In Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson, Working in the world of literature has been Savannah Cade’s dream since 
she was very young. And as an editor, albeit a low-level one, she lives and breathes books on the daily. But as much as she loves her job at Pennington Publishing, their focus is on “real literature”, not commercially-driven works like romance, thrillers, and fantasy. The types of books that, if Sav is being honest, are her go-to on her own time. And that poses a problem. Because she’s been harboring her own secret for a few years now–she’s written a contemporary romance novel with hopes to get it published.
‘Being an editor at Pennington Pub is my job. And being a writer is my dream–my very personal dream.’
Trouble begins when Savannah foolishly brings her manuscript to work with her one day to tweak a few things. She leaves it in a secret room in the upper levels of the building, a place that has become her haven at work that apparently no one knows about. But it turns out someone *does* know about the nook. And that person has also begun editing her manuscript. Without her consent! Sav doesn’t need someone critiquing her work when she’s already doubting herself about it. But after really reading the messages in the margins, she can appreciate the advice. If only she knew who the mystery person was. As her family life and her career at Pennington all suffer some changes, Savannah hopes she’ll finally be able to meet the man who has helped her in more ways than he probably realizes.
‘Who, out there in the world, would think I was special enough to make the heroine in their story? Or am I to be only the protagonist of my own?’
Meet Me in the Margins was an ode to literature–romantic and otherwise–with a sweet heroine who will delight readers while on her journey to becoming her truest self and finding love along the way.
‘Dear Mystery Editor and Intruder into My-Most-Secret-Precious-Oasis-of-a-Room,
If you are reading this… Help.’
As much fun as I had reading this lighthearted book, it’s going to be tough to review. Given the premise that our heroine Savannah had a mystery editor who she slowly fell in love with as they reworked her manuscript separately, for obvious reasons I can’t say who it was. However, following along as she narrowed down who it *could* be was ridiculously fun. Melissa Ferguson left lots of clues as to the editor’s identity, but she also wove in threads of doubt so Sav couldn’t be entirely sure until the ending. And oh what an awkward but realistic and sigh-worthy ending it was.
Savannah hit all the right notes to be an adorkable heroine. She was quirky, intelligent, and cute; came from a dysfunctional family who didn’t see her true value unfortunately, which led to a little bit of self-esteem issues. And Sav had a warm, romantic heart. Something we readers can probably all appreciate. Her love for love was everything to her. So it was fitting that in her spare time she wrote fictional romance–something her boss at Pennington Publishing would abhor had she known. Through it all, I really enjoyed seeing Savannah work through her manuscript problems and watching as she grew as a writer and as a person. Where she ended up in life was exactly where I hoped she would. You can beat that.
QOTD: Would you have taken the advice of a mysterious editor if you were in Savannah’s place?
Book Info:
Publication: Expected publication: February 15th 2022 | by Thomas Nelson |
Savannah Cade is a low-level editor at Pennington Publishing, a prestigious publisher producing only the highest of highbrow titles. And while editing the latest edition of The Anthology of Medieval Didactic Poetry may be her day job, she has two secrets she’s hiding.
One: She’s writing a romance novel.
Two: She’s discovered the Book Nook—a secret room in the publishing house where she finds inspiration for her “lowbrow” hobby.
After leaving her manuscript behind one afternoon, she returns to the nook only to discover someone has written notes in the margins. Savannah’s first response to the criticism is defensive, but events transpire that force her to admit that she needs the help of this shadowy editor after all. As the notes take a turn for the romantic, and as Savannah’s madcap life gets more complicated than ever, she uses the process of elimination to identify her mysterious editor—only to discover that what she truly wants and what she should want just might not be the same. Melissa Ferguson’s latest—a love letter to books, readers, and romance—will leave fans laughing out loud and swooning in the same breath.
