★★★★ How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson, A Hollywood Sitcom Romantic Comedy For Animal Lovers!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
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He crossed an ocean, and it still wasn’t enough to escape his lifelong nemesis. Now he has to work with her.
Successful screenwriter Finn Masters just landed his dream job writing for Neighbors, one of Hollywood’s highest-rated, longest-running sitcoms. The only downside? It will put him back in proximity of the show’s universally adored, optimistic, altruistic star, Lavender Rhodes, who has been inadvertently ruining his life since they were school chums in England. But she doesn’t even know she destroyed his acting career and wrecked his relationship with the love of his life.
He’s not about to let this woman yank yet another dream out from under his feet. In fact, he realizes he’s been given the ideal opportunity to plot his payback: spinning her character in shocking new directions. What could go wrong? Only everything. As Finn’s not-so-brilliant plot backfires one scene after the next, catching him in the blasts, he’s forced to think about this impossible, infuriating…and maybe even lovable woman in an entirely new light.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★ 4/5
Melissa Ferguson delivers another solid four star story with wonderful characters, a cute storyline and moments that will have readers chuckling as they devour the pages of this new release.
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting when it came to the enemies-to-lovers trope, but it didn't disappoint nonetheless. Ferguson put her own unique spin not the trope and the tension and depth were still there, even if the banter I expected wasn't. One thing that Ferguson writes well is inner thoughts, sarcasm and slapstick comedic situations, wherein I happily enjoyed many smile-inducing moments.
There's a fantastic cast of side characters that made this story highly entertaining for me including, but not limited to, the four-legged kind! Animal lovers like me will adore the cat-collecting Mrs. Teaberry who quickly became a favorite side character, Bernie the lovable Bernese Mountain dog puppy and Miles, the distinguished Weimaraner.
Also noteworthy was the premise of working on a Hollywood television set, with Finn being a writer/producer and Lavender starring as a leading actress in the tv sitcom he's writing for making the setting for this novel fresh and fun.
While I was hoping for flirting, snark, banter and chemistry from the start, this book is a slow-burn, true to the recent releases from this author. But for readers like me who want it all from the beginning, never fear, it picks up around the two thirds part and has a sweet, rewarding HEA.
Overall, a light read that's worth an afternoon or two and would make a great road-trip or vacation read. I highly recommend the audiobook as well as I listened to it while simultaneously reading my e-copy and adored the narrators (especially the narrator who read Finn's POV) who did a brilliant job of making the characters and comedy come alive.
