This actually hurts me. I really didn’t like right on cue and this falls into the same category. Our MMC says sweetheart 67 times. No joke. The magical realism was fine, kind of like ground hogs day but with a series of 3 tasks to complete before returning home. There’s nonstop sitting on the porch drinking a beer or having a glass of wine (mentioned 45 times). The FMC Cam is your hallmark mean lawyer turned good after spending time in a small town and realizing her life needs to change. Our MMC Ben was so flat. We learn nothing about him and he literally only exists to make Cam happy? We dig so much into Cam’s background (but not really at all???) and she has to overcome her perfectionism and pressure from her grandmother who runs their multi-million dollar law firm. There’s an old magical woman Mimi who puts them in the small town to begin with who is your old wise grandma character that was mysterious and pulling the strings. I wish there was more focus on when they got out of the small town and went back to real life. There were moments that were funny and I literally read this in under 6 hours but it just didn’t do much for me. Nothing was memorable.

Cam is a high powered lawyer and Ben is a pediatric surgeon. They go on a blind date, but Cam immediately writes Ben off saying she’d rather work through their dinner than converse with each other. The next day they end up in a new town. Cam has a new look and new wardrobe but has no clue where she is or why. The town mayor has given Cam three tasks she must complete before being allowed to return to reality. This book was not my favorite. The magical realism really threw me and I couldn’t figure out where the book was going for the better half of it. Cam is the grumpiest FMC I’ve ever read. However, I really liked all the secondary characters. I loved their stories and personality. If magical realism is for you, check this one out!

It really hurts me to write this, because I have enjoyed most of Falon Ballard’s books, but I hated this. I powered through and finished it hoping for a redemption and it never happened. I don’t mind an unlikeable character but the FMC in this was so immediately off putting and like over the line unlikeable. The MMC was a generic blob. I could go on, it was just not good for me at all. I’ll still keep reading her books but this was a hard miss for me.

I adored this book, Falon has to be one of my favorite authors. I don't usually love magical realism but it was done really well in this book and had really fun Hallmark vibes. Ben and Cam were such sweet, loveable, and complex characters that you couldn't help but root for. Will be recommending this on my Tiktok.

Sadly this one just wasn’t for me. Cam is beyond unlikeable and Ben is so boringly perfect. The magic town made no sense. It was too cheesy and I just didn’t like it. Which sucks because Falcon’s first book blew me away, Just my Type was a 2000s rom com delight for this millennial! I’ll try again but I hope she gets back to her original style. Book boyfriends don’t need to be doormats to be good MMC.

Do you like Hallmark movies? Do you like racey romance novels? This is the amazing mixture of both! Cam is an ambitious, workaholic lawyer with no time for love, and Dr. Ben Loving is a pediatric surgeon looking for the love is his life. They meet on a blind date, their waitress gives them some advice, and then she transports them to a magical world of Heart Springs, which is like living in a Hallmark movie parallel dimension. Cam must complete tasks if she wants to return home and one of them is finding love… An amazingly great read by Fallon Ballard. I loved it! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This one was definitely different. Don’t get me wrong, I love magical realism!! Especially in romance!! But this just didn’t quite work for me.

The story follows Campbell Andrews, a dedicated workaholic with zero interest in love, dating, or anything that might slow her down on her climb to the top. After a disastrous blind date, she wakes up in Heart Springs—a pastel-hued, picture-perfect small town straight out of a Hallmark movie. The catch? She has no idea how she got there, and she definitely doesn’t belong. Everything from her wardrobe to her coffee order has changed, and the only way back to her real life in New York is to complete a set of mysterious tasks. Her reluctant partner in crime? None other than Ben Loving, the pediatric surgeon she barely tolerated the night before.

I started this book last year, and honestly, it took me forever to finish because Cam was insufferable, and Ben was just there. Cam’s rude, self-absorbed introduction made it hard to root for her, even with her later growth. Ben, meanwhile, was sweet to the point of feeling flat. Their romance had some charm, but overall, it felt one-dimensional. I kept reading mostly to see how it would all play out—would they be stuck forever? Would they lose all memory of Heart Springs once they returned to their real lives? The ending was satisfying, but the characters just felt disconnected. Also, the excessive use of “sweetheart" (seriously, at one point, I wondered if Ben had a contractual obligation to say it every other sentence) and the oddly eerie beginning threw me off a little.

This one comes out in a few days, and honestly, if you don’t mind some cheesiness, it’s worth a shot! A special thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Change of Heart is a heartfelt romance with great character growth and chemistry. Ballard’s writing brings depth to a beautiful story about love, change, and second chances.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

3/5 stars

This was a cute book. I didn’t love it, I didn’t dislike it. I enjoyed it though - it was a quick, easy read it.

We’re set up to really dislike Cam and like Ben at the get-go. When they both somehow wake up in Heart Springs, Cam goes through some major character growth (of course!).

All in all, some fun spice and a light read.

Read this if you like:
•small towns
•hallmark movies
•laugh out loud moments


Cam & Ben wake up in a hallmark town after a botched date the night before. Cam is being taught a lesson, that there’s more to life than work. It’s a cute, cheery & quick read. Ben calling her “sweetheart” allllll the time gave me the ick so much and I just didn’t buy it. If you get past that though, the book was cute! Thank you Putnam for eARC!

A delightful romance!

I think we've all wanted to live in a Hallmark movie, am I right? Change of Heart takes that concept and runs with it. It's a cute romance that will leave a smile on your face long after you turn the last page. If you love the jaded, workaholic woman who falls for the small town guy is your trope, this has that. However, this focuses a lot of Cam's journey and her learning about life/love. It can come off as cheesy sometimes, but that's why we love Hallmark movies isn't it? It's sweet, heartwarming and has a lovely slow burn romance.

The chemistry between the MCs was well written. I definitely thought these two were adorable.

A fun, cozy magical realism romance. Would recommend!

This book is pleasantville with a twist it really makes me feel like. I'm watching that movie in book form with a little magical realism.
I really liked the character Ben and Campbell Marie so far, only downside is the average black best friend
Tired of the main character self doubt though later realized that's the point of the book
**** Spoiler i believe Jason to be black from the description and it's disappointing how the Campbell sexualize him so quickly i don't like the word cock
I really enjoyed all of Falon books I think this was my FAVORITE which means her writing is improving

I love Falon—Right on Cue was one of my favorites of 2024. But Change of Heart fell flat for me. The FMC was *too* insufferable that, despite everything, was never redeemed in the story for me. The use of "sweetheart" from the MMC drove me insane the entire time. I don't find that as a term of endearment and even if he wasn't trying to be condescending, it gave me that vibe. There were parts that I loved—the Gilmore Girls vibe of the town, the festivals, and the people. But overall? I struggled to get through it.

It truly pains me to say this because I have loved Falon Ballard's prior books and just loved All I Want Is You very recently, but I have to DNF this one at 20%. I worry if I finish it I won't want to read anything she writes ever again. The premise of this book is a bit much - the whole "wakes up in Pleasantville and has to complete three tasks to become a better human" is too Hallmark-y for me. The fact that the whole town is in on it seems odd too, I'd expect them not to be. I would be completely fine with this premise in a holiday romance because that is what we all expect with those books, but not so much in a regular-time-of-year romance.

The writing seemed completely different from her prior books - it was very simple and a lot of cursing. I'm not saying I'm a perfect angel and don't curse in real life, I do, but this felt excessive. Those words in books really jump off the page and the frequency felt unnecessary.

I don't really understand how the main character can be so rude to Dr. Ben Loving (lazy name) and he's just so fine with it. Sir, stand up for yourself! I'm also confused that he ALSO wakes up in this warped world and doesn't seem to think it's strange? He actually said he's fine with going with the flow, which doesn't really fit considering he is a pediatric surgeon and you'd expect him to be worrying about his patients. Any normal person would freak out waking up in a place that's not where they went to sleep.

The characters lack depth and personality (other than Cam just being extremely rude to anyone she comes into contact with). I know it's supposed to be magical realism but I just can't seem to buy into it.

I'm sorry! Please don't ban me from reading her future books!

Cam is a career woman through and through. She is a partner at a law firm and has no interest in relationships (romantic or otherwise) outside of her work life.

After a forced date with Ben, who she was set up with by her overbearing grandmother, she magically wakes up in a Hallmark movie-esque world. She can get back to her real life if she completes a few “simple” tasks. But she quickly finds out, there’s no way to fake or over power her way through them like she might have in her previous life.

This is the first book I’ve read by Falon Ballard and it certainly won’t be the last! I LOVE her writing of a strong, albeit unlikable, woman who finds her true self. No one is perfect and this book is witty and charming while showing personal growth so many of us can relate to. I laughed over the Hallmark town (which in my mind was 100% the Gilmore Girls set) and the ease of life in it. Who doesn’t want a magic closet with all the right clothing?!

This is a great lighthearted read for anyone that enjoys a spicy romance with more than just romance. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun book to read by Falon Ballard! I didn’t read much about it before I read it because she’s an auto buy author for me! But this was so fun! Love that these 2 end up in an alternate universe together and have different lists of things to accomplish! I wish I got to learn more about the MMC but the FMC has so much growing to do that it makes sense we didn’t have time for more of the male lead.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin & Falon Ballard for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

In my head- this story takes place on the WB set where Hart of Dixie and Gilmore girls was filmed. And you can't tell me otherwise.

Our lead is unlikable. Hell yeah. More unlikable FMCs, please. If you want character growth- sometimes they gotta rise from a place you don't like.

The magical realism is fun, low stakes and enjoyable. Falon Ballard is an auto-read author for me!

Thanks to Putnam for an advanced copy of Change of Heart by Falon Ballard. I've really enjoyed some of her previous books so I was looking forward to this one -- especially because of the Hallmark vibes this book was giving off but unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. 
The plot was cute, but I absolutely hated the main character Campbell. From the first chapter meet cute I was turned off and while she did change, it wasn't believable and neither was their romance.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

I'm gonna be honest... I did not like Cam at the beginning of this book. She was rude and obsessive, and it just didn't work for me. Don't get me wrong, I love driven, cut-throat FMCs, but the way she treated people in the beginning was just terrible. She did grow on me quite a bit throughout the book, so I wouldn't give up on her!

Ben, however, is the light of my life. He's calm. He's funny but not obnoxious. He's confident in himself and his career. He likes Cam right away, surprisingly enough. And he just gets better as the story goes on.

I LOVED the premise of this book. The magical realism in their stay at Heart Springs made me fall in live with this book. The side characters were the perfect amount of interesting without detracting from the story. I cannot wait for this book to come out!

I absolutely loved Just My Type by Falon Ballard so I was so excited to see I was approved for an ARC of this book, Change of Heart. Sadly, this did not live up to my expectations.

This story follows Campbell 'Cam' Andrews, a girl boss, take-no-sh*t, big city partner at her family's law firm, and Dr. Ben Loving, a kindhearted, friendly pediatric surgeon (Yes, you read that right, Dr. Loving). After a disastrous first blind date, the pair is magically transported to a cliche Hallmark movie-esc town where Cam must complete 3 tasks in order to leave and go back to her normal life.

Now, this premise sounds lovely to me. I was anticipating Stars Hollow vibes, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore vibes, but this story just did not deliver. Yes, this was a small-town, it very much had it's cliche festivals and the FMC needed her coffee at every turn, but Cam's attitude and demeanor were so rude and abrasive, I just couldn't get passed it.

The writing style also felt very repetitive to me. So much so, I looked up some data on my Kindle to share. "Sweetheart" was mentioned 68 times in this book. I thought it was cute at first, but then it kept popping up multiple times a conversation and I just got tired of it. I mean, let's use any other term of endearment. But, after noticing this, I also noticed Ben's name popping up multiple times per sentence as well. "Ben" was mentioned 500+ times. Five. Hundred. Plus. Times. I mean, this book is only 336 pages. I feel we could have benefited from a he, him, his, etc. instead of Ben did this, I followed Ben inside, Ben smells like x,y,z, Ben, Ben, Ben, Be-. Sigh.

I'm starting to think I need to stop trying to love the magical realism trope (???) with this and The Seven Year Slipbeing flops for me, I'm certainly surprised. Am I the problem?

Thank you NetGalley, Falon and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts & review.

2/5 stars