We Met Like This

by Kasie West

Beloved author Kasie West's sparkling adult rom-com debut about a hopeless romantic falling for the one man she never expected

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That’s why she wants to be a literary agent—to help bring romance books to the world. It’s also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the books she reads—a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She’s not going to tell the story that she swiped right on future husband’s shirtless pic for the rest of her life.

The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching with on the apps. They’ve only been on one date and it was a disaster…well, until the make out session in the car before parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.

When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she’s interested in only one a repeat of the hot make out session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because she and Oliver are definitely not compatible—he doesn’t hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn’t meet him in cute way! But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever energy, more steady and helpful than any man she’s ever dated. Just when she thinks she’s overcome her app bias, she realizes that maybe it’s not her who’s holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.

Kasie West's romantic and sexy adult debut is full of witty banter, meet cutes gone awry and, ultimately, true love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2025

About the author

I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Met Like This written by Kasie West was emotional, enchanting, beautiful, powerful, heart breaking, hilarious, and heart warming. I have been a fan of Kasie's since I was a teenager and I about read all of her young adult novels, so of course I was super excited to see she had a new book coming out, but little did I know that it was going to be an adult romance novel, again, I was super excited and I'm so so happy she finally wrote her first ever adult novel, I feel like I have grown up with this author, so bravo Kasie, you outdid yourself. To anyone that wants to read this book, please be warned that there is a spicy scene on the very first page. I honestly didn't expect to be so emotional while I was reading this beautiful story, but boy did I have tears streaming down my face, I have never felt so seen in a characters life before, so We Met Like This was definitely very heart touching. If I'm going to be honest with y'all, I didn't know what to expect going into this book blind, but to say I was surprised is an understatement because I love this author, but I was so surprised how much I actually enjoyed this story. I can't recommend We Met Like This enough, if you are looking to dip your toes into adult romances, I highly suggest starting with this book because it was so beautiful and so powerful, please please have this book on your want to read list right now. I'm going to keep my review short because I don't want to spoil anything, I'll just give y'all some information about the characters.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

"💗👏If my future boyfriend can't love me when I look like trash, then he doesn't deserve me when I look like a goddess💗👏".

"💝😭In romance books, everything works out. In real life, I'm not so sure💝😭".

Margot Hart isn't some horny teenager, she's just a hopeless romantic that likes fun banter and late night talks. Margot wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the romance books she reads and she wants to find her meet cute, so she decides to join some dating sites hoping to find her very own meet cute. At just twenty-four years old, Margot became an assistant to a literary agent, but three years later at twenty-seven years old, Margot wants a promotion, but her boss keeps putting it off. Margot and her boss Robert Bishop are having a sexual relationship, they have slept together for two years off and on, but one day Margot quits after calling her boss as ass because he will never promote her, so instead Margot starts her own agency called Hart Lit to help out authors. The reason Margot has for being single is that she under thinks literally everything, she leads with her feelings and always ends up in terrible relationships and now she has a fear of commitment.

Oliver Gray is a thirty year old software engineer, he runs five miles every single morning, and only reads non-fiction books. Oliver has golden retriever energy, he's patient, he's extremely sweet, he has a calming presence, he has one of the most contagious laughs, and he's full of cheesy jokes that were super adorable. Oliver's love life is in shambles, his worst failure was his engagement because they were together for two and a half years and she cheated on him three years ago, well that's not the only time, Oliver has been cheated on twice, he's completely over meaningless hookups, he just wants to find his forever person. Oliver has one reason for being single, he over thinks literally every single thing, which honestly is super relatable. Oliver is literally so precious, he's watching Dirty Dancing because Margot told him it was a deal breaker as a joke if he had never seen it, so of course the sweetheart that Oliver is he decides to watch the movie.

Margot and Oliver met for the first time three years ago, they only went on one date because it ended up as a disaster, but one of the best make out sessions in the car and of course Margot left Oliver with her underwear as a parting ways gift after their sex marathon and date night ended in a disaster. Three years later, Margot and Oliver match on a dating website again, this is Oliver's first date after his failed engagement, and they meet again under different circumstances, Margot is in her car crying with mascara running down her face, smeared lipstick, and of course those snot bubbles, but the angel that Oliver is he decided to be so kind and comforted Margot. Margot and Oliver have an insane amount of chemistry, but they both have trust issues, so they decide to just have sex on a little vacation Margot had to do for an author, but they won't act on their feelings just yet. During their time together, Oliver has offered to design Margot's new book agency website, and he read spicy scenes from Margot's books out loud, which had me laughing hysterically.

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

big thanks to netgalley and saturday books for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

spoiler free

18+

romance: 9/10 (explicit sex scenes including penetrative, oral, and finger. words like c*ck and p*ssy are not used
chapters: prologue, 23, 30, 31, 39)

cursing: 5/10 (semi frequent minor curse words, f-ck used as well)

violence: 0/10 (none)

other: drinking/drunkenness. drugs mentioned, used by bystanders

tw: none that i can think of

tropes: second chance, golden retriever mmc

first person, past tense

pub date: 9-16-25

– OVERVIEW –

so i liked this book.
was it amazing? no
was it the next emhen in my eyes? nope.

if you’re looking for lyrical almost poetic writing, closer to lit fic than romance, this ain’t it. look elsewhere.

now, is this a quick enjoyable romcom? yes.
but emily henry has very much shaped my expectations when it comes to writing quality in adult romance novels.
was i expecting a masterpiece? no, i’m familiar with kasie and know she doesn’t have anything that’s outstanding.
but i was expecting writing at least on a slightly higher level than her YA books. this was just exactly her YA writing but with curse words and exorbitant amounts of sex.

honestly that icked me out so bad. it felt like i was reading a book abt two horny teens with jobs and cussing problems 💀

– PLOT –

tbh, i don’t remember anything abt the plot or if there even was one. i just remember margot trying to start her own literary agency 😓

– CHARACTERS –

margot
⤷ now, i didn’t expect to read two adult romance books this year with the fmc named margot, let alone two arcs. but here we are.
she was unremarkable, she whined a lot, her whole personality was not being as good as her sister. 🤧🫠

oliver
⤷ he was so cute. his interactions with margot were adorable.

audrey
⤷ she was just a bish for most of the book 😭😭😭😭

the best friend
⤷ lwk i forgot her name, she was just THERE. idk. she didn’t imprint on me at all 😓 i think her name starts with an s…?

– CONCLUSION –

🤷‍♀️ i don’t have any strong negative nor positive feelings for this book, so ig read it if you want to 😭




post-read

well shoot.
that happened.

pre-read

i’ve been a kasie fan for years i’m so excited 🤭

i requested this on netgalley and got approved in literally less than 1 minute and i just emailed the publisher for a physical arc 🤧

JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW THERE IS A VERY SPICY SCENE ON THE FIRST PAGE
don’t be fooled by the author 🫠

[aira · Rating 4 out of 5]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.75/5

I actually really liked this book and that's saying a lot because I feel like I am in a slump. It's a little different and it felt slow at the beginning, but it definitely had me reeled in for the most part. I loved seeing Margot's journey and I can see myself reading this again at some point.

I think the reason this book worked was because of the slow-burn element in the romance. It's been a while since I read a romance book and actually liked the romance. I loved seeing their relationship progress and it was something that I felt like I was missing in other books I've read recently. I despise insta-lust and I thought the relationship progressed naturally...well as naturally as it can in fiction.

The only reason I didn't give this a full 4 stars was because I thought the stuff with the sister wasn't handled well. I would have liked to see more from Margot and it felt like everything was shoved under a rug and forgotten after a while. Why was there no kind of explanation from Audrey about everything? and even then, she gave a half-assed reason for what she did. If I'm being honest, I think she's an absolute bitch of a woman and as an older sibling myself, never in my dreams would I act that way.

Oliver was totally husband material and I could go on and on about him. I think the other reason I didn't rate this higher would be that I wish we got more about his past. It felt a little glossed over and just there for plot progression and not much for personal growth.

“Your meet-cute obsession is narrowing your field of potentials. How many new people can possibly cross your path when you go to the same four places every day?”

Bye. Her friend didn't have to call me out too. I only go to like 1 place most days in a week and that's uni so like Margot is better than me. But, you know what, if my future husband really wanted to find me, he would find a way to find me.

Overall, I liked it and I will definitely read it again sometime, so it's going on the aira-approved list (+ shelf).
-------

pre-read: she's a hopeless romantic who also doesn't like dating apps...ummmmm, that sounds a little too familiar hehe lmaoo 😭

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparkly, optimistic, & irresistibly charming!

This book was pure fun from start to finish. The banter, the dating app chaos, and the push and pull between Margot and Oliver had me smiling the whole way through. It felt funny, heartfelt, and just light enough to pick up whenever I needed a happy escape.

The cover immediately caught my eye with its pastel hues and breezy vibe. It feels sunny and romantic, perfectly capturing the mood of the story while also connecting to a scene in the book. Margot is such a lovable hopeless romantic and grows so much as the story unfolds. Oliver has a steady, kind presence that balances her energy, and their chemistry is both believable and swoony. Even though I usually prefer closed-door romance, the open-door spice here worked really well. There is plenty of sex jargon throughout, which mostly fit the tone and added to the chemistry.

💭 A few quick thoughts:
☀️ Sometimes you just need a romance that makes you feel sunshine in book form
✨ Cover matches a meaningful scene and sets a sunny tone 😊
💖 Funny, heartfelt, full of banter that made me snicker
🔥 Heads up, spicy first chapter — you’ve been warned 😉
📚 Likeable, layered characters with steady pacing
💕 Margot’s growth made the story feel even more rewarding

Overall, We Met Like This is a light, entertaining romance that left me feeling hopeful, happy, and a little swoony.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars rounded up, a sweet and sunny romcom that will leave you smiling.

[Anila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5⭐️

I was really excited to read Kasie West’s first adult romance book, but this book was not it.

My biggest issue is the female lead Margot. As a hopeless romantic myself, I thought I would be able to relate to her, but she had no backbone and couldn’t stand up for herself. She was honestly really whiny, childish and pathetic, especially regarding the whole situation with her boss Rob. Who in their right mind stays in a job where they are under appreciated on the off chance they will be able to have a relationship with their boss?!? That’s just sad and dumb. Being in her head was very tiring and she was big part of why I struggled to enjoy this book. She was too messy for my liking.

Besides the characters being adults, the only difference between the author’s YA and adult romance books would be the amount of sexual innuendos that were included. It felt very vulgar and unnecessary and I don’t think it added much to the story. It got annoying after a while with how Margot was making everything so sexual. As for the supporting, I did really like the love interest Oliver and Margot’s best friend Sloane, but they weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked and were mostly there to prop up Margot.

Overall, I did not love this book and it turned out to be a disappointing read.

*** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

———————-
Pre-read: I loved her YA books and I’m so excited to see what she does with an adult romance🙈Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!!

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was into it but only for a very short amount of time.

Margot and Oliver match on a dating app, go on a date, and it doesn’t go well. But then after the date, they can’t resist each other because of their 'insane chemistry' and get it on in the car. That should have been my first hint that this wouldn’t be the book for me.
Maybe you see no problem with that, but I didn’t get it. Because while it might work the other way round (hooking up before you know anything about the other person), I personally don’t understand why you’d want to hook up with someone that you now actively dislike after the date you just went on.

Years later they are still on the apps and stumble across each other’s profiles sometimes which leads them to swiping right on each other (why?) and then texting for a bit, just like for fun, you know how it is (I don’t, I found this weird because WHY would you do that after that date?). Like come on, you can find another hook up if you need it that bad..

The story really starts when the two of them match once again, begin talking, and then decide to basically help each other out.

This was just not for me on so many levels. And I think some issues I had can be attributed to personal preference, like what I mentioned at the start. Or my dislike of Margot, who had unfortunate pick-me vibes and was annoying and childish.

But aside from my personal gripes, I also thought that the progression of their relationship didn’t feel natural at all. When they meet again, they act all 'it’s been a while' as if they’ve known each other for years and just didn’t see each other for a bit.
But that’s not the case here, they went on one (1) bad date years ago and then texted each other sporadically whenever they matched on an app being like 'Hi, still alone? Haha, me too, bye'. Like that doesn’t make for a real connection. So when they then decide to meet again and act as if they are long-lost friends or whatever, it felt off.
Also, Oliver. He was fine for a while there, I liked him. Until we got to the third act conflict, which totally changed my opinion of him and left me feeling icky about him. I hated how the reason for the conflict was kind of brushed off, too, even though it was completely valid and should have been talked about way more.

I think I’ll just stick with this author's YA romances in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.


___
I also hate dating apps with all my romance loving soul 🤸‍♀️ 🤸‍♀️ 🤸‍♀️

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was hilarious and heartfelt. I really enjoyed reading this romantic comedy! It made me feel lighthearted, hopeful, entertained and emotional. The characters in this story were likable and multilayered. It was well structured and had steady pacing throughout the entire book. The banter between the main characters had me giggling out loud! Going into this book, I had no idea that it was extra spicy!

There were explicit sexual scenes in this one. I could really feel the chemistry between the main characters, which I loved. The female main character named Margot was annoying at the beginning of the novel, but turned out to be a really confident and likable character. The male main character named Oliver is your typical golden retriever boy, who I liked in the story right away! The side characters were all great, including Margot’s best friend, Sloane. Even though I did find the ending to be a bit predictable, I still really loved the story!! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include sexual content. I think that fans of the authors Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood would really enjoy reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley. author Kasie West and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 16, 2025!

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rom-com was sweet, hilarious, and tender. At first, I wasn’t sure about Margot, but the more I read, the more she grew on me. Throughout the book, she’s trying to find her footing after taking a big leap of faith. Navigating a complicated career, love life, and sibling dynamic. Little by little, she begins to find her confidence.

Speaking of her love life… Oliver is definitely an anxious golden retriever, the kind you just want to hug and snuggle. I loved their witty banter, the tension, and the soft, tender moments they shared. He understands that Margot needs a cheerleader in her corner, and Margot recognizes that he needs someone to help pull him out of his head. I loved their chemistry and the side characters were memorable.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books, and Kasie West for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I have a feeling I’m an outlier on this one, but as someone who has loved Kasie West’s young adult for years, I struggled with the steaminess of her adult romance debut. That said, it’s quirky and fun and a very easy read, perfect for a weekend read.

Thank you Saturday Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 2 out of 5]

⤅ This book started out SO WELL, and then tragically deteriorated, but think of it as like half a four-star read and half a two-star one. So: three stars.

I've seen Kasie West quite a lot on Goodreads, but never read one of her books*, and when I came across the ARC of this one I downloaded it on a random impulse even though contemporary rom-coms aren't really my favourite genre. Sadly, this book won't be the one to change that, but it gave it a good go for the first 50% or so.

*Okay, Goodreads tells me I apparently read one of her books like five years ago, but I have no memory of it and I never reviewed it either, so let's discount that one.

The story opens with 24-year-old Margot Hart snogging 27-year-old Oliver Gray like her life depends on it. She's just met him on 'the apps' (possibly to avoid inadvertent publicity, the apps that form the foundation of this book are never actually named, but we presume it's Tinder because there are references to swiping left, which I gather is a Tinder concept) and they had an absolutely horrible date, complete with stilted small talk and unintentional rudeness. But now they're in his car, and the chemistry is off the charts - until Oliver suggests conversation, Margot backs off, and they go their separate ways. For the next three years.

But they don't really forget about each other, because every so often Margot will re-download the apps in a fit of loneliness, where she's confronted with Oliver once again. And now, she pulls the trigger on messaging him again, resulting in a snowball that ultimately culminates in something she didn't think she wanted: a relationship that didn't start as a meet-cute.

I think my biggest issue with the book, all told, is that its ENTIRE PREMISE is 'the meet-cute': Margot is meant to be obsessed with them, and meant to believe that she and Oliver aren't really fated because unlike all the couples around her, including her perfect influencer older sister, they don't have a meet-cute but met on the apps. No fun, no excitement, no cool story to tell their grandchildren.

Yet this dissipates as a concern remarkably quickly for something that's meant to be her raison d'etre. She gets a meet-cute later on with someone else, and doesn’t even suffer a qualm of regret about saying no. It feels like entire premise of the book gets brushed away as soon as Oliver and Margot are actually together, and is never really revisited. Margot's burning desire for a meet-cute felt so insanely relatable in our algorithm-based world, so much so that I actually highlighted her waxing lyrical about it.

So yeah, I'm disappointed at how this element didn't really deliver at all, considering it's like the entire foundation for the first half of the book.

Secondly, the 'big conflict' is… actually quite bad. Is there anything worse than a superficially progressive, modern hero who calls himself a feminist, but ends up actually doing something that strips the heroine of full consent? I've talked about this more deeply in my review for Sam Mariano's The Boy on the Bridge but basically, in dark romances the entire moral framework of the in-book universe is warped, so it's quite clear the author is not intending to present the hero as an actual paragon of manhood. In books like West's, however, the hero is presented to the reader as someone with real-life romantic credentials (hence Oliver professing himself a feminist) so the fact he did THIS required far more grovelling and should have been treated with far more gravity than it was. Here's the spoiler for what he actually did:

Oliver is the ex-boyfriend of Margot's older sister, he knew this when he slept with her, but she didn't. She didn't have all the facts she needed to consent, because she says herself she probably wouldn't have slept with him in the first place if she knew - though she then gets over this offputtingly quickly and displaces her anger from Oliver, her rightful target, to her sister. The fact that her BOYFRIEND was hung up on and has also slept with her SISTER, when Margot already suffers from a massive insecurity complex around her sister's perfection, is not really addressed at all, just glossed over as 'jealousy issues' in the epilogue.This manufactured drama is just handled badly all around and ruined my positive feelings about the entire book.

There are smaller issues around Margot's character - she's a huge hot mess of bad decisions, but I don't require perfect heroines so I'm trying to get over that - plus the believability of her setting up her own literary agency in a saturated market and getting multiple queries and a star client almost straightaway, and lastly the fact that the 'love' between the characters feels very superficial. But those are my biggies.

On the bright side, the prose is very readable - flows smoothly, very to-the-point, draws you in. I also liked that the book felt modern without doing that thing authors do when they try to make the book TOO modern, by stuffing their writing with references to Taylor Swift and TikTok and US presidential elections, which always ends up dating the book instead. This book kept it quite low-key with just TikTok and discussions of remote working, which made it feel very 2020s in a good way.

[Katie (hiding in the pages)]

I've been a big fan of Kasie West's young adult books since the beginning and was excited to give her first adult romance a try. Thanks to a "read now" option on Netgalley, I grabbed it and was immediately shocked to discover a spicy opening scene. I'm a closed door romance reader, so this one isn't for me. I think she'll find some new readers with her foray into the spicy adult genre, but her long-time and loyal fans (which might even include YA readers) will be stunned, and possibly disappointed, by the content.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 / 5 Stars
This book was exceptionally readable but the characters’ choice left me feeling confused. In “We Met Like This,” Margot and Oliver went on one date three years ago. It was kind of a dud – Oliver ignored the waitress and talked about fonts … a lot – but it ended in a steamy makeout session in his car. Over the three years, they have matched, ghosted, and rematched with each other on various apps. They have witty banter but Margot is convinced that they are categorically incompatible. But something shifts and she invites Oliver out for lunch. It just so happens that she quits her horrible job that day and is a hot mess. But Oliver is kind and patient and helps her set up her own business. When a third act reveal threatens their budding relationship, Margot and Oliver have to decide if they can make it work.

You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 Dating horror stories
💚 Second chance romances
💚 One date to strangers to friends to lovers
💚 Books about books (she’s a literary agent)

When I say this book is exceptionally readable, I mean it was easy to fly through. The prose flowed well. It was dialogue heavy which I enjoyed. I love texting conversations in books (it just feels like a fun novelty), so reading it was really enjoyable.

I just had a hard time understanding Margot and Oliver’s choices which made it hard for me to buy into their relationship. Let’s start with the fact that Margot has an on and off relationship with her boss (this is revealed in the first 5% of the book). Look, I tried to iron my pants while I was still wearing them once (in my defense, I was tired and the idea of taking my pants off was overwhelming but the idea of having wrinkles was worse). A friend stopped me before I did it but who am I to judge literally anyone for any life choices? That wasn’t my issue. What I couldn’t understand was Margot staying at that company for three years when her boss refused to promote her or even have a discussion about it because the other literary agencies she’d want to work for were in New York, not LA. There’s literally not one agency in LA she’d want to work for other than the one with the highly toxic boss? That can’t possibly be true. Perhaps she could have made a compromise and worked at a less desirable agency in LA that didn’t have a boss who could actively be sued.

Next, let’s discuss Margot and Oliver’s relationship. When they get back together, Oliver says that he wants to take sex off the table and get to know each other to see if they are compatible. Super fair and actually a great idea! They have physical chemistry (see: previous makeout session) so let’s see if they are as incompatible as Margot thinks they are. But Margot says, “ok, let’s be friends.” Why do they have to be friends? Can’t they continue to date and agree not to have sex until both of them feel comfortable with it? Am I missing something about why it had to be a friendship? It just made no sense to me so whenever they’d throw sexual innuendos at each other and then end it with “friend” (like “of course, I give all my friends back rubs”), my brain would hurt.

And finally, the third act conflict was very confusing to me. It was a lack of communication and a lack of courage from Oliver that was hard for me to overlook. It required so much more groveling in my opinion. Now, I don’t usually spoil what the third act conflicts, but it was so wild and complaining to my boyfriend has not scratched the itch for me. So if you don’t want to know then don’t read the next part of this review. Spoilers in 3 … 2 … 1 …: We find out that Oliver dated Margot’s sister in college eight years ago for six months and Margot’s sister cheated on him. Tough stuff, dude. The worst is that we find out that Oliver figured out that Margot and his ex were related, tried to tell Margot but she interrupted him, then slept with Margot, still didn’t tell her, and she found out by piecing the clues together in front of her sister. Sir, what the actual fuck. Maybe she interrupted you a few times and maybe she told you, “the past is the past,” but those are poor excuses and you definitely didn’t try hard enough to tell her. Write it in a letter and slip it under her door. Hire an airplane to write it in the sky. Get a singing telegram. Truly anything so that she could decide if she wanted to double dip with her sister. Let her make an informed decision about whether she wants to sleep with you. And then when she did find out, she forgave him WAY too quickly imo. She decided that she loved him and that was that.

There are a ton of reviews of folks who loved this book so I highly recommend looking at those to see if this book would be for you.

Thank you St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: It's a book about dating on dating apps, I think this might give me PTSD flashbacks to when I was dating via the apps. Feel free to share your war stories LOL. Fun one of mine: I used to have a prompt that said "let me roast you" and I would just roast these men to filth and if they had a good sense of humor about it, it was a plus. Called a guy a "D-list version of Jonah Hill" and he found it funny. I hope his pillow is always cold wherever he is.

[Liz Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a terrible first date, Margot vows to get off the apps and work hard to find her “meet cute.” If you hate that phrase, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Years later, after many returns to the dating apps, Margot keeps rematching with Oliver, the man from that very first date. Eventually, they decide to give it another shot. There’s clearly a reason they keep finding their way back to each other.

This was a quick and charming read. Oliver and Margot make an interesting pair: a super type-A man with a carefully regimented schedule matched with a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants gal. I liked them together, and I liked that what could be considered weaknesses were actually strengths for the other. Margot helped Oliver be spontaneous and try new things, while his organized nature helped her launch a new business.

What I didn’t love were the side characters. Most of them treated Margot poorly, and it often felt like the story excused that behavior. When she finally called them out, she was chastised for losing her temper, which was frustrating to read. There were also a few plot points that lacked closure.

Extra points for the Paso Robles mention. It truly is an underrated yet amazing small town—perfect for wine tasting and a must-stop when driving through California’s Central Valley. I was so happy to see it highlighted!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Second chance romance
-Slow burn
-Online dating
-Publishing world setting
-Friends to lovers
-Adult romcom debut
-Opposites attract

3.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really really liked it! It’s a solid (predictable) romcom but I really liked the main characters arc start to finish. Things Kasie West’s first adult book and it does have 2-3 short open door scenes. At the beginning of the book, she warns you which chapters. IMO- we could have used more tension between Margot and Oliver, but it was super cute. One to add if you’ve liked her YA stuff!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! But if you’re familiar with Kasie West, this was definitely a change. I mean, it literally opens with a spicy scene. Totally caught me off guard, but it did set up the romance in an awkwardly fun, unexpected way and really established the conflict of Margot believing she and Oliver are incompatible!

I seriously adored the progression of their relationship. After their lacklustre first date, fate keeps throwing Margot and Oliver together through repeated dating app matches over the years, slowly building into the most comforting friendship. Leading with her feelings, Margot was honestly such a lovable mess. Her banter with Oliver always left me completely giddy! And Oliver was an absolute gem. He genuinely put in the effort to understand Margot, from reading her favourite books to watching her favourite movies. So cute!

But while the romance is definitely the heart of the story, there’s also a big focus on Margot’s career in publishing (while dating her boss. oops!), her ambitions to becoming a literary agent, and her complicated relationship with her golden-child sister. It was a really great balance! And I was happily shook by the direction this story took. What a twist. I’m so glad to be reunited with Kasie West’s writing after all these years, and I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful, swoony, and satisfying read.

(heat level: 3 open-door scenes, mild to moderate details)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS!
~~~~
When looking for and finding our own meet-cute is the focus of the story, it can detract from the book a bit. I never correlate a spicy book with a meet-cute, but this author is working on blending those two together.

I really enjoyed the main male lead in this one. After the first (somewhat) disaster of a date, the main characters evolved into the friend zone for a bit. Oliver slowly transformed into a hottie with a naughty sense of dry humor and the hottest kisses and bedside manner to blow her mind.

Margot focused on looking for her meet-cute that doesn’t exist as she unwound her failing career, all the while relying on Oliver to be there when needed. She is convinced life is like the books she surrounds herself with, looking for something that is in front of her.

We Met Like This is a flirty read, with some spice, great text conversations, and a few heated scenes that level up this adult romance from rom-com to sexy.

~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
** Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/we-met-like-...

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

never expected to be reading kasie’s adult debut considering she was an author who fueled my middle school self but as an adult i’m elated! this was a cute, breezy read with some dating app mishaps (which i despise as a romantic at heart) and a third act conflict that was…a tad disconcerting? but i genuinely had a good time else wise so i digress 💫

thank you to netgalley and wednesday books for the arc!!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

💛 Bookish Thoughts
This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year and a six star read! The cover doesn’t do it justice because this was such a hilarious and witty romance.

The character building was chef’s kiss. Margot was the ultimate type B girlie doing her best to survive, and Oliver was such a sweetie to her. He was her number one fan and believed in her from the start. I also loved that he didn’t tolerate her friends or family talking down to her. Truly king behavior.

Her sister was the worst, and even though there was resolution at the end, it didn’t fully address how judgmental her sister was her entire life. But, I was proud of Margot and loved seeing her find her confidence.

🧡 What to Expect
• Bookish FMC
• Golden retriever MMC
• Dating app romance
• Second chances
• Witty banter
• Career crossroads
_ _ _

🎧 Audio Score: 5 Stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (Katie Bloomwood)
📅 Pub Date: September 16, 2025
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margot und Oliver lernen sich über eine Dating App kennen. Das erste Treffen verläuft nicht vielversprechend, so dass zunächst keine weiteren Dates folgen. In den nächsten drei Jahren begegnen sie sich jedoch immer wieder virtuell auf der Dating Plattform und entwickeln eine konstante Chat-Freundschaft. Je länger sie einander schreiben, desto mehr wird deutlich wie sehr sie die gegenseitige (zumindest virtuelle) Gesellschaft genießen. Sollten sie einen weiteren Versuch wagen, im real life zu daten?

Margot ist eine super sympathische, witzige und charmante Protagonistin. Oliver ist ebenfalls witzig, charmant und furchtbar süß. Die beiden zusammen sind meine neue Lieblingssache auf der Welt. 

Ein Buch, das von vorne bis hinten, auf die beste Weise unterhaltsam ist, ohne überzogen oder unglaubwürdig zu sein. Mich hat es total glücklich gemacht und ich kann es jedem empfehlen, der eine gute, herzerwärmende RomCom sucht!

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ve concluded that you’re good for me. You get me out of my head and you challenge me and you make me happy. That you are smart and funny and interesting and sexy as hell. You’re everything..."
-------
I grew up reading KW, so this feels so sentimental

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margo was so relatable, I loved how the author showed her through the light of a rough moment in her life. It made me feel more depth to the character through her life's messiness. I loved watching her character development throughout the story. Oliver is oh so amazing... like book boyfriend goals. He was so sweet and always there when you needed him. The twist near the end was surprising. I enjoyed this! The audiobook was truly amazing as well, I felt the emotions and the characters deeper when listening to it than when reading.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio to listen/review. I also received a printed copy of this book, to compare the audiobook to. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐️
J’ai été hyper attirée par le résumé et le roman à 100% tenu ses promesses. C’était addictif au possible, un peu déjanté, très attachant et j’ai ADORÉ les personnages. Ce qu’ils vivent, les relations qu’ils nouent, leur romance, leurs échanges… j’ai vraiment vécu leur histoire et c’était pile ce que j’avais besoin de lire à ce moment précis ! Une superbe lecture donc !

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan for the ARC! This was a cutesy little romcom with low stakes. It’s nothing particularly revolutionary, but it was fun and light which definitely fits the romcom vibe. The plot twist was kind of unnecessary, but not out of the blue– The lead-up was absolutely there, it just wasn’t my cup of tea as far as third-act plot twists go.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Met Like This by Kasie West
Contemporary romance.
Margot Hart wants a meet cute. As a literary agent, almost, she knows that’s what will start her destined romance. All she’s getting now are bad first dates from the apps she loaned and then deletes after the dates. One man in particular keeps popping up in the apps but she already had a date with Oliver and it was bad. Well, the meal and conversation was bad. The makeout session at the end was memorable but she wants more. A romance. Things in common. Heartwarming moments. Certainly not her boss who won’t truly give her a chance to move up though he’s promised it all when he manages to get her behind the closed door.
Reconnecting with Oliver via the apps is entertaining but she doesn’t want to see him again in person. Does she?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration is performed by Katie Bloomwood who does a wide array of voices for the various characters though the story is all from Margot’s POV. Emotions were alive and clear throughout the story making the scenes vivid for the reader.
I listened at 1.5 and slightly higher to read along with the ecopy. A few minor tonal issues I was able to ignore.

Painful dating stories lead to humorous moments with friends. Painful relationship issues lead back to the dating apps. Poor Margot is caught in a circle until she makes some changes and gains some confidence in herself.
Banter, sex, laughs, and connections. Witty.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

[Lis ~Cheese Fairy~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ARC Review courtesy of NetGalley ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆

This is closer to 3.5 stars, but the lack of half stars has been messing with me lately, so rounded to 3.

Before we get into the review, I have a confession to make. My husband and I met on Tinder back in 2016. I cannot tell you the number of times we’ve been asked how we met and both of us freeze, do a weird in-sync-side-eye-thing, and awkwardly laugh. Something about meeting on a dating app always felt unromantic to us, but the truth is our paths never would have crossed in everyday life. So…long story short, I have quite the soft spot for digital and dating app romances.

I found ~We Met Like This~ to be a cute read. Margot is relatable in a lot of ways. She loves love and wants her relationship to have a story (meet-cute, Rom-com, the works). She’s driven and has career goals, but her life is more chaos than organized. Certain aspects of her personality frustrated me, but she felt real all the same. Oliver was attractive and nerdy; plus, he puts the ‘O’ in…organized. It’s hard to be mad about that.

Text conversations between Oliver and Margot were really cute and the banter made for fun reading. The chats felt genuine and true to a new relationship. I did find the messages hard to keep track of, and I think more spacing or names next to them would’ve helped. *Not about our MC’S, but the messages Oliver and Margot were sent from other matches cracked me up. Some of them had no business being that accurate. Online dating is the modern day Wild West.

I did take issue with the conflicts being unnecessarily messy. The bones of the story were strong enough to stand on their own- without the added side drama; too many issues introduced that detracted from Margot and Olivers story. I did love the epilogue! It was so sweet and brought everything full circle. Overall a quick read that I enjoyed!

[Ali Fredrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I DEVOURED this in 24 hours omg. This was a perfect romance to me. The banter was 10/10 incredible. The tension had me drooling. I couldn’t get enough! Obsessed with both Margot and Oliver and all of it!! Big big BIG fan of this one!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

[Michelle’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m waffling between 4 and 5 stars so probably 4.5 stars but this is a very good debut adult romance. I knew what was coming and I knew it was going to be so awkward and I loved it so much

[sam (nesta's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

*A special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Rating this one is a little hard for me. I really loved it at the beginning. The banter between Oliver and Margot was so good, I loved Sloane, and the storyline was headed in an interesting direction. But what really dropped this book from a 4 star to a 3.5 star was the third act conflict. It just didn't seem necessary. It also kinda icked me? I don't know. Just something about it didn't sit right with me. And the resolution was lackluster on top of that. I think she really needed to stick it to her sister and STICK WITH IT.

I love Kasie West and overall, I enjoyed her first adult novel for the most part. But, I'm looking forward to her getting her feet more in this genre.

[jenny reads a lot]

Rec via Eden

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