We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This ★★★★★

Hey book lovers! I’m here with a book review for We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon. I requested an arc on Netgalley after loving Today Tonight Tomorrow. I have a copy of The Ex Talk that came in a “Once Upon A Book Club Bookbox“, which I will be reading ASAP.

Meet-ing
a coming together of two or more people

About The Book 📚

Title: We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Publication Date: June 8, 2021

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Suggested Reader Age: Teens, Young Adult, 14+

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Comedy, Family-Owned Business, Weddings, Jews, United States

Rep: Jewish

Triggers: underage drinking, OCD, depression, anxiety disorder, divorce/separation

http://www.laurenhannah.net/book-trigger-list/

About The Author

“Rachel Lynn Solomon is the bestselling author of love stories for teens and adults, including The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This, and Weather Girl. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she’s on a mission to try as many Dutch sweets as possible.”

My Review

› We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This takes place in Seattle. It’s told from the perspective of seventeen-year-old Quinn. Quinn is sarcastic, cynical, has OCD, and doesn’t believe in true love or romantic gestures – which is ironic because her family runs a wedding planning business called Borrowed + Blue, and she’s expected to study business and join the business full-time. Her older sister, Asher, has already joined Borrowed + Blue full-time and LOVES it. She’s engaged to Gage and busy planning her wedding, so their parents assume Quinn will jump in and take over the tasks Asher usually takes care of. Quinn feels extremely frustrated that her family always assume she wants to be involved in the family business. She doesn’t want to study business and is waiting for “the perfect time” to tell her parents how she really feels.

Borrowed + Blue often have Tarek’s family catering business handle the food at their weddings. Eighteen-year-old Tarek is Egyptian-French-American Muslim. He’s a hopeless romantic with eczema, depression, and some serious cake-baking skills. Last summer, Quinn confessed all her feelings for him in an email – but he didn’t even respond. Now he’s back, and she’s trying her best to act normal. Quinn and Tarek are both trying to figure out what they want to do after the summer, skirting around their friendship and possible feelings for each other. Quinn also finds a harp mentour who helps her learn more about lever harps, taking her harp playing skills to the next level.

› I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 8
I love how Quinn talks about her mental health and medication like it’s no big deal. Solomon knows how to write authentic teen characters. I would have liked to know more about Tarek’s family background. It is mentioned that he is Muslim and Egyptian-American, but it doesn’t go into much detail. Quinn’s best friend Julia is adorable. She develops a cute relationship with Noelle. I wanted more of them, and more of Maxine, Quinn’s harp mentour.

› Atmosphere: 10
I laughed out loud numerous times and I swooned over Tarek’s romantic words. The descriptions, settings, mood, are perfect.

› Writing Style: 9
I enjoyed the writing style. Authentic dialogue, excellent readability.

› Plot: 9
It felt a little muddy in the middle.

› Intrigue: 10
I couldn’t put it down!

› Logic: 8
The front of the book says it’s for kids 12+, however, as a mom of a twelve-year-old, I’d have to say this is more appropriate for 14+ due to some of the sexy scenes and alcohol use. I wish we could have seen more of the Muslim and Jewish faith. I’m not Muslim or Jewish, but I feel like multiple perspectives would have achieved a more thorough representation of Muslim and Jewish religions.

› Enjoyment: 9

Average 9

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★★★

› Final Thoughts
• We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This is a funny, charming, contemporary romance about young adults trying to figure out what they want to do with their future and discovering love for the first time. Solomon has perfected the art of creating stories featuring big themes like mental health that will still allow you to laugh out loud and and escape the worries in your day. Fall into a Rom-Com this summer and check out We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This.