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.

As a Nashvillian, I really enjoyed the overall plot of this story. Savannah, works for a small publishing house in Nashville. She has been through a rough patch, but now things are starting to turn around. The story provided fun visits to places I see every day, which made it personal to me.

Even, with these sentimental aspects the beginning of the book seemed to lag in the begging. After, I read about a third of the book it started to pick up. The dynamics improved and the characters started gaining more depth.

All in all, it was a cute read with main character who is relatable to readers.

I Received a reader's advance review copy of #MeetMeintheMargins from Net Galley. All views are my own.

Meet Me In the Margins by Melissa Ferguson is fun to read. From the opening embarrassing encounter between Savanna and William to the closing scene, it is hard to stop turning pages. The insider’s view of unsolicited fiction manuscripts and the interactions between editors and authors was enlightening to see unfolding.This is an entertaining story.

What an endearing love story. It was just the palate cleanser I needed. The story is lovely and relatable on many levels.

First and foremost, I loved Savannah, honestly I did. I love a woman in a strong business role. And I loved the idea of this book, it reminded me of the movie where they communicate by writing letters to each other and leaving it in the mailbox. But I expected it to develop more, I thought the romance aspect would be a little more than it was. I feel it fell flat on that, and it didn’t leave much mystery. You have to be kind of dumb to not know who the secret editor is. I just wish the author focused more on the developing relationship.

This sounded really cute. The title is adorable, the concept is fun, and who doesn't love a book set in the publishing industry? I just wish I had liked Meet Me in the Margins as much as I hoped.

Savannah's first person narration jumped and rambled around a lot to the point I sometimes got confused. It was obvious who her mystery editor was. Since there is no suspense I wish this could have been a dual POV as I think it would have helped liven it up. Savannah's sister was just over-the-top horrible, her former boyfriend was a tool, and her family sounded pretty bad too. The fact that Savannah didn't even acknowledge this and thought it was a good idea to live with the evil sister made me question her judgement and her ability to stand up for herself. Also, I was missing chemistry between Savvy and the love interest.

Sad that I didn't like this more.

A perfectly adorable, sweet office love story between Savannah, an aspiring romance writer and the mystery man who is helping edit her manuscript in secret. I really enjoyed this book set in a small Nashville publishing house. The secondary cast of characters are really strong, there's humor and heart and you can't help cheering for these characters to finally figure things out! Recommended for fans of Sarah Adams, Kerry Winfrey and Sarah Hogle. My only critique was that the story was light on steam (kissing only) and only told from Savannah's perspective. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. This is a must-read for bookish romance lovers!

Overall, the book is cute but I couldn't get into it. I liked that it seemed different than other books. I love a book where the characters are book lovers and the idea behind it is cute, but the writing style didn't hook me as a reader. It just didn't feel believable. I couldn't connect with the characters and it was very predictable. It is an easy read and overall enjoyable.

It took me a minute to get into the cadence of this utterly charming story, and once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed Meet Me in the Margins, the latest engaging, page-turning romantic comedy by author Melissa Ferguson. I love how Savannah Cade works as an editor for a prestigious publishing company, yet is secretly writing her own romance novel. She hides her novel in secret room at work, only to find an anonymous editor is giving her tips in the margins. This sweet story has a number of possible editors, and I loved how it kept me guessing until the very end. I could not put this story down, I totally enjoyed the unique storyline, I read it in one day, and completely loved how it all wrapped up.

I highly recommend Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson for lovers of books and romantic comedies. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

very cute and easy to read, just a fun and flirty rom-com in the best ways possible. i would have liked a little more development for the actual romance side of things, but it was still enjoyable and i will recommend it to readers who liked the hating game and just haven't met you yet.