I really loved this story! The characters were really good and had great development. I think this is the best grumpy/sunshine that I have read in a long time. I loved the cast of characters and could read a series about these people! And the cover is perfect for the story! Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book? Total obsession! I gobbled it up faster than a bag of popcorn at the movies. Seriously, it's flawless—the characters, the plot, every little detail. It's like hitting the jackpot of awesome reads!

Oh My Goodness! This story is adorable! It leans a little more towards the com side of romcom and I will not complain about that! I loved the misunderstandings, the accidents, and the sort of enemies/friends to more. It left me giggling at several points, while on an airplane. The rom part of the romcom is so sweet and it just adds the perfect amount to the com. The supporting characters add the perfect amount of fun to the story as well. From friends to neighbors to pets, this book is just absolutely delightful, and a fun read anytime!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

With How to Plot a Payback, Melissa Ferguson has delivered another fun rom com. Fans of the grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers tropes will enjoy this one. He is a screenwriter just hired to write for America’s number one sitcom. She is the star of the sitcom. He is holding grudges from the past and decides this is the perfect time for pay back. But he just might end up falling in love instead. This is a clean romance with no content or trigger warnings perfect for those who want a lighthearted read.

I enjoyed reading the new book, How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

I have read the last 4 books by this author and have enjoyed each one of them. The books are always Rom-Coms. How to Plot a Payback leans heavy on the Comedy part of the Rom-Com....to the extent that there really is no conflict to resolve in the story. It is more-or-less the story of how two Brits who have become successful in the US Hollywood television scene, one as an actress, the other as a writer, meet (again) . Turns out Finn has been holding a grudge against Lavender since their UK school days. He seems to blame her for negatively changing the trajectory of his life multiple times. Lavender, however, is beloved by all who know her and now that she and Finn are both working on the same show, Finn's old resentments lead to situations of hilarious attempts at retribution that never seem to go the way he intends. Of course, anyone who has read a previous book by Melissa Ferguson will not be shocked to know this is another feel-good book. If you are looking for a book to read that will make you snicker and will not cause the reader to feel any real stress, this is the one. I liked it a lot.

For years, successful screenwriter Finn Masters has been harbouring major dislike towards Hollywood star, Lavender Rhodes. The pair go way back, when Lavender inadvertently destroyed Finn’s acting career by taking the lead role in their school play, and later ruining his relationship with his former-girlfriend - among other things.
As Finn lands his dream job of writing for sitcom, Neighbors, he’s stuck working with Lavender, the show’s starlet. As the two are forced to work closely together, Finn is determined to not let this woman take another dream from him. In fact, he’s in the perfect position to get a little payback from years of being short changed by Lavender.
This latest novel by Melissa Ferguson is the perfect amount of quirky, cute, with a side of romance. You’ll want to add this to your TBR this Spring/Summer.

Overall I’m giving this book a 3.5.

The beginning was slow and drawn out for me. It really didn’t pull me in right away and it was hard going back forth for the first little bit understanding all the pieces. Once the story got going (thanks to Bernie and Miles) I feel like I really got into it. I feel like it wasn’t until this point that the characters really started to develop and you really had the chance to experience them. I also feel like the plot picked up at this point. Honestly the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading. Now that I’ve finished the book I’d like another book to find out what happens next. I’d definitely be interested in reading more by Melissa and sharing her work with others!

*Title: How to Plot a Payback -a standalone

*Release date: 4-2-24, read:4-9-24

*Author: Melissa Ferguson, never read author for me

*Format: eBook and audiobook

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson & HarperCollins for this ARC & ALC 🩷! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

*Narrator: Fiona Hardingham & Steve West

*Run time: 9:11

*Setting: LA

*Genre: Rom Com, Adult Fic

*Tropes: Dual POV, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, clean romance, slow burn, celebrity, workplace romance, and "You've Got Mail" vibes

*Synopsis: Lavender Rhodes was Finn Masters' nemesis in school in England, but she didn't know it. She ruined his seventeen year old love life and got his part in a school play. That little acting gig kicked off her acting career, while he became a successful screenwriter. She is now on one of the highest rated and longest running sitcoms "Neighbors"- a show he would love to work for. When given the opportunity he's forced to confront his past misconceptions and get to know her.



*Review : The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Finn and Lavender. They complimented each other through their witty banter. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync. The narrators paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio. I loved the wholesome feel with some laughs!

*Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lavender Rhodes has singlehandedly ruined Finn Masters's life, only she doesn't know it. Finn can't pass up the chance of a lifetime to work for the hit sitcom, Neighbors, but dreads having to put up with Lavender. Lavender on the other hand doesn't understand why the new guy's name sounds familiar. One thing leads to another and Finn is determined to get Lavender back for all the things she has done to wrong him, but his payback seems to not work and if anything, makes him feel for Lavender more. Throw in a rambunctious puppy, some baby chicks, a crazy ex-boyfriend, and a very demanding boss and Finn's life is just getting more difficult. Will Finn be able to get payback on Lavender? Will Lavender finally figure out who Finn is? Will Neighbors continue on or will it not survive all the changes this season? How to Plot a Payback is a great rom-com filled with angst, drama, and hilarity. I highly recommend this book for lovers of contemporary rom-coms.

Karma is a bitch. Isn't it just like her that when you think she is finally working on your side she turns around and smacks you upside the head. This book is hilarious, and I love the plot of Finn deliberately trying to take revenge on his evil nemesis (in his mind at least) and it boomerangs on him. Despite the rather obvious homage to Jennifer Annison and Friends I loved this wonderful little Rom-Com, but I thought the ending was a tad rushed.

Finn Masters has suffered agony and defeat, and he lays it all at the feet of America's latest sweetheart, Lavender Rhoades. Now - it's time for a little payback. He has landed his dream job of writing for television's top Rom-Com and he is not going to let his Lavender hex curse it for him. Famous last words. The curse is alive and well and causing Finn more trouble.

Lavender Rhoades is the star of "Neighbors". In its tenth year it is still going strong, but in need of some fresh ideas and that is where Finn comes in. He has some ideas, all right, ideas on how to serve up the perfect payback. But the lovely Lavender is exactly the same wonderful, adored, sweet, optimistic and caring person off the screen as she is on it. Drat, exacting payback is going to be like kicking a puppy.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Sometimes you know a book just isn’t for you. Sometimes the book is poorly written or poorly paced. Sometimes you just don’t jive with the characters. Sometimes you are tricked into believing it’s smutty, but it’s actually closed door. Sometimes, like in this case, the first 15% of the book is full of dogs. Dogs galore. Big dogs, little dogs, brown dogs, white dogs. Dogs urinating everywhere. Dogs in the workplace, barking like they run the place. Dogs were literally being handed out for free and the heroine of the book took all the leftovers only to try to foist them on her unsuspecting co-workers. I can’t support this. One dog in a book is enough (and sometimes too much), but a gaggle of dogs. No thanks. So while I’m sure this is a great story, I’m gonna have to pass on this one on account of being cockblocked by a pack of canines.

I wish the best for everyone involved in the creation and publishing of this book. I didn’t read enough of it to give it any specific rating other than…

Dogs featured prominently in romance books- neg 9.23 stars
Dog packs featured prominently in romance books- neg 59.87 stars

I just finished and quite enjoyed How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson. Finn and Lavender have known each other since childhood in England and are reunited on a TV sitcom set in LA. Unbeknownst to Lavender, she is responsible for some of the toughest moments in Finn's life (he keeps a list of them). As he tries to get payback for her transgressions, he actually comes to realize that maybe, she isn't the villain after all.

This book is for you if you love a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, no spice romance! Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC to review.

3.5 Stars thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for the E-Book. This is not my first rodeo with books by Melissa Ferguson and just like the others it did not disappoint. I need to say this awwww I found myself saying this so often towards the end of the book.

“He crossed an ocean, and it still wasn’t enough to escape his lifelong nemesis. Now he has to work with her.

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. But she doesn’t even know she destroyed his acting career and wrecked his relationship with the love of his life.

He’s not about to let this woman yank yet another dream out from under his feet. In fact, he realizes he’s been given the ideal opportunity to plot his payback: spinning her character in shocking new directions. What could go wrong? Only everything. As Finn’s not-so-brilliant plot backfires one scene after the next, catching him in the blasts, he’s forced to think about this impossible, infuriating…and maybe even lovable woman in an entirely new light.”

**What I enjoyed about this book:
I loved the humor in this story as well as the slow burn between Lavender and Finn! And I also really loved how there was more to the main characters than what was present on the surface!

Read if you like:
*slow burn
*great humor
*opposites attract
*grumpy/sunshine

This was a quick read but didn’t totally hit the mark for me. I love an enemies to lover tale… but I never truly believed that they were enemies. Some of the “payback” came off as really childish and made me want to roll my eyes.

It did pick up towards the end, but I’ve enjoyed some of her other books better (especially Famous for a Living).

This book is an extremely slow burn and it was too much for me. I didn't like either character and at 50% I dnf. I have liked the author's previous books but this one was not for me.

If you enjoy an enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, slow burn book with lots of Witt and humour you definitely need to add this to your tbr.

The plot and characters immediately draw you into the story and even though it is a slow burn the writing is able to keep you engaged and turning the pages. The male main character, Finn sets out to get payback on the female main character Lavender who he thinks has done several wins towards him. They get paired to work together Finn as the head writer/ producer and Lavender as an actress. Where Finn discovers maybe she isn’t as awful as he thought. The characters are lovable the storyline is one that you don’t always see. The perfect book to read on a rainy day or bring shopping with you to the beach.

A fun read, the story of Finn and Lavender. He has had things ruined by her too many times, so now he is plotting payback. I liked how it was told from both points of view.

You know when you read literally one sentence into a new book, and just know you’re going to be instantaneously hooked. That was this book without any hesitation. “Murder is just so tedious.” I mean, COME ON! How can you not get hooked with that opener of a ROMANCE?!

Finn Masters, aka my new crush, is not actually a murderer, but thanks to his screenwriting on a hit drama series, he certainly knows enough. And as much as he has loved the working for show, he wants out. So, when a new opportunity is given, Finn jumps at the chance to write for Neighbors, a hit comedy show. The only downside? The show stars Lavender Rhodes aka Finn’s nemesis… only she doesn’t actually know that they are enemies. So, while Finn decides to sneakily ruin Lavender’s life, he doesn’t account for her charming him. It is such an amazing grumpy and sunshine mix that my smile never left my face!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC because although I had already read Meet Me in the Margins, How to Plot a Payback has solidified that Melissa Ferguson is someone to obsess over!