From Penguin Group Publishing: Campbell Andrews despises exactly three things in life: incompetence, tardiness, and love stories. Making partner at her law firm at thirty-four, she has no time for anything or anyone else. And certainly no respect for those who choose love over work. That is, until she wakes up in Heart Springs—her own personal hell.

The good news? She’s not dead. She’s been magically transported to a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk. Cam can’t stand it, but in order to make it back to her real life, she has to fulfill three tasks . . . foremost among them, experience true love. It seems impossible. But anything’s possible with a change of heart.
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My review: Ballard has written 5 books and I’ve read them all. This one took me a little longer to get into because it's an alternate loop/travel kind of fantasy. Cam knows what she has to do to get back to her real life and you can see where this was going a mile away. Ben of course had to play into it. It took me a while to get into because Cam is basically not a really engaging woman. She is mad, judgey, and swears too much (I swear a lot and her unnecessary use of the f word constantly got annoying to me). Also, Ben incessantly calling her "sweetheart" seemed condescending when he didn't know her that well. Then he kept at it throughout and it irked me for some reason.

The book kept me engaged and by the end I was rooting for Cam's new found interests and life. She was just not my favorite Ballard MC.

3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

I don’t say this lightly, but this book is my absolute favorite book I have ever read in this genre. I already wish I could rewind time and read this book for the first time all over again. I cannot stress enough how this surpassed any expectations I had. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t read romance often, and has to really be in the mood to read it because I don’t generally vibe with the genre, but my love for terrible hallmark movies and the enticing nature of the magical realism subplot is why I picked this up. And this book ended up being the absolute best of any book that I’ve read in the romance and romantic magical realism genre. Not that I was expecting it to be bad, but it was far better than I was expecting. The best way I can describe this book is that it’s like Gilmore Girls meets a hallmark movie with the whimsy of an Ashley Poston novel. But a million times funnier and more entertaining.

For anyone who has wanted to live inside a hallmark movie, loves shabby chic, vintage, or grandmacore, what is Cam’s nightmare would be a dream come true. She wakes up in a little pink dollhouse cottage with white wicker furniture wrapped in floral fabric, a closet is filled with soft pastel ruffly dresses, and her face is always perfectly made up, blemish free, with naturally rosy cheeks and lashes that look fake but are somehow real. Honestly all this sounds too good to be true, living in a picture perfect hallmark movie dreamworld but for Cam (being the grumpy hater she is, who hates sunshine and pastels and happiness and thinks that a bright, warm and cozy house is gross) Heart Springs is an actual nightmare. I, on the other hand, if I was ever so lucky to find myself in Heart Springs, would want to stay in this magical unrealistic land forever. Waking up with perfect hair and makeup (this even counts after showers, you step out of the shower completely ready and makeup done and perfect. Amazing.) Calories not counting and never gaining a pound despite the abundance of baked goods and honey lavender lattes from local shops on Main Street. Hangovers don’t exist and you wake up looking perfect every morning. It’s an unrealistic version of perfect. And I’d never want to leave!

Heart Springs is a dream, complete with a coffee shop that specializes in lavender honey lattes and offers pumpkin spice all year round. but Cam thinks she’s in literal hell. Me and her wouldn’t get along but to be fair, she’s a total (self aware) bitch who hates everything and doesn’t really get along with anyone, at least not until she gets to Heart Springs. She’s the definition of a grinch to the worst degree, super unlikable, but it’s entertaining watching her react to happy and cute things and watch her go on these tirades. This book had some of the funniest dialogue I’ve ever read and some of her tirades had me dying laughing.

Humor is one of the biggest highlights of this book. It’s genuinely one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Picture if you plucked a character with an antagonistic and negative attitude and plopped her into a Hallmark movie. Obviously, hilarity would ensue. And in this book, it does, and we get to witness every entertaining moment of it. It was so enjoyable, there was so much diversity with the characters, and the romance is well paced.

I would’ve liked more answers, like how Heart Springs came to be, is it in another dimension or connected to earth, are the residents able to leave or is it its own little world, and can anyone ever come back and visit? Lots of unanswered questions that I wanted answers to, but these types of romance magical realism books rarely will give all the answers. Yes, the lack of answers at the end frustrated me, but I enjoyed this book too much to deduct any stars because of it. This book not only was probably tied with one other book for my favorite book of the year, it also made the goodreads list of my all time favorites, a VERY rare achievement that usually only a couple books get per year (and as someone who reads over 200 books a year, that’s means chances are slim). I want everyone to experience this book. Almost as much as I want a sequel with someone else who ends up in Heart Springs, plus more questions answered especially with that ending.

Whatever expectations I had, this far surpassed it. I was not expecting this to be a 5 star read but this story was a stand out in a way I wasn’t expecting. I do think this book would resonate more to a certain type of reader, a lover of small town hallmark movies in particular, and I happened to fit the bill. But still, I think anyone intrigued by the plot should give this a chance. If anything, you’ll enjoy the fact that this book is probably the most amusing and hilarious thing I’ve read in a while. And I am baffled that there are not more 5 star reviews.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This did not work for me. The concept was fun (as a big hallmark movie fan) but I did not feel the chemistry between Cam and Ben at all. His overuse of the word “sweetheart” gave me major ick and he came off condescending (not that Cam was some angel). The ending resolution once they return feeling rushed and unsatisfying. A real miss all around.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, second chances, and personal growth. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the characters’ lives and their emotional journeys. Ballard’s writing is both engaging and heartfelt, making it easy to connect with the characters and their struggles. I found myself discussing their choices and the twists in the plot long after I finished reading. The themes of forgiveness and transformation resonated deeply.
It was a fantastic read that sparked meaningful conversations and left me feeling uplifted. If you’re looking for a story that combines romance with depth, this one is definitely worth picking up! Go pick it up!!

I can finally say I’ve read a book with magical realism that I loved! I didn’t think this would ever happen. I’ve dabbled a tiny bit in magical realism and I’ve liked certain aspects of books in this sub-genre but I’ve always enjoyed the romance piece and not the magic piece so much. Change of Heart has changed my perspective on magical realism in a romance, and I loved how it fit perfectly in the plot.

The story starts out with our career driven FMC, Cam, being set up on a blind date with Ben, and she has no interest in actually getting to know her date and only agrees to appease her grandmother. She ends up being transported to the fictional world of Heart Springs. In order to return to her regular life she has to meet three conditions: find a career that is fulfilling, become a valuable member of the community, and experience true love. The first two she decides will be no problem, the third however, is laughable.

I found the FMC to be very relatable and saw a lot of myself in her. I then later read some reviews on Goodreads that criticized the book saying the main character was too unlikeable…not sure what that says about me, but I’m going to choose not to reflect on that 😂

Will post on IG closer to pub date

Change of Heart finds Campbell a workaholic lawyer has no aspirations to do anything but her job. She is magically whisked away to a small town where she needs to find herself. I greatly enjoyed this book. Falon Ballard does it again!

Thank you Net Galley and G.P. Putman’s Sons for this arc.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard is a rom-com featuring magical realism, in which a workaholic, Campbell, and her love interest, Ben, get stuck in a Hallmark movie style town after a disastrous first date. Campbell has to complete 3 seemingly impossible tasks in order to return home.

I am a big fan of this author and was thrilled to be given an e-ARC for her latest novel (coming in February 2025). Ms Ballard has always delivered on sweet rom-coms with great banter and chemistry. Unfortunately this novel was a bit of a miss for me. I never felt fully connected with Campbell, who was initially meant to be a Grinch-like character, however her character growth didn’t feel sincere. And I didn’t feel that I was given enough description or overall development for Ben. He almost immediately started calling her “sweetheart” and the overuse of the nickname felt off to me.

Overall, I feel somewhat disappointed by this novel. I had such high hopes, and it IS entertaining and funny at times. I think many will enjoy it, but I don’t feel it is her best work. 3/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Change of Heart was such a fun read and I was hooked from the very first chapter! The only way I know how to describe the book is that it’s like Pleasantville set in a quaint Hallmark type town with some Freaky Friday meddling vibes thrown in. It was so different and had me wanting to read when I needed to be focused on other things. I liked Cam’s drive and ambition, while Ben was so laid back and chill. They both brought out the good in each other and complimented each other so well. I loved how Cam grew and changed throughout the book and it made her such a likable and relatable character. It had a great message about priorities and loved every single page.

A huge thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.

While I still enjoy Ballard's books and characters, the level of spice is getting to be a bit too much for me. I love how the characters are written, and the chemistry is always jumping off the page. I enjoyed reading this one in November, and I do recommend it to other readers if you love romance.

Change of Heart was such a sweet and slightly spicy romance read. I thoroughly enjoyed Cam’s journey to find her “happy.” Her character development was well-rounded. One the converse, I found Ben’s character left me wanting more of him. At times the plot was a bit confusing, especially at the beginning as Cam arrives in Heart Springs..
Overall this was an enjoyable read and Falon Ballard is a must-read author for me.

This was fun! I love magical realism and was instantly drawn to the book by the synopsis and the beautiful cover. There’s something about Heart Springs that instantly made me think of Barbie land. A perfect town, with pretty colors, where everyone’s so nice.

She’s a lawyer, made partner at 34. Not wanting to have kids. Married to her work. He’s a pediatric surgeon. He loves helping people. They go on a blind date arranged by her grandmother. She’s grumpy, he’s sunshine. I think I enjoyed Cam and Ben’s characters individually more than I did as a couple.

I loved Emma’s character and her relationship with Cam. It was refreshing to see Cam’s character growth finding herself, while trying new things and giving herself a chance.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, Falon Ballard and NetGalley for the arc!

A cozy romance read for anyone who might need to believe in love again! Falon does such a great job of telling the story while sharing the love. With some twists and turns, I could not put this book down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this with really high hopes that I would absolutely love it, considering I have read and adored books by Falon Ballard in the past, but I just could not get into this one and was beyond ready for it to be over. The premise had great potential, but the FMC was SO insufferable that I absolutely could not stand her. She was rude, conceited and selfish and most offensive of all, she thought reading was a giant waste of time and Hallmark-inspired small towns were cringy. The storyline between Cam and Ben felt rushed and it was really hard to root for them, much less Cam and her insufferable personality.

Hoping this was a one-off and I will absolutely still read more from Falon, but this one just was not for me.

this is such a fun, swoony, magical realism story! if you liked A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, Book Lovers by Emily Henry, and The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt you’ll love this story!!!!

I love how Hallmark-esque the town is to the nth degree, playing up every possible stereotype of those movies, matched with Cam’s realistic, cynical real world perspective as she’s trapped there with her bad blind date, makes this such a fun and tender story to read. I fell in love with the small town and its adorable characters, not unlike I have with Stars Hallow and Gilmore Girls. And I love how Cam and Ben find their deeper connection and eventual love story with each other. Cam is able to root out some deep-seated hurt to find deeper meaning to love and relationships, and Ben is adorable and sweet falling for her as she does.

overall, another sweet, fun read from Falon Ballard, and this time as her first magical realism romance! thank you for the arc!!!!

📚 Change of Heart
✍ Falon Ballard
📖 Magical Realism/Romance
⭐3
🌶️ 🌶️

➡ Campbell Andrews doesn't have time to date. In fact, she doesn't have time for anyone or anything that isn't related to her career as a high powered partner at her family's law firm. When she wakes up the night after a blind date in Heart Springs, an idyllic town straight out of a Hallmark movie with no way to get home other than to fulfill three seemingly impossible tasks, she's skeptical to say the least. But the longer she's stuck in Heart Springs, the easier it is to understand that the life she's been living may not be what her heart wants, but if she wants to get back to any version of it, she'll have to make some serious changes.
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🙏 Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of Chance of Heart. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: If you love Hallmark movies and romance with a touch of magical realism, the setting of this book is perfect for you. Most of the story is set in an idyllic small town with meddling neighbors, tasks to complete and some charming magical details like a closet that changes itself for the seasons. There's also a sweet found family theme and lots of sass, so if that sounds like you, this may be right up your alley!

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: Campbell was clearly written to be an unlikeable character. The issue is that I'm pretty sure she was supposed to grow on me the further into the story I got, and sadly, she didn't. I have adored everything that Falon Ballard has written up until this point but I just couldn't get into this book. Between Campbell being insufferably whiney and rude to everyone that crossed her path and Ben using 'sweetheart' as a term of endearment 68 (!!!) times during the course of this short book, I just didn't love the characters the way I want to in a romance. Like any book I don't love, I won't discourage others from reading it, but it was definitely not my favorite of Ballard's.
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Read if you love:
*Hallmark movies
*enemies to lovers
*romance w/ magical realism
*small town romance
*found family
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See also: The Seven Year Slip, This Spells Love, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

This is absolutely perfect for people who love Hallmark. The main character falls into a Hallmark-esque town complete with everything you could dream of

Change of Heart is a delightful, laugh-out-loud rom-com that tugs at your heartstrings while delivering a hilarious, heartfelt message about love, self-discovery, and the unexpected magic of small towns. This book is a gem, perfect for fans of “big city to small town” stories with a sprinkle of enchantment!
Campbell Andrews is a refreshing, unapologetically driven heroine, so laser-focused on making partner at her law firm that love is the last thing on her mind. But the author's twist on the classic Hallmark setup breathes new life into the trope, transporting Cam to Heart Springs, where she’s forced to confront her rigid ideas about life and love. Watching Cam struggle with her “tasks”—like finding true love—while resisting the town’s charms and endearing quirks is both hilarious and deeply satisfying.
The magic of Heart Springs is its vibrant cast of characters, from the meddling mayor to the warm, quirky townsfolk who welcome Cam with open arms. The town’s seasonal festivals and close-knit community atmosphere feel like characters of their own, bringing charm and humor that balance out Cam’s initially cynical worldview. The magical realism in the story adds a whimsical layer that’s handled with just the right amount of fun and flair, making Heart Springs feel as enchanting to the reader as it becomes to Cam.
The romance is swoon-worthy and perfectly paced, with an unexpected chemistry that has all the warmth and heart of a cozy fireplace in winter. Cam’s journey toward letting down her walls and opening up to love is beautifully written, showing real growth that feels organic and authentic. Watching her transformation from hardened workaholic to someone who appreciates the messy, unpredictable beauty of life and love is truly rewarding.
Change of Heart is a funny, charming, and magical escape that reminds us all of the importance of balance and the unexpected places where we might just find happiness. The author's storytelling sparkles with humor, warmth, and insight, making this novel an absolute must-read for anyone craving a fresh take on the classic rom-com.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely LOVED this!! I really enjoyed the different storyline than anything Ballard has written before. She has a way with writing the SWEETEST men- Ben was no exception. I enjoyed every character and the atmospheric writing of Heart Springs. A great read.

Absolutely loved this book! 4.25 🌟
(Thank you net galley for this amazing ARC)🫶🏼

Whenever I feel the urge for a cute yet underlying emotional read I head STRAIGHT for Fallon Ballard. Who has become and auto-buy author for me.

Ben and Cam were definitely the couple I will hold near and dear to my heart , as I truly relate/related to Cam. Emotionally and romantically. I would’ve love to know ben a bit more BUT having the context of him appreciating his family, his ability to just love and believe in anything he needs/needed to for the sake of his well being was amazing to read.

This book was not only a romcom-esque , it was riddled with a quick yet hit alllll the points a book needed. A quick/fun romance that you just need to have on your shelf.

“You are enough.” ❤️

Five stars! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books!
There is not a single bad thing I could say about this book. It was perfect in every way possible. Am i a little bias because Falon Ballard is my favorite author? Yes. BUT STILL GO READ IT. The characters are complex and have the little details that real humans do. Also can I say I LOVED the small town. Oh my gosh! This book was so homey and just the vibes I needed this week.