Change of Heart by Falon Ballard (Feb 11, 2025) – Thank you, Putnam Books and PRH audio for the gifted advanced audio copy of this incredibly fun magical realism romance.
Campbell Andrews is singularly focused on her career – she’s partner in her grandmother’s law firm, loves her career, and dos not have time for love, which is why this blind date is a colossal waste of time. Sure Ben is handsome but she has so little interest she is doing work at the restaurant table. Ben’s a good guy – he loves his family, he’s a pediatric surgeon, he helps in the community, he just hasn’t found “the one” – and this is most definitely the worst date he’s ever been on. When they part ways, Campbell is confident she’ll never see Ben again. Then, the next day she wakes up in a little town called Heart Springs, with an equally confused Ben as her next door neighbor. Its like if you sprinkled Gilmore Girls over a Hallmark movie and she REALLY doesn’t have time for that nonsense. She discovers that in order to escape this cheerful, festival-filled small town, she has to complete three tasks, including finding true love. She refuses to become the Hallmark cliched overworked lawyer who falls in love with the small town guy and gives up the big city life. But if she wants to get home, she’s got some work to do.
Here’s what I loved: I really enjoyed that Cam loves the law and the big city but also learns some great lessons about looking at what really brings her joy. Ben was a charming foil for her along her journey. Here’s what I struggled with: I didn’t feel like we saw enough of Cam and Ben’s interactions to become invested in their love story. I would have loved Ben as a more fully realized character. I also struggle a with the magical town, as it seemed everyone was in on the game except Cam, watching her struggle to complete the tasks to achieve her ticket home, making it feel like a surreal game show. I would have liked Heart Springs to feel a little more like a real town. However, it was escapist fun and Falon Ballard remains firmly on my auto-buy list because she always writes such charming, witty dialogue. I really enjoyed her book Right on Cue and absolutely loved All I Want is You.
🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 This book, solo narrated by Carly Robins is a good performance on its own. I think it might have benefitted from a dual narration to give Ben a bit more differentiation. It is a bit shorter than some at 8 hours and 29 minutes, so if you are looking for a quick listen, this could be for you!
Book: 🌟🌟🌟💫
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 