Chiara Kennedy met Sebastian Ryder in a movie-like meet cute: he "saves" her from an annoying pick up at a bar and they strike up a conversation. In  "Before Sunrise" fashion, they spend the whole night baring their souls to each other, being completely open and honest to each other. They have an incredible connection, but Chiara instantly knows that they want different things in life and they part ways without even a kiss. He always stayed in the back of her mind - the perfect man, just not perfect for her...

Chiara doesn't know that Ryder  will be in her life again in pivotal moments: first, when her best friend introduces him as her boyfriend. Second, when they bury her best friend. Third, two years later, when he "saves" her again at a bar when he ends up getting roofied instead of her. Fate won't keep him out of her way...

This is the first book in the Twist of Fate series and, as it usually happens in introductory books, it sets up not only the main characters' story lines but it sets up the "universe". In this one, it's the surviving friends picking up the pieces and getting their lives together after such devastating loss. 

It's very well written and it's definitely a romance novel, but the focus here is on character development and growth, as this best friend is falling (again) for her best friend's husband. There is an added fact that I won't reveal so as to not spoil anyone that really makes you understand why Chiara feels like she's "stealing " her late friend's life. How they got to this complication is a little too far fetched for me, but once I got involved in the story I let it slide. 

A good beginning to a new series. I need Ford's book! 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank youNetGalley, Montlake and Jennifer Probst for the advanced copy. 

Possible triggers: grief, surprise pregnancy, infertility, child abandonment, drug use

I was looking for a quick romance to sweep me away and this cute little second-chance was it. I'm always a sucker for second-chance stories and love the Catch and Release meets Serendipity vibes.

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Meant to Be by Jennifer Probst. I've been a fan of Jennifer's writing for a lot of years, and this book is just another in a long list of many that I truly adore. I'm a sucker for a slow burn and am often turned off but insta-love and the hero and heroine in Meant to Be really worked for their HEA. I'm looking forward to seeing the other friends get their HEAs as well. Fantastic read.

The intensity between Sebastian and Chiara burns up the pages. They meet one night in a bar and it’s kismet. But they want different things out of life. So Chiara walks away. Sebastian comes back into her life as her best friend’s husband and it’s rough. But then Rory dies and fate throws theme together again.
This one of my favorite plot lines— star crossed lovers. Chiara takes a while to get her head together, I wanted to shake some sense into her while she says things to hurt Sebastian.
With a cast of good characters, this is a new series. I hope Ford is matched with someone, poor guy.

The story
Chiara’s best friend Rory has passed away. They, together with their friends Tessa and Malia, co-own a multimedia business focused on women’s issues. Chiara is asked to step into Rory’s CEO role. Chiara has a secret though. When she met Rory’s husband Sebastian for the first time, she didn’t let on that they had in fact met before and connected in a deep way.

My thoughts
As the relationship between Chiara and Sebastian grows years after Rory’s death, both Chiara and Sebastian ebb and flow with their emotions. Despite the obvious deep feelings they have for each other, they get closer then one pulls away, grow closer and then the other pulls away. It makes for a book with a lot of angst. This is the first book of Jennifer Probst I have read, and I will be on the lookout to read more!

I had a hard time with this book in the beginning. I didn’t connect to the characters. But as I kept reading I felt pulled to finish the story. Chiara and Sebastian had to wade through grief and not feeling like enough. The relationships between the girls and Mike were what made this book amazing.

A beautiful, angsty read by Jennifer Probst, Chiara and Sebastian Ryder (who in the book keeps going between the 2 names as different people call him one or the other) meet for one beautiful night where they connected emotionally and then Chiara decides that she can't be tied down and says goodbye to Sebastian. Come to find that he becomes the husband of her best friend who tragically dies a few years later. The story the goes to 2 years after that event and basically, a twist of fate results in Chiara and Sebastian being tied emotionally and physically.

I really enjoyed the book although I tend to dislike widower books since it is one of those things where someone had to die in order for the MC to get together. That said, it was done well with a strong cast of characters who I hope to see more of in future books. The one thing is that the angst that both of these two heap on themselves got a little too heavy after a while. It was a bit tiring but there are moments of levity, sweetness, and fun to break up the heaviness. Overall a really solid, emotional read and I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a wonderful read.

Chiara instantly feels a connection with a stranger she meets in a bar and their one night of drinking a talking results in an attraction that goes no where, so when Sebastian ends up marrying one of Chiara's best friends, that night becomes a secret. When Sebastian's wife tragically dies the entire group is left to regroup and after two years, Chiara and Sebastian try to put their friendship back together. But friendship can only go so far when an unfortunate situation pulls them together. Can Chiara move forward knowing that she is taking over her best friend's life? Or were some people just destined to be together? Emotionally challenging and heart wrenching at the same time makes this another great read. A wonderful way to start off a new series.

I'm a HUGE Jennifer Probst fan, and was very excited to read this first installment of her new series. Overall, I loved the premise of this story. Chiara and Sebastian meet at a bar and emotionally hit it off right away, but their differences lead them to a heartfelt night of down to earth talking about life and dreams, then part at sunrise never to meet again. But fate brings them together again in a surprising way.

What I didn't necessarily care for were a couple of things... The night at the bar when they met again, and Sebastian's unfortunate situation, just didn't like how it played out, could have had a different spin on it, wasnt believable in my opinion. Next, nothing drives me more crazy than indecisiveness in a story, and these two characters were driven by it. Now I get the situation of this relationship, awkward at best, but damn, I was going to scream if they brought up Rory and her life one more time. Lastly, the whole story breaking thing just didn't work, I mean why would it be such a big deal? Don't want to go into too much about it, but these were sticking points for me.

What I absolutely loved about this story were the relationships between Chiara, her best friends and Mike. Dex was hysterical and warmed my heart, and Emma and Ford are definitely going to be in future books, I just know it. There are definitely tear jerking moments, and this author definitely knows how to bring you to tears one moment and laughing in the next. The ending was perfect and brought this whole story together for me.

I see this series becoming one of my favorites, and am looking forward to the next installment.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Overall I enjoyed this story. Both Chiara and Ryder were likable characters, The premise was certainly a novel one, two people meet, and although they spend the night together, platonically, they realize that they are not meant for each other and move on. How they become intertwined again was interesting. The story revolves around the loss of a friend, wife, daughter and how one deals with grief and loves on.,

I think it's fun like girls sticking together ..getting through a painful loss trying to find a new normal. And along comes Mr past to shake things sup. This is a good like hea beachy romance feel good

Meant To Be is a novel that shows us how impactful a chance meeting can be, how grief can be a sustaining state of being for quite a while, how guilt can contribute to not so great decisions, and how love can be a healing balm to all.



Chiara and Sebastian meet at a club and seem to immediately click but due to various reasons they part amicably ways that evening. Fast forward through the years and surprisingly they're in each other's lives in ways no one could've predicted. It's only after a tragedy hits and a chance meeting at a club do Chiara and Sebastian find themselves actively in their lives at first. It's not initially by choice, and there are many tense moments, but as the pages turn, these two work through their mutual grief and guilt. It's not always pretty and sometimes you want to shake some sense into them, but they find their way to a sweet and happy ending.



Meant To Be has an unusual beginning and interesting dynamics between characters and I have a feeling we'll be seeming much more of all these characters--it'll be interesting to see where and how they all end up.

This story touched my heart and I literally could not put it down. The friendship of four female friends leads to a wonderful career for all of them, however, when one of them dies in a car accident their worlds are all shaken. Not only are they affected, but so is her husband and father. Sebastian and Chaira’s chemistry is out of this world, and I loved how everyone came together. The twists and turns in this story kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book!

A Fantastic five-star read. This is number one in the Twist of Fate series, and I am so excited to see what will happen next, as this is looking to be a great series. Not everyone will enjoy this one, as some won’t understand the way fate plays it games and will see Chiara and Seb as cheaters no matter that Rory was loved and lost. Quench would be such a great platform if it was actually real, I know there are somethings that it, but this sounds next level. This has it all, it will make you want to be there with them, following the story, inspiring the young, sitting in the diner catching up and creating mad plans.

This is a great book. The two main characters are Chiara and Sebastian. Chiara and three friends start up a self help for women company. Sebastian is a counselor at a high school and married to one of Chiara’s friends, that she has the company with. Rory Chiara’s friend and Sebastian’s wife dies in a auto accident. Two years later, at a bar somebody sneaks drugs in Chiara’s drink, Sebastian happens to be there. He doesn’t like the way the guy is treating Chiara, so he makes the guy leave he picks up Chiara’s drink and drinks it. She takes him home once she realizes he been drugged. They have a mutual attraction and one thing leads to another they make love. Six weeks later they are pregnant. They have issues to work out but together they do and fall in love.

Chiara and Sebastian met and share a meaningful night together. Years later Chiara best friend Rory introduces her to Sebastian and Chiara pretends they have never met. In a tragic accident Rory dies and sets her friends and family spinning. Two years after Rory’s death Sebastian steps in to help Chiara get away from a creep in a bar. When Sebastian drinks a drink intended for Chiara he finds himself drugged and in need of help. Chiara takes care of him and things change to bring up that meaningful night from the past.
Very quick read. Funny and very likable characters. Recommended read.
Thank you to netgalley for complimentary copy

I liked this book but I really had to suspend a lot of belief to get over the main plot point. Was Plan B not an option in their town. It seemed like so much of the book required so much of just hand waving away how a normal women would behave in this situation, but I did that it was an ok book to spend an afternoon reading.

Jennifer Probst is a new to me author and she did not disappoint! I loved the angst and the female friendships were so special. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one in this new series.

When I started the first few pages of this book, I thought I was settling in to one of my favourite tropes - one where the heroine is utterly resistant to settling down and has the hero chase her. I love reading the ways in which a man will fight to break down a woman's barriers. Now to some degree, I did get that - with a side of grief, friendship and accidental pregnancy thrown in. I truly understood Chiara's dilemma - Seb, too, of course - though the woman is always likely to be the one called out in this situation. As is proven by the delightful media in fiction and reality.

I really enjoyed the little of posse of characters surrounding Chiara and Sebastian/Ryder and I'm looking forward to seeing how they all come together. The author has laid really good foundations for an enjoyable series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start off by saying that I'm a huge Jennifer Probst fan and I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to read one of her newest books, "Meant to Be". This book as usual, did not disappoint! From the character development of each of the main characters to the intense emotions that she wrote throughout the book, I was hooked on the very first page. This romance had me swooning and crying(!) at some points. Such a great read for those who love romances with HEA's.