3.75⭐️

This story was very interesting to me. It starts with our FMC trying to get her book published to save her grandmothers school (foundation) for ESL adults. She meets the MMC, an agent, who convinces her to become a “ghostwriter” for a well known author. Who would be happy writing for someone else and not publishing their books under their own name?

This story follows our FMC and MMC as they work through the strange setup they’ve worked out, try to save the foundation for ESL adults… oh, and dealing with a super awful, arrogant, and annoying author who can’t write her own books.

The story started very interesting, but became slow. For about half the book, I would get bored. Once I made it to the 65-70% mark, I couldn’t put it down! It has 0 spice, which is okay. I would have liked if the romance was a little more exciting though.

Overall, I would recommend this book.

the cover of this book is absolute perfection and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to read it! I loved the storyline with a ghostwriter and a literary agent. it was overall just a really cutsie rom com 🫶🏼

Bryony meets Jack at a writer conference hoping for help publishing her first novel. Two years later, her novel still isn't published, but we see them working together with a strong friendship. This workplace romance is single POV (Bryony's) and takes place in New York City, Florence, NY (a small town nearby), and on a bus tour that visits Florida and South Carolina.

What I loved:
✨ Behind the scenes of publishing
✨ author heroine (also ESL teacher)
✨ literary agent hero
✨ bowling team
✨ "Vainglorious"
✨ Witty banter
✨ He falls first
✨ Friends to lovers

4 / 5 stars

Closed door / sweet

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for this eARC.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a fun romcom with friends to lovers, an author turned ghostwriter, a campaign to save an important charity, and a road trip, then this is the book for you!

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson was a cute book! I enjoyed Bryony Page’s dedication to her grandmother’s charity, and her ESL students that she taught as part of the organization.

I both hated and loved the MMC, Jack Sterling, by turns 😂 he had a rough start with me but won me over by the end.

I liked Bryony and Jack’s friendship. My only complaint is that much of their friendship is built over a period of two years that is not included in the book. I wanted to see more of that part of their relationship!

I enjoyed the big reveal ending that solved everything, and was surprised by how it all turned out! But I did come away with a lot of questions about the impending lawsuits…

I have to say there were a lot of absolutely delightful side characters that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This book, like all the Melissa Ferguson books I’ve read so far, is closed door. Just kisses! Nothing spicy.

I absolutely LOVED her book Meet Me in the Margins when I read it a couple years ago, and was somewhat disappointed by her next release, Famous for a Living, which was ok but not near as good. I was relieved to find I enjoyed The Perfect Rom-Com much more!

This isn’t a book I’m likely to reread (I’ll save that for Meet Me in the Margins!) but it was a good story and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a lighthearted romcom! I gave it four stars and look forward to reading more of Melissa Ferguson’s backlist!

This book was super meta about a female MC who is a struggling and up-and-coming writer who ghost writes for a super successful author. She has this impostor syndrome because people love her work when they think it's Amelia Benedict, but she struggles when she wants to publish her own manuscript. The drama ensues between her and her agent. I enjoyed that she also is an ESL teacher and thought that was a unique angle that I haven't really read about in books before. The female MC had a nice transformation and growth in rewriting her manuscript and realizing what was missing all along. The ending was pretty epic as well with karma coming full circle and redeemed everything for me.

Title:  The Perfect Rom-Com  
Author:  Melissa Ferguson    
Genre:  Romance       
Rating: 4 out of 5

She's written dozens of smash hit novels as a ghostwriter. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitching session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.

I wouldn’t quite describe this as a rom-com. The writing is solid, and I like the characters (Except Amelia. She’s terrible.). The interactions between Jack and Bryony are great. I really enjoy their banter. But…very little of this story is actually about their romance. It’s more about Bryony finding herself and her place in the world. That being said, as long as you aren’t expecting a full rom-com, this is a solid read.

Melissa Ferguson is a bestselling author. The Perfect Rom-Com is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/15.)

This falls into the category of my idea of a perfect rom com! The story is unique and so sweet. I really enjoyed how plot driven this was for a romance and am a huge fan of this authors writing! I laughed and I teared up and I got so angry for Bryony that I wasn’t sure how to feel, which is a sign of a great book to me! I love feeling so connected to a story. The ending wrapped up in such a big, fun, rom com way that (while it was not super realistic) it felt like the perfect ending. I wasn’t sure how Bryony could forgive Jack but I’m glad she got her recognition and to save The Bridge. I appreciated how cause driven the characters were, too, which isn’t typical of the romances I’ve read recently. Overall, I give this a 4.5 and highly, highly recommend.

This was beyond charming and made me have a much deeper appreciation for every author that I love so dearly! Bryony’s passion and heart were infectious, and I mean, who doesn’t love a smirking MMC? Jack is an absolute delight.

Anyone who considers themselves to be a true lover of books will eat this one up!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this eARC!

I can't get over how cute this book is! For me, this is everything I look for in a romance book. Great dynamic between the love interests- check—hilarious quips- check. Numerous explicit sex scenes don't overtake the story- check. I know that last one might steer some readers away from picking up the book, but I appreciate that not every writer writes steamy, smutty books. Some of us prefer more story and build-up between the characters than the need for sex scenes. I will be buying a copy of this one when it comes out in stores for sure,

I really enjoyed this story! I almost stopped reading at the beginning, but I chalk that up to my mood after reading a powerful historical fiction story and diving into this late at night. I am so glad I kept reading and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book after the book convention. I even downloaded the kindle app on my phone just to finish the story while waiting for an appointment because I could not wait to finish it at home.

Bryony Page has written as story she hopes to have published so she can use the proceeds towards her Gran's ESL school for immigrants. She has no formal training in publishing, but pitches her long manuscript anyways. I love her perseverance to get noticed. She is a gem, cares about others, and has a good work ethic and people see that. She teaches ESL during the day and writes at night. She works hard despite landing a position as a ghost writer for a diva, and knowing that her name will never be associated with her hard work.

Her agent Jack Sterling has agreed to try to get her book published after she finishes her ghost writing stint, only that is not as easy as they hoped.

Her sister Gloria, her Gran, her students, and Jack are her people. I loved the story of trying to save the school, and get published all the while very successful in her ghostwriting job where they don't want to let her go.

I recommend The Perfect Rom-Com for lovers of rom-coms, it's a fun, captivating read but also has depth of character, sweet romance, family, and purpose.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy!

3.5 ⭐️
This was a cute quick read, I really liked the FMC but the MMC just didn’t do it for me. I love Bryonys story and all her students make this book adorable!!!

Thank you Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Melissa Ferguson for the eARC

I am going to decline writing a formal review for this because I really did not enjoy it. The writing was distractingly bad. I read the first chapter aloud to my husband and it really accentuated the horrible punctuation and incomplete sentences. I love a book that gives a glimpse into the publishing world so that part of the story intrigued me.

No se si le tenia esperanzas a este libro, pero que esta mal maquetado, esta mal maquetado.
Empecemos por la parte que el romance aparece de una página a otra, no hay una trama de por si que me vuele las pestañas. Todo empieza a partir de la mitad del libro, la escritura es muy detallista al punto de perderse en lo más simple y hacer que pierdas el hilo de lo que está pasando. Lo mismo sucede cuando "se resuelve" todo, lit pasa en el último 5% del libro.
No lo recomieendo. Siento que es la protagonista reencarnada en la autora, que le costó publicar, mucha gente le dijo que era malo y que una sola persona le dio el ok y lo publicó.
A este le libro le faltó un ojo crítico.

It was an OKAY read, for a short read, i took 4 days to finish it, i quite enjoyed it but i feel that the premise was more promising that the plot itself & I didnt really connected with the characters, maybe because it felt slightly rushed. The love story was cute but it still felt like it missing some connection, i guess.
The plus point is the cover is cute though.

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony Page, an unpublished writer struggling to sell her manuscript in an effort to save The Bridge, an ESL organization founded by her grandmother. When Bryony meets Jack Sterling, a book agent, she is unexpectedly offered a chance to become a ghostwriter for the demanding Rom-Com author, Amelia Benedict. Bryony agrees on one condition: Jack must also be her agent and help her get her own manuscript published. To everyone’s surprise, Bryony quickly transforms Amelia into a top-selling author. But now, trapped in a contractual obligation as a ghostwriter, Bryony must juggle her duties while still chasing her dream of publishing her own work.

This is the third book by author Melissa Ferguson that I’ve read, and I was genuinely excited when I first encountered the premise! A rom-com between a writer and her agent? Set in the publishing world? Yes, please!!

From the beginning, it’s clear that Bryony is a character driven by deep dedication and compassion. Her loyalty to her family and her commitment to the legacy her grandmother built are central to her personality. She’s also portrayed as an extraordinary teacher, willing to go above and beyond for her students. Over the course of the novel, we see Bryony’s personal growth—her journey toward self-realization, navigating her professional and personal challenges, and finding her place in the world.

However, where the book falls short is in its portrayal of romance. There’s a two-year time jump in the story, which leaves a huge gap in the development of Bryony and Jack’s relationship. While their banter is fun and charming, I found myself wanting more of their initial chemistry. For example, I wanted to know Bryony’s thoughts and feelings when Jack first announced his intention to join her bowling league—moments like these would have provided greater depth to their relationship. Though there are some flashbacks, they weren’t enough to fully capture the emotional evolution of their connection.

The ending, while satisfying in some respects, felt a bit too unrealistic. It struck me as a bit over the top, and I would have preferred a more grounded resolution.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t classify The Perfect Rom-Com as a traditional rom-com. While it’s heartwarming, it lacks some of the key elements that usually define the genre. Still, the book has potential, and I’m sure it will resonate with readers who enjoy a lighter, more character-driven story. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the fit for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author and it did not disappoint! This book was a hug and a half! The MC, Bryonny, is an ESL teacher (love teacher rep!) and a budding writer. It was fun to watch our character on her journey through the world of writing. While this wasn’t necessarily a love story and more of a fun woman’s fiction, I did enjoy it a lot. We had a little workplace flirtation as a subplot, but the emphasis really seems to be on her personal growth over anything else. Overall, this was super cute. I did expect a love story going in, but overall, it was a fun read!

Exactly the type of rom-com I want to read. Heart is what drives this story, through all the outside struggles and romantic struggles that Bryony and Jack face. I adore this book!


Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Bryony is such an oddball and Jack is secretly one (or is he just so down bad for Bryony?). They are so sweet to each other as friends and humor did ring true through the pages, between them and other characters.


Each character, positive and negative, lives large on the page with a lot of descriptive elements that make them seem familiar, even if stereotypes loom large in this book.


I honestly really liked the big moment of conflict and its resolution in this book. I don’t want my romances to be too fluffy and straightforward and there were clear threads of tension from the beginning that wove together very nicely for their moment of struggle.


Overall, a sappy, love-centered book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a wonderful light and fluffy rom-com. Main characters were adorable and the overall message was quite sweet. I wish we had more time with the characters interacting with each other. There was a time jump at the end and I would have loved to see more of the chemistry develop. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

The Perfect-Rom Com is a story of a writer desperate to get published, but in the process, she gets more than she bargained for…

What I enjoyed about The Perfect Rom-Com:

-A slow-burn, enemies to friends to more storyline
-A mean girl that you love to loathe
-ESL student representation
-A FMC with a heart for others
-The ending!

The latest from Melissa Ferguson contains more of what readers can expect from her books: a closed-door romance, a main character you can root for, and more behind-the-scenes peeks into the publishing industry.

I think this would have worked well as a dual-POV novel. As it was, it felt overly introspective and at times a little desperate only being privy to Bryony’s POV. With their personalities being so opposite, I think it would have been fun to enjoy the story from Jack’s POV as well.

This wasn’t my favorite from this author, but I still enjoyed it and would recommend for anyone looking for an inspirational writer’s journey with a little romance added in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced review copy. The Perfect Rom-Com releases February 11, just in time for Valentine’s Day! All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️

I have loved all the books I have read by Melissa Ferguson, but this one fell flat for me. I was expecting a romance full of comedy from the title of this book but it reads more as a woman's fiction novel.
Most of the relationship building between the two main characters was skipped over in a time jump and I felt like we missed out on seeing that relationship develop. The book was slow at times and I just kept waiting for that humor and romance to really come out.
I love books about publishing and writers so I did enjoy that aspect of this book.