ALL I WANT IS YOU is a swoony holiday romance about two exes, both of whom are romance authors, who reunite years after their breakup at their publisher's holiday ball. however, they find themselves trapped at the hotel due to a snowstorm, and of course, there are no rooms left...

i'm a sucker for so many of the tropes in this book and it was such a quick, cute, and fun read, perfect to get in the holiday spirit! nick and jess (and yes, there is a new girl reference in the book) have such good dynamic and i loved seeing them come back to each other after everything, especially the way that jess really made nick work for it.

read if you like:
- second chance
- author MCs
- short and sweet

thanks to netgalley and putnam for the advanced copy!

Adorable! I love the idea of two authors, who used to date, working through their issues in a book collaboration. The story was cute but a little predictable but exactly what I needed to get through work today. The characters were relatable and I loved the use of typical romance tropes while poking fun at them the same time. The grand gesture was a nice touch.

All I Want is You is this year’s first, fun, and festive holiday romance! Falon Ballard always hits it out of the park, and this short(er) and sweet holiday-themed lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers is no exception. When former lovers - authors Jessica and Nick - get snowed in at a company awards retreat at a picturesque hotel, the can-barely-stand-one-another pair are forced to share a hotel room, with just one bed, when the hotel runs out of rooms. Trapped in each other’s company for days on end, and forced to co-write a book together when playing at being civil in front of the bosses suggests they’d also work well together, they’re forced to address what went wrong all those years ago that led to their split. Through co-writing, they bring all the past hurt and pain to light and begin to address the lingering resentments, giving them an opportunity for a second chance romance. Cute and cozy, yet steamy enough to melt all that snow, this is perfect for anyone looking for a festive read!

This is an absolutely delightful holiday romp. It’s very self aware in a way that really adds to the fun. There’s a solid amount of spice and a whole mixture of tropes. I’m not always a fan of second chance romances, but this one worked better than I’d anticipated.

This book was so cute and fun. I love that it is a second change romance with a little bit of an enemies to lovers thrown in. The only thing that I didn’t like the reason why they had previously broke up. I always hate when something bad happens because of miscommunication. I have read many books by this author and this one did not disappoint.

Cue Mariah Carey...

All I Want is You by Falon Ballard is the perfect heartwarming rom-com, holiday escape!
Jess Carrington, a small-time romance writer, is asked to present the Romance Author of the Year award to her rival, Nick Matthews (who happens to be her ex). She can't turn it down because she needs anything to help her career, but when a snow storm strikes and leaves her stranded at the inn, which has no vacancy, Nick offers to share his room.

What starts as a frosty reunion in a remote, Christmasy inn quickly melts into something far sweeter. The forced proximity trope works like magic here, especially when these two writers, both battling creative slumps, realize that their fiery arguments might just be the spark they need to fuel their stories—and maybe something more. The banter between Jess and Nick is sharp, funny, and filled with the perfect mix of unresolved tension and chemistry.

I loved this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good holiday romcom. This one gave forced proximity, one bed, second chance romance, and lovers to rivals to lovers. So many great tropes tied up in a cute bow. Also the nod to New Girl with our main characters being named Nick and Jess warmed my heart. She loves Christmas and he is a bit of a Scrooge but when they are forced to stay in the same hotel room due to a snow storm and not enough rooms at the inn I knew I was going to love this one. Their chemistry was great and the spice was exactly what I hoped for.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Penguin Group Putnam for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, exes, rivals, one bed, steamy

LOVVVEEEE. Falon is always a winner for me. This is exactly what I wanted to read for the holidays. It's a cute, sweet, and sexy holiday read with second chances. SO magical. Add it to your list!

Wow, what a delightful ride! All I Want is You by Falon Ballard is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and holiday magic. This enemies-to-lovers romance has everything you could want, especially as we dive into the season of love and cheer.

Jessica is a relatable protagonist, yearning for her own happily ever after while dealing with the fallout from her ex-boyfriend Nick—now her biggest rival in the romance writing world. Their tension is palpable, and it’s hard not to root for them, even when they drive each other crazy. The setup of them being stuck together in a remote inn during a snowstorm is pure romantic comedy gold!

As they turn their professional frustrations into creative fuel, the chemistry between Jess and Nick ignites in a way that’s both steamy and genuine. Their banter is sharp, filled with playful jabs that had me laughing out loud. The way they navigate their past and present is beautifully written, making their emotional journey feel authentic.

Ballard’s writing style is engaging and flows effortlessly, drawing you into the snowy setting and the complex relationship between the two writers. The juxtaposition of Jess's idealism against Nick's cynical approach to love adds depth to their dynamic, making their interactions even more intriguing.

The romantic tension builds beautifully, and the resolution is satisfying without being overly predictable. It’s the kind of story that reminds you that sometimes the person you think you should avoid is actually the one who can help you find your way back to love.

Overall, All I Want is You is a charming holiday romance that’s sure to warm your heart. If you’re a fan of witty banter, emotional depth, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic, this book is a must-read! Falon Ballard has truly captured the spirit of the season and the complexity of love in a way that leaves you wanting more.

Jessica is a romance writer searching for her own happily ever after ending. She's had zero luck since her ex-boyfriend, Nick, also a romance writer, broke her heart with no explanation. Now Jessica is tapped to present an award to Nick at their publisher's holiday event. She wants nothing to do with it but agrees out of obligation. And then of course they are snowed in and forced to spend days together with nothing to do but confront their past.

What a sweet little holiday romance! I loved the characters, the premise, the story development, everything. I just wish there was more of it. A wonderful quick read for the holidays this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of All I Want Is You.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

3.5 rounded up to 4.

This was quick, cute read for the winter/Christmas season. Jess and Nick are adorable both individually and together. Second chance is one of my favorite tropes and coupled with a steamy one bed situation, this was so much fun. But the dreaded miscommunication trope reared its ugly head and had me slapping my forehead. Why can't people talk to each other before they get to a breaking point? Anywhoo... This was still cute. It was about writers and writing and I had a good time!

This was a cute Christmas book. However, the second chance romance trope is iffy for me and can go either way. For me, there must be a good reason why the couple broke up, and then the couple must work on said issue before getting back together. I felt like the reason for the breakup was just stupidity, so I was not very impressed.

I LOVED this holiday romance! Nick and Jess were truly made for each other. This book had some of my all-time favorite tropes: forced proximity, one bed, and second chance romance! This is the perfect, holiday romance to get you into the holiday spirit!

This is such a perfect holiday romance, paired with the second chance trope it was a perfect read. Fallon Ballard is so good at writing a build up between two characters and she did not disappoint in this book. Will always pick up a book by her and can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this one.

4/5 ⭐️

This was such a cute holiday romance that has me so excited for the holiday season.
Nothing is better than a good second chance romance but with them being rival authors??? like yes please!!
Nick and Jess love for eachother really shined through with the secret glances at one another until they finally caved into being snowed in with one another

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the e-arc!

It's mid-October, but apparently I'm in my holiday romance era.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This was a quick, breezy holiday romance second chance read. Nick and Jess are both writers who were in the same writing group and became friends, then a couple, and then Nick broke it off after his first book got a successful book deal. Fast forward five years later and Nick is a successful romance writer with a twist...he does not write happy endings. Though Jess has a loyal fan base, her writing doesn't pay the bills so she is a part-time barista. Her publishing company reaches out to her because the big formal ball (because, of course) is coming up and she wants Jess to present Nick the award of the night, held at a little inn. The tropes start rolling in...snowed in...one bed...

Like I said, it was a cute read. The reason for the break up was understandable and showed some character growth. And Nick backed it up with super sweet gestures. If you want some naughty and nice this holiday season, grab a peppermint latte and curl up with Jess and Nick.

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

this was a cute, holiday second chance romance. I liked the way they pulled the writing of their books into the story too. Characters were easy enough to like. I'd recommend.

It felt as if Ballard just gave up on the plot halfway through. Everything wrapped up way too easily. The beginning of the story was so good and on brand for her recent novels, which play with great chemistry and tension between the characters. But this one fell flat for me.

A merry romcom! Falon Ballard’s All I Want Is You is a super cute confection of a romance, featuring appealing characters, This relatively short novel has plenty of Christmas spirit, and is perfect for reading on a chilly afternoon or evening.

The fabulous cover deserves a special mention.

Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was a cute short book! The characters were funny and I enjoyed their dynamic. I had expected a big miscommunication to happen, since that happens a lot in romance books, but was relieved when it didn't happen in this one. I definitely think this is a good book for someone who wants a romance book but is looking for something on the shorter side, or if someone is looking for a holiday romance. It had big The Roughest Draft vibes which I was very much here for. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!