THE PERFECT ROM-COM Content Guide and Review
an aspiring author, a ruthless literary agent, and a villainous bestselling author
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Hello reading friend,
As an aspiring traditionally published author (I’ve indie published, but still hope to have an agent someday) I love reading fun fictional accounts of how an author “makes” it. Wrap that up in a pretty pink bow and add Rom-Com in the title and you’ve got The Perfect Rom-Com.
It’s Shelbie here. I am the author. I also have a confession to make . . . I’m not a huge fan of rom-coms. Sure, there is the occasional one I enjoy (Hello Stranger by Katherine Center or Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson), but I tend to gravitate toward more emotional fiction. I actually read a rom-com before this one and disliked it enough that I didn’t want to review it. It has nothing to do with the author, I just don’t like rom-coms much. (I know. I’m sorry!)
So, what about this one? Did I love The Perfect Rom-Com? I’ll give you the content guide and then my hot take.
Title: The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
Genre: Romance
What trope(s)? Enemies to more? It’s hard to say.
Page count: 304
Publisher supplied synopsis:
She's written dozens of smash hit novels as a ghostwriter. Too bad no one knows it.
Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitching session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.
No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.
What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.
And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.
But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.
Rating: 4-Stars
If this book was a movie would it be rated G, PG, PG-13, or R? PG
Trigger warnings: Death of a parent
Is there language? No
LGBTQ themes? No
Is there spice? Closed door? Open door? No spice. Kisses only.
Is there violence? No
Is there any spiritual content? No (This is by a Christian publisher but I can’t recall even a mention of God. I could be forgetting something.)
My hot take (Why I recommend this book):
Like I said above, I’m not a fan of rom-coms. So, why did I pick up this book?
Good question.
I read Meet Me in the Margins by the same author and I loved it. Like that one, this book was also about an aspiring writer. I love stories about stories.
This was a unique take on the publishing industry. The main character is a ghost writer for a mega-hit bestselling author. Truthfully, a fun idea. I did like this book. I liked the chemistry between Jack and Bryony. Their meet-cute to their are-we-friends-are-we-more relationship was sweet. I loved that we skipped two years to get to when they were absolute best friends.
The part I didn’t love was the third-act “break-up,” a contested writing trope in many books. (Heck, I’ve even used it.) Bryony was a little childish near the end. I loved that this book almost had a “villain.” I kind of wish the climax could have had less to do with Bryony and Jack having a falling out and more about the lying mega-author Amelia and her dislikable personality.
If you love low-spice (no-spice) rom-coms, you’ll probably love this one. Don’t take this hesitant-about-rom-com’s-reader’s word for it. Melissa is a sweet author and I totally think you should support her work.
You may like this book if you liked: Meet Me in the Margins by the same author. First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer.
Do you love rom-coms? If so, what’s your favorite one?