this book was fun! and felt just like a hallmark movie! I love both of our main characters and their sweet romance! My only complaint about this was the amount of spice, it felt heavier than her previous books.

Oof. I'm just not sure about this book. I was invested at the beginning and wanted to see what happened to Cam and Ben but, as the story dragged on, I just didn't care anymore. Secondary characters are quirky and likable (Cam and Ben are too), Heart Springs was adorably described, but I was ready to get to the end about halfway through.

As always, grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

A Hallmark movie in a book! This was wonderfully sweet and although a little cheesy at times, done in the most perfect way! There was depth to the story and to the characters and the predictability of the overall plot allowed Ballard to tackle some more serious issues along the way. I raced through this one because I couldn't put it down!!

Delayed review!

I have loved everything that Falon Ballard has written and was super excited to read her newest release, "Change of Heart" which released in February.

This one was a little different from her other books, but I still enjoyed it. If you like Hallmark movies, you will really like this! The story kept me engaged and I finished it within a few days!

Definitely check out if you're a Falon fan!

thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for an E-ARC of this book!

Thank you Putnam, NetGalley and Falon Ballard this e-copy of Change of Heart in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Read if you love:
Magical Realism
Black Cat x Golden Retriever vibes
Hallmark vibes
single POV

I have read everyone of Falon Ballard's books, and overall enjoyed them. This one however, was a bit of a let down from some of her other works. I wound up DNF'ing around the 65% mark. The overall premise of the story was very intriguing, but certain elements were not for me. I did not enjoy how pessimistic the FMC was, and it made it very hard for me personally to connect. While this is something that bothered me, it definitely won't for other readers. If you enjoy the black cat dynamic I encourage you to still give this one a try and see if you feel differently.

This one is for fans of Hallmark movies and magical realism. Fans of Ashley Poston will enjoy Cam (FMC) and Ben (MMC) try to figure out how they landed in the mythical town of Heart Springs and sort out exactly what they need to do to get themselves out.

it’s giving pleasantville meets like hallmark channel movies and i’m not mad at it.
however Campbell is awful. Ben is great but a really flat character devoid of any personality traits beyond wanting her happy.
ultimately it’s a good cheesy easy read.

Imagine waking up in a town where your hair is always perfect, your wardrobe screams "pastel chic," and everyone seems to know your name. That's the reality for Campbell Andrews, a no-nonsense lawyer who suddenly finds herself in Heart Springs—a place that feels like a Hallmark movie set. To return to her real life, she must complete three tasks: find a fulfilling career, become part of the community, and experience true love.

The premise is whimsical and offers a fresh take on the classic "self-discovery" narrative. Cam's journey from a workaholic to someone who learns to appreciate the simpler things in life is both humorous and heartwarming. Her interactions with Ben, her blind date turned neighbor in this magical town, add a layer of romance that's both sweet and slow-burning.

However, some readers might find the transformation a bit too swift, and the magical elements might not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for a light-hearted read that combines romance, self-growth, and a touch of magic, this might just be the book for you.

This book was written for you if:
- You enjoy stories with magical realism and self-discovery.
- You're a fan of slow-burn romances set in quaint towns.
- You're looking for a light-hearted read with a touch of whimsy.

I got to say. I was a bit confused where this romance story was going. It took me a bit to get where it was going. And it was okay for a storyline. I just wanted something more. I felt something was missing.

First and foremost, thank you to the publishers for the e-ARC of this book. I really enjoyed reading the romance that was central to the story. The connection between the characters felt genuine and heartfelt, making it easy to root for them throughout. The chemistry was well-written, and the emotional moments hit just right.

The pacing of the story flowed smoothly—I never felt like things were dragging or rushed. It kept me engaged from start to finish. The writing style was clear, engaging, and easy to follow, with just the right amount of detail to bring the scenes and emotions to life.

If you're a fan of character-driven romance with depth and charm, this book is definitely worth picking up!

I am so glad I stuck with this book. I have never read anything by this author before, but the cover was cuter and the summary cuter. The overall message of the book is to appreciate the people and things that make you happy, and to engage in life that makes you happy, not someone else. It was a bit on the nose. The FMC’s negativity was a bit grating for the first bit of the book, but it didn’t take long to charm me. “Whatever did I do to deserve to be blessed wit the friendship of Campbell Andrews?” I throw him a false grin. “Proximity.” That kind of light sarcasm and teasing was just the right touch to soften her character from straight up rude to girlboss with trust issues, even though her trust issues never really resolved. The lessons to learn in this story didn’t quite sit well with me - I didn’t like the narrative that the FMC needed to change all the way until the ending of the book – the framing of this could have been better. In the end, the lesson and journey was sweet, and the FMC never lost her personality to learn what she needed to. The story was quick, and at some times, a bit too quick it felt like I missed a few scenes to get to “best friends,” but I overall enjoyed the writing style. It did feel like the MMC was more of a prop to the FMC’s journey. I wish we had learned a bit more about this POV or story, but it is a shorter book and there’s only so much you can fit on the pages. I’d pick up another of the author’s books for a fast, cute read.

Campbell Andrews is a workaholic with no time for a social life, let alone romance, as proven by many failed blind dates. One day she wakes up in what is literally her version of hell, complete with small town charm, brightly colored clothes, and a bookstore/coffee shop run by a meddling mayor. Campbell is left to figure out how to escape, or even if she wants to.

This was cute and a fun twist on the small town romance trope!

This book is literally a Hallmark movie on paper (compliment). I found by the middle I was really hung up on finishing it in one sitting just to see how it played out.

As someone who has seen a large number of Hallmark movies, this book truly does provide that same vibe with both the plot and the town of Heart Springs.

Cam was rather unlikeable to start, she was self-absorbed and rather rude and mean to both Ben and anyone else in the immediate vicinity. Even after waking up in Heart Springs, her only concerns are herself, her wants, and how she can get back to her life. While she slowly grows and changes, that selfishness is very slow to leave her. Yes, much of this comes from her grandmother’s influence, but she holds on to it for some time.

Ben, on the other hand, cares about others and tries to help, not only the people in town, but Cam herself.

I’m not sure how much I believe some of the aspects of their love story, but the book was fun and I liked how it ended.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration though NetGalley, on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ll admit, my eyes were rolling a bit at the start with all the Hallmark-y small-town vibes. Campbell is basically the ultimate skeptic, and I could totally see where she was coming from. But once the story got going, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the magic of it all. It’s a fun, light-hearted read if you’re in the mood for something sweet and a little cheesy. The whole "change of heart" thing was predictable, but in the end, it’s still an enjoyable escape.

Cute concept, but even for fiction it felt a bit silly. I didn’t connect with either MC. This one definitely needed some more emotional connection and deeper heartfelt moments. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy to review!

Short synopsis: Cam Andrews lives only for her job as a lawyer for her grandmas multi-million dollar law firm. After a bad blind date with a man named Ben, she wakes up in a town called Heart Springs.

My thoughts: Falon writes such fun books, an this was no different. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics in this Hallmark-esque town and the people in it. I especially enjoyed the thought of waking up with hair and makeup done, can we please make that normal life!

Campbell was completely unlikable, which I knew going in since the book is dedicated to all the “unlikable girls.” I loved the growth and perspective of her, you could see how her past shaped her into who she is now. All the unrealistic expectations and how she is misunderstood.

Read if you love:
* Character growth
* Hallmark settings
* Grumpy/sunshine
* Small town
* Magical realism

This was a fun magical realism, but it wasn't as cute as an Ashley Posten. I enjoyed it and it felt a Christmas past-y even though it's not Christmas. It was fun and definitely different.

3 stars
Sex: yes
Language: yes

Nothing about this story reads authentic or believable. I truly did not enjoy a moment of this. There is no chemistry between these characters and no discernible reason why Ben would like Cam. She’s wholly unlikeable, yet he’s all moon-eyed over her. There’s no catalyst for Cam softening, she just does. It was not a journey. It’s as if the author had a rough plot outline of things that need to happen and wrote as few words as possible to connect the plot points. It felt so amateur, especially coming from an author I enjoy. There are plenty of cliche and/or cheesy plots that have won me over because of the writing and depth of character, but this was not it. It resolved nicely and the characters were lovable in the end, but the character growth felt forced. This was just a miss for me. If it hadn’t been an ARC, I would have DNF’d. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

I loved this story. I couldn’t put the book down. Cam and Ben I loved these two so much and how they interacted. The scenes and characters were so well drawn I was right there in every moment of this book. I loved Mimi as well, but Emma was a special character to me. I love heart Springs, I’m ready to move there. The small town feel was amazing.

I can’t say enough praise for this book. I loved the writing so much that I can’t wait to read more books by this author!

I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this advanced reader copy and this is my honest opinion.