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A review by lacrimamundi
The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was, in a way, the perfect Rom-Com (for me), but it is also a book about writing the perfect Rom-Com. And this is the point where I think some readers appear to have lost the - forgive me the pun - plot.
Personally I think this was a great story, mostly well-written, with a lot of heart, and great characters, of which many are quaint and charming, and one, very particular one, is infuriatingly horrible. So, the story has it all, heroes, villains, writers, publishing industry insights - and a bit of wisdom and advice light-heartedly hidden between the pages, as well -, a lot of laughter, and a slow-ish burning romance.
The time jump I see so often criticised? Well yes, it's there, but anything important that happened during that time we get told in the ongoing story. So I am not sure what people's gripe is with that.
Is there a significant use of ellipses? Yes, there is. Does it throw you off track when reading? I have no idea, it didn't throw me off; but I like using ellipses in writing, especially in dialogue or thoughts, myself. And I use them quite a bit, thus I know how to read them.
Personally, I think you will enjoy this story just a little bit more if you happen to be a writer yourself, perhaps even a ghostwriter, or perhaps a now-published-author who had to deal with a lot of - sometimes infuriating - struggles along the way, or a literary agent, or an editor.
Maybe the problem of the story is that some of it, if not a good proportion of it, goes over the heads of people who 'only read books'; I think being (at least somewhat) familiar with the publishing industry and the process of writing itself helps the enjoyment tremendously. Thus, the subtitle part that says 'for book lovers' is a little bit misleading, perhaps, and not doing the book a lot of favours.
I felt perfectly entertained, rooted for Bryony and her gang, cheered when the end unfolded the way I anticipated (no, not due to bad writing, quite the contrary - also, a writer knows how stories get written, there are only so many ways one can possibly - and plausible - write them).
I think this is the perfect Rom-Com for writers, small and big, unpublished and published, acclaimed or aspiring, indie or TradPub represented or pursuing.
If it weren't for the subtitle I'd give it 5-stars, but as the subtitle seems - judging by a few of the reviews I read and skimmed over - to inspire wrong expectations I'll leave it at 4.5 and round down instead of up wherever giving half-a-star isn't possible.
Nonetheless, I had a hell of a time with this and I am very glad I picked it up! If you're a writer yourself, and especially if you happen to be ghostwriter, you should absolutely read this if Rom-Coms, or just something rather funny to read, are your thing.
Personally I think this was a great story, mostly well-written, with a lot of heart, and great characters, of which many are quaint and charming, and one, very particular one, is infuriatingly horrible. So, the story has it all, heroes, villains, writers, publishing industry insights - and a bit of wisdom and advice light-heartedly hidden between the pages, as well -, a lot of laughter, and a slow-ish burning romance.
The time jump I see so often criticised? Well yes, it's there, but anything important that happened during that time we get told in the ongoing story. So I am not sure what people's gripe is with that.
Is there a significant use of ellipses? Yes, there is. Does it throw you off track when reading? I have no idea, it didn't throw me off; but I like using ellipses in writing, especially in dialogue or thoughts, myself. And I use them quite a bit, thus I know how to read them.
Personally, I think you will enjoy this story just a little bit more if you happen to be a writer yourself, perhaps even a ghostwriter, or perhaps a now-published-author who had to deal with a lot of - sometimes infuriating - struggles along the way, or a literary agent, or an editor.
Maybe the problem of the story is that some of it, if not a good proportion of it, goes over the heads of people who 'only read books'; I think being (at least somewhat) familiar with the publishing industry and the process of writing itself helps the enjoyment tremendously. Thus, the subtitle part that says 'for book lovers' is a little bit misleading, perhaps, and not doing the book a lot of favours.
I felt perfectly entertained, rooted for Bryony and her gang, cheered when the end unfolded the way I anticipated (no, not due to bad writing, quite the contrary - also, a writer knows how stories get written, there are only so many ways one can possibly - and plausible - write them).
I think this is the perfect Rom-Com for writers, small and big, unpublished and published, acclaimed or aspiring, indie or TradPub represented or pursuing.
If it weren't for the subtitle I'd give it 5-stars, but as the subtitle seems - judging by a few of the reviews I read and skimmed over - to inspire wrong expectations I'll leave it at 4.5 and round down instead of up wherever giving half-a-star isn't possible.
Nonetheless, I had a hell of a time with this and I am very glad I picked it up! If you're a writer yourself, and especially if you happen to be ghostwriter, you should absolutely read this if Rom-Coms, or just something rather funny to read, are your thing.