"How to Plot a Payback" has all the elements to be a perfect rom-com for me. I loved "Meet Me In The Margins", so I was excited to read this one from Melissa Ferguson.

It's a dual point of view, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, Hollywood-based, and lighthearted without being soulless. Unfortunately, all of the elements just didn’t come together to be amazing. I enjoyed the ride, but it just wasn’t the magic that "Meet Me in the Margins" was. Finn and Lavender are appealing characters individually, and there's undeniable chemistry later in the book, but it's lacking in the initial "enemies" phase.

The audiobook production and casting is delightful. Fiona Hardingham and Steve West do a wonderful job.

Overall, it was good, not great for me, but it is certainly worth the listen!

Thanks to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Net Galley for a copy of the audiobook for me to review.

What a funny and unique story Melissa Ferguson has crafted in How to Plot a Payback! Ferguson is a new author to me and I will definitely be looking for more from them.

I really enjoyed getting this story from both the main characters' point of view. The back and forth is amusing, and to see the way Finn changes as the tale evolves is beautifully constructed.

There's wonderful chemistry between the characters. I enjoyed the insight into the world of TV series. And Melissa Ferguson's writing style is wonderful.

The audio version is flawlessly narrated by Fiona Hardingham and Steve West who have their work cut out for them! There is a vast cast from both the UK and the US, plus there's so much humor in the story - they both provide lovely performances.

Thanks to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Net Galley for an advanced copy of the audiobook. Below is my honest review.

Do you have a moment in life when you knew an opportunity had slipped through your fingers? Finn Masters has many, and in his mind, dating back to childhood, they are primarily due to one person - Lavender Rhodes. But now he has the career opportunity of a lifetime, leading the writing team on Neighbors, a wildly popular decade-long TV series looking for an infusion of new creative ideas. The only problem? Lavender is the star.

As Finn embarks on his new role, Lavender continues unwittingly creating chaos in Finn's life. He looks for ways to use his newfound writing control to enact a little bit of payback for past and present wrongs. But as he does, he begins to see Lavender in a new light, where she isn't the architect of all bad events in his life. Simultaneously, Lavender starts to see Finn, really SEE him for the first time.

While I wanted a deeper connection between Finn and Lavender in order to root for them, I enjoyed the more minor aspects of this book. The moments where Finn intentionally and Lavender unintentionally disrupted each other's lives added a fun layer of unpredictability. The found-family dynamic within Finn's apartment complex brought a sense of warmth and belonging. And the presence of the dogs, cats, and other animals that wove their lives together.

Super cute is the perfect phrase to describe Melissa Ferguson's "How to Plot a Payback." It's a charming little guide that offers a glimpse into plotting revenge tales with plenty of humor and warmth. If you're looking for a quick and entertaining read to spark some ideas or simply brighten your day this is a fun and entertaining read.

Plot a Playback was a really enjoyable listen. The narrators did an excellent job and it was unique against the many other books I've read over the years. I was intrigued throughout the whole story and found myself smiling and laughing along with both of the main characters. I finished it in one day because it kept me that entertained! I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good grumpy/sunshine story where even though one of the parties is famous it felt mostly realistic.

There were a few areas that I think could have been trimmed down, but that's just a personal preference. The ending came together in a way I didn't quite expect and may not have chosen myself. Still enjoyable but a little skeptical. These are the only reasons I didn't give it 5 stars.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley, but this did not affect my review.

Perfect Enemies to Lovers.

Burned and jaded Finn feels like Lavender has been the catalyst for everything wrong in his life. Now he has his dream job working directly with her, his plan started as payback for this girl who he believed was an entitled actress until he begins to see maybe his opinion of her is completely wrong.

Very slow burn but the writing is fantastic and the banter between Finn and Lavender is perfect.

The narrators did a wonderful job showing the emotions and held my attention through the entire book.

How To Plot A Comeback

Author:- Melissa Ferguson

Narrators:- Fiona Hardingham & Steve West

Audiobook:- 9 Hours & 11 Minutes

Book:- 317 Pages

Publishers:- Thomas Nelson

He crossed an ocean, and it still wasn’t enough to escape his lifelong nemesis. Now he has to work with her.

Successful screenwriter Finn Masters just landed his dream job writing for Neighbors, one of Hollywood’s highest-rated, longest-running sitcoms. The only downside? It will put him back in proximity of the show’s universally adored, optimistic, altruistic star, Lavender Rhodes, who has been inadvertently ruining his life since they were school chums in England. But she doesn’t even know she destroyed his acting career and wrecked his relationship with the love of his life.

Review..

I loved the look of the cover.
When I started this book I knew from the first chapter I was going to love it. I loved the humour and the chemistry that you see in the writing. It was engaging & you wanted the best for both main characters because each of their lives were them trying to make the best of what they had and also follow their dreams (even tho some dreams look perfect on the outs9de but can be a nightmare).

I like how each of them over time see each other beyond the look they give to the world - in life we all put on a frontal to ne seen by others but it's the ones who we let get close who see us more clearly

4.5 stars

I found this to be very easy to listen to and generally delightful. It was lighthearted and I found the characters agreeable. This would make for a great beach or vacation read- something perfect for reading on a lounge chair by the pool or on the beach.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

I recently listened to the audio book "How to Plot a Payback" by Melissa Ferguson and unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. While the plot itself was cute and sweet, I found the narration to be lacking and not at all captivating. I thought, the book was supposed to be a romance, but it read more like a work of fiction, to me. I would give it a 3 star rating, as there were definitely some enjoyable moments, but overall it fell short for me.

One of the main issues I had was with the narration. It was not engaging and at times, even made the book difficult to listen to. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy light reads and don't mind a slower pace, but for those looking for an adventurous, gripping or whirlwind romance, this may not be the best choice.

Thank you to Uplift Reads and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.25 stars

This was SUCH a delightful slow burn rom-com. Such a slow burn that the story ended before their relationship even got to the spicy parts. I'm not normally into the clean or closed-door romance, but, honestly, I didn't even realize there was no spice in this until it was over.

Fiona Hardingham, Steve West did fantastic jobs as Finn and Lavender. I think their voices went perfect with what I was imagining. Steve's voice was so smooth and rich and Fiona's was so lyrical. It fit the personalities of the characters great.

This story has so many sweet, swoony moments along with moments that just made me snicker out loud along with rolling my eyes hard (at the characters, not at the book itself). Melissa did such a great job with these two. It really was so much fun to listen to. I'm a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers and while this one seems to be enemies-to-lovers on Finn's side and acquaintances-to-lovers on Lavender's side, but it still worked well.

The ending was honestly the sweetest thing ever. I could see that kind of ending on some sort of Gilmore Girls, Hallmark movie ending. It was perfect for these two.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ALC. This is my honest opinion.

If you are looking for a super light hearted, charming, easily digestible meandering romance that will have you laughing but also rolling your eyes, look no further. This book claims to be enemies to lover with Finn, a tv writer, and Lavender, a tv star, suddenly working on the same show. Finn, because he is a whiny man baby and can't possibly look at his own life critically, blames Lavender for everything that has every gone wrong in his life. Most of it was circumstantial, but the dude can hold a serious grudge. So when he lands the top writing job on Lavender's show, he decides to plot revenge.

Unfortunately, he straight sucks at it and it all back fires on him. It's fairly childish but mildly amusing. We get the POV of both Lavender and Finn and I liked Lavender a lot more than Finn. Finn gets 2 stars and Lavender gets 4, so we average out to 3 stars. The romance was very gradual and wholesome, but the ending did not work for me. Spoiler! Anytime a man disappears, cuts off communication, and then sweeps in at the later to "fix everything" is a hard no for me. Maybe communicate first? What if the grand gesture backfired? Anyway, Lavender handled it well, I guess, and the epilogue was cute.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and certainly won’t be my last, I loved it. Effortlessly witty writing, full of loveable characters and a funny plot with some cheeky twists and turns. Who knew trying to exact revenge so longed for could turn out to be so difficult in reality, huh?

How to Plot a Payback is a perfect RomCom and the audio really brought the chucklesome story to life with endearing dual POV narration between the main characters Finn (swoon!) and Lavender (misunderstood!). A tale of enemies to lovers, but she doesn’t know she’s the enemy!

Will they? Won’t they? You’ll have to read it to find out, and I highly recommend you do! The audio book is available now and the paperback available from Amazon (UK) from 9 May.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for access to this ARC.

4.5 stars

Melissa Ferguson never disappoints and this is one of my new favorites of hers! I absolutely loved this and I HIGHLY recommend the audio. The narrators were fantastic. Finn’s narrator truly brought his disdain for Lavender to life! This is definitely a one sided enemies to lovers romp. Finn’s strong feelings towards Lavender are comical. For everything she’s seemingly put him through, you can’t help but feel for him. That is until, along with Finn, you get to know the real Lavender, and you fall just as hard as he does!

Lavender was such a breath of fresh air! I loved her self-awareness and how she didn’t take herself too seriously. All she wanted to do was help everyone she met — human and animal. Speaking of animals, I loved Bernie and Miles! Give me all of the dogs in books! Lavender and Finn had such good chemistry and banter. There was plenty of room for misunderstanding, but their communication was so good. And Finn’s grand gesture at the end of was chef’s kiss!

Content: kisses

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the gifted copies. My thoughts are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Uplit reads for my e-arc of this one.

Unfortunately I did not love this one like I did Famous for a Living.

How to Plot a Payback is a slow burn rom-com. Enemies to lovers follow Finn and Lavendar. Finn, now a successful screenwriter, has held a grudge against Lavendar for years. Now, they are forced to work together again.

For some reason Finn annoyed me so bad. The fact that he blames Lavendar for everything and was so whiny just drove me crazy. Lavendar was not likeable at all and was so self centered. At the end, I just didn’t find myself invested in this story at all

I have to say that I don't think I would have liked this if it wasn't an audiobook. The plot was weak as there were not really any stakes driving it forward, at least not powerful enough ones to keep me turning pages. However, the British Narrators (I love when there are multiple narrators to cover viewpoints) were brilliant and I couldn't stop listening. It felt like when two of your friends are having drama and not communicating and you're getting both sides of the stories. Low stakes drama, but juicy to listen to nonetheless.
I think it was a sweet slow burn.
No spice, pure romance.
I also have to give props to the author because at the beginning of the book I loathed Lavender with Finn's fervor "Yeah! She is inconsiderate!" but just as he slowly fell for her, so I slowly started to enjoy her as well.
Cute, easy read.

Forget the predictable enemies-to-lovers trope! In "How to Plot a Payback," grumpy Fin is convinced his life's misfortunes stem from one person: the sunshine-y Lavender Rhodes. Fin's revenge plans backfire hilariously, and as he gets to know Lavender, he questions everything he thought he knew.

Lavender's golden retriever energy clashes perfectly with Fin's vengeful streak, creating a delightful tension that keeps you hooked. This rom-com masterfully balances humor with heartwarming moments of self-discovery. Fin's evolving perception of Lavender mirrors the reader's journey, as we delve into their complex dynamic.

Cleverly plotted payback schemes and laugh-out-loud mishaps bring the characters to life. Relatable and entertaining, "How to Plot a Payback" will leave you grinning, swooning, and rooting for love's unexpected victory. If you crave enemies-to-lovers with a healthy dose of humor and heart, this book is the book for you!

Title: How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson

Release Date: April, 2nd, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Finn Masters, a successful screenwriter, lands his dream job working on the sitcom "Neighbours," but there's a catch—he has to collaborate with Lavender Rhodes, the show's beloved star and Finn's lifelong nemesis. Unbeknownst to Lavender, she inadvertently derailed Finn's acting career and ruined his relationship in their school days. Seizing the opportunity for payback, Finn plans to twist Lavender's character in the show. However, his scheme goes awry, leading to unexpected consequences that force Finn to reconsider his feelings toward Lavender, whom he finds impossible, infuriating, and perhaps even lovable.

An intriguing read that explores the enemies-to-lovers trope without delving into spicy territory. The banter between the characters is engaging and adds depth to the story. Additionally, the audiobook format enhances the experience, with narrators skilfully presenting the characters' personalities. Overall, it's an enjoyable read, especially for fans of enemies-to-lovers romances.

Tropes:

Miscommunication
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
Workplace romance
No spice


Thank you to The Publisher HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction , The Author Melissa Ferguson & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I’m hoping that this is an unpopular opinion, but this book just wasn’t it. It had an adorable cover. I usually love second chance, payback, and actors in romcoms. I fully expected to love this book. Unfortunately, I really disliked the characters. In the beginning, Lavender seemed really shallow and Finn reasonably upset with her. As the book progressed, her character stayed surface level, and he became incredibly petty. It all felt very immature, and the ‘cute’ moments were undermined by Finn’s attitude.

I felt like Finn went from hating her to being head over heels in love with no in-between, and she had basically no reaction to discovering how he felt. There were some interesting points about side characters that were mentioned, but never really followed up on. This book had a lot of potential, but fell flat for me.

Lighthearted, sweet read with main characters that were easy to like. The narrator was great, too. But Quick and fun!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read in return for my honest review.

4 ⭐️

Short and sweet!

It is a romantic comedy, with more emphasis on the comedy part and was an absolute delight to listen to. I love the characters in this book. Each written very well and empathetically. They were a bit too ideal and simplistic at times but it did not take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

It is a slow-burn romance, with a lot of heart and warmth, very cozy, low-angst and perfect for a comfort read. This was also a quick read and is sure to help get out of a slump.

The audiobook in particular, enriched the listening experience for me. I liked the way the narrators conveyed the internal thoughts, conflicts and monologues. Very crisp and clean. There were production notes in the book which were not included in the audiobook, but were probably of no consequence. Other than that, the listening experience was stellar.

Melissa Ferguson is a seasoned writer and I would definitely love to pick up more books by the author.

I received an ARC of the Audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.