The Perfect Rom-Com follows Bryony Page, an aspiring author who dreams of publishing her own book while also working to support her grandmother’s ESL organization. After a disastrous writers’ conference, she unexpectedly lands a job as a ghostwriter for bestselling author Amelia Benedict. Soon, Amelia becomes a literary sensation thanks to Bryony’s writing, and the Foundry Agency refuses to let her go. At the same time, literary agent Jack Sterling starts to realize that he doesn’t want to let Bryony go either—but their relationship is complicated by secrets and miscommunication.

Jack’s character really frustrated me. He was manipulative, lied, and used Bryony, which made it hard to root for their romance at times. Meanwhile, Bryony was almost too good—so kind and selfless that it was actually frustrating to see her being taken advantage of. I wanted her to stand up for herself more, especially when it came to Jack.

Despite that, I still enjoyed the book overall. It took me a little longer to get into the story than I usually like, but once I did, I appreciated the twists and the emotional depth. If you enjoy rom-coms with a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world, this one might be worth a read!

Okay, that was so cute! The witty banter, the tension, the humor, the annoying antagonist, the charming main characters, I loved it all!

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley for the ARC.

So cute!!! Ahhh!! I really enjoyed this one! I love Bryony and her determination for her book. I really enjoyed reading a book about the book industry. It's so hard for an author to be published and get the notoriety they deserve. The audiobook was a great listen too! Great, heartwarming read!!

*Thank you partner @uplitreads @ourfriendlyfarmhouse and @tnzfiction for the #gifted e-galley, paperback and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

This was such a cute, swoon worthy book. The MFC was relatable and had great one liners! The MMC was charming and irresistible! Once I was hooked, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down ❤️

The way this book held my attention… it was cute, funny, romantic, and everything I needed from a rom com - quite literally perfectly named. I highly recommend this book to fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers as it filled that part of my heart that’s been missing since reading it.

In The Perfect Rom-Com, Bryony Page is an aspiring author who attends her first writer's conference hoping to find an agent. She's written a story based on her grandmother's life and is hoping to release it and use the money she earns to save The Bridge, her grandmother's ESL program. However, it's entirely too long, not well written, has too many characters, and no one will touch it. So, Bryony decides to fight her way through. I found this story to be charming. I enjoyed learning the in's and out's of a writer's life, especially that of a ghostwriter. I found myself laughing out loud at certain points due to the witty banter between the two main characters and the quirkiness of Bryony. This story is easy to read and fun. I enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked the premise of the book but it just felt like something was missing. I wasn’t super invested in Bryony and Jack’s relationship, I feel like we needed more to really believe in or cheer for them. The “conflict” was way too stubborn and failure to communicate for me.

I do love that it was pure and sweet and no spice.

The general idea was awesome, just needed more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

So cute! A entertaining read for sure. What a charming rom-com about a ghostwriter. I don't know if this book is for me, but I will be recommending it to my rom-com friends!

The Perfect Rom-com is a cute, lighthearted story with charming moments and loveable characters. It was a bit predictable, but I think contemporary romance fans will enjoy it.

I’m a sucker for a good rom-com and this had everything a good rom-com needs! Humor, hot male crush, heartbreak, trials, and a happy ending! Bryony is an author dying to get her book published. After being turned down over and over again, book agent Josh gives her the opportunity to be a ghost writer. I loved the story and watching Bryony grow and find her voice! Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this super cute Rom-Com!

This was an enjoyable read (I also listened to the audiobook) and I liked the premise. I wish there was more development of Briony and Jack's friendship in the beginning and not a skip to 2 years forward. I liked Bryony and I had mixed feelings towards Jack. Overall, this book was cute and sweet.

This book was delightful from the beginning! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the pain of the publishing world! I loved the warmth the author created between her sister from the beginning! Loved the MMC, his character and the development of his hidden love for MFC was so moving and fun to watch! I loved this story!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the gifted book!

I've read almost all of Melissa's books and adore her as a person!

While this book was titled The Perfect Rom-Com and labeled as a romance, it was sadly lacking in the romance department in my opinion. I think this would have been almost better off if I went in expecting women's fiction/general fiction.

The plot was interesting enough and while I didn't necessarily want to DNF at any point, I just kept anticipating the connection between the two main characters, Byrony and Jack, and when it finally did come at the very end it was dissatisfying to me. I see what she was going for with the whole (overdone IMO) enemies to lovers trope, but all it seemed to accomplish here was turning Jack into a total jerk. You can't just treat someone terribly, call them names (the most annoying author in the world), lie to them constantly, and then have them fall in love with no real change and call it "enemies to lovers" and have it magically fix all the problems.

The other plot, which was really the main plot considering the romance was a secondary plot, also didn't end in a satisfying way to me. I think there was an attempt to tie it all up in a nice bow, but it just didn't seem sincere or realistic.

I'm sad this one didn't work for me and hope to enjoy her next book!

2.5 stars

I want to be perfectly clear when I say the only reason this book gets five stars is because Goodreads doesn't have any more stars.

The title says it all really. This is THE perfect rom-com. It's loosely based on Two Weeks Notice, which is one of my favorite films, and I love the subtle references to it throughout. It never felt overpowering though and never took away from my reading experience.

First of all, Bryony and Jack are amazing together. They have the best banter that continues even after they get together. From the very first moment you can tell that they are meant to be. This is an endgame couple. I love all the ways Jack secretly takes care of Bryony and does everything in his power to protect her from the publishing industry's evils. Also, no other grand gesture can top this one.

Beyond the romance, this book has so much more to offer. I'm so impressed by how Ferguson added all of this in such a short amount of pages. Bryony also teaches ESL (English as a Second Language), and it was so fun to see her interactions with her students. Additionally, Bryony is working to save the school because it has lost its funding. Those scenes at the school always made me so emotional.

In short, this book is my absolute favorite ever. Sorry to every other book. Also, please be warned that this book is dangerous as you will want to quit your job or drop out of school to stay home and binge this.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! From the very first page, Bryony and Jack’s dynamic had me hooked, and their journey together was heartwarming and entertaining.

Bryony Page is an ESL teacher with a dream - she wants to publish a novel inspired by her grandmother’s legacy and use the proceeds to save The Bridge (the ESL school her family has poured their hearts into). But the publishing world isn’t exactly welcoming to unknown authors with passion projects. When Bryony crashes a conference to pitch her book, she ends up with something unexpected: a ghostwriting job from literary agent Jack Sterling. Suddenly, she’s behind the scenes of a bestselling empire, watching someone else take credit for her work while struggling to keep her own dreams alive.

Jack and Bryony’s relationship is everything I love in a rom-com...banter that sparkles, undeniable chemistry, and a slow-burn romance that feels earned. Jack’s quiet support for Bryony, his belief in her talent even when she doubts herself, made my heart melt. The book tour chaos, the secret-keeping, and the growing tension all build toward a satisfying and emotional payoff.

If you love charming romances with humor, heart, and just the right amount of angst, this one is a must-read! The third-act conflict was a bit predictable, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this book. Definitely a feel-good rom-com worth picking up!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! 💕

The Perfect Rom-Com is an adorable story of an author coming into their own. It starts out slow but gets better the more you get into it. Its a fun. quick read that is sure to be enjoyed by many!

What a charming rom-com about a ghostwriter. I don't know if this book is for me, but I will be recommending it to my rom-com friends!

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

I really enjoyed parts of this book and really didn’t enjoy others. It was very up and down for me. I think the best way to review it might be to break it down into pros and cons. Just very cut and dry.

First, a little recap: This book follows aspiring author Briony Page as she aims to get her passion project novel published. Briony is full-time adult ESL teacher for The Bridge, a program where immigrants can learn English and get their GEDs. Unfortunately, The Bridge is struggling to stay funded and will close soon if nothing changes. Enter Jack. Jack is an agent who Briony queries at a writer’s conference to take her on as a client, and in the process, save The Bridge with her advance. While hesitant to take on her book, Jack does pick Briony up as a ghost writer for one of his most famous clients, Amelia Benedict. We follow Jack and Briony as they navigate the world of publishing while trying to save The Bridge and inevitably grow closer.

Ok. Pros: I really loved the story of the ESL students. The author pulled from her real-life experience as an ESL teacher, and some of the stories were just hilarious. These characters had so much heart and soul, and their love for Briony just leapt off the page. They were a shining light in this book, and I was so invested in seeing The Bridge saved. I loved Briony’s dedication to them and her willingness to try literally everything she could to make sure the program stayed open.

I also enjoyed the plotline of Briony as Amelia’s ghost writer. Amelia Benedict is easily one of the most infuriating characters I have ever read. She was heinously awful. The ending she got was so sweet and satisfying. I absolutely ate 👏 it 👏 up 👏, despite it being supremely unrealistic haha, but what do we read for if not suspension of disbelief. Amelia deserved every single thing she got. I love that Jack facilitated it, and finally, put Briony’s best interests first like he should’ve been doing for years as HER agent.

Now for the cons … in a book titled “The Perfect Rom-Com,” one would think that the romance aspect of the book would not fall into the cons category, but it — unfortunately — does. There really is no other way around it. The romance in this book sucked with a capital S. I actually think I preferred Briony and Jack as friends. There’s no build-up, no chemistry, no burn, no tension, no banter. Nothing about their relationship said to me that they should be together romantically. It just came off as two really good friends/coworkers.

Briony gets broken up with halfway through, Jack immediately asks her on a date, then bam, they’re together. I was actually thrown off by how quickly it happened, thinking I might have accidentally skipped a section of the book. I didn’t. It was really just that quick. Then, it immediately takes a backseat for the rest of the story. Jack royally screws up, and Briony dumps him for it. AS SHE SHOULD. What that man did was so beyond ridiculous, and there is absolutely no logical reason he couldn’t have been honest with her from the start. Yeah, sure, he fixes it, but if I were Briony, there is no way I would have forgiven him. NONE.

I am happy with the ending and with what happens to Briony and The Bridge. That was my favorite part of the book. It was so endearing and made me smile. They were a family. It was beautiful to read about it, especially knowing it was inspired by a similar program in real-life. It makes me happy to know that places like that still exist in this evil world.

This book has good bones, but, sadly, is not a perfect rom-com.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Ferguson, HarperCollins, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions stated are my own.

i love how melissa writes writers, it feels very raw and honest, equally having the bad and good of publishing, my issue with the book is that i felt like it was trying to do far too much in the amount of pages it had, similarly to bryony's novel, this could have cut at least one plot point to flow better, overall i enjoyed but sometimes was confused at the pacing and overlapping storylines

thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback!

Book ARC Review: The Perfect Rom-Com(✨📚)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Okay, BESTIES, let me tell you about this book, because I just finished it, and I’m straight-up OBSESSED. 😍 Bryony Page? My new literary icon. This girl is out here ghostwriting smash-hit novels while nobody knows her name, and I was screaming at the injustice the whole time. Like, girl, give her her flowers already! 🌸📖

The story kicks off with Bryony showing up at a writers’ conference all starry-eyed and hopeful 🥺✨, and honestly, same, because who hasn’t dreamed of their big break? Except, uh, her pitching session? Absolute chaos. I cringed, I laughed, and I wanted to crawl under the table for her. 😂 But then she accidentally flexes her editing skills on another author’s draft, and the agent is like, “Wait a minute, you’re a genius.” 👏✨ Cue Bryony signing up to ghostwrite for the ultimate rom-com diva, Amelia Benedict, who’s basically a walking bad vibes emoji at first. 🙄

The plot absolutely takes off when Bryony starts ghostwriting, and her books turn Amelia into a literary queen 👑📈. Millions of sales, bestseller lists, the WORKS. Meanwhile, Bryony is just chilling in the shadows like, “Hey, it’s fine, I’m fine…” (She’s NOT fine, BTW. 😩) Add Jack Sterling—the dreamboat literary agent who sees Bryony’s potential and maybe falls for her along the way—and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a swoony, dramatic, unputdownable read. 💕🔥

But this book isn’t just about romance (though the tension between Bryony and Jack? CHEF’S KISS. 😘). It’s also about ambition, knowing your worth, and fighting for your own spotlight when the world wants to keep you hidden. 🥊✨ Bryony’s passion for raising awareness for her grandma’s ESL program melted my heart, and her journey of self-discovery is one for the books. (Pun intended. 😂)

TL;DR: If you’re into books about underdog queens 👑, fake-it-till-you-make-it vibes 💪, and love stories that’ll have you grinning like an idiot 🥰, THIS. IS. IT. Go read it right now, and thank me later. 📚✨

Thank you to Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Netgalley for the gifted copy.