Successful screenwriter Finn lands his dream job writing for a popular sitcom. The downside? Working with Lavender, the show’s beloved star—and his childhood nemesis. The woman who ruined his engagement and acting career. His plot to seek revenge backfires, forcing him to confront his past and reconsider his feelings.

I loved this rom com so much! The voice is strong and the characters vivid. The story is clever, fast-paced, and emotional. Finn is a sweetheart beneath all his bluster, and Lavender a hot mess beneath her polished façade. The audiobook narration added to the enjoyment of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This romcom has a unique take on enemies to lovers that made me chuckle page by page. I enjoyed beginning the book from the MMC's POV and I'm nearly always a fan of dual POV so this was right up my alley.

The MMC strongly dislikes the FMC, she's practically his lifelong nemesis and she has no clue whatsoever. I loved the contrast between his bitter one-sided rivalry and her happy-go-lucky, glass-always-half-full worldview. I am always captivated by Ferguson's creativity and characters and this book is no exception.

I also really liked how the main conflict of the book was resolved and the ending was really strong because of it.

I was provided an Advanced Listener's Copy from Netgalley/Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and I really enjoyed the narration (British accents can never go wrong IMO).

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

A refreshing take on the rom-com genre!

One quick thing I'd like to note is the author's distinct voice, which carries a mature tone. It adds a unique flavor to the storytelling and distinguishes it from other titles.

It was dual POV of course—which is either a hard hit or miss for me—but the decision to begin the narrative from Finn's perspective, when the norm these days is to follow the female in the story, is a refreshing departure from convention.

A little excessive with the focus on animals, which, while cute, feels tangential to the main plot. I felt the diversion impacted the pacing, I was hoping for a little more substance in terms of plot development.

Despite overdoing it with the animals, the novel excels in delivering a classic grumpy x sunshine trope. Finn IS the embodiment of the reluctant yet inherently kind protagonist archetype. The chemistry between the characters is palpable too, and I enjoyed watching them build feelings for each other. While they experience some growth throughout the story, they still ultimately feel somewhat two-dimensional to me.

I was charmed by this book. Engaging characters, unique plot - it has its flaws, but it succeeds in delivering a cute rom-com experience and I'm totally satisfied!

I want to shoutout the audiobook narrators for effectively capturing the essence of the characters, their voices align really well with the characters' personalities.

Finn is stoked when he lands his dream job writing for a well known sitcom. But his happiness is quickly diminished when he realises who the star of the show is. Lavender has been torturing him since his school days but maybe now Finn has the chance to exact the perfect payback.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook while I read along with my ebook copy. This book was fun and cute though it did drag a little in the middle. It was a happy change reading a clean romance for once however I also think this contributed to not feeling much chemistry between our two characters. Overall, I didn't mind this romance!

This is a sweet and charming book that takes place in the background of a show that is very similar to "Friends." The MMC Finn has been waiting to get justice against the star of the show and his arch nemesis Lavendar. The book progresses through his hilarious attempts to "right" the "wrongs" and then....well, it is a romance! I enjoyed Finn's journey of self-discovery and the bevy of side characters that filled out the cast. There is nothing spicy about this book, but the sweet moments do give your tummy a bit of the butterflies. I would have enjoyed a bit more definitive decision-making by the lead characters but otherwise enjoyed this book overall. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys reading about backstage Hollywood and someone who likes their romances PG.

This is my new favorite book by Melissa Ferguson. It was so funny and witty and lighthearted. I loved loved loved Finn and Lavender was so good too!

I loved that it was enemies to lovers, but was completely one sided. I loved the way lavender was just always the reason behind all the things that happen to Finn. I loved the animals, omg let’s have more pets in romance please!

I loved that the book was about a Hollywood tv show and it’s hilarious and diverse cast of characters. I just all around loved it. And the narration for the audio was amazing!

Such an easy and fun read!

Finn Master manages to get his dream job, working as a writer for the Sitcom Neighbors, the only problem is that Lavender Rhodes is the main character in that show and she has destroyed his life! When they were teenagers she broke his foot, took his part in the school play and that was how her career started, what's not hate?

This book is more of a comedy than a romance, but it was really light and breezy the perfect summer read. I received the audiobook version and I loved how the narrator switched for the different points of view.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced review copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


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


Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Dreamscape Media for an early copy of this book.

How To Plot a Payback is a brilliant, funny, and super cozy rom-com.
I liked everything about this book. The character personalities, the plot, the pace, and the writing.

This was my first book from this author and I have to say I´ll read something else from her because I had a great time.

The romance was not the main plot here, it was a slow burn, with zero spice, but it fitted perfectly the pace of the story.

Finn Master promised to never utter her name again out loud, because every event that went wrong in his life (yes he is now a successful writer, but that is not the point) was her fault. He wrote a list reminding him why he will never forgive her and he clings to it very dearly. So when he is offered the job position of a lifetime, one he cannot refuse, he finds himself in direct contact with the bane of his existence, America's sweetheart and his biggest nightmare, Lavander Rose.

Lavender Rose is a people pleaser, she knows the most loved show in America history runs on her shoulders and she must not disappoint. But what about her family back in London? What about the experiences of playing different characters?
When a new producer is hired though, he has different and biggest ideas and Lavander is immediately captivated, also she seems to know him, but from where?

If you love:
- laughing out loud
Unsuccessful paybacks
Sassy eighty-years-old
Misbehaving dogs
Sweet and head in the cloud FMC
Fakely brooding MMC
Then this is your cup of tea.

How to plot a Payback is out on April 2nd and you cannot miss it!

Would you take your dream job if you had to work with someone who has been ruining your life since you were classmates?

That's what Finn Masters has to decide for himself. This was such a fun read and I loved the dynamic between Finn and Lavendar. Also, can we talk about the cover? Absolutely beautiful!

If he stopped plotting his payback, he might just realize that there is more to Lavendar than meets the eye.


Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4

This book was so charming. It evoked vibes reminiscent of Tarah Dewitt's 'Funny Feelings', yet managed to maintain its own uniqueness.

Finn and Lavender share a delightful dynamic, although I found myself wanting more depth from Lavender's character. As a celebrity actress in a long-running sitcom, Lavender's life is very much in the public eye, while Finn maintains a level of anonymity as a writer behind the scenes. Finn, a show writer brought in to inject some freshness into Lavender's show, finds himself entangled in a complicated history with her. Their conflicting perspectives add an intriguing layer to their interactions.

The narrative alternating between Finn and Lavender's points of view was highly entertaining. Their personalities are strikingly different; Finn exudes positivity except in Lavender's presence, whom he perceives as a source of repeated setbacks. Lavender, on the other hand, radiates warmth and goodwill, unaware of the negative impact she has had on Finn's life.

Fiona Hardingham and Steve West delivered gret performances, though I found West's portrayal of female characters slightly less convincing. A dual narration might have enhanced the experience, but West's captivating British accent compensated for any minor shortcomings.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing the ALC.

I gave this book a chance. I listened to this book up until 25%. Sadly, i had to stop and DNF. Normally, i love Melissa Ferguson writing. Her last novel was a favorite of last year, but sadly, this just wasn't my cup of tea. The writing of the characters seemed a bit childish. The narrators were terrible. Maybe reading this would have been better for me. Because it i can get into a narrator, it really ruins the whole book. Giving this 2 stars, who knows, i might come back to it, but putting it aside

The one sided rivalry from Finn, filled with many petty attempts at payback towards Lavender Rose was hilarious. Really enjoyed how Lavender Rose was oblivious towards his payback attempts and always worked in her favor. It was an entertaining read, loved the plot from beginning to end. The narrators were great, the male narrator gave an excellent performance as Finn's grumpy voice.

Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson Audio for the ALC!

This is my 3rd book by Melissa Ferguson now and I've really come to look forward to whatever she puts out each year! When I saw this cover, I knew I had to have it! And the synopsis? Adorable!

I really enjoyed this one overall, especially on audio- the narrators were fabulous. The male narrator was possibly one of the best I've ever heard and I listen to over 100 audiobooks per year!

The plot itself was cute and had relatively low angst, so perfect for a palette cleanser read!

While the story flowed well and was very readable, I personally would have enjoyed a little more romance and for the characters to fall a little sooner. There was not much love interest for the first half at least of the book and then when it finally happened at the end, it seemed a tad rushed for me. Since I enjoyed both characters so much, I wish I could have SEEN them fall in love for a longer period of time!

Overall, still an enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what Melissa does next!

3.5 stars rounded up for GR

How to Plot a Payback started off a little slow for me but shortly after I was hooked. I listened in one sitting and ended up really enjoying it. It is definitely a fun read with romance and comedy intertwined between charismatic characters Lavender and Finn.

Narrators Fiona Hardingham and Steve West both did phenomenal jobs bringing these two characters to life with their back and forth banter and spot on accents. I felt like I was right there in the story with them.

If you're looking for a delightful, light hearted rom-com then I highly recommend How to Plot a Payback. You will absolutely feel warm and fuzzy afterwards.

Thank you HarperCollins Christian Publishing, author Melissa Ferguson, and NetGalley for this Advanced Listening Copy.

She’s the star of America’s favorite sitcom. He’s just been hired as a producer of the show- The only problem is, he can’t stand her. For as long as he can remember, Finn has blamed all his lives problems on the famous actress, Lavender Rhodes. After being hired onto the show, he begins to plot his payback. But what happens as Finn gets to know Lavender , and finds out maybe she isn't at all like he thought she was?

The audiobook for this was amazing, I felt like I was listening to two friends speak!!! I loved getting to hear both POV's of Lavender and Finn from Fiona Hardingham and Steve West. The narration kept me so engaged & the accents really added to the story for me.

This was a laugh-out-loud funny & wholesome love story. It was packed with witty humor, drama, slow-burn romance, and an overall feel good story. In-spite of Finn's petty revenge, I found both characters to be so loveable & was very invested in their love story. Even during Finn's childish payback, the romance was there & once he got over it, it was even better. I love a couple who just makes sense together. I was smiling SOOOOOO big during their first kiss, like full on gushing.

"Lavender Rhodes takes my well-laid plans and throws them out the window, no matter what, I can't ever seem to take control of the situation around her. I plan to destroy her, but backtrack to the point of apology. I plan to stay as far away from her as possible, but end up beside her. I plan to hate her, but somehow fall in love with her."

A fun romcom full of nemeses, hijinks, & cute pups. Finn is a screenwriter and gets the perfect gig on a popular show. The only thing not perfect—the show’s star, Lavender, ruined his life as a kid and he’s held a grudge ever since. Forced to work in close proximity, Finn starts plotting out ways to get payback, and each backfires more than the last, but perhaps the worst result is realizing she’s not so bad, after all.
This novel is definitely more comedy than romance which made it a fun read, but I wasn’t a big fan of either main character and had trouble connecting to them as a reader.
Narration by Fiona Hardingham and Steve West helped bring Finn and Lavender to life and they did a great job.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson fiction and. Zondervan audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.