Bryony has been struggling to get her first book published. After many rejections she surprises herself by getting an offer to be a ghostwriter for a popular socialite author, but only on condition that her agent, Jack, will work at getting her own book published as well.

Bryony’s ghostwriten books are extremely successful, and earn her lots of money, but she really wants to write her own books under her own name.

This book is an inside look at the publishing world as well as Bryony’s journey and developing relationship with her agent Jack.

I really enjoyed the character arc of Bryony and how she learned to stand up for herself. Jack was kind and attentive, but suspect in his motives and manipulations. They both learn a lot about themselves and what’s really important.

A wonderful book that kept my interest clear up to the happy ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by Melissa Ferguson, and I had really enjoyed Famous for a Living. I also went into this book with high expectations because I love books about writers and publishing. The idea of this one being about a ghostwriter was particularly intriguing to me. I did overall really enjoy the premise of this book.

That being said, I found this book to be a bit of a struggle. The writing style itself was difficult to follow due to the inner monologue of the main character. And it honestly took me entirely too long to figure out what the thing she actually cared about was (I didn't catch that the Bridge was a place not just a book for long while.) I was frustrated by her inability to take any constructive criticism about her book. Jack was equally frustrating with his lies and manipulation. And while the end was entertaining, it felt SO unrealistic that I just couldn't enjoy it.

I did notice a lot of reviews called out how misleading the title feels when the book is not a rom-com. To that I agree, while also drawing a parallel to how the author's books in the story are continuously mis-marketed. Was this intentional? If so, very clever- however, I think it's going to feel like a bait and switch to many readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED this book! I gobbled it up in about a week. It normally takes me longer to finish a book, but this was just perfect - perfect pacing, perfect writing style, engaging story, great characters - so good! I’m officially buying this book when it comes out - it is that good and heartwarming. It’s definitely more of a “glimpses and kisses” romance book, which I don’t always go for but it was sweet how Bryony and Jack’s friendship built up over time and I loved seeing them grow closer. There are so many things I loved about this book, it’s hard to list them all, but here goes….

WHAT I LOVED:
- The Writing Style - Melissa Ferguson has the perfect balance of show and tell in this book. I felt like I could orient myself to each scene quickly without much need for her to be overly detailed or flowery in her prose. This matched well with the medium pacing and made my reading experience so much smoother. I could really get lost in the book thanks to that and quickly move from scene to scene and chapter to chapter without feeling like I needed a break.
- The Characters - These characters were top-notch. Every one of them was well-written and fleshed out with unique personalities, quirks/eccentricities, and relatable flaws and struggles. They felt real and I especially loved getting to hear Bryony’s internal monologue, which was full of humor and relatability. I loved her. Gloria was my favorite though - good lord, she is hilarious and the BEST sister a girl could ask for. I want her in my life, now! Lol! Jack was also well fleshed out and a complex love interest. Amelia and Penny were great as well. Just all around great characterization!
- Witty Banter - I really enjoyed the back-and-forth banter and sarcasm exchanged between Jack and Bryony. Their interactions were funny and it felt like I really was watching a rom-com or sitcom with a hint of romance. They were perfect together and I loved seeing their banter grow from the first time they met to when they became friends and eventually got together. I’m a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope, and this did not disappoint.
- Humor - From interactions with ESL students to Bryony’s internal dialogue to interactions between her and Jack or her and Amelia, this book made me laugh out loud multiple times with its charming humor. I love it when a book can be heartwarming and funny, and this takes the cake! Again, this had a very real movie feel to it and I loved that so much! I could live in this world forever surviving only on Ferguson’s banter and humor between characters. It’s such a vibe - like watching your favorite sitcom and watching the characters slowly fall for each other.
- Focus on Sweet Small Details - I love it when a book focuses on the small details between the love interests, and Ferguson did this superbly well, capturing the essence of the friends-to-lovers trope: the little things. Jack’s watch, the meaning of certain facial expressions, bowling bags, little food details. The janitor scene! 🥹 It’s those little things that make this book so heartwarming, that make it a five-star read and one I will gladly buy for my bookshelf when it comes out.
- The Pacing - Again, Melissa’s writing is superb. I love the pacing, how the book starts out with the first meeting and moves on to their friendship and goes from there. At first, it seemed a bit jarring but it all makes complete sense now, and I think that time-jump was well done. The movement between scenes and chapters was flawless, in my opinion. I loved how Ferguson moved the plot along at a steady pace, keeping us engaged while slowing down and speeding up at just the right times. Again, at the risk of sounding redundant and cliche, it was perfect! Chef’s kiss!
- Character Growth - The final thing I loved about this book was the character growth. I loved seeing Jack’s character soften and evolve over time, and I also loved watching Bryony’s confidence soar towards the end of the book. The bus scene with Trina was freaking awesome! (Also love you Trina! You always were my favorite! Lol) It really felt like the characters moved forward and grew in big ways, and I loved to see Bryony gaining so much confidence towards the end and going after what she deserved!
- The Cover - This cover is gorgeous! I love the colors and the symbolism with the two tour busses! (IYKYK) Cartoon covers are my fav!

WHAT I LIKED:
I couldn’t think of anything I liked that I didn’t love. It was hard to pick something I didn’t love about this book.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
Again, I usually have some type of detail or component I don’t like about a book or that I think could be better/done differently that I could point to, even for my beloved five-star books. This one floored me. I have nothing. In fact, the only real thing I would say is that I’m sad it ever ended. I want to keep reading this book forever. Good job, Melissa Ferguson! Brilliant job, actually!

This book is so heartwarming and sweet! Even if glimpses and kisses isn’t your thing, I’d still highly recommend you read it. The plot was great! It really felt like watching a movie and I got completely absorbed in it. Beautiful escapism! I LOVED it! It was gorgeous and I will definitely be reading all of Melissa Ferguson’s other books now! I was surprised to see that I’d already seen some of her covers at the local library and I am now keen to pick them up! Keep writing, Melissa! Your work is fantastic! ❤️❤️❤️

p.s. The main character’s name is Bryony, which I honestly just found out since I’ve thought this entire time it was Byrony LOL! 😂 I think it’s hilarious I read this entire book having switched out those letters and not realizing the entire time.

This was a cute little romance, I think the characters were nice. I liked that the MC realized, at least partially, that part of the issue was her. Misunderstanding is one of my least favorite tropes but it was ok.

No spice at all in the book, just a few kisses.

The Perfect Rom-Com is the 5th book I’ve read by Melissa Ferguson. As with her other books, this was a fun, quick story with delightful characters. I loved the friendship that was developed between Bryony and Jack. I think one of the reasons I enjoy Ferguson’s books so much is because she really does give you a combination of romance and comedy, and she does it well while also keeping the stories “clean”. I love that I can recommend her books to anyone. She writes such sweet stories for us to enjoy.

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

I have never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed reading this book. The pacing was good and the character's were developed very well.

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

3,75.

¿La verdad? No esperaba nada al empezarlo y he terminado disfrutandolo bastante en algunas partes, sobretodo el final, que para mi hace un cierre perfecto a la historia que ocurre durante el libro.

El personaje que más me ha gustado ha sido Bryony, sobretodo su carácter, ya que no hay muchas protagonistas de romántica con el carácter tan "explosivo" de forma madura, es decir, que cuando tenía que decir algo lo decía y primero iban sus ideales, asi que un 10 como protagonista femenina.

Tengo que decir que el personaje que la antagoniza está muy bien hecho y la satisfacción al ver como las cosas se ponen en su sitio ha sido REAL.

Tropes que te vas a encontrar en este libro:
-Strangers to friends to lovers
-Workplace
-Slow burn
-Close door

Para pasar un buen rato dónde el plot general es el crecimiento de la protagonista con romance de fondo, está muy bien.

The Perfect Rom-Com was supposed to be a romance novel but fell short in that department. Bryony wanted to have her book published at all costs. Enter Jack who works for a publishing company. He realizes that Bryony is a great ghostwriter and secretly keeps her book from being published so he can selfishly keep her as a ghostwriter. Eventually they begin dating, but it's more like a middle school romance than an adult relationship.
The book felt redundant and I found myself skipping sections in hopes of finding more action. While I'm sure some people will love this book, it was not my favorite.

This book turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The first chapter felt a little long and made it difficult to get into the book but afterwards it was easy to want to see where Jack and Bryony end up. I understand the point of Amelia’s character however she was a little too unlikeable for me and took away from the story at times. Overall pleasant read!

This closed-door romance certainly had some strong elements, but unfortunately, the romance itself didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found myself asking, "Where was the chemistry? The witty banter?" This was my first book by this author, so perhaps this is just her style, but it didn’t quite live up to the "perfect rom com" label for me.

While I won’t be leaving this review on Goodreads, as I’m sure there are plenty of readers who will adore this book, I still want to acknowledge the hard work the author put into it. Sometimes, a book just doesn't resonate with everyone, and that's okay. Reading is a deeply personal experience, and there's always another story waiting to capture our hearts.

This was an okay read! I found it hard to get into this book.

I liked what Bryony stood for, and her passion for both writing and teaching at The Bridge. I liked her and Jack together, although I wish we got to experience their friendship instead of skipping two years. I really liked how much Jack supported Bryony, even though their communication was not the best.

I also wish we got to hear more about Gloria and her beau instead of hearing about it in the epilogue.

I felt like the main character constantly rambled. She provided way too much detail when describing things, I found myself skimming over the large paragraphs. I wasn’t a huge fan of scenes where the reader didn’t get the context until the characters got to that point in the conversation (i.e. when Bryony and Jack were getting food, we knew that they wanted to talk about specific emails, but we didn’t learn what said emails were about until they finally discussed them). This made me feel like the story was being relayed to me as if it was a memory instead of it happening “in real time”, if that makes sense.

I really liked the ending! I was so happy for Bryony! And was so glad to see the wicked witch (Amelia) finally fall. She was the worst.

2.5⭐️ Rounded up!

I received an ARC from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Cute story that sadly did not live up to its title. Where was the romance? Would have enjoyed more between the love interest.

This was such a fun surprise! I adored this book and found the inside look into publishing fascinating. The main character Bryony at the start felt like such a hot mess, but it really turned out SO SO well. This was the perfect book to get me out of a reading slump, the witty dialogue and the sharp characters made it a fun, easy read. I also appreciated the emphasis on teaching non-native English speakers and the story of The Bridge. Loved the little spin at the end too!

Thanks to Netgalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the E-ARC! So cute!! Loved the banter & the couple. Also loved that this was a closed-door romance. A good palate cleanser. Will definitely read more from this author.

I'm a Melissa Ferguson stan! Each book is better than the one before - and that is a high bar! A great read.

This is anything but "the perfect rom com". If we are going to be promised enemies to lovers, I want the bits in between. How do we just skip over that like its FINE? It. Is. Not. Fine. Two years where they go from hating each other to best friends but ......... HOW does this happen!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to get mad at the major plot hole.

This was such a fun read! Melissa Ferguson had me chuckling throughout at the witty exchanges between Bryony and Jack, the over-the-top diva "author" was a hoot, and I really enjoyed the whole ESL teacher subplot and the satisfying ending.

I'll be recommending this widely, with the caveat that although there is a will-they-won't-they couple with an HEA in this book, I'd say it's more of a feel-good story that includes some romance than a standard romance novel. If people are looking for something super steamy or that truly focuses on the relationship, this might not be the book for them. Everyone else should dive right in!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

This was a super cute friends to lovers romance. I loved that a majority of this was focused on their friendship. I wish the ending had a slightly better wrap up or timing

Another delightful read from Melissa Ferguson! 4.5 stars.

First things first, so everyone’s on the same page, although this book has both romance and comedy, it is NOT a standard rom-com. Very much like the author’s other books, It is more of a chick-lit with a rom-com subplot. This is not a negative to me, I love that there’s more to the story than two people getting together. There’s personal growth and doing good for others. But if you don’t have that understanding going in (especially given the title) you may be disappointed.

Disclaimer given, on to why it’s worth the read!

In short:
💕Reluctant allies meet-cute
👩‍❤️‍👨Friends to more
😍He falls first
👔Workplace romance
📚Book about books

In long:
I loved the dialogue and friendly banter between Jack and Bryony. I think it may be some of the author’s best. I often found myself smiling and laughing in the story, and it was just a delight to read.

😂 One of my favorite snippets of conversation…

“We need to rename our bowling team. I’m going to walk in there and pitch, and I need you to back me up.”
My brow tweaks. “You don’t like Pin Pals?”
“I hate Pin Pals.”
“You don’t think Pin Pals has enough
swagger?”
“The swagger is significantly lacking.”
“Counterproposal?”
“Rolling Thunder.”
“Willing to compromise with Gutterly Ridiculous?”
He gives a sharp head shake. “No.”
“Spare Me the Details?”
“Afraid not.”
“How about Bearly Trying? How cute would that be? Little bears in hats for T-shirts has some real potential.”
“I’ll quit on the spot.”

I loved the more unique aspects of Bryony’s character—her job as an ESL teacher that is so much more than a job, but her passion. Her goal in life to help people and uphold her grandmother’s legacy, even at great sacrifice to herself.

The insight into the world of publishing was as interesting as it was eyeopening. Of course, I don’t know how much of it is fictionalized, but seeing the process and Bryony’s struggle as a new author even though she’s quite talented, was interesting.

The wild ending…no spoilers here, but despite knowing we would get a happy ending (in this case, it holds true to the rom-com standard) I wasn’t exactly sure how it was going to happen. Everything seemed pitted against Bryony, stuck in a world of ghostwriting at the mercy of big publishers. I enjoyed seeing how everything worked out in the end. Was it super realistic? Mmm, maybe not. But it was plausible enough that it didn’t bother me because I found it so entertaining.

The only real downside to this story for me was the third act break up. I get it, they’re common in romance books, but it doesn’t mean I have to like them. I was enjoying Jack and Bryony’s interactions so much that I would’ve rather had more of it than the break just to build tension.

Bottom line: Fans of Melissa Ferguson will enjoy this fun and delightful story. New readers looking for a story with a passionate, good-hearted heroine, some humorous and friendly banter, and a bit of romance to their chick-lit, will enjoy this one.

Content: Squeaky clean. No sex or profanity.

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

The Perfect Rom-Com is a very well written book. I throughly enjoyed the entertaining plot and the characters. I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. This is my unbiased review.