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meganpbennett's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have very mixed feelings about Love Lettering. I really dislike Meg's character, and completely disagree with her decision to encode "MISTAKE" on Reid's wedding invitation. Who does that?! It's morally and ethically wrong, and I would never trust her to create anything for me. I know that the pattern is used within the story as a what alerts Reid to the fraud his boss's company is doing , but it completely put me off Meg as a character. I also found her to be whiny. I don't like stream of consciousness as a writing style, and that also detracted from the story. I'm not sure if it was the digital edition or not, but the type-faces within the story didn't work well with the digital edition. The idea was there, and it was oh so brilliant an idea, but the execution of the idea could have been better.
All of that being said, the story really got itself together and became a much better story about 70% of the way through, when Meg meets with the planner company and then learns about the above mentioned spoiler. I greatly enjoyed that plot twist, and thought that it was very well done and worked quite well with the story. While didn't love the story, I found that this greatly improved the storyline.
All of that being said, the story really got itself together and became a much better story about 70% of the way through, when Meg meets with the planner company and then learns about the above mentioned spoiler. I greatly enjoyed that plot twist, and thought that it was very well done and worked quite well with the story. While didn't love the story, I found that this greatly improved the storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Medical content
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
zogg's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, and Medical content
brokenlightdances's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility and Toxic relationship
btg's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Adorable and lighthearted, Clayborn's "Love Lettering" includes all the qualities of a good romance novel - a flawed but successful and lovable female lead, a male lead with an extremely attractive personality, and strong character focus. Clayborn's ultimate theme of the importance of communication is both inspiring and modern.
One thing I just want to emphasize is how solidly written the relationship and characters are, in a way that blatantly defies unhealthy stereotypes often written in romance novels. The male lead is not the typical male lead. Reid is quieter and socially awkward. While I'm not sure Clayborn meant to write him in such a way, he reads as though he is mildly on the spectrum, particularly in earlier chapters (and I love that, by the way). With Meg, Clayborn writes a character that feels painfully and beautifully real. It's very clear how her past shaped her into the person she starts the novel as, and her character development is both realistic and satisfying. Readers, especially from the Midwest, will immediately begin to identify who the "Meg" is in their lives. I know I did. As for the side characters, everyone feels like they have journies and agency that are separate from Meg, the protagonist. I feel like I have a snapshot of Meg's world.
The hook of the book seems like something that will never work, but Clayborn makes it work. The rocky portions are there and never ignored; it's the hard-won communication between the two main characters that makes you want to root for them. They have chemistry, and they are so healthy. Even the sex scene (warning: there are two sex scenes, and one of them is fairly graphic) is written with a strong emphasis on consent, communication, and honesty -- rare in romance novels.
Clayborn has managed to take "Love Lettering" and make it into a modern, healthy, beautiful, and realistic love story that hits all the notes. You won't regret picking this one up if you're a fan of the genre -- and maybe even if you're just looking to try something new.
One thing I just want to emphasize is how solidly written the relationship and characters are, in a way that blatantly defies unhealthy stereotypes often written in romance novels. The male lead is not the typical male lead. Reid is quieter and socially awkward. While I'm not sure Clayborn meant to write him in such a way, he reads as though he is mildly on the spectrum, particularly in earlier chapters (and I love that, by the way). With Meg, Clayborn writes a character that feels painfully and beautifully real. It's very clear how her past shaped her into the person she starts the novel as, and her character development is both realistic and satisfying. Readers, especially from the Midwest, will immediately begin to identify who the "Meg" is in their lives. I know I did. As for the side characters, everyone feels like they have journies and agency that are separate from Meg, the protagonist. I feel like I have a snapshot of Meg's world.
The hook of the book seems like something that will never work, but Clayborn makes it work. The rocky portions are there and never ignored; it's the hard-won communication between the two main characters that makes you want to root for them. They have chemistry, and they are so healthy. Even the sex scene (warning: there are two sex scenes, and one of them is fairly graphic) is written with a strong emphasis on consent, communication, and honesty -- rare in romance novels.
Clayborn has managed to take "Love Lettering" and make it into a modern, healthy, beautiful, and realistic love story that hits all the notes. You won't regret picking this one up if you're a fan of the genre -- and maybe even if you're just looking to try something new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Infertility
Background infidelity of offscreen characters makes a moderate plot point. Infertility is mentioned, but of a background character and offscreen.
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