Love Lettering is a creative and whimsical read. I didn’t stop smiling the entire time I read. Meg and Reid were perfect.

This is the first Kate Claybourne book I've read, from the blurb I was exea sweet romance.

What I got was an intriguing tale full of angst, mystery and characters that had hidden depths.

Loved the attention to detail with Meg's calligraphy craft and loved it even more when the codes had been cracked!

Thanks to Net galley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

4.5 stars

Love Lettering is my first Kate Clayborn book and where has she been my entire life?? I am utterly enchanted with her prose — it's almost as if she used a magic wand to write every single word in this beautiful book. I am trying to find the right words to describe the feeling of this book. Just like the beautiful script on its cover, Love Lettering is whimsical, charming, and enchanting. Love Lettering is the equivalent of a warm hug and cuddles with a beloved pet. Okay, now I'm veering off course into poetry territory.

Meg is a well-known hand letterer in New York, but she also has a bad habit of including codes in the letters she draws. She used to work in the wedding industry, but she transitioned to planners. What happens when the first person to ever decode her letterings is the groom of her last wedding job? What happens when he comes into her shop a year after and tells her he decoded the wedding program she made for his wedding? And he asks her point blank how she knew his marriage wouldn't work.

I really liked Meg and her brand of humour. She's quirky in a kind of magical cross between Fleabag and Amélie. Only, she sees the world in script and signs. I loved reading the book from her perspective. She had such a unique way of seeing the world and her love for script unearthed my love for typefaces and typography. This book makes you feel like you could be an artist and that there is a little bit of art in everyone, even the stuffy hero who is a numbers guy.

I am utterly in love with Reid. I think he may be my favourite hero of 2019. I love his quiet intensity and all hs "quite," "alas," "aha," and most especially, his ~swoonshes~ I just adore him in all of his Masterpiece Theater!!!! He is stuffy and not very good with social interactions in a very Darcy-esque manner. But he's also very romantic with his handwritten letters in a very Captain Wentworth manner. The best part about Reid and Meg is that they feel so real to me. Their emotions, their struggles, their interactions, and the time they spend together and how their relationship morphs from awkwardness to friendship to love. Everything is just so real and so beautifully written.

As I mentioned a million times already, the writing is fantastic. But I did have a hard time getting into this book even though I was really curious about how the code and how Reid cracked it. Also, the beautiful writing almost drowns in a series of long winded inner monologues. The pacing was a bit stiff as well. Luckily, it was just the beginning of the book and I was easily able to overcome that and immerse myself completely into the story. And I can happily say that Love Lettering is one of the best books I have read this year.

P.S. Saussure would have a field day with this book!

A relevant romance that finished strong. It starts with a slow burn and as the 50% mark approached, I was considering a three-star rating. The relationship-building was sweet. For my old-fashioned sensibilities they put the cart before the horse and caused additional complications. Then comes a major event for which I had missed all the signs -- just like Meg. I thought the last third of the book was a great addition to the book giving the narrative much more substance than your average romance. Meg's struggles to define herself through her work and what she learns about healthy relationships is also so valuable. This new release is relevant in a world of bullet journaling and creativity instagram videos. Meg and Reid's story would most definitely appeal to some book groups as well.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Love Lettering” by Kate Clayborn is a delightful, honest depiction of friendship and love, the messiness of it and the beauty of perseverance. Often books cut corners in the development of both the story and characters; not this book. Others might think it moves slowly, but I found I was putting myself into the various aspects of the book. I was immersed and sad when it ended. I wanted more details!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to enjoy this book.

I thought this book was interesting, but didn't love it as much as other reviewers did. I really wasn’t engaged until about halfway through the book at which point the storyline picked up. Up until then, it was mostly just the hero and heroine walking around NYC. The book is written from the heroine's POV so I really didn't get a sense of why the hero was with the heroine or if he was even that interested in the her. Also, I found the relationship between the heroine and her roommate sort of depressing.

This book was very much a love letter to NYC and reminded me a little of Anne Calhoun's books.

4 stars

I'm not going to lie, the beginning chapter or two were a bit hard to get into. Maybe things were a bit over-written/descriptive/slow for my usual romance book taste, but all my those thoughts vanished as soon as Meg and Reid began their adventures/games together! Both characters immediately struck me as unique - Meg with her calligraphy/lettering business and Reid with his more say-what-you-think and nerdy personality - and I loved them for it. I felt like they fit together perfectly, and once the problems they were each facing in their own lives were delved into, I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to see the journey through with this couple and make sure they both got the happily ever after they deserved.

Also, the fact that Meg really had a problem with confrontation/saying what she really feels is something I can relate to, and I felt it was written very true to how I feel whenever I'm put in situations where I should speak my mind.

Overall, a great read!

This was an adorable, cute and sweet story. But don’t let the cover fool you - there are surprises in this book! The title caught my attention because I love hand writing. As far as I can remember I’ve always been able to tell someone’s handwriting because it’s just a detail that I take in. I even tried to teach myself hand lettering but that hasn’t gone so well. Lol Reid was a character who is easy to fall in love with. Meg would make a fantastic friend. I read the ebook version but I’m curious if the physical version had more font options in the story. If you are looking for a fun romantic story, then this one is for you!

“Love Lettering” by Kate Clayborn
I received a free ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley. I struggled with assigning a star rating for this reading. I was intrigued by the book description, enjoyed the beginning and ending of the story, the middle, not so much. I hope it was just myself that I just did not connect with the characters and their world. I am glad that I persevered and completed the story. It was an interesting read.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will never look at letters the same. And for that matter, signs. I will forever look straight at a sign and really study it. Why was it created that way? I wonder why they, whoever they are, which isn’t relevant, decided to go with the color and shapes. Does it have more than one purpose?
This book was a romance and so much more. Towards the end I just couldn’t put it down. There was nothing predictable in this story.
The two love interests drove me crazy. Both of them are extremely awkward and I waited and waited for one of them to make a move. It was painful to watch them struggle with each other. And then it finally happened and they were adorable. Perfect for each other. This romance is a slow burn, so you have to be patient to see all the great things about it.
There was mystery, friendships and starting over. And my favorite, a HEA.
I really enjoyed this book. ♥️

Favorite quote:
“For a split second we look at each other, and to me it feels like a mountain of letters between us, all jumbled up and unmatched, a thousand things I need to say to her but can’t figure out how to say. Not without starting some kind of terrible avalanche. Not without getting buried beneath them.”

This is a NETGALLEY book and all opinions are my own.

Before she was the "Planner of Park Slope", Meg was known for her hand lettered wedding wares. A year after designing her last wedding package, the groom, Reid, pays her a visit, because he found the message she secretly planted in the program. Racked with guilt and facing down an artistic blockage and distant best friend, she initiates a friendship with Reid, as she worries about her past impacting her future.

I became a fan of Clayborn after happily discovering her Chance of a Lifetime series. She has a knack for writing sweet romances with lots of humor and characters you can't help but adore, and she has done so, once again, with Love Lettering

When I first started reading, I immediately took note of how Clayborn's writing had this beautiful fluidity, that reminded me of the sweeping strokes of our heroines talented hand. The quality of the writing definitely pulled me into Meg's artistic world, which I found interesting and wonderful. At times, I can hardly read my own handwriting, therefore, I was enthralled by Meg's craft, and really enjoyed getting to learn some about the ins and outs of hand lettering.

I also loved Meg. There was something about her voice, that caught my attention and kept it. She was witty with a biting sense of humor, and I was often tickled by her many observations. I sort of felt like this was Meg's story and it included a romance. Much of the story revolved around her trying to regain her mojo in order to compete for a large contract, while she was also grappling with her fading friendship with her lifelong bestie, Sibby. I felt her pain and loss, and was crossing my fingers, that she found her way back to herself and the things she loved.

With Sibby slowly pushing Meg away, she had this need for connection, which drove her to contact Reid. She thought he would be a great companion to help her find her inspiration via walks throughout NYC. This was one of my favorite parts of the book, because I was Brooklyn born and bred, and all New Yorkers maintain a strong affection for our city, even when we no longer live there. It was such a special way to see NY, and I found myself looking forward to Meg and Reid's walks.

I mentioned there was romance, and it was one I rather enjoyed. This was slow, slow burn romance, which was rooted in friendship. Though I think there was an instant attraction, it took a while for these two to find their rhythm with each other, but once they did, it was a thing of beauty. I really enjoyed spending time with Meg and Reid, be it at a hole in the wall restaurant, visiting the family, or simply over text messages. They just seemed to click and fit with each other so well.

There was a bit of a plot twist towards the end, which threw me for a bit of a loop, but I still really enjoyed this book. The lettering, the walks, the friendship, and the romance were just so wonderful! I declare this another fantastic Kate Clayborn book.

When I started reading this book, all I could think of was the phrase killing me softly

This book is full of this quiet angst, the kind you feel everyday in relationships. The kind you relate to, wondering what you did, where you went wrong, if mistakes are really ever forgiven and what they mean. And holy hell, this will be my fourth review of Kate Clayborn where I'm at a loss for what to even say.

It will be a time I say once again why I love her-her inclusiveness as a matter-of-life. Her feminism, quietly shining through the page. Her evolved men who are clearly, incredibly leaders without (and sometimes with) the grunting physical presence. Is that enough? I will mention her settings again. This time, in New York, this time taking in every sign and letter. Relating numbers to letters. As if I didn't love this author enough. Her settings, the characters careers, the secondary characters all speak to make a complete, beautiful, fully alive story. And she twists the knife. Subtly, slowly. And you just get it. You feel it.

But that's not all. Because this is key: She writes extraordinary love stories for basically ordinary people falling in love in ordinary ways. She does so convincingly, quietly....killing us softly.

Reid and Meg burst with courage. They grow because of each other. They explore vulnerabilities, so much so we often take a deep breath with Meg when she begins her direct confrontations. And though I didn't find what Reid was doing much of a mystery, I appreciated the way it was integrated in the story and the conflict it created. It was well done without being sensationalized.

This book is all first person POV, and I didn't mind. I enjoyed getting to know Reid through Meg's open book. Through her loneliness and desperation, and I enjoyed getting to see her friends in the same way.

And despite this, I felt I knew Reid quite well because he was direct. That said, he is easily one of the most unique heroes I've ever read. Reid still felt whole, and I just loved him. I loved everyone in this book. I loved Meg's development and finding her own way. I loved the settings. Her unique job. His unique passion.

Love, Love, Love, it beats.
yep, that about sums it up.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This has not affected my views on this book. I can't wait to get my hard copy, in fact.

This was a slow read for me and I love slow burn books. A well written book with an interesting premise. The heroine, Meg, is professional calligrapher and we get a detailed look into her world. Her struggles with her best friend, her fears with her work, and of course the hero, Reid. Reid was flat initially for me but he gained steam as the book progressed. At first I couldn't see them together but the author somehow made me start cheering for them to be a couple.

4.5 stars

Love Lettering was such a wonderful surprise. I was already intrigued after reading the chapter preview and now, after finishing the book, I can safely say that I am in love with Kate Clayborn's writing style and sense of humor. The book was heartfelt and emotional at times, but also uplifting and hilarious. There were even a few plot twists that I didn't see coming.

Meg was such a relatable heroine. I loved her inner monologue and many of the thoughts racing through her mind had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the gradual build up between her and Reid. Their connection felt organic, as they came to understand and appreciate the other. All of the lingering glances, the subtle (and not quite so subtle) gestures, and barely there touching, had me swooning. I'm a sucker for the Masterpiece Theatre style intimacy and tenderness that Meg so often references in regards to Reid's manners. I would have loved if the big reveal at the end and it's resolution would have been hashed out more face to face, but I understand the reasoning and significance of it being presented and resolved the way it was.

The slow burn/opposites attract romance between her and Reid was wonderful, but what I loved most was Meg's journey and how she really came into her own through the course of the novel. I appreciated the focus on friendships and how they can fracture and break down, but also grow and evolve. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the discussion that Meg has with Lachelle about learning how to figuratively fight.

"... sometimes fighting isn't about leaving, it's about staying. It takes practice to get it right, and it's painful, but if you want to stay with people, you do it."

Love Lettering was a witty and beautiful novel that I truly wanted to savor. The epilogue left me just the right amount of warm and fuzzy and I can't wait to read more books by Kate Clayborn.

Note: If you're not a fan of hand lettering or fonts, it's possible that the descriptions and level of detail that the book goes into about how Meg sees the world and all of its signs, will be a bit overwhelming. It's clear that the author took a lot of time researching the topic and my font/lettering loving heart couldn't get enough!

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Love Lettering is very different!

Meg Mackworth was the Planner of Park Slope but had gotten out of doing wedding invitations and was doing personalize journals and planners for customers in New York City when Wall Street mathematician Reid Sutherland came by the paperie to ask her why she had put a code in the wedding invitations for Reid and his now ex-fiancé. Reid wondered how Meg knew they shouldn’t get married even though they broke up for other reasons but he also told her he hated New York City. Afterwards Meg reached out to Reid to help him fall in love with living in New York again by finding hand painted business signs because they were giving her inspiration for three treatments for a craft company to design a new line for them.

Love Lettering was different to me where the couple sends messages to each other without using a lot of words which is really interesting to read and different from where the couple falls in love instantly and Love Lettering is a slow burn type of book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved Meg and Reid. I really felt how they visualized letters and numbers and how they connected them together. I loved their growth and stories. I couldn’t get enough of how personal the story was and how flawed and real both Reid and Meg are in their relationships together and with other people. If you love a good romance and like feeling attached to and a part of their stories, this is a book for you.

Review of Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn:
⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5 stars)
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Meg Mackworth is a hand-lettering designer who weaves hidden messages into her work. She incorporates the word “mistake” into a wedding program for a couple whom she believed the marriage was doomed to fail, but assumed no one would spot it. Except the groom did.
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This book was very slow for me to read though I’m not sure if it was because of the book itself or the holidays. Nevertheless, I couldn’t devour it like I have with so many other contemporary romance books. I wanted to love this book based on the synopsis alone but I found it very hard to get through. I will admit, her profession as a hand-writing designer has inspired me to want to play around with some calligraphy but her ongoing mentions of different font styles distracted me from the story. I spent more time going down a rabbit hole of watching calligraphy videos than actually reading the book. I did enjoy the added touch of a thrilling twist towards the end that I absolutely did not see coming. I also appreciated the Epilogue where she wrapped up all the loose ends in a nice tiny bow for us. I hate when loose ends are not tied up. 😤 It was a good book, not my favorite but it certainly is an inspiring book!
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Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advanced readers copy of Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn in exchange for an independent and honest review. Look for this book out on shelves on 12/31/2019 and grab a copy for the new year!

Meg is essentially a calligrapher who designs journals, wedding programs, etc in Brooklyn. Reid is a quant (just like my husband) who is an expert in numbers and codes. These two meet before Reid gets married, as Meg is the designer of his wedding program, and re-meet a year later after Reid decodes a hidden message in the program. Their friendship that buds into something more develops through the course of finding inspiration, overcoming fears, and being more honest with yourself — all of which are relatable to most on some spectrum.

It took me a long time to finish this (it drove me crazy), but as you know, it has been super busy the last few days. Thanks to a snowstorm yesterday though, reading complete!

Okay. I wanted to love this. It was one of my most anticipated reads this fall, and was so excited when I received an ARC. However... unpopular opinion over here! Honestly, the concept of the story was unique and absolutely raw. But, the slow burn killed me and reading about fonts (seriously too much sans serif in the beginning) lost my interest a bit. Meg was 26, but for some odd reason, I felt like she was an old soul (good and bad, depending on how you look at it). Overall though, Clayborn’s writing and details flowed well, and would’ve been a quick read if it were any time but the holidays.

It was a bit of a slow start for me, but after about the halfway mark I was hooked and didn't want to stop reading. I loved the hunting for letters. It made me think about walking around looking for signs where I live. I really liked the character of Meg.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the arc. I am voluntarily leaving a review.

SAMPLE CHAPTER
I've only just recently read my first book by Kate Clayborn, but enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to read this excerpt from her forthcoming book, especially as it sounded really unusual.

Meg makes her living by designing hand lettered custom journals etc. and after a piece in The Times has become quite famous and known as The Planner of Park Slope. But supposedly she can also read signs in relationships that other people miss and last year wove a secret sign into some wedding invitations as she knew the marriage was doomed for failure. The first chapter of this book is when the bridegroom comes back to the shop and asks how she knew - he'd found the secret code!

And... then it finished! Just when it was getting interesting, and I wanted to read more and know more about this lovely world of lettering and secrets.

But it's a great concept for a book and I now can't wait until it's published, I feel inspired to rush out and buy some calligraphy pens and have a go myself!

UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2019:
I've now read the whole book and whilst I did really enjoy it, I've had to drop it to a 4-star as I did find it dragged a bit at times.

So... in the end the ex-bridegroom, Reid (maths whizz) and Meg start a stilted sort of friendship, each quite awkward characters and set in their ways. A lot of the time they are out and about finding lettering inspiration for Meg, with Reid being very closed off about his job, which he seems to hate, along with New York. Meg tries to persuade him otherwise, and their relationship slowly (very slowly!) starts getting easier, but they are both quite quirky characters.

I really enjoyed the hunt for the different lettering around the city, I love old signs and that part of the story really interested me (and even made me go out and buy a journal and some pens to start my own bullet journal!), but whilst I did enjoy the story it didn't quite live up to the fabulous start, and the sample chapter I read, where I was expecting really great things for the rest of the story. So I loved the very beginning, lost interest a bit in the middle... but then towards the end something completely unexpected happened and Meg and Reid's lives were completely turned on their head, which reignited my interest. I definitely warmed to the two main characters as the book went on and really liked them by the end, but it did take me a while getting there. But an interesting book, and one that I definitely will remember.