The beginning of the book was promising. I liked Bryony’s dedication to getting her book published and her thought process was fun. Jack also promised to be an intriguing love interest. The dynamic they had created the potential of being a witty dislike to lovers book and I was very excited to see the ways they were going to butt heads when it came to her writing. However, the book had a time skip and I felt that potential was lost. The time skip ruined the opportunity to see how their relationship developed, which was the part that I was most looking forward to. While Bryony’s dedication to her book and helping The Bridge was admirable, it was too much of a focus of the novel and I quickly lost interest in the story once her desperation kept being repeated.

I can’t figure out why this book isn’t clicking with me but there are so many words without a lot of action. There’s a lot of angst but no real feelings shared. I just can’t find any interest in the “love” story. It had promise in the beginning but it just felt bogged down by annoying side characters and situations I couldn’t care less about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for an ARC of this book!

The perfect rom com is a perfect rom com! I really loved the FMC Bryony and she brought depth to the story with her love for the Bridge and her students there. It even made me tear up at the end which is not an easy feat! It was a quick read and while parts were a little predictable the story sucked me in! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bryony meets literary agent Jack Sterling while trying to get her debut novel published. While Jack isn't impressed with the manuscript, he is impressed with Bryony's insight into the latest plot description from hot author Amelia Benedict. As Bryony soon finds out, all of Amelia's books are ghostwritten, and they want Bryony to be the latest, and eventually only, ghostwriter of Amelia's rom-coms. She enters into an agreement uneasily on the condition that Jack shops her novel around while she's writing Amelia's.

The two become more than just agent and writer - they become the best of friends. Meanwhile, Bryony's "Amelia Benedict" books fly off the shelves, but Bryony is impatient to publish her first novel under her name. Can she trust that Jack is helping her?

This novel has very strong vibes of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation, which is probably my favorite Henry book. I love quirky female leads who find love simply by being themselves. This was also a great peek into the publishing world and what debut authors have to endure to get someone to notice their work. This was a fun and well-written read!

This was a slow burn for me, I found it so heartwarming and engaging. I wasn't hooked from the start but as the storyline went on I started to develop a connection to the characters. I love that this wasn't a typical "rom-com" but more of a coming of age and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read what Melissa Ferguson does next.

I decided to read Melissa Ferguson’s “The Perfect Rom-Com” as a palate cleanser. The description of the book online is pretty spot-on. The book follows Bryony Page, an aspiring author, and Jack Sterling, a literary agent she meets at a writer’s conference in Tennessee.

Bryony has written a book inspired by her grandmother and the organization her grandmother founded, The Bridge. At The Bridge, Bryony has been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for years. She knows how difficult it has become for her grandmother to find and receive funding to continue operations at The Bridge. As she tries to find an agent at the writer’s conference for her novel, she stumbles into an opportunity to become a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, a popular rom-com novelist.

I loved the first two-thirds of the book. In particular, I loved the banter between Bryony and Jack. I found the last third of the book to be uneven in places, but did enjoy how one of the conflicts facing Bryony and Jack was resolved.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

In an effort to save her grandmother’s struggling ESL school, The Bridge, Bryony Page writes a book based on her grandmother’s inspirational story, but no literary agent wants to represent it. But after a pitch session gone wrong, she makes a deal with Jack Sterling: she will be a ghostwriter for one of his most popular rom-com clients if he promises to work on selling her own book. When Bryony’s ghost-written books explode in popularity, the literary agency is unwilling to let her go, and her dreams of publishing her own book and saving The Bridge hang in the balance, especially when she discovers her growing feelings for Jack.🌇

The Perfect Rom-Com is a perfectly adorable and hilarious rom-com from Melissa Ferguson. The chemistry between Bryony and Jack is amazing, and I loved all the locations where this story takes place: from New York to Florida to South Carolina. This is such a fun story, and yet I also enjoyed it’s depth as it explored the impact and importance of ESL classes. Plus, this cover is one of the best I’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for a new rom-com to read, do yourself a favor and pre-order this one!🩷

Release Date: February 11, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

A big thank you to Thomas Nelson for sending me a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.📕

Melissa Ferguson has such a unique and refreshing voice when it comes to Rom-Coms, and I always look forward to reading her latest books. Her characters are quirky and fun and usually very loveable. The main character in The Perfect Rom-Com was no exception. I adored Bryony (did not adore her name but at least it’s memorable), and was rooting for her the entire way. The plot was really fun and interesting, the “villain” of the story made me laugh often and also want to rage, and the story of Bryony’s ESL teaching and students was heartwarming and sweet. Truly my only criticism of this book is that the romance was really missing for me. I didn’t feel like I got to know Jack, it seems like all of the development of their relationship was actually the backstory, but we never got to see it play out in the current set of events. One moment they were just friends, the next they had decided to be more, and there was honestly not a lot of transition between the two. Then the third act break up was about one chapter later, and the rest of the book Bryony was (understandably) avoiding him. For me, the plot and main character were 5 stars, while the romance and relationship development was 3 stars. I still really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. If anything I just wanted there to be MORE!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day—comforting, sweet, and impossible to put down! Bryony Page is a total gem of a character, and her journey had me giggling one moment and tearing up the next. The story kicks off at a writer’s conference, where Bryony is desperately pitching a manuscript inspired by her grandmother and the immigrant school she’s trying to save. The stakes are high, emotions are raw, and then in waltzes Jack Sterling with *other plans* for her writing career. Cue the drama, the charm, and the laughs!

Tropes and themes I enjoyed:
* Forced Proximity
*Agent x Author
*Slow Burn
*Workplace Romance


The writing is where this book really shines. Slipping into Bryony’s perspective feels like diving into an author’s dreamworld, full of emotion and vivid detail. The way she describes her stories makes you wish you could grab them off the shelf. It’s meta in the best way—like the author’s love for books and storytelling shines off the page.

The side characters are just as delightful. Bryony’s hilariously loyal sister Gloria, the quirky students at the school, and the utterly narcissistic Amelia Benedict are scene stealers in their own right. And let’s not forget Jack. He’s complicated and infuriating, yet undeniably charming, making every interaction with Bryony electric.

I won’t spoil the ending but let me just say—it’s perfection. Melissa said The Perfect Rom-Com and she meant it. The balance of humor, heart, and a little bit of heartbreak made this a romcom that truly stands out. If you’re looking for something that’s equal parts inspiring, hilarious, and downright adorable, this book is calling your name!

The story seems more focused on the mechanisms of publishing houses than on the romance between the two characters, which then develops little and badly, only towards the end of the book. Moreover, there would need to be better editing because it is still unclear what color Jack's eyes are in addition to the fact that, perhaps because of my ebook, the paragraphs and messages on the phone, get completely mixed up.

La storia sembra piú incentrata sui meccanismi delle case editrici che sul romance tra i due personaggi, che poi si sviluppa poco e male, solo verso la fine del libro. oltretutto ci sarebbe bisogno di un migliore editing perché ancora non é chiaro di che colore siano gli occhi di Jack oltre al fatto che, forse per colpa del mio ebook, i paragrafi e i messaggi sul cellulare, si confondono completamente.

I received the digital advanced review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I’m going to say it.
The Perfect Rom-Com is quite literally the perfect rom-com. The characters were likable. The story was heartfelt and hopeful and funny. I am so happy I read this book. I can’t wait to recommend it to friends and read all of Melissa Ferguson’s books!

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

This was a story unlike anything I have ever read before. I found the concept to be very exciting and found the ghostwriting aspect to be interesting to read. I like Bryony’s character and I’m glad that things worked out for her in all aspects of her life. Her and Jack really fit each other and it was great reading their story.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for the arc! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. As a book lover I was intrigued by the premise of the book and was so glad I got a chance to read the ARC. I love the strength and determination of our main character Bryony. The chemistry and the banter was so fun. Of course the supporting cast including Bryony's loyal students added to my love for the story.

The Perfect Rom-Com is a really cute read with a fun premise and enjoyable banter.

While this story is labeled a romance, I wouldn't really consider the romance to be the star of the show. This story is more about Bryony's journey and self-discovery. If I had to make one complaint, it would be that I would have liked to see more development of the relationship between Bryony and Jack. I loved the way they met and couldn't wait to see things turn around for them. Unfortunately, we didn't get to experience that part, as the story jumped two years into the future after their initial meet.

All in all, a quick read that will be a hit for some and a miss for others.

3,5 ★
first of all, thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book, which I was able to read through netgally!

this was a completely different reading experience than I had expected, perhaps because I went in expecting a romance in the style of the romances I generally read, yet this story took a completely different turn. while the beginning definitely leaned towards the 'trust the process' curve, I quickly found I was hooked--I couldn't stop reading, and this was a general theme throughout the story!

I was constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the inevitable ball to drop because I could tell there were secrets in the air! I loved how lowkey the romance aspect of this story was, although as I said I had expected it to be more in the foreground of the story, but Jack really woo'ed me with his subtle touches, knowing glances and perfect knowledge of Byrony. after all, true love is in the little things.

I do think in some ways Byron annoyed me--as somebody who has learned quite a lot about publishing and researched publishing my own work, the fact she didn't know how to categorise her novel, couldn't quite pitch it, had it be way too lengthy for its quasi-genre, only to then confidently waltz into a literary conference... however, the backstory made it make more sense, and this was another aspect of the story that I really enjoyed. in this time of hate and opposition, we need stories like this that remind us about unity and love in the world.

Amelia made me feel as much rage as Byrony felt and I wish we could've seen more of the effect the ending had on her, but I did love the way that the story wrapped up and its overall message!

Bryony Page is an inspiring author on a mission to publish her literary-magical realism-historical fiction-nonfiction memoir with a dash of mystery. Bryony tries to get Jack Sterling to be her agent in getting her first book published so she can bring awareness to and save The Bridge, a school to help immigrants learn English and pass their GEDs. Instead of picking up her book, however, he convinces her to write as a ghostwriter for his most successful celebrity author. Fast-forward a couple of years, and Bryony and Jack are not only a great literary team but have also become the best of friends... still without publishing Bryony's own book.

It was a little slow for me in the beginning but because of Bryony and Jack's chemistry, as soon as the story picked up I couldn't put it down. Their friendship was everything.

📚 Allies to Friends to.... more
📚 He falls first
📚 Workplace
📚 Forced Proximity
📚 Book about Books

Melissa Ferguson! This. Is. Adorable!

Bryony is a writer on pursuit to be published. Jack is the best agent there is. They meet at a conference and she has 15 minutes to convince him to publish her book.

In a nutshell he tells her that her book is trash and crushes her dreams but somehow convinces her to be a ghostwriter for one of his famous clients.

A friendship forms…maybe something more and the rest is history!

This one is precious! Five stars and my new favorite by this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson is an easy, breezy read for anyone who enjoys light-hearted romances mixed with a bit of literary intrigue. The plot is a little predictable, but that's part of the charm. We follow Bryony Page, a hopeful author who inadvertently becomes a ghostwriter for a famous rom-com author, all while trying to get her own manuscript noticed. The romance takes its sweet time to unfold, and the dynamics between Bryony and Jack, the literary agent, are fun to watch evolve.

While the book has its share of quirky characters and humor, it doesn't really push boundaries. It sticks to what works in the rom-com genre, and for the most part, it delivers just that. The storyline involving Bryony's ghostwriting career is an interesting take, though it’s not as deep as it could have been. The romantic development between Bryony and Jack is pleasant, but the chemistry doesn't exactly sizzle off the page.

Overall, it's a light and enjoyable read, but it didn't leave a lasting impact on me. It’s a nice escape, but not one that lingers too long after finishing. Perfect for those looking for a quick, feel-good read, but not one to expect something groundbreaking

Heavy on the com, light on the rom - and it ended up being the perfect rom-com ratio!!

I loved the characters and enjoyed the story from cover to cover.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

🥂🥂🥂🥂 THE PERFECT ROM-COM

Thank you so much to @thomasnelson and @netgalley for this delightful, witty, heartfelt, funny, sweet, romantic ARC by the eternally talented Melissa Ferguson who is an instant-read author of mine!

THE PERFECT ROM-COM is light and fun yet heartfelt and aged, classic and sweet yet witty…no doubt a glass of champagne!

I found the ending to be a little too far-fetched and improbable but isn’t it fun to imagine and hope for a world with such happy, easy, dramatic, grand-gesture endings?!