3.5 stars for this cute, short and sweet lil Russian nesting doll of a holiday second chance romance novel!

What Falon Ballard is gonna do every time is write adorable characters going on emotional journeys until they figure their own brains out enough to be together, and this book is no exception. Jess and Nick (no, not those ones- but wouldn’t it be fun if it was!) are two romance authors with some unfinished business- and their publishing house, the weather forecast, and a small country inn are going to make them finish that business!! I thought this quick lil book was fun, sweet, and perfect for the holiday season (in a few months!!)

Thank you so much to Fallon Ballard and NetGalley for a chance to read in exchange for an honest review!

exes to rivals to lovers with forced proximity and only one bed - need i say more?

i will though because i thoroughly enjoyed this and devoured it almost in one sitting. was such a fun storyline that made the middle of september feel like christmas to me. i anticipate a reread (or audiobook listen) when the holidays actually roll around, but for now i am going to read all of Falon’s other books

This novel just didn’t do much for me. It’s a second-chance story so we never really saw why they originally loved each other except that they were both aspiring writers who liked working together. But Nick, apparently, dumped Jessica right after had his novel accepted with a big advance and a movie offer. So she is fiercely angry at him and resents his success as a romance author who never writes a HEA.

With the alternating viewpoints, we see that Nick still loves her and regrets his dumping. That might have been a fine set-up, but I got rather tired of the same old tropes like having to share a bed in a hotel because all the other rooms are booked. It’s almost as if every time a romance character goes to a hotel or some other domicile, we know that the H and h will have to share a bed.

I just couldn’t warm up to either character or buy their rekindled romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an ARC of All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard, in exchange for my honest review.

Another amazingly scrumptious book by Falon Ballard! Cute, quick, and a little bit sexy! I love Ms. Ballard's writing; the snarky dialogue, genuine friendships, the pacing of the story, and the don't-want-to-put-down goodness.

I definitely recommend this book!

Nick and Jess (I love the New Girl reference) are romance writers working for the same publisher. Which is how they end up attending the same holiday ball and sharing the same bed, despite the fact that they broke up five years ago.

I genuinely love the characters that Falon Ballard writes and have yet to be disappointed by her writing. If you’re looking for a cute holiday second-chance romance for the coming Christmas season, look no further. I devoured this book in a matter of two and a half days. The plot kept me engaged and the banter was wonderful! I highly recommend!

I'm a BIG fan of Falon Ballard and this latest holiday second chance, dual POV, forced proximity romance between two former writing partners, lovers and now rivals that has them snowed in together sharing a bed in a cozy inn over Christmas was a delightful read!

Told through flashbacks to Christmases past we slowly learn why the couple broke up and get to see them debate whether love stories are better with sad or happy endings if they themselves can get a second chance at love.

Perfect for fans of The roughest draft by Emily Wibberley and her author duo husband. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door

This was my first Falon Ballard read but let me tell you, I am HOOKED!! This book is such a cute and fun holiday read (even though I’m reading it in September, bring on the Peppermint Mochas!!!).
I never knew I could love this Nick and Jess more than I love New Girl Nick and Jess (If you know, you know lol) but I really do! The pining from Nick and the wittiness from Jess makes them such a complimentary pair PLUS I have always been a sucker for an author/author romance!

Overall, I loved this book so much and can’t wait for everyone to experience it!!

5 stars

Despite this book being a very quick read, it was PACKED with emotion. Nothing in the story felt like filler, every scene had a point to the main story and I appreciated that so much. I deeply felt everything these two MCs were going through. A dual POV second chance romance is just *chef's kiss* to me but throw in some of the most fun and ridiculous tropes (snowed in, only one bed) in the midst of Christmas?? And its a book about books?? I think this was made for me specifically.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

All I Want Is You is pretty much what you’d expect from a romance by Falon Ballard. While poking fun a romance tropes, this book employs many of them. A little sweet, a little spicy and an ending you know before you start. Cute enough and quick but nothing groundbreaking.

Two romance novelists with a history get snowed in at a romantic lodge days before the holidays. And of course there is only one room! Are they all each other really want for Christmas?

I am officially a Falon Ballard fan. I read Right on Cue earlier this year and loved her characters, her wit, how she balances plot and spice, and most importantly, how she takes the tropes we know and love and executes them well. This was a short and sweet holiday novel that checked all of those boxes. There is a VERY annoying detail about Nick and Jessica’s breakup (she has to be a New Girl fan, right?) that I could have done without, but I was otherwise easily won over by Ballard’s writing. I just hope she doesn’t let a character be that dumb again.

3.5/5 stars. A great easy read to pick up during the holiday season madness!

Many thanks to Ballard, NetGalley, and Penguin Group - Putnam for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book is very Christmas-y! It was a good quick read, but the pacing feels rushed at times. I really enjoyed the banter! The spice was also well written.

Okay, All I Want Is You is my new favorite book by Falon Ballard! I feel like I say this after reading each of her books. I became instantly invested in Jessica and Nick's dual POV, second-chance, one-bed romance. Jess and Nick are romance authors for the same publishers, and they used to be critique partners before their relationship ended. Jess and Nick come back into each other's lives when Jess is asked to introduce Nick as the Romance Author of the Year to accept his award. Both of them fight sparks when they see each other again. I love these characters and seeing how they develop throughout the book. The audiobook narration by Sarah Naughton and Marwan Salama was well done. I would recommend this romance for your holiday reading list!

I read this book in about a day. It was a very quick read. I enjoyed it but was I clicking my heels together with delight? No. I was feeling a bit warm and fuzzy though. It did not light my soul on fire but it got me in the Christmas spirit. I would liken it to a Hallmark movie - festive but not groundbreaking.

Every time I pick up a Falon Ballard novel I think "𝘖𝘩- 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦." The same goes for her latest, 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝗪𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 (Pub 09.24).
It was exactly the escapist rom-com I was craving and I gobbled it up in a day. The pacing and character development made for a quick read. Save it for a day that you want to get in the holiday spirit- cozy up with a peppermint mocha and a blanket and enjoy!

Jess and Nick are both romance writers, even though he does not follow the rule of "must have a HEA". They are also execs, who five years post break up find themselves snowed in at an industry event at a quaint Inn. Their story is emotional, sexy, witty and simply entertaining.

⁣𝗪𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝗪:
Second Chance Romance
Forced proximity
One Room/Bed
Sharp verbal sparring
Behind-the-scenes of Publishing
The grandest of grand gestures

I love a holiday book, and this was a very fun read without it being Christmas cheesy! I am really excited to explore this author a bit more as I enjoyed her style.

I felt as though this book as fast paced and the characters had real depth to them which is not always a given. It was pretty lighthearted and I found myself wanting more, but I do think the plot was a touch predictable. Also loved that they were Nick and Jess like New Girl! I personally like to avoid a miscommunication type book, but I enjoyed this. This however would be one of the reasons I am not giving this book 5 stars. The second reason would be that while I thought the character depth was great, I do think more could have been added around both their personal and professional lives. This author’s style of writing left me wanting in a good way, but more insight would have leveled this book up for me.

You’ll go crazy for this book if you enjoy:
- lovers to enemies to lovers
- second chance
- one bed
- forced proximity

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Falon Ballard never disappoints and her latest, All I Want is You, is one of her very best.

Nick and Jessica are both romance writers. Jessica is all about the happily ever after (HEA) while Nick's books never end with an HEA. Nick is a best selling author and Jessica is still working to become one. They were a couple for 3 years and thought they would have their own HEA with each other until something breaks them apart. And now Jessica is asked by her publisher to present the romance writer of the year award to Nick 5 years after their breakup at a cozy inn days before Christmas , the holiday she loves and Nick hates (or so he thinks). Enter a snowstorm making travel impossible, forced proximity as Jessica's room reservation is not found, and Nick offering to share his one bed room with Jessica. Will their days together force them to confront what happened to their relationship and offer a second chance at romance? Can they get past hurt feelings and allow themselves to love each other again? Can Nick finally write a HEA for his characters and himself?

I absolutely love this book and the characters Ms. Ballard has created. The setting is cozy and magical and has all the holiday vibes. It's perfect to read any time of year but especially during the holidays. The descriptive writing allows the reader to see in their mind the holiday themed decorations at the inn and in the room Nick and Jessica share. The Christmas activities in New York City put you right there at the ice skating rink in Rockefeller Center and its easy to almost taste those peppermint coffees Jessica loves.

Jessica and Nick are delightful characters that grow and become more magical as the book progresses. Their journey to find a HEA will leave you with all the feels.

Angsty rivals, with some hallmark holiday infusion made for a sweet and fun holiday inspired read.
This will be perfect come November, with hot cocoa and a blanket while snuggled all day inside reading.

All I Want is You is an easy to read, fast but oh so satisfying holiday romance about two people who are absolutely meant to be. As my first book from Falon Ballard, I have to say – I would read ANYTHING she writes. While my TBR is overflowing (who else can relate?), I look forward to catching up on this author’s backlist because WOW! She can write a hell of a good romance. With characters that you can’t help but love, emotional depth, and a storyline that keeps you hooked – if you’re looking for one holiday romance this year, make it this one!

Jessica once adored Christmas, but that changed five years ago when she went through a devastating breakup around the holiday. Writing romance novels and working at a coffee shop to make ends meet, she won’t admit it, but she’s never really moved on from her first love, Nick. When her publisher’s Christmas party requires her to present an award to her ex, she’s tempted to refuse, but she knows she can’t. Nick has many regrets, but his greatest is letting Jess go. Can these two finally learn how to communicate and heal old wounds?

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
- Lovers to enemies to lovers
- Second chance romance
- Miscommunication
- One bed

It’s hard to say what I loved most about this book – from the slight nod at New Girl (thanks Nick & Jess) to the swoon-worthy banter, the undeniable chemistry to the hot, hot spice that didn’t overtake the story but only fueled the passion – the entire story is the epitome of what a romance novel SHOULD BE!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Falon Ballard's "All I Want is You" is a delightful holiday romance that blends humor, rivalry and a touch of angst. The story follows Jessica and Nick, two professional rivals who find themselves trapped in a snowstorm together, forced to share a room and collaborate on a writing project.

The premise is undeniably charming, and Ballard does a fantastic job of building tension and chemistry between the two leads. Their banter is witty and engaging, and their shared passion for writing creates a relatable connection. The setting, a cozy inn during the Christmas season, adds to the overall festive atmosphere.

However, the plot feels a bit predictable at times, and the characters could have benefited from a bit more depth. While their rivalry is well-established, their personal journeys could have been explored in greater detail. Nonetheless, the book offers a satisfying and heartwarming reading experience.

If you're looking for a lighthearted holiday romance with a touch of professional rivalry, "All I Want is You" is definitely worth checking out. It's a perfect escape from the cold winter days, filled with laughter, love, and a touch of Christmas magic.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

Fallon Ballard has become a treasured author of mine. Lease on Love remains one of my favorite books of all time so when I saw she had a Christmassy book coming out, I needed it in my life ASAP. I think this is one of my favorite holiday romances I’ve read recently because it felt like a normal romance novel, set at Christmas. It’s not cheesy, it’s grounded in reality, and still has cozy, festive vibes.

I also feel like it might one of Fallon’s spiciest books yet, so no Hallmark vibes here.

Synopsis:

“All Jessica has ever wanted is her own happily ever after. But until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick—also a romance writer and now her biggest rival—who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s what he’s good at, after all . . .So when their professional obligations bring them to a remote inn a few days before Christmas, they’re a little more than peeved, especially when they get trapped sharing a room in a snowstorm. But what’s more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? Realizing the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying. But will Jess’s heart soar, too? Nick is the last guy on earth she should love . . . but what if he is really all she wants for Christmas?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—A cozy Christmassy hotel where two city writers are trapped cause of a snowstorm? Perfection. And there might be only one bed available.

The Pacing—This book moved in such a perfect way. There were a few flashbacks but it didn’t totally take place in alternating timelines. You can easily read this book in one sitting!

The Characters & Stakes—I believed in these characters and their struggles, truly. I felt like the reason for their break up made sense, their reasons for getting back together. It all connected in a natural, believable way. Also the grand gesture? Swoon.

The Festive Cheer—This book isn’t about Christmas, it takes place at Christmas. It’s festive without being annoying or Hallmarky.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

Nothing—This book just worked for me! I don’t have any complaints about it.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

N/A