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Meant to Be
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
17 posts | 27 read | 11 to read
A restless golden boy and a girl with a troubled past navigate a love story that may be doomed before it even begins in this irresistible new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed and The Lies That Bind. The Kingsley family is practically American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. When Joseph S. Kingsley III is born in 1960, he inherits the weight of that legacy. Growing up with all the Kingsley looks and charisma, Joe should have no problem taking up the mantle after his father's untimely death. But he is also a little bit reckless, and can't seem to figure out how to channel the expectations of an entire country. No one ever expected anything of Cate, on the other hand. She, too, grew up in a single-parent household--just her and her mom scraping by in their small apartment. As a teenager, though, Cate is discovered for her looks. Modeling may be her only ticket out of the cycle of disappointment that her mother has always inhabited. Before too long, her face is everywhere; though she is always aware that she'd be a pariah in her social circles if anyone knew her true story. When Joe and Cate's paths cross, their connection is instant. What remains to be seen is whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight that follows Joe everywhere. And just as they find themselves in the make-or-break moment, the tragedy that seems to run in Joe's family right alongside all that privilege will repeat itself. In a beautifully written novel that recaptures a gilded moment in American history, Emily Giffin tells a story of a love that may or may not have the power to transcend circumstances that seem arrayed against it . . . and the difficulty of finding your way to the place you belong.
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review
JackOBotts
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
Mehso-so

Meh…while I finished, this wasn‘t a read I‘d highly recommend. I wasn‘t invested in the characters or the storyline; however, I did manage to finish. Happy to move this along to a new home.

⭐️⭐️

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BittersweetBooks
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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It was all going to be fine. Or maybe it wasn‘t. Either way, I would survive 💍📷✨

18 likes1 stack add
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DimeryRene
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Panpan

Literally so boring. 🫣 Halfway done, but I truly do not like it.

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coffeebooksandchaos
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
Pickpick

I am a long time fan of Emily Giffin and her books. Anyone who has followed her for a long time knows of her love of the Kennedy family and of JFK Jr. in particular. Meant To Be, which is a fictionalized tale inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn, feels like a book that Giffin was always going to write. Her ability to help you see inside the minds of her main characters is fantastic. Both Joe and Cate have clear voices. Well done Emily Giffin!

3 likes1 stack add
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kissmehardy
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Pickpick

I'm not a huge Kennedy buff, but I liked this take on the story of JFK Jr and Carolyn! It felt real to the time period without trying to put words in the mouths of the real people it was inspired by. Very well done! #historicalfiction

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jspoelker
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Pickpick

I LOVED this book. Emily Giffin has a gift for voicing internal experiences for all characters while balancing and forwarding the storyline in unexpected ways… all the while guiding the reader cheer for the greater good and romance

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Sharpeipup
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Nothing like an Exploding Bon Bon Latte to kickstart the weekend.

#harrypotter #hp

25 likes1 stack add
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Lesliereadsalot
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Mehso-so

I usually love her books, but this one seemed kind of hokey. Girl from the wrong side of the tracks falls in love with rich guy. I never really got a clear picture of either of the two main characters.

DimeryRene I also didn‘t care for this one. I found it dull and corny. 2y
2 likes1 comment
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GirlWellRead
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
Pickpick
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KristiAhlers
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one. It does have that John Kennedy jr. vibe but still the characters were engaging and I loved seeing how the relationship played out between Joe and Cate. This is my first time reading this author so I see myself hunting down her backlist.

41 likes1 stack add
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marleed
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Pickpick

Had the characters in this book been drawn from pure imagination I think I‘d have loved this as much as many readers will. From page 1 Joe is clearly inspired by JFK Jr. and Cate to Carolyn Bessette. I was close in age to JFK Jr, and theirs were the celebrity deaths that crushed me. I‘m now filled with all those sad feelings. When the story veered to its own path I was overly opinionated as to whether it respected the IRL originals. ↓

marleed So you wonder why I give this a pick? It‘s because the story was quite good. The problem was me as the still-grieving reader and I guess 23 years is still too soon for me. I mean Donny Osmond married young (well, so did I - but, details) so all my starry-eyed dreams transferred to JFK Jr. (edited) 3y
KristiAhlers Picking this one up! 3y
Alfoster I really liked it too!🥰👏 3y
marleed @KristiAhlers @Alfoster I‘m hope you have fun reading it. I‘m intrigued to see if other Littens have all those emotions from summer 1999 bubble up. 3y
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻❤️ 3y
58 likes2 stack adds5 comments
blurb
JHSiess
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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📖 🅅🄰🄲🄰🅃🄸🄾🄽 🅁🄴🄰🄳🄸🄽🄶⁣ 🌴

Maui is a tropical climate, with moist air & lush breezes.Sometimes there are unexpected clouds or even a few raindrops. But if you just wait a bit, the sun comes back. 🌞 I did that & took a delightful nap in the bright sunlight.⁣

I am enjoying 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 by 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻.⁣

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 g𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺?

PaperbackPirate Lovely photo! I am going to Maui next month for the first time! 3y
36 likes1 comment
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Tweetyrn4u
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
Pickpick


Is the expression if it‘s meant to be cliché? Does it apply in the romance department too or is there more too it than just leaving love to fate? Hang on tight as this book takes you through all the ups and downs and twists and turns that will have you turning the pages right through to the end. Beautifully written with many important characters in the book who persevere through life changing events that will touch your heart and warm your soul.

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robinb
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Mehso-so

I actually wanted to like this one more than I did (which kinda happened with the other book I‘ve read from her). This is a story about a wealthy man living in the shadows of his famous American-royalty father who never feels like he measures up and a woman from the other side of the tracks who was raised in an abusive home but manages to rise above in the fashion industry. The plot is fine (and very loosely based on real-life 🔻

robinb people/events), but both leads irritated and frustrated me at times. These were both adults (he was 30+), but they seemed more immature in their actions/motivations. The heroine made a left-field decision toward the end that threw me, and our hero felt too entitled and spoiled to me. 🔻 (edited) 3y
robinb I really ended up feeling no empathy for them…and I need that personally. I‘m sure mine will probably be an #unpopularopinion. 3/5⭐️ 3y
DimeryRene I didn‘t like this one at all! It was reparative and dull I found. 🫣 2y
robinb @DimeryRene Glad it wasn‘t just me. 👍 2y
47 likes4 comments
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Alfoster
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Pickpick

This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming novel about Cate and Joe, two very different people who come from vastly abnormal backgrounds. They fall in love; they break up, but ultimately it‘s a tender story so keep the tissues handy!
Out May 31st. Thanks to #NetGalley for this sweet ARC!

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rather_be_reading
Meant to Be | Emily Giffin
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Yay! Coming 2022!

BittersweetBooks @rather_be_reading me too! She‘s one of my favorites, this book will go to the top of my TBR once released. 3y
50 likes3 stack adds3 comments