To be honest, this was pretty disappointing. For the most part, the story just felt dragging and was unfortunately boring during a lot of parts. The pacing was also pretty messed up, and that caused a dissonance in the timeline and flow of the plot. That whole thing just took me out of the story, and I couldn’t get myself to enjoy it no matter how hard I tried. I will say, I loved it towards the end, but that can’t really save the rest of the story.

I was excited going into this because of the premise of the story, and I’m sad that it wasn’t executed as well as I hoped it’d be. Still, thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to share my honest review of this ARC.

I’ve read this author before so I went in expecting a sweet rom-com. I was not disappointed! However I feel like the love story was secondary to Bryony’s story of personal growth throughout the book. I was really rooting for her! The only downside for me was that I felt the romance came out of nowhere? Still an enjoyable read for me though.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for the ARC!

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is exactly what the title promises—an absolute delight from start to finish! With laugh-out-loud moments, swoon-worthy romance, and plenty of charm, this book had me grinning the whole way through. The witty banter and undeniable chemistry between the characters made it impossible to put down. If you love a feel-good, heartwarming romance that leaves you with a happy sigh, this one is a must-read! 💕✨

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

#Netgalley #The Perfect Rom-Com #FriendstoLovers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Melissa Ferguson for this ARC!

Melissa Ferguson's "The Perfect Rom-Com" is a charming exploration of dreams and love set against the backdrop of the publishing world. The story follows aspiring author Bryony Page, who attends her first writers’ conference with hopes of promoting The Bridge, her grandmother’s struggling ESL organization. After a disastrous pitch session, Bryony unexpectedly lands a gig ghostwriting for the famous rom-com novelist Amelia Benedict, with the condition that agent Jack Sterling also helps her sell her own manuscript.

As Bryony's talent transforms Amelia into a bestselling author, she discovers the complexities of the publishing industry and the pressures of success. The chemistry between Bryony and Jack is electric, and their witty banter brings warmth and humor to the story. Ferguson beautifully captures the struggle of pursuing one’s ambitions while navigating personal relationships, highlighting the importance of self-identity in the creative process.

With engaging characters, delightful dialogue, and a satisfying conclusion, "The Perfect Rom-Com" is a heartwarming read for fans of romantic comedies and aspiring writers alike. It’s a joyous celebration of love, ambition, and the magic of storytelling that will leave readers smiling. Highly recommended!

A cute little workplace romance.
All in all the book was cute! The FMC was a little unrelatable but her and Jack grew on me!

Read if you love
💕 workplace romance
✨ strangers to lovers
💕 forced proximity
✨ closed door

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this eArc is exchange for an honest review!!

If these tropes are your jam, you'll like this one!
- Slow burn romance
- Character development
- Friends to lovers
- Agent-author
- Workplace romance

Bryony wants nothing more than to get her story, her baby, her novel out into the world. Too bad no one wants to take it on. But when Bryony is offered the chance to ghostwrite instead and knocks it out of the park (again and again), well, it looks like the power has shifted hands.

What can I say - I loved everything about this book. From the cover to the story to the characters, I was hooked. But you know what I loved THE MOST? Jack and Bryony's relationship. It was written so well and the chemistry was just bursting off the page. A+ read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Characters fell a little flat and a miscommunication trope….so slightly disappointing but cute enough. When the book hinges on miscommunication it feels like the stakes just aren’t high enough.

The fmc was annoying in the beginning, great in the middle, and back to annoying.
I really liked the story of this one but the miscommunication drove me nuts. If the man you love says "wait I have something really important to tell you"....maybe, just maybe....idk listen???? miscommunication 😂
Overall tho - I did enjoy it!

"The Perfect Rom-Com" by Melissa Ferguson was anything but perfect—or a rom-com, for that matter. The characters were dull and flat, with absolutely no chemistry. Bryony and Jack felt more like acquaintances than love interests, and the book lacked any real romance or relationship development. It read more like a forgettable, cozy read than a proper rom-com, and even that dragged for at least 70% before anything noteworthy happened (which was easy to spot a mile away).

One of the biggest issues was the time jump—it skipped over crucial moments that should have built the romance, making the connection between Bryony and Jack feel completely unearned. Where was the build-up? The tension? The chemistry? It just wasn’t there. The ending also felt incredibly unrealistic and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Aside from that, a key as to why this was lackluster read was the writing. The writing was all over the place, and the story itself felt like words on paper with no real meaning behind them.

All in all, a cozy read for those just looking to kill some time, but not something I’d recommend if you’re looking for actual romance or comedy.

Oh man I wanted to love this book. I went into it with high hopes after being a fan of the author’s. While it had so much potential, so I kept reading, but there was nothing really happening until abiut 50% in amd even then the characters were flat and there were so many plot holes that left you feel like you’re missing the meat if the story and just getting the side dishes. And the characters had zero chemistry! And the worst part, for being a rom com there was minimal comedy.
Sadly I won’t be recommending this ine, but that won’t stop me from reading the authors future books.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Based on the title and the my previous experience with this author's work ,I was really excited for this book. I was expecting a fun rom-com, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver that vibe. While there’s some romance, the connection between Bryony and Jack felt awkward and lacked chemistry, which made it hard to invest in their relationship. The first half of the book dragged, leaving me wondering when the plot would pick up. This feels more like chick lit than the rom-com I was hoping for. If you enjoy a more character-driven story, this might be for you, but it wasn’t the lighthearted read I anticipated.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author and Publisher for the Arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book was such a treat! I adored Bryony and Jack...and totally loathed Amelia!!

Jack is an agent. Bryony is a writer needing an agent. Their meeting and eventual work relationship is not what Bryony had planned. She is hired to be a ghostwriter which leads her to great success, but unfortunately, she gets no credit. Bryony and Jack had such witty banter, and their relationship was so much fun with a connection that felt real. These two were just so perfect together even with the ensuing conflicts and misunderstanding. The moment when Bryony finally realized her feelings...and to know Jack had always been there (and even though she didn't know it he was dating her!) was the sweetest moment. The romance was great, but the side story with the Bridge/immigrants also captured my heart.

I am still smiling!

5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing and captivating experience, and I found the writing to be both engaging and accessible. The story flowed smoothly, making it easy to stay connected to the plot and characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed. The author struck a perfect balance, keeping things interesting while still making the content feel approachable. Overall, it was a wonderful read, and I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and easy-to-digest book.

Read this book in one full setting. I felt like it was relatable and livable. Everyone has a bit of Bryony in them and has that guy friend that they're not sure where they stand; a career that they are hoping really gets off the ground one day and a family member/friend cheering them on in the background if they're truly lucky. It was a great light hearted read that was catchy and had enough spirit to it that kept you entertained and wanting to know what was going to happen.

I was not expecting this book, and it surprised me in the best way! I usually really struggle with books written in the first-person present tense, but Melissa Ferguson knows her craft, and she created a compelling, gorgeous rom-com in "The Perfect Rom-Com." I adored Bryony and Jack, and between the tense and the pacing, Ferguson may have created a perfect rom-com. It's giving Norah Ephron in the best way.

Bryony is just the right blend of a down-to-earth teacher, gifted author, and confused adult, while Jack balances between swoon-worthy, smarmy, and surly, a flawed and loveable leading man. Ferguson's dialogue is snappy, she gives plenty of detail without overwhelming the reader, and she keeps the plot and characters tight. She knows the ins and outs of the publishing industry, and she illuminates them without ruining the magic. I loved to hate her villain, appreciated the wrap-up, and overall just could not put this book down!

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony Page, an ESL teacher by day and an aspiring author by night. Eager to share her grandmother's story and save ESL school she runs from shutting down, Bryony attends a writers' conference to pitch her novel, and although her pitch massively fails, she unexpectedly lands a ghostwriting opportuning for the vain and demanding rom-com novelist, Amelia Benedict. In exchange to be Amelia's ghostwriter, literary agent Jack Sterling agrees to help Bryony publish her own work. As Bryony's ghostwritten novels catapult Amelia to fame, Bryony remains in the shadows, becoming increasingly frustrated while grappling with her growing feelings for Jack.

Despite the engaging premise, I had a hard time getting into this one. This book, to me, leaned more toward chick lit than a true rom-com.

It took me about 50-60% in to feel slightly engaged, but even then, I struggled to connect with the story and characters. The writing felt a bit all over the place for me, making it difficult to stay immersed.

One of the biggest issues for me was the time jump - it felt like we skipped over crucial moments, especially in the romance. Where was the build-up? The chemistry? The relationship between Bryony and Jack felt like it came out of nowhere for me.

The ending felt really unrealistic too. I can't imagine a situation where that would happen without major, major consequences.

In the end, this book just was not for me!

This book was cute. Bryony Page is an aspiring writer and attends a writer's conference in Nashville hoping to seek representation. While there, Bryony meets Jack Sterling, a straightforward publicist who tells Bryony her book isn't ready, there is potential but its not there. However, the potential that Jack sees leads to him signing her as a ghostwriter for bestselling author Amelia Benedict. What should be a one and done deal turns into a multiyear partnership that sees Bryony and Jack become closer as friends.

While the majority of this book takes place over a span of two weeks, Melissa Ferguson does a great job of providing enough backstory for Bryony and Jack for this to not feel like a rushed romance as the foundation already exists between the two. While I thought the "oh no" moment that drives our main characters apart was a bit obvious, I nevertheless still enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend for anyone who is wanting a nice vacation rom-com.

The Perfect Rom-Com is Melissa Ferguson’s newest stand-alone romantic comedy. It is a clean workplace romance set in the literary world.

29-year-old Bryony Page attends her first writers’ conference in Nashville, Tennessee, hoping to meet a publisher who wants to purchase her masterpiece. She is an ESL teacher at her grandmother’s charity for immigrants in suburban Florence, New York. Bryony’s 149,000-word nonfiction manuscript isn’t interesting to anyone, and she’s devastated because she has spent years drafting it. When she meets uber-agent Jack Sterling, he dismisses her two minutes into her allotted fifteen-minute pitch. Bryony rallies and comes back, demanding that he give her the remainder of her time slot. They wind up discussing bestselling author Amelia Benedict’s latest draft, and Bryony makes some suggestions. Jack offers Bryony a job as Amelia’s ghostwriter, and in exchange he will try to market her book.

Fast-forward two years and Bryony has written six bestselling romantic comedies for Amelia Benedict. Both Amelia’s publisher and Jack’s literary agency realize that Bryony is the key to Amelia’s success, because she does nothing but make ridiculous demands. Amelia is beloved by the public, and she is booked for a two-week book tour across the United States. So Bryony and Jack are forced to go on tour with Amelia in order to keep her from making any mis-steps. Unfortunately, Bryony and Amelia can’t stand each other, and Bryony is at her wits end waiting on Jack to find a publisher for her book.

The Perfect Rom-Com is a clean romance with no profanity or sex and provides a behind-the-scenes view of the cutthroat world of publishing. The first few chapters chronicle Bryony’s experience at the writer’s conference, and contain more details than most readers are interested in. It was hard for me to get through these chapters, because the action was so slow. Once the story fast-forwarded two years to Bryony’s success as a ghostwriter, the story moved faster and was more enjoyable. The reader is questioning Jack’s motivation and trustworthiness alongside Bryony, while also hoping there’s a way to save The Bridge.

The characters really make The Perfect Rom-Com a special story. Bryony truly loves her job as an ESL teacher, and she’s loyal to a fault. Her younger sister, Gloria, is her ride-or-die best friend and cheerleader. Less is known about Jack, which adds to the conflict and suspense element. Other side characters, including Penny, Susanna, and Bryony’s students, add dimension to the story. Amelia is the perfect villain, and readers wait hopefully for her to get her comeuppance. The Perfect Rom-Com would make an enjoyable Hallmark-type movie.

As a side note, I attended the Tennessee Writers’ Conference in 2024, where this author was a speaker on a Romance panel. She shared her experiences as an ESL teacher and how she transitioned to writing romantic comedies.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.5 Stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC & HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the ALC through NetGalley! 🎧💌

Okay, so, I really wanted to love this one because, hello, it’s called The Perfect Rom-Com—like, sign me up, right?! But OMG, this was anything BUT perfect. 😩 I had soooo many icks with this book that I honestly don’t even know where to start. Let's get into it!

Where’s the romance, though? I mean, come on, we’re promised the perfect rom-com, and I got like... barely any romance! It was all about the setup and not enough about the connection between Bryony and Jack. I swear, the first half of the book was so slow, I felt like I was waiting for the plot to show up. And then there’s this huge time skip that was just meh—why even have it if it didn’t add anything substantial to their relationship? 💤

I really couldn’t care less about the characters. Bryony? Girl, what were you even doing? I didn’t get what was so special about her, and Jack? Let’s just say I’m not buying the chemistry between them. The friends-to-lovers trope felt so forced, and the “slow-burn” felt like it was on pause the whole time. Like, give me some tension, some heat, anything! But no, instead, we get nothing until it’s like—BOOM, they suddenly like each other? Sorry, no. 😒

I also felt like the whole story was trying to juggle too many things and didn’t do any of them well. Is it a workplace romance? Is it about ghostwriting? Is it supposed to have a happy ending? None of it made sense, and the romance? Nonexistent! 😤

Oh, and don’t even get me started on the conflict. 🙄 It was dragged out, awkward, and honestly just didn’t feel right. I get that there’s supposed to be some tension, but it didn’t work for me. I kept waiting for the big romantic moment to hit, and it just... didn’t. 😑

All in all, I wanted so badly to love this book, but it fell flat. It's just not the rom-com vibe I was expecting. So, if you're here for deep character development and slow-building tension—this might be for you. But if you're craving that classic rom-com magic, this ain't it.

Trope check:
📚 Friends-to-Lovers
💘 Agent-Author Dynamic
📚 Workplace Romance
💘 Chick Lit Elements
📚 Tension-Fueled Romance
💘 Slow Burn Romance

Romance light as a feather, no real chemistry 🔥

Final thoughts: Super disappointed. This one’s just not my jam, but hey, others might enjoy it—just wasn’t for me! ✌️