This was one of my most anticipated books for 2019. When I saw the ARC for Love Lettering available on NetGalley I hit that request button SO fast, because Ms. Clayborn’s three book Chance of a Lifetime series was fantastic - every single one of them. But all that anticipation also comes with trepidation...will this new book live up to my expectations...will it be as charming and unique as her other books?

The answer...is both no and yes.

Meg Macworth is becoming somewhat well-known in New York City for her hand lettering skills. But a year ago, before her career had taken off, she designed a wedding program for a couple. While designing the program she felt a compulsion to create a bit of a hidden message. Now Reid Sutherland, the former groom-to-be, has shown up at the shop where she meets her clients, demanding to know how Meg knew his relationship was doomed. When Reid makes a side comment about how he hates New York, Meg takes it upon herself to show him all the great signs there are around the city. Their relationship goes from awkward acquaintances, to friends, to falling in love.

The most fantastic thing about reading is that sometimes I enjoy a book because I can relate to the characters or the things they’re going through. Other times, it’s because I’m able to step into someone else’s world. As someone who hasn’t an artistic bone in her body, I found this story about a letterer - and how she “sees” letters, almost like they are living, breathing beings - fascinating.

However...the first 40 percent of this book was SO SLOW. Sure, there were glimpses of the quirky, unique way her characters think, but otherwise it didn’t make for good reading to me. I was having a hard time putting my finger on why that was, and I think I landed on the fact that the first 40 percent was a lot in Meg’s head. There wasn’t a whole lot on interaction between the hero and heroine - or other characters - which is where Ms. Clayborn shines.

It was also often awkward to read because, well, the characters themselves were awkward. Which left me wondering if Ms. Clayborn is a brilliant writer (since she could make me feel the awkwardness), or not. Because for all the awkwardness...this book didn’t pull me right in - which is what I’ve come to expect from Ms. Clayborn.

Had this not been a Kate Clayborn book, I’m sure I would have quit on it much too soon. So many things made me chuckle, and the sense of humor is what kept me reading.

Once I got to the second part of the book though, I couldn’t put it down. We have a heroine with a scandalous backstory, who is still trying to find her way as an adult, with a unique career. And in a deep, wide sea of billionaire military alpha males, it’s refreshing to have an awkward, slightly nerdy hero who is unsure of himself and hesitant to go after the girl. We have a relationship that develops naturally, and at a realistic pace. And the best part...when things got bumpy between Meg and Reid, it was SO refreshing to see a heroine face the uncertainty and land on having confidence in their relationship instead of taking some random “facts” and believing the worst about Reid.

At the end of the day, I’m charmed by this book’s originality and how the author doesn’t take the cliched routes with her storylines. My rating really doesn’t reflect how much I enjoyed this story, especially since it took a plot turn I didn’t even come close to seeing! But I just can’t get past how much I didn’t enjoy over a third of the book. I’m glad I stuck with it though. There is a shortage of authors creating such unique characters and original stories, and I can’t wait for Ms. Clayborn’s next book!

This book was so special. Unique, original, and at turns, sweet, sexy, funny, heart wrenching, unexpected, and fulfilling. I loved it so much!

Meg Mackworth is an artist, specifically, a hand-letterer. Her skill has her much in demand with all the hoity-toity housewives and such, in her neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn, NYC. But before she was known for her personalized planners, she did weddings. Invitations, place cards, programs, etc, she was the girl. Until about a year ago, when she put a secret message in a wedding program, after finally meeting the fiance of the woman she'd been hired by. After that, she decided she wouldn't be doing any more weddings. But, she can't believe it when the groom from that long ago mistake of a program, shows up to ask her about it. He's a mathematician, and he noticed her code. The wedding never happened. And now he has questions, and for a woman who has spent pretty much her entire life avoiding conflict, this is a doozy of a situation to find herself in.

Reid Sutherland works on Wall Street, but he's quick to tell you he's a math guy, NOT a money guy. He's stressed at his job, and after the breakup of his engagement a year ago, he's been ultra-focused on his work. He's not heartbroken. They were never right for each other anyway, though he still works for his ex's father's company. But, what he wants to know, is how the creator of the wedding invitations knew he and his ex were doomed, after meeting him once. She knew it so much she put a secret code into their wedding program, that apparently only he could see. So, he finally decides to ask her. But, he could never have imagined where that conversation would lead.

This entire book is from Meg's perspective, so we don't get inside of Reid's head fully. You learn to know him, as Meg gets to know him. You yearn for more, and MORE, info from his brilliant brain the same way Meg does. You fall in love with him the same way she does too. A lot of times I find a single POV, without even an omniscient narrator, to be too limiting. But, it really worked for this story. Reid was a delightful package to unwrap, and you got to enjoy it slowly, along with the heroine. This was quite the slow burn story, and I loved how much they really got to know each other before they truly got involved. Meg had a lot of internal conflicts happening at all times too, so you had plenty to keep you occupied as the story went on, even without getting into Reid's head.

There were some great side characters here, some more pivotal to the story than others, but all were valuable. Meg's BFF and roommate, Sibby - who has been pulling away from their friendship for some unknown reason - Meg's former boss, and friends from the paperie shop, and Reid's family. Even Meg's family, and Reid's ex, though they aren't major players in current events were on the periphery of the story enough to be felt strongly, in differing ways. I loved how each of these people were important to Meg and Reid's story, in their own ways.

There were plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Things I dreaded, and others I never saw coming. I loved them ALL. Reid and Meg had quite the inauspicious start, so to see how far they came together throughout the book was swoonworthy. Reid was a fantastic hero, and Meg, and strong heroine, learning to be truly independent for the first time. I adored both of them so much, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This book saved me from the dreaded end of the year book funk! I had no idea what to expect, but I did read a sample earlier in the year which impressed me. So I was cautiously hopeful that this would finally be the book to bring back my missing excitement. Don't get me wrong, I've had some decent reads. But there is good, there's great, and then there's giddy. This was a giddy book, much to my surprise. I fell hard for the entire set of characters, and had more than one moment where I stopped to savor the warm feelings from this adorable couple. It's kind of fitting that this was the book to bring the joy back again. I feel like I was finding mine right along with the two main characters.

Meg is a calligraphy artist who designs a variety of products for clients looking for a personal touch. After moving to New York with her best friend, she's grown a considerable following online and has made a name for herself as The Planner of Park Slope. Yes, she has a achieved a level of success anyone would envy, but for some time she's been stuck in a creative rut. This lag in inspiration caused her to distract herself by doing something more than a little reckless. Putting hidden messages in her work isn't her brightest idea, but it was intended to be her little secret. Harmless, until Reid's gift for code brings him to her door looking for answers. After all, wouldn't anyone want to know how a complete stranger could predict his engagement imploding?

When you first meet Reid, he gives every appearance of being the definition of dull and stuffy. He's clearly sharp as a tack, doggedly direct and blunt, but I wondered if his brilliance would be enough to win me over. Let me assure you, he has many hidden layers just waiting to be peeled back and examined. It takes some time to get there, but the attraction between them is a slow burn that's well worth the wait. Reid reveals himself to be lonely, unhappy, and shouldering some sort of burden at work that leaves him itching to leave the city. The dissolution of his engagement seems to be the least of his worries, but the reader is left in the dark over what weighs so heavily on him. What we do know is that being around Meg reminds him to find delight in the little things again.

They begin a tentative friendship during walks around the city, and through their studies of hand-lettered signs they both find hope along the winding path. His sometimes brutal honesty teaches her how to confront difficulties in her life head-on rather than sidestepping confrontation. His lackluster view of the city is transformed as she teaches him how to have fun in the simplest of ways. It's not always easy or comfortable. Jarring yourself out of long-standing comfort zones has a learning curve that's often messy and downright confusing. But with each baby step they take together, they grow stronger. More confident in their new direction. She finds a soft, romantic side under his reserve that feels like a gift when it's revealed. Just a faint quirk of his mouth or an sudden burst of laughter from her irreverence is enough to make her feel like she conquered the world. This taciturn man is much, much more than he allows the people around him to see.

They each have a small subplot running alongside the main story. A broken lifelong friendship she doesn't know how to put back together, and his unhappiness with his career in general merge in the end with a big twist I didn't see coming. Secrets are unearthed, and the safe haven they found in each other's company is abruptly tested to its limits. The conflict at the end could have easily felt overdramatized, but somehow it worked. It made me fall in love with Reid even more than I thought possible, showing his strength of character and depth of feeling for Meg. When he first declared his feelings for her, I melted into a puddle of goo when he told her she left a "Meg-shaped shadow" in her absence. I thought nothing could top it. I read the passage twice in a row, savoring the unexpected romance of it. Then he writes his love letter to her and I fell even harder.

Meg and Reid are opposites in every way imaginable. Each side of one counterbalances a side of the other, making a perfect, matched pair. He's analytical, she's fanciful. He's reserved, she's warm and easygoing. But the main difference between them? Letters and numbers. This is a strong theme running throughout the story that was so fresh and whimsical. I can't think of one contemporary romance that is remotely like this one so that gets huge brownie points from me.

Admittedly, the descriptions of Meg's letter observations can be a little rambling at times. But the originality of this heartwarming story, the surprises to be found in the cracks and crevices made the occasional wordiness well worth it. I really adored this author's style of writing, the wittiness of it, and the meaning she infused in such a lighthearted plot. I can't recommend this one enough to anyone looking for a quirky romance that thinks outside the box. Meg and Reid are guaranteed to steal your hearts.

Thanks to Kensington Books for the free advance copy.

Meg is a hand-letterer who makes custom planners, wedding invites, and more for her clients. One day, an old client, Reid, returns to her shop, demanding to know how Meg knew his marriage would fail - he had noticed how Meg weaved the word MISTAKE into the art in his wedding program. A conversation turns into a walk turns into sign-finding games turns into...more?

LOVE LETTERING is for all of us who love a classic rom com. If you liked EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER or THE AUSTEN PLAYBOOK, you need this book. It's a relatively slow burn for a romance novel - not even any kissing until halfway through! - but that only adds to the realness of this story. It reads like you're actually watching two people feel each other out and fall in love slowly, then all at once.

What I loved most about this book is how Meg's job as a hand-letterer is so integral to the story. It's not the type of book where the heroine owns a small business but never seems to actually do any work. It's her passion and she's good at it, and the plot would fall apart without it.

I also loved the descriptions of how Meg sees letters in her everyday life. She's always spelling out words in her head and rolling them around in her mind, feeling out each letter. It adds, dare I say it, whimsy to the story, and gives you such a great look into the mind of an artist.

This story is amazing, entertaining and well written.
I loved this sort of love letter to New York as much as I loved the relationship between Meg and Reid.
This book is fresh, enthralling and well written. I loved the vivid description of the city, the well thought cast of characters and the well crafted plot that kept me turning pages as fast as I could.
I loved the style of writing and I hope to read soon another book by this author.
It was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Okay, I struggled a bit with this book. I had moments of confusion about all the walks to view lettering on signs. Yes, I got that it was to give Meg inspiration for her big corporate presentation and yes, she was attracted to Reid and this was a way to see him. But I wondered why Reid was always so secretive, and why wasn't this a red flag for Meg? Well the answers to the former become evident but not the later. Yes, I kept turning pages to find out if these two very different people would actually get together. Reid's long, long explanation was...well...too long. So now you think I didn't like this book. You are wrong, I did like it I just have a few issues.

Meg is at the peak of her career, she is a talented Lettering artist and is in a very delicate moment of creative blocking. This and the indifference her best friend has shown her, has only made everything worse. She has never felt so lonely and discouraged in her life even when she had to face a very complicated situation in the past because in the past her friend gave her full support at the time.





Reid is tired of New York, after his marriage went downhill, he began to realize that the work he had was not quite what he wanted for his life and is beginning to question his stay in the big city. His passion for decoding numbers eventually brings him closer to Meg in a very unusual way.





By telling Meg that he doesn't like New York, he ends up giving her an idea of ​​how to try to cure her creative block and then begins their journey of self-awareness and resilience.




I really liked the story and the way it was built. I was very surprised because I would never imagine the cause of the behavior of either Emily, Meg's friend, or Reid's. I also loved the way the writer made the analogy of numbers and letters how these little details made the protagonists fall in love with each other and perceive New York in a different way than they saw apart.

What a surprise this book was to me, I struggled at the start for no other reason as it was boxing day. A busy week at work brought me to the start of this loving story that will grow on you as you read. The author's description had me seeing the drawings of the words she was describing. I was not a fan of the long long inner monologues a time when all I wanted by an answer to the question given or the action. The characters grow as well as the story to a twist I just did not see coming at all. A great way to spend a holiday day.

So if you find you are not connecting with this book straight away give it a bit more time around 45% in it had me hook line and sinker to the very end.

Set in New York City you will meet Meg Mackworth a calligraphist who has witters block with a big client pitch in the near future to be ready for. the story is told in Megs POV which I enjoy to what I have recently been reading.

Reid Sutherland walking back into the shop where they had first meet almost one year ago, wanting answers to the secret message she left in this Wedding program.

A friendship soon formed between the two as Meg is determined to make Reid love the City she has come to call home. She needs her own inspiration to get her next job finished so they play a few walking games around the city to discover a new love of the city they live in.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions provided are my own.


READING PROGRESS

Love Lettering is a fantastic new novel by Kate Clayborn. Meg is a graphic artist, who makes a living designing custom planners for a building clientele in New York. One day, Reid walks back into the shop she used to work in and reveals he knows her secret- she hid little markers in the wedding program for his cancelled wedding and wants to know why. The story that follows is just lovely- part rom com, part love letter to New York. The novel kept me hooked from beginning to end- which had an ending that surprised me. The characters are so well developed that I wish I could look up Meg's art online. If you are looking for a delightful New York story, try this one- you won't be disappointed!

3.5 Understanding the Code Stars
* * * 1/2
I found this book to be interesting due to my own interest in the art of writing and doing script. To use this as the focus of a story and how code was inserted to the invitation was clever. The added suspense and love story was a bit slow and drawn out but in the end, came together.

I received an ARC of Love Lettering (December 31) from Kensington Books via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.

TL;DR: If you read contemporary romance, you’re going to want to pre-order Kate Clayborn’s Love Lettering. (And there’s a great pre-order package if you order from Fountain Bookstore!)

If that isn’t enough convincing enough, here's a quick summary and full review:

Meg is a calligrapher, known as the Planner of Park Slope for her work designing planners for clients. But once upon a time, Meg also designed wedding stationary, work she gave up for reasons she is unwilling to share. But when Reid, one of Meg’s last wedding clients, walks through the door of her shop, he seems to know exactly what she’s done. The secret reason she won’t design any more wedding invitations. And a year after Reid’s wedding-that-wasn’t, he’s looking for answers. What Meg and Reid find together is more than either could have anticipated.

I loved Love Lettering, even though contemporary isn’t usually my go-to romance sub-genre. Meg and Reid are a great opposites-attract couple, and I thought the conflict(s) they face together are believable and realistic. I also enjoyed how Meg grows as a person, mostly independent of her relationship with Reid.

One quick note: the novel is written in first-person POV from Meg’s perspective, so if you don’t that writing style, this novel may not be for you. While I did find myself wishing for more of Reid’s perspective throughout the book, it didn’t ruin the novel for me. And without giving too much away, after reading through the ending of the book, I can see why leaving Reid’s perspective out is probably the best choice for the story.

I highly recommend Love Lettering for contemporary romance readers, or for anyone looking to give the genre a try.

Well, I thought this would be right up my alley, but this was just an okay read for me. I found it to move at a really slow pace, and I can’t say that I ever really connected with the characters. Both characters are quirky and very hard to relate to. Reid loves math and Meg loves writing. It was also very technical about writing and coding, which was interesting but somewhat hard to understand. Finally, there was a surprise twist at the end that I was not prepared for and I’m not entirely sure really fit the book. However, the epilogue was cute and a great end to the story. I think the concept of the story was creative and different but ultimately, this one didn’t pull me in as much as I’d hoped.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Love Lettering - what a fantastic, geeky, nerdy and unexpected love story! I had no expectations going into this except knowing it was about a person who was a hand lettering artist.

I absolutely LOVED this book. LOVED. Meg and Reid were such great characters! Throw in the geekiness of different fonts, the love of various signs - both hand lettered and not, and the awkwardness of people who don't always feel they fit in and here you have Meg and Reid.

I don't know that this book is for everyone, but for those who enjoy a slightly different take on life, Love Lettering is probably for you.

It would be so easy to give away too much of this story if I continue to rave on so I'm stopping this review now. Just give this book a try. You may enjoy it and like me, fall in love with the geekiness that is this book. I will definitely be looking for more from Kate Clayborn in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This book started out great, sweet story with rich characters and a quirky premise. Then it just... fell off a cliff I skimmed through most of it because it was very slow and plodding. An okay read.

This book is so charming. I loved every single one of the characters and would love to see more of them. A sequel with Sibby's story would be so great. I love how this romance was presented and it was slightly steamy at times, but not unnecessarily so. Along with the romance though, I really enjoyed the other story lines. I was so engaged with this story and didnt want it to end. This is the perfect lighthearted read to start out the year.

This was a little tougher to get into than other Kate Clayborn novels I have read but once I got into the rhythm of the novel, I ended up enjoying it tremendously. I look forward to her future offerings. It was a nice slow burn of a novel.

Believable characters who develop throughout the plot.
A plot that was, although slow at times, never boring.
I appreciated the details about, and hence research into, lettering. Made the main character so much more real to me.

Wonderful writing! I'm sure I'll read more from this author.

A solid 4 on the steam-o-meter, Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn was also a tender stranger-to-friendship=to-lover romance. To be honest, Love Lettering surprised me. I wasn't sure about how a book about a professional hand-lettering artist would read, since it's such a visual medium and books are just...words. But to my delight, it worked incredibly well, due in large part to Clayborn's wonderful descriptions.

I liked the two main characters--Meg and Reid--a lot, and I found the progression of their friendship relatable. (I fell in love with my husband quickly, feeling things much sooner than I thought I "should.") I loved the walks they would take--Meg showing Reid how to love NYC, Reid helping Meg break through her creative block by making her search into a game.

The idea of "signs" features heavily in the book--physical signs around the city, but also signs that a relationship is doomed or signs that its time to move on or fight harder. Despite it feeling a bit repetitive, I liked how the signs were woven throughout the narrative.

There were elements that felt a bit far fetched--like the whole FBI thing--but they were used as plot devices to move the main relationship along, so I understood their purpose. I appreciated how the hurt and the need for forgiveness were not simply glossed over but addressed instead. It felt like they were building an honest, healthy relationship. And the female friendships were also 100% relatable.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Love Lettering to my contemporary romance friends. Now I'm going to go teach myself how to draw pretty letters.

Love Lettering is a wonderful romance for any fan of the genre. The characters are well-rounded and fun while the storyline offers up a unique twist to the typical romantic situations. The author provides plenty of details that are specific to a career field and it allows readers to engage and enjoy what is happening in the novel. The main characters are adorably likable and easy to pull for. Kate Clayborn is a talented novelist, and I will be reading her novels future to come.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I haven’t read anything by this author but I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her novels from the podcasts I listen to. And I’m very glad I was able to read this one first specifically. This book was a love letter to journaling, art, and calligraphy all tied into one wonderful love story about a mathematician and an artist. Meg was so wonderfully endearing and charismatic. Her journey to self-empowerment in this novel was wonderful to see first hand. And Reid was so vulnerable and heart-wrenchingly perfect as a hero, his devotion and love for Meg was evident in the novel as it progressed and their relationship and chemistry really leaped off the page. Their love story and how it developed by walking the streets of New York and looking at hand-painted signs was a great idea. The writing is so beautifully done, it’s almost lyrical in how the characters and their stories are written. And decorative journaling is very on trend right now so the book is very well timed. Some pieces of the book weren’t an exact right fit for me. Overall though I really enjoyed this book a lot, it was extremely swoon-worthy and a wonderful read. I would definitely recommend it!