The beginning was tough-going and, for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book, but I’m glad I kept reading because "Kissing Kosher" ended up being an enjoyable read. I loved how it normalized open conversations about health and wellness. It was explored so well under the backdrop of feuding family-owned rival kosher bakeries.

Avital’s passion for photography has fallen to the wayside ever since she was diagnosed with chronic illnesses: Interstitial Cystitis [IC] and associated chronic pelvic pain. She feels bogged down by her responsibilities managing her family’s store, Best Babka, AND her pain.

Some of her chapters detailing how her condition affected her mental health were gut-wrenching. I don’t have chronic pain and only know a little from what I’ve heard from those who do have it. You could feel how real Avital’s pain was whenever she thought or talked about it. It’s been a nightmare for her, especially when seeking medical care has been unreliable or inconsistent. I wish I could take the pain away because she is such a good person who just wants to be happy and lead a fulfilling life.

This story is more of a one-sided enemies-to-lovers since Ethan is working undercover to steal Best Babka’s famous pumpkin spiced baka recipe for his family’s company, Lippmann’s Baked Goods, at his grandfather’s command. Ethan doesn’t want to but feels he has no choice so that his siblings are taken care of. Because he blames himself for both their parents’ death and his sister suffering a traumatic brain injury, Ethan does whatever his grandfather demands.

Ethan is such a gentle soul and he and his siblings deserved someone better than a spiteful and selfish old man. I hated that he felt like a failure, a disappointment, someone unworthy of love because his grandpa would always tell him so. Although Ethan’s at Best Babka for ulterior motives, I’m glad he could find companionship among the amazing staff, learn to be independent (his family’s very wealthy), and thrive.

One thing I appreciated about "Kissing Kosher" was the many candid and positive conversations about healthy boundaries, safe spaces, relationships, intimacy, health issues, and faith. It gave a sense of normalization of these often awkward or taboo-like topics. Instead, the story encourages openness about our experiences and the things we’re going through because it helps us deal with what we’re experiencing and know we are not alone.

Another thing I appreciated and found thought-provoking was the discussion about the differences between intimacy and sex. Because of her chronic pain, Avital had been worried she’d never be able to physically satisfy a partner or enjoy sex ever again. Avital and Ehtan are given good advice to consider if they want to have a satisfying romantic relationship (during and after the story).

"Kissing Kosher" was a good story with a warm-hearted romance. Both main characters were instantly attracted to one another and felt safe together. I learned a lot from the strong Jewish representation within the story. I know nothing about the recreational or medicinal use of cannabis, but it was interesting learning about it. The book also includes a reader’s guide with questions, which is great to have for this particular story. And I liked the emphasis on finding the joy in life that keeps you going and is fulfilling.

CW: chronic pain/illness, survivor’s guilt, emotional abuse, transgenerational trauma

Thanks again MIRA and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

I liked this book, I really did. I liked that it highlighted struggles that people with chronic pain, or chronic illnesses deal with. I think that that is often an overlooked group of people. And they are often left to suffer on their own, with no real hope of help, or relief.

And while I find it important that this is being highlighted, I just felt that it became more of a endorsement and advertisement for marijuana. I 100% believe that people with chronic illnesses and diseases should use marijuana if it will help relieve their pain and symptoms... But, perhaps the entire plot of the story should not be about that? And on the other hand, I do see why it would be a big part of the story. I am so conflicted!

Avital is a pretty human character. Dealing with everyday struggles, trying to find a balance, and trying to understand her life now with a chronic illness. And I feel like she's also apeople-pleaser, which I identify with. It's very hard to let go of that, even when it is detrimental to yourself.

I like that Ethan arrived knowing absolutely nothing, but left with more knowledge not only about baking, but about himself. I like that he learned that he is worthy, and worth loving, and that he deserves love in general. I like that he learned to stand up for himself, and I also really liked that he found a friend and a companion in Avital. I just wish that their meeting had happened more organically, instead of because of Ethan's grandfather. However, I realize that there would not be a story otherwise.

I am glad that Avital and Ethan paved their own path. And I am glad that the grandfather's put their hurt, and animosity aside, and were able to come together at the end.

Again, overall a good story that I enjoyed reading. Possibly a 3.5 star rating.

I enjoyed this! It had me hooked with the first line, and I couldn't put it down. I did struggle with a few elements within as they're personal triggers for me, but that's not something that the book did. I think this is an important read and hope that Jewish readers, chronically ill readers, and chronically ill Jewish readers enjoy this!

Another cute story from Jean Meltzer. Love her Jewish representation and her vulnerability with showing women with health problems. Talk about real life characters!!
The bakery was a great place for this setting...babka..YUM!

WARNING: the unpopular opinion train has made another unscheduled stop...

There is just something about a good contemporary with a food angle that I never seem to be able to resist, so of course I was drawn to Kissing Kosher straight away. I loved the sound of the bakery, the family feud and the focus on chronic illness, and I've been looking forward to dive in. I fully expected to enjoy my time with this story, and the reviews have been raving so far... But somehow I ended up having mixed thoughts instead.

First of all, I have to stress that I still love the premise of this story. If you like a food angle in your stories, you will be in for a real treat Kissing Kosher, and you will be craving all kinds of Jewish treats long before you reach that final page. While it's true that I've never personally tasted many of those treats mentioned in this story, it's definitely made me want to look up recipes and try. The Best Babka bakery plays a central role in the plot, and I really liked what both the setting and the characters working there added to the plot.

I also have to stress that my mixed feelings might just have to do with the fact that my (apparently extremely) fickle reading mood has been acting up more than usual lately, and it might just have been the wrong time for me to read this story. That said, there was just something about the writing style, tone and word choice that really started to grate on me. Don't get me wrong, I did love the inclusion of Jewish terms and customs... The explanations helpful if you are not that familiar with certain aspects of the religion. BUT. There was also quite a lot of repetition going on and the word choice in certain descriptions just didn't feel natural to me. Especially Avital and Ethan's interactions can be considerably cringeworthy, and I just never felt their chemistry.

I mentioned repetition before, and I also have to say that certain parts of the plot were way too slow and too much like a big old info-dump. While I appreciate certain information being provided, was it really necessary to do so in such a detailed and scholarly way? Like I said, there was just something off about the tone, which was a bit all over the place. As for the main characters... I also ended up having mixed thoughts. While I can appreciate some aspects of their personalities and the challenges they face, I somehow never connected to them, and especially the romance lacked chemistry as well as credibility.

I also wasn't a fan of how chronic illness was incorporated into the story; I understand the importance of shining a light on just how much chronic illness can affect your life, but somehow the constant repetition and aggressive way of describing everything had an opposite effect on me. (I have Hashimoto's disease, so I do have some experience dealing with chronic illness even though it's not chronic pain; it's not like it should be hard to relate to Avital on paper, but somehow I struggled anyway.) I also don't find it credible that medical marijuana was never mentioned as an option for Avital, and especially in this day and age.

All in all there were things I liked in Kissing Kosher, while other aspects didn't work as well for me personally. Fickle reading mood or simply not for me... Either way, if you like the sound of this story, please keep in mind that most people do seem to love this book.

A big thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jean Metzler, an author who has recently written her third book, which I've had the pleasure of reading. The main character in this book battles a chronic medical condition—a daily trial that shapes not only her routine but also her career path.

The story has Ethan Rosenberg caught up in a predicament orchestrated by his grandfather, Moishe. The mission -- To steal the coveted Pumpkin Babka recipe from Chayim Cohen, a long-time adversary. The twist is that Chayim and Avital's grandfather were once close comrades and business partners, their bond shattered by a bitter feud that spiralled into a war in the courtroom.

Ethan's journey takes an unexpected turn when Avital employs him at her bakery. As he unravels a complex web of inconsistencies woven into the stories surrounding the historic feud. A friendship blossoms between Ethan and Avital, igniting a relationship that begins to glow brightly.

This book is a seamless blend of easy reading and thought-provoking themes that subtly simmer below the surface. It unveils the seldom-spoken condition of interstitial cystitis—a medical mystery to many, including myself. Additionally, it led me to read more about the medicinal uses of cannabis, a topic that piqued my interest due to my past experience using CBD for my elderly cat. This book, with its tenderly crafted narrative brimming with depth and emotional resonance, is a treasure for those who relish rom-coms laced with poignant representations of chronic illness. I highly recommend it.

Kissing Kosher is Jean Meltzer third romance novel that features a protagonist learning to live with a chronic illness, as she does, while falling in love. She also highlights her Jewish faith and how it enriches the lives of her characters.

I've read all three of Meltzer's books and have enjoyed them all; this one was no exception. Here she features a bit of a Romeo and Juliet family feud style history between our romantic couple's families, and it definitely adds to the tension throughout the story. This story felt even more personal than her previous two novels in the challenges that Avital has to face on a daily basis with her chronic illness, and some readers may be uncomfortable with those difficult facts. But I loved how she and Ethan find some nontraditional solutions to her discomfort and the ways they as a couple have to navigate their relationship. The research Meltzer did to write her book could definitely help others who suffer similarly.

I have loved very book I've read by Meltzer and this one was no exception! I loved Avi and Ethan, our main characters, and couldn't wait to learn more about them -- both separately and together. I loved that it was set in a bakery and spent most of the book desperate for a pumpkin babka -- I wish a recipe for one had been included! -- and I definitely need to make one now. As with Meltzer's other books, I loved the Jewish and chronic illness rep. Avi struggles with a nearly invisible chronic condition that affects so much of her life and is hard to talk about as it affects her bladder, uterus, ability to have sex, etc. I love how Ethan loved her and my absolute favorite part was this discussion about intimacy being about boundaries and the Rabbi's perspective on Jewish love, romance, boundaries, traditions, etc. This part really made me think a lot about relationships (of all kinds), love, boundaries, and how we structure our lives. I loved how these characters developed and the ending. I would recommend it if you like Meltzer's other books, romance, or books about characters following their own hearts and paths.

I’ll happily read Jean Meltzer’s romances anytime. Avital (Avi) Cohen co-owns with her twin brother a kosher bakery called Best Babka in Brooklyn. It isn’t her dream but a necessity as it gives her a job she can do while trying to manage her chronic pelvic pain. She hires Ethan who she thinks is a baker. In reality Ethan is the grandson of her family’s rival. Their grandfather’s were partners once before they split each accusing the other of misdeeds. Ethan’s grandfather wants him to steal the signature recipe so they can mass produce it for their company.

Ethan is adorable character and he finds he really likes Avi. They spend time talking while working and he takes a load off her shoulders. Her chronic pain is a huge part of the story and it leads to one of the best showings of the use of medicinal marijuana I’ve seen in a fictional book. I like that Ethan’s secret is shared with Avi before they become intimate (off the page) so I don’t feel she is being deceived. As always Meltzer shows realistic Judaism and makes it very much a part of the story. She explains some Jewish elements and uses words that can be recognized in context of the story. I loved the ending.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review.

The feud between the Lippmanns and the Cohens because of their bakery, Best Babka Bakery in Brooklyn, still continued after all of these years.

It continued with another idea by Moishe Lippmann that forced his grandson Ethan to get a job at the bakery and to not reveal who he was or what he was after.

What he was after was the recipe for the pumpkin-spiced babka recipe that Chayim Lippman claims Moishe stole from him.

Having that recipe would be the ultimate win because that recipe is literally kept under lock and key by the family and loved by every patron and lover of sweets in Brooklyn.

Ethan presented himself for the job as a seasoned chef who had worked in Paris when he had never baked or worked a day in his life.

Can he pull it off since he has no baking experience?

Well…it seems so since he was not allowed in the kitchen. He was relegated to taking out the trash and assembling the trademarked pink boxes.

While he has no access to the kitchen, he does have another perk - Avital Cohen the owner.

She makes his heart flutter, but it would be a sin to fall in love since their families are such mortal enemies.

Will Ethan and Avital be able to keep apart?

Will Ethan be looking more for love than worrying about stealing the recipe his extremely stern and critical grandfather demands?

KISSING KOSHER was a delightful, entertaining read with some nice surprises. You will love all the characters.

It was also educational for me as I learned about the Jewish culture and customs. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars
Age Rating: 17+
Spice Level: 1/5

The Matzah Ball remains my favorite Jean Meltzer book…
But this one is my new second favorite!
The disability representation was absolutely incredible. There were so many important discussions around living with chronic pain, medical mistreatment and trauma, pain management, sexual dysfunction religion and identity when you’re living with chronic pain and disability… and of course so much more, Judaism and family.
This book has it all—
Romeo and Juliet-esque feuding families
A feuding food establishmant fight over a secret recipe a la Mr Krabs and Plankton from Spongebob
Marijuana*
And of course, swoony romance

*The book actually has some phenomenal discussions about marijuana, and medical marijuana that I really enjoyed. I loved seeing that stigma tackled and broken down in a book, and I think Jean Meltzer did it wonderfully.

This book was both incredibly fun and incredibly heartfelt. I love Avital and Ethan and the whole Best Babka crew. Sometimes—especially when it came to the rivalry—things got a bit too overdramatic for my taste, but all in all, it really is an amazing, important book that I cannot recommend more. Do be warned—it will leave you desperately craving pumpkin babka!

Rep: Jewish MCs, interstitial cystitis, chronic pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, vulvodynia, fibroids, menstraul problems, medical trauma
CW: chronic pain, suicidal ideation, sex-related pain & sexual dysfunction, ableism, medical trauma/gaslighting doctors/doctors that can’t or won’t help you, abusive parental figure, emotional abuse, parent loss (off page, in the past), cannabis use (medical and non-medical), sexual content

Absolutely love this book I’m a big fan of Jewish romance novels and absolutely love to couldn’t recommend more!

Avital Cohen manages her family's kosher bakery with her twin brother, Josh. She would love to become a professional photographer, but she has chronic pelvic pain. She decides she needs help at the bakery, so she hires Ethan Lippmann. He is actually going there undercover, as his grandfather works at a rival bakery with the intention of stealing a recipe. Ethan soon finds that he is more interested in Avital than stealing family secrets. It was a cute rom-com, and I always love it when there are Jewish characters.

Another delightful read from Jean Meltzer. While her books have a not-quite-perfect Jewish female protagonist dealing with some form of chronic illness, they are still funny and heartwarming. It was also a quick read as I became immersed in the story and could not put it down.

“Kissing Kosher” opens with a line sure to get your attention. “Avital Cohen wasn’t wearing underwear.” Probably not what you think. It has to do with her illness.

Anyway, Avital is co-owner, with her twin brother Josh, of a kosher bakery in Manhattan. It is very popular, and she needs help. Her chronic pelvic pain wears on her, making it difficult to keep up with all the things she must do in managing the bakery. Ethan Rosenberg applies for the position and is hired. What Avital doesn’t know is that Ethen Rosenberg is actually a Lippmann – as in the grandson of Moishe Lippmann who was the original co-owner of the bakery with Avital’s grandfather Chayim. Moishe and Chayim were childhood friends but had a falling out over the bakery and have not spoken since. Now Moishe wants Ethan to steal a recipe that Moishe claims Chayim stole from him.

As they work together in the bakery, Ethan and Avital fall in love. But he knows he must reveal his true name at some point…and risks losing Avital when he does.

I loved the characters – Avital, Ethan, Ethan’s brother Randy, ex-con baker Tootles, Josh, and hippie Rabbi Jason. They seemed so real with their emotions and their flaws, people you would want in your life. The family dramas are real. I am sure they will remind us of all of a family we know.

I have now read all three of her books, and my book club loves them as well. This one lends itself well for book club discussion – family squabbles that carry across generations, living with chronic pain, the use of medical marijuana (I learned a lot there), building your own family, sex versus intimacy. (My book club will be reading it in October.) And let me warn you – the delicious-sounding baked goods are sure to make you crave them.

Thank you to Harlequin MIRA for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Such a cute and well written book! I did not want to put this one down and would pickup another by the author in a heartbeat for sure!!!

2.5 stars. I grabbed this ARC because I remember seeing some potential is the author’s earlier book, and I was interested to see how her writing had developed. Y’all, I got some thoughts.

First, the positives: I rounded up to 3 stars because there are a lot of factors and stresses from the characters’ lives that are incorporated into the story. Both MCs respect each other and a lot of the drama to their relationship comes from their families and life situations, less from trope-y not communicating and making big assumptions. The set-up is very Romeo-and-Juliet. The Jewish identity and heritage of both MCs and most of the side characters is important to the story, and Jewish holidays and customs feature prominently. The FMC has a chronic illness/chronic pain, and that’s also a huge part of the relationship. All these are so great to see!

Now. I have concerns. To start: the FMC decides to try cannabis for her chronic pain, and also hopefully that will allow her to have sex (normally blocked by her pain level). It read as suuuuper sketchy to me that the first time she tried marijuana was also the first time the couple had sex. It’s alluded to that the couple have some physical explorations in the previous weeks but don’t go “all the way.” It’s also problematic because the high the FMC experiences was not at all what she was expecting. I do think there is space in relationships for one or both partners to drink or take substances without it revoking consent. But for her to actually not know what she’s getting into with this form of pot and then to have sex for the first time (with the MMC)? Not right.

And. I am into the discussion of romance as a fantasy genre, what readers connect to, we know it’s different from reality, all that. The relationship, though, was not the most fantasy-universe thing about this book.
1. Prior to the start of the story, the FMC has a sudden-onset pain condition. She gets diagnosed essentially immediately, which is unheard of. Some of my symptoms also started in college, and I didn’t get a diagnosis until 25 (for PCOS), 35 (for MCAS), and, at 40, still waiting to confirm or rule out an additional autoimmune diagnosis. The idea of receiving a diagnosis within a year is unheard of, based on the lived experiences of everyone that I personally know who has an AI disease.
1b. The FMC is frustrated that her doctor— the 4th or 5th “specialist” that she’s seen in the past 2 years— can’t help her. Honestly, almost everything about the day-to-day living for the FMC as a chronic illness sufferer seemed super accurate to me, except for these major things. The notion that you could get in to see that many specialists! I had to wait so long for my intake appointment with my immunologist that my referral *expired*. It was over 14 months. My referral for a rheumatologist was sent 2.5 YEARS ago. This is loo loo.
2. The MMC, who has never washed a dish or cooked a meal, takes to baking like a duck to water. I would probably have glossed over that if he had any artistic talents— but it’s specified in the text that he was never given space or freedom to take up any arts or hobbies— OR if he had a science/chemistry background— but again, his business-accounting-marketing-management education is brought up several times. The part that’s a complete fantasy, though, is that after a couple of weeks’ experience with regular baking, he’s going off-book, able to create GF products and other baked goods with huge substitutions. I’m no slouch in the kitchen, and I’ve been making most things from scratch for over 15 years (wow, that’s depressing, I don’t usually think about how long my journey has been, QUICKLY MOVING ON), and I still struggle with baking. I’m on vacation, so I’ve been in the kitchen every day, trying to perfect some recipes so they don’t need any additional experimentation and can become regular weeknight/weekend things. This week alone, a) from a recipe in a printed cookbook, the wet-dry proportions were so wrong I had the throw the whole thing out, a complete loss (and have you priced coconut flour recently? That’s not a cheap thing to just throw away); b) a second recipe from a real and printed cookbook had texture issues and to be fair, my teen ate all of them because the flavor wasn’t bad but I didn’t even eat a whole one; c) nowhere in town sells barley flour, so I had to make it in my kitchen, using my spice grinder, 1/4c at a time (although the muffins did turn out pretty well, if you can ignore the occasional 1/2 piece of barley that got through); and d) a 4th recipe from a real and published source again had proportion problems— and I was following the directions as written without making additional substitutions, for all of these, btw— that we didn’t eat these cookies as intended so much as literally eat them with a spoon out of a bowl because they did not hold a shape.
ALL THAT TO SAY, if I can’t do it after 15 years, how can I believe this pretty boy with no kitchen experience can knock it out of the park?

Maybe these issues won’t be noticeable to readers not living with the chronic illness. My experiences seem to match up with those of my friends who also have chronic disease, but maybe we’re a weird little pocket and the majority of people with AI diagnoses don’t have the same history.

The writing was very info-dump-y as characters explain things to each other. I don’t hate that, but it may be jarring for some. The narration also tended to be repetitive, and more stuff happened off-screen/in passing than I like.

The story is sweet and the representation is appreciated. For healthy people looking for a beach read, this is fine, but the writer still has a little ways to go before I can actually recommend her.

A new take on Romeo and Juliet featuring two warring kosher baked goods places? Here we go! Avital Cohen has had a hard life, she's in constant pain due to her chronic pelvic pain and is forced to deal with it every waking second of her life, her photography dreams are not really going anywhere and she's doing everything she an to manage her family's kosher bakery, Best Babka in Brooklyn... all without collapsing. With how busy everything is and her chronic pain flaring, she needs help and when an all too handsome guy with an overqualified resume comes in she knows he's too good to be true but hires him because what choice does she have. Ethan Lippman is everything but perfect.... he is actually working undercover for his abusive grandfather who has asked him to steal the Cohen's secret recipe for their best selling babka. Ethan's life has changed ever since his parents died in a tragic accident and his grandmother's death has also added onto his grandfather's short temper. Ethan's youngest brother Randy is only obsessed with cannabis and his younger sister is in the hospital since the accident, leaving Ethan to deal with his grandfather. Ethan's grandfather is obsessed with destroying the Cohen's after the family dispute between them and his entire life his grandfather has been nothing but abusive but Ethan keeps forgiving him and making excuses for his behavior... yet the more time he spends with Avital and her family the more he is beginning to realize that maybe he doesn't know the whole story and maybe he should not have to deal with his grandfather's abuse. This one was an okay read for me but I just didn't really care for the romance between them all that much and the fact that there was a forced family reconciliation after everything that happened just didn't work for me as someone who doesn't really believe in allowing toxic family members back into their lives. I do appreciate the representation of chronic pain in this one but that's about it for me unfortunately. If you are looking for a romeo and juliet inspired retelling with a bakery then give this one a go maybe it'll work out better for you than it did for me.

*Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I requested this book because I saw the author on a panel during ALA. I'd never heard of her before, but when I heard her speak and heard her story, I knew I wanted to read her stuff.

Avi works at her family bakery, and seldom wears underwear. It's not for a sexy reason, it's because she deals with consistent, if not constant, pelvic pain. She's resigned herself to a certain way of life, and while she doesn't love it, she copes. Then she has Ethan, this man who starts working at the bakery, come and change everything she things she knew, but he has a secret. He's the grandson of the owner of a rival kosher bakery, there to steal a secret recipe for his vindictive grandfather.

I liked it a lot. It was cute while also being informative. I don't ever love forced reconciliation with family members, though, so that part rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy of Meltzer’s newest and most adorable to-date book. I loved Meltzer’s careful consideration of a female main character with a disability and the precious relationships behind just the protagonists. And once again, I cannot overstate just how much I adore a book with food at its core, especially Jewish food. There is so much to enjoy with this book. I have to admit the first one hundred pages were a challenge for me to dive into because Meltzer has so much background to cover with the rivalry at stake, and I put off continuing longer than I should have, but I’m so glad I kept going because it is such a sweet read.

The Lippman and Cohen families have been rivals for two generations after a mysterious falling out. Avital Cohen, the general manager of Best Babka in Brooklyn, is helping to keep the business she now co-owns with her very distractable brother Josh afloat–in spite of her chronic illness–he has a head for baking but not for business. Their company is hugely successful but growth is limited by their small shop. It’s secretly infiltrated by Ethan (Lippman) Rosenberg, who at his grandfather’s behest, plans to steal the pumpkin babka recipe that made Best Babka famous. His dreams are dashed when instead of starting out in the kitchens, he’s stuck folding boxes and going on a supplies runs. His meet cute with Avi is seeing her naked tuchus after they collide (due to her chronic cystitis, she’s sans underpants), and his attraction is immediate. Avi keeps Ethan at arms length first because of her challenging pelvic issues and then because she learns his true identity–and keeps his secret.

Their burgeoning relationship grows slowly as Ethan, who is truly a mensch, becomes a friend, then supporter, then lover of Avi, always empathetic to her illness without ever making her feel less than. The plot is complicated by Ethan’s family issues (the grandfather who took him in alongside his pothead younger brother and disabled younger sister after their parent’s death is abusive and controlling). Avi’s depiction of living with a chronic illness is real, matter-of-fact, informative, and well-characterized; suffering readers will feel seen. Finally, a fantastic subplot about a halachic rabbi in the medical marijuana trade brings it all together in a satisfactory way.

Jean Meltzer keeps getting better with every book. Hebrew/Yiddish/Jewish terms and festivals are succinctly explained, but I think she could take the lead from writers like Sonia Dev or Elena Armas who let terms in their original language sit as they are used, providing context but leaving it to the curious reader to do the grunt work to define a term, look up a translation, or do their own research. In fact, Meltzer could do less telling and more showing. I did have a sense that things were cut or simplified to keep the page count a little lower while maintaining wonderful details like the characterizations of other workers at Best Babka (a shout-out to the phenomenal ex-con who loves to knit and make bourekas; his presence serves to show tikkun olam in action). The over-explaining is the only reason this is a 4 1/2 star book instead of a 5 star book for me, and I’m blaming it on editing, not content, writing, setting, or characterization, which are all A+.

Additionally, I take with the reviewer who claimed in their NetGalley review, “This book had serious representation issues, that made me wonder (and look up) whether the author was Jewish.” Not only is Meltzer Jewish, she went to rabbinical school and cites rabbinic supervision in the acknowledgements! If there is one thing my conversion to Judaism taught me, it’s that there is more than one way to be Jewish; it’s a culture, a religion and an ethnicity with tons of diversity and degrees of practice. Just because she went with an interpretation that breaking a glass in a wedding represents the fragility of human life (which is just one of several meanings of the symbolic ritual) or that her main character schedules an interview for Friday afternoon (it’s not sundown YET) does not mean she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Avital and Ethan are not modern orthodox, but prayer and tradition is important to them and maybe supercedes travelling on Shabbat, and that’s okay.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #KissingKosher from #NetGalley.