Author Spotlight: Jean Meltzer

Happy Pub Day to MAGICAL MEET CUTE!

I was introduced to Jean Meltzer in 2021 when she wrote THE MATZAH BALL. I was thrilled to read a Hanukkah book! In the book, we meet Rachel who is a Jewish girl who loves Christmas. She writes Christmas romance books while hiding this secret from her family. Her publisher requested she writes a Hanukkah romance so she finds inspiration at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration. It was the most adorable read and I loved how it included Christmas as I am interfaith (I celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah!).

Then came along MR. PERFECT ON PAPER. Dara has a specific checklist for the perfect husband. Her bubbe shared the checklist with a TV reporter, Chris who thought the search for Dara’s perfect Jewish husband would make good TV. Chris is a non-Jewish single dad, didn’t check any of Dara’s boxes but they both begin to fall for each other! It tugged at my heart. This book is a fun (and serious) example how we must expect the unexpected!

KISSING KOSHER is all about Avital who struggles from chronic pelvic pain who needs more help to manage her family’s kosher bakery in Brooklyn. Ethan stepped in, but he’s undercover for his grandfather who is the competition. He had a goal to steal family secrets but gets to know Avital. It was such a delight read where I was transported to the kosher bakery!

Out today, in MAGICAL MEET CUTE, Faye is a potter living in Woodstock, NY. Under the stress of antisemitic flyers circulating around the town, she focused on making pottery while she was drunk one night. She made a golem to protect her in this time of antisemitism. Next day, she meets Greg when she accidentally hit him with her bike. He loses his memory and she couldn’t help to find the coincidence that he’s similar to the golem she created. I adored this book so much. While it covered the serious topic of antisemitism, there also were funny parts that made me laugh.

What I love about Jean Meltzer is that she incorporates serious topics such as chronic illnesses and antisemitism, but also brings a lot of Jewish Joy! It’s the perfect balance and each book has an amazing amount of Judaism. I rave about her books ALL THE TIME — you really can’t go wrong with any of her books!