The Perfect Rom-Com is a light-hearted book that features a rom-com but very much focuses on personal growth first. Bryony is an ESL teacher by day and a ghost writer at night. In fact, she is a ghost writer for a very popular romance writer, never mind that her books have outsold every one preceding her. She desperately wants to publish her own writing but her agent, Jack, keeps pushing back. On top of everything else, she has a 2 year long distance relationship going nowhere and a not-really-a-relationship-but-definitely-a-relationship going with Jack. Over the course of the novel you see Bryony's heart through her writing, her relationship with her students, and her relationship with her romance writer's entourage. She attempts to write the perfect rom com while being surrounded by conflict, all while desperately trying to sell her literary fiction novel that holds her heart.
I enjoyed this book, but I'll be honest I didn't care for Jack. That's not bad since the story is way more about Bryony as an individual and way less about her relationship with Jack, but she could have done better. So could a lot of the other characters in the story. It felt like we ended everyone at a midpoint in their journey instead of at the end, and we could have reduced the number of characters to more fully form the remaining characters at the end (Bryony is a prolific teacher with an amazing number of students, but maybe I didn't need to meet a dozen of them)

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

This was such a sweet romcom that was easily read in a day! I really fell in love with the characters and loved going on this journey with them!

3.5⭐️’s. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Different storyline than I have encountered before so I was hopeful that I was going to love this book. I struggled with relating to the characters, especially Bryony and Jack’s love story. It just didn’t hit for me and wasn’t believable that they were in love.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was a little hesitant going into this book because of the previous books I have written centered on a ghostwriter. It’s been done a lot. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this iteration. Maybe it had to do with how the gig came about and the motivation behind it or the fact that it was a means to a specific end. In either case I am glad that I read it. I really liked the relationship between the MCs. I love a good friends to lovers trope. I also loved The Bridge and highlighting how valuable resources like that are to immigrants and refugees, and, in turn, how valuable they are to our society and communities. Such a sweet story!

The perfect rom com is a quick easy read but I found it difficult to connect to and care about the characters in this story which is why I haven’t rated it higher.

Bryony is full of optimism attending her first writers conference. Things don't go quite as planned, and instead of getting an offer on her book, she's offered a position as a ghost writer instead. No one could have predicted how popular her stories would become or how difficult it would be to get her stories published under her own name.

Thoughts 💭
I struggled with this one a little bit. I was quick and relatively easy to read but gave us a glimpse into the difficulties of publishing. I know it's difficult, but that's not really why I'm picking up a story to read it. I want more of an escape. I could not connect to Amelia Benedict at all (I kept wanting to call her Amelia Bedelia), and she had no depth to her other than she was rich and entitled. These are acceptable things in a story they just didn't do anything for me. I did love Bryony and Jack and their slow burn romance. Everything wrapped up into a neat little bow at the end that left me satisfied. This is a quick read if that's all you're looking for.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really wanted to like the book but just felt that it fell flat. Spoilers coming.

I liked Jack's authenticity so it just felt like a real disconnect when his secret was revealed. Plus him saying he was dating her even if he wasn't just feels not good. That's creeping on territory you shouldn't be...
Amelia was just such a witch with no redeeming qualities.
The long distance relationship with Parker just fell flat from the beginning - there were red flags galore, they didn't even have a scene talking to each other ever.
I enjoyed Gloria as Bryone's hype sister.

I appreciated the story to help immigrants/refugees because that is near and dear to my heart but it all just felt kind of off and I didn't connect with it. How it resolved also felt so unrealistic also that they could magically pull that off.

I enjoyed the book, but was left a bit underwhelmed. I think I would have liked to have read more about the connection between Jack and Bryony....their banter and relationship was well written, but I was left wanting to have explored that more. The story of Bryony as a writer could have been the subplot, with more of a focus on Bryony and Jack.

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Melissa Ferguson.)

So at first I wasn't going to be giving feedback but realized it might help someone else. I was 100% expecting this to be a romantic comedy with some spice sprinkled in like most are, but this wasn't if for me. It was more a self reflection kind of thing.

This book really surprised me! The Perfect Rom-Com, despite it's title, isn't really about a romantic relationship; Though there is a ridiculously cute one in the novel as well. Rather, it shows the story of Bryony Page rediscovering herself and learning to choose herself. As a people pleaser myself, I found her journey to be relatable and I found myself rooting for her success every step of the way. Despite all of that, her and Jack's relationship was still the cherry on top. No spice in this novel, but you'll find the romance between the two extremely satisfying nonetheless and heartwarming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)

Melissa Ferguson’s The Perfect Rom-Com is a lighthearted, charming tale of ambition, identity, and love, peppered with witty banter and delightful rom-com tropes. While it doesn’t completely stick the landing, it’s an enjoyable read that combines the highs and lows of the publishing world with a sweet, slow-burn romance.

Bryony Page is a relatable protagonist with a dash of endearing chaos. Her optimism, ambition, and dedication to her grandmother’s struggling ESL organization make her likable from the start. Watching her navigate the cutthroat world of publishing, from her disastrous pitch session to the unexpected opportunity to ghostwrite for the demanding Amelia Benedict, provides plenty of cringe-worthy yet laugh-out-loud moments. Her determination to balance her own dreams with the needs of those she loves adds depth to her character.

Jack Sterling, the literary agent with a golden reputation and an even bigger heart, is Bryony’s perfect foil. His steady, no-nonsense approach contrasts with her whirlwind personality, and their dynamic is filled with witty banter and growing chemistry. While the romance develops slowly—almost too slowly at times—it’s ultimately sweet and satisfying, with moments that make you smile and swoon.

The insider look at the publishing world is a highlight. Ferguson’s portrayal of the highs and lows of ghostwriting, from the triumphs of success to the frustrations of being invisible, adds a unique layer to the story. Bryony’s interactions with Amelia are particularly entertaining—Amelia’s over-the-top vanity and outrageous demands create both humor and tension, making her a scene-stealer in her own right.

Favorite moments? The scene where Bryony steps in to “correct” another author’s work during her disastrous pitch session is both hilarious and cringe-inducing, perfectly capturing her mix of bravery and desperation. And the eventual moment when Jack realizes he’s as captivated by Bryony’s passion as her talent is a swoon-worthy payoff for their slow-burn romance.

That said, the book does have some pacing issues. The middle drags slightly as the story focuses on Bryony’s struggles with ghostwriting and balancing her personal goals, and the romantic tension with Jack sometimes feels like it’s simmering on low heat for too long. Additionally, the resolution of Bryony’s personal and professional arcs feels a bit rushed, leaving some secondary storylines underdeveloped.

Themes of ambition, self-worth, and balancing one’s dreams with real-world responsibilities are handled thoughtfully, even if they sometimes take a backseat to the rom-com elements. Bryony’s journey to reclaim her voice—both literally and metaphorically—is satisfying, even if it feels slightly predictable.

Final verdict? The Perfect Rom-Com is a delightful, if uneven, read that will appeal to fans of books about books, slow-burn romance, and lovable underdogs finding their voice. While it doesn’t quite reach perfection, Melissa Ferguson’s witty writing and charming characters make it an enjoyable escape into the messy, magical world of publishing—and the even messier world of falling in love. A fun pick for rom-com enthusiasts!

3 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my 2nd book by Melissa Ferguson. I’ve also read Meet Me In The Margins and really enjoyed that one. This is a heartwarming and sweet novel set in the publishing world. The romance is so subtle I’d almost consider it a sub-genre. Bryony is a ghost writer. Jack is a hot-shot literary agent. I really enjoyed their enemies to best friends story, and their banter was entertaining as well.

I found Bryonys job as a ghost writer fascinating. I love reading books about books! I definitely empathized with her having to write for Amelia who is a huge narcissist. I found Bryonys stubbornness to accept feedback on her first book (passion project about The Bridge) really frustrating.

Jacks backstory needs flushed out a little more.. I feel like I ended the book not knowing a lot about his character. I wonder if this would be better as a dual POV to really get into Jacks brain. I’m not the biggest fan of how this book begins and how she got the ghost writing gig. I didn’t find that origin story believable.

This book was a light read that had a good premise, but lacked some of the depth that I search for when reading a rom-com.

Bryony’s journey as a ghostwriter is definitely the focus here, with a mild subplot of romance with our MMC. But even though the book spans throughout multiple years, we lose some of the critical moments of Bryony and Jack’s romance development when they first work together. I also think that some of the side characters are only just briefly mentioned and instead I would have loved to see and hear more about who they were, etc.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction.

I got to read this as an arc from Net Galley and i am really glad i did. This book was so good. It had many good quotes and the romance was really good. My only problem with it was the pacing, that i felt was too slow. This book could have been at least 50 pages shorter and still be as good.
The characters development was really good. I loved how the book wrapped up but i feel like it should have wrapped a bit earlier. I was cheering for our main character through out the entirety of the book. I do admit that i didn't see the ending coming in that way.
Overall Summary:
Bryony Page works as a ghostwriter for a famous author for years but also has her own novel on the side. After years of waiting she is desperate to get her own book famous and published so she can save her grandmothers organization. In order to succeeded she needs the help of the famous editor Jack Sterling, who she has gotten to in the past few years she has been working as a ghostwriter. Will she get to finally publish her own novel? Are her and Jack really just co workers, or is there something more? Will she save her grandmothers organization?

Would read again if I had no service and this was my only option—emphasis on no service and absolutely nothing else to do.

The main character left much to be desired. She was both overly compliant and frustratingly complainy, making it hard to connect with her or root for her journey. For a book titled The Perfect Rom-Com, the romance was lackluster and barely there. I went in expecting charm, humor, and chemistry, but unfortunately, the story didn’t deliver on any of those fronts.

I appreciate a good cause, but the way the protagonist described her philanthropic efforts felt like a chore to get through rather than inspiring or heartwarming. It was more of a drag than a delight.

The one saving grace? The behind-the-scenes look at the book publishing and ghostwriting industry. That insider perspective was fascinating and gave the story a layer of intrigue that kept it from being a total flop.

Overall, this book had potential but fell short of the mark. If you’re looking for a perfect rom-com, this isn’t it.

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

This book was a page-turning quick read! When writer Bryony Page attempts to get agent Jack Stirling to take her as a client and promote her book, he instead offers her the opportunity to act as a ghostwriter for an extremely popular author. After working together, it’s clear that their chemistry goes beyond just being colleagues.

I loved this book so much that I read it in the span of 24 hours! I loved the banter between Bryony and Jack, as well as Bryony’s dedication to her English Language Learning students. This story was wholesome, inspiring, and witty!

This is my first book by Ferguson and I need to read her backlist! So cute and I loved the banter. I had never really thought about the ghostwriting aspect when it comes to publishing and I think it was such a clever topic for a book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Will post my review on bookstagram and Goodreads on the publication date.

4 stars!

Thank you, Melissa, for writing such an entertaining story! The characters from the start captivated me. The banter and action were spot on. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

i really enjoyed this book! jack and bryony were incredibly sweet, and friends to lovers is always so cute when you can tell the main characters know each other so intimately. going into this book, i thought that we would be getting to see jack and bryony's friendship develop, so it was a little bit surprising to me that the book takes place (for the most part) about two years after they met. we don't get to see their friendship develop, but we do get to see how natural and comfortable they are with each other already, and you can feel the casual intimacy and love there already is. because we didn't get to see their relationship grow, i do wish there had been a couple of chapters from jack's POV, or maybe more of bryony looking back and realizing the feelings they had for each other were there all along. however, their romance definitely felt like a subplot to me, so it makes sense that we weren't hit over the head with the romance, and i liked it. it felt normal.

I really wish I loved this book as I had such high hopes but sadly it really wasn’t for me, found it a bit too much of a slower burner for me