Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer is a fantastic tale of budding romance in the face of religious persecution, as Faye works to overcome her past and stand up to anti-Semitic hatred with the help of a maybe-golem named Greg. Both Jewish and non-Jewish readers will have something to love as Greg and Faye find solace with each other while their futures seem uncertain. As irrational hatred spawns around Faye, strangers will become friends and friends will reveal their true selves.

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When anti-Semitic activity threatens the peace that Faye had found in Woodstock, New York, she does what any woman in her place would do: she gets drunk on wine and possibly creates a golem to protect herself and her ceramics business from the looming threat. A self-identified Jewitch, Faye had thought she’d left behind the violence and heartbreak of her past when she moved from Manhattan to Woodstock. But flyers targeting Faye and her fellow Jews can make any person desperate, so when Faye crashes her bike into a tall, handsome red-headed stranger (who just happens to be a replica of the golem she made when she got a bit drunk…), Faye can’t help but wonder if the stranger’s memory loss is due to her crashing into him, or if he could actually be her protective golem brought to life. 

I really enjoyed Magical Meet Cute, both as a love story and for its social awareness. Full disclaimer: I do not identify as Jewish and I will never be able to fully grasp the horrors that Jewish people have faced throughout history nor the fears they have to face just living in today’s world. I cannot pretend to understand what Faye and her friends went through – that level of fear that just existing as yourself brings – though I can empathize with all my heart and soul even when I know that is not enough. Magical Meet Cute was so much more than a will they/won’t they between Faye and Greg. Meltzer doesn’t hold back when it comes to questions of faith and friendship, who and what you can trust and believe in. I loved that Faye’s faith never faltered, even when faced with physical threats to herself and her business. It was such a poignant message, even for someone outside of the Jewish faith. 

Both Faye and Greg were just all around great characters. Faye was living with both physical and emotional obstacles; from parental abuse that affected her hands and destroyed her artistic career plans, to emotional abuse from an ex-fiancé that made future relationships hard to accept, Faye was fighting an uphill battle against her own past. Luckily, Greg – golem or not – was there to help Faye as the emotional and physical support she needed. Faye was not a weak character by any means, but she showed that accepting support from the people who care about you does not make you any less brave or strong. 

Meltzer did tease us for most of the book on whether or not Greg was a golem or a real person. I’m not usually one for a slow burn or a long build-up, but I actually didn’t mind this looming question hanging over Greg and Faye’s head. Meltzer left enough hints throughout the story that I ended up thinking I knew the right answer multiple times – only to doubt myself and change my mind more than once. I ended up loving both of these characters and the strength and support they showed for each other. 

Overall, Magical Meet Cute was an enjoyable read that featured well-written characters and handled some tough topics with grace. While some readers might not want anti-Semitism to feature so heavily in their romance, I appreciated the way Meltzer tackled these very real issues head on in her writing. Meltzer wove together a tale of romance and self-love in the face of very real fear, and did so in a way that will stick with readers long after Faye and Greg find their happily ever after. 

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