3.75 ⭐️ This was a cute, wholesome, no spice romance. I enjoyed the chemistry between Bryony and Jack and the familial relationship between Bryony and Gloria. I also enjoyed the different cast of side characters. Amelia was a good (read: very irritating) adversary. I felt the beginning was too slow and at certain points I felt like our FMC was too smart to be as naive as she was acting, but once the actual storyline picked up, it was a quite enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up, because I just absolutely loved Jack. He’s the hero of heroes in this book and what makes it so likeable. I got total Two Weeks Notice vibes with Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock, just the constant banter back and forth. The banter was the best part of it all between the two, and we love a man who pines after a woman! It was an excellent ending with an amazing scene!
There were some things that could’ve made this book better. Melissa’s writing is fantastic and witty which I absolutely love, but I would’ve loved to have had Jack’s POV as he’s such a loveable character. Also more building on the actual romance side of things, and less focusing on the monologues about other things. Otherwise, amazing story!

Top moments:
📚 The first meeting
📚 Serghei’s dislike of Jack
📚 The banter at dinner
📚 The first date & kiss
📚 The Pin Pals
📚 “Make me your muse”
📚 Coffee table dancing
📚 Penny highlighting


(Posting on Instagram stories too which will be highlighted)

4.25⭐️ | 1🌶️

If you love books about books, publishing, and all the chaos that comes with them, The Perfect Rom-Com is an absolute treat! It’s heartwarming, funny, and unexpectedly inspiring—kind of like a rom-com with a double shot of ambition and a side of self-discovery.

Bryony’s journey had me completely hooked. She’s determined, hardworking, and occasionally a bit of a mess (relatable, right?). Her moments of overthinking were both hilarious and painfully accurate—I wanted to jump into the story just to give her a hug and tell her to breathe.

Now, let’s talk romance! Bryony and Jack’s dynamic was adorable and filled with the kind of witty banter that keeps you grinning. Their chemistry was there, but I couldn’t help but wish their romance had been given more space to shine. It had all the makings of a swoon-worthy love story, but it felt more like a subplot than the main event. Still, their evolution from colleagues to something more was fun to watch unfold.

The behind-the-scenes look at ghostwriting was a highlight! Seeing Bryony navigate the publishing world, dealing with a larger-than-life (and completely clueless) socialite author, was both eye-opening and wildly entertaining. It had me wondering just how many bestsellers are secretly written by someone else.

Overall, The Perfect Rom-Com is a feel-good, slow-burn read with a unique premise and an endearing cast of characters. While it leans more toward chick-lit than romance, it’s still a delightful listen, perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea. If you love stories about writers, second chances, and finding your voice (both on and off the page), this one’s worth checking out!

REVIEW: The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
2.5 stars

The Perfect Rom-Com focuses on Bryony, a writer and ESL teacher, and Jack, the writing agent. Bryony wants to publish her book more than anything, but she starts ghostwriting for a famous romance author from a connection through Jack. I liked the plot around an agent and ghostwriter. Ghostwriters are not typically in books, so it was a nice, unique premise.
There is a lot of focus on rom-coms, which is great for fans of the genre. The grand gesture at the end was also an excellent moment for the characters and satisfied me.

Unfortunately, a lot of The Perfect Rom-Com didn't do it for me. First, I wouldn't call this book a rom-com; it's more of a women's literature book. There were only a few funnier parts, and the romance didn't start until almost halfway through the book. The beginning was very slow, and not much was going on. Some unnecessary characters (Parker) didn't play much into the story. There was also an odd time jump at the beginning, where they went from enemies to friends right after the jump. I would love to hear from them about how they became friends. Lastly, I really wanted to develop a better relationship between Bryony and Jack. Their relationship started super slowly, and they were suddenly profoundly in love. I wanted to know more about how their relationship changed and the little sparks back and forth.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of a ghostwriter and agent, but The Perfect Rom-Com didn't quite do it for me. I just wanted to focus more on Bryony's and Jack's relationship and how it evolved.

Thank you, Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

A light reading that you can read to entertain yourself. This is my first Melissa Ferguson and I found it enjoyable. It's funny and romantic but not that cringe.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bryony Page is an aspiring author with a dream, a dream to get her manuscript published, raise awareness (and funds!) for her grandmother’s ESL program, and, just maybe, become a big-time novelist.

But publishing is brutal, and after a pitching disaster at a writers' conference, things are looking… bleak.

Enter: A twist straight out of a rom-com, Bryony stumbles into accidentally correcting a bestselling author’s manuscript in front of a major agent (oops?), proving she’s got serious skills. Before she knows it, she’s given a chance to ghostwrite for Amelia Benedict, a rom-com queen whose name is everywhere (even if her latest books could use… some work).

At first, Bryony is thrilled…a foot in the door is a foot in the door, right? But soon, she realises she’s not just a ghostwriter; she’s the ghostwriter, the secret talent behind Amelia’s meteoric rise.

And the worst part?

Her own book deal is still on the back burner while Amelia’s career skyrockets.

The only thing keeping her sane? Jack Sterling, the charming literary agent who sees her talent, her potential… and maybe her in a way no one else ever has.

But when the truth about Amelia’s books threatens to come out, will Bryony get her own happily ever after, or is she doomed to be the invisible writer behind someone else’s success?

What Makes This Book Shine?

-A Rom-Com for Book Lovers – If you love romance novels about romance novels, this one is chef’s kiss perfection. It’s got publishing world chaos, ghostwriting drama, and an inside look at the highs and lows of the industry. (Bonus points for all the little nods to the book world—agents, queries, and the sheer agony of trying to get published. Writers, you’ll relate.)

-Bryony is a Delight – She’s funny, smart, and painfully relatable (who among us hasn’t daydreamed about publishing success while questioning every life choice?). Her journey from eager newbie to frustrated ghostwriter is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.

-Jack Sterling = Literary Boyfriend Goals – A book-loving, supportive (swoon) literary agent who actually believes in Bryony’s work? Yes, please. Their slow-burn romance is the kind that has you grinning like an idiot.

-The Humour is Spot-On – Melissa Ferguson nails the rom-com vibes with sharp dialogue, ridiculous but totally plausible publishing mishaps, and pitch-perfect comedic timing.



What Could Have Been Better?

-A Bit Predictable – If you read a lot of rom-coms, you’ll probably see the big moments coming (but honestly, that’s part of the charm!). It follows a classic structure, but the journey is so much fun that you won’t mind.

-Some Side Characters Felt Underdeveloped – Amelia Benedict (aka The Worst Boss Ever) is fun to hate, but she sometimes comes off as a little too over-the-top, and I would’ve loved a bit more nuance in her character.

-More Publishing Shenanigans, Please! – The book almost gets into the gritty reality of ghostwriting and the publishing world, but it leans more into the rom-com fluff than industry deep-dive (which, fair—it is a rom-com). But if you were hoping for an Emily Henry-style look at publishing politics, you might find it a bit surface-level.



Is It Worth the Read?

If you love:

✔ Witty, bookish romance (*think: Beach Read, Book Lovers, The Roughest Draft)
✔ Publishing industry drama with a lighthearted twist
✔ Strong, relatable heroines who fight for their dreams
✔ Slow-burn romance with a supportive, swoony book boyfriend

Then YES—The Perfect Rom-Com is exactly what you need.

📚𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝙘𝙤𝙢
Wow. I honestly don’t know where to start with this book. There is so much DEPTH to this multi-layered story.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝙘𝙤𝙢 is a slow burn, he falls first, workplace romance. BUT don’t let the title fool you into thinking it is a romcom in genre; it is not. Does it have funny moments? Yes, but this book is solid women’s fiction/chick lit. I believe the title is actually a play on what Byrony begins to pen as a ghostwriter.
It is told in single pov with a lot of inner monologues. We’re told more of the backstory of Bryony and Jack’s relationship rather than experiencing it with them. There is great banter and warmth between Bryony and Jack. It is FULL of lovable characters. It SHINES in how Bryony creates community and family with those that are usually marginalized (ie. the YEARS of ESL students, the PA, the bus driver, the hospital janitor). It touches briefly on grief. There is no language nor are the kisses descriptive.

Things I loved about it:
♥️ the absolute purity of Bryony’s heart
🎳 bowling league—especially the names
🫶🏻 ESL students—their backstories really brought them to life
💕 banter
🥰 Gloria and Albrecht—both made me laugh
📺 The comeuppance at the end
📖 the grand gesture
♥️ the epilogue

I really enjoyed this book even though it was not at all what I was expecting, and I would read it again. If you like stories with depth that make you think, make you laugh, and maybe even challenge the way you see the world, pick this one asap.

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

I love Melissa Ferguson’s books. I know I’ve only read two but I’m a forever fan. Not only are they funny (they are hilarious, actually), they are so well done.

This book has all the things I love in a romcom. Humor, heart, a wonderfully snarky MMC, a sweet and caring FMC who’s an ELS teacher turned ghostwriter. Along with moments that had me laughing so hard and smiling so big from the inner thoughts of Bryony.

I adored Bryony and Jack. Jack is so arrogant, it’s enjoyable. I loved how they knew each other. How they would know what the other was thinking. Ferguson’s descriptions are spot on. She even made me crave a tomato pie and I don’t even know what tomato pie is. I haven’t read a book about a ghostwriter before and I really enjoyed this plot line. (And of course the romantic tension between Jack and Bryony was also enjoyable.)

The story has a usual villain and the supporting characters are just as well done as Jack and Bryony. I can’t say my favorite moments for fear of spoilers but there were many.

The narrator does a perfect job expressing Ferguson’s words. Karissa Vacker’s tone was very well done on each character she portrayed. There are variety of accents too that are spot on.

I received a paperback and NetGalley approval for the audio and ebook from the publisher for your purposes. Huge thank you to Thomas Nelson.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a cute story about Bryony & Jack's relationship. The story starts with them meeting at a writing conference, then it jumps ahead 2 years later. Throughout the story, the readers are informed how their relationship grew into friendship, then more. Add plenty of characters to keep track of in this story, lots of self-reflection through Bryony's viewpoint, a little drama, a sprinkling of romance.
Thank you, #NetGalley & Thomas Nelson, for allowing me to read The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but if you're a romantic at heart & a book lover, then you'll enjoy this sweet story.

This was such an adorable read and I loved every moment of it! I’m a sucker for books about characters in the publishing industry and having a writer as well as an agent was just perfect!

I fell for Jack the moment he was on the page and he was such an incredibly sweet guy. I loved their banter and it had me laughing out loud multiple times. This was cute and warm and book full of heart!

This book is all I love about Melissa Ferguson. It's bookish and hilarious and the sweetest relationships with a great friendship character (sister in this case) hyping up FMC in the background. I loved the friendship and the evolution of these characters and while there's a lot of the book that was expected and you could see it coming, the characters, dialogue and a few twists made it totally worth it. The end was chefs kiss fun.

#arc
#netgalley
#theperfectromcom

This book had such a unique and intriguing premise—I don’t think I’ve ever come across a story that incorporates this concept before, so I was really excited to dive in. The setting was immersive, and I genuinely enjoyed the characters. Their banter was effortlessly fun, and I loved how natural and easy their dynamic felt.

However, as much as I liked the book, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, but I kept waiting for a certain spark or depth that never fully clicked for me. It wasn’t necessarily a disappointment—I still had a great time reading—but I just wanted more of something, whether it was emotional depth, higher stakes, or a stronger connection to the characters.

That being said, I still think it’s such a cool concept, and I’d love to see more books explore similar ideas!

This book was such a great read. The scene development was so amazing I was right there in every scene. The characters so relatable. I was rooting for Bryony tryout the brook. She was such a delightful character and I could see us being fast friends, she was that good!

I really loved the premise of this book. It was a great read from the first sentence straight through to the last one. I didn’t want the story to end.

I would highly recommend this book!

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

I've come to the conclusion that Ferguson isn't the author for me. The premise of the books sound good but then reading them the characters especially the heroines always sound and act younger than they are. And the geography of Nashville Tennessee feels a little off. I thought the premise of a ghost writer would be fun it was I just couldn't stand the heroine. My favorite part was Bryony teaching ESL because the library I work at has a good ESL program and I love seeing that in books. Ferguson's writing is good and her rom com's are hilarious it's just more on the younger end of adult ages for her characters that get to me. But if you like a good rom com and that doesn't bother most readers will love this one.

Bryony Page is an aspiring author, and an ESL Teacher hoping to save the organization where she works.
She meets Jake Sterling an agent at an event and later become a ghostwriter for Amelia
Bryony is gifted and the books she writes for Amelia are selling, but she wants to publish under her own name...

Bryony is fun, bold and a fighter, it was not always easy for her especially with Amelia's tamtrum but she persevered.

I like the plot, the story is fine and fun especially at the beginning.

3.5 stars

Thank you @uplitreads @ourfriendlyfarmhouse @thomasnelson for the #gifted copy!

💛 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 💛
This was a fun story to read - I enjoy reading books about authors and think it’s interesting if they are a ghostwriter! This gave some behind the scenes information on what that looks like and had me wondering who might have a ghostwriter out there! 👻

Bryony wants to get a novel published and gets an opportunity to be a ghostwriter for a popular romcom writer. Bryony agrees to the job as long as her agent Jack works to get her own book published. Meanwhile, Bryony’s romcom books take off in popularity and she’s become indispensable to her writing agency.. and her book agent!

The author Bryony has to work for was a hot mess and it made for some comedic moments with how little she did to learn about the books being written under her name!

The romance in this book is a slow burn, and more of the story focuses on Bryony’s journey and time as a ghostwriter! The ending surprised me at how everything turns out for Bryony, and it was a feel good story to read and cozy up with!

💛 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💛 Books About Authors
🧡 Ghostwriters
🧡 Closed Door Romance
💛 Agent/Writer Romance
💛 ESL Teacher

What a cute book! Let me start with the absolute best part: Bryony and Jack's banter! AH. I've been doing a lot of reading (for me at least) so far in 2025. However, I've been mostly disappointed with the banter I've been reading. That was NOT the case here. I LOVED the conversations, wit, and back and forth between the two main characters. I was squealing at times while I read it. I loved the book for their chemistry alone! That made me want to give it 5 stars!

I also was really engaged in the book. I was hooked trying to see what would happen with Bryony as she was a ghostwriter, how will she help her Gran's organization that she loves, and what will happen in her love life?!

That being said, my review became 4 stars, instead of 5, for a few reasons. Mainly because the end felt like a quick, and very unrealistic, not how I wanted it to go (but don't worry - still a happy ending! Just not the path I imagined in my head.) wrap up. The details seemed a bit far fetched to me and I think I wanted to get to the ending a different way than we did.

Additionally, although maybe minor, I definitely am one to judge a book by its cover. I LOVE the cover of this book. However, it (aside from the bus in the picture), did not fit the book to me. The book is more about Bryony writing the perfect rom-com than being the perfect rom-com (that the cover makes me think we're getting) between main characters. I still got a rom-com that I LOVED, but this was more of a subplot to Bryony's book journey as the main plot.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Overall, I really did enjoy it! Although I read it for free and digitally from NetGalley, I think I will eventually purchase my own physical copy of the book. I recommend reading it!

This was my first book by Melissa Ferguson and I admit that I’m a sucker for a cute cover, which was what drew me in to pick this book. But unfortunately I think I won’t be reading anymore books by her because this writing style is not something that appeals to me. There’s too much reminiscing, describing, inner monologues, telling instead of showing and not enough dialogue.

What was most disappointing of all is that this book didn’t live up to its title at all. I didn’t find it funny or romantic. Romance part was absolutely scarce and I would dare to say that this isn’t even a romance but women’s fiction.

Story fell very flat, predictable and I slowly began to lose my interest and had to basically push through till the end. I felt no chemistry or particular like or relatability to any of the characters.


*thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for the ebook via NetGalley

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with a copy of The Perfect Rom-Com in exchange for my honest opinion!
This book is a heart-squeezing, emotional journey that beautifully balances heartfelt romance with a powerful story of hope and change. I absolutely fell in love with Bryony Paige and her inspiring journey, as well as her grandmother’s legacy at The Bridge—a program nestled in the quiet corners of Florence, NY, dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees learn English and rebuild their lives. The hope and support radiating from this community truly moved me.
This story will make you cry in the best way, leaving you inspired to be the change you want to see in the world. And then there’s Jack Sterling—sunshine wrapped in a grumpy exterior. As a literary agent who is tough for all the right reasons, he became one of my favorite characters, showing that even the grumpiest facades can hide the kindest hearts.
This is one of the rare books I genuinely couldn’t put down (the only thing that stopped me from finishing it in a single day was my day job!). If you’re looking for a heartwarming, emotional story that lingers long after the last page, grab this book now! Read it, love it, and spread the word about this incredible author!

It's not often that I strongly dislike a book due to both character and plot, but The Perfect Rom-Com met both these criteria. IMHO, a 3 star rating is generous for this charmless book that is the antithesis of its title, but I stopped reading the book two-thirds of the way through and assume things somehow picked up with an HAE in the last one-third.

*This review may contain spoilers*

Bryony has written a book that is a mix of 4 different genres and the length of a Stephen King novel, which she pitches to a room full of literary agents- and then is legit shocked when she is rejected. Don't they know she's spent thousands of dollars chasing her dream? And it's sort of the true story of her grandmother, except for the magical realism part... Once Bryony comes back to reality, she decides her next best foot forward is to criticize the pitch of a well-known romance author. For reasons unknown, this impresses agent extraordinaire Jack Sterling who asks her to be a ghostwriter for said author's next romance book. Somehow Bryony finagles this offer into him paying her AND helping her sell the 700 page book which Jack absolutely skewered earlier that day.

This was such a strange opening of a book that I almost put it right back down. Like there's outlandish and there's 'give me things that would never happen' for $800.

Jump to two years later and Bryony is still ghostwriting for the well-known romance author and is completely miserable about it to anyone who will listen, including the author herself. There are strong female characters and then there are ones that are just entitled and whiny. Bryony is an elevated version of the latter- she is insufferable. I know there's supposed to be this cute enemies to lovers dynamic with Jack, but she's spent two years being a ghostwriter, and despite the fact that she is being paid to write- and making good money from it, from her own confessions- she feuds with the author she is supposed to be representing, is mad that somehow her unicorn book isn't published yet and has tantrums like a toddler whenever Jack- her boss- asks her to do something. Jack seems to have a soft spot for her however, as apparently some men just like infuriating, thankless women.

One such request is her going on tour with the author- which of course she despises. For reasons unknown, Jack comes with her to 'protect her' (seriously, is he a glutton for punishment? A secret masochist?). Sparks ensue. If I couldn't like her any less, while Bryony's getting her flirt on with Jack she has the audacity to be upset that her long distance boyfriend, who's mentioned twice in 100 pages, breaks up with her as he's been secretly seeing someone behind her back. No mourning time occurs before she starts falling for Jack. She literally goes on a date with him the next day. Where they kiss and he confesses his love for her. It's bizarre. There's no build to the relationship whatsoever.

The author tries to balance out Bryony's difficult personality with the fact that deep down she really is a good person- she's an ESL teacher and is the benefactor of an ESL school and she's really doing all of this for them and her grandmother- and just like a teensey bit for herself- so we can all forgive her obnoxious behaviour, ok? I can't make this stuff up.

Everything is hunky-dory for the completely unbelievable couple that is Jack and Bryony, that is until Bryony learns that Jack never sent her book (remember this plot point?) to an agent as he had promised. Without hearing him out or having an adult conversation, she leaves with the promise that she's going to show him when she finally sells her book. Oh and to get the 6 million dollars that her grandmother needs to save the school. This is when I stopped reading for the sake of my sanity.

I will end my review with one last note- if you are going to name a book 'The Perfect Rom-Com' it better be the swoon-worthiest sweetest and funniest romcom that I have ever read. This should have had a different title and marketed more as women's fiction/ chick lit.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.