Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has it all! Childhood friends to lovers, sort of enemies to lovers, work competition, forced proximity!

I will admit, I did not like Lana much at first. She just seemed very hostile and stubborn. BUT one of my favorite things about this book was getting to know her and her past

I loved Lana's journey of finding herself and realzing how her relationship with her mom was shaping her adult life. I really believed her journey of self discovery and learning to to not only be alone, but thrive alone.

I will say the competition itself and the involvement of Natasha was very very uncomfortable to me. That is my only true criticism for this feel good book!

This book was FANTASTIC. I had such a good time reading it. Childhood friends to lovers, sort of enemies to lovers, work competition, forced proximity, this book had so much happening and it was all done so well. I will admit, I did not like Lana much at first. She just seemed very hostile and stubborn. BUT one of my favorite things about this book was getting to know her and her past relationships, not only with men, but her mother and seeing how it all fit together. I loved her journey of self discovery and learning to to not only be alone, but thrive alone. She grew on me pretty quickly. And SETH. What a guy. He and Lana had amazing chemistry from the second he shows up. I also loved all the work friends and May. All really fun and entertaining side characters. I liked all the Marvel references and little snippets of Seth and Lana’s articles at the beginning of the chapters. The ending was PERFECT. Read this book. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to fill your home with sunflowers.


Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for supplying Just My Type in exchange for an honest review. This book was great, any enemies-to-lovers (if done correctly) can be anything but amazing. Fallon Ballard pulls off this trope with flying colors. The dynamic of her characters is exciting and so enjoyable to read. I highly suggest this novel and this give it four out of five stars.

Full disclosure second chance romances are not my thing and so although I loved the Falon Ballard’s first book I was unsure if I’d enjoy the new one because of the trope. I was wrong and am revisiting my previous stance on the trope soley based on this book. This was just a wonderfully engaging read. I loved Lana from her introduction. She was funny, smart, relatable and is my kind of pop culture nerd. Whilst the competition was rudely thrust upon both Lana and Seth, I love the journey that it took her on and all the things she learnt about herself by taking on each challenge, The relationship with her mother especially was quite heartbreaking but the resolution to that was touching and realistic.

As for Lana and Seth!!! I loved them so much. I worried at first because of the history and Lana’s recollections that I would end up hating Seth but the author did a great job of keeping things balanced and making you desperately want things to work out for them this time around. Seth was a great mix of charming, funny and vulnerable when it was right. The chemistry between them was perfect. I really like FB’s writing style and she did a great job of infusing all of Lana and Seth’s interactions with a mix of love, anger, hurt, longing, heat, and chemistry as well as every little bit of history and familiarity that comes with an ex. Their final articles for the competition were just perfect and legit made me cry. A really enjoyable read worth a very well deserved 5 ⭐️)

The book starts out with an Elle Woods moment, but not the happy one. Lana, expecting to be proposed to, ends up dumped at the restaurant. And when she goes to work the next day, instead of celebrating the news everyone was expecting, she has to explain that mess AND comes face to face with Seth, her very first ex boyfriend who - surprise - is going to be working with them now.

They get pitted against each other - her learning to be single instead of a serial monogamist who can’t be alone, and him giving up the fuckboy (pardon my language lol) life and learning to settle down - both trying for a job they’d like to have in “some kind of masochistic How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days dating fucktastic challenge extravaganza”

Yes that’s an actual line in the book, and it is TOO fitting, how is it not the tagline?!? 😂

This book was great - I was super invested in the characters, and there was a great balance between humor and heart (and three cheers for therapy!)

Thanks to netgalley and putnam books for the ARC!

Lana Parker is a serial monogamous, and writes a dating column for one of LA's trendiest online lifestyle websites. When her long term relationship ends, Lana's boss, tries to capitalize on her newly single status, to bring traffic to the website, Lana reluctantly agree's. Except when the new guy at work, who ends up being Seth Carson, her first love and high school boyfriend, comes to be her foil in the piece. He's a commitment-phobe whose tasked with becoming a man who can put down roots and become boyfriend material. What's at stake? A dream job as a regular columnist at the chronicle, a position both of them want, but only one can have. Seth and Lana's chemistry is just as combative—and undeniable—as ever and quickly leads to a competition that could shape both of their careers. Whoever's series is most popular winds a highly coveted dream job. But when the two square off, it's not only their careers on the line—it’s also their hearts.

Fallon Ballard's first book. A Lease on Love was one of my top romances of last year, and I was so excited to get an ARC of her second release. This book gave me everything I loved from The Hating Game, but in a slow burn second chance romance. It was also more intellectual. It wasn't just two enemies, it was two enemies bettering themselves. They both learn from the way they handled their original break up and go to therapy which I just love. Both characters are deeply flawed and they know it, but both are so relatable. The secondary characters were lovable and help forward the plot without taking away from the main characters.

You do have to suspend some disbelief here. The whole concept is pretty problematic. I mean your work dictating your sex live is a huge red flag and HR nightmare. Also Lana kind of has her head in the sand at some points about how obvious Seth's feelings are and it was frustrating. I felt like it was purposefully being withheld to make a page count or something. But I am still thinking of this book and these characters days after finishing.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 2/7!

Thank you NetGalley for a pre-release copy of Just My Type.

I absolutely love any rom com book that takes place within the realm of books or “You’ve Got Mail” like. . I was super excited to read this book, and it didn’t disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Falon Ballard for this ARC all opinions are my own.

This was the first book I had read by Fallon Ballard and it did not disappoint. It had all the tropes including my favorites: second-chance romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and workplace romance. I felt that Lana and Seth had good chemistry and I enjoyed that while this is a romance book, it also touched on the importance of self-love/discovery through Lana "finding" herself.

While this was not one of my favorite romances, it definitely was a fun/quick read that could get you out of a reading slump.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, simply because I loved Falon Ballard’s first book. But sadly, this one fell flat for me.

I didn’t feel connected to the characters or their romance. I was missing the chemistry and angst that often times comes with a second chance romance trope.

Overall, this just didn’t work for me.

Read if you like: second chance, high school sweetheart, workplace romance.

This was a very cute & heart felt rom com!

I really enjoy the second-chance, ex high school sweethearts trope, and this one REALLY delivered. Lana is a serial monogamist with a deep seated fear of being alone, and for that reason she has jumped from one mediocre guy to the next, unknowingly chasing something she lost when she was young. I really liked how this side of Lana was developed and the backstory she is given for why this is. It made her a believably frustrating character who you still couldn’t help but root for, and I enjoy when my rom-com MCs feel real.

Seth shows up as the ex-boyfriend now turned work rival, and those tropes also both intermingled well. I loved his honesty, and the way Lana & Seth’s banter felt playful and sometimes bordering on resentful, but you could always catch an undertone of regret coming from him. I absolutely believed their chemistry, and that is something that is always 100% necessary to me enjoying a rom com.

The thing that frustrated me about this book was that the conflict / barrier to the couple getting together became very strung out and contrived. Seth was spelling out in no unclear terms how he felt and thought about Lana, which we love! We love a man who uses his words! And somehow Lana found ways to discount it at every turn. I understand that some of this comes from her baggage, but sometimes her conversations with Seth and her conversations ABOUT him felt completely out of touch with one another. It really got to a point where it was just very obvious that it was the reconciliation was being held aloft until the most “impactful” time came along.

All this said, I did really like this and I’m looking forward to reading lease on love. I really enjoyed Ballard’s writing style, quality, and humor, and I love that she can write believable characters with good chemistry. Thank you so much to penguin group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

A perfect winter read!

I felt instantly connected to Lana! Having my own maternal issues I connected with her in the sense that I am a people pleaser and need to be in a "relationship".

When her high school love shows back up in her life after being dumped on the night she thought she was getting engaged it is only fair for her boss and maternal figure to put Lana into a tailspin.

Seth is a great counterpart to Lana throughout the novel. He is the best supporting role in this novel as Lana learns to love herself.

A worthwhile read on finding yourself while navigating the dating world.

Single POV, 1st person, spice .5🌶️, forced proximity, lovers to enemies to lovers? •
Lana lives in LA writing about love for a lifestyle site. She’s a serial monogamist, never single for long between relationships. But she’s sick of writing fluffy pieces about dating.
When Lana’s ex/high school sweetheart/a serial hookup player comes to LA to work for her company, Lana’s boss pits her and Seth against each other. Lana’s challenge is to stay single and learn to be okay with being alone. Seth’s challenge is to find someone with long term potential and show that he’s ready to settle down.
Both the main characters and the side characters in this book were very likable. The plot surrounding Lana’s and Seth’s challenges was entertaining. And while the general ending was fairly predictable, I didn’t see the epilogue coming. Very cute rom-com with just a couple semi-spicy scenes

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I loved Ballard’s Lease on Love, so I was thrilled to read Just My Type. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this as much as I loved her first book.

The setup of the situation at work made me so unbelievably uncomfortable that I almost didn’t want to finish the book. I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the world of publishing, but I do know that in my industry, the HR department would have had an absolute field day. That feeling of discomfit never got better and it led to an overall negative experience of the book.

I don’t “get” Seth and Lana. Where’s the chemistry?? Shared trauma does not a relationship make, and I’m not sure about the message that that sends. I also cannot believe these people are THIRTY YEARS OLD. I am (almost) thirty years old, and their actions are on par with the way that I behaved as an undergraduate student in my early twenties.

Positives: the found family group at work; the setting (I know nothing about LA and was captivated); GOING TO THERAPY!!, and a very cheesy ending that I thought I would hate, but found rather sweet after all.

Some good elements, but this book is without the overall charm of Lease in Love and left me disappointed.

Thank you so much to Falon Ballard, Putnam & NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I read Ballard’s debut Lease on Love last winter in 2 days. I knew I was a fan of her writing instantly and it continues to be true with her second book Just My Type.

"You're incapable of being alone, Lana. And frankly, it's exhausting."

Lana loves being in love. She has always been in a relationship since she was a teenager and doesn’t truly know how to be alone. She writes for a column on dating and relationships but an opportunity arises when she has a chance to write what she truly loves - pop culture! The only problem is she has to compete against her first love (and the one who caused her biggest heartbreak) Seth for a chance at the opportunity.

"You held by hand for the first time in the backseat of a bus." A soft chuckle escapes him. "I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life."

The banter between Lana and Seth is *chef’s kiss*. You could feel the tension between them and the moments gave your stomach butterflies (looking at you Coyote Ugly moment at the bar and Speed dating). There was so much love between them but clearly they needed to work through their past hiccups in order to move forward. Not even just as a potential relationship but just in general to move on. 

There were so many moments that had me swooning and don't know how Lana kept herself together when I know she was melting inside. There are two moments that are sticking out in my head and I won't say anything further: the club & speed dating.

I also want to throw out there that the cast of characters in this are truly wonderful - "get a room"! I love reading the Slack chats & I felt like I could be friends with all of them.

I love all the pop culture references Ballard put into the story. I could tell she was pulling from what she loves into this (shoutout to Happy to Meet Cute for allowing the audience to get to know her and author Courtney Kae).

This book gives me The Hating Game mixed with your favorite romantic comedies into this charming, slow burn childhood friends to lover to enemies to friends to lover mix that just gives you all the feels and yells (the good yells).

Bravo Falon!

I loved this so much! It was so adorable... but anything fallon writes will always be my favorite! She knows how to make me laugh. Also this book doesn't help my obsession with grey sweatpants! Thank you Penguin Group and netgalley for giving me this arc! I loved it so much 5 stars!

oh, how I adored this. This was a cute second chance romance with a first love that my sappy heart just loved. I will admit that Lana wasn't my favorite heroine. She was a little immature, stuck in self-pity , and can be a little selfish at times towards the hero Seth..but I think that was the point. This story was more than just a romance, it was about self-discovery and finding herself.
Lana is thirty years old, stuck at a dead-end job, and has been in a series of not-so-great long relationships, just for the sake of being in one. Relatable? Absolutely! After a horrible break up, Lana gets a dm on Instagram from her first love saying that they need to talk. Of course, she ignores it and the next day, he shows up at her work as a new employee! What a nightmare! To top it off, her boss takes advantage of this opportunity for them to enter into a work competition, that crosses so many lines. Don't get me started...or rather just read the book...LOL
In the competition, Lana has to learn on how love being on her own and Seth has to stop being a "womanizer" and learn how to be a serious relationship and find the one.

Being a native Angelino and growing up in Los Angeles, I also loved all the references.
Read this if you love hazelnut iced coffee, second chance romance, enemies to lovers, workplace rivalry, rom com nostalgia, pop culture, and swoony moments.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

One of the things I try to do when I finish a book is to capture a few thoughts. When I finished, Just My Type, this was what I wrote:

Do you hear that sound? It’s my heart exploding from the last two chapters of this book. I had no doubts that Ballard’s follow up would delight me. Add one of my favorite tropes (second chance romance) and a very rom-com feel to the mix, and it was beyond successful. I tend to be a soft touch and to get very invested in my couples, but I feel I shed more tears for these two than I normally do. Their reconciliation was of vital importance to me, and I was very please with the personal growth Lana experienced as well. What a great way to start my reading year!

Needless to say, this book was a hit for me. The premise was one that my sappy heart adores – a second chance with your first love. Lana and Seth parted ways when they attended universities at opposite sides of the country, but they never stopped thinking about each other. Ahhh, the pining. But a not-so-ideal attempt to reunite at their high school reunion put Seth on Lana’s list of persona non grata. When Lana was paired with Seth for a relationship advice series, let’s just say, things got complicated.

The relationship series was such a fantastic and fun way to have Lana and Seth come to terms with their past while allowing them to renew their bond. Watching their interactions warm up, bit by bit, and seeing them share more and more with the other filled me with joy. There were a few heartbreaking moments as they shared more about their breakup, but the abundance of love and affection displayed by them put a perma-grin on my face.

In case you couldn’t tell, the romance portion of this book was a standout element for me. Combine with a fabulous cast of supporting characters and great personal arcs for Seth and Lana, I found Just My Type to be the total package for me.

Just My Type was a surprisingly good read for me! The dynamic between Seth and Lana drew me in almost instantaneously. I love enemies to lovers tropes and second chance romances!

In this book, both main characters are journalists and when Seth comes to work at Lana’s work place they are pitted against each other in a journaling competition. Can Lana be okay remaining single at the end of the competition? Can Seth learn to stop womanizing and find long term love?

I thoroughly enjoyed the healing of both characters. Obviously with a second chance romance there are some hurts from the past and I believe the author did a really good job reconciling those for both Lana and Seth.

My favorite aspect by FAR is the growth of Lana. So so good! Highly recommend this book.

Only reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating is I would have like it to be a dual POV since they have a history.

Just My Type was a funny, bingable read. I love a good competition storyline and pitting two still-in-love-but-angry ex's into a writing competition was hilarious! Lana needed to embrace the single life and Seth had to settle down (which felt almost too easy as he probably would have bought a couch eventually even without the competition, but I digress). The two of them doing these tasks together was a fun way to see their pining. Although, we heard about how great their chemistry was more than see it. Through this competition, it was enjoyable to see Lana's growth through self-reflection and therapy (yay romances with therapy!) to come to terms with her romantic, professional, and platonic relationships.

I love second-chance romances but seem to be on a roll of unsatisfying ones. Lana was frustrated and occasionally appeared way too oblivious/immature about Seth than was necessary. The "Seth was so horrible to me" excuse was... icky. And then by the end, I just don't think there was enough communication for me to feel like they were in the place for a relationship.

In the end, I had a fun time reading but didn't feel warm fuzzies and don't think this will be one that sticks with me.

I enjoy Ballard's books, but I have to say that this one wasn't my favorite. I considered DNFing it around 50% but decided to keep going because I really enjoyed her other book.

This was just a little slow for me. I loved the other one, Lease on Love, but this fell a bit short.

However if you liked "how to lose a guy in 10 days"...pick this up! Fun Vibes!