Romance is one of my favorite genres to read, so I’m always on the lookout for new authors to read. Margin of Error is one that recently caught my eye. A friend in my Discord book club was interested in this one and I added it to my want to read list. I finally sat down and read this book. So keep on reading to find out what it’s about and what I thought.

A big thank you to Negalley and Montlake for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.

From Rachel Lacey, author of Learning Curves, comes a tender, hopeful romance about how fate is what you’re given but love is what you choose, and how small sparks can change everything.

Two years after an accident in Manhattan almost claimed her life, Marin is determined to take advantage of her second chance. She’s left her husband, her job, even her home to pursue the life she’s always wanted. Now she’s teaching statistics at Northshire University and preparing to do something she’s spent decades dreaming of: date a woman. But the last woman she expects to encounter on her journey is the one she’s been fantasizing about since their chance encounter the morning Marin nearly died.

Charlotte has made big changes in her life since that fateful day too. Most importantly, she’s moved back to her Vermont hometown, determined to finally solve the thirty-year-old mystery of her mother’s disappearance. An unexpected—and unexpectedly intense—friendship? That wasn’t in the plan. Neither was questioning her sexuality, but the more time Charlotte spends with Marin, the more she realizes her feelings run deeper than friendship.

Surely this would be a disaster, both of them being each other’s first, except the chemistry between them feels too strong to deny. But as they get to the heart of the mystery—and the heart of who they are—what brought them together just might tear them apart.

Review

I have to start off by saying it was refreshing to see a romance with two characters in their 40s discovering themselves and what they want! I loved this aspect of this story and it felt realistic. Margin of Error also started off very emotional. I wasn’t expecting the prologue to hit that hard, but it did feel like the great start of a couple who is just meant to be.

Marin survived a horrific accident and took it as a sign to go for what she wants! I loved Marin’s story. After years of being in a marriage she wasn’t happy in and discovering her own sexuality. She finds a new job, house, and her puppy Ember really stole the show. Then there’s Charlotte. Her mom disappearing when she was young left a lasting impact (of course!) and it’s definitely brought some ups and downs. Charlotte has always identified as straight, but getting close to Marin is making her wonder if that’s the correct label for herself.

While it was great seeing these two characters discover more about themselves and what they want, I also feel like Margin of Error tried doing a bit too much. I feel like the mystery behind Charlotte’s mother’s disappearance was just thrown into the story. It was solved in the end, but it didn’t feel like it fit. Also, some things were a bit of a cliché. Marin’s ex husband wasn’t happy in their marriage and had an affair, but they were unhappy for a while so it was understandable. Also, information we get about Charlotte’s mom felt like that as well.

Margin of Error was an entertaining read, but it didn’t blow me away. That being said, I would definitely give Rachel Lacey’s books another go!

Have you read any books recently where characters are figuring their lives out or just a fun romance? Let me know in the comments! I can never have enough of those books.