I really wanted to love this one. It has great potential & the idea for the story line was there. It would be great as a Hallmark movie as it follows that traditional story line/pattern, but the thing I don’t love about Hallmark movies is that we don’t get to see the characters together until the very end. When I read a love story, I want some of the book to focus on the time they’re together, and that doesn’t happen here.

If I’m being honest, it didn’t grip my attention. I struggled to connect with the characters & their story. I didn’t see their connection, which made it hard to invest in their story. I could see the audiobook being better here to be able to hear how a narrator would bring the characters off the pages & breathe life into them.

It certainly wasn’t terrible, hence the 3-star review, but I needed more of Lavender and Finn’s connection to be felt on the page.

I absolutely loved this sweet romance. I loved all of the characters and how they added so much to the story. At times I felt I was right there in Fin's courtyard with everyone. I found myself laughing out loud one minute and sighing the next. Although Lavender and Fin knew each other many years previous, their recollection of the past are very different. Come into the lives of a writer and, who he believes to be his nemisis, actress in How To Plot a Payback.

This was a fun read! Finn definitely has a major chip on his shoulders that's as obvious as the color of the sky, but Lavender just doesn't seem to notice.

It was good to see Finn's resolve start to wear, and understand his thoughts as he broke down his walls with Lavender. He began to see her as a person, as the sweet, kind person that she is and not a vindictive Hollywood actress who believes that everyone and everything is below her.

The book did move a little slower than i would have liked, with some of his frustrations not making *much* sense, but it was still very enjoyable.

Charming characters and plot with a fun storyline! I was entertained by the slow burn romance between these enemies to lovers. Setting the scene in Hollywood added a fun touch that I enjoyed. Worth a read!

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

This was the epitome of enemies to lovers except I wish there was a little more time as lovers shown. This was a very cute romcom that I enjoyed and feel like had some you've got mail tidbits of the enemies to friends situation. Very cute overall 4 stars.

Finn Masters is a successful screenwriter who has sporadically landed his dream job as a writer for one of the highest-rated sitcoms in Hollywood. The only downside to this new job is working directly with his nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, who just happens to be Hollywood’s sweetheart. Lavender, unbeknownst to her, has been ruining Finn’s life since they were classmates back in England. Finn takes advantage of the control he as as a lead writer and plots his payback by creating chaos for Lavender’s character. His plan is going perfectly-until its not. Every plot twist he writes, backfires and creates more of a headache for Finn. Through all of it Finn must finally admit that there is more to Lavender than he originally thought and maybe, just maybe he has certain feelings for the woman who has continually changed the trajectory of his life through one mishap after another.

Melissa Ferguson brings us another a highly entertaining, swoon-worthy romcom that all will enjoy. How to Plot a Payback will have you laughing out loud, slightly cringing at Finn at times, and wanting to stay up all night to finish the book.

I loved the characters Finn and Paula but Lavender was just so annoying. I liked the scenes where she was not present.

Sweet, lovable, nerdy Finn has landed his dream job writing for the siticom Neighbors. The only problem - his arch nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, is the star. Although she doesn't remember him, he has blamed her for all of his failures since high school. After he starts to sympathize with her, he decides to plot a payback with his scripts in order to stand strong. Whenever he thinks he has her in his crosshairs, she graciously meets every roadblock and becomes even more likable. Although a bit slow to start, I'm glad I stuck with this one!

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

An ending slow slow romance that engages from the start. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

How To Plot A Payback by Melissa Ferguson

Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Everything good in Finn Masters life is ruined by Lavender Rhodes. So, when Finn is offered the opportunity to write for Hollywoods most successful and longest running sitcom, that also stars Lavender as the lead, Finn realizes he can plot the perfect payback in the script. Thing is, as time goes on and the plot thickens, Finn realizes that Lavender isn’t so bad after all.

I will start by saying this book started out slow for me. I was worried in the beginning that I was not going to be able to write a good review because I didn’t know if I could finish. However, the book did get significantly better. There were some truly laugh out loud moments. I loved the banter, the spitefulness that would eventually backfire and the characters. Each one different but bringing comedy to the story. I looked forward to immersing myself in the story and over I thought this was a great read!

This was too cute! Honestly, easiest 5 stars I've given.
It's all based on the enemies to lovers trope, my favourite. Well, at least based on Finn's POV 🤣

Such an easy and fun read. I have really enjoyed reading Finn's change from hating Lavender to loving her. The list of apparent infractions Lavender commited towards him, was hilarious.

Talking about Lavender, I have honestly loved reading about a FMC deciding she wanted someone and then went for it. We usually wait for the man, but here it was refreshing reading Lavender going for it. She wasn't perturbed much about the list, she just kept going on.
Finn couldn't do much about it, he had to cave. Especially after all his attempts to payback basically backfired in the most ridiculous way!

Melissa Ferguson is becoming a go to author for me. She does an excellent job. This was such a fun read. Witty dialogue and loveable characters. Successfully covers many popular tropes making this a must read for many. It won’t disappoint.

Another winner from Melissa Ferguson! Such a fun read. (Can't wait until release so I can hold it in my hands!)

Four fluffy, murderous baby chick stars for this fantastic romcom from Melissa Ferguson!
🐥⭐️🐥⭐️🐥⭐️🐥⭐️

I do not remember the last time I had this much fun reading! HOW TO PLOT A PAYBACK was an absolute joy to get lost in. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud at the antics between Finn, Lavender and their merry band of side characters. From lighthearted chuckles, to warm giggles to outright cackling, I spent the majority of this read with a smile on my face. ☺️

In her acknowledgments, the author says "I love that my little contribution to this world is getting to help people laugh and smile and feel a little bit happier in their days. A little more hopeful. A little more at peace." If this is her mission, Melissa Ferguson unequivocally nailed it! Her writing is relatable and heartwarming, her characters are well-rounded and easy to root for, each and every scene drives the plot and character arcs, not a word seems wasteful.

I fell in love with Finn and Lavender, in all their strengths, weaknesses, quirks and idiosyncrasies. I know little to nothing about filming for television or writing scripts but the peek into that world through the characters eyes was thoroughly entertaining. In fact, the peek at the characters through each others' eyes was not only entertaining, it was heartwarming and uplifting as well. A glimpse at what we all could see in real life if we choose to reserve judgement and look at people and situations from a positive perspective.

It is important to note that the romance in How To Plot A Payback was mostly of the emotional variety, not the physical. There were a few sweet kisses, but no on page sex or closed door sex. I'm not a subject matter expert, but I read over 100 romances last year alone, so I'm at least familiar enough with the genre to say that this is NOT the norm. Some readers may be disappointed by this, but I was not. I found it refreshing to read a romance that was exceptionally written yet would be appropriate (ly awesome!) for every reader from tweens to grandparents.

HOW TO PLOT A PAYBACK evoked a similar tenderness and humor to Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy and Ali Hazelwood's Check & Mate. I imagine it will appeal to all who love great stories but don't want/need the spice found in most contemporary romances.

Truly a fabulous read 👏 The Hallmark Channel should option this immediately!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

How to Plot a Payback is a highly entertaining and cleverly crafted tale that unfolds in the glitzy world of Hollywood, offering readers a rollercoaster ride of humor, revenge, and unexpected romance. Finn Masters, the successful screenwriter, embarks on a journey of payback against his lifelong nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, the show's beloved star. The narrative is infused with sharp wit and clever plot twists as Finn attempts to manipulate Lavender's character for revenge, only to find himself ensnared in his own misguided schemes.

The characters are well-developed, and the dynamic between Finn and Lavender is both hilarious and heartwarming. The author skillfully weaves together humor and romance, creating a story that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Despite the predictability of some plot elements, the execution is so well-done that it adds to the overall charm of the novel.

It deserves a solid four out of five stars for its witty writing, engaging characters, and the seamless blend of humor and romance. While the premise may seem familiar, the execution sets it apart, delivering a delightful and satisfying read for fans of romantic comedies. Ferguson has successfully crafted a story that not only entertains but also leaves readers with a smile and a desire for more.

How To Plot a Payback
By Melissa Ferguson

This romance is a screwball comedy. Finn Masters is a newly hired head writer to a sitcom called Neighbors. The lead actress, Lavender is his bad luck nemesis from his youth. Unbeknownst to Lavender, she has left a series disasters in Finn’s life and he is plotting payback.

I did laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of a situations and witty remarks. Lavender could be extremely annoying and oblivious. Finn leads himself right to his own downfalls, just so someone else won’t feel bad.

I felt more chemistry and funnies between Finn and his writing friends, Paula and Chris than Finn and Lavender for the majority of the story.

Lavender and Finn’s connection did grow and I liked them together especially near the end of the story. This is a cozy romantic comedy. Thank to Thomas Nelson Fiction for a complimentary copy of this title and the opinions in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to publisher Thomas Nelson, author Melissa Ferguson, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Release Date: April 2, 2024

How to Plot a Playback was a delightful story! I enjoy Melissa’s writing style, her unique story lines, and I think this is her best book yet. It was hilarious and I really enjoyed reading Finn and Lavender’s perspectives which were, at times, very different. Haha! This book has a bit of the grumpy/sunshine trope plus slow burn romance and it made for some entertaining dialogue. The other characters made me laugh too! Mrs. Teaberry and the rest of Finn’s neighbors were so fun. I wanted to be part of their community! I also loved the deeper message of resentment and forgiveness and for that reason I believe that this would be a fun and meaningful read for a book club. This is also a very clean read and I would recommend this to any of my friends.

In this story we have Finn Masters and Lavender Rhodes. She is the star of a famous american sitcom, the american sweetheart
and he is the new writer of this same sitcom.
They have history, they used to go to the same acting school. The only problem is that Finn is not very fond of her,
he wrote a "black list", of everything
Lavender (the "Transgressor" as he like to define her) did wrong to him. So he decide to have a little revenge.
This is decidedly a light reading, the tropes are: grumpyXsunshine, slow burn.
The story goes fluent, it didn't hit me right away, but after 30% i was all in.
I love the double POV, always a fan of that.
The plot is original, and i never read something like this (until now), it's a good idea, sweet and heartwarming.
This is the first Ferguson's book i read, and decidedly not the last one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review. 

This story reminded me of Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy- where it's so fun to see the inner-workings/schedule of a long running sitcom production.

I enjoyed the journey and progression of the MCs from their hometown history, through the *transgressions* to the present day.  The dogs and elderly neighbors were lovely comic relief.  All in all, a very sweet Melissa Ferguson romance.

I thought this was a really sweet romance, and I loved the Hollywood vibes. The grump/sunshine trope is always one of my favorites, and Ferguson really delivered! The banter between the two MCs was SPOT ON and so fun, and I just loved how sweet it was. What a wholesome, great love story! And let's not forget -- the cover is GORGEOUS! I have already recommended this book to several of my friends who love "sweet" romances.