Thank you to Uplit Reads, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson for my gifted editions.

If you love a sweet, clean romance, this is for you! This was a truly delightful read from beginning to end.

The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony Page as signs on to be a ghost writer for a hot new author (who is evil incarnate) in exchange for Jack, the literary agent, to get her very own book published.

I really enjoyed everything about this one. Bryony is absolutely adorable and I fell for her instantly. I love that she speaks her mind, remains true to herself, and is just naturally a fun person.

Jack is the dreamy book boyfriend we all search for. While he did make me mad a few times, he definitely makes up for it ❤️.

While, light at the core, Ferguson was able to weave in some deeper moments. Bryony was also passionate about teaching the English language to immigrants and migrants, and it really added some depth to the story.

There were laugh out loud moments and pages that made me cry.

🎧 Karissa Vacker narrated the audiobook and she never missed a beat. Well done all around!

Read if you enjoy:
*He falls first
*Friends to lovers
*Workplace romance
*Clean romance

This was a cute story about a ghost writer who just wants to get her own name on her stories. It is always a treat when there is a love story in there. I couldn't put this story down it was just too fun.

This book really left me disappointed. Initially, I was tempted to rate it higher, but upon reflecting, it feels more like a 2 ⭐ read. The start was so slow and boring, with little happening to grab my attention. The time skip was especially confusing—why skip over such important moments? The relationship between the main characters also seemed forced and developed out of nowhere. We're told they have all these dates, but we never actually see them. The romance felt completely lacking in chemistry.

For a rom-com, this didn’t hit the mark at all. I expect humor, charm, and real chemistry in a rom-com, but this book only offered surface-level content. It took forever for anything remotely romantic to happen, and by then, I was already losing interest. The last part of the book was the best, but that wasn’t enough to redeem it.

The characters didn’t connect with me either. Bryony felt like a strange mix of dedicated but flighty, while Jack came off as untrustworthy. Amelia, the character Bryony ghostwrites for, was a mean-spirited, spoiled narcissist, which didn’t help the story. I liked Bryony’s grandma, her assistants, and her students, but they didn’t have nearly enough screen time.

The ghostwriting concept didn’t sit well with me either. I just don’t get why someone would take credit for someone else’s work—it felt dishonest and off-putting.

The writing wasn’t consistent. It started off choppy but improved later, though by then, the story was already feeling rushed. Plot holes, especially with some character subplots, just didn’t make sense, and the romance felt both convoluted and rushed. I didn’t feel any real emotional connection to the characters, and while the book wrapped up neatly, the journey to get there wasn’t satisfying.

Genuinely a fantastic book! I could not put it down!

I loved the characters and their slow but inevitable joining. They are likable and well rounded characters with a great insight into the world of publishing. The challenges of being an agent and writer couple get in the way they are challenges that make you feel for the characters and the way that they are dealing with them. I really enjoyed the ending and the way that it took you on a bit of a rollercoaster.

I really enjoyed the romance as well as the other side characters in the book. They really make me want to read more about them and see more stories play out in the same universe. I have read a few Melissa Ferguson books and this is my newest favorite. I will definitely be reading more.

I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a likable character driven romance who is looking for something with soul and warmth. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

This was a great rom com about a rom com. I loved this book, the light heartedness and the relationship between Jack and Bryony is so cute! I am all for the forbidden romance and close proximity they are portraying in this book. It was pretty fast paced and the narrator was great.

I always say this in reviews for romances, but I do wish that it was in dual POV's. I only say it because I love getting into both sides of the romance and seeing what the other person is thinking about the situations playing out. So I do wish I could hear Jack's thoughts on how he was working on getting Bryony out of the contract and getting people to see her as the brilliant author.

Aside from my personal preferences, this was just a great fun book overall. I think it is perfect for all ages as well.

An adorable cover and well narrated audiobook. This would be great for readers that love to read about BOOKS (writing them, meeting authors, etc).

We meet aspiring author, Bryony Page, as she attends her first writers conference in hopes to sell her manuscript. Instead, she ends up becoming a ghostwriter for the extremely annoying Amelia Benedict with the promise that literary agent, Jack Sterling would help her sell her own book soon.

This book is definitely engaging and keeps a good pace. I found the journey entertaining though mildly predictable. There's a couple tropes that I'm not a super fan of (borderline cheating trope and miscommunication trope) but it was done in a manner where I couldn't be outraged. This is also a low to no spice book and that didn't feel necessary.

I'd say this book is a solid 3.5 (generously rounded up to 4)

I loved this book!

I was lucky enough to receive an ALC of The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson, and let me tell you—it was such a fun and engaging read! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life, making it even more enjoyable.

The dynamic between Bryony and Jack is top-notch! Their friendship is heartwarming, and I absolutely adored the way they interacted. Plus, Bryony’s passion for writing really shines through, making her character even more compelling.

If you’re looking for a charming, feel-good rom-com, this one is a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of The Perfect Rom-com in exchange of my honest opinion.

3.5 stars rounded up

The perfect Rom-com is the story of Bryony, an aspiring author that is going through the path of thorns to get an agent and be traditionally published.
She has her book ready to go and goes to writing conferences, trying her best to pitch it. Those scenes were amazing, and I know they are, unfortunately, very accurate to the despair of the FMC. The MMC is Jack, a super sought-after agent who represents a big name in the literary world and after a lot of back and forth offers Bryony the chance of being a ghost writer.
Overall, I love the premise of the struggles of an artist to find an agent and to see all her talent being used for someone else. In fact, the plot of the book is mostly centered on this issue of the publishing world and how Bryony navigated her desire to have her name on her works versus being paid (and contributing to the teaching center where she worked on the side).
I didn't like the romance. At the beginning of the book, both Bryony and Jack had partners who suddenly disappeared of the story and I get that there was a lot of time that passed from the beginning to the end, but I felt that this part of the plot didn't get much explanation. Moreover, their relationship throughout the whole book felt very professional, and I felt that maybe, it should have been kept that way. I know that the author tried to portray Jacks's care for Bryony's well-being as a romantic act, but honestly, I felt that it could be friendship or just camaraderie. Their "romance just picked up at 80% of the book, and I was confused as to why that had to be there at all.
The narrator of the book did a great job in interpreting Bryony's feelings and voice. I really loved how she narrated the stressful parts like the conference the book tours and at the end the talking show. That was just great!!

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to this ALC.
The Perfect Rom-Com is a contemporary romance, already released. Aspiring author Bryony Page’s dreams of selling her manuscript take an unexpected turn when she’s offered a ghostwriting gig for demanding rom-com novelist Amelia Benedict. Under one condition, Bryony agrees: the agent must also work to sell her own book. But as Bryony’s writing skyrockets Amelia to global fame, she captures not only the literary world’s attention but also Jack Sterling’s heart.
Narration: I absolutely loved it! Karissa Vacker’s performance was what kept me hooked on this book. Her voice was absolutely perfect for the story, even when voicing the male characters—it was spot on!
Overall, this was very cute and charming, and as a person who works everyday with ESL trainers it made me smile more than once!

DNF @30%.

I love Karissa Vacker and was beyond excited when Netgalley graciously accepted my plea for the audiobook ARC. Then I listened. Oh dear…
As a querying writer, the premise sounded so intriguing to me. But the execution fell incredibly flat. After the initial meeting of the protagonist and the agent, we jump ahead two years! What the hell! From then on, it’s all tell and no show. I couldn’t bear it. I don’t understand why, on a plotting level, anyone would do this. We skip all the fun, interesting bits of them starting to work together. Her priorities completely shift and it makes her look like an asshole, pardon my French. I genuinely started hoping for bad things to happen to her.
The agent came across arrogant and obnoxious, misogynistic even with his whole shtick of deciding things over her head. That’s not cute. That’s not banter. That’s awful behavior in a business partnership.
I really wanted to love this book, not least because I adore the narrator, but even she couldn’t make this an enjoyable listen. So I quit.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review THE PERFECT ROM-COM.

Didn't know much about what to think about this audiobook, but the narrator was perfect Didn't read the book before listening to the audiobook. I do think the story could have been a little more perfect( hehe get it: the perfect rom-com) but it was cute! Bryony doing everything possible to help her Grand was perfect, to be honest. But would I buy this audiobook on my own, probably not.

Overview:
Bryony Page is an aspiring author with big dreams—but they start crumbling before they even begin. At her first-ever writers' conference, she’s eager to pitch her manuscript, hoping to raise awareness (and funds) for The Bridge, her grandmother’s struggling ESL organization. But after a disastrous pitch session, things aren’t looking promising.
Then, in a twist of fate, Bryony inadvertently edits another author’s work on the spot—and she’s right. So right, in fact, that an agent offers her an unexpected opportunity: to ghostwrite for Amelia Benedict, one of the biggest names in rom-com literature.
Bryony agrees—but only under one condition: the agent, Jack Sterling, must also work to get her book published.
What nobody could have predicted was that Bryony’s ghostwritten books would catapult Amelia Benedict to unprecedented fame. Suddenly, Amelia is the Amelia Benedict, a global best-selling sensation and Bryony is… stuck. The Foundry Literary Agency isn’t about to let go of their golden ghostwriter.
But while the agency might refuse to give her credit, Jack Sterling is starting to realize that Bryony isn’t just another client—she’s someone he can’t let go of either.

My Thoughts:
This book is the perfect rom-com—or at least, it almost is.
There was so much to love: the chemistry between Bryony and Jack, the behind-the-scenes peek at the publishing world and the witty, heartfelt writing that made me feel like I was right there alongside Bryony as she navigated her whirlwind career.
And honestly? The title fits.
At times, I felt like Bryony was the actual author of this book, with how meta and self-aware the story felt. It had all the charm of a classic rom-com, filled with the right balance of humor, heart and frustration.
That being said… while I enjoyed it, I can’t say it was perfect for me.
There was a stretch in the early-middle part where the story lost a bit of direction. It wasn’t bad—it just felt like it was drifting, unsure of where it was going next. And maybe, just maybe, that was intentional? Maybe that mirrored exactly what Bryony was going through herself.
If that’s the case—then wow. Poor girl. 😭
This whole arc actually reminded me a lot of You're On Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift, particularly the line:
"I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this."
Bryony poured everything into her writing, yet it often felt like she was running in circles, being taken advantage of and never getting her moment. It was so painfully real that I could feel my own frustration rising right alongside hers.
And yet… I wanted more.
I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly was missing—but something was.
It’s not like Bryony critiquing Amelia Benedict’s manuscript, where she could pinpoint what needed to change. I’m not an author. I don’t have that trained eye. I’m just a girl who loves books and wants to be swept away. And while I did really enjoy this one, it didn’t quite hit that magic spark that makes a book an all-time favorite.

Narration & Listening Experience:
Karissa Vacker was phenomenal.
Her voice felt so perfectly suited to Bryony’s character—warm, engaging and full of heart. She captured the humor, the exhaustion, the determination and the vulnerability in a way that made the story even better.
The audiobook experience was really good and I felt wrapped up in Bryony’s world from start to finish.

Strengths:
A fun, insightful take on the publishing world & ghostwriting industry
Strong, witty writing with humor and heart
Great chemistry between Bryony and Jack
Karissa Vacker’s narration is a perfect match

Weaknesses:
The early-middle section felt slightly aimless for a while
Something was missing for me to call it truly “perfect”

Final Thoughts:
Despite my minor critiques, I really enjoyed this book.
Melissa Ferguson’s writing style was sweet, sharp and thoroughly enjoyable and I will definitely be checking out more of her books in the future.

Would I recommend it? Yes!
Would I read more from this author? Absolutely!
Would I call it perfect? Not quite. But it's definitely close. 😉

It was a cute, easy read but wasn’t a standout book in my mind. There was minimal character development and growth. It started off super slow then wrapped up very quickly.

I went in looking for a fun rom com and this felt more like a fiction with some romance. The story is told all in Bryony's POV and her inner dialogue, I wished we had Jack's POV.

From her perspective, I don't know why she would want to date him. He seemed arrogant and manipulative.

I did enjoy Bryony's dedication to her grandmother's ESL school and the people that were in the school.

Karissa Vacker did a great job with the voices to bring the characters to life.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the audiobook.

Cute story. I loved the ghost writer storyline a lot. It was entertaining but slow moving. Great narration felt engrossed in the story.

I love Melissa Ferguson's writing style so when I saw this new one, I knew I had to read it. Bryony is hoping to get her start writing books and meets Jack Sterling at a conference where he absolutely destroys her confidence and her manuscript. We then jump to them being friends which was a little different and I wish we saw that transition a little more, but regardless, I love them as friends. The banter is hysterical and their shared hatred of Amelia is what kept me intrigued till the end. I was not expecting the ending and loved it so much! I loved the focus on The Bridge and the students that she supported. They were so touching and excellent additions to the story. Loved this one and the narrators were great!

Let’s start with the audio, loved it . The voices were amazing and jack voice really good .
Now the story . Is a bit of a slow burn . But so worth it. The FMC was so relatable, I like her personality and how she is such a sunshine. She needs it to step up a bit more for herself but aside from that she was a delight. The MMC it took a bit to grow on me, but once he does uff. Everything he does for her. I loved it , he did a couple of things too that he shouldn’t have, but he made it up for it . Definitely a super cute rom-com, loved every second of it.

4.5
I loved this book!!
It was the perfect book to get into the san valentine spirit, but it also some important matters such as the beauty of teaching english to immigrants in the US not only to give but also to learn about other cultures. At first i wasn't really vibing with the romance but after passing the 50% mark it started hitting hard, however i would have liked it even if the romance wasn't there.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me this arc!

I just finished listening to The Perfect Romcom by Melissa Ferguson. As the title suggests, it is the perfect romcom!😂

The problem with this and other books about books is that once they’ve been consumed and enjoyed I then want to read the story written about In the story, and yet I cannot.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bryony and Jack and would definitely be interested in reading (or listening to) more stories about them.