Okay. I loved the heroine but I couldn't connect with the hero. I liked the set up, kinda epistolary, but it was just okay.

I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. The premise sounded great, I love the cover, but the execution fell flat. The writing was not for me. I didn't like being stuck in Savannah's head; she rambles on and on about minutiae, seemingly random topics. The choreography, probably detailed in an effort to slow it down and increase tension, was bloated and left me skimming, not immersed. I loved the secret ARC room and the idea of a secret editor, but I just had so much trouble wading through the writing that the story ended up flat for me, as well. There were a few things I had trouble suspending my disbelief on, too, like Savannah's ex dating her sister and then them announcing their engagement after mere months of dating—and the rest of the family celebrating that instead of questioning it. Sorry, that crosses the line for me!

Chef's Kiss was an aboslutely adorable book. I read most of it in one sitting. The illustrations are fantastic; I just wanted to look at them constantly and make sure I noticed every detail. The story was a good coming of age type story after finishing college; it felt relatable. The characters were likeable and relatable.

The blurb for Meet Me in the Margins made me feel like it was a promising read, but I mostly felt that it didn't live up to that potential. It started strong, setting up the main characters and the admittedly cute and fun plot device of the secret room. But by the end the whole thing just felt a little...superficial, I guess? While our main characters were relatively well-developed, I felt that the supporting cast as a whole was a bit one-dimensional. The plot unfolded predictably, and there was a surprising lack of romance in this romance novel. I'm giving it three stars because I did mostly enjoy it while I was reading it, but there's nothing of substance here that would prompt me to return for another read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an hones t review.

The ironic thing is that most of my criticisms are literally spelled out in the book via our editor hero’s notes on the heroine’s romance novel: “Slow beginning. Get to the meat. Give readers a reason to stay. If you bore them, you lose them. Awkward word choice? Drop this paragraph. We don’t need this character. Rabbit trail, stick to the point.” That quote resonated with me, because it so accurately reflected my issues with this book. It’s a very, very slow burn that barely pays off by the end, with an underdeveloped (PG) romance that bored me when it spent time focusing on other things. There were two characters who I wish hadn’t been included, and the writing didn’t flow well. I think the concept is super cute and I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes, but the execution just wasn’t there.

The story follows Savannah, a woman who works for a publishing company. Things haven’t been going well at her job, and the situation goes from bad to worse when the boss’s son comes to work for the company. Will is stoic and serious, a suit who barely smiles… and he caught Savannah editing her own romance novel during office hours. Frazzled, Savannah hides the manuscript in the secret room she discovered at the office… and is shocked when someone makes notes on the pages. As Savannah and the mysterious editor continue exchanging notes about the book, they form a friendship that starts to feel like more.

I love the concept of the secret room and exchanging of notes with an unknown editor, so I was really excited to dive into this. And those parts of the book were fun. There was just so much other stuff that got in the way. I don’t know that I’d call this full-on women’s fiction, but the romance is so slow moving and underdeveloped that it’s certainly not the star. It’s single perspective, and Savannah doesn’t confirm her editor’s identity until the final act, but… c’mon. It’s obvious. There’s a lot more that could’ve been done with that. Instead, we get an uncomfortable subplot involving Savannah’s fitness-obsessed sister (who she probably shouldn’t be speaking to) and the ex (she still seems to lust after) who is now her future brother-in-law. I didn’t want any of that, it just made Savannah seem like a doormat, and the time would’ve been better spent on developing the love connection either in person or via the notes. Ultimately, this wasn’t “bad,” but when my criticisms of a book overshadow the story WHILE I’m reading it, then I know it wasn’t successful either. I appreciated receiving an early copy (and am voluntarily leaving a review), but this was more of a miss than a hit for me.

A perfect slow burn romance where our couple doesn’t even have to see each other face to face to begin to fall in love. The writing style was easy to read and flowed very nicely.

Savannah Cade’s life is a bit stuck. She’s 29, living in her younger sister’s home, and feeling forced to help that sister plan her wedding to the man who broke Savannah’s heart. Savannah works as an assistant editor at a stuffy-and-struggling publishing house in Nashville (who knew?). But she may be on the brink of her dream, as she was asked to send the manuscript of the romance novel she’s been secretly writing, Pining for You, to her favorite publisher. When the manuscript is found by a mystery person in what Savannah thought was a secret room in the office—a mystery person who, uninvited, offers some very helpful constructive criticism of her work—the two begin passing notes to each other in the margins (get it?) about the book and, soon, about themselves.

Meet Me in the Margins is a really straightforward story. The identity of the mystery person, the answer to the question of who Savannah will end up with, should surprise no one. The subplot involving Savannah’s sister Olivia and her fiancé Ferris was the best of the subplots. But several parts of the story could have been fleshed out to add more depth. I would have liked to have learned a lot more about Will’s time in New York, and why he is back in Nashville. Lyla was largely present for comic relief, but if she had learned about the manuscript and the mystery editor there could have been so many more funny conversations about it. There could have also been a little more friction if either the publisher Ms. Pennington or mean boss Giselle had gotten a little more screen time.

Meet Me in the Margins reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie. It was cotton candy sweet. It was squeaky, G-rated clean; there were two kisses in the entire novel (and nothing more), and I don’t think there was a single profanity. It had moments of charm and humor, especially the scenes in the country bar and the courthouse. While it was not complex, it was interesting that both the actual novel and the fictional novel within were trying to write about a couple who will have a lifetime of happiness rather than just an insta-romance that may or may not last. And the story does reflect a love of publishing, writing, and reading (and when this pandemic is well and truly over, I’ve got to start going to these conventions where they apparently just hand out ARCs like candy 😄). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Meet Me in the Margins from Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wish I liked this one more. It was easy to get into and then after the first 20%…it just kind of fell apart for me. I think the concept is cute, but I think it just needed more time in the oven.

It was cool to learn about some of the backend of working for a publisher, I think that gave a fun perspective to it. It was weird learning about ARC rooms while I was reading it as an ARC.

The part that made it hard to digest was that halfway through the book, nothing monumental happened in the romance section of the book . If it’s marketed as romance. I expect to see it in the front end of things.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For the sheer joy of reading, Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson is a must. This is the most fun I've had reading a book in ages.

The quirky Savannah Cade, ordinary daughter of an over-achieving family, had me in stitches and then in tears as she tries to achieve her dream of becoming an author. Working as an editor for a small, old fashioned publishing house in Nashville, she finds herself attracted to the owner's son who has just started to work there. She is also attracted to her mystery editor who leaves her notes "in the margins" of her manuscript in a secret room of the Victorian mansion where their office is located. Follow Savannah through her ups and downs (literally falling down) as she navigates the ins and outs of balancing family and work, and finding love.

No matter what genre is your favorite, you will enjoy this book, I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley. It is scheduled for release February 15.

Sadly this book had one of the worst main characters I’ve read about in a while, which made it impossible for me to enjoy the book. Savannah was obnoxious, utterly unprofessional at her workplace, and a terrible person in general (e.g. her ratting out a coworker).
The side characters were each merely personifications of some stereotype, they didn’t really have any other personality.
The book contains mild cases of fatphobia, fitness tracking and step counters are mentioned multiple times which might be be triggering for some readers.
The plot was boring, the main couple had no chemistry.
Overall I can’t recommend this book.

“Where’s my darn eureka?” Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

3.5 stars. This was cute. And Savannah works in publishing. With an arc room! And she wrote a book! So interesting to me on those levels alone.

But to the story - we have Savannah, who works as an editor in a rather small, independent publishing house. She hides her manuscript in a hidden part of the arc room. To her surprise, someone started editing it already. So in addition to dealing with a new (and cranky) boss, she has a chance to sell her book, with major changes and help from her mystery editor.

This was fun to read and I was rooting for her and Will (boss) from the get go. Of course we know Will is the mystery editor but it was nice to watch Savannah work it out herself and get to know Will better too.

So, another book about books and writing that was just really nice to read. And another author to be on the lookout for.

Thank you Thomas Nelson publishing and NetGalley for the arc of this book. It’ll be out on Feb 15, 2022.

Well, that was so stinkin’ fun and cute. I’m currently smiling a lot. Goodness, I love bookish love stories a lot.
I love how Melissa Ferguson can write a super fun rom-com that will make you laugh out loud while also writing a book that has a message in there that makes you stop and think “Wow, that’s good.” It’s lighthearted but also has a message woven in to think about. I love it!

It was a little hard for me to follow what was happening at first, but it didn’t take me long to get invested in the story… I finished it in one evening.

I love the MC, Savannah. She’s real and unapologetically herself even as she has her insecurities too. Oh, and she has a great sense of humor. The girl had me laughing. She’s also a bookworm and loves words so I loved that! Watching her pursue her dream of becoming an author was so fun. She was just fun. I also really like how she dealt with the frustrating people in her life. She was kind even in the face of people who made that hard. And her thoughts on romance not being just attraction was spot on. 100% agree and loved that part! Anyways, I really loved her character and related to her in a lot of ways!
Of course I loved Will too! He was a mystery and I love characters like that. There’s just something so fun about getting to know the serious, misunderstood character. He was sweet and respectful.

The plot was so much fun! I absolutely loved the idea of two people meeting each other in the margins of a manuscript. I love plots where two people anonymously start falling for each other through writing, emailing, etc... but especially writing! It gives the plot suspense and it’s just really fun to read about. I just love the idea of two people falling in love through writing. I feel like it gives the love story much more depth because they’re falling in love based on their personalities rather than mere looks. This book did it so well!
I also found it fascinating to get a little behind-the-scenes of what working in a publishing house would be like. It’s basically a bookworm’s dream. I mean, Savannah describing the ARC room basically had me sighing because that’s a dream. 😍

Also the humor in this book was great. I laughed out loud and snickered several times. Especially at the court house scene. That had me rolling. I think my sister was a little concerned for my sanity.😂 (Tip: You might not want to read it in public because you will most likely be laughing like a crazy person. Or maybe it’s just me.)😂
But like I said earlier, while this is fun and lighthearted, it has it’s deep moments too which I loved. There’s a real story here. I love how Savannah learns that life’s not perfect but the journey is something to appreciate.

I also really appreciate how clean it was! No language or steamy content. I appreciate that a ton!

In conclusion, I really loved Meet Me in the Margins! I actually read and finished it in one night so that’s saying something.
If you’re looking for a really fun, sweet, and clean rom-com, I loved this one!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was the perfect light, escapist read- I couldn't put it down! It combines my two favorite things: romance novels and the world of editing and publishing.

Despite loving it so much and desperately wanting to give it 5 stars, there seemed to be too many missed opportunities and half-baked plots. I loved Savannah and Will, and I thought their development throughout the book was impressive. However, I think the romance could've benefitted from more interaction between the two, both in the margins of her manuscript and in the real world.

Savannah's family should've been explored a bit more, too. Why are they determined to maintain the appearance of being perfect and loyal? How has this affected Savannah? Did it cause the breakup between Ferris and Savannah? Is this why Olivia is so determined to have everything scheduled perfectly? A bit more explanation of the family dynamics would have been welcomed.

It was also strange that Ferris became the villain so suddenly. I could tell from the beginning of the book that he was still in love with Savannah, but he was still made out to be the good guy who wants to keep things civil. All of a sudden, he's proposing to Savannah, his fiancee's sister... then we never hear about him again. His character was a bit odd and seemed like just a way for Savannah to take ownership of her life and reconnect with her sister- which is all well and great, but that specific plot point just fell off and was never addressed again.

I would have loved more romance, but overall, this story was witty and charming even though I found it lacking in some areas. It's definitely worth the read!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a delight to read right from the first page. I flew through the story and went back to read my favorite parts again. It was really that good. I adored both the main characters, Savannah and Will. The secondary characters were also quite well written. It is one of the stories that just makes your heart bubble up with happiness. This is going to be one of my go-to books whenever I am down. Loved it! The only part I didn’t think was realistic was Savannah guessing the mystery editor. I mean it was quite obvious so either the author should have also written it from the editor’s POV or just not kept it as a surprise for us as it wasn’t really a surprise. Even then, I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for a warm hug of a book, this is the one.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

This was such a cute book! I really love the literary backdrop of the story and thought that the two main characters were so cute and really rooting for them the whole time

One Sentence Summary: Savannah works at a serious-works-only publishing house, secretly wants to become a romance novelist, and receives editing help from a mysterious coworker to achieve her dreams.

On one hand, I loved this book. I kept wanting to pick it up and read more, I liked the characters, and the style of writing was easy to read. It wasn't complicated, but it was fun. Most importantly, it avoided some tropes that I hate. It didn't fall into the mean-boss-is-secretly-nice trope. Will was intimidating at first but never rude - he comes off as shy and a bit awkward. It also mostly avoided the if-you-just-actually-communicated-there-would-be-no-conflict trope. I hate when plots revolve entirely around characters' wrong assumptions.

On the other hand, some things just bothered me. Based on the criticism her mysterious editor leaves, Savannah's manuscript is not good. It was hard to believe (annoying?) that someone who edits for a living (even if they're not romance novels), and reads a lot could be so oblivious to how bad her manuscript was. Maybe I have high standards? And don't get me started on her family. Her sister ends up coming around, but no one ever really addresses how poorly they've treated Savannah all this time.

However, while I think it has weak spots, they didn't stop me from enjoying the book and the story. Like I said - I had trouble putting it down. Ultimately, that's what matters most to me - that the story is entertaining. I wouldn't be surprised if it's adapted by Hallmark in a couple years. I will be recommending this book to friends and patrons. Thanks to Netgalley, Melissa Ferguson, and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.

The plot was original and enjoyable with a ‘secret not-so-secret helper/admirer’ trope. There are some very cute, funny moments, entertaining conversations . Savannah and Will were both instantly likeable characters with a very mature, but aspirational approach to life. Even though the end was a bit predictable, you can’t help but be immersed throughout anticipating for the end.

I enjoyed Melissa Ferguson’s smooth, clear way of writing and I will definitely be picking up more of her work!

The only complaint I have and which limits me to rate this book higher is that the characters had little growth. I get Savannah is overlooked but there was little to no growth or development. I would loved to have seen more about them, given that they were very unique.

If you’re looking for a easy, quick read I would definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!!

Love the premise, quirky and nerdy in the best way. I love how it offers insight into a prospective writers journey and all the ways publishing can scoff at he value of romance books. I found this hard to put down, binging it all in one sitting and staying up too late to finish. While it is fun and charming, it did suffer from some issues.

I wish we could see more of these margin notes and exchanges of personal anecdotes instead of being told they happen- it would go a lot further to build and support the love story. Overall I feel like Will is a bit too removed, there need to be more scenes of interaction, his personality is hard to read and the pressure over the job and saving Pennington doesn’t come through like it should. I also needed a bit more heat between them, they didn’t have many face to face interactions and getting to 90+% and they still aren’t even together or on a date was a bit tough.

I found it weird Savannah kept asking Will what he would do for all these romantic scenes - what pick up line, what first date idea, first kiss ideas. Aside from the fact that they didn’t illicit the flirty exchanges that I would have expected, these are also major tenets of a romance book and it seems Savannah is uncomfortable with them. Apparently she can’t even stand kissing and thinks its unnecessary at all in life…which seems really extreme?

It’s also not quite clear WHY Savannah wants to write romance. I think we’re meant to read between the lines and understand that her relationship with Ferris wasn’t the love affair it should have been but it’s a stretch. The premise of the book, and therefore her supposed passion for writing and her story, doesn’t seem connected or personal to her, there’s even mention of how writers often grow and work things out within themselves while writing but I don’t see that clear connection with Savannah and her manuscript. There’s the same repeated line about how love is about growing old together and all that, which is sweet, but I don’t see how that PERSONALLY connects with Savannah. She doesn’t mention any movies or ILR romances that do that inspire her, she doesn’t reference her parents marriage or any other family marriages that she’s idolized and pined for, so honestly I just didn’t understand what is was about romance that she found inspiring and drew her.

We never talk about Olivia and her workout and dieting obsession. It reads quite unhealthy and as if there may be some severe mental health issues at play - body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, OCD, anorexia athletica, something. I mean there’s several references to Olivia actually jogging in place while doing things after working out for hours. To me this didn’t read as someone passionate about the gym or dreaming of owning one, but rather someone clearly suffering from something and running themselves into the ground. I don’t understand why the author doesn’t explore this and actually give us a moment of sisterly boding towards the end between them. We’re simply told by Savannah that a big apology from Olivia and even their parents happens off the page. I sorely wanted that interaction because I think it’s a key piece of the plot and Savannah’s character - that the family mission statement is to do for family but they have all abused and discarded her to fit a model of perceived perfection. It’s quite unhealthy. I think if the author hadn’t gone SO overboard with the Cade family mission statement references and Olivia’s workout obsessive behavior, the strained family dynamic would still be there and work without distracting, but as it was, all I could think about was how much Olivia needed professional help.

I thought the ending with Ferris was a bit forced and uncharacteristic for him, also the Valentine’s Day note was very strange. It seems like for most of the book he’s really genuine and nice, but then does a complete 180 and we are meant to hate him. I think it makes sense he wanted to walk away from Olivia, but I didn’t think that meant he had to want Savannah back. I actually think it would have been stronger to have Ferris and Savannah have a it heart to heart about Olivia’s behavior, how its affected them both, how their break up affected them (Savannah being betrayed by all, Ferris feeling forced to lay in the bed he made) and have that propel Savannah into speaking up for herself.

Lastly, I found it odd that there’s a whole exchange in the margins about character names yet the author names both the new intern and Savannah’s mom Moira. Their names are also used within pages of each other so it especially stuck out. It’s a small thing but really stuck out to me.

However, for all of these critiques, I really did enjoy reading this. It’s great to peel back the curtains and see the inner workings of publishing and the writing process for prospective authors. I also have a completely new appreciation for editors and their work.

"Meet Me in the Margins" by Melissa Ferguson was simply adorable.

If you enjoyed Betsy St. Amant's "Tacos for Two," you'll love the cute "You've Got Mail" feel of "Meet Me in the Margins."

If you love the classic movies "Shop Around the Corner" and "In the Good Old Summertime," you'll adore all the epistolary bits in "Meet Me in the Margins."

If you're an author or an editor, well, "Meet Me in the Margins" is a love story just for you.

This is the second book I've read by this author. I enjoyed this book but it did seem to drag on a bit for me.
I'd say this book about Savannah and Will is a mix between You've Got Mail, Dash & Lilly and How to Lose a Guy in 10 days.

What I loved about this book:
-The setting was in a publishing company and there were so many bookstagram references
-The You've Got Mail vibes that this book gives off
-Savannah's family and what she was learning from them.

What I didn't love about this book:
-At some points, this book lacked direction and I had no idea where it was going
-The lack of communication between the characters
-Will's prestigious vibes

I did enjoy this book and especially loved that it was set in the ARC (advanced reader copies) of a small publishing company in Tennessee. It made me feel like bookstagram has its own language.