Finn Masters blames sitcom star Lavender Rhodes for ruining his acting career. They went to school together and he had an accident that he blames on Lavender, but years later when he is hired to work on the sitcom she stars in, he tries to get some payback for what he believes she did to him. This whole plan backfires on Finn when his plans don’t work as he intended. Lavender has no idea that he blames her for some things that happened years ago and is friendly towards him and she is not what he expected. Finn and Lavender start to develop a relationship and he realizes that he needs to let go of his bitterness and stop blaming Lavender for the past. Romance blossoms between the two and also friendship between the dogs that they have.
The story was written well, I loved some of the banter between Lavender and Finn. The behind the scenes of a sitcom setting was fun and I liked the dogs of each character. Finn does realize that he was unjustified treating Lavender the way he did and changes which was good, I just think he should not have felt as strongly against Lavender as he did in the beginning. Overall it was a good story and was enjoyable.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for letting me read an arc on NetGalley. Opinions are mine and mine alone.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up)

To say I LOVE a grumpy x sunshine, dual POV romance is an understatement, and Melissa Ferguson delivered with How to Plot a Payback!

While I was concerned the ending may be rushed as the first half focuses on a span of five-ish days in the lives of Finn and Lavender, there was no cause for concern in the end. Melissa did SO well in wrapping things up in a way that delivered the right amount of lovey dovey-ness, and was realistic to the situation!

Finn’s vendetta against Lavender was honestly a good laugh because it seemed so absurd that someone would feel such hatred/dislike over such trivial things!

Lavender’s personality was one of my favorite pieces of the book. Surface level, you get to see she’s happy-go-lucky, accidentally-adopt-all-the-dogs, and loving to everyone she meets. Yet, below the surface lies so much more, and only one person can truly see what that is…

How to Plot a Payback is the perfect read to add to your spring TBR and I can’t wait to add more of Melissa’s books to my own TBR!

Thank you @thomasnelson, @netgalley, and @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and honest.

What a delightful read, at times I was laughing out loud!
How would you feel about working with someone that you felt ruined your life? That is exactly what happens to Finn, whom ends up working with Lavender Rose. Does he get payback writing for a soap opera?
We are there to see what happens in this fun Rom-Com, filled with adventures, watch out for the dogs!
I would recommend this read for a book to get lost in and enjoy some great giggles and laughs!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

I love a celebrity rom com so much so I knew I had to read this when I read the description. Going into Finn and Lavender’s world was such a delight. Lavender was the ultimate golden retriever character, rescuing dogs like it was no big deal. Finn was a little too man childish for me - like, dude get over it! I’m glad he saw the error of his ways quickly though. Overall, a cute, quick and silly rom com perfect for TV fans.

As usual, Melissa’s rom-com delivered chuckles and giggles and witty dialogue from a cast of loveable characters. It’s a storyline is fresh and hasn’t been done a bazillion times, at least that I have read anyway, and has my fav tropes-grumpy/sunshine or enemies to lovers (although I wouldn’t really call them enemies as the bad feelings are one sided and kind of misguided really)
Finn sets out to get back at Lavender for what he thinks is a list of wrongs she has done to him over the course of them knowing each other, the thing is, Lavender has no idea that Finn thinks she is such an awful person. When they are forced to work with each other, she as an actress and he as her new head writer, he starts to realize that maybe she isn’t completely awful after all.
Lavender is America’s sweetheart and has been playing in a long running show for years. She’s ready to move on but the world isn’t ready for her to let go of her character. When Finn is hired as her producer, he has a new set of ideas and ways to make changes and Lavender is captivated by him despite the fact that he seems familiar but she can’t figure out how she knows him.
Even during Finn’s childish attempts at payback and petty revenge, I found both characters loveable and I was totally invested in their story. And then once he finally got over it all, it got even better and they just made sense together. Their first kiss was swoon worthy. Slow and sweet like a summer peach.
This story is witty and funny and I enjoyed every bit. It is clean, feel-good and lighthearted and the perfect beach read. I see this as being big this summer.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

- grumpy x sunshine
- nemesis
- clean rom-com
- failed payback

What’s a person to do when they receive their dream job only to find out they will be working directly with the one person who has ruined their life time and time again? Plot a payback of course!
This story takes place on set of a sitcom and I loved getting to feel like I was part of the cast and crew while reading. This book was super light hearted, quick read that definitely gave 90’s romcom movie vibes! However, I don’t think I enjoyed the writing style for this book very much and it made it difficult for me to connect with the characters beyond surface level. As usual with Melissa Ferguson books, the romance isn’t a huge aspect of the book, especially for the first half, and unfortunately I felt that this made it hard to feel any major chemistry between the two main characters. I personally got more of an old friend connection between these two by the end. Overall, there were plenty of times where this book made me smile/laugh (mainly at the terrible plans for payback) and I did enjoy reading it.
If you enjoy a bubbly actress, a grumpy screen writer, adorable dogs, and some hilarious 80 year old neighbors then this may be the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this e-ARC! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

How to Plot a Playback successfully blends rom and com in this sweet confection of a story. It’s the perfect companion for a cozy night in.

The Plot:

TV writer Finn Masters ascends to his dream job on the hit sitcom Neighbors. However, his new job tangles him up with the talent, specifically the show’s star, Lavender Rhodes.

The Payback:

Finn and Lavender have crossed paths in the past. Finn has receipts and is ready to match the mayhem Lavender caused in his life. However, Lavender’s charm proves to be more compelling than Finn anticipates. Their misunderstandings set the perfect backdrop for comedic and romantic havoc.

The How To:

This was my first time reading a novel by Melissa Ferguson. I’m already looking forward to reading her other books. I love Ferguson’s approach to prose. Her writing has a comfortable pace and flow. It’s easy to get lost in the plot.

Speaking of plots, I also loved that Ferguson focused on humor without leaning into over-the-top drama. Too much drama would have detracted from the cute and funny moments. The pranks gone awry lent the perfect touch of physical comedy to the story.

Ferguson builds up some initial suspense about Finn’s past with Lavender, and drops enough bread crumbs along the way to keep the reader satisfied. The dual point of view gave a balanced understanding of where each character was coming from. It was satisfying to see Finn and Lavender develop new perspectives as the plot progressed.

Ferguson also mixed in a helping of the grumpy/sunshine trope, while giving the characters realistic nuances. Finn’s grumpy persona was easily counterbalanced by loyalty to his neighbors. Lavender’s sunshine personality was endearing without becoming too sweet. I enjoyed Lavender’s moments of self awareness, especially when she sees how her status as a celebrity affects her relationships.

I loved that this book delved into the question of what makes a long-running TV show compelling. The characters, setting, and plot do an interesting tango to keep viewers entertained. Finn and the writers had a thoughtful push-and-pull about whether to keep their beloved characters the same or put them in fresh situations. Ferguson did a mix of both throughout the book, which kept the characters interesting.

Sonya was hilarious as Lavender’s best friend. Her blunt observations and zany ideas had me laughing out loud. She’d be the perfect protagonist for a spinoff.


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

This was such a wonderfully sweet book. I liked the background being in the world of Hollywood and learning about tv show writers. I also enjoyed all the fun dog scenes as well as the one sided enemies to lovers trope.

It’s always refreshing to know that there are people out there that have a conscience when plotting a payback.

This book was extremely funny. I felt like I was watching a romantic comedy the whole time I was reading. The fact that Lavender has been Finn's unsuspecting nemesis, without them even really meeting each other all these years, added just the right touch. She really is the black cat of Finn's life. Everything falls apart around him as soon as she's around and it's very fun to read, if a little long at one point. You really end up wondering how he's going to overcome his almost-fear of her to come to fall under her spell and finally come to understand that these terrible things happening to him are also of his own making and his sometimes risky choices.

In the end, I was delighted to see the characters realize their faults and the impact they've had on each other's lives, whether positive or negative.

A lovely love story.

I had really hoped to love this more than I did in a enemies to lovers sort of way. But I found Finn eternally annoying with these weird grudges and blaming everyone else for everything in his life. Lavender was a complete dope and beyond naïve to the point of disbelief. As in, this is not a real or serious person. This book just didn't work for me. I hope you have better luck!

How to Plot a Payback comes out next month on April 2, 2024, and you can purchase HERE.

She's so good at ruining my life that of course I should've suspected she could ruin my payback. Take all the fun out of it and leave me to another week of working to the bone, trying to fix the problems this has caused.
Brilliant. Just positively smashing.

Overall, I really liked Melissa Ferguson's How to Plot a Payback. A cute plot, engaging characters, a sweet romance, nostalgia for the days of sitcom tv... this book has a great premise! Though I rated this book 4 stars, I have to admit that the first half of the book fell flat for me. It was a struggle to get through because the main characters were not my favorite at first. Finn was annoying and a bit arrogant, and Lavendar came off as selfish and difficult. However, I found the author's writing style to be engaging and decided to keep reading, and ultimately I am glad that I did. The second half of the book was fantastic. The characters came together, drew apart, and then came back together in the sweetest, sincerest way. I felt that both members of the couple (cause I hope it's not a surprise that Finn and Lavendar become a couple) grow and change in the happiest of ways. There is even a fun twist in their vocational relationship that I did not see coming but was perfect nonetheless! A fun read for sure. (On a side note, if you're a dog person, the first half of the book may be more engaging for you!)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes you're in the mood for a sweet romance that isn't too spicy, and this one fits that bill. I liked both characters point of view throughout the book. I usually enjoy an enemies to lovers premise, and I did enjoy this one. Great spring read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

This book really had the potential to be great but the execution was not. The MMC is so annoying I just eventually got fed up of his narrative that I had to dnf like his hatred for the MFC did not make sense and the writing did not flow well in my opinion.

Finn Masters, a successful screenwriter, lands his dream job writing for a top sitcom, only to find himself working alongside Lavender Rhodes, his lifelong nemesis. She unknowingly ruined his past, and Finn sees his chance for revenge by altering her character on the show. But as his schemes backfire, Finn discovers a new perspective on Lavender, leading to unexpected revelations and possibly, a change of heart.

Light and fun! I’ll be honest though, it took me a few weeks to get to the 40% mark in this book. It wasn’t a page turner for me at first. But once I got into the swing of things, I really loved how everything was coming together and the overall feel of the story. The writing is truly reminiscent of a sitcom and the characters are both comedic and endearing. Finn’s methodical manner complements Lavender’s airy and bubbly personality so well. If you like fun dogs and community living, you’re sure to find lots of gleeful moments throughout this comedy!

While I did enjoy the ebook, I want to try out the audio version when it’s released. The British accents, sitcom atmosphere, and the feel of the dialogue would make this an excellent audiobook!

Thank you @tnzfiction @NetGalley for the eARC 🧡🩷 #netgalley All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Perfect for you if you like:
Hollywood tv setting
Schemes and revenge plots gone awry
Sitcoms (Friends) + romantic comedies (You’ve Got Mail)

Similar to:
The Rom-Comers by Katherine Center
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (not a rom-com, but a ditzy female lead and opposites-attract British main characters)
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (open-door, “real life” feel but on the set on SNL)

✅clean (a couple sweet kisses)
⚠️no CW/TW

Lavender Rhodes is the bright and perky star of America's favorite (and soon-to-be longest running) sitcom. Finn Masters, under orders to transform said sitcom, has just been hired as the show's executive producer. The problem? Finn can't STAND Lavender, and he has his MANY reasons.

I have been very into settings that are movie/tv show sets and/or with characters starring in/writing for shows/movies; needless to say I was VERY excited for this one. There is something about this book that I just can't put my finger on, try as I might while I was reading. After looking at similar reviews, it's possible that I just could not connect with Ferguson's writing style. At times it felt like the pacing was TOO quick, especially when trying to understand Finn's (many) reasons for disliking Lavender. I think I would have preferred some flashbacks to the actual incident between Lavender and Finn (as I am very much a show not tell reader). Both Lavender and Finn fell flat as characters for me as well.- Finn would attempt to do something as "payback" for what Lavender did to him, only to find out he'd taken it TOO far and, instead of relishing in sweet victory, found himself playing chivalrous gentleman.

Overall, this was a quick, more com than rom read that, while not the most dynamic, is sweet.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I enjoyed this book so much. It a rom-com about a tv show that is also a rom-com. The banter in this book is awesome. I could not put it down. A must read.

From the moment I saw this cover/read the title, I wanted to read this one... and though it was a little different than I expected, I found that I really did enjoy it!

From the start, I was drawn into the story. We meet Finn who is a TV writer who is offered a new job on one of TVs hottest sitcoms--- a show called Neighbors that was giving off some pretty major Friends vibes, which was super fun! The problem? The star of the show is his worst enemy... only she doesn't know it! Unbeknownst to her, he has a running list of all the ways he feels like she has caused issues in his life and so he decides he will get payback. Is his attitude a little bit childish? Yes, but I found myself enjoying the story, nonetheless. Lavender is a really sweet character--- almost perfectly so. Every attempt he makes to get revenge... well, let's just say it doesn't work out for him. This leads to some humorous mishaps throughout. This is definitely very much a slow burn... I would have definitely enjoyed the romance starting earlier, but for those who prefer that slower burn, they'll definitely appreciate that. I felt like the story was definitely more personal growth than romance for the larger part of the story. Enjoyable, just a little different than expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this story... it was cute and unique and definitely worth a read!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

CAN I SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE MELISSA FERGUSON!??!

Adorable, fast-paced romance with the perfect amount of zero spice ;)

Successful screenwriter Finn Masters has landed his dream job writing for Neighbors… the only downside is his arch-nemesis Lavender Rhodes is the star of said show. Can Finn get past the long-standing feud he has in order to help the show succeed or will pettiness get the best of him?

I don't often pick up stand alone romance books as I enjoy the wider friend group being more developed and I noticed this alot throughout the book where background characters felt included for plot reasons rather than as they were part of the main characters lives. I didn't love the writing style and there were I found the slow burn lent more into lack of believable romantic chemistry than them taking their time. If you are a fan of frenemies to lovers this may be for you but I can think of several I would recommend before this one. I did enjoy the dual POV and the no spice was a change form my normal books but wasn't a bad thing.

I was excited by the premise of this. The writing style didn’t quite work for me and I struggled to stay engaged. I think if you enjoy frenemies to lovers, this will be enjoyable!