• Right On Cue •

Let me start by saying I love Ballard's writing style; she's an auto-read author for me. I enjoyed both Lease on Love and Just My Type, rating them both 5 ⭐'s. Unfortunately, I had a few issues with Right On Cue and it fell a little flat for me but allow me to explain.

Right On Cue follows Emmy, a writer who unexpectedly finds herself starring in her own film. Filming is set to take place at small inn located in CA. Upon Emmy's arrival at the inn, she quite literally runs into her co-star Grayson, but its not their first meeting. As it turns out, these two starred in a film long ago, and it's clear there are some unresolved issues from back then. The tension is palpable throughout the story, but you know by the end of the book they're going to fall all over each other. It's a rom-com after all, right?

Liz, Emmy's best friend and movie director, added such a relatable dynamic to the story. Their friendship felt truly genuine. And let's not forget about Sam, Emmy's hairstylist. I loved the scenes between Emmy & Sam and felt they injected a lightness to the story. There are also several conversations between Emmy and Hollywood star mom, which were actually quite hilarious and heartwarming. I have a very close relationship with my mom and these conversations warmed my heart.

Here is where I ran into trouble; the third act-break up. I knew it was coming and binged the rest of the book from there, but I was so angry at the (second bout of) miscommunication at this point of the story. I love Ballard's work, but I do wish the story had taken a different direction. I don’t particularly enjoy insta-love either but it worked for me with Emmy and Grayson. Lastly, I felt the ending wrapped up rather quickly and while I was happy with the outcome, I wish it had played out a little differently. The banter and tension between Emmy and Grayson remained strong throughout the story, tying the story together for me.

Q: Would you willingly star in a movie?

Thank you to @taylareadstoomuch and @strugglingbookaholic for reaching with me. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for this eARC.

Right On Cue will release February 27, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of Right on Cue by Falon Ballard in exchange of an honest review.
"Prepare to be swept away by the charm and chemistry in 'Right on Cue' by Fallon Ballard. This adorable romcom is a breath of fresh air, filled with wit, charm, and undeniable chemistry. Emmy Harper, a talented screenwriter from Hollywood royalty, finds herself in a challenging situation when her best friend casts her elusive love interest, Grayson West, as the lead in her latest romcom. With a rocky past and conflicting attitudes about the genre, their on-screen collaboration is far from picture perfect. However, as they navigate the twists and turns of making the film, the unexpected sparks between them begin to ignite. The small-town setting adds a cozy and enchanting atmosphere to the story, enhancing the delightful and heartwarming moments shared by Emmy and Grayson. With Fallon Ballard's sharp and engaging writing style, readers will be captivated by the humorous banter and the palpable tension that unfolds. 'Right on Cue' is a delightful tale of second chances, trust, and the magical possibilities that love can bring. For those seeking a feel-good romance with a touch of Hollywood glamour, this book delivers all that and more."

Emmy Harper is the next Nora Ephron of romantic comedies, the daughter of a true Hollywood power couple, and a recent Oscar winner. Grayson West is an action star and Emmy's archnemesis.

Well... sort of.

When there are no other suitable options, Emmy is forced to take her first on-camera role since she was a teenager. This time around she'll be starring in her own romcom. But how is she supposed to ace her return to the screen when a last minute casting change means that she'll have to convey anything but hostility towards the man who broke her heart when they were teens? Will her second movie with Grayson West be as big of a disaster as the first?

I love a good Hollywood romance and I really loved Falon Ballard's Just My Type, so I was super excited to get an advanced copy of Right on Cue. While this one wasn't my favorite, I do think there's a lot to love about it. Emmy and Grayson have a lot of chemistry and the small town setting for the majority of their love story is a nice change of pace from some of the other Hollywood-set romances I've read lately. I also appreciated the moments where Emmy and Grayson connected about their fathers - Emmy working through the grief of her father's death (parental death tw) and Grayson with the complicated feelings of not meeting parental expectations.

However, the tropes in this one just weren't for me. Though they didn't get along at the beginning, I wouldn't classify this as enemies to lovers - it's much more ended-on-bad-terms-exes to lovers. I wish there'd been more breathing room with the third act conflict, more bonding moments between Emmy and Grayson where they got to know each other again, and that we'd been able to see more of Emmy's friendship with Liz, the director, during filming.

If you're in the market for a wintry Hollywood romance featuring right person, wrong time/second chance romance, miscommunication, friends with benefits who catch feelings, forced proximity, and a fair amount of spice, this one might just be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the e-ARC.

“Right on Cue” is so fun and adorable! Falon Ballard had done it again. Emmy Harper is a screenwriter. And she happens to be the only one who fits as the leading lady of her new movie, “No Reservations.” That’s fine, she’s willing to try acting again - the first time since her defaced movie back from her teenage years. That is until her love interest from her first movie shows us as the new leading man. Here’s hoping they don’t tank this movie too!

For those who love:
🎬 Hollywood Romance
🎬 Enemies-with-Benefits
🎬 Forced Proximity
🎬 Reluctant Romance
🎬 Cozy Snowy Inn setting
🎬 Open Door

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you @putnambooks for this @netgalley ARC of Right on Cue!

Does anyone write a better enemies-to-lovers than @falonballard ? Signs point to no 🤷🏼‍♀️

Lease on Love was one of my first-ever ARC approvals back when I first joined Booksta, and Just My Type was just as much of a winner for me, so I was PUMPED when this one hit my approval list! Once again, Fallon hits it out of the park with multifaceted and complex characters who you can love and want to shake by the shoulders simultaneously (because you love them).

Emmy Harper is known widely as the queen of romcoms. Er - she was - until the loss of her father threw her into a spiral from which she is just now emerging. Her newest happy ending is not only her return to the screen as a writer - but also her first time on screen as an actor since she was a teen (and swore never to act again).

With all of her hopes riding on the success of this newest film - directed by her best friend and with a costar she adores - Emmy is feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time.

Until she arrives on set and discovers that her costar has been taken out of the running by an injury and his replacement is the very man who made her quit acting all those years ago.

Grayson doesn’t seem to know what he did wrong - but he also doesn’t seem to want anything to do with Emmy, to the point where he’s willing to drag the whole film down with him. Desperate, angry, and still nursing a grudge an eon long, Emmy is just about ready to call it quits.

But when the two call an unlikely truce (for the sake of the movie, of course) and let each other in, they just might find that there’s a lot more to be found here than just a happy ending.

3⭐️
This was a cute rom-com/ celebrity romance which gave me all the wintery vibes. There were many cute tropes and I especially loved the tension at the beginning and the forced proximity trope.
There was also the miscommunication trope which personally, I am not a fan of at all but I still enjoyed the book nonetheless. <3

Right On Cue is an adorable and spicy rom-com featuring our two main characters Emmy and Grayson as enemies to lovers. I giggled throughout this entire book, I connected to Emmy and even Grayson at some points, and I was genuinely rooting for them from the beginning (well halfway thru the book when the spice starts)!

I hated Grayson West from the start with his rude attitude and short and cold responses to our dear Emmy! Throughout the first half of this book, I was really growing frustrated with Grayson’s character! I just wanted to know what was going on in his head and why he was being a total jerk. But as the story went on, he opened up to Emmy and we learned about what makes Grayson, Grayson. That scene really made this couple relatable!

I love how down to earth and real Emmy is with her feelings. She’s raw and vulnerable and real throughout the story. She realizes her mess ups throughout the book and that really makes her character relatable. I loved how Ballard brought Emmy’s character full circle too. We see her as a writer in the beginning, who refused to star in her own movie, but we watch her grow as an actor and in the end, going on to write and act some more!

The spice in this book is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️!! Talk about a slow-burn build-up, full of sexual tension and angst! Keeping true to its genre, this book is not only hot on spice, but full of comedy and fun banter! My favorite scene of the entire book is the the day after our two love birds get together again! Amanda and Sam (hair and make up) just KNOW something has happened between Emmy and Grayson, but Emmy keeps her mouth shut. Instead, joking that she “may have tried a new moisturizer” 😏.

This book quickly became one of my favorite rom-coms of 2023! Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!!

I’m a total sucker for Hollywood romances but I could immediately tell this wasn’t the book for me. The writing was a bit cringe at times and Emmy acted super immature for a women in her thirties. The miscommunication drove me BONKERS. Bummed because I thought this sounded fun!

I loved Falon Ballard’s first two books, so I was so excited to get her newest one! Like the others, I devoured this in a day. This cute celebrity romance was such a fun and delightful read!



Screenwriter and child of acting legends, Emmy Harper ends up playing the lead role in her upcoming romantic comedy movie. However, when the original male lead gets injured and can no longer play the part, they scramble to find a new male lead on late notice. To Emmy’s surprise and dismay, the person she holds responsible for her decision to quit acting, Grayson West, ends up filling in. Needless to say, there is a lot of tension on set as they work with one another again, until they make a deal to ensure the movie’s filming goes off without a hitch.



I really liked the movie setting for this - it felt like you were right on set alongside Emmy and Grayson. The scenes with the intimacy coordinator were a nice addition. I also loved the chemistry between the two main leads. Their witty banter was fun and charming, especially as it evolves over the course of the book. I also adored Emmy’s mom; I enjoyed how loving yet realistic she was when Emmy was being stubborn. Though, I was a little disappointed that we did not really see the Liz/Emmy friendship nearly enough. Also, the third act was a bit of a let down; I wanted more out of that resolution than the few pages given.



Overall, loved the swoon-worthy - and spicy - romance between Emmy and Grayson. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC!

Another great read by Fallon Ballard! I’ve recently started reading Ballard’s books, and can’t say enough good things about them. Right on Cue was a classic rom-com with a lot of heat and a lot of fun. (Reader be warned, there is some spice!) A quick read, too, so it was super easy to dive in and enjoy this Hollywood enemies-to-lovers romp.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

Solid romance story with interesting characters and premise. Nothing unexpected but not in a bad way, just in a respectful ode to the romance genre. My favorite parts of the book are the self-aware bits. It’s a bit meta to write a book about a romance writer and that was my favorite part about it.

Only complaints are that the focus on sex is a little too much and on predictability, I would’ve loved a twist that I couldn’t see coming or a more complex discussion of the mistakes they both made in the relationship. But beyond that it was a very easy and light romance read that’s perfect for the end of winter weather.

Right on Cue was a perfect spicy romcom. Emphasis on the spicy! I loved the character development and the enemies to lover trope. Fingers crossed there is a sequel because I can't get enough of Emmy and Grayson!

Oh boy! I love this sweet, hot, entertaining, and sentimental romance so much that I'm mad at myself for finishing it too quickly! I even went back to reread my favorite intimate moments between Emmy and Grayson! I've read previous works by Falon Ballard, and so far, this is my favorite book of hers. It reminded me of Ava Wilder's "Will they or won't they" combined with Bridget Morrissey's "Love Scenes," featuring sizzling chemistry and the enemies-to-lovers trope! The scorching and pant-meltingly intense chemistry that sets the chapters on fire is undeniable and palpable, making your reading experience all the more enjoyable!

The story revolves around Emery Harper, the golden child of a Hollywood power couple and an Oscar-winning screenplay writer known for her meaningful dramas dedicated to her recently deceased father. After receiving an award that prompts her to shift genres towards more dramatic twists, she finally writes another romcom, entrusting it to her best friend Liz, who sits in the director's chair. Pressured by investors and her best friend director, Emery decides to take on the leading role, facing her fears head-on. She takes this risk after being shunned for her disastrous debut role at the age of fifteen, thanks to her co-star Grayson West, who publicly called their kiss the worst he'd ever had, leading to a social media storm that tarnished her reputation at a young age. Now, Emery is determined to move on from that humiliating moment and her co-star, who crushed her childhood dreams. However, an unexpected accident lands her back on set with her longtime arch-nemesis. Grayson West is cast as her love interest, and instead of wanting to punch him in the face and wipe the smug smile off his face, Emery has to act like she's in love with him, requiring an Oscar-worthy performance akin to Meryl Streep's, which she's not sure she's capable of. Grayson is equally apprehensive about playing opposite her, knowing she despises him and has no respect for his abilities. His insecurities as an action star with a reputation for lacking emotional depth in his roles and getting cast primarily for his looks affect his performance.

Can they convincingly portray lovebirds despite their longstanding animosity and the underlying sexual tension that escalates each day on set? What if they decide to become friends with benefits to alleviate the high tension for the sake of the movie? Their intentions are strictly professional, or are they? As the bedroom tension intensifies, could it lead to something more intimate? Are they prepared to risk their hearts for the sake of the production?

Overall, despite my dislike for the unnecessary angst that led to heartbreak in the third act, I enjoyed the characters, their genuine communication that helped them open up about their insecurities, and their sizzling compatibility. I had so much fun reading this book, and I easily connected with Grayson and Emery's love story, which compels me to round up my 4.5 stars to a glowing 5, like the stars of a romance movie!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with this addictive read's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I absolutely LOVED Lease on Love and Just My Type, so I had super high hopes for this one! Unfortunately, this missed the mark for me. I feel like some people will love it, but I didn’t love the miscommunication at the end. Maybe celebrity romances are just not for me! I have yet to read one I’ve loved. It just seemed very predictable to me.

Emmy, an actress/screenwriter finds herself acting once more. Her costar is none other than her sworn enemy and rival, Grayson West. She blames him for putting an early end to her acting career, while he has since flourished and is a big time star. They are forced to get along in order to save the movie. Sparks fly, making them question everything!

This story!! These characters!! Emmy and Grayson are too cute but also hot!! I enjoyed the pacing of this book and making the movie. The enemies to costars with benefits to lovers made perfect sense.

The intimacy scenes at the beginning were everything!! I love how Falon gave us more spicy scenes this book.

As the reader I can really tell the author enjoyed writing this book. It radiates from the pages. It was so fun to read. I can’t wait to suggest it to friends and patrons.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It reminded me of a hallmark movie in the best way possible (I LIVE for them). Maybe it’s because it took place on set of a rom com.

Either way this enemies to lovers was beautifully done. The little gossip blog highlights after chapters were my FAVORITE.

This is the first book in awhile that actually felt relatable in some way as far as the relationship went.

“F the haters, you’re never too old to need your mom” 🥹🥲

Spice level 2, but extremely well done.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book! My reviewing & platforms information is linked in my profile.

Brief Synopsis:

Hollywood darling Emmy Harper is considered the queen of writing romantic comedies. That is, until tragedy struck and she swore she’d never write another happy ending again. After some time away and lots of encouragement, Emmy is finally ready to dive back into the genre with her latest project. But more is riding on this movie than just her return to the big screen. This time, Emmy has also been convinced to star as the lead, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.

Emmy is nervous, yet excited, to give performing another shot, until a last-minute injury benches her trusted co-star. With filming about to start, there is only one other actor available: Grayson West. A blockbuster action star known for his mega-watt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream. Anyone except Emmy, who still blames him for the early end to her acting career.

As filming begins, the friction between Emmy and Grayson is palpable. The two are pushed to get their acts together—and quickly—or they risk tanking the entire movie. If working things out leads to chemistry on screen, what might happen when the cameras stop rolling?

Thoughts:

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for providing me with the opportunity to read the ARC for Right on Cue, Falon Ballard’s new rom-com due out on February 27, 2024.

This is such a well-written, entertaining story. Emmy is quite a spitfire, so I enjoyed following her through her chaotic, movie-centric life. The banter between Emmy and “Grayson f*cking West” is enjoyable, perhaps especially because of the characters’ chilly start and miscommunications. The story’s settings are charming and its cast of characters are interesting. My only complaint is that I would have loved for Emmy to experience a bit more personal growth.

This is a great book to watch for next year as you plan your TBR. I will definitely be checking out more of this author’s books!

I really enjoyed her other two novels. Sadly, this one missed the mark for me. The concept is great and the twist at the end was a good one. I just felt like the characters lacked so much depth. Like couldn’t we have had a scene where they go visit Grayson’s family and make amends? Or his dad shows up to the premiere and they make amends? And everything was so surface-level for both characters. I wanted more with Emmy’s connection to her dad and they way she struggled in the industry. I just kinda wanted more this whole book. The “enemies-to-lovers” plot line felt very childish. Which is fun at times, but it wasn’t portrayed very well. You have to mix the fun with the sincere. I’m a lil disappointed that this one was just kinda mid

I honestly loved this book. I felt like the drama between the two characters was handled very well, the tension of working on set was interesting, and the main female character was portrayed interestingly. Often I feel as though the female MC can be very stagnant, but Emmy was very well written. From her Nepo-baby status being addressed in a satisfying way to her relationship with Grayson, I was never not rooting for her. The scenes that took place on set were always very well-explained so people not familiar with the film industry will have an easy time following along. Overall, I am super excited to read this again!