Member Reviews
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC
3.5⭐️
This was enjoyable and cute. It gave me the Christmas vibes I was looking for. I had a few minor problems with Nick, but generally, I liked their story.
All I Want Is You is the perfect second chance, enemies-to-lovers holiday romance. The chemistry and tension between the characters was swoon-worthy, and there was just enough Christmas magic sprinkled in to add a festive flair to an already strong plot. This is a must read for fans of Falon Ballard or lovers of holiday romances!
After 5 years of avoiding her ex and book rival Jess has been asked to once again see Nick at a book event. I really enjoyed Jess and Nick's story! This second chance love story really hit all the swoony marks and I loved all the Christmas details! It had all the makings of good book tropes including forced proximity! I would highly recommend this one!
Thanks Netgalley for a copy of the book!!
I’m FINALLY getting around to sharing my fave holiday book of 2024 so far! This book had ALL of my favorite things in a romcom, and put into a holiday setting - perfection! At under 300 pages, I think this is a can’t miss for your holiday reading!!
What to expect:
•A book about books
•Workplace(ish)
•Second chance + enemies to lovers
•Forced proximity/snowed in!!
•Only ONE BED!
•Great banter
🔥Open door
🎧I was lucky enough to have a physical and audio copy of this book, which helped me binge even faster! The audio was well paced and I really enjoyed it!
Read this in November because it’s the perfect setting for this book!
It’s a book set during Christmas, and is very much invested in Christmas being part of it.
I love Falon Ballard books, my favorite being Lease on Love, and I will say I liked where this book went.
However, it was SO SPICY oh my gosh I was NOT ready for it. I don’t know why I was so shocked, maybe because I don’t remember her other books being this spicy, so just a heads up for that.
I like reading spicy books, but I need it to be plot with spice, not the other way around like I felt this was.
Just a little bit of a miss for me, but still soooo cute and definitely a great read if you’re here for the spice!
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC :)
4.5⭐️ but rounding to 5 because, as previously mentioned, I’m a vibes girl and the vibes were vibing. Things I love: Second chance romance. Enemies to lovers. Author writing about authors. Holiday book. Done. Done. Done and done. I loved reading about the love and heartbreak of Nick and Jess (hello New Girl reference) and their reconciliation (because every romance should end in a HEA, right Nick?). Anyway. I’d read this book every holiday season because it was enjoyable and a lil bit spicy.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 ⭐️
I absolutely adored this book! I read it in one day because I couldn’t stop reading! This book had some of my favorite tropes: second chance, enemies to lovers, and only one bed!
Jess and Nick just had undeniable chemistry even though they had a rocky breakup. I loved getting to witness the redevelopment of their relationship and how they were able to get close again.
I liked that they were both romance authors. There was somewhat of a miscommunication trope and it drove me crazy.
Falon Ballard is a new must read author for me. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I have to read them all!
If I’m being totally honest, second chance romances are my least favorite trope. However, this one worked for me! There were definitely some cheesy parts and I didn’t love the explanation for the original break up, but the overall story was sweet. I loved how they were romance authors writing a second chance romances and how they made fun of the trope as well! I will say I thought the flashbacks to previous Christmases were kind of useless. It didn’t feel like it helped me get to know the characters, it just seemed like an excuse to throw in some spice so those didn’t work for me. All in all, this one was fun and cute and a great holiday read!
Thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my thoughts!
This was a cute quick holiday read, but I felt like it was extremely predictable. This is my first read of this author but cannot wait to read more. Thanks so much for the copy!
If you've read Falon Ballard's last book Right on Cue, you might find some similarities between that and All I Want is You. The majority of the story takes place in a hotel and there's the second chance enemies to lovers trope. I'm kinda sad to say that this was not my favorite. I honestly didn't like it very much. The male main character, Nick, does not give off green flag vibes. He comes off a little arrogant and the relationship between him and Jess feels more about their physical relationship than anything else. It just did not hit like I had hoped. I adored Just My Type but Falon Ballard and have been longing for the same spark I felt when I read that.
Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam books for a free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve loved Falon Ballard since her first book and when I found out she was writing a Christmas romance I was psyched!
Pair that with the snowed in/ one bed trope and 2 writers who hate each other- and I’m IN!
And I was right to put my trust in her cause this was so much fun!! The pining and tension, the banter, the spice! All top tier.
I loved everything about this book. It was sweet, steamy, heartfelt and emotional. Ballards writing is definitely something I will continue to read. I loved that it wasn’t overly cheesy on the Christmas stuff but still had the magical feel of the holidays. The steam was so well written without being cringey. Second chance romance is my favorite trope so I’m not surprised I loved this but was hesitant after dnfing a different Christmas romance recently. Thank you Putnam for the e copy!!
Read This Book If…you love romance books about romance writers!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard
Genre: holiday romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: NYC & cozy inn upstate
POV: dual, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: second chance, rivals to lovers, one bed, snowed in, forced proximity, “it was always you”
My Thoughts:
This was such a fun, quick read!
Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and this one DELIVERED! The mutual muses? The sexual tension?? Exquisite.
I also really enjoyed the flashbacks to previous Christmases to see where everything went right… or wrong.
I also love when holiday books are set in NYC. It really has me ready to hop on the subway and experience for myself for the first time again!
Memorable Quote: “How can I write a happy ending when my own blew up in my face?”
Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!
All I Want Is You was an easy and quick holiday read. I’m personally not a huge fan of second chance romances but I was enjoying this one, until we find out why they broke up (lame reason, Nick, lame). I needed a larger grand gesture to win me back over. Overall though, this was a fairly enjoyable light holiday romance.
The perfect holiday romcom!
Jess Carrington is asked by her publisher to introduce her ex boyfriend as “romance author of the year” at a holiday ball. They get snowed in together and end up seeing if they can put aside their differences and write together.
This was so incredibly festive and cute. I loved every minute and will be drinking a peppermint mocha in Jess’ honor!
Thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun one! It was a second chance romance that had so many heartfelt moments I was clutching my heart the whole time. I can’t wait to read more of Ballard’s works.
Super cute and a great second chance story. I fully bought into Jess and Nick's romance. the chemistry was spectacular and they just worked. We see that they have grown from their frsrt relationship and their communication is a million times better. They work for what they want and are decicated not only to their craft, but to each other. Falon Ballard doesn't disappoint.
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🎄🎁
Title: All I Want Is You
Pub Date: 9/24/24
This 256 page book was so quick, and fun to read! Our two main characters, Nick and Jess — I’m just now realizing the potential New Girl reference? — are both romance authors at the same imprint. But they’re also exes and rivals. Now Nick wins an award and Jess is asked to present it to him. What could go wrong?
They get snowed in at a cozy inn (lol) and are forced to confront their pasts… if you know me, I love second chance stories. And forced proximity is also one of my favorite tropes🤭 The chemistry between these two bursts off the page, you just can’t deny it.
Plus, I love a good Christmas romcom — in movie and book form! This dual POV holiday novel is bound to boost your spirits and get you in the Christmas mood🎄I really have no complaints!
3.75 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Super cute enemies to lovers holiday read. Gave me "Beach Read" by Emily Henry vibes but in a snowed in cabin holiday vibes. Nick wasn't my favorite character, but he grew on me and in the end I was rooting for them both to end up together. Love that they both were writers in the same genre, but had very different paths. Wrapped up very nicely in the end and all around a great cozy Christmas read with a little bit of spice!
There has never been a Falon Ballard book I haven't liked and this book continues the tradition. This is a short and sweet second chance romance with a wonderful one bed trope.
Nick and Jess (yes, they mention the New Girl reference) are romance authors signed to the same publishing company and former lovers. Nick is the industry darling despite never writing happy endings (necessary for the genre) while Jess is worried about her sales. When they end up snowed in while at an event for their publisher, they reignite some lost sparks.
I don't always love a holiday romance but this hit all the marks for me. It was cozy and warm, meant to be read in front of a fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate. If you're looking to be put in the holiday spirit with a quick read, this book is for you.