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theheirlooms's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
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
bi_n_large's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Chronic illness
tara3117's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sarahaf712's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Boring. Trite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
yodareads12's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really sweet and quick read! Exactly what I needed.
The story is about a girl who does hand lettering for a living. Which was honestly really cool because you don't meet many people (at least I haven't) who have this as a profession with our digital age!
You get to follow her as she tries to find inspiration while creating a mockup for s really big job opportunity.
Since it is a Rom-com, there is of course a love interest that comes into play. Also, we get to see the dynamics of a friendship that goes through some ups and downs.
There were two sex scenes that I skipped over so I have no idea how bad they were. And there was mild to moderate cursing.
Obviously I'd only recommend to those who like lighter Rom-coms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
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.mollymahli's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
speroergosum's review
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
debz57a52's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As a rom-com, this was a delight. Meg is a well-formed character whose self-deprecating narration is amusing. Her special ability to hide clues to things in her lettering is unique to anything I've read before, and I loved how that set the stage for all kinds of little clues, codes, and games in the rest of the narrative. The author's obvious knowledge and love of lettering/publishing and also NYC seeped into this book so strongly that they could have both been their own characters. I also really liked that there wasn't just the romance and one other conflict for the main character; there were several additional conflicts that were lightly related to each other, so it kept the book moving pretty quickly. Finally, some of the life lessons - especially that conflict is important to developing a long-term relationship - are so important.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
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