The narrator was good. The plot was basic but still fun to listen to. The relationship got cuter as time went on but in the beginning it sucked.

Well, that was a very adorable book! The dual perspectives are easy to keep track of the back stories of the characters were developed very well. I found the ending to be very unique in the plot twist not the romance part. It’s always fun to read enemies to lover story, especially when the enemies are one sided.

This story was a fun look at what goes on behind-the-scenes of TV-making as Finn (the writer) tries to get payback for what Lavender (the actress) has done to him. With all the dogs, grandparents, and show-biz rush, it could only be called zany. The romance felt a bit rushed to me. One minute Finn thinks his nemesis is Lavender and the next they're confessing their love.
Except for the publisher being Thomas Nelson, there is nothing to differentiate this as Christian fiction. There's zero mention of God or faith and no faith thread. This is very disappointing to me because those books that do have a strong faith thread always leave me encouraged and strengthened in my own faith whereas this one was merely clean entertainment (no language, no explicit scenes).

I received an ALC of this book for free. All opinions are my own.

As someone who doesn't usually reach out for romance sit com books I couldn't help but be interested in this one.

I really enjoyed this book both Finn and Lavender were hilarious characters and constantly bumping into each other creating schemes that are comically backfiring.

This was a great will they won't they dynamic as you could just see the chemistry between them and it worked so naturally

This book read like your typical low budget romance. All of the romance tropes (forced proximity, enemies to lovers, grumpy and sunshine) were present and made it incredibly predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review.
This book was just okay for me. Not one that I’ll tell people is bad but also not really one I’ll remember

I loved Melissa Ferguson’s Meet Me in the Margins, so I knew I had to read How to Plot a Payback when it came out.

Ok, so I didn’t read, I listened. I love a good audiobook, and this one was so fast-paced and witty that I couldn’t take my ear buds out. Dual POVs are my favorite (both to read and to write), and both narrators here sounded exactly like I thought the characters would in my mind.

In this utterly delightful and laugh-out-loud funny novel, screenwriter Finn Masters thinks he’s finally caught a break landing a dream job writing for the hit sitcom Neighbors. But his joy is tempered by one major downside – he’ll be working alongside Lavender Rhodes, the show’s effervescently charming star who has unwittingly been his personal nemesis since childhood.

With impeccable comedic timing, Ferguson created a riotous will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic as Finn tries to plot his revenge by shaking up Lavender’s sickeningly sweet on-screen persona.

What ensues is a masterclass in romantic comedy as Finn’s hilarious schemes comically backfire, forcing him to re-evaluate his long-held grudge against his old friend. The banter between the two sparring leads is whip-smart and endlessly entertaining. But it’s the tenderly moving moments that reveal their unmistakable chemistry that will keep you rooting for them in the end.

This witty yet deeply heartwarming tale of old wounds and second chances is simply unputdownable. An absolute must-read for fans of classic romcoms!

How to Plot a Payback - this was a light, fluffy listen/read. I really enjoyed the narrator. Not my favorite audiobook I’ve received this year- I think I might have reading the book better. I’ll be giving that a try. Right now, a solid 3-star for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Collins Christian Publishing|Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC copy of this title.

If you are looking for a light and fun read, How to Plot a Payback is a great choice. The storyline isn't too deep, the cadence of the narrators is fun and funny. This audiobook is a perfect palate cleanser between heavier books. Melissa Ferguson knows how to keep reading a joy.

"How to Plot a Payback" was well-written with funny moments. The main characters were sweet, and the narrators did a great job of bringing them to life.

Finn Masters had gotten his dream job, writing for a hit show in Hollywood. The only downside? His arch nemesis Lavender Rhodes is the star of the show. She has been ruining his life since they were in school together and doesn’t even know it. But he won’t let this stop him, he even sees it as an opportunity to get his payback on Lavender. As his plans backfire on him he is forced to reevaluate his opinion on Lavender.

I found this book to be so cute and sweet. The premise is nice and not something I’ve read before. All the “plotting” and subsequent backfiring of them were funny. Overall I enjoyed this lighthearted easy read. The narrators were enjoyable to listen to and I would definitely read another book by this author.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Netgally and the Author for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

I really loved the inner monologue of the main character. The angst. The story-telling. The behind-the-scenes reasoning for his thoughts and actions. It was a great title and I laughed all the way through it!

⭐⭐💫 2.5 starts. This was a silly revenge-filled but lighthearted romance about an actress and a sitcom writer who's paths have crossed for decades. It was a little slow for me, I think I would have liked to get to know the characters a little deeper. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a gentle quirky romance.

🧼 squeaky clean romance

Read if you like:
•Enemies to Lovers
•Second Chance
•Sunny vs grumpy
•Office romance

What a delightful, heartwarming, witty story! I loved reading this book and loved even more listening to it! This was so entertaining! The two actors enhanced this already delightful story with their portrayal of Finn and Lavender (along with the supporting cast).

What I loved most was Finn and Lavender's realization of what their shortcomings were and their willingness to change for the better. Of course, the revenge story with a twist was great as was the snarky dialogue, the great supporting cast (including adorable dogs), and a heartwarming love story. Finn is now officially one of my favorite leading men. What a sweetie! And the ending is so, SO perfectly satisfying and brilliant!

Rated PG. No profanity and no sex.

Finn Masters has just landed the job of lifetime as a screenwriter for the hit show Neighbors. The only downside, the star of the show is the girl who has ruined his life in many ways since high school. Now in close proximity Finn has the chance to get his payback against Lavender Rhodes. But when plans don't go as expected, Finn learns that getting revenge is harder than it looks.

This book was really cute and I enjoyed this storyline. The paybacks that Finn tried to make happen were comical and I found myself laughing out loud. I did find the beginning of this story a little slow but it did pick up about halfway through. Overall this was a cute read and I really liked the dual POV and dual narration on the audiobook

I enjoyed this book and it kept me entertained, however when I finished it, I also felt like nothing extremely remarkable happened in it. It just was. That being said I like the enemies to lovers trope and ever since 30 Rock came out I like a behind the scenes look at television writers. So that storyline kept me interested through the book. And sadly that is about all I have to say for it. There were about 2 chapters in the middle that I truly enjoyed where the main characters watch the Tv show they are on/write for with some elderly neighbors, but those interactions just didn’t last long enough for me.

How to Plot a Payback follows a couple who have been crossing paths repeatedly, despite one of them not realizing. They both find themselves working on a show which is reminiscent of 'Friends.' It's a fun, opposite's attract story, where Lavender Rhodes does not realize she has been repeatedly derailing Finn Master's life.

There are many assumptions made by both of the main characters about how the other moves through life, and the fun of the book is unraveling those assumptions and seeing things from alternate perspectives. The scenarios the protagonists find themselves in, while likely not relatable to the average person, are highly amusing.

I was lucky enough to review this book in audiobook format. The narration, by Fiona Hardingham and Steve West, alternates based on the point of view. I found both narrators to be clear and engaging.

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson and HaperCollins Christian Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of How to Plot a Payback.

Unfortunately this just didn’t keep my attention. I found myself zoning out and not knowing (or caring) what was going on. I’m so bummed but it is what it is! Thank you for this ARC.

This book was a "No" for me. I listened to it on audio and I hated the narrator. I couldn't get past how winey he made the MMC. I didn't love the plot either. It was rather boring.

This was a very funny, cute, fluffy read. Ultimately it felt a little light on the romance front, but it was still engaging end entertaining and I loved the characters! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good, low stakes comedy with a side of romance,