Love Lettering: A Witty and Heartfelt Love Story

Kate Clayborn

Dec 2019 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

“The perfect quarantine read. It’s funny, sweet, and beautifully written. The romance is so perfect it made me ache."
—Alisha Rai, Bustle
 
Kirkus Best Fiction Book of 2020
PopSugar Crazy Popular Books of 2020
Amazon Best Romance of the Month 
Top Ten Best Romances of 2019—Entertainment Weekly
Kobo Best Romance of the Year
Bustle 17 Best New Books Of December 2019
SheReads’ Most Anticipated Books of 2020
HelloGiggles 8 Best New Books To Read In December

One of the most beloved romantic comedies of 2020, Love Lettering is a heart-melting and touching story that fans of Tessa Bailey, Jen DeLuca, and Emily Henry cannot miss.

In this warm and witty romance from acclaimed author Kate Clayborn, one little word puts a woman’s business—and her heart—in jeopardy . . .
 
Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing custom journals for her New York City clientele. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Knowing the upcoming marriage of Reid Sutherland and his polished fiancée was doomed to fail is one thing, but weaving a secret word of warning into their wedding program is another. Meg may have thought no one would spot it, but she hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid.
 
A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other, both try to ignore a deepening connection between them. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late . . .  

Praise for Love Lettering

"I can't wait for the whole world to fall in love with Love Lettering!" 
—Jasmine Guillory
 
“Delicious and beautiful and perfect.”
—New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean
 
“This book will wake you up in the middle of the night aching for these perfectly imperfect characters.”
—Sonali Dev, author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors
 

Ratings and reviews

3.5 Stars, Rounded Utterly engaging after the first few pages, the story focuses on seeing signs: some literal, some figurative, and how you process this often hidden information for clues about what steps to take next. Using typography and lettering design, Meg has created a business from crafting hand-lettered journals. She believes that letters and their design have a voice that speaks to her – giving her clues about next steps, pitfalls, you name it. Rather like her own version of a fortune teller, she uses her skills for positive outcomes. And it isn’t until she is caught out after seeing a hand-lettered invitation to Reid’s wedding, and altering it with one secret word to banish the bad to come. But, Reid is a pattern guy – and relies on patterns, negative and positive space and numbers to process the world around him. He spotted Meg’s addition, it threw off the pattern, and he wants to see why she choose to do it, and if the patterns in the invitation meant that his marriage was doomed. Never before confronted with her belief, or her ability, the two find a way to explain their similarities and differences in how they process information, particularly in terms of interactions, and their relationship moves on from there. Far more a story of typography and the little artistic touches to signs and printed materials that speak to those who ‘see’ them in a language that few spend time thinking of, the story is gently pulling Reid and Meg together and explaining their perspectives and what sort of clues they take from them. No stranger than studying body language or facial expressions, Clayborn has allowed readers to think of lettering and signage as a breathing entity, used to create a mood or an impulse – much as Meg sees things around her. With a few twists that felt rather ‘overstated’ until the story’s end and some time to ‘absorb’ the impact, the writing kept me engaged, the premise kept me thinking and the characters of Reid and Meg allowed it all to feel natural and organic, leaving me with a smile. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

4.5 stars Love Lettering was such a wonderful surprise. I was already intrigued after reading the chapter preview and now, after finishing the book, I can safely say that I am in love with Kate Clayborn's writing style and sense of humor. The book was heartfelt and emotional at times, but also uplifting and hilarious. There were even a few plot twists that I didn't see coming. Meg was such a relatable heroine. I loved her inner monologue and many of the thoughts racing through her mind had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the gradual build up between her and Reid. Their connection felt organic, as they came to understand and appreciate the other. All of the lingering glances, the subtle (and not quite so subtle) gestures, and barely there touching, had me swooning. I'm a sucker for the Masterpiece Theatre style intimacy and tenderness that Meg so often references in regards to Reid's manners. I would have loved if the big reveal at the end and it's resolution would have been hashed out more face to face, but I understand the reasoning and significance of it being presented and resolved the way it was. The slow burn/opposites attract romance between her and Reid was wonderful, but what I loved most was Meg's journey and how she really came into her own through the course of the novel. I appreciated the focus on friendships and how they can fracture and break down, but also grow and evolve. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the discussion that Meg has with Lachelle about learning how to figuratively fight. "... sometimes fighting isn't about leaving, it's about staying. It takes practice to get it right, and it's painful, but if you want to stay with people, you do it." Love Lettering was a witty and beautiful novel that I truly wanted to savor. The epilogue left me just the right amount of warm and fuzzy and I can't wait to read more books by Kate Clayborn. Note: If you're not a fan of hand lettering or fonts, it's possible that the descriptions and level of detail that the book goes into about how Meg sees the world and all of its signs, will be a bit overwhelming. It's clear that the author took a lot of time researching the topic and my font/lettering loving heart couldn't get enough! *I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Meg is a talented calligrapher who is in high demand. Her beautiful work is admired by many and Meg's penchant is walking though the streets of New York looking at old signs, admiring the letters and taking every detail in. She also has a hidden talent of putting messages, that are unseen by most coded into her lovely work. She no longer does wedding work. A decision she made when she became too busy and her goal now is to get a contract with a large company that would put her work out to the masses. She works part time for her friend at her bookstore that also has classes in calligraphy, she is long time friends with the owner Cecilia and we also meet another friend who frequents there, Sibby. Sibby is quite the character. This amazing story opens when Meg is working for Cecelia while she's away, and close to closing time someone she recognizes from the past walks in, his greeting formal, he's stiff and standoffish. That's Reid. The groom to be from one of the last wedding gigs that Meg did. Meg worked a lot with the bride to give her the perfect theme for her wedding but Reid was never involved until the final meet where he showed up late and his reserved reticent self. Meg had hidden a message in their wedding program. Invisible to everyone but her. So she thought. Reid standing in the middle of the store asks Meg how she knew? Meg decides to play innocent, trying to draw Reid out and more direct. Yet he remains silent waiting for her response. Finally after this little stand off, he asks her how she knew that their marriage, that never happened by the way, was a MISTAKE, the word she'd hidden among the art and lettering of that wedding program. Reid is a numbers man, all he knows is math, it's his world. He's highly intelligent, rigid and very closed off. His character draws you in and makes you want to know him better as much as Meg's character. Reid standing there with that wedding program in his hand, Meg is at a loss for words. She protests of course, but he leaves her with that and unknowingly his card which she later finds. Meg wants to draw him out, she contacts him and challenges him to a little game she's devised to look for signs, old hand lettered signs that Meg loves so much. You're unsure of these two and how they're going to work as Reid does agree to meet her for a walk. He doesn't engage much, she compares him to a stiff British TV show in her mind. He's courteous, quiet and a man of few words. Meg is fascinated with him, her inner dialogue is stellar her thoughts about Reid along with trying to decipher him while she also describes her craft in lovely detail. Reid begins to soften toward her, begins to enjoy the games they play and as they slowly get to know each other he's also made clear he's not staying in NYC, his distain for the city is clear. Meg is trying to change his point of view by using these games they play. Reid works in the Wall Street area, cold and unsettling to him. Meg lives and works in Brooklyn, worlds apart yet the same city. Meg knows every street, sign and takes walks, she's got a built in GPS for where she's going. Places of comfort, always watching and observing. Running concurrently with Reid, she gets a new client who is famous and after much ado she meets with her. The two hit it off well, Lark is new to the city coming from California with her famous director boyfriend who is an obnoxious ass. Lark has a vision of what she wants and working with Meg the two develop a friendship. Lark adds much to this wonderful story as things unfold. We watch as Meg interacts with Sibby who is total comic relief, Cecilia and then Lark as things continue to unfold with Reid. Meg's told them of Reid, but not the history nor the fact of what she's done. Reid has his own secret as well, which we see explode toward the end of the book. This separates the two and Meg is in the pit of despair. Her world has imploded as well. I have to say I seldom highlight, but there was a line from Reid that says it all about himself and Meg "Letters, numbers. The perfect code.

About the author

Kate Clayborn is the critically acclaimed author of contemporary romance novels. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Bookpage, and more. By day she works in education, and by night (and sometimes, by very early morning) she writes contemporary romances about smart, strong, modern heroines who face the world alongside true friends and complicated families. She resides in Virginia with her husband and their dog. She can be found online at KateClayborn.com.