Falon Ballard’s magical realism romance novel “Change of Heart” takes readers on a journey with two people who, after a disastrous first date, find themselves transported to a magical town where they are given a second chance at love.

Thirty-four-year-old Campbell "Cam" Andrews is laser-focused on her career. As a partner at her grandmother's prestigious law firm in New York City, she is preparing to bring in the firm’s most high-profile case to date. However, her controlling grandmother is less concerned with her professional success and more fixated on marrying Cam off to secure an heir who will carry on the family’s legal legacy. As a result, Cam finds herself regularly being set up on blind dates—one of which leads her to Dr. Ben Loving, a pediatric surgeon. Late to the date, Cam struggles to engage in conversation, instead boasting about the number of emails she answers. The evening ends poorly, but as they part ways, the two are left with a cryptic message from their server. The following morning, they wake up in the quaint, Hallmark-like town of Heart Springs—a place devoid of phones and automobiles.

Cam is initially struck by how flawless her appearance seems in this new world—her makeup is perfect, her skin is glowing, and her hair is untouched. Her closet is now filled with pastel-colored dresses, a stark contrast to her usual professional attire. She encounters Mimi "Meem," the town’s mayor, coffee shop owner, and the waitress from the previous night, who tells Cam that she must complete three tasks to return to her life in New York.
 
1.         You must find a career you are passionate about
2.         You must become a valued member of the community
3.         You need to experience true love
 
Not accustomed to failure, Cam attempts to meet these challenges head-on. She takes on jobs as a bookstore owner and a wedding planner, but it is only after finding work and friendship with Emma at the local bakery that she begins to feel more at home. Meanwhile, Mimi sets up Cam with three potential suitors to help her find love. Despite her skepticism about love—stemming from her traumatic past, including her parents’ abandonment and her grandmother’s harsh control—Cam’s attitude begins to change. Each job she takes and each date she embarks on fails miserably, forcing her to rely on her neighbor, Ben, the man she so easily dismissed on their first date. Ben, too, is trapped in this magical world and cannot return home until Cam completes her three tasks.

Ballard’s novel bears some resemblance to Kate Robb’s “Prime Time Romance,” but while Robb’s novel alternates between characters’ perspectives, “Change of Heart” focuses solely on Cam’s point of view. This means readers learn little about Dr. Ben Loving beyond Cam’s observations. Though Ben claims to have been smitten with Cam from the beginning, this seems implausible given the way Cam treated him. In the novel, Ben comes across as a passive character with little motivation, and though he becomes Cam's main support system, he never challenges her or voices his frustration about being stuck in Heart Springs for an entire season. His willingness to stay, even as he misses his family, leaves his character underdeveloped.

Ballard also portrays Cam as a villain in the beginning, presenting her work in corporate law—specifically in acquisitions and mergers—as something that makes her cold and unlikable. Cam’s preference for espresso and salads is a symbol of her disciplined, work-focused lifestyle. However, as she spends more time in Heart Springs, she begins to embrace sugary coffee drinks and comfort foods, and her views on her career begin to shift. She starts to see herself as a "bad person" for prioritizing work over personal connections, and this internal transformation leads her to reconsider her professional path.

This narrative takes an anti-feminist turn, suggesting that the only way Cam can be lovable and deserving of love is by changing her career. The novel implies that women can only be "good" if they embrace traditional femininity, enjoy sweets, and make personal sacrifices for love. This view is damaging, as it implies that women who work demanding jobs—such as in corporate law—are inherently flawed. Women can be both career-driven and kind, powerful and loving. It is harmful to suggest that a woman can only be worthy of love if she alters her career or her personality to fit a more conventional mold.

I have read and loved books from this author before, however this big-city girl trapped in a small-town magic realism is not doing it for me.
I don't know what exactly is it about Cam that puts me off, and Ben seems to be just.. there (for the part that I read).
I think I'm dnf'ing this one, however I will read Ballard again.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️, took a little while to get into the story but I still enjoyed it :)
bit of a slow start but overall enjoyed the story and the impact of smaller characters in this story

Change of Heart was a cute, fun read, perfect for Valentine’s Day! After a failed blind date with pediatric surgeon, Dr. Ben Loving, Cam (Campbell) Andrews wakes up to find herself magically transported from the bustling manhattan of New York City to the quaint, small town of Heart Springs. Believing she’s stuck in a nightmare and unable to wake, Cam isn’t surprised to find her disastrous date, Ben, is none other than her next door neighbor. But when she isn’t able to sleep off the dream, day after day, she realizes a terrorizing truth. Cam Andrews is stuck in an alternate reality and her only hope of finding her way home is to experience true love.

Cam’s character progression through this book from an icy queen to a kind and loving friend was a fun journey to embark on. I did struggle a little to connect to both Cam and Ben’s characters but I loved all the colorful language and the realness of Cam’s personality and character. These seemed and felt very honest and real to me and were details I very much appreciated.

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC, and PRH Audio for the ALC.

I think this book may very well be one of my favorite romance novels of 2025. (and yes, I know it is early to tell)

Words can't explain how much I adored this book. It was ADORABLE.

I have read other books by Falon Ballard, and my personal opinion is that this is her best one yet! I also really enjoyed the audiobook narrated by
Carly Robbins. She did a great job!
I wish I could rate this book more than 5 stars!

I absolutely loved it!!!

I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared, and you're turning away 🌷

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Taylor song: New Year’s Day

Change of Heart is the story of Cam, a workaholic lawyer poised to take over her grandmother’s law firm, and Ben, a pediatric cardiac surgeon, who both wake up in the same unfamiliar, idyllic little town after sharing a not-so-great blind date.

Falon Ballard never misses! This was such a fantastic entrance into magical realism. I loved the Stars Hollow-ness of the little town and the connectedness of its members.

I think this book was more FMC focused than Falon’s other books in that Cam’s character arc was really fleshed out, while Ben almost felt like a side character at times. This did not bother me a bit, but it is worth noting if you’re wanting a really strong romance plot.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this eARC.

Cam is a workaholic not interested in men or having kids (despite her Grandmothers persistence). On a blind date with Ben, she decides before drinks even arrive that he’s not worth her time. Mimi, the waitress, thinks otherwise. This book was groundhogs day meets pleasantville (except the houses look like the ones from edward scissorhands) meets the good place.

Cam’s growth as a character over the course of this book was really refreshing. I’ll admit, at first read, I did not love her lol. I found myself outwardly yelling “is she serious rn???” But the longer she stayed in Heart Springs, the more she regained her sense of humanity. I loved the dynamic between her and Ben (and I will keep it at that).

The only thing that I didn’t *love* was how often Ben called Cam sweetheart. I know having a nickname is very romance niche but it felt very Woody Harrelson a la hunger games to me at times. Not the worst thing but it bugged me enough to want to comment on it.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard had me reading all night long.
I have always loved Falon Ballard's novels and this one is no exception.
The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
I love how she always provides great stories and characters.
Her characters are so real and realistic. With fun banter and steamy scenes.
I loved this book. It had all the heart, all the swoon and the right amount of tension and tenderness.
Ballard has such a talent for crafting realistic romantic stories.

3.5 stars. Thank you for this ARC. This was a quick and easy read. It’s perfect for those that love hallmark movies with a cute, predictable ending!

Oof, I had such a hard time with this book.
Cam and Ben are set up on a blind date that goes horrible and expect to never see each other again. Until they both wake up the next day in a town straight out of a Hallmark movie and the only way to get out is by completing a few tasks.
The premise should've worked for me, I love magical realism in romance. My issue I think falls with the characters. Cam is unlikable, which I understood was kind of the point, but I felt like there was never any real growth with her. Ben was just there to move Cam's story along- no real depth to the character at all (I even had to go back and look at his name for this review because he was so forgettable.) Overall I think this story had a lot of potential but just fell short for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Campbell Andrews has no time or space in her life for anything but work. She certainly has no time for romance. When she wakes up the morning after a disastrous first date and realizes she isn’t at home, Cam doesn’t know what to make of it. She’s somehow landed in Heart Springs, a Hallmark Movie town filled with charm, heart, and her date from the night before. Cam has to fulfill three tasks to go home: find a career she’s passionate about, help the community, and experience true love.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t really for me. I usually love Falon Ballard but I did not like Cam at all and that made this one hard for me to get into.

The banter was great, though, and something that Falon Ballard seems to nail in all of her books. There were a few sweet moments scattered throughout, too.

I think this book will definitely have fans! I’m bummed to not be one of them but I’ll definitely keep picking up books by this author!

Falon Ballard surprises me every time!

I love diving into books by my favorite authors completely blind and falling in love all over again.

I had no idea what to expect when I picked this one up, but a magical realism romance filled with a strong shove into living a better life was not what I anticipated. But I am SO glad it’s where it brought me.

Campbell and Ben made me smile the entire time—from their absolutely awful meet cute moment to their blooming friendship and even the moment it starts to become more. I loved this story for the possibility it offers—that if we step back, take a second look, and aren’t so quick to judge, then maybe we’ll find something truly worth loving and appreciating that we would have otherwise missed.

And I loved that they got this chance while being thrust into another dimension/world/town where they fell in love with a simpler life, discovered what was truly important to themselves, and had a chance to escape their own lives for a bit. How amazing is it that books can be not only an escape for the reader, but for the characters themselves?

I’ll be honest in that I didn’t like Campbell for awhile—but her character growth is one we could all aspire to adopt for ourselves.

You’ll love this one too if you enjoy:
- Second chance romance
- Distaste to love
- Magical realism
- Romcom
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Small town
- Hallmark vibes

When Cam has to put time aside for this blind date, she is nothing but furious. She does everything to make this date with Ben the absolute worst date ever, and she doesn’t feel remotely bad about it. After the waitress pays for their food because they are “meant to be” Cam makes sure to end the date with Ben never wanting to see her again.

Cam nonchalantly head home, gets ready for bed and lays her head down without a care in the world. Although when she wakes up, she is nothing in her NYC apartment, but in the town called Heart Spring where she seems to be “stuck” but not only is she there…Ben is there as well.

Come to find out the waitress has wanted both of them to learn lessons before being able to return back to their normal lives. Cam has three tasks; find a job she is passionate about, become a productive member of the community, and find true love. Ben must find true love. They both must navigate Heart Spring to find a way back to their normal lives or forever be stuck in this quaint small town.

Thanks you NetGalley for the Arc!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m a huge fan of Falon Ballard’s books. While I’ve loved every one I’ve read (and I have read them all!), this one was by far my favorite. You think you’ve figured out the ending, but you’re in for a surprise when what you assumed would be the conclusion appears about two-thirds of the way through the book. It’s only then that you realize it was all a setup, and Falon Ballard completely floors you with the denouement. What truly kept this book glued to my hands and my curiosity thoroughly piqued, though, was the journey itself. Unlike Falon’s other books, this one isn’t your typical romance – it’s definitely more of a personal growth, women’s fiction, and self-discovery cocktail, with a contemporary romance side-chaser. Change of Heart takes you on one heck of a character-development ride as we join Campbell on her unexpected quest to find love in the most unlikely of places.

Campbell Andrews doesn’t have time for this dating and love nonsense. Her only focus is becoming the rightful owner of her family’s law firm once her grandmother retires - a carrot her grandmother has dangled in front of her since she was nine years old, handpicked to be her successor. The catch? She has to jump through any hoop Grandmother deems necessary to prove she’s worthy. That includes, for some inexplicable reason, going on pointless blind date after pointless blind date.

Campbell plays along – after all, who doesn’t enjoy a free meal? – but she always sets the record straight before the drinks even arrive: she’s not interested in small talk, connection, or, heaven forbid, the ridiculous notion of love or the shame that is commitment. No one and nothing is going to change her mind about that – not even her latest date, a handsome pediatric surgeon named Ben. Ignoring the faint spark of chemistry between them, Campbell bids her latest victim goodnight and refocuses on the task at hand: prepping for the biggest meeting of her career, the one that will finally secure her place at the head of the table once and for all.

Except, when she wakes up on the big day, she finds herself in her worst nightmare. Trapped in a town that looks like it was ripped straight out of a Hallmark movie, Campbell convinces herself it’s just a bad dream… until she can’t wake up. Worse, it turns out she’s not alone. Her blind date, Ben, is also stuck in this pastel-colored nightmare. The ringleader who orchestrated this absurd situation? None other than their love-obsessed, delusional server from the night before – Mimi.

Campbell quickly discovers that the only way back to her real life is to complete three “simple tasks.” She figures she has a better chance of bringing about world peace, but, never one to back down from a challenge, Campbell sets out to do whatever it takes for Mimi to return her to the life she knows. As she faces the obstacles ahead, she starts to realize they may force her to rethink everything she thought she believed. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, she’ll have a change of heart.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how many of us could relate to different parts of Campbell’s character. For some, it might be her background and upbringing; for others, it might be her drive, determination, and need to protect herself.

While I always love getting under the hood of a character’s psyche, this is a “sit back and enjoy” kind of book. There’s so much happening that you don’t have time to overanalyze or nitpick – you’re constantly engaged, whether it’s following Campbell as she tries (and hilariously fails) to complete her tasks or getting to know the unforgettable residents of the town.

That is one of the reasons I always appreciate books that, while fictional, make you reflect on your own life and choices. Are you truly happy, or are you just settling? Is it safer to stay within the confines of contentment, or is true happiness found in pushing outside your comfort zone? What opportunities might you be missing because you’re too afraid to take risks or make mistakes?

With that in mind, this book also poses an intriguing question: What happens when all the noise goes away? When you strip away your daily routine, the expectations, and the familiar comfort zones, what do you discover about yourself? Are your beliefs and perceptions truly your own, or have you simply accepted them because they’re convenient and safe? Is your “normal” life genuinely fulfilling, or are you settling for something that feels easier but might actually be holding you back?

Switching from triggering an existential crisis to the breath-catching spice of this book, Falon Ballard pushed the envelope on this one, and let me tell you – it was a pleasant surprise. She has always brought the heat, but I felt like she normally gave you one good scene and kept the rest relatively tame. I noticed the shift in Right on Cue and definitely saw it here. The added heat made me fall for Ben even harder (who knew he had it in him?). I swear those are my favorite moments, when a character catches you off guard in the best possible way.

Five books in, Falon Ballard’s writing is just as fresh and captivating as it was in the beginning. Her ability to entertain and inspire never ceases to amaze me. Keep it up, Falon – amazing job yet again!

📖 Change of Heart brings Hallmark movie dreams come true with Falon Ballard’s first foray into magical realism romance! When I saw this novel I immediately thought of Hart of Dixie, one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and it brought back a lot of those memories. Our FMC Cam is your classic “before” villain, a workaholic corporate lawyer with no empathy for others. She is set up on a blind date with Dr. Ben Loving, a pediatric surgeon, behaves atrociously, and wakes up the next morning with perfect barrel curls and makeup in the town of Heart Springs, with the sexy Ben living next door. She is sent on a mission to embody the Hallmark life with several tasks assigned by Mimi, essentially her fairy godmother, to release her back to reality - find a job she’s passionate about, make a difference in the community, and experience true love. She’s resistant, of course, but slowly comes around as she begins her life in Heart Springs.

💭 As a fan of the classic Hallmark romance, I was completely charmed by the concept and setting of Ballard’s latest. I think that she nailed this part, too, both in the descriptions and in the fun twists like the instant season changes. I would happily go take an extended vacation there! However I didn’t really connect with the characters, Cam was really abrasive and spent far too long actively opposing what seemed like a pretty good deal, and we barely got to know Ben. So while it was not my favorite of hers, it was a fun, escapist romance perfect for the Valentines season.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Publishing for sending this DRC for review consideration.

This was a really good rom-com. While at times it was totally predictable - isn't that what we want in rom coms? The HEA guarantee at the end? I enjoyed this one immensely!

I enjoyed this book. It felt a little predictable at times but Falon’s writing is always compelling. I also appreciate that her books are always a quick, fun read!

Campbell Andrews is career-driven and doesn’t have the time or the desire to find love. She goes on a blind date with Ben, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon who literally repairs hearts for a living, to appease her grandmother. She treats him poorly throughout the whole date, and then wakes up the next day stuck in a Hallmark-like town called Heart Springs. Most surprising is that Ben is there too! Cam finds out she has three goals she has to accomplish before she can leave this town, and of course, one of those things is to experience true love!

I was so excited by the premise of this book, but it didn’t quite hit like I thought it would. It was cute and it was entertaining. However, Cam (FMC) was REALLY unlikable. This was on purpose (the book was even dedicated to unlikable women), but it made it hard for me to connect to her or root for her happiness. Ben’s character was too perfect, and basically served the purpose of watching Cam complete her tasks. I wanted more from their love story, and I felt like their chemistry was missing. Even though it wasn’t for me, I do think other readers will love this story, especially if you’re a fan of magical realism.

Thank you to Falon Ballard, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Magical realism
💕 Hallmark movie towns
💕 Pastels
💕 Slow burn

✨Book Review - Change of Heart by Falon Ballard✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Campbell Andrews is a workaholic lawyer, that doesn’t have time for anything or anyone else in her life, especially a love interest. Constantly being set up by her grandmother, she goes on a blind date with Dr. Ben Loving, whom she dismisses before she even sits down. The day after their date, she wakes up in small town Heart Springs, which is everything she’s not. A Hallmark channel town with seasonal festivals and friendly townsfolk, Cam just wants to go home. To make matters worse, Dr. Ben was magically transported to this town too and it falls on Cam to complete three tasks before either one can go home.

I actually hated Cam in the beginning of this book and had such a hard time rooting for her. She was brutally honest, but in a mean way and being that is how she’s introduced in the first few pages, that didn’t bode well for the rest of the story. I didn’t necessarily grow to love her, but I did come to understand her a little better. Ben was one dimensional and almost like a secondary character to Cam, instead of the MMC. I thought this was going to be a cute little rom-com, perfect for Valentine’s week and it was just meh. The ending was predictable but would I recommend it for a little comfort reading…yes. Will I read more Falon Ballard…also yes.

For those that like:
✨Second Chances
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Magical Realism
✨Small Town
✨Opposites Attract
✨Single POV
✨Spice 🌶️, maybe 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to @netgalley & @putnambooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 STARS

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard
Genre: Romance, magical realism
Themes: self-discovery, found family, enemies to lovers
Pub date: Feb. 11, 2025

When ice-cold workaholic Campbell Andrews, who has devoted her life to her career as a lawyer, magically wakes up in cookie-cutter small-town Heart Springs, she can’t wait to get back home — or at the very least, find internet and check her phone. Her closet has traded designer suits for printed sundresses, and her sleek bob has become loose curls.

If she wants to return home, Cam must complete three tasks, which include finding a career she’s passionate about, becoming a valued member of the community, and experiencing true love. Anything is possible with a change of heart.

The picturesque town calls back to (pokes fun at) the stereotypical Hallmark movie settings, plus there’s the plot trope of a mega corporation trying to overtake a small business. The magical realism aspect is quite like 13 Going on 30 — cute and fun. And as always, Ballard’s dialogue/banter is top-notch. A very enjoyable, quick read.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy of #ChangeOfHeart.