can two people with such exciting lives be so boring? Clearly Joe is based on JFK Jr and Cate is a white trash version of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, but they are extremely unrelatable characters. Then there’s the language, which is pretty vulgar. Graphically describing oral sex is not romantic. Nope, really hated it.

After a slow start (first couple chapters), this book picks up the pace with a beautiful story of Joe and Cate. He's from a world of privilege while she has endured more heartache than most people experience in an entire lifetime.

When they meet, it's instant love, and Giffin tells their story beautifully, capturing the emotions perfectly. Giffin creates a story that's a reminiscent of the Kennedy era and makes the reader wonder and wish "what if."

Fans of Giffin's books will enjoy her latest work, and this book is sure to gain her some more readers.

I always enjoy when an author takes a "what if" and a new narrative is born from it. That is what Meant To Be is, based off JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's real-life romance we meet Joseph Kingsley III and Cate Cooper. Two people from very different worlds find love, but is it enough to make it a lasting relationship? Add in the very public courtship and secrets they can't seem to hide plus Joe's prophetic family curse and it's a true test of what one is willing to do for love.
I really wanted to root for them more, but I had trouble relating to and emotionally connecting with either main character so as a romance novel the book fell a little flat for me. But seeing as it is loosely based off real people, ones I myself didn't follow in the media or know much about, it makes it hard to have an opinion on how they are portrayed. I just didn't quite understand the love connection, mostly in the beginning, when Cate was standoffish or had up a guard (though understandably to the reader) but Joe was so adamant in breaking through it without knowing what the readers did from her narration. Following a major event in the plot line though was when I changed my mind about them, especially Cate. Her character definitely undergoes the most change.
The book offers fresh perspectives on very real problems though that apply to people of all classes and that gave it substance and really drove the plot. I especially enjoyed Gary's words of wisdom.

Thanks to Netgalley for an electronic ARC of this book.

I wanted to love this book. I'm a fan of Emily Giffin but this one missed the mark for me. The story is very loosely based on JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, people many call American royalty. To my dismay, the parallels between reality and fiction proved to be too distracting for me to really enjoy the story. Maybe I've read too much about the Kennedys because I was able to anticipate most of the plotline. Giffin's tale of Joe Kingsley III and Cate Cooper is well written and would undoubtedly make a good movie.

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin

Thank you to Random House for our gifted copy of this book! This book is available on May 31st.

I LOVED LOVED this book! Only Emily Giffin could get me to read historical fiction. I loved the story and the characters. It captured my attention at the start and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. This was a beautiful story and will for sure be on many summer reading lists!

I recommend this one if:
-You love the Kennedy's or any type of famous/royal family
-You love romance with a side of historical fiction
-You love Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin’s newest book, out 5/31/22, is told from the alternating viewpoints of Joe and Cate, from their childhood through their 30s. Joe, who is heavily inspired by JFK Jr, is from a famous and privileged family and has been in the spotlight since his dad’s death when he was 3 years old. Cate (who is not really much like Carolyn Bessette other than maybe her look), comes from a very different kind of single parent family, and has struggled to make her own way to success as a model. Partway through the book, they cross paths, and then we get their relationship story.

I have been a huge fan of Emily Giffin ever since the beginning of her career, and have read all of her books - and am super-excited to be one of the first to read this one! This book is definitely a departure for her in a number of ways - that it covers so many years, that it is inspired by real people, that it is set in the 1960s-1990s. But what is not a departure is that she creates interesting characters and brings them to life and makes you really care about them. And I loved it! 4.25 stars.

A love story for the ages, “Meant To Be,” follows 2 stories of people who had very different upbringings. Joe Kingsley Jr, of the famous Kingsley family, and Cate Cooper, from Montclair, NJ have never crossed paths but one fateful day on the beach in the Hamptons they run into each other and they are never the same. Although their backstories are very different, there’s no denying that perhaps they are meant to be. Following a similar timeline to the John Kennedy Jr and Caroline Bassett-Kennedy love story, the story of Joe and Cate unfolds with such intrigue and undeniable chemistry you will find yourself rooting for them from beginning to end.

One of my favorite authors! I can’t get enough of giffin books and this one is one in the same. Loved it from beginning to end. I cried I laughed and I never wanted it to end

Here's another one to add to your summer reading list!
Emily Giffin is back with her latest book, "Mean to Be". A love story about Joe Kinglsey Jr - a man born into one of America's best known and cherished families - and the story of his falling in love with Cate Cooper, a model turned fashion sales manager. While the story itself is fiction, the characters and events in the book were heavily influenced by real-life couple, John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who as we know died tragically in a plane crash in 1999.

In alternating chapters from Joe and Cate we read along as they narrate their respective childhoods, adolescence, and finally their time together. Giffin weaves a compelling tale with plenty of romance and drama but also offers a more hopeful view of what maybe could have been had things turned out differently.

Perfect for your beach bag or airplane carry-on, "Meant to Be" is a quick, enjoyable read that will leave you hopeful and maybe a little more wistful for what could have been.

All you keep thinking throughout this book is that it is revisionist history and what may have happened if JFK Jr. and his wife had survived the plane crash and lived happily ever after. Giffin does deliver another satisfying read with Cate and Joe's story in Meant to Be. If you can keep yourself from comparing the two fictional leads to the two real-life characters and suspend disbelief, you will enjoy this book.

Meant to Be is a new novel by Emily Giffen. She has written some of my favorite books over the years so I am a fan.

This novel concerns two people from very different worlds. Cate is a young and beautiful girl who became a model to escape a horrible home situation. Joe Kingsley, III is American royalty, the son of beloved senator turned astronaut who was killed many years before. There is talk of a Kingsley curse due to all the accidents and untimely deaths surrounding the family. Comparisons with the Kennedys are intentional.

Cate and Joe meet and fall in love but, of course, there are many challenges for the young couple, Joe's life is always in the public eye and Cate is a much more private person.

I really enjoyed the novel. The main characters are loosely based on John Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The events of the novel and a reimagining of their love story.

Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Random House for letting me take a first look at this enchanting novel.