Spoilers ahead
*
*
*
Although this is a cute, spicy Hallmark-esque, enemies-to-lovers rom-com, it is just too much of a cliche to be more than 3* for me. I didn’t understand whether Emmy’s hesitancy towards falling for Grayson was due to her father’s untimely death and fear of losing someone else she loved or her lingering hurt feelings over something that happened between them when she was just 15 and he was 17. Either way, it just seemed to be a contrivance to drive the plot. On top of that, I’m also not a fan of a 3rd act break-up, especially when it’s due to eavesdropping and a failure to communicate. Overall, this lacked strong character development, and maybe it’s because I live in LA and am tired of “the industry”, but I just couldn’t get into the relationship between two successful stars and the public’s obsession with their romance.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

“Love is only complicated when we make it complicated.”

I liked this one! It was cute and an easy read. This is also my first book by this particular author. I liked the plot, especially since I am a sucker for ANY type of romance that involves celebrities/movie stars. It always fascinates me and I loved the behind-the-scenes drama! This also had little online articles from gossip blogs placed in between some chapters, which really added to the overall story.

“Yet I know things will be different. And different doesn’t mean bad, necessarily. Just different.”

This had the potential to be a five star read because I really enjoyed it and it flowed nice, however, I took an entire star off because of the traditional “third act miscommunication break up”. I knew it was coming but when it did I was so annoyed with Emmy acting like a child. I felt bad for Grayson and just wanted to shake them and tell them to just communicate and none of this would happen.

I really liked Grayson, he was such a hidden in disguise good guy. Him and Emmy did have really good chemistry throughout the entire story, which was really great.

I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a fun and light read involving celebrities and some steam/spice!

4.75/5⭐️for me. I want to thank Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this fantastic romcom. This romcom has it all. If you like workplace rivals/enemies to lovers then this is the book for you! Note there is a miscommunication trope which I did not mind in this book. (I usually loathe that trope) for this story I felt that it worked.
This story features Emmy a child actor turned screen writer that wrote a romcom. She agrees albeit reluctantly to star in her movie. She arrives on set only to find that her costar had an accident and was replaced by Grayson. Grayson hears her muttering about him and it causes him to be deadpan when acting with her. A few days later they have to do a steamy scene and the ice between these two begins to thaw. The director frustrated by the pair, sits them down and shows them the acting and chemistry in the sexy scene vs a normal scene. They end up communicating and having a one night stand that ends up being the start of a relationship.
From there the acting and set is amazing and the pair go on to become a couple. There is a bit of a misunderstanding and they end things and when it's time to promote the movie-we'll read the book to find out what happens next.

Right on Cue by Fallon Ballard

Pub Date: 2-27-24

Quick Synopsis
Emmy Harper left acting to pursue a career as a writer. Specifically, a romcom screenwriter. When the lead for her upcoming movie drops out, Emmy puts on her acting hat & steps up to fill the spot. On day one of filming, the worst possible option walks in to be her counterpart. Yup. None other than Grayson West. Emmy still holds a years old grudge against Grayson for their disastrous first film together, the entire reason she left acting in the first place, and she is not the least bit happy he is going to be a part of her movie (even if he is hunky and beautiful). As filming starts, their unresolved past builds. It's awkward but also.... sexually charged? All we know is they're going to blow it if they can't figure out how to work together. How on earth are they going to resolve this? What will happen on and off screen as a result?

My thoughts
This book had the makings for everything I love in a romcom. Enemies to lovers? Check. Quippy dialogue? Check. A touch of spice? Check. But it didn't translate to a book I really loved or connected with. It was an easy read & I had my share of giggles at some of the writing but friends, it's miscommunication after miscommunication. Because of that, I didn't really buy in to the drama between the two leads. It also had some insta love vibes & to go from that level of dickishness to full on swoon, didn't work for me. Overall, it was enjoyable & I'd certainly recommend it to someone that doesn't mind these tropes but these two missteps kept me from being emotionally invested in the outcome of Emmy & Grayson.

Okay this is a very cute and entertaining romance! What's better than a novel set in the movie biz, with celebrities and actors? There's just something about that premise that I love, and I really enjoyed all of the movie making and behind-the-scenes details. I really liked Emmy, but I'm not sure I fell in love with Grayson. I think he stayed to grumpy and hard to read for too long. And then the miscommunication and lack of communication got to be a bit much. Admittedly, that is a trope I have a really hard time with. And its worse when I as the reader know the truth and one or both of the MCs don't!

Nevertheless, I really liked the writing in this book. It was snappy and fun and kept me engaged. I think fans of this author will love this book, and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next!

Thank you for the chance to review this!

I absolutely loved this book! This was my first novel by Falon Ballard and I enjoyed every minute of it! Emmy is a wonderful FMC - sharp, witty, stands up for what she believes in and doesn't back down. The enemies-to-lovers trope was crafted so well - I could not STAND Grayson West when he was first introduced, but was swooning right alongside Emmy by the end.

However, the book had two tropes that are just always a miss for me personally: miscommunication and a third-act breakup. Again, these are very personal preferences but it took away from my reading experience.

Still highly recommended for those that like a spicier read!

This was my second book by Falon Ballard and it was a really cute read!

Emmy Harper, daughter of well-known film industry giants, is the queen of writing romantic comedy screenplays. After a break following a family tradgedy, she is back with her next project, only this time, she not only wrote the script, but was also conviced to be the leading actress! The downside, her costar and the male romantic lead is her long-time nemesis, Grayson West, who was Emmy's very first costar as a teen and who made her life miserable from one stupid comment made years ago.

As filming begins, the tension between Grayson and Emmy is very apparent and they are pushed to get their acts together quickly, or the film will be canceled. But what seems to be fiction between them turns out to be sizzling chemistry.

I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope and that plays a huge role in this story, but I really fell in love with all the characters and loved watching Emmy and Grayson fall for each other. The side characters play a minor role in this one, but are lovable, although I wished they would have been a bigger part of Emmy and Grayson's story.

Overall, another great book by Falon Ballard!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the digital copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

Strong 3.5 stars but overall a bit forgettable. Cute book? Yes. Flat characters? Also yes.
Pros: Easy read, mostly realistic dialogue, a few funny quips.
Cons: Generic cartoon-cover romance that doesn't pick up until about 40% in, minimal character development.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This was a very cute romcom about a very cute romcom! I love a good celebrity romance. This was a quick beach read and an overall 4.5 stars for me!

Overall, I was generally entertained by this book, but it ultimately didn't end up feeling memorable to me. The animosity between Emmy and Grayson seems very dramatic and over-the-top for the reality of what had happened, and we don't get much context from the jump. I felt like I didn't get to know either character fully or deeply, and even though there was a depth and sadness to the story, I feel like it was surface level. As a male main character, Grayson is okay, but confusing as to where he really stands with his feelings. The miscommunications - or really, the lack of communication - just felt a bit tiresome. However the writing kept me interested, and I enjoyed the small-town atmosphere mixed with the movie/celebrity lifestyle. If you're looking for something a bit quirky and lighthearted, you may enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Falon Ballard has quickly become a favorite author of mine, and Right on Cue was another easy 5 stars from me!

Emmy Harper is your classic nepo baby, with two very famous parents and a job as a screenwriter. She hasn’t acted in years due to a horrible interaction in her first starring role. When the director of her new movie decides that Emmy is the only person who will do as the leading lady, Emmy reluctantly agrees, and somehow winds up costarring with Grayson West, aka the horrible costar from years ago. The pair have to find a way to work well together, and they take some unconventional steps to get there.

I loved Emmy as a character, loved Grayson as a love interest, and couldn’t get enough of their banter and chemistry. Falon is the QUEEN of writing incredible banter, and that came through in this book as per usual. Both characters felt authentic, with real struggles and insecurities.

There are plenty of tropes here- celeb romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity. And plenty of spice to go along with the tropes! It fit the storyline perfectly, and some of the not so spicy moments were just as hot as the spicy ones. The chemistry between the main characters was ever present and easy to see.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for the arc. All opinions are my own.

An author who is quickly becoming a favorite taking on my favorite trope, celebrity romance? Plus a movie being filmed in a charming small town? This was just what I wanted. The characters were great, the Hollywood gossip type interstitials added nice bits, and the chemistry was definitely apparent.

Thanks to Falon Ballard and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Right on Cue for free in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on February 27th and I cannot wait for people to read it!

Wow. This book made me feel everything!!!!! I was laughing and gasping and crying and it was just beautiful perfection. Right on Cue is about Emmy Harper, a nepo baby and screenwriter creating her newest movie “No Reservations”. With much convincing, she decides to act as the lead female alongside none other than her teenage enemy, Grayson West. Grayson West is the action movie hottie, but he also starred in his first movie with Emmy when they were teenagers, and it did NOT end well. When they start filming, can they get over the past? Or will it affect the movie and Emmy’s comeback to the big screen?

I really enjoyed all of the banter between Emmy and Grayson, as well as getting a bit of a glimpse into the past. But what I REALLY loved was the clear as day chemistry between the two, even when they're not trying to be nice to each other lol!

Also big shout out to Emmy’s best friend and producer, Liz, and her movie star mom because they were always the voice of reason and so supportive and just iconic.

I read Just my Type by Falon Ballard as well, and if you’ve read any of her other books, you definitely need to read this one!

4.75 STARS

I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. I read it in one sitting and stayed up until 1 AM 😭

Emmy Harper is an Academy Award winning screenwriter and daughter of two acting legends. After acting in one disastrous movie at the age of fifteen, Emmy transitioned to writing. When her newest rom-com is in need of a leading lady, Emmy is forced back into the spotlight. Unfortunately, at the leading man turns out to be the same one who ruined her first acting experience—Grayson West. Since their first movie together, Grayson has become a blockbuster action hero.

The movie is set in a small snowy town at an absolutely beautiful inn. Emmy and Grayson still cannot stand each other and it’s evident in their scenes together. When the director finally has enough of their antics, they are forced to work it out or risk ruining the movie everyone has worked so hard on. Due to all the tension between them, Emmy suggests a “one time only”, “let’s get it out of our system” hook up. Which turns out exactly as you would expect 😉

This was not my favorite book of Falon’s, but I still adored every second of it. I would say most of the main character’s issues relies heavily on the miscommunication trope, so beware! The ending felt a bit rushed as well, but I still loved this book a ton nonetheless! Falon’s writing definitely saved this book for me!

Emmy and Grayson have great chemistry and banter which will keep you hooked! They also both are fully fleshed out with real insecurities that make you feel connected to the characters. Emmy struggles with letting people in after the loss of her father, while Grayson struggles with not feeling “good enough” and only being a pretty face.

Also Grayson is from Minnesota which warmed my fellow Minnesotan heart 💕

Read if you like:
• He falls first
• Forced Proximity
• Enemies to lovers
• Co-stars falling for each other
• Wintery rom-com movies set in a small town

“Right on Cue” by Falon Ballard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓🤓🤓🤓

This was fun and SPICY! Enemies to lovers isn’t usually my favorite trope, but I loved the way these two characters came together. If you were a fan of Lease on Love and Just My Type, you’re going to love this one!!!! This book would be AMAZING as a screen adaptation, so I’m hoping that happens. Thanks to @netgalley for my ARC! This is out next week!! 2/27/24

I needed something sweet and funny to read and this was perfect.

I really liked the fmc, Emmy but felt like the actions of the mmc, Grayson were a little wishy-washy. Like, I wanted my girl to get a hea but he had split personalities. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I did love the book in general. The development of the characters and the story had me hooked. I found myself going back to reread certain text conversations that were emotional, and I love a book that can make me emotional 😂

I went and added the other books by Falon Ballard to my tbr since I enjoyed this one so much.

This was all kinds of adorable and hot!! I mean it’s not a mystery if they’ll end up together but it’s the journey. Emmy and Grayson haven’t spoken in years but their chemistry is still off the charts. What was supposed to be friends with benefits ended up with them catching feelings.

What a delightful romcom Right on Cue is! I really loved this book from start to finish.

I love the idea of a writer who once was an actor hit home for me (totally me, except I write books not screenplays) and that she felt a bit of wariness at being asked to act in her own screenplay, only to have the leading man get hurt and her arch-enemy take the role because he thought it would be a meaty, artsy project but found himself slap in the middle of a romcom!
True the fact that he was tanking scenes at the beginning was a bit eyeroll but I did love how they got around all of it by getting shoved together (I LOVE forced proximity) and I love that "just once" led to many many more times. This book does get a bit spicy and I loved it.

The twist at the end was a little hard, because I just wanted the characters to be adults, but it is a romcom and so a windy road to love is inevitable.

Loved the best friend/director, loved the hair and make up friends who were wonderfully snarky and on point for the business, and loved her meddling mom who was meddling in a GOOD way.

Can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley + Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a sweet rom-com. This book centers around two actors who have disliked each other for years; they are now forced to work on a movie together. Their acting is disjointed and terrible because of the tension between them. The solution for this problem is perfect!

Once the queen of Hollywood rom coms, Emmy vowed never to write another happy ending after a personal tragedy. Now, urged by loved ones, she’s ready to return to the genre and star in her latest project. However, when her co-star is sidelined, action star Grayson steps in, rekindling old tensions from their past collaboration. As they clash on set, the question remains: will their off-screen friction ignite into on-screen chemistry, or will it derail the entire film?

This is a fun story with likable if flawed characters. It’s a bit of a slow burn, the wounds between them deep.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.