Member Reviews

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m not going to start this review off by reiterating the synopsis for you. Personally, I like my reviews short and sweet. If you’re reading the review, you’ve most likely read the description.

I’ve enjoyed all of Fallon Ballard’s novels, but this one a little less. The premise was cute. The spice was spicy. However, I did not see what drew these two characters together other than sexual attraction. While I think the characters had depth individually, their relationship didn’t. Their passion for one another was there I just kept asking myself why.

Overall, it was a fun read. I’ll probably check out the audiobook.

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No surprise here I loved this one! I have loved every book Falon Ballard has written and this was really no exception. It was the perfect Hallmark meets Small Town Romance meets frenemies to lovers and all the things I love in a book. The conflict was just enough to not aggravate me and I couldn't have asked for a cuter december read!

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4.5 ⭐️ rounded up because Fallon Ballard deserves all good things.

This book is a masterpiece of hallmark small town x celebrity x “you know me better than anyone”. Set on a movie set that happens to be at an old-timey small town inn, the two main characters can’t quite figure out how to communicate but ultimately DO figure out how to build trust with one another. This book is exactly what you should pick up if you need a pick-me-up, light, fluffy, cozy happy ever after.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

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They have a history…
First crush.
First kiss.
First movie roles. .
And then they become ENEMIES!

She’s a successful screen writer and he is the biggest actor in Hollywood. They are both super successful and have avoided each other for years. She writes a romcom and is cast as the lead, gets to the set and realizes he has been cast as the male lead!

They get off on the wrong foot big time and their acting chemistry is horrible!

They decide to solve the problem with an enemies with benefits agreement. Let the spicy times begin….and you can guess what happens next!

It’s a Hallmarkish vibe but with lots of spice!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC!

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I thought this book was cute, but there were parts missing. The premise was really fun, but the romance went from hate to love a bit too quickly. I didn't see *why* the two characters fall in love, which is the most important part of a romance for me. And the third-act conflict was pretty weak (it was glorified miscommunication).

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I loved this book! I ate it up, I’m not a big fan of some miscommunication but falon did it perfectly and I will def be owning a physical copy of this once it’s published.

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Rating 4.5

Right on Cue follows Emmy, a beloved screenwriter, and Grayson, a famous actor, as they film a romcom movie together. Emmy, who wrote this movie, agreed to play the lead role after a decade of being off screen. The last movie she starred in tanked. Her costar in that movie? Grayson. Throughout this book, we learn what happened during the filming of that first movie and why these two actors can't even be in the same room together. The tension is palpable throughout the book as they try to find a way to get their act together to film a great movie.

I absolutely adored this book. Books like this are why romance is my favorite genre. I loved learning about their past and all the nuances from the situation that tore them apart. The story is only told from Emmy's perspective and I found it so fun trying to piece together Grayson's thoughts throughout the book. It is clear from the start that the two of them saw the past from completely different perspectives. As the book goes on, you get a clearer picture of Grayson's feelings about the entire situation.

There is so much tension and banter throughout the book that made reading it such a fun experience. I got through this book so quick because I was dying to see how everything played out. Also, the book was a lot spicier than I anticipated.

Learning about the filming process was so interesting, too. I enjoyed getting to know all the side characters and the inn that they stayed in was perfect. The book's timeline is quite short but it makes sense due to the setting and their history.

My only critique is of the third act conflict. I wish that it had played out differently and not mirrored their first conflict from when they were young. It seemed like a bit of a cop out to have it be what it was. It was dragged out for a bit too long, in my opinion. The resolution seemed to come out of nowhere and rely just on physical intimacy. I wish the third act conflict had been literally anything else.

Overall, this book was fantastic. I highly recommend to anyone who likes romcoms!

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Right on Cue is for all of us who are bitter that we weren’t born nepo babies. The main character, Emmy, is a Hollywood nepo baby extraordinaire, and while she is talented and charming in her own right, you can definitely tell she grew up under the most privileged roof with a solid-gold safety net. Her screenwriter/actor career concerns are valid ones and certainly relatable to us mere mortals, but everything in her life feels so low stakes; her only obstacles have been of her own creation. When she’s not getting in her own way, things just work out for her. I mean, she doesn’t even get one UTI even though she spends half the book going at it like rabbits (trigger warning!).

On the other hand, her love interest is kind of an asshole for much of the novel, and it makes it hard to fully buy into him as this perfect catch, no matter how chiseled. I love enemies-to-lovers plots, but their enemy origin story is silly and just further reflective of their immaturity. To be fair, they’re both frustratingly stubborn (and unprofessional and immature) in this sense, I guess they’re meant for each other!

And honestly, because of all of that there’s a lot of room for character growth, and by the end I felt like they’d both really redeemed themselves, so hey. I also I read this in a day. Can I really complain?

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC.

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This was my first book from author Falon Ballard, and I have to say that aside from the massive miscommunications between the two main characters, I really enjoyed it! Reminded me of a classic Hollywood rom-com.

Two childhood acting stars - Emmy and Grayson - are forced to work together on a new romantic comedy by Oscar-winning screenwriter, Emmy, who is appearing on screen for the first time in 15 years. The two had their on-screen debuted together years ago in a movie that tanked, and since then, they haven't seen or spoken to each other.

I think this would have worked a bit better as a dual-POV story, where we could have gotten some insight into Grayson. Instead, we had to learn about both character's insecurities through Emmy's inner-monologue and conversations with friends, and whatever Grayson chose to share with Emmy.

Now for that miscommunication - no. Just no. It did not work, and in fact, it was pretty ridiculously unbelievable. I did, however, LOVE the "make-up" scene at the premiere. Lots of steam in this book, however, it got a bit rote after awhile and I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over again. Maybe that was the point?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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FINALLY catching up on my NetGalley backlog, and this one was the perfect one to read to jump back in!! Falon Ballard blew me away when I read an ARC of JUST MY TYPE last year, and I didn’t think it was possible, but RIGHT ON CUE had me even more in a chokehold. I literally breezed through this because I was so hungry for more of Emmy and Grayson’s story, and I know y’all will be too when this book comes out. holy moly.

Emmy Harper is the daughter of two famous actors and an Oscar-winning screenwriter. Her best friend Liz is directing her new project, a rom-com film called “No Reservations,” and when they can’t find the perfect actress to play the leading lady, Liz convinces Emmy to get back in front of the camera after a decade-long hiatus. on the first day of shooting, Emmy finds out that her leading man is no longer able to step in, and his last-minute replacement is none other than “Grayson f—ing West”, the man who single-handedly ruined her acting career in their first film all those years ago.

we got enemies to lovers. we got forced proximity. we’ve got “there can’t be feelings involved.” it’s got everything and it has so much humor and heart and y’all will eat it up. falon ballard is now and forever an auto-buy author for me!! 💛

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A fantastic rom com! I loved every second of this book! Can't wait to get a hard copy of it and read it again!

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I was simply hooked on this book from the beginning - it brought me so much joy!! It gave me all the feels of reading a book, watching a romcom, and watching a tv show all at the same time. The chemistry between these two ‘costars with benefits’ is off the charts (Thank you, Liz). I love these two and I wish I had more of them.

Falon Ballard, this is so far my favorite of yours!! It was an immediate pre-order after I finished.

Thank you so much to Putnam and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

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I love enemies to lovers and the banter was great with these too, it was a easy fast read that I did really enjoy.

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4.5 stars
I am a SUCKER for celebrity/ costar romances and Right on Cue is the perfect example as to why. This story is cute, charming, and had me devouring its entirety in less than a day.

Emmy is a Hollywood writer who has not been in FRONT of the camera since she was 15 and was humiliated by now Hollywood heartthrob, Grayson West. For years, she has chosen her career to take place behind the scenes until one of her rom-coms gets pick up and the only choice for the female lead is herself. This would be fine. Her best friend is the director, she had perfect chemistry with the male lead, there is no way that this experience will compare to the one that has haunted her for over a decade. But, when her male costar breaks a leg (literally) and he is replaced than none other than Grayson fu***ng West, things start to become hostile.

I ate this story up and it was a perfect pallet cleanser read! Big, big fan.

Read if you like:
- celebrity romance
- costars/ movie set
- enemies to lovers
- costars with benefits

Thank you NetGalley for tis ARC!

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When I'm in a slump and dnf'ing book after book, I always reread a favorite or pick up and author that I know will do it for me. Such is the case with this read. I was perusing my kindle and stopped immediately when I stumbled on another Falon book!
Emmy's acting days are long gone and a one and done kind of thing as a teen but she's stayed in the industry as a screen-writer. Her next film is set to start production without a lead actress. Convinced by her best friend and producer to take the role, Emmy expects to play opposite another friend of long standing. But an unexpected accident finds her costar to be replaced by her nemesis and the one who ruined her acting career in the first place. Grayson shows up to set expecting a hard hitting Grammy contender and is vastly disappointed to find himself the love interest in a holiday romance.
As expected, I really enjoyed Falon's newest book. I loved the setting, loved both MCs, and the cast of characters in the background? Perfectly suited. The only thing missing for me was a little more depth that I think Falon executed so well in both Lease on Love and Just My Type. Otherwise, this book was such a happy read and slump buster.
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I love a good enemies to lovers. This had incredible chemistry and tension to go along with the angst. I have loved Fallon Ballards prior stories, and this one is right up there with the best of them. Sweet, sentimental, spicy, what more could you want!? I loved this.

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I love a good enemies to lovers trope, add in celebrities and nepo babies and I am always going to say yes. This is a cute and medium fast paced read. It's set in a cozy winter town so perfect read if you it's snowing outside.

I didn't fully believe the reason Grayson is so grumpy at the beginning and found the twist predictable.

If you are looking for a low stakes warm fuzzy rom com this might be for you.

3.5 stars, but rounding down to 3.

Thank you Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced reader copy.

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Tropes:
Froced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Costars With Benefits
Miscommunication
Third Act Break Up
Semi-Second Chance Romance

Spice Level: 3

Synopsis;
Emmy is Hollywood's golden girl whose own parents had the perfect costars to lovers story. She had always hoped to have her own the moment she met her costar in her first ever movie. Fifteen years later after giving up her acting dreams to become a screen writer, she is once again put in front of the camera. but when her costar gets a broken leg, the only replacement that can be found is Grayson West. Can Emmy survive filimg with her first heartbreak?

Review:
This book wasn't written for me...It was written for Falon Ballard. I can tell because I fell in love with Emmy and Grayson and the story. The words aren't deep and poetic, the banter isn't mind-blowng, but the joy is there. In every little word that Falon Ballard wrote there are the hints of former crushes and personal insecurities, there is the beauty in simplicity and heartbreak and human grudge. This is the book that makes love stories human.
Emmy is stubborn and Grayson is insecure. The depth of the charcters doesn't need to reach the center of the earth because both wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think anyone who wants a cosy read that shows joy on simplistic and human level would love Right on Cue.
Nothing is better than being able to see and feel how much love a writer has for their characters. Even if the story has it's flaws, I was able to oversee all of that because of how this book made me smile.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in return for this review!

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I loved this contemporary romance by Falon Ballard! Emmy and Grayson are ... whew! The sexual tension jumps off the page! This one will be on my reread list!

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A rom-com (novel) about a rom-com (movie). It's a like a trope two-fer: you get all the romance between the two actors, Emmy and Grayson, plus the romantic storyline between their characters.

Emmy and Grayson were teenage co-stars in their first movie together, one that bombed because of their complete lack of chemistry. In reality, she had been madly crushing on him, but after he mocked their first screen kiss, she ended up hating him and turning her attention to the behind-the-scenes aspects of the industry. Now that she's an Oscar-winning screenwriter who's been roped into starring in the production of her latest screenplay--a return to her well-loved rom-coms--Emmy is mortified to learn that her nemesis Grayson will be her leading man. At first, filming goes as badly as it did with their first one, so in an effort to save the movie, Emmy and Grayson decided to ease the tension in a time-honored way...which leads to a much deeper relationship.

With Emmy and Grayson, you get the enemies-to-lovers, second chances, and Hollywood romance tropes. And it seems like their movie is like The Holiday, in that in involves an inn at the holidays, winter activities, and a sex scene by a roaring fire.

They have a few major misunderstandings that could be clearer up with just a bit of talking, which is a personal pet peeve of mine. Still, I found the story to be fun, engaging, and full of chemistry, so I didn't yell (too) much at the characters to stop jumping to snap judgments and start talking.

Very satisfying read overall. I'll look out for other books by this author.

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