This book was beautiful in every sense of the word. It was incredibly well written and kept you clinging to every moment of the story.

Through every turn I was rooting for Joe’s happiness and just hoping things would work out. Every chance for there to be something sabotaging him, I clung to the next chapter to make sure things would resolve themselves. Like every romance novel, I expected there to be bumps in the road, but this was truly a step beyond. It didn’t feel like a trope when something would go wrong, my heart broke more than once and felt light again as the story continued. Everything just felt so real and so raw that I had to question more than once if this was truly a work of fiction.

After reading the inspiration at the end, I found myself loving the book for than I had already. Her words about dating to think about “what if” really put a ribbon around the gift that is this book. The parallels between the Kingsley and Kennedy families weren’t lost on me, and it never felt like a forced connection.

I really adored this book and I’m afraid that whatever I read next won’t hold a candle to this one.

Joe grows up in the public eye. He is a Kingsley -- a family loosely based on our Kennedy clan. Cate is a self-made woman. She becomes the face of a Calvin Klein campaign and then works with an up and coming designer. They meet on the beach. Are they meant to be? Can they build a relationship that will not crumble under the expectations of his family or the baggage from hers? This would make a fabulous vacation read. Just open it up and escape into this "what might have been" story from Emily Giffin.

Meant to Be was mixed for me, but I would recommend it to fans of Kennedy lore. I loved the historical connections and it was great to see how the author tied in real-life tragedies to the fictional characters in the book. Joe and Cate were well-developed, with very real flaws and strengths. I probably liked them better as individuals than as a couple. The relationship didn't seem very high stakes to me. However, the author is a talented writer and I enjoyed the dual points of view.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

I love all of this author's books and this one was no exception. I tore through it and will recommend to my readers as a fun book this summer.

I like to think that Giffin is beyond the point of emotionally wrecking me, but her last few and Meant to be have continued to push her to that point and beyond.

I live for this authors books! She hits it out of the park on each and every one.

There is a lot of angst between the 2 main characters, Joe and Cate.

Cate is self made, works hard for anything and everything.

Joe is a Kingsley, he has a family name and everything that goes with it (think Kennedy's)

Cate becomes the face for Calvin Klein and is on billboards everywhere. When they meet on the beach by chance, Cate gives Joe her card to call her. He can't do so as he's seeing someone and she flips out at the sight of the card. I don't want to give too much away on whether they end up together or not - you'll just have to pick it up and love it as well.

I enjoyed the different POV's that this book had and the fact that it was loosely based on JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

This was a fun vacation read that I quickly recognized as being inspired by JFK Jr. I felt like the main characters were a little too good to be true but it fit with the re-telling of American royalty.

In Meant To Be, author Emily Giffin transports the reader to New York City, that follows the love story of Cate Cooper and Joseph Kingsley III.

Cate Cooper had a difficult childhood in Montclair, NJ. Her mom Jan married a narcissistic cop named Chip, who belittled them and was very abusive. Cate was discovered at the age of sixteen by a modeling agent in Atlantic City, and to escape the abuse at home, she began a successful modeling career in New York City, that eventually led to her becoming a sought after salesperson for a designer with prominent clients after she retired from modeling.

Joe Kingsley comes from a long line of privilege and wealth, his family has been prominent in business, the military, politics, and New York society. Joe is expected to carry on the family legacy, especially following in his father's footsteps.

When Cate and Joe meet on the beach in the Hamptons, what ensues is a love story that brings two people from very different backgrounds together. As their love story unfolds, Cate and Joe deal with complications from their backgrounds, individual life issues, long-held secrets, and discover the true meaning of love, friendship, and family.

In Meant To Be, author Emily Giffin easily captivates her readers' attention with this beautifully written tale that is loosely based on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessett-Kennedy's love story. This seamless and flowing storyline provides the reader with a wonderful description of NYC and the Hamptons, and characters who draw you into their lives with a strong emotional pull, along with their complexities, flaws and secrets.

Meant To Be is a wonderful story told in the first person alternating narrative that engages the reader to follow along as Cate and Joe's love story unfolds with plenty of drama, long-held secrets, trials and tribulations, life challenges, and family issues. The alternating storylines will keep the readers on their toes, but it all culminates in a heartwarming ending that will leave them with a smile on their face. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved following the same Camelot theme that the world knew during the Kennedy era. I loved reading about Joe and Cate's backstory and how even though their relationships with their families were definitely complicated, they were able to prove that they were Meant To Be!

The reader will be kept engaged as this wonderful story unfolds. With a cast of interesting characters, and a richly vivid description of New York and the Hamptons, Meant To Be is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances in life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/08/meant-to-be-by-emily-giffin-book-review.html

Not your typical cheesy romantic comedy. So good!!!
I loved the depth of the characters and the realistic love story. I enjoyed reading their love story and felt like it was realistic.

Very boring and lack luster. Don't love this author anymore either- she used to be such a good one for chick lit- but now she thinks shes american royality ( doesn't exist) and this book just did not do it for, very boring, bland, and weird wanna be JFK.

As always Emily has created a vivid scene and a really relatable and captivating story. I always love how she pulls from different aspects of life and works them into her writing.

I have been an Emily Giffin fan since the beginning so I was of course eagerly awaiting her newest book. This one just didn't really do it for me. I felt like the characters weren't as well developed as in previous books and the fact that she tried to have them be JFK Jr. and Carolyn but then in her author's note said other than their lifestyle the rest was all fictionalized was weird especially given the names of the characters being SO close to the originals she emulated them after - all the way down to the "Kennedy curse" stuff too. If you're going that route, go that route don't half-ass it.

LOVED IT! One of my favorite books so far this year! I loved the John/Caroline what-if idea of the book. It was such a fun and heart-filled book. I loved the characters. They felt believable, which can be rare in a romance. I loved the different viewpoints from the characters. The book was charming and I loved the nostalgic aspect. I highly recommend this book! It's a fast book because you're enjoying it. I was already a huge fan of the author and she didn't disappoint with this one either!

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I always enjoy Emily Giffin's books. They are quick and easy to read. This was no exception. This is a story of one family told in a dual timeline from various perspectives of the characters. This did a get a bit confusing tryhing to keep the various story lines straight. The story also takes place at the beginning of the pandemic and moves forward from there.

I liked the story,but don't know how vested I was in all the characters which is the reason for the 3 star rating.

I don’t know anything about the Kennedys, so I went into this book with no expectations. I thought it was good, not great. Maybe if I were a Kennedy fan, I would have enjoyed it more.

Couldn’t put this book down. I loved the 2 person pov. It sucked me in immediately. The “Kennedy” vibe was enthralling. How amazing that this story and dialog could very well have been playing out in their own lives (John Jr. and Carolyn). Emily did a bomb of a job encompassing fiction with realism. Getting to read both their perspectives and vulnerabilities hits right at the heart and lands the story in that lane of believability. You have Joe Jr. whose legacy he feels compelled to carry on. Always aware of the expectations placed on him from a young age. Cate, wow so complex, yet fiercely independent who learns from an early age to go after what she wants. Despite her dysfunctional family she learns to rely solely on herself. Until her path crosses with this persistent man. Together they begin a courtship fraught with obstacles both self induced and worldly. Come along for the ride you won’t be disappointed. In fact I guarantee you will go searching for her previous novels to read if you haven’t already. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting, if fairly predictable, book. It was obvious from the start that Joe and Cate were modeled after John F Kennedy Jr. and his wife. I enjoyed it but nothing really stood out to me. I felt like the characters and the relationship between Joe and Cate could have been better developed.

Rating: 4
genre: historical fiction & family drama
read this if you liked: The Dinner List

review: When I heard Emily Giffin’s latest book was based loosely on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s whirlwind romance, I knew I had to pick it up. Her last few books have been misses for me, but this one felt more like her older books. Meant to Be is about the life and love between Joe Kingsley Jr. and Cate, an unlikely pair who can’t help but be smitten for each other. I was immediately charmed by Joe Kingsley and loved seeing how his life of prestige and privilege didn’t stop him from going his own way. I loved how Cate challenged him. I wish there had been a bit more character development and romance, but I really enjoyed the relationship between the two of them and getting a “backstage look” at their life and what it could have been. I felt like the ending wrapped up a bit quickly, but it was certainly a heartwarming read.

This is probably my most favorite Emily Giffin novel! Very loosely based on the lives of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette IMO. I absolutely loved Joe and Cate's love story and backstories and everything. They were well-developed characters and I literally gasped out loud at one point of the story (thinking it was going to follow the real-life tragedy).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Meant to Be is such a sweet love story with JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette vibes. This star-crossed lovers story is the perfect beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.