Dnf at 56%

I had a hard time getting in to this book. It made me go into a reading slump. I just didn't care about any of the characters and the story was too boring. I'm sorry, but it's me not the book... It wasn't a book and a story for me. I think others would enjoy this one much more....

I enjoyed this romantic comedy; typically a comedy of errors is always a crowd pleaser and these two main characters certainly were in one scrape after another but it was all in good fun and never got too annoying.

How To Plot A Payback is the story of Finn, who lands his dream job as a writer on TVs top show - however, this means he has to work closely with his nemesis Lavender, who he holds responsible for all the mishaps he’s had along the way.

A quick, lighthearted read that was funny beginning to end! Finn is a goofy grump and Lavender is completely kind, sunny and a little too clueless/carefree but I found them both to be quite endearing as they fell for each other - they made a great match! I loved all the side characters and subplots and I feel that both of those additions really helped the storyline thrive!

** thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and chance to read and review, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own**

She’s the star of America’s favorite sitcom. He’s just been hired as a producer/writer of the show- The only problem is, he can’t stand her. For as long as he can remember, Finn Masters has blamed all his lives problems on the famous actress, Lavender Rhodes. After being hired onto the show, he begins to plot his payback. What will happen when these two are forced to work together on the same show.
The start of this book got me hooked but unfortunately it faded.

I've enjoyed other books by Melissa Ferguson but found this one a little hard to get into. If you've read other books by Melissa, I have a feeling you'd enjoy this one too.

I read/listened to the audio book. The narrators did a good job.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 2 April 2024

5 ⭐️

I FELL IN LOVE... DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!!! 💖

this is my 1st time reading a melissa ferguson book and it was a phenomenal story! i loved the development of lavender and finn's journey, the funny dog adventures and side characters. definitely a new 2024 favorite!

thanks netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful Romcom.

Lavender Rhodes is a long time player on the Neighbors sitcom. She has come a long way from her early roots to make a name for herself.

Successful screenwriter Finn Masters has been given his dream job, writing for Neighbors. One of Hollywood's longest running sitcoms. The problem lies that he will be in close contact with his nemesis. Lavender has been ruining Finn's life since school years in England. And he just doesn't know how he will avoid her.

This is a sweet story of hate turned to love. Lavender doesn't even know how she had ruined Finn's acting career. Or broke up his love life. And got him fired the first day of his new job. His plan is for revenge, but it all goes wrong.

I have loved Melissa Ferguson since reading The Cul-De-Sac War. She writes with humor, and it's all clean stories. Lavender and Finn have distinct voices and the chemistry between them keeps you wanting to read just a little bit more to see how it all unfolds. I loved Mrs. Teaberry and the seniors of the apartment building. The secondary characters are well developed with their own flaws.

Definitely a must read is you enjoy a good clean humorous story.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I want to thank NetGalley, Publishers Thomas Nelson--FICTION, and the author Melissa Ferguson for providing this ARC. Which, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.

"Successful screenwriter Finn Masters just landed his dream job writing for Neighbors, one of Hollywood's highest-rated, longest-running sitcoms. The only downside? It will put him back in proximity of the show's universally adored, optimistic, altruistic star, Lavender Rhodes, who has been inadvertently ruining his life since they were school chums in England."

If the start of the book description doesn't catch your attention, buckle up, I will change your mind.

How to Plop a Payback is a funny enemies-to-lovers romcom mixed with force proximity, kind of, since they now work together.
The writing is so descriptive and flows so well making this book fast-paced.
A masterpiece plays with humorous moments between our main characters, with the memory of a disastrous accident when they were in school, Fin Masters wants to plot his revenge against Lavander and Lavender wants to make up for what happened in the past.

I think this is the perfect summer read. It is light and fun, a fast read, and the premise is adorable we see the emotions of our characters evolve and change, the way they fall in love with each other but try to deny it. The characters are so believable, that I can see a bit of a grumpy sunshine trope.

This was one of those instances where it wasn't the book, it was me. And as much as I wanted to love this one, I DNF'd at about halfway through. I just didn't care for the characters and I couldn't see any chemistry there. Plus - who holds onto multiple grudges for decades...especially when your life has worked out pretty well?

This book might be for others, but it just didn't work for me! All the same - adorable cover and I absolutely can't wait to see what Ferguson comes up with next!

I havent read anything from Melissa Ferguson since this book and literally where was she hiding this book was phenomenal and I was not expecting it all I loved every second and did not want it to end I cannot wait to annotate my own copy

"No. There will be no winning me over here. I am a steel wall." Famous last worda from Finn Masters!
Finn despises Lavender Rhodes! She ruined just chances of an acting career, she broke up his long-term relationship and gotten him fired from his new job. He ha all the reasons in the world to hate her, until he doesn't anymore.
This was a really sweet enemies to lovers that made me smile. And while it took a little prodding,I love when characters just TALK RO EACH OTHER like actual adults.

Give me enemies to lovers and I will eat that book up. This was no different, but I got the added joy of laughing along the whole time. This was my first Melissa Ferguson book, but I am definitely going to have to go back and pick up some of her previous work. While this was more of a general fiction and character growth than a romance book, I still had just enough banter and slow burn to make it right up my alley. Finn grew a lot in this book and I love seeing character growth. Lavender was a fun character as well, but I feel this was focused so much more on Finn.

★ 4 stars.

"How to Plot a Payback" by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful romp through the tangled web of Hollywood, revenge, and unexpected romance. As someone who adores both comedy and romance, this book checked off all the boxes for me.

From the get-go, I was hooked on the premise: Finn Masters, a screenwriter with a vendetta, forced to work alongside his lifelong nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, the sunshine-filled star of the show. Ferguson masterfully weaves a tale filled with witty banter, angsty tension, and laugh-out-loud moments as Finn's revenge plots hilariously backfire, landing him in one comical predicament after another.

What truly sets this book apart is its characters. Lavender and Finn are a dynamic duo, each with their own distinct voice and personality quirks that make them utterly endearing. Their chemistry crackles off the page, keeping you invested in their journey from start to finish.

And let's not forget the supporting cast, including some adorable furry friends! Ferguson effortlessly brings each character to life, giving them depth and complexity that adds richness to the story.

While the revenge plot may seem far-fetched, Ferguson infuses the narrative with enough heart and humor to make it believable and thoroughly enjoyable. And despite the initial animosity between Finn and Lavender, their slow-burn romance is both sweet and satisfying.

If you're in need of a pick-me-up, look no further than "How to Plot a Payback." It's a feel-good romcom that will leave you smiling long after you've turned the last page. So grab a copy, settle in with your favorite furry friend, and prepare to be entertained!

Super cute story with adorable characters. They both had very distinct voices and it was so enjoyable being in each character’s POV. This book is witty and written so well. I wish there was more spice, but the chemistry between Lavender and Finn is sizzly and sweet.

DNF @ 65%

I just couldn't into this one. I didn't find myself caring about either of these characters and there was no chemistry between them. Lavendar Rose just seemed vapid. And Finn Masters was just grouchy and upset for what?

I just adore everything Melissa Ferguson writes… her stories are like happy little hugs in book form and always the perfect combo of sweet, silly, and snarky fun. How to Plot a Payback was the most delightfully charming read!⁣
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When Finn Masters lands his dream job writing for the sitcom Neighbors, there’s only one downside to this job of a lifetime… Lavender Rhodes.⁣
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The star of the beloved show has been wreaking havoc on Finn’s life for years. And although she’s not aware of how she ruined his acting career, relationships, and many other things - he finds himself with a unique opportunity - to get revenge.⁣
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This was such a hilarious comedy of errors as Finn tries to plot his payback on Lavender! I loved all the banter, the angsty tension, and it was such a joyful, witty, and fresh romcom that was snarky and swoony in all the right places! ⁣Plus DOGS! 🐾
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Perfect for dog lovers, Friends fans, and anyone who loves a refreshingly entertaining grumpy/sunshine romance!

i liked this just as much as "nora goes off script" and more recently, "how to end a love story" (both not written by melissa ferguson but good books). authors writing about others writers is always a win for me. i like to see the innerworkings of both minds. i'm still getting used to melissa's writing style because i did NOT like meet me in the margins." i think i'll try some of her backlist to see if there's any consistency.

I really enjoyed the other two books by this author, especially MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE. This cover caught my eye right away and I knew I had to read it!

I’m so bummed that this one didn’t work for me. I didn’t enjoy the story at all — I thought the characters were annoying and I was not rooting for them. I was very close to DNFing this but I pushed through.

I also listened to the audiobook and the male narrator’s voice did not match the character at all.

How to Plot a Payback is a fun and lighthearted romance novel that will have you laughing and rooting for the characters from start to finish. The premise of the story is unique and engaging, with a perfect blend of humor, romance, and revenge.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own flaws and quirks that make them endearing. The chemistry between the main characters sizzles on the page and keeps you turning the pages to see how their relationship will unfold. Melissa Ferguson has a talent for weaving together a captivating storyline that is both heartwarming and entertaining.

Overall, How to Plot a Payback is a delightful read that will leave you with a smile on your face. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a side of sweet revenge.

Fun, fun story! Finn is low-key hilarious, and Lavender is so clueless she's funny.

Finn Masters has been working as a screen-writer for one of the most successful dramas on TV (think "Murder She Wrote" or NCIS) but when he's offered a new job as executive producer of the longest running, most popular IN THE WORLD sit-com, "Neighbors" he's willing to walk out - no notice - and take the job. Everyone needs a new challenge sometimes, right? The worst thing he sees on the horizon is having to tolerate the show's much-loved star, Lavender Rhodes. Lavender has been a thorn in his side ever since she left the stage trapdoor open during their high school production of Midsummer Night's Dream, causing him to fall and shatter his ankle. He was playing Puck, and she was his understudy. He spent the play in the hospital, and she was discovered by a Hollywood agent. Thus began the list of "Lavender's Transgressions Against Finn Masters."

As producer of the show Lavender is starring in, Finn sees an opportunity to pay Lavender back for all of the things she has caused to go haywire in his life. Unfortunately, everything he tries either turns into something good for Lavender, or something so bad that he feels guilty. When she discovers she lives near him, she begins trying to figure out why he's always so cold to her. Everyone else loves her. Why not him?

Can these two find a middle ground between friend and enemy, and if they do, will they see that they have more in common than they thought?

Melissa Ferguson always makes me laugh. I've read other books she's written and enjoyed each one. I listened to this one which was especially great. Hearing those London accents helped me "see" the characters, too.

Readers who enjoy romantic comedies will love this one. I highly recommend the audio version, but the written version is equally fun.