5*
This is easily one of my top 5 books of 2019 (and I read over 200). In a word, it’s lovely…a beautiful, slow-burning contemporary urban romance that is both a love letter to New York City and a love story that defies the common tropes found in most books of its genre.
It all begins with a M-I-S-T-A-K-E, secretly incorporated in a wedding program designed by Meg, an uber-talented calligrapher and artist. One year later, Reid, the groom (who has a gift for numbers and deciphers the code) seeks her out to ask how she knew that his relationship was doomed. Since she’s experiencing a creative block and could use a friend, and he hates NYC and is eager to finish up a work project so he can move away, she invites him to seek out literal signs throughout the city in the hopes that she’ll find inspiration and he’ll come to appreciate her adopted home. He suggests making it a game, and, in the process, they go from awkward encounters to thoughtful conversations, resulting in a love that embraces their differences and celebrates their respect for and loyalty to each other. Although there is angst, conflict, and a surprising twist that tests the strength of that loyalty and their feelings for each other, Clayborn doesn’t rely on manufactured miscommunication and lies to create drama. Reid is a flawed, but lovely, respectful, swoon-worthy hero, the antithesis of the controlling alpha males prevalent in popular romance. Meg has a successful business and a clear vision for her future, so her feelings for Reid aren’t based on a need for him to direct her life. The female friendships in which women celebrate and support each other, even the way that Meg and Sibby painfully navigate their evolving relationship, are another refreshing element in this enchanting novel.
It is clear that Clayborn respects the intelligence of her readers by creating a story that celebrates the relationship between the imagery of hand-lettered signs and the patterns found in numbers. In a field dominated by books that feature explosive or sexually-loaded relationships, it is refreshing and comforting to witness a romance that builds slowly and acknowledges the complexity of emotions involved. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
It all begins with a M-I-S-T-A-K-E, secretly incorporated in a wedding program designed by Meg, an uber-talented calligrapher and artist. One year later, Reid, the groom (who has a gift for numbers and deciphers the code) seeks her out to ask how she knew that his relationship was doomed. Since she’s experiencing a creative block and could use a friend, and he hates NYC and is eager to finish up a work project so he can move away, she invites him to seek out literal signs throughout the city in the hopes that she’ll find inspiration and he’ll come to appreciate her adopted home. He suggests making it a game, and, in the process, they go from awkward encounters to thoughtful conversations, resulting in a love that embraces their differences and celebrates their respect for and loyalty to each other. Although there is angst, conflict, and a surprising twist that tests the strength of that loyalty and their feelings for each other, Clayborn doesn’t rely on manufactured miscommunication and lies to create drama. Reid is a flawed, but lovely, respectful, swoon-worthy hero, the antithesis of the controlling alpha males prevalent in popular romance. Meg has a successful business and a clear vision for her future, so her feelings for Reid aren’t based on a need for him to direct her life. The female friendships in which women celebrate and support each other, even the way that Meg and Sibby painfully navigate their evolving relationship, are another refreshing element in this enchanting novel.
It is clear that Clayborn respects the intelligence of her readers by creating a story that celebrates the relationship between the imagery of hand-lettered signs and the patterns found in numbers. In a field dominated by books that feature explosive or sexually-loaded relationships, it is refreshing and comforting to witness a romance that builds slowly and acknowledges the complexity of emotions involved. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment