I read a bit of anything and everything, so my mind stays nimble, while my thinking and writing stay grounded (at least partially) in the real world. I don’t typically read or review that many romance novels each year but might start reading and reviewing at least a few more in the future. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post to see why, and my thinking behind this; it just might encourage you to see the romance genre in a different light too.
On to today’s book review: Just My Type by Falon Ballard is a romance novel that will make you laugh as you consider your own relationship patterns and vices. It’s an endearing novel that offers a safe and non-judgmental space for introspection.
I really enjoyed the dialogue in this novel, as it brought each of the characters to life and made each character stand out individually. Not to mention, there were sections of dialogue in the novel that made me laugh out loud.
There are a few romance tropes in this novel (friends to lovers to estranged lovers to enemies to friends to lovers, and second-chance romance) but they are executed in a way that readers of the romance genre will appreciate and crave. I would say this novel is like The Hating Game meets How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.
What surprised me about this novel, in a good way, is how it includes nods to the importance of mental health when finding oneself and pursuing or unpacking difficult or worthwhile relationships. While the main character, Lana, has a supportive friend network, she doesn’t always take their advice at face value and ends up unpacking her own emotional hindrances and growth on her own with the aid of her therapist. But it’s important to note here that the narrative never becomes preachy or overly dramatic. Instead, with the inclusion of mental health resources, the narrative remains realistic and sweet.
Overall, this is a rom-com that is highly relatable and will leave you feeling genuinely better after reading it, instead of bitter that you haven’t experienced such romance yourself. Essentially, there’s an element of realistic hope within its pages, with just the right amount of witty banter and romantic tropes.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
For more information about this novel, see the summary of Just My Type by Falon Ballard on Goodreads.
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