What do you think?
Rate this book
Meet Cute
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2019)Kailyn Flowers was always calm and controlled - until she ended up sprawled all over Daxton Hughes, the former actor she totally crushed on as a teenager. In seconds, she became a mortifying fangirl and oddly enough, he didn't run away. Instead, their meet cute led to something she never expected: a friendship. Of course, she never expected him to betray her, either.
Eight years later, Dax needs Kailyn's help. Years of anger towards him haven't exactly left Kailyn inclined to oblige, but she also isn't heartless enough to turn him down. She vows to be friendly, but soon their 'friendly' meetings turn into flirty dinner dates, and Kailyn can feel their chemistry is as explosive as ever. But how can she possibly let down her guard again to a guy who has heartbreak written all over him?
Eight years later, Dax needs Kailyn's help. Years of anger towards him haven't exactly left Kailyn inclined to oblige, but she also isn't heartless enough to turn him down. She vows to be friendly, but soon their 'friendly' meetings turn into flirty dinner dates, and Kailyn can feel their chemistry is as explosive as ever. But how can she possibly let down her guard again to a guy who has heartbreak written all over him?
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2019
2172 people are currently reading
66977 people want to read
About the author
Helena Hunting
79 books26.4k followersHelena Hunting is the author of The USA Today and NYT bestselling PUCKED Series. She lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes everything from romantic sports comedy to new adult angst.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,632 reviews
March 19, 2019
“I feel her breath on my chin. It’s fruity, like she was eating something sweet before I arrived. I wonder what that smart mouth tastes like. I wonder if she kisses like she argues.”
Oh Houston, we have so many problems.
_______________
The Story
This was surprisingly my first Helena Hunting book and I anticipated it so much! Maybe that's why it was such a letdown for me... Anyway, when I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was just the light fluffy rom-com I needed at the moment. I've been on a contemporary binge at the moment and the blurb to this as well as the few advance reviews seemed to set it up really well.
Meet Cute follows Kailyn's almost-like-fate romance with Daxton. If you've had the chance to read the blurb and you're like me, you'll see that there are elements to this story that have been done before repeatedly. The trope, the second-chance romance, the cute little kid that wins all the hearts... has been done. Yet still, I wanted to read this badly! I find that it isn't the tropes and the overdone characters that fail, it's the execution, and while I find this book wasn't bad at all... It lies somewhere in the 'eh' scale for me.
But still, I think if you want to give this a chance when it releases; forget my review and just go into it blind. This was just personal preference and my opinion is one of many :)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
I thought that this was a cute read and I flew through it in one sitting. It definitely didn't require any hard thinking and I sunk myself in the romance just like I wanted.
That being said, as soon as I started reading I knew the writing style was not for me. It was not descriptive, rather explanatory writing. I found it hard to flesh out the characters and bring them through life because there wasn't a lot of emotion shown in the writing. I really do lean on descriptive prose when reading, especially a romance when the feelings of the characters matter so much. After this, I noticed that a lot of the dialogue seemed off to me. It was unrealistic and uncomfortable at times. Then other times, it was cliche and the lines were cringey;
1)
(It's 2019, many women should know they are beautiful without the whole "you don't know you are and that's what makes it better." please get rid of this mindset. self love is beautiful.)
2)
(I wanted more substance to the writing? A lot of the lines felt overdone)
3)
(Menstruation is not disgusting, and although this was tackled slightly - I feel like it should have been made more explicit.)
Then came my set of unlikeable characters. I really didn't like Kailyn and Daxton was okay but the only character I was really rooting for was Emme. Even the main antagonist in this story was very predictable. Lastly, the rhythm of this book was jarring at times, often fragmented. This, again is a personal issue and I'm sure many will not pick up on something so simple, but I found that the flow of the plot and the story itself was very unclear.
Overall, I really wish I liked this more. Especially because of how much I anticipated it. This does not go to say I will not read Helena Hunting in the future, I just think this one was not my cuppa.
Oh Houston, we have so many problems.
_______________
The Story
This was surprisingly my first Helena Hunting book and I anticipated it so much! Maybe that's why it was such a letdown for me... Anyway, when I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was just the light fluffy rom-com I needed at the moment. I've been on a contemporary binge at the moment and the blurb to this as well as the few advance reviews seemed to set it up really well.
Meet Cute follows Kailyn's almost-like-fate romance with Daxton. If you've had the chance to read the blurb and you're like me, you'll see that there are elements to this story that have been done before repeatedly. The trope, the second-chance romance, the cute little kid that wins all the hearts... has been done. Yet still, I wanted to read this badly! I find that it isn't the tropes and the overdone characters that fail, it's the execution, and while I find this book wasn't bad at all... It lies somewhere in the 'eh' scale for me.
But still, I think if you want to give this a chance when it releases; forget my review and just go into it blind. This was just personal preference and my opinion is one of many :)
"Sometimes the darkest tragedies bring us the brightest lights."
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
I thought that this was a cute read and I flew through it in one sitting. It definitely didn't require any hard thinking and I sunk myself in the romance just like I wanted.
That being said, as soon as I started reading I knew the writing style was not for me. It was not descriptive, rather explanatory writing. I found it hard to flesh out the characters and bring them through life because there wasn't a lot of emotion shown in the writing. I really do lean on descriptive prose when reading, especially a romance when the feelings of the characters matter so much. After this, I noticed that a lot of the dialogue seemed off to me. It was unrealistic and uncomfortable at times. Then other times, it was cliche and the lines were cringey;
1)
"I like her even more than I did back then. I wonder if she has any idea how sexy she is. Probably not. Which makes her even hotter."
(It's 2019, many women should know they are beautiful without the whole "you don't know you are and that's what makes it better." please get rid of this mindset. self love is beautiful.)
2)
"I sometimes bandaged so many years ago. But I can’t cover this wound with a Band-Aid. It’s just too deep."
(I wanted more substance to the writing? A lot of the lines felt overdone)
3)
"He makes a gagging sound, and his horrified expression returns. This is far more fun than it should be for a Friday night at the CVS in the Aisle of Red."
(Menstruation is not disgusting, and although this was tackled slightly - I feel like it should have been made more explicit.)
Then came my set of unlikeable characters. I really didn't like Kailyn and Daxton was okay but the only character I was really rooting for was Emme. Even the main antagonist in this story was very predictable. Lastly, the rhythm of this book was jarring at times, often fragmented. This, again is a personal issue and I'm sure many will not pick up on something so simple, but I found that the flow of the plot and the story itself was very unclear.
Overall, I really wish I liked this more. Especially because of how much I anticipated it. This does not go to say I will not read Helena Hunting in the future, I just think this one was not my cuppa.
December 29, 2020
An emotionally captivating, yet sexy and steamy meet cute that will have you enchanted for more of Daxton and Kailyn's story...
I have to start off by saying that anyone who knows me, knows that my love, adoration and obsession for anything written by Helena Hunting is right there amongst my love for Penelope Douglas and Tessa Bailey as one of my favorite authors due to the fact that she has this magical mind of expressing in words the madness and sweetness that is a true romance novel. She always has her quirky, yet sexy scenes here in there that drives my pounding heart crazy. And there is no denying that this novel is not an exception to that. Her balance of acquiring that taste of charming yet sensuous story is an enthralling feeling to the reader is one that you will never get tired of and want to keep reading more and more. And when it comes down to my specific tastes, she always tends to hit the right and perfect spots every single time. With this new love story coming this spring, Helena demonstrates that family struggles can always be mend together with love, compassion, and time. With the power of those three things, Daxton and Kailyn learn how to be with each other, even after their past that has brought them head to head in the present.
Now, let's talk about the story shall we? Without giving any spoilers away I can officially say that this is a must read story plot that will have you hooked to your seat wanting to find out what happens next. Daxton Hughes, a former teen actor who has made it into the big leagues with the law, now a lawyer has come across a situation that no one should ever go through. After the loss of his parents, he is turned into the primary guardian of his thirteen year old sister. Now with no knowledge of being a parent, he has to learn how to acquire that respect and title as a "dad" (in a none-weird way) and keep that cool of being the big brother as well. That's when Kailyn is brought to the picture. A former college student, Kailyn is the number one family lawyer at her firm. Before the loss of Daxton's parents, they had come to her for financial advise on Emme's (Daxton's little sister) final will. Seeing Daxton again after so many years, Kailyn's crush for the former star of It's My Life never seemed to diminish. The affection she had for him for so many years hits her once again when encountering upon his presence. However, she cannot forget what he did to her back in law school and her dislike towards him is one that makes you curious to find out what happened to these two. Daxton finds her displeasure one that does not sit well with him, because after his loss she ends up being part of his life due to legal situations.
The instant attraction is there between Dax and Kailyn. One that had not stopped him ever since law school. All those debate classes that he had with her, they became an infatuation towards her in which he thought would just be a short time, but he slowly learned that she is different. After so many years apart, that sweet banter and chemistry is there. Now that Kailyn is part of his life due to legal purposes that involve Emme, she also lets her walls down and let's a sweet and innocent Emme into her life. She comprehends her emotional struggles of losing her parents at such a young as, as Kailyn had lost hers as well. And opening her heart for two individuals that need all the love and care in the world is something that becomes a struggle for her due to the fact that she has to have boundaries because she is crossing the border line of keeping things professional yet have some compassion;
When it comes down to Daxton and Kailyn however, there is that invisible pull that is inevitable to be ignored. Morals are brought to their relationship. Morals in which she struggle to find whether to have compassion towards Daxton after what happened in college. But once she finds out the truth, her walls fall and she lets her heart expand more and shares that love with him. In his eyes, Kailyn is this strong, driven, and independently passionate woman that has had no help of anyone to get where she stands today. That becomes an insightful addiction to Dax, one that he wants to ravish and thoroughly enjoy. But he also comes to understand that those boundaries he has put in the past with other women, is something he cannot seem to do or control when it comes down to Kailyn;
However, when the truth comes out that Kailyn has been keeping from Daxton, she encounters upon the feeling of loss once again. This time it is a different feeling from when she lost her parents. Will Daxton be able to forgive her? And will Daxton be able to obtain that respect and trust from Emme? There is only one way to find out, and when I highly say that this is a romance that you do not want to miss out on, I mean it! Helena has created this new world with fictional characters that will have your stomach with butterflies wanting more of their love.
Overall, you can say this is a second chance at romance type of trope. Even though Daxton and Kailyn were not officially together back in law school, there was still that chemistry that bonded them together. Even after years apart, it never seemed to diminish. Fate brought them back together to be in one piece, and form this family that they both needed with Emme involved. I applaud to Helena Hunting yet again for creating such a captivating story. The magic behind her writing is one that also as a reader intrigues me in the best of ways. Thank you as well to Nina Bocci & Forever Romance for providing an early copy of this beauty. You will all fond over Daxton, Kailyn, and Emme.
ARC galley kindly provided by Forever Romance, in exchange for an honest review...
➳Follow Me On:
Blog ♕ Instagram ♕ Facebook ♕ Twitter
I have to start off by saying that anyone who knows me, knows that my love, adoration and obsession for anything written by Helena Hunting is right there amongst my love for Penelope Douglas and Tessa Bailey as one of my favorite authors due to the fact that she has this magical mind of expressing in words the madness and sweetness that is a true romance novel. She always has her quirky, yet sexy scenes here in there that drives my pounding heart crazy. And there is no denying that this novel is not an exception to that. Her balance of acquiring that taste of charming yet sensuous story is an enthralling feeling to the reader is one that you will never get tired of and want to keep reading more and more. And when it comes down to my specific tastes, she always tends to hit the right and perfect spots every single time. With this new love story coming this spring, Helena demonstrates that family struggles can always be mend together with love, compassion, and time. With the power of those three things, Daxton and Kailyn learn how to be with each other, even after their past that has brought them head to head in the present.
Now, let's talk about the story shall we? Without giving any spoilers away I can officially say that this is a must read story plot that will have you hooked to your seat wanting to find out what happens next. Daxton Hughes, a former teen actor who has made it into the big leagues with the law, now a lawyer has come across a situation that no one should ever go through. After the loss of his parents, he is turned into the primary guardian of his thirteen year old sister. Now with no knowledge of being a parent, he has to learn how to acquire that respect and title as a "dad" (in a none-weird way) and keep that cool of being the big brother as well. That's when Kailyn is brought to the picture. A former college student, Kailyn is the number one family lawyer at her firm. Before the loss of Daxton's parents, they had come to her for financial advise on Emme's (Daxton's little sister) final will. Seeing Daxton again after so many years, Kailyn's crush for the former star of It's My Life never seemed to diminish. The affection she had for him for so many years hits her once again when encountering upon his presence. However, she cannot forget what he did to her back in law school and her dislike towards him is one that makes you curious to find out what happened to these two. Daxton finds her displeasure one that does not sit well with him, because after his loss she ends up being part of his life due to legal situations.
The instant attraction is there between Dax and Kailyn. One that had not stopped him ever since law school. All those debate classes that he had with her, they became an infatuation towards her in which he thought would just be a short time, but he slowly learned that she is different. After so many years apart, that sweet banter and chemistry is there. Now that Kailyn is part of his life due to legal purposes that involve Emme, she also lets her walls down and let's a sweet and innocent Emme into her life. She comprehends her emotional struggles of losing her parents at such a young as, as Kailyn had lost hers as well. And opening her heart for two individuals that need all the love and care in the world is something that becomes a struggle for her due to the fact that she has to have boundaries because she is crossing the border line of keeping things professional yet have some compassion;
"As soon as I wrap my arms around he tiny frame, she tightens her hold on me. I want to protect her from this pain, even though I know it's impossible..."
When it comes down to Daxton and Kailyn however, there is that invisible pull that is inevitable to be ignored. Morals are brought to their relationship. Morals in which she struggle to find whether to have compassion towards Daxton after what happened in college. But once she finds out the truth, her walls fall and she lets her heart expand more and shares that love with him. In his eyes, Kailyn is this strong, driven, and independently passionate woman that has had no help of anyone to get where she stands today. That becomes an insightful addiction to Dax, one that he wants to ravish and thoroughly enjoy. But he also comes to understand that those boundaries he has put in the past with other women, is something he cannot seem to do or control when it comes down to Kailyn;
"This thing with Kailyn is starting to feel a lot bigger than I intended, and pushing for more with her could backfire badly. But I'm selfish enough to try, because I want her in my life as much as Emme wants her in hers..."
However, when the truth comes out that Kailyn has been keeping from Daxton, she encounters upon the feeling of loss once again. This time it is a different feeling from when she lost her parents. Will Daxton be able to forgive her? And will Daxton be able to obtain that respect and trust from Emme? There is only one way to find out, and when I highly say that this is a romance that you do not want to miss out on, I mean it! Helena has created this new world with fictional characters that will have your stomach with butterflies wanting more of their love.
Overall, you can say this is a second chance at romance type of trope. Even though Daxton and Kailyn were not officially together back in law school, there was still that chemistry that bonded them together. Even after years apart, it never seemed to diminish. Fate brought them back together to be in one piece, and form this family that they both needed with Emme involved. I applaud to Helena Hunting yet again for creating such a captivating story. The magic behind her writing is one that also as a reader intrigues me in the best of ways. Thank you as well to Nina Bocci & Forever Romance for providing an early copy of this beauty. You will all fond over Daxton, Kailyn, and Emme.
ARC galley kindly provided by Forever Romance, in exchange for an honest review...
➳Follow Me On:
Blog ♕ Instagram ♕ Facebook ♕ Twitter
March 15, 2020
i knew going into this book that its received some not so cute ratings/reviews. and maybe its because i didnt expect too much out of this that i really enjoyed it. or it could be the fact that ive been cooped up on my house for 6 days due to a country-wide quarantine and it doesnt take much to entertain me these days. lol.
regardless, i thought this was cute! not sure the book is aptly named as the meet-cute really has no factor in the story other than introducing the characters. and HH totally could have taken out the fact that dax was a teen tv star and it wouldnt have affected/changed the story one bit. but i digress.
i really liked dax. i enjoyed seeing his character develop as he had to make some big life changes. his relationship with his sister is totally adorable. i honestly enjoyed reading more about him and his sister than his relationship with kailyn (although that was cute, too).
overall, this doesnt really offer anything new to the romance genre, so i can understand why many readers are left a little unsatisfied. but im walking away perfectly content and entertained, which is all i can ask for.
↠ 4 stars
regardless, i thought this was cute! not sure the book is aptly named as the meet-cute really has no factor in the story other than introducing the characters. and HH totally could have taken out the fact that dax was a teen tv star and it wouldnt have affected/changed the story one bit. but i digress.
i really liked dax. i enjoyed seeing his character develop as he had to make some big life changes. his relationship with his sister is totally adorable. i honestly enjoyed reading more about him and his sister than his relationship with kailyn (although that was cute, too).
overall, this doesnt really offer anything new to the romance genre, so i can understand why many readers are left a little unsatisfied. but im walking away perfectly content and entertained, which is all i can ask for.
↠ 4 stars
June 8, 2019
4.5 ⭐️
That cover is clearly a deception. The cuteness of it all doesn’t reflect the depth and the emotions this story had for me.
But I guess that’s part of the surprise and the whole don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover thing.
These two main characters did indeed end up having a ‘Meet Cute’. Kailyn is our lovable fangirl and Dax was the star of a hit TV show. A heart throb. She fawns over him, then realises they have the same class together. They attended law school and once all that is over, their lives intertwined again several years later.
This is the first book I’ve read by Helena Hunting and I can’t wait to read more books by her. Everything about it gelled with me. Kailyn was such an awesome, headstrong, opinionated and sass-ass character, who I fell for straight away.
Dax aged like fine wine. (Not that I’ve ever had wine, but that’s besides the point.)
Their chemistry was offfff the charts, all thanks to the writing. I felt everything, pictured everything and believed them to be real. Their story was real and I easily could’ve read more.
I could not put this book down!
Read for the Smuthathon Readathon.
Challenges fulfilled: Second Chance Romance and New to You Author.
That cover is clearly a deception. The cuteness of it all doesn’t reflect the depth and the emotions this story had for me.
But I guess that’s part of the surprise and the whole don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover thing.
These two main characters did indeed end up having a ‘Meet Cute’. Kailyn is our lovable fangirl and Dax was the star of a hit TV show. A heart throb. She fawns over him, then realises they have the same class together. They attended law school and once all that is over, their lives intertwined again several years later.
This is the first book I’ve read by Helena Hunting and I can’t wait to read more books by her. Everything about it gelled with me. Kailyn was such an awesome, headstrong, opinionated and sass-ass character, who I fell for straight away.
Dax aged like fine wine. (Not that I’ve ever had wine, but that’s besides the point.)
Their chemistry was offfff the charts, all thanks to the writing. I felt everything, pictured everything and believed them to be real. Their story was real and I easily could’ve read more.
I could not put this book down!
Read for the Smuthathon Readathon.
Challenges fulfilled: Second Chance Romance and New to You Author.
March 14, 2019
4 stars
I initially picked this book up because the cover is adorable and it’s written by Helena Hunting who writes some amazing rom-coms. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Kailyn and Dax have an interesting relationship. The first time they meet, it’s in law school. Kailyn runs into Dax and very much fan girls all over him. He is the star of one of her favorite teenage tv series. Then they become law school rivals. At the end of law school, Kailyn kind of hates him.
When Kailyn and Dax meet again, 8 years later, Kailyn is still holding a grudge. And Dax isn’t quite sure why. They develop a professional relationship even though Kailyn is leery at first. When Dax suffers a huge loss and has a life changing moment where he’s now the guardian of his teenage sister, Kailyn is there for him. They quickly go from enemies to friends and then it starts to develop into so much more.
I loved Kailyn’s obsession with Dax’s show. Even when she hated him, she loved that show. It made me smile. One of my favorite parts of this book was the relationship both Kailyn and Dax had with Dax’s little sister, Emme. Kailyn was so great with her and the type of female influence she needed. And Dax only wanted what was best for Emme and loved her so much.
The banter between these two was great. And the sexual tension... I’m always here for that. As I said, this was much more emotional than I initially thought it would be and a slow burn for sure, but it did have some moments that made me laugh and smile and some steam as well. If you’re looking for an enemies to lovers type romance that will give you some feels, pick this one up!!
I initially picked this book up because the cover is adorable and it’s written by Helena Hunting who writes some amazing rom-coms. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Kailyn and Dax have an interesting relationship. The first time they meet, it’s in law school. Kailyn runs into Dax and very much fan girls all over him. He is the star of one of her favorite teenage tv series. Then they become law school rivals. At the end of law school, Kailyn kind of hates him.
When Kailyn and Dax meet again, 8 years later, Kailyn is still holding a grudge. And Dax isn’t quite sure why. They develop a professional relationship even though Kailyn is leery at first. When Dax suffers a huge loss and has a life changing moment where he’s now the guardian of his teenage sister, Kailyn is there for him. They quickly go from enemies to friends and then it starts to develop into so much more.
I loved Kailyn’s obsession with Dax’s show. Even when she hated him, she loved that show. It made me smile. One of my favorite parts of this book was the relationship both Kailyn and Dax had with Dax’s little sister, Emme. Kailyn was so great with her and the type of female influence she needed. And Dax only wanted what was best for Emme and loved her so much.
The banter between these two was great. And the sexual tension... I’m always here for that. As I said, this was much more emotional than I initially thought it would be and a slow burn for sure, but it did have some moments that made me laugh and smile and some steam as well. If you’re looking for an enemies to lovers type romance that will give you some feels, pick this one up!!
February 24, 2019
Thanks to Forever for sending me an advanced copy for review!
DNF at 250 pages.
Nothing was particularly horrible about this book that forced me to stop reading it, I just wasn't invested enough to care whether I finished the last 100 pages or not. I think what I expected from this book and what it turned out to be were two different things, and I'm disappointed that this was far below my expectations. Still, I think this book has its audience and some positives, it just wasn't for me.
My biggest issue with this book is the writing style. Particularly, this book is heavy on the explanations and telling instead of showing, and so it was really difficult to get descriptions of the events occurring and the characters we meet. Also, this book rarely supplied any description of emotion or the characters' reactions to things, so the inner monologue and even the dialogue frequently came off as very robotic. Because the writing was so devoid of any personality, both POVs of this book sounded identical, and both POVs lacked any meaningful description because the writing was quite generic and basic. This book tends to state the obvious a lot instead of offering unique descriptions, like how when Dax had to tell his sister that their parents both died he says "This bad news will change her life." Like.... yeah. Obviously. I was craving some description of his inner turmoil occurring or the dread that built within him as he prepared to tell her, but it was all just blanket statements of explanations and never any in-depth description.
One super particular thing that really nagged me is that Dax is Kailyn's childhood and teenage crush, but when they actually start kissing and becoming sexual, she never has any reaction like "omg this is my dream," it just ignores that she's been crushing on him for years. The story could have really been heightened by that added angst, but even the enemies to lovers element of this REALLY flopped because the author never stops to address the character's feelings, only their boring and stating-the-obvious inner monologue. Like I'm all for asking for consent as the clothes start coming off, but there was a point during one of their sex scenes where Dax started narrating "I'm taking your pants off now. I'm going to kiss you now." And I seriously only was able to imagine him as a robot it was so devoid of romance or spark.
Furthermore, this book's plot was just kind of shaky, and I think my suspension of disbelief was affected by how jarringly dry the writing style was. This book honestly had scenes that read like it was published a decade ago and 2009 called and it wants its tropes back. These are things like the "you don't know you're beautiful" conversation, really awkward text conversations in lingo that no one actually uses after the invention of iPhones, the overuse of the word "freaking" (ya'll are adults. just say fuck), and even a scene of the characters playing Just Dance? It felt dated and this book's plot sometimes just didn't make sense, especially considering the ethicality of a lawyer having sex with one of her clients. The romance wasn't good enough for me to be able to ignore how wrong it seemed.
I feel like all the issues I had with this were just personal preference, so this book could certainly be better for you than it was for me. I found it more family-based than romance based, almost like a custody battle with a romance thrown in, which just wasn't my thing. Additionally, the emotionless writing style made it difficult to humanize the characters, but still I enjoyed a lot of the scenes of them bonding with Dax's sister and being cute.
DNF at 250 pages.
Nothing was particularly horrible about this book that forced me to stop reading it, I just wasn't invested enough to care whether I finished the last 100 pages or not. I think what I expected from this book and what it turned out to be were two different things, and I'm disappointed that this was far below my expectations. Still, I think this book has its audience and some positives, it just wasn't for me.
My biggest issue with this book is the writing style. Particularly, this book is heavy on the explanations and telling instead of showing, and so it was really difficult to get descriptions of the events occurring and the characters we meet. Also, this book rarely supplied any description of emotion or the characters' reactions to things, so the inner monologue and even the dialogue frequently came off as very robotic. Because the writing was so devoid of any personality, both POVs of this book sounded identical, and both POVs lacked any meaningful description because the writing was quite generic and basic. This book tends to state the obvious a lot instead of offering unique descriptions, like how when Dax had to tell his sister that their parents both died he says "This bad news will change her life." Like.... yeah. Obviously. I was craving some description of his inner turmoil occurring or the dread that built within him as he prepared to tell her, but it was all just blanket statements of explanations and never any in-depth description.
One super particular thing that really nagged me is that Dax is Kailyn's childhood and teenage crush, but when they actually start kissing and becoming sexual, she never has any reaction like "omg this is my dream," it just ignores that she's been crushing on him for years. The story could have really been heightened by that added angst, but even the enemies to lovers element of this REALLY flopped because the author never stops to address the character's feelings, only their boring and stating-the-obvious inner monologue. Like I'm all for asking for consent as the clothes start coming off, but there was a point during one of their sex scenes where Dax started narrating "I'm taking your pants off now. I'm going to kiss you now." And I seriously only was able to imagine him as a robot it was so devoid of romance or spark.
Furthermore, this book's plot was just kind of shaky, and I think my suspension of disbelief was affected by how jarringly dry the writing style was. This book honestly had scenes that read like it was published a decade ago and 2009 called and it wants its tropes back. These are things like the "you don't know you're beautiful" conversation, really awkward text conversations in lingo that no one actually uses after the invention of iPhones, the overuse of the word "freaking" (ya'll are adults. just say fuck), and even a scene of the characters playing Just Dance? It felt dated and this book's plot sometimes just didn't make sense, especially considering the ethicality of a lawyer having sex with one of her clients. The romance wasn't good enough for me to be able to ignore how wrong it seemed.
I feel like all the issues I had with this were just personal preference, so this book could certainly be better for you than it was for me. I found it more family-based than romance based, almost like a custody battle with a romance thrown in, which just wasn't my thing. Additionally, the emotionless writing style made it difficult to humanize the characters, but still I enjoyed a lot of the scenes of them bonding with Dax's sister and being cute.
April 20, 2019
3.5 stars.
"I always imagined that if I met one of my favorite celebrities, I'd act cool, be all casual about it, treat them like a regular person. Obviously I was very wrong about that."
It's the first day of law school, and Kailyn is ready to kick ass and take names. And then on her way to her first class, she—literally—runs into Daxton Hughes, the television actor she was utterly obsessed with as a teenager...and might still be now. (She still watches marathons of the long-canceled show and has a collection of memorabilia with his face on it.) Her encounter with Daxton quickly strips her of her sophistication, and she can't keep herself from becoming a giggly fangirl.
It turns out that Dax is her law school classmate, too. And once she mortifies herself in front of him and his friends a second time a few minutes later, she pulls herself together, and over the course of law school she shows him that she should be taken seriously.
The two become friends and rivals, with occasional flirtation thrown in for good measure, but Kailyn focuses on school first and foremost so she can catapult her way to a successful job. She's unprepared, however, when Dax betrays her, and she's fine with never seeing him again.
This plan works for five years, until she runs into him at her law firm, when he accompanies his parents on a legal matter. Infuriatingly, Dax is as good-looking as ever, and he seems genuinely happy to see Kailyn. He doesn't understand why she's angry with him all these years later, and it turns out he doesn't remember any of the bad stuff he pulled in law school, which angers her even more. But that doesn't mean she still isn't completely drawn to him, much to her chagrin.
When a tragic incident results in Dax's becoming the legal guardian to his 13-year-old sister, Emme, he is completely unprepared for the responsibilities that raising a teenager entails. After Kailyn is appointed Emme's conservator in the midst of some messy family issues, she's willing to put aside her anger with Dax and help him give Emme the love and care she needs. But she can't ignore the fact that she starts to fall for him, and their fun flirtation starts to give way to something potentially serious. Can she trust that he won't betray her again, and can she handle all of the female attention a former star like Dax attracts?
Kailyn is hiding a secret from Dax, too, one she knows will anger him if he discovers it. She has to decide what's more important to her, her professional ambition or the potential for a relationship with someone she's crushed on since she was a teenager. And she needs to do it fast, before everyone involved gets hurt.
Meet Cute is, like its title says, cute. While it starts out as a rom-com, the story gets a bit more serious than I was expecting, with tragedy, a custody battle, lies, and betrayal. Kailyn and Dax have great chemistry together, and Helena Hunting gives you a great deal of perspective into what makes Kailyn tick.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the dynamic of a woman actually falling for an actor she has been obsessed with for far too long. When Meet Cute explored that angle, the book really hit its stride. Sadly, I didn't feel quite the same way with all of the issues around Dax's struggles to prove he is capable and deserving of being Emme's guardian—while I don't mind when a rom-com feels predictable if there's charm and chemistry, the predictability of the domestic issues irritated me a bit.
Meet Cute was definitely a fun read, though, and Kailyn and Dax's relationship felt genuine as it hit its peaks and valleys. I just wish it was a little, well, cuter.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
"I always imagined that if I met one of my favorite celebrities, I'd act cool, be all casual about it, treat them like a regular person. Obviously I was very wrong about that."
It's the first day of law school, and Kailyn is ready to kick ass and take names. And then on her way to her first class, she—literally—runs into Daxton Hughes, the television actor she was utterly obsessed with as a teenager...and might still be now. (She still watches marathons of the long-canceled show and has a collection of memorabilia with his face on it.) Her encounter with Daxton quickly strips her of her sophistication, and she can't keep herself from becoming a giggly fangirl.
It turns out that Dax is her law school classmate, too. And once she mortifies herself in front of him and his friends a second time a few minutes later, she pulls herself together, and over the course of law school she shows him that she should be taken seriously.
The two become friends and rivals, with occasional flirtation thrown in for good measure, but Kailyn focuses on school first and foremost so she can catapult her way to a successful job. She's unprepared, however, when Dax betrays her, and she's fine with never seeing him again.
This plan works for five years, until she runs into him at her law firm, when he accompanies his parents on a legal matter. Infuriatingly, Dax is as good-looking as ever, and he seems genuinely happy to see Kailyn. He doesn't understand why she's angry with him all these years later, and it turns out he doesn't remember any of the bad stuff he pulled in law school, which angers her even more. But that doesn't mean she still isn't completely drawn to him, much to her chagrin.
When a tragic incident results in Dax's becoming the legal guardian to his 13-year-old sister, Emme, he is completely unprepared for the responsibilities that raising a teenager entails. After Kailyn is appointed Emme's conservator in the midst of some messy family issues, she's willing to put aside her anger with Dax and help him give Emme the love and care she needs. But she can't ignore the fact that she starts to fall for him, and their fun flirtation starts to give way to something potentially serious. Can she trust that he won't betray her again, and can she handle all of the female attention a former star like Dax attracts?
Kailyn is hiding a secret from Dax, too, one she knows will anger him if he discovers it. She has to decide what's more important to her, her professional ambition or the potential for a relationship with someone she's crushed on since she was a teenager. And she needs to do it fast, before everyone involved gets hurt.
Meet Cute is, like its title says, cute. While it starts out as a rom-com, the story gets a bit more serious than I was expecting, with tragedy, a custody battle, lies, and betrayal. Kailyn and Dax have great chemistry together, and Helena Hunting gives you a great deal of perspective into what makes Kailyn tick.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the dynamic of a woman actually falling for an actor she has been obsessed with for far too long. When Meet Cute explored that angle, the book really hit its stride. Sadly, I didn't feel quite the same way with all of the issues around Dax's struggles to prove he is capable and deserving of being Emme's guardian—while I don't mind when a rom-com feels predictable if there's charm and chemistry, the predictability of the domestic issues irritated me a bit.
Meet Cute was definitely a fun read, though, and Kailyn and Dax's relationship felt genuine as it hit its peaks and valleys. I just wish it was a little, well, cuter.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
April 10, 2021
I wanted a fun audio to listen to and I had Meet Cute in my audible library for a while. The audio was just what I thought it was going to be. Something rom-com with a side of heartfelt that was perfect entertainment during my commute. Meet Cute made me laugh and it made me swoon a little bit too.
Kailyn's favorite TV show was It's My Life. She grew up watching it and she had the memorabilia to prove it. She loved the protagonist and on her first day of law school, she crashes into Daxton Hughes, the actor of the show. The man she has had a crush on since she was a teenager! However, by the end of law school, she wants to murder him. And this all happens in the prologue!
Then eight years later, they are face to face again. He's seeking her help with his parents' trust. He's becoming his sister Emme's guardian. His life is changing in all the ways that matter. He's losing most of his independence but he knows he has to fight for Emme.
In the beginning, Kailyn is not sure about his motives but the more time she spends with Dax and Emme the more she starts falling for both.
At first, I wasn't sure about Kailyn. She was a little too harsh and calculating but as the story and their feelings progressed, I warmed up to her. I loved how much she cared about the show. She was the perfect fangirl and I could relate to that. Dax was all kinds of nice. He went above and beyond to show Emme that she could trust him.
Since I'm reviewing the audio, I've to say that I thought the narrator did a great job at interpreting the characters and their feelings.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Kailyn's favorite TV show was It's My Life. She grew up watching it and she had the memorabilia to prove it. She loved the protagonist and on her first day of law school, she crashes into Daxton Hughes, the actor of the show. The man she has had a crush on since she was a teenager! However, by the end of law school, she wants to murder him. And this all happens in the prologue!
Then eight years later, they are face to face again. He's seeking her help with his parents' trust. He's becoming his sister Emme's guardian. His life is changing in all the ways that matter. He's losing most of his independence but he knows he has to fight for Emme.
In the beginning, Kailyn is not sure about his motives but the more time she spends with Dax and Emme the more she starts falling for both.
At first, I wasn't sure about Kailyn. She was a little too harsh and calculating but as the story and their feelings progressed, I warmed up to her. I loved how much she cared about the show. She was the perfect fangirl and I could relate to that. Dax was all kinds of nice. He went above and beyond to show Emme that she could trust him.
Since I'm reviewing the audio, I've to say that I thought the narrator did a great job at interpreting the characters and their feelings.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
October 23, 2022
Meet Cute was super cute!! I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and this love story was just what I needed! It was adorable and definitely an easy read. There was a big tragedy in the storyline which added a little bit of heaviness, but it was the perfect amount to give this book just the right amount of depth and seriousness. There was some spice added into the book, as well! It was all around super enjoyable, and I would highly recommend for all the romance lovers!
July 5, 2020
2.5 stars
The beginning of this book was a huge mess. The book was just all over the place that I almost DNFed it. It felt like too much was happening too fast, like the author wanted to get that beginning over with!
After those first 70-ish pages the pace started to become more steady, fortunately! Neither the title nor the cover are really related to the actual story. That “meet cute” at the beginning was so dumb with nothing cute about it. Also, The part about him being famous when he was young felt so unnecessary? Because the fangirling thing was seriously driving me crazy! I feel like the book could’ve made it without that.
What I liked about this book tho is the relationship between the hero and his sister. I loved seeing them together and work things out. The romance on the other hand was so flat and kinda dull with zero chemistry. The book got a really predictable plot and it wasn’t even done in an entertaining way, so I found myself really bored.
The beginning of this book was a huge mess. The book was just all over the place that I almost DNFed it. It felt like too much was happening too fast, like the author wanted to get that beginning over with!
After those first 70-ish pages the pace started to become more steady, fortunately! Neither the title nor the cover are really related to the actual story. That “meet cute” at the beginning was so dumb with nothing cute about it. Also, The part about him being famous when he was young felt so unnecessary? Because the fangirling thing was seriously driving me crazy! I feel like the book could’ve made it without that.
What I liked about this book tho is the relationship between the hero and his sister. I loved seeing them together and work things out. The romance on the other hand was so flat and kinda dull with zero chemistry. The book got a really predictable plot and it wasn’t even done in an entertaining way, so I found myself really bored.
July 16, 2019
Aw, look at how cute they are sharing a straw with a heart! With that title and that cover, this has to be a funny, sweet romance, right?
Yeah, this isn't at all what it seems. The book is about loss and betrayal and trying to put the pieces back together. Yes, there is a romance, but it isn't all sweet and cute. It's angsty and difficult because of the circumstances that surround it.
It's still pretty good, but definitely not what it looks like.
Judging it from the perspective of what the book really is - it still has a few problems. There is a big custody battle going on in the story and I felt like it was pretty obvious that the person suing was up to something. I also wondered what kind of lawyer he hired when his girlfriend was able to find out all of the information she needed, but the lawyer didn't seem to do the most basic of searches.
He should have taken another look at that business card.
Apart from those small missteps, and the fact that the book was nothing like I expected it to be, it was good.
Yeah, this isn't at all what it seems. The book is about loss and betrayal and trying to put the pieces back together. Yes, there is a romance, but it isn't all sweet and cute. It's angsty and difficult because of the circumstances that surround it.
It's still pretty good, but definitely not what it looks like.
Judging it from the perspective of what the book really is - it still has a few problems. There is a big custody battle going on in the story and I felt like it was pretty obvious that the person suing was up to something. I also wondered what kind of lawyer he hired when his girlfriend was able to find out all of the information she needed, but the lawyer didn't seem to do the most basic of searches.
He should have taken another look at that business card.
Apart from those small missteps, and the fact that the book was nothing like I expected it to be, it was good.
April 3, 2019
Helena Hunting writes a hugely entertaining and light hearted novel of family and romance set in Los Angeles, that was just what I needed after some dark, disturbing and unsettling reads. Trust lawyer Kailyn Flowers is almost 30 years old, ambitiously chasing a partnership, working all hours to ensure that this dream comes true. On her first day at law school, Kailyn is knocked over by Daxton Hughes, a famous child actor that she harboured a huge crush on, with an obsession for the series he starred in. To her mortification, she cannot stop fangirling him, teased by his friends, only to find he is in the same law classes as her. A friendship develops between the two of them, marked by a friendly competitive rivalry until he unforgivably betrays her at the end.
Having not seen him for years, he turns up with his parents to see her over forming a trust to protect his younger 13 year old sister, Emme. Initially he doesn't recognise her, and then is puzzled by the hostility emanating from her. Tragedy strikes 6 months later when a accident fatally claims the lives of Dax's parents, and a surprise in their will has Dax left with custody of Emme which knocks him for six, and pulls the rug from his current lifestyle. A shell shocked and grieving Dax, an entertainment lawyer, had been on course for a partnership at his law firm, working 90 hour weeks, and now he must look after and protect his beloved sister. Emme is drowning in grief and the death of her parents fundamentally destabilises her world, it is going to take some time for her to come to terms with this. Dax has no experience to effectively respond to her needs and in providing the kind of comfort she is desperately wanting. Kailyn finds herself with legal responsibilities towards Emme, which multiply when Aunt Linda makes a claim for custody of Emme, citing Dax as an unsuitable figure and poorly equipped to be able to competently look after his sister.
Kailyn too has lost both her parents earlier, so she can understand what both Dax and Emme are experiencing and, despite her doubts and reservations, she finds herself willingly filling a vital role in Dax and Emme's lives. In a path strewn with obstacles, Dax and Kailyn feel an irresistible attraction towards each other, but can their relationship survive the challenges that face them? As Dax and Emme start to feel like family, her family, Kailyn is forced to examine and reconsider the goals and ambitions that have driven her. Her work with best friend Holly, a social worker, feeds her growing interest in family law which has her wanting to shift direction in her career. If you are looking for some feel good escapist fare, then this should fit the bill. This is perfect reading fare for when you need a lift in life. There is great characterisation, I particularly loved Emme, she feels like an authentic grieving teenager, and just so adorable. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Having not seen him for years, he turns up with his parents to see her over forming a trust to protect his younger 13 year old sister, Emme. Initially he doesn't recognise her, and then is puzzled by the hostility emanating from her. Tragedy strikes 6 months later when a accident fatally claims the lives of Dax's parents, and a surprise in their will has Dax left with custody of Emme which knocks him for six, and pulls the rug from his current lifestyle. A shell shocked and grieving Dax, an entertainment lawyer, had been on course for a partnership at his law firm, working 90 hour weeks, and now he must look after and protect his beloved sister. Emme is drowning in grief and the death of her parents fundamentally destabilises her world, it is going to take some time for her to come to terms with this. Dax has no experience to effectively respond to her needs and in providing the kind of comfort she is desperately wanting. Kailyn finds herself with legal responsibilities towards Emme, which multiply when Aunt Linda makes a claim for custody of Emme, citing Dax as an unsuitable figure and poorly equipped to be able to competently look after his sister.
Kailyn too has lost both her parents earlier, so she can understand what both Dax and Emme are experiencing and, despite her doubts and reservations, she finds herself willingly filling a vital role in Dax and Emme's lives. In a path strewn with obstacles, Dax and Kailyn feel an irresistible attraction towards each other, but can their relationship survive the challenges that face them? As Dax and Emme start to feel like family, her family, Kailyn is forced to examine and reconsider the goals and ambitions that have driven her. Her work with best friend Holly, a social worker, feeds her growing interest in family law which has her wanting to shift direction in her career. If you are looking for some feel good escapist fare, then this should fit the bill. This is perfect reading fare for when you need a lift in life. There is great characterisation, I particularly loved Emme, she feels like an authentic grieving teenager, and just so adorable. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
March 24, 2019
*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I look back up at him, and my explanation gets stuck in my throat when I stop to really take him in. I recognize his face as one I’ve had endless fantasies about all through my teen years. And into my adult ones.
MEET CUTE is an ”enemies-to-lovers” romance with just the right dose of schmexy, heart, and a little dash of intrigue all rolled up into one perfect package. I instantly fell in love with the main characters and the plot. This is why Helena Hunting ranks high on my list of favorite authors.
Kailyn and Dax meet during their last year of law school. Kailyn acted like an overly excited fangirl because Dax was the star of her all-time favorite tv show and also her biggest Hollywood crush. He finds her to be incredibly adorable but for whatever reason, wasn’t brave enough to make a move on her. Then a misunderstanding causes Kailyn to view Dax as the enemy. The two don’t end up seeing each other until several years after graduation when Dax shows up with his parents at Kailyn’s office to set up a trust for his thirteen-year-old sister, Emme. The attraction is still there between them but Kailyn is still very much holding on to her grudge with him from their law school days.
The two meet up again several months later when Dax’s parents are killed in a car accident and Kailyn becomes the conservator of Emme’s trust. Dax is named his sister’s legal guardian and his aunt, who isn’t happy about the situation, ends up filing a lawsuit to gain custody of Emme. While Kailyn isn’t thrilled about being forced to spend time with Dax, and she’s also not convinced of his intentions where his sister’s inheritance is concerned, she can’t deny that deep down she has an out of control burning attraction to him.
While Dax is struggling with his new role as a parent and the legal battle with his aunt, he also can’t deny the strong feelings that he has for Kailyn. Can he manage raising a teenager, his hefty workload, his aunt’s lawsuit, and a new romantic relationship? Will Kailyn choose her lifelong career ambitions over love?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
MEET CUTE releases on April 9th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WjVsWP
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I look back up at him, and my explanation gets stuck in my throat when I stop to really take him in. I recognize his face as one I’ve had endless fantasies about all through my teen years. And into my adult ones.
MEET CUTE is an ”enemies-to-lovers” romance with just the right dose of schmexy, heart, and a little dash of intrigue all rolled up into one perfect package. I instantly fell in love with the main characters and the plot. This is why Helena Hunting ranks high on my list of favorite authors.
Kailyn and Dax meet during their last year of law school. Kailyn acted like an overly excited fangirl because Dax was the star of her all-time favorite tv show and also her biggest Hollywood crush. He finds her to be incredibly adorable but for whatever reason, wasn’t brave enough to make a move on her. Then a misunderstanding causes Kailyn to view Dax as the enemy. The two don’t end up seeing each other until several years after graduation when Dax shows up with his parents at Kailyn’s office to set up a trust for his thirteen-year-old sister, Emme. The attraction is still there between them but Kailyn is still very much holding on to her grudge with him from their law school days.
The two meet up again several months later when Dax’s parents are killed in a car accident and Kailyn becomes the conservator of Emme’s trust. Dax is named his sister’s legal guardian and his aunt, who isn’t happy about the situation, ends up filing a lawsuit to gain custody of Emme. While Kailyn isn’t thrilled about being forced to spend time with Dax, and she’s also not convinced of his intentions where his sister’s inheritance is concerned, she can’t deny that deep down she has an out of control burning attraction to him.
While Dax is struggling with his new role as a parent and the legal battle with his aunt, he also can’t deny the strong feelings that he has for Kailyn. Can he manage raising a teenager, his hefty workload, his aunt’s lawsuit, and a new romantic relationship? Will Kailyn choose her lifelong career ambitions over love?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
MEET CUTE releases on April 9th!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WjVsWP
December 12, 2023
This is a Hate to Love Romance. I have read this book two times, and I loved it both times. The characters where so lovable which made the story so good. I really love this book. It is a cute fun chick lit romance story. It has everything I love in a romance story in it. I really fall in love with these two characters, and they fit together so well. Great characters and well written. Wow... I love this book so much.
July 13, 2019
I have to say that Romance is not a genre i particularly enjoy in general but i did receive an Arc of this from Netgalley and thought i would give it a fair chance.
This was a very sweet story, it has more bite than your usual Rom-Com and tackles some serious topics tactfully.
Bits of it were charming, bits of it were fairly cringe for me but overall the plot wasn't too bad. I did have issues with the villain though, she seemed almost cartoonish and predictable in terms of how "villainous" she was.
I really liked the characters, and I especially liked the fact that the main character, Kailyn, has a bad ass job and is super intelligent.
If you're a fan of the genre, you'll probably really enjoy this book.
This was a very sweet story, it has more bite than your usual Rom-Com and tackles some serious topics tactfully.
Bits of it were charming, bits of it were fairly cringe for me but overall the plot wasn't too bad. I did have issues with the villain though, she seemed almost cartoonish and predictable in terms of how "villainous" she was.
I really liked the characters, and I especially liked the fact that the main character, Kailyn, has a bad ass job and is super intelligent.
If you're a fan of the genre, you'll probably really enjoy this book.
April 11, 2019
This book was so different than I've expected it (also despite the cute book cover, story was so emotional) but still I've enjoyed reading it. <3
January 10, 2023
REAL CUTE $2.99 Limited Time!!!
3.5 Cute Meet Meets Real Stars
* * * 1/2 Congratulations-2019 Best Romance
Semifinal Round Nominee, Review Spoiler Free
For those who love RomComs, the traditional opening scene is a "Cute Meet"... a mistaken identity, bumping into the hottest guy only to have him be your (insert) boss, professor, neighbor, science partner, and or slamming into "The One" with a huge drink or hand full of files go all over the person who was bumped. Chemistry is hidden by the confusion of the event and any other circumstances thrown in. This first meeting will set the tone, the foundation for what will be the thrust of the relationship for the two who meet.
As a movie lover and romance reader, these opening moments can make or break the following story. When done well, you are carried away with the wish-fulfillment of a connection or interest to see where all this ends up because we all are there for the guaranteed happily ever after. In Helen Hunting's Cute Meet has a very funny, embarrassing, and sweet meeting between the two main characters.
Kailyn Flowers is repeating her positive mantras as she approaches her first class for law school. As an adopted daughter loved by her father and healing from the loss of her mom, she is determined to be on the path of achievement. She is visualizing all of the steps to success...perfect grades, winning debates, graduating top of her class, and eventually becoming a partner before thirty. She is focused on crossing the campus, determined to not be late, and clearing all nerves, she isn't paying attention to what is going on around her...
This is why she is in the exact position where a guy is running full tilt to capture the freebie heading for Katlin's head. Well, the frisbee doesn't hit Katlin but the guy does end up taking her down with him on top of her and all of her stuff. As Katlin and the guy sort themselves out, she mutters sorry, and then she takes a real look at him. Yes, he is built and yes, he is handsome but there is something more about him...and then it hits Katlin...
O.M.G. IT'S DAXTON HUGHES...The Daxton Hughes of It's My Life!!!
What happens next is something Katlin couldn't stop no matter how hard she tried...Massive Fangirling to the point of almost being that cray-cray girl. This show was her safe place growing up after her mom's passing and Dax was her girl crush. The importance of that show and Dax was something that had real importance in her life. So here she was...babbling about the show, episodes, and how this accident was exactly from which season with the appropriate characters.
Dax untangles himself from this woman who has sparkling eyes flashing before him. Even though she is going on and on about the show he was part of for most of his life, she seems to be quite logical and cute. Dax settles her down and quietly says how he was trying to keep a low profile here at college, so if she could stop with the It's My Life stuff that would be cool...When Katlin hears that she starts to nod and apologize again. Dax checks to see if she is ok says he was sorry for running into her and gives her a goodbye wink.
Katlin is still stunned by meeting her crush from her youth and is annoyed she is getting to the class only just in time rather than early as she had planned. There are almost no seats left so she has to climb over others to get to one. As she is almost there, her foot hooks onto a bag's strap on the floor causing her once again to fall...and into the seat near Dax and his pals.
Dying...
These two end up challenging each other during their law school years and a friendship of sorts was established. Unfortunately, things happened that left an awful taste in Katlin's mouth causing her to never think of Dax without remembering the sour results.
Fast forward eight years to now. Katlin is an established attorney who specializes in trusts. She likes her firm and hopes to achieve the goal she had set with her dad, make partner by the time she turned thirty. Her dad passed before he could see all of her success and when she lost him, working nonstop was the only way to get through her pain. She also assists her best friend who handles family situations. She pushes her boss to do pro bono work with foster cases. Katlin is a prized part of the firm; she has a very strong reputation.
When she has an appointment with a new couple to establish a trust for their daughter, Katlin never expected it to be anything but the usual...and it would have been except sitting in the conference room with the couple is their son, Daxton Hughes.
Damn, he sure grew up and became even hotter than he was before. Well, Katlin was not the law school student he knew before...and she was a professional. She put her game face on and handled everything perfectly. Dax had become an entertainment lawyer and was there to support his parents. Katlin got through it, was distant but pleasant, and arranged the trust.
What happens next is the way life works... it never is fair when our loved ones are taken in a moment. Katlin knows all too well this type of pain so when Dax needs assistance to understand the trust and how it works with him becoming his sister's guardian, Katlin is there for him.
This tale is more than a romance between two people. It is focused on Dax, his sister Emma and the way they now have to figure out what their lives are like now...how to handle it all and deal with the pain. How Katlin's boss presents a partnership to her with strings attached and then the conflicts of trying to handle her feelings for Dax and her obligations to Emme.
It's Complicated.
And because it is complicated, there were things that were part of this tale that caused me to question Katlin's reasoning. Although Dax was everything she had wanted and more...the attorney/client questions took me a bit out of the story. I also had a strong sense of where everything was going from the start, however, it didn't stop me from enjoying most of my time with Emme and Dax.
What was so touching was Emma, Dax's sister, and the way she bonded with Katlin. The two of them together were lovely. Dax also took on being Emme's guardian with all his heart. So this was a win for the family angle.
Cute Meet had the cute, had angst, and had the Happily Ever After...
A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
3.5 Cute Meet Meets Real Stars
* * * 1/2 Congratulations-2019 Best Romance
Semifinal Round Nominee, Review Spoiler Free
For those who love RomComs, the traditional opening scene is a "Cute Meet"... a mistaken identity, bumping into the hottest guy only to have him be your (insert) boss, professor, neighbor, science partner, and or slamming into "The One" with a huge drink or hand full of files go all over the person who was bumped. Chemistry is hidden by the confusion of the event and any other circumstances thrown in. This first meeting will set the tone, the foundation for what will be the thrust of the relationship for the two who meet.
As a movie lover and romance reader, these opening moments can make or break the following story. When done well, you are carried away with the wish-fulfillment of a connection or interest to see where all this ends up because we all are there for the guaranteed happily ever after. In Helen Hunting's Cute Meet has a very funny, embarrassing, and sweet meeting between the two main characters.
Kailyn Flowers is repeating her positive mantras as she approaches her first class for law school. As an adopted daughter loved by her father and healing from the loss of her mom, she is determined to be on the path of achievement. She is visualizing all of the steps to success...perfect grades, winning debates, graduating top of her class, and eventually becoming a partner before thirty. She is focused on crossing the campus, determined to not be late, and clearing all nerves, she isn't paying attention to what is going on around her...
This is why she is in the exact position where a guy is running full tilt to capture the freebie heading for Katlin's head. Well, the frisbee doesn't hit Katlin but the guy does end up taking her down with him on top of her and all of her stuff. As Katlin and the guy sort themselves out, she mutters sorry, and then she takes a real look at him. Yes, he is built and yes, he is handsome but there is something more about him...and then it hits Katlin...
O.M.G. IT'S DAXTON HUGHES...The Daxton Hughes of It's My Life!!!
What happens next is something Katlin couldn't stop no matter how hard she tried...Massive Fangirling to the point of almost being that cray-cray girl. This show was her safe place growing up after her mom's passing and Dax was her girl crush. The importance of that show and Dax was something that had real importance in her life. So here she was...babbling about the show, episodes, and how this accident was exactly from which season with the appropriate characters.
Dax untangles himself from this woman who has sparkling eyes flashing before him. Even though she is going on and on about the show he was part of for most of his life, she seems to be quite logical and cute. Dax settles her down and quietly says how he was trying to keep a low profile here at college, so if she could stop with the It's My Life stuff that would be cool...When Katlin hears that she starts to nod and apologize again. Dax checks to see if she is ok says he was sorry for running into her and gives her a goodbye wink.
Katlin is still stunned by meeting her crush from her youth and is annoyed she is getting to the class only just in time rather than early as she had planned. There are almost no seats left so she has to climb over others to get to one. As she is almost there, her foot hooks onto a bag's strap on the floor causing her once again to fall...and into the seat near Dax and his pals.
Dying...
These two end up challenging each other during their law school years and a friendship of sorts was established. Unfortunately, things happened that left an awful taste in Katlin's mouth causing her to never think of Dax without remembering the sour results.
Fast forward eight years to now. Katlin is an established attorney who specializes in trusts. She likes her firm and hopes to achieve the goal she had set with her dad, make partner by the time she turned thirty. Her dad passed before he could see all of her success and when she lost him, working nonstop was the only way to get through her pain. She also assists her best friend who handles family situations. She pushes her boss to do pro bono work with foster cases. Katlin is a prized part of the firm; she has a very strong reputation.
When she has an appointment with a new couple to establish a trust for their daughter, Katlin never expected it to be anything but the usual...and it would have been except sitting in the conference room with the couple is their son, Daxton Hughes.
Damn, he sure grew up and became even hotter than he was before. Well, Katlin was not the law school student he knew before...and she was a professional. She put her game face on and handled everything perfectly. Dax had become an entertainment lawyer and was there to support his parents. Katlin got through it, was distant but pleasant, and arranged the trust.
What happens next is the way life works... it never is fair when our loved ones are taken in a moment. Katlin knows all too well this type of pain so when Dax needs assistance to understand the trust and how it works with him becoming his sister's guardian, Katlin is there for him.
This tale is more than a romance between two people. It is focused on Dax, his sister Emma and the way they now have to figure out what their lives are like now...how to handle it all and deal with the pain. How Katlin's boss presents a partnership to her with strings attached and then the conflicts of trying to handle her feelings for Dax and her obligations to Emme.
It's Complicated.
And because it is complicated, there were things that were part of this tale that caused me to question Katlin's reasoning. Although Dax was everything she had wanted and more...the attorney/client questions took me a bit out of the story. I also had a strong sense of where everything was going from the start, however, it didn't stop me from enjoying most of my time with Emme and Dax.
What was so touching was Emma, Dax's sister, and the way she bonded with Katlin. The two of them together were lovely. Dax also took on being Emme's guardian with all his heart. So this was a win for the family angle.
Cute Meet had the cute, had angst, and had the Happily Ever After...
A gifted copy was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 25, 2019
Lard, this was annoying to read.
It was also too much of a downer for me to put it in the “fluff” category, even though it had all of the typical fluff elements: flat characters, predictable plot, pointless sidekicks. But, I knew going into it that it dealt with death and loss, so that wasn’t a surprise.
Let me be clear: I like fluff. I’m totally fine with the typical fluff elements.
What I am not fine with is lazy writing. Which makes up 85% of this book.
Examples of lazy writing (Note: NONE of the following is dialogue):
^^1 of the 8 billion times you’re told how attractive Dax is
^^How conflict resolution is handled....poof! All fixed!
^^Hmmm...if only there was some way to SHOW your character was feeling this, rather than TELLING me. Groundbreaking thought.
^^It’s so nice that the main character is so self-aware of her own flaws and feels the need to explain them in her own head.
^^LOLOLOL BOTH of the main characters are really, REALLY self-aware of their own feelings. And yet complete morons when it comes to figuring out VERY FUCKING OBVIOUS things in regards to the custody battle. Even though they’re both acclaimed lawyers. Excuse me—ATTRACTIVE acclaimed lawyers.
^^Literally could not have rolled my eyes any harder at this. Why didn’t the author just slap me in the face and shout “LOOK AT HOW EMPATHETIC AND CARING MY CHARACTER IS! ALSO, WOW. WHAT AN EXPERT ON TEENAGERS/GRIEF AMIRIGHT?”
This next quote is a “spoiler.” (Quotation marks simply because I think we all know exactly how this book ends.)
^^STILL NOT DIALOGUE. The main character just randomly thought this. LIKE, WOW. COOL. NO WAY FOR ME, A PERSON WHO MUST BE AN ILLITERATE MORON, COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT OR BEEN SHOWN THROUGH ACTIONS. Derp.
I’m pretty sure every single person who has ever taken Creative Writing 101 learns you should always SHOW, not TELL in your writing. I guess Helena Hunting player hooky that day.
It was also too much of a downer for me to put it in the “fluff” category, even though it had all of the typical fluff elements: flat characters, predictable plot, pointless sidekicks. But, I knew going into it that it dealt with death and loss, so that wasn’t a surprise.
Let me be clear: I like fluff. I’m totally fine with the typical fluff elements.
What I am not fine with is lazy writing. Which makes up 85% of this book.
Examples of lazy writing (Note: NONE of the following is dialogue):
“He’s just so tall, and broad and muscular, but not in an overly bulky way. He’s lean and toned, rather than hulking scary. And he smells good. Too good.”
^^1 of the 8 billion times you’re told how attractive Dax is
“But this puts it all into perspective and once again changes my view of him. Holding a grudge over something like this seems trivial and pointless.”
^^How conflict resolution is handled....poof! All fixed!
“I feel both protected and needed, something I haven’t experienced in ages.”
^^Hmmm...if only there was some way to SHOW your character was feeling this, rather than TELLING me. Groundbreaking thought.
“Maybe throwing myself into work isn’t the most rational way to deal with loss, but up until now it’s how I’ve managed.”
^^It’s so nice that the main character is so self-aware of her own flaws and feels the need to explain them in her own head.
“This is different, though. I connect with Kailyn on a level beyond attraction. There’s something deeper—or maybe it’s all in my head because I’m desperate to have someone to hold on to who understands.”
^^LOLOLOL BOTH of the main characters are really, REALLY self-aware of their own feelings. And yet complete morons when it comes to figuring out VERY FUCKING OBVIOUS things in regards to the custody battle. Even though they’re both acclaimed lawyers. Excuse me—ATTRACTIVE acclaimed lawyers.
“Not that his focus shouldn’t be on her, just that his concern could be smothering if he’s not careful. She’s a teenager; they need privacy just like adults.”
^^Literally could not have rolled my eyes any harder at this. Why didn’t the author just slap me in the face and shout “LOOK AT HOW EMPATHETIC AND CARING MY CHARACTER IS! ALSO, WOW. WHAT AN EXPERT ON TEENAGERS/GRIEF AMIRIGHT?”
This next quote is a “spoiler.” (Quotation marks simply because I think we all know exactly how this book ends.)
“I love Dax’s attentiveness and enthusiasm for the things I’m passionate about. He makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room when we’re together like this. Despite the attention he sometimes gets, I never have to fight for his. As difficult as the road ahead of us may be, I can see a future unfolding with him.”
^^STILL NOT DIALOGUE. The main character just randomly thought this. LIKE, WOW. COOL. NO WAY FOR ME, A PERSON WHO MUST BE AN ILLITERATE MORON, COULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT OR BEEN SHOWN THROUGH ACTIONS. Derp.
I’m pretty sure every single person who has ever taken Creative Writing 101 learns you should always SHOW, not TELL in your writing. I guess Helena Hunting player hooky that day.
April 5, 2019
4 STARS
So full disclosure; I'm not sure why, but after reading the blurb and seeing the ADORABLE cover, I was expecting a steamy, laugh out loud rom-com. This book was not quite that. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I still fell in love with this story and these characters.
This was an incredibly sweet, character-driven, heartfelt romance. And while it had it's humorous moments, mostly it managed to tug at every heart string for me.
When Kailyn first met Daxton Hughes, she almost had a fangirl heart attach. It's not every day that a girl gets to meet the teenage star of her dreams from her favorite TV Show. But this Dax is fully grown and happens to be at the same law school she's at. So of course she makes a total fool of herself in a way that will make you giggle and feel for her at the same time. But then something happens to turn her fangirling infatuation to hate when Dax betrays her. She never expects to see him again. And then he walks into her law office years later to set up a trust with his parents for his younger sister.
The story takes a bit of a morose turn after the meet cute. The author does such a phenomenal job with the character development. Dax is a hero that's impossible not to love. There's just something so incredibly endearing and approachable about him. He's not your stereotypical cocky lawyer. He's sweet with this undercurrent of vulnerability that you simply can't help but fall for. His relationship with his sister is sure to tug every heart string. I absolutely loved her as the secondary character.
Kailyn is not the fumbling fangirl that Dax first met in college. She hates him and he doesn't know why. There's plenty of great banter between these two. but mainly its Kailyn giving him hell and Dax taking it all with a smile and charm. The romance is a slow build with plenty of chemistry to keep you completely invested in the characters. I seriously couldn't get enough of these two. I loved how Kailyn slowly begins to see a side of Dax that she didn't realize was there. A sweet, vulnerable and endearing side that he shows to her in the way he cares for his sister and even pursues her.
This was a slower paced story with plenty of feels and just a touch of sizzle, and this reader loved every page of it!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
she seems to have a pretty serious hate-on for me. That rivalry used to amp me up back then, and apparently it still does.
So full disclosure; I'm not sure why, but after reading the blurb and seeing the ADORABLE cover, I was expecting a steamy, laugh out loud rom-com. This book was not quite that. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I still fell in love with this story and these characters.
This was an incredibly sweet, character-driven, heartfelt romance. And while it had it's humorous moments, mostly it managed to tug at every heart string for me.
When Kailyn first met Daxton Hughes, she almost had a fangirl heart attach. It's not every day that a girl gets to meet the teenage star of her dreams from her favorite TV Show. But this Dax is fully grown and happens to be at the same law school she's at. So of course she makes a total fool of herself in a way that will make you giggle and feel for her at the same time. But then something happens to turn her fangirling infatuation to hate when Dax betrays her. She never expects to see him again. And then he walks into her law office years later to set up a trust with his parents for his younger sister.
The story takes a bit of a morose turn after the meet cute. The author does such a phenomenal job with the character development. Dax is a hero that's impossible not to love. There's just something so incredibly endearing and approachable about him. He's not your stereotypical cocky lawyer. He's sweet with this undercurrent of vulnerability that you simply can't help but fall for. His relationship with his sister is sure to tug every heart string. I absolutely loved her as the secondary character.
Kailyn is not the fumbling fangirl that Dax first met in college. She hates him and he doesn't know why. There's plenty of great banter between these two. but mainly its Kailyn giving him hell and Dax taking it all with a smile and charm. The romance is a slow build with plenty of chemistry to keep you completely invested in the characters. I seriously couldn't get enough of these two. I loved how Kailyn slowly begins to see a side of Dax that she didn't realize was there. A sweet, vulnerable and endearing side that he shows to her in the way he cares for his sister and even pursues her.
This was a slower paced story with plenty of feels and just a touch of sizzle, and this reader loved every page of it!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
August 29, 2022
This was one of my favorite Helena Hunting novels from the very start. A cute setup and great chemistry between the characters. Daxton, former teen movie star, and Kaillin knew each other in law school and hate a serious love-hate thing going on. She’s still pissed at him five years later when he shows up in her law office… and doesn’t recognize her.
January 8, 2020
2.5 stars
Oof. This was my first Helena Hunting, and I think I didn’t really realize what kind of romance novel this was. I was looking for lighthearted banter with steamy sizzle. Instead, I got quite the detailed and predictable family drama, and overly-explained few and far between sizzle.
Writing: ★★★
Plot: ★★ 1/2
Romance/Steamy: ★★ (this is personal preference, but I did not find this book steamy.)
Interest: ★★
Meet Cute sounds like the adorable romantic comedy we've all been waiting for. A girl meets her childhood actor crush in law school—literally running into him—and sets the stage for the "meet cute" moment that spurs their romance.
However, this is not a story that takes place at the time of the meet cute. Instead, the college years are summarized briefly in between the plot as we follow Kailyn, now a successful lawyer in her early 30s. Kailyn finds herself across the table from Daxton, the crush from college and now a lawyer himself, when his parents are tragically killed in a car accident and he finds himself his much younger sister's guardian. Kailyn is Daxton's sister's trust conservator, so now she and Daxton must interact. Frequently. Oh boy. I was ready for this to kick off in a steamy way.
The writing really threw me. Normally—or I guess, normally for the romances I read—the romance is the core of the story, and the subplot is just as it implies...a "sub" plot. Not the case for Meet Cute. The dynamics between Daxton, Kailyn, and Emme are really the core of the novel, and to be honest the most interesting parts were the bonding that occurred between Kailyn and Emme.
Kailyn is the supportive female in Emme's life, and so there are several scenes where Emme is arguably the main plot and Kailyn and Daxton are really just in it for her. Due to this focus, the interjections of "oh, she's so hot" and "oh, he's so distractingly sexy" when the novel turned to the romance almost felt wrong, as the rest of the story was raising this girl? I might be the only one who thought it was weird.
On the note of the romance, I'll also admit that I just didn't feel it. Daxton and Kailyn have this past—which we don't really have a grip on, as it seems that it was solely unrequited tension in their classes, nothing actually happened—and therefore they're automatically trying to connect. But, again, there is so much predictable familial drama that the romance didn't get any significant air time until at least 2/3 through the novel.
That's a long time for nothing, and it would have been fine if the actual steamy scenes were worth it. But, I found those lacking as well. Again, Emme was so prevalent that even during these Kailyn/Daxton scenes, Emme is always on the peripheral—she's in the house, they're trying to be quiet, etc.—so I was never just with Kailyn and Daxton mentally. This might not be a problem for other readers, but due to this framing I almost considering the main character plot to be Emme....
Overall, a predictable lighthearted fiction novel. It's a romance in the loose sense of the word for me, as two characters happen to get together at the end. But, honestly, it's much more about one woman joining this fractured family of brother/sister as they try to figure out their new dynamic as guardian/child.
Oof. This was my first Helena Hunting, and I think I didn’t really realize what kind of romance novel this was. I was looking for lighthearted banter with steamy sizzle. Instead, I got quite the detailed and predictable family drama, and overly-explained few and far between sizzle.
Writing: ★★★
Plot: ★★ 1/2
Romance/Steamy: ★★ (this is personal preference, but I did not find this book steamy.)
Interest: ★★
Meet Cute sounds like the adorable romantic comedy we've all been waiting for. A girl meets her childhood actor crush in law school—literally running into him—and sets the stage for the "meet cute" moment that spurs their romance.
However, this is not a story that takes place at the time of the meet cute. Instead, the college years are summarized briefly in between the plot as we follow Kailyn, now a successful lawyer in her early 30s. Kailyn finds herself across the table from Daxton, the crush from college and now a lawyer himself, when his parents are tragically killed in a car accident and he finds himself his much younger sister's guardian. Kailyn is Daxton's sister's trust conservator, so now she and Daxton must interact. Frequently. Oh boy. I was ready for this to kick off in a steamy way.
The writing really threw me. Normally—or I guess, normally for the romances I read—the romance is the core of the story, and the subplot is just as it implies...a "sub" plot. Not the case for Meet Cute. The dynamics between Daxton, Kailyn, and Emme are really the core of the novel, and to be honest the most interesting parts were the bonding that occurred between Kailyn and Emme.
Kailyn is the supportive female in Emme's life, and so there are several scenes where Emme is arguably the main plot and Kailyn and Daxton are really just in it for her. Due to this focus, the interjections of "oh, she's so hot" and "oh, he's so distractingly sexy" when the novel turned to the romance almost felt wrong, as the rest of the story was raising this girl? I might be the only one who thought it was weird.
On the note of the romance, I'll also admit that I just didn't feel it. Daxton and Kailyn have this past—which we don't really have a grip on, as it seems that it was solely unrequited tension in their classes, nothing actually happened—and therefore they're automatically trying to connect. But, again, there is so much predictable familial drama that the romance didn't get any significant air time until at least 2/3 through the novel.
That's a long time for nothing, and it would have been fine if the actual steamy scenes were worth it. But, I found those lacking as well. Again, Emme was so prevalent that even during these Kailyn/Daxton scenes, Emme is always on the peripheral—she's in the house, they're trying to be quiet, etc.—so I was never just with Kailyn and Daxton mentally. This might not be a problem for other readers, but due to this framing I almost considering the main character plot to be Emme....
Overall, a predictable lighthearted fiction novel. It's a romance in the loose sense of the word for me, as two characters happen to get together at the end. But, honestly, it's much more about one woman joining this fractured family of brother/sister as they try to figure out their new dynamic as guardian/child.
November 21, 2020
Kailyn and Daxton met in the most adorably awkward meet cute ever. Eight years ago on her first day of law school. She has been in love with former tv-star Daxton for ages and suddenly he's right here in her class!!! #FangirlDown
They're not really becoming best friends who hang out all the time, but friendly rivals and debate frenemies. Both have little to huge crushes on the other - but unfortunately they don't get an end-cute. Kailyn feels betrayed by Daxton and they don't see each other again for five years.
That's when Daxton shows up at her office asking for help with important family law things.
He just inherited his 13 year old sister!
Kailyn is still mad at him - but she has to be professional - her career is at stake!
══════════════════
Well, that was super adorable. And heartbreaking. And fun. And sexy.
I really loved reading it!
The blurb suggested something a bit different. I thought we would get a hilarious college romance, or at least that we'd be at college a bit longer, but it's only the prologue. After that we fast forward to today. Which is totally okay! But it wasn't the mega funny rom-com that I was expecting. It was still an amazing book with so many great moments, but it was a bit of 'false-advertising' in my opinion.
But pffft. I didn't mind once I was in the middle of the story.
I really adored Kailyn, Daxton and Emme. We just know that they belong together as the perfect little family. But of course it's not that easy. There are people working against us. Bosses and money-hungry relatives and secrets.
I just wish they would've talked about everything right at the start - I hate those stupid misunderstanding/lies/omission moments in books. People always end up in a fight and break up and then it takes us a while to get that happily ever after again. This and the whole bad guy thing was way too obviously done here in my opinion. You just knew it was all coming out soon and it took away from the enjoyment of reading the book a bit. I constantly yelled at them to just talk about the job and the bad person - to not be that stupid - but ... they just didn't!!!!☺
The book had the potential to be better - something more could've been added to everything. I don't even know what I mean exactly - but it could've been better.
But I still really adored the story. I finished it in one day.
MEET CUTE was a beautiful Romantic Dramedy!!!! Funny, adorable, heartbreaking, sexy! I LOVED it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Daxton - this one is MINE!!!!
♡
♡
April 9, 2019
4 Stars!
(ARC provided by Forever-Grand Central Publishing)
Kailyn Flowers is excited to attend Law school at UCLA. On her first day she’s so caught up in her schedule she doesn’t see the hot guy coming her way until she collides with him. Then she’s on the ground looking up into the eyes of her teen crush, child TV star Daxton Hughes. She’s been infatuated with him and his show for years, and had a massive crush on the fictional character he portrayed. To make things more awkward, he’s also in her class. Soon they become rivals who enjoy a little friendly competition. Then he unexpectedly betrays her and she holds a grudge for years.
Kailyn is now a top lawyer in LA. She is shocked when Dax shows up in her office asking for legal help. She’s no longer the college girl with a crush, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t notice how ridiculously gorgeous he still is. Dax is going through a difficult time, and she can’t help feeling bad for him. As she spends time with him, she realizes how incredible he is. This is the first time she’s connected with someone in a very long time, and she’s scared of the way he makes her feel. As their chemistry heats up things between them become real, and their situation gets complicated.
-I connect with Kailyn on a level beyond attraction. There's something deeper.
Meet Cute is a fun, flirty romance full of passion and heart. It’s packed with humor, emotion, and sexual tension. I loved Dax so much! He’s super sexy and swoon worthy to the extreme!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2UIbM6v
(ARC provided by Forever-Grand Central Publishing)
Kailyn Flowers is excited to attend Law school at UCLA. On her first day she’s so caught up in her schedule she doesn’t see the hot guy coming her way until she collides with him. Then she’s on the ground looking up into the eyes of her teen crush, child TV star Daxton Hughes. She’s been infatuated with him and his show for years, and had a massive crush on the fictional character he portrayed. To make things more awkward, he’s also in her class. Soon they become rivals who enjoy a little friendly competition. Then he unexpectedly betrays her and she holds a grudge for years.
Kailyn is now a top lawyer in LA. She is shocked when Dax shows up in her office asking for legal help. She’s no longer the college girl with a crush, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t notice how ridiculously gorgeous he still is. Dax is going through a difficult time, and she can’t help feeling bad for him. As she spends time with him, she realizes how incredible he is. This is the first time she’s connected with someone in a very long time, and she’s scared of the way he makes her feel. As their chemistry heats up things between them become real, and their situation gets complicated.
-I connect with Kailyn on a level beyond attraction. There's something deeper.
Meet Cute is a fun, flirty romance full of passion and heart. It’s packed with humor, emotion, and sexual tension. I loved Dax so much! He’s super sexy and swoon worthy to the extreme!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2UIbM6v
October 22, 2021
Fangirl and her crush!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 🖤💜🤎❤️💛
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📔📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌎
Character development: 👱🏻♀️🧔🏻👩🏼🦰🧑🏼👩🏼🦱
The heroine: Kailyn Flowers - a trust lawyer at the top of her field. She was an orphan as a child and adopted at three years old though her adoptive parents died when she was in college.
The Hero(es): Daxton Hughes - a former star and teenage heart throb. He attends the same law school as Kailyn and eventually becomes an entertainment lawyer on track to make partner at a prestigious law firm.
The Story: Kailyn and Daxton meet on the first day of law school when they literally run in to each other. When Kailyn realizes it was her teenage crush that fell on top of her she goes all fangirl and can’t stop talking. She later finds out she is in the same law school program as Dax and then end up as rivals for the top spot at the school.
Years later Dax and Kailyn meet again when his parents need to set up a trust with Kailyn for Daxton’s 13 year old sister Emmy. When Daxton’s parents pass away, he turns to Kailyn for help since she handled the trust.
This is a bit of an enemies to lovers story since Kailyn ended up hating her former crush at the end of law school, though she remained a fan of his character in the show that made him famous. I loved the way she was such a fangirl and remained so after she got to know Dax so well.
The narration was terrific and Holly Warren was perfect for Kailyn who was both a professional lawyer and silly fangirl. Teddy Hamilton was great as former child star Dax who is unsure of himself as a guardian to his sister and also a grieving son. This book was fun and had a great side story about a custody battle for Emmy as well. Awesome book all around.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 🖤💜🤎❤️💛
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📔📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌎
Character development: 👱🏻♀️🧔🏻👩🏼🦰🧑🏼👩🏼🦱
The heroine: Kailyn Flowers - a trust lawyer at the top of her field. She was an orphan as a child and adopted at three years old though her adoptive parents died when she was in college.
The Hero(es): Daxton Hughes - a former star and teenage heart throb. He attends the same law school as Kailyn and eventually becomes an entertainment lawyer on track to make partner at a prestigious law firm.
The Story: Kailyn and Daxton meet on the first day of law school when they literally run in to each other. When Kailyn realizes it was her teenage crush that fell on top of her she goes all fangirl and can’t stop talking. She later finds out she is in the same law school program as Dax and then end up as rivals for the top spot at the school.
Years later Dax and Kailyn meet again when his parents need to set up a trust with Kailyn for Daxton’s 13 year old sister Emmy. When Daxton’s parents pass away, he turns to Kailyn for help since she handled the trust.
This is a bit of an enemies to lovers story since Kailyn ended up hating her former crush at the end of law school, though she remained a fan of his character in the show that made him famous. I loved the way she was such a fangirl and remained so after she got to know Dax so well.
The narration was terrific and Holly Warren was perfect for Kailyn who was both a professional lawyer and silly fangirl. Teddy Hamilton was great as former child star Dax who is unsure of himself as a guardian to his sister and also a grieving son. This book was fun and had a great side story about a custody battle for Emmy as well. Awesome book all around.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
January 11, 2020
Review to come.......
March 2, 2019
Meet Cute was definitely cute, funny and swoon worthy. The dynamics between Dax, his thirteen year old sister Emme, Kailyn and her best friend Holly were absolutely fabulous. Every character had so much heart and charisma.
Dax and Kailyn know one another from law school and had a fierce competitive relationship. Both strived to be the best at everything and enjoyed riling each other up. When they meet 5 years later it’s not with fond memories of their past. Not when it comes to Kailyn. She holds a grudge.
Their bantering was amazing because of the delicious and heated tension between them. I really enjoyed following Dax and his relationship with sister Emme and also with Kailyn who with every day got closer to the both of them. With Dax it was a wonderful blooming romance where they got to know a new and different side of another.
Even though it’s only my second book by Helena Hunting I can honestly say her books make me feel good and I just enjoy the story for what it is. A wonderful break from real life.
4 Fangirl Stars
I received an ARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Dax and Kailyn know one another from law school and had a fierce competitive relationship. Both strived to be the best at everything and enjoyed riling each other up. When they meet 5 years later it’s not with fond memories of their past. Not when it comes to Kailyn. She holds a grudge.
Their bantering was amazing because of the delicious and heated tension between them. I really enjoyed following Dax and his relationship with sister Emme and also with Kailyn who with every day got closer to the both of them. With Dax it was a wonderful blooming romance where they got to know a new and different side of another.
Even though it’s only my second book by Helena Hunting I can honestly say her books make me feel good and I just enjoy the story for what it is. A wonderful break from real life.
4 Fangirl Stars
I received an ARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
August 14, 2020
I was highly entertained and loved Kailyn the main character. She was hardworking, ambitious, and despite her success was somewhat flawed. The direction of the plot was predictable but I was interested in the story journey. I knew Kailyn mixing business with pleasure was nothing but trouble, yet I was drawn into the story waiting to see how it will play out.
I don’t know why this book reminds me so much of “Gilmore girls” especially the ever pushy and ambitious Paris Geller.
Anyway, I had a great time with this book. 4 stars.
I don’t know why this book reminds me so much of “Gilmore girls” especially the ever pushy and ambitious Paris Geller.
Anyway, I had a great time with this book. 4 stars.
July 25, 2020
Laugh out loud funny with lots of banter, Meet Cute certainly hit the spot! While it took me longer than it should to read this super cute book, it’s totally on me and has no bearing on my enjoyment level.
Helena Hunting’s signature comedy and witty banter shine through in this funny and emotional single parent romance. Kailyn and Dax’s relationship goes from tenuous and tumultuous to emotional and heartfelt. You will feel all the feels in this one.
What I loved:
The trope is winner.
I really enjoy this author’s wit and the amazing banter between the characters.
The book was a bit more emotional than previous works. That added to my enjoyment.
Overall, definitely a book to read!
For more of my reviews:
My Blog: Book Twins Reviews
Facebook Blog Page
Twitter
Subscribe to Blog
Helena Hunting’s signature comedy and witty banter shine through in this funny and emotional single parent romance. Kailyn and Dax’s relationship goes from tenuous and tumultuous to emotional and heartfelt. You will feel all the feels in this one.
What I loved:
The trope is winner.
I really enjoy this author’s wit and the amazing banter between the characters.
The book was a bit more emotional than previous works. That added to my enjoyment.
Overall, definitely a book to read!
For more of my reviews:
My Blog: Book Twins Reviews
Facebook Blog Page
Subscribe to Blog
February 9, 2021
Woooooow, fuck this book. Putting aside the douchery of the ‘hero’ (what exactly are we supposed to like about him? his good looks that we cannot see? because he *literally* has nothing else going for him.), the blatant anti-feminism in this book does a disservice to the entire romance genre, the female gender, and the species as a whole (and don’t even @ me, I literally read insufferable amounts of romance novels, but romance and human decency should not be mutually exclusive).
It’s so obvious that the woman who wrote this is steeped in the kind of internalized misogyny that couldn’t define the word “woke” if you banged it over her head.
Some delightful examples:
“Her blonde hair is almost white—artificially so—and her boobs are fake and there’s enough collagen injected into her lips to make her look like she’s just finished giving head to an entire football team.”
^ why do this? Just.. why? We haven’t met this character yet. We don’t know this woman. Let alone the fact that you’ve robbed an entire fucking human of the capacity to be more than this perception in one sentence. That’s some baaaad writing y’all. The pick-me-ism is strong. And it reeks.
“Because I will have to walk around with a baseball bat and threaten all the boys with it to keep them away from you”
^ oh word, we still make this dumbass heteronormative joke? Where male family members are the protectors of all underage female virtue because women are too weak and dumb to make self-sufficient and well-informed romantic decisions? Don’t even get me started on the part where he suggests that this girl never have a relationship until she is 30 (like what??? Oh yes, please live a life devoid of love for my own personal comfort!! No need to find romantic fulfillment and deep emotional and intellectual growth & support!!)
“Her skirt today is a little on the short side for office wear, but it’s not my office, and she’s not my assistant, so maybe it’s appropriate here.”
^ I can’t overstate how out of context and IRRELEVANT this line was. The only CONCEIVABLE reason to include this description of a receptionist was to then juxtapose it to the hero’s impression of our heroine’s more ‘demure & professional’ (i.e. “respectable”) brand of sexy-clothes.
This is the type of romance novel that 50yo Republican women would enjoy.
Literally gag me with a spoon.
BYE.
It’s so obvious that the woman who wrote this is steeped in the kind of internalized misogyny that couldn’t define the word “woke” if you banged it over her head.
Some delightful examples:
“Her blonde hair is almost white—artificially so—and her boobs are fake and there’s enough collagen injected into her lips to make her look like she’s just finished giving head to an entire football team.”
^ why do this? Just.. why? We haven’t met this character yet. We don’t know this woman. Let alone the fact that you’ve robbed an entire fucking human of the capacity to be more than this perception in one sentence. That’s some baaaad writing y’all. The pick-me-ism is strong. And it reeks.
“Because I will have to walk around with a baseball bat and threaten all the boys with it to keep them away from you”
^ oh word, we still make this dumbass heteronormative joke? Where male family members are the protectors of all underage female virtue because women are too weak and dumb to make self-sufficient and well-informed romantic decisions? Don’t even get me started on the part where he suggests that this girl never have a relationship until she is 30 (like what??? Oh yes, please live a life devoid of love for my own personal comfort!! No need to find romantic fulfillment and deep emotional and intellectual growth & support!!)
“Her skirt today is a little on the short side for office wear, but it’s not my office, and she’s not my assistant, so maybe it’s appropriate here.”
^ I can’t overstate how out of context and IRRELEVANT this line was. The only CONCEIVABLE reason to include this description of a receptionist was to then juxtapose it to the hero’s impression of our heroine’s more ‘demure & professional’ (i.e. “respectable”) brand of sexy-clothes.
This is the type of romance novel that 50yo Republican women would enjoy.
Literally gag me with a spoon.
BYE.
May 12, 2019
“Sometimes the darkest tragedies bring us the brightest lights.”
I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. I loved the characters since the first chapter and the story was emotional and beautiful.
I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. I loved the characters since the first chapter and the story was emotional and beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,632 reviews