After her fiancé ends their relationship because she’s too “clingy”, Bookstagrammer/ nurse Tara (whom we are briefly introduced to in the first book in Lea’s Influencer series, Set On You) decides to create her own second-chance romance. So, with the help of her new roommate, a handsome commitment-phobe firefighter named Trevor, Tara attempts to publicly reconnect with her exes. Along the way, Tara eventually breaks down Trevor’s walls and discovers the more sensitive side that Trevor keeps hidden…should Tara give-up her search for a second chance romance in the hopes of having a “room-ance”? Exes and O’s features the reformed playboy, forced proximity, opposites attract, and “roommates to lovers” tropes. Exes and O’s would be ideal for fans of rom coms like The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas, Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher, Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood, Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings, Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter, and Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey. I also think that Taylor Swift fans will enjoy this book; in addition to having a good amount of Taylor Swift references, the lyric “can I ask you a question?” (from “Question… ?” by Taylor Swift) was stuck in my head the entire time I was reading Exes and O’s as this lyric becomes Tara’s catchphrase. Some themes present in Exes and O’s include communication (or lack thereof), companionship, family, love and heartbreak, losing hope, sickness and vulnerability, and loneliness. In my opinion, the moral of this story is that if you want something, you can’t just wait for it to fall into your lap, you should go out and search for it. Some trigger warnings include broken engagements and sick children. Firstly, I appreciated that Crystal and Scott (the main characters in Set On You) made regular appearances in Exes and O’s (Tara is Crystal’s sister and Trevor is Scott’s co-worker) as I enjoy seeing what my favourite characters are up to post happily ever after. I also appreciated that you didn’t need to read (or remember) Crystal and Scott’s story before you pick-up Exes and O’s; in my opinion, both stories can be read as complete standalones. I really enjoyed Exes and O’s by Amy Lea, I actually liked it even more than book 1 in the series, Set On You. Furthermore, I felt like I connected more to the main character in Exes and O’s, Tara, since, like me, she is also an avid book lover and Bookstagrammer. My favourite part of the novel was the scene where Tara and Trevor dressed-up as Disney characters for a special someone’s tenth Birthday party; I love Disney and I thought that this moment was so sweet and heartfelt. On the downside, I found that the main plot, Tara seeking out all her exes in an attempt to reconnect and/ or get some closure, was a tad repetitive and not very unique. Additionally, even though there was some spice towards the end of the book, Exes and O’s was very much a slow burn romance and, overall, I found the pace of the story to be rather slow as well. Overall, I enjoyed Exes and O’s and would recommend it to fellow book lovers who enjoy romance tropes like second chance romances and “room-ances”. Links: Click HERE to view this article on "The Nerd Daily's" website! Click HERE to add Exes and O's to your Goodreads TBR! Click HERE to read my review of Set On You by Amy Lea! Continue reading for an excerpt of Exes and O's by Amy Lea curtesy of Berkley Publishing, Penguin Random House, and Amy Lea… Excerpt of Exes and O's by Amy Lea:
As I contemplate curling into bed to escape reality with a trusty book, there’s a soft knock at the door. “What?” I grumble. “Tara, please open the door.” Against my better judgment, I open it the tiniest crack. Trevor is still in his coat and boots, his chest heaving, his hair disheveled like he’s run his fingers through it a thousand times. “I’m not talking to you until you tell me the truth,” I warn. He tips his head back, as if to see me from a different perspective. “You want the truth?” he asks, his voice strained. “That’s all I want,” I whisper, my hands on either side of my cheeks to cover the redness. He sighs. “You were right. I—have feelings for you.” The declaration knocks the wind out of my chest. I tamp down the urge to ask a million questions, letting him continue. “Big feelings. To the point where I don’t even know what to do with myself half the time. I’ve tried to get you out of my head for months, but your stubborn ass just won’t leave.” “Really?” “I’ve wanted to tell you so badly. Every single day since I realized it.” “Why haven’t you?” “Because I’m scared that I can’t give you what you need.” “What do you think I need?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “You want a full-on fairy tale. The perfect guy from your books. Marriage. Kids. Everything. And you deserve it all. But what if I’m not capable of giving that to you?” I consider that. I think about all the exes who’ve made me similar promises in the past. How empty their words were. How it all meant nothing. Because in the end, they all left. “But what if you are?” I counter. “I don’t need another man who makes elaborate promises they can’t commit to, Trevor. I need someone who’s going to be open and honest with me. I want someone who is willing to try.” A sigh that sounds like relief escapes his lips. “If there’s anyone in this world I want to try for, it’s you,” he whispers. My chest caves, and my eyes mist. Somehow, those words mean more to me than any elaborate declaration of love from my exes. “We’re really doing this?” I confirm. “I’m going to give this everything I have. I just . . . I might need to take thing slow. Slower than you’re used to.” I nod. “I can do slow.” He regards me, his lip tilting in a smirk. “Can you, though?” “Yup.” I cover my face to hide my half-lie, and he laughs. “You’ve already come up with baby names, haven’t you?” My heart swells. We’ve been in a relationship all of a minute and already Trevor knows me better than any guy I’ve ever been with. “Maybe. But you’re right. We’ll go slow. Glacial slow. No marriage or baby talk. And just kissing. We’ll keep it G-rated.” I press my hand over my chest in a vow. He’s quiet for a few beats as his eyes search mine. For a split second, I’m certain he’s about to walk it all back. “Maybe not G.” “No? Would you prefer PG? Just light pecks and hand-holding?” I tease. “At least PG-13, smartass. Get over here.” Before I have the chance to pounce, he pushes the door open, crosses the threshold, and pulls my wrists from my face. And then, his lips collide with mine. Hard. Excerpted from Exes and O's by Amy Lea, Copyright © 2023 by Amy Lea. Excerpt reproduced with permission of Berkley and Penguin Random House, all rights reserved.
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