Eli was a pretty unappealing male main character. I truly don’t know what Leah saw in him honestly. I liked the found family and small town vibes the best.

I really enjoyed reading this contemporary romance! The characters were great, and I liked the plot. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying this book!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

The Rom-Com Agenda was a cute read whose title is very accurate. Eli desperately wants to win his not quite ex-fiancee back and with the help of his sister and her friends, he's hoping that a makeover will help. After the group keeps running into Leah over and over again, she becomes involved in the agenda of upgrading Eli. This book was a cute and easy read, but it was also predictable. If you are looking for a sweet read, pick this one up.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Leah and Eli met under strange circumstances. Leah overheard Eli's break-up with Victoria and months later in an effort to win Victoria back Leah inadvertently gets roped into helping him become a better Eli for Victoria. There's just one issue: Leah ends up liking Eli more as she gets to know him better. Eventually Victoria ends up in a relationship with an Italian she met while away and Eli realizes he's fallen for Leah. It's the epitome of a rom-com.

Really enjoyed this read! Eli and Leah are delightful, and there were lits of good laughs + poignant moments too.

I think the title is terrible abd misleading, but otherwise would recommend to others.

I can say this story was entertaining, but in many ways it felt flat for me. This included a dual POV, found family, friends to lovers, s l o w b u r n (lacked tension) and was closed door. Hopeless romantic meets independent who is trying to lay low and get out of dodge.

What I liked: Leah. She was a sweetie & extremely likeable with a compelling backstory. She is working through her grief after a significant loss, and believes the best plan is to have no attachments and save enough money to leave behind a town that has nothing left for her. On a lighter note, the Gilmore Girls references were great, and the way Eli kept running into her at various jobs à la Kirk in GG was too funny.

I really appreciated the wintry and small town vibes this story offered, especially since where I live it's sunny year round with some rain and overcast sprinkled here and there. The ode to 80s/90s rom coms was also fun. The references made me want to dive into some of my faves or watch others I haven't seen but hear so much about.

I know the meddling side characters are meant to be just that, but at times they were too overbearing for my enjoyment. They eventually grew on me. Or maybe they just wore me down and I reluctantly began to accept them lol. The found family aspect certainly made up for it.

What I didn't like: In one word: Eli.

Okay I don't hate him or even dislike him. It's just... his misguided behavior distracted me from shipping him and Leah together. I love rooting for the hopeless romantic, but his representation as this trope was very frustrating. I enjoy most slow burn and pining, but not when the pining is over an ex who so obviously is not interested. But Eli wasn't only misguided about trying to win back his ex, but also in the way he interacted with Leah. He made a whole lot of assumptions about her and seemed to project his own expectations onto her. A lot. It took Eli a while to get his act together, meanwhile Leah was strung along and spent a lot of time waiting for him to get a clue. Poor girl.

There seemed to be a lot of showing vs. telling when it came to this romantic relationship. The two had decent chemistry and banter, but it felt more platonic than anything, and I wasn't convinced. Maybe it was the closed door aspect, but a lot was left to my own imagination.

I felt like the ex girlfriend was not clearly characterized. Was she heartless? Was she well-intentioned? Was she snobby? Did she stomp on Eli's heart or did she make an honest assessment of their relationship? Am I supposed to hate her or understand her? Idk.

Overall The Rom-Com Agenda was cute but didn't particularly make my heart swell. Recommend if you're looking for something quick, humorous and cozy.

[CW: terminal illness, death of a parent, grief, abandonment]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the characters in this book and their quest to improve their friend so he can win back his ex-girlfriend which leads to him falling for someone else.

This book is a quick read with an ending that completes the story really well. I love a feel good book with fun characters and this book is definitely that.

This book was very predictable and actually a bit boring. It ended exactly how you would think it does after reading the first chapter. It just never really drew me in to want to keep reading it.

If you are a sucker for books where one person helps the other try to win someone back and then oops, they fall in love instead, the way I am, then you will enjoy this book. It is cute and surprisingly sweet and reminded me of a 90s romcom.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts an opinions are my on. I loved the concept here! A super cute premise with all the makings of a great rom-com. I will say it was kind of slow to get into, and the side characters were a bit lacking. It seems like there was a set up for a spin-off novel with a certain couple. I am hoping that is the case! I look forward to seeing what Jayne Denker does next.

Leah is used to being alone and taking care of her sick foster mother. Eli thought his girlfriend Victoria was "the one" but she left him to travel to Rome for a year. He decides to win her back and a makeover will be the best way to do that. Leah ends up helping Eli even though she really doesn't. What could happen ?

I gravitate towards the friends to lovers trope and this book was cute! It read just like a rom com and enjoyed it!

thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC of the book!

I got this as an ARC but I didn't get a chance to read it before it was published - so here's my belated ARC-review!
this book was so sweet. I recommend picking it up if you enjoy:
- slow-burn romance
- friends to lovers
- cute small-town vibes (very Stars Hollow-esque)
- rom-com references
- closed-door romance

I give it 3.5-4 stars!

the one big qualm I had with this book was the male MC Eli's desire to win back his ex-girlfriend, Victoria (the reason for the titular "rom-com agenda" where he goes through the process of becoming a stereotypical rom-com hero in order to win her back). Once his friendship with Leah began to develop, it just felt like his desire to get back with Victoria made no sense, and that argument felt so empty - but that could also just be my irritation with slow-burn romance in general.

His friendship with the female MC Leah is so sweet and despite the aforementioned struggle, the development of their friendship is so sweet. The town of Willow Cove is irresistibly charming, and the characters that surround the two MCs are so lovable! (I want a whole book dedicated to Gray and Delia!!)

I definitely recommend if you're looking for a lighthearted romance to finish off a tough day!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was fun and also funny.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was super cute! Sometimes you really just need that light hearted rom-com and this definitely fit the bill. I loved watching Leah and Eli try to fight their feelings. I especially enjoyed just how sweet this was. I loved every second of it. If you need a light, fluffy rom-com- I highly suggest picking this one up!

Leah is on a boat listening to the worst proposal she's ever heard from a guy named Eli to a girl leaving for Italy. Victoria, the girl, harshly turns him down. Fast forward a bit, Leah's working the counter when in walks Eli with his make over crew. They're looking to spruce him up, though Leah thinks that isn't necessary. Eli runs into Leah at the alteration place and the hair salon. He sees her working in so many places he calls her Kirk (Gilmore Girls reference!). Will Eli stay stuck on Victoria or realize the girl for him is right in front of him?

This book was so disappointing. The pop culture references were WAY too old for the characters. NO way a whole group
Of Gen Z people all know and remember numerous Rom Coms from the 80s and feel nostalgic about VCRs. And why would someone need to borrow or buy a VCR to watch a movie now? You can stream it. Made the whole plot/book ridiculous and unbelievable. Either change the time period or the age of the characters to make it believable.

This book was cute! A true rom com with a cute ending! I feel like if you watch a lot of the classic rom com movies you’ll love this book. I enjoyed the characters and the entire story and really was rooting for Eli and Leah!

This was cute, Eli lost the woman of his dreams, Or so he thought. He goes on a journey with Leah as his guide. She helps with a makeover and a full agenda using rom coms as tools to win his ex back but what if they fall for each other?
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The highlight of this book was the 80s and 90s references. Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Eli is determined to win his ex back by any means possible, but isn’t sure how. With the help of Leah, a near-stranger, he takes on a challenge to become a rom com hero. With Leah’s help, he is introduced to all the best movie meet-cutes and grand gestures. However in the process, Leah and Eli begin to fall for each other.

As a rom com lover, I was so excited to read this one, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Eli frustrated me as a love interest and main character and I did not find the romance believable. Had it not been for the audiobook, I’m not sure I would have finished this one. However, the narration was wonderful and managed to keep me engaged despite not connecting with the story.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media for the advance copies.

This book was a little slow paced for me, but I did love Leah and Eli’s characters. Friends to lovers isn’t my favorite trope, but the ending was very cute! I would recommend it as a comfort read.