I absolutely devoured this book — I couldn’t put it down. I found myself deeply invested in her journey — I felt so much for her and was rooting for her every step of the way.
What made the story even more compelling was the way their connection was built on such a slow burn, filled with moments that were subtle yet powerful. Honestly, I found myself wishing it had been written from dual perspectives. Getting inside his head would have added such a rich layer to the story — I wanted to understand his thoughts, his motivations, what he was feeling in all those silent moments.

Right from the get-go, this book pulls you into a world brimming with longing, peril, and tangled emotions. The spark between the two main characters is off the charts—a slow-burn attraction that simmers below the surface and eventually boils over. But what truly sets this story apart isn’t just the crackling tension — it’s the emotional depth woven into every chapter that really hits home.

Unfortunately a DNF. I couldn’t get into this book and made it about 30% before I had to try something different

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. the cover itself gave m e strong emily henry vibes so i was looking forward to it the minute i downloaded. the friends to lovers romance was reminiscent of emhen and i was all in, especially with the ghostwriting trope,

This book is incorrectly marketed as a romance. It's a general fiction story about a woman and her journey in her career. The little romance that is there feels forced. I think they should've stayed friends.

This book was the cosy, optimistic and genuine read that I needed. Bryony and Jack's antagonism-turned-friendship was really well developed and I was charmed by their relationship as friends. It's also a fun homage to storytelling and the publishing industry. Even for people not inside that field, it's very relatable and, at times, hilarious. I also appreciated the subplot with The Bridge, where Bryony works as a teacher. Her interactions with the ESL students and immigrants were really empathetic and beautiful. Highly recommend!

I really wanted to like this; however, it did take a little longer to get into the storyline and I did find myself skimming the pages when i felt nothing was happening. I did finish but it took a while.
Received this book via NetGalley as an ARC, so thank you!

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and the complexities of chasing one’s dreams. Bryony Page, an aspiring author and dedicated ESL teacher, finds herself navigating the unpredictable world of publishing when she becomes a ghostwriter for the demanding Amelia Benedict. Her journey is further complicated by her evolving relationship with Jack, a literary agent who initially dismisses her manuscript but later becomes an integral part of her life.

Some readers have noted that the title might be a bit misleading, expecting a more traditional romantic comedy. However, the book’s strength lies in its character-driven plot and the realistic depiction of the protagonist’s journey. The inclusion of themes such as self-worth, perseverance, and the importance of staying true to oneself adds depth to the narrative.

In essence, The Perfect Rom-Com is a heartwarming tale that resonates with anyone who’s ever dared to dream big. It’s a testament to the idea that while the path to achieving one’s goals may be fraught with challenges, the journey itself is filled with invaluable lessons and unexpected joys.

I don’t think I would have even classified this as a romance. It’s mostly just a fiction with minimal romance. I feel like there was no focus on the connection between the two MCs. The first half of the book had me zoning out because of the slow plot. And then the random time jump realllllyyy threw me off.
Bryony seems really immature. And the entire friends to lovers felt very off. It’s ok if sometimes characters are just friends….

I wanted so badly to like this book. But it really just has too much going on

I always enjoy Melissa Ferguson books!

What I liked:
- always love books about books! In this case, Bryony’s evolution as an author was great to read, and I love the genre.
- family relationships are always important to me in books, and Bryony’s dedication to her grandmother and her legacy was heartwarming

What I didn’t like:
- villain was over the top at times!
- it wasn’t as romance focused as you would think from the cover and title, but more about Bryony’s writing journey

With a title like The Perfect Rom-Com, I was expecting something fun and full of those cute, feel-good moments that make you giggle and kick your feet. Sadly, that’s not what I got. The story was pretty slow, and honestly, not much really happened. For a romance, there wasn’t much actual romance, which left me confused given the title.
We barely got to know Jack, so it was hard to buy into the whole Jack and Bryony relationship. It just didn’t feel believable or developed enough. Overall, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I’m giving it 2.75 stars.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I have loved Melissa Ferguson’s work since “Meet Me In The Margins” and this did not disappoint. Set in the literary world, our main character is attempting to step out of the shadows of ghostwriting for a popular romance author and get her own book under her own name published. Despite being constantly told that her writing skills are lacking and navigating through the NDAs and contracts from her authors, Bryony continues to forge ahead. In spite of the mutual attraction she feels with the agent handling her deal.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[book:The Perfect Rom-Com|216052747] was indeed the perfect rom-com and I read it in one sitting, front to back! The story follows the relationship and emotional growth of Bryony and Jack, with a strong focus on Bryony’s personal development. I loved that the romance was PG-13 and not spicy, which allowed for a deeper focus on the characters’ emotional connection and growth. This made the romance feel much more lived-in, natural, and grounded.

Jack, the male main character, is an absolute swoon-worthy gem — truly worth protecting at all costs. His tenderness and devotion gave the story major "he falls first and hard" vibes, and I was completely here for it.

This book felt like a nostalgic throwback to a 2000s chick flick or rom-com, exploring themes like love conquers all and self-discovery. It was warm, witty, and emotionally satisfying.

The final 20% of the plot genuinely surprised me. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story took a turn that had me second-guessing everything and scanning for clues — in the best way. It was so refreshing to be pleasantly caught off guard. The ending tied everything together beautifully and left me feeling warm, content, and happy.

As for the audiobook narration — Karissa Vacker did an outstanding job. Her performance made it easy to distinguish between characters during dialogue, and her voice had me hooked from the very beginning. It really helped me stay immersed in the story and made the listening experience all the more enjoyable.

Cute story! This rom-com had me swooning over the protective, head-over-heels hero who fell FIRST without her even knowing!

Can I get an amen for a man who loves in the details?!

The way he was so smitten while she was oblivious is everything! It's those little gestures and quiet moments of protection that had me melting. And can we talk about how refreshing it is to have the male lead be the one completely gone for her?

This rom-com hits all the sweet spots without being overly dramatic. Do yourself a favor and grab this one if you love a good "he fell first" trope.

This was a good book. Not great, not anything really special, but good.

I definitely saw the parallels to "Two Weeks Notice" for a bit, until it went it's own way.

How someone can be a ghostwriter and treated so horribly by the "author" is beyond me. Money is great, but man, this was a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a funny and sweet rom-com. I loved the chemistry between the main characters, loved to hate Amelia, and enjoyed the inside look into publishing. Melissa’s books always seem to achieve the right balance of sweet, funny and full of heart.

A peak into the book publishing world and the incredible hard work of ghost writers.
From the title and cover, The Perfect Rom-Com seems like it would be a sweet, light, fun story but this book had so much heart, far more than your average romance novel. The characters felt so real and this story so intimate. While still deeply romantic, Bryony’s journey from writing hopeful, to best-selling ghost writer, to finally getting a book published with her name on the cover took precedence over the love story and honestly felt a little more lit fic than other romance books I've read. But it wasn’t without it’s swoon-worthy, toe-curling moments. And man, can (author) write a totally detestable antagonist!

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book because I LOVED her book “Meet Me in the Margins.” This one didn’t disappoint. I love the continued theme of books and the view into the publishing world. The humor and relationships were sweet + I was cheering for the MFC throughout the book.

Melissa Ferguson has a gift of writing humorous and fun characters who are also relatable and have depth. This capacity immediately draws the reader into the story and into the lives of her characters. I loved the glimpse of her real life experiences teaching ESL that showed up throughout the book and the sweet stories of people striving to learn a new language in a fast paced world, as adults! Such an impressive feat.

In The Perfect Rom-Com, we read the story of Bryony Page, an aspiring writer who dreams of selling her manuscript to raise awareness for The Bridge, an organization where she works with her grandmother that helps immigrants by providing ESL classes and prep classes for GED. While in the writer's convention, she meets Jack, a literary agent who works for a prestigious literary Agency; and instead of Jack accepting her manuscript, Jack offers her the role of being a ghostwriter for one of the most famous authors.

Unfortunately, the pace of this story was very slow and started to feel the chemistry between the characters until the last 15% of the story.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Perfect Rom Com was a fun and easy read, perfect for a beach trip or summer vacation. Lighthearted and a good book to come and go from during busy times in life.

Content of the story was just ok for me. Nothing inherently wrong or bad, just ok. Maybe a tad rambly but that’s a literary choice. It was a slow burn even with the plot. I know I read the description when I requested the galley but when I was approved and read it. I had forgotten. Based off the title, I was definitely confused. I was expecting a grand romance with all the best tropes and moments from my favorite romcoms. In reality, the FMC is trying to write the perfect rom com. Now I love getting an authors perspective on the publishing industry in the form on fictional storytelling but I think I got so thrown off by the title I couldn’t recover.