Margin of Error

by Rachel Lacey

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 about: 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.

Genres: Lesbian

317 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Rachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets.

Reviews

[milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am convinced that Rachel Lacey only writes masterpieces.

Firstly, I loved how characters from her other books were briefly mentioned. It makes me feel like I'm diving into a little world that I never want to leave!

As I said, Rachel Lacey is my absolute favorite author, and with this book she has shown me once again why. No other author can make me feel the same emotions as her books do!

I really liked the plot of the story. Novels where older women discover their sexuality are so desperately needed, and I think Rachel Lacey has done an excellent job of representing this! The book had a perfect balance of action and sweet moments.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Lacey for providing me with an arc! <3 I left this review voluntarily.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️Thank you Rachel Lacey and NetGalley for the ARC! I am not sure why I am surprised that I loved this from the very beginning. I remember looking down at how far I was into the book and I was only 9% through when I literally said out loud, “This is so good.” I loved that Michelle and Audrey made appearances and I loved that Eden Sands was mentioned from Rachel’s other books!

Both MCs are over 40(40 and 47). I thought I might have an issue with relating to them due to this, but that wasn’t an issue at all. The way that Rachel writes her characters makes it so easy to relate to. They are always complex, dimensional characters and Margin of Error is no exception. Exploring the complexities of coming out later in life was realistic and I believe will help a lot of people. The fears, hopes, emotions of these two women were so visceral and well written, that you could feel it coming off the page

I can’t really say the way they met was a meet cute, seeing that Marin almost died right after, but it was unique the way they met and it tied up nicely with the plot and the ending. I was so interested in the missing mom portion of the story. Once again, a unique storyline that kept my attention. Yeah, this is a love story, but it’s so much more!

[lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

the highs were high but the lows were abysmally low…

thank you to netgalley and montlake for the arc

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC closer to publication date.

[BooksWithSuun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading *Margin of Error* by Rachel Lacey (huge thanks to Rachel and NetGalley for the ARC!). The story follows both Charlotte and Marin as they discover their sexuality, which felt really authentic and made me think of my own coming-out journey. The nervousness, curiosity, and tenderness they experience came across as real and relatable.

Alongside that, there’s a gripping mystery about Charlotte trying to uncover what happened to her mom. Both storylines are emotional and well-written, with a satisfying ending to the mystery.

The writing is very detailed, which I usually enjoy, but here it sometimes slowed the pace and interrupted the flow. The style isn’t my absolute favorite but definitely enjoyable.

The start felt a little slow, but once the “gay panic” moments kicked in, things got way more interesting. I liked the couple, but their chemistry didn’t totally sweep me off my feet. Their love story was still sweet and cute enough to keep me hooked.

All in all, *Margin of Error* is an emotional, heartfelt story about self-discovery and family secrets.

[Julia Van Dyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley provided this book to me as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. My first ARC!!!

This book was pretty cute, but there was a lot going on in it. I loved the characters and their growth, and their love story was very sweet. Charlotte and Marin each had their side stories going on as well, which were interesting and unique. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

That being said, this book was surprisingly intense. There were a couple of scenes that were intentionally shocking, but were much more in depth than I would have expected, given other aspects of the writing style. I wish I could say more about that, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

Margin of Error was also pretty repetitive. By the end of the novel, I found myself starting to speed read because I often felt like I already knew the gist of what some of the paragraphs were going to say. Some of the repetition felt intentional, perhaps to drive certain points/characteristics home, but some other repetition felt more like the author hasn’t been sure where to put a section and therefore put it in multiple places.

Another thing that bugged me was the level of detail. With events and settings, the details were vivid and often beautiful, but then the dialogue had a distinct lack of detail. In fact, the dialogue felt pretty stiff to me in ways that didn’t feel like they fit the characters.

I’m ultimately glad I read this book as my first ARC. It was a quick, cute, and easy read. 3.75 stars, rounded up

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably, because of my age and personal preferences (I definitely lean toward lighthearted, funny romcoms and I’m not a big fan of the friends-to-lovers trope), I’m not exactly the ideal reader for "Margin of Error". Still, I really enjoyed the atmosphere: the wintry setting, the cozy vibes, and the tender romantic tone of the love story!

The plot focuses strongly on the theme of coming out, and at times it reaches some very emotional and even dramatic moments. It’s not a topic that personally resonates with me, but I truly appreciated how sensitively and respectfully the author handled it, especially in showing how complex and deeply felt family dynamics can become during such a vulnerable time.

I liked both main characters: they have wonderful chemistry, and I think many readers over forty will especially relate to their quiet moments of mutual support and gentle understanding. The subplot about Charlotte’s missing mother doesn’t always blend seamlessly with the main storyline, but it does help keep the pacing lively in parts where the narrative otherwise feels a bit too slow. (Because cozy vibes are great, but we probably don’t need to know every detail about Marin’s puppy’s bathroom schedule or Charlotte’s daily breakfast, right?)

That said, the first meeting between the two MCs is absolutely thrilling: fast-paced, full of energy, and genuinely memorable. I also loved the ending; it felt emotionally satisfying and left me with a smile!

If you enjoy sapphic romances by authors like Melissa Brayden, Alexandria Bellefleur, or Clare Lydon, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!

📖 Book Review 📖 How many times in your life have you muttered the phrase, “What are the chances?” While you most likely do not know the probability, Marin is a statistic girl through and through but a near death experience has her risking it all for a second chance at her authentic life. Two years after an accident in Manhattan, she revamps her entire life in rural Vermont and starts afresh as a lesbian college professor.

What are the chances she comes face to face with the woman whose face was the last one she saw before nearly crossing over for good? For book stats, we’ll just say very unlikely. As Marin and Charlotte bond over their shared experience and get to know each other, their connection grows in an unexpected way that surprises both of them in the most beautiful fashion. Margin of Error is the cutest, not-at-all nerdy sapphic romance imaginable!

[kelsee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Margin of Error was more shocking and intense than I expected it to be. The characters go through some real stuff - BUT this is what brought me to love it so much! Seeing them go through these difficult things in life and learning more about themselves was inspiring.

Marin and Charlotte won my heart and I saw myself in both of them. Both are late blooming sapphics and their experience with that was written so well! Aaaaaaand friends to lovers is by far my favorite trope and it was so perfect in this book.

Overall, definitely recommend - and I’m so glad we got an update on Audrey and Michelle from Learning Curves, too!

[:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a perfect mix of sapphic romance, complicated pasts and discovering yourself. I loved how horoscopes and fate seemed to get in the way, resulting in this beautiful love story. Both main characters had a lot to accept and grow, and, most of all, learning how to do it together. It's a strangers to friends to lovers story, takes its time to build up, making it all make sense in the end. I really liked it and recommend to anyone who likes contemporary romance and women in love.

Received an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for as honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!

[Rhiannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rachel Lacey has been on my radar for a while, but I was a little hesitant to try her books because, generally speaking, I seldom connect with contemporary sapphic romance novels. Still, I was hopeful that I would enjoy this book—and Rachel's work overall—because of the hype surrounding her other titles. As I'm sure you can tell based on the 1-star rating, I did not.

I do want to start by highlighting the things I thought this book did well, which include having a lesbian MC who regularly uses the word "lesbian" to describe herself; having two MCs in their 40s; and discussing somewhat difficult topics like chronic pain, coming out, homophobia, and the death of a parent. Unfortunately, none of that was enough to overpower my dislike of the writing style or complete lack of interest in the plot. The writing itself was extremely casual and simplistic, and I didn't resonate with the humor or care for the pop culture references. It always drives me nuts when authors feel the need to spell everything out for readers rather than trusting them to make inferences and understand things that aren't explicitly stated, and that was the case throughout this book. As for the plot, I think this book suffered from trying to do too much at once. There was the main storyline involving Marin and Charlotte's developing relationship, and most of the smaller plot points directly related to Marin's experiences with starting over post-divorce and moving to Vermont, the totality of which seemed a little too busy for such a short book but also made sense thematically. On top of all of those things, however, there was also a storyline focused on Charlotte reconnecting with her dad and seeking answers about her mom, who disappeared when Charlotte was a child. It felt out of place amongst everything else and was also a bit odd to read about because it only came up a few times and then had a somewhat rushed and coincidental conclusion right at the end of the book.

Anyway, didn't love this. I struggled to care about the MCs, especially Charlotte, or their relationship much and was consistently put off by the writing style and quality. But, if you're more of a contemporary romance reader than I am and enjoy easy, somewhat corny reads, YMMV.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Doc Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Lacey's books always have a way of pulling me into their vortex and enveloping me into their storyline, as her characters bob and weave through their myriad life experiences. Here ability to write believable dialogue is truly a gift!
Continuing in the location of the story from her previous book, Learning Curves, this story follows the chance meeting of two women on a bus in NYC and how their lives continue to impact each other as they move on from that impactful encounter two years later. I am not a fan of sharing spoilers since I like to read books without knowing too much about the characters lives and trajectory..so I'll tread lightly sharing the storyline....ignorance can truly be bliss).
This book centers around a small college town in Vermont where a woman from NYC moves to start a new job and begin a new life after her divorce. Another woman, also from NY, returns home to Vermont to reconnect with her dad after 20 years of having a distanced and awkward relationship. The storyline seems to write itself, if you know anything about relationship tropes, but there's so much more going on in this book and these women's histories. Like every one of us, we bring our personal histories to our friendships and relationships, especially as we get older and experience more life and loss. These experiences color and impact how we proceed with meeting new people, trusting strangers to become new friends, and then possibly moving on to something deeper.
Although some of the characters from her prior work make appearances in Margin of Error, this book is a stand-alone book (but if you haven't already read her prior works, please do!).
I was extremely lucky and thankful to have been provided an ARC of this book from the author and NetGalley and devoured it in no time at all. Once I started reading and connecting with the characters and storyline, I needed to know more.

[Lynsey Spedding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an overall charming read with a lot of moving parts. I really liked following the characters’ growth, and the romance had a genuinely sweet feel to it. I also appreciated that Charlotte and Marin had their own individual narratives alongside the main story—it added a nice layer of originality and kept things engaging. All in all, I did enjoy the experience.

That said, I was surprised by how intense certain scenes were. There are a couple of moments designed to shock the reader, and while I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, they went further than I expected from a story that otherwise feels light and cute on the surface.

I did notice a fair amount of repetition. By the later chapters, I found myself reading more quickly because several sections started to sound familiar, as if ideas or lines had been recycled rather than tightened. Some of it seemed deliberate for emphasis, but other parts felt like they could have been edited down.

The writing style itself had an interesting contrast—descriptions of settings and events were vivid and often quite beautiful, but the dialogue didn’t carry the same level of detail. Conversations occasionally felt a bit rigid, and at times they didn’t quite match the characters’ personalities.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Jessica Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Lacey is one of my favorite authors and after loving Learning Curves (one of my faves of the year), I was excited to pick up this companion novel. Set in the same town in Vermont but this time during winter. This starts out with a traumatizing event that I'm not usually expecting with contemporary romances. I think it set the tone for the book to be more emotional. I really enjoyed both Marin & Charlotte and their journeys and watching them fall in love. I am also a late in life lesbian, so I especially loved how this included a newly out woman and one who is realizing that maybe she isn't so straight after all. And this includes a first time... the steam was hot! There was a balance of trauma and overcoming what the characters go through and I felt that was beautiful how they lean on each other - it makes me happy these two met. I also liked the theme of living the life you want and just being happy. I did enjoy the cameos of Michelle and Audrey from Learning Curves & would totally love a bonus scene seeing how they all are doing 1-5 years later. While you don't need to read both or in order because of the cameos taking place after LC, I do recommend reading them in order (but it would still be fine if you read this first). I love her books and recommend this author.

Read if you like:
- Sapphic romances
- Friends to lovers
- Books set during the winter
- Books set in Vermont/ New England
- Emotional romance
- late in life awakenings
- Good steam
- like puppies
- Middle aged characters (in their 40s)

*Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Stephanie Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margin of Error is a beautifully written, heartfelt romance that blends emotional depth with an engaging mystery. Rachel Lacey delivers a tender story about second chances, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love.
The characters, Marin and Charlotte, are incredibly relatable and layered. Marin’s journey of embracing her authentic self after a near-death experience feels inspiring, while Charlotte’s quest to uncover a decades-old family mystery adds intrigue and emotional weight. Their chemistry is undeniable—every interaction feels organic, and the slow-burn tension is perfectly paced.
Lacey’s writing shines in its ability to balance romance with real-life challenges. Themes of identity, vulnerability, and courage are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making this more than just a love story—it’s a story about finding yourself and choosing happiness. Fans of sapphic romance will appreciate the warmth, hope, and authenticity that permeate every page.
If you enjoy heartfelt romances with strong character development, a dash of mystery, and plenty of emotional resonance, Margin of Error is a must-read. Rachel Lacey proves once again why she’s a standout voice in contemporary LGBTQ+ fiction.

[Lyann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I’m going to keep it short, because contemporary romance isn’t my main genre, but I do love anything sapphic, so I decided to give it a shot. Take this review with a grain of salt, though.
The cover is pretty darn cute, love it. To get it out of the way first, I’m not sure of the quality of the steamy scenes since they are not my thing usually, but they looked pretty good to me. I did enjoy the chronic pain rep as well as the whole sexuality talk. There’s really nothing wrong with this book, and while I do have my gripes with it, it was cute and a quick, simple read, mostly dialogue.
Now for my problems with it. The main downfall of the book for me was that it was slightly boring. There wasn’t anything that captivated me, not even the characters (I couldn’t grow attached to them unfortunately) or the writing itself. The two main characters read the same (to me) (and so did the side characters, with the exception of the homophobic one), so it was actually really helpful that their names were mentioned a bunch. They also read quite young for their supposed ages. It felt more like a young adult book than an adult one because of it. Charlotte tells us multiple times how affected she was by her meeting with Marin, yet she forgets that Marin already mentioned her job on the bus when they first met (and that was a very important meeting, Char kept replying in her head, or so she says she did). There were quite a few pop culture references that date the book, but I get it, I suppose. Humor was not my cup of tea, but that’s different for everyone, of course. And the last thing is that the mystery around Charlotte’s mother was simply just alright, no high stakes, and I couldn’t bring myself to care much.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good sapphic romance, and Rachel Lacey is usually one who excels at writing them. Margin of Error definitely had all of that, like a great small town setting, lovely writing, and two 40+ main characters (which I absolutely loved seeing).

Marin was my favorite character in this book. Her growth after the accident and her journey toward embracing her sexuality were beautifully handled. However, Charlotte was... well, I had a harder time with her. I wanted to connect with her, but she often felt frustrating and her side plot with her mom just didn’t mesh with the rest of the story. Honestly, there was a little too much going on overall in this book, which took me out of it a lot. Both women had big side stories that sometimes distracted from the romance and I was a bit frustrated with this because I felt like this had more potential but that sort of ruined it.

I think this is still a sweet friends to lovers sapphic story with cozy Vermont vibes and plenty of emotion. I liked it, I just didn’t love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Lacey, and Montlake for the eARC of this book.

[Chloe K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute winter romance, but I think it suffers from trying to fit too much into one book - it could have been much more enjoyable if the storyline with Charlotte's mother was in the past and this book focused more on both characters recovering from what they've been through and exploring their sexuality, but overall was still a fun and easy read.

Marin and Charlotte were both interesting characters to read about and I enjoyed the development of their romance, but it felt a bit too fast for me considering the whole book takes place over about a month. Similarly, the storyline with Charlotte's mother's disappearance was intriguing but fell a bit flat, and the resolution felt very rushed considering there had previously been no evidence for decades, and we didn't get to read much about Charlotte's response to this either - I would have loved to see her actually getting back into horoscopes too since she mentioned it so often! I was also surprised by both FMCs being in their 40s as they typically felt much younger in the way they acted and spoke to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the arc!

[Jackie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second installment for the Vermont series. Marin and Charlotte both have a later in life coming outs. Both main characters are 40+. The beginning of this was very cute and tragic all within the prologue. Chapter 1 starts 2 years after the incident and Marin and Charlotte happen to meet again. I was excited by the subplot of Charlottes missing mother but honestly it did zero things for the story. It was her “reason” for leaving Vermont but it could’ve been swapped out for anything with how little this was mentioned (i.e. a new job, following a boyfriend, or even just wanting to leave her hometown). The conclusion for her missing mom…seemed like nobody at the time really looked based on where she is found. Marin’s coming out to siblings was lack luster and didn’t feel like a conclusion with Nancy was ever mentioned. Also no scene with Marin confronting Fran about spreading information she wanted to tell about herself. Marin has kinda crappy siblings after the incident with Nancy none of them stuck up for and pretended it didn’t happen. This was a pretty quick read and you get small appearances from Audrey and Michelle.

[Beth Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Rachel Lacey’s books and this one did not disappoint.

Marin and Charlotte were so different to characters from other books and in a really good way! The added mystery of what happened to Charlotte’s mum really added another level of thought which I was not expecting at all but thoroughly enjoyed.

I liked that we got to see developments from both the main characters, even though in the book they had been through a lot in their lives they still had room to grow and didn’t let the past define them as such.

When I started reading and Marin thought Charlotte was straight I really didn’t know how they were going to get together, Charlotte seemed like she was set in her sexuality and was happy with her friendship with Marin. So I was excited when they finally got closer and realised that they should be together! Their friendship before the relationship made sense to them and really brought them that much closer.

Overall an excellent book and I shall have to re-read Learning Curves and Margin of Error back to back!

[Grace Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to Rachel for the ARC of this book. Everytime I decide on my favourite read of Rachel’s she releases a new book that steals the spot and this is no different. I absolutely loved the cross over between this and learning curves and I loved getting to see Audrey and Michelle again. I was hooked from the first chapter of this book it was so out of character for me Rachel and I absolutely loved it. You could sense the spark between Marin and Charlotte from that first meeting but seeing their separate journeys of discovery and how different they were and the ways they intertwined with the blossoming relationship was my favourite part of this read. The subplots of Charlotte trying to find her mother and Marins coming out and dating journey were both so gripping and the outcomes of both had me on the edge of my seat. Rachel creates the most beautiful sapphic relationships in her books and I will truly never get enough of them, I was so sad to finish this book and would love to see more of Marin, Charlotte and who could forget the best character little Ember!!

[Maddie Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was accepted by Rachel Lacey to be a part of the ARC team for Margin of Error and below is my honest review.

Oh my goodness this book! My heart could not cope. I went through so many emotions from the first chapter!

The story follows Marin and Charlotte who formed a friendship following an accident that nearly cost Marin her life. As the story goes on, we find that their feelings may run deeper.

There is a puppy, there is some fab tropes (slow burn, friends to lovers and even only one bed!) and there’s even a Stars Collide reference 😍 I just think this book was everything I needed.

There are some sensitive topics covered so please do check any trigger warnings before reading.

I recommend this to anyone.. what a book!

I give this 5 stars!

Thank you Rachel for asking me to read and review and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Rachel Lacey and I am so lucky to have a chance to read this wonderful book as her ARC reader! It is the first ever sapphic romance I have read that both the MCs are newly out, the coming out late type, and it is bittersweet and heartwarming and evoked such a strong feeling in me! I really loved this couple, Charlotte is outgoing, friendly and a running away bride kind of skittish and unlucky in love until she met Marin who is reserved, brave and finally has the courage to be her true self after a near death experience. And I can't help but also falling for the cutest puppy Ember, together they make a perfect sweet family! Also the writing is so beautiful that I wanted to travel to Vermont to experience the wintry wonderland there.

[Samantha Holder-Venter · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it even possible to love someone as much as I love Marin? She’s just so… everything. She knows how to communicate, she’s making moves in her life, she’s living authentically, and she’s honest about what she wants. Then there’s Charlotte, and wow, she turns everything into the perfect storm. She’s warm, loving, caring, and completely drowning in denial and confusion 😆 I wanted to scream at her more than once to just get with the program already! Marin and Charlotte’s relationship develops beautifully. It tackles tough topics like questioning your sexuality and coming out later in life in a way that feels real and heartfelt without ever cheapening it. I absolutely loved and enjoyed every second of this book!

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful story about second chances, finding yourself, and falling in love when you least expect it. Marin’s journey after her accident is touching and inspiring. She leaves behind her old life to start fresh and finally live the way she’s always wanted. Her courage and honesty make her an easy character to love. Lacey does a great job showing how scary but exciting it can be to start over and open your heart again.
Charlotte’s part of the story adds mystery. As she tries to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance, she also begins to understand her own feelings for Marin. It’s a story about love, healing, and being brave enough to be yourself. A truly lovely read.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I felt so many emotions reading it. The way the car trauma, the ptsd in a way was talked about and worked through hit me hard in the heart as I’ve been through a bad accident in the past. I felt like I was in place of said characters Marin at the lake specifically and it hurt but somehow in a good way? I just adore this book the chemistry the friends to lovers the way they worked through such a tough thing but still made it out in the end made my heart so happy. I’m so sad I finished this book so soon but am glad to have been able to read it and I can’t wait for the next ❤️ thank you for bringing so much joy to me I’m a time I needed it!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was far more emotional than I expected, and it gave some balance to this book that I wasn’t prepared for but really appreciated. Charlotte and Marin are both going through really difficult, and very different, things. They’re tied together by a shared trauma and it opens the door to their story in a really unexpected way.

I loved the sweet tension, the cameos from familiar characters, and I especially loved the balance and depth that Ember tbe dog added to the story. The puppy made me feel more connected to the characters, weirdly, and it actually was a key part of how much I enjoyed this book

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’m sad to say this one missed the mark for me. I usually love this author’s writing, but this book felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. A later in life coming out romance. A missing person mystery. A second chance romance. All interesting on their own, but together it felt clunky. Also, Charlotte really frustrated me in the last part of the book. 😒🙄

🖤 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Small town return
• Academic setting
• Family mystery
_ _ _

⭐ Final Score: 2.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: February 3, 2026
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[SPINES & NOOK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read! Margin of Error beautifully captures two women navigating middle-aged sapphic love for the first time, and watching them both come to terms with their sexuality while experiencing so many “firsts” together was an absolute joy. The chemistry between them felt so genuine, and the balance of tenderness and spice was perfect—just enough to feel their connection grow without ever taking away from the story. I couldn’t put this one down and highly recommend it to anyone who loves heartfelt, mature romance with all the feels.

[RubyReadingBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hitting all the feels right now. I’m loving the older protagonists. I adore Charlotte and Marin. I’m rooting for this wholesome sapphic pair—and I’m seriously rooting for this latest Rachel Lacey Vermont book!! Rachel Lacey has such a gift for writing cozy stories that address pain, trauma, and hardship in really gentle ways that don’t minimize the experience. Her books are feel-good but always so deep and so real. The characters really come off the page and the books are written like conversations with good people.