Thank you to NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Had a great time with this story! It was easy, quick and honestly funny at times.

This book was a fun, quick read! Overall, I thought the book was really funny, quick paced, and sweet. I really liked Finn's character and how he was still such a caring person, even though he was characterized as the grumpy writer. I do wish we had gotten a little more of Finn and lavender"s romance! For a romcom book, I thought this book leaned heavily into the comedy aspect, which made it a really fun and different read from most romances!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and Melissa Fergusson.

I really enjoyed this especially since there is actually a show called “Neigbours” in Australia that is similar to that in the book.

I found it to be engaging, and funny!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for my advanced copy of How to Plot a Payback on Audio.

This book surprised me and I enjoyed it more than I anticipated.

Finn Masters has landed his dream job writing for a popular and long-running sitcom. There's just one little problem: the sitcom star is his schoolmate and long-standing nemesis Lavender Rhodes. Finn has met with a series of disappointments throughout his life and most have been in one way or another caused by Lavender. He decides he can serve justice for all of his misfortunes by plotting a payback towards Lavender. Unfortunately, his plotting isn't working, and as much as he's trying to avoid Lavender he keeps being forced to spend time with her, and quite possibly, she may not be the person he has made her out to be.

It's witty and fun with a dual POV. There are dogs, dog park outings, and Saturday dinners and movies with the fun senior citizen crew. You'll get a sneak peek into screenwriting and behind-the-scenes filming, which is fun!

The main characters are British and the dual readers both have great British accents. The audio was well done and entertaining.

This is a closed door contemporary romcom with dual PoVs and 2 narrators for the audiobook. There is definitely more comedic content than romance in my opinion.

I enjoyed both of the narrators' interpretations of the characters. I appreciated the English accents that were used, although it want until later in the story that I realized why they were there.

It wasn't until I was 40 percent in to the book for me to find the actual plot. There was quite a bit of time spent with dogs in the beginning setting up later events. I dound myself wondering where the story was going or when.

Once some actual action started taking place, sometimes I felt that the main male character was behaving like a child. I think maybe if I'd been able more invested by the time the stroy took off, I would have felt differently.

I'll give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A childhood nemesis, we all had one! The difference is, we probably got over them and Finn did not. Who could blame him when she keeps popping back in at the most inopportune moments and continues to wreak havoc in his life. There was a lot to laugh about and enjoy in this one. I also loved that he took her best interest to heart there at the end and really proved how much he truly cared about her both as a person and her career.

What a fun story about plotting payback on your “nemesis” that ends up backfiring tremendously.

Finn Masters is a successful screenwriter who lands a job writing for one of Hollywood’s highest-rated, longest-running sitcoms. However, the star of the show is his nemesis, Lavender Rhodes, whom he loathes and believes absolutely ruined his life. Lavender, on the other hand, has absolutely ZERO idea that she caused any turmoil in his life, and thinks they’re old friends and that everything’s perfectly fine between them. Finn decides he wants to get revenge on her, and starts trying to sabotage this show and her character, which ultimately results in the opposite of what he wants. He also reluctantly starts to learn over time that maybe Lavender isn’t actually that bad, and he might even be falling for her, which he NEVER thought he would do.

Overall, I thought Finn absolutely hating Lavender but struggling to find reasons to do so because of how oblivious and nice she is was hilarious. Also there were some beloved dogs in this story, which I’m always a sucker for.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for giving me access to an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

cute romance story. Loved the grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers tropes. Such a fun read/listen for me!

Fun, fun story! Finn is low-key hilarious, and Lavender is so clueless she's funny.

Finn Masters has been working as a screen-writer for one of the most successful dramas on TV (think "Murder She Wrote" or NCIS) but when he's offered a new job as executive producer of the longest running, most popular IN THE WORLD sit-com, "Neighbors" he's willing to walk out - no notice - and take the job. Everyone needs a new challenge sometimes, right? The worst thing he sees on the horizon is having to tolerate the show's much-loved star, Lavender Rhodes. Lavender has been a thorn in his side ever since she left the stage trapdoor open during their high school production of Midsummer Night's Dream, causing him to fall and shatter his ankle. He was playing Puck, and she was his understudy. He spent the play in the hospital, and she was discovered by a Hollywood agent. Thus began the list of "Lavender's Transgressions Against Finn Masters."

As producer of the show Lavender is starring in, Finn sees an opportunity to pay Lavender back for all of the things she has caused to go haywire in his life. Unfortunately, everything he tries either turns into something good for Lavender, or something so bad that he feels guilty. When she discovers she lives near him, she begins trying to figure out why he's always so cold to her. Everyone else loves her. Why not him?

Can these two find a middle ground between friend and enemy, and if they do, will they see that they have more in common than they thought?

Melissa Ferguson always makes me laugh. I've read other books she's written and enjoyed each one. I listened to this one which was especially great. Hearing those London accents helped me "see" the characters, too.

Readers who enjoy romantic comedies will love this one. I highly recommend the audio version, but the written version is equally fun.

I'm so glad I had this on audio! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ALC of How to Plot a Payback. This book is written with emotion and it hits so much harder when I'm able to hear the emotion as well.

Finn Masters finds Lavender Rhodes to be the bane of his existence and catalyst to all negativity in his life. Accepting his dream job, however, puts him directly in her path once again and he braces himself for all sorts of misfortune to befall him. Ferguson does a phenomenal job of showing the growth of a person who finds that everything they've believed to be true might be only one side of the story. I felt that Lavender was a representation of things versus a fully formed character, and I struggled to connect with when Finn's feelings changed and why. Finn's growth as a character held the story for me more than the romance. Again, I'm so glad I had the audio copy of this, as I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed it as much otherwise.

Absolute perfection. Melissa took some of my favorite things and put them into a story. I know this wasn’t written FOR me, but it was. Sitcoms, “murder shows”, British main characters, a sort of second chance for love, a little enemies to lovers (but not really), dogs, no third act breakup, no miscommunication problems, I loved every second. FIVE STARS. The audio is so fun to listen to and both narrators did a fantastic job!

I had a hard time connecting to the MMC the first couple chapters that were from his point of view. However, once the story really got going, I kind of fell in love with it. I absolutely adore the FMC. I kind of wish I had her Rosie outlook on life lol. There is zero spice in this story, but the plot doesn’t need it so I didn’t mind. We’re looking for a nice fluffy easy listen, this one’s your go to.

Although I think this book should've been under contemporary fiction (as it contains little to no romance) I had a good time reading it:) The revenge plotline was very well executed and the narrative style is more funny than it has any right to be. Just wish it had more romance though!!

How to Plot a Payback - Melissa Ferguson 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

☀️Grumpy/Sunshine
♥️Enemies (one sided) to lovers
🤩Celebrity
💋Kissing only

This book was so fun!

Synopsis: Finn Masters lands a dream job producing THE top Hollywood sitcom. The only issue is his biggest rival, Lavender Rose, is the show’s leading lady. Finn and Lavender were school fellows in England until Lavender ruined Finn’s shot at stardom. Since their childhood, she has repeatedly ruined his life. Now Finn wants revenge and he’s going to use his new job as a means to take it.

Review: Hilarity ensues— and I mean it. This book was so funny! The ways Lavender has gotten in Finn’s way are comical and his “payback” is always clever. The romance is written so well, one can’t help but root for them.

A quirky set of side characters round out the book and makes it a quick, easy, enjoyable read!

The audiobook was great. I’m always a sucker for British accents in an audiobook. This book was an easy listen!

Finn Masters blames every significant setback in his life on his childhood rival, Lavender Rhodes. As an accomplished screenwriter, he's brought on board to inject fresh ideas into the long-running, immensely popular sitcom "Neighbors." However, there's a major hurdle: the show's star happens to be Lavender Rhodes.

To be honest, it took me a while to immerse myself in the story. Initially, neither of the main characters grabbed my attention, and the storyline didn't quite captivate me. However, as the narrative unfolded, I found myself enjoying it more.

Dogs play a pivotal role in "How to Plot a Payback," and I'm all for it!

Although this novel is categorized as Christian Fiction, it could easily fit into general chick lit or romantic comedy. While it's undeniably a clean romance, it lacks elements that would categorize it solely as Christian Fiction.

I listened to the audiobook and found the narration engaging, particularly given that the two main characters are British.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ALC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this book! Definitely slow burn. I enjoyed the banter! I am excited to read more by this author. Exclamation, I really like the characters my thought it was really nice characters development. I will be honest. I did almost give up on this book because I thought lavender was a bit annoying but I’m glad I suck it out because I really end up liking her in the end and I think that that’s all because of the way that fan viewed her and it was all about the narration that we got from him and how some characters could be unreliable narrator. I really like this book ❤️

The premise was entertaining but also a little unrealistic, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Think British Jennifer Aniston (while filming Friends)falling for former nemesis turned show producer from her small home town…. It’s a lot, in a good way. Zero spice but plenty of banter and even a few comical moments.

Honestly I did not love the narration on this and could get past the first 4 chapters. I did however borrow this book and read it. I liked the story but would not recommend as an audiobook.

How to Plot a Payback was a fun, lighthearted little romcom for anyone looking for a low-stakes summer read. The narrators were great and a phenomenal fit for the main characters. My only complaint was that the pacing was a bit off, but it hit its mark and definitely a recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this advanced audiobook copy.

What to Expect:

🎬 Workplace romance
☀️ Grumpy-Sunshine
😈 Revenge Gone Wrong
📺 Sitcom screenwriter x lead actress
⭐️ Hollywood behind the scenes
👩‍❤️‍👨 Enemies to Lovers
🐶 Mentions a Dog
🚪 Closed Door
🎧 Dual audiobook narrators

Finn Masters is a screenwriter that just landed a dream gig as a writer for a popular sitcom television show but there is one detail that has him less than thrilled about this new opportunity. What could have him so worked up? The star actress of the show is Lavender Rhodes. Lavender Rhodes has been the one single cause to all o this misfortunes since he was a teenager. Finn has vows get revenge on all the “bad luck” caused by Lavender and that is when he decides to plot a payback… but will it work?

I absolutely adored Meet Me in The Margins by Melissa Ferguson and How to Plot a Payback was just as enjoyable! I read a review saying this book was as if You’ve Got Mail and Friends were mashed together and let me tell you, it was a perfect description! Finn and Lavender may have grown up in the same place, but they are total opposites— Finn has an old fashioned, gentlemen’s soul while Lavender is a bit more charismatic. Their back and forth interactions will have you laughing at times and swooning at others to make this an over all warm and fuzzy romcom! The icing to the How to Plot a Payback experience was the audiobook narration! Fiona Hardingham and Steve West executed the MC’s of Finn and Lavender so well, I was sucked into the story from the start.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Melissa Ferguson for the ALC of How to Plot a Payback! All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.