I couldn't get into this book mainly due to the writing style. The characters seemed great of what I could tell. I've enjoyed other books by her and will give future books a chance.

This was such a fun book! I went into this one not knowing what to expect but it was honestly such a great easy read, I finished it in a single day!
Both of these characters have an amazing personality and I love how there's truly not a way to pick a side here.
I just truly enjoyed every second of reading this one

If you love
🎬 Celebrity romance
🎬 Grumpy + Sunshine
🎬 Slow Burn
🎬 Dual POV

You need to get this book asap. This story was funny, sweet and full of side characters. Lavender Rhodes ruined his chances of being a star, time and time again. (He has a list) So when he is offered a job working with her he begins to plot his payback. Except that catching feelings for her was not part of the plan. Prepare to laugh and swoon over Finn Masters.

This one just wasn’t for me. Finn read immature and insecure to me and the premise of wanting revenge on Lavender felt flimsy. At one point, I thought it was building to something substantial and was surprised to realize I was already 65% in and didn’t have a good understanding of Finn’s animosity. Super cute cover but ultimately a miss for me.

This is everything a good romcom should be! It was witty, it was fun, and it was heartwarming. The author writes in such a fresh and fun way. I absolutely loved the characters and the character development. The senior citizen aspect was lovely and brought the book to a new level.

Looking for a feel-good romcom that will keep you hooked from start to finish? Look no further than Melissa Ferguson's "How To Plot a Payback." This charming enemies-to-lovers tale follows two Londoners who find themselves unexpectedly reunited on the set of a Hollywood TV show. Finn can't stand Lavender, blaming her for all the problems in his life, but she's completely oblivious to his hatred - and absolutely adorable to boot.

As the two work together, Finn becomes increasingly bent on revenge (or "payback"), but Lavender's sunny disposition and infectious charm soon begin to win him over. With a lovable Bernese mountain dog, a flock of chickens, and endless humor and wit, this book is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone in need of a little romance and laughter. It's an easy, enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more from this talented author.

Thank you @thomasnelson, NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I tend to enjoy books by Melissa Ferguson because they are cute & feel good romcoms. This one was cute and fun and I really enjoyed the plot.

I felt a bit of grumpy (Finn)/sunshine (Lavender) which is one of my favorite pairings. However, I didn't feel the chemistry between Finn & Lavender. It felt like it was written to be more of a fiction than a romance.

It may not have been my favorite book by this author, but I enjoyed it for what it was and will continue to look forward to future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson didn't unfortunately fulfill my expectations.

I really liked the premise, of script writer and an actress, and one of my favorite trope enemies to lovers.
It had so much potential, I am really very sorry it didn't work out for me.

I found the writing style not to my liking at all, too jumbled, somehow rushed and unecessary all over the place.
I had a feeling that the author was trying to say too much too fast.
There were also too many irrelevant details.
I just couldn't enjoy it and I dnf it very early on.

If you're looking for a fun read that has slightly unrealistic characters in wildly unrealistic scenarios, this is the book for you. I typically enjoy either hyperrealistic or completely outrageous fiction, but this one swept me off of my feet. It's charming in its dialogue, sincere in its purpose, and delightful in its plot develoment. The characters were both a bit hard to imagine as people in real life, but somehow that made me love them even more! I don't want to call it a beach read because that can seem reductive, but it is exactly that: the kind of book that you want to inhale in a single, sun-filled day at the beach. You want to wiggle your toes in the sand and immerse yourself in their SoCal world because sometimes we all just need a little break from the predictability of daily living. This text provides the perfect antidote for that & I can think of no better place to read it than in a location than snuggled up under a beach tent!

Finn and Lavender were adorable! I loved how he protected her and respected her. This was not a true enemies to lovers and it was very adorable!

“I will plot a payback.”

I fell in love with Melissa Ferguson’s writing when I read Famous for a Living. Her sweet, closed door romances are just the kind of stories I want to read. How To Plot A Payback definitely fit the bill, although I would say it took a long time for the romance to develop in this one. It’s definitely a slow burn kind of romance.

My favorite part of the book were all the Shakespeare references scattered throughout. I listened to the audio, but I wish I had read the physical copy, because the accents felt forced to me.

Read if you like:
Closed Door romances
Grumpy/sunshine
Slow burn romance
Shakespeare references

I've loved some of Melissa's books in the past but I felt like this one didn't that much up to the hype.
The writing was great as usual but Hollywood romances have always been a hit or miss for me.

The chemistry between the main characters was really amazing! They had this silly banter which was the best part of the plot.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very quick read and it’s cute and funny, but it was not my favorite. The concept was great: guy has a list of “grievances” where the girl has made his life difficult or hurt him in some way, they end up working together, and he conspires to get back at her and make her life difficult as well. The execution was just not great. The FMC, Lavender, came off as childish and out of touch with reality (but not in a cute way), and the MMC, Finn, came across as petty and childish as well. I remember thinking, “these people are both adults, right? There’s no way they’re acting like this!” Lavender needed to stop living with her head in the clouds and come back to reality, and Finn needed to grow up and take some responsibility for his actions. They really frustrated me!

The side plots and characters were the best part of the book: I loved the concept of the TV shows the characters were involved with, and I loved Finn’s elderly neighbors and his dog. I did also enjoy the ending and how Finn worked really hard to have everything work out well for Lavender. Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to save the book for me 🤷🏼‍♀️

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read before pub day! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. HOW TO PLOT A PAYBACK is out now!

I’m a huge Melissa Ferguson fan and always find her books to be cute, funny rom coms. And How to Plot a Payback hit the mark.

I thought the premise was funny, and Finn’s “revenge” was hilarious because he’s just too nice. And Lavender was truly one of the sweetest characters ever.

By the end, I adored them both. But I wasn’t connected to either of them really until 50% in the book.

Also, I listened to the audiobook and the male narrator’s voice for the show exec (I forgot his name already) sounded like Ben Affleck as Batman. And that isn’t a compliment 😅

Either way, I think this one is worth a shot. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the gifted audiobook and e-book!

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful, light-hearted Rom-Com that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was a story I didn’t even know I needed. I read one review for How to Plot a Payback that said this Rom-Com is more Com than Rom, and I agree. This story had me chuckling the whole time. I may have even guffawed out loud once or twice, too. Life has been rather hard lately, and I desperately needed the comedy this story brings. I enjoyed many aspects to this story, but it’s the characters I loved the most. Lavender is a total sunshine personality, and I fully needed her brightness, her joy for life, and her ability to see the good in every person and every situation. Lavender’s character made me feel hopeful and happy. She is the breathe of fresh air I needed this week. Finn is a unique hero because for most of the story he is the anti-hero. Finn’s anti-hero-ness is what makes a lot of this story so funny. Nothing works out for him. He reminds me of Coyote from the classic Roadrunner and Coyote skits from Looney Tunes. I read in some reviews that readers found Finn petty, but I disagree. Finn is frustrated, and for once he just wants his life to go the way he plans. But Lavender keeps unknowingly messing up Finn’s life in BIG ways. After years of this, Finn has become a little obsessed. His reasoning has snapped where Lavender is concerned. Should he be an adult and let bygones be bygones? Sure, but that’s the problem. As soon as he moves on, Lavender strikes again. It is enough to drive him a tad mad, and it’s in these moments that the hilarity ensues. Does Finn grow up and get over himself? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out. But I can assure you this story ends perfectly.

How to Plot a Payback is a great Rom-Com that I highly recommend. If you’re in the mood to laugh, if you need a silly, delightful escape from our exhausting world, or if you just want a light-hearted read that will make you smile the whole time, then pick up a copy of this story today. You won’t be disappointed you did!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this cute rom-com about Finn and Lavender. I liked the premise of how Lavender is the arch nemesis of Finn's life and now he finally has the chance for a payback. Of course things go sideways quickly and there are plenty of mix-ups and while Finn would love to blame it all on Lavender, he is starting to realize he may have judged her wrong from the start. This story is full of high-jinx and laughs and Finn and Lavender are characters that you will cheer for. Thank you #NetGalley for my ARC.

How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson is the story of talented screenwriter Finn Masters who finally has the opportunity to seek revenge on starlet Lavender Rhoades. However, Lavender has no idea that she has ruined Finn's life multiple times. Ferguson brings humor to this proximity romance that will leave readers laughing out loud while furiously flipping pages.

Melissa Ferguson’s Stories are so cute and How to Plot a Payback is no different! This story follows Finn and Lavender, Finn is seeking to payback Lavender who has seemingly foiled all of his life’s aspirations since secondary school. His payback does not go off as planned but the story that follows is both heartwarming and fun! This story flowed nicely making it an easy, quick read. The characters were witty and enjoyable with non-repetitive dialogue. I’ll definitely be reading more from Melissa.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC.

Finn Masters has landed his dream job on the hit show Neighbors, but there’s one issue—the show stars, Lavender Rhodes, who has unknowingly been ruining his life since high school. Finn decides to plot a payback, which of course is bound to backfire!

I really enjoyed this heartwarming and fun read, and it delivers all the rom-com vibes! I liked both main protagonists and their relationship development throughout the novel, and well as the TV-set backdrop to the story. Overall, this is perfect for a lighthearted, enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Uplit Reads, and Thomas Nelson for my gifted copy!

I love Melissa Ferguson's books, they are just a feel good delight to read. How to Plot a Payback lives up to her reputation and my expectations.

This story is full of loveable characters, including furry ones, and witty comedic moments. A perfect romcom.