A huge thanks to Mira & HTP for my advanced copy of Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer. I've enjoyed her romances and always learn so much about Jewish culture and religion by reading her books.

While Magical Meet Cute isn't a favorite, I still enjoyed reading it. I'm not a huge amnesia or magic storyline fan so I struggled with that aspect, but I did like how this book looked at antisemitism and PTSD. I felt like the romance was a little lacking too .

This was a quick read and I liked the dual point of view.

I absolutely loved Kissing Kosher so I was excited for this book. Then I had the privilege to see Jean Meltzer in conversation with another author at a local bookstore and I was just blown away by what an extraordinary, thought provoking, and engaging human being she is which made me extra excited to read and review this book! So yes, I love her past work and think she is an amazing person but I still am here to share an honest review!

Faye may have been deemed too much by her ex-fiancé, but she has worked really hard to find herself and her place in the world. Life is much quieter since leaving her law firm in Manhattan to find her true calling as a practicing Jewitch and potter in Woodstock. However, the events of October 7th have changed the world for Jewish people and disturbed the peace Faye has worked so hard for; Meltzer illustrates both the anti-semitism that has no place in 2024…but also the love and support from communities that counter the hate. In an exhausted world where ugliness has showed up, Jean Meltzer brings Jewish folklore to life in an enchantingly beautiful and powerful read!

I love Jean Meltzer books so much! This one did not work for me. Greg was the most annoying character. I didn’t feel this book matched the premise at all.

This was a really cute book! Jean Meltzer writes such cute romances and I love that she writes Jewish joy! This one was so funny and such a quick read

I loved Faye and her community of people-the ones who believe in her more than she believes in herself. When the town is faced with antisemitism, Fay wants to stand strong. Around that same time she accidentally hits a man, Greg, with her bike, and he has amnesia as a result. Their meet-cute is fun and their relationship evolves, but Faye struggles to believe in love, so she believes Greg isn’t real, but is a result of her Jewitch magic. This was a heartfelt read with a warm and fuzzy ending.

3.5 stars, thank you to netgalley, Jean Meltzer and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eArc.

I thought this was an inspiring romance story. It was quirky and I usually love that but I might have found this a little too much at times. I loved the magical realism and how the author showed modern day anti-Semitic in the story. It is not your typical romance story because it does focus on some heavy topics but there is some humor to break it up.

I cannot lie; this one got weird. Even though it was written by a Jewish author, the tone felt like it almost fetishized the experience of being Jewish. I am giving it 2 stars because I know that was not the author's intent. I'd genuinely like to see representation and I do appreciate that the author is writing from her heart.

I really wanted to like this book. The author is good: the writing and characters were funny.

I DNF after the first few chapters. I was expecting a spooky, paranormal romcom with a Jewish main character—cool, on board.

But I admit the trauma references and the anti-semitism took me out of the cute vibes and I didn’t want to finish. Obviously, these are real issues many (all?) Jewish people face and it may land differently for them. (I’m not Jewish, but my husband is by genetics and history, though not a practicing).

I like the “Jewitch” references and the experiences of a modern Jewish woman in paranormal romance. But the super serious side made me sad and I didn’t want to be sad when picking up this book. Might be a good fit for other readers though.

I wanted to be more into this book than I was. It had a lot of tropes & plot points that would’ve been right up my alley, but this didn’t click with me. I DNF around 20%.

I think a lot of readers will love it though!
Thank you for the opportunity.

This book embodies the idea of taking the good with the bad. The concept is a little unique and with so much ugliness in the world, it feels very connected to now. Hate is very prevalent in the world today so be careful if this could be triggering for you. The rest of the premise of the story, out of concern for her safety, Faye crafts a Golem and ends up with a man. There is some definite whimsy there to take some of the sting out of the seriousness of the anti-Semitic flyers and hate in the town. The man adds a bit of romcom aspect but only a bit as the romance was not center stage in the book which is fine with me as I prefer a good mystery. Again, we are taking the good with the bad. If you are looking for love or at least looking to read about it this might not be for you. If you don't mind mystery overshadowing romance, then there is some good in this book.
Another unique aspect of this book was Faye herself who was Jewish and her beliefs were part of the story. In part, they may have been a bit much overwhelming reads with Jewish history and words that we don't understand. The amnesia storyline is fairly commonplace but it was more than amnesia because he forgot how to do basic stuff.
So again, we have to take the good with the bad. However, the one thing i couldn't get over was how could a woman targeted by hate invite someone, a stranger, into her home so easily. Yes, it is possible to feel bad for someone but the better option was to get them help not take them in. People aren't strays and strays can bite the hand that feeds them.
I will say it again. If you read this book, you take the good with the bad. There was a lot you have to overlook and some of it you can overlook because the book is meant to entertain. I just couldn't abide by her reckless with taking in a strange man. Some might enjoy this book but it was not for me. I'm giving it three stars when it reality it is more like a 2.5-2.75.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Dual POV, Jewish Rep, Magic Element, Meet Cute, Amnesia, Forced Proximity

I wish the romance would have been a bigger focus in the book, it felt the romance took a back seat to the mystery elements. I appreciated the Jewish representation (although as a non-Jewish reader I could have used some more information and detail rather than having to put the book down to Google certain things) and the funny full cast of character but ultimately found the tension between Faye and Greg to be lacking the usual spark and tension that's there in romcoms.

I have read Jean Meltzer’s books and often felt so connected to them. Magical Meet Cute started and finished strong, but there were some parts of the story that seemed a bit far-fetched for me. The characters of Faye and Greg were likeable and throughout the pages needed to find themselves and understand the importance of embracing imperfection. The story sheds light on antisemitic acts happening in communities and how it impacts the people living there. There is a lot of power in searching for the truth, trusting your instincts, and surrounding yourself with people who care about the real you. Meltzer also explains some Jewish history throughout her pages, which was fascinating to read about. I am giving it 3.5 stars because some of Faye’s actions were a bit grandiose for me. It was a quick read. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an opportunity for an early and honest review.

Did not finish.
I dnf’d this book at 15%
I am somewhat familiar with Jewish culture, but the frequent use of Hebraic terms with no explanation left me confused.
I also didn’t like the combination of Judaism and witchcraft.
And I do not care for queer books and the main characters best friend was a prominent character.
All in all, this book was simply not at all for me.

This ended up being just average to me. I love the combination of jewish folklore that was new to me and traditional romance. I would recommend this to others during spooky season when they need something light. Even though it's light it does take on more serious topics that I thought were well done. The twist was predictable for me which drew me away from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by Jean Meltzer and I was initially intrigued by the storyline and Jewish representation. Faye is a self-proclaimed “Jewitch” with a history of childhood trauma and traumatic breakup who encounters antisemitic hate crimes (specifically antisemitic flyers) in her small town of Woodstock, NY. Faye is a gifted ceramist who owns her own ceramic studio and is targeted by a hate group called The Paper Boys. After coming across the antisemitic flyers, Faye drinks a bottle of wine and crafts her own Golem, which is a creature made from clay designed to protect the Jewish people in times of trouble. When she gets into an accident with a mysterious man named Greg the next day, she brings him home under her care as he suffers from a bout of amnesia. As Faye and Greg grow closer, she can’t help but wonder if her Golem came to life in the form of Greg.

Overall I appreciated reading a book with positive Jewish representation and Jewish folklore. This is actually the second new release I’ve read in the past year with a Golem as a main character. Given the rise in antisemitism in recent years, it sadly comes as no surprise to me. I struggled with remaining interested in the romance, however. At times it felt forced and the genitalia references were a little much. That said, the book has led me to follow Meltzer on social media and I look forward to trying out another book by her.

The story is compelling, but I’m not really seeing it as a romance. I wasn’t expecting the mystery to take up the majority of the plot. It’s ok, but not really my thing.

This is the fourth of Jean Meltzer's books I've read, and once again, it did not disappoint! Faye is a Jewitch who owns Magic Mud Pottery in Woodstock, New York. The town gets vandalized with Antisemitic posters. Faye creates a golem out of clay, and then burries it in her backyard. The next day, she hits a man while riding her bike, who upon visiting him in the hospital, has no idea who he is, but freakishly resembles the golem Faye created out of clay. Upon learning Greg has no idea who he is, instead of taking him to a shelter, Faye lets him move in with her. This story is super cute as it encompasses Faye and Greg's friendship, along with Faye's other friends, trying to figure out who he is. The book was wonderful for current times, as it discusses Antisemitism, and Jews, as well as non Jews coming together to help the Jewish community in Woodstock. I absolutely loved this novel, and can't wait to read Jean's upcoming release next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*2.5
This was not what I expected.
Faye is a very interesting character with a lot of depth, but she was also very repetitive in her thinking and constantly talking herself down, which became a bit much after the third identical self-doubt internal monologue.
Greg is a golden retriever. I can’t say that I dislike him in any way. At least, not his personality.
I find the premise of the story far fetched. I am all into the amnesia theme; however, forgetting how to make eggs and talk and other everyday stuff sees far-fetched. Maybe this is a legit issue for people who bump their head, but it isn’t written in a believable way. Also, inviting someone into your home when people are blatantly hating your existence is such a dumb move. It made the story more entertaining for sure, but that was nuts on Faye’s part. I would also like to say that their interactions in the early stages are really odd; Faye is being a caregiver to a grown man she doesn’t know…weird.
Her heritage/cutlure/religion was a really enlightening aspect of this story. There was A LOT going on here, and I found myself both intrigued and confused on the Jewitch concept.
I do appreciate the side characters in this story. They bring in enough to be relevant and round out the main character, but really nothing more. I did like Nelly the most. For being an overdone spunky old woman trope, I really like her character and the violence she feels toward the villains. On that note, I think the villainous character (iykyk) was a little bit of a stretch and kinda sucky. To avoid spoilers I am not going to go into further detail on that.
Anyway, this was not my favorite, but I am probably still gonna read more of her books. I love the Jewish representation in rom coms and will forever be a fan!

I tried, over the course of a couple of days, to love this book. The cover, the blurb, all of it spoke to me. But I just couldn’t get through it. Unfortunately, I was bored. I kept reading, hoping it would get better. I made it to about 15% and finally gave up.

This was a pretty good book. It’s my first book I’ve read by the author. It was good the title was a bit misleading but overall it was good