The book is described as You’ve Got Mail meets the Proposal which I didn’t know before reviewing, but the whole time all I could think about was You’ve Got mail a favorite romcom movie of mine.

This book was cute, sweet, charming, and I really enjoyed reading it. Was it highly predictable? Absolutely. But isn’t that almost the point of these romcoms?? I saw reviews saying they didn’t buy the relationship between these characters, but I did!! Savannah was naive at times, but it was endearing and made sense. Also reading a book that sounds like a book the main character is writing is very mind trippy to a point. I enjoyed it. Will was not my favorite love interest but I also forgive him.

Thank you netgalley for providing this arc for an honest review. I’m actually excited to read more books by this author.

Meet Me in the Margins is a sweet story but without any real spark. Savannah is an aspiring romance writer (without any romantic experience) and is working on her first manuscript. When she accidentally leaves it in a secret room at the office. she realizes the room isn't so secret after all. And neither is her manuscript. Someone has not only read it, but they've begun to edit it and leave feedback (and not the praiseworthy kind). She's rightfully offended at first, but then understands that this mystery editor is actually spot on in his edits. They begin a correspondence back in forth in the margins of her manuscript as he helps her to finish her greatest projects to date... writing her book and finding true love.

The relationship between Will and Savannah was sweet and lighthearted, but I never felt the spark between them. Will spoke in a very formal and old fashioned way which was almost distracting to a point. Savannah seemed like a smart woman, but appeared to be very naive in worldly situations (her relationship with Ferris, her lack of experience, her relationship with her parents/sister) and I would have liked to see her have a bit more of a backbone. Overall, a sweet and heartwarming story, but not one that left me swooning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Meet Me in the Margins” is a warm-hearted story with a likable protagonist who you cannot help but root for.

Savannah is an editor for a small publishing company who also hopes to publish a romance (which is not what her high-brow publishing company considers as worthwhile literature. Because of that, she hides her novel in a secret compartment of the ARC room (why can’t I have an ARC room to go into to read all of the galleys out there?) so no one at work can discover. Yet, to her surprise, not only does a mysterious reader find the book, but also provides critical feedback.

I figured out where this novel was going by the first chapter, but didn’t mind. While this novel has plenty of predictability, you don’t mind because you don’t expect to eat a slice of warmed-up apple pie for its health benefits. Ironically, this novel reads like the type of story its main character has written. How is that for meta?

This is the first book I have read by Melissa Ferguson, but definitely not the last.

Thank you the Melissa Ferguson, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

I loved this! This was the sort of predictable you want in a romance book - I couldn't wait for them to finally come together. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

3.5. ⭐️ I’m such a sucker for books about books and this one did not disappoint. Meet Me in the Margins is about an assistant editor named Savannah that is secretly working on a romance manuscript. She tried selling it to another publishing company but was shot down when she was told that it needed work but if she could get it done quickly, they will consider it again. She has 45 days to rewrite her entire manuscript when she notices someone has written feedback in the margins and decides to try and get them to help her edit her book before the deadline. They secretly write back and forth to each other through her manuscript but who is this mystery man that Savannah is sort of liking?

Will is the new VP of editing at her publishing house. Savannah has been spending more time with him and starting to enjoy his company. All while trying to rewrite her manuscript, figure out who the mystery editor is and be there for her sisters engagement.

I did quite enjoy this book but it was missing the spark between the main love interests. I really liked Will. I think he had a good personality and he was snarky. He and Savannah just didn’t spend that much time together and I feel like we missed out on more of a love buildup.. Maybe the book was just a bit too short but I would have loved more. It felt like a Kdrama where there’s just build up the entire season then they just kiss the last two minutes of the final episode.

If you’re looking for a cute find yourself romance novel about an author, then this one is for you. This book was given as an ARC by NetGalley for an honest review.

Such an adorable book! It truly is a romcom in the vein of You’ve Got Mail (a movie that I love). I enjoyed the characters, and found it hard to put down. I can see this on screen, whether it’s Hallmark or in the theater. If you love curling up and getting lost in a cute story, this is for you. I happily recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for providing an ARC.

5/5 stars
This was such a pleasant read! I was hooked from the start and couldn’t stop reading. The characters were likeable (most of them), the writing style was funny and easy to read, the story was exceptionally cute!
It’s about Savannah, an editor (and aspiring author) at a publishing company. She writes romantic fiction, the company does not publish any genres other than non-fiction and literary fiction. She’s writing a romance novel and finished the manuscript, but according to a publisher it was not good enough yet, so she has to restart. Over the course of 1.5 months there’s a mystery man editing her manuscript and adding suggestions to it. Slowly, she starts to fall for the mystery editor, but who is he?
Such an enjoyable read, would definitely recommend. This book sure has potential to become a booktok book!

This book reminds me so much of the rom-com movies for which I don’t seem to be in the mood for these days. The first person narrative would also veer off on a different tangent causing a bit of confusion. I guess the writing style was just not for me.

I loved the book world setting though, and the storyline with the mysterious editings is adorable.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Meet Me in the Margins by #MelissaFerguson

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: By day Savannah works as an editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher publishing "only the most curated, vetted manuscripts" that Pennington "believes the word needs to see." By night, she is secretly writing a romance novel, which Pennington frowns upon because romance titles are tacky and tasteless. During a meeting to introduce the new VP and publisher William Pennington, the son of the current editor, Savannah is almost caught with her beloved manuscript. Savannah runs into the ARC room and shoves the book into a drawer. She comes back later to retrieve it and discovers someone wrote notes in the margins of the first chapter. Savannah is upset that someone criticized her work. After a meeting with a prospective publisher she realizes that she needs the mystery editor's help. Eventually Savannah's notes with the mysterious editor become more personal. Savannah tries to find out who is helping her, because she realizes she has feelings for this person she bared her sole to. Will she find out who her mysterious editor is?

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: This light, positive rom-com is a really sweet story. Savannah's self-image, trying relationships with family members, and finding her true passion writing, add depth to this story. If you are looking for a rom-com, that is low on the steam, has a slow burn, and leaves you a great feeling this is the book for you.

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

This was so unexpectedly perfectly cute!! I genuinely enjoyed this book so much. It's a really quick read but I didn't want to put it down!

"Life is about movement, and pause. Work, and rest. It’s about relationship. About valuing others and truly taking the time to show them they are precious. About valuing yourself, too, and your uniquely given, whispered-into-your-DNA goals and dreams."

What a delightful book! Meet Me in the Margins is a literary-themed sweet romance that kept me turning the pages! I'm pretty hard on books that are book-themed, because I feel like they are sometimes meant to lure bookstagrammers in by cute covers and hooks, but then entrap us in subpar storylines that actually have little to do with a genuine love of reading. I said what I said! I took a chance on Meet Me in the Margins and I'm so happy to say it exceeded my tough expectations and actually gave a fascinating look into the psyche of authors, editors, and the publishing world at large.

Besides the lovely bookish content, there is a beautiful love story that grows at a realistic pace which I really appreciated. Other wonderful themes are the love of family, persistence, and acceptance of ourselves despite perceived "flaws" (that really are just the beautiful things that make us, us).

It was quirky, fun, and relatable. Will is charming. The male protagonist has a playful and vulnerable side to his business-like demeanor exterior. Every girl wants that modern-day prince charming. Savannah is a girl with a heart of gold that tells it like it is, down to earth. It's almost a modern-day Cinderella Story. It is good; however, it was predictable. Most of the characters lack depth and that leaves the story somewhat complete.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson--FICTION and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to see this book on Net Galley because I love stories with meet cutes, especially those in books. This book had all the elements of a cute romance between two people working at a publishing house.

The story gave a beautiful glimpse into the life of Savannah, with her new mystery editor. The romance was sweet and well played out, but I think there could have been so much more that the author could have done. I understood the need to try to add complexity (enter her ex), but there was so much potential that could have lead to more dramatic tension between the eventual couple. There was a slight twist in the end about who the mystery editor was, which led way to a few sweet moments.

Overall, the book was a one sitting read for me, and it was a cute story, it just wasn’t the best book I’ve read. It’s worth a read if you find yourself with a copy, but it isn’t something I would seek out or tell all of my friends about.

4.5 stars rounded up. I’m so happy I picked up this book! It was a laugh-out-loud funny rom-com with such a unique premise. The main character, Savanna, was so relatable and real. The story was refreshing, fun and had no steam, if that’s your thing. I really enjoyed learning about the life of a book editor and what it’s like to work in publishing. I also gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of what it’s like to be a new author struggling to get a manuscript out. While parts were predictable, which is given sometimes with this genre, I highly recommend checking out this book when it comes out in February!

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

Very light and cute love story. The romance was fine but nothing that stood out for me, I did like the protagonist a lot and also her love interest, they had some really cute scenes but they weren't super memorable for me. I did like how funny this book was sometimes, the plot was pretty predictable, however, and you pretty much knew right from the start where it was going. Still enjoyable though and perfect for a quick, fun read.

3.75 ⭐️

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Savannah, an editor for a prestigious publishing firm, is writing her own romance novel… but no one can ever know. But what happens when she accidentally leaves her manuscript at work? She comes back to find that someone made edits in the margins of her pages! So the question lies… who?

It was super cool to see the other side of the publishing world and I, as a reader, don’t get to see. This story was a slow slow slow burn, but I really enjoyed it, and I was smiling throughout it!

Savannah has a secret--she's written a novel that she wants to have published. The reason it is so secret is that she is an editor for a publishing company that doesn't "do" fluff, Pennington Publications. Their market is higher tier literary fiction--not romance.

Will Pennington has been brought in to stop the financial bleeding from toppling the Pennington empire. He's the son of the owner of the company and he recently left one of the big publishing houses in New York to help save Pennington.

This book gives a peek into the parts of the publishing world that aren't all hype and glitz. It gives a nitty-gritty behind the scenes look into the actual process of getting a book from inside someone's head to actual words on paper bound in a nice, neat package for the consumer.

Some of the plot lines that flesh out this novel include Savannah's over-achieving younger sister who polices everything Savannah eats, drinks, and every step she takes; all while planning her wedding to Savannah's former boyfriend, Ferris. Throughout the book, Ferris is portrayed as a nice guy overall, but still the fly in Savannah's ointment. It is not until the very end that his true, slimy colors are revealed.

When Savannah drops her manuscript during one of the weekly meetings, someone picks up the pages and reads them, giving her harsh, but not un-due criticism of her writing. She decides to ask for help from her mystery editor to get her manuscript ready for submission in forty-four days. That's all the time the publisher she's chosen for her book has to give Savannah for the book.

I am not sure why Will took such an interest in Savannah, nor what the original attraction was. He seemed to seek out her advice on things at the publishing house when she was not one of the premier editors for the company. She was definitely not one of his mother's pet editors and was rather on the outside of the inner circle. It was surprising that Will took Savannah's opinions to heart and made sweeping changes within the company based on those opinions.

The romance was very understated throughout the novel and when it did show up, it was very sweet. Melissa Ferguson knows just how much humor to add into the mix to make her novels enjoyable reads.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review and I am surprised at what Thomas Nelson allowed in this book to be categorized as Christian Fiction. While it's a minor part of the plot, Ferris and Olivia (Savannah's sister) living together is rather unexpected. Still it is a four-star book. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Savannah Cade is an Assistant Acquisitions Editor for a small, high-brow publishing company called Pennington Publishing in Nashville. The owner, Ms Pennington, frowns on populist writing such as romance, Sci-Fi, westerns etc, preferring non-fiction titles. Whilst Savannah is very good at her job, she has a secret, she has been writing her very own romance novel! One day, when Savannah retreats to her secret bolt-hole hidden behind a cabinet in the ARC room she finds that someone has read her manuscript and made scathing comments on it.

Savannah's personal life is a bit of a car crash. She broke up with her long-term boyfriend, who promptly asked out her younger, thinner, more successful, more driven sister Olivia and they got engaged within three months. Now Savannah is reduced to renting her sister's spare room and pretending to be happy about house-sharing with her ex. Also her sister is obsessed with exercise and has started an annual Steps-4-Life Step-a-thon to raise money for charity which means she interrogates Savannah about her daily steps.

Then things take a downturn professionally when Ms Pennington's son William leaves his fancy publishing house in New York to run Pennington Pub with his mother, amid rumours that the business is performing badly. Then a well-respected editor of a romance publishing house who had expressed interest in Savannah's manuscript tells her that the novel needs a lot of work before it could be published, and she only has a few weeks before she retires. Savannah is devastated by the news, but the editor's comments are very similar to those made by her mystery reviewer. Can she persuade the mystery reviewer to give her further feedback so that she can whip her novel into shape?

I have commented so many times this year about the number of re-imaginings of You've Got Mail I've read this year, this is in a similar vein. Savannah gets over her dislike/fear of William Pennington quite quickly and they become friends, but she is also drawn to the wit and vulnerability shown by her mystery reviewer, who she thinks is a colleague called Sam, even though in real life Sam never seems to have the spark of his review comments.

This was just lovely, I really loved the mystery reviewer's comment that Savannah can have one character with a fancy name but not both, because its not opera. I can also sympathise with Savannah reading the Word of the Day and then trying to work it into everyday conversation. It's funny, sweet, charming and I read it in a single weekend when I had much more urgent books to read because it was more appealing than the rest of my TBR pile :)

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

What a delightful book! Melissa Ferguson is a go to author for me. When I saw the title of this book and read the description, I was so anxious to read it. It did not disappoint. This book was sweet and fun with moments of laugh-out-loud humor. It was entertaining and hard to put down. I liked the main characters, especially Savannah who was a bit quirky.

If you enjoy a feel-good, clean rom-com, you definitely want to check this book out.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
A perfect book for librarians and book lovers! A sweet romance with enough angst and shenanigans to make this a delightful read.