This book had such a unique and intriguing premise—I don’t think I’ve ever come across a story that incorporates this concept before, so I was really excited to dive in. The setting was immersive, and I genuinely enjoyed the characters. Their banter was effortlessly fun, and I loved how natural and easy their dynamic felt.

However, as much as I liked the book, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, but I kept waiting for a certain spark or depth that never fully clicked for me. It wasn’t necessarily a disappointment—I still had a great time reading—but I just wanted more of something, whether it was emotional depth, higher stakes, or a stronger connection to the characters.

That being said, I still think it’s such a cool concept, and I’d love to see more books explore similar ideas!

This book was such a great read. The scene development was so amazing I was right there in every scene. The characters so relatable. I was rooting for Bryony tryout the brook. She was such a delightful character and I could see us being fast friends, she was that good!

I really loved the premise of this book. It was a great read from the first sentence straight through to the last one. I didn’t want the story to end.

I would highly recommend this book!

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

I've come to the conclusion that Ferguson isn't the author for me. The premise of the books sound good but then reading them the characters especially the heroines always sound and act younger than they are. And the geography of Nashville Tennessee feels a little off. I thought the premise of a ghost writer would be fun it was I just couldn't stand the heroine. My favorite part was Bryony teaching ESL because the library I work at has a good ESL program and I love seeing that in books. Ferguson's writing is good and her rom com's are hilarious it's just more on the younger end of adult ages for her characters that get to me. But if you like a good rom com and that doesn't bother most readers will love this one.

Bryony Page is an aspiring author, and an ESL Teacher hoping to save the organization where she works.
She meets Jake Sterling an agent at an event and later become a ghostwriter for Amelia
Bryony is gifted and the books she writes for Amelia are selling, but she wants to publish under her own name...

Bryony is fun, bold and a fighter, it was not always easy for her especially with Amelia's tamtrum but she persevered.

I like the plot, the story is fine and fun especially at the beginning.

3.5 stars

Thank you @uplitreads @ourfriendlyfarmhouse @thomasnelson for the #gifted copy!

💛 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 💛
This was a fun story to read - I enjoy reading books about authors and think it’s interesting if they are a ghostwriter! This gave some behind the scenes information on what that looks like and had me wondering who might have a ghostwriter out there! 👻

Bryony wants to get a novel published and gets an opportunity to be a ghostwriter for a popular romcom writer. Bryony agrees to the job as long as her agent Jack works to get her own book published. Meanwhile, Bryony’s romcom books take off in popularity and she’s become indispensable to her writing agency.. and her book agent!

The author Bryony has to work for was a hot mess and it made for some comedic moments with how little she did to learn about the books being written under her name!

The romance in this book is a slow burn, and more of the story focuses on Bryony’s journey and time as a ghostwriter! The ending surprised me at how everything turns out for Bryony, and it was a feel good story to read and cozy up with!

💛 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💛 Books About Authors
🧡 Ghostwriters
🧡 Closed Door Romance
💛 Agent/Writer Romance
💛 ESL Teacher

What a cute book! Let me start with the absolute best part: Bryony and Jack's banter! AH. I've been doing a lot of reading (for me at least) so far in 2025. However, I've been mostly disappointed with the banter I've been reading. That was NOT the case here. I LOVED the conversations, wit, and back and forth between the two main characters. I was squealing at times while I read it. I loved the book for their chemistry alone! That made me want to give it 5 stars!

I also was really engaged in the book. I was hooked trying to see what would happen with Bryony as she was a ghostwriter, how will she help her Gran's organization that she loves, and what will happen in her love life?!

That being said, my review became 4 stars, instead of 5, for a few reasons. Mainly because the end felt like a quick, and very unrealistic, not how I wanted it to go (but don't worry - still a happy ending! Just not the path I imagined in my head.) wrap up. The details seemed a bit far fetched to me and I think I wanted to get to the ending a different way than we did.

Additionally, although maybe minor, I definitely am one to judge a book by its cover. I LOVE the cover of this book. However, it (aside from the bus in the picture), did not fit the book to me. The book is more about Bryony writing the perfect rom-com than being the perfect rom-com (that the cover makes me think we're getting) between main characters. I still got a rom-com that I LOVED, but this was more of a subplot to Bryony's book journey as the main plot.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Overall, I really did enjoy it! Although I read it for free and digitally from NetGalley, I think I will eventually purchase my own physical copy of the book. I recommend reading it!

This was my first book by Melissa Ferguson and I admit that I’m a sucker for a cute cover, which was what drew me in to pick this book. But unfortunately I think I won’t be reading anymore books by her because this writing style is not something that appeals to me. There’s too much reminiscing, describing, inner monologues, telling instead of showing and not enough dialogue.

What was most disappointing of all is that this book didn’t live up to its title at all. I didn’t find it funny or romantic. Romance part was absolutely scarce and I would dare to say that this isn’t even a romance but women’s fiction.

Story fell very flat, predictable and I slowly began to lose my interest and had to basically push through till the end. I felt no chemistry or particular like or relatability to any of the characters.


*thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for the ebook via NetGalley

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with a copy of The Perfect Rom-Com in exchange for my honest opinion!
This book is a heart-squeezing, emotional journey that beautifully balances heartfelt romance with a powerful story of hope and change. I absolutely fell in love with Bryony Paige and her inspiring journey, as well as her grandmother’s legacy at The Bridge—a program nestled in the quiet corners of Florence, NY, dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees learn English and rebuild their lives. The hope and support radiating from this community truly moved me.
This story will make you cry in the best way, leaving you inspired to be the change you want to see in the world. And then there’s Jack Sterling—sunshine wrapped in a grumpy exterior. As a literary agent who is tough for all the right reasons, he became one of my favorite characters, showing that even the grumpiest facades can hide the kindest hearts.
This is one of the rare books I genuinely couldn’t put down (the only thing that stopped me from finishing it in a single day was my day job!). If you’re looking for a heartwarming, emotional story that lingers long after the last page, grab this book now! Read it, love it, and spread the word about this incredible author!

It's not often that I strongly dislike a book due to both character and plot, but The Perfect Rom-Com met both these criteria. IMHO, a 3 star rating is generous for this charmless book that is the antithesis of its title, but I stopped reading the book two-thirds of the way through and assume things somehow picked up with an HAE in the last one-third.

*This review may contain spoilers*

Bryony has written a book that is a mix of 4 different genres and the length of a Stephen King novel, which she pitches to a room full of literary agents- and then is legit shocked when she is rejected. Don't they know she's spent thousands of dollars chasing her dream? And it's sort of the true story of her grandmother, except for the magical realism part... Once Bryony comes back to reality, she decides her next best foot forward is to criticize the pitch of a well-known romance author. For reasons unknown, this impresses agent extraordinaire Jack Sterling who asks her to be a ghostwriter for said author's next romance book. Somehow Bryony finagles this offer into him paying her AND helping her sell the 700 page book which Jack absolutely skewered earlier that day.

This was such a strange opening of a book that I almost put it right back down. Like there's outlandish and there's 'give me things that would never happen' for $800.

Jump to two years later and Bryony is still ghostwriting for the well-known romance author and is completely miserable about it to anyone who will listen, including the author herself. There are strong female characters and then there are ones that are just entitled and whiny. Bryony is an elevated version of the latter- she is insufferable. I know there's supposed to be this cute enemies to lovers dynamic with Jack, but she's spent two years being a ghostwriter, and despite the fact that she is being paid to write- and making good money from it, from her own confessions- she feuds with the author she is supposed to be representing, is mad that somehow her unicorn book isn't published yet and has tantrums like a toddler whenever Jack- her boss- asks her to do something. Jack seems to have a soft spot for her however, as apparently some men just like infuriating, thankless women.

One such request is her going on tour with the author- which of course she despises. For reasons unknown, Jack comes with her to 'protect her' (seriously, is he a glutton for punishment? A secret masochist?). Sparks ensue. If I couldn't like her any less, while Bryony's getting her flirt on with Jack she has the audacity to be upset that her long distance boyfriend, who's mentioned twice in 100 pages, breaks up with her as he's been secretly seeing someone behind her back. No mourning time occurs before she starts falling for Jack. She literally goes on a date with him the next day. Where they kiss and he confesses his love for her. It's bizarre. There's no build to the relationship whatsoever.

The author tries to balance out Bryony's difficult personality with the fact that deep down she really is a good person- she's an ESL teacher and is the benefactor of an ESL school and she's really doing all of this for them and her grandmother- and just like a teensey bit for herself- so we can all forgive her obnoxious behaviour, ok? I can't make this stuff up.

Everything is hunky-dory for the completely unbelievable couple that is Jack and Bryony, that is until Bryony learns that Jack never sent her book (remember this plot point?) to an agent as he had promised. Without hearing him out or having an adult conversation, she leaves with the promise that she's going to show him when she finally sells her book. Oh and to get the 6 million dollars that her grandmother needs to save the school. This is when I stopped reading for the sake of my sanity.

I will end my review with one last note- if you are going to name a book 'The Perfect Rom-Com' it better be the swoon-worthiest sweetest and funniest romcom that I have ever read. This should have had a different title and marketed more as women's fiction/ chick lit.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony Page, an aspiring author who dreams of publishing her own book while also working to support her grandmother’s ESL organization. After a disastrous writers’ conference, she unexpectedly lands a job as a ghostwriter for bestselling author Amelia Benedict. Soon, Amelia becomes a literary sensation thanks to Bryony’s writing, and the Foundry Agency refuses to let her go. At the same time, literary agent Jack Sterling starts to realize that he doesn’t want to let Bryony go either—but their relationship is complicated by secrets and miscommunication.

Jack’s character really frustrated me. He was manipulative, lied, and used Bryony, which made it hard to root for their romance at times. Meanwhile, Bryony was almost too good—so kind and selfless that it was actually frustrating to see her being taken advantage of. I wanted her to stand up for herself more, especially when it came to Jack.

Despite that, I still enjoyed the book overall. It took me a little longer to get into the story than I usually like, but once I did, I appreciated the twists and the emotional depth. If you enjoy rom-coms with a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world, this one might be worth a read!

Okay, that was so cute! The witty banter, the tension, the humor, the annoying antagonist, the charming main characters, I loved it all!

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley for the ARC.

So cute!!! Ahhh!! I really enjoyed this one! I love Bryony and her determination for her book. I really enjoyed reading a book about the book industry. It's so hard for an author to be published and get the notoriety they deserve. The audiobook was a great listen too! Great, heartwarming read!!

*Thank you partner @uplitreads @ourfriendlyfarmhouse and @tnzfiction for the #gifted e-galley, paperback and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

This was such a cute, swoon worthy book. The MFC was relatable and had great one liners! The MMC was charming and irresistible! Once I was hooked, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down ❤️

The way this book held my attention… it was cute, funny, romantic, and everything I needed from a rom com - quite literally perfectly named. I highly recommend this book to fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers as it filled that part of my heart that’s been missing since reading it.

In The Perfect Rom-Com, Bryony Page is an aspiring author who attends her first writer's conference hoping to find an agent. She's written a story based on her grandmother's life and is hoping to release it and use the money she earns to save The Bridge, her grandmother's ESL program. However, it's entirely too long, not well written, has too many characters, and no one will touch it. So, Bryony decides to fight her way through. I found this story to be charming. I enjoyed learning the in's and out's of a writer's life, especially that of a ghostwriter. I found myself laughing out loud at certain points due to the witty banter between the two main characters and the quirkiness of Bryony. This story is easy to read and fun. I enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked the premise of the book but it just felt like something was missing. I wasn’t super invested in Bryony and Jack’s relationship, I feel like we needed more to really believe in or cheer for them. The “conflict” was way too stubborn and failure to communicate for me.

I do love that it was pure and sweet and no spice.

The general idea was awesome, just needed more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

So cute! A entertaining read for sure. What a charming rom-com about a ghostwriter. I don't know if this book is for me, but I will be recommending it to my rom-com friends!

The Perfect Rom-com is a cute, lighthearted story with charming moments and loveable characters. It was a bit predictable, but I think contemporary romance fans will enjoy it.

I’m a sucker for a good rom-com and this had everything a good rom-com needs! Humor, hot male crush, heartbreak, trials, and a happy ending! Bryony is an author dying to get her book published. After being turned down over and over again, book agent Josh gives her the opportunity to be a ghost writer. I loved the story and watching Bryony grow and find her voice! Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this super cute Rom-Com!

This was an enjoyable read (I also listened to the audiobook) and I liked the premise. I wish there was more development of Briony and Jack's friendship in the beginning and not a skip to 2 years forward. I liked Bryony and I had mixed feelings towards Jack. Overall, this book was cute and sweet.