A review by theamyleblanc
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard

hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a delectable little holiday-themed palate cleanser. It's absolutely what I needed in the moment. Is it my favorite by Falon Ballard? No. Is it witty and emotional and funny and heartbreaking like all of Falon's books? Yes, absolutely!

Not going to lie, I was turned off at first by the characters being named Nick and Jess. That's a hard association to overcome. As I moved through the story, though, it was clear that while they share some similarities with their famous counterparts, they are different enough to be their own people.

The pacing is perfect and the setting sounds cozy and wonderful! The obstacles that keep coming up flow seamlessly with the narrative. It's on the shorter side for a novel so you can move through it at a good clip.

My biggest problem is that it was harder to connect with the characters. I think the challenge of second chance romances is that a lot of the history, the emotional work, has already happened off page. That's especially true when the reason for the split is unclear or kept secret. I never quite felt their pain.

All that said, I really liked this. It'll make a delightful bit of holiday cheer for readers!

Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.