Rating: 3.5

This is the first book I read by Falon Ballard and I will definitely be reading her other stuff. I found the read to be fun and light. This book didn’t get a 4 star rating because I found it hard to connect with Lana. That is of course until the end. I tend to gravitate towards women characters that are strong willed and Lana was lacking in that department. That being said, I really liked Seth and I enjoyed reading his point of view.

Why I found it difficult to connect with Lana: she is written as an insecure and needy character. She yearns for the acceptance and love of others and that means she often if not always overlooks her own desires. Lana settles for whatever attention is given to her in relationships, in friendships and even at her job. But when Seth very openly and obviously loves her, she refuses him. Over and over and over again. Half the time she acts completely oblivious to his advances or his honesty which at some point just becomes annoying. She does redeem herself towards the end of the book when she grows as a person and starts seeing things differently but I had spent to much of the book annoyed for this to be bumped to a 4 star rating.

That being said, the book was overall a fun read. We get to see Lana’s friendships and her friends are pretty fun. There is also a lot of back and forth flirtatious banter between characters which was funny to read. It was definitely a perfect book to relax with. I recommend this if you like the exes to enemies to lovers theme.

Lana, a writer in LA, finds herself in a competition with, of all people, her high school ex-boyfriend. This contest will decide whether Lana or Seth earns a coveted column at the LA Chronicle, something she has been working towards for the past 8 years. When he breezes into town and threatens that possibility, Lana is ready to use her feelings of heartbreak and anger as fuel in her battle for the column.

What she doesn't expect is how the feelings and memories that get dredged up in the process will affect her. And does Seth feel the same way? How can she win the contest, figure out how to be happy with herself, and maybe get the guy?

I really enjoyed the tension and angst in this book. There was competition, snark, and spice, all of which led to an interesting and engaging read.

Lana is a character with whom I can easily identify, from her desire to be a writer to her difficult upbringing. I recognize her need to please others in myself, and appreciate how the author talks about therapy. It *is* important. And necessary. Honestly, some of the discussions with her therapist were helpful in my own life, so I really feel a kinship with Lana. Our experiences are, of course, different, but some of the results make us quite similar.

I loved her relationships with her friends and co-workers. Their slack chats that are sprinkled throughout the story were hilarious, and made me feel like I was one of the gang.

All in all, it was a fun read that I had a hard time putting down.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Really loved the lovers to enemies to lovers situation. I am a newer romance reader but hey I am all for this trope! Seth was so swoony! I really loved her other book, but I think this is my favorite by her so far!

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

I love a good second chance romance and Just My Type not only has that but is also a rivals-to-lovers story. I was immediately in.

I definitely enjoyed this more than Falon Ballard's debut book. I felt for Lana as a character who was an interesting mix of people pleaser and fiercely independent woman (all due to not-so-stellar parenting by her mother and painful breakup with her first love Seth).

This book kicks off with Lana getting dumped immediately followed by her ex-boyfriend/first love Seth moving to LA and apparently there to take a columnist position Lana was hoping to get. After eight years of writing dating columns she wants to branch out.

The main conflict of this book comes from a competition their boss sets them up for. Lana can't not be in a relationship and Seth can't be in a long term one. They both must complete ten tasks set up to challenge them and write corresponding articles on those experiences. As they are forced to spend time together, it becomes very apparent they both still have unresolved sexual tension and lingering feelings for each other. Lana and Seth had good chemistry and their back and forth was enjoyable.

The things that kept me from rating this 4 stars instead of 3 (really more of a 3.5) were the awkward pop culture references, especially the Marvel ones. They just felt so shoehorned in. Every time I saw a 'Thank Loki', 'Thank Thor', or 'Thank Odin' I cringed. Also I honestly lost count of how many times Lana mentioned an iced hazelnut latte. I felt like it was brought up every chapter. I also wished Seth had been a little more fleshed out. I think that's an unfortunate downside of books written in the first person.

It definitely gave me How to Lose a Guy in 10 Ten Days vibes. Overall it's a nice romantic read and the sex scenes were hot.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Earlier this year I read Falon Ballard's debut novel, Lease on Love. I gave it a solid 3 stars. It was enjoyable, but not super memorable (though to be 100% transparent, I forget most of the books I read. So it could be a "me" problem.)

I really enjoyed her sophomore novel Just My Type. Lana, a newly single serial monagamist, and relationship advice writer finds herself in a 10 Ways to Lose a Guy situation. Her boss at the website she works at gives her a new assignment: stay single and find yourself. In a twist nobody saw coming, the newest addition to the writing staff, Seth, is in competition with her for his own writing assignment. He must dedicate himself to embracing the idea of a long term relationship, because he's been trotting the globe writing important stories, no time for girlfriends there. For 10 weeks they each have an assignment to write about, post on the socials, and there will be a public judging at the end on who learned the most, or wrote the best...I forget because...well, I'm me.

Oh, and the kicker...Lana and Seth used to date in high school but something big and bad happened (which, as per usual, we find out at the 60% mark) that broke them apart and they haven't been in contact since the fateful reunion at the website offices.

I enjoyed this book. I got a little itchy at some of the writing assignments because they could have broken HR policies, but whatevs! There was great chemistry and character development, and I'm excited to see what Falon Ballard writes next.

A funny, charming story with an appealing blend of tropes and a ton of pop culture references, Just My Type will appeal to romance readers who like workplace rivals/enemies to lovers/second chance romance stories. TONS of personal growth in the female main character, and it was great to actually have scenes with her therapist as seeing a model of what therapy can be might spur readers to consider getting help for some of their own issues. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

I think Lana and Seth's individual character arcs and joint arc was full and satisfying. This book had so much heart. The second chance romance between these two was borderline painful at points. I loved seeing them slowly grow back together again and the epilogue was just the right amount of sweetness for me. I also loved the therapy subplot. I think it complimented Lana's journey and was used as more than a plot device to fix a third act issue.

The book loses a star for me because I felt that the secondary characters were underdeveloped and the main "villain" of the book seemed a bit too contrived and cliche. I will say that the steamy scenes were a bit much for me, but they were fairly easy to skip for those who like the romance but not the steam. Other than that this was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! Read it in a day. I’m a sucker for second chances and I was really pulling for the second chance reunion in Just My Type. This book has all the swoon-worthy content — it is sweet and satisfying with the perfect dialog to make you really fall in love with all of the characters! Thank you for the ARC.

I loved this!! I loved Lease on Love - so I was over the moon excited for this eARC.

I LOVED IT. Absolutely devoured it. The second chance. The banter. It gave me very how to lose a guy in 10 days vibes, and that is one of my favorite movies - so naturally it made me love it even more.

The characters were so relatable, it was such a good read.

Lana Parker hasn’t been single since she and her HS bf Seth Carson, the love of her life, broke up 12 years ago. She continues to find herself in long term relationships with guys she really doesn’t like just so she isn’t alone. After her most recent dating disaster- a guy she thought was going to propose only for him to dump her, Lana decides she needs to make a change. It’s time to focus on herself, her happiness and getting that long overdue promotion at work. But to get that promotion, Lana needs to stay single AND compete with Seth for the job. Now, not only are their careers on the line, but so are their hearts.



I loved, loved, loved this book. It has most of my favorite tropes- first love, enemies to lovers, second chance romance and rivalries. Falon Ballard writes the most perfect rom-com and makes me wish it was a movie- I was loling from the very first page and completely invested in Lana’s journey to self-love. Also, Seth was dreamy and I was rooting for him & Lana the entire book. Totally recommend this book!!


Thank you NetGalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the e-ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

✔️workplace rivals
✔️second chance
✔️high school sweethearts
✔️how to lose a guy in 10 days vibes

I'm a big fan of Falon Ballard's Lease On Love and my expectations were high for Just My Type.. and it lived up to them all! This had everything that I love - quick pace, witty banter, tension, steam and copious amounts of Marvel/Star Wars references 😍.

Just My Type had me wanting to just keep reading and never put it down. There was not a dull moment throughout this book.

Once we meet Seth (😍😍), the story really kicks into high gear and having Seth and Lana work on their assignment together was the perfect way to get these two on 'dates'. The speed dating scene is EVERYTHING.

Underneath this amazing rom com is a beautiful story about Lana discovering her true self and THRIVING. I don't want to give too much away so you'll have to read this for yourself when it comes out on February 7, 2023.

I love this punny title for a book about writers. 4.5 stars rounded up. Lana and Seth are childhood loves who compete each other during a writing challenge. It’s a unique premise and I loved Lana’s growth through the story. She grew into her own through the various “challenges” Seth proposed. Plus, she went to USC. Fight on.

4.5 stars. Once I began reading this, I couldn't put it down, nor did I want to stop. As an assignment by her boss, Lana Parker has been tasked with staying single while her new competitor is none other than her former boyfriend Seth Carson and his challenge is to become relationship ready. The prize is to have their own journalist column, which Lana has been vying for after several years so she's not letting this opportunity to pass her by, nor will she let Seth have the upper hand after he broke her heart twice. The challenges are a combination of interesting and intriguing as well as daring for both sides.

Their dynamic is a good balance of snark and sarcasm as well as nostalgia and tenderness. I enjoyed the antagonism covering up the old hurt, realizing that both of them are nursing previous wounds. They were also professional and friendly when necessary. Lana is a bit of a nerd at heart with how much she loves movies and books with her own sense of style and yearns to belong to someone. She's had a series of failed relationships, but has a close and supportive group of great friends. Seth has been traveling for his job for the last several years so he might finally be settling down in one location. As the challenges ramp up between them, these two find themselves settling in a semi-truce that forces them to communicate about the past and feelings. I really liked these two characters and how strong their history was despite how much they tried to ignore the past.

There were a few small gaps where I felt like the author mostly told the reader what happened rather than showed it through the plot. For instance, what makes Seth a casual dater other than Lana's assumptions, because based on the description of them in high school, it seems like he was relationship material from the get go. Also, the breakup and the second meetup at a reunion are given only a brief description, but probably deserved more elaborate details considering the deep scars they left on Lana and since these two are writers, obviously it would be good to hear the words in dialogue that were used. It felt like too much of a rearview glance rather than a front row seat for the observer and I thought these parts were too critical to gloss over.

While the romantic element is entertaining with how much these two are like magnets who can't help but be drawn to each other, there is a bit of a personal journey on both sides. I could appreciate the growth in Lana in figuring out to be content on her own and facing past conflicts so she could be a better version of herself when she is ready to love again. I would've loved just a small snippet into Seth's mind or POV during those times he could act so indifferent and uncaring, but otherwise he was able to be very forthcoming and transparent when it came to communicating during critical moments. It was obvious to everyone and the reader that these two are very much perfect together so it's only a matter of time before these two realize there are more important things at stake than career goals. With a bit of a rom com vibe of enemies-to-lovers, second chance and some forced proximity in a workplace setting, this was definitely my type of read.

This one made me swoon. The love match was obvious but the way they got there kept me reading. A great love story.

I had such a fun time reading this book! It was so enjoyable and fun. I honestly didn't know that I was going to find anything about it that I didn't enjoy, but there were two minor things. One of them was the way the men at the dive bar were discussed, saying that it was okay that Lana pushed herself on them because they were gay and it "wouldn't matter" to them. My other issue was the treatment of Seth after Lana's last task. This got under my skin pretty badly and honestly is the biggest reason I have this at a 4.5 rather than a solid 5 star review.

I gave this book 3.5 stars! I loved this book and the growth we see between the main characters. Lana and Seth had amazing growth throughout the book together and apart. There were many moments especially through Lana's POV that I loved to see her growth and realization. I felt like her relationship with her mom was a little too brushed over. It is mentioned here and there and then (spoiler warning) she is basically the reason that she realizes that she has been standing on her own two feet her whole life and is ready to be with Seth. I wish their relationship was a bit talked about more. Overall I loved the characters and the pace. I am still learning how I feel about the "second chance romance:" trope but this book was definitely a plus in that category! Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this Advanced readers copy.. I am so thankful!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley!
This was a fun quick read. I found myself giggling at all the movie references!

<b>3.5 stars, rounded down</b>

I'm having some conflicting feelings about this one. On one hand, there were a lot of good things about this book: great writing, a pretty good second-chance romance, and dialogue that never felt unnatural. But on the other hand, there were a few things that I didn't care for: miscommunication (UGH), a main character who felt immature at times, and all of the side characters who had no lives or storylines or personalities outside of reacting to the main character's relationship. If you can look past those (and I did while I was reading, but after finishing the book and sitting with it for a while, they started to bug me more), then I'd definitely recommend this one.


<i>Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.</i>

I loved this book! It hooked me from the very first page and I didn’t want to put it down.

I’m normally not a big fan of second chance romance, but I loved Lana and Seth’s story. In real life, the plot would be an HR nightmare, but it was a fun way to force them to work together and sort through their feelings/past hurt. It was very How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, which I love.

I enjoyed following Lana’s growth throughout the story and her realization that she’s always been strong and able to care of herself. And Seth - I love when the MMC in a book is honest about his feelings. When Seth said “I want you,” I died.

I haven’t read Lease on Love yet, but I’ve already ordered it after finishing this book. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, so I’m looking forward to more books from Falon Ballard.

Highly recommend this one! If you like Emily Henry books, you’ll like this one.

I'm not generally a fan of second change or slow burn romances, but I really enjoyed this one! It took me a while to warm up to Seth and Lana, especially since their angry "banter" was more cringey/juvenile than witty, but once they got over themselves and started to communicate I loved their love story. My reading experience is always improved if there is a hero's POV, but alas we can't always get what we want. It would have helped here, because Seth's late-in-the-game confession didn't have enough lead-up—but, ok I'll take it! One of my favorite aspects was that Lana realized she was already who she needed to be and had always been a capable, independent person whose relationship issues were mostly interpreted as such by others (and that this entire challenge was inappropriate bullshit). Sometimes characters don't need to "grow" so much as realize and accept who they are already. All-in-all a great easy rom-com for fans of Abby Jimenez and Rachel Lynn Solomon.