In “Change of Heart,” Falon Ballard’s latest offering in the rom-com universe, we meet Campbell Andrews, a razor-sharp, commitment-phobic lawyer who finds herself unwillingly transplanted into what can only be described as Hallmark movie hell. This blend of magical realism and contemporary romance delivers a creative premise that both embraces and subverts familiar tropes. While Ballard delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt revelations, the novel occasionally struggles to maintain its balance between cynicism and sentimentality.
The Plot: Big City Lawyer Meets Small Town Charm
Campbell “Cam” Andrews has it all figured out. At thirty-four, she’s made partner at her family’s law firm, she’s crushing it at corporate mergers and acquisitions, and she’s successfully avoided anything resembling a meaningful relationship. When her grandmother forces her on a blind date with pediatric surgeon Ben Loving (yes, that’s really his name), Cam makes it abundantly clear she has no interest in romance.
Then she wakes up in Heart Springs, a pastel-colored town where:
The sun always shines (except when aesthetically appropriate snow falls)
Everyone’s perpetually cheerful
There’s a festival for every occasion
And she’s told by town matriarch Mimi that she must complete three tasks to return home: find a career she’s passionate about, become a valued community member, and experience true love
What follows is Cam’s reluctant journey through a series of careers (failed bookseller, disastrous wedding planner, competent baker’s assistant, and eventually small-business advocate) while she fights her growing attraction to Ben, who has also been transported to Heart Springs with the task of helping her succeed.
The premise is refreshingly original, and Ballard excels at creating fish-out-of-water scenarios that highlight Cam’s delightfully caustic personality. The seasonal time jumps as Heart Springs magically shifts from summer to fall to winter create a dreamlike quality that enhances the surreal experience of being trapped in what Cam describes as “pastel purgatory.”
Character Development: From Ice Queen to Authentic Self
Cam begins as an almost cartoonishly hard-edged protagonist—she’s rude to service workers, dismissive of others’ feelings, and laser-focused on career success to the exclusion of everything else. In less skilled hands, she might have remained too unlikable to root for, but Ballard gradually reveals the wounds that shaped her: an absent mother, a demanding grandmother, and a lifetime of measuring her worth through professional achievement.
The magic of Heart Springs (and Ballard’s writing) is how it forces Cam to confront her defensive mechanisms:
Her caustic wit becomes tempered with self-awareness
Her dismissal of community transforms into genuine connection
Her rejection of vulnerability evolves into acceptance of her own emotions
Ben serves as an effective foil and eventual romantic partner. His patience, compassion, and willingness to call Cam on her nonsense create a dynamic that sparks with tension and eventually genuine affection. Their relationship develops through meaningful conversations and shared experiences rather than just physical attraction, which gives their eventual romance emotional weight.
Where the character work falls short is in the development of some secondary figures. Emma, the bakery owner, shows promise as a fully realized character, but others like Noah (a potential love interest) and Anna (a client) remain primarily plot devices rather than three-dimensional people.
Themes: Finding Purpose Beyond Ambition
At its heart (pun intended), “Change of Heart” by Falon Ballard explores what happens when we’re forced to question the narratives we’ve constructed about ourselves. Cam’s journey becomes an examination of:
The difference between success and fulfillment
How childhood trauma shapes adult relationships
The balance between independence and connection
The challenge of authentic self-love
The novel’s most powerful revelation—that “experiencing true love” means learning to love herself—provides a satisfying twist on rom-com conventions. Rather than suggesting a relationship will complete Cam, Ballard argues that self-acceptance must come first. This progressive message elevates what might otherwise be a standard enemies-to-lovers story.
Writing Style: Snappy and Self-Aware
Ballard’s writing shines brightest in dialogue and first-person narration. Cam’s voice is distinctive—sharp, funny, and gradually revealing vulnerability beneath the sarcastic exterior. Lines like “I think I was basically born in a pantsuit” and Cam’s regular use of “goddamn” to describe everything from pastries to sunsets create a consistent character voice that carries readers through even the more predictable plot points.
The author exhibits particular skill in the verbal sparring between Cam and Ben, which manages to be both cutting and charged with undeniable chemistry. Their banter evolves naturally as their relationship deepens, reflecting their changing dynamics.
Where the writing occasionally falters is in pacing. The novel’s episodic structure—with Cam trying various careers and meeting task-specific challenges—sometimes creates repetition that slows momentum. The middle section, particularly during Cam’s time at the bakery, could have been tightened without losing essential character development.
The Magic System: Charm with Unanswered Questions
“Change of Heart” by Falon Ballard employs magical realism in a way that’s more concerned with emotional truth than logical consistency. The rules of Heart Springs (why people are sent there, how time works, who controls the magic) remain deliberately vague. This approach mostly works—the town functions as a metaphorical space for personal growth rather than a fully developed fantasy setting.
However, some readers may find themselves distracted by unanswered questions:
Why are Cam and Ben specifically chosen for this intervention?
How do Heart Springs residents exist both there and in the real world?
What happens to their experience of Heart Springs after they return?
The novel’s strength is that these questions ultimately don’t detract from the emotional journey, but a bit more magical infrastructure might have added satisfying depth to the worldbuilding.
Comparison to Author’s Previous Works and Similar Titles
Fans of Ballard’s previous novels, including “Lease on Love” and “Right on Cue,” will recognize her talent for balancing humor with emotional depth. “Change of Heart” by Falon Ballard maintains her signature wit while introducing magical elements that expand her storytelling range.
The novel sits comfortably alongside other magical realism romances like Christina Lauren’s “In a Holidaze” and Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers,” offering a similar blend of contemporary romance with fantastical elements. Readers who enjoy small-town settings with quirky inhabitants will find similarities to Tessa Bailey’s Bellinger Sisters series, though with a more explicitly magical framework.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Strengths:
Cam’s character development feels earned rather than forced
The enemies-to-lovers romance builds through meaningful interactions
The twist on the “true love” task provides a refreshing message
The humor consistently lands, especially Cam’s fish-out-of-water moments
The dual ending allows for both magical resolution and real-world continuation
Weaknesses:
Some secondary characters remain underdeveloped
The pacing occasionally drags during the middle sections
The magical elements would benefit from more explanation
A few too-convenient plot resolutions undermine the stakes
Cam’s initial harshness might alienate some readers before they can connect with her
Final Verdict: A Heartwarming If Imperfect Escape
“Change of Heart” by Falon Ballard delivers exactly what its title promises—a journey of transformation that balances cynicism with hope, independence with connection, and self-protection with vulnerability. While not without flaws, Ballard’s novel succeeds in creating a compelling protagonist whose growth feels authentic despite the magical circumstances.
The romance between Cam and Ben develops at a satisfying pace, with enough obstacles to create tension but sufficient connection to make readers invest in their happiness. The supporting characters, particularly Emma and Mimi, provide the necessary community backdrop for Cam’s evolution from isolated workaholic to connected individual.
For readers who enjoy:
Magical realism with contemporary romance
Strong character growth arcs
Snarky protagonists with hidden depth
Small-town settings with quirky charm
Subverted romance tropes
“Change of Heart” offers a worthwhile escape that manages to be both comforting and surprising. Its message about the importance of self-love before romantic love makes it a refreshing addition to the rom-com landscape.
Like its protagonist, the novel may not be perfect, but its heart is definitely in the right place.