There are very few authors I get absolutely giddy about the moment I hear they have a new release. The kind where I do not even need to read the summary because I already know it will be heartfelt, funny, all-encompassing, and memorable. Falon Ballard never ceases to amaze me with her talent, and Toe to Toe once again proves that she has been, is, and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in contemporary romance.

Stepping into the intricate world of ballet, Toe to Toe leaves you with not only a newfound appreciation for the discipline, dedication, and artistry required to succeed in such a beautiful profession, but also an understanding of the darker underbelly that those on the outside rarely see.

All Allegra has ever wanted since her first ballet class was to become a principal ballerina. She has dedicated her life to the craft, giving it her time, her energy, and making sacrifices far beyond what most people would ever understand. Yet the promotion she has always dreamed of has remained just out of reach – until now.

When she learns her director is creating a new ballet, Allegra becomes determined to land the lead role. She knows she has the technical talent, but that confidence is quickly shaken when she is told she does not embody the seductive energy required to play the character of Dominique.

Determined to change that, Allegra unexpectedly finds inspiration at Six Pact, where a man with far more talent than a stripper reasonably should have takes the stage and completely blows her mind. Cord does not just perform – he commands the room.

Realizing he may be the key to unlocking the performance she needs, Allegra strikes a deal: she will help him develop a new number for his show if he teaches her how to own the stage with the same confidence and sensuality that come so naturally to him. Late nights, close proximity, and shared vulnerability begin to blur the line between performance and something much more personal. It is one thing to portray passion for an audience, but it is another thing entirely when those sparks become real.

From beginning to end, Allegra and Cord were addictive. The character development Ballard gives both of them is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Through each lesson and interaction, we watch them slowly evolve into the people they were always meant to be.

At the start, both characters are boxed in by the identities they have built for themselves. Allegra is the perfectionist ballerina who sees only flaws, while Cord is determined to keep his past and present firmly separated. Little by little, those rigid identities begin to shift.

Allegra begins to see that she is more than her pursuit of perfection, while Cord learns that shutting parts of himself away is not the same thing as moving forward.

This is not a simple love-conquers-all story. Both characters are stubborn, guarded, and deeply set in their ways, and it takes more than attraction to bring them to a place of real growth.

Ballard is also incredibly skilled at giving readers a false sense of security. Around the sixty percent mark, everything feels like it is finally falling into place. Obstacles seem to have been overcome, the relationship is thriving, and I found myself wondering what could possibly go wrong.

Which brings me to what I consider the Ross and Rachel debate of this book: Cord and Allegra’s breakup.

When they first decide to pursue a relationship, they are honest with each other about their limitations. Ballet will always come first for Allegra, and Cord will likely never be fully comfortable with the world of ballet. From the beginning, those conditions are clear.

For a while, they respect those boundaries. Cord refuses to attend her performances, and Allegra works around her demanding rehearsal schedule to make time for him. Neither of them pretends their differences do not exist.

So when the video goes viral and Allegra is reminded of the morality clause in her contract, the conflict that follows should not come as a surprise. Both of them stand firm: she chooses ballet, and he chooses his mental well-being. Yet each believes the other is the one issuing an ultimatum.

That raises the central question of the breakup: who was actually at fault?

Did Cord issue the ultimatum by refusing to hide their relationship and expecting Allegra to push back against her director? Or did Allegra issue the ultimatum by asking Cord to remain hidden in order to protect her career?

Based on the terms they established from the beginning, I have to admit that Cord technically delivered the ultimatum. Allegra had been honest from the start about what ballet required of her. When her company enforced the morality clause, she still tried to maintain the relationship within those restrictions, even if that meant keeping it private.

For Cord, however, hiding meant sacrificing something deeply important to him. In his mind, Allegra’s choices became simple: defy the company and risk losing everything she had worked for, or choose ballet, just as she had always said she would.

That said, the reason I emotionally lean toward Cord’s perspective is because of David and the power he holds. Would the situation ever have truly ended? David had already shown how easily he could manipulate and control Allegra’s life through the production. If she were promoted to principal, that power dynamic would only grow stronger.

Especially considering Cord’s complicated history with ballet, the idea of their relationship existing indefinitely under David’s control felt unsustainable. No relationship could realistically survive forever behind closed doors, especially when someone like David had the power to keep using it against them.

The one aspect of the book that did not fully work for me was the reveal of Cord’s backstory. The narrative spends a significant amount of time building toward this dark, life-altering secret, and while the situation itself is serious and understandable, the delivery feels somewhat anticlimactic.

By the time the reveal arrives, the emotional tension has been built so high that the moment lands with more of a quiet “that’s it?” than the impact the story seems to promise. I do not necessarily think the scene needed more detail, but the emotional payoff did not fully match the buildup.

As always, Ballard excels at writing intimacy that feels rooted in emotional connection rather than simple physical attraction. The relationship develops through vulnerability, trust, and chemistry, which makes the eventual physical moment between them feel both earned and powerful.

I also appreciated the behind-the-scenes perspective on the ballet world. Through different experiences, the story shows both the consequences of speaking out and the difficult calculations dancers sometimes make when deciding how much they are willing to endure for the sake of their careers.

The most sobering realization is that no one should ever have to make that calculation in the first place. There should never be a threshold of emotional, physical, or verbal abuse that someone feels they must tolerate simply because the fallout of speaking up could cost them everything they have worked for.

The novel also highlights how damaging that environment can be to a person’s self-esteem and sense of identity. It felt as though a curtain had been pulled back, offering a deeper appreciation for the dancers who dedicate their lives to that world.

Falon Ballard continues to impress me with the characters she creates, the perspectives she explores, and the worlds she builds. I do not know what she has planned next – though I did check – but whatever it is, I will be eager to read it.