I have to say that I wasn't sure about this one at first because the female main character in the beginning was so unlikeable, but I know that helps really set the story. I loved that Change of Heart had a Magical Realism storyline. This aspect made it so unique. You really start to fall in love with the town of Heart Springs along with the main characters! The character development was great and now I wish I could visit this charming little town.

It was a cute romance novel but wasn’t my favorite. It felt like it was missing something. Not sure if it was the chemistry or just the story line.

First from Falon Ballard and now I understand why y'all were hyping her up! This follows our main characters after a blind date (gone wrong) and then they wake up in a hallmark-esque small town. I will say if you're going in this thinking it'll be similar to A Novel Love Story by Ashley Posten because of the premise (like I did), it's not the exact same, but the magical realism aspect is always so fun to read.

I can see sense in some critiques in that our FMC isn't the most likeable person and our MMC doesn't have much of a personality outside of our FMC, but for me it wasn't a deal breaker. The dedication is "To all the "unlikeable" girls: May you find supportive, kind compassionate partners who aren't threatened, but insured, by your ability to kick serious ass." So, I think if you dont like "unlikeable" girls, don't relate to that or want a fully fleshed out romance, this book might not be for you, but I really liked how our MMC was written; I think it really is just personal taste. I'm a sucker for the "sweetheart" nickname, so this is definitely my personal bias, but I loved him and in fact, just wanted more of him.

This book was very fast-paced, perfect for an afternoon in the sun! It's cozy and I did really enjoy the chemistry between our two main characters. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Falon Ballard is one of the best contemporary romance authors out there right now and Change of Heart is just proof of that!! Everything about this book was so well-done, from the small-town setting to the magical realism to the love story itself.

I just finished *Change of Heart* by Fallon Ballard, and wow – I absolutely loved it! This book was such a refreshing, heartwarming read that I couldn’t put down. It’s a perfect blend of romance, humor, and personal growth, and I found myself completely invested in the characters and their journey.

The story follows Grace, who’s just gone through a breakup and is trying to figure out who she is outside of her relationship. I really appreciated how the book focused not just on the romance but also on Grace’s journey of self-discovery. It was so relatable – I feel like so many of us can understand the feeling of being lost after a breakup and trying to rebuild ourselves.

Grace’s relationship with Jamie, the love interest, was absolutely adorable. Their chemistry felt so real, and I loved how their connection developed at a natural pace. It didn’t feel rushed or forced, which was a huge plus for me. The romance was definitely swoon-worthy, but the book also does an excellent job of showing that Grace needed to find herself before she could truly open up to someone else.

What really stood out to me, though, was the overall message of the book. It’s not just about finding love – it’s about learning to love yourself first. I think it’s such an important and empowering message, and I really appreciated how Ballard explored that theme without it feeling preachy. The story felt grounded in reality, and I loved how Grace grew not only as a partner but as a person.

The secondary characters were fantastic too. Grace’s friends and family added so much depth to the story, and I enjoyed seeing how they supported (and challenged) her throughout her journey. It made the whole experience feel even more authentic.

Overall, *Change of Heart* was a delightful, feel-good read that I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a romance that’s as much about self-growth as it is about love. If you enjoy books with relatable characters, heartwarming moments, and a solid dose of humor, this one’s definitely for you!

I love Falon Ballard’s previous books so much and unfortunately I just don’t love this one and won’t be finishing it. I did really relate to the main character at all. I also didn’t love the “fantasy” storyline. I love fantasy as well but I didn’t really get the “why” here. I still will be first in line for Falons next book!

Change of Heart gave me all the cheesy Hallmark I typically love, but I really struggled to enjoy this. Campbell is kind of the worst, and is so incredibly awful to Ben--who happens to be really nice, if a little bland. Idk, I usually love Falon's books, but this was a flop for me.

Cam is a high-powered, high-stress lawyer who thrives on control and efficiency. But her meticulously planned life takes a sharp turn when she agrees to a blind date with Dr. Ben Loving, a kind-hearted, easygoing man who appears to be her polar opposite. Cam dismisses the date as unremarkable—after all, she has no time for love. However, she wakes up the next day in a small, idyllic town called Heart Springs, an alternate universe that challenges everything she knows about herself and her priorities.

In this alternate world, Cam discovers that Ben is also inexplicably present. Together, they must navigate a series of challenges that push them out of their comfort zones and force them to grow. Cam, determined to return to her high-powered life in New York, initially tries to cheat her way through the tasks, only to be met with frustration and failure. It’s only when she begins to embrace the town’s charm and its quirky inhabitants that she discovers a new side of herself—one that values connection, vulnerability, and joy.

The journey isn’t without its complications. The chemistry between Cam and Ben is undeniable, leading to moments of tension, humor, and sizzling romance. But as Cam begins to question whether she wants to leave Heart Springs at all, the stakes grow higher. Ultimately, she makes the difficult decision to return to her real life, bringing the lessons she’s learned and the love she’s found back with her.

When Cam wakes up, it’s as if only a single day has passed since her date with Ben—but she’s no longer the same person. Transformed by her time in Heart Springs, she approaches her life with newfound balance, confidence, and self-awareness. The ending leaves readers with a heartwarming message: true happiness comes from within, and love often follows when you least expect it.

Verdict:
Heart Strings is a delightful, feel-good novel that perfectly balances self-discovery, romance, and a touch of magic. Wayne’s journey from a hardened career woman to someone who values connection and authenticity is relatable and inspiring. The alternate universe of Heart Strings is vividly crafted, filled with memorable characters and poignant moments. The romance between Wayne and Ben is steamy yet tender, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

For readers looking for a charming blend of personal growth, romantic tension, and a dash of whimsy, Heart Strings is a must-add to your library. It’s a reminder to find joy in the journey and to embrace the unexpected twists life throws our way. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC of Change of Heart by Falon Ballard!

I was a bit sad about this one because I usually love Falon Ballard books. This was a fast read for me which I love, I also really love magical realism. The characters fell short for me and I didn’t see myself loving them. I felt like the MMC had no personality and had no redeeming qualities to make him memorable. I’m sad to say this wasn’t my favorite book of Falon Ballard :(.

Falon Ballard has been one of my favorite contemporary authors since I stumbled across Lease on Love several years ago. Change of Heart is a bit different from her usual works in the sense that Campbell Andrews is extremely skeptical about love, and so she's transported to a fantasy Barbie-movie-esque world to learn what true love is. I'm used to Falon's works being very much set in the real world, so this was a bit surprising of a plot, but it was executed masterfully. I'm already looking forward to reading Falon's next one!

This book honestly was not my favorite. I feel like the initial vibe reminded me of A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston. But, I felt like this book had so much potential, but the execution wasn't there for me. I feel like we never really got to know Ben. It felt a little bit "insta lovey" to me at how fast things went. I thought he used the term "sweetheart" too much. However, I did enjoy the ending and the themes together that came together there (just didn't love the journey to get there). This was my first book by this author, and I have heard good things about her other books. I may try another one of her books in the future, because maybe this just wasn't the book for me. I do enjoy magical realism and I feel like this plot had a lot of potential, but as a little bit scattered in the execution. Overall, not my favorite, but maybe not the book for me.

Thank you Net Galley, Falon Ballard, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC copy of this book.

This is a funny, lighthearted read about a woman who needs to find more happiness within herself and learn to work to live and not live to work. She find her self waking up, after a blind date, in a hallmark like town and she can't return to "normal life" until she completes three tasks and the most challenging one is to find true love.

The main characters are really cute, especially Ben. It took some time for me to develop a like for Campbell but once I did, i enjoyed the book much more as she starts to have a change of heart about her different tasks she needs to complete and outlook on herself and her life!

Thank you Falon Ballard, her publisher, and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be released Feb 11, 2025.

This book is a fun, lighthearted rom-com. Full of magical realism, it takes you on a Pleasantville meets Hallmark ride, with a dash of spiciness.
This was such a fun read. Super quick, and cute!
If you need a break from "heavy" reads, you should definitely check it out!

I loved this book, Cam is a hard working girl not only is she making her family proud but she is. Becoming the person her grandmother ways her to be and taking over the family business. She doesn't have time to date or have friends outside of work. Then after a blind date goes wrong the next morning her entire world gets turned upside down. Can Cam find herself and actually have a life?

Loved this story and the characters in this book.

Super cheesy romance, but it does have some spice!
Typical hallmark romance formula, so if you like that you will like this

I loved this book so much! I loved Cam and Ben being transported to a new world. Them having to accomplish specific tasks to be able to go back to their previous life was so much fun. Heart Springs is a world out of a Hallmark movie. I loved reading how Cam changed from the hard character she was in the beginning. This was a sweet and fun read.

Cam is a workaholic who needs to gain some life perspective in this quirky magical realism story. The moral of this was beautiful it just took the scenic route to get there and the pacing for this didn't work for me. I think this might have worked better in audio format for me.

Change of Heart is a quick, hallmark-type read. It’s one of those romances that you pick up when you need a cute, fluffy, light book with a guaranteed happily ever after.

Cam, a lawyer, is too caught up in her job to worry about others or finding love. After being set up on a blind date with Dr. Ben Loving where she turns him down, they find themselves in the magical town of Heart Springs. Here, Cam needs to complete three tasks in order to find her way back home to New York City with Ben’s help to keep her on track.

I’ve been loving magical realism, so Change of Heart got bonus points for incorporating this into the plot. However, I found this book to be lacking in many areas. First and foremost, the reverse grumpy x sunshine wasn’t my favorite. Cam was unbearable at some points. I really enjoyed Ben’s character, but he used the term “Sweetheart” way too many times!!!! Moreover, the plot seemed to have too many gaps. In a magical town where time moves quicker already, the gaps in the plot seemed abrupt and left a lot to the imagination. Lastly, the end left me wanting more, as it felt as though some things were left unfinished.

Change of Heart💖by @falonballard
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review: Thank you Net Galley and Putnam Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! You already know I am Fallon girl through and through I have loved every single on of her books so no surprise that I absolutely loved this book! It’s got everything grumpy sunshine, friends to lovers, small town vibes (hallmark town vibes specifically!!!) and magical realism!
Cam and Ben meet up for a blind date and she is very uninterested the whole time. When she gets home after date and goes to bed she wakes up in small town. When she realizes where she is and how she ended up there she has to take on 3 challenge in order to get back home. One of the tasks is finding true love. Ben is also stuck in this town with her and they build up a relationship while she embarks her tasks to get back home. I loved Ben’s character in this book and let me tell you the spice hehe!!
Highly recommend this book when it releases Feb.11th🩷✨🥹

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Release Date: February 11

Synopsis: After being completely rude on a first date, Cam our work first and friends later FMC has her world go upside down overnight. This big city girls life comes running to a halt when she wakes up in a perfect small town (think hallmark) and she thinks she’s dreaming until a certain date from the night before shows up and asks her what’s going on.

With Tasks to complete, will she make it home? And through this journey will she discover if she’s truly happy living the way she does? Find out in Change of Heart

Review: *a little bit of spoilers don’t read down here if you do not want any 🤭* I’m not gonna lie when I first read the beginning of this book. I got really mad thinking that this whole book was about a big city girl going to have to sacrifice her life to live in a small town even though she was happy in the big city. But Falon was like hold on guys there’s a deeper meaning here.

I truly love that Cam gets a second chance at meeting her first date that she was completely rude to and the friendship they develop is just so sweet. I love that Cam learns that it’s OK to make mistakes in the beginning as long as she learns from them because in the story let’s just say she ruffles feathers in the beginning.

Ben is adorable and has a bit of jealousy as one of Cams tasks is to find true love and is set up with “3 suitors” he def wondered why him? Overall it’s a quick read and fun light hearted. I really love the deeper impact that happens in Cams life instead of it being her being forced to settle down!

The reason I took one star away is because I wish we got to know Ben more. His character was literally a perfect, hallmark, male character, and kind of felt one note. I wish we got to learn more about him and his flaws as well but overall, I enjoyed the book😊

Trope: strangers to Friends to Lovers (lol), slow burn, grumpy/sunshine

I definitely recommend this book and want to thank @netgalley and @falonballard for such a fun read and early copy of this cute book