another fun rom-com from melissa ferguson! i kinda expected the "payback" to play out a little differently, but the story overall was still cute and engaging.

I honestly could not get into this book. It was my first ever audiobook and I thought maybe it was just because of that, but after reading mostly via audio for the past few months, it was not just me. The characters felt very whiny and it felt like there was not really anything to their personalities besides they hate one another. I did LOVE the fact that it was a love story between screenwriter and actor on a show that had the same type of fanbase as Friends, however the male character truly got on my nerves. I would like to try reading a physical copy, but hearing it was not my favorite, unfortunately.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author and publisher for providing me a copy of this book via audiobook.

*How to Plot a Payback* was such a fun read! It’s about Finn, a screenwriter who thinks Lavender, a sitcom star, has been ruining his life since they were kids. Now, they’re forced to work together, and Finn comes up with the genius idea of getting revenge by messing with her character on the show. Spoiler: It does *not* go as planned, and the chaos that follows is hilarious.

The writing is light and easy to get into, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and even some touching ones. Finn’s grumpy, stubborn personality and Lavender’s overly sunny, people-pleasing charm make for a fun contrast, and their interactions are entertaining from start to finish. Plus, the side characters add so much heart and humour.

That said, Finn’s grudge feels a bit over-the-top, and I wish we got more depth on why he’s so stuck on it. A few flashbacks could’ve helped ground his frustrations. Also, the romance is more of a slow burn in the background, so if you’re here for a steamy love story, this might not scratch that itch.

But honestly, if you’re in the mood for a sweet, lighthearted story with some laughably bad revenge plans and characters that grow on you, this book is a solid pick! It’s cosy, funny, and perfect for when you need a feel-good read. Plus, the narration was really good!!!

I love all of Melissa's books and this one is so cute!!

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful and witty rom-com that’s impossible to put down. The story centers on Finn Masters, a successful screenwriter who lands his dream job on the beloved sitcom Neighbors. But there's a catch—he's now working with Lavender Rhodes, the cheerful, altruistic star who has unintentionally ruined his life for years. From sabotaging his acting career to wrecking his previous relationship, Lavender is Finn's long-time nemesis, and he's not about to let her ruin yet another opportunity.

Determined to get payback, Finn starts to plot ways to rewrite Lavender's character in increasingly ridiculous and shocking directions. However, his plan quickly unravels in hilarious ways, forcing him to reassess his feelings toward her. As their rivalry plays out on set, the chemistry between Finn and Lavender becomes undeniable, leading to a heartwarming journey from enemies to lovers.

Ferguson's writing is sharp, humorous, and full of heart, making this a perfect read for fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes, witty banter, and slow-burn romance. The chemistry between Finn and Lavender is electric, and their growing connection provides both laugh-out-loud moments and genuine emotional depth. If you love rom-coms with memorable characters and unexpected twists, How to Plot a Payback is sure to be a hit.

i love when books are centered around "the movies". i think it's so fun as someone who works in film/tv to get a behind the scenes look in books. I love a grumpy/sunshine trope so this didn't disappoint. and the like long time "enemies" to lovers is always fun too! I overall really enjoyed this book, it was cute and fun, and the romance was enjoyable.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

"How to Plot a Payback" delivers a classic Grumpy x Sunshine romance, though the execution leans heavily on the trope. While both main characters possess flaws, the female protagonist's character development feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to her male counterpart.

The audiobook narration, while well-performed, occasionally felt overly dramatic in conveying the male protagonist's internal thoughts and reactions, particularly when he was expressing frustration or annoyance. This stylistic choice, while likely intentional, occasionally pulled me out of the immersive experience.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "How to Plot a Payback" offers a decent read for fans of the Grumpy x Sunshine trope.

⭐⭐⭐

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #harpercollins #howtoplotapayback #melissaferguson

Melissa Ferguson’s *How to Plot a Payback* is a lighthearted, enemies-to-lovers romp filled with humor, mischief, and just the right touch of emotional depth. Set in the glamorous yet chaotic world of Hollywood sitcoms, the story brings together Finn Masters, a jaded screenwriter with a grudge, and Lavender Rhodes, the seemingly perfect actress he’s blamed for ruining his life.

Finn is a refreshingly flawed protagonist, whose grumpy cynicism contrasts sharply with Lavender’s effervescent optimism. His ill-fated attempts to exact revenge on Lavender by sabotaging her character on the show create a cascade of comedic mishaps that will leave readers laughing out loud. Lavender, meanwhile, is more than meets the eye, with layers of kindness, resilience, and wit that gradually shine through as Finn gets to know her beyond his long-held grudges. Their banter is sharp and engaging, and the gradual shift in their dynamic—from antagonistic to romantic—is both satisfying and heartwarming.

The Hollywood setting adds an entertaining backdrop, full of quirky side characters and behind-the-scenes drama. Ferguson does a great job capturing the absurdities of the entertainment industry while weaving in themes of forgiveness, self-awareness, and second chances.

However, the book occasionally leans too heavily on its comedic elements, sometimes at the expense of deeper character exploration. Finn’s initial grudge against Lavender feels overblown, and while his transformation is enjoyable, the resolution of their conflict feels a bit rushed. The pacing, particularly in the latter half, could have benefited from more time to fully develop the romantic and emotional payoff.

Overall, *How to Plot a Payback* is an enjoyable read for fans of romantic comedies and workplace romance with a unique showbiz twist. Melissa Ferguson’s humor and knack for creating lovable, layered characters ensure that this story hits plenty of high notes, even if it doesn’t fully reinvent the genre. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good enemies-to-lovers tale with a Hollywood spin, this one is worth checking out.

The book reminded me a rom com movie from 90th. Narrators did a great job. Very light enjoyable listening.

Who dosent like a grumoyXsunshine romcom!

This was a nice read this was a random arc I decided to read after I just had a heavy fantasy and I normally go into a slump after but this helped.

It flowed well, the character was likeable although the FMC was slightly naive
It was the exact book I needed that wasn’t heavy and was able to enjoy without little effort.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This audio experience was simply okay. I enjoyed the narration, however the plot left something to be desired. I may check out other books from this author in the future to see if it’s just a one time flop or if the author just isn’t for me.

I generally don't love a Hollywood romance, but this was lighthearted and fun! This is a super low spice romcom with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a workplace romance!

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson was an enemies to lovers, second chance trope that I thought I would be here for but I really wasn't. I am usually not a fan of these two tropes but thought I would give it a try with the Hollywood setting that I thought might make this romcom different.

I felt that the grumpy sunshine trope was overly done and too extreme. Both main characters were super dramatic (perhaps because of the Hollywood aspect) but again, this was overly done. I did not care for the characters because of this and found myself speeding up the audiobook to see how the story ended but then feeling quiet underwhelmed when it was over.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This is a delightful read for fans of light-hearted, clean romance and Hollywood-inspired stories, particularly those who enjoy the "grumpy sunshine" trope, where a witty and charming hero navigates the ups and downs of love and career in the glamorous world of television.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with an audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you are fan of Grumpy x Sunshine romance, this one might be for you. These characters lean pretty heavily into the grumpy x sunshine trope. Both of the main characters definitely have some flaws but the author clearly made one side's character development more pronounced- I would have appreciated more development from the FMC on the page.
I also wonder if I would have like this one a bit better if I read it on the page instead of listening to the audiobook. Specifically, the narration of the MMC POV was way to dramatic for my personal taste and kind of pulled me out of the story every so often, especially when when he was voicing the boss character, and when the FMC would be getting on his nerves and he would be expressing how everything made him feel. Granted this might just be a me thing because it is pretty clear that the writing (aka the way the author wrote the male POV) is on the more dramatic side but I think the slightly over the top narration just pushed it a bit too far for me.
2.5 stars

I am not one to gravitate towards Hollywood stories. But I like Melissa Ferguson and the unique voice of this one drew me in from the beginning. The down to earth nature of the characters juxtaposed with their positions really played well to readability and likeability.

At first I had a hard time with Finn’s motivations, but I feel like as the book progressed I began to understand the justification of his stance. Book club discussion fodder for sure! And Lavender is a character revealed by peeling back her layers and I loved her more and more as Finn fell for her.

Such a fun read that was such a shot of fun in my reading just when I needed it.

A note on the audio: Steve West also narrates the Wilderlore Series, so it was hard to sink into the audio at first. But once I was into the story I was so soothed by his voice. Fiona Hardingham also so beautifully embodied Lavender. It was an engrossing audio experience.

Thanks to Libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

How to Plot a Payback was a cute story but I was lacking some of the chemistry between the two MC’s. The narration was fine and I had an okay time, but I probably woundnt read again or recommend unfortunately.

I loved this author’s previous work, and I wanted to get into this one, but ultimately I DNF’d. I found the main character a bit too frustrating to deal with.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was really cute! A lot of shenanigans, romance, and dogs!! There was a lot of humor and light hearted fun so nothing heavy. I loved the old couples that he lived around and all of the animals throughout. I liked the setting of a sitcom and the writer/actress dynamic. Very cute!

I did enjoy the storyline although this book was not necessarily a romance for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.