Scan barcode
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will read anything Falon Ballard writes. Lease on Love was one of my top five books of 2022 and I also adored this one!!! I was rooting for Lana and Seth the whole way and the ending brought me to tears (happy tears)! Definitely recommend if you like second chance romances, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and/or Marvel and other fandoms! (Lana is a huge nerd and blogs about pop culture and books!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Abandonment
thesmutsister_emma's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is an Advanced Review Copy I received to give an honest review
Who Here Has Felt Personally Victimized by Falon Ballard?
So I summoned a demon in the woods as a child... (I'm going somewhere with this, I promise.) I summoned said demon because I wanted friends. I'm pretty sure the demon stuck around to be my friend themself but also helped me with human friends. After a while, surely the demon left.
Fast forward however long and I start reading this book. I notice a startling number of similarities between myself and the FMC in this book.
My theory as to what has happened is that Falon Ballard made a deal with the same demon I made a deal with as a child so that she could write a best selling book. The demon panicked and gave her my life story that I am now reading as an ARC.
In all seriousness, Falon called my ass out way too many times for comfort.
Perpetually in a long term relationship? Check.
Not having any idea who I am outside of a relationship? Kind of check. I'm working on that one.
Parental issues? Double check (working on that one too.)
Amazing therapist? Hell yes.
A house full of books that you write about? Well. Y'all can figure that one out yourselves.
I felt like I was reading what's going to happen to me in 6 years if I don't pull my shit together.
The Characters
Lana: I have already talked about Lana quite a bit, but truly. Lana is such an enjoyable character who is incredibly relatable. I honestly had a hard time not seeing myself in everything she did. I kept seeing what I would do in her shoes, especially in times where she frustrated me. Because do not get me wrong, as much as I loved and adored Lana, there were times where she was infuriating. She did everything she could as best as she could but certain choices (pushing a gay man to kiss her because it "wouldn't mean anything" to him, the way she treated Seth on the last "task") really pissed me off because of the way she treated those around her. Despite this, I ended up getting past it and my love for the book shined through.
Seth: I sound like half of mothers being interviewed after their sons get arrested, but my baby did nothing wrong and I refuse to believe he has ever done anything wrong ever. He is the most precious bean who needs to be protected at all costs.
Things I Loved
I loved 99% of everything about this book honestly. I loved the writing style, loved the characters, loved so much about it.
Things I Didn't Love
On the flip side... as I stated earlier, I had a problem with the way Lana treated Seth at times and the way she treated the men at the bar for the "kiss a stranger" task. They both really rubbed me wrong and honestly are the only reasons this book is not 5 solid rather than 4.5.
The Final Verdict
This book was honestly exactly what I needed after the experiences I've had reading the past few weeks. It was adorable and refreshing. I could not recommend it more.
Who Here Has Felt Personally Victimized by Falon Ballard?
So I summoned a demon in the woods as a child... (I'm going somewhere with this, I promise.) I summoned said demon because I wanted friends. I'm pretty sure the demon stuck around to be my friend themself but also helped me with human friends. After a while, surely the demon left.
Fast forward however long and I start reading this book. I notice a startling number of similarities between myself and the FMC in this book.
My theory as to what has happened is that Falon Ballard made a deal with the same demon I made a deal with as a child so that she could write a best selling book. The demon panicked and gave her my life story that I am now reading as an ARC.
In all seriousness, Falon called my ass out way too many times for comfort.
Perpetually in a long term relationship? Check.
Not having any idea who I am outside of a relationship? Kind of check. I'm working on that one.
Parental issues? Double check (working on that one too.)
Amazing therapist? Hell yes.
A house full of books that you write about? Well. Y'all can figure that one out yourselves.
I felt like I was reading what's going to happen to me in 6 years if I don't pull my shit together.
The Characters
Lana: I have already talked about Lana quite a bit, but truly. Lana is such an enjoyable character who is incredibly relatable. I honestly had a hard time not seeing myself in everything she did. I kept seeing what I would do in her shoes, especially in times where she frustrated me. Because do not get me wrong, as much as I loved and adored Lana, there were times where she was infuriating. She did everything she could as best as she could but certain choices (pushing a gay man to kiss her because it "wouldn't mean anything" to him, the way she treated Seth on the last "task") really pissed me off because of the way she treated those around her. Despite this, I ended up getting past it and my love for the book shined through.
Seth: I sound like half of mothers being interviewed after their sons get arrested, but my baby did nothing wrong and I refuse to believe he has ever done anything wrong ever. He is the most precious bean who needs to be protected at all costs.
Things I Loved
I loved 99% of everything about this book honestly. I loved the writing style, loved the characters, loved so much about it.
Things I Didn't Love
On the flip side... as I stated earlier, I had a problem with the way Lana treated Seth at times and the way she treated the men at the bar for the "kiss a stranger" task. They both really rubbed me wrong and honestly are the only reasons this book is not 5 solid rather than 4.5.
The Final Verdict
This book was honestly exactly what I needed after the experiences I've had reading the past few weeks. It was adorable and refreshing. I could not recommend it more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
kaseybereading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kaylarivoli's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Really cute second chance romance with like a little spritz of enemies to lovers/workplace-forced-proximity vibes.
This woman drinks a lot of alcohol… so if you are sensitive to alcohol mentions please be aware. The MCU/Star Wars refs were a bit heavy handed even for me, a Marvel/Star Wars fan. Overall quick read that I enjoyed!
This woman drinks a lot of alcohol… so if you are sensitive to alcohol mentions please be aware. The MCU/Star Wars refs were a bit heavy handed even for me, a Marvel/Star Wars fan. Overall quick read that I enjoyed!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Just My Type was definitely my type of book!
To win the job of her dreams, relationship-prone journalist Lana Parker needs to learn how to stay single. Her competition? None other than her high school ex boyfriend, Seth Carson.
There are so many things that this book does exceptionally well! This was my first time reading a second chance romance, and the balance of nostalgia, animosity, and newfound feeling was very well done. I was easily able to see the spark between Lana and Seth, and I could also see why they had spent so much time apart. Their shared history also made the ten week timeline perfectly reasonable! It gave Lana time to stop hating him, become friends again, and accept her feelings.
Speaking of feelings, the casual therapy sessions were such an excellent addition to this book! I also loved the acknowledgement that friends and kickboxing are helpful, but professional help is different. It’s so important to de-stigmatize mental health care, and I appreciate how Ballard included it in the book.
Lana’s friends and coworkers were an excellent addition to the cast of characters! Her relationships with May, Tessa, and Corey felt fully fleshed out, and her growth could be seen in how she interacted with them. Going from immediately calling May when she was dumped to requesting alone time was a really big step for Lana, and I loved seeing her get there.
My only two wishes are that Lana had gotten to spend more time on her own, and that there had been another ~10ish pages between the last chapter and the epilogue.
All in all, this book was excellent! I can’t wait to read more of Falon Ballard’s work! 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
To win the job of her dreams, relationship-prone journalist Lana Parker needs to learn how to stay single. Her competition? None other than her high school ex boyfriend, Seth Carson.
There are so many things that this book does exceptionally well! This was my first time reading a second chance romance, and the balance of nostalgia, animosity, and newfound feeling was very well done. I was easily able to see the spark between Lana and Seth, and I could also see why they had spent so much time apart. Their shared history also made the ten week timeline perfectly reasonable! It gave Lana time to stop hating him, become friends again, and accept her feelings.
Speaking of feelings, the casual therapy sessions were such an excellent addition to this book! I also loved the acknowledgement that friends and kickboxing are helpful, but professional help is different. It’s so important to de-stigmatize mental health care, and I appreciate how Ballard included it in the book.
Lana’s friends and coworkers were an excellent addition to the cast of characters! Her relationships with May, Tessa, and Corey felt fully fleshed out, and her growth could be seen in how she interacted with them. Going from immediately calling May when she was dumped to requesting alone time was a really big step for Lana, and I loved seeing her get there.
My only two wishes are that Lana had gotten to spend more time on her own, and that there had been another ~10ish pages between the last chapter and the epilogue.
All in all, this book was excellent! I can’t wait to read more of Falon Ballard’s work! 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: vomit, alcohol, sexual content, emotional abuse, manipulation in the workplace, sexual harassment,
Second chance romances require some really intense work setting up history between characters without having any page time to actually go into details. Seth and Lana's first reunion after two years of not hearing from each other was perhaps the most ingenious way of hooking me into their history and rooting for their love story EVER. The enemies adjacent vibes paired with some intense denial made for the perfect pressure cooker of tension to propel the two of them forward in their little competition for who does the best in the challenges they set for each other.
My favourite part of the book (aside from the smut I have only one priority) was Lana's personal growth. The challenge to learn how to be single, while exploited for the website and for articles, was turned into actual opportunity for Lana to grow and treat herself to independence and introspection. Her growth outside of relationships moulded her into a stronger person which allowed for her inevitable reunion with Seth to be perfectly timed. The emotional gratification of Lana being at her healthiest and them finally getting together with Seth was just PERFECT.
I did want more for Seth though. Maybe it's because this was all Lana's POV but I felt like Seth could have been solidified a bit more in the story. He felt interchangeable with *insert any random man* at times which was unfortunate. That was just a couple of blips though so not really an issue in the grand scheme.
Can't wait to read more by Falon Ballard!!
Second chance romances require some really intense work setting up history between characters without having any page time to actually go into details. Seth and Lana's first reunion after two years of not hearing from each other was perhaps the most ingenious way of hooking me into their history and rooting for their love story EVER. The enemies adjacent vibes paired with some intense denial made for the perfect pressure cooker of tension to propel the two of them forward in their little competition for who does the best in the challenges they set for each other.
My favourite part of the book (aside from the smut I have only one priority) was Lana's personal growth. The challenge to learn how to be single, while exploited for the website and for articles, was turned into actual opportunity for Lana to grow and treat herself to independence and introspection. Her growth outside of relationships moulded her into a stronger person which allowed for her inevitable reunion with Seth to be perfectly timed. The emotional gratification of Lana being at her healthiest and them finally getting together with Seth was just PERFECT.
I did want more for Seth though. Maybe it's because this was all Lana's POV but I felt like Seth could have been solidified a bit more in the story. He felt interchangeable with *insert any random man* at times which was unfortunate. That was just a couple of blips though so not really an issue in the grand scheme.
Can't wait to read more by Falon Ballard!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
More...