I’m a big fan of the amnesia trope, so I was excited to dive into this book. It was also my first time learning about golems, and I really enjoyed the mix of Jewish culture and the unique concept of golem magic—plus the humor, which was a fun touch. However, I do wish there had been a bit more magical realism to fully bring the fantasy elements to life.

On the heavier side, the book tackles antisemitism, and as a Jewish woman myself, I thought the way this topic was woven into the story was handled really well. The book does a great job showing the fear and uncertainty that many Jews face on a daily basis. I think anyone, regardless of their background, could learn a lot from Faye’s journey.

The story itself is cute and touches on romance and self-discovery. Overall, I liked it, but there were moments where it felt a bit flat. The twist was predictable, and while it didn’t surprise me, it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. If you’re looking for a quirky romance with some deeper, important themes sprinkled in, this is a good pick. It was nice to see such serious topics being addressed, especially in a genre that’s often lighthearted.

I loved Jean Meltzer's previous books so I knew I had to read this one. This was such a an interesting and unique storyline. As with all of her books, I loved learning more about the Jewish culture. I definitely recommend this book.

I DNF’d this book. I appreciated the Judaism representation, but the romance and story fell flat to me. This authors books just don’t speak to me.

If you are looking for a cute romcom that brings a little Jewitch magic and humor, you've found your next read. Sometimes love is found in the most unexpected ways that make us question if it is too good to be true. Societal problems contribute to the skepticism of our leading lady Faye, who has turned to jewish folklore to answer some of the questions she has about this mystery man. As she uncovers the truth about this man that seemed to enter her life out of the blue, she learned more about herself as well. Also, Fans of the movie Teen Witch or Mannequin, I think you would enjoy reading this!

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I wasn't feeling the characters or the romance. I do appreciate the representation though. I have enjoyed Jean Meltzer books in the past and I'm sure I will again - but this was not my cup of tea. thank you to the publisher for the free copy!

This book had its ups and downs. I loved the aspect of the magic and the golem arc was a fun twist. The only thing is I didn’t understand the ending. Like he wasn’t a golem but he was? I also very much predicted the plot change at the end of the book with the paper boys. Eric was very much a predictable character, but nonetheless, it was a quick and easy read.

In Magical Meet Cute, Jean Meltzer, author of the hysterical The Matzah Ball, proves she can tell a story a bit out of her rom-com comfort zone by creating an amazing, haunting, funny romance/thriller which will tug at your heart but also emphasize what is happening in today's world.

Faye Kaplan has a broken heart. Once engaged but that went south, she decides to leave her law practice and create a new life in Woodstock, New York doing something she always loved as a child. Create art through pottery.

Faye's childhood was perfectly imperfect with a horrible mother and what she ended up getting out of that life was she always needed to be perfect in everything she does, which includes if there is one mistake while creating her art, means it gets dumped.

Now, lonely and feeling like she will never find someone, she goes to a mixer and discovers someone is putting anti-semantic flyers everywhere. This on top of her loneliness (and perhaps because she was a bit drunk, she decides to create a "golem" a being from Jewish folklore which is made from bits and pieces of whatever you have around, like clay for example, and once buried you make a wish. She buries it in the backyard. She hopes it will protect her.

But unfortunately, the very next day while riding her bike she accidently knocks down a very handsome man who is rushed to the hospital. He can't remember anything about himself. Faye, who feels terrible and because no one has claimed him decides he needs to come home with her and recuperate, much against the advice of all her friends who think she will now be murdered!

They come to the decision together that his name should be Greg. Unfortunately for Greg, he remembers nothing not even how to do the simplest things. So, he begins reading books on just about everything. He does become a pretty good cook, and a great listener for Faye. As they begin to spend more and more time together, they both feel the start of something, but for Faye, she starts to believe he is the golem in human form she buried in the backyard and is now waiting for the right moment to make her life miserable.

And then it does. As the antisemitism begins to increase, a brick is thrown through the window of her pottery shop. The community doesn't understand why this is happening, or maybe they do. Faye decides to take a stand and puts a pro-Jewish display in her window trying to lure whoever the beasts are who hate them so much.

As for Greg, she believes he is a bad golem and tries to do everything in her power to get rid of him. But he won't go! She is so scared to fall in love, she's willing to believe the worst of man she thinks she conjured.

But terrible things are brewing in this small town and trying to discover who and what are causing the violence will take the whole community banning together. As for Greg? Well, you'll just have to read the book...

Magical Meet Cute is a fun book with very serious issues, which is trademark Meltzer, which melds romance with ripped from the headline problems, with a touch of mystery and of course, magic!

Thank you #NetGalley #MiraBooks #MagicalMeetCute #JeanMeltzer for the advanced copy.

I'm here for the cuteness of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read it in one day! Great for a rainy day read ❤️

This was a lot heavier than I expected so I would definitely check TW before picking it up. I still enjoyed the book but it was a lot less romance than Jean Meltzer’s other books. It definitely kept me interested in where the story was going and how the characters were going to work through their issues. There were also some pretty funny parts, like Hillel (my favorite character).

This was just painful to read. I am sure how far I got in but it was too far either way. the religion lore mixed in with magic was so heavy-handed that it took over the whole story and seemed to be the FMC only personality trait. I understand that the MMC has amnesia -- maybe? I still don't know -- but he just seems a little daft. I just didn't want and just simply couldn't stick around to find out whether he was a real person, if there was a twist worth all that stupidity, or if he was indeed a magical being... DNFed.

TOTALLY hoped I'd find some magical realism in this book but... it just wasn't really there! Like, some of it was there, but it wasn't a heavy premise so that was kind of disappointing. However, there was definitely a heavy presence of antisemitism, which is GREAT, but not something I expected when I picked up a story hoping for a romance. There were also a ton of Jewish and Yiddish references, which was neat, but many flew right over my head since that is not something I have a background in. Such a neat premise, but it just wasn't it for me - struggled getting into the storyline and following the leads as they developed a relationship with one another.. felt overshadowed and focused on the heavier topic at hand, but still appreciative of the read.

I liked the Jewish representation in this book and the blend with Wicca, and though I really enjoyed Nelly as a character, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I just didn't feel totally connected to the characters, and there were some things that I just couldn't suspend my belief (I can't imagine a hospital just releasing a patient to some random person and taking their word for them knowing each other).

This book highlights the heavy issues of antisemitism and issues of the American Healthcare system, but also adds the lighter humor and ridiculousness of magical realism in supposing that Greg is actually her golem come to life. Even their meet cute was a bit ridiculous with Faye mowing him down with her bicycle. I really enjoyed the humor in the story and learning more about Judaism. Overall I thought the story was cute and funny.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Jean Meltzer. I really enjoyed Matza Ball when it came out, and I was really intrigued by the premise of Magical Meet Cute. Mostly, the story suffers from pacing issues. It's far too long for a romance. Our main plot and b plot tie together too late in the game for me to enjoy the storytelling. My biggest issue is though is the idea of the golem. Not knowing if our main love interest is an actual person or a golem come to life for about 80 % of the book I enjoyed. I know he finds that hotel room where he was apparently staying, but we don't find out enough in that moment to definitively be like yeah no he's a real person. It's just frustrating because I think this book could have been really great if we just dropped the whole is he or isn't he a golem thing.

Magical Meet Cute blends romance with a touch of magical realism (but not as much as you may have hoped for). Faye’s growing bond with a mysterious stranger kept me hooked, while I also appreciated the exploration of very real problems that Jewish communities face today as anti-semitism is on the rise again. Overall, I loved the unique premise and found family vibes.

Jean Meltzer's Magical Meet Cute is a novel that pairs an enchanting romance with the powerful exploration of a serious subject. From the very first page, I was captivated by Faye Kaplan's quirky charm and her quest for love—despite her insistence that she's happy alone.

Set in Woodstock, New York, the story weaves Faye’s personal growth with her community’s response to a disturbing wave of anti-Semitic incidents. Meltzer masterfully balances these emotional challenges with comedic relief, especially through Faye's drunken attempt to summon a golem protector, only to wake up to the impossibly perfect Greg.

The chemistry between Faye and Greg is sizzling and sweet, filled with witty banter and moments of tender vulnerability. Greg’s mysterious arrival and his too-good-to-be-true nature add a magical twist that kept me guessing, while Faye’s journey toward reclaiming her confidence and addressing the wounds of her past felt authentic and inspiring.

What truly sets Magical Meet Cute apart is Meltzer’s fearless approach to confronting anti-Semitism with her honest, authentic voice all while wrapping the story in an entertaining rom-com. It’s truly a testament to her skill as a storyteller.

This novel is perfect for readers who want their romance with a dash of magic, a sprinkle of humor, and a whole lot of heart. Jean Meltzer has written a story that’s not only swoon-worthy but also thought-provoking, and I highly recommend Magical Meet Cute to anyone looking for a feel-good read with depth.

A cute romance story with a little more depth than many, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC; fans of the author will enjoy this one as well.

I loved the culture within the pages of this book and how the author took such care writing. The book delves into some heavier topics and isn’t the light fluffy rom com we all know and love the entire way through.

Our FMC Faye is relatable — I feel her pain as I also have dealt with a lot of the same issues and traumatic experiences and it made the book feel a little more special.

This book had just the right touch of magical bits and pieces throughout and the supporting characters were so lovely and endearing.

This was my first read by this author.

I was surprised at how much i loved this book. I loved everything about it and the characters were so easy to like.

The writing was easy to follow and i did not want this to end. I cannot wait to read another book by this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.