I found this book hard to get into. The characters are not well developed . especially in the beginning when you want to be drawn in. The story line is a bit convoluted too. The book gets better as you read on but it takes awhile to get there .

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC of this book! All opinions are my own. The Perfect Rom-com was a fun read. I enjoyed the story of Bryony and Jack but it did fall short for me in some areas. Initially, I was enjoying the banter and how she acted at the conference. Though I wish we would have gotten more of a story about what happened in those two years. I found that I didn't care about the romance because the characters weren't developed enough for me to care about the outcome. I also didn't enjoy the story of the boyfriend half the time I forgot he existed and I feel that the story would have been so much better if he wasn't in it at all. Overall the book had a lot of good ideas and some amazing plot points but it fell flat for me. I just want this book with like 200-300 more pages.

This endearing rom-com had everything I hoped it would! The characters were very well developed and they were so funny. Their banter and relationship was so fun to watch evolve. More so, I loved watching the FMC’s personal growth. I flew through this one in a day and loved every minute of it!

Synopsis: The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful read for fans of lighthearted, feel-good romance, particularly those who enjoy workplace romance, friends-to-lovers, and slow-burn relationships, as it follows the journey of a talented but struggling writer who finds love and success in the unlikeliest of places.

This book released TODAY! I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work!

Probably closer to a 3.5.

Bryony is an aspiring author who has struck out on landing a book deal when she meets the prickly agent, Jack. In an effort to get her to stop talking, he shows her a book proposal and asks for her honest review. That honest review is enough to capture his interest. Not in her book, but as a ghostwriter for the prolific Amelia Benedict. Now, Bryony is stuck in an abusive writing relationship--unable to pitch her own books because her success is all under the Benedict name.

This is an interesting look at the publishing industry in a fun and more approachable way. I think it is clear from the author's note that this story is particularly close to her heart. I felt that the first two-thirds of the book was entertaining and flew along. I loved the set-up and the way that Jack and Bryony's relationship unfolded. The third act was weaker though. There is a lot of conflict, and I actually don't hate the premise of that conflict. I hate how it is ultimately wrapped up (no spoilers here!) in a somewhat unbelievable and too-perfect way.

* Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony, a ghostwriter for bestselling romance author Amelia Benedict, and Jack, an ambitious literary agent. Bryony dreams of one day publishing her own novel - one inspired by the struggling ESL school where she works. In exchange for writing for Amelia, she hopes Jack will help get her manuscript into the right hands. But when she keeps asking for updates on her manuscript and gets nothing in return, she starts to wonder if her big break will ever come. And just when things couldn't get more complicated... she realizes she might be catching feelings for Jack too.

I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn't quite work for me. The bookish setting? Yes. The romance? Barely there. The story focused much more on Bryony's personal journey and career than the relationship, and I needed more chemistry and connection between her and Jack. I also found myself struggling to stay engaged at times. That said, I did love seeing Bryony grow into her confidence and stand up for herself - one of the book's strongest parts!

Overall, this was a cute and quick read, but it didn't entirely pull me in. I gave it 3 stars because while the premise had so much potential, I was really hoping for more romance. If you love stories about publishing and personal growth, you might enjoy this one, but if you're here for the romance, you may want to adjust expectations!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Bryony attends her first writers conference, her dream is to sell her manuscript. But this proves to be very difficult. Jack offers her job, being a ghostwriter, he will pay her, her counteroffer is: she wants him to find someone to publish her book and she will write one book as a ghostwriter for free.
I did enjoy the storyline.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for an eARC and eALC in exchange for an honest review!

The Perfect Rom Com was such a delight to read! This was my first read from the author and I will definitely be checking out more. Although I guessed the conflict between Jack and Bryony, I was still invested in the story and wanted to see how everything would play out and come together. I loved our FMC’s inner monologue, it really added to her character and helped make her well rounded. I LOVED Jack! He made some dumb choices, but he was so clearly down bad for Bryony from the beginning and I am a sucker for a down bad man.

This is not a problem for me, but I also wanted to let readers know there is no spice in this book. I hate when a book gets low ratings because of the spice level, so just wanted to throw that out there!

I can’t wait to read more from this author!

I’ve just loved this book. It was completely unexpected to me, there were so many layers that the blurb didn’t show, and it made the story incredible.

The insight in ghost writing was interesting, although infuriating to see Bryony get no recognition while dealing with Amelia (not sure how she did it for so long, she’s stronger that I would have been).

I did found one element of the plot a bit strange, is that there is a 2 yrs gap between when Jack & Bryony meet and when the story picks up, and that’s very much when they fell for each other is you don’t really see them develop their connexion. However it did work out quite well in the end I think, as we instead saw Bryony take her time to recognise that they’d became more than just friends and colleagues. The single pov worked very well with how slow and how long it took her, up to the reveal where it was suddenly made obvious.

There is suspense all along about what will happen to Bryony’s book and how the ghostwriting will unfold, and I thought the twist in the story was quite clever and interesting.

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*

3.5 ⭐️

I have mixed feelings here.

I ADORE the author. Melissa Ferguson is a gem of a human from what little I’ve been able to interact with her. And I will read anything she writes.

I love how her characters feel like real people and there’s always substance and meaning outside of rom-com. I enjoyed a background look at the world of publishing and authorship and I enjoyed so much about this book.

But at the same time, something fell flat for me. Maybe it was the lack of feeling the chemistry between the two MCs earlier on in the story? I enjoyed the conversations between the two but truthfully read them as friends/close co-workers for 3/4 of the story.

I want to re-read from a non-ARC copy and see if maybe the strange formatting as an early copy caused some of my confusion.

If this was your first read of Melissa’s and you found it lacking, I beg you to give her another chance. (IMO Meet Me in the Margins was her best work. But How to Plot a Payback was close second. And the rest of her work close following that).

I still say give this book a chance. So much of book review is personal opinion and maybe what didn’t click with me, will for you. Plus a 3.5 is not bad. It’s just not in my top 5 of her work.

Thanks NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the advanced reader copy

I really enjoyed this book! Bryony and Jack were very cute, and I’m always here for a friends to lovers trope. Bryony is a passionate ESL teacher and an aspiring author. Jack is a grumpy agent who comes off as uninterested at first. I do feel like Jack’s character was lacking depth. It was a single POV so that also may play into it. It just felt like we really got to know Bryony’s character and not Jack’s. Overall I would recommend this book and will definitely be reading more Melissa Ferguson rom coms!

💫 forced proximity
💫 friends to lovers
💫 workplace romance

Spice: kisses only

Thank you to netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Rom-Com
by: Melissa Ferguson
Thomas Nelson Fiction/Thomas Nelson
Pub Date: 2/11/25

Melissa Ferguson, author of The Perfect Rom-Com, delivers romance and humor set amid the world of writing and publishing. I can count on her to provide an entertaining read that is uplifting and clean.

The female lead Bryony Page, an aspiring writer, meets agent Jack Sterling at a writer's conference. Bryony's pitch was less than perfect, but it took her in completely unexpected directions. What follows are twists and turns involving love and the bookish world, and it's all fun, engaging, and enjoyable.

I received an advance reader's copy from Melissa Ferguson and publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction/Thomas Nelson to access via NetGalley through the Uplit Reads Campaign. My review is my own.

"I wanted to live in his nothings and him to live in mine."

Melissa Ferguson has a special touch in creating lovable Millennials with heart and wit as her main characters. Bryony is no exception. Her first person voice is honest, warm, heartfelt, passionate, and funny. The entire book is from her perspective so we meet Jack only through her thoughts and interactions. Jack is a layered hero - a charmer to the core driven by success and money but with substance, loyalty, and deep feelings when those layers are uncovered. Their banter is wonderful and I really enjoyed watching their relationship blossom from enemies to friends to more. The complex sphere of publishing is incredibly fascinating and I learned quite a bit through Jack's expertise. The work that Bryony does teaching English as Second Language holds a special place in my heart and I loved delving into that world. The romance is subtle but the outright laughs are not. If you are a rom com fan, you will enjoy this book.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Wow! I have not come across a Melissa Ferguson book yet I have disliked. Jack and Bryony have the chemistry and the friendly banter down. There are no swears, brief mentions of alcohol, and level 1 low-descriptive kisses only I received a complimentary arc of this book from @netgalley and @thomasnelsonfiction All opinions listed are purely my own. #Netgalley #ThePerfectRomcom

I enjoyed The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson. I liked reading stories about the publishing world. It is a fun read with a slow burn romance and snappy dialogue. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley.

Another great release from Melissa Ferguson!

I thoroughly enjoyed this adorable, light-hearted read! Captured by the hilarious, witty and slightly sarcastic inner monologue of a new writer hoping to connect with an agent for her first manuscript, I was hooked from the very first chapter. It is that same inner monologue that kept me devouring the pages as the meet cute turns to friendship and then romance. Loved every minute!

Ferguson combines a cast of delightful (and not-so-delightful-but-equally-great) characters, a road trip/book tour, ghostwriting and the dreams of saving a beloved ESL school into a sweet story of romance, writing and the woes of the publishing industry. I found the bookish theme of this story to be unique and fun. In true romcom fashion, Ferguson had me laughing and swooning throughout this story. Towards the end, I wasn't Bryony's fan due to her decisions, but will admit, the ending was quite redeeming.

Overall, a great read and a definite recommendation for a fantastic weekend read that will lift your spirits and keep you chuckling from beginning to end.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

I absolutely loved this book! The writing was super immersive, funny at just the right moments, and made the characters and situations feel so real. It had the perfect mix of humor and heart, which kept me hooked the entire time. The pacing was spot-on, and I almost read it in one sitting.
In this book, we follow Bryony after she ends up ghostwriting for Amelia Benedict (a rom-com star) while trying to publish her own book.
My only issue was the romance. I loved every single interaction between Bryony and Jack, but I found myself craving more romantic moments between them. Their connection was so strong, and I just wanted to see it explored more.
Another thing that didn’t quite work for me was Parker. Honestly, his character felt kind of pointless, and I kept wondering why he was even in the story.
That said, this book was heartwarming and left me wanting more. It also made me super interested in checking out more of Melissa’s books.

Melissa Ferguson's debut is one for the books. I didn't know what I was expecting from this story, but the turns and twists it took, where absolutely incredible.

She did an immaculate job of creating the most relatable and iconic Bryony Page, the most generous, heartwarming, and hardworking character, who pushed through so much that she went through in the workplace, as well as teaching for the most important cause. I truly enjoyed seeing her face the challenges that she did and how she overcame them, and how she persevered which is a lesson that I took deeply from the story.

Ferguson does an amazing job of creating a real world scenario, and letting someone be so invested in a story, and the whole mystery what was happening. I was feeling all the feels, anger at a certain someone, happy for Bryony, sad for what she was going through, but as I do love a strong FMC, Bryony can teach so much in this, to not let yourself down and stop chasing your dreams.

For it only being the second month of the year, I have no doubt that this book will be my top favorite, and truly an unforgettable story at that, I absolutely loved it. Thank you Melissa, for creating a beautiful story.

This book is a super cute friends to lovers romantic comedy that brings the ups and downs of the literary world to the readers. I enjoyed the relationship between Jack and Bryony as the evolved from friends to something more.

While this book was cute and quirky I found this book to be a little slow. I do wish this had been dual POV between Bryony and Jack instead of only focusing on Bryony.

A Love Letter to Writers, Romance, and Finding Your Own Story

Melissa Ferguson’s The Perfect Rom-Com is as charming and heart-fluttering as the genre it celebrates. But beyond the witty banter and swoon-worthy moments, it delivers a compelling look at ambition, self-worth, and the bittersweet reality of chasing creative dreams.

Bryony Page enters the publishing world wide-eyed and hopeful, only to stumble into a secret career that skyrockets someone else’s name to literary stardom. The thrill of seeing her words resonate with millions is intoxicating—but so is the growing realization that she’s trapped in the shadows of a brand that isn’t hers. Ferguson captures this tension beautifully, layering the story with humor, heart, and just the right amount of industry drama.

And then there’s Jack Sterling. A literary agent with a sharp mind and an even softer heart, he’s the kind of bookish love interest that makes readers swoon. The slow-burn between him and Bryony is filled with delicious near-misses, charged glances, and a dynamic that feels both playful and deeply emotional. Their chemistry is the perfect mix of professional respect and oh-no-there’s-only-one-bed level tension.

What sets The Perfect Rom-Com apart is how it balances lighthearted rom-com beats with an honest exploration of identity and creative ownership. It asks: What does success look like when no one knows it’s yours? And how do you reclaim your own story when you’ve spent years writing someone else’s?

Equal parts uplifting, hilarious, and swoon-worthy, this book is for anyone who’s ever dreamed big, fallen hard, and rewritten their own happy ending. It left me grinning, inspired, and (of course) all in my feels. 💕📚✨

A meta offering about the publishing industry in general. Easy to read with good flow, but particularly given the title, I don’t know that I’d call it a romcom. The focus is on the behind-the-scenes writing and publishing aspect far more than the romance that results. It makes good points about the business of publishing, particularly that it’s more business than art. In doing so, that removes some of the whimsy and romance of it all. I found that my favorite moments were actually the interplay between the leads that didn’t directly involve publishing. I feel like maybe this could’ve been two books, each with a different focus taking on the same story, and while good, I think I would’ve preferred if it had been firmly one or the other.