How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is such a fun rom com. This book started quite slowly for the first third of the book. It was a bit hard to get into and the characters were not as likeable as I expected. However, I kept reading and I am so glad that I did. Eventually, I absolutely loved the characters and everything fell into place beautifully with the plot. This is a wonderful book and I definitely recommend it to readers who love sweet romance. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This was a fun book. I really enjoyed reading it and getting to know the characters.
A short list of what I liked:
- The characters (main and side)
- The story itself
- The writing (especially Finn's inner monologue at times - had me cackling!) and pacing
- Just the overall vibe I had while reading this.
- Miles & Burnie

I think the only drawback was how almost petty Finn was for the first half of the book. Holding onto those grudges and blaming Lavender for almost all the bad things that have ever happened in his life (even though his girlfriend dumping him was actually one of the best things to happen to him - but did he thank her? Of course not) Also, maybe how extreme his I LOVE LAVENDER eyes were... He took a while to get there, but then once he was, it was like zero-to-one-hundred real quick.

Otherwise I think it was a great book if you're looking for a slow burn, dislike-to-lovers with cute puppies and on-set shenanigans. And adorable old people. I would totally recommend this to people who are looking for a light romance, heavy on the comedy. I'll also be keeping an eye out for other Melissa Ferguson books in the future.

Your average romcom that’s heavy on the comedy over the romance. I enjoyed it but felt a little let down by the romance.

This was such a FUN and cute romcom that I literally devoured in a day. I had so much fun with these characters and the swoony romance that left me smiling.

3.75 rounded up

This was so much fun! Finn is the definition of not taking accountability for his choices, instead he has blamed every minor/major inconvenience in life on Lavender. Now he has gotten his dream job writing on a long running show, starring none other than Lavender! He is determined not to let her ruin this opportunity for him, annnnnd promptly things start to go sideways for him. He then chooses to make it his life's work to do everything within his power to make her feel the same level of inconvenience daily. The internal monologs cracked me up, and the delulu that Finn started with was hilarious. This was a cute book, and Lavender was the absolute cutest (if misguided and unaware of her she effected others, in the beginning) and I loved watching the story play out. A very fun read!

Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by this author before and went into this book with 0 expectations. This was such a fun read and I flew through it.

My one complaint is that I wish that they both hated each other at the start of the book. Finn was this super relatable character with flaws and grudges while Lavender was literally perfect. I liked her (how could you not). If the whole book had been from Finn’s perspective or if they both had same level of grievance with each other instead of Lavender just being oblivious, it would have been a perfect enemies to lovers.

Thanks for the ARC copy. Opinions are my own.
First time reading this author.

Sweet, slow burn rom com with interesting storyline and plot. I found the characters a bit difficult to get into and the story moves slowly., but it's a decent book for a summer read on a hot day

This was such a good book. I laughed till I cried and hubby was looking at me strange! I would definitely recommend this book. I loved the storyline and all the characters in this book.

I liked the characters on their own, and eventually together too. The story itself seemed like I have read it before though and never really pulled me in. It wasn't bad ....just not for me.

There is something seriously special about Melissa Ferguson and her writing! Now, I'm usually a "the spicier the better" reader, so I shouldn't love these books the way! I should also miss the spice in a clean romance, right? wrong. Melissa's writing is so vivid that you get absorbed into the tension, angst, and myriad other emotions experiences by these characters that before you know it, the book is over and you're clicking your e-reader trying to get to the next page because you aren't ready for to be done with it yet.

I love a good revenge plot that isn't "I'm going to destroy their whole life and make them wish they were never born" but instead "I'm going to mildly inconvenience them over and over again just to drive them up the wall a bit." This book was so fun and the romance was so swoon and cute, that I will definitely put this into my rotation of comfy romances to reread.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 1 star / DNF at 25% ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

i said i would never DNF a book but i'm sorry, this was just not going anywhere in my opinion. i started reading this book 3 months ago at the end of march and i honestly only read a bit of the book during the first week but then i completely gave up on it.

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! How To Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a funny, witty romantic comedy which takes place in Hollywood. When Finn sets out one night to attend a party as his co-writers plus one he never thought he’d get the chance of a lifetime. Writing a long running sitcom is always been a dream but, as luck would have it, he also has very strong feelings about working with Lavender Rhodes. She has, from the time he can remember, caused havoc in his life. Once he begins working with her, the trend continues. However, overtime, he learns the true meaning of what it is to be part of Lavender’s inner circle. Where will life take them? Overall, a quick read which I enjoyed.

I was so excited to see Melissa Ferguson had a new book out, she is one of my go to authors! I thought this was such a cute book! I found myself not wanting to put it down once I started it. I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and this one was so well done! This book will have you laughing the whole time you read it. Theres witty banter and hilarious payback schemes. It’s a really fun, light hearted, easy read. I would highly recommend checking it out. It’d be the perfect beach read this summer!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Plot a Payback is Melissa Ferguson at her finest!!!

Finn Masters has held a grudge against Lavender Rhodes since the day she inadvertently caused him to break his ankle. Years later he finds himself in a position to repay her for a laundry list of transgressions he has accumulated. Will he be able to get revenge, or will Lavender win out once and for all?

This is such a fun premise!!!

If you are fans of enemies-to-lovers, Ferguson’s spin on the trope will have you hooked. She brilliantly kept things fresh by having a one sided rivalry. I couldn’t help but laugh at the grudges Finn kept and how oblivious and sweet Lavender was in return.

This is a sweet, clean romance perfect for the summer.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Melissa Ferguson for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a enemies to lovers rom com between two coworkers working on a sitcom together: Finn Masters, the producer/writer and Lavender Rhodes is the star. They have a past. She stole his career and he's determined to never see her or hear her name again. But that all goes out the window when Finn is offered a job on Neighbors, the sitcom staring Lavender. She doesn't even recognize him at first and is always so up/chipper/happy/perky. He loathes her because hate isn't a strong enough word.

I DNF'd this book at around 60%. The writing style wasn't a hit for me. The main characters were pretty much insufferable - but I did enjoy some of the side characters like Finn's neighbors that he takes care of. I thought that it was almost too much for him to continue to hold this grudge for multiple decades.

I have heard that the book got better in the last third, but I couldn't make it that far.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Because it's making me give a star rating, I'll give it 2 stars, but I'd rather not rate it at all.

This was such a good read! I am all for the grumpy/sunshine vibe and I will definitely read this again! This was a laugh out loud read. I love when you get a real dive into characters careers since many of them are so different from our own. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend.

A wonderful rom-com that is sweet, funny and fast-paced. Finn has just landed a career-making dream job as a screenwriter, so everything is perfect until he finds out that his school days nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, is the star actor in the show he will be writing for. This author does a great job of getting deep into the minds and hearts of both the male and female lead characters in this book, which makes for an even better story!

Definitely not the romance book I was hoping for! While there was a little banter and flirting, this one didn’t have the steam. Finn and Lavender have this relationship that’s the opposite of a relationship, but once Finn gets to know Lavender on a deeper level, they blossom. They really learn how to work with one another and cope with one another, but not before the drama happens. Wanted to like the plot and writing style more, but I struggled just a bit getting into this one. Plot was intriguing - enemies working together against a network! Loved that aspect. Overall, a decent read!

Cute enough even though I feel the premise is a little convoluted. Nice light read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I didn't finish this. For some reason I couldn't connect with the characters at all. The male main character just felt broken, mean, and spiteful in a way that I couldn't understand.