Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson in exchange of an honest review.

"I thoroughly enjoyed 'How to Plot a Payback' by Melissa Ferguson. The story follows the journey of Finn and Lavender, from their high school days in the UK to their roles in a popular American TV show. While I initially expected a classic enemies-to-lovers storyline, the book took a refreshing twist as Finn's attempts to seek revenge on Lavender for past grievances lead to unexpected discoveries and a deepening connection between them. The author masterfully weaves a wholesome and heartwarming tale, devoid of unnecessary conflicts or subplots, making it a joy to read. Although it deviated from my initial expectations, 'How to Plot a Payback' thrilled me with its delightful storytelling and left me with a smile on my face."

This was a fun read. Honestly the first half was okay but the second half was great. I really liked Finn but had a hard time looking Lavender until about the halfway point. The side characters are great! Finn’s neighbors are hilarious!
Overall despite the slow start it was a fun read.

Oh what a joy to get a preview read of “How to Plot a Payback” by Melissa Ferguson. This is my third book of hers, and I’ll gladly keep reading the stories she creates!

TV writer Finn Masters gets a new gig writing for a hit sitcom, even though it means working with darling starlet actress Lavender Rhodes, who he grew up with and used to compete with her for school acting roles. Finn (apparently) holds grudges for way too long and has been keeping a long list of ways that Lavender wronged him in the past. So Finn decides to use his new position to mess with Lavender’s character and sitcom story lines. But one thing leads to another, and Finn starts to wonder if Lavender really deserves payback…

I recommend this novel to all rom-com lovers who enjoy ridiculous (in a good way) characters who grow and end up better people by the end of the story. (Also, there are dogs!)

No triggers or content warnings.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! Opinions are mine alone.

Melissa Ferguson plays with two different point of views and a setting that was very interesting to me. The glits and glammour of Hollywood TV series, and also, the backstage at the writing room. We get to know Finn as he lives with the effects of the existence of Lavender Rhodes, the other narrator and his arch-nemesis.

I found the way that the plot was put on the paper very straight forward, having the situations and scenes intercalate with things we must know to make the story work, like Lavender and Finn's past. I will confess that Finn's narrator voice was a little bit annoying, especially when he is not completely known by the reader in those first pages and chapters when he tells his side of their history.

When we get more Lavender narration and, also, more depth to the character of Finn, the book goes on a trajectory that I assume could hit all the points the author was trying to hit. We get acquainted with both characters, and root for the couple and their aspirations to be fulfilled. Overall, a very sweet enemies to lovers rom-com.

"This man knows better than anyone in my life (...) what it feels like to love what you do, feel grateful for what you have, but also feel such a massive hole in your heart for the world you've left behind"

How to Plot a Payback was fun grumpy/sunshine read. I liked both the main characters, but wish the secondary characters (Sonya, Kye, Maggie, Paula etc) were built out a little more. Overall this was a quick read and the twist at the the end wasn't quite what I was expecting which was nice. The overall universe the story was set in felt a little flat and building out the secondary characters would have helped.

So, this was fun.

I just needed something like this that is sweet and funny. It took me on a quick ride of “revenge” and how life takes it time to destroy your plans.

:) I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC.

This book was so much to read. I really enjoyed Finn's list and how he kept adding to it. I also enjoyed that lavender was so nice and everything she found about him she enjoyed and he enjoyed it too. I loved the paybacks because they bombed every time and it was such a fun book to read

I could not finish enough of this book to be able to leave a comprehensive review, but I hope it finds its audience and I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This was super fun. I loved the characters and the plot. I enjoyed the chemistry of the main characters. The story kept me intrigued and I finished it in like 2 days!

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC.

After some thought, I think I've landed on 3.75 stars for this one. I ended up really enjoying it in the end but I had a few issues along the way. First of all, I can't stand the cover and for some strange reason that tends to effect my motivation to read a book. I also couldn't get behind the female mc's name being Lavender Rhodes; it drove me crazy. The whole payback thing also felt quite childish and almost odd to me. Most importantly, though, it took me a good while to get behind the romance. The first 50ish percent felt much more comedy but the romance really shined through in that last bit. Overall, it was super cute and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun, light-hearted rom-com.

Melissa Ferguson is becoming a beloved, must read all of her books, author with her back to back phenomenal novels!

How to Plot a Payback is a delightful breath of fresh air in the romantic-comedy genre. This book will have you giggling over the one sided enemy to lovers trope and supporting cast of elderly & canine friends. Plus you’ll tear up reminiscing over the behind-the-scenes storyline of writing a sitcom that will leave you nostalgic for the 90’s classics we all know & love!

But How to Plot a Payback doesn’t stop there, through witty dialogue you’ll be pondering alongside the main characters how certain events in our lives impact us, as well as how two people in the same situation can perceive events in completely different ways. Perspective is everything and sometimes it takes trying to plot a payback to realize where the truth lies.

This engaging tale unfolds as Finn Masters, a screenwriter with a dream gig, confronts his lifelong nemesis, Lavender Rhodes. The plot promises revenge, but as Finn's schemes unravel, the story takes unexpected turns, forcing him to reconsider his feelings toward Lavender. Filled with humor and surprising twists, it explores the complexities of love and revenge against the backdrop of Hollywood's glitz and drama.overall fun and quick read

Oh I loved this book! I am local to Melissa and have read a lot of her books. This one was one of my favorites of hers. Definitely a must read.

Not gonna lie I was bit annoyed by the MMC Finn at the beginning. He was kind of a baby. I did find the setting and overall plot entertaining so I got over my initial hesitations very quickly. Commendable turnabout only due to Ferguson's talent with pacing and situational comedy. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson--FICTION and Netgalley for providing an eARC for a honest reveiw.

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

I had really high hopes from this one. After reading Meet Me in the Margins and rating it 5 stars, I was so excited to see a new one by Melissa Ferguson. However, I was so bored. So incredibly bored. It felt very repetitive and I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over at times. Things got a little more interesting in the last 5% of the book. Otherwise, I didn’t enjoy it. 2/5 stars.

A good story from the writer’s side of making a sitcom.. Finn had it out for Lavender and the ways she wronged him since they were kids. Upon reuniting and some hilarious unintentional accidents Finn has held his negative opinions for Lavender . The more time spent with her he realizes she did not directly cause his problems. Everything happens for a reason. I lived Lavender’s sunshine look on life after realizing she had taken everyone and everything for granted upon becoming a famous actress. This was a great story full of clumsy dogs, savage bosses and two Brit’s managing it all together. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy.im leaving this review voluntarily

I have liked every Melissa Ferguson book I’ve read so far, so I knew this would be good, but this one exceeded all expectations and became my new favorite, hands down. The concept, the execution, the voice of the characters, it was honestly so good.

Lavender Rhodes is the star of a popular sitcom, and the thorn in Finn Masters’ side. She doesn’t know it, but Finn has a long list of grievances against her, starting with her stealing his career hopes and even ruining a 3 year relationship of his. So when he gets hired to write and produce her sitcom, he decides it’s the perfect time for payback.

Honestly I loved both these characters so much. Finn is so funny, and the hilarious things that happen to him (due to Lavender even though she doesn’t even mean to cause them) made the book so fast paced and exciting to read. I couldn’t put it down. Each of his attempts at retribution made me laugh in how horribly they went awry, and I loved how realistic it actually all was (something I often find is rare in books with pranks or celebrity settings). Finn’s hate for Lavender was masterfully written. I really, truly believed he actually hated her (and not just pretended to hate her while really loving her and being attracted to her the whole time like in most enemies to lovers books). I felt sorry for him and understood his distaste for her, all while simultaneously rooting for her while reading her perspective. Somehow Melissa Ferguson was able to write an enemies to lovers book filled with revenge that was also lighthearted, funny, silly, and heartwarming all at the same time.

This one was a 5 star read for me for sure and I’m so glad I got an advanced copy to enjoy! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity!

This book was really cute!

Finn is a Hollywood TV scriptwriter with a grudge against Lavender Rhodes. Lavender is the hit star of Neighbors, the most popular sitcom currently on TV. When Finn gets hired on as a writer for Neighbors, he decides that he’s going to plot payback for all of Lavender’s transgressions against him. But things don’t quite go according to plan.

This is an adorable enemies to lovers book. Finn finds himself in some very awkward positions, and Lavender is just completely oblivious to the fact that Finn was doing it on purpose. This was a fun one to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a super cute enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, zero spice romance. I really enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend it!

She’s the star of America’s favorite sitcom. He’s just been hired as a writer.
The only problem is, he can’t stand her (he has his reasons).

One thing I love about sweet romcoms is their ability to let me sink into a love story that doesn’t cause anxiety, make me blush, or make me to think too much. Especially when current things in life feel heavy, I cannot overstate how much I appreciate lighter reads. However, there have been times when this category can start to feel a bit formulaic or just lack that extra originality that sets them apart from all the rest.

Which is why—

How to Plot a Payback was such a breath of fresh air in the romcom category. It felt fresh and had some delightful elements that gave it a little extra something. I loved the behind-the-scenes peek at writing a sitcom and the 90s nostalgia that came with it (even if thinking of Friends brings its own bittersweetness these days 😭). It was witty and funny and even cringey at times when looking at all the reasons the two main characters were enemies at the start. But every bit of it felt fun and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.

This comes with no content warnings (no language or sexual content), so I wholeheartedly recommend it if you’re looking for some lighthearted fun in your reading.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced review copy. How to Plot a Payback releases in April 2024.