Member Reviews
I was really drawn in by the description of this book being like "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days". While I do think the competition aspect between two journalists was very well done, unfortunately the relationship between Lana and Seth fell very flat. Lana herself speaks and acts very immaturely. If she was in her young 20's I would be more forgiving, but a 30-year old calling people buttheads like its a genuine insult? Really? At this point it's just embarrassing.
As a second-chance romance this book would've really benefitted from flashback scenes to their previous relationship. When Lana and Seth meet each other again after a decade it's with animosity, and because there's no background into their first relationship I had no interest in them getting back together. To me they were strangers. Like I said before the competition aspect was the best part of the book. I wish more time had been spent on each task because I enjoyed reading about the growth Seth and Lana were experiencing, both separate and together.
Overall, the plot has potential but the writing and execution just isn't great. There is an excessive amount of pop culture references from Lana's end and after some of her Avengers-related dialogue I had to put the book down for the rest of the day because it was so cringe. As an Avengers fan I love to see it represented in books, but this went way too far. This book would've been a lot more enjoyable if the characters acted and spoke in a manner that is consistent with their age and with the removal of the cringey pop culture references.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lana has gotten into the pattern of forming her life around the current guy she is dating, putting their needs first before her own. When her ex Seth unexpectedly becomes Lana’s new coworker her boss Natasha comes up with an idea. Lana and Seth both write a relationship column each week and whoever gets the most engagement on the website is in line for a promotion. Seth must ready himself to be in a serious relationship while Lana must live her best single life. The tasks Lana and Seth set for each other are comedic but dig deep to find out what they truly need in a partner, and themselves. I loved the Los Angeles setting as well as the characters. I appreciated how supportive Lana’s coworkers were and how therapy was part of both Seth and Lana’s assignment. This book touches on relevant topics in a fun, thought provoking way!
Just My Type review
5/5 stars
Be still my heart! Just My Type was truly my type of book! This was even better than Falon Ballard’s debut, Lease on Love, and I loved that book.
Just My Type follows Lana Parker, a relationship columnist who is always (always) in a relationship. When her latest boyfriend dumps her (in public, ugh), she is left feeling defeated and more than a little hungover. Before she can jump in to her next relationship, her editor gives her a new charge: use this time to write about being single - and actually stay single. Simple enough, right? Except their publication was bought out and in walks her ex, the one that started it all: Seth Carson, serial dater and freelance journalist. Seth and Lana soon find themselves in competition with one another (a la How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) where the winner gets the dream prize: their own column in The Chronicle. Who will win? Can Seth and Lana push each other outside their comfort zones? Will this competition reignite the love they once felt for each other?
This book has everything: lovers to enemies to lovers again; second chance romance; workplace rivalry (aka romance in disguise); and a fantastic cast of supporting characters. I thought the main characters were incredibly likable and real with their own problems and worries. Falon Ballard writes with such heart and wit, I couldn’t help but laugh and swoon in equal measure.
Be sure to put this one on your TBR and preorder/request from your library ASAP!
Many thanks to Putnam/Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy of the book!
Oh my goodness! What fun was this!
We've read them all - boy meets girl, girl hates boy, insert big event, happily ever after, right? But the road we take for all of that to happen is always what's different for every book.
This story, Lana and Seth has so much going on. So many fun events, so much heartfelt back stories. I LOVED this ride! And I wanted to just smack them both! haha
The characters were real, I loved the settings.
Thank you for letting me read an advance copy.
I didn’t know it was possible for Falon Ballard to write a book even better than Lease on Love, but she’s absolutely done it with Just My Type. 4.5 stars from me.
Lana and Seth have a history, to put it simply. This book explores their second chance at romance but also gives us so much more. The characters grow, they feel, they learn, and they change in healthy ways. I found myself immediately immersed in the story.
If I get into any detail I’d spoil the book, but I cannot wait for friends to read when it’s released so I can discuss my love of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Lease on Love and Falon Ballard’s second book did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the lists and the competition aspect though I will say, it felt a bit inappropriate for a workplace. The level of involvement of Lana’s boss made me uncomfy but I think that was the point and it was addressed. I really appreciated all of the lessons learned with each task and the overall growth of both Lana and Seth. And just like in Lease on Love, the group chats were executed flawlessly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just My Type, Falon Ballard
February 7, 2023, Penguin Group
I recieved an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Penguin in exchange for an honest review.
Lana is 30 and expecting to soon be engaged to her long-time boyfriend, when, instead of proposing, he breaks up with her. This presents quite the problem for Lana, as she makes her living as a relationship expert. Heartbroken and feeling lost in her career, in walks the "new guy" -- but he's not really the new guy at all. Seth was Lana's high school sweetheart who broke her heart all those years ago.
In order to earn a coveted column, Lana and Seth compete to break the bad relationship habits they created after breaking up with one another. For Lana she needs to learn to not jump from one long term relationship to another and Seth needs to learn to find more than just hookups and one night stands.
Many challenges bring the two together...and well...I'm sure you can guess where this is going. A classic story, but meatier in that Lana and Seth both had to learn about themselves, forgive themselves and figure out what they reall want from life, career and one another. A great and worthy read!
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Thank you to Falon Ballard, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for the ARC!
4.5 stars! A plot reminiscent of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, a protagonist named Lana who's as much a nerd as I am (seriously, are we the same person?), enemies to lovers, a second chance at love, Ted Lasso references, and gray sweatpants. If you know, you know.
This book was so funny and heartwarming. I highly recommend it.
This review is in exchange for getting a free digital copy sent to me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I am obsessed with the way Falon Ballard writes. This story was funny, heartfelt, angsty, and the friendships were so beautiful. Falon definitely gives a lot of depth to the characters, which I highly appreciate. Also, any book that opens up with a legally blonde reference is a highlight for me!
Falon gets the enemies to lovers trope so right. I HATED Seth and my opinion on him definitely changed. I will say Lana was a *little* annoying but are you really supposed to love everything about every MFC?
Overall, a FANTASTIC book and I will definitely be picking up a physical copy for my bookshelves!
This romance novel was okay but I think it was a very frusturating example of how the miscommunication trope can be too much. We are made to believe the FMC was wronged by the MMC but it seems like he....never did anything wrong and she was selfish and didn't speak to him for over a decade. Glad she went to therapy
This one was just my kind of book. Sweet and heartfelt with great friends and fun angst filled interactions between the characters. This one made me tear up a little. Lana and Seth have great chemistry and a long complicated history. Definitely recommend for fans of romance.
Someone recommended this book on Bookstagram and said it was amazing. So I quickly requested this book and was so excited when I had gotten it. That person was correct because this book was amazing!!! If you’re thinking for an enemies to lovers and second chance romance then look no further. Lana and Seth are forced to compete together for a coveted column after a tragic break-up many years ago. This book is the slowest of slow burns! The relationship between Lana and Seth is amazing and this book is scrubbing you’re looking for!
just my type has easily become one of my favorite romance novels of the year. This had all of my favorite tropes- a perfect blend of second chance romance, rivals to lovers, and all in a workplace setting. What I loved most about the book was how the chemistry between Lana and Seth felt very natural and real. I couldn’t put the book down because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. All of Lana’s friends and coworkers were also fun and entertaining. And as a main character, Lana was perfectly relatable and sympathetic- I was rooting for her every step of the way and think her story developed beautifully. Definitely one of the best romance novels I’ve read this year & I’m so excited for everyone else to get their hands on in February!
4✨
Tropes: second chance romance, enemies ish-to-lovers, workplace rivals, slow burn
Just My Type follows former high school sweethearts Lana Parker and Seth Carson as they compete for the same coveted job position ala 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" style. Lana must give up her serial-monogamist ways and complete 10 tasks such as "go speed dating" or "kiss a stranger" all the while Seth must attempt to settle down and do things like "keep a plant alive" and "get actual furniture," but more time the duo spends with each other, the more their undeniably adorable chemistry starts to shine through.
Overall I greatly enjoyed this book-- it consists of several of my favorite tropes and did them well. The flow was great, too. The pacing was fast enough without being weighed down with unnecessary fluff or too much repetition and slow enough that you can genuinely feel the character's opinions of each other change. My only "issue" isn't even really an actual issue I just wished that there would have been a handful of chapters written from Seth's POV.
immediately too many modern references, tries to cement itself as trendy when it comes off more as pandering. i will say however that it’s good writing. some romances are so bad that they’re good, this one is genuinely well written so i’m giving it 3/5!
I loved this! I usually don’t go for second chance romances but I love enemies to lovers and this one was just so good! It did take me a few times to get into it, but if you love enemies to lovers i think you’d enjoy this one too!
I liked this book for what it was! The plot was good and the whole time we as readers are wondering what went wrong with Seth and Lana, and the tension was on par. However, I’ve read so many romantic comedies now that they tend to blur together a bit. The characters were well written and I liked the side plots that were focused on the characters individually rather than together. Overall, I had a fun time.
4.5 ⭐️
The good: I loved the banter, the best friends and both MCs. Lana was funny, a loyal friend, and relatable. I felt for her and the struggles with her mom and how she never really stopped loving Seth.
I really like Seth as well, I understood why he did everything he did and he came off as a relatable character as well.
I loved Lana’s journey to learning how to be single and enjoy herself without being in a relationship, and the focus on valuing therapy is something I don’t think we talk about enough.
What didn’t love: sometimes the chat conversations between Lana and Seth felt immature, more Lana than Seth. They’re both in their 30’s and it just didn’t seem like a realistic, or at least it’s not what I expected from a 30 year-old 😅 if it wasn’t for this it would’ve been a 5 star read.
Overall I was happy with the read despite the one little detail mentioned above. I would recommend if you liked Ballard’s previous book. It had all the good elements: banter, best friends support system, funny and heartwarming moments.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I tell you I felt all the emotions, I felt ALL THE EMOTIONS!! Where to even begin, I have been eyeing Lease on Love for a while, so when I was selected to read this ARC I was thrilled and had to start right away. This book did not disappoint! (Extra points because this book had an Office reference early on)
First of all, I love how the author was able to bring these characters to life. I was able to relate so much to the main character, Lana, and I too, have felt lost in my love life. I respect that Lana was able to choose herself first and fell in love with herself despite the very difficult challenges she faced. She went out of her comfort zone and took a chance. Through the character development she was able to show strength and courage and proved inspiring. I want her as a friend!
I'm not going to lie, Lana upset me and broke my heart on several occasions with her choices regarding Seth but the author was able to fully redeem Lana and by the end of the book my heart was so full and so happy!
Seth was a breath of fresh air and may be my new favorite male counterpart. I fully enjoyed that he was willing to be vulnerable and take the chances.
The writing was exceptional and I was a roller coaster of emotions. The cutest romcom, second chance love, enemies to friends, best friends romance, deserving the full five stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam books for this opportunity. Just My Type out February 7, 2023!
High school sweethearts gone wrong…12 years later, this is an enjoyable enemies to lovers rom-com where they each complete semi-masochistic self-help bucket lists in an attempt to secure a promotion for which they’re competing. This was a lot of fun and although it left something on the table writing-wise, I found it very likable and would recommend it.
Solid 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.