How to Plot a Payback

She’s the star of America’s favorite sitcom. He’s just been hired as a producer of the show- The only problem is, he can’t stand her. For as long as he can remember, Finn has blamed all his lives problems on the famous actress, Lavender Rhodes. After being hired onto the show, he begins to plot his payback. But what happens as Finn gets to know Lavender , and finds out maybe she isn't at all like he thought she was?

The audiobook for this was amazing, I felt like I was listening to two friends speak!!! I loved getting to hear both POV's of Lavender and Finn from Fiona Hardingham and Steve West. The narration kept me so engaged & the accents really added to the story for me.

This was a laugh-out-loud funny & wholesome love story. It was packed with witty humor, drama, slow-burn romance, and an overall feel good story. In-spite of Finn's petty revenge, I found both characters to be so loveable & was very invested in their love story. Even during Finn's childish payback, the romance was there & once he got over it, it was even better. I love a couple who just makes sense together. I was smiling SOOOOOO big during their first kiss, like full on gushing.

"Lavender Rhodes takes my well-laid plans and throws them out the window, no matter what, I can't ever seem to take control of the situation around her. I plan to destroy her, but backtrack to the point of apology. I plan to stay as far away from her as possible, but end up beside her. I plan to hate her, but somehow fall in love with her."

This is my new favorite book by Melissa Ferguson. It was so funny and witty and lighthearted. I loved loved loved Finn and Lavender was so good too!

I loved that it was enemies to lovers, but was completely one sided. I loved the way lavender was just always the reason behind all the things that happen to Finn. I loved the animals, omg let’s have more pets in romance please!

I loved that the book was about a Hollywood tv show and it’s hilarious and diverse cast of characters. I just all around loved it. And the narration for the audio was amazing!

Successful screenwriter Finn lands his dream job writing for a popular sitcom. The downside? Working with Lavender, the show’s beloved star—and his childhood nemesis. The woman who ruined his engagement and acting career. His plot to seek revenge backfires, forcing him to confront his past and reconsider his feelings.

I loved this rom com so much! The voice is strong and the characters vivid. The story is clever, fast-paced, and emotional. Finn is a sweetheart beneath all his bluster, and Lavender a hot mess beneath her polished façade. The audiobook narration added to the enjoyment of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

First of all, I know Melissa Ferguson writes good books and people love them. They've been on my list for a while now, but I haven't picked one up yet. But enter loves of my life, Steve West and Fiona Hardingham and naturally I turned this on immediately.

When I say I will listen to Steve West narrate anything I truly mean it. But great news, this is actually a fun book, so listening to it was super enjoyable.

I like the idea that Finn has an arch nemesis, everything that has ever gone wrong in his life is because of this one person. Somehow, someway, everything bad always links back to her. Lavender.

Lavender on the other hand goes through life with complete optimism. She thinks people are good and everything works out in the end, because everything does for her.

Now Finn, the TV writer, and Lavender, the TV star are working together. And Finn finally gets his chance to get payback. Except Lavender works her magic on him and naturally they start to slowly fall for each other.

Things to note:
-this is a clean romance (but there's some kissing)
-this is light enemies to lovers
-the audiobook of this is EXCELLENT
-this book doesn't preach to you about anything - it's just a fun romp
-while published under a Christian publisher, there's no mention of faith/religion/God/morals/etc.

5/5 stars!

This is such a sweet and wholesome novel! I love it so much! the characters, especially the FMC, are adorable and relatable, even though I haven’t been in the acting world since I was five.
How to Plot a Payback was so cozy I wanted to roll up in a blanket and listen to it on repeat for days. Melissa Ferguson did a great job writing lovable characters who don’t need to jump each other’s bones to make you want these characters to fall in love and get together by the end.
There wasn’t any traditional spice, which was perfectly okay with me. It would’ve ruined the book if they’d been 🌶️ 🥵 throughout the novel. It was so much better that the MCs were going about their lives together, surviving crazy antics, and learning about each other after their shared “incident” in school as children.
Everything that happened in the plotted payback scheme was fun and had me laughing at times, gritting my teeth in one spot, and at one point I whooped for joy.

Narration: Fiona Hardingham and Steve West did a fantastic job narrating their respective characters. I enjoyed listening to both MCs voices and the narrators both embodied their characters and sucked me into the story every time I pressed play. Perfect recording, IMO.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Melissa Ferguson for the ALC of How to Plot a Payback!!!

How to Plot a Payback was delightful! This audiobook was the perfect companion for a solo weekend! I absolutely loved the ending!

Since reading "Meet Me In The Margins", Melissa Ferguson has been one of my favorite romcom authors. I am so grateful to @thomasnelson for sending me the ARC and sharing the audiobook of this new release with me!

Do you have a person in your life who is just a "bad luck charm"? For Finn Masters it's Lavender Rhodes. Since their teenage years she has been one single cause of all of his misfortunes. To Finn's horror, years later, his new job as a writer on popular sitcom brings him face to face with his least favorite person who ironically plays the main character in a sitcom. It's time to plot a payback...

Each of Melissa's books is so different from the other, and the unique plot of this novel simply blew me away! Yes, I cheered for the team "Finn" from the get-go, but then I was in for a huge surprise as Finn's plot got completly derailed.

Finn is your perfect book boyfriend: he is considerate, oldfashioned, extremely helpful and is such a gentleman. He even helped Ukrainian refugees! My heart skipped at that - thank you, Finn! I will not reveal a thing about Lavender, because I want you to meet her yourself and have fun with it! The sitcom setting was so well-written! It reminded me of "Friends". I LOVED getting a sneak peek behind the scenes. If you're a dog lover, this book will have you swooning! Lol So many hilarious moments, sweet and tender scenes and fuzzy feels. Fun, engaging writing style was just a cherry on top!

I adored this delightful closed door romcom. This was also a laugh-out-loud read. What a perfect combo. If you haven't read Melissa Ferguson's books yet, definitely grab this one. The audiobook was great, I loved the dual POV narrators.

In "How to Plot a Payback," readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the tumultuous world of Hollywood, where successful screenwriter Finn Masters finds himself face to face with his lifelong nemesis, Lavender Rhodes. What follows is a hilarious yet heartfelt tale of revenge, redemption, and unexpected love.

Author Melissa Ferguson, crafts a compelling narrative filled with witty dialogue, clever plot twists, and memorable characters. Finn's determination to exact revenge on Lavender by manipulating her character on the hit sitcom Neighbors leads to a series of comedic misadventures that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of forgiveness and redemption. As Finn's plans backfire spectacularly, he is forced to confront his own feelings of resentment and anger towards Lavender. Through their interactions, readers are treated to a nuanced portrayal of two complex individuals struggling to come to terms with their past and find common ground.

The dynamic between Finn and Lavender crackles with tension and chemistry, making their journey from adversaries to allies all the more satisfying. As they navigate the ups and downs of Hollywood, readers will find themselves rooting for this unlikely pair to overcome their differences and find happiness together.

Overall, "How to Plot a Payback" is a delightful romp through the world of show business, filled with humor, heart, and plenty of surprises. Melissa Ferguson has crafted a charming and entertaining novel that is sure to leave readers smiling long after they've turned the final page.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I had the honor of listening to it as an Advanced Listener Copy on NetGalley! A HUGE thank you to Melissa Ferguson and NetGalley for allowing me to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I loved the narrators Fiona Hardingham and Steve West. They made the story come to life as I felt like I was actually in the story. Lavender Rhodes is a widely known actress who everyone knows and wants to be around except Finn Masters who is a screenwriter who does excellent work. He has been trying to get away from her and when they both land in having jobs on the same show things start to go haywire. From saving dogs to adventures to falling in love this story covers it all! If you get a chance to listen to the audiobook I HIGHLY recommend as the narrators have SO MUCH character telling the story. There are many scenes that I ended up laughing at because of how the narrators were telling a funny scene in the story. Definitely recommend this book as Melissa Ferguson is an amazing author!!

What fun! What a joy! What a way to spend 9 hours of my life: with two of my favorite narrators on planet earth, Steve West and Fiona Hardingham.

Television writer Finn burns with loathing towards starlet Lavender Rhodes - a blonde version of every character Zooey Deschanel has ever played - and through a series of (un?)fortunate events, he ends up producer on her long-standing sitcom. Then, a sitcom ensues in his life.

What I appreciate:
-Finn’s grievances against Lavender were actually fair. I texted a friend fairly early on, “What if I hate her forever????”
-This is resolved quickly about. About 10 minutes after that text I sent the follow-up, “Oh never mind, she’s just oblivious.”
-It takes a lot for me to like the grumpy x sunshine when the man the grump, and it takes a LOT for me to like a “head empty no thoughts” female lead, but have I mentioned Fiona Hardingham!!!! She brought some OOMPH to this role.
-The inevitable third act conflict is handled quickly and efficiently, yay!
-Hearing the British pronunciation of “aluminum” MULTIPLE times.

This was fun, this was sweet, this makes me want to beg on bended knee for these two narrators to work together more often.

What happens when a screenwriter gets to write the plot for a show starring his nemesis? Well, in the case of this book - a whole lot of chaos and fun! This was a great feel-good grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers rom-com. Melissa Ferguson delivers a fast-paced, clean, and just down-right good time story. It was the perfect amount of predictable with some unexpected twists and turns.

The audio narration was great and having both female and male readers really added to the fun of the story. If you're looking for something light, easy and just an all-around good time, this book is the perfect fit!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC audio of this book. It was a great one!

"How to Plot a Payback" gave an in depth look into show writing and producing a sitcom. I loved that this story was told in the dual point of view! Will Finn be successful in his payback? The banter between Finn and Lavender had me laughing out loud at times. The support of the secondary characters was great to read too. I also listened to the audio version with Steve West and Fiona Hardingham who were a great combination! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced audio copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This is a cute romance following Finn and Lavender as they go from enemies (on his part) to friends to lovers. It's closed door and I enjoyed how that put the focus on the sweet little things, like a kind word or a thoughtful gesture, that drew them to each other. The movie nights with the older crowd at Finn's apartment were fantastic and I kinda want to live there too. Well-written with lots of heart this love story will give you all the warm fuzzy feels.

I found this to be very easy to listen to and generally delightful. It was lighthearted and I found the characters agreeable. This would make for a great beach or vacation read- something perfect for reading on a lounge chair by the pool or on the beach.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

This book was gold. It was hilarious and was a version of the "one person says something offhand, and the other person holds a grudge and hates them for life" trope that I had never seen before. Her accidently causing everything in his life to go wrong so much so that even his revenge plans backfire was adorable and funny. There is no third act breakup (I hate those), and they use the miscommunication trope in a way that actually makes sense. The characters were well rounded and had a lot of chemistry. I listened to this as an audiobook and think the narrators did an amazing job. Their emotion and inflection were perfect, and it was exactly how I think the characters should have sounded. I will not be able to stop thinking about this book for weeks.

I can totally see this book be turned into a TV show and I would totally watch it and devourer it's completely. It's enemies to Neighbors?.... I love all the characters and can picture them so clearly in my head. I love a good Rom-Com!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a quick read for me. I had amazing time listening to the audiobook ARC and instantly fell in love with the characters of the book.
The author has penned down the characters in such a charming way that the plotline felt more interesting and beautiful. I love the writing style too.

What a delightful, heartwarming, witty story! I loved reading this book and loved even more listening to it! This was so entertaining! The two actors enhanced this already delightful story with their portrayal of Finn and Lavender (along with the supporting cast).

What I loved most was Finn and Lavender's realization of what their shortcomings were and their willingness to change for the better. Of course, the revenge story with a twist was great as was the snarky dialogue, the great supporting cast (including adorable dogs), and a heartwarming love story. Finn is now officially one of my favorite leading men. What a sweetie! And the ending is so, SO perfectly satisfying and brilliant!

Rated PG. No profanity and no sex.

I loved Melissa Ferguson’s Meet Me in the Margins, so I knew I had to read How to Plot a Payback when it came out.

Ok, so I didn’t read, I listened. I love a good audiobook, and this one was so fast-paced and witty that I couldn’t take my ear buds out. Dual POVs are my favorite (both to read and to write), and both narrators here sounded exactly like I thought the characters would in my mind.

In this utterly delightful and laugh-out-loud funny novel, screenwriter Finn Masters thinks he’s finally caught a break landing a dream job writing for the hit sitcom Neighbors. But his joy is tempered by one major downside – he’ll be working alongside Lavender Rhodes, the show’s effervescently charming star who has unwittingly been his personal nemesis since childhood.

With impeccable comedic timing, Ferguson created a riotous will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic as Finn tries to plot his revenge by shaking up Lavender’s sickeningly sweet on-screen persona.

What ensues is a masterclass in romantic comedy as Finn’s hilarious schemes comically backfire, forcing him to re-evaluate his long-held grudge against his old friend. The banter between the two sparring leads is whip-smart and endlessly entertaining. But it’s the tenderly moving moments that reveal their unmistakable chemistry that will keep you rooting for them in the end.

This witty yet deeply heartwarming tale of old wounds and second chances is simply unputdownable. An absolute must-read for fans of classic romcoms!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the ALC copy!

🎥 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🎥
I absolutely adored this hilarious romcom sitcom based book. The plot setting was unique and fun, and it’s what drew me to the book. Having a book setting on a tv show set seems to always intrigue me! And this story is mixed with some failed attempts at revenge and a blossoming love story.

Finn was a funny MMC to read. He is a screenwriter and in the past has always had unfortunate situations happen to him around Lavender. It’s been going on for decades and now they work together. From day one on set, Finn has bad luck and Lavender has no idea… she’s just so cheery and upbeat. Everyone loves her. Finn wants so badly to exact a small revenge as her shows screenwriter, but again things never work out.

Lavender always wants to do the best for everyone around her, even at the cost of her own happiness. Finn continuously runs into Lavender and learns all the wonderful things about her along the way. Each situation they get into is cute and funny.

The side characters in this book are so fun as well. I love a good side character because they just add so much to the story’s dynamic and this one has plenty of them!!

I both read and listened to this on audio, and both were fantastic! This is a sweet, fun read that will leave you feeling good at the end!

🎧 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 🎧
Fiona Hardingham and Steve West both did an amazing job bringing the characters of Lavender and Finn to life! Fiona brought a lighthearted, bright vibrancy to her narration of Lavender. Steve brought out the hilariously frustrated side of Finn, dealing with Lavender and all the funny situations that he would go through at work.

🎬 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🧡 Screenwriter / Actress
🩷 Sitcom TV Show Setting
🧡 Grumpy Sunshine
🩷 Dual POV
🧡 Closed Door Romance

Super cute and fun! Loved the characters and the Hollywood aspects of the book! Bernie the dog was also fabulous! Great romcom I highly recommend. This is one of my favorites of Melissa’s books!

How to Plot a Payback is a cute romcom about an actress and screenwriter. The two characters are quirky, with completely separate takes on the world and the situation between them. It was quite a funny story, watching things unravel between the characters.

This is a closed door romance, so it is great for all romcom readers, including the readers who prefer mild spice levels. The plot is intriguing without the spice, which makes this an easy read for all romcom lovers (even if you typically like more spice).

I listened to the audiobook, which had two narrators, one for each POV. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. I listened at 1.75x speed, with 1.75x - 2x speed being my normal audiobook speed.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook

Enemies to lovers except only one person knows they're enemies and the other has just being trying to do good in a way that has caused pure chaos in the other's life. A dream set up honestly, more than a few laughs and an adorable finish. Both the narrators were amazing and I loved listening to this on my roadtrip!

Melissa Ferguson is amazing and how she comes up with the dreamiest plots, I'll never know. I loved the book and the audio was fantastic. A must for anyone looking for a summer book to escape into.

Absolute perfection. Melissa took some of my favorite things and put them into a story. I know this wasn’t written FOR me, but it was. Sitcoms, “murder shows”, British main characters, a sort of second chance for love, a little enemies to lovers (but not really), dogs, no third act breakup, no miscommunication problems, I loved every second. FIVE STARS. The audio is so fun to listen to and both narrators did a fantastic job!

This is my second Melissa Ferguson book (first being Meet me in the Margins), and I know it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this "read" and got through it in only 2 days since I picked it up whenever I had a chance.

Being in Finn Masters' head for so long as he carries this grudge gets pretty uncomfortable, but as he slowly melts into liking "Lavender" Rhodes, and realizing she is a good person it is so wonderful to see him be her biggest cheerleader. I loved all of the bits in his elderly community (I am a sucker for guys with good relationships with older folks), with the dogs, and of course the slow realization that they actually really care for one another.

I do wish it didn't wrap up so neatly into such a bow (and that Finn talked to Lavender more before making so many decisions for her), but overall I loved the read.

I should also mention I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fiona Hardingham and Steve West (especially), and anything they read I fall in love with, so that also might explain why I couldn't stop listening ;)

How to Plot a Payback… what can I say? This book is HILARIOUS. I laughed so hard. And so often. It was very much needed. Told from Finn and Lavender’s perspectives, it is the story of two people with a not so pretty history who end up working together and finding that they can actually have a very pretty future. Well worth the read! You should check it out!

Finn Masters lands his dream job writing for Neighbors, one of Hollywood's longest running sitcoms. The only problem with that? The leading lady is Lavender Rhodes. His nemesis. Does she know this? Nope. Now, as they are working on the show together, Finn realizes it's the perfect time for payback. Only every thing Finn tries backfires, and he begins to see Lavender in a new light.

I loved every single moment of this story. From the funny ways Finn tries to inflict payback on Lavender, to the silly things Lavender does thinking she's being altruistic, only to end up needs her friends to help her out. The voices for the characters also made for easy listening! This plot line was new and so fun!

This book was so funny, with such a wholesome love story. It was filled with slow-burn romance, feel-good story, humor, drama, and more. The only thing that bothered me was Finn's childish payback (But I know it's part of the story), once he got over it, the story was better. The audio narration of the book was done very well.

First, I loved this book so much I bought a copy to put in my Little Free Library. Which is something I never do, I never buy new books to put out but this was had to be shared. I am in love with how cheesy and cute this book is. I need more cute romances that aren't full of spice. This is a super clean romance, perfect for a high schooler that is looking for romance but needs something without spice. I love the deep rooted hate that Finn has for Lavender and how it is woven throughout the story. Although Lavender is misunderstood I like that Finn still tries to hate her. Also the puppies at the beginning are the best. Finn and Lavender are polar opposite but they just work so well together. Easy 5 stars for me.

Must listen! This one yanked my heart out several times & then put it back together. I didn't read the trigger warnings, so that's my own fault and the story hit too close to home for my own personal experience, yet I still LOVED it! Emma & Charlie were so similar that it shouldn't have worked, but it did. Their story just clicked for me. It was a myriad of emotions portrayed in this book and I felt every emotion that Emma and Charlie felt. The narrator was adequate for me. I struggled with her British accent, but it definitely wasn't a deal breaker. She made up for it with the emotion and expressionism she delivered for Emma and Charlie, so the side characters were an afterthought at the end of the day.

I can't wait for this one to be released!

I really enjoyed this one! Ferguson is a good writer and this audio was really enjoyable! This is another one that I would recommend!

Absolutely loved this one! The author really knows how to do enemies to lovers and these two were adorable

Melissa Ferguson returns with an irresistible rom-com that will have you laughing out loud!

2024 is the year of romantic comedies, and How to Plot a Payback is a standout addition to the genre! Hilarious, addictive, and utterly charming, this novel encompasses your favorite sitcoms and rom-coms while bringing its unique flair. With flawless execution, Melissa Ferguson delivers her best work, crafting characters that are impossible not to adore!

"Whereas I’ve clung to every rotten moment, she lets trespasses slip through her fingers like sand. Whereas I’ve spent countless nights staring down at my journal, writing down my woes, she spends her nights looking up, counting the stars. I grumble, she cheers. I grimace, she smiles with eyes as bright as the sun. Somehow I have become darkness, and she is light. And of course, darkness cannot mix with the light." ~ Melissa Ferguson

I don’t know why, but I’ve always read Melissa Ferguson’s characters with a British accent, so discovering that the protagonists in How to Plot a Payback were British was an exciting surprise. Finn and Lavender shine as the show's stars, their character arcs expertly penned to the point where they practically leaped off the page. Every story has two sides, so the dual POV provided more hilarity as their lives collided.

How to Plot a Payback? More like How to Plot the Worst Revenge, haha! Finn’s antics to "get back" at Lavender were both comical and endearing. As the saying goes, “He who seeks revenge better dig two graves.” Poor Finn could not catch a break. I could feel his frustration and conflicting emotions seep between the lines as he wrestled with the transgressions made against him and his growing admiration for his lifelong nemesis. Nevertheless, through his plotting and Lavender’s kindness, readers will learn that sometimes the worst things that happen to us actually move us in a better direction. It may seem like your life is over at the time, but overall, our “worst” moments can become blessings in disguise.

"If there’s one thing I’ve learned of late, it’s that dreams can shift, can change. They grow and evolve into new and different dreams—sometimes fashioned by outside forces, sometimes by change of heart. I’ve learned, from you actually, how my dreams could change due to external forces. And it’s not a bad thing. But this time, it’s a mix. Because you are my bigger dream now. I don’t care what I’m writing, so long as I get to share my days with you.” ~ Melissa Ferguson

Finn was a brilliant leading man, but Lavender stole the spotlight with her unexpected complexity and heart. From the minute I met her with ten dogs wrapped around her legs, I knew I couldn't hate Lavender. She was the opposite of your typical Hollywood Starlet and, as Finn finds out, impossible not to fall in love with. The culmination of Finn and Lavender’s journey is nothing short of brilliant. And let’s not forget Bernie and Miles, the canine companions who bound into each scene with tails wagging, ready to take the attention off their owners.

If you enjoy a good laugh and a silly sitcom or rom-com, How to Plot a Payback must be at the top of your to-read list!

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.*

I missed listening to all of this book before it was archived so I ended up reading it.

This was a cute quick read. I loved the plot of this book and I think it was excellent! Finn was giving Goob from Meet the Robinsons and I am so here for it! This was is enemies to lovers, only one of them knows they are enemies and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Overall a light and fun book.


Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

This book was so much fun to read! I listened to the audiobook and could not get enough! Starting a book with an even giving out free puppies!? Um, yes please!! (It's fiction, people! We can dream that we live in a world where nobody/no puppies are harmed when they are given out for free as party favors.)

I was pulling for both Finn and Lavender the entire time. I felt like the author did a great job giving us reasons to pull for each of them even though one was a true Mr. Grumpy Pants and the other was Ms. Can Do No Wrong.

Seeing this book play out in my mind kept me giggling (especially Finn's community!) and on the edge of my seat for how it would end.

This book is an easy read and automatic recommendation for the pool/beach bag!

This is my second book by this author and while I didn’t love the first one I really enjoyed this one! This was a lot of fun and I felt like I was with the characters throughout the book. I loved the story and the narrator was incredible

This is quite possibly the perfect summer read. Finn and Lavender have history that only Finn recalls and his recollections are what make this novel hilarious. Lavender's blissful unawareness just adds to the hilarity.

Finn is holding a huge grudge against all things Lavender. But Lavender doesn't have a clue and is determined to win him over. The problem for Finn is that the real life Lavender is hard to resist.

I absolutely adored this story and I'm hoping that Melissa Ferguson supplies us with more just like it (including these characters would be a bonus). In fact I think this would make a delightful movie.

I recommend getting a copy of this book (or audiobook) and pop it in your bag for your next trip, whether it be to the pool or the beach. You're not going to regret getting this one!

Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to listen to the audiobook before it got archived!
I will make sure to get a copy or the audio version, myself to give a review on my socials.

I am not one to gravitate towards Hollywood stories. But I like Melissa Ferguson and the unique voice of this one drew me in from the beginning. The down to earth nature of the characters juxtaposed with their positions really played well to readability and likeability.

At first I had a hard time with Finn’s motivations, but I feel like as the book progressed I began to understand the justification of his stance. Book club discussion fodder for sure! And Lavender is a character revealed by peeling back her layers and I loved her more and more as Finn fell for her.

Such a fun read that was such a shot of fun in my reading just when I needed it.

A note on the audio: Steve West also narrates the Wilderlore Series, so it was hard to sink into the audio at first. But once I was into the story I was so soothed by his voice. Fiona Hardingham also so beautifully embodied Lavender. It was an engrossing audio experience.

Thanks to Libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.