This truly was the perfect rom-com book. I love the author’s books and couldn’t wait to read this one. So cute, perfect in every way!

What a lovely story. Fmc Byrony is an inspiring author who wants her book published so that she can save her grandmother organization. She’ ends up becoming a ghostwriter for a best selling author. The mmc promised to get her book published in exchange for her ghostwriting for his company. The flows wells but they didn’t show the couple getting together until half way through the story. The characters were good but I could do without the third act break up not my cup of tea.

Such a fun novel. This was my first by this author and I will have to check out more! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Bryony (great name!) is trying to get her historical book published so she can raise money to save her grandmother's community service organization. After pitching it repeatedly at a conference, she forces her way in front of one of the most demanding agents and he makes her a deal. He will work to get her book published if she ghost-writes a romance for the vapid daughter of the publisher. One book turns into many, the author is famous and the Bryony is still waiting for Jack to get her book published. Somehow she gets tricked into going on a press tour by bus with the author, Jack, and some support staff. Feelings develop. It's kind of complicated and frankly some of the plot doesn't make sense.

This was literally the perfect rom com book. I loved the main characters and was gunning for them to end up together. I don’t read romance often but I loved this story. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this gem

Enjoyable romcom about a ghostwriter bad her agent. Bryony has written a massive tome inspired by her grandma’s work with ESL students. The problem is she can’t get it published. She meets agent Jack at a publishing conference and badgers him until her appointment time is up. Jack likes her chutzpah and agrees to help her book if she works as a ghostwriter for his famous heiress client. She ends up being too good at ghostwriting and completes several best sellers. Her and Jack form a strong friendship over the years. This is a slow burn/friends to lovers romance done well. It’s a very quick read and is chaste (just some kissing). Bryony toes the line of being plucky/annoying but the story is interesting enough and Jack is a strong mmc that you can overlook. This is not a deep novel, but was fun to read.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a light but cute romance, The Perfect Rom-Com delivers exactly what it promises. The story follows a writer trying to publish her book who, instead, finds herself ghostwriting for a spoiled heiress. What follows is a mix of charming moments, a handsome love interest, and all the romance staples we love. While it didn’t really bring anything new to the table, the classic tropes and feel-good vibes made it an enjoyable read. If you’re in the mood for a heartwarming rom-com, this one is worth picking up!

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

I know I say this all the time, but I really mean it this time—I’ve found the perfect romance book!! 🥹✨ This one even had me shedding a tear at the ending (and trust me, that’s rare!). I didn’t realize how much I needed a happy-ever-after story until this beautiful gem landed in my hands.

This aptly named book follows Byron Page, an aspiring writer with a manuscript that’s her heart and soul. Enter Jake, a literary agent who doesn’t take on her manuscript (ouch!) but instead signs her as a ghostwriter for one of the most successful (and most insufferable) authors of the time- Amelia Benedict. As Byron works behind the scenes, cranking out bestsellers for Amelia, a romance begins to blossom between her and Jake.

Heartwarming doesn’t even begin to cover how this book made me feel. My heart is practically bursting with joy. 😂🥹 There’s no spice at all, but it’s still the most romantic book I’ve ever read!

I haven’t cried over a book in five years, so this is HUGE! Byron stole my heart with her passion, grit, and perseverance, and Jake? Let’s just say… 😍😍 chef’s kiss. That ending was pure romance perfection in my books. I’ll stop here before I give away any spoilers. You need to read this!

Brilliant. This has taken the spot of favourite read this year. Highly invested in both of the MCs, irritation and disgust over the antagonist, skin crawlingly horrible woman. I loved being immersed inside this literary world and wished it wouldnt end. I managed to feel the whole range of human emotions throughout, and desperately loved the ESL students and what they brought to the story.

Cannot wait for this book to come out so I can buy my own copy and read it again. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I liked the characters. I loved that I could see what was going on before the main character could. I liked the way it wrapped up. Melissa Ferguson has worked her way onto my most favorite author list. I look forward to all of her releases. She definitely writes what seems to me to be the perfect rom-com!

I love Melissa Ferguson's book. So cute! If you are looking for a sweet romance, I reccomend this and any of her other books

This was my first Melissa Ferguson book, and I went in completely blind. I’d forgotten I requested it (oops) and decided to let the story surprise me. The beginning was slow and a bit confusing, and I had to push myself through, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

The story follows Bryony, a ghostwriter dreaming of publishing her own novel while juggling the demands of Amelia, a frustratingly vain and difficult author. What I really loved, though, was the subplot involving Bryony’s grandmother’s ESL program, which added a lot of heart to the story. Bryony’s motivation to help fund the program gave her character depth and made her goals feel more meaningful.

Jack, her literary agent, was easily my favorite part—supportive, sweet, and a perfect he-falls-first hero. That said, I wish we’d gotten his POV. Without it, I felt like I never really got to know him, which left the romance feeling a little incomplete. Bryony, on the other hand, could be frustrating. Her inner monologue was confusing at times, and her naïveté made me want to shake her.

The dynamic between Jack and Bryony was great—they had a lot of chemistry, and it was clear their friendship gave the story a strong foundation. That said, maybe because they started as friends, the romance leaned more “best friends supporting each other” than a full-on love story. Their time as a couple felt rushed, and I really wanted more of them together.

Still, the ending was fun and satisfying, and the ESL subplot kept me invested throughout. While The Perfect Romcom wasn’t perfect, it’s an enjoyable, light read with a fresh premise and a charming love interest.

If you’re a fan of slow burns, friends-to-lovers, and stories with a little extra heart, this one’s worth picking up—just don’t expect the romance to steal the show.

The Perfect Romcom is adorable. I love that Melissa's stories, while light and fun, also have a depth to them that gives you something to keep thinking about even after the book is done.

I did struggle with connecting to Byrony for about the first half of the book. She read whinny and needy but she did grow on me. However, Jack and several of the side characters were favorites from the beginning.

All in all, I enjoyed this book.

This book has the perfect mix of coziness, humor and romance. I love books about books, writing and publishing so this one was right up my alley. The mcs were really sweet and the banter was perfect!

Thank you Netgalley, Melissa Ferguson and Thomas Nelson fiction for providing me with a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for allowing me to have a copy of The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson in exchange for an honest review of the book!

I was really excited to read what this book was about. The publishing world is something that interests me and I love books about books! Unfortunately The Perfect Rom-Com fell short for me. The pacing of the book was off and there were times in the book where I felt like I had no clue what was happening even though I was fully comprehending what I was reading. It’s a pretty short book which is nice, but I wish the pacing of the book was better.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off very strong and grabbed my attention, but then it skipped 2 years. This would have worked better if it didn’t happen so quickly in the story. It was literary whiplash and negatively affected the character development and believability of the story line. I was also seriously distracted by the plot hole surrounding Bryony’s 2 year, long distance boyfriend. It didn’t make sense and was so unbelievable that it really took away from the story. The author also quotes perceived inner thoughts/expressions of characters and I found this to be distracting considering how often it’s done. I had to double back to check if the character said that, or that’s what the MC thought the character was expressing. I can’t remember noticing this technique in books before and I can’t say that I really like it.

So why 3 stars? I rounded up from 2.5 because I really enjoyed the beginning and the concept. I love books that take place in the world of publishing, and the ghost writing theme was unique and interesting. It kind of reminds me of Singing in the Rain with the voice over for the silent movie star. I also liked the two main characters, but wish we hadn’t missed a little of their backstory when the timeline jumped two years. The ending definitely picked up, although it definitely takes a leap of faith to believe it. You have to remind yourself that it’s just fiction and to go with it.

Overall, quick and entertaining read. I think it’s definitely worthy of some beach/pool time.

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

Bryony Page writes a book to help save the ESL school her grandmother founded. While Jack doesn't take her on as a client, he does provide her with an opportunity to ghostwrite for a popular romantic comedy author.

I read this book in less than 24 hours - granted I had some kid free time in there. The story had me hooked from the beginning, though.

I loved the banter between Jack and Bryony. I love a good friends to lovers trope, and this was no exception. My heart melted when he finally expressed his feelings for her.

I hated Amelia and how insufferable she was, but that was the whole point. I was cackling at the twist at the end. She definitely got what she deserved.

This was a sweet book with no spice and would be perfect for those who love books about ghostwriters, the friends to lovers and forced proximity tropes, and slow-ish burns.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC.

After reading How to Plot a Payback earlier this year, I was looking forward to this book. Sadly, I ended up a little bit confused and a lot disappointed. While there are elements of this book that I like, the overall final product falls short.

From the start, it needs to be clarified: This book is Women’s Fiction first, and Rom-Com second. And while many amazing books straddle that line, this feels more like an identity crisis. The romance plot almost feels like an afterthought. I couldn’t tell you whether I like Bryony and Jack as a couple—whether or not they have good chemistry—because so little time is spent developing their relationship. They start at odds then there’s a two-year time jump, after which they are “platonic” best friends, followed by another rapid shift into a relationship.

The writing, at times, feels harried or crowded, like Ferguson knew she needed to get to other plot points, but couldn’t stop writing about the ins and outs of the publishing world and Bryony’s ghostwriting predicament. World-building is great, but not when it’s to the detriment of the overall plot and pacing. It’s kind of funny that, in a book that focuses so much on Bryony editing her work, this book didn’t feel like a final edit.

Maybe the biggest issue is that I didn’t buy into Bryony’s motivation as a character. The idea that her debut novel could somehow generate the millions of dollars of funding that her grandmother’s non-profit needs is beyond far-fetched, and the resolution of this plotline was just as far-fetched.

What I did like: There were some cute “Aha!” moments early on, where Jack’s feelings for Bryony started to peek through. And while the writing, at times, feels harried or crowded, there is a proficiency that shines through. Overall (and again, the irony), this book didn’t feel like a bad idea or a waste of time. It has potential, but this feels like seeing an incarnation not yet meant for public consumption. I still plan to read more from this author, and hope this was just a blip.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Melissa Ferguson has done it again! The Perfect Rom-Com is a sweet, entertaining book about a publisher and a ghost writer. I enjoyed the different elements of the book and the tropes that reminded me of one of my favorite 1950s musicals.

I’m honestly in two minds over this book. Yes, I enjoyed it and stayed hooked until the end, but the main characters frustrated me so. much. Especially Jack 🙄 Not to mention the ending felt just a little too fabricated, even for a rom-com…

But like I said, I did enjoy the story, and as a writer, the way being a writer was portrayed was very accurate! I loved the unique cast of characters, and the setting was a lot of fun. The romantic moments between Bryony and Jack were very sweet, and for me, those moments did make up for Jack’s annoyingness 😂