**Book Review: Change of Heart by Fallon Ballard (4.5 stars)**

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC of this book. I absolutely loved *Change of Heart*! This is my first Fallon Ballard book, and I already own three others, which I’m excited to pick up soon.

The premise of this story really hooked me—it definitely has Hallmark vibes, and I think the author fully embraced that trope, which I loved. The FMC was funny, occasionally unlikeable, but very real, and I thought Ben was a great character.

I’m a big fan of stories where someone is transported back in time or to an alternate reality, so this was right up my alley. I would absolutely recommend this book, and I’ll be buying a physical copy when it’s released. So far, this has been my favorite ARC read, and I can’t wait to read more from Fallon Ballard!

Can you believe this cover? 😍 This is Falon Ballard's first magical realism book and it was fun!

Workaholic lawyer Campbell Andrews doesn't believe in love. After a disasterous blind date, she wakes up in a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk-Heart Springs—her own personal hell.

More about it:
Reverse grumpy x sunshine
Black cat x golden retriever
Workaholic
Unlikeable main character
Single POV
Open door

I did have a few gripes about the story. The miscommunication was frustrating at times and I would have loved to know more about our leading man, Dr. Ben Loving. I also wanted the world and characters of Heart Springs to be a little more flushed out.

Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it.

I'm sorry, but this book doesn't come out until February. 🥴 But the good news is that I've read her other books and Lease on Love is a great one! Just my Type and All I Want for Christmas is You are also fun! 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author, Falon Ballard, for providing me with an ARC of Change of Heart.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted, Hallmark-esque romance, Change of Heart delivers exactly that. Campbell Andrews is a no-nonsense, workaholic lawyer who wants nothing to do with love. So when she’s magically transported to the charming (read: cheesy) small town of Heart Springs, she’s stuck navigating seasonal festivals, overly friendly townsfolk, and of course, the ultimate romantic comedy trope: finding true love to return to her normal life.

The premise feels like the trailer to a classic early 2000s romcom, complete with a meddling mayor and tasks that seem ripped straight from a feel-good movie. Campbell’s cynical, no-nonsense approach to love stands in stark contrast to the relentlessly heartwarming world she’s stuck in, which adds a bit of humor and charm to the story. Watching her wrestle with the Hallmark-y setting is mildly entertaining, though not entirely fresh or surprising.

Now, for those wondering: on the spice scale, this one’s a solid 1/5 🌶️. If you’re hoping for fiery passion, this isn’t that kind of story—it’s more about cozy, predictable feelings than anything particularly steamy. And if you’re a fan of those warm-and-fuzzy romances, that’s probably perfect. But if you’re like me and don’t care much for Hallmark-style romance, it might feel a little too sweet and simple at times.

Still, Change of Heart has its moments. Campbell’s journey from cynicism to (grudging) belief in love is heartwarming enough, and the town of Heart Springs provides a picturesque backdrop for her transformation. The magical elements are whimsical, though I found myself wishing the plot had a bit more depth to balance out the fluff.

All in all, if you love Hallmark movies and are looking for a light, low-spice romance to cozy up with, this book is for you. But for those who prefer more complex or spicy love stories, Change of Heart might not hit all the right notes. It’s an okay read—sweet, predictable, and light, but nothing that’ll leave you breathless.

3.5⭐️

I'm a big fan of Falon Ballard and have read all of her works, with Just My Type being my favorite. While this book was entertaining and funny, it didn’t top my list. The story centers on Cam, a successful but workaholic lawyer who's blunt and often rude. She goes on a blind date with Ben, a pediatric surgeon, but spends the entire night ignoring him. The next morning, they both wake up in a magical town, tasked with completing a list of challenges to find their way home.

Ben was a likable character, though he felt somewhat one-dimensional. I would have loved to see more of his perspective, as the story seemed too focused on Cam, with Ben playing more of a supporting role. That said, I really enjoyed the magical realism elements and whimsical atmosphere. Overall, it’s a fun, lighthearted read that's perfect for anyone looking for a cute and entertaining story. This book is coming out on February, 11th of 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Putnam Books & Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of Change of Heart by Falon Ballard.

This was my first Falon Ballard book and I can't wait to dive into others.

Romcoms are not generally my genre of choice but oh my gosh, this book made me crave more cutesy romances! What started out to be a bit slow and "hallmark-y" turned out to be super cute and adorable. The chemistry and banter between the two main characters has just the right amount of angst and mystery. I won't give spoilers but I highly recommend reading this book if you want a feel good romcom with some spice. Beware, the spice at the end does get a bit graphic so if that's not your thing you may want to skip this one.

Thanks again for the ARC, can't wait to read more of Falon's books!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


In this book we meet Cam who is a lawyer at her grandmother’s law firm and is set to inherit it all. Her grandmother sets her up on a date and when she abruptly leaves and tells Ben her date that she has no intentions to settle down or fall in love she goes home. Can wakes up and discovers herself in Heart Springs and realizes she’s in a Hallmark type town and is living a Hallmark movie in real life. Mimi is the mayor of Heart Springs and sent both her and Ben to town. For Cam and Ben to go back to New York and their lives Ben has to help Cam. Cam has to experience true love, get a job that she loves, and do community service. Cam goes on two dates that don’t end well. Her third date Noah is the guy version of Cam and she tries to fall in love with him. Cam starts to work with Emma who is a baker and owns a bakery and when Emma receives a notice that she could lose her bakery. Cam decides to help her and her and Ben come up with a date action. Cam bids on Ben and ends her relationship with Noah. Cam and Ben admit their feelings for each other. Cam helps the owner of the toy shop in town and realizes he calling is helping people. Then Cam finally realizes that she needs to love herself and her and Ben end up back in New York. Cam still remembers Ben and she quits her job at her grandmother’s law firm and she and Ben move in together. Cam meets Emma in real life. This book is so cute and I loved every minute of it.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam Books for preview copy of Change of Heart! This book was right up my alley partially set in a Hallmark movie/Pleasantville town. The sweet townspeople and Dr. Loving had me hooked. Don't miss out on this when it comes out February 11, 2025! Thank you Falon Ballard for the heartwarming stories.💖🩷

Hallmark/Groundhog Day/Pleasantville mash up. It was exactly the escapist rom-com I was craving and I gobbled it up in a day. The pacing and character development made for a quick read.

⁣𝗪𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝗪:
Heartwarming and whimsical
rom com
magical realism
banter, chemistry and steam
Character growth (the female lead, Cam, takes some warming up)
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Self discovery journey
Small town
Spice

3.5

Plot: After blowing off her first date with Ben, Cam finds herself thrust into a Hallmark-style parallel universe with him where she is tasked with finding a career she is passionate about, become a valued member of her community, and experience true love before she can leave.

Themes: Happiness, self-acceptance

Characters: Cam is prickly and I think that any fan of a badass female main character will like her. Ben has boy-next-door vibes and his biggest character flaw is how often he calls Cam sweetheart.

Writing: This book is fun. I love Cam's reluctance at being in her picture perfect small town. I think this is well written in terms of magical realism and I appreciate that it isn't overly complicated.

I’ve read all of Falon Ballard’s books, but this one wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t love or hate the book, but it felt too saccharine to me. I know the point was likely to mimic a Hallmark movie, but it just didn’t fully work for me.

This book was adorable! I was sucked in right from the start and loved the whole vibe. I was rooting for Cam the whole time and really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Ben. Anyone who loves a good rom-com with forced proximity and found family, this book is for you!

You know how they say to not judge a book by its cover? Well Change of Heart is definitely one of those books. I went in thinking it would be a cutesy bubbly story but I was wrong. It was cute but a lot deeper. It’s about Cam’s journey to self love with a dash magic- which I did not see coming.

I’ve mentioned before that I’ll read anything Falon Ballard writes and this book continued to prove that I really would because I usually avoid anything with a touch of Fantasy but I sure did read enjoy it.

Gimme all the magical realism books! I adored this book! Gimme all the cozy small hallmark channel towns please! Four stars! Loved Ben and Cam!

Campbell Andrews whole life is work. She made partner at the law firm founded by her grandmother, and she has no time for anything else — least of all dating. Her latest date with Ben Loving, a handsome doctor, is a disaster when she barely talks to him before declaring she has no interest.

The next day, Campbell wakes up in Heart Springs — which seems like a perfect, Hallmark Channel-like town where people take things slow and prioritize having a life over work. In other words, it is everything that Campbell hates. It is made clear to Campbell she needs to complete three tasks, including experiencing true love, if she wants to make her way back to New York. Campbell has never failed at anything major in her life before. But this may prove to be her biggest challenge yet.

This is a charming and thoughtful novel. It explores interesting themes around family relationships, the pressure we put on ourselves, and finding balance in life. As in the author’s previous novels, the central relationship is compelling and has you rooting for the couple.

Highly recommended!

Loved!!!! Falon Ballard's latest novel, "Change of Heart," is the breath of fresh air I have been searching for. Having adored all of Falon’s prior novels, I went into "Change of Heart" completely blind, and I am so glad I did! After the first chapter, I knew this would be a novel for me. I practically read it in one sitting because it was just that fantastic! This 5-star book is a sweet, laugh-out-loud romance wrapped up in pure magic! If you enjoy romance books, then I highly, recommend you check out "Change of Heart"!

Cam and Ben meet on a blind date and then are transported (Pleasantville style) to a Hallmark like town where they need to accomplish tasks to improve their lives. It was super cheesy and a bit predictable, but a quick easy read!

Change of Heart is everything you want a Hallmark love story to be but it just never is. Falon Ballard takes on the traditionally cloyingly sweet genre but infuses it with her signature wit and banter. It is clear from the first pages that Ballard is a fan of Hallmark and its predictable tropes and Change of Heart feels more like an update rather than a criticism.

In Change of Heart, Campbell is a self-identified Hallmark villain. She’s a big city lawyer who crushes small businesses through her mergers and acquisitions practice. She doesn’t have time for dates and isn’t interested in love anyways. After another failed set-up that Campbell sabotaged within minutes, Campbell is shocked to wake up the next morning in a pastel, sun-drenched bedroom with full hair and make-up done. She soon realizes she’s been transported to a small town called Heart Springs, a town just like the ones she’s seen in Hallmark movies. When she enters the local coffee shop, she’s greeted by Mimi, a wise older local who informs her she won’t be able to leave until she completes three tasks that involve experiencing true love, becoming part of the community, and finding a job she’s passionate about. When her neighbor turns out to be Ben, her date from her failed set-up the night before, they begin working together to get out of Heart Springs.

Campbell is everything I want a Hallmark main character to be. She’s smart and witty and sassy and independent and irreverent and funny. Falon Ballard is so so good at writing female characters that I want to be friends with. They’re three-dimensional and full of flaws but so funny you can’t help but root for them. Campbell has the same foundational traits that drew me in to Sadie in Lease on Love. Ben is less fully developed and, as a result, the chemistry between him and Campbell isn’t fully, fully there. I would have loved to get to know Ben more.

All that said, this was such a fun, quick read. I zoomed through it and laughed out loud a bunch. If you’re a Hallmark fan, Change of Heart is a must read!

I love that this book was making fun of hallmark movies while also being a literal hallmark story. The main character had good growth, but I definitely cringed every time I saw the word “sweetheart”.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

Cute story but not my favorite Falon Ballard. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie (which is a good thing) but I didn't fully invest in the story until a ways into it. I will still definitely explore other works from this author but this one was just okay to me.