Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I think was a really cute and easy read. I enjoy a romantic book without all the smut.

This was a fun book. I liked Savannah and I really felt for her. There were times I was frustrated with her and wanted so badly for her to stand up for herself. She is a great person and needed her eyes opened to the greatness she could have and deserved. This was a slow burn and at times it was a little too slow for me, but it was still really sweet. I loved the editor/author angle. I thought it was creative and fun. Will was a great guy too, but I wish we'd gotten a little more from his POV. They were really sweet together and I enjoyed their story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I flew through this one and really enjoyed it. Savannah is a lovable character and watching both her writing career & her own real life romance unfold was a treat.

I also thought it was extremely interesting to go inside the publishing world. And, Melissa referencing bookstagrammers and the role they play was a huge bonus ☺️. The idea of a book nook is so dreamy & was so fun to picture.

I think this is one of the first books I’ve read with the workplace romance trope & I really enjoyed it. It gave me similar vibes as “the Flatshare” but I enjoyed it way more.

I know it’s intentional for the storyline but it’s clearly evident who is joining her in her secret nook and leaving notes in the margins.. OPEN YOUR EYES, WOMAN! Also, her sister dating her ex is the most cringey thing & I wasn’t a fan of that storyline or her pretentious sister. I wish we had a little more steam & romance, but it was still a cute, enjoyable read.

Thanks to @netgalley and @thomasnelson for an ARC of this book.

I finished it yesterday, and everyone should be running out to get it today. It’s a super cute, quick, cozy read. Honestly, it felt like a really wholesome and sweet romance. There is no steam to it at all, just love !

Short synopsis: Savannah works in publishing, with dreams of writing her own book. She leaves her manuscript in what she believes is a hidden room in her office, to come back and find it edited. Her and her mystery editor begin sending notes back and forth. While all of this is happening, her office gets a new boss - the owners son. Savannah is trying to figure him out, while also dealing with her strict sister, who is about to get married (to Savannah’s ex). Whew. So much happening.

While I thought it was a good read and would recommend it, I had two complaints. One, we don’t really see much of Will’s side. We have no idea how he develops feelings. We hear Savannah tell us that her editor is sharing all these personal facts and stories, and that’s how she is getting to know him. But we don’t see any of them ourselves, so we never really get to know Will that well.

My other complaint - and this may just be me, with my family therapist background - is Savannah’s family. They all kind of treat her crappy. While her sister apologizes and tries to make up for it at the end, her parents never do. It seems like she’s treated as second to her sister, and there’s no happy ending in that area. But again, I may just be expecting too much!

If you love cute romances, and if you love book themed books 😍, definitely check this one out!

Any book that revolves around books is usually an automatic love for me, and Meet Me In The Margins was no different.

"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."

Savannah is an assistant editor at Pennington and is also working on her romance novel, a genre which is not appreciated or published by Pennington. She stays with her sis Olivia and her fiance who is also Savannah's ex-boyfriend, really. I don't like either of them.

"Abibliophobia: noun. The fear of running out of books"

One stressful day she leaves her manuscript behind in the secret room she discovered at the publishing house only to find it next day with critical comments. She turns defensive however change of events makes her realise that this is what she needs to make her manuscript a success.

This is where we get a sweet, cute and funny romance story with touch of uniqueness with our favourite element books being included. I liked how the conversations took place in this story about everything.

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

This is a fast paced and quick to read book that is predictable but it doesn't stop it from being a delightful read. I wished to know more about Will and his life. That being said, this charming story with its clean romance is a great read. Recommending it!

I have loved everything that I have read by Melissa Ferguson so it was a no brainer to get this book. A relatively new author but her writing keeps you entertained and reading.

Even though this is a witty (there were times I just burst out laughing) book there were a few deep moments and a few lessons to be learned. The characters are wonderful, the ones made to be loved as the ones that you love to hate (there were a couple of those). The characters were definitely intriguing and a few kept me on my toes as I tried to figure them out. No spoilers.

I loved the tone and flow of this book. The delightful dialogue and description made this book alive. I could actually see it all playing out in my head as I read and that A+ in any book for me.

The natural chemistry of the main couple was just the perfect touch. I loved their in person as well as "pen" interactions. Truly a delight to read.

Savannah loves her job as an editor, but has long cherished hopes of becoming an author. In fact, she's even written a romance. Unfortunately, she's too good at second-guessing herself to ever try submitting it. When a chat with an editor from highly successful romance publisher leads to an offer to read her book, she's both thrilled and terrified. Taking her book to work to do the final edits may not have been her best idea, though, since her employer considers romance writers approximately on a par with the devil. After almost being exposed, she hides the manuscript in a secret nook she loves - only to find when she returns for it that some unknown person has scribbled highly critical notes in her margins. But when the editor seems less than thrilled with her book and her comments match those in the margins, she begs the help of her unknown critic to improve. And so begins a strange friendship through a give and take of notes in the margins. But surely one can't really fall in love with an unknown critic...?

This book was hilarious. And amazing. And ridiculously hard to put down. In fact, I'm struggling to describe how much I enjoyed it without sounding over the top. Nor can I put into words what exactly it was that made this such a great book. Maybe it was the quirky side characters who gave the book 'character'? Maybe the shared notes in the margins? Maybe the humour sprinkled so liberally through, that still was never overdone? Maybe the totally satisfying ending, which so neatly tidied up the previously expertly confused ends? Perhaps the inspiration to just give it a go? Or perhaps the main characters themselves, in their somewhat mixed in-person relationship? Well, whatever it was, this is definitely a book that is well worth reading, though it's worth setting some time aside because you won't want to put it down! All in all, an amazing story and I'm eager to see what the author comes up with next - because each book seems even better than the last!

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

Cute, easy romance. Quick read with likeable characters. I liked that this book gave a glimpse into the publishing world.

Book editor by day and aspiring author at night, Savannah Cole is trying to get her own contemporary romance novel published by a different firm since hers would never publish a book like that. The fun begins as Savannah brings her forbidden manuscript to work, only to trip and have pages of it flying everywhere! Could it be any worse than it happening right in front of her new and imposing boss, William Pennington? The comical situations Savannah finds herself in and her developing attachment to the mysterious Will made this such an enjoyable read.

I liked that the story had more to it than just a romantic plot. Will was vulnerable and truthful, sharing his past with Savannah and she in turn felt the freedom to do the same. Savannah grows in her confidence and knowing who she is in spite of her family’s expectations and her misperception of thinking she must be perfect.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. The funny comments left in the margins of Savannah's manuscript were fabulous. Sometimes you can say things on paper that you can't say in person. This is a delightful, funny and clean read and gets a five star rating from me. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Ferguson’s books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. 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. Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Melissa Ferguson.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by the plot and while I found it enjoyable, I wasn’t completely satisfied.
Savannah Cade is a low-level editor at the prestigious Pennington Publishing. She’s also secretly writing a romance book. One day, she leaves the manuscript in a room no one knows about. Except when she goes to retrieve it, she realises someone has written notes on the margins. Turns out, she could really use the help of an editor. The more she works with the mysterious editor, the more she longs to discover his identity.
The premise is intriguing, and the story is enjoyable, the romance is cute. While this isn’t a life changing read, it’s sweet, it makes you care for the characters and root for the couple. I also liked the style, something that not everyone enjoyed.
Savannah is a relatable protagonist; Will is a charming love interest, one of those guys that look tough on the outside, but sweet and passionate on the inside.
Ironically, I think a little more editing would have benefited an already enjoyable book. There were aspects of the story that didn’t fully convinced me. For someone that reads a lot or romance and claims to know the genre well (and also happens to be an editor), Savannah made a lot of rookie mistakes in the manuscript she wrote. Also, she seems to be so smart and witty, yet she has a hard time figuring out who the mystery editor is. I understand the plot demanded a little suspense, but it felt a little dumb.
I also hated her family with burning rage, from her overachiever sister to her shallow parents. All that talk about family, being united, bonding and they never seem to truly understand her, or root for her or simply be there for her. I found the whole subplot about her ex marrying her sister cringy, honestly, especially considering said talk about family.
Overall, I still enjoyed the romance and I ended up reading this book in two days.
I think you’ll like this book if you’re looking for a sweet romance with a little drama and a charming male love interest.

Meet Me in the Margins is a delightful story about an editor in a small publishing house who dreams of becoming an author of romance novels. The thing is, the publishing house she works for doesn't care for romance novels or commercial fiction of any sort. Savannah Cade has to keep her manuscript a secret. She ends up stashing the manuscript in a secret room, only to find out the next day that someone has scribbled on the margins.

I loved this.

Savannah grew on me quickly as a main character, and I was rooting for her all the way, right from the start. The love interest was pretty decent too. But make no mistake, this is Savannah's story, and the character growth for me was phenomenal. The margin notes were definitely where the book really delivered on.

The only weak point for me in this book was the main character's family, who don't seem to contribute much to her life or the story itself. But it's a negligible point.

Read this story for the glimpse of life in a publishing house. Read this for love of writing.

I give this 4.5 stars.

Thank you for the e-arc, Netgalley, and Thomas Nelson -- FICTION!

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

As I've noted before, I love a good bookish book and this one proved to be a winner. When you open the cover of a book of this genre, you know what you are in for … mostly. I get annoyed when people complain about such books being cliched and predictable but sometimes that’s what a reader is looking for. Such books provide comfort, much like a warm hug.

Meet Me in the Margins has all the classic romcom features - quirky characters, missed opportunities, mixed messages, solid side characters, all the bookish business I love and the prerequisite happy ending. It’s also really sweet - no swearing and no funny business except a couple of kisses. Nice. It is full of charm and wit and some classic dialogue between the two leads. It’s simple, it’s straightforward and it’s delightful.

‘All this time I thought I had something. An idea. A spark. All this time, I thought, I may just be able to do this! I may just have a writer’s soul after all! But what am I, really? Just a girl, sitting in a coffee shop, who’s completely deluded herself.’

What lifted this book to the next level for me were two things. One, Will makes for a great leading man, I only wish more time had been dedicated to him and his backstory. Two, Savannah with her honesty about writing and love of all things literary:

‘A total stranger had given me solace through the power of words, helped me escape the troubles of my world if just for enough time to get a much-needed breath ... Try new adventures. Dare. The written word became my passion. And from that moment on all I knew was what an incredible honor it would be to bring that adventure, that life, that joy, that hope, that world to somebody else.’

The release of this book could not be more perfect with Valentine’s Day. For lovers of this genre you will so enjoy the journey of Savannah as she works on her own manuscript. There are some great secondary characters and subplots that are fun and the workplace romance is sure to bring a smile to your dial ;)

‘I long to meet this man. He’s become a part of my thoughts every waking (and sometimes sleeping) hour of the day. He is brilliant. Witty. Blunt, yes, but in a way I’ve come to respect. And more than anything, someone I’ve come to wish was my companion everywhere.’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Savannah Cade is an assistant editor at a publishing house who takes pride in producing prestigious non-fictions. Pennington Press might have high standards but with decreasing profitability, budget cuts happen and a new (no-nonsense) boss comes in in an effort to save the company.

As much as Sav likes editing books about gardening, her real passion is to write romance novels. With the deadline to submit her manuscript fast-approaching, Sav has no choice but to edit her secret manuscript at work, specifically in the dusty SECRET book nook that she accidentally found in the building attic. After leaving her manuscript behind one afternoon, she comes back to find that not only someone has discovered her secret hiding place, they even read and written edits in the margins of her secret book manuscript! Although she hates this unwelcomed criticism, she has to admit that she needs the help of this mystery, clever editor after all. As their notes get more personal and Sav starts to fall for this mysterious man, she couldnt help but wonder who exactly is her shadowy editor?

* * *
Savannah Cade is the definition of a relatable MC. There’s nothing special about her - she's okay at her job, she has dreams and fears, she’s a bit of a doormat when it comes to family and she has a best friend she'd sell her organs for. Totally relatable and that makes her character likeable to me. I especially love the insights to the publishing world - from book writing, sending manuscripts to publishers, having difficult conversations and taking criticism on your work, and finally having your book published and promoting it- the process fits nicely in the story.

This book kept me hooked and while the ending is predictable, it didn't take the enjoyment and warm fuzzy feeling away from me. You'd enjoy this if you love Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella and The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

3 stars

Happy Pub Day to Meet Me in the Margins!

I really loved the idea of a book editor heroine attempting to write her own romance novel and communicating with a mysterious editors via the margins of her manuscript. It's a great take on the secret pen pals trope made popular in "The Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail" that I haven't seen before.

There were definitely big moments in this book that I really liked (the scene where they have to go to a courthouse on Valentine's Day is particularly fun), but I just left the book wanting more in the end. While I normally prefer my romances a little more on the steamier side, I can get down with a good, clean romance if we really get that connection between the couple. I didn't feel that here with Will and Savannah; even with the back and forth notes, I just felt like they didn't spend enough time building a relationship that I ended up believing in. That, combined with characters that occasionally fell flat and important moments that were told and not shown, made me wish that this book about editors had maybe gone through more edits itself.

Even though this wasn't a slam dunk for me, I can definitely see how a different audience might absolutely fall in love with this. I would definitely recommend fans of Debbie Macomber or avid watchers of the Hallmark Channel to pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Meet Me in the Margins is a lovely read. I find the storyline unique and interesting. It’s my first time to read a romance novel about “writing a romance novel.” It was a great reading experience in a sense that I got a glimpse of how book publishing works topped with sweet characters and a charming story.

I adored the characters in this book—Savannah and Will. I liked how subtle their relationship was portrayed, I actually found myself anticipating for their interactions which were always kilig. However, as I finish the book, I realized I didn’t get how Will developed his affection—it almost felt instant. I think I was just hoping for a deeper reason why he did what he did.

Overall, I think this book is worth reading! It is lighthearted, wholesome and sweet. I’d recommend it to everyone!

As far as romances go, this was definitely a cute and charming story that was definitely enjoyable. However, I found myself wanting to just skip ahead at some points and then being disappointed that the story wasn’t pushed further. I did find myself rooting for Will and Savannah, but they remain on a very PG level and it kept the book more cutesy than anything else.

Enjoyable, but just not my cup of tea. I would recommend this if you are looking for a light hearted quick read.


Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Looking for a cute romance set in the behind the scenes of the publishing world?
This may be one to check out.
I enjoyed the perspective of a writer and the secret hideaway with a touch of secret identity in this story.
I had a hard time really getting into it at first. It is First person POV and reads more like chick lit then Rom-com in my opinion. I rarely really laugh from books and I didn't find the humor in this one as much of the focus as her other books have been.
Once the hero got more interaction time I started to get more interested.
I really enjoyed the hero, and really wished we had less of the heroine's inner thoughts and more of him.
In all it's a cute contemporary. And a pretty easy read.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

This book grabbed my attention with its setting in the publishing world, when the subject is bookish I am all in.

Meet Me in the Margins is a light romance told from Savannah's POV. It was fun at times with juvenile behaviour, a few laughs and even a little mystery (who is this mystery person). The inner works of the field was interesting with its while range of characters.

This is my first time reading a Melissa Ferguson book, she incorporated some fun things, a hidden room (though why is an arc room hidden? shouldn't it be in use to get those books into readers hands?), a mysterious new boss and a weird family. While it didn't have the depth that I love it was a nice fit between some heavy WW2 stories. The ending was somewhat predictable but I was left with a few questions still.

All in all a quick read with a few laughs.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson is a standalone contemporary romance novel.

Savannah Cade is an editor at a prestigious publishing house and is secretly writing a romance novel. The reason for all this secrecy is that her workplace frowns upon fiction novels, especially the genre that she is pursuing.

Savannah is trying to get her novel published, unfortunately, she needs to make quite a few changes before it could even be considered for publishing. Fortunately, there is an anonymous editor who has previously wrote some critique in the margins of her manuscript.

For fans of You’ve Got Mail, this has a similar feel. I highly recommend this book for those who love romantic comedy.