This is my second Melissa Ferguson book and I was so excited to read The Perfect Rom-Com!

In this friends to lovers read, Bryony is working hard has a full time ESL teacher and ghostwriter to a true diva, while she not so patiently waits for her moment in the spotlight. Jack is her quick talking, always planning agent turned best friend. I enjoyed the relationship between Bryony and Jack, especially their banter. Overall the book was cute and fun.

This book had the heartwarming, fun vibe with lovable characters and witty dialogue that kept me hooked the whole time. Bryony and Jack’s friends-to-lovers romance gave me all the feels, and the blend of humor and emotion was spot on. I have to give so much praise to the author for her incredible style, story, and characters! This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

3.75

It was honestly better than I expected! Likeable characters, great chemistry between the MCs, lots of funny moments. Unfortunately, the characters lack depth, and there was just too much internal monologue.

I do love that the author gave us a little peek of how a writer’s mind works, and the inner workings of the publishing world (not sure of the accuracy, but I appreciate it nonetheless).

I feel like the title was understandably misinterpreted as the genre of this book. I was one of those who was expecting a Rom-Com. Despite the chemistry between Bryony and Jack, the romance part was more of an afterthought. By the end of the book, I see it as Bryony’s journey into getting her book published, saving The Bridge, and finally, how she came up with The Perfect Rom-Com.

This is my first Melissa Ferguson book, and it definitely won’t be the last. I have some of her books on my tbr list, and I look forward to reading them!

I must say this book was written perfectly and had me hooked from the first chapter all the way to the epilogue. Even the pace that this book went set the tone for how everything should pan out and left you wanting more every chapter. Im just so proud of Bryony and everything that she was able to accomplish throughout her journey of this book.

This story has the perfect name, as it is hands down the perfect rom-com. (Can I give it more than 5 stars?!)

Melissa Ferguson has a way with words to bring you all the feelings for these characters. The little insights into the worlds we are not a part of like the publishing industry are so thoroughly explained and handled that anyone can understand and follow along, and root for these fake people! I am so happy with the ending, it was the perfect bow on the great journey. I will indeed need to grab a copy of this when it is released! NO NOTES

Thoughts while Reading:
September 6, 2024 –
25.0% "At Chapter 5 and this is amazing already. The timeline is perfect, the banter is great. I truly enjoy every Melissa Ferguson book I read."

Do yourself a favor and get this book whenever you can. It needs to be read and shared.

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

Aspiring writer Bryony has a double dream- to get published, and to save the non-profit where she teaches ESL classes to immigrants and refugees.

She’s penned a book about the history of the organization and hopes that by selling it she can raise the money to keep the center afloat. Despite facing numerous rejections, Bryony remains determined and optimistic. Then she meets notoriously difficult literary agent Jack who presents her with an unexpected opportunity: to be a ghostwriter for a big-name romcom author. Bryony agrees, under the condition that Jack will also represent her own book.

Over the years, their professional relationship blossoms into a close friendship, but Bryony becomes increasingly frustrated writing for someone else's fame and glory, while her own novel remains unpublished, all while the threat of her beloved community center's closure looms ever closer. When Bryony attends a promotional tour with the obnoxious author she writes for, Jack tags along and their bond turns from platonic to romantic. However Jack has been harboring secrets that jeopardize their newfound relationship and Bryony’s dreams.

This slowburn romcom is full of fun banter, loveable characters, community and family connections, and most of all, heart.

Melissa Ferguson writes rich realistic characters and wonderful storylines and playful banter. It starts with meeting Bryony. She's an aspiring author, and desperate to save the Bridge, an ESL program that has been the heart of her family for years. Her first book pitch doesn't go the way she expected. Bryony Page instead of selling her own novel, she's suddenly faced with an opportunity to ghost write for Amelia Benedict. She goes from an unknown author to the brains behind several best selling novels.

Bryony is always putting her students, her family and of course her work first. You soon find yourself rooting for Bryony to get her happily ever after with Jack, but more importantly you want her to get credit for her hard work. The work she has put into creating stories that everyone loves. You soon realize though, that without this brief stop as a ghost writer, she wouldn't have been able to create the novel, the one that tells the story dearest to her own heart.

If you are looking for a light romance, with just a touch of comedy, this is the perfect book.

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

This is an excellent Rom-com! I loved hearing Bryony’s story about her growth as a writer, and her love for said words! I also enjoyed seeing her relationship with Jack grow into a solid romance! I also loved the “villain”!! This was a wonderful book to read!!

Title: The Perfect Rom-Com
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Rating: 4.5/5

Review:

Melissa Ferguson’s The Perfect Rom-Com is an enchanting blend of wit, humor, and heart, offering readers a delightful behind-the-scenes peek into the world of publishing and ghostwriting. With lovable characters, a sprinkle of romantic tension, and a smart, engaging plot, this novel is a rom-com that lives up to its title.

Bryony Page is an incredibly relatable protagonist. As an aspiring author trying to catch her big break while juggling her full-time job teaching ESL at The Bridge, her grandmother's non-profit, she’s full of optimism but faced with the reality of how difficult it can be to break into the publishing world. After a disastrous pitch session at a writer’s conference, Bryony unexpectedly stumbles into the role of ghostwriter for the high-maintenance and wildly successful romance novelist, Amelia Benedict.

What makes The Perfect Rom-Com stand out is the way Ferguson playfully tackles the irony of Bryony, a true talent, having to watch from the sidelines as her work skyrockets Amelia to fame. The exploration of ghostwriting is fresh, funny, and filled with amusing moments that capture Bryony's frustrations and triumphs as she navigates the industry's highs and lows.

The romantic subplot between Bryony and Jack Sterling, a literary agent at the prestigious Foundry Agency, is slow-burn and full of the classic rom-com charm. Jack is the quintessential rom-com hero—supportive, thoughtful, and increasingly smitten with Bryony as he begins to see not only her talent but also her heart. Their chemistry builds gradually, and their interactions are filled with a blend of genuine connection and light-hearted banter that keeps readers invested.

Ferguson also does a fantastic job of balancing humor with heart. Bryony’s dedication to The Bridge, her grandmother’s organization, adds a deeper emotional layer to the story. While the romantic elements shine, her personal journey toward achieving her own dream of publication is equally compelling. The challenges she faces—both professionally and personally—are depicted in a way that is authentic and inspiring.

Amelia Benedict, the diva-esque novelist Bryony ghostwrites for, brings another layer of humor to the story. While she's over-the-top and sometimes hard to like, her character provides a great foil to Bryony's sincerity and adds to the comedic tension.

The themes of self-worth, ambition, and staying true to oneself are threaded seamlessly throughout the novel. Readers will cheer for Bryony as she not only strives for recognition in her writing career but also finds her voice both on the page and in her personal life.

Overall, The Perfect Rom-Com is a charming, feel-good story filled with warmth, wit, and all the ingredients of a great romantic comedy. Melissa Ferguson has crafted a delightful novel that will appeal to readers who love stories about the publishing world, finding love in unexpected places, and believing in oneself against all odds. Whether you’re in it for the laughs, the romance, or the heartfelt journey of the protagonist, this book delivers on all fronts.

⭐⭐⭐ 3.25

Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC, all thoughts are my own.

With some finetuning/edits, this book could be so great! Our story revolves around Bryonny (pls consider a different name), who is an ESL instructor, wishing to be an author, and ending up being a ghostwriter. The romance was more of a subplot (afterthought) sometimes and I felt we were a little too focused on some of the tiny details that come with writing/workshopping books. I understand that was kind of the point, but we're marketing this as "The Perfect Rom-Com" in a double-meaning sense...so it needed to have that double.

It's a really sweet book, and I would read more of Melissa's books.

I didnt completely vibe with this book. The writing style was confusing and I didnt connect much. But I will check out more from melissa

this was cozy but the third act breakup was too dragged out and i honestly didn’t love this one. honestly not as much romantic elements as i would have thought.

This is a delightful fit for readers who adore witty, feel-good stories about chasing dreams, finding love, and the power of creative expression, with a dash of humor and a healthy dose of romance.

This book was a challenging read. The dialogue felt disjointed and difficult to follow, making it hard to stay engaged. Despite hoping to be drawn into the story, that moment never came for me. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review

4.5

I loved this so much. It had me hooked right from the beginning, the characters were so funny and the banter and friendship between them was perfect. Jack Sterling is now in the ranks of my favourite book boyfriends! This story had romance, comedy, heartache, and many struggles that the character was dealing with aswell as helping her students with. I will say that the ending was a little bit far fetched but it was so much fun to read that I don’t really care. This is my first book from Melissa Ferguson and I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fun, banter-filled romance! I have enjoyed Melissa Ferguson's books in the past, but I think this book has her best banter! It was so fun to read about Bryony and Jack's relationship throughout the book. I appreciated the development of their relationship from agent/client to friends to lovers. Jack is Bryony's agent and at first has her ghostwriting for a popular author with the understanding that he will represent her book that she wrote. I really enjoyed the characters from the Bridge program and the dialog overall between Bryony and the people in her life(especially her sister Gloria who is hilarious). I felt like the conflict was a tad drawn out and that Bryony's response to the conflict was a bit immature for her character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend for a feel good quick read!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for a digital ARC of The Perfect Rom-Com.

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

I LOVED this book. Melissa Ferguson is a new to me author, but I've already planned to order her backlog. One of my favorite things is a MC with a unique voice that allows for the breaking of grammatical or traditional rules in exposition, and this book was full of them. The author did a great job at making me forget I was reading. I loved the premise and the execution. Both the FMC and MMC were great, as well as the supporting characters, except for one in particular which I haaated (as I was supposed to). I devoured this in two days. Such a cute, clean story. Loved it and can't wait to recommend to other people!

The Pefect Rom-Com is a story about Bryony Page, an aspiring author with dreams of her manuscript being published. She became a ghost writer for a popular author after meeting an agent.
The story describes her love for an organization where she teaches ESL, in which her manuscript is based on, and her relationship with her agent, Jack. This story felt more contemporary fiction with less romance, however, the relationship between Bryony and Jack was sweet. Some of the supporting characters and relationships could have been more developed but overall this was an enjoyable read. This was a fun and entertaining story with clean romance.

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

I want to give this book 50 stars!!!!! I'm not even completely finished with it yet, but chapter 13 and 14 are some of the best stuff I have EVER. Read in my entire rom com reading life. When I tell you I literally stopped and did a silent squeal and got my hand repeatedly on the bed in glee. My goodness!!!! THAT IS LOVE. I am unwell In the best possible way. This for sure is going to be a re read for me and go on my top ten fave romance books. I am deceased in a puddle of ooey gooey Lord please give me a love like that bliss.

** spoiler alert **

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

The beginning of this book i thought was great. However, after that the book was extremely hard for me to get through and I ended up getting annoyed with the two main characters. I thought the relationship between Bryony and Jack was incomplete from the beginning and there was no back and forth between the two of them and then all of the sudden they are dating? It was clear from the beginning that Jack was not being honest with Bryony about sending out her book for people to read. And I hated the fact that we never had a real scene where Bryony and Jack spoke about his intentions behind why he did what he did before things were resolved in the end. Instead we just got Bryony who just ignored him the whole time. Overall, I skimmed most of the book because it seemed to drag on.