"Magical Meet Cute" by Jean Meltzer offers a whimsical journey into the life of Faye Kaplan, a Jewitch potter navigating love, identity, and the consequences of her magical creations. While Meltzer's witty prose and exploration of serious themes add depth to the narrative, the fusion of romance, fantasy, and weighty topics did not resonate with me.

Set in Woodstock, New York, Faye's life takes an unexpected turn after a night of drinking leads her to create a golem, a Jewish protector against anti-Semitic attacks. When the golem transforms into Greg, Faye's dream man, after a chance encounter involving her bike, she questions the limits of her magic.

Meltzer skillfully addresses themes such as abuse, trauma, and identity, allowing for genuine character development and emotional depth in the slow-burn romance between Faye and Greg. Faye's relationships with her friends and her journey of self-discovery add layers of complexity to the story.

Known for her delightful romcom stories, I felt she tried to throw too much at me in her latest book. The inclusion of "Jewitch" practices and the exploration of anti-Semitism alongside the romance felt disjointed and detracted from the overall narrative cohesion.

Despite its flaws, Meltzer's adept writing style and exploration of complex issues make for an interesting read, although one that may require a willingness to accept its eclectic mix of genres. ( )

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This was a new-to-me author who was recommended to me by a friend and, oh, I liked this book! Faye is a "Jewitch" potter who meets Greg, an amnesiac she hits with her bike. But is Greg really the clay golem she created the night before when a hate crime is committed that hits close to home? Read the book to find out! A mix of the serious and comedic, this is a wonderful story about finding out who you are, and learning to live with generational trauma and love yourself despite your flaws. My only complaint is that the title, the description, and the cover of this book belie the serious themes that run through this story. I felt like they really made it seem like it was going to be a much lighter story than it was, which is an injustice to the author's work. I will be reading more by this author, her ability to mix light and dark (as well as her comedic voice) made this an enjoyable read. ( )