My rating: ⭐️⭐️.5

While this contemporary romance had a charming premise and sweet meet-cute over a dog, it didn't quite work for me personally. The supporting characters (especially Cassie's roommate and Finn's son) were definite highlights, but I struggled with the pacing and found Finn's lack of honesty with Cassie frustrating—miscommunication tropes aren't my favorite, and it made it hard for me to connect with their relationship. This may resonate well with readers who enjoy character-driven stories and don't mind communication-based conflict, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book.

Cassie had me laughing.

Finn not so much.

Had a giggle through it though.

Worth the read.

For Irish romance readers, it's so refreshing to read a book set in Ireland that doesn't have any stereotypical Irish references!
I liked this book, I found it slow paced in the middle of the book & wasn't sure I actually wanted the main characters to end up together. Some great side characters & an enjoyable beach read.

3.5 ⭐️

This story follows Cassie having somewhat of a tumultuous time with adulthood- relationship, friendship, and family issues.

Honestly I wasn’t a big fan of this story to begin with, the MMC was not very likable at all and Cassie took a while to grow on me. Ultimately it’s a cute story that has very little to do with dogs and a lot to do with starting a family, handling relationships, and getting older.

I unfortunately had to DNF the book at 50%. I had a good time at the beginning of the book but around the 40% mark I wasn't really interested in anything else than the romance and, even then, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two characters. I also didn't really enjoy the main character, and the cringy moments didn't help my reading experience. Overall, this isn't a bad book, I just believe that it was not for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Meet Cute is exactly what the title promises—adorably awkward, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of heart. Cassie is one of those heroines you can’t help but root for: dumped over text, reeling from yet another career disappointment, and basically one emotional support cup of tea away from a meltdown. Her decision to flee London for Dublin and start fresh with a dog-walking gig sets the tone for a perfectly chaotic rom-com setup.

The literal meet cute with Finn (complete with muddy clothes and a massive dog named after a literary legend) was chef’s kiss—awkward, hilarious, and totally charming. But what I loved most was that this story isn’t just about falling in love with someone else—it’s also about learning to like yourself again after everything falls apart.

Cassie’s voice is sharp and witty, and the Irish setting gives the story an extra dose of warmth. If you're a fan of Bridget Jones-style heroines, messy new beginnings, and stories where the journey is just as important as the romance, The Meet Cute is a delightful escape.

I enjoyed this book. It was nice and cute. I did struggle abit because it was 3rd person and it stated eth about 4 pages about someone's armpit. But overall it was a good book.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet, easy romance that delivers exactly what it promises—a meet cute—then Isobel Mahan’s *The Meet Cute* might just hit the spot. The premise is immediately charming: two strangers collide (literally) and what follows is a cascade of quirky encounters, witty dialogue, and romantic tension. Mahan’s writing style is engaging and approachable, making this a quick and cozy read for romance fans.

The chemistry between the main characters feels genuine, and there are plenty of “aww” moments to satisfy those looking for feel-good fiction. One particularly charming line that stood out:
“He smiled like I was the answer to a question he hadn’t realized he’d been asking.”
It’s moments like these that showcase the potential for emotional resonance in Mahan’s work.

That said, the novel stays firmly in the realm of light entertainment. The character development felt a bit surface-level, and while the story moved at a good pace, it sometimes glossed over opportunities to explore deeper emotional beats or conflict. The stakes were low, and some plot points wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste.

Final Thought:
*The Meet Cute* is the literary equivalent of a rom-com movie you throw on for comfort—fun, fluffy, and sweet, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression. If you're looking for something heartwarming but low-commitment, this one fits the bill.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am a sucker for a book with a Great Dane on the cover. I will read all of them. The sad part is, often I do not enjoy them.

Meet Cassie, a down-on-her-luck actress who was just dumped via text. So, she hightails it back to her Mum's, where she begins walking dogs. Then she gets flattened by a Great Dane with a cute owner. Somehow, the dog so central to the plot essentially disappears after that, and there is nary a mention of the drool, dog hair, and general mess that comes with these gentle giants. Trust me, I live with two. They are my heart and soul, but they are gross. Then there is his owner, Finn. Finn has about as much personality as the disappearing dog. He creates plenty of drama within the story, but is duller than a newly painted wall.

All of the basic ingredients for a cute rom-com are there, but the execution is butchered, mostly because the characters are just not likable or because their growth (looking at you, Cassie) seems to be entirely faked.

Wow, I had initially given this two stars and now am reconsidering if it should be one.

Thank you to Net Galley and Embla Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really did want to like this as I have liked other works by this author, but it didn’t feel like a romance or a comedy at all and the third person narrative really took me out of moments. I also had a lot of trouble actually liking the male lead. He never felt like he was good enough for our leading lady.

I enjoyed reading The Meet Cute by Isobel Mahon. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

In terms of this story, I really wanted to like it especially after reading the blurb but it just wasn't up my alley- ended up dnfing it at Chapter 5.
Thankyou to both Embla Books and Net galley for the opportunity to read this ARC book.

this book highlighted the theme of how much women are pressured to have children. this felt more on the focus of the mcs and their character growth and the things they needed to deal with. the romance felt like a backseat thing for the book.

What a cute book! I had a hard time enjoying the main male character, and felt a sense of disconnect with him in the book (which I feel that I can usually feel pretty easily with characters most of the time). I love to be able to just fly through a romance/romcom just by good vibes, which I was able to do with this book!

This book was pretty good. But I do not like books that are written in third person. But the side characters were fun though.

As a childless 37 year old, I found myself instantly empathizing with our FMC, Cassie. My inner monologue runs a bit similar to hers, so I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. I too, find myself spouting random nonsense during a conversation.. and then wonder in my head wtf I am saying with my mouth. There were also several references sprinkled in for elder millennials, which I greatly enjoyed.

I don't often find myself highlighting profound quotes and adages in rom-coms, but there were so many here! Our FMCs Da especially (and other supporting characters) shared so many memorable tidbits, like "When you're explaining, you're losing," and "When in doubt, just be nice, Ye can't go wrong." And her Mam was an absolute hot mess and a delight. Heartwarming scenes abound with friends and family.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: "It's not always the obvious people, is it? I think love turns up in random spots and they're not always where you expect." I don't think this only applies to romantic relationships, but friendships as well - and Cassie experiences so many interesting connections throughout the course of this novel. I couldn't wait to find out who I'd meet in the next chapter.

A couple of the scenes were a little chaotic, and not fleshed out as well as I feel like they could/should have been. Most of them were in relation to our MMC though, which I think may have been intentional because of the general chaos that is his life. It was a bit of a rocky journey, and not quite the smooth rom-com I was expecting. Overall, it was a cute story, and my jaw literally dropped while reading (in public) several times toward the end. I still have some mixed feelings.

"It's my theory that we don't always know why we do something. Sometimes we start things for one reason and end up doing them for another."

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla for an e-arc of this book!

I don’t think this one was for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style and wanted to DNF before the halfway point. I stuck it out though. It was pretty slow overall and took me a while to finish. There were some parts that were a little hard to believe and the dialogue felt like it would jump to a completely different subject from one sentence to the next. I did enjoy some of the side characters though!

This book was nice, but didn't read as a rom-com. Honestly, I didn't really like the male love interest at all. I felt that he was kind of bland, and had no personality. However, I did really like some of the side characters. I also felt as though this book highlights the pressure for women to have children. I'm not sure if this was the intention, but it did feel as though the women with children excluded the women without children, and this reflects some aspects of society. Overall, I think this book was good outside of the romance, just wish the romance was better.

The Meet Cute is a chicklit rom- com that centres around the main character moving back home after being dumped and losing her job.

The story is written in third person which isn’t for me, but if you are a fan of this then this story is for you.