When novelist Eliza McMillan escapes to a fog-soaked town on the Pacific Northwest coast, all she wants is quiet—an attic room, a chipped mug, and the space to begin again.
But Northpoint has other plans.
A line of ink appears in her notebook in handwriting that isn't hers. A voice begins to answer back. And the woman behind that voice isn't supposed to exist— she's fictional. Created. Imagined.
And yet Eliza is falling in love with her.
What follows is a story of letters, longing, and the thin places between worlds—where fiction hums with life, and love dares to write its own ending.
The Margins Between Us is a sapphic love story wrapped in fog, memory, and the small magics that bloom when we start to listen.
Maya-Gawonii Shabazz-Saleh is an author, critical essayist, and DEI consultant whose work moves between liberatory frameworks, horror as political analytic, and fiction across genres. Her essays appear in Dead Pretty (Nottingham Horror Collective, forthcoming 2026) and Echoes of the Earth: Black Voices Reclaiming Ecology and Justice (Cassava Republic Press, forthcoming), among twelve other publications in 2026.
She is the author of three books and the founder of Cowrie Crossings, a consulting practice rooted in trauma-informed and liberatory frameworks.
Her horror romance My Roommate Is Trying To Kill Me is forthcoming October 13, 2026.
This was such a beautifully written novella! I really enjoyed Eliza and Olive’s story and found it a unique epistolary romance. The banter between Eliza and Olive was definitely my favorite aspect of the story, their romance in general was incredibly heart warming. The pacing and flow of the story was well done and I felt completely immersed in the story while reading. I would definitely revisit other works by this author!
I would like to thank Maya-Gawonii Shabazz-Saleh for sending me an arc copy of this marvelous novella. Excuse me if I rely on my “undergraduate studying creative writing” mode, because I have SO MANY props for this story.
Not only is Northpoint a town of undying fog, but it is also a town thriving off magical and metaphorical reality. I found myself highlighting every other line because of how well these sentences were crafted, not only rich with symbolism, but full of flirtation and comedy I couldn’t put down. Metaphors, similes, and personification control the story from start to finish, but never overwhelm and forced. Each line was devised and fitted for the moment, flowing naturally and giving life to not merely the characters, but the setting. Metaphors are utilized more than once: 1) as a writing technique (as previously stated) and 2) as a romantic technique to expand the relationship between the two protagonists (Eliza, a struggling writer, and Olive, the character she created). From the lighthouse to the fog, to the seagulls and coffee, even the inanimate objects provided the story with an abundant liveliness. I found myself constantly turning the pages, wondering how the fog would be described this time, because it DOES signify the overall mood/atmosphere of the chapter. Eliza and Olive’s exchanges, whether through ink or in-person, contained a type of poetry I never grew tired of; flirty, angsty, and like Eliza’s coffee taste, “committed but complicated.” The metaphorical exchanges between the two are so rich that I was rarely in the mood for typical couple get-to-know-you methods. This is a type of story where you aren’t left hungry for backstory, because the story is so fulfilling through other outlets. I want Olive to constantly refer to life choices as being a door, and it’s our choice whether or not to walk in fast or slow. I want Eliza to constantly prioritize the correct usage of punctuation. All I wanted from these two was to see who could out-flirt the other through literary creativity. (Don’t fight me on this: Olive is almost always the winner).
Another one of these “outlets” is how Shabazz-Saleh created the community of Northpoint. One of my favorite things is her ability to define the closeness of relationships without the reliance of backstory. It reminded me of a positive comment my professor once gave me during a workshop. The interactions between the characters (especially the dialogue) portrays the irreplaceable bonds made in small towns. It was an absolute thrill to read Eliza's engagement with Sam, Kai, Julia, and Mrs. Delaney. Sometimes you need the town plant enthusiast go give a plant for cheering up. Simultaneously, you need a neighbor to eat soup with you and bombard you with dog pics. And sometimes, you need your baristas to arrange a tip jar especially for your therapy, because being in a magical relationship with your character is MESSY! And those same baristas match their latte art with the protagonist’s mood. All these details were unique ways to convey interactions. Any time these characters appeared on the page, I expected witty banter containing nothing but affection and support.
There were times when I wondered if the pace was a little too fast. I understand pacing might be tricky, considering this is a novella. This isn’t me saying I didn’t like Eliza and Olive’s relationship, because oh my, I DID SO MUCH! I only wondered if the pace was a little too much like U-Haul lesbian speed. Instant attraction is a fine and lovely trope, but the contents near the middle-end chapter 4 (which I loved too, don’t yell at me— also I’m not saying what because it will be a spoiler) happened a little too quickly. Other than that, the writing style kept me intrigued throughout the reading stage. I laughed, I gasped, I yelled, “Just OPEN THE NOTEBOOK ALREADY!” This is a book I will definitely be buying a physical copy of and rereading with my multicolored highlighters and tabs. Because these sapphics deserve EVEN MORE ANALYSIS!
Want to cover your margins with notes? Then RUN and buy THE MARGINS BETWEEN US.
This book was like nothing I’ve read before. The town that Eliza lives in kinda reminds me of the show Eureka, where everyone is scientists and strange things are normal. But in this case, everyone just seems to accept that Eliza has a “ghost”. Lots of whit, sarcasm, snark, and small town charm. And the writing style just worked so well for a place that seemed to have just enough magic where everyone seemed involved somehow with how Eliza was doing and her relationship with Olive. For something less than 200 pages, it held onto so much depth of description, using emotions to describe what everyday occurrences normally wouldn’t be seen as being emotional. Definitely one of the most unique reads I’ve read so far this year.
Thank you to @mayagawoniiwrites and @onceuponabooktour for the #gifted copy.
This was a very sweet, slow, gentle romance. It felt like waking up early and drinking your favorite hot beverage (coffee for Eliza, tea for Olive).
I loved the all-around banter and dialogue between characters - the town they live in is so full of heart and wit, it felt like somewhere I've dreamed of!
This is literary, epistolic, warm, and so romantic. I felt all of Eliza's emotions like my own - her highs and lows were communicated so beautifully.
Thank you so much to Once Upon a Book Tour and the author for a review copy of this wonderful book!
Thank you very much to the author and Once Upon a Book Tour for this ARC!
Conceptually, this book is like nothing I've ever read before, and I love that. The magic grows as the story progresses, and it's a really nice build-up as the main character accepts what's happening and begins to welcome it.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous - honestly, sapphic novels with stunning writing is becoming my new favourite category of book - and even the mundane aspects of the narrative feel more magical due to the author's linguistic choices.
There were some bits I didn't quite get, when the protagonist's mood changed and she was holding back, but I can understand that in a novella, there is limited page space for going into too many details.
This book reminded me of the first Life is Strange game, and that's the best comparison I can give. It's whimsical, charming, and very sweet.
This book is every English major’s dream, along with every authors dream. Metaphors, personification, literary devices galore, plus an on page character come to life. Eliza lives in Northpoint- one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone. and Eliza is a writer, with what sounds like a hint of writers block. The one thing she is sure of is her main character, so Eliza is writing away when suddenly writing that isn’t hers appears, writing that is responding to her writing, questioning her character creation choices, that’s not her, that’s not who she is, her hair is brown and a bit curly, not black and straight, her name is Olive.
This is definitely an experience over a story in my opinion, the story is amazing yes, but it’s so much more, I have truly never read a book like this, it felt warm, it felt real, the writing was beautiful, the use of metaphors and personification of EVERYTHING was just perfect, it didn’t feel forced, it didn’t feel like too much, it felt like a girl experiencing every single part of life, feeling every single thing, noticing every tiny detail and it felt romantic. If I had to choose one word to describe this book it would definitely be romantic, but not in the hot and spicy way, instead in a warm, fluffy, pink way, in a way that makes everyone appreciate everything, in a way that makes everything feel perfect and beautiful.
The storyline was so interesting, like nothing I have ever read, it was mysterious and magical but not magical in a way with fairies and witches and dragons, mysterious and magical in a way that describes the atmosphere, where something is always hiding around the corner. I mean technically a book character does come to life so it sort of is magical in that way, but shh. Northpoint is a town that feels like it is in its own universe, constantly covered in fog, but fog that signifies more than just being a bit misty, it adds to the atmosphere and feel of the story. Maybe the fog is what gives Northpoint its magic, Northpoint doesn’t feel the same without it.
I found the romance part lovely too, flirting through a notebook, through scents in the air or movement of the wind to flirting through random things around Northpoint, like the cafe radio, or the board in the antique store, then in person. It was a slow burn but the romance itself was never slow, they both were flirty quite early on, and I did love it, I loved the comfort they had together, how natural conversations flowed and how magic it felt. I could seriously talk about this book forever, thank you so much.
Hello, people! Today I have one of the strangest books that fills you with emotions and warmth. And these do not stem only from the writing but also from the story and the characters. At the same time, I really liked the romance. In fact, it was a while since I encountered it to such an extent that it made me love it madly. In conclusion, I was crazy about her writing, I was excited about the story, I loved the characters and I was enchanted by her world building.
Thank you very much to the author and Once Upon A Book Tour for the eARC!
What would you do if you moved to a new town for a fresh start… and words began appearing in your notebook that you didn’t write? For novelist Eliza McMillan, that’s exactly what happens. While settling into the foggy coastal town of Northpoint, she discovers that someone… or something is writing back to her. And the strangest part? She kind of likes the voice on the other side.
This book made me want to sleep in on a foggy morning, then wander through town: grabbing a delectable coffee and laugh with Sam, impulsively buying a plant I’d inevitably kill (yikes), stopping by Julia’s to catch up over warm bread, and ending the day listening to Kai’s perfectly curated playlists.
I especially loved the writing style. The letters and notebook exchanges created so much yearning, flirting, and witty banter that made the connection between Eliza and Olive feel intimate and magical at the same time. It’s the kind of romance that unfolds slowly through words… and I ate it up.
The Margins Between Us was a quick read that I really enjoyed! I resonated with Eliza and her list-making ways, and I loved how much personality came through in the inner dialogue and banter. The magical realism felt soft and intentional, adding to the cozy, low-stakes vibe. What really stood out was how intimate this felt without relying entirely on physical touch, paired with a strong sense of community and descriptive writing. I only wished for a little more exploration of the AAPI representation, but overall this was a comforting sapphic romance that lingered with me in the best way.
Eliza & Olive’s love story is sweet, soft and full of subtle everyday magic. This novella reads like a love letter to all the sweet and soft love. This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys books that celebrate soft, sweet, queer love and the subtle magic the world has to offer!
Eliza McMillan goes to a Pacific Northwestern coastal town complete with fog, an attic room, and the space to start over. Then Northpoint starts to take on a life of its own, and she discovers that there is a line in her notebook that she didn’t write herself. A voice starts answering back to what she writes, and the woman behind it seems to understand the things that Eliza has never written down. These conversations turn into letters, pining, and finding places between worlds thin enough for two people on opposite sites to meet. Fiction comes to life with a shared melody and love writes a story with the ending that it craves.
This book is absolutely beautiful. You have Eliza McMillan, a reserved, funny, talented, and kind young woman that moved into Northpoint for a fresh start, and to work on her book. You have Olive Brooks, a beautiful, charming, sassy, and thoughtful woman from another world that is captivated by Eliza and refuses for her story to be tampered down. The banter between these two were flirtatious, genuine, and funny. I love the gulls, Julia, Kai, Sam, and Mrs. Delaney. The writing was poetic, and I love how the descriptions breathed magic and life into things that many people might consider mundane or completely ordinary. Eliza’s dive into discovering what she wants and the relationships she has with the townspeople and Olive were really beautiful to witness, like notes to a melody. Overall, if you like found family, cute gulls, notebooks, and sweet sapphic romance between worlds with some spice, then I would highly recommend this book. I got a copy and these opinions are my own.
The Margins Between Us by Maya‑Gawonii Shabazz‑Saleh
This was an engrossing and vivid sapphic romance infused with the kind of magical realism that quietly blooms under your skin. Every time I opened the book, I ended up reading far longer than I planned — it has that soft, immersive pull that sneaks up on you.
Maya‑Gawonii has a strong sense of craft and pacing, and I think it’s important to go in knowing that. This isn’t a quick, quippy romcom. It’s a story that asks for your attention and rewards you for giving it. If you’re looking for a simple, swoony romance, this book will offer you something deeper — something closer to literary fiction than to fantasy or traditional magical romance.
The opening is intentionally slow, and I appreciated that. Even though the setting isn’t otherworldly, there is a surprising amount of character and world‑building happening beneath the surface. That slower pace pays off beautifully: you don’t just watch Olive’s story unfold — you inhabit it. You feel the fog, the quiet, the ache, the wonder of Northpoint. You live alongside Olive and Eliza rather than simply observing them.
If you enjoy books that use magical realism as a way of touching the often‑unspoken corners of life — or as a way of revealing the small, luminous magics that shape us — this is absolutely one to check out.
This is the first time I'm reading a sapphic romance novel by Maya Gawonii. I found it a bit slow-paced for the first 3 chapters and it took me a handful of pages to get used to how descriptive she can be when building a world.
From the 4th chapter onwards, the pace became more my speed and it was easier to enjoy Eliza's interactions with Olive and her neighbors. One of the things I enjoyed a lot was spotting out all the metaphors and taking note of the most memorable ones such as, "i kept trying to make myself small enough to never be a wave" and "It makes the dark feel like we’re all at a sleepover, whispering."
I liked how magical realism was introduced and woven within the novel. It gave it an air of mystery, of something exciting waiting to happen. It intrigued and excited me, motivating me to keep reading! Overall, I enjoyed getting immersed in Eliza's & Olive's world and I recommend it to anyone who is curious to explore a fresh spin on magical realism and loves reading queer romance novel. 🤩
A sapphic Magical Realism rom com for the ages. Eliza McMillan is a writer in the small port town of Northpoint. When the main character in her story starts to write back in her notebook, correcting how she is portrayed. There is a super cute and slightly mysterious question of is real or if Eliza is losing it. What blossoms is a lovely, sweet romance between Eliza and Olive, and as their fondness for each other grows, we wonder and hope they will be able to lift their romance off the page and into reality. A soft, gentle, and slightly mysterious sapphic story with hallmark vibes.
Never have I been SO ENVIOUS of a main character in my life. Yes, I would love to suddenly write and find out the ideal GF I've been fantasizing about is real. Writes back. FLIRTS. Is a smidge of a dom (spoilers lmao). But that cannot happen (but fr gods can it be so??) so, I thoroughly enjoy Eliza's and Olive's relationship in a super cozy and perfectly portrayed in PNW. This feeds into all my sapphic hopes, fantasies, and dreams as a writer. Please let it fill yours too!