Right on Cue - Falon Ballard

 4 stars

Not quite what I expected, but still a great read that I enjoyed. I've loved Just My Type by the same author, which was also enemies to lovers. This one's got something similar to second chance, workplace romance (yet not quite), and there's a lot of miscommunications- something which I love reading in books and the tension that comes with.

Being a rom-com lover, Emmy was an instantly likable character for me. I get that parts of her personality like her insecurity may be projected as immature, but I saw her as a that teenager, still hurt and confused by Grayson's actions in the past. Grayson wasn't a POV character, so I can't say much about him, though from what I see (up till the second act) he is a deeply caring and emotional person. (I have scenes coming to mind when I think of this)

The chemistry between both MCs is interesting from the beginning, with their relationship and bond evolving through the course of the story (and the filming of their movie) What I loved was how the focus wasn't solely on their platonic bond but also their backstories and banter. They were showed vulnerability and compassion, something which I find lacking in novels with spicy scenes.

About the side character. It's so cool how the director of the movie is actually Emmy's best friend! The whole dynamic with Emmy having her best friend and (later) boyfriend on set, navigating their personal and professional relationships was amazing! Emmy's mom was super chill and had a comfortable relationship with her daughter- which was refreshing after seeing so many strained parent-kid relationships. The make-up artist Sam stood out to me just in his little appearances. He just made me smile on the inside with his understanding of Emmy.
 
While there is a stigma around nepo kids, I love the positive rep in this book and how Emmy is clearly a brilliant, talented actress/screen writer. Her upbringing was part of her personality and kudos to the author for showing a humble, relatable character rather than a bratty FMC with no dimension.

I'm not a fan of how the story went down in the third act. Of course, I saw a downfall coming, but there were so many ways Ballard could have gone with the buildup, and I was left disappointed. I'm gonna have to pull down a star for that because I honestly think this could have been so much better.

Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's sons for the complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.