Right on Cue

by Falon Ballard

[The Romantic Comedy Book Club]

As a big fan of Falon Ballard’s writing, I was over the moon excited to read Right on Cue - especially with it being a book based on two individuals acting in a rom-com with the female protagonist Emmy (i.e. the writer of the rom-com) playing the lead in her own story. The cleverness, the quick-witted exchanges, and the way Emmy highlights the outrageous aspects of romantic comedies are side-splittingly funny. "Right on Cue" holds a magnifying glass to every romantic comedy that's graced the big screen, the beloved Hollywood romances, and the production process at large, shining a light on all the imperfections we usually gloss over and reminding us of the real lives behind the fictional stories.

Born into a family of stardom, Emmy Harper grew up as Hollywood’s sweetheart. Always wanting to follow in the footsteps of her Academy Award winning parents, Emmy couldn’t wait to prove herself in her first role over, "My Love on Top". Young, scared, and with her future in front of her (not to mention a handsome costar by the name of Grayson West), Emmy could see everything perfectly aligning - hit movie, showmance, acclamations, and unprecedented success. What actually happened? A disastrous on screen kiss that led to whispered insults, a movie flop, and Emmy giving up on her career in acting before it even left the ground. Fast forward more than a decade, Emmy is now an Academy Award-winning writer with a hit film, "Midnight Sunset," to her name. Yet as she embarks on her latest rom-com, "No Reservations," she faces the challenge of finding the perfect actress for the lead role of Isobel. Despite pressure to return to acting, she's reluctant, only to step up when the film's financing is at risk, alongside the ever-supportive Jonathan Brentwood. However, an untimely accident replaces Jonathan with Grayson, sparking Emmy's fear of repeating past failures.

Convinced history is destined to repeat itself after the first few horrifying scenes with Grayson, Emma does a little recon work to discover Grayson's icy demeanor is solely reserved for her. Blindly focused on retribution, Emma gives as good as she gets until Liz puts a stop to the childishness - placing Emma and Grayson in a room together to work out their problems. A confrontation of past wrongdoing and tension of the present is just the right kindling to turn the underlying sparks into a roaring fire.

As a romantic comedy enthusiast, I loved all the backhanded remarks towards romantic comedies in general. In reality, we know the typical Hallmark movies we crave and adore are cliche but kryptonite for the romantics at heart. 

From the characters, to their exchanges, and the glimpses of behind the scenes movie making magic - I adored every aspect of this book. Falon Ballard was in full form with Emmy's dialogue and her sarcasm and wit kept me laughing. Supporting characters, like Emmy's best friend Lizzie and her mother, added to the richness of the story, with every character contributing their own twisted humor, depth, and perspective. Even Sam and Amanda in hair and makeup had me cracking up! The story was beautifully told and unfolded at a speed that kept the reader highly engaged. 

Focusing on the characters: Emmy resonated with me on multiple levels. As someone expected to embody perfection, the pressure she felt is something many can understand. As a nepo baby, she lived in a world where perfection, while not required or demanded by her family, was expected by the world watching her every move. The stress, anxiety, and pressure she put on herself was uncomfortably familiar. At any given point, like Emmy, we are being watched, judged, and scrutinized for the decision we do or do not make. Also like Emmy, many of us are so afraid to let someone down that we eventually didn’t know who that someone was anymore. That is what made her so relatable and such a perfect soundboard for Grayson. He was so determined to make everyone else happy that he never stopped to think what made him happy. 

This is where I thought Ballard did an excellent job focusing on perception and public opinion and the heavy toll it takes. 

Moving towards the end, I loved that Ballard did not go the route of a quick and easy resolve and how she messed with miscommunication moment in this book. 

Falon has never shied away from steam and intimacy in her books but I swear she cranked it up in this one. The moments Emmy and Grayson were together are some of the hottest I have read by her! What makes it even better is the intimacy the morning after: The love, the closeness, and the scorching moments they have together when they are in public but the rest of the world simply falls away.

Always a fan of the creative talents that are Falon Ballard, I am so grateful she decided to share Emmy and Grayson with the world. This is by far her best book yet! If anyone ever decides to make "Right on Cue" a movie, I will be the first to watch. It was fun to read but I cannot even begin to fathom how much fun it would be to see on the big screen!