"You weren't dating me. But I was dating you."

The Perfect Rom-Com felt like sitting in front of a warm fire with the softest blanket and an always hot cup of coffee. The story follows Bryony, a character who feels so real and relatable, it’s like spending time with a friend you can’t help but root for. Ferguson’s writing is full of vibrant descriptions, making Bryony's small-town life and the romantic backdrop of her journey feel fresh and immersive. What stands out is how Bryony navigates the pressures of fitting in both her cozy hometown and the bustling world of rom-coms she’s somehow become entangled in. Her struggle to reconcile these two worlds, each with its own set of expectations, adds a depth to the story that goes beyond just the romance—it's about finding where you truly belong.

But it’s not all serious; the wit and humor in this book are what keep it light and fun, even as Bryony faces some pretty big life dilemmas. Ferguson’s sharp, playful dialogue brings out the best in her characters, and Bryony’s dry humor will keep you chuckling throughout. The combination of a witty narrative, vivid character development, and a relatable, heartfelt journey of self-discovery makes The Perfect Rom-Com a truly charming and enjoyable read. Whether you're a fan of rom-coms or just love a good story with heart, this book has something special to offer. My only wish for this book is that we had been given more pages to fill in the gaps between when Jack and Byrony first met and two years down the road when they find themselves developing a romantic relationship. I loved their friendship, respect for one another, and the banter - I feel like readers are missing out on more of this.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and I look forward to reading more! This book had the perfect amount of cheesy/sappy moments that I love in a Rom Com. Bryony Page was a great character and I feel like I know her after reading this. Definitely recommend!

The name does not lie people!!!! Rarely do books give me butterflies or make me kick my feet and giggle but I was just so obsessed with the romance in this story, it happens multiple times! Thank you so much for the chance to read this advanced copy!

This was a sweet tale of a ghost writing trying to find their place. I liked the style of having a flashback to give the reader context on her own process for writing her novel. I enjoyed the banter between siblings.

I really enjoyed this story. It was quite a clean romance, which isn't my favorite, but the writing was good and the plot was fun. I found myself not wanting to put the book down, which is really the most important measure of what makes a good book, isn't it?

Adored this one! Melissa Ferguson is the queen of feel good rom coms with a great mix of humor and swoon.

I loved this book. I was not expecting to love it at first because so many rom-coms authors write about authors and the whole publishing industry. But this book was so much better than the rest! It was clever, heartfelt, and a little stressful at times. I read it all in one sitting. Thank you for the opportunity to read The Perfect Rom-Com.

I love that this book had more to it than just romance, we love some subplots! Bryony Page, our FMC, is an ESL teacher at a school about to lose funding. She tries to write a book about the school, but is having a difficult time getting it published. She then is the ghost writer for a famous romance author. She developed a friendship with the agent Jack. Obviously, he starts falling for her, which leads to some issues with getting her own book published. Absolutely love when I have major feelings while reading a book, this is a testament to the writer. I felt such strong hatred for Amelia and such a strong love for Both our female and male main characters. This is a quick easy read with some more depth than the regular romcom.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early read of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed this book, I loved the banter between Jack and Bryony and I loved watching their relationship change and evolve throughout the book. The one big issue I had was the huge time skip, which meant we missed out on a huge plot point of Jack and Bryony going from essentially enemies to friends and I really wish this would’ve been touched on more. I also didn’t love the fact that there were a few plot holes that seemed almost too big to skip over, which took away from the story as a whole. However, I did love reading about these characters and the journey they had throughout the book.

Bryony and Jack were super cute.
This is such an easy cosy and heart warming read and that I did devour this.

Melissa’s writing is lovely and her progression in her characters are beautiful I really enjoyed this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a fun one to read! It had elements of a romance, but at it's heart is the story of a writer determined to use her words to bring awareness to an important cause.

Bryony Page is an ESL teacher at a school about to lose it's funding. She writes a novel based on the school, but can't get published. Instead she stumbles on the job of ghostwriter for romance author Amelia Benedict. Over the course of two years she turns Amelia into a literary sensation, and develops a friendship with her agent, Jack. She still desperately wishes to publish her own book and Jack insists he's working on it. But there's more at play, not the least of which includes Jack realizing he feels more than just friendship for Bryony.

Bryony is a big-hearted person, and her love for her ESL students was truly heartwarming. She's also an exceptional author and it was such a joy to read about her writing process. I absolutely despised the character of Amelia. She was truly awful, and I kept getting angry and upset with her. I always find that being able to evoke such strong feelings is a true indication of an author's talent! As for Jack and Bryony's romance, it was pretty secondary to the rest of the story. I loved their friendship, but I found him to be a bit belittling and manipulative, all under the guise of trying to do what he thought was best for her. He did redeem himself, but I would have liked more conversation about his actions.

All in all, this book was a lovely read, and one that I flew through because I wanted to see how everything fell into place. The ending was a little far-fetched, but I have no problem suspending reality in order to enjoy a book. If you like steam-free romances that read more like contemporary women's fiction, I recommend this one! It publishes on February 11th 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was an enjoyable story. The main protagonists and their romance is handled well. The book has entertaining side characters. The plot was a little far-fetched, but readers will still want to read to the end to see how it all works out.

Sorry to say a perfect rom-com it was not.
This sits firmly for me at the average rom-com/chick-lit stories. While the premise was intriguing, somehow the story itself didn't really catch me. Bryony  I did like, but could care less about Jack. Honestly, it took me almost three weeks to finish this and that's how I know the story didn't hook me.
Really liked reading about the world of traditional publishing, that part was surprisingly interesting and a fun, informative read.

The Perfect Rom-Com promised a lighthearted, romantic escape but delivered a story that fell short in several key areas. While the book had moments, it struggled to live up to its title.

For a book marketed as a romantic comedy, the romance was barely there. The relationship between Bryony and Jack felt rushed and all over the place. One moment, Bryony can't stand Jack, and the next, we are expected to believe they are besties. The shift was so abrupt that it was hard to feel anything for their connection—it came off more like a plot device than a believable romance. Also, their romance bordered on emotional cheating for the first half, which left a bad taste in my mouth.

The plot? Super predictable. From the romance setup to the inevitable third-act breakup to the neatly wrapped ending, there wasn’t much to surprise or excite me. I kept hoping for something fresh to make it all worthwhile, but no luck there.

Also, Amelia’s constant dismissiveness and outright rudeness made it so hard to understand why Bryony stuck around for over two years. Why didn’t she quit? Watching her put up with that kind of treatment was frustrating, and her reasons for staying didn’t feel convincing.

Bryony’s desperation to get her book published made sense in theory, but her stubbornness about accepting criticism didn’t. How could someone with years of industry experience not think to reread her manuscript in all that time? The whole storyline about saving her grandmother’s ESL school by publishing a book felt way too simplistic. Book publishing is a slow and uncertain process, and pinning all her hopes on it just made her seem naive (for a 29-year-old).

The book had potential, but the flat romance, overly predictable story, and questionable character choices made it fall short. If you’re looking for a true rom-com, this one might not be the perfect pick.

I enjoyed this book. The overall story and themes were wonderful. My only wish in this book was that the ending was a bit longer. I felt like the late-story problem and solution could have had more of an impact on the story if it weren’t so last minute.

While this narrative focuses on ghost writers there are so many pitfalls in the publishing world that casual readers will. never understand, or take the time to learn about. My sincere wish is that readers reflect on the mega authors they support.

This book offers so much commentary that has definitely gone over the heads of many readers (judging by the reviews I’ve read). The book community is complicit in uplifting authors and books that are so undeserving on numerous cases it blows my mind. The irony that I’m posting this review on Goodreads after the slew of Goodreads Award (many of the winners lacking diversity) isn’t lost on me. It’s sad that I can cite real world examples, of ‘Amelia’s’ out there in the publishing world.

Onto happier things, I really liked Bryony and the overall arc of the book. The first three chapters really got me. I could feel the anxiety, the stress, the rage. It’s a book with a whirlwind of emotions and I appreciate it. There’s this energy that Melissa conveys in her book that transfers and imparts the reality of the publishing world.

My thanks to Uplit Reads and Melissa Ferguson for the ARC. The Perfect Romcom is out on February 11th 2025.

The Perfect Rom-Com was a fun, engaging read. I rooted for the main character, Bryony, from her first awkward attempts to find an agent through her blossoming into a successful ghostwriter and finally into her stepping into her power in the story's satisfying conclusion.

But some elements gave me pause. First, the book is clearly being marketed as a romance or rom com but it's actually more women's fiction. I didn't have a problem with this, but romance-centered readers might be disappointed.

Second, there is a disconcerting time jump early in the book. The first three chapters show Bryony's initial meeting with a prominent agent, Jack, focusing on her lack of experience and his dismissive attitude. Then the story jumps forward two years, by which point Bryony and Jack have a solid working relationship and friendship - and also, apparently, totally different personalities. We never learn what caused this evolution, so the initial presentation of the characters feels out of place. Readers might get a better first impression - and enjoy The Perfect Rom-Com just as much - by skipping it.

4.5 stars - a great women's fiction novel stuck in a rom com cover.

The Perfect Rom-Com lives up to its name with a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of publishing. Bryony’s journey from struggling writer to ghostwriting star is both relatable and inspiring, with just the right amount of wit and charm.

The story deftly balances Bryony’s hilarious interactions with her demanding boss, Amelia, and her swoon-worthy slow-burn romance with Jack Sterling. Jack’s support for Bryony’s dreams while their connection deepens is as heartwarming as it is romantic, making this book impossible to put down.

Perfect for fans of books about books, strong heroines, and sparkling chemistry, The Perfect Rom-Com is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves love and a good laugh along the way.

Ferguson’s writing is witty and charming, with just the right amount of romance and humor to keep you hooked. The characters are super likable, and there’s a great mix of sweet moments and laugh-out-loud scenes. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good, easy read with all the rom-com vibes, this one’s a total winner!

2.5⭐️ The first thing to note is this seems more like a women's fiction as opposed to a romantic comedy, I didn't find any romantic comedy vibes from this.

I felt like the author couldn't fully decide if she wanted to do an enemies to lovers, or a friends to lovers trope and it was convoluted it that sense and felt rushed in aspects. I think that the publisher needs to look at some of the plot holes and timelines to only because some of that didn't make sense.

Overall, if you're looking for a light read as a palate cleanser - then this is for you!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.