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Falon Ballard

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Right on Cue Kindle Edition

by Falon Ballard (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 440 ratings

Editors' pick Best Romance

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From the beloved author of Just My Type and Lease on Love comes a new romantic comedy in which a former actress-turned-screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic lead to be the one man she can’t stand.

Emmy Harper is no stranger to Hollywood, having penned some of the most popular movies of the past few years. But her latest project has hit a standstill—unable to find the perfect leading lady, Emmy’s been recruited to take on the role herself, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade.

Things take a turn for the worse when a she's left with the one costar she can’t trust: Grayson West. A blockbuster action hero known for his megawatt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Too bad Emmy still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career.

The friction between the two risks tanking the movie, and no one knows if it’s lingering awkwardness from their youth or unresolved sexual tension. But if they want to save the production—and their own careers—they need to get their acts together quickly, both on and off camera.

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of ELLE’s Best Romance Books of 2024
One of Shelf Awareness’s Best Books of the Week

"Falon Ballard injects the Hallmark rom-com with some much-needed acidity in this Hollywood co-stars-with-benefits sparkler.” —ELLE

"Steamy . . . A fun, fast-paced romance set against the glittering backdrop of Hollywood!” —Woman's World

"A perfectly staged rom-com that turns into an imperfectly authentic one, brims with delectable chemistry and irresistible enemies-to-lovers banter." —Shelf Awareness

"Ballard's lively and fun rom-com will have readers hoping that these two have their second chance." —Booklist

"Ballard (Just My Type) delivers a feisty and fast-paced Hollywood fantasy in this addictive contemporary . . . It’s a fun, exciting peek at the magic that can happen behind the camera.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ballard creates a winning romantic comedy full of simmering chemistry. Emmy and Grayson’s intense sexual tension makes the pages fly by. The cozy small-town setting gives the story all the charm of a Hallmark movie—but with way more steam and snark. A fun and sexy ode to rom-coms, full of joy and chemistry.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Full of winks to the rom-com genre and packed with steamy tension.” –Library Journal

“Falon Ballard is a master of chemistry-filled banter and lovable characters! No one does it like her!” –Sarah Adams, author of The Cheat Sheet

“Falon Ballard is the queen of sharp-wit and swoony romances. With delicious, intricately crafted love stories, and dynamic, wonderfully flawed characters, I will devour everything she writes and beg for more.” –Mazey Eddings, author of The Plus One

"Right on Cue is a perfectly crafted romcom that weaves together a charming cast of characters with witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and sexual chemistry that leaps off the page. It will leave you with a smile on your face and a full, happy heart. Ballard is right on track with this delightfully satisfying read.” –Sophie Sullivan, author of Ten Rules for Faking It

“Falon Ballard’s writing sucks me in like a best friend sharing a juicy story. Grab your ice cream and wine and get comfy because once you start Right on Cue, this adorable, charming, and spicy romcom will hold you captive until the very last page.” –Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You

About the Author

Falon Ballard is the author of Lease on Love and Just My Type and co-host of the podcast, Happy to Meet Cute. When she’s not writing fictional love stories, she’s helping real-life couples celebrate, working as a wedding planner in Southern California. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter
One

It becomes clear as soon as the pretty blonde opens her mouth that she is not the one. The whole room knows it, with everyone shifting subtly in their seats and shooting one another knowing glances. But she keeps going, and so does her scene partner, although Jonathan does glare at me from across the room.

Everyone is glaring at me, actually, if the tiny daggers I feel digging into my back are any indication.

Eventually, the poor, sweet actress finishes her scene and leaves with a wave and a smile. The room lets out a collective breath when the door bangs shut behind her.

"That was the last one for today." My best friend and now producing partner, Liz, pushes back her chair with a loud scrape. She stalks to one corner of the small room, pivots sharply, and then marches to the opposite side.

Everyone waits for her to finish before speaking; that's the kind of power she commands.

She comes to a halt in front of where I'm sitting, at the end of the table of exhausted and frustrated production team members. Her hands grip the edge of the plasticky wood, and she leans toward me with that look in her eye. "Emmy."

"No." The word is an immediate reflex-I know what she wants before she even asks for it.

She brings her eyes level with mine. "I'm a half second away from begging."

"I can't do it."

"She's not the only one about to beg," Kurt, our executive producer says, from his position at the other end of the table. "To be frank, Emmy, we're getting to the point where begging is going to morph into insisting."

I swallow down another automatic no because Kurt sounds more serious than usual. And he's the one who controls the purse strings. "You guys know I can't. I'm not an actress; I'm a screenwriter."

Jonathan Brentwood, our adored leading man and a college friend, joins Liz at the front of the table. "You could have fooled me, Em. When you read with me at my audition, your performance seemed pretty perfect."

"I agree." Kurt rises, and his already imposing presence looms over me even further. "We've been stuck in these auditions for weeks, and we haven't seen anyone nearly as strong as you were. We're scheduled to start filming in two weeks. We don't have time for this anymore."

Liz crosses her arms over her chest, but she doesn't appear to be worried about Kurt's declaration. "What are you saying, Kurt?" If I didn't know better, I'd almost say there was a hint of smug in her question.

"You have twenty-four hours. Find me our Isobel, or I'm pulling the plug." He claps what is probably meant to be acomforting hand on my shoulder. "You know how much I care about you, Emmy. Your dad was like a brother to me, and I've watched you grow up, but I'm not about to put my name and my cash in jeopardy because you're holding on to some baggage from the past." He swings his bag over his shoulder and strides toward the door. "Let me know what you decide."

The rest of the production team, along with Jonathan, scurry out of the room behind Kurt, leaving me alone with the woman who knows me better than almost anyone.

"Pancakes?" Liz asks.

"Pancakes," I agree.

We arrive at Village Bakery a half hour later, ordering our food before finding seats in the back of the café.

"I can't do it," I say the moment our coffees have been delivered. I know well enough by now not to deliver bad news to Liz before she has caffeine in her hands. "You know I can't. And you know I won't."

"I understand that you think you can't. But I know with one hundred percent certainty that you can. And not only that, but you should." She tousles her white-blond pixie cut, which perfectly frames her pale, heart-shaped face, and turns her piercing blue eyes on me in what I know is a challenge.

I blink first, turning my gaze to the brightly colored chairs, the art on the walls, and the bud vase sitting in the middle of the table. "I'm not an actor, Lizzie, you know this. I haven't been in front of the camera in more than fifteen years. And I prefer it that way."

We accept our food from a server, two stacks of pancakes as big as my head. Liz doesn't say anything while she butters hers and pours on an avalanche of syrup. I know the stress must really be getting to her, because Liz is one of the most health-conscious people I know; she only calls for pancakes in the most dire of circumstances. She shovels in a huge bite, chewing slowly before she turns her puppy-dog eyes back on me.

I hold up a hand in front of my face so I don't have to see her. "No. Do not even try that. I am immune to your begging."

"Then why are you hiding?"

I lower my hand, peering out cautiously, only to be hit with those big, baby blue buckets of sadness. "Liz. I can't. You know what happened last time."

She puts down her fork and reaches across the table to take my hand in hers. "Last time you were just a kid, Em. Look at how far you've come, at this amazing career you've had. You won a goddamn Oscar last year, and you're going to let something that happened a million years ago keep you from doing what you love?"

"That's the thing though: I don't love acting. At least not anymore. I'm a writer. And I'm perfectly happy doing what I'm good at and nothing more." I squeeze her hand before pulling mine away, lest the simple touch somehow reveal the fact that I'm lying. Not about being a writer. I do love it, and it does make me happy. Just maybe not totally and completely happy.

"You might not love acting-although the way you jumped at the chance to read for Isobel in Jonathan's audition begs to differ-but you love this character." She shovels another bite into her mouth, but I don't fill the silence while she chews. "I know you do, Em, because I could hear it in your performance. And I know how much this movie means to you."

I purse my lips to hold in my retort. She's not wrong. Isobel, the female main character in No Reservations, is one of my favorites I've written. When we found ourselves in need of a reader for auditions for the male lead, I did jump at the chance. But it was meant to be a one-time-only, special-occasion, never-happening-again performance. Even if it was the most fun I've had in a really long time.

Unfortunately, I may have filled the role a little too well. Liz has been on me to play the part ever since, especially as we get closer and closer to our scheduled start date and seemingly further and further from finding our Isobel. I never would've pushed for my best friend to direct this project if I'd known how much whining and cajoling would ensue.

I've been stalling, certain that the perfect actress would make her way to auditions. Meanwhile, I've had to tell Liz at least once a day that there is no way in hell she is casting me in my own movie.

Safe to say, things are not going as planned.

And the most annoying part is that I don't want Isobel in the hands of someone unqualified. Someone who doesn't get her, doesn't get my words.

But I don't know if any of that is enough. Yes, I love this movie and this script and this character. But do I love her enough to forget about the past and try it all again?

Liz can tell I'm wavering. I know she can because there's a hint of a smile pulling on her stupidly full lips. "You know you and Jonathan would be awesome together, and he'd be an incredibly supportive costar." I open my mouth to speak, but she holds up her hand. "Don't make any decisions right now. Take some time to think about it. But not too much time." Her hint of a smile fades. "You heard Kurt."

"Do you think he was serious about the twenty-four hours?" The thought of losing our funding on this film is a knife to the heart. It took me a long time to fall back in love with writing about love, and if No Reservations doesn't even make it to the screen, I don't know how I'll push through to write another.

"I think Kurt is always serious." She hits me with her most formidable stop-being-an-idiot look, one I've been on the receiving end of frequently during our many years of friendship. "So promise me you will seriously consider doing this. We need you."

"Fine. I'll think about it," I grumble, happy to put a pin in this whole conversation. "But don't get your hopes up. I'm sure the right actress will come along just in the nick of time."

The all-too-knowing smile she gives her pancakes makes me come close to hurling up my own.

After we leave the café, I sit in my car for a solid ten minutes, unsure of what to do next. I probably would’ve sat for longer if some asshole hadn’t started honking at me to give up my parking spot. If I’m being honest, I know there’s only one person I really need to talk to about my dilemma. And I’m dreading it, not because I don’t want to talk to her, but because I’m pretty sure I already know what she’s going to say.

Pulling into the driveway of my mom's house in the Hollywood Hills brings on its usual flux of competing emotions. Her house is adorable and perfect for her and the fresh start she desperately needed after my dad passed away four years ago. It's also an overpriced reminder that I'll never step foot in my childhood home again. And although I understand why she needed to leave-not just to escape the memories, but because the house was too much for her to care for on her own-it doesn't take away the sting of losing one of my last tangible connections to my father.

My parents had the kind of relationship you don't often see in movies because it's what happens after the film ends, when the two people so perfectly suited for each other build a real life together. They had a classic showmance, one of the few that lasted well beyond the first movie they ever made as costars, one that landed them on every list of Hollywood's top power couples. It was easy to write epic love stories when I had my very own example to study. It's been a lot harder since my mom lost her partner and best friend.

I would sit in my car for another ten minutes here, too, but I know she's already seen me pull up. If I don't climb out soon, she'll have no problem coming outside to find out why. So I trudge up the steep steps to her front porch and push open the door she's already unlocked for me.

"I'm in the kitchen," she calls, as if I wouldn't have been able to easily locate her in the tiny two hundred square feet that comprise her living room, dining room, and kitchen.

I kick off my shoes and sink onto the couch, swinging my feet up on the ottoman that doubles as a coffee table.

"Coffee?"

"No, I'm good. I just had one with Liz."

She comes in a minute later, two mugs in her hands, passing one off to me before folding herself into the armchair across from me.

"Why do you even ask if you're going to bring me one anyway?"

"I thought writers subsisted solely on coffee." She flashes me a smile while trying to disguise her look-you know the one, the one moms level at you when they're trying to figure out what you're hiding. When I was a teenager, I hid secret crushes and an occasional bottle of alcohol. As an adult, I stick to hiding my emotions. Not that it ever works.

I ignore her alien brain probing and focus on taking a long sip of coffee, which of course is prepared exactly how I like it.

She clears her throat and raises her eyebrows in some kind of mom power move. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Can't a daughter just swing by and check on her mother for no specific reason?" I shift my body, angling myself slightly away from her just in case her brain probe is real.

"Yes. But you obviously have a reason." She sets down her coffee on the side table next to her chair and clasps her hands together in her lap. "Why don't we skip the song and dance, and you just tell me what's going on?"

Purely on instinct I open my mouth to argue with her, but then I think better of it.

"Liz wants me to be in the movie."

The lack of surprise on her face makes it clear that Liz has mentioned this to her already, which is honestly rude and should be illegal. My mom and Liz hit it off the moment they met on move-in day back during our freshman year of college and have had their own pseudo mother-daughter relationship ever since. "And?"

"And I don't want to be in the movie." I study her face, watching for even the smallest of hidden messages in her reaction, but the woman is a three-time Best Actress Academy Award winner and gives away nothing.

"So tell her no."

"I did. Several times."

"Then what's the problem?"

I glare at her for being purposefully obtuse. Is this what it's like to have a child? Because no thank you. "The problem is she keeps pressuring me."

"If you don't want to do it, then who cares? Liz is your best friend. If you don't want to be in the movie, she'll find someone else to be in the movie." She picks up her mug and watches me carefully over the rim as she sips.

"What if she can't find someone else?"

"You mean to tell me that in the entire city of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world, esteemed director Liz Hudson can't find a single actress to be in her film? Back in my day, girls would've been lining up for the chance to audition."

"It's our movie," I grumble. "And there are girls lining up to audition. They're just not exactly what we're looking for. And Kurt threatened to pull funding if we don't make a decision, like, today." --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C4J7Z88H
Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons (February 27, 2024)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 27, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3592 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1035417774

Best Sellers Rank: #53,212 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #977 in Women's Friendship Fiction
- #2,419 in Romantic Comedy (Kindle Store)
- #2,748 in Women's Romance Fiction

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4.0 440 ratings

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Falon Ballard

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Falon Ballard loves to write about love! She also has an undying affection for exclamation points and isn’t ashamed to admit it! When she’s not writing fictional love stories, she’s helping real-life couples celebrate, working as a wedding planner in Southern California. She has a deep appreciation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is a Disneyland devotee, and is a reality TV aficionado. In addition, she's the cohost of the romance novel podcast, Happy to Meet Cute. If she’s not busy wrangling her kiddo, you can probably find her drinking wine and posting a picture on Instagram while simultaneously snarking on Twitter, because multitasking!

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4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024

Verified Purchase

I absolutely adored this book. There are days when you just need to read a cute rom-com and this just meets that need. The cast of characters were all delightful, sincere in their dialogue, and made this book fun to read. I’m going to be looking for more of this author’s work.

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024

Verified Purchase

I liked it because she just wrote a rom com, without all the social commentary. Did not like “Lease on Love.”

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024

Verified Purchase

So this is good and I liked it for the most part but the issue I have is two things. The first is the miscommunication, I hate it and it was so relevant in this story it started getting annoying. The second is the third act breakup which was unnecessary and was all due to miscommunication. Again it was good and it might be me but those two things knocked it down for me.

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024

3.5 stars

Falon Ballard's 'Right on Cue' is a charming, celebrity romance with a bit of sass and some heartfelt moments.

Fresh off an Oscar for a darker film written in the aftermath of her grief, Hollywood nepo baby Emmy Harper returns to writing rom coms. After her director best friend finally convinces her to take the starring role, she's horrified to find her injured co-star's replacement is action hunk Grayson West, the man she blames for ruining her acting debut when they were teenagers.

There's some fantastic spark and banter between Emmy and Grayson. Both are dealing with the weight of expectations. For Emmy, being the daughter of a Hollywood IT couple whose love story (co-stars who met on-set and married) is the role model for her rom coms and her relationships. For Grayson, its to be seen as a serious actor because he'll never be good enough for his father.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I did have some authenticity issues regarding the filmmaking process. Ballard includes an intimacy coordinator, so why was the premiere several weeks after they wrapped, when usually its around a year afterwards? A longer break would've given the characters time to work on their issues and earn that HEA, especially Emmy's inability to communicate. Also, I found it hard to believe Emmy writes feminist Nora Ephron-inspired rom coms when the movie seemed like a typical small town Hallmark movie.

I would've loved further exploration into Emmy being a 'nepo baby' and Grayson's career regarding serious roles. I think this was a missed opportunity to make more than passing mention. In Grayson's case it seemed like he desired to act in different roles not just because of his dad, so why didn't it end with the two of them collaborating on a new project to showcase it?

The strengths of this book were the characters. Emmy could be frustrating at times regarding her stubborn refusal to communicate (props to her mum and Liz for calling her out), but it was understandable given her background and her longstanding hurt. I also adored Grayson, who was clearly gone for her, but nurturing his own hurt from their past. There was some beautiful, gentle swoony moments that kept me glued to the page.

Right on Cue sated my love for celebrity/Hollywood romance. As a fan of Ballard's first two books, I devoured this book and wasn't disappointed. Ballard writes in an engaging way with some fantastic characterisation, including secondary characters (any chance for a book featuring Liz?!). I highly recommend adding this to your pre-orders; I have.

Thanks to Putnam/Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024

I'm not always a fan of second chance romance but I really enjoyed this one. Falon Ballard always provides great stories and characters. I enjoyed the twist of this rom-com taking place in the filming of a rom-com.

My biggest issue was all the miscommunications between the Emmy and Grayson but it all worked out in the end. It was a little funny(ironic?) that Emmy was waiting for the other shoe to drop and let her guard down only to have the classic 3rd act breakup happen.

Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam Group, and Falon Ballard for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

Helpful

Shanna | CozyGreyLibrary

Hollywood Romance

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024

Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the free book—I'm happy to provide my honest review!

I've discovered a newfound love for Hollywood romance stories, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. It's sweet, tension-filled, and sexually driven, with top-notch narrators that brought the story to life. However, I must admit, the third-act breakup is what frustrated me, miscommunication always gets me!

Emmy and Grayson had good chemistry was palpable, and I loved the dynamic of the story taking place on a movie set—it added an extra layer of fun. While I wasn't thrilled about the third-act breakup, I appreciated how things worked out in the end. Listening to the audiobook was a delight, thanks to the talented narrators who truly immersed me in the story.

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Steph

5*

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2024

Verified Purchase

I loved this book! I haven't read a book with a movie making storyline before and it was great! Fantastic romance, only thing I would've liked was to see some reviews spoken about of the movie made. Would definitely recommend!

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