Emmy is a Hollywood baby of two mega stars who has become a very successful screenwriter. When the movie crew has trouble casting the leading lady in her current script, Emmy herself is given the role, which is fine until her original leading man gets injured and Grayson West steps into the role. Emmy's only other time acting was with Grayson, and it was a disaster. Will they be able to work things out?

I really enjoyed this story! The banter between the characters is fun, and the small town snowy inn for a scene was perfect, and very easy to picture as I read. I liked that the characters both had vulnerabilities, and were able to show them to each other. A 'he falls first' romance is always fun, in my opinion.

I thought Emmy's background of being in the press since the day she was born, and how it affected her was interesting. It gives a good basis for her insecurity as a teenager, and why Grayson making the comment he did about her would have been hard for her to handle, especially as a hormonal fifteen year old.

I do think the history between the two should have been addressed a bit more. Their encounter was something that bothered Emmy for fifteen years, but was essentially just shrugged off after one quick mention between the two. While Grayson apologizes for the comment, he never actually explains why he would have said such a thing to people to begin with. In that same line, why was his acting with her in the early scenes so bad? He says he never had issues with her, but does his best to not put any effort into his scenes with her. She had troubles, too, but they came out in her performance as anger, which tracks with how she was feeling. I would have enjoyed having that part resolved a bit more. Otherwise, it was a fun story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My first Falon Ballard book!

I could see the vision Ballard wanted, though unfortunately, I think the execution fell flat for me. The idea of two actors that loathe each other being forced to work on a cute rom-com was a cute idea, one that screams right up my alley. However, the one-dimensional, confusing characters hindered my enjoyment.

Emmy was childish. Especially in the inevitable third act break up (can we stop doing this guys, really?) All of her antics and why she supposedly hated Grayson West actually ended up causing me to like him more and more. Her personality changed every chapter and I felt like I couldn’t get a decent read on her character.

And then there was Grayson. While his banter was cute and made me chuckle a few times, there wasn’t anything solid about him. I couldn’t root for him and Emmy because, frankly, their relationship was so surface level. They worked on a project once FIFTEEN YEARS AGO and yet Emmy still held disdain for the words he said as a teenager? Girl. The pair was beyond wishy washy and because I couldn’t firmly plant my feet on the ground and root for the couple, the book didn’t click for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! I’ll try more of Falon Ballard in the future, but Right on Cue wasn’t for me!

Falon Ballard has done it again! This book was so cute! A second chance/ enemies to lovers romance?! A dream combination! 😍 I really enjoyed both Emmy and Grayson as characters. The banter had me laughing out loud throughout the book. They both have some immaturity in various points of their story, but take accountability for their actions and grow throughout. Seeing two likable people love each other well in words and actions was precious. A delightfully heartwarming read!

I loved this book so much! The characters really grew on me and I enjoyed seeing them grow throughout the book. Emmys character definitely was a tad annoying at times. I’m not the biggest fan of miscommunication or else i would’ve gave the book 5 stars. Emmy and Grayson were just childish at points when they could’ve just talked out their issues like adults. I do love a good rom/com read and enemies to lovers and this book delivered on that!!! Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.75 out of 5. This was the perfect book for a rom com lover like me. A total romantic loop, a book about the making of a rom com movie, its all there. The chemistry here was off the charts, unlike many books where I question why do they like each other, here the chemistry was oozing off the page from the beginning. I love the buildup, how things progresses and even the traditional 75% in relationship issue felt very well done. The behind the scenes of a movie setting makes it also fun and for me engaging. Also Emmy was an amazing character and you can not help but root for her throughout.

There were a lot of pop cultural references that I personally appreciated: Her being a nepo baby, The fact that their rom com was called No reservations (which is one of the best rom com movies and one that is truly underappreciated) and also a shout out to The Hating Game.

This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance that follows Hollywood darling Emmy Harper and blockbuster action star Grayson West as they face their past and try to create an award-winning romance movie.
In this story, Emmy works to overcome her insecurities of being taken seriously as a Hollywood nepo-baby and Grayson is trying to solidify himself as a real actor and not just a pretty face. But their past as former co-stars and first crushes plagues the production of their newest movie together.
Ballard always creates quirky, loveable characters who have to learn to get out of their own way, open their hearts, and find love. She does it again with this wonderfully swoony book!
Fans of Elissa Sussman and Sarah Adams will love this book!

This was a fun read from Falon Ballard! It was a second chance romance/enemies to lovers that took place on a movie set between two co-stars. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters! Would definitely recommend!

I loved Falon Ballard's previous two books, and I'm a sucker for Hollywood romance stories, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of RIGHT ON CUE!

RIGHT ON CUE follows Emmy Harper, a beloved romantic comedy writer who hasn't acted since her debut film was received poorly due to her lack of chemistry with her co-star, Grayson West. But when Emmy's newest project can't find their leading lady, it's clear that Emmy is the best person for the role. Emmy's job becomes even harder when her co-star is injured and replaced with Grayson West, and the pair have to work together to resolve their issues from when they were teenagers and discover there may be more complicated feelings involved.

This was a quick read for me--I flew through it in one sitting. Emmy and Grayson's banter was witty and fun, and their chemistry was undeniable. The Right Person, Wrong Time trope had my entire heart.

However, outside of those moments, the writing wasn't as strong as Ballard's previous books. The dialogue could be cringey and awkward when it wasn't meant to be, which took me out of the story.

Emmy was a bit frustrating as well, thinking that her performance was perfect and that Grayson was the sole problem while they were filming until they were forced to sit down and watch their scenes together and realized she was the problem too.

But the biggest problem for me was that the miscommunication trope was used twice. I'm already not a fan of this trope, but I think the use of it when they were teenagers was effective and believable. However, when it came up again for the third-act breakup, it felt childish how Emmy refused to tell Grayson what she overheard and give him a chance to explain, especially since she thought Grayson was "her person." Shutting him out and breaking up with him with no explanation didn't sit right with me.

From there, the ending was too quick for me. I wish the pair reuniting was expanded a bit and not rushed as much as it was.

In all, I will definitely continue reading Ballard's future books, but for now, LEASE ON LOVE remains my favorite.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One thing about me? I LOVE a good celebrity romance book. I started ‘Right on Cue’ after a long fantasy streak and immediately after reading a thriller, so initially I wasn’t in the headspace for a romance at all. To the point that I even told my sister I was regretting choosing a romance to read next. Any doubts I had quickly disappeared as this book absolutely sucked me in by the end of the second chapter.

Emmy Harper’s acting career ended the same moment it started- and for that she blames Grayson West. Grayson may have been Emmy’s first kiss while they were filming their first movie together, but a teenage crush quickly became her first real heartbreak. Now, years later, Emmy finds old wounds are easily opened as she unexpectedly reunites with Grayson for her latest movie.

I made the mistake of reading at work and felt like I had to physically pry myself away. This story gives everything you could want it to and more- celebrity, small town, second chance, AND enemies to lovers. This book gave me butterflies, had me laughing out loud, and had me holding my breath with anticipation and anxiety. This may be the first work of Falon Ballard’s I have read but it certainly won’t be my last.

Right on Cue will be available February 27th, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Publishing for sending me an advanced readers copy of this contemporary romance in exchange for an honest review.

I honest to goodness thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the drama. I rolled my eyes at the usual third act breakup that was because of miscommunication, and I think that's the big problem. I just hate miscommunication. Other than that, the book was really good. 100% would recommend to anyone looking for something like this.

Emmy is the daughter of a beloved Hollywood couple and has just agreed to star in the movie of the screenplay she wrote. Unfortunately for her, an injury causes her costar to be replaced by Grayson, a handsome actor who has a history with Emmy. They can’t seem to stand each other, and it shows on screen. Their movie is in trouble, so they have to find a way to break the tension and have on screen chemistry.

I absolutely love Falon Ballard’s other two books, so I was very excited and grateful to receive an early copy of Right on Cue. I loved this book and devoured it in a day. The banter was on point, and the enemies to lovers set within a movie rom com was so much fun! Grayson is so lovable and such a perfect cinnamon roll MMC. I enjoyed the small town, wintery inn setting as well. This is the perfect read to cozy up next to the fire and enjoy as snow falls. The only thing keeping this from being a five star was the miscommunication trope at the end. I just wanted Emmy to talk to Grayson, it’s so frustrating when those fictional characters aren’t behaving the way we want them to! But in all seriousness, this is a lighthearted, sweet, and fun escape of a book that I’ll be recommending to everyone!

Thank you to Falon Ballard, GP Putnam’s Sons, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

*arc review*

I loved this! I enjoyed the hate-love/enemies to lovers trope especially at the beginning. However, I will say I wouldve loved to see more graysons POV and not such much emmys. I liked her dont get me wrong but I feel like it could’ve had so much potential if we got even a sneak peek of how he felt the whole time. Thanks so much for letting me read it ahead of time!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

I enjoyed this! There was character development and the problems were realistic to the characters. I wish there was a bit more depth here, but overall I enjoyed and would recommend to others.

Falon Ballard's 'Right on Cue' is a charming, celebrity romance with a bit of sass and some heartfelt moments.

Fresh off an Oscar for a darker film written in the aftermath of her grief, Hollywood nepo baby Emmy Harper returns to writing rom coms. After her director best friend finally convinces her to take the starring role, she's horrified to find her injured co-star's replacement is action hunk Grayson West, the man she blames for ruining her acting debut when they were teenagers.

There's some fantastic spark and banter between Emmy and Grayson. Both are dealing with the weight of expectations. For Emmy, being the daughter of a Hollywood IT couple whose love story (co-stars who met on-set and married) is the role model for her rom coms and her relationships. For Grayson, its to be seen as a serious actor because he'll never be good enough for his father.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I did have some authenticity issues regarding the filmmaking process. Ballard includes an intimacy coordinator, so why was the premiere several weeks after they wrapped, when usually its around a year afterwards? A longer break would've given the characters time to work on their issues and earn that HEA, especially Emmy's inability to communicate. Also, I found it hard to believe Emmy writes feminist Nora Ephron-inspired rom coms when the movie seemed like a typical small town Hallmark movie.

I would've loved further exploration into Emmy being a 'nepo baby' and Grayson's career regarding serious roles. I think this was a missed opportunity to make more than passing mention. In Grayson's case it seemed like he desired to act in different roles not just because of his dad, so why didn't it end with the two of them collaborating on a new project to showcase it?

The strengths of this book were the characters. Emmy could be frustrating at times regarding her stubborn refusal to communicate (props to her mum and Liz for calling her out), but it was understandable given her background and her longstanding hurt. I also adored Grayson, who was clearly gone for her, but nurturing his own hurt from their past. There was some beautiful, gentle swoony moments that kept me glued to the page.

Right on Cue sated my love for celebrity/Hollywood romance. As a fan of Ballard's first two books, I devoured this book and wasn't disappointed. Ballard writes in an engaging way with some fantastic characterisation, including secondary characters (any chance for a book featuring Liz?!). I highly recommend adding this to your pre-orders; I have.

Thanks to Putnam/Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Hallmark holiday movie vibes. Adversaries to lovers. Celebrity romance.

Emmy and Grayson met on set when they were teenagers and it didn’t end well. Years later, they are thrown together on another project and… well, there is definitely some rom and some com, but also some miscommunication thrown in.

Loved the setting and the secondary characters. I know the author hasn’t done any spin-off of books yet, but… maybe Liz’s story next?

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Right On Cue to come out February 27, 2023.

Every once in a while I stumble upon a book that reminds me all books are not written for me, and that is okay. Right on Cue was my most recent run in with this. I very much support an author who chooses to write a book that suits their heart and fully acknowledge the time and effort it took to do so. The writing of this book was not bad, but the story did not cling on to me like the author's others.

I found the main female character to be far too immature and quite honestly a bit ridiculous at times. To me she did not show any growth from her younger self through the end of the story. I can accept a small amount of miscommunication as long as growth is shown afterwards but in this case there was miscommunication experienced as teenagers, as well as in the final few chapters of the book!

The main male character was a bit more bearable than the FMC, though I do wish we saw his perspective on written page. With the way the FMC acted throughout the book, I honestly think Grayson deserves better. The third act breakup was predictable and once again immature on the FMCs part. I was happy when the MMC initially said he did not forgive her. It was a little abrupt when he went back on that decision a few weeks later because readers do not get to see inside his mind in his POV.

Additionally, Greyson's looks were described countless times ('wearing jeans' mentioned almost every single time). We don't get in depth descriptions of many other characters, which could just be because the book is in the POV of the FMC.

I can see certain people very much enjoying this book, even if I didn't LOVE it. I've realized I find it hard to connect to any book that includes a celebrity romance because they are simply not relatable to the general audience. That was my major issue with Right on Cue.

I will certainly continue reading Falon's books in the future and recommend the author to any readers I feel would enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and Falon Ballard for the ARC!

Okay, so I've never been a big fan of celebrity romance stories, but if anyone can convince me it would be Falon Ballard. She's had me hooked on her stories since lease on love, in fact right on cue might even be better. This felt like a holiday hallmark rom com and I am so here for. I haven't read a lot of celebrity romances but I think this definitely felt like a new approach to it! The Sex scene they had to act out for the movie, actually felt so awkwardly intimate like it was a real sex scene which had me blushing and kicking my feet. I also absolutely adore the relationship between Emmy, her bestie and her mother! Such a nice addition to the story. I felt attached to all the characters, and really cared about what they were going through. The only negatives I noticed were how many times the MC said "Grayson fucking west" which I totally understand has a point behind it but I felt like I was too aware of the amount it was said. I also believe there were a few typos, but I couldn't tell you were lol. Overall, so happy I gave this a shot and I can't wait for it to be released in February!!! Thank you for approving me for this ARC!!!!!!

This book is a heartwarming story that is told with sincerity. The author's writing style is smooth and descriptive, catering to visual readers like myself. this is definitely an emotional romance, and swooningly romantic. A second chance romance, a very satisfying comedy, witty fun bantering back and forth.,well-written. What’s amazing is not only are there plenty of laughs, but the characters have past hurts and fears they work to overcome. My only criticism is the miscommunication-conflict at the end, and the unnecessary need to tell the characters race or ethnicity. Bit predictable by still a cute read with an endearing story.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Falon Ballard’s storytelling. Her books are engaging and easy to devour in one sitting. Right on Cue was no different. It was a combination of several tropes, including my favorite: second chance romance (even if the first chance was burned relatively quickly.). Sweet love story, great characters, overall great read.