This novel will captivate readers who delight in witty and uplifting tales of pursuing aspirations, discovering love, and the transformative power of creativity. With a touch of humor and a generous dose of romance, this book is a perfect match for those who enjoy stories that leave them feeling good. The narrative explores the exhilarating journey of chasing dreams, the heartwarming experience of finding love, and the profound impact of artistic expression, all while maintaining a lighthearted and humorous tone. Readers will be charmed by the witty banter, relatable characters, and the uplifting message that permeates the story. This book is an ideal choice for those seeking a delightful and inspiring read that celebrates the beauty of creativity, the magic of love, and the importance of pursuing one's passions.

I felt that it lagged a little bit in the beginning but it got better half way through. It was a cute read and would recommend it.

Okay, The Perfect Rom-Com is seriously chef’s kiss perfect! 😍 Bryony Page is an aspiring author with big dreams to get published and save her grandmother’s ESL school. But after a cringe-worthy pitching session, she ends up ghostwriting for a bestselling author (who’s, like, the worst) while still trying to get her own book out there. Her agent, Jack, is a total swoon-worthy mess—funny, sweet, and just a little bit flawed, which made him way more relatable and charming. I loved watching Bryony’s determination and ambition unfold. She’s not your typical rom-com heroine—she’s bold, smart, and unapologetically herself.
The whole ghostwriting aspect was such a fresh twist! It gave the book an extra layer of depth, making it feel more unique than the usual rom-com tropes. Plus, the dynamic between Bryony and Jack was perfection—there was so much banter, and it made me laugh out loud more than once! 😂
And shoutout to Karissa Vacker, the narrator—she absolutely nailed the voices, especially the playful back-and-forth between Bryony and Jack. She brought their chemistry to life in such a fun way!
This book? Definitely worth the read (or listen). It’s witty, heartfelt, and so easy to root for the characters. If you’re into rom-coms with a little more substance and lots of laughs, you’re gonna LOVE this one. ✨📚

The Perfect Rom-Com
by Melissa Ferguson
Narrated by Karissa Vacker

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This wasn’t the perfect rom-com, but it was good.
The characters and settings were great. The end just felt forced to me. If I didn’t count the last 45 minutes - this would have been a 5 star audiobook. In the end, it was good. Just not as great as I had hoped.

I loved this book!!!

It was so entertaining! I stayed up all night to finish it. The characters were very relatable, I LOVED the main character. The way the plot unfolded was very fun. I wish I could read more about the characters and The Bridge.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!

Nothing inherently bad about this but it wasn’t super for me.

Bryony is strong willed and stubborn. Determined to get her manuscript published despite various feedback it needs editing which I found frustrating though i did get it in the end.

Jack felt very one dimensional, though I did like him at times. I just felt like I wanted more from him to make me invested in their relationship.

Karissa Vacker is an excellent narrator as always!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for ALC!

I didn't mark this book as "currently reading" cuz I literally read it in one sitting 🫣 I found the audiobook so I did the immersive reading thing - I finished in 4 hours and I love the narrator so much. The FMC has not a single evil bone in her body; it's actually frustrating like girl, go slap that b**ch - my anger issues could never. The MMC though I believe him to be an a**hole If I were the FMC I could never forgive him ANYHOW huge thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction & HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the eARC& ALC 🩷🩷

Thank you Netgalley HarperCollins and Melissa Ferguson for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. This really was such a wonderful little rom-com about rom-coms, authorship, publishing, and the secrets they entail. I LOVED the way the MMC pulled off his grand gesture - I thought it was glorious. I also really loved the social justice aspect of the book and the emphasis on the meaningful work that the FMC was so invested in doing and saving. Overall a really lovely read and the narration was fantastic.

I like the story it was pretty cute I was giggling a good bit in this. This story is about bryony story is mostly about being about growth as a person with learning on how to stand up for herself with a little bit of love sprinkled. Bryony goes to a convention to try and pitch her book to save the bridge where she teaches esl where she meets jack, he is a literary agent unfortunately he didn't like it which had discouraged bryony she almost gave up and she then storms back to talk to him to make him see reason however he had showed a different Authors work and she gave some suggestions and that is how she became Amelia benedict ghost writer for the next two years in hopes that her book will see the light of day. Just let me say I did not like amelia at all. Eventually she gets fed up with amelia and learning that she was being lied to, and she just quits, and she is contracted for another book as a final ditch effort she ended up re-writing her first book to get it out in the world. Does she successfully get her book out there to save the bridge you'll just have to find out

3/3.5 stars. I have enjoyed Melissa Ferguson's past books but this one felt like there was too much going on unfortunately. I liked the audio more than the book, but this might be because some of the book felt slow. I did like Bryony as a main character however I found the plot deviated too far away from her own story at times. Was the ending realistic? Maybe? I guess it all depends on the contract both main characters signed. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital and audio copy.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

4 stars

This was such a pleasant surprise! And actually had me tearing up at the end. Bryony is such a sweet and wholesome character that has you rooting for her the whole way through. Will definitely be checking out more from this author.

The Perfect Rom-Com is a cute feel-good rom-com. I enjoyed the ending and left with that heart eyes feeling you want after finishing this type of book. That being said, I felt that the middle portion was slow and a bit of a curve ball. I really wanted to love the characters more, but the ending felt so far out of left field I had a hard time reconciling it with the rest of the book. I enjoyed the back story of the bridge and the ESL students, and loved the feeling of community that that aspect brought to the book. However, it felt disjointed and like a second story from the rest of it. That being said, I did still enjoy the audiobook and thought it was a cute read. 3 1/2*

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Bryony is an aspiring author who is looking for representation for her book based on the Bridge, an organization her grandmother founded to teach ESL. She is hoping by selling her book she can help the financially struggling Bridge to keep it's doors open. She meets an agent Jack, who is not interested in her manuscript but employs her to be a ghost writer.

My favorite part of this book was the connection to the ESL learning center. The characters from that were sweet and endearing and I found Bryony's passion toward the cause was a great add and motivation to the story. Unfortunately, I also found Bryony to be extremely stubborn and I wish she would just get out of her own way. Especially for a book named The Perfect Rom-Com, there was just not good romance in this book. The chemistry between the two leads was basically nonexistent and I feel the book would've been stronger without it.

Tropes
* Book about Books
* He Falls First
* Forced Proximity
* Workplace Romance
* Closed Door Romance
* Slow Simmer (not enough chemistry to be a "Slow Burn")

3 stars

2 stars ⋆˚࿔
-
the beginning of this book dragged on unfortunately, i only started to get interested in what was going on by the 58% mark which should not be the case in a romance, contemporary book. i say 'interested' but i mean that in the loosest definition possible. i understand needing background and character development but wow.
-
i did not care for anything in this story unfortunately. the plot and characters were really bland and even the ending reveal just felt super flat and empty. i really wanted to like this story but it was just not for me at all.

This was such a quick cute rom com! I love that it was a closed door romance, so I can recommend to younger readers. It was very predictable, but I still very much enjoyed it!

I am happy to report another 5-star romance to blissfully indulge in with a title that isn't shy about what it is: The Perfect Rom Com.

Bryony Page is a passionate ESL teacher with a dream of becoming an author and using her earnings to bolster the perpetually under-funded school she works at. She's written a profound literary masterpiece that is twice the length of a typical debut novel and is frantically trying to find a publisher who will give it a chance. Jack Sterling, literary agent to the stars, is her last chance...but when their short meeting begins to tank, she surprises him with her quick wit and sharp analysis skills, and he realizes she might be the answer he's been searching for for another project. If she agrees to ghostwrite one of the biggest names in the biz, he'll work with her to get her passion project greenlit.

And thus begins the most romantic of romances.

Bryony's character is very well developed. She has dreams and passions and history, and as far as her work is concerned, she knows exactly what she wants, and she's determined to get it. Jack's character is maybe not as visible in the story, but he doesn't feel flat. He's incredibly good at his high stress job, and though that makes it hard to distinguish his true feelings from Bryony's perspective, since she's his client and he'll do anything to appease his clients, I feel like the integrity of his character is plain as day.

The romance is so deliciously crafted. They can't really indulge in a usual romance because of their unique situation, but the friendship that develops between them is so genuine and endearing it fuels the craving and yearning for more. Everyone seems to see the potential between them before Bryony, and I was SO on board for every succulent sentence of it.

The story's development didn't lack either. There are real, serious conflicts that Bryony and Jack are contending with that don't have easy answers, but in perfect rom com fashion, everything resolves itself in the end, and the characters are done justice in a way that satisfies the built-up tension.

I was seriously so engrossed in this book the way that only great ones can do. I can't wait to read more from Melissa Ferguson, and I hope you find the time to add this one to your ever-expanding TBR if you're a romance lover like me!

After a disastrous pitch session at her first writers conference, aspiring author Bryony Page stumbles into correcting another author’s work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with literary agent Jack Sterling. When he offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist, Bryony agrees on one condition: she’ll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as he works to sell her own book too.

Bryony couldn't predict her books making Amelia literary royalty. She still held on to her publishing dream but stayed the ghostwriting course for her grandmother's struggling ESL organization.

I loved the narrator on this one. She brought out Bryony's chaotic life perfectly as she went on a book tour, tried to market her manuscript, and even fell in love. I loved the last chapters as everything fell into place for her beyond her wildest dreams.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5⭐
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only

This book had so much potential however I strongly dislike the MMC he was arrogant, self centred and then threatened the FMC with a lawsuit? I failed to see the funny side within this book. There was very little romance within this book and the first 50% dragged a little without much happening.
The narrator's of this book were brilliant they brought the characters to life however I felt the story let them down and I just didn't really care for either of them. I spent most of the book wishing Bryony would grow a backbone!
I found from the cover and title we were going to get banter, flirting, maybe some tension and there was none of this. Sadly I don't see the romance or comedy within this book. Not for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eALC of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a fun time, the characters were basically caricatures (specifically Emilia) and they didn't really develop throughout the entire book however, the banter between the main characters was pretty fun.

I don't read that many romcoms but this was a fun one.

The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson

funny lighthearted slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75

A book that feels like a stroll in Starshallow. This book is all golden retriever energy & no black cat.
What I loved💕:
💕 The banter between Jack and Bryony
💕 Up and coming author FMC
💕 Literary events
💕 Bryony sassiness
💕 audio book narrator is easy to listen to and upbeat.

What’s not my cuppa tea:☕️
☕️ all the extra information- it slowed down the book and I’m reading a romance to focus on the main characters
☕️ Hate for affirmations in the bathroom scene