🧡 enemies to lovers
🧡 Slow burn
🧡 Grumpy/sunshine
🧡 Workplace
🧡 So many animals/puppies
🧡 Closed door romcom
🧡 Dual pov

I REALLY wanted to love this. I have loved all of the books I have read from this author previously and thought that would be the same here. But it just didn't work for me. I didn't feel the bond between our two MCs. I didn't connect with the FMC at all. I LOVED the scene where they are watching the show with the old neighbors and I LOVED the epilogue but I needed more of that and less pet plot.

Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers. I received a complimentary copy of this book.

I loved this book! Melissa Ferguson has another entertaining and thoughtful read with How to Plot a Payback. From the moment I met Finn and his deep rooted grudge towards Lavender Rhodes, I wondered how was I going to root for them to come together. It didn't take long though to be hoping Finn would see the real Lavender Rhodes. Ferguson weaves a hilarious and romantic story of enemies (at least on side) to lovers story. Through multiple mishaps we learn with Finn that you can't always judge a person by the events that happen to you and that payback is not all it seems. Set in the world of a Hollywood TV sitcom, I enjoyed the insight into the writer's room and actors lives. This book had me laughing out loud and tearing up at the romantic parts. I highly recommend for this read as a sweet romance with a little Hollywood flair. Ferguson is one of my new go-to authors!

Thank you to NetGally, Thomas Nelson, and Melissa Ferguson for providing this complementary ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

How to Ploy a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is an enemies to lovers story about a tv show writer and the show’s main star. While I found the book a little slow to start at first, I found myself really enjoying the hijinks and banter amongst all the characters. I really appreciated that all of the side characters had really distinct personalities that stood out. If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming read, I’d pick this one up.

This is a sweet wholesome romantic comedy revolving around Finn Masters, who was recruited as the head writing for most highly rated and longest running sitcom in Hollywood. A dream job for any screen writer! Except the fan favorite star of the show, Lavender Rhodes has been the bane of Finn’s existence since they were classmates. In order to wrap his head about working with Lavender, and his inability to avoid her, Finn decides on a plan of payback. I’d say this is an enemies to lovers trope but Lavender doesn’t even know of the grudge Finn has been holding against her! As Finn discovers the true Lavender, can he forgive her for his perceived transgressions.

A very entertaining, heartwarming and humorous read that encompasses the grumpy/sunshine, workplace, enemies to lovers and slow burn tropes.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. That said, all my opinions are 100% my own.

Ultimately, I had to DNF at 20%. I really couldn't get into the writing—it felt flat and all over the place. Moreover, I had trouble connecting with the story and the characters. I couldn't get behind this being a romance. I just don't seem to believe they would work romantically. I also don't feel any attachment to any of the characters which may seem premature considering I only read so much of the book.

If I'm being completely honest, this was my first book by the author so I had no idea what I was getting myself into but was hoping for the best. This book had potential but I just don't think it was executed well.

How to Plot a Payback is such a delightful and charming read! Finn Masters is a Hollywood tv writer who scores his dream job writing for a sitcom. The only downside - the leading lady, Lavender Rhodes is his arch nemesis. She just doesn’t seem to know it. Finn doesn’t want revenge…just justice. This adorable rom com includes enemies (one sided) to lovers, workplace romance, and is an enjoyably sweet slow burn.

I just loved Finn and Lavender. It would have been easy for Lavender to be sickly sweet, but instead the author created a bright, kind, emotionally intelligent and resilient woman. Finn’s attempts at justice despite his standup character were hilarious, and I loved the slow development of their relationship, which felt really authentic. I also really enjoyed the way their backstories were slowly uncovered to provide insight and depth to their characters. The supporting characters were well developed, I especially loved Paula, and Finn’s apartment complex community.

I’d highly recommend this read for anyone who needs a pick me up, cosy read, or a fun escape. This is a new to me author, but I will be bumping her other novels up my tbr for sure.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Successful screenwriter Finn lands his dream job writing for a popular sitcom. The downside? Working with Lavender, the show’s beloved star—and his childhood nemesis. The woman who ruined his engagement and acting career. His plot to seek revenge backfires, forcing him to confront his past and reconsider his feelings.

I loved this rom com so much! The voice is strong and the characters vivid. The story is clever, fast-paced, and emotional. Finn is a sweetheart beneath all his bluster, and Lavender a hot mess beneath her polished façade.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Rounding up to four stars! I loved the absence of profanity and sexual content here. I enjoyed what felt like a "Friends Behind the Scenes" sneak peek- fun setting and premise.
I wish that Lavender and Finn hadn't taken quite so long to build chemistry. I would have liked more attraction a little sooner in the story; this was definitely a slow burn.
Also, Finn's revenge plans seemed a bit absurd at times. Lavender was a great character, though!

4.5/5 stars

This is my third Ferguson book. I’ve loved every book, and she’s now officially a member of my auto-buy list.

Screenwriter Finn Masters has landed his dream job writing one of Hollywood’s highest-rated and longest-running sitcoms. The only problem is that his nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, the star of the show and adored by millions, is in reality a fellow school chum from England who destroyed his acting career and wrecked his relationship with the love of his life…and she doesn’t even know that he blames her. The payback (of the title) is a series of ways that he strategizes to seek revenge for his losses and the impacts they made in his life’s path.

Lavender is a sunny, optimistic, down-to-earth giver who comes off as a bit naïve and too trusting to those who don’t know her well, but as Finn spends time around her on the show, he discovers that it’s not just a veneer, and she’s definitely not naïve as she’s had to learn to navigate the Hollywood hurdles of fame. Everyone loves her, and he begins to grudgingly see why.

This was such a sweet, slow romance, and I loved to be able to read both mains alternating perspectives as it brought them really into focus…their motivations, their fears, their dreams. Both Finn and Lavender were equally compelling, and the humor (especially from Finn’s side) was just rollicking-good fun.

Can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed reading this, and I highly recommend it.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing the free early arc of How to Plot a Payback for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I loved how this book reveals both main characters thoughts on the same incidences. Finn and Lavendar are great characters that are full of complexity. This really is a sweet romance with some fun twists and turns throughout. I would definitely recommend reading this if you love great characters and fun plots.

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

A refreshing take on the rom-com genre!

One quick thing I'd like to note is the author's distinct voice, which carries a mature tone. It adds a unique flavor to the storytelling and distinguishes it from other titles.

It was dual POV of course—which is either a hard hit or miss for me—but the decision to begin the narrative from Finn's perspective, when the norm these days is to follow the female in the story, is a refreshing departure from convention.

A little excessive with the focus on animals, which, while cute, feels tangential to the main plot. I felt the diversion impacted the pacing, I was hoping for a little more substance in terms of plot development.

Despite overdoing it with the animals, the novel excels in delivering a classic grumpy x sunshine trope. Finn IS the embodiment of the reluctant yet inherently kind protagonist archetype. The chemistry between the characters is palpable too, and I enjoyed watching them build feelings for each other. While they experience some growth throughout the story, they still ultimately feel somewhat two-dimensional to me.

I was charmed by this book. Engaging characters, unique plot - it has its flaws, but it succeeds in delivering a cute rom-com experience and I'm totally satisfied!

Finn is stoked when he lands his dream job writing for a well known sitcom. But his happiness is quickly diminished when he realises who the star of the show is. Lavender has been torturing him since his school days but maybe now Finn has the chance to exact the perfect payback.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook while I read along with my ebook copy. This book was fun and cute though it did drag a little in the middle. It was a happy change reading a clean romance for once however I also think this contributed to not feeling much chemistry between our two characters. Overall, I didn't mind this romance!

How to Plot a Payback is light and funny and so insightful about tv shows and what goes on in the background. The funniest thing is that this reads like a romcom plays out, it’s very meta, and a delicious wink between the author and her audience - us 😉

Finn is a scriptwriter, Lavender is a sitcom star. They go way back, she’s forgotten him.

Finn is delightful. His list is sobering though, and I hoped there was room for Lavender’s redemption, because his list of wrongs is looooooonnnggg. Finn wants her to pay for all the troubles she’s caused him. It just doesn’t work out the way he plans.

Lavender’s a bit of a ditz, kind, but clueless and has no idea how much trouble she makes and leaves for others as she blithely does her thing without thinking about the consequences.

It’s a busy book, dense with dogs and plots and sub-plots and neighbours and costars and family and the boss and his demands and and and… but they get there. It’s clean and closed door, but their connection is magnetic. This is a gem - thoroughly recommended!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. I just adored this charming romance.

This is my new favorite book by Melissa Ferguson. It was so funny and witty and lighthearted. I loved loved loved Finn and Lavender was so good too!

I loved that it was enemies to lovers, but was completely one sided. I loved the way lavender was just always the reason behind all the things that happen to Finn. I loved the animals, omg let’s have more pets in romance please!

I loved that the book was about a Hollywood tv show and it’s hilarious and diverse cast of characters. I just all around loved it.

If you like Friends, Hollywood behind the scenes and romance, this book is for you!

Finn Masters just got the perfect job as producer of one of the most successful sitcoms in American history. The problem? He loathes the lead actress. Why? Well, she destroyed his dreams.

Lavender Rhodes is America's favorite actress. But behind the scenes, she take as her ultimate goal to help making her favorite people's lives better. She is a fixer and acts of service is her love language.
Facing being hated for the first time, she needs to plot a payback, something to make Finn forgive her.

How to Plot a Payback was one of the most funny and romantic books I've ever read. An instant favorite. I knew from the description I would enjoy it but I didn't imagine it would become one of my favorite books. I was so happy when I received the ARC access. This book is so good that I stayed awake reading it when I had to wake early in the morning. Also, the number of quotes I highlighted was unreal. The whole book was super sweet, even when the couple wasn't together. Ah, and just for disclosure, this book is a very well done slow burn.

"𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴" 🥰😭😍💓

There is something refreshing about the setting of this book. I LOVED the way we get to see not only the behind the scenes of a sitcom, but also all the work that goes behind each script. This is one of the most original plots I've ever read. Melissa Ferguson managed to take the hated to love trope to another level.

"𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴."

The side characters, and mainly the dogs, added so much to the story and contributed to making it even more fun. The writing was super fluid, fun and fast paced - perfect to get someone out of a slump.

The epilog was the sweetest ever. Melissa Ferguson became one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read more of her works.

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

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC! You are the best!!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romcom
Spice Level: Sweet—kissing
Language: Clean

Three word review:
Hilarious, Dogs, Mayhem

Wow! I snort-laughed multiple times.
Seriously, do NOT read this book if you don't want to laugh.

I loved so much about this book.

Lavender is not who you might think she is based on the first chapter. Nope—Finn has a murderous bone to pick with Lavender. And this is what makes it so much fun.

This is a book you really have to read to understand how much fun it is.
It takes place in Hollywood, and so you get the famous vibes and real life rubbing against the plastic, fake reality of folks in the movies. I loved the description of the glitter and the glue to describe the two types of people in Hollywood.

HOW TO PLOT A PAYBACK is a romp, a complete collection of laughter, chuckles, and snorts. You must know there is about 1% serious in this book, and allow yourself to be immersed in the world.

I highly recommend this book—it makes me smile just remember the scenes.

Happy reading!

This was such a fun book! I was able to read an early copy via NetGalley and am so glad I did. The characters & storyline were such fun and the supporting characters had me laughing out loud. A good enemy to lover romance trope set in the world of sitcoms, which I found a bit fascinating. This is a sweet romance with nothing more than kissing on the pages. Great for all romance lovers alike!

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy. I wasn't impressed with the book. Slow enemies to lovers trope. Sweet read but that was about all. Finn and Lavender were just plain vanilla characters. It didn't grip me, I didn't feel the typical angst in the trope. I felt like someone was telling me a cute way they met. There wasn't any depth to the characters, the best scene was where they hung out with the tenants at Casa Laguna, I wanted to hear more about those characters than the main characters. They were feisty and entertaining.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


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


Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Dreamscape Media for an early copy of this book.

How To Plot a Payback is a brilliant, funny, and super cozy rom-com.
I liked everything about this book. The character personalities, the plot, the pace, and the writing.

This was my first book from this author and I have to say I´ll read something else from her because I had a great time.

The romance was not the main plot here, it was a slow burn, with zero spice, but it fitted perfectly the pace of the story.

Finn Master promised to never utter her name again out loud, because every event that went wrong in his life (yes he is now a successful writer, but that is not the point) was her fault. He wrote a list reminding him why he will never forgive her and he clings to it very dearly. So when he is offered the job position of a lifetime, one he cannot refuse, he finds himself in direct contact with the bane of his existence, America's sweetheart and his biggest nightmare, Lavander Rose.

Lavender Rose is a people pleaser, she knows the most loved show in America history runs on her shoulders and she must not disappoint. But what about her family back in London? What about the experiences of playing different characters?
When a new producer is hired though, he has different and biggest ideas and Lavander is immediately captivated, also she seems to know him, but from where?

If you love:
- laughing out loud
- Unsuccessful paybacks
- Sassy eighty-years-old
- Misbehaving dogs
- Sweet and head in the cloud FMC
- Fakely brooding MMC
Then this is your cup of tea.

How to plot a Payback is out on April 2nd and you cannot miss it!

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I surprisingly adored this book! It felt like a behind-the-scenes peek of what goes on in TV production, something that has always piqued my interest. The main characters, Lavender and Finn, are very likeable as well.

I personally love how Finn’s perspective reads and feels like the mind of a scriptwriter given that he is one. Not sure if this is a coincidence or an intentional choice, but it was a very nice touch to see how his POV is more “action” than it is perception.

This was a very fast-paced book and an enjoyable read, although if you are going to jump into this expecting more romance than literary fiction, then this may not be your thing.