Just My Type by Falon Ballard Review

Summary (from the publisher):
41DFt+ktbeL._AC_SY780_ Lana Parker has never been single for long. After a disastrous break-up with her high school boyfriend, Seth Carson, Lana’s bounced from long-term relationship to long-term relationship. She’s an expert girlfriend, even acting as the resident dating and relationship columnist for one of Los Angeles’s trendiest websites. But now, at the age of thirty, Lana suddenly finds herself single again, and she’s determined to stay that way, no matter how challenging.

That is, until her high school ex, Seth, now a journalist in his own right, takes an assignment at Lana’s site. Ready to put down roots after years of traveling and freelancing, Seth becomes not only Lana’s colleague but also her competitor. With their combative relationship history–and undeniable chemistry–they quickly find themselves pitted against each other in a battle of wits: writing an article series that goes against dating type. For Lana, that means writing about staying single and embracing it. For Seth, it’s learning to settle down and become boyfriend material. Whoever’s is most popular wins a highly coveted columnist spot that either could only dream of. But when the two square off against one another, it’s not only their careers on the line–it’s also their hearts.

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

Despite seeing all the hype, I slept on Falon Ballard’s debut Lease on Love for a few months after its release last year. I picked it up on a random Friday night that March..and had it completed by the time I went to bed that night. That being said, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Falon Ballard’s sophomore release, Just My Type! I’m happy to report that I started this one on a holiday off from work and had it finished by early evening.

Like I shared in my review for Lease on Love, there’s such an addictive quality to Falon Ballard’s writing that was again captured from the very start of Just My Type (it probably had something to do with the very reminiscent (and referenced) Legally Blonde scene). I knew going in that Just My Type is a second chance romance following two writers, but I really love how the plot expanded from the basic premise, especially since (while I absolutely love it) we’ve seen more & more books following writer or even bookish couples over the past few years (hello Beach Read and The Roughest Draft).

The book is told from the perspective of relationship columnist, Lana, who has been dreaming of getting a column where she could write about what she truly loves, books, Marvel movies, and all things pop culture. The opportunity presents itself the next day, after she is dumped by her boyfriend on the night she thought he’d propose. Lana’s company is looking for more clicks and ad revenue, so Lana’s boss challenges her to write a series of posts and complete a series of challenges to see what it’s like being single. If she’s successful, she’ll get to make the column of her choosing. The catch? Lana’s posts will go against the company’s newest hire, whose being challenged to see what it’s like be in a relationship & write a series about it: Seth, Lana’s high school sweetheart, first love,..and first ex.

I loved Lana’s character. She came off as confident and had this nerdish side to her that I know so many readers and fellow bookish people will love. She runs a personal blog, reviewing books and movies, that she is hesitant to share based on her career and wanting to have something for herself. I can so picture her being that type of person to wear RockLove jewelry. I love how Falon Ballard developed her career & writing interests, alongside the romance of course.

Seth and Lana’s relationship develops through each of their writing tasks. One of Lana’s, for example, was to go on a blind date, while one of Seth’s was to go on a series of three dates.The premise was really well executed, and maybe blame it on the winter/early spring weather where I live, but made me want to go to LA ASAP. It was fun to see the two romp around the city, from a margarita dive bar to a Dodgers game & more. Through each experience (and a lot of sarcasm), Lana and Seth grow closer.

I’d give Just My Type a 5/5 for pure reading experience – again, I love how Falon Ballard’s writing just sucks me and overall reminds me how much I love reading – but the plot wasn’t a complete knockout for me. Yes, yes, I know the whole point of a second chance romance is that the love interests had to obviously have their first go-around, but I kind’ve wish Lana and Seth had dated maybe later in life, like in college or during their early career days, vs. high school. I think it would’ve added more maturity to their relationship, and I wish we got to see more of Lana in that past relationship and others, since everyone accuses her of being a serial girlfriend and then only dating guys with involved families because of the lack of her own (her father left when she was very young and her mother has been more involved in charity work than Lana’s life).

I’m so sad that I don’t have another Falon Ballard book to immediately jump into, but I look forward to seeing what she does next!