Change of Heart is the first novel I’ve read by Falon Ballard and I had a good time! Change of Heart follows workaholic lawyer Campbell who has no time for anything other than being a partner at her family owned law firm, especially when it comes to dating. After a not so great first date with Ben, a pediatric surgeon, Campbell wakes up in the picture perfect town of Heart Strings. Campbell is desperate to return to her real life but she has three tasks to complete first. I really enjoyed the concept of this novel! The plot did drag for me a bit towards the middle/end. Overall this was an enjoyable romance!

This was such a sweet and endearing story with themes of finding yourself and falling in love with yourself. I love the journey we got to watch Cam go on and how she was able to find what she really wanted out of life. Thank you to Falon Ballard, Putnam Books, & Netgalley for the ARC!

Ok so i had this in my library for a tick that by the time I picked it up I didn't recall exactly what it was about but I knew that it was by Falon (one of my absolute faves) so I knew I was in good hands, The surrealism nature took me by surprise, LOL! I didn't mind it though! This was such a clever way to make our heroine face her demons. Such a delightful read and really happy with how it turned out in the end, it could've gone several different directions (remember Pleasantville?!). Another winner from Falon!!

This book is a fun idea about a stubborn new york lawyer being forced to find true love and a fulfilling job. In theory this book is great, but in practice this book dragged and I couldn’t find the relationship between the mmc and fmc believable. The romance felt like it came out of nowhere. The beginning was really exciting and it was going so well. It was just so disappointing. There needed to be more pushing the main characters together. I think the idea was there and it could have been great.

While I love Falon Ballard this book fell a little short for me!

Campell or "Cam" is a hotshot lawyer living in NYC who can't be bothered to date, she goes out with Dr. Ben Loving and barely gives him the time of day. But when the two are unexpectedly thrust into a small town romance utopia with no way out, they're forced to work together to get back to their normal lives.

I think there are a lot of similarities between this and A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, which also wasn't my favorite book...so maybe it's just me. Overall I just didn't feel the chemistry between the FMC and MMC enough to make the slow burn worth it. It felt like they took so long to finally connect and express their feelings that by that point I was just frustrated with the story! I also wish that for an FMC who is so smart and high achieving she wasn't demonized for that as much, I don't think it was the author's intent based on how the book ends, but I spent a lot of time wishing she was more validated for being as high achieving/performing as she is. Also they spend a good chunk of time alluding to family issues that didn't feel fleshed out enough to be a driving force for the character as it was made out to be.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book, this is my objective review. Meet Cam: type A legal workhorse, content to be under her grandmother's thumb, grumpy with a capital G. After one purposely apathetic bad date with Dr. Ben Loving, she wakes up the next morning in her worst nightmare: a cheery place called Heart Springs where everything is glossy and perfect. Even Cam, at least on the outside. But how did she get there, and what does she have to do to get back to her old life? Cam was pretty unlikeable at the beginning. Nowhere to go but up, right? I kept picturing Cam as a blonde Lizzy Caplan, all snark and attitude. The alt-reality, supernatural "learn some lessons and make some life changes to go back home" angle was a nice hook that kept me reading. I liked watching Cam grudgingly open herself up, and Ben the hunky pediatric surgeon made for a good complement for her. Cam felt like the more developed character; while Ben had some development, it felt like his purpose was more as a vehicle for Cam's self-growth. He was fine but not terribly dynamic or deep. This is a sweet book about learning to live your best life, and Cam gives it enough of an edge to keep it from getting fully sappy. The writing did pull me in and I stayed up late to finish the book. Readers who like open-door, self-growth romances with snarky heroines and HEAs will love this book! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes February 11, 2025.

This was such a fun read! There were many times the FMC made me laugh with her comments about the variety of different Hallmark cliches. While I felt like there was a huge build-up to one particular part of the book only for the ending to fall flat, I did still really enjoy this book. Cam and Ben were a fun match together.

I would definitely recommend to all the rom-com lovers out there.

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

Change of Heart is a romcom with a little magic. High powered lawyer Campbell has no time for love. When she’s set up on a blind date with doctor Ben, she’s ready to brush him off, and does. The next morning, she doesn’t wake up in her own bed, but in a Pleasantville type town, and Ben has been transported there as well. Cam must complete challenges to be able to get herself back home.

This has all the makings of stories I like…but overall, it was just ok. I couldn’t figure out why Cam and Ben are supposed to be together, when their only interaction prior to being in the magical town is all negative. Ben uses the endearment “sweetheart” in most interactions with Cam, and even though I could tell it is meant sarcastically early on, it felt cringey and took me out of the story every time I read it.

I did like how things ultimately come around, and I do love a tidy ending, which readers will get in this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam books for the opportunity to read in advance.

Ballard’s books have been hit or miss for me since her debut (which I adored), but this one was more hit than miss. It’s short and sweet and though predictable, it was a fun way to spend a few hours a with very sweet characters.

Content flags: estranged family relationships

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Gah! I never want to hear “sweetheart” again. I liked the beginning and the magical Heart Springs, but just didn’t spark enough for me at this time.

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I went into this book totally blind and was so disappointed. I could not stand the FMC even after her "character growth". The MMC really gave me the ick every single time he opened his mouth and the romance felt so forced. This book went on for way too long and also was so under-developed at the same time. I enjoyed the small town vibe and the friendship with Emma and really wish that we discovered more of the world and the community.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

In this rom com with a touch of magical realism, Cam is sent to a fictional small town called Heart Springs with her most recent date, Ben. She is unable to leave until she finds a job she’s passionate about, friends, and falls in love. Since Cam is only focused on work, this is a difficult task for her. Ben is tasked with helping her succeed.

I normally love Falon Ballard’s books and her signature wit and hilarious banter. I didn’t get that feeling as much from this book as I have enjoyed with her others. Cam was extremely unlikable, and while I can appreciate an unlikable character, she never grew on me. Ben was very one dimensional and had no personality, not to mention over-used the nickname “sweetheart” way too many times. The magical realism was fun but I didn’t enjoy the side plots as much as I hoped. Overall, this was just okay and not one I’d pick up again or recommend highly to others.

Thank you to Falon Ballard and Putnam books for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewe.

What a wonderful, sexy, and cheesy little romance that, although not releasing until February, was a perfect winter/Christmas read. My major complaint was that I HATED the pet name the MMC called the FMC. This is a single POV, so Ben (the MMC) sometimes feels a little underdeveloped or like an interchangeable NPC. However, a single POV is also necessary to make the plot work. Overall, another Falon Ballard that I enjoyed!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. (pub. Feb 11, 2025)

I enjoyed the setup of the first chapter and how Cam was a workaholic and only focused on pleasing her grandma who owned the family law firm. Her flaws are immediately shown and I sympathized with Ben who took Cam's personality all in stride. Unfortunately, Ben never seemed to have any flaws and in fact was described as a gorgeous, available pediatric surgeon who wanted to find love, but never could. I wanted to see more of Ben's personality than I was given. I was also bothered by Ben's nickname for Cam that he started using at the beginning and never stopped even when their relationship changed.

The magical realism never really suspended my beliefs that this world could exist. despite that, the small town setting was excellent and reminded me of holiday movies. The secondary characters were fun to get to know. How Cam started realizing what she needed to do to go back home felt a bit too simple and was a bit confusing to me how she arrived at her conclusions.

Overall, I laughed often while reading and want to read another of this author's books. Thank you to NetGalley for me e-ARC.

I was initially skeptical about the premise of Cam being transported to a fantasy land where her options seemed limited to traditional, stereotypical jobs like working in a bookstore, a bakery, or becoming a wedding planner. Adding to this, she was tasked with volunteering her time and finding true love as the key to returning to her old life. The setup felt a bit cliché at first.

However, as the story unfolded, I found myself drawn into Heart Springs, the charming town where Cam discovers a softer version of herself. Her blind date, Ben, conveniently lives next door and takes on the role of watching out for her, a situation orchestrated by a diner waitress who insists Cam dismissed him too quickly.

Through her experiences in Heart Springs, Cam embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She learns to define herself outside of her grandmother’s shadow and her mother’s influence. This growth was one of the story’s strongest elements. While I could have done without Ben calling her "sweetheart"—a term I found a bit condescending—I did appreciate how Cam was eventually able to see Ben for who he truly was. I also enjoyed how she pursued a career that felt more authentic to her, rather than settling for a bakery job or similar role.

I do wish the holiday elements had been more prominent. The climax takes place in the winter, with some whispers of the holidays, but these could have been developed further to add a more festive, atmospheric layer to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such an interesting read! I had a certain idea of what it would be going in, and it was different than I was expecting but still very charming and wonderful in many ways. I have a lot of thoughts, so here goes…

WHAT I LOVED:
- Hallmark Vibes - I really loved the Hallmark vibes in this one. The town of Heart Springs was quite charming. I love that most of the book was set there and we get to spend a lot of time exploring that world. It’s very Hallmarky in the best way and it made this book quite the cozy read, especially around the Christmas season and particularly towards the end of the book where Christmas season is actually happening in the plot, which I loved!
- Humor - There were some major laugh-out-loud funny moments in this book, particularly towards the beginning of the book when Cam first arrives in Heart Springs. She’s very snarky, and that made for some great banter and funny dialogue moments that I appreciated. She’s an interesting character for sure, and though I have mixed feelings about her, I think the snarky part of her character was pulled off very well by the author.
- Emma - Okay, do we love Emma or do we love Emma? Girl, you’re perfect! You’re a goddess, a baking queen, and a freakin’ awesome friend! Do we love her or do we love her? I personally want to read more of her please. So sweet and such a kind-hearted person!
- The Little Moments + After They Got Together Moments - I love it when a book doesn’t just end with the characters getting together - where we actually get to SEE them together and those little mundane moments like sharing coffee or having a conversation or the little habits and routines they form together. It’s very cozy and this book has that. I loved those moments!
- Discovery - I loved seeing the two main characters discover more about each other over time and learn each other’s likes and interests.

WHAT I LIKED:
- Cam’s Character Development - I really liked seeing Cam grow throughout the story. I think by the end, she was a pretty likable character and she felt authentic and relatively well-fleshed out in numerous way. I will say her aha moment at the end of the book felt kind of rushed, and there are times when the internal dialogue didn’t feel authentic for the character, but I think overall she’s an interesting character who goes through a big arc of character growth that seems realistic (I mean, for a Hallmarky book, that is lol).
- Ben - Ben was a great love interest and I liked a lot of his qualities. He’s very supportive of Cam, and a great book boyfriend for sure. I liked the way he calls her out on her behavior throughout the book, but was still really respectful and kind about it.
- The Plot - I think the whole idea of having Cam have “quests” to complete was really interesting and moved the plot along in a way that kept the pacing quick but also entertaining and engaging. I will say that was part of the appeal once I got into the book to keep reading - to see how her passion/jobs and community engagement was going and how it would all shake out, particularly once she got better established in Heart Springs.

WHAT I DISLIKED:
- Lack of Character Development for Ben - While I liked Ben, I echo other reviewers’ statements that he really didn’t have much of a personality other than his endless love and support for Cam. While that makes him perfect for a romance book in some ways, it also meant that he lacked dimension and we didn’t really get to learn much about him, his family, his struggles, and what brought him to Heart Springs. It almost seems like he’s a convenient side character or only there for Cam’s journey, which seems a bit unfair to him. And he adjusts to Heart Springs so quickly that it just seems a little too good to be true. I would have liked to see more of his real personality - his faults, his anger/sadness at being in Heart Springs initially, his family, his upbringing/background. He felt more like a side character, as others have said, and while I get that this is Cam’s story of transformation and she’s the narrator, I feel like we should’ve seen more of him and his different emotions/dimensions of his character.
- Mimi - Okay, this one might have just been me, but I didn’t really like Mimi. I didn’t hate her, I just didn’t like her. Especially towards the beginning of the book, where I feel like she’s kind of cast as an “angel in disguise” type character - she just seems like she’s very irritated with Cam and judgmental towards her and her lifestyle (which, I mean, I get - yes, at the beginning Cam is pretty much an a-hole) but something about the way she was looking at and treating Cam and even Ben felt arrogant and not like the kind of heartfelt sweet angel character that these types of stories usually have. Now, it seems like this might have been somewhat of an act in some ways to push Cam and Ben together, but still it just rubbed me the wrong way. I dunno, I just got a bad vibe from it. 🤷‍♀️ Maybe it’s just me, haha.
- The Ending - The ending felt sort of rushed for my tastes. I wish it was a bit more drawn out, as much as I adored spending the majority of the book in Heart Springs (and would have loved to stay there). I also feel like Cam’s interaction with her family was a bit too tied up in a bow and too perfect. I wish there had been some hard conversations in there, and we got to see Cam standing up for herself and what she deserved.
- The Writing Style - I liked this book. I liked the fast pacing. It took me a while to get used to it, but once we got rolling I was in and it was pretty good. There were some minor times the flow felt interrupted and throughout the book I really wish some scenes had more detail. I’m a visual thinker and tend to have an easy time imagining things from few words, but I know some people struggle with that so I think the book would have benefitted from more description overall.

Okay so I normally don’t include this section *sigh* but here goes…

WHAT I HATED:
- “Sweetheart” - I cannot get over this. I know I’m not alone, though some readers may not be bothered by it, but I was a lot throughout the book. I eventually got somewhat used to it, and if it was used sparingly I wouldn’t have minded so much but I hated Ben always calling Cam “Sweetheart” from like the very beginning of the book to the very end. In a word, it’s too paternal. It feels like something your dad would say to you, not your boyfriend. I really hated that and I’m so sorry but I cannot forgive that lol! I am not okay with that. That being said, I eventually got used to it like 75% of the way through, though it did ruin some scenes for me haha. (Not too bad though, but some were just NO). Now, I HAVE TO NOTE that this is an unreleased copy I’m reviewing. This may change before publication. Please don’t take this and say, “Oh, that’s it! Nevermind! This is still a pretty interesting, fun, entertaining Hallmarky story and I don’t know if this may change before publication, so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt, try it for yourself and see if you like it. Falon is still a pretty cool writer - this one detail just personally got on my personal nerves but that’s me and it may not be you and you might love it so there, two cents given! 🪙

So yes, there were some things I didn’t like about this book, however I still gave it 4.25 stars because it was really inspiring to see Cam change over time, Cam and Ben’s relationship is quite sweet, her finding herself and finding friends and growing in the community is heartwarming to watch, and I just loved reading about Heart Springs. I could actually live in the world of Heart Springs forever and I want more please!! Thank you!

The morning after rejecting the charming Dr. Ben Loving, workaholic Cam finds herself stuck in what she can only describe as a Hallmark Channel-esque nightmare. In order to make it back to her real life, she must complete 3 tasks: find a career she's passionate about, give back to the community, and experience true love.

This was the second Falon Ballard book I've read, and I honestly loved it more than the first. I loved the mystical element, I loved the banter, and I especially loved watching Cam fall in love, particularly with herself.

I absolutely devoured this book and was teary at the end - aka, an instant 4.5 🌟 for me, as I love anything that will make me feel something. It was a twist on a typical romance and felt fresh.

This book would be perfect for those who loved A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, as well as those who enjoy small town romances and journeys of finding oneself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC! All views and opinions are my own

DNF at 25%. I was disappointed because I love Fallon Ballard but I could not stand the main character. She's a "boss girl" but she was too cringey for me. She seemed to be trying too hard to be 'independent' but I could not stomach the way she treated the other characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Pentnam Group for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

What can I say besides I loved this book! it was a rom-com home run.

I don't think there has been a book by Falon Ballard that I have rated below 5 stars. This book has a unique setting at the cutest little magical town, where Cam & Ben wake up in after a disaster blind date. I was hoping they were going to be set up again, but also enjoyed how the book played out with the other dates & goals both needed to work on in order to get back to NYC. The chemistry and banter and friendship between Ben & Cam was really sweet and fun.
My favorite quote:
“It’s okay if you don’t believe it right now. I’ll believe it enough for the both of us.“

The character growth was SO well-written in this one, I liked how the book took its time with it. I wasn't sure where the plot was going in terms of the MC's career passion and community involvement, but the journey and the resolution were soo wholesome!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!