What do you think?
Rate this book
Right on Cue
From the beloved author of Just My Type and Lease on Love comes a new romantic comedy in which a former actress-turned-screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic lead to be the one man she can’t stand.
Hollywood darling Emmy Harper is considered the queen of writing romantic comedies. That is, until tragedy struck and she swore she’d never write another happy ending again. After some time away, and lots of encouragement from family and friends, Emmy is finally ready to dive back into the genre with her latest project. But more is riding on this movie than just her return to the big screen. This time, Emmy’s also been convinced to star as the lead, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.
Emmy’s nervous, yet excited, to give performing another shot, until a last-minute injury benches her trusted co-star. With filming about to start, there’s only one other actor available on such short Grayson West. A blockbuster action star known for his mega-watt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Anyone except Emmy that is, who still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career.
As filming begins, the friction between Emmy and Grayson is palpable and it’s anyone’s guess if it’s unresolved awkwardness or simmering sexual tension. The two are pushed to get their acts together—and quickly—or they risk tanking the entire movie, but if working things out leads to sizzling chemistry on screen, what might happen when the cameras stop rolling?
Hollywood darling Emmy Harper is considered the queen of writing romantic comedies. That is, until tragedy struck and she swore she’d never write another happy ending again. After some time away, and lots of encouragement from family and friends, Emmy is finally ready to dive back into the genre with her latest project. But more is riding on this movie than just her return to the big screen. This time, Emmy’s also been convinced to star as the lead, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.
Emmy’s nervous, yet excited, to give performing another shot, until a last-minute injury benches her trusted co-star. With filming about to start, there’s only one other actor available on such short Grayson West. A blockbuster action star known for his mega-watt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Anyone except Emmy that is, who still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career.
As filming begins, the friction between Emmy and Grayson is palpable and it’s anyone’s guess if it’s unresolved awkwardness or simmering sexual tension. The two are pushed to get their acts together—and quickly—or they risk tanking the entire movie, but if working things out leads to sizzling chemistry on screen, what might happen when the cameras stop rolling?
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2024
About the author
Falon Ballard
5 books1,546 followersFalon Ballard is a Los Angeles native who has been writing stories her whole life. After graduating with a degree in Creative Writing, Falon embarked on an eight-year teaching adventure before opening her own event planning business. When she’s not trolling Etsy for the latest merch from her favorite fandoms, she’s hanging out at Disneyland with a pretzel and beer in hand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,088 reviews
March 29, 2024
Oh boy! I love this sweet, hot, entertaining, and sentimental romance so much that I'm mad at myself for finishing it too quickly! I even went back to reread my favorite intimate moments between Emmy and Grayson! I've read previous works by Falon Ballard, and so far, this is my favorite book of hers. It reminded me of Ava Wilder's "Will they or won't they" combined with Bridget Morrissey's "Love Scenes," featuring sizzling chemistry and the enemies-to-lovers trope! The scorching and pant-meltingly intense chemistry that sets the chapters on fire is undeniable and palpable, making your reading experience all the more enjoyable!
The story revolves around Emery Harper, the golden child of a Hollywood power couple and an Oscar-winning screenplay writer known for her meaningful dramas dedicated to her recently deceased father. After receiving an award that prompts her to shift genres towards more dramatic twists, she finally writes another romcom, entrusting it to her best friend Liz, who sits in the director's chair. Pressured by investors and her best friend director, Emery decides to take on the leading role, facing her fears head-on. She takes this risk after being shunned for her disastrous debut role at the age of fifteen, thanks to her co-star Grayson West, who publicly called their kiss the worst he'd ever had, leading to a social media storm that tarnished her reputation at a young age. Now, Emery is determined to move on from that humiliating moment and her co-star, who crushed her childhood dreams. However, an unexpected accident lands her back on set with her longtime arch-nemesis. Grayson West is cast as her love interest, and instead of wanting to punch him in the face and wipe the smug smile off his face, Emery has to act like she's in love with him, requiring an Oscar-worthy performance akin to Meryl Streep's, which she's not sure she's capable of. Grayson is equally apprehensive about playing opposite her, knowing she despises him and has no respect for his abilities. His insecurities as an action star with a reputation for lacking emotional depth in his roles and getting cast primarily for his looks affect his performance.
Can they convincingly portray lovebirds despite their longstanding animosity and the underlying sexual tension that escalates each day on set? What if they decide to become friends with benefits to alleviate the high tension for the sake of the movie? Their intentions are strictly professional, or are they? As the bedroom tension intensifies, could it lead to something more intimate? Are they prepared to risk their hearts for the sake of the production?
Overall, despite my dislike for the unnecessary angst that led to heartbreak in the third act, I enjoyed the characters, their genuine communication that helped them open up about their insecurities, and their sizzling compatibility. I had so much fun reading this book, and I easily connected with Grayson and Emery's love story, which compels me to round up my 4.5 stars to a glowing 5, like the stars of a romance movie!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with this addictive read's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter<
The story revolves around Emery Harper, the golden child of a Hollywood power couple and an Oscar-winning screenplay writer known for her meaningful dramas dedicated to her recently deceased father. After receiving an award that prompts her to shift genres towards more dramatic twists, she finally writes another romcom, entrusting it to her best friend Liz, who sits in the director's chair. Pressured by investors and her best friend director, Emery decides to take on the leading role, facing her fears head-on. She takes this risk after being shunned for her disastrous debut role at the age of fifteen, thanks to her co-star Grayson West, who publicly called their kiss the worst he'd ever had, leading to a social media storm that tarnished her reputation at a young age. Now, Emery is determined to move on from that humiliating moment and her co-star, who crushed her childhood dreams. However, an unexpected accident lands her back on set with her longtime arch-nemesis. Grayson West is cast as her love interest, and instead of wanting to punch him in the face and wipe the smug smile off his face, Emery has to act like she's in love with him, requiring an Oscar-worthy performance akin to Meryl Streep's, which she's not sure she's capable of. Grayson is equally apprehensive about playing opposite her, knowing she despises him and has no respect for his abilities. His insecurities as an action star with a reputation for lacking emotional depth in his roles and getting cast primarily for his looks affect his performance.
Can they convincingly portray lovebirds despite their longstanding animosity and the underlying sexual tension that escalates each day on set? What if they decide to become friends with benefits to alleviate the high tension for the sake of the movie? Their intentions are strictly professional, or are they? As the bedroom tension intensifies, could it lead to something more intimate? Are they prepared to risk their hearts for the sake of the production?
Overall, despite my dislike for the unnecessary angst that led to heartbreak in the third act, I enjoyed the characters, their genuine communication that helped them open up about their insecurities, and their sizzling compatibility. I had so much fun reading this book, and I easily connected with Grayson and Emery's love story, which compels me to round up my 4.5 stars to a glowing 5, like the stars of a romance movie!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with this addictive read's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
twitter<
March 5, 2024
Happy publication day to Falon Ballard’s Right on Cue!!
I can't think of a way of explaining how difficult I am about rom-coms, especially since everything has already been made. Don't get me wrong, I love rom-coms, I grew up watching them and dreaming about my very own, which makes it even more tough to surprise me.
But Falon Ballar succeeded.
Emily and Greyson’s story could be misinterpreted as a written version of some Hallmark movie, but it isn't.
It's like reading the behind-the-scenes of your favourite rom-com, already knowing what will happen, but instead of some cliché that will break up your favs, there are totally good reasons why they could not work out together. There are plausible real-life problems and solutions, with the constant reminder of not being in a movie or a love story but their life.
It's classic but fresh, with the feeling that the author is trying just enough: perfectly made descriptions, dialogues filled with enough cultural references to not seem fake, Emmy’s internal dialogue expressing concerns any person could feel in her spot, spicy but without being too unnatural.
It's a story written by an author who knows her audience, and that overshadows any doubt you might have.
↠ 5 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I can't think of a way of explaining how difficult I am about rom-coms, especially since everything has already been made. Don't get me wrong, I love rom-coms, I grew up watching them and dreaming about my very own, which makes it even more tough to surprise me.
But Falon Ballar succeeded.
Emily and Greyson’s story could be misinterpreted as a written version of some Hallmark movie, but it isn't.
It's like reading the behind-the-scenes of your favourite rom-com, already knowing what will happen, but instead of some cliché that will break up your favs, there are totally good reasons why they could not work out together. There are plausible real-life problems and solutions, with the constant reminder of not being in a movie or a love story but their life.
It's classic but fresh, with the feeling that the author is trying just enough: perfectly made descriptions, dialogues filled with enough cultural references to not seem fake, Emmy’s internal dialogue expressing concerns any person could feel in her spot, spicy but without being too unnatural.
It's a story written by an author who knows her audience, and that overshadows any doubt you might have.
↠ 5 stars
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Shelved as 'on-hold'
April 21, 2024ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read 🪷
a co-star romance omg I can’t wait to read this 🤭
big thanks to those who voted on the poll <3 this book reminds me of a story I read on episode an few years back (I need to go back to finish it) it was really good and it had a juicy plot, felt like a mystery-romance. shoutout to episode writers for creating those amazing community stories. I didn’t have a wattpad phase (sadly) so I’m forever grateful to episode for being there for me, I really enjoyed reading on there. It will always have a special place in my heart..💘
a co-star romance omg I can’t wait to read this 🤭
big thanks to those who voted on the poll <3 this book reminds me of a story I read on episode an few years back (I need to go back to finish it) it was really good and it had a juicy plot, felt like a mystery-romance. shoutout to episode writers for creating those amazing community stories. I didn’t have a wattpad phase (sadly) so I’m forever grateful to episode for being there for me, I really enjoyed reading on there. It will always have a special place in my heart..💘
February 13, 2024
2⭐️
Ooofff… where to begin.
First off, let me say, I absolutely ADORED Falon’s first two books. They were sweet, funny and relatable and I was rooting for the characters the whole way through.
Sadly, the same thing cannot be said about Right on Cue.
I had a feeling right of the bat, that I wasn’t going to vibe with Emmy. She was inconsistent and unreliable with her behavior towards Grayson, and not in the “so cute and chaotic” way. One of the notes in my arc says “Emmy is the whole joke they tell about women about asking them where to eat, and they say idk, but then say no to every option you present and then they get mad, but like her entire personality is this way” so 🤷🏼���️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
She goes from hating to loving Grayson in a matter of like 2 or 3 chapters (I actually mean how she talks about not being able to stand his guts to “I think I’m in love with him” like ??? BUT CONTINUES TO BE AN ABSOLUTE ASSHOLE TO HIM)
The third act break up was… just not it. I am not at all a hater of the third act breakup, but damn this one was 1) not at all on par with the progress Emmy and Grayson had made as a couple and 2) just so freaking unoriginal. Why put a third act breakup in the book just to have a third act break up like come on 😭
Grayson West is as interesting as a piece of cardboard. And he smells like charcoal and pine WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?????
The final nail in the coffin - the amount of times Emmy refers to Grayson as “Grayson fucking West” I got it the first time. She didn’t expect to have to work with him, “why is Grayson fucking west standing in front of me?” Yes it’s a reaction enhancer (is that a thing?). But would y’all like me to tell you how many times Emmy calls him Grayson FUCKING west in the book ? THIRTY FOUR TIMES !!!!! 34 !!!!! In a book with 23 chapters (this is a fact, I literally searched the word “fucking” and counted the amount of times it popped up on the list in between his first and last name. It was 34 y’all).
That’s it. I’ll def read Falons next book, because like I said, her first two were big YESes for me, but this one sadly was not
Ooofff… where to begin.
First off, let me say, I absolutely ADORED Falon’s first two books. They were sweet, funny and relatable and I was rooting for the characters the whole way through.
Sadly, the same thing cannot be said about Right on Cue.
I had a feeling right of the bat, that I wasn’t going to vibe with Emmy. She was inconsistent and unreliable with her behavior towards Grayson, and not in the “so cute and chaotic” way. One of the notes in my arc says “Emmy is the whole joke they tell about women about asking them where to eat, and they say idk, but then say no to every option you present and then they get mad, but like her entire personality is this way” so 🤷🏼���️🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
She goes from hating to loving Grayson in a matter of like 2 or 3 chapters (I actually mean how she talks about not being able to stand his guts to “I think I’m in love with him” like ??? BUT CONTINUES TO BE AN ABSOLUTE ASSHOLE TO HIM)
The third act break up was… just not it. I am not at all a hater of the third act breakup, but damn this one was 1) not at all on par with the progress Emmy and Grayson had made as a couple and 2) just so freaking unoriginal. Why put a third act breakup in the book just to have a third act break up like come on 😭
Grayson West is as interesting as a piece of cardboard. And he smells like charcoal and pine WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?????
The final nail in the coffin - the amount of times Emmy refers to Grayson as “Grayson fucking West” I got it the first time. She didn’t expect to have to work with him, “why is Grayson fucking west standing in front of me?” Yes it’s a reaction enhancer (is that a thing?). But would y’all like me to tell you how many times Emmy calls him Grayson FUCKING west in the book ? THIRTY FOUR TIMES !!!!! 34 !!!!! In a book with 23 chapters (this is a fact, I literally searched the word “fucking” and counted the amount of times it popped up on the list in between his first and last name. It was 34 y’all).
That’s it. I’ll def read Falons next book, because like I said, her first two were big YESes for me, but this one sadly was not
February 22, 2024
I didn't expect to like this so much? Typically with rom-coms involving famous people or Hollywood - they're a little too tragic and emotional for my liking? It's REALLY hard for me to feel bad for the rich and famous?
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard though...? Nothing of the sort. It's an easy romance and exactly what I needed while I was working through a few other heavier reads. It was the moment of levity I looked forward to with characters not taking themselves too seriously, a really great little conflict inclusion, and some great spice.
Of course, there are moments of silliness and immaturity - but thankfully, I felt like the way they worked out was well done and without too much of the miscommunication trope (which makes my old curmudgeonly heart happy)!
**Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard though...? Nothing of the sort. It's an easy romance and exactly what I needed while I was working through a few other heavier reads. It was the moment of levity I looked forward to with characters not taking themselves too seriously, a really great little conflict inclusion, and some great spice.
Of course, there are moments of silliness and immaturity - but thankfully, I felt like the way they worked out was well done and without too much of the miscommunication trope (which makes my old curmudgeonly heart happy)!
**Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
March 2, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This one was all over the place for me. I liked the FMC, but I had a hard time getting behind the MMC. Once they start actually interacting and get together, he's much better. But he seems to be a major dick for no reason. Not to mention super unprofessional as an actor when he's tanking their scenes for a "personal" reason.
Once they were semi together, I enjoyed this a little more, but then the third act breakup came along and it was meh for me all over again. He did something that was pretty shitty imo, and then she ended up doing more of the apologizing?
Overall, this was a cute, fast read but didn't having anything of substance for me.
This one was all over the place for me. I liked the FMC, but I had a hard time getting behind the MMC. Once they start actually interacting and get together, he's much better. But he seems to be a major dick for no reason. Not to mention super unprofessional as an actor when he's tanking their scenes for a "personal" reason.
Once they were semi together, I enjoyed this a little more, but then the third act breakup came along and it was meh for me all over again. He did something that was pretty shitty imo, and then she ended up doing more of the apologizing?
Overall, this was a cute, fast read but didn't having anything of substance for me.
March 17, 2024
(the treat, in fact, turned out to not be a treat.)
*
treating myself to a little bit of rom-com on my birthday 🥰
*
treating myself to a little bit of rom-com on my birthday 🥰
October 23, 2023
This missed the mark for me with literally everything. I loved this authors debut but for some reason this book felt like her debut. The writing was not really engaging and I had a hard time caring about the story and the characters. I didn’t like Emmy or Grayson. I felt like they had zero chemistry and I’m supposed to believe they really care for each other? I found myself skimming a lot so I could get this over with.
March 12, 2024
Never want to hear the words “Grayson fucking West” ever again
November 19, 2023
I LOVED reading this book. So fun and so much sexual tension!
December 22, 2023
Synopsis: Screenwriter Emmy Harper is convinced to play the lead role in her newest romantic comedy movie after not having acted in over a decade. However, when the casted male lead had to back out last minute, Emmy is surprised to see Grayson West, the person she blames for ending her short-lived acting career, standing across from her. With unresolved tension and a whole lot of hate, will Emmy find a way to work with Grayson before jeopardizing her movie.
Thoughts: I love rom coms set in the celebrity world, so from the start, I knew this was going to be a win. From learning about the filming process to the scenes with the intimacy coordinator and the amazing small town location, I felt like I was part of the movie crew. All the articles and tabloids from the press were a great addition too! Enemies to lovers is never my favorite trope, but I think since this was more one-sided with Emmy versus both of them bickering, it worked really well. Still, I think the fact that Emmy was hating on Grayson for something that happened when they were kids was a bit immature, especially when it took her a good chunk of the book to get past it. To me, this definitely felt like one of Falon’s steamier books, which I guess comes with the coworkers with benefits trope, but I was all here for that!
Read if you like:
-Celebrity romance
-Costars with benefits
-Enemies to lovers
-Tabloids, articles and interviews from the press
-Learning more about intimacy scenes on set
-California Inn setting
Thank you Putnam for the ARC. Pub date 2/27.
Thoughts: I love rom coms set in the celebrity world, so from the start, I knew this was going to be a win. From learning about the filming process to the scenes with the intimacy coordinator and the amazing small town location, I felt like I was part of the movie crew. All the articles and tabloids from the press were a great addition too! Enemies to lovers is never my favorite trope, but I think since this was more one-sided with Emmy versus both of them bickering, it worked really well. Still, I think the fact that Emmy was hating on Grayson for something that happened when they were kids was a bit immature, especially when it took her a good chunk of the book to get past it. To me, this definitely felt like one of Falon’s steamier books, which I guess comes with the coworkers with benefits trope, but I was all here for that!
Read if you like:
-Celebrity romance
-Costars with benefits
-Enemies to lovers
-Tabloids, articles and interviews from the press
-Learning more about intimacy scenes on set
-California Inn setting
Thank you Putnam for the ARC. Pub date 2/27.
August 7, 2024
I wish we could do half stars! 3.5 ✨ for this rom-com. However, I could have made a drinking game for every time the words “Grayson f*cking West” were said you take a shot. Maybe whoever reads this next should do just that!
October 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
✨️Enemies with benefits
✨️Forced proximity
✨️Celebrity romance
✨️Second chance
💞Believe me when I say you have to clear your schedule on 2/27/24 'cause you need to read this book.💞
When Emmy ends up being the best choice to bring the character she wrote to life, certain insecurities start to resurface. After all, she quit acting for a reason. Her only attempt resulted in public humiliation. But for the sake of her project, she accepts the role. Only the unexpected happens, and she ends up having to pair up with the guy who played a big part in her quitting acting in the first place. How do you pretend to be in love with a guy you can't stand?
Due to their forced proximity, they have to figure out each other, and I really liked how the story unfolded. There were several moments of tension where I was like, 'for the love of God, just get undressed already,' but they were still in the 'I can't stand you' phase. To me, it was clear from the beginning how much Grayson was into Emmy, my girl who was blind to it. 😅
I really liked how they grew closer and how the barriers fell, and how Grayson isn't afraid to be vulnerable around Emmy. Him taking care of her was heartwarming. 🫠
There were so many times I caught myself smiling while reading this book. There were too many to count. I loved every moment and highly recommend it.
*I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review, but all opinions are my own.*
Thank you so much, NetGalley and Penguin Group, for sending me this ARC.
🌶🌶
✨️Enemies with benefits
✨️Forced proximity
✨️Celebrity romance
✨️Second chance
💞Believe me when I say you have to clear your schedule on 2/27/24 'cause you need to read this book.💞
When Emmy ends up being the best choice to bring the character she wrote to life, certain insecurities start to resurface. After all, she quit acting for a reason. Her only attempt resulted in public humiliation. But for the sake of her project, she accepts the role. Only the unexpected happens, and she ends up having to pair up with the guy who played a big part in her quitting acting in the first place. How do you pretend to be in love with a guy you can't stand?
Due to their forced proximity, they have to figure out each other, and I really liked how the story unfolded. There were several moments of tension where I was like, 'for the love of God, just get undressed already,' but they were still in the 'I can't stand you' phase. To me, it was clear from the beginning how much Grayson was into Emmy, my girl who was blind to it. 😅
I really liked how they grew closer and how the barriers fell, and how Grayson isn't afraid to be vulnerable around Emmy. Him taking care of her was heartwarming. 🫠
There were so many times I caught myself smiling while reading this book. There were too many to count. I loved every moment and highly recommend it.
*I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review, but all opinions are my own.*
Thank you so much, NetGalley and Penguin Group, for sending me this ARC.
September 2, 2024
Emmy and Grayson - for a movie they met,
Emmy and Grayson's acting were sent threats
Emmy and Grayson are back on set.
(Idk what that was, forgive me)
Screenwriter Emmy Harper, the only child of Hollywood's sweethearts, is taking on the big screen alongside Hollywood heartthrob, and former co-star ,Grayson West. 𝘕𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 is meant to be sweet small-town based rom-com or it would be if the actors don't kill each other in the filming.
- ~ -
What is it with this author's female characters being a little self-centered.
I still liked the book though.
I loved the on-set antics and the love/hate sex the story featured and the way Emmy stnads up for Grayson and how Grayson knows Emmy and is instantly cocky to annoy her.
There was some groveling missing from both the characters but all in all a fun read.
- ~ -
3.97 / 5✩
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘢𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
Emmy and Grayson's acting were sent threats
Emmy and Grayson are back on set.
(Idk what that was, forgive me)
Screenwriter Emmy Harper, the only child of Hollywood's sweethearts, is taking on the big screen alongside Hollywood heartthrob, and former co-star ,Grayson West. 𝘕𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 is meant to be sweet small-town based rom-com or it would be if the actors don't kill each other in the filming.
- ~ -
What is it with this author's female characters being a little self-centered.
I still liked the book though.
I loved the on-set antics and the love/hate sex the story featured and the way Emmy stnads up for Grayson and how Grayson knows Emmy and is instantly cocky to annoy her.
There was some groveling missing from both the characters but all in all a fun read.
- ~ -
3.97 / 5✩
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘢𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
September 2, 2023
Let me preface my review by saying I absolutely love Falon Ballard and fully support her writing the book of her heart! This book just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay - because no one can unseat Sadie and Jack (Lease on Love) from my favorite of her characters.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Right Person Wrong Time trope (unless enemies to lovers is loosely considered that) but I am now a huge fan of this trope. Unfortunately, variations of the miscommunication trope occurs in this book twice and that’s why my rating is 3 stars. One time it was acceptable (a youthful indiscretion) but as adults, I expect more! And I just cannot stand behind a miscommunication being the reason for a third act breakup.
One other notable issue for me is that Emmy isn’t physically described, so I couldn’t picture her. Grayson is well described. I wish the rest of the characters’ physical descriptions were fleshed out as well. I’d hope that would be fixed in the final edits.
Overall, Right On Cue is an enjoyable third read from Falon Ballard. It’s just not a combination of my favorite tropes. I still would recommend her fans read her book because the writing is easy, breezy and has a several heartfelt moments. She is still an auto-buy author for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Right Person Wrong Time trope (unless enemies to lovers is loosely considered that) but I am now a huge fan of this trope. Unfortunately, variations of the miscommunication trope occurs in this book twice and that’s why my rating is 3 stars. One time it was acceptable (a youthful indiscretion) but as adults, I expect more! And I just cannot stand behind a miscommunication being the reason for a third act breakup.
One other notable issue for me is that Emmy isn’t physically described, so I couldn’t picture her. Grayson is well described. I wish the rest of the characters’ physical descriptions were fleshed out as well. I’d hope that would be fixed in the final edits.
Overall, Right On Cue is an enjoyable third read from Falon Ballard. It’s just not a combination of my favorite tropes. I still would recommend her fans read her book because the writing is easy, breezy and has a several heartfelt moments. She is still an auto-buy author for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
I have REALLY mixed feeling about this one!! I love Falon Ballard and I loved the plot/setting and characters BUT miscommunication played a HUGE role in this latest romcom and it got really FRUSTRATING for me!!
Fans of Hollywood romances won't want to miss this second chance, enemies to lovers romance between two former childhood starlets who are forced to work together on a new movie by Oscar winning screen writer Emmy. The two had their debut together as teens on a movie that tanked and for Emmy this is the first time she's acting on screen in over 15 years.
Full of Hallmark movie charm, sizzling sex scenes and plenty of emotional depth. Emmy and West both are battling with insecurities that get in the way of their ability to fully trust in the possibility of a real relationship. This was a single POV story and I do wish we could have gotten more inside West's head but overall I did enjoy it.
Recommended for fans of books like Christina Lauren's Twice in a blue moon and definitely a good book to pick up over the holidays with its wintery setting and big time Hallmark holiday movie vibes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
I have REALLY mixed feeling about this one!! I love Falon Ballard and I loved the plot/setting and characters BUT miscommunication played a HUGE role in this latest romcom and it got really FRUSTRATING for me!!
Fans of Hollywood romances won't want to miss this second chance, enemies to lovers romance between two former childhood starlets who are forced to work together on a new movie by Oscar winning screen writer Emmy. The two had their debut together as teens on a movie that tanked and for Emmy this is the first time she's acting on screen in over 15 years.
Full of Hallmark movie charm, sizzling sex scenes and plenty of emotional depth. Emmy and West both are battling with insecurities that get in the way of their ability to fully trust in the possibility of a real relationship. This was a single POV story and I do wish we could have gotten more inside West's head but overall I did enjoy it.
Recommended for fans of books like Christina Lauren's Twice in a blue moon and definitely a good book to pick up over the holidays with its wintery setting and big time Hallmark holiday movie vibes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
February 1, 2024
Thank you so much to Putnam for an advance copy!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!
This book will be released on Feb 27th, 2024.
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
This is a 3peat 5 star win for me! I already knew after reading Lease on Love that Falon would be an autobuy author for me but after loving Just My Type it solidified it. And then this one, just another absolute perfection!
"Don't deny yourself something beautiful because you're already thinking about what happens if it goes wrong."
I had reached out to the author when I blew through 50% of this in my first sitting advising that I know she wrote the book for her but I felt like she was writing it for me. I already knew that Falon had a love for pop culture/Hollywood and this was where she threw her love for that in. Its been a hot minute since I read a celebrity romance so this definitely itch the scratch I didn't know I had.
I absolutely love that this started with Oscar winner Emmy being a writer trying to cast her new rom com and she had to get over her self doubt and try acting again as the lead in the film. And after the original male lead had to back out of the film, the movie was replaced by action star Grayson West.
I will say the first 30% of the book Emmy was very immature and annoying towards having to work with Grayson. I think that was Ballard's point as we had to know how much Emmy disliked Grayson and how unhappy she was to have to work with him. And I love her journey throughout the book, removing those layers of distaste for Grayson. Or put two uncomfortable actors on a closed set for a love scene and that is when it allll changes for them! Ballard knocked it out of the park with the spice in this. Definitely her most ambitious compared to the other two and I was so here for it!!!!
"You stayed."
"I stayed."
I just could not stop reading and absolutely fell in love with Emmy & Grayson's relationship. I don't really see too many one night stands or an on the call buddy (if you know what I mean) so that was refreshing to read. Plus I just knew that they would be so hot together given their history and chemistry. What also was refreshing to see is that we actually got to see them as a couple. I just love that they had that conversation about what was going to happen to them out in the real world.
I love the relationship Emmy had with her mom and how she often turned to her when she needed that extra reassurance (as most do with their moms). And with Emmy being a nepo baby, her mom could give her that insight on dealing with being in a public relationship and just relationships in general.
I paired my reading with the audiobook and thought that the main narrator Rachel L Jacobs did a great job as both Emmy and Grayson! I love when there were text exchanges towards the end, it had both the female voice as well as the male narrator, Curt Bonnem (who was used during the mixed media parts). There were 2 other female narrators listed but I couldn't really tell who from who apart.
I am finding it harder and hard to write reviews for books I love. And I just really loved this one.
Definitely check this out if you love enemies to lovers, movie behind the scenes with a celeb romance!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!
This book will be released on Feb 27th, 2024.
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
This is a 3peat 5 star win for me! I already knew after reading Lease on Love that Falon would be an autobuy author for me but after loving Just My Type it solidified it. And then this one, just another absolute perfection!
"Don't deny yourself something beautiful because you're already thinking about what happens if it goes wrong."
I had reached out to the author when I blew through 50% of this in my first sitting advising that I know she wrote the book for her but I felt like she was writing it for me. I already knew that Falon had a love for pop culture/Hollywood and this was where she threw her love for that in. Its been a hot minute since I read a celebrity romance so this definitely itch the scratch I didn't know I had.
I absolutely love that this started with Oscar winner Emmy being a writer trying to cast her new rom com and she had to get over her self doubt and try acting again as the lead in the film. And after the original male lead had to back out of the film, the movie was replaced by action star Grayson West.
I will say the first 30% of the book Emmy was very immature and annoying towards having to work with Grayson. I think that was Ballard's point as we had to know how much Emmy disliked Grayson and how unhappy she was to have to work with him. And I love her journey throughout the book, removing those layers of distaste for Grayson. Or put two uncomfortable actors on a closed set for a love scene and that is when it allll changes for them! Ballard knocked it out of the park with the spice in this. Definitely her most ambitious compared to the other two and I was so here for it!!!!
"You stayed."
"I stayed."
I just could not stop reading and absolutely fell in love with Emmy & Grayson's relationship. I don't really see too many one night stands or an on the call buddy (if you know what I mean) so that was refreshing to read. Plus I just knew that they would be so hot together given their history and chemistry. What also was refreshing to see is that we actually got to see them as a couple. I just love that they had that conversation about what was going to happen to them out in the real world.
I love the relationship Emmy had with her mom and how she often turned to her when she needed that extra reassurance (as most do with their moms). And with Emmy being a nepo baby, her mom could give her that insight on dealing with being in a public relationship and just relationships in general.
I paired my reading with the audiobook and thought that the main narrator Rachel L Jacobs did a great job as both Emmy and Grayson! I love when there were text exchanges towards the end, it had both the female voice as well as the male narrator, Curt Bonnem (who was used during the mixed media parts). There were 2 other female narrators listed but I couldn't really tell who from who apart.
I am finding it harder and hard to write reviews for books I love. And I just really loved this one.
Definitely check this out if you love enemies to lovers, movie behind the scenes with a celeb romance!
September 15, 2023
Four stars. Wonderful characters and plot. Fun Rom Com!! Will be recommending and reading anything in the future from this author. Thank you for the title.
October 17, 2024
So bummed I didn’t like this one. This one felt flat to me. The female main character seemed super immature, and irritating. If she said Grayson f****** West one more time in that book I was going to lose my mind.
As someone who has no issue with cussing whatsoever I found the amount of swearing in this book to be a distraction, unnecessary, maybe even lazy? I don’t know. Wasn’t a fan. The book was just not one I’ll ever recommend.
As someone who has no issue with cussing whatsoever I found the amount of swearing in this book to be a distraction, unnecessary, maybe even lazy? I don’t know. Wasn’t a fan. The book was just not one I’ll ever recommend.
March 11, 2024
Mmmmm, nope.
You know what I apparently don't like? Romances about nepo babies that pretend that they aren't spoiled brats but actually are.
As I read, my disdain for these people grew so much that I just couldn't finish it. At some point, there's no redemption for me.
You know what I apparently don't like? Romances about nepo babies that pretend that they aren't spoiled brats but actually are.
As I read, my disdain for these people grew so much that I just couldn't finish it. At some point, there's no redemption for me.
January 23, 2024
This was a really fun read! It was a cute enemies to lovers kind of second chance romance. I love books about celebrity/fame so I really enjoyed that aspect of this one. The writing was really easy to get into and it made for a quick read. I liked the characters and it was easy to root for them. Emmy and Grayson both had some emotional depth to them but that didn’t pull the tone of the story down.
I honestly thought the third act breakup was awful and that’s why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 star. It would have been such an easy conflict to avoid with the smallest bit of communication and the way each character handled it didn’t feel all that believable.
Otherwise this was an entertaining, sweet and spicy romance. Falon Ballard did a great job and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an easily copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly thought the third act breakup was awful and that’s why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 star. It would have been such an easy conflict to avoid with the smallest bit of communication and the way each character handled it didn’t feel all that believable.
Otherwise this was an entertaining, sweet and spicy romance. Falon Ballard did a great job and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an easily copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 7, 2024
This is a fun, fast-paced romance that, for the most part (picture me tilting my hand side to side), I really enjoyed.
What I loved was that this is a Hollywood romance and a second-chance romance at that! This gave it the wonderful Hollywood cheese I love and (this is very important) some very fiery sex scenes. Which, that's my perfect combo, enemies to lovers with the good spice!
What I didn't love was the lack of communication! I understand the need for friction (especially if it's more than just one kind of friction, yum), but lack in communication is too irritating for me.
Otherwise, I really loved this. It's cute, it's spicy, and it has friction (okay! Stop dirty mind!). Definitely check this out if you're looking for a fun and quick romcom!
Out February 27, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
What I loved was that this is a Hollywood romance and a second-chance romance at that! This gave it the wonderful Hollywood cheese I love and (this is very important) some very fiery sex scenes. Which, that's my perfect combo, enemies to lovers with the good spice!
What I didn't love was the lack of communication! I understand the need for friction (especially if it's more than just one kind of friction, yum), but lack in communication is too irritating for me.
Otherwise, I really loved this. It's cute, it's spicy, and it has friction (okay! Stop dirty mind!). Definitely check this out if you're looking for a fun and quick romcom!
Out February 27, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
October 29, 2024
3,7/5
To nie zasługuje na 4 gwiazdki, ale na 3 też nie, więc już wolę zawyżyć
To nie zasługuje na 4 gwiazdki, ale na 3 też nie, więc już wolę zawyżyć
April 15, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard
Thank you so much Putnam for my gifted copy.
Blurb:
A former actress turned screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic leads to be the one man she can’t stand.
✨My thoughts:
This one was a fast and entertaining read! I must say I do enjoy this author’s writing style. I do however have mixed feelings about THIS story. It wasn’t necessarily my favorite but I still wanted to read it until the very end and see how it all played out. I’ve only read a handful of Hollywood romance stories, so I’m thinking that’s probably what my gripe is. Either way though, I still found it enjoyable and I’ll continue to read more books by this author.
Happy reading 📖
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard
Thank you so much Putnam for my gifted copy.
Blurb:
A former actress turned screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic leads to be the one man she can’t stand.
✨My thoughts:
This one was a fast and entertaining read! I must say I do enjoy this author’s writing style. I do however have mixed feelings about THIS story. It wasn’t necessarily my favorite but I still wanted to read it until the very end and see how it all played out. I’ve only read a handful of Hollywood romance stories, so I’m thinking that’s probably what my gripe is. Either way though, I still found it enjoyable and I’ll continue to read more books by this author.
Happy reading 📖
March 15, 2024
⭐️
DNF 97ish%
My reading progress looked like:
The Beginning: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Middle: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The End: ⭐️
Never have I read such a toxic female main character in a Romance novel!!
But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's start with the beginning and how it set up a very enjoyable premise, because I'm having a moment with stories starring cameras and the filming of characters. I find it adds a whole new layer to the plot, and it has become my kryptonite.
Far too soon the couple gets together and my eyes rolled so many times I gave myself a migraine. There's only so much suspension of disbelief I can grant a Contemporary Romance. My limit was reached before reaching the first third of the book.
Anyway, moving on to post-filming honeymoon-era bliss in which even the main character comments on waiting for the other shoe to drop. And when that shoe dropped, boy was I done.
Never have I seen such 2000's YA melodrama used in an Adult RomCom. Never. It was atrocious. I'm sure I could be more eloquent but this book has sapped more than enough of my precious time and energy. AND THEN and that's when I quit reading because for the first time ever I DID NOT WANT A HAPPILY EVER ANYTHING FOR THESE CHARACTERS.
I want to vomit a scandalizing amount of curses so, so badly because this book has truly pissed me off. I don't recommend it at all, and that's really the last thing I have to say about this hot damn mess.
DNF 97ish%
My reading progress looked like:
The Beginning: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Middle: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The End: ⭐️
Never have I read such a toxic female main character in a Romance novel!!
But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's start with the beginning and how it set up a very enjoyable premise, because I'm having a moment with stories starring cameras and the filming of characters. I find it adds a whole new layer to the plot, and it has become my kryptonite.
Far too soon the couple gets together and my eyes rolled so many times I gave myself a migraine. There's only so much suspension of disbelief I can grant a Contemporary Romance. My limit was reached before reaching the first third of the book.
Anyway, moving on to post-filming honeymoon-era bliss in which even the main character comments on waiting for the other shoe to drop. And when that shoe dropped, boy was I done.
Never have I seen such 2000's YA melodrama used in an Adult RomCom. Never. It was atrocious. I'm sure I could be more eloquent but this book has sapped more than enough of my precious time and energy. AND THEN and that's when I quit reading because for the first time ever I DID NOT WANT A HAPPILY EVER ANYTHING FOR THESE CHARACTERS.
I want to vomit a scandalizing amount of curses so, so badly because this book has truly pissed me off. I don't recommend it at all, and that's really the last thing I have to say about this hot damn mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
as a lover of the celebrity romance trope, right on cue scratched an itch! strangely, it can be hard to find books that really lean into all that comes with having famous characters. when the premise of your story revolves around the luxury and allure of hollywood, give us the goods! I want the press events where the characters have palpable tension! give us steamy red carpet moments! and falon delivered just that.
though I picked up this read at a time when it maybe wasn't the book speaking to me, it wasn't long before I was drawn in by the plot. the train got rolling quickly and picked up steam, both figuratively and literally, as emmy and grayson, a pair with history, are unexpectedly forced together to film a romantic comedy. will it be their worst nightmare? or fate?
given how right on cue was structured, the time elapsed was one of my favorite aspects. from production to film release, the audience gets to experience a few seasons of emmy and grayson's lives. the pacing felt a bit strange at the start but made perfect sense once I got to bask in all they became.
however, the third-act conflict was mildly frustrating given it was mostly centered around a miscommunication that could have been rectified by one conversation. thankfully, given the backstories of the two characters, I could forgive the inclusion by the end.
thank you to g.p. putnam's sons and falon ballard for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
though I picked up this read at a time when it maybe wasn't the book speaking to me, it wasn't long before I was drawn in by the plot. the train got rolling quickly and picked up steam, both figuratively and literally, as emmy and grayson, a pair with history, are unexpectedly forced together to film a romantic comedy. will it be their worst nightmare? or fate?
given how right on cue was structured, the time elapsed was one of my favorite aspects. from production to film release, the audience gets to experience a few seasons of emmy and grayson's lives. the pacing felt a bit strange at the start but made perfect sense once I got to bask in all they became.
however, the third-act conflict was mildly frustrating given it was mostly centered around a miscommunication that could have been rectified by one conversation. thankfully, given the backstories of the two characters, I could forgive the inclusion by the end.
thank you to g.p. putnam's sons and falon ballard for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
September 7, 2023
When I sat down to start reading this novel, I noticed Falon Ballard’s dedication read along the lines of “This one’s for me.”
I was glad I spotted that dedication for one reason: it immediately told me to adjust my expectations, as this story would likely be self-indulgent and full of Ballard’s favorite romcom elements. And it absolutely was! Of course, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing—if anything, knowing that would be the case allowed me to set aside the expectation that this novel would move me emotionally and, instead, I allowed myself to simply have fun. And what fun it was! It was easy to disappear into the page of this book and absolutely lose track of time. But, with that being said, this book felt different from Ballard’s previous two books. It felt more commercial and lacked the usual depth and charm of her other stories.
As far as plot goes, it was rather standard for an adult romcom and paced well. I found it difficult to set the book down because I wanted to see the next relationship milestone and see the next internal conflict Emmy needed to work through. However, a lot of Emmy and Grayson’s relationship development moments—such as: bonding through simply talking and hanging out—happened off-page, Sure, there were a few scenes where we saw them hang-out instead of enjoying spicy times, but I really wanted to see some of those small bonding moments. It was evident that a lot of development occurred off-page during the PR filming of the Newlywed Game; the two had unbelievable chemistry and knew each other so well, so it was a shame to miss out on learning the little things about both characters.
This is a smaller note, but once the romance plot (the A-plot) took the reins, a lot of other sub-plots fell away. I know Ballard’s writing strengths, so I wished we had a little more check-in with the movie plot and more development of Liz and Emmy’s friendship. Liz was a strong minor character, so it was a shame to see her shunted away on the page.
As far as tropes go, there was one that I had a lot of fun with, and another, well, not so much. I haven’t had much reading exposure to the “Right Person, Wrong Time” trope, and I really enjoyed it! It felt close to enemies-to-lovers, but there was more logic behind it. Although, I do wish there was more exploration of this trope (I wanted Emmy and Grayson to sit down and simply communicate so badly!), but that was hindered by a different trope. The miscommunication trope. I don’t think I’m the first person to say the market is oversaturated with this trope, but I understand why it's widely used. It relies on the internal conflict of the main character and their developmental journey. But I struggled with this trope being used twice in the plot. The first time was understandable, seeing as Emmy and Grayson were teenagers and there is the emotional immaturity aspect to that age. But the second time was less believable. Emmy was an adult and had started to show signs of change, of being willing to communicate with Grayson about her feelings. For her to take a half-listened to conversation at face-value and completely shut Grayson out (third act breakup) was difficult to swallow. Which was made even more difficult to believe when, after two scenes, Grayson forgave Emmy quickly and without her proving herself as having changed. Unfortunately, that third act was the weakest part of the novel.
In the end, I had quite a juxtaposed reading experience. In the moment while reading, I immensely enjoyed the story on the page and never wanted to leave the characters behind. But, when I walked away from the book, I found myself feeling confused and picking at all the inherent weaknesses in the story structure. While I would recommend this to other readers, I would warn them to temper their typical Falon Ballard expectations and simply sit back to enjoy another silly, comforting little romcom.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
I was glad I spotted that dedication for one reason: it immediately told me to adjust my expectations, as this story would likely be self-indulgent and full of Ballard’s favorite romcom elements. And it absolutely was! Of course, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing—if anything, knowing that would be the case allowed me to set aside the expectation that this novel would move me emotionally and, instead, I allowed myself to simply have fun. And what fun it was! It was easy to disappear into the page of this book and absolutely lose track of time. But, with that being said, this book felt different from Ballard’s previous two books. It felt more commercial and lacked the usual depth and charm of her other stories.
As far as plot goes, it was rather standard for an adult romcom and paced well. I found it difficult to set the book down because I wanted to see the next relationship milestone and see the next internal conflict Emmy needed to work through. However, a lot of Emmy and Grayson’s relationship development moments—such as: bonding through simply talking and hanging out—happened off-page, Sure, there were a few scenes where we saw them hang-out instead of enjoying spicy times, but I really wanted to see some of those small bonding moments. It was evident that a lot of development occurred off-page during the PR filming of the Newlywed Game; the two had unbelievable chemistry and knew each other so well, so it was a shame to miss out on learning the little things about both characters.
This is a smaller note, but once the romance plot (the A-plot) took the reins, a lot of other sub-plots fell away. I know Ballard’s writing strengths, so I wished we had a little more check-in with the movie plot and more development of Liz and Emmy’s friendship. Liz was a strong minor character, so it was a shame to see her shunted away on the page.
As far as tropes go, there was one that I had a lot of fun with, and another, well, not so much. I haven’t had much reading exposure to the “Right Person, Wrong Time” trope, and I really enjoyed it! It felt close to enemies-to-lovers, but there was more logic behind it. Although, I do wish there was more exploration of this trope (I wanted Emmy and Grayson to sit down and simply communicate so badly!), but that was hindered by a different trope. The miscommunication trope. I don’t think I’m the first person to say the market is oversaturated with this trope, but I understand why it's widely used. It relies on the internal conflict of the main character and their developmental journey. But I struggled with this trope being used twice in the plot. The first time was understandable, seeing as Emmy and Grayson were teenagers and there is the emotional immaturity aspect to that age. But the second time was less believable. Emmy was an adult and had started to show signs of change, of being willing to communicate with Grayson about her feelings. For her to take a half-listened to conversation at face-value and completely shut Grayson out (third act breakup) was difficult to swallow. Which was made even more difficult to believe when, after two scenes, Grayson forgave Emmy quickly and without her proving herself as having changed. Unfortunately, that third act was the weakest part of the novel.
In the end, I had quite a juxtaposed reading experience. In the moment while reading, I immensely enjoyed the story on the page and never wanted to leave the characters behind. But, when I walked away from the book, I found myself feeling confused and picking at all the inherent weaknesses in the story structure. While I would recommend this to other readers, I would warn them to temper their typical Falon Ballard expectations and simply sit back to enjoy another silly, comforting little romcom.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
January 26, 2024
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I read Fallon Ballard’s debut, Lease on Love, and it quickly became one of my all time favorites. It made her an autobuy author for me and my goodness does it feel good to read a new book by her! I didn’t love Just My Type last year so I was nervous…but this book was perfection!
It’s a celebrity romance about two actors who think the other hate each other and have to work together on a new Rom Com. It was a delightful read and reminded me why I love to read books. It totally took over my brain and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.
Synopsis:
“Emmy Harper is no stranger to Hollywood, having penned some of the most popular movies of the past few years. But her latest project has hit a standstill—unable to find the perfect leading lady, Emmy’s been recruited to take on the role herself, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.Things take a turn for the worse when a she's left with the one costar she can’t trust: Grayson West. A blockbuster action hero known for his megawatt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Too bad Emmy still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career.The friction between the two risks tanking the movie, and no one knows if it’s lingering awkwardness from their youth or unresolved sexual tension. But if they want to save the production—and their own careers—they need to get their acts together quickly, both on and off camera.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Premise—Celebrity romance is one of my favorite tropes but it was also a great time to read it after seeing the film Anyone But You recently! Rom Com book.film supremacy.
The Setting—A cozy cute inn in a small town AND a film set. Quite possibly my two favorite things!
The Characters and Their Chemistry—I loved Emmy and Grayson. I loved how they resolved things and weren’t afraid of their feelings. Plus I liked that they weren’t keeping their feelings a secret from the rest of the set!
What Didn’t Work:
3rd Act Pacing—It all came to a bit of a grinding halt in the 3rd act for me. I didn’t love the reasoning for the 3rd act break up either but at least it didn’t last too long.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
loss of a parent, grief,
I read Fallon Ballard’s debut, Lease on Love, and it quickly became one of my all time favorites. It made her an autobuy author for me and my goodness does it feel good to read a new book by her! I didn’t love Just My Type last year so I was nervous…but this book was perfection!
It’s a celebrity romance about two actors who think the other hate each other and have to work together on a new Rom Com. It was a delightful read and reminded me why I love to read books. It totally took over my brain and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.
Synopsis:
“Emmy Harper is no stranger to Hollywood, having penned some of the most popular movies of the past few years. But her latest project has hit a standstill—unable to find the perfect leading lady, Emmy’s been recruited to take on the role herself, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.Things take a turn for the worse when a she's left with the one costar she can’t trust: Grayson West. A blockbuster action hero known for his megawatt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Too bad Emmy still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career.The friction between the two risks tanking the movie, and no one knows if it’s lingering awkwardness from their youth or unresolved sexual tension. But if they want to save the production—and their own careers—they need to get their acts together quickly, both on and off camera.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Premise—Celebrity romance is one of my favorite tropes but it was also a great time to read it after seeing the film Anyone But You recently! Rom Com book.film supremacy.
The Setting—A cozy cute inn in a small town AND a film set. Quite possibly my two favorite things!
The Characters and Their Chemistry—I loved Emmy and Grayson. I loved how they resolved things and weren’t afraid of their feelings. Plus I liked that they weren’t keeping their feelings a secret from the rest of the set!
What Didn’t Work:
3rd Act Pacing—It all came to a bit of a grinding halt in the 3rd act for me. I didn’t love the reasoning for the 3rd act break up either but at least it didn’t last too long.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
loss of a parent, grief,
Read
January 5, 2024DNF at 41%: When the FMC suggested they just have sex to fix their on-screen chemistry, I was outta there 🤦♀️ See below for my other thoughts...
I think this author might be a one-hit wonder for me. I adored Lease on Love, but it's been downhill ever since. The things I really loved about this book were the social media comments, interviews, and articles sprinkled in between some of the chapters. I think the plot had a lot of potential, but it just never pulled me in. Enemies to lovers can be hard to do in a romance novel, and Emmy's reason for hating Grayson was pretty flimsy. On top of that, it seemed like the romance was rooted in physical attraction. I never got to see them spend meaningful moments together, and I honestly had no clue what kind of personality Grayson had. I think readers who just want the steam and sexual tension will enjoy this, but I was missing the emotional connection.
I think this author might be a one-hit wonder for me. I adored Lease on Love, but it's been downhill ever since. The things I really loved about this book were the social media comments, interviews, and articles sprinkled in between some of the chapters. I think the plot had a lot of potential, but it just never pulled me in. Enemies to lovers can be hard to do in a romance novel, and Emmy's reason for hating Grayson was pretty flimsy. On top of that, it seemed like the romance was rooted in physical attraction. I never got to see them spend meaningful moments together, and I honestly had no clue what kind of personality Grayson had. I think readers who just want the steam and sexual tension will enjoy this, but I was missing the emotional connection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,088 reviews