dnf at 30% i am genuinely sorry but the writing style just isn’t for me and the format was really hard for me to separate the chapters.

**THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

Talk about grumpy x sunshine- Lavender is sunshine personified. I loved this one! I love almost anything that is entertainment industry adjacent, so this was right up my alley. One of my favorite parts of a good enemies to lovers is the character growth that comes with their falling in love, and the MCs had such great communication! This was also laugh-out-loud funny. Loved this!

Reading this book was like binge watching your favorite sitcom - entertaining, funny, adorable, and engaging.
This is my second Melissa Ferguson book and I really, really loved it.
Release date - 04/02/2024

Recap -
Finn Masters is a screenwriter for a very successful murder drama in Hollywood - and now he has the opportunity to move up and write for the most popular sitcom on the air, Neighbors. It is the perfect job for him - except for the star, Lavender Rhodes, is his sworn enemy. Growing up in the same school in London, their lives have been connected since, even if Lavender does not recall the MANY times she ruined things for Finn. But now, as the new producer of Neighbors, he has the chance to ruin Lavender's life, one plot line at a time. Through accidents, frustrations, and unexpected turns, Finn and Lavender may end up being in each other's life, in an unexpected way.

Review -
Honestly, this book read like a sitcom. It was quick, witty, funny, and engaging. I can see the dual POV chapters as a sitcom episode and it made for an easy, enjoyable read. The characters were likable, the side characters were endearing, and who doesn't love dogs, cats, and the occasional duckling in a story? This was one of the best ARCs I have read this year and I know you will all enjoy it.

Read if you like:
Grumpy /Sunshine
Sitcoms Behind the scenes
Dual POV
Celebrity Romance
Enemies to Lovers

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of this author and all of her books, so I promise I’m not just fangirling when I say this novel is everything! "How to Plot a Payback" by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful blend of wit and warmth, taking readers on a humorous adventure through the tangled webs of Hollywood. With a dash of revenge and a sprinkle of unexpected romance, this novel delivers the freshest take on the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Meet Finn Masters: He’s a successful screenwriter who lands his dream job writing for a beloved sitcom. There’s a slight catch, though. He'll be working closely with the show's star. The same star who derailed his acting career. He can remain professional and not seek payback, right?

Meet Lavender Rhodes. She’s the star actress on a beloved sitcom. Everything is great until she finds out who the new writer is. You don’t think he remembers when she destroyed his relationship with the love of his life during their school days in England, do you?

Readers join Finn as he seizes the opportunity for payback. His plan? I’m not telling, you have to read and find out for yourself. What will happen as Finn's maybe-not-so-brilliant plot unfolds? Will he finally triumph over his nemesis?

I adored the witty banter and moments of vulnerability. Ferguson is able to pen tender moments infused with humour, causing her characters to leap off of the page. Thats one of the things I love about Ferguson's writing: her humour. It shines through, making this novel (and every novel she writes) the perfect escape for readers wanting some laughter, heart, and charm.

I found this novel to be a delightfully enjoyable read that doesn't shy away from deeper themes. Ferguson uses magic to create a story full of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. She reminds us readers that sometimes the best revenge is the unexpected twist of fate.

Pre-Order your copy today because it won’t be on shelves for long when it’s released, 02 April 2024! Another great novel from Ferguson that is sure to have book clubs talking all spring and summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first time reading a Melissa Ferguson novel.

Plot: In this book, two Brits who grew up together end up working on the same t.v. show in Hollywood. The male MC (Finn) has had some perceived wrongs done to him in the past by the female MC (Lavender) and he'd like a little dose of payback.



Review: This is a slow burn, closed door romance. Maybe add in a dash of enemies to lovers. Heavy on the com, light on the rom and I am just fine with that. I like Finn and Lavender's characters and the fact that their childhood ties them together. The first half of the book found me wanting to dislike Lavender but entirely unable to. Finn's character is reserved/nerdy yet has a great sense of humor. Their interactions I'd say are best described as "hijinks". The side characters are a great mix of endearing and irritating. The majority of them are quite memorable, especially Finn's neighbor. Due to this being a slow burn romcom, the ending could potentially be perceived as rushed but I felt that it was written well enough that I didn't get that vibe whatsoever. I thought that this book was very funny, very light-hearted, and something I'd like to see in a movie theater.

3.5/5 - When I started this book, I felt like Finn was just too grumpy. I know a grumpy guy/sunshine girl is a big trope that people like, but I felt like it might have been too extreme in this case and would be too much to overcome. But by the end, I was won over.

Are there some details from the plot and things about the characters that I found unrealistic? Of course. Lavender is just too much sunshine and forgiveness. And while that made for good communication moments, it made her feel a little bit flat. I also found everything about the show to be kind of unbelievable. I didn’t see the depth to the show that I would assume should exist for it to have won multiple Emmys. Also, do they really film year round, no breaks? Because that’s not normal or necessary. I also would have liked to see at least one of Finn’s plans come to fruition.

Overall, I feel like this book has some glaring issues. With that being said, it was still a very enjoyable read to me once I got past the first few chapters.

Note: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

How to Plot a Payback was delightfully funny! Finn & Lavender have a whitty love/hate relationship back and forth, all the while growing and developing a precious friendship. I laughed out loud several times and found myself wishing i could watch the TV show they were working on. Loved it!
Thanks netgalley for a copy. All thoughts are my own.

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

How to plot a payback was a fun and fast read about Finn and Lavender. Lavender has ruined Finn's life and he never got over it. He has done everything to avoid Lavender, until they start working together.

I loved Lavender's character and her character development through out the book. The way their relationship gradually got closer was so fun to read and it kept me hooked. However, I did miss some depth when it comes to Lavender and Finn together. It took a long time for the romance to start and then it was over before we knew it. I wanted to know more about them! I loved them together. They were cute together.

I thought the plot was very fun with interesting elements like actors and writers. It's something I love to read about. The book also made me giggle out loud multiple times. There were definitely some funny moments as well. Conclusion, A lovely and fun read that surely made me happy.

How to Plot a Payback
by Melissa Ferguson
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGAlley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sweet romantic comedy
Stand-alone novel
Book length: 88,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Finn Masters is a screen writer. Lavender Rhodes a TV star. Who Finn loathes because hate isn't a strong enough word. She is caring and sweet, he only cares about himself. What will happen when these two are forced to work together on the same show?
The start of this book got me hooked and I was sure this would be a 4 or 5 star, but unfortunately it faded. Finn was my favorite character but he turned meh after reading a few chapters. Lavender was cute but felt overdone. These two were the complete opposite of each other and didn't feel believable as a romantic couple.
If you like enemies/co-workers-to-lovers, actor/screenwriter plot, grumpy x sunshine, rom-com, or need an easy read romance novel then this one's for you. Hopefully it'll be someone else's next favorite read, it unfortunately wasn't mine.

I’ve always loved Melissa’s stories but this one not so much. It took me a long time to even understand what was going on.
The story moved slowly and I never really connected with the characters.
I did like the cover and I thought it had a unique plot. And the idea of planning to get revenge and then realizing the futility of that..
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

I loved the concept of childhood enemies turned co-workers in Hollywood! Following a screenwriter and actor working on a popular TV show was so much fun and I loved the inclusion of animals throughout. I did find it a bit slow in parts, and it took a long time to get to the romance between the characters, but overall it was a cute and easy read.

Pub Date: April 2, 2024

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Melissa Ferguson for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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

I loved so many things about How to Plot a Payback. It was a very easy read, with great humor, and kept me wanting to find out what happened next. One downside was that the chapters were a little longer than I’d like but it did not take me long to feel so invested in the characters that the chapter length didn’t really matter.

One thing I found odd was Finn’s feeling of such deep hatred for someone and holding so many grudges, but I think it made Finn’s journey interesting to see him go from one end of the spectrum to the other.

A quote that I particularly loved and could relate to was from Lavender, “Life’s much too short for me to hang on to resentment, especially as none of us is perfect.” I think this is a great reminder that everyone should think daily.

Finn has a list. A list of all the wrongs Lavender Rhodes has done against him. A list I thought was hysterical.

I liked how it was based on writers and actors in Hollywood. Ferguson has a talent for writing in believable humor and I found myself laughing out loud at Finn's mishaps. The book was a fun escape as Finn is trying to get his payback. Even with all the humor, I felt the main plot moved slowly, although subplots abounded to keep you interested.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Publishing and Melissa Ferguson for the early read!

Publishing Date: April 2, 2024

This book was super cute. It was a little slow at times, but definitely picked up.

I love the dynamic between Finn and Lavender, plus all the side characters were so well written.

This is such a cute rom-com and was a light, refreshing read! I loved all of the characters and also loved learning about the writing process. I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and was not disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC!

Finn Masters begins working as a writer on a sitcom for which Lavender Rhodes stars. Finn keeps a list of transgressions that Lavender has committed against him which leads him to plot revenge against Lavender, leveraging the fact they have once again been put back in each others paths.

I was excited for this book after reading Meet Me in the Margins. I thought the premise of the book was really interesting - which in general I think Melissa Ferguson has really creative plot ideas.

I really didn’t connect with this book though. Perhaps in part by writing style, but I couldn’t ever really connect with the plot and the characters. I really struggled with Finn’s list, and I think there were elements intended to be funny that weren't in my realm of humor. I felt bad for Lavender and how there were parts trying to help her understand Finn’s side of things. At one point another character was outlining what had happened in school from Finn’s perspective and I didn’t think that whole exchange was really fair to Lavender. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of how long the revenge attempts went on in the story.

Ultimately, I think I had expectations of how the plot may play out. When it did not go that way, I really struggled to find connection with the way it did go. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this book but will still check out the next book Melissa Ferguson writes.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I could not get into this book. I think it felt too clunky and confusing for me. Unfortunately it just was not the book for me. I was excited because I loved Hollywood books but it just did not work for me

How to Plot a Payback was a cute but somewhat superficial story about an executive producer falling for an actress who had “ruined his life.” In my opinion, the MMC came off as pretty immature and petty throughout most of the book. It also went from enemies to lovers straight into insta-love which was irritating- I wished there had been more of a build up.
There are definitely some cute parts, and it was a quick read, so if you’re looking for something light and fun you should try it out. However I was also distracted by the way he came in and completely revamped a beloved tv show into something unrecognizable. If I were a fan of their fictional show, I would have been so mad at the choices the writers made throughout this book. Talk about jumping the shark! Crazy. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Thank you for allowing me a copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book - it was easy to read and I found myself blitzing through the book quickly.

Sooo cute!! Thanks to much to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the chance to review How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson. I adored this book. Finn Masters is a screenwriter and he is offered the chance to write on a very popular sitcom. The only problem is that Lavender Rhodes - his archnemesis - is the star. He harbors anger for her every since their teen years when she got the part that he wanted. Lavender remembers things a little differently, though... In his quest to get his payback, he writes strange situations for her into the sitcom, all of which seem to backfire on him.

This was cute and funny, and I loved how Finn got to learn that Lavendar wasn't exactly as bad as he thought she was. The grumpy/sunshine trope was perfect, and I actually cackled a few times. The writing was that good. No sex, no profanity... good clean payback... er, fun!