A Not So Meet Cute

The entire framework of A Not So Meet Cute is based on being inauthentic: Lottie and Huxley must pretend to be engaged and expecting a child to secure a business deal and fulfill an agreement with one other. Meghan Quinn thus introduces a disparity between how people present themselves and how they truly are early in the novel. It soon becomes clear, however, that the fake dating arrangement reflects a broader gap between the characters’ public and private personas, which results in interpersonal tension. Huxley initially makes no effort to investigate the interiority of Lottie’s character, while she initially sees him as a cold and self-absorbed person. The structure of the novel, which features chapters from both of their perspectives, helps demonstrate that they are more complex than they appear to each other. However, it takes time and conflict for the two to begin to see this.

Firstly, Lottie is hiding her insecurity, most of which has developed in response to the classism, mistreatment, and abandonment she has experienced from others. Due to this, Lottie has an inherent mistrust of people, like Huxley, who appear haughty, withdrawn, and preoccupied with success. She thinks, “Ultimately, this is another situation where a rich person gets what they want by using a poor person,” but merely tells Huxley, “I know this is going to sound prideful, but I’m not sure I should be taking handouts right now.