Fallon Ballard is one of my favorite authors; her books are always interesting, funny, fresh and romantic. They are quintessential rom-com but feel slightly less corny than some others that I've read. She's an excellent writer, does the right amount of spice and really just delivers on all accounts.
I received an ARC of her latest novel, , All I Want Is You, and when I realized it was a holiday rom-com, I was thrilled. When I realized it was a second chance romance with a splash of enemies to lovers, I was even more excited. When I realized it was about two exes who are both writers, I was officially sold.
This was a hard book to put down; I ended up reading more than half of it in one sitting, something I haven't done in a while.
All I Want Is You was the perfect romance novel; it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me want to text my ex or download Hinge.
Publisher's Summary
All Jessica has ever wanted is her own happily ever after. But until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick—also a romance writer and now her biggest rival—who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s what he’s good at, after all . . .
So when their professional obligations bring them to a remote inn a few days before Christmas, they’re a little more than peeved, especially when they get trapped sharing a room in a snowstorm. But what’s more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? Realizing the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying. But will Jess’s heart soar, too? Nick is the last guy on earth she should love . . . but what if he is really all she wants for Christmas?
My Thoughts
As I said, I loved this book. I think it's going to end up on my favorite books of the year list. The writing was superb, I loved alternating between Jessica and Nick's POVs and I loved that there were only 3 flashback scenes. While I love context, I'm growing tired of books constantly switching timelines.
Jessica and Nick were perfect for each other; their chemistry was insane and their banter was perfection. They were the ultimate lovers to enemies to lovers but you could tell all throughout the book that the love was still lingering as was the attraction. The spice in this book was off the charts!
This was very much a straight forward romance trope; there wasn't a ton of 'will they or won't they' it was more 'how will they?' which I think comes to life throughout various points in the book. There wasn't a ton of frustrating miscommunication or third act mishaps which I always appreciate. This book was less about the destination and more about the journey which I loved. That's always a nice change of pace.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but as you get familiar with both Jessica & Nick, you see a bit of them in the subplot, which becomes super meta, which I also love.
The ending made me sob; it was so beautiful and felt like the ending of a Hollywood blockbuster. I saw so much of myself in this book, so many of my past relationships that it was difficult to read and not feel a pang of heartbreak. Ever since I finished reading, I cannot stop thinking about every inch of this book. This is the type of novel that I want the physical copy of, even though I have it on my Kindle.
All I Want Is You had everything I want in a romance novel; it had expected tropes, unexpected revelations, not too many miscommunication moments, spice, and authors falling in love. When you add in a Christmas setting, you've got magic.
If you need a Christmas romance to sink your teeth into, that will make you feel something, please read All I Want Is You by Fallon Ballard.
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