I wanted to love this book, but while it was a unique plot, the story ended too quickly with not enough chemistry between the two main characters. All in all it was a light read, just not a lot of impact for me.
Thank you for the ARC provided to me.

Amazing, sweet, why-are-they-so-cute-together-crying.
Lavender is the happy relaxing woman I think I would be if I had financial stability.
Finn is a grumpy genius completely in love with her.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC!

Another winner of a book! I absolutely adored this story from Melissa Ferguson. I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers romance, and this one had me swooning by the end! I loved that I could root for both main characters, and the dual perspectives made everything even more fun!

I love stories about Hollywood and television and behind the scenes drama, so this was a perfect fit for me. I also found Ferguson’s writing really hilarious and fun! I am so glad I got to read this, and look forward to reading more of Ferguson’s work in the future!

Thank you again for the ARC!

This book is so adorable! I loved the characters. Finn Masters has kept a list of everything that Lavender Rhoads has ruined in his life, starting with the moment she took his place in their high school play and wound up in Hollywood as a result. But, when the chance of a lifetime comes in the form of writing for the TV show, he can't pass it up. Even if it means writing for Lavender's character.
This book is such a cute romcom, with likeable characters and funny mishaps. I enjoyed the grump/sunshine storyline. If you are looking for a book that will brighten your day, pick this one up!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4++ stars

Adorable read. Smiled a ton. Lavender and Finn are adorable.

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

I enjoyed the escapism this book gave me - the ideas of tv stars and public profile jobs was a great way to end my day. I’m not sure I enjoyed the slow burn that this book had. I found myself wanting to skip ahead, just to see where the climax was. I did find the climax of the book a bit small and wished there was more oomph in it. I felt like there were a few characters in there that weren’t really relevant.

Overall, I enjoyed the main characters, the idea of a tv show setting and especially how many dogs were in the book!

I was drawn to this book because of the cover. I enjoyed the storyline and kept reading to see how the story would come together, but I did find the writing choppy and hard to follow. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute, fun rom-com. It's a grumpy/sunshine trope with a (very) slow burn romance. The characters were likeable and the story was well done.

It took me a while to get into this book as the slow burn was definitely slow, I almost DNF because it wasn't gripping me. However, I persevered and was definitely rewarded with this super sweet rom-com.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgallery and Thomas Nelson Publishers.

This book is fun romantic comedy. Once I started it I could not put it down. This is the first Melissa Ferguson book I have read. The main characters were interesting and engaging. This book was funny and was a slow burn. I found this book to be more comedy than romance. I really enjoyed this book.

Melissa Ferguson does it again! Sucks you into the characters and the storyline and you fall in love with the characters!

Finn Masters is writing for a successful crime/ drama and had aspirations when he was younger of being an actor. However, there was one person that just got into his way Lavender Rhodes who he grew up with in England. Lavender has taken everything from him starting with his play at school where he was the lead and Lavender getting the agent that swept her away to LA. Finn and Lavender are as different from any other two people. Finn is organized and put together whereas Lavender is all over the place, which infuriates Finn to no end. Finn ends up taking a job on the successful comedy Neighbors that Lavender is a main star. Can Finn survive Lavender and her quirky personality?

I absolutely got sucked into this book and loved the storyline along with the character development.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

Super cute!!! Melissa Ferguson’s romcoms lean more on the com than the rom, and this book is no different, delivering chuckles and giggle with an effortless writing voice, witty dialogue, and a cast of lovable characters. I was totally on board as soon as I read the premise, especially since it’s a storyline I haven’t already read more than a dozen times (give me all the fresh plots please!). You could say this is a grump/sunshine (although he’s really not all that grumpy), enemies-to-lovers (although the hard feelings are only one sided and misguided at that), slow burn, but I just call it a cute little romp of a book.

Rom-com, grumpy/sunshine, feel-good read! Surprisingly funny with good banter. however lacked chemistry between the MC's as well as tension.

This book was cute, but I didn’t love it as much as some others by Melissa. The formatting was off on the ARC, so I think that contributed, but I struggled to follow it sometimes.

Ultimately, I was somewhat invested in the story- although it felt like it resolved very quickly & the story never really climaxed. Was there any real conflict? The “payback” plot seemed to become irrelevant very quickly. Idk. This just didn’t connect for me the way others have.

Title: How to Plot a Payback
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Rating: 4/5

Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really, really enjoyed this one! Melissa Ferguson is an auto-buy author for me, and this book was another winner. I loved the characters and the setting! A romance between an actress and a script writer was cute and unique, especially with the tropes in this story. I loved the whole backstory of the MC and FMC’s hilariously unfortunate relationship. These characters aren’t exactly what you think either!

This was a truly funny, heartwarming romcom. I enjoyed this one as much as Meet Me in the Margins, which is my favorite Melissa Ferguson!

Read this one if you like:

-Grumpy/sunshine
-Slow burn
-Almost Enemies to lovers
-Puppies

Highly recommend! This would also be a fun book club book.

Coming Soon: Releasing April 2024

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

✨How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson✨

“This job is perfect…absolutely everything I ever wanted. Except for her. Because I hate - no, it’s not a strong enough word- I absolutely loathe Lavender Rhodes.” - Finn

📚 About the Book…
Finn has always dreamed of working in Hollywood, and when the perfect screenwriting job is offered to him, he snatches is up. The only problem is that Lavender Rhodes, his nemesis and the person responsible for all of his failed dreams, is the leading lady of the show. Finn decides he’ll get her back. But he’s not a villain - so it won’t be revenge - just… justice and a chance to set all things right.

Genre: General Fiction, Rom-Com
Publisher: @thomasnelson
Release Date: February 2024
Major Themes: Revenge, Forgiveness, Community, Good Samaritan/Acts of Service, Perspective, Dreams
CW: Murder (in context of a tv sitcom)
My Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌷What I Loved…
My favourite part of this book is the Hollywood setting and the hilarity of Finn and Lavenders unexpected collisions, which almost always result poorly for Finn. While this book is mostly lighthearted and full of laugh-out-loud moments, I enjoyed the way the Melissa transforms Finn from a revengeful victim to someone who regrets his attitudes and perspectives; ultimately making more selfless and hope-filled decisions for his future.

☀️This Book is for you If…
You love the sunshine/grumpy rom-com trope, sitcoms, crazy cat ladies, aggressively loyal besties, perspective change, community vibes, and need a good laugh!

📖 Book Club Read?
Yes!!! This would make a fun book club read for rom-com lovers, and Melissa provides questions at tue back of the book.

*arc review*

Loved this one! I really enjoyed Finn and Lavender but I especially loved the side characters. While it was about the behind the scenes of the hit show neighbors I felt like you could easily follow along. The plot and ending were so sweet and I really enjoyed it!

What fun! This was charming and witty. With a great slow burn. I loved the dynamic between Finn and. Lavender. and his in the end they really saw the other person. This is my first book from this author but I’ve had Meet me in the Margins on my tbr for awhile so I can’t wait to read more from her. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

If ever, there was a book to prove that it’s impossible to hate a genuinely good person that is the book. Finn’s absolute insistence that Lavendar was the cause of all of life’s pains for him was both ludicrous and hilarious.

While this was no Meet Me in the Margins, I can see rom-com lovers digging in.

This book is a captivating journey through the depths of imagination. Its rich storytelling and well-developed characters kept me engaged from start to finish. With its thought-provoking themes, it transcends genres and offers something for every reader. A must-read for anyone seeking a literary adventure.