Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the Arc. Bryony Page is a tenacious inspiring author who finds herself fumbling to make a good first impression, quickly realizing she is way in over her head. Bryony loves hard and is a fierce protector of those she cares about including her first book. Talk about love is blind. There's something about Bryony that leads Jack to make her an offer she can't refuse. She desperately wants to make a name for herself to help her beloved ESL students but is plagued by the shadow of being a ghostwriter. Bryony has some tough decisions to make as she finds herself experiencing one betrayal after another. I found the long distance relationship highlighted just how naive Bryony is though she is passionate and strong-willed which is important later in the story. The banter between Bryony and Jack had some notable Rom Com moments. Their relationship read more of a secondary storyline that developed towards the last 20 percent of the book. I found myself wanting more from them especially after Jack redeems himself. Can Bryony get both happy endings that she desires?

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were so lovable and I found myself rooting for them all (except Amelia— although a change of heart from her would’ve been nice to see). I share such a deep love for The Bridge and all of its students, I can really resonate with the mission of The Bridge so for that to be the extra driving force for Bryony to be so determined to become a published author after 2 years of her having a ghostwriting career was truly special for me. I squealed during Chapter 13 when Jack made my heart swoon, and cried happy tears with Bryony when Jack and all her friends who believed in her (despite the consequences) all rallied together to put her name on her hard work and let the world know in Chapter 25. Jack was exactly who she needed in her corner and my heart is fully content with how this story ended. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read such an empowering book.

“The Perfect Rom-Com” wasn’t so perfect for me. I love a story about someone getting to live their dream. Add in some romance, witty banter and I am typically hooked. It’s a well written witty story with great banter. That aside, I didn’t love it. Bryony, the FMC is determined to find an agent in hopes of getting her novel published. She knows it may need some polishing, but she believes in her heart that with the right agent, it will be a success. She just needs someone to champion her. When she attends a publishing event she is scared and hopeful. Things do not go as planned. Then Jack, world's most condescending and pompous agent of them all makes her an offer. She sees it as a once in a lifetime offer and believes every promise he makes and signs on the dotted one without hesitation. What could possibly go wrong? We do get to the inevitable HEA for Bryony, but by that time I wasn’t terribly interested. I found most of the characters not terribly likable. Additionally, I didn’t find there to be much real chemistry between the two main characters. Love this author, this just wasn’t my favorite.

A delight of a book! The Perfect Rom-Com is the second book I've read by Melissa Ferguson and my favorite so far.

Plot Summary: Main female character Bryony wants to be a published author, and use the money earned from book sales to save a charity she loves. She attends a literary conference to pitch her manuscript, and meets a grumpy agent named Jack. Jack doesn't like her manuscript, but likes her writing ability so he hires her to be a ghostwriter for one of his romantic comedy clients. Fast forward two years, and Bryony has become a wildly successful ghostwriter, but doesn't have the personal fame to get her original manuscript published under her real name. Through a series of events, her forced proximity with Jack turns into a more romantic relationship than agent-author. However, the issue of her manuscript and the charity she wants to save still exists. Can she find a way to save the charity, write under her own name, and also enjoy a relationship with Jack?

My Thoughts: This book has snappy dialogue and great pacing. There are no lulls in the middle as with some books. The overarching genre is women's fiction, with the romance plot picking up about halfway through the book. I was captured into the story at the very beginning and didn't even miss the lack of romantic interaction in the first half of the book.

The writing style reminded me of a Katherine Center book, minus any language or intimacy beyond kissing. The plot felt original and fresh; it didn't overuse romantic tropes like many romantic comedy books fall prey to.

I enjoyed learning abut the back end of the literary world and how agents work with authors. I didn't expect to learn so much about publishing books from a fun rom-com book! As an avid reader, I loved the snippets where the author described the stereotypical personality of book fans, such as wearing book shirts. The author's stream of conscience style of writing for the main character was one of my favorite parts. Her insights were relatable and authentic.

I highly recommend this book to any rom-com reader!

Content considerations: There is no language or spice. Kisses only. No faith content mentioned.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book. My review is my own opinion and my words are in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Melissa Ferguson delivers a rom-com with heart, humour, and a fresh take on storytelling. The Perfect Rom-Com is a delightful read with a charming mix of romance, career ambition, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.

Bryony is a fantastic FMC—driven, passionate, and refreshingly level-headed. She’s got a mission and sticks to it, which makes her an easy character to root for. She doesn’t get caught up in unnecessary drama, yet she’s full of spark and determination. Then there’s Jack, the loveable literary agent who had me on his side from the start. I enjoyed how his career in publishing added depth to the story, and the journey of a ghostwriter unfolding in the background was a unique and interesting layer.

The antagonist is written so well—frustratingly so! I wanted to reach into the book and slap her on Bryony’s behalf more times than I can count. That’s a sign of excellent writing, though, right?

Now, onto the romance. This is where things were a little hit-and-miss for me. The time jump of two years felt jarring—I wanted to see Jack falling for Bryony rather than just being told it happened off-page. A dual POV would have worked beautifully here, giving us insight into Jack’s feelings and showing his pining firsthand. And while I’m not usually a fan of a third-act breakup, this one was handled better than I expected, so I’ll give it credit where it’s due.

The only real downside? Bryony’s long-distance relationship subplot dragged on longer than necessary. It was obvious where that was headed, and I wished it would resolve sooner.

Overall, I devoured this book and would recommend it. It’s a fresh take on contemporary romance with an engaging premise, lovable characters, and a satisfying balance of humour and heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an eArc of this book; my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating 3.5/5
It was perfect, it made me giggle, swoon and giddy for the most part. The dynamic between the main characters, the challenges faced by a writer said in such details but funny and emotional at the same time - it was all so good.
The immigrant community , the teaching and the heart felt moments
Friends to lovers
The sisterhood
The banter and fun moments
The BTS of writing and publishing industry
I loved every second of ot until like three fourth.
This friends to lovers rom com wa so perfect until it wasn't for me. The one trope that I dislike- miscommunication between the main characters was so huge, I couldn't ignore it - mainly from Jack's part. Also the part where Bryony didn't edit or read through her first draft at all until she was literally forced to be in a position seemed kind of far fetched. The drama that unfurled at the end was understandable but not quite? Something didn't sit well there when it said Jack eluded from all legal issues due to the drama he pulled. I genuinely wanted to love it, so I listened to the whole book for a second time, although some of the intentions seemed fine, still the FMC being so annoying and MMC being so elusive weren't for me.

The Perfect Rom-Com is Melissa Ferguson at her finest. I absolutely fell in love with the FMC Byrony from the moment I met her. She is tenacious and scrappy. I loved her relationship with her sister and her meeting with potential agent, Jack, was so good. Epic!

There are so many laugh out loud moments and many other subtle moments that had me smiling or giggling. This is a book that I needed to relish every word for fear of missing something.

I loved that this took place in the literary world, it seemed so real, highlighting many of the challenges writers experience in this age of social media.

It concludes with the most fabulous grand gesture, truly unmatched!

So so good! The perfect clean romance and truly the "perfect rom-com" 😉

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony, an ESL teacher turned ghostwriter, as she tries to save her school by getting her manuscript (inspired by the school and her grandmother) published.

I was really looking forward to this book because it was described as a publishing world take on 2 Weeks Notice (one of my favorite movies!) but this was not it. This story was incredibly slow- the actual action/problem (beyond the initial “save the bridge” goal) wasn’t really clear until about 40% through. Much of the book is Bryony’s internal dialogue which is often repetitive and very judgmental- big “not like the other girls” energy. I also got the feeling that the author has contempt for romance writers and readers, which is weird because that’s literally her genre.

The romance aspect was really lacking as well. There was little tension/build up between the two main characters. They are friends and then one day she realizes she likes him. Literally overnight. We don’t actually get to see any of the relationship develop. (I will say the “you weren’t dating me, but I was dating you” conversation was swoony but that was it.)

The book relies on a miscommunication trope and it is done in the most frustrating way possible. There was no nuance or novelty. She hears something that doesn’t match what she thought and then refused to hear any explanation- going so far as deleting emails- from a man who has apparently only ever been wonderful for two years. It’s my least favorite trope and this was not my favorite execution of it.

Last thing which is not a big deal but was distracting to me— the description of Seaside, Fl and Rosemary Beach make it so clear that the author hasn’t been and didn’t even bother to google maps the area. The bookstore in Seaside (shout out to Sundog Books) is teeny tiny- definitely no stage and no room for a long Q&A line. Rosemary Beach has no strip malls at all (definitely no Tesla dealership or Williams Sonoma!!) and all of the buildings are based on the French Quarter and all neutral colors. Again really not the point but it was jarring having actually been to both places.

Overall I liked the premise but the execution was lacking.

Not spicy, male female, 1st person single point of view, contemporary romance. I really enjoyed this author's writing style. Interesting premise, great banter, and fun to read. The story flowed well and was the perfect length. I look forward to reading more from this author.

3.75 ⭐️ This was a cute, wholesome, no spice romance. I enjoyed the chemistry between Bryony and Jack and the familial relationship between Bryony and Gloria. I also enjoyed the different cast of side characters. Amelia was a good (read: very irritating) adversary. I felt the beginning was too slow and at certain points I felt like our FMC was too smart to be as naive as she was acting, but once the actual storyline picked up, it was a quite enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up, because I just absolutely loved Jack. He’s the hero of heroes in this book and what makes it so likeable. I got total Two Weeks Notice vibes with Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock, just the constant banter back and forth. The banter was the best part of it all between the two, and we love a man who pines after a woman! It was an excellent ending with an amazing scene!
There were some things that could’ve made this book better. Melissa’s writing is fantastic and witty which I absolutely love, but I would’ve loved to have had Jack’s POV as he’s such a loveable character. Also more building on the actual romance side of things, and less focusing on the monologues about other things. Otherwise, amazing story!

Top moments:
📚 The first meeting
📚 Serghei’s dislike of Jack
📚 The banter at dinner
📚 The first date & kiss
📚 The Pin Pals
📚 “Make me your muse”
📚 Coffee table dancing
📚 Penny highlighting


(Posting on Instagram stories too which will be highlighted)

4.25⭐️ | 1🌶️

If you love books about books, publishing, and all the chaos that comes with them, The Perfect Rom-Com is an absolute treat! It’s heartwarming, funny, and unexpectedly inspiring—kind of like a rom-com with a double shot of ambition and a side of self-discovery.

Bryony’s journey had me completely hooked. She’s determined, hardworking, and occasionally a bit of a mess (relatable, right?). Her moments of overthinking were both hilarious and painfully accurate—I wanted to jump into the story just to give her a hug and tell her to breathe.

Now, let’s talk romance! Bryony and Jack’s dynamic was adorable and filled with the kind of witty banter that keeps you grinning. Their chemistry was there, but I couldn’t help but wish their romance had been given more space to shine. It had all the makings of a swoon-worthy love story, but it felt more like a subplot than the main event. Still, their evolution from colleagues to something more was fun to watch unfold.

The behind-the-scenes look at ghostwriting was a highlight! Seeing Bryony navigate the publishing world, dealing with a larger-than-life (and completely clueless) socialite author, was both eye-opening and wildly entertaining. It had me wondering just how many bestsellers are secretly written by someone else.

Overall, The Perfect Rom-Com is a feel-good, slow-burn read with a unique premise and an endearing cast of characters. While it leans more toward chick-lit than romance, it’s still a delightful listen, perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea. If you love stories about writers, second chances, and finding your voice (both on and off the page), this one’s worth checking out!

REVIEW: The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
2.5 stars

The Perfect Rom-Com focuses on Bryony, a writer and ESL teacher, and Jack, the writing agent. Bryony wants to publish her book more than anything, but she starts ghostwriting for a famous romance author from a connection through Jack. I liked the plot around an agent and ghostwriter. Ghostwriters are not typically in books, so it was a nice, unique premise.
There is a lot of focus on rom-coms, which is great for fans of the genre. The grand gesture at the end was also an excellent moment for the characters and satisfied me.

Unfortunately, a lot of The Perfect Rom-Com didn't do it for me. First, I wouldn't call this book a rom-com; it's more of a women's literature book. There were only a few funnier parts, and the romance didn't start until almost halfway through the book. The beginning was very slow, and not much was going on. Some unnecessary characters (Parker) didn't play much into the story. There was also an odd time jump at the beginning, where they went from enemies to friends right after the jump. I would love to hear from them about how they became friends. Lastly, I really wanted to develop a better relationship between Bryony and Jack. Their relationship started super slowly, and they were suddenly profoundly in love. I wanted to know more about how their relationship changed and the little sparks back and forth.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of a ghostwriter and agent, but The Perfect Rom-Com didn't quite do it for me. I just wanted to focus more on Bryony's and Jack's relationship and how it evolved.

Thank you, Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

A light reading that you can read to entertain yourself. This is my first Melissa Ferguson and I found it enjoyable. It's funny and romantic but not that cringe.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bryony Page is an aspiring author with a dream, a dream to get her manuscript published, raise awareness (and funds!) for her grandmother’s ESL program, and, just maybe, become a big-time novelist.

But publishing is brutal, and after a pitching disaster at a writers' conference, things are looking… bleak.

Enter: A twist straight out of a rom-com, Bryony stumbles into accidentally correcting a bestselling author’s manuscript in front of a major agent (oops?), proving she’s got serious skills. Before she knows it, she’s given a chance to ghostwrite for Amelia Benedict, a rom-com queen whose name is everywhere (even if her latest books could use… some work).

At first, Bryony is thrilled…a foot in the door is a foot in the door, right? But soon, she realises she’s not just a ghostwriter; she’s the ghostwriter, the secret talent behind Amelia’s meteoric rise.

And the worst part?

Her own book deal is still on the back burner while Amelia’s career skyrockets.

The only thing keeping her sane? Jack Sterling, the charming literary agent who sees her talent, her potential… and maybe her in a way no one else ever has.

But when the truth about Amelia’s books threatens to come out, will Bryony get her own happily ever after, or is she doomed to be the invisible writer behind someone else’s success?

What Makes This Book Shine?

-A Rom-Com for Book Lovers – If you love romance novels about romance novels, this one is chef’s kiss perfection. It’s got publishing world chaos, ghostwriting drama, and an inside look at the highs and lows of the industry. (Bonus points for all the little nods to the book world—agents, queries, and the sheer agony of trying to get published. Writers, you’ll relate.)

-Bryony is a Delight – She’s funny, smart, and painfully relatable (who among us hasn’t daydreamed about publishing success while questioning every life choice?). Her journey from eager newbie to frustrated ghostwriter is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.

-Jack Sterling = Literary Boyfriend Goals – A book-loving, supportive (swoon) literary agent who actually believes in Bryony’s work? Yes, please. Their slow-burn romance is the kind that has you grinning like an idiot.

-The Humour is Spot-On – Melissa Ferguson nails the rom-com vibes with sharp dialogue, ridiculous but totally plausible publishing mishaps, and pitch-perfect comedic timing.



What Could Have Been Better?

-A Bit Predictable – If you read a lot of rom-coms, you’ll probably see the big moments coming (but honestly, that’s part of the charm!). It follows a classic structure, but the journey is so much fun that you won’t mind.

-Some Side Characters Felt Underdeveloped – Amelia Benedict (aka The Worst Boss Ever) is fun to hate, but she sometimes comes off as a little too over-the-top, and I would’ve loved a bit more nuance in her character.

-More Publishing Shenanigans, Please! – The book almost gets into the gritty reality of ghostwriting and the publishing world, but it leans more into the rom-com fluff than industry deep-dive (which, fair—it is a rom-com). But if you were hoping for an Emily Henry-style look at publishing politics, you might find it a bit surface-level.



Is It Worth the Read?

If you love:

✔ Witty, bookish romance (*think: Beach Read, Book Lovers, The Roughest Draft)
✔ Publishing industry drama with a lighthearted twist
✔ Strong, relatable heroines who fight for their dreams
✔ Slow-burn romance with a supportive, swoony book boyfriend

Then YES—The Perfect Rom-Com is exactly what you need.

📚𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝙘𝙤𝙢
Wow. I honestly don’t know where to start with this book. There is so much DEPTH to this multi-layered story.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝙘𝙤𝙢 is a slow burn, he falls first, workplace romance. BUT don’t let the title fool you into thinking it is a romcom in genre; it is not. Does it have funny moments? Yes, but this book is solid women’s fiction/chick lit. I believe the title is actually a play on what Byrony begins to pen as a ghostwriter.
It is told in single pov with a lot of inner monologues. We’re told more of the backstory of Bryony and Jack’s relationship rather than experiencing it with them. There is great banter and warmth between Bryony and Jack. It is FULL of lovable characters. It SHINES in how Bryony creates community and family with those that are usually marginalized (ie. the YEARS of ESL students, the PA, the bus driver, the hospital janitor). It touches briefly on grief. There is no language nor are the kisses descriptive.

Things I loved about it:
♥️ the absolute purity of Bryony’s heart
🎳 bowling league—especially the names
🫶🏻 ESL students—their backstories really brought them to life
💕 banter
🥰 Gloria and Albrecht—both made me laugh
📺 The comeuppance at the end
📖 the grand gesture
♥️ the epilogue

I really enjoyed this book even though it was not at all what I was expecting, and I would read it again. If you like stories with depth that make you think, make you laugh, and maybe even challenge the way you see the world, pick this one asap.

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

I love Melissa Ferguson’s books. I know I’ve only read two but I’m a forever fan. Not only are they funny (they are hilarious, actually), they are so well done.

This book has all the things I love in a romcom. Humor, heart, a wonderfully snarky MMC, a sweet and caring FMC who’s an ELS teacher turned ghostwriter. Along with moments that had me laughing so hard and smiling so big from the inner thoughts of Bryony.

I adored Bryony and Jack. Jack is so arrogant, it’s enjoyable. I loved how they knew each other. How they would know what the other was thinking. Ferguson’s descriptions are spot on. She even made me crave a tomato pie and I don’t even know what tomato pie is. I haven’t read a book about a ghostwriter before and I really enjoyed this plot line. (And of course the romantic tension between Jack and Bryony was also enjoyable.)

The story has a usual villain and the supporting characters are just as well done as Jack and Bryony. I can’t say my favorite moments for fear of spoilers but there were many.

The narrator does a perfect job expressing Ferguson’s words. Karissa Vacker’s tone was very well done on each character she portrayed. There are variety of accents too that are spot on.

I received a paperback and NetGalley approval for the audio and ebook from the publisher for your purposes. Huge thank you to Thomas Nelson.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a cute story about Bryony & Jack's relationship. The story starts with them meeting at a writing conference, then it jumps ahead 2 years later. Throughout the story, the readers are informed how their relationship grew into friendship, then more. Add plenty of characters to keep track of in this story, lots of self-reflection through Bryony's viewpoint, a little drama, a sprinkling of romance.
Thank you, #NetGalley & Thomas Nelson, for allowing me to read The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but if you're a romantic at heart & a book lover, then you'll enjoy this sweet story.

This was such an adorable read and I loved every moment of it! I’m a sucker for books about characters in the publishing industry and having a writer as well as an agent was just perfect!

I fell for Jack the moment he was on the page and he was such an incredibly sweet guy. I loved their banter and it had me laughing out loud multiple times. This was cute and warm and book full of heart!

This book is all I love about Melissa Ferguson. It's bookish and hilarious and the sweetest relationships with a great friendship character (sister in this case) hyping up FMC in the background. I loved the friendship and the evolution of these characters and while there's a lot of the book that was expected and you could see it coming, the characters, dialogue and a few twists made it totally worth it. The end was chefs kiss fun.

#arc
#netgalley
#theperfectromcom