What a fun read that immerses you in the world of publishing. I'm sure many of the occurrences in this story are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the reality of what authors face trying to get their stories out into the world. I also enjoyed the depth that "The Bridge" part of the story line brought to the book. This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and I really enjoyed it. I'd heard that her romcoms are more com than rom and the only somewhat negative thing I can say is that that fact left me wanting a tiny bit more. Definitely not a deal breaker whatsoever though...I added all of Melissa's books to my TBR immediately after finishing this one!

Bryony...First of all, I love this name...so pretty and unique! She definitely has pluck and confidence and the kind of wonderful personality that seems to come from having no idea how truly amazing you are. As a teacher, I connected with Bryony's concern and care for her students and the haven that "The Bridge" was for them. So many of her decisions were made to provide hope and continuity for them. Her love was extremely sacrificial and meant the world to so many people.

Jack...Man, I don't think this guy was expecting to fall so hard and fast for Bryony whatsoever. He was so known and successful in the publishing realm and probably had no idea that he was even missing anything in his life...and then she walked right into his world and totally rearranged it. This guy had some incredible lines and his charm was impossible to resist.

Things I loved:
❤️The writing conference (particularly Bryony's brave moment)
❤️Gloria's pep talks (especially the ones with her southern accent and sayings 😂)
❤️Excellent banter
❤️Bowling night
❤️The incredible friendship between Bryony and Jack
❤️Tour bus moments
❤️Everyone bonding over how absolutely terrible Amelia was
❤️Bryony and Jack's culinary adventures
❤️The morning show interview (absolutely epic)
❤️Epilogue (especially Gloria getting her love story)

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an early copy of this sweet audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"Maybe I should clarify, you weren't dating me, but I was dating you."

"I've been in love for quite some time, I just didn't know it was with him."

This was such a cute story. It would make THE perfect rom-com movie ;-) The audiobook was perfect, I adore Karissa Vacker and all of her narration work! I highly recommend this book or audiobook to any romance fan. This is a closed-door, friends-to-lovers romance.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC of this book. Truly this was the cutest, feel good read. Inspired by Two Weeks Notice, this is a darling story of a sassy literary agent and a down on her luck ESL teacher who is trying to break into the literary world to make money to save her Grandma's company. It was a tad rocky in the beginning, which is why it wasn't an automatic 5 star read for me, but it truly grows and morphs into the most beautiful story. No true third act breakup which I enjoyed and I adored how it wrapped the story up. Audio and narrators were 10/10.

I found myself really swept up in this love story. Byrony Page had so much heart and desire to represent her grandmother's dream and the ESL adults who defined the fabric of her life through her writing. And yet, the story was held so dear to her that she couldn't imagine edits and no publisher would take the content seriously without them. What followed was a stint at ghostwriting and a strangers to friends to lovers plot line. Was it predictable? Certainly. Does that mean it was bad? Not by a longshot.

As I made my way through I was feeling like it was a pretty decent romance. Then the ending caught me by surprise and made me love it all the more for its originality.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a charming, lighthearted listen with an engaging premise and plenty of humor. The story follows Bryony Page, an aspiring author who unexpectedly lands a gig ghostwriting for a famous rom-com novelist. As her words make Amelia Benedict a literary sensation, Bryony remains in the shadows—until literary agent Jack Sterling starts taking notice of both her talent and her heart.

The narration adds to the book’s overall charm, making the witty banter and comedic moments even more enjoyable. The pacing is smooth, and the narrator does a great job bringing the characters to life. However, while the story is fun, it felt a bit predictable, and the romance between Bryony and Jack lacked the tension and slow-burn buildup I was hoping for.

That said, if you love a sweet rom-com with a unique writer’s journey twist, this audiobook is an easy, entertaining listen.

⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank You Netgalley and Melissa Ferguson for this Audio book. Narrated by Karissa Vacker who did a great job. I enjoyed this romance book, and it was a fast read. Byrony a ghost writer has more to deal with in her life than just writing and being forced on a book tour with the writer the world knows. I choked up a little. Loved how the story played out and completed.

Unfortunately, the story doesn't pick up until more than 50% in, the way it is advertised and the way it starts are so different, it would have been better to start were the summary says and then, if necessary go back to the way this book starts. Because of that you could feel a little bit more of a connection because it felt like so much time jumps were happening that it could have been better to go back when needed.
I loved the audiobook so much, it is a fast and light read, loved that he was kind of grumpy and that she has another passion which is teaching ESL, loved that the logistics of publishing a book were shown here.
It was cute but didn't like the break up which is necessary but then I felt then ending is sooo rushed you feel like something is missing
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity of listening to this book.

The Perfect Rom-Com is a clean, feel good, slow burn rom-com that, for the most part, lived up to its title. It has a unique plot, a behind the scenes of the world of writing and publishing and the trials, tribulations, and rejections that come with becoming an author. To be honest, with that title, I was worried it would be full of cliches, but thankfully it wasn’t. It was uplifting, super cute, and had a good balance of humor, romance, and self discovery.

Bryony is an aspiring writer and an ESL teacher assisting immigrants and refugees. Having little luck getting anyone interested in her own manuscript, she takes a job as a ghostwriter to a famous author who doesn’t appreciate her or her hard work and is an entitled, toxic person. She is just buying time while making a name for herself without breaking contracts. Thankfully, she has Jack, a literary agent who has become more of a best friend than work colleague.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Not only was the plot charming and unique, the diverse cast of characters were well developed and easy to fall in love with. I adored their relationship and the swoon worthy and witty banter. However, I felt like it was a little repetitive and the lengthy monologues took away from the story.

The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a phenomenal job with giving several different characters their own voice making it easy to follow and listen. I loved the southern slang accent she gave Gloria, and she made Amelia’s voices just as annoying and arrogant as I felt her character was. As always, she did a great job with pacing, tone, and inflection which really helped to set the scene and bring the story and characters to life, delivering a flawless performance from start to finish.

Thank you @prhaudio @thomasnelson @uplitreads @netgalley and @ourfriendlyfarmhouse for the #gifted eARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Rom-Com is the perfect closed door Romance. I was able to listen to the Audiobook version and absolutely loved the narration by Karissa Vacker. I've listened to a few of Karissa's other narrations and she never disappoints!

In The Perfect Rom-Com we follow along with Bryony Page as she attempts to save her grandmother's organization, The Bridge, where they teach ESL to recent immigrants to the US. Bryony pours her heart and soul into her manuscript that she believes will bring awareness to The Bridge and cultivate donations or generate income. In her attempt to get her manuscript picked up by an agent or publisher, she meets Jack Sterling. He offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, to become a ghostwriter for the popular rom-com novelist, Amelia Benedict. Nobody predicted that Bryony would turn Amelia Benedict into a household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

The author, Melissa Ferguson, mentions this being a nod to Two Weeks Notice at the beginning of the novel. It definitely gives Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant vibes. Two Weeks Notice is one of my favorite Rom-Com's so this is a heavy lift and The Perfect Rom-Com totally matched up! I loved this audiobook and it was the perfect fit for my Valentine's Day Weekend!

This closed-door romance novel was an enjoyable read. While the beginning felt somewhat slow-paced, the conclusion felt rushed and artificial. Despite these minor flaws, the overall narrative was engaging and entertaining. I would highly recommend it to my closed door friends :) I absolutely loved the narrator.

THE PERFECT ROM-COM is amazingly well-written and filled with relatable, well-developed characters. I was drawn to Jack instantly and deeply invested in both his professional and personal relationships with Briony. I also loved to hate the spoiled, ungrateful author for whom Briony is a ghost writer, and I rooted for that character to get her comeuppance as much as I rooted for the couple. The audiobook narration by Karissa Vacker was excellent and though I normally only listen while I'm on my afternoon walk, I found myself keeping my earbuds in even when I got home so I could stay with the story longer. I think this is Melissa Ferguson's best book to date!

This is a great closed door romance. They start is a bit slow, but when he said I have been dating you for a year, ahhhh my heart! Will recommend to those looking for a cute romance with out the spice.

This novel will captivate readers who delight in witty and uplifting tales of pursuing aspirations, discovering love, and the transformative power of creativity. With a touch of humor and a generous dose of romance, this book is a perfect match for those who enjoy stories that leave them feeling good. The narrative explores the exhilarating journey of chasing dreams, the heartwarming experience of finding love, and the profound impact of artistic expression, all while maintaining a lighthearted and humorous tone. Readers will be charmed by the witty banter, relatable characters, and the uplifting message that permeates the story. This book is an ideal choice for those seeking a delightful and inspiring read that celebrates the beauty of creativity, the magic of love, and the importance of pursuing one's passions.

I felt that it lagged a little bit in the beginning but it got better half way through. It was a cute read and would recommend it.

Okay, The Perfect Rom-Com is seriously chef’s kiss perfect! 😍 Bryony Page is an aspiring author with big dreams to get published and save her grandmother’s ESL school. But after a cringe-worthy pitching session, she ends up ghostwriting for a bestselling author (who’s, like, the worst) while still trying to get her own book out there. Her agent, Jack, is a total swoon-worthy mess—funny, sweet, and just a little bit flawed, which made him way more relatable and charming. I loved watching Bryony’s determination and ambition unfold. She’s not your typical rom-com heroine—she’s bold, smart, and unapologetically herself.
The whole ghostwriting aspect was such a fresh twist! It gave the book an extra layer of depth, making it feel more unique than the usual rom-com tropes. Plus, the dynamic between Bryony and Jack was perfection—there was so much banter, and it made me laugh out loud more than once! 😂
And shoutout to Karissa Vacker, the narrator—she absolutely nailed the voices, especially the playful back-and-forth between Bryony and Jack. She brought their chemistry to life in such a fun way!
This book? Definitely worth the read (or listen). It’s witty, heartfelt, and so easy to root for the characters. If you’re into rom-coms with a little more substance and lots of laughs, you’re gonna LOVE this one. ✨📚

The Perfect Rom-Com
by Melissa Ferguson
Narrated by Karissa Vacker

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This wasn’t the perfect rom-com, but it was good.
The characters and settings were great. The end just felt forced to me. If I didn’t count the last 45 minutes - this would have been a 5 star audiobook. In the end, it was good. Just not as great as I had hoped.

I loved this book!!!

It was so entertaining! I stayed up all night to finish it. The characters were very relatable, I LOVED the main character. The way the plot unfolded was very fun. I wish I could read more about the characters and The Bridge.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!

Nothing inherently bad about this but it wasn’t super for me.

Bryony is strong willed and stubborn. Determined to get her manuscript published despite various feedback it needs editing which I found frustrating though i did get it in the end.

Jack felt very one dimensional, though I did like him at times. I just felt like I wanted more from him to make me invested in their relationship.

Karissa Vacker is an excellent narrator as always!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for ALC!

I didn't mark this book as "currently reading" cuz I literally read it in one sitting 🫣 I found the audiobook so I did the immersive reading thing - I finished in 4 hours and I love the narrator so much. The FMC has not a single evil bone in her body; it's actually frustrating like girl, go slap that b**ch - my anger issues could never. The MMC though I believe him to be an a**hole If I were the FMC I could never forgive him ANYHOW huge thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction & HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the eARC& ALC 🩷🩷

Thank you Netgalley HarperCollins and Melissa Ferguson for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. This really was such a wonderful little rom-com about rom-coms, authorship, publishing, and the secrets they entail. I LOVED the way the MMC pulled off his grand gesture - I thought it was glorious. I also really loved the social justice aspect of the book and the emphasis on the meaningful work that the FMC was so invested in doing and saving. Overall a really lovely read and the narration was fantastic.