[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Meg has built a business around hand lettering. Stationery, signs, wedding programs, planner spreads. She does it all. And her business is really taking off (Instagram is a huge help!). But when she needs her business most, as her roommate tells her she’s moving out, Meg hits a creative wall.
At the same time, Reid Sutherland comes into her life. Well, back into her life. A year ago, Meg had worked with his fiancée on wedding materials. But Reid was the only one who discovered the “code” in Meg’s designs – a sign she had seen the doomed relationship for what it was long before he did.
After talking to Reid – a handsome but uptight, reserved guy – Meg gets the idea to scout the city for lettering inspiration. And she invites Reid along. Maybe their hunt will help her over her creative block and help Reid find some joy in a city he says he hates.
Review
This was unexpected! The lettering angle – serifs and type/font descriptions and pen preferences – was so unique! I’ve never read anything with a premise like this. And the writing is sharp and funny with GREAT metaphors. At times, the humor would sneak up on me in delightful ways. I kept reading Meg’s descriptions out loud to my husband because they were so clever!
In the early chapters, while the writing was sharp, the story unfolded slowly. That is something that can derail me pretty quickly. But as Meg and Reid started their New York lettering “games,” I was sucked into the story. And as their relationship grew and Meg started to grow and develop some backbone in her relationships, I was completely captivated. Her observations about people – and about herself – were fascinating. I couldn’t wait to see how things developed. The conflict at the end was unexpected (for me), and fit the story perfectly. I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out how it would all turn out.
I have read some delightful rom-coms this year – Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥), The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Passion on Park Avenue (♥♥♥♥½), Love on Lexington Avenue – and this is another delight to add to the list. Don’t miss this one! (Language, sex)