Meant to Be: The Lives and Loves of a Jersey Girl

by Lauren Pizza

When Lauren Pizza was thirteen, she died. Caught under a small sailboat, she struggled to reach the surface, only to find that what she thought was up was actually down . . . and that’s all she remembers. Ever since being resuscitated by two strangers, Pizza has felt a presence in her life from the spirit world. Is it crazy? Maybe. Her family sure thinks so.

Growing up the youngest, and sometimes forgotten, of five in Little Falls, New Jersey, Pizza continues to live the typical life “down the shore” after her accident. She survives high school (barely), goes to college in Dayton, Ohio (which she might have thought was in Florida when she applied), and is ready to settle down with her “perfect” Kennedy-esque boyfriend in Jersey—until she wakes up.

Suddenly free and single, Pizza relies on intuition (and perhaps a few signs) and finds herself a job in the city, a grungy apartment in the West Village, and waits for Prince Charming. When he finally arrives, she doesn’t recognize he drives a red Ferrari, sure, but he has hair like Howard Stern and wears more gold chains than Mr. T.

Meant to Be is the story of a blue-collar Jersey girl swept off her feet by an unconventional millionaire, thrust into an entirely new world, where she makes plenty of mistakes and sometimes feels like “I’m from the Jersey Shore” is stapled to her forehead.

With humor, gratitude, and trademark Jersey spunk, Lauren tells it like it the highs, the lows, the bad twists, the good advice from unlikely places, and the times she wished she could disappear. Underneath the designer clothes and private jets, she’s still the same Jersey Girl who took the D train and lived on Snapple. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

216 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2014

Reviews

[Donna]

The first half of this book is a really endearing memoir of growing up in NJ and the Jersey Shore in the 80’s. But then Lauren Pizza meets and marries some kind of pharmaceutical billionaire- and talks so flippantly about private jets, $2500 a night hotel rooms and name drops so often that it becomes awkward. There are some vague attempts at modestly showing how fast her life changed because of the money, but they are quickly offset by the constant reminder that she doesn’t HAVE to work, she chooses to…but her “work” is a talk show that is no doubt funded by her husband (I picture “Welcome to Me”, the movie). She writes about her children who are totally out of control, and seemingly makes no effort to curb their behavior. By the end of the book she is totally unrelatable and disconnected from the everyday normal life that she grew up in. How soon people forget! Even her sister comments on it in the book. She blatantly jokes about how she throws around her husband’s money, and her trip to the psychic could end up costing him millions of dollars, as per her whims. In all honesty, good for Lauren Pizza for finding a great man who is rich beyond belief, but be careful about trying to come off as relating to regular people when you are obviously so far removed from where and how you grew up, and you have a need to show that off to everyone by writing a book about it and disguising it as a spiritual book to help people!

[Joyce]

Thank God Lauren's psychic told her to write this book because I don't know what I would have done on the beach without it! It kept me so engrossed throughout the whole book, and I was laughing hysterically the whole time. Definitely recommend!

[Jennifer Goebel]

Great, fun read. Makes you feel like Lauren is one of your friends, it's so honest and open... and really funny. She tells it like it is, and takes you along for a raucous, rollicking ride.

[Victoria]

When I first started this book I thought this was fiction. Then around chapter 2 I realized that this was a biography. It made a little more sense then.

For me this was just an ok book. It was a little interesting how certain psychic's predicted some of her life but I wasn't that impressed with all the celebrities she met. Other than going around the world with lots of money there's not a lot else in the book.

[Denise]

Started out ok, but I could only take so much Jersey girl stuff.

[Heather Graves]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It is a quick read, easily completed in a weekend at the Jersey Shore (or wherever you spend your weekends). It seems like Lauren would be an interesting person to talk to, and she certainly has accomplished a lot. That being said, I really felt that this seemed very awkwardly written, and that it could have used some good editing to improve word choices and the general flow of the book. Like I said, I'm sure that Lauren has some great anecdotes, but this is not a good representation of them.

[Jeannette]

Altho growing up in Jersey I connected a lot with the things Lauren did, the book seemed to not be what I expected. When the first thing you read is I died at 13, you want more. I liked it and enjoyed reading it but felt there could have been more on Lauren and her psychic beliefs and things she did and less about the fab life and celebs. It's a fun read tho and would recommend it for a vacation book.

[Theresa]

Since I went to the Jersey shore as a child, I completely connected with Lauren in the beginning
of her book. What's more, she kept me reading even when her life was taking uncanny twists and turns. Lauren has a remarkable ability to bond with the reader and she can certainly make anyone
out there laugh.

[Barb Ligas]

This book has an uncanny ability to connect you with the characters. I was so invested in Lauren and Joe's story that I simply could not put the book down! Lauren made me laugh so hard that I cried, and she has the best attitude about those awfully embarrassing incidents-they are all just meant to be!

[Jack Salvo]

The humor in this book is unheard of. I absolutely loved every single second of it. The best part was her interactions with celebrities. I don't think any more awkward moments could have happened to Lauren, but she definitely knows how to laugh about it, and they were certainly entertaining for the reader. Her attitude is a true inspiration.

[Mark]

Well written memoir, with humor and pathos, but one that left me kind of flat. Ms Pizza has led an interesting life, and I enjoyed reading about her jet set lifestyle, but, I am not quite sure what lasting impact this will have on my life. I don't feel the time was wasted. I just didn't find it all that memorable.

[Michele Scrofani]

This is a perfect book to throw in your beach bag for a day trip. It will keep you laughing and engrossed the whole day. More than that, it is heartfelt and true. No matter what genre you like, this is better that fiction!

[Diana Tate]

This book literally had me on the floor laughing! Lauren is so blunt and sarcastic with her opinions - a true Jersey girl! The only thing that would have made this book better would be eating pizza and drinking Snapple (Lauren's favorite!) while doing so.

[Michelle]

The love story between Lauren and Joe is unconventional, but their love just jumps off the page. I really fell in love with this couple. The way they stick together in spite of everything is just so inspiring. This book deeply touched me.

[Caitlyn]

Lauren is the definition of a true Jersey girl. She has the attitude and sass to embody the finest residents of the state. She can truly face anything, and definitely make a joke out of it. I found myself constantly laughing and in awe of her attitude.

[Simona Bianco]

Words cannot express how amazing this book was. Lauren had me laughing, then crying, then seriously contemplating going to get some Jersey pizza and Snapple. Meant to be was a perfect beach read!

[Mike]

Although the cover has a girl on the beach, this is the perfect book for anywhere. Lauren's heartfelt stories bring the warmth and fun of the Jersey shore, and she never misses a comedic beat.

[Jeanne Squeglia]

This book was great - it didn't take long to read and I laughed the entire time. Its the perfect beach read!

[Melissa]

Hysterical

[Elise Behn]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end! I will definitely recommend this to my friends and book club!!