This is my first book by Falon Ballard even though I own her debut, Lease on Love, because I couldn't resist buying it after seeing all the hype on Bookstagram.

So while I can't compare the two, I can say that Just My Type was a fun, banter-filled, second chance romance / enemies to lovers, with some shady, no way HR would ever let fly, work competition between a former couple.

I do think the book would have benefited from more of Seth's viewpoint and a little less Marvel references, but that's just my opinion.

If you enjoyed the movie How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, I think you would enjoy this book. It does have some steamy moments but nothing that you can't skim over if that's not your thing.

This is a very cute second chance rom-com. Similar to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I just wish we got Seth's POV too.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute fun easy read!

A second chance at love for a couple but with a fun twist. I really appreciated the cast of characters and the fun group chats throughout the book. I would be fine with just a whole book of the group chats. I appreciated the character development and working through relatable life issues. I loved how Ballard highlighted therapy and that the benefits that it brings!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Putnam Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just My Type by Fallon Ballard. Pub Date: February 7, 2023. Rating: 4 stars. In this second chance romance, Lana Parker has an unexpected encounter with her ex-boyfriend Seth Carson when he shows up at her work and takes an assignment as a journalist there. Tensions run high and old flames don't die hard in this hilarious romantic comedy in which both Lana and Seth are put to the test against each other and sent down a rabbit hole to produce an article series about dating. The winner of the series gets a new column and Lana wants it with everything she has. In their quest, Seth and Lana begin to realize that maybe there is still a spark and their hearts are still entwined. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #justmytype #netgalley

“For me, it’s a feeling that I’ve always been searching for. And Seth is the only person who ever truly made me feel like I was home.”

I absolutely loved this book. I read Fallon’s first book last year and I loved that, and I was so excited to read this one. I’ve had it for a while and I wish I had waited so long!

There is nothing I love more than a second chance romance. I LOVE IT. I do get sad about all the time apart and wasted time. But seeing them reunite, and in this case the tension because of the reunion - it’s so good. Their banter is amazing; even though they’re kind of enemies?? Mostly because Lana is SO HURT. But watching them soften towards each other, watching Lana seeing Seth’s intentions but not being able to understand??? Amazing.

Lana and Seth have SO MUCH history. And Lana has carried that baggage for a long time. And now they’re competing for a job and the tasks are all relationship related and things get so messy! For Lana anyway…Seth is pretty sure the whole time. I would have LOVED to have Seth’s POV. I mean, I have a pretty good idea what it would have been, which is why we don’t NEED it, but I still want it.

I loved seeing Lana finally find herself. It’s taken seemingly her whole life. But now with this whole work assignment, which all the tasks have been set by Seth which is amazing, has opened her eyes for the better. Do not get me wrong, it was rough for a second or two…i just hate conflict. I hated Lana doubting herself and doubting Seth. But also I loved the ending, so it’s okay.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This was sooo cute - this will defs be a fav for all the second chance romance folksiez out there! ❤️‍🩹

Lease on Love will still be my fav, but there is something special with Lana & Seth here. Maybe its the all the twisty history that sucks me in but dang, I devoured this one!! A few months ago… But I still remember a decent portion of it!

The one note I have that could be a slight spoiler is that the ending was super rushed, and all the loose ends were just perfectly tied up asap. I candidly don’t think all of them played out well because it was rushed (cough cough her boss cough cough)

All in all, Just My Type solidifies that Falon Ballard is an outstanding romance writer that writes such relatable and laugh out loud funny characters. This one is out Feb 7 2023! 🫶💓

Defs preorder this one to read for Valentine’s Day!! 🌹🥰

This was super cute! I honestly read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the way it started and I enjoyed the whole story line. This was a couple that had you rooting for them the whole time.

I really loved Ballard’s debut, Lease on Love, & was so excited to receive an ARC for Just My Type. This is an overall lovely second chance romance between MC’s Lana & Seth.

Parts of the work competition Lana & Seth are apart of felt a bit off for me because I can’t imagine a situation like that would ever fly with HR BUT I did enjoy this one & would recommend it if you love a second chance romance.

Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Just My Type by Falon Ballard is such a good second chance romance!! Lana and Seth fell in love at 14 and after 12 years apart they are suddenly thrust back into each others lives.

They are pitted against each other in a How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days type competition - and through it all they find a way, not back to what they were but, forward to what they were always meant to be.

I love Seth. He never once doubted his feelings for Lana. With every decision he made, he was always doing what he thought was best for her. & I always love it when the MMC has a unique nickname for the FMC.

There was one “scene” during the late stage conflict that I just did not love - which is the ONLY reason I had to knock off a star.

I will definitely go back and read Falon’s first book and anything she writes after. I was hooked from page one and could not stop reading until the end!

Readers are often asked what their favorite romance trope is, and for me, it’s all about second chance romances. Just My Type epitomizes all I love about the trope, and throws in a bit of enemies to lovers, too. So, what is it I love about second chance romances, and how does the author do it so well here? Lana and Seth were each other’s first loves, high school sweethearts who had broken up 12 years before this story begins. In those 12 years, they’d each been working on fulfilling their dreams. Lana had had several long-term relationships, and then she gets dumped on the night she thinks she’s about to get engaged—right before Seth reenters her life, this time as an adversary at her workplace. It is clear that there is a lot of heartache between these two, unresolved feelings, and sparks fly as they banter and compete. The question is, do they still love each other, and can they ever forgive each other enough to reunite? I loved that Lana is insightful, exploring her need to always be in a relationship, and discovering if she’s okay on her own. There was growth on the part of both characters, and I was with them through their highs and lows, their tears and laughter, and most of all, their love.

I was excited for Just My Type after the hype that Fallon Ballard's novel got last year, Lease on Love. I ended up getting an early audio copy in addition to this NetGalley copy, and the audio was great! There a few things I really liked about Just My Type and a few things I didn't like. I will start off by talking about what I enjoyed: the plot and characters! I thought the plot of a work assignment against your ex-boyfriend was unique and I liked the competition aspect. It is an inappropriate thing for your job to make you do, however I suspended disbelief and just enjoyed following along while Lana and Seth completed their assigned tasks. Lana also works through some of her issues with her job with her therapist, and it was refreshing to actually be there during the therapy sessions to watch Lana's character development. I really liked Lana and Seth as characters. While we only get to see Seth from Lana's perspective, he seemed like a cinnamon roll hero that only wanted the best for Lana. Lana knew what she wanted to do with her life, and as a fellow book reviewer, I loved that she ran a blog where she posts book reviews!

Let's get to the not-so-good parts of this book. While I liked Lana and Seth as characters, I did not like their relationship. Lana had just broken up with her boyfriend of 4 years when Seth comes back into the picture, and I think it really would have benefitted Lana to have some time to discover herself without being in a relationship (in that case we wouldn't have this book though, would we?) There was very little relationship development, just occasional crossed paths between Lana and Seth that did not feel like they would lead to something more. We barely get to see them in a relationship, and then there is also barely any slow burn pining for each other? I was sad.

Overall, I would still pick this up if you enjoyed Fallon Ballard's last release. After reading this one, I am not sure I will go back to read Lease on Love. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the opportunity to read Just My Type early!

Thanks to netgalley, I was able to reas this book for free. I did not care too much for this book. The plot could have been better.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. I enjoyed Lana and her quest of happiness, being okay being single, and coming to terms with her childhood. I loved the premise of enemies to lovers and even the second chance romance, which I’m typically not a fan of. I also enjoyed the setting of LA and both Lana and Seth being writers.

Some of the pop culture references were much for me. I always think about how a book will age and I struggled with some of the references. I also wasn’t a fan of Lana’s “Oh Loki” in place of “Oh God” this is my second book where a character has done something similar and I just haven’t ever heard someone in real life do that so I struggle with it in my books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this ARC!

Rating 4.5 but rounding up to 5

This was an excellent read. Slow burn second chance romance with a hint of rivals to lovers thrown in for good measure. Don't for one second think that "slow burn" means the book doesn't capture your attention, because it does. I read this in one sitting. I loved the little pop culture trivia morsels that Fallon Ballard threw in there as well. It really helped me connect more with Lana. There were a few very steamy love scenes as well that were very well done. The supporting characters were so well developed that I hope we get to read more about them in the future. I'd love to read about May or Corey, or Tessa. This was one of the most believably messy, figuring out yourself, almost felt real romance stories I've read in a long time and I highly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam/G. P. Putnam for sharing this advance digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

This was wholly predictable. The contests between the two main characters are cute and, surprise, surprise, Lana and Seth start falling for each other. This combines the enemies-to-lovers trope with the second-chance-at-love trope. I found that I enjoyed the scenes with the side characters in the office more than I did with just Lana. Maybe the book would have benefited from having Seth’s POV. I was never all that clear with what he saw in her.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review

This book>>>>

I really enjoyed Fallon Ballard's debut Lease on Love last year and was anticipating this sophomore release and this DID NOT disappoint. In fact, it is even better! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

After bouncing between serious relationships, relationship columnist Lana finds herself determined to stay single, But when her high school boyfriend Seth moves back to town, and finds himself at Lana' s workplace that might be a bit more challenging. The two find themselves in a battle - with a dream columnist job on the line - as they write a series of a articles: Lana's journey staying single and Seth's journey settling down.

This was giving some serious Emily Henry vibes! The perfect combination of woman's fiction character growth and development with the rom-com vibes and all those butterflies! Lana is vulnerable and strong and was so well written that I just want to become her friend!

Seth and Lana have ALLL the chemistry and the yearning that made this book impossible to put down! And the ending!! UGH SWOON!!

Just my type follows Lana, a writer who is essentially the Carrie Bradshaw of LA (though don't catch her hearing you call her that). Lana is a serial monogamist, who has been in an out of long-term relationships for the past decade, seeking the warmth and safety of relationships though never really finding the right one to do it with after the heartbreak from the one who got away. Then one day, surprise, her ex, the one who got away of course, shows up in LA and soon they are pitted against each other for the same job. Their task? For him to learn to settle down and for her to learn how to be happy together. The book follows the two of them fighting for the win, and maybe a few other things as well.
Wow! This book really pulled at my heartstrings and I was immediately drawn into the story of Lana and Seth. Honestly, I flew through this book, reading it so quickly because I simultaneously loved it and needed to put myself out of my misery and get to the beloved happily ever after. Let me be clear, I was more than happy to endure such misery, but wow did I feel myself pining along with both characters. It had been a minute since I sunk into the world of a really good romcom and this book was certainly up to the task! With a host of fun side characters, there to support our main characters and provide some quippy lines, without quite falling into any of the side character tropes you can find in this genre. It was my first book my Fallon Ballard, and I really enjoyed it!

Lana and Seth are exes that are pitted against each other in an article series to compete for a new job. They have to make a list of tasks for the other and then each have to write about the experience for an online magazine that they work for. The catch? The tasks involve dating for Lana and staying single for Seth.

I felt sorry for Seth through a lot of the story. Lana had a lot of anger towards him and she was back and forth in her feelings, which wasn’t really fair. The worst character, though was Lana’s boss. I felt she was extremely manipulative. The great thing about this book was that I had no idea how it was going to end. They could’ve ended up together after working out their differences or they could’ve gone their separate ways. Both endings work for Lana and Seth’s journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This second chance romance was exactly what I needed after my last read. Seth (swoon) is a dreamy blast from the past who shows up at Lana’s place of work at an LA based publication. Both writers, Seth and Lana find themselves in a How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days esque competition that triggers all kinds of feelings, memories, and challenges for our main characters. I really loved this one and I think you will too. Pick it up on 2/7/23!!!! (Thanks to @netgalley for my ARC!)

After devouring Ballard’s debut novel, Lease on Love, last year, I will be immediately adding her to my list of auto but authors. Can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!

4.5, rounded up to 5!
THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. I absolutely adored it. Just My Type follows Lana, a journalist in LA, who has gone from serious relationship to serious relationship since she was 14. In her most recent relationship, she goes to dinner fully expecting it to end in engagement, but it ends with a breakup. The next day she walks into to work to see her ex-high school sweetheart, Seth (who completely obliterated her feelings the last time they met). Now, no thanks to her slight boundary-crossing boss, Lana is competing with her ex to get the job of her dreams where she has to learn to be single and he has to learn how to settle down.

Tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-second chance romance

Characters:
Lana: I do not think I have related to a character more in my life??? Her dream is to be able to write about all the things she loves: books, movies, and pop culture (which, I mean, is what I'm doing RIGHT NOW). She is also a people pleaser and is such a nerd (in the best way possible!!). She goes through such an amazing arc throughout the book and has such character growth.

Seth: He is such a man written by a woman. He clearly communicates, is super attractive, and remembers all the little things. He also GOES TO THERAPY?! I loved to see this sort of thing in a romance novel like this. He also has a lot of growth throughout this book.

Other Thoughts:
I think this was a perfect enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance book. In some enemies-to-lovers books I have read in the past, I did not really believe in the enemies part. But this one, I totally did. And it was such a gratifying thing watching them slowly go from hate to love. There are some parts where you really have to suspend your belief in reality, though. Like if you think about how inappropriate the whole premise of the competition between Seth and Lana is; there is literally NO WAY that would ever fly in real life. But besides that, I had an absolute blast reading Just My Type. I adored all the characters and the growth they go through.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books, who gifted me an arc in exchange for an honest review!