Love lettering was a cute, romantic story with lovable characters. The ending was unexpected and took me by pleasant surprise. I loved the stoic and loving manner of Reid and the genuine and honest personality of Meg. A great read to warm you from the inside out this winter.

Kate Clayborn is a new author for me and one I look forward to reading more from. I really enjoyed the characters and humor in Love Lettering.
A story about Meg who is a hand letterer. She leaves a “coded” message in a wedding announcement. Reid is the groom who eventually discovers this code and figures it out. Both Meg and Reid are real and lovable.
A moving, slow burn romantic read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. I mean, how could it since it combines by love of books, romance, pens, paper, and planning! Though I'm not artistic enough to be able to hand letter, my love for pen and paper (and planning) is only second to my love of reading! I fully geeked out over all of the name drops of pen brands I adore, as well as the concept of hidden messages and codes that brought Meg and Reid together. There's even a bit of surprise suspense! I will admit that it took me a while to get into Meg's head and vibe with her peculiar POV, but once I did I was all in. I did also wish that there was a bit more heat, but ah well. Love Lettering is a solid 4 wine glass read for me and I can't wait to read more from the author.

Good story with heart and something a little more. For a home who loves a story about family and life.

ARC generously rovided by Netgalley.

Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing custom journals for her New York City clientele. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Knowing the upcoming marriage of Reid Sutherland and his polished fiancée was doomed to fail is one thing, but weaving a secret word of warning into their wedding program is another. Meg may have thought no one would spot it, but she hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid. A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other, both try to ignore a deepening connection between them. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late . .
This was simply a sweet read through and through. Both characters were likable and the writing and storyline were good. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This was my longest read in a while. Not in terms of length but just the amount of time I spent reading it. A major slump hit, while I was reading yet it in no way, impacted my enjoyment of this book which is an actual rarity. Usually, the longer I spend reading the book the more chance of me getting bored (I know, for shame). Although I can't call it unputdownable, I could tell if my slump hadn't hit I would have flown through reading. I think I might have preferred reading it at a slower pace. I so rarely spend my time reading books slowly so I felt like I was savouring the story by experiencing it in smaller chunks. I felt like my connection to Meg was stronger for spending longer with her. And Reid? I felt like I was over analysing things as if he was a man I liked. I spent so much more time thinking about where their romance would go next it was sort of like the anticipation for the next date. When can I get my next dose of Meg and Reid cuteness?


This book really made me want to sit down with my bullet journal and just get creative. The book just felt inspiring and I feel like it was the way it was written. I was in Meg's head and her creative thinking was catching. I wanted to write and draw and plan! I love a book inspiring you along with an awesome story. And it made me want to go out walking. To look at signs and see the lettering around me. It also made me want to drop a whole bunch of money on a flight to NYC (again). So, you know, inspirational. This book was inspiring and I just wish that level of inspiration had stayed with me for longer than a couple of weeks. I do still keep trying to walk about and noticing the things around me, though. So I guess this book changed me? We’ll see how long that lasts, though.

I did love how although Meg was quiet and averse to confrontation she did totally call out Reid when he cracked on with the potential mansplaining. And then later on you learn his ways aren't rude that's just his awkwardness coming through. It was so lovely seeing them both grow and come out of their shells and the twists and turns in each of their stories was wonderful to see. They were just these adorable awkward couple who had so much going on and it was nice to see a couple slowly coming out of their shell and once you realise they’re both crushing on each other and that’s why there’s something weird going on because they’re holding back from letting all of their feelings coming out. And then you later learn there’s more going on with Reid and that’s why he’s been reserved and almost shady.

I won’t lie. I did wonder when I started if I was gonna be reading a romance with no chemistry. Thankfully they had that spark but it was slow to come out. It was subtle. At first, they were skirting one another and they slowly had this small connection. Then, like I said, it all came out and once they’d admitted their feelings I was loving the romance. I think that’s where my reading picked up when they admitted their feelings and I was loving them together even though there were obstacles to their relationship.

Ugh, I’ve probably epically failed with this one reviewing. I don’t want to give any spoilers away on the story because I honestly loved being surprised and going into this one pretty blind. It was such a charming, creative read and I don’t know if it was the characters giving me that vibe or the writing, but whatever it was it worked for me. I am so glad I began my reading year on a high and definitely recommend.

I only received the first chapter of this to review, but as a lover of lettering I instantly fell in love with the main character. It seemed like a promising start and I look forward to reading the full title one day. :)

I loved this book and I highly recommend it. It's one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The descriptions of art and the city were amazing and the characters were fabulous.

This excerpt was lovely! It made me want to request the full ARC even more, and I'm glad to say that I did. Check out my full review of that title ...

The Bottom Line 4 stars
In the end, I really enjoyed much more of Love Lettering than I didn’t, and I want to visit Brooklyn and see it through Meg and Reid’s eyes. Theirs is an unusual and quirky romance that I’m happy to have read, and I’m very eager to see what’s next for Ms. Clayborn.

I lost track of time while reading Love Lettering and it took me by surprise! I picked it up because I thought it sounded cute, but it is much more than that. The story does so many things that I can appreciate. It has characters who feel youthful yet are still mature, a level of emotional intimacy that romance novels can sometimes lack, and an avoidance of all things cliché.
To this point, I was unfamiliar with Kate Clayborn but if there is one thing, above all others, I love to see in a book it is characters with unique skills written by authors who make me believe they are also experts at those skills.
Love Letting was heartfelt, smart, and beautifully written.

2 Stars / 1.5 Steam Fans

I'm not even sure where to start with this review. The book had such a fun and exciting premise; however, (for me) it missed the mark. Meg is a writing specialist, she LOVES everything about letters (the font, the swirl, the texture), but when she leaves a message in one of her client's wedding programs and a year after that message, Reid returns to confront Meg. They start a journey with each other, but you only really get Meg's version of the events that they end up going through. The first 40% of the book was super slow, and then Meg becomes a whiny character to the point that I wished I had DNFed the book when I first lost interest. I also thought there was too much emphasis on the different parts of words and fonts.

Video review available in Week 3 Jan 12 – 18 weekly book reviews.

For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington and Between the Chapters Book Club for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved, loved, loved this book. I cannot even express how much, but I'm going to try.

Recently I've mixed up my reading habits and have added some RomComs to my mystery obsession. I've also taken up Brush Lettering as a new hobby so when I saw this book, I squeed. I'm not even ashamed to admit it.

I could totally relate to Meg Mackworth, our protagonist. She moved to New York City to escape her home town and family issues and followed her dream of starting her own business. She is the in-demand "Planner of Park Slope" and is Lettering her way into being the go-to girl for anything Lettering related.

Things were going great until she started experiencing a mental block on a new project and then Reid Sutherland comes strolling into the shop wanting answers. Meg has a secret and Reid knows what it is. She designed his wedding invitations but added a hidden message she thought only she would see. She was wrong. When his wedding is cancelled, he turns to Meg for answers on her hidden message.

What ensues is two people gradually getting to know one another in a city full of possibilities. This isn't a jump right in romance. The characters take their time getting to know one another, to understand each other and they stumble along the way.

We also see how new and established romantic relationships can impact friendships as priorities shift. Meg lives with her best friend from high school, they moved to New York City together and Meg has relied on her for her steadiness and take charge attitude. As each of their new relationships blossom, we see them struggle to connect on the level of friendship they once had.

When the plot twist comes and Meg and Reid's worlds simultaneously implode on themselves, we see how faith and friendships, new and old, rally to protect and help those we love the most.

Final Thoughts

Meg and Reid are the deep overthinking, maybe a little OCD, nerdy types. I am this person and am often ashamed to admit it or do my best to try and hide it. This book sheds a new light on us nerdy folks and in a brilliant way. It's okay to keep a small intimate circle of friends instead of the hundreds of friends we think we need, it's okay to take chances out of your comfort zone, it's okay to embrace who you are and it's okay to follow your dreams no matter what they are or what people may think.

This is one of those books I can see myself rereading over and over again when life gets frustrating. This is more than a RomCom, it's a light at the end of the tunnel for those of us who have a hard time breaking the mold and following our dreams.

4 Stars
I Have a love of fonts and lettering so this was a no brainer to pick. It had an interesting concept of hiding a message in the invitation...thinking it was just for her...
When the man confronts the artist who made these invitations...We are off to a quirky romance

What an amazing book, that has an unique storyline, that will appeal to all readers and fans of contemporary romance.
Set in New York City, Love Lettering is the story of Meg and Reid, both residents of NYC and both running from, or looking for something.
Meg is a calligrapher, who has a somewhat celebrity following for her work. After doing wedding invitations for a couple, and they break up, it is revealed that Meg has put in a code in her lettering.
Mistake or not, Reid seeks Meg out and they end up meeting up. What follows is a beautifully written story, that slowly uncovers the layers and issues that these two have had in the past and present and how they overcome the obstacles life has thrown their way, both individually and together. I loved seeing New York City through Meg and Reid’s eyes, and in fact the signs and symbols they stumble across.
Love Lettering is my first book I’ve read by Ms Kate Clayborn, and it most definitely will not be my last. Love Lettering is a 5 star read from me and I know romance readers will just fall in love with the unique story presented by Kate Clayborn.

What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said? It’s a romance, but it’s also a book about friendship and New York City and discovery. And the beauty of letters. It’s sweeter than you expect and understatedly sophisticated, but that’s Kate Clayborn for you.

This was cute and charming. There's just something about Reid's character that pulled me in from the start but I'm having trouble pinning it. I love how Meg's job is lettering. That is basically goals as someone who appreciates fonts and hand lettered things. It's fun to see the possibilities that job could bring and it pretty much inspired me to do more research on what I could do with it. Anyway, I liked the way the story was told and the writing style since the flow was great. The MCs and supporting characters are amazing and my favorite side character has to be Lark especially once you get to know her. As for the conflict, I honestly don't know how to feel about it. I kinda wish the conflict was different but it was fine too.

Kate Clayborn's books are not light and fluffy. They take me a while to read and I usually cry at least once. They are, however, the sort of book that makes me think a lot about how we connect as humans and what it means to start over, to stand still for a moment, to redirect the trajectory of a relationship or a life.

Love Lettering is beautifully written, which means that the pervasive sense of loneliness that marks the first half of the book had me thinking "yes, I too miss having close relationships with other humans. I, too, am struggling to connect to the art I once loved." And I sat and felt lonely until Meg, the main character and POV character, started to connect and regain hope. It's the best and worst part of a good book, sharing emotions with a character.

As I said in my interview with the author, Love Lettering feels like three love stories in one - love of a passion turned career, love of a place (Brooklyn), and love of a person. It's an opposites-attract romance between two people at turning points in their lives. They're on very different paths, but when they intersect, it's fascinating to read. The main characters literally walk the streets of Brooklyn, playing games with letters and signs, finding tiny places to eat delicious food, sitting on a bench when Meg has debilitating cramps. (Reid is a considerate human with strong morals and I loved how he just gave her ibuprofen and kept her company.)

One note - there are several repeated phrases throughout which will either make you smile or irritate you. I'm in the former category, but repeated callbacks are something I know isn't for everyone, so I figured I'd mention it. Reid has a "triple take face," looks like he's from Masterpiece Theatre, has a facial expression Meg deems a "swoonsh," and people are described with font attributes.

I could describe this book for hours, but instead I'll leave you with a favorite passage, which takes place the first time the two have sex. Reid is a numbers person, he graduated at 15 and went to college and grad school for math. He still works in numbers. Meg is a letters person, think of words and phrases and the lines and curves of letters as she moves about in the world. In this scene, she's just told Reid how she has a difficult time reaching climax with a partner. He asks her to show him what she likes, so she does.

He watches, his tongue darting out to lick at the corner of his mouth, his eyes hot and focused, and I know he's seeing me, reading me, cracking this code I'm leaving, letters on this page for him alone, and suddenly I have a new, powerful rush of feeling, a different sort of passion: I hate every man who ever made me feel I shouldn't say what felt right. I hate the way they didn't try to understand. I hate the way they made me feel demanding and difficult for asking them to do something they hadn't figured out on their own; I hate the way they got frustrated and impatient and wounded.

Reid, studious and intense, watches and learns. Meg, careful and cautious, lets herself be vulnerable.

It's lovely, just like the rest of the book.



Suzanne received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

I enjoyed this excerpt and would've liked to read the full book to form a more informed opinion. However, what I read was enough to pique my interest.

This was delightful! The lettering angle was a unique and fascinating premise. I adored the writing - funny, smart and sharp. The author is amazing at pulling out a metaphor. The big conflict at the end came as a surprise for me, but it fit the story perfectly and led to a great ending. I loved Meg's observations about people and the personal work she did on facing conflict instead of avoiding it. (Language, sex)