Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️
Memorable Quote: “Only a man with a past can have a future with a woman.”
Overview
Magical Meet Cute is a charming starting-over story that follows Faye, who, after breaking up with her fiancé and leaving her high-powered NYC law firm, relocates to Woodstock to open her own pottery studio. As she heals and adjusts to her new life, a night of heavy drinking leads her to quite literally bump into Greg, who she takes in to help recover from his injuries.
Plot Summary
Faye embraces the tranquil pace of her new life in Woodstock, yet she soon feels the sting of loneliness in a town with a shallow dating pool. Frustrated with the lack of eligible men and tired of clichéd Jewish singles events, she drunkenly crafts the ideal man out of clay, using her unique blend of Jewwitch magic, prayers, and manifestation, hoping for Mr. Perfect to magically appear.
However, the next morning brings unexpected chaos. Late, groggy, and hungover, Faye accidentally bicycles into an attractive man, knocking him unconscious. At the hospital, she learns he has lost all his memories and is at risk of being placed in social services. Feeling guilty, she invites him to stay on her couch until his memories return.
Greg, though devoid of memories, finds himself captivated by Faye. As he becomes increasingly drawn to her warmth and brilliance, he grapples with whether he’s truly available. Meanwhile, he’s determined to protect her from a racist group targeting their community.
Spoiler Alert
As Faye begins to uncover more about “Greg,” she realizes he shares an uncanny resemblance to the clay figure she created. This revelation leads her to suspect that she might have inadvertently manifested him. Torn between her burgeoning feelings for Greg and her struggle with her identity amid anti-Semitic incidents in her town, Faye faces a challenging dilemma.
Determined to rid herself of the imaginary man she created, Faye attempts to send Greg back to wherever he came from. Yet, as her reliance on him deepens, she finds the thought of letting him go increasingly difficult. The last thing she wants is a fake relationship, especially as Greg inches closer to recovering his past.
Character Development
Faye’s journey embodies the post-breakup struggle to rediscover oneself, compounded by the Jewish-targeted violence in her community. As she navigates her spirituality through a blend of Judaism and New Age witchcraft, she identifies as a Jewwitch, wrestling with feelings of inadequacy about her Jewish identity.
On the other hand, Greg’s character is somewhat one-dimensional for most of the book. His amnesia limits his growth to basic functioning until he eventually confronts the anti-Semitism in their town towards the story’s end.
Final Thoughts
Magical Meet Cute is a delightful exploration of Jewish women’s experiences with dating, racism, and self-discovery. Through Faye’s journey, I gained insights into Jewish mythology, folklore, and modern adaptations that resonate with contemporary women.
Location: Woodstock, New York
Tropes: #MistakenIdentity #Amnesia #OverprotectiveMMC
Trigger Warnings: #AntiSemitism #HateCrime #PoliceCorruption
Format: Audiobook, available on Libby
Narrator: Dara Rosenberg
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