I enjoyed this book. I found myself getting swept away with the characters and their story.

I look forward to reading more by Melissa Ferguson in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I’m so thankful I live in a world where Melissa Ferguson is writing books that I can read. She’s a genius in every sense of the word and I love her and this book.

I didn’t think I would find my most disliked book of 2024 in a book that hasn’t even been published yet. That was definitely not in my 2024 bingo card.

Where to even begin with my review for “The Perfect Rom-Com” I’ll tell you this right now this was not a perfect romcom in anyway shape or form. Nor was this a “perfect romcom for book lovers” someone needs to review that pitch line. I know I’m probably coming across as really harsh. But I had such high expectations for this book. I love when romcoms feature the publishing industry. Plus the premise of this book revolving around a popular ghost writer really excited me. But the execution was just not it.

Our main female character Bryony has to be the most infuriating lead character I’ve read in years. She’s whiny, naive and a freaking doormat. The amount of work-place abuse she endured in this book was disgusting. Like take some pride in yourself and your work and leave. I wanted to scream at her multiple times and at several points I wanted to DNF. But I decided to keep torturing myself cause I wanted to know if she would ever grow a backbone and publish with her own name.

Next up we have our MMC Jack. I also found him to be extremely unlikeable and also a dick. In terms of his romance with Bryony I want to laugh with, “what romance!?!??” There was zero chemistry between them. And the scene of him swooping in after she immediately broke up with her ex. Nope just nope. What infuriates me the most about their romance is what could’ve been. We see them talk in past tense about these midnight calls, a party and conversations about hitting deadlines. However, we never witness them. If those had actually been in the book and flushed out I think I may have enjoyed their relationship more.

And lastly can’t forget to talk about that ending. Now I’m no lawyer but for that dumpster fire reveal they should all be in jail or sued. But alas we’re left with a giant plot hole and told yay happily ever after. (Internally screaming)

Overall, I cannot recommend this book. This was definitely not for me. Now even with all this said I am still interested in checking out some of Melissa’s others books. Lastly big Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the e-arc.

⭐️⭐️

This was a struggle to get through. About 60% it picked up and the ending was cute about completely unrealistic.

I didn’t really like Jack. Bryony fell flat for me. She didn’t stick out and wasn’t memorable. Jack was lying by omission.

The first half felt like I was being left out on a lot of secrets. They both had a lot of history but I just felt like an outsider while reading this. The beginning was confusing to people who aren’t in the publishing world. Felt like I was thrown into this book and was looking around confused. Also, the writing seemed stunted and choppy. Sentence didn’t flow and there were errors. I know with ARCs this can happen, but there were errors on almost every page.

I wouldn’t label this as a rom-com. There wasn’t anything cutesy about a bully author, a ghostwriter being treated like garbage and an agent who lies to his friend.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My words are 100% my own as is my choice to share a review of this title.

That said, I raced through this book. I loved it. I read it in every spare moment of my day. And then I worried I read it too fast to give an unbiased review.

I was wrong. This was charming and I would happily rave to read it again.

Melissa Ferguson is one of my favorite authors of contemporary romantic comedy with plenty of fun tension, great banter, vivid settings and all without the explicit scenes.

You can read the publishers summary about the plot, but read this if you like to laugh, if you like to live in your imagination, if you enjoy contemporary rom-coms, and if you believe in reading books that leave you feeling happier than when you found them.

This is good-mood material.

Bryany Page is an aspiring author who spends her life savings on a conference, for a chance to find an agent who will publish her first novel. But, things don't go as expected during a meeting with curmudgeon agent Jack Sterling, who passes on her book. Bryany runs into Jack after the conference and begins working as a ghostwriter for a celebrity's popular rom-com series. Years pass and Bryany gains success ghostwriting the series, but there are a few problems. 1) She hates Amelia Benedict, who she is the ghostwriter for and 2) She still hasn't gotten her novel published. Bryany is forced to go on a press-tour with Amelia and Jack, and while sparks fly between Amelia and Jack, Bryany continues to be unhappy in her career.

This book is not like any other rom-com I have read recently. It is fun, innovative, and the banter between Bryany and Jack is top notch.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a light, slow-burn romance that’s equal parts fun and charming, with a touch of workplace drama. Bryony Page is a ghostwriter whose own voice shines as she writes hit after hit for famous author Amelia Benedict, all while struggling to make her own writing dreams come true. At a writers' conference, she meets literary agent Jack Sterling, and sparks quietly fly as they navigate a complicated deal: Jack will help Bryony land her own book deal if she keeps ghostwriting for Amelia.

The “Agent x Author” and “Forced Proximity” tropes add sweet tension as Bryony and Jack work together in increasingly close quarters. Jack sees through Bryony’s humble exterior, and their slow-burn romance is filled with stolen moments and under-the-table touches that keep things exciting without rushing. Jack’s gradual realization that he doesn’t just admire Bryony’s talent but her heart adds depth to the story, making it more than just a workplace romance.

With its mix of strangers-to-lovers, professional challenges, and relatable self-doubt, this is a charming read that’s perfect for rom-com lovers. Bryony’s journey from ghostwriter to discovering her own worth gives the book a thoughtful edge. At 3.5 stars, it’s an enjoyable, feel-good escape for anyone who loves a slow-burn romance with lots of heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

The story follows Bryony, a rom-com ghostwriter, and her journey in love and writing. The author does a great job of making Bryony's growth as a writer parallel her emotional development, which adds depth to the story. Jack, the love interest, is charming and supportive, making their relationship heartwarming. The book is witty and fun, with plenty of humor and heart. The side characters, especially Bryony's assistant, add a lot of charm to the story. While I wished for more backstory on Amelia, the overall plot is engaging and enjoyable. The pacing is quick, making it a fast read, but it might feel a bit rushed at times. Despite this, it's a cute and feel-good story that's perfect for anyone who loves rom-coms.

This story might be about writing the perfect rom-com, but the book itself definitely was not said rom-com. I dont even know if this was supposed to be a romance?
But let's start at the beginning, which was so clever and funny and such good writing. The author clearly knows how to captivate the reader within the first pages. But she lost me about 50% in. First thing that really bothered me was the throwing around foreign names. It felt like ticking the "diversity checkbox". And it only got worse when the students were described in only the most superficial and stereotypical ways.
And then the romance bit happened. It was so fast, I almost missed it. And I have to ask myself: why? There was so much potential to go really deep with the relationship. But it was over in about 5 pages, with the third act breakup (pls show me the reader that actually likes those...) looming over everything.
And then the ending? I was still enjoying the writing up to this moment. But the ending ruined so much. It was cheesy and unbelievable and just not worth those characters, that -despite everything- I still kind of liked.

I enjoyed this book so much, even though it took me a minute to get into the story. Bryony was grumpy-charming and Jack was charming-charming. It included one of my favourite tropes, groveling 😂 I would’ve loved dual POV in this book!! What was Jack thinking 🤔

I felt a little bit ripped off by the massive time jump at the start of the book. I didn’t get to see the friendship form between the two main characters, we were just “there”. I would’ve liked to enjoy this as part of the story.

Amelia was horrrrrrrible. I kept wondering if she’d get a redemption arc… but no 😂 I think it could’ve been interesting, but I’m also okay with how it turned out. I just think it would’ve been interesting if the typical “shallow” gal grew…

Even though there wasn’t as much character development as part of the story arc, I still teared up at the end 🥺🥹 the ending of the story was so fun 😅

Thanks NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

A really fun, quick read! But, my biggest issue, is that it was almost too quick. The pacing was like a bullet train and it was hard to keep up with what was going on. The romance element felt haphazard at best, but the publishing industry throughline was masterful. Overall a cute little read!

This was an adorable little rom-com, which I'm sure you can guess from the title. I thought the characters lacked a little bit of depth and didn't particularly love the time jump, but otherwise, if you want to just relax and swoon a bit, this is the perfect kind of book!

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

This book is an absolute joy! It’s a witty, heartwarming rom-com centered on Bryony, a rom-com ghostwriter, whose journey in love parallels her growth as a writer—a brilliant touch. Bryony’s emotional development aligns with her writing progress, creating a meaningful connection to the story. While I wished for a bit more backstory on Amelia, the other side characters, especially the assistant, added so much charm. And Jack, as the love interest, is not only a supportive friend but also a true champion of Bryony’s writing. This delightful read is perfect for anyone who loves a feel-good story with a peek behind the literary curtain!

‘You weren’t dating me. But I was dating you.’

Huge thank you to NetGalley for an Earc of this book!

If you’re a writer and hope to get traditionally published this book might make you spiral with how accurate it is. (Can’t speak on the ghostwriting, but I can on everything else lol) The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony an author who after pitching her book to a top literary agent gets contracted to become a ghostwriter for an author she turns into a New York Times Bestseller.

This book made me more emotional than I expected, it was a romance but I think it was more of a story about a woman who has a dream and will do anything to accomplish it. A book about a woman who doesn’t give up and knows she’ll make it if she’s simply given the chance. I think this story spoke to me in many ways and will stick with me for a long time. I always love when books make me question myself or ask questions and this book did just that.

Amelia absolutely frustrated me, not only was she just an awful person with no regard of anyone but herself. The way she spoke about writing a book and the characters in said books really irked me. Mostly because I’ve met people similar to her in real life and how many people think the same way she does. She didn’t understand how much time, energy, blood, sweat and tears go into writing a novel and how absolutely harrowing and devastating it can be to try and get that novel published.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this book and will absolutely be reading more of Melissa’s work!
Writing a book isn’t a race, it’s a marathon and Bryony really showed that💕

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

First it should be noted this is in fact NOT a rom com. There are a few humorous moments and there is a romance but it reads like women’s fiction more than a romance. Just my opinion, but the title makes it seem like it’s something it’s not. For anyone looking for a traditional romance w/ the romantic relationship at the center, this isn’t it.

Next, I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC as Melissa Ferguson has quickly become one of my favorite authors over the last few years. Her stories are fun, different and always well written. (How to Plot a Payback was great!)
With that said, while the quality of writing is still great, the story- specifically the beginning and the ending weren’t great for me. I had a hard time getting into the book- I started it and set it down for over a month before coming back to it. While we’re being honest, I’m not sure I would have come back to it if I hadn’t received it as an ARC and felt like I had to continue. I did enjoy the middle of the book and read it really quickly once I got in to it.
So, where did things really fall apart for me? Right at the end…
I get this is fiction, but what transpired in that television studio felt so preposterous that it took me out of the story. It just didn’t work for me. It felt off and not like something that the characters would do/ be ok with. Amelia was obviously an entitled narcissist who was never told no as a child. So yay for her getting her comeuppance! But she’s also supposed to be the niece of the largest most powerful publishing company that owns all the other publishing companies. Jack goes into great detail about how and why Amelia will make sure Bryony’s book never sees the light of day bc of how much of the publishing industry this family controls. And yet, they pull this stunt on national morning television wherein they humiliate her and expose her for a fraud… I’m sorry, what?! And the tv show knew this was going to happen!
This is the best option to get Bryony out from under Amelia and get her book published? Is it really???
If the family has as much clout and power as Jack says they do, this just sounds like a great way to get the ever loving sh*t sued out of you.
Also, I find it odd that Bryony initially writes this book that she is SO invested in getting published, but never bothers to take any of the advice she’s given about editing it. Despite continuing to ask Jack about finding her a publisher for said book, she never takes the time to address any of the issues multiple people have told her they have with the book. Then, only when she gets her heartbroken and decides she wants out of the ghostwriting business completely does she go back and revisit her original manuscript. And not only does she revisit it but she edits it and gives it to Amelia… I’m sorry but WHAT?! This book which was supposedly a love letter to the foundation her grandmother started, that meant so much to her, that was going to save this place… and she’s just going to give it away to Amelia of all people?
Nope. Don’t buy it. Does she want this book published so bad that she’s willing to give it to a woman she hates?
Oh, and Jack lied to her face for two years all while he was supposedly secretly in love with her for a majority of that time. Ok sir. Sure. And then he tells her that he’s been working on finding a way for her to be able to publish her book. But has he? And if that were really the case, shouldn’t he have been making sure she was actually editing this multi-genre behemoth of a book? I’m sorry, but his words and actions don’t line up for me. I understand that he’s trying to make things right for her in the end by exposing Amelia, but I don’t like how he goes about it.
I could deal with the slow start and I could have gotten over Jack lying, but the blasé way in which everyone involved reacted to ruining Amelia‘s life and career with almost no consequences was baffling. Sure, she was the bad guy, but when you spend a whole book telling us how much this FMC loves people and loves helping people, to then have her be like 🤷🏻‍♀️ eh, no big deal… look at MY tour bus! It really ruins it and diminishes her and Jack as characters.
Will this keep me from reading another one of Melissa Ferguson’s books? No, but I’m still disappointed in this one.

This book started out cute and cozy, but kind of fell off for me. It didn't feel like anything new - the main character is on a quest to save a family member's business/program and encounters the villain along the way. I've read that a bunch of times. I liked the time hopping and Jack was dreamy, but overall this book was just ok.

Loved the book, she always writes a great story, It was a fun read not many others like this one. Thanks for letting me read this book.

There is no such thing.....I wish I could say this was a five star perfect read but its a 3 star for me. It was not bad, and I think would be a great read for those looking for no spice. I am just a harsh critic of romantic comedies and while this one was fine, it did not wow me in the way I was wanting.

This was very cute! Loved the characters and sweet story. Glad I got to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson!

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is an absolute delight! I was immediately drawn into the charming story of two characters who are both navigating the ups and downs of love and career. Ferguson's witty writing and humor had me laughing out loud, while the romantic twists kept me eagerly turning the pages. I loved how the book playfully pokes fun at romantic comedy tropes while still delivering a heartfelt romance. It’s the perfect cozy read for anyone looking to escape into a fun, feel-good story!