Member Reviews

Friends/lovers to enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Leading man Grayson signs on to work on a film with Emmy who wrote and is staring in a romantic comedy, her first staring role since she was 15. Emmy and Grayson met on set at 15 and 17 respectively and she has not acted since due to an incident involving Grayson. Overall I enjoyed this book and really liked both characters however the pacing and breakup felt off. The first 20% of the book felt very rushed. I also think the breakup and subsequent getting back together could have been fleshed out more. I dont love a miscommunication which seems so easily solved. I did really enjoyed how the author addressed the childhood incident which drove Emmy from acting. I think we often seen this trope occur and it feels a bit unrealistic to allow overhearing something when a child to ruin the rest of your life. Grayson calling Emmy on it was refreshing and a probably more accurate way this would be handled. Overall I enjoyed it and it was a quick read however I did like Falon Ballard's other books better. Will continue to read all she writes.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Penguin Group for this ARC! I wanted so badly to like this: enemies to lovers with two romcom co-stars with history. The plot in itself was fun and kinda sexy, but unfortunately the writing was not for me. I found a lot of the dialogue cringy and hard to take seriously, especially once they got together as a couple. And just as a general rule of thumb, miscommunication as a third act breakup is just not my cup of tea. But the book reads quickly and despite not clicking with the characters, I did find myself unable to put it down. It's definitely worth a try if you like the author, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Putnam for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

So many of us have an unfortunate thing someone said that hurt us when we were in high school, that has a tendency to pop up in the middle of the night. It still stings when we think about it as adults, and a grudge is still held against the offender. While all grown up now, Emmy Harper still detests the boy who hurt her when she was 15 and walks in to star in her own movie to find that none other than Grayson West, the subject of her vitriol, is now her co star.

The two have to learn to work together or the movie could fail. Will they find real connection and forgiveness along the way? Or will their film be up for a Razzie next season?

This was a fairly easy read, and the setting of the snowy Pine Springs was a perfect read for our snow days this week. The story seemed real, like I was actually reading about one of Hollywood’s “it couples,” but dealt with heavier themes than I was expecting. But if you want some fake celebrity tea energy, grab this one! It even had its own social media posts, articles, and blog posts in between each chapter which was a fun touch!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much the NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Actual Rating: 4.25 stars

It’s safe to say that I ATE this book up! Given, I’m always looking for books set in the film industry because 1) I love them and 2) it’s what I studied, but I couldn’t put it down and was so enthralled in Emmy and Grayson’s story. It felt like the perfect pacing for enemies to lovers with lots of tension, jokes, and CHEMISTRY. While in hindsight it was slightly insta-lovey, I was still obsessed with this storyline and was rooting for the characters from start to finish that I put that aside. Their angst was just downright addictive.

The relationships portrayed in this book was so refreshing, specifically Emmy’s relationship with her famous mother. So many books nowadays portray more negative parent-child relationships and this wasn’t the case. I loved every time Emmy’s mom came onto the page. She was hilarious and supportive and seeing this positive mother-daughter relationship was heartwarming.

The only complaint is the third act’s conflict was a bit frustrating and the miscommunication trope is one of my least favorites. It could have been solved in one small conversation, but alas, then there would be no stakes or drama.

Overall, I’m so happy I was able to get my hands on this ARC and I’ll definitely be checking into the author’s other books in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Emmy & her most hated enemy are forced to work together. His first comment is “who are you again?” and from there, it is on! Lots of tropey romance in this steamy romcom!

I am an absolute fan of Falon, and found this one flatter than her other novels. The characters weren’t as lovable or someone I’d cheer for, the romance isn’t as believable and I found it just okay.

Was this review helpful?

*ARC Review*

So cute!!!! What a delightful enemies to lovers story. It really fits the trope as the book, set on a movie set, shows the two main characters at their lowest lows and highest highs. I could not tell you if the movie set antics were accurate, but they were sure fun to read about! I loved the characters and their journey together. Super easy and fast paced read. If you like Hollywood, movies, or celebrity gossip this one will be a good one for you.

Was this review helpful?

Emmy and Grayson were teen actors starting their careers when they were first cast opposite each other. Grayson did something Emmy could not forgive when filming was over, which altered the path she pursued professionally. Many years later, Emmy is an award-winning writer excited for her new romance movie to start production. She is reluctantly cast as the main lead, and Grayson is cast as a last-minute addition to play her love interest. They must learn to work through past mistakes to make the movie successful.

This one was a miss for me, which was disappointing because I loved the author's debut. It took me too long to get into it, and the romance didn't feel believable by the time I did. I needed more dialogue between the two main characters and fewer miscommunications. I also wasn't convinced that what Grayson did to Emmy as a teen was enough to derail her acting career. It also frustrated me that Emmy apologized for what felt like everything.

Thank you to author Falon Ballard, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for an eARC copy of Right on Cue in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

This was a super cute book, it was exactly what I wanted it to be! Not too heavy, a little spicy, coupled with a cozy bed and breakfast setting. This was my first read of Falon Ballard’s and I’m looking forward to reading her others!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam, and the author Falon Ballard for an advanced copy of "Right on Cue" in exchange for my honest review.

Falon Ballard has become an automatic read for me. I was thrilled when I got the approval for this ARC.

This is one of the best celebrity-themed romance novels I have read. Most novels lack uniqueness due to following the same plot schemes repeated over and over; this novel was different. The characters, Emmy and Grayson, were well-developed and very relatable. The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed perfectly with the right amount of tension and banter, which made the storyline believable, entertaining, and enjoyable.

 Overall, this novel is an enjoyable third book from Falon Ballard that I highly recommend adding to your to-be-read list!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this one 🥹 it’s what I think of when I watch a show and the two MC’s are together romantically, I just want them to live happily ever after of screen too. Emmy is a writer and her best friend encourages her to play the main lead in her new rom com with grayson her nemesis playing her leading man. The sexual tension is HIGH in this one folks🥵. His chemistry with Emmy is explosive and Grayson has been officially added to the book boyfriend hall of fame. Highly recommend this one if you love second chance romance, enemies to lovers, and some golden retriever vibes.

Was this review helpful?

Truth, the story isn't all that complex or even what I'd consider original, yet I liked the characters in this story. This is one of those books that have an every day feel to it, leaving me as a reader feeling like I'll find these people in my yearbook.

Thanks, NetGalley!!

Was this review helpful?

This story is about Emery Harper, the golden child of a Hollywood power couple, and Oscar-winning screen writer who gave up acting at age 15 after the bad publicity around her first kiss with co-star Grayson West. She finds herself back on set with her least favorite person. This is a celebrity romance, second chance romance, and enemies to lovers.

I’m a big fan of Falon’s writing, and this is easily her best. Real characters with flaws, emotional depth, incredible pacing, tension, angst and spice. I truly came to care deeply for Emmy and Grayson throughout this book, despite not always agreeing with their decisions.

Giving this one 4 stars because I wish the third act wasn’t so centered around miscommunication, which felt really frustrating and unnecessary. However, I really really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read whatever Falon writes!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There are things I absolutely adored about this book, and there are things I felt were a bit lacking. As someone who grew up around the film industry and movie sets, the storyline and premise was a favorite of mine. It brought back some nostalgia for me and I thought the overall idea for the book was super cute. The story is based around a FMC, Emmy, who is a screenwriter starring in a rom-com she wrote and a MMC, Grayson, who was cast into the movie at the last minute - someone who Emmy holds bitter feelings about due to working together as teens. This is where the story lost me a bit. Emmy was supposed to be a successful Oscar-winning screenwriter and was very immaturely holding a grudge against Grayson for something he said about her when they were kids and both let it effect their work together on set. The enemies to lovers trope is always a favorite of mine, but I felt like their particular romance appeared out of nowhere and they were throwing around "I love you's" within a 6 week timeframe. There just wasn't as much depth in their relationship's development - it felt shallow and rushed when the author clearly wanted it to appear to be more. That made it hard to really root for them as a couple, especially when the third act breakup occurred by yet another instance of miscommunication and Emmy's character refusing to get Grayson's side.

I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but something was lacking and it missed the mark. I DO feel like it was still very cute though, and a great quick feel-good read if you need a palate cleanser or without a lot of depth. This is my first Falon Ballard book and won't be my last! I have heard great things about the other titles and won't be writing her off anytime soon.

Was this review helpful?

Love a good Hollywood backdrop and the fact that we had a full blown enemies to lovers situation in this one.

Fallon Ballard writes some of my favorite romance, easy to read, books and this was no different!

Was this review helpful?

A sweet romance that brings Emmy back together with a guy that was her first crush and kiss, and ultimately ended her acting career. Instead of acting, Emmy decided to fade into the background and write screenplays. However, they can't find the right actress to play the lead, so she steps up. Then the lead romantic interest falls out and suddenly she is faced with Grayson West. It becomes really awkward, so they find a way to cut the tension... and then things start to get interesting between the two.

This is a fun to read, haters to lovers romance that easily pulls you in to these characters. Although they aren't relatable, they are extremely likeable, so you want to root for them. A cute, fun read!

Was this review helpful?

Rating: PG-13

Perfect if you like:
Hollywood romance
Second Chance Romance
Would love to see Chris Hemsworth and Dakota Johnson as a couple

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This latest book from Falon Ballard had me feeling all the Nora Ephron feels but with a totally unique storyline. Emilia Harper is Hollywood royalty, the daughter of two famous actors whose first foray into acting at age 15 bombed. After her first and only disastrous movie, which she starred in with a young Grayson West, she decided she was better behind the scenes and turned towards writing screenplays. But now, the producers of her latest screenplay want her to star in the movie. Emmy agrees but only on the condition that her best friend, Liz, directs and her friend, Josh, stars opposite her. Of course, this is a romance so Josh has an accident and low and behold, Grayson West is now going to be male lead.

There are a lot of tropes in this one, enemies to lovers making a movie in a small town. The characters have a chance to revisit their first loves and right some wrongs. This is a single POV novel and Ballard does a really good job of keeping the reader guessing about Grayson’s feelings, almost to a point where I was like, are they actually going to get together? Maintaining that type of tension in a rom-com takes excellent writing. And on top of that, Ballard creates lovely characters with identifiable vulnerabilities.

Right on Cue comes out next month and I definitely think we will be seeing it on a lot of bookstagrams - believe the hype and go ahead and pick it up. Or better yet, you request it from the library right now!

Was this review helpful?

This is your classic enemies to lovers book which is my favorite. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The movie the main love interests are filming gives me Hallmark but if it was spicy. That theme flows throughout the book. It was the perfect enjoyable story.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun read, it had a unique story line, and it was emotional and funny! It was a fun mix of small town and Hollywood movie stars. The main characters work through a lot of their own insecurities and grief to find a way to support each other and live a life they’re proud of. The book is entirely Emmy’s POV and I was just really wishing for some of Grayson’s POV as well! Overall I really enjoyed it though!!

Was this review helpful?

This book was so fun and might just be my favorite of Falon Ballard's books to date. Emmy and Grayson had so much chemistry but also so much tension and I enjoyed every second of their Enemies with Benefits romance. Add in the fact that it was set on a movie set and I couldn't put this book down. I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone when it releases.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute, fast paced romcom that I did enjoy! I liked the FMC, but I liked the MMC even more. It was very much giving “everyone can tell that he’s in love with you except for you” which I love. I also enjoyed the small town setting that the bulk of the story took place in.
All of this being said, I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope or a third act breakup, so that did dock a star for me. But overall I did enjoy this story and will definitely check out more of Fallon Ballard’s works.

Was this review helpful?