This is a cute rom-com. Bryony has written a novel which prompts her to attend a convention searching for an agent. Her last hope was Jack Sterling, who tells her no. She decided not to take no for an answer. She winds up ghostwriting for Amelia Benedict.

Amelia is atrocious. I couldn’t stand her and the things that come out of her mouth, mind blowing.

Jack has been biding his time waiting on Bryony to be single. Loved Jack. Though he made some questionable choices.


Overall this was a cute read with a HEA. I listened to this on audiobook and loved the narrator, Karissa Vacker.

Thank you HarperCollins Christian Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Bryony is an aspiring writer, who is trying to sell her manuscript to a publishing company. For the first few interviews she is really excited but after she gets turned down by almost every publisher, she starts to lose her excitement. There is now only one publisher left. When she goes in for her interview, she sees Jack Sterling, who is a gorgeous and famous publisher. Jack turns down her manuscript as well but Bryony doesn’t want to give up and tries to convince that she is a great writer.

Then Jack offers Bryony to work as a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict. Bryony accepts but only if Jack also helps her with publishing her book. After she writes one book, one ghostwriter after another leaves the team and eventually Bryony is the only writer left. She writes bestseller after bestseller and makes Amelia one of the best writers of her time.

Amelia, who is now a famous and bestseller author, is going on tour but Bryony and Jack have to come with her because she hasn’t read the books and doesn’t know what they are about. Bryony and Jack are there to avoid that Amelia will uncover that she is not the actual writer. Bryony and Jack are always together on tour, and they slowly start to catch feelings for each other.

This is my first book by Melissa Furgeson and I was very impressed. It’s a cute and cozy book that had me laughing out loud at times. I read this book as an ebook and an audiobook at the same time. The narration was very good because the narrator has a nice voice and it's very clear. The book is written very well and easy to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing Rom Com!

🌷I adored the overall chaotic and funny way that this was written in. The FMC had so much going on in her mind at any given moment that it made it a blast to read.

🌷The actual love story was so sweet and it truly was a "he falls first" and "will do anything for her" sort of book. Author Melissa Ferguson gave us all the swoon, banter and laugh out loud moments in one compact and joyful story.

🌷Spice:0

🌷Language:0

If you love a well-done enemies-to-lovers romance, The Perfect Rom-Com delivers in the best way. With sharp banter, charming characters, and a humorous inside look at ghostwriting in the publishing industry, this book kept me entertained from start to finish.

The Perfect Rom-Com
3.5 ☆

° Forced Proximity
° Friends to Lovers
° Workplace Romance
° Slow Burn
° Closed-door Romance

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony, an ESL teacher by day and aspiring writer by night, who takes on the role of a ghostwriter after receiving a proposition from Jack, a literary agent at a writer's conference.

The novel provides a fascinating look into the challenges of being a writer while highlighting Bryony’s efforts to save her grandmother's school, which supports immigrants in learning English and adapting to their new lives. Bryony writes a manuscript with the hope of securing a book deal, using the proceeds to save the school from closure. As an immigrant myself, I found Bryony's dedication to teaching, her strong bonds with her students, and her drive to protect the school while prioritizing her students' needs truly inspiring.  The story also portrays Bryony’s personal growth as she navigates her journey of self-discovery.

Jack's quiet encouragement of Bryony’s dreams, his recognition of her potential, and his attention to the small details of her life were truly touching.

I enjoyed alternating between the beautifully narrated audiobook, with Karissa Vacker bringing the characters to life, and reading the book.

Favorite Quotes:
ᥫ᭡  "..It takes a great deal of courage for
someone to come to this country,
often with nothing, and make a
new start for their family. They need
to feel proud of themselves."

ᥫ᭡  "The Lion King was the first reminder that we could get through this.  That life, while at times terrible, hard, and unpredictable, could never keep goodness from poking through the ground too."

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the audiobook, and the author, Melissa Ferguson for the complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

Rating: 4.5 stars

Overview: Bryony Page is determined to save The Bridge, the ESL school where she teaches, and writing a novel seems like the answer. But when literary agent Jack Sterling offers her a different opportunity—ghostwriting for a bestselling “author”—she can’t refuse. As she and Jack grow closer, Bryony starts questioning everything. Will her own novel ever sell? Will her words ever be her own? And does she have real feelings for her literary agent? With The Bridge’s future at stake, she must decide what—and who—she’s truly fighting for.

Our Thoughts: Bryony Page and Jack Sterling made such a fun duo! We loved their banter and inside jokes, which added so much charm to their story. Melissa Ferguson did a fantastic job with the details, making it easy to understand exactly what Bryony was feeling. Her down-to-earth, witty writing style brought Bryony and Jack to life, making them feel incredibly real. We truly enjoyed this sweet Rom-Com!
#WaterUnderTheBridge

Thank you NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

Perfect if you Like:
Sister Bond
FMC Growth
Likable MMC

Similar To: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

#ThePerfectRomCom #NetGalley #audiobook #standalone #book #bookrecs #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #readwithushm #sisterswhoread

While I didn’t think The Perfect Rom-Com was the perfect rom-com, I did think it was pretty close! I loved Bryony. I thought her character had so much depth and loved how she fought wholeheartedly for her dreams and what she believed in. Knowing the backstory that was shared before the book began helped me relate to the book so much more and I really liked that. Bryony and Jack together were couple goals. He helped steer her in the right direction and she helped bring out his sweet side. I thought this book was thoughtful, funny, and I really enjoyed listening to it. I absolutely loved the ending!!

I was given an ALC through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are my own.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Harper Collin’s Christian Publishing, and Melissa Ferguson for the chance to listen to the ARC of The Perfect Rom-Com!

This was the first time I read a book by Melissa Ferguson and it didn’t disappoint! What took me so long?! This is the kind of book you read on your kindle/book or listen to the audiobook of and then immediately go buy a physical copy for your book collection. It was a perfect romantic comedy, exactly as the title suggests.

I really liked Bryony as a main character. She was super real. She had quirks, faults, and nonsensical inner monologues. She was passionate, sarcastic, and witty. And I loved watching her finally stand up for herself. I enjoyed her relationships with her sister Gloria and her Gran. I loved how passionate she was about her students and The Bridge.

I also adored Jack Sterling. I loved how seamlessly he built himself into and around her life without her even really noticing. How their friendship developed so naturally into a relationship. It made sense and it felt real.

This book had everything I want in a romantic comedy. It was clever and made me laugh, while being realistic and full of warmth. I love a story where he falls first. It made me laugh out loud. I grinned. I had anxiety right along with Bryony. I was frustrated with her and for her. The story really drew me in. I know from the first page that I was going to love it.

The ending was cathartic and I was thrilled when Amelia got what she deserved.. Amelia was perfectly dislikable. I loved how the big reveal went down. It fit perfectly. I was appreciative how Jack’s “betrayal” was resolved because I was personally irritated with Bryony for a hot minute for not giving him the time that he deserved to explain himself. So I loved the ending and the epilogue as well. It was perfect.

And now, last but not least, for the narrator, Karissa Vacker. Whew. Incredible. I have no doubt that she could keep up a clever conversation with the Gilmore Girls. She added some heart to this story. Her voice and inflection was amazing. It was so smooth. Her different voices for the characters made it exceptionally easy to be able to tell them apart. She was excellent. Beyond excellent. Usually a female narrators male voice makes me roll my eyes a time or two but hers never did! I’ll listen to anything she narrates!

I highly recommend picking this book up or downloading it on Audible! The Audiobook was amazing. I couldn’t turn it off.

Bryony and Jack! I love their characters and each page left me wanting more. The two year time jump was necessary to the story and plot, but I would love more of that time they had together and their friendship. The flashbacks were the best. Amelia is the perfect villain in disguise. “Then stop talking, Amelia” will be my favorite line for a while. The story felt a bit rushed in some places and drawn out in others, but it all came together in the end for a victorious and satisfying HEA for all.

3.5 Stars

This one gave me major Singing in the Rain vibes and I love that movie!

Bryony is a celebrated Rom-Com writer; but celebrated only in her work, not by name. She is ghostwriter to the selfish annoying starlet Amelia Benedict, and longs to have her own manuscript published someday.

For years now her editor Jack has been by her side, cheering her along and promising to give her her own shot when the timing is right. Feelings start to grow between them and everything is about to blow up in this literary arrangement.

The resistance to realizing their true feelings was adorable and I loved the way Jack protected Bryony throughout their journey.

I could visualize poor aspiring performer Kathy Selden, singing for Lina Lamont while her relationship with Don Lockwood continues to deepen. Took me back to a movie I love and now a story I had so much fun with.

This book was 50% overly descriptive, insane thought tangents, 25% romcom, and 25% author's guide to becoming a writer. It definitely suffered from genre confusion, which is is Ironic, because throughout the entire book aspiring author Bryony is told her novel is not genre specific enough to sell.

The entire story is choppy, with the introduction being very drawn out, and then a whiplash jump to two years later. There were occasional nuggets about her life to attempt to give her depth (the ESL school and a random addition of her mom's death), a MIA boyfriend, and really petty ghost writing girl drama. The only good thing about the book was a sweet romance with her agent, but even that had a predictive third act breakup. Honestly, the plot was ridiculous, the pacing was terrible, the ending was unrealistic...

This entire book was a miss for me, but I do appreciate the ARC.

Cute book! The main characters were cute together, a good grumpy/sunshine book. I enjoyed the banter, it was top notch. At first I truly hated Jack. He was a jerk to Byrony and didn't even given her chance. But she began to grow on him quickly, which I loved to watch him fall.

The Perfect Rom-Com is the first book I have read written by Melissa Ferguson. This was a fun story. I loved getting to see the inner workings of the publishing world. Things you don’t think about-like ghost writers.

The storyline and setting were great. I loved getting to see a little bit behind the writing process and the world of publishing. It was fun. The title seemed a bit deceiving to some, because the romance in the rom-com was a little lacking for much of the book. Though I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The romance aspect was cute. It was all very closed door. Slow burn, friends to lovers.

There was no Christian content, though none overtly against.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

3.75 stars! Decently intriguing, nice twist, mildly infuriating. I enjoyed the narrator for the most part!

My biggest issue: Bryony as the FMC was so annoying.

Jack was fine, I did enjoy his “he fell first” speech, and while I didn’t like his “betrayal”, he was an absolute gentleman otherwise and I did like him a lot. On the contrary, some times Bryony came off as so whiny and impulsive and narcissistic sometimes and it was too much to be in her head all the time. I almost DNF’ed within the first 20% because of her character. And I got even more mad at her when she was on the boat. Just infuriating having her be the FMC.

But, all things aside, I loved the take on the plot and all the tropes it had. It was unique, but still feel-good, loved the ghostwriter/agent aspect and I very much enjoyed the story they told.

(I listened to the audiobook version)
Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing this copy of The Perfect Rom-Com in exchange for an honest review.

It started a bit heavy worded, almost like the book she is describing but it lightens a bit later or maybe I got used to the writing.
I didn't quite understand why she decided to go from writing a book to create conscience about something she was passionate about to ghost write romcoms, we haven't known her for too long at this point but seems out of character for her.
Its giving Emily Henry vibes in a good way, very light, funny and cute love story but just like her book it needs trimming, its way too long, I've seen other reviews and most say the same.
This is the first book I read by the author but I will be picking up more, I like the way she writes, it has a good rhythm, not too slow, not too fast, just a bit too long like I already said, other than that I really enjoyed it.
(I will edit this review to post this to good reads)

This was a cute rom-com with likeable, well-developed characters. I appreciated the main character’s dedication to teaching her ESL students and keeping her grandmother’s company alive. Certain aspects were a bit unrealistic, particularly being hired as a ghost writer with no actual experience or proof of her talent. The ending was also quite unlikely (and illegal!) but satisfying comeuppance! Overall a fun light romantic read.

3.5. I actually really liked the FMC and her random streams of consciousness. The build was fun, watching the evolution of their relationship, but once the problem was revealed it wasn’t as strong/fun. The wrap up lacked substance for me. The narrator of the audiobook was perfect though. Her voice was a great fit. I wouldn’t consider this a romance, not even a closed door one as there isn’t really even an allusion to more or even a deep chemistry. More like really great best friends.

This one was a bit misleading, I was expecting a cute and fun romcom but instead was faced with a chick lit. I have nothing against chuckles just not what I was expecting. I did enjoy seeing byronys journey and everything she accomplished. I wasn’t really a fan of Jack and part of that is I didn’t feel like we really got to know him as readers he felt very 2 dimensional

"The Perfect Rom-Com" by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful and easy listen that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a romantic comedy. Karissa Vacker's narration is spot on, bringing the characters and their humor to life with ease. The story is lighthearted, fun, and easy to follow, making it a great pick for a relaxing audiobook. If you're in the mood for a feel-good read, this one won't disappoint.

#MelissaFerguson #ThePerfectRomCom #NetGalley

The Perfect Rom-Com, written by Melissa Ferguson and narrated by Karissa Vacker, is a hilarious and romantic book featuring main character Bryony Page. Bryony is an aspiring author who works with adult ESL learners. The book starts with her at a conference for writers, where she hopes a publisher will pick up her manuscript, and this is where she meets Jack Sterling. Jack is a literary agent who Bryony meets with, and although he thinks her book needs some work, he has a different proposition for her.
After taking an offer from Jack, Bryony needs to put her own wants aside so that she can help Jack and his team, as well as the organization she works for. But how much can she take? And will she still have a chance to publish her own book?
I greatly enjoyed this book! This was my first book by this author, but it will not be my last. I loved the characters, their growth, and relationships. Also loved the humor shown throughout the book! Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, narrator, and publisher for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.