This book is a total rom com movie but in a book! Small-town romance, forced proximity- so many good tropes. I really enjoyed Leah's backstory about her foster mom and her mom. Like the audience, Leah talks about why the way that she is, but I would've liked to see more of the stories from Leah's childhood. The same goes for Eli, we never got to see their character's childhood, just very brief stories. I think it was interesting to have Leah fall for Eli so early on in the book, by the 30% point she already admitted that she had feelings for him, I for sure would've predicted her being the type not to admit any sort of feelings until the end. Eli though, he gives off golden retriever vibes. So sweet, yet such a dummy lol. He really kept telling himself that he was pining over Victoria when he could only think about Leah. Also, I liked how the author didn't make Victoria seem like a spawn of Satan. She just didn't love Eli, but she got her own love story. Overall, this book was cute, all the intimate scenes happen off the pages and the development of the love throughout the book pulls on your heartstrings. Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of the book!

It was okay. A little juvenile for being 30 year olds. It did read like a rom-com but was super reference heavy and pretty repetitive. There wasn’t a lot of tension or really a third act conflict. It fell a little flat. Also, it was closed door which was kind of disappointing.

After making my way through the Harry Potter books, I needed something different and figured The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker would give me exactly what I needed. It definitely did that and more, and there are so many things to love about this super sweet (as the name implies) rom-com. Not only did I love the humor and basically all of the characters, but I loved the substance as well and the fact that Leah was in the foster system. Although I was ultimately placed with my aunt and uncle, I also had a foster family and could understand to a certain extent how she felt. Eli was the most adorable love interest, and his family was the best. I loved the ongoing banter between all of the characters, and that it was in all of the relationships, not just the one blossoming between Leah and Eli.

Although there is a male and female viewpoint, the audiobook is narrated solely by Erika Schindele. I do wish they would have had a separate narrator for Eli, but I enjoyed listening to Schindele all the same. She was a pleasure to listen to and I thought she was perfect to be the voice of Leah. Her narration was smooth and emotive, and I would gladly listen to her again. I also appreciated that she didn't try to do a different tone of voice for the men because I feel like unless you are REALLY good at that, your own voice is always best. This one did get a little emotional and I was so happy that Denker didn't pull the miscommunication trope into the story. If you are a rom-com fan, The Rom-Com Agenda is the perfect book to grab for Valentine's Day!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cute in theory, but the execution was not there for me. The pacing felt off and not thought through. Also, the story got caught up in the details - i.e. too many irrelevant details and side-projects for characters that it felt like the story was a conglomeration of stories and not cohesive.

Cute idea, but needed more thought.

rom coms are my favorite genre so of course this was going to be another 5 star. I mean it has rom com in the title lol. I really loved the characters. they were likable from the start and I just fell in love more and more.

I really wanted to love this more than I did. Parts of the book felt like a parody of a romantic comedy and that unfortunately made it really hard to connect to the story & characters. Very cute, very cliche lighthearted and fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A lovely, warm, and just so sweet rom com. I really adored this one more than I thought I would. Thank you St Martinis.

That you netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

What I loved:
Leah and all her jobs
The romcom movie references
The guy getting a make over

This was written in dual 3rd person pov, not my fav I don’t know why. This is obviously a me thing.

The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker is a unique approach to a rom com novel. When Eli’s declarations of love are rejected by a new love, his friends and family come around him and try to give him a makeover in true rom com fashion, to make him more appealing to his love interest when she returns from abroad. Along the way, Eli meets a woman who changes everything. This is a solid rom com and readers of this genre should enjoy this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This one was hard for me to get into as I found the relationship slightly unbelievable. I wanted to root for them, but the answer seemed so obvious to me.

It wasn’t for me, but I know others will love it!

Cute story but just needed more.
Found family
Friends to lovers
Slowwww burn.
Leah was loveable. Such a big heart and wanting to do everything she could to make someone happy. But Eli did not steal my heart.
Overall an easy and no spice romance!

Started out strong and I loved the concept but I wish publishers would make it clear when a romance is closed door/Fade to black. I enjoyed the cast of characters but found Eli’s hopeless romantic personality hard to believe when he actually cared for someone or just the idea of them. I also would have like to have seen the time of them watching a movie while on the phone together play out instead of jumping forward in time.

I really could not get into this book. I didn't like the characters or supporting characters. The writing was not engaging and it felt like there was a lot of squabbling in the beginning. I also do not like the premise of trying "get" someone back who has broken up with you. Overall, this one really didn't work for me and I didn't end up finishing it.

Fun romcom. Probably one too many side characters. The premise was a little shallow but I wasn’t mad about it. Turned into a nice message in the end.

Jayne Denker hits this one out of the park - you will find love when you least expect it. I love how the author is almost mocking the rom-com algorithm by introducing an agenda on how to find love. Her steps are every romance book's Bible.

I loved Leah's character but didn't find myself as drawn to Eli. The plot is perfect and so realistically down to Earth. It's clear to see from the beginning that Leah is into Eli, but it takes time for Eli to come to his senses. I loved reading all the back and forth in between.

I think anyone who loves a solid Rom-Com is really going to enjoy this.

Eli's obsession with a woman he previously dated causes his sister and friends to set out on a journey to fix him. I mean, what does a guy got to do to win the girl of his dreams except get a makeover inside and out, of course, When Leah works at nearly every place his family takes him to, she gets recruited to help with the makeover. I do think Eli pined for the ex a little too long for the story to work, but Leah was a solid heroine and added to the story. Overall this was a very enjoyable clean story with great character development and genuine feels.

This was a sweet little rom com -- very good for those who prefer a closed-door approach to the steamy stuff. Both main characters were sweet and likeable, but the real gems of this book are the side characters. Eli's friends and family and their budding relationship with Leah was nearly as satisfying as the one between Leah and Eli.

I had high hopes for this one but it fell a little flat for me. It was good just not as good as I had hoped. The characters were a little hard for me to get into so it made it a slow read for me. That is my opinion so just because I wasn't into this one doesn't mean you might not like it. I always say give it a try and see what you think.

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC.

The Rom Com Agenda is such a cute read. Leah grew up in the foster care system and has spent the last year caring for her dying foster mom. She is trying to save up money to get out of Dodge. Leah witnesses Eli pouring out his heart to his girlfriend of four months who rejects him. Several months later, Eli's friends think that Eli can win his girlfriend back by giving him a makeover. Leah meets Eli and his friends and becomes part of the project. Leah doesn't think Eli needs a makeover and falls for him.

The book is well written and the characters are so likable except for Leah's foster brother who wants to take her home away. I guess he is written well since he is the villain, lol. Leah is funny and genuine. I understand Eli pining for his ex but it got a little much sometimes and made him a little bit of a sad sack.

This is a closed-door romance and very cute. Recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Jayne Denker for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

"You shouldn't have to change who you are for someone else."

Can I just say, I LOVED ALL THE ROM COM REFERENCES IN THIS BOOK. After losing her foster mother, Leah's spent the past year living alone in their home. However, at any moment, Leah's foster brother, Patrick (who I absolutely despise🙄) is ready to come in and take the house away. Therefore, Leah has made it her mission to save as much money as possible so she can buy her own home (I love how the author makes comparisons between Leah and Kirk from Gilmore Girls hehe😏). Besides, there's nothing left for Leah in Willow Cove anymore. Meanwhile, Eli's still not over his rejection from Victoria, aka the love of his life (or so he thinks), after she leaves him to go to Rome for a year. Eli makes it his mission to win back Victoria. How's he going to do that? BY BECOMING LIKE THOSE HEROES FROM ROM COMS. When Eli's gang meet Leah, they make her Eli's guide to rom com heroness. From Say Anything to Pretty in Pink, from Dirty Dancing to Casablanca. (I love how the author even includes rom coms that were made before Molly Ringwald's days😍). BUT, what happens when Eli and Leah spend more and more time together, eating takeout, binge watching films, and talking on the phone? Eli's learning about meet cutes and grand gestures, but is Victoria the one he's still thinking about? Meanwhile, Leah's getting closer to Eli and the gang, and is now second guessing whether she should leave Willow Cove or not. It looks like the two have got a lot to figure out. THE PERFECT READ DURING THE WINTER SEASON❄❄