Falon Ballard has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and this was another book that didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved Campbell's character arc in this, and seeing her grow to love both herself and the small town life when she's transported to Heart Springs. I adored the setting and the magical realism aspect of the story, and it felt perfect for me being a fan of both Hallmark movies and small town settings like the Gilmore Girls!

3.5*
Note to self carefully read the blurb...
I was very confused at the beginning of the book, since I thought it was giving horror vibes instead of romcom.
I mean of you suddenly wake up one day in a town you can't escape from and everything is scarily happy and organised, I feel like you would be a little freaked.

It felt like both satire of hallmark movies and a hallmark movie. While the love story was central to the plot and characters, it wasn't paced like a typical love story.

It's definitely one of those stories you can't think too hard about and just accept the nonsense magical rules. Which isn't my favorite thing to do....however the speed run timeline of the year was very funny to read.

Overall it was well techincally written, even if the style wasn't really for me, and it was an entertaining and slightly absurd break from other books I've been reading.

Though I do wish some of the characters weren't so one dimensional. I liked Ben, but except him being a good dude and just being /there/, I didn't really get a sense of chemistry or saw why things would work or who he even was.

Some funny moments for me where her disastrous first days at her new jobs; as a bookseller, she sold It by Stephen King to an 8yo and Priest by Sierra Simone to the preacher's teen daughter. Oh and as a wedding planner, she almost convinced a bride not get married on her wedding day (which tbh I stand by the FMC's choice, given the information she had, I would've done the same thing)

Cam & Ben ❤️

🎬Cam is a single female New Yorker, a hard nosed lawyer trying to win the affection of her emotionally icy grandmother and her family.

🎬When she goes on a blind date with paediatric surgeon Ben, she’s brutally honest with Ben, ignoring him. But the elderly waitress Mimi is convinced they are made for each other.

🎬When Cam wakes up in the equivalent of a small town Hallmark movie set, Ben is living next door and the only coffee shop in town is run by the same woman Mimi, she gives Cam a series of tasks to complete to get back home.

✏️I have either absolutely adored Falon Ballard’s previous work (I loved Lease on Love), or felt rather meh about it (Just My Type). Her latest story grew on me towards the end, but it wasn’t the easiest read, and at times I would have easily put it down had it not been an ARC. Cam is a rather mean protagonist, unfeeling and cold, and I only warmed to her my later in the story. It’s a stretch to understand why Ben has feelings for her at all. But the universe seems to be dishing up karma in spades and maybe that’s the whole point to this?

Read an eARC copy courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher
My rating 3.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

‘Change Of Heart’ by Falon Ballard is a tremendously enjoyable, chemistry-filled romance novel starring Cam - who made Partner at her New York law firm by thirty four and has no time or motivation to date any of the hapless men acquaintances insist on setting her up with - and kind and focused Paediatric Surgeon Ben. After a short and terrible blind date, the pair wake up in Heart Springs, a sweet Stars Hollow-esque town full of seasonal festivals, eligible suitors and small businesses to save!

I love that despite the setting and the sugary baking, this isn’t just a Hallmark film where the big city corporate-type realises the error of her ways, but a life-affirming, funny and emotional tale of love, fulfilment and the beauty of unique passions. The author is fabulous at creating strong, flawed female leads who take pride in their careers and achievements and stay true to themselves while finding joy, and Cam is no different!

Ben is an adorable and delicious male lead - from the way he calls Cam “sweetheart” to the fact that he has his own ambitions and hobbies that feel central to the story. There is so much sizzling tension between the characters, and when their slow-burn attraction catches fire, the book gets hot!

There have been a few books recently with somewhat similar premises - including ‘A Novel Love Story’ by Ashley Poston, ‘Prime Time Romance’ by Kate Robb - but I think this novel still feels fresh and has so much to love… I’d highly recommend giving this one a read if you enjoyed those, and picking all three up if nostalgia is your cup of tea! I smiled from ear to ear throughout and the main character really resonated with me, so I’m giving five stars.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Headline via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

Who doesn't love a mix of a little magic and love? I know I do—as soon as I read magical realism in the synopsis, I knew I just had to read this book!

Big Grumpy Grandmother? When big-shot lawyer Campbell Andrews got matched with Dr. Ben Loving by her grandmother, she knew that meeting him would be a mess, and failure to meet him would cause Granny to be angry, and she didn't want that.

A Failed First Date and Maybe a Fairy Godmother? Campbell meets Dr. Ben, and as you would have guessed, it went badly, but this is where things get interesting 😅.

Whimsical Small Town Romance? Campbell and Dr. Ben are magically transported to a magical small town where they are given quests in order to return back home.

I loved the absurdity of the whole plot; the two MCs' chemistry was everything 😍, and oh my goodness, the character development was so on point, especially Campbell's 🤭😍❤.

Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

Encantada con el realismo mágico que tiene este libro, me ha gustado mucho el cambio de la protagonista pero en el caso del personaje masculino me hubiera gustado más foco en su personaje.

Buena segunda experiencia con la autora

This is one of the few times where an unlikable main character isn't off putting. The character growth is a big part of the story. If anything the romance is secondary.

The writing style of this book made me not want to put it down. I wouldn't mind a book 2 following Emma.

I'm so sad that this was a miss for me, I loved Just My Type so much.

Change of Heart follows Cam, a cutthroat NYC lawyer who has no social life, no hobbies, no love, and no connection to anyone, even her family. She goes on a blind date with Ben. Ben is a pediatric surgeon who has little to no personality and only knows one word.

Fast forwad to the actual date, and it's a disaster. Cam is an asshole and Ben is amused by her. At the end of the date, they are magically transported to an alternate pastel reality out of the 50s. There, their date waitress, who is responsible for this new adventure, gives Cam 3 tasks. Find a job she's passionate about. Be accepted into the community. Find true love.

The plot was intriguing and had the potential to be super fun. I enjoy Magical Realism because it can get a bit whacky, but this one fell flat. Cam's connections felt forced for most of the book. Even her connection with Ben was lacking when it comes to romance. Somehow, she had more chemistry with the "antihero" than with Ben.

Ben should have been more explored in the book. He is the definition of nice. He doesn't have much more going for him. We don't get to know more about his families, his passions, his struggles. He is just there. I was actually glad when Ben was an asshole to Cam, at least he showed that he had a backbone.

Then Cam. She's a piece of work. She was upset at the end of their date by Ben's dismissive tone when she actively acted like a bitch and was dismissive of Ben. She does grow by the end of the book, but everything feels forced until 70% of it. The only thing that felt organic was her friendship with Emma.

Unfortunately, the romance was really disappointing. I don't mind asshole heroines, I recently read a book with one, also magical realism romance, and I loved it. I just think the execution with this one was poorly done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

3.25/5 stars!

This book was honestly on its way to being a 4 stars read but some plot points just wouldn't allow me to do it. To be quite honest, the FMC - Cam - was so terrible in the first chapters (and I'm not really bitting this whole narrative that she's simply misunderstood because this girl wasn't even capable of common decency in the first few chapters) that I felt like I needed to finish the book so that she could go through her redemption arc and so I could stop being so annoyed - and, well, she did! It was lovely watching her grow and accept that maybe the things she was expecting from life weren't exactly healthy nor was the life she was leading a happy one.

The MMC was a bit of a doormat in this book but to be honest, I didn't really want more from him. The couple itself served some angst and it was nice to see their growth as individuals and together.

However, there were quite a few bits of this book that felt a bit... underwhelming? underdeveloped? rushed? childish, even? that made me not enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I wasn't as demanding on the plot because they are quite literally trapped inside a Hallmark movie small town but there's clearly a line before you're pushing the ridiculous a bit too far.

I would also like to say this was the first book by Falon Ballard that I actually enjoyed reading so that must count for something!

By the second half I didn't hate this, but I really struggled to root for Cam. I get what Ballard was trying to do, but she made her so unlikeable and rude in the beginning of the novel it made it almost impossible to be invested in her story. Ben was decent enough but he was incredibly two dimensional. His entire personality seemed to be to care about Cam.

This was my first book of the author, and it definitely wasn't my last!
I loved the writing style, it felt really fast paced and the plot was so unique. I loved Cam and how straight-forward she was at her first date with Ben, so I absolutely adored her character development.
The town and the characters were great and it did remind me a little of "The Truman Show", as they couldn't escape the town. I seem to really enjoy magical surrealism books, and the plot of this one felt quite unique.
I loved how Cam seemed to find herself over the course of the book and how she finally saw her self worth, and how she made new friends and fell in love along the way. What a great read! :)

Falon Ballard is a hit or miss author for me but I knew with a cover like this we were in for something cute and fluffy and boy was I right.

Cam is a successful lawyer who is good at her job and keeping her emotions at bay. But when her and her latest blind date end up in a small town with no way home except finding a new career, true love and becoming a part of a community; will Cam be able to find her true self and a way home?

This one is filled with personal growth and magical realism. That being said you have to really suspend belief with this story but once you do it will make you so happy and leave you rooting for a kinder world and love for everyone. I felt the plot itself was super ridiculous and silly but I guess that’s exactly what I needed because I loved it. At times it was a little a repetitive for my liking but it didn’t take away from the story. It also heated up on a few occasions towards the end.

I fully expect people to either love or hate this with no in between but lucky for me I fall in the over category!

Who has time for silly love stories and dating these days, certainly not Campbell. She didn’t work her butt off to make partner at her law firm only to give it all up for love. That’s until Cam wakes up in Heart Springs, her own personal hell straight out of a Hallmark movie. She’s forced to complete a series of tasks in order to make it back to her real life. At the top of the list is finding true love. It seems impossible but maybe she’ll have a change of heart.

Romance gets a bad rep for being predictable and all about the fluff which is fair in some cases but Change of heart is so much more then that. The alternate universe is an interesting plot line that forces the characters to face their demons and take a critical look at their lives back home. It changes Cam fundamentally and it was a joy to see her grow and slowly become a better version of herself, the woman she wants to be. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t say more then that.

The story kept going after the point I expected it to wrap up which was a pleasant surprise. The romance between Cam and Ben is a big part of the story but not the only thing that matters in the end. I might have cried a little when I finally understood the underlying message. This is one to look out for, romance readers will eat it up it but so will others who decides to give it a shot.

I was already a firm fan of Falon Ballard’s before starting Change of Heart and upon finishing it she continues to be an absolute auto buy author for me. I love Ballard’s writing style and her take on magical realism was so much fun.

Change of Heart centres around no nonsense lawyer Campbell. Having made partner at her Grandmother’s law firm at 35 Cam has little time for anything else in her life, and especially no time for blind dates. After a fairly disastrous one with paediatric surgeon Ben, Cam goes home alone and yet wakes up in her own personal hell, in the shape of Heart Springs. The good news? She's not dead. She's just been magically transported to a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, friendly townsfolk . . . and a new neighbour in Ben, her date from the night before. Cam really doesn't have time for this, but in order to make it back to her real life, she must fulfil three tasks: find a career she's passionate about, help the community, and find true love!

This was such a fun read that includes:
🩷 magical realism
🧁 small town setting - where everyone knows your business
🩷 the genuinely loveliest MMC in Ben
🧁 a great self discovery journey for Cam
🩷 found family and lovely female friendships
🧁 forced proximity
🩷 slow burn romance
🧁 no third act break (love this!)

I’m a fan of magical realism and loved the setting of Heart Springs. I particularly liked the weird way that time worked and how we got to enjoy all the different seasons. The town Christmas tree and its individual ornaments was particularly special.

Heart Springs really allowed Cam to find out who she was outside of the mould she’d been encouraged to develop into. When we first meet her she’s not really at all likeable, but the more we get to know her the more you understand her. Her character arc and growth was done so well throughout the story and I loved the secret to finding her way home.

The romance worked so well. It’s a real slow burn which worked perfectly to allow Cam and Ben to really get to know one another in Heart Springs. It’s clear early on just how much Ben comes to care for Cam, he really is such a genuinely good guy that you can’t help but root for him but also feel bad that he has to hold back his feelings for so long.

I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

Read this book for:
❤️Small town romance
❤️Magical realism
❤️Self-love journey
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Found family
❤️No third breakup act

Synopsis
Campbell Andrews has no patience for romance. To her, love is just another distraction that holds people back from achieving their goals. As a successful lawyer about to make partner at thirty-four in her family law firm Andrews and associates, she has no time for relationships—especially not when they're messy and distracting. But when she wakes up in the small, picturesque town of Heart Springs, she’s thrust into a world of romantic clichés: a small-town mayor who’s a bit too helpful, townsfolk who are way too invested in her love life, and a series of “tasks” that seem designed to push her out of her comfort zone. The most impossible of them all? To experience true love. As Cam struggles to reject the town’s charms and the unexpected sparks of attraction, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about success, happiness, and what it really means to love—and be loved.

My Thoughts
After reading All I Want Is You, I was thrilled to receive an ARC from Falon Ballard because her writing is such a joy to read.
Overall, I absolutely loved the storyline. What's not to love about a workaholic lawyer who goes on a first date with a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon—the sweetest man you’ll ever meet—and after their date, ends up in the charming small town of Heart Springs, thanks to their quirky waitress, Mimi? The chemistry between them was so much fun to watch unfold. I especially loved the slow-burn romance between the two. You could feel the connection building more and more with each chapter, which made their eventual relationship feel all the more satisfying.
I also really enjoyed the character of Emma and her bakery. She was the sweetest, most supportive person Cam could ever meet, and their interactions brought such warmth to the story. Emma was the perfect contrast to the hard-edged lawyer, and I loved seeing Cam soften in her presence.
That said, I did find Mimi a bit too passive-aggressive for my taste. I kept wishing she had more of a "wise, sweet grandma" vibe instead of the slightly sharp edge she had in the book. If her character had leaned more into that nurturing, thoughtful role, I think I would have enjoyed her presence a lot more.
All in all, this book was a total hit for me. Falon Ballard has a knack for creating irresistible characters and romantic tension, and I can't wait to dive into her next release!

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved this book once I got into reading it I just couldn’t get enough, it’s just a very heartwarming book that makes you realise that we all need to love ourselves before we can love someone else but once we do it’s just amazing too. I just loved this story and the characters it was all just amazing and such a good read that I couldn’t put down.

I would highly recommend reading this book if love a heartwarming book with a great story and characters.

I would like to thank Headline Eternal and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

This book reminded me a bit of Schmigadoon meets a Disney princess movie, and I found it really well done, and original, but then the explicit sex scenes kind of ruined it as it wrecked the style. There were some funny moments, some emotional moments, and overall some heartwarming moments, that made this story really sing. I wouldn’t be able to freely recommend it due to the sex scenes and liberal expletives, and wish the author had toned these down as I feel the book would’ve been one of those that was loved by multiple ages if they had, rather than the current form which is very much just millennial with its reach

“to all the "unlikable" girls: may you find supportive, kind,compassionate partners who aren't threatened, but instead inspired, by your ability to kick serious ass.”

well what a start with this dedication! this book was my first book by falon ballard and it won’t be my last! if u’re in the mood for a light,cozy,fun and very hallmark story well this one’s for u :)

it was a journey to read about cam’s learning process about her life and love because at the start she was a workaholic lawyer who has always putted her work first instead of herself and her needs and it was kinda of satisfying to see how she discovered the meaning of life and love!

a thing i would have loved more to read and get to know was ben the male main character because the chemistry between was very cute and lovely and getting to know more about ben could have been more enjoyable :)

a lot of thanks to headline and netgalley for providing me the e- arc of this cute story in exchange of my honest thoughts.

This book follows Cam after she wakes up in a Hallmark channel style small town, and made to complete three tasks before she can get back to her regular life.

I did really enjoy the premise of this book, and the concept of Cam's character transformation through the story. However, I felt the execution and the reality didn't live up to my hopes. The main romance didn't feel as fleshed out as I would've like, especially given their beginnings, and while the idea of the town and secondary characters seemed great they never truly got a chance to develop and shine.

I like the author's writing style, and would read other books by them, but this particular story just wasn't quite right for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

Falon Ballard delivers yet another gem! This story is a delightful blend of romance and subtle magical realism, transporting readers to the picturesque charm of a small town that feels like it’s been plucked from a Hallmark movie.

Campbell Andrews, a driven lawyer who has always put her career above all else, suddenly finds herself whisked away to the serene town of Heart Springs. There, her carefully constructed life is thrown into disarray as she faces challenges that force her to reevaluate what truly matters. With a mission to discover love, community, and passion outside the confines of her demanding job, Cam’s journey is equal parts heartwarming and entertaining. The book sparkles with sharp humor, endearing secondary characters, and a vividly drawn small-town setting that feels impossible not to adore. Watching Cam evolve from a career-obsessed professional into someone who embraces love and connection is both satisfying and uplifting.

That said, while Cam’s personal growth is wonderfully depicted, her romantic relationship with Ben could have used a bit more depth to fully shine. Even so, Change of Heart is a light, feel-good read that’s sure to leave readers grinning and dreaming of their own magical getaway to a town like Heart Springs.

A big thank-you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing this delightful romantic comedy in exchange for my honest review!