Meet Me In the Margins was a cute office romance with too little of the romance in my opinion. There was a lot of build up in the book but we basically don’t really get to see them together at all. I loved the way the characters built such a cute relationship through the edits on Savannah’s book but I wanted to see more in-person tension. I thought the concept of a meet-cute through brutal edits of a manuscript was very intriguing and well put together, I just wish the actual interactions lived up to it. For me, this was a 3.5/5.

If you are a writer, an editor, or just a book lover, this is the one for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley however opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fun and gentle romance book with a payoff ending. If you want a sneak peek into the publishing world this is a fun one. This was cute, I will probably reread it when I am more in the mood for romance. When one has a lot of drama going on in ones life it makes it hard to read a romance, so it was just not the right book at the right time for me ,however, I will revisit it in a time when things calm down for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my advanced e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Adorable!!! Can't wait to read more from this author.

Savannah is an editor employed by a snooty publishing house that would rather publish never-to-be-read treatises on mycology than genre fiction, but she is secretly penning a romance novel. All well and good, until the son of her company’s president is brought on to turn the company around and things begin to get complicated.

The reason I picked this book up was because I am a sucker for the Falling In Love Via Anonymous Notes trope, and I was not disappointed in that respect. Nor was I disappointed by Ferguson’s cast of characters who fill in Savannah’s life, from her aspiring country star best friend to her astonishingly put-together (fiance stealing) younger sister, everyone in the book is allowed a measure of depth which makes them interesting as characters except for the Penningtons (the president of the publish company and her son, Will). They are actually pretty flat characters who don’t turn out to have much in the way of hidden depths as the book develops, disappointingly, since they serve as villains and romantic interests. Oh, and Savannah’s parents are the worst, and also two dimensional.

Despite some important characters being fairly unremarkable, Meet Me in the Margins is a good romcom for people who enjoy romcoms, and I definitely enjoyed reading it. That said, less than a month later I am genuinely struggling to recall details like, say, the male lead’s name. So I very much recommend the book, but I wouldn’t bother buying it without reading it first. Perfect for any public library collection, though.

Very cute and quick read. This book is a really sweet, slow-burn love story. Lovely characters and sweet romance. A very relaxing read!

"Even if the road ahead is harsh and the journey long, I will keep on."

Here's another quote I loved from the book:

"You deserve the same kind of happiness you wish to bestow on them."

Man, I was crying at the end of this book. Will Pennington, I need you in my life. Savannah Cade is an assistant acquisitions editor at Pennington Publishing, and as great as that job goes, Savannah's real dream is to be a romance author (AHH SAME LOL). Savannah knows a secret room in their publishing house where she gets her secret writing done. No one knows she's been writing a romance novel, and she wants it to stay that way until she finds a publishing house to take on her novel. But what happens one day when she leaves her manuscript behind in that secret room? She comes back and finds edits. And comments. And brutal opinions. IN THE MARGINS. Of her manuscript. Who is this person editing her work, and why are they also one of the most intriguing people Savannah has ever met? Savannah's got a lot going on in her life, and she realizes she's able to talk to this secret editor through her manuscript, as they switch back and forth without revealing their identities. Not only has her editor been helping her improve her romance novel, but they've also been the same person to tell Savannah that she doesn't deserve the unloyalty that she's been getting from her family. With her picture-perfect sister marrying the boy that Savannah used to date long-term, we can already know the awkwardness and chaos that goes on with that. While all of this is going on, Savannah also finds herself catching feelings for Ms. Pennington's son, Will. Their car rides, playing darts, and constant teasing are what Savannah enjoys. But how can she be catching feelings for Will when she's also falling in love with her secret editor? Hmmmm.....GO READ THIS BOOK. Also, we love Lyla, the iconic best friend😍 That girl is loyal, yet not afraid to speak what's on her mind. We love that😂 okay I'm done. Go read this book.

Savannah is a junior editor at a highbrow publishing house who is secretly writing a romance novel (extremely frowned upon by the snobby owner of the publishing house). When Savannah leaves her manuscript in a hideaway nook, she returns to find that someone has made blunt editing suggestions in the margins - and she starts falling in love with her penpal. This is a fun happy ending rom com, even though it was pretty obvious to me from the beginning who the editor was (though Savannah took a while to figure it out), and I liked the inside peek into the publishing world.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice bit of escapism and the romance was very sweet. The characters were interesting and well developed. I liked the tension and anticipation that was built throughout the novel.

What an absolutely adorable read! Savannah and William's life is full of complications, expectations, and reality checks. Savannah wants nothing more than to become an accomplished romance author, she wants her story out there for the masses. She wants to show women everywhere they are treasured for who they are faults and all. William on the other hand is trying to save his mother's business. As a former editor to a posh New York company, he's returned home to help breathe life back into Pennington Publishing. Trying to right the wrongs, keep the business and its employees together. This isn't stressful enough for these two, enter Fergus - Savannah's ex and future brother-in-law, a mystery editor, a budding friendship, and that god-awful thing known as misunderstandings and you have yourself a truly enchanting story. I loved this meet-cute, from the very beginning. From the moment William meets Savannah, I am rooting for them, and as their budding relationship grows into something, you are blessed with their growth, as individuals, and as a pair. Really loved it, and know you will too.

Thank you @NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read the advanced copy!

#MeetMeInTheMargins #NetGalley

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I requested to read Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson as it was one of my most anticipated books of 2022. The description of this book immediately appealed to me both as a book lover and as someone who is interested in writing. We follow Savannah Cade who works as an editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher specializing in mostly intellectual non fiction books.. She has very little money, still reeling from a very awkward break up (her ex made me cringe!), and longs to publish her first romance novel.

Meet Me in the Margins is a fun, gentle and romantic book. Its both an interesting look at the publishing world and a cute office romance. It was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this book. As someone who works in the book selling industry and who also wants to be an author, this book hit home for me. I loved the charisma between the two leads as well as Savannah’s perseverance in following her dreams. I sat down and read this in one day, something I haven’t done in awhile with romances. I loved it. Highly recommend.

Such a cute story of an aspiring romance writer working at a publishing house that absolutely condemns the pariah of all genres: romance. Definitely recommend if you need an escape from reality.

This was a new author read for me. I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed it. It had a sweet “You’ve Got Mail” vibe with a literary twist. The characters were very likable and the romance sweet. I loved the chemistry between Savannah and Will. I’ll definitely be checking out more books from this author!

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

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

Savannah Cade works as a low level editor at Pennington Publishing, a small publishing house in Nashville known for its (boring) nonfiction. She also has a little secret. Savannah has been writing her own romance novel. A genre the house frowns upon.

Exploring the house, Savannah finds a little room hidden in the ARC room. She leaves her manuscript in this room after a busy day, and when she gets back the next day, she finds the manuscript with notes in the margins critiquing her work. She gets angry, but then takes this mysterious editor’s thoughts into consideration and they slowly improve the manuscript.

As time goes on, she wants to find out who this mysterious editor is, And all she knows is that it's a man!

This book was so fun and adorable. I loved Savannah and Will and how they began talking through the margins of the manuscript. I usually don’t like reading slow-burns, but this one was so good. The story kept progressing , and it was easy to continue with the story. Keeping me entertained. Overall, I loved the workplace romance and the quirky characters. I recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxing and cute book to read!

This was a sweet, clean romance novel that was very enjoyable. I really liked the main character, Savannah. If you’re looking for a fun, clean romance then I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was such a cute book! I absolutely love reading books about books and this one was really great. I loved the publishing house setting and that the main characters were working on a manuscript throughout the book. I wish there would have been a little more romance bits to build up their connection but overall I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved this romance so much. It was bookish and cute and clean and just really wonderful! Our library purchased this one as well as this authors full back list of published works so I am excited to read more from her!

Meet Me In the Margins is a FUN romcom with a good balance of emotional depth — you might even say it is a blend of comedy and women’s fiction. I appreciate the humor Melissa Ferguson always brings to her stories with her unique voice. Her heroines are always relatable and her stories bring out the comedy and sentiments of everyday life.

Some hilarious situations with a Valentine’s Day trip to the courthouse, quirky authors, and a witty dart game are a few things that made me laugh in this story. As Savannah edits her own novel, tongue-in-cheek moments about writing and romance add fun to the story. Through all of the lighthearted moments, though, is an underlying story and growing experience for Savannah herself, enlightening her of insecurities and her own worth. I have to admit, I did NOT like her family for a good portion of the novel. But through some key friendships, and especially with the compassion and encouragement of the hero, Savannah comes into her own in her family and career roles.

While some have compared elements of this novel to the classic “You’ve Got Mail”, I think the note-exchanging elements are presented in their own way (not like the movie at all), and the subsequent friendship that blooms “in the margins” as a result is something I was rooting for! Plus, there’s a strong representation of the publishing industry as a backdrop to the story, which will appeal to book and story lovers alike.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

What I Enoyed:

The Premise. On paper (pun intended), Meet Me in the Margins is a book lovers’ dream for a romance premise. Savannah is an editor giving us an insider’s look into the publishing industry and a writer who has written a promising romance novel. An anonymous colleague begins giving Savannah editing tips to her manuscript in a secret room that only they know about. In those edits, love blossoms. The premise and the cute notes we are privy to are what kept my attention throughout. Is there anything cuter than romance in the pages?

William Pennington. I love tall dark and brooding with a hint of humor and sharp wit and good judge of character. William Pennington is the ideal for these types of romances. He sees through the BS, he is always there for our protagonist, and he is not what she expected.

The Book Nook. I would be remiss to not bring up the fact that there is an ARC room that leads to paradise… I mean, the Book Nook. Books, candles, comfy seats, great wall hangings – I wanted to find this room and never leave. Who wouldn’t fall in love here?

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Squeaky Clean Romance. This one is on me, folks. I didn’t get the memo that this is was part of the Christian lit publisher. There was nothing overtly religious about Meet Me in the Margins, but it was completely clean: No cursing, no sex (two kisses throughout), and Savannah doesn’t even like physical intimacy before meeting William. While I understand and appreciate that cursing and sex shouldn’t be needed, their absence was keen here, especially in the harsh world of publishing.

Savannah’s Family (and a rant on body dysmorphia). I have seen some awful literary families (hello Dursleys), but the Cades may take the cake on toxic “positivity.” These families are everything I hate: the New Years Day marathon runners, the 3 month blood donors, charity starters, and “no tears here” types. What kind of parents would make one daughter accept their younger sister stealing their boyfriend of eight years? What kind of family creates such neuroses in said daughters that a size four is “large” and if you haven’t started a successful non-profit before 30 you’ve failed in life? I can’t tell if I was more made that they are caricatures of an all-American capitalistic family, or the fact that I have met families exactly like this. The Cades ruined this book for me.

The Pace. Meet Me in the Margins frankly dragged a bit. I am not sure if it is because it is so clean, or the tension wasn’t built up well enough, or if Savannah’s voice just wasn’t strong enough to carry in the first person. But for a novel about the editing business, this book could have used some editing down.

I was offered an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are my own and are no way influenced by the publisher.

*Contains Spoilers*
I loved this book. The main character was relatable, funny, smart, she was everything. It is nice to see a main character that you can relate too. It makes it easier to fully immersive yourself into the story.

I enjoyed the love interest too. He was thoughtful and kind behind his at first intense exterior. His character development was enjoyable. I enjoyed watching him obviously fall in love with the main character, while she was trying to figure everything out.

I enjoyed all of the side characters too. Everyone felt like they had a place in developing the story. The story was well written and flowed really well. The climax of the novel was written well enough to make me question if I really knew what was going to happen next. The author did a great job of providing the breadcrumbs but then introducing the doubt.

I was looking for something light and fun to read. Something that would help lift my spirits and make me feel happy. This book was everything I was looking for. I looked forward to reading more from this author.