It’s if you took the writers excursions in Beach Read by Emily Henry and added the tone of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, and set it all in LA.

Relationship advice columnist Lana has had a bad couple of days. She shows up to a dinner expecting a proposal and is instead dumped (a la Elle Woods in the first few minutes of Legally Blonde). Then she shows up to work (completely hungover), and her high school heartbreak, Seth, has just been hired to work alongside her. Before you know it, they’re pitted against each other for Lana’s dream job.

Unputdownable. I so enjoyed the internal drama of Lana and stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to read this book, rooting for her triumphs and cringing at some of the scrapes she gets into. Aside from the drama of Lana and Seth having lists of tasks to complete together, Lana does some solid work on herself.

Would definitely recommend if you like Emily Henry’s books, rom coms (especially How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), and a good lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Putnam Books, and Fallon Ballard for the early copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own. :)

I absolutely adored Lease on Love, so I was SO excited to get this e-ARC of Just My Type. This book was everything I needed right now. It was funny, it was smart, it was sexy, it was emotional.

Lana Parker is a 30 year old lifestyle columnist in LA who has a problem with committing to every man she's with. Instead of being secure in herself, she hops from one relationship to the next in the search for THE ONE. Seth is her ex, and when he shows up at her office once day as a new hire, she is angry, confused, sad, and still smitten. They had been high school sweethearts but ended up breaking each other's hearts as they left for college.
Lana and Seth have to learn to not only work together (and against each other in the competitions they're in) but also learn to deal with the mix of emotions that being thrown together dredges up.

Lana Parker is notorious for always being in a relationship. After a horrible break up with her high school sweetheart Seth Carson, Lana has bounced from long-term relationship to long-term relationship. She’s an expert girlfriend, and even acts as the resident dating and relationship columnist for one of Los Angeles’ most popular websites. But at the age of thirty, Lana finds herself unexpectantly single and stuck working with her high school ex Seth who took an assignment at Lana’s site. Lana and Seth find themselves pitted against each other writing an article series that goes against dating type. For Lana, she must write about staying single and embracing it and Seth must write about learning to settle down and becoming boyfriend material. Whoever’s posts are more popular, will win the columnist spot of a lifetime. It’s not only their careers on the line, but also their hearts.

I loved this one! It gives me How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes, which is one of my favorite movies ever. This was enemies to lovers, workplace romance and second chance romance. The speed dating scene? Immaculate. I loved Lana’s journey; she really was able to find herself without relying on someone else through a relationship. The banter and tension between Seth and Lana was so so good. The character development throughout the story was great. I also really liked the inclusion of group texts between all of the coworkers; this plus the news articles throughout the story made for a quick, easy read. This was just such a great book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam and Fallon Ballard for the eBook ARC and is available for purchase February 7th, 2023.

Just My Type by Falon Ballard is a cutesy second chance romance that leaves the reader satisfied. Fans of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game can appreciate this competitors to lovers story. Add in the fact that Lana and Seth were high school sweethearts with a heartrending breakup and the story becomes that much more rom-com glorious! This story makes me think if The Hating Game and the book How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days had a laugh-out-loud baby. This battle of wits and challenge between Lana and Seth is a memorable one. While Lana has to stay single for her column, Seth is challenged to find a monogamous relationship. But what will happen when they both catch feelings for each other and it is revealed that Seth coming to LA might have more to do with than finding a steady job at a journal?
Solid 4 stars for those fans of antagonistic rom-com matches?

I couldn't put down this book! I haven't read Fallon Ballard's other book, but I will be now! I loved this book so much! It has all of the romance tropes I love: high school sweethearts, second chance at love, enemies to lovers, and work place romance! It combined all of the things that I love about romance books into one story.

Lana is a dating/love advice writer at an online magazine, but she is looking to write something else. She has been in relationships for most of her life, and she is tired of writing about love and dating. She thinks that her boyfriend of 4 years is going to propose to her, but instead, he breaks up with her. She is devastated and she drowns her sorrows with her best friend, May. She goes into work the next day, and she is hungover and still hurting from her breakup. At work, she finds out that her first love, Seth, will now be working with her and competing with her for a position.

Once her boss finds out about Seth and Lana's past, she comes up with an idea to create a competition between the two of them. Each one will create a list of 10 tasks that the other must complete, and they will take pictures and write articles about their experiences. Seth's tasks for Lana will help her become comfortable with being single and on her own. Lana's tasks for Seth will help him become more serious about being in a relationship. As the two begin their tasks, they start to spend more time together. Will their feelings for each other return? Will it bring them closer or further apart?

I didn't care for Lana as a character at first, but she grew on me as I continued with the story. I found myself rooting more for Seth to win the competition, even though Lana was the main character. I loved that both characters learned so much about themselves as they completed the tasks. I think it was important for them to grow on their own and discover things about themselves.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC for this amazing book! I definitely recommend it!

I will keep this so simple.
Read this book.
It’s funny and clever and unique with so
Much angst and swoon and heartache and healing and growth.

I did not expect to feel so MUCH reading this book and somehow it just brought all the feelings of first loves and heartache and life.

Just be ready to have two people learn a lot in this journey. Don’t get frustrated , just be part of their journey. I promise it’s worth it.

I started reading this book awhile ago but couldn’t really get into it for no other reason than I was just grabbing physical books over my kindle. I finally made myself pick up this book and read it and I’m so glad I did! This is a second chance romance which I don’t always love but this one worked!

Lana and Seth are high school sweethearts who went through a bad breakup 12 years ago and now find themselves working at the same LA based website where they’re columnists. They end up in a competition against each other for a coveted writing position: her learning to be on her own and not in a serious relationship, him learning how to be in a serious relationship.

This book had serious How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes which I absolutely loved!! It was super cute and funny. Lana did get on my nerves occasionally, she was obsessed with Marvel and Star Wars and the author pointed it out a lot - why do authors do that? Like cool she likes that stuff, it doesn’t need to be her whole personality! Also, I wish it would’ve been dual POV, I really wanted Seth’s side of the story - he has huge book boyfriend potential!!

Overall, I really liked this book and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I adored Falon Ballard's first book, Lease on Love, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read her second book Just My Type. Set up in a similar manner to the movie How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, relationship columnist Lana has to compete against Seth for the opportunity to get her dream job of her own pop culture column. The biggest problem is that Seth is actually Lana's ex-boyfriend and really broke her heart...twice.

This book hooked me immediately. The dialogue and writing style of Ballard make it hard to put the book down (I finished it in forty-eight hours!), and you can't help but love the characters. I giggled when Lana described her book cart and her book subscriptions. She was truly so relatable! Lana's best friends and the situations that she had to deal with to win her dream job made parts of this book laugh-out-loud funny. And...the chemistry between Lana and Seth...oh my!!!

The ending and then the epilogue were absolutely perfect. I finished the book with a huge smile on my face, and I will truly be recommending that everyone read it!

Fallon Ballard is a talented romance writer and I enjoyed her debut Lease on Love so much! This one unfortunately fell a little flat for me. Second chance romance can be a difficult trope for me to connect with personally and the continued miscommunication between the main characters was difficult for me to understand and resonate with. It felt frustrating as a reader to experience that. However, the writing was top notch, I enjoyed the creative plot, and I loved all the side characters. If second chance romance is a trope you love, then be sure to check this one out!

Thank you so much to Putnam and Netgalley for my copy.

I stayed up WAY too late reading Falon Ballard’s 2nd novel, Just My Type. (I loved her debut, Lease on Love, and her 2nd book did not disappoint.)

Maybe it’s because I love friends-to-lovers tropes. Maybe it’s because I am a writer at heart and am a sucker for stories about writers. I don’t know. But what I do know is that I picked up this book and could not put it down.

I got totally invested in this love story about two journalists who dated in high school, and 12 years later, find themselves thrown together in a competition at work. Lana, a serial monogamist who has never gone longer than a week or two between boyfriends, has to complete a series of tasks designed by her ex, Seth, to help her get comfortable with being single.

In turn, Seth, a serial dater, has to complete a series of tasks designed by Lana to help get him ready to commit to a serious relationship. You can only imagine the tasks they come up with, and the hilarity that ensues as they publish articles online about their experiences.

Their chemistry practically sizzles off the page, and it’s SO GOOD. Note: It’s an open-door romance so there are a couple of spicy scenes.

I absolutely loved this one, and it’s going to be released just in time to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day next year. You can pre-order your copy now where you buy your books!

Thank you, Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam, for my advanced copy of this book for review.

No sophomore book curse for this author! I loved this book even more than her first. From the challenges to the banter, this second chance romance was fun, light, and so enjoyable! I flew threw it.

Beware her boss was the worst! I cringed at her suggestions as she blurred the line between boss and friend.

3.5 // thanks NetGalley for the ARC!// Cutie cutie rom com. Lana and Seth dated in high school and had a messy break up when they went off to college. 12 years later they find themselves writing for the same online magazine, and the tension is thick. Lana is the always-has-a-long-term-boyfriend type, and Seth dates around a lot. There's a new column position open at their job, and their boss makes them compete in a 10 week challenge against each other for the job. Lana has to stay single for 10 weeks, and Seth has to find a long term partner. They write about each of their experiences and whoever gets the most votes from readers wins the challenge and the new job.

It was a little chaotic at first, I didn't love Lana, but eventually the characters got into a groove and the challenge tasks were fun to read about. Lana's self discovery was strong and inspiring. I wish it had been dual perspective so we could have learned more about Seth's brain because he seemed like a cutie. And of course, the challenges bring Lana and Seth closer together and eventually, after a lot of reflection, back together.

Good cast of side character besties! And big fan of characters who need therapy getting therapy!!

Thanks to NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an eARC of this book. The following review are my honest and unbiased thoughts.

Fallon Ballard's first book was not it for me, but this one was Just My Type! Ok cheesy dad jokes aside, I adored this book. I'm a sucker for any romance that involves journalism, and Lana and Seth's shenanigans were exactly what I needed for a fun weekend read. This second chance romance between two former best friends and lovers turned co-workers competing against each other was emotional, delightful, and so cute.

What I Loved:
Both characters are tasked with exploring their insecurities in relationships: Lana, who has never been single for longer than a couple weeks, is asked to explore what it means to be single and happy. Seth, a world-renowned traveling journalist and serial non-monogamist is asked to explore what it means to settle down and find the One. Little does everyone know, Seth already found the One years ago, and never quite forgot her.
I loved the dynamic between Lana and Seth; their friendship, the adventures they go on throughout LA. I really, really loved Seth -- his steady patience and devotion to Lana (even if she was completely oblivious). Truly a man written by a woman that I was melting for.

What I Didn't Love:
My main issues with Fallon Ballard's last book was her protagonist. Again in this book, I found myself empathizing and rooting for the male love interest more than the female protagonist, though slightly less this time. While Lana did deal with some childhood trauma and there was a reason for many of her more problematic actions and treatment of others...it's never an excuse. However Lana, unlike Sadie, is actively in therapy, and actively working to get better. Does she treat Seth majorly unfairly? Yes. Does she recognized this? Yes.

I love that more and more books are addressing how childhood trauma can affect adult relationships, and I think Fallon Ballard did a great job in this sophomore novel!! I cannot wait to hold the final copy in my hands!

I loved this book and stayed up way too late to finish. There was so much angst between Seth and Lana, which is one of my favorite things in this genre. Both of them with their own regrets about the past. In the present they are thrust into the position of having to work closely together at work and all of the emotions that entails. Both characters were very likeable and I found myself rooting for them most of the story. I definitely recommend reading this book!!

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group for the ARC copy of this book. This was the first book I've read from Falon Ballard. The story was cute and I enjoyed the ending.

Lana and Seth get the iconic second chance romance trope in an adverserial way - competing for the same job.

This story gave me pretty big "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days" vibes, from the original challenge, journalism, the snide interference from the boss, relationship-for-story, and the eventual realization by our heroine that she's quite simply better than this. Adding the serial monogamy history from Lana did seem to lend a slight twist, but not enough to pull me out of this comparison.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute romance novel and it was a fun read.

Just My Type was an unexpected surprise and definitely a top 5 read for me for 2022 (lucky I got to read early)! Though the description sounds like your average rom-com, the writing took it to the next level. I loved the characters and I couldn't put the book down. I adored Lease on Love, but I think I love Just My Type even more! It will be at the top of my rec list for friends to read for sure!

4.5/5 stars

Damn. This book is adorable. Is it a bunch of cliche rom com tropes? Yes. Is the ending entirely predictable? Also yes. Did I still devour it in three hours with a dumb grin on my face? Yes, yes I did.

Lana Parker (LP) is a serial monogamist journalist who covers dating and romance. On the heels of a breakup, her childhood sweetheart who’s turned into a bit of a playboy appears at work and their lives are turned topsy turvy How to Lose a guy in 10 days still.

It’s well written, believable and has characters you actually want to end up together.

Thank you Net Galley, Penguin Putnam Group, and Falon Ballard for the eARC of Just My Type.

After Lana's boyfriend of 4 years breaks up with her, she goes to work to discover her ex boyfriend aka high school sweetheart aka first love, Seth, will be working as a lifestyle journalist at the same publication as her. Lana is a relationship columnist and after her boss discovers Seth and Lana's history, they are both pitted against each other in order to win their own writing column. Lana's mission, as a serial monogamist, is to stay single and Seth's mission, as a serial dater, is to prepare himself for a longterm relationship. As traction picks up on their competition, their boss sends them to take part in activities/ challenges together.

I honestly LOVED this book! All of the pop culture references, so much banter, and I felt the main characters were well developed. It had so many aspects, which somewhat made them fall into so many different tropes. It gave a little piece of everything. I would most definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves rom coms. Was a very How to Lose a Guy in 10 days, but with a twist.

- Second (or third) Chance romance
- First Loves
- Enemies to lovers (partially), but also Friends to lovers
- Work Romance (Sort of)