2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

The premise of this sounded so interesting and I am typically a big fan of Falon Ballard; however, this did this did work out for me at all.

As other reviews have stated the FMC (Cam) is awful. She’s so cruel to others… no amount of tragic background information could excuse her behavior or explain why the MMC (Ben) was willing to forgive her. I had to force myself to keep reading through the 40% mark because I just didn’t see a world in which the book would get better.

My other gripe with this book is how UNDEVELOPED Ben’s character was. He is a doctor and it’s a hard job… we learn he liked wood working… we learn his hard job makes it hard for him to open up to people…. Full stop.

The last 20% was basically just a montage of Cam becoming “good-guy lawyer”.

Overall I did not enjoy this book but it was well written and the plot was fresh and interesting so I will probably continue to read Falon Ballard’s new releases.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam books for a digital ARC of this book!

The thing I absolutely loved about this book was while it is a romance book, the heart of the book is centered on the main characters person development NOT just romantic development. Cam, the FMC, experiences so much personal growth in this book in addition to growth in her love life which I think is so important.

At times it felt a little bit rushed towards to end to wrap up the storyline but overall I really enjoyed it and loved this story!

If you loved Schmigadoon, this book is for YOU. (Minus the complex and hilarious musical numbers.) Transport yourself from the corporate life of NYC to the quaint little town of Heart Springs where the cinnamon rolls are delectable and sugary coffee is calorie-less and where you're given the time (and challenge) to change your life.

Cam Andrews lives a blunt life - blunt bob, blunt words, and blunt interactions. But, a precocious waitress with an eye for love is about to change all that. The night after Cam's blind date with Dr. Ben Loving (in which she spends the meal responding to emails) she wakes up in Heart Springs where her black sleek wardrobe is replaced with pastel dresses and her fast paced life has been traded in for slow, small town festivals. To get home, she must do three things - find a job she's passionate about, become a pillar of her community, and experience true love. Can Ben help her complete her tasks so they can both find their way home again?

While I thought this was a good, fast read that made Cam think about the important things in life, it lacked a sense of spark for me. It's hard to pace a book like this - you need enough time in Heart Springs where Cam is still her brash NYC self and enough plot points to challenge her to change all while giving the right time and space to a love story. I think Ballard did a great job with her professional and interpersonal growth, but I never caught the feelings between Ben and Cam. Although their spicy scenes are great, I never felt them grow as friends before the romance took hold. I needed more banter between them and pining to make their eventual union hit the right note.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own and freely given.
3.0 stars

I love anything by Falon Ballard, and Change of Heart is a cute romantic comedy with some magic.
The story begins with Cam and Ben having a terrible bad blind date, but the waitress tells them how great the are together. They leave the date thinking they will never see each other again…. Then the next day they wake up in a “Hallmark” town with no way to leave.
Campbell Andrews a dedicated lawyer to her family’s law firm. She always puts her career above all else because she does not want to turn out like her mother. She is suddenly swept away to the picturesque town of Heart Springs, where her perfectly organized life is turned upside down by a series of unexpected twists. Tasked with discovering true love, community, and a passion that extends beyond her high-pressure job, Cam embarks on a journey that is both heartwarming and full of humor.
Dr. Ben Loving is also thrown in the town of Heart Springs. He is a very sweet and likeable character, and truly wants to help Cam complete her tasks.
The book is brimming with sharp wit, delightful side characters, and a vibrant small-town charm that's hard to resist. It was an easy read and entertaining.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC and opportunity to read this.

Not my favorite Falon Ballard. Felt the beginning was really slow and then in the middle it picked up thankfully.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard is a delightful & engaging romance that will leave you smiling. The story is a perfect mix of heartwarming moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Ballard's characters are charming and relatable, and their chemistry feels authentic and compelling. The main character can be a bit much at times (but honestly, so can I!)

While the pacing lagged slightly in a few places, the overall story more than made up for it with its heartfelt moments and clever dialogue. This book is a wonderful pick for anyone who loves a feel-good romance with a touch of emotional complexity.

4.5! I will read anything Falon Ballard writes but I was not expecting this. I tend to not enjoy romance with mystical elements but this is written with such tongue in cheek humor and the slow burn was perfect. People who enjoyed A Novel Love Story should read this next!

An interesting concept, a little strange but fun to read.

Campbell "Cam" is a high power woman on track for a huge promotion - she isn't into love and doesn't have time for dating. However, to appease her grandmother, she takes the occasional date she's set up on. Ben is the poor guy for her last date - she's not only rude to him that night, but also the waitress. The next morning, she's magically transported and wakes up in a perfect little town of happy folks, very Hallmark-ish. There she finds Ben and the waitress -- and is told she's got 3 tasks to fulfill before she's able to go back home. So with Ben's help, she tries to win over the town and find love.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

this was not my favorite of falon’s but i did love cam and ben’s story, i think their chemistry and relationship was really beautiful but i found the plot as a whole kind of flat, it was meant to be tongue in cheek but i found the logistics too challenging to get past

thank you to netgalley for an arc of this title in exchange for my honest feedback :)

I am not typically a fan of magical realism but I AM a fan of Falon and she did not let me down.

Campbell is such a hot mess of a person and honestly I do not blame her one bit. Baby needs EXTENSIVE therapy starting like several decades ago.

I wish we knew more about Ben - but also, how does one learn more about someone when you are trapped in a magical Hallmark town that does not allow you to actually witness their real life? I want Cam to be welcomed into his family and SEE her realize how easy it is to be loved.

Very cute, cozy, and a fun concept. Would read magical realism by Falon again.

I was really excited to receive this ARC but unfortunately this book was just not for me. The FMC is rude and insufferable and the about of f-bombs in the first few chapters was just ridiculous.

I love Falon’s books but this one was a miss for me. I found Cam to be very unlikable and I didn’t believe the romance potential between her and Ben with the way she treated him.

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book as I am a huge fan of Falon Ballard and have never been let down by her books. To be honest- I’m so confident in my love for her that I didn’t even read the description of this book before picking it up. I was a little thrown at first because I just generally don’t love anything that’s time-travely but after a minute I settled in and got sucked into the story. A cold-hearted workaholic, Cam has no time for things like love. Begrudgingly she agrees to a blind date set up by her grandmother who has named Cam as her successor to take over their booming law firm. Cam Intends to pay no attention to her date (or any man for that matter) but fate (and an overbearing waitress) have other plans. She wakes up in a movie-perfect town and the only way to get back home is to complete three tasks. Can she change her ways or will she be stuck in this hallmark town forever? Find out on February 11th, 2025!

I really liked the beginning of the book and learning all about Heart Springs and the people in it. The back half of the book lost me a little bit though. I didn’t feel that Cam and Ben really worked as a couple and something in the development of their relationship was missing for me. Why was Ben even into Cam? There relationship aside, I really enjoyed a lot of the other aspects of this book.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC.

An absolute delight of a read. Thank you NetGalley for the early read. I loved this book-different plot than most rom
Coms….beautifully done!

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard is a sweet, magical rom-com that feels like stepping into a Hallmark movie. After a disastrous blind date, Campbell, a workaholic lawyer, and Ben, her date, find themselves stuck in the charming town of Heart Springs. To get back home, Campbell has to complete three tasks—including falling in love.

The small-town setting is cozy, and Campbell’s journey of figuring out what really matters in life is fun to follow. That said, the romance didn’t quite land for me….. I felt that Ben & Campbell connection felt rushed. The ending wrapped up too neatly, leaving me wanting more depth to their relationship.

Overall, it’s an easy, light read with some laughs and a magical vibe. Not my favourite read, but it’s still a fun escape for fans of whimsical romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for the

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I could not read this book fast enough. Looking for a book with some romance and magical realism….look no further. I am still lost for words and I finished reading last night. This book was a wholesome romance (with a little bit of spice 🌶️). I’ve never read anything like this. As you go into the new year, working on your own self growth, pick up this book and follow along with Ben and Cam’s journey.

Read this if:
💛 Like short chapters
💛 quick read
💛 magical realism
💛 feel good story

Publication date: 2/11/25

Thank you to the author and publisher for the early read!

Oof this one hurts to write. First of all I’m so sorry because I absolutely loved Falon’s previous books but I could not get myself to even remotely like Campbell at all. She wa syrupy insufferable and just not a good person at all. It made the read impossible to enjoy

This was a really sweet book! The ending was not at all what I imagined it would be but I can see how it ties in with the story. There were some things that felt off like her comments about Ben knowing her better than anyone even though there weren’t any events where they actually got to know each other. 🤷🏻‍♀️ that’s just my opinion. Other than that, when they finally got together it was just so sweet. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love anything that is magical realism, so I was really looking forward to this one. The premise reminded me of A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston.
I thought Change of Heart was cute, but it seemed to drag out and also have weird time jumps. The FMC also started to irritate me towards the end. I also thought some of the language was not necessary.