Cover Image: Meet Me in the Margins

Meet Me in the Margins

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this, so much so that I blew through it in one day! Being a librarian, I loved that it was set in a publishing house and featured a big librarian conference. I loved Savannah's character; she was cute and funny and I liked seeing her grow through the story. The only thing that felt a little off was that I would have loved more of her interactions with Will! Every scene with them was cute and Will's character was adorable, so I just wish we could have seen more of that in the story. Other than that, I loved it! I'd never read this author before but I will definitely pick up her other books.

Was this review helpful?

It was a refreshingly sweet rom-com. I wasn't expecting it to be soooo good. It has my favourite trope too (I like you but we haven't met). Those little moments and banters in the book were everything!! Loved all the characters and the writing. This book has achieved a shinning spot in my favourite rom-com list. Thank you Melissa Ferguson for writing this amazing book. ❤️
Now I need this secret turret room in my life (!!!)

Was this review helpful?

What a delightful story. Melissa Ferguson writes witty rom-com novels. Although I felt the first 40 pages were a little slow start for me, it quickly picked up the pace.
Savannah Cade is an assistant acquisitions editor for a small publishing house, who publishes non-fiction titles. Savannah has written a romance novel, which the owner, Ms Pennington frowns upon. Her son, William comes on board to run Pennington Publishing, trying to turn the company around.

When Savannah accidently leaves her manuscript in the "hidden" room, someone starts to edit the pages. Which starts the mystery of, who is taking the time to do the editing. Correspondence interacts between the two writers, which leaves Savannah wondering yet again, who is this mystery editor.

It is really a fun read. The characters and dialogue leave you laughing out loud. The relationship between Savannah and her obsessive compulsive sister brought a new twist to the story. All in all, it was a clean heartwarming story.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was the first book I've read from this author, and I was thrilled that I gave it a chance. I was enthralled with the relationship between Savannah and Will, as well as Savannah with her family. Such a charming read that I felt as if I couldn't put the book down. I'm definitely going to check out the others works from Melissa Ferguson.

Was this review helpful?

Three cheers and five stars to Melissa Ferguson's Meet Me in the Margins! You will find laugh out loud humor, wit, poignant moment and nuggets of wisdom among the pages. Family, friend and romantic relationships are addressed in this highly enjoyable Rom Com. One of the main issues is the difficulty of living a life of others' expectations vs. a life of purpose that brings joy. Expect an original twist along the lines of Who's Got Mail.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I was set to love this book, prepared to start gushing to any and everyone. After all I adored the first two novels from this author and this one had a bookish bent so it sounded like a no brainer winner. But this one unfortunately fell flat for me. Honestly touting this book as a rom-com was a bit of a stretch in my opinion, the romance wasn’t given a lot of actual page time and there wasn’t a lot of humor. It felt more along the lines of woman’s fiction since the main point of the book seemed to be the character growth of Savannah.
The publishing house setting was a fun idea and it was interesting to get a bit of the behind the scenes of book publishing. But it did slow down the start a bit with a lot of random facts about the authors and the publishing process.
I did like Savannah as a heroine, though she did seem to do a lot more thinking in short amounts of time than seemed actually possible. I appreciated her growth throughout the story and was happy that things started going her way in the end.
Will was a great hero from the little we saw of him and I really wish we could have had more page time with him. He had the all-business grumpy but with a heart of gold thing going for him that is hard to resist. I liked Will and Savannah together but I really wanted to see more of them spending actual time together.
Overall while this book was still well written and I know many people will love it it just didn’t hit the spot for me. I think that I went in expecting all the romance and humor to make me melt and laugh and it was hard to get past that being missing.

Was this review helpful?

Firstly, I would like to thank Thomas Nelson - Fiction Publishing House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an open and honest review!

First Thoughts: Honestly after reading this book, I feel like an intellect who "knows all" about publishing and the process and procedure. Also, the shame the romance genre gets in this publishing house is so frustrating, but ya'll, all I can say is this book wasn't just a swoon worthy sweet romance, it was incredibly informative on what happens to get a book published, which was so. much. fun. learning about!

No Spoiler Plot: Melissa Ferguson writes a wholesome romance between Savanna, a 20 something editor, and aspiring romance writer, and her new boss, Will. While their friendship grows, Sav also begins a mysterious friendship with an unknown editor, who's helping her perfect her book for publishing.

My Rating: I give this book 3.5/5 stars. It was such a sweet wholesome romance! I loved the relationship/friendship between Savannah and Will, and while there was no “spice” to the story, the relationship still read very romantic, which I enjoyed! Where the story lost me was how wholesome Savannah really was - no "flirty" thoughts ever in her thoughts, her total acceptable for the relationship between her sister and her brother made me so angry for her, the lack of communication she had with Will & Sam regarding the mystery editor, and overall how she looked so poorly on her self (and to me, it felt none of these ever resolved). I was hoping for more romance than one kiss, but still I enjoyed reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

This book was just a heaping helping of fun. It's such a treat to read a light-hearted, happily ever after story. I read in lots of genres, so between dramas and thrillers and a few sad story lines, this one really made me grin like a fool. The writing is sweet and charming, like a Hallmark movie meets a classic sitcom. The heroine, Savannah, felt like someone I could be friends with in real-life. I love relatable characters that you can see yourself in. Her inner dialogue is a bit zany at times, but I think that's part of her charm. She reminds me a bit of Sophie Kinsella's Becky Bloomwood or Meg Cabot's Heather Wells. This book genuinely brightened my mood and made me smile. It was so nice to have a few chapters of this book to look forward to each night during a particularly stressful week. If you are looking for a sweet romantic comedy, Melissa Ferguson's "Meet Me in the Margins" is just the ticket and the perfect book to read while curled up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate nearby. The publishing date is 2/15/22.

I was provided an e-book ARC from the publisher/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness! This was such a great book! The characters were so well done and the story kept me entertained. I read it in a sitting while my kids were in school. I cannot wait to see what else this author writes. She’s on my auto buy list now.

Was this review helpful?

Give a romance reader a romance book about an editor writing a romance book and you will have one incredibly happy reader. It’s just facts. And this is true in this case as well! From the cute plot, to the hectic look at publishing life, to the heartfelt connections of the characters this book was easy to pick up and delightful to read! And thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the eARC of this novel.

Loves:
-Savannah was a main character that you easily could root for and sympathize with. Her family of overachievers and being someone who wasn’t living up to those expectations set her up for someone you could cheer on. I enjoyed her enthusiasm for her work and friends. I wish there had been a bit more of a character arc for her as I didn’t see a ton of shift in her, but I liked her. Also her relationship with Lyla was amazing and I love Lyla.
-The plot! Ok, I just really like these types of plots with the characters communicating back and forth and one not knowing who the other is. Call me a simpleton, I do not care. I loved how this one was involved with writing a romance and the letters were edits. Then the post-its, be still my heart. It’s just so freaking cute. The addition of Savannah’s family added some more depth to the story too, although I felt like at times that her family overtook the romance line of the story. And kudos for setting it in Nashville! I loved it!
-William and Savannah’s relationship throughout the novel was adorable. I loved how they interacted in the office and his actions with her outside of the office. I appreciated how everything developed, but I do wish there had been a bit more to their relationship. It felt very surface level for the ending and I wanted some more communication between them.

Meh:
-Honestly this should probably be in the women’s fiction category more than a romance category. Don’t get me wrong, there’s romance in it! It’s just not the main focus of the story, I felt. It’s a decent part, but the story of Savannah growing and standing up for herself in her family, was what I felt the plot to be more of. If there had been less about her sister (who honestly I wanted to be taken down a couple more notches) and more about Savannah’s relationship with the mystery editor and William I would have loved it more.
-I wanted more development from Savannah as well. She did change, but I wanted some more change from her. She was sooooo close to standing up for herself and demanding the attention she deserved in her family and at work, but just fell flat when others were around to do it for her.

Long Story Short:
I definitely recommend reading this book! It’s adorable, sweet, and has just enough chaos to make it one that you’ll remember. If you want a sweet, clean romance that borders the line of women’s fic then this should be for you!

Was this review helpful?

This was okay, but just not what I had hoped for. I have been on a rom-com kick lately and have read some really great ones. This one unfortunately fell flat for me. The main character, Savannah, just did not have any real substance to her. I could not get invested in caring about what happened to her. I may have just read too many outstanding books lately, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Was this review helpful?

↳ I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Meet Me in the Margins is a lovely story about Savannah Cade, an editor aspiring to publish her own romance novel. After sending her manuscript to the chief editor of a renowned publisher, Claire Donovan, she receives a feedback a bit bittersweet. Even though the editor sees potential in her story, she thinks that the manuscript needs a big polishing.
After leaving said manuscript in her secret nook in the publishing house she works, Savannah returns and discovers that not only someone entered her nook, but they also read her manuscript and wrote notes in the margins with editions for her story.
At first, Savannah doesn't take the notes well. But after some exchange of notes with her mysterious editor, she realizes that they can truly help her.

This book left me intrigued since I first read the synopsis. I loved the writing and pretty much devoured the book. The story was really refreshing in some ways and it wasn't hard to like the main characters.
Even though I didn't quite connect with the book, I enjoyed the reading. I think we could have seen more scenes of Savannah and William (her love interest) together. I missed some development in their relationship.
Another aspect of the story that bothered me was the whole situation with her ex-boyfriend and her sister. I don't think that was necessary at all. I get that her sister was awful and conquered her own redemption arc, which I also think was kind of weak, but things most definitely could have been different.
Overall, the story was funny but predictable. The plot twist was kind of cute but I felt as if something was missing. Meet Me in the Margins is an enjoyable reading and if you're looking for a quick, humorous, and intimate story, you should definitely read this one.

Was this review helpful?

Melissa Ferguson's "Meet Me in the Margins" is a cute and funny romance centering around book editor Savannah Cade and her new boss, Will Pennington. While trying to maintain her professionalism around Will, she also spends her time writing her book and dealing with her sister's engagement to her Savannah's ex-boyfriend. Will is trying to prove himself worthy of his new position, which many see as nepotism since his mom owns Pennington Publishing. Together (and without the other knowing it), they are working on Savannah's manuscript. I really enjoyed this book, and the big reveal at the end. I thought Savannah and Will had good chemistry and I enjoyed seeing the sparks fly!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

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

This book was very sweet and enjoyable. The main characters were very easy to love.
I enjoyed the Savannah’s journey of growth and self-exploration and truly enjoyed Will being a big part of it (even without her knowing it)

I would have loved to see more of their relationship throughout the book. It left me wanting a bit more.

Was this review helpful?

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

This book was just so darn enjoyable to read. Savannah Cade was born to a family with overly high expectations of its members. Savannah herself, though, seems to be okay with 'fine' while her sister/roomie tries to check all of the boxes of perfection at once. This definitely leads to some guilt and lower self esteem- but just enough to be relatable without feeling overwhelming as the reader. Savannah works for a high-brow (yet struggling financially) publisher in Nashville, but is secretly working on a *gasp* romance novel! The main thrust of the story comes when she stashes it in what she believes to be her secret hideout in the Victorian mansion-turned-office, but someone else knows about it... and leaves quite critical (yet spot on) notes in the margins of her manuscript.

At one point Savannah's manuscript is referred to as an amalgam of Hallmark movies... and honestly, the book gave me those exact feelings. Yes, you know what's going to happen. There might be a couple of things that surprise you, but you essentially know the ending from the get go. You'd think that would make it less of a page-turner... but somehow it doesn't? I was hooked. I wish I got to know Will (leading man) a little better, but the witty banter was on point and I just love when the main character is bookish (don't we all?).

Overall, I'd say probably 3.75 stars. It wasn't quite deep enough for me to get to 4, but it was a delightful read.

Was this review helpful?

Meet Me In the Margins is a very sweet book. I might deem it relationship fiction before romance, but there's a solid off-page romance. It's cute, sweet, and there's some minor character growth. Lots of tropes playing out, as well.

The book was rather meta, in that someone who works in publishing is trying to get published. And I wasn't too thrilled with the constant maligning of romance as a genre, especially from a character who was writing a romance novel. I was completely unsurprised with the ending (the identity of the mysterious editor was obvious from day one), but the novel played to its tropes very well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the free eARC!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC digital copy of Meet in the Margins in exchange for an honest review of the book. Well - this book just was not for me. I wanted to like so much. I loved the idea of secret room in an old home that serves as a southern publishing company. I just could see it all so clear. There was not anything that surprised me and frankly I found most of the characters as kinda flat. I would skip the purchase and borrow from the library. You might enjoy as.a light fluffy beach read but this one was not my cup of tea.

Was this review helpful?

This is a delightful romantic comedy in a lighter vein. The main characters, Savannah and Will are appealing, as is the setting in a small boutique publishing house that is struggling financially. Savannah, an assistant editor, is secretly writing her own novel, which she leaves in a hidden room full of ARCs in the attic of the publisher's building. After she finds her manuscript marked with notes and suggestions in the margins, she embarks on a relationship via post-it notes with her mysterious editor. Her friend Lyla, an administrative assistant and aspiring country singer, provides a good foil for the serious Savannah with her kookiness. When Savannah catches Sam, another co-worker, exiting the hidden room, she believes she must have found her mystery friend,--but has she? Then there's her forbidding new boss, William, who happens to be the son of the owner of Pennington Publications. The story sparkles with humor and warmth, and while there is little emotional depth to the story, readers looking for a light, effervescent romance should enjoy this one.

Was this review helpful?

This was really cute but would have been better without Olivia and Ferris. That storyline made the main character seem like a weak wet noodle. And boy was her family terrible to her! How dare they treat a daughter like that and what kind of parents would be ok with what happened between Savannah, Olivia, and Ferris? Terrible ones that’s who.

The rest of the story was lovely though so I would still recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

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

I absolutely loved this book. A book about books with that story! Amazing! The writing is amazing too!
Savannah is an editor who wants to become a writer too. She leaves her manuscript in the ARC room and finds it with notes. At first she wasn't happy about the comments, but soon she realizes she needs the help of her mystery editor. I liked how she started having feelings for her mystery editor and slowly falling in love with him. The way they "talked" through the notes was romantic. Savannah is a great character and I like the way she actually got her dream. Also, the way she was falling in love with Will I was too. He is charming and mysterious.
I really loved each character and the whole plot.

I would definietly recommend this book. I enjoyed every second of it.

Thank you again NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?