All I Want is You was a sweet and lighthearted second chance romance book.

It’s dual POVs of the main characters, Jessica and Nick, and there are some great tropes like, rivals to lovers, a second chance and holiday romance, forced proximity, and one bed.

While, this was mostly in the present there were a few chapters in the past as well.

The overall premise was great. I loved that they both were romance authors and that in his books there were no happy endings. Them working to co-write a second chance romance book while also dealing with their past lead to some angsty and heartfelt moments. There were also some entertaining, charming and heartbreaking scenes.

I will say though, there were a few underdeveloped subplots and I wanted a bit more depth to the characters at times.

The angst and pining were beautifully written though. She was the one that got away and his love for her was just obvious. Their development was a bit slow-paced as there were a lot of unresolved and hurt feelings. But their connection, banter, and chemistry were just perfect. The spice did not disappoint as well.

The reasoning behind their split wasn’t my favorite, they both just lacked communication but he definitely messed up the most. I wanted more groveling but I did feel like he redeem himself at the end.

Their reconciliation and ending were really cute as well. Overall, this was just a quick, steamy and fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From Penguin Group publishing:
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?
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My review: I have read all of Ballard's book now and she does not disappoint. There are tons of rom com tropes in this book and they actually work. The story unfolds quickly with competing exes, forced proximity, only one room at the inn, having to work together and unresolved anger and guilt. It takes a while to unravel what exactly happened in the past and why Nick left Jess. But as the story builds I started to care about both of them. None of the side characters were very fleshed out but that gives the reader more time to focus on the mains.
It was fun reading a book that openly acknowledges the third act break up and the happily ever after of the rom com genre. Ballard continues to write relatable characters with a story line that moves and interests. If you love a rom com (especially a holiday one!) and you’ve enjoyed the author’s other books you’ll be thrilled with this one. Plus, a little spiciness never hurts 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group publishers for an advance digital copy exchange for me review.

I can't explain how excited I was when I got the notification that I received this ARC for review. Falon Ballard has quickly become an auto-buy author for me, but All I Want Is You sealed that for me. I loved the parallels between Nick and Jess and their relationship alongside the stories they were writing. I also loved the coziness of the story, since it all mostly took place at a snow-blanketed inn around Christmastime—but even more so in a single room with a single bed shared by the two main characters. And I really loved the understandable yet inside-baseball elements of book publishing woven throughout.

If I had to nitpick, some of the backstories weren't as developed as I wanted them to be. It felt like Nick's family dynamic didn't have enough depth and was simply thrown in to back up some of his actions or help further the plot. However, I thought the appearances they did make made sense.

Despite it being Christmas-themed with a capital C, the storyline itself was solid enough to feel right reading at any time of the year (I knocked it out in the middle of a 103ºF August day in Texas). However, that also won't stop me from adding it to my yearly holiday reading list to come back to again and again.

This book was just perfect. It drew me in from page one, had an “enemies”(more so adversaries & former lovers) to lovers theme, and being thrown together for a project? Say less. The way I SQUEALED!

The way this book can brighten your spirits, give you a giggle, and all with a dash of spice? Yes, please. And did I mention the grumpy/sunshine dynamic? SOLD!

It was well worth the read, super quick, and definitely one I’ll be rereading around the holidays.

I love books about authors, and this was no different!

This book was pretty lighthearted and I enjoyed it. Pretty slow burn, so expect that going into it. However, there's a good amount of tension throughout the book so you won't feel like your left with nothing. This was pretty fast paced and I honestly sped through it!

I liked both the main characters but they definitely had their flaws, but not at all to the point of ruining my reading experience. Overall I think this was a solid book! I'd probably put it between 3.5 or 4 stars, definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"All I Want Is You" is Falon Ballard's latest rom-com, with a fun holiday twist. We follow Jess and Nick, exes and former writing partners, who are reluctantly reunited at a snowy hotel for their publishing company's holiday party. This book has a second chance romance, great holiday vibes, dual POV, and more. It read so quickly, and I found the relationship discussions between the protagonists to be realistic, honest, and heartfelt. If you're planning to travel during the holiday season this year, definitely pick this book up to make your journey fly by!

A second-chance romance with writers on writing? Sign me up! This was short and sweet, the perfect romance to get me in the holiday spirit.

All I Want is You is a cute, quick read for the holidays. Jess and Nick are exes, rival authors, and snowed in during the holidays at a hotel with just one room left. While I enjoyed Ballard’s writing style, this book was so short that I didn’t have time really connect with the characters. Still, it might be just the thing to read in the midst of the holiday madness—fast, fun and festive.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for an eARC. Opinions are my own.

This is a cute second chance romance holiday book. It’s an enjoyable quick read. It’s my second authors writing a book together romance in a row. But it works! Jess and Nick broke up 5 years ago. They are seeing each other again due to their publishers’ party. After reconnecting in person, they are able to finally get some closure on their past breakup and lingering feelings.

I did enjoy this super easy, spicy, holiday second chance romance.

Read if you enjoy
*second chance
*forced proximity
*one bed
*snowed in
*holiday backdrop
*both MCs are writers

Thank you NetGalley, Falon Ballard, and Penguin Group Putnum for an advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a short and sweet holiday read that made me wish it was December already!

I loved that Jess and Nick felt so inevitable, even before you get their backstory. From the beginning, it could not be more clear that Nick never stopped loving her, and watching every one of their interactions through that lens made the burn feel even slower!

I don't know that I loved how the flashbacks to Christmases past were done. It was nice to see them happy together instead of fighting their feelings, but it was disorienting being dropped into a spicy scene with no build up.

By the time we got to the explanation of their break up, I was already ready for Jess to forgive him. What a GREAT grand gesture! My heart was in my throat when Jess (and I!) realized what she was reading.

I so enjoyed reading the latest book from Falon Ballard, All I Want Is You! This book was short and sweet, and it filled me with all the seasonal joy that I absolutely adore. Jess’s love for Christmas was contagious, and it brought me great joy to see it slide into the interactions between Jess and Nick.

Throughout this book, we see Jess and Nick move away from the sense of resentment Jess feels so strongly at the onset of the story to having healthy communication and working through their issues. One of the most beautiful parts of this story was how they unknowingly feel the need to tell the same story. When it all comes together, the final project is perfection.

This book is ultimately a complete hit. I loved the entire thing and am so thrilled to have been able to read it before publication day. Once again, Falon Ballard perfectly captures a second chance romance and creates a world that is both realistic and magical.

I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love Falon Ballard!!!! I love reading her stories and this was no exception. I was shocked at how quickly I finished it because I was so invested in this. I loved their relationship and the banter between the two. She makes me feel all the emotions in her books and I adore it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam and Son's for the early copy. All the opinions above are my own.

This was such a cute, short and sweet, holiday read! I personally don’t love open door romances and prefer less spice, so that bumped my rating down a little bit. Nick and Jessica both being romance authors writing second-chance romances while trying to find their own was exciting to read, especially while trapped in the most idyllic Christmas setting…a cozy, snowy inn. Quick read, would recommend!

Thank you Putnam for the advance readers copy. All opinions are my own.

All I Want Is You is a delightful second chance romance between two romance writers. It feels like a homage to romance books. I love the talk about what makes a book a romance, the release breaths (lol), the holiday setting, the only one bed. It was all so lovely.

For Falon, this was a bit spicy but I didn’t mind at all. If she writes it, I read it.

All I Want Is You is a charming second chance romance about two authors. I laughed, kicked my feet, and swooned at this fun holiday romance. Fans of forced proximity and the one bed trope will likely enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️

This was SO cute!! Falon Ballard is an auto read author for me and I have been in love with her stories (and gorgeous covers) since Lease on Love. All I Want is You was the forced proximity, second chance, they’re snowed in at a hotel and there’s only one bed available holiday romance of my dreams! This story is less than 300 pages, but Ballard magics a story that has beautiful emotional depth, yearning, tension, and steam, AND we are given flashbacks. It was so fun that the MCs were both romance authors and I truly can’t resist a book about books and getting to peek behind the curtain into authors’ writing processes. I thoroughly enjoyed their debates on tropes, what constitutes a romance, and bringing the magic of a grand gesture to life. Also, as someone who decorates early for Christmas, I felt a kinship with Jess who also believes that when the clock strikes midnight on November 1st, it’s time for stockings, garland, and peppermint mocha.

I loved how Ballard put Jess and Nick in each other’s orbit from the very beginning - this was especially important since the book is less than 300 pages - and giving us both Jess and Nick’s POV had you buying into their relationship and rooting for their reconciliation from the start. Even though it was painful, I appreciated how they didn’t shy away from having the conversations about what drove them apart, their current feelings and desires, and how they could fight for a relationship that worked for both of them. As they were both romance authors, I enjoyed the added layer of them discussing tropes in relation to their own relationship, especially when it came to open communication and how a simple miscommunication could lead them down an undesirable path.

Perhaps one of my favorite details about this story, and why I love Lease on Love so much, is how Ballard features NYC as a character in the story. Getting to venture around the city, especially when draped in tinsel, twinkle lights, and snow for the holidays, was a truly magical experience. I had the best time reading this holiday romance with its cozy, snow globe vibes and swoony second chance romance!

Get ready for the SWEETEST story with this book. I still am just melting after days of reading it. It was phenomenal! Just completely darling. Loved it!

Perfect holiday romance! It’s a wonderful blend of Hallmark movie and real life. The FMC and MMC are fleshed out and real which is refreshing in the romance genre. A wonderful read into second chance romances!

This was a great short, second chance holiday romance. I almost stayed up to late reading it. I loved both main characters (Jess and Nick), however, I feel like none of the side characters did anything to add to the story. Will be going back and reading Falon's blacklist

4 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

Unfortunately this wasn‘t my cup of tea. The pacing was great, I read most of the story in one sitting but nothing really happened? 62% and the couple still didn‘t talk about the things that happened between them. Also the fmc was such a hypocrite, thinking one thing but doing the complete opposite. I didn‘t feel any chemistry between them tbh and the mmc was supposed to be in love with her all these years. I feel like there wasn’t any emotional connection only them being physically attracted to each other. Which is fine of course, but I would’ve loved to get to know them on a deeper level. Them being called Nick and Jess sadly didn‘t safe this for me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!