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maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was a fun romance! I don’t often do modern romance novels so this was a bit out of my comfort zone. I loved the quirky nuances of the writing. I can just picture the awkwardness and the tension! In some ways the story is very predictable, but isn’t that why we read romance? For me the downfall was the obsession with sex. It’s just not my thing and the amount of descriptive scenes was too much for my personal liking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexism
theespressoedition's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was such an interesting take on "fake dating"! I'm a huge fan of this trope and have found that a lot of the contemporary romances that have stood out to me recently are ones with fake dating in them.
I was expecting The Ex Talk to be a bit of a quick read, but it wound up taking way longer than I thought it would. I kept speeding up my audiobook more and more until it was at 3x speed - and it still took over 12 hours to complete. That part was a little off-putting, considering fluffy romcoms are usually my "easy reads." But if you don't mind taking your time with a romance, then this will be right up your alley.
It was neat to see how the emphasis on radio was such a huge part of the story. It wasn't just mentioned as their careers and then kind of never talked about again. It was integral to the plot and actually made me want to cue up a radio program just to find appreciation for it again.
The characters weren't always likable, but they were often relatable, which I think was well done. Humans as a whole aren't always likable, so it made the book feel much more realistic to me. I felt like I could turn on the radio (or a podcast) and actually hear Dominic and Shay telling stories.
The conflict was hugely predictable, which was a little bit of a letdown to me personally, but that's often the case when it comes to books like this. I wish it hadn't taken the exact route it did, but that's a totally personal preference and has nothing to do with the writing of the book.
I really loved the very end of the book. There was a lot of strength in it and the resolution was incredibly satisfying!
I was expecting The Ex Talk to be a bit of a quick read, but it wound up taking way longer than I thought it would. I kept speeding up my audiobook more and more until it was at 3x speed - and it still took over 12 hours to complete. That part was a little off-putting, considering fluffy romcoms are usually my "easy reads." But if you don't mind taking your time with a romance, then this will be right up your alley.
It was neat to see how the emphasis on radio was such a huge part of the story. It wasn't just mentioned as their careers and then kind of never talked about again. It was integral to the plot and actually made me want to cue up a radio program just to find appreciation for it again.
The characters weren't always likable, but they were often relatable, which I think was well done. Humans as a whole aren't always likable, so it made the book feel much more realistic to me. I felt like I could turn on the radio (or a podcast) and actually hear Dominic and Shay telling stories.
The conflict was hugely predictable, which was a little bit of a letdown to me personally, but that's often the case when it comes to books like this. I wish it hadn't taken the exact route it did, but that's a totally personal preference and has nothing to do with the writing of the book.
I really loved the very end of the book. There was a lot of strength in it and the resolution was incredibly satisfying!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing
hayleyw's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Terminal illness, and Vomit
toberomanced's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Lots of longing and sighing in this one. Maybe it was the narrator, very wistful. Still a great little romance!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
readwithde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a perfect fun and steamy read! I always prefer dual POVs in romances, but I felt like Shay and Dom both communicated very well (which makes sense for people in radio/communications), so I felt like I got enough content from both of them.
Though the start was a bit slow, the pace picked up quickly. There were some times where the plot stretched a bit, like an office sending two people away for the weekend, but to a place with only one bedroom? but overall, it didn't ruin the story or break verisimilitude for me.
The banter and tension between Shay and Dominic is so great, and I'm glad that it stayed that way through the entire book. They have such great chemistry, whether rivals, friends, or more; it gives the book a grounded feeling -- they are who they are throughout the narrative.
I liked the side plot of Shay's life (her mom remarrying, her best friend possibly moving away), but it made the book feel like her story alone. I would have loved to have some current Dominic drama, but that may have cluttered the story a bit.
Overall, I'm trying to find something to criticize, and I can't. It was emotional without being sad or dark, it was lighthearted but covered real issues with race and gender, and it was steamy and romantic while being vulnerable and fun.
Though the start was a bit slow, the pace picked up quickly. There were some times where the plot stretched a bit,
The banter and tension between Shay and Dominic is so great, and I'm glad that it stayed that way through the entire book. They have such great chemistry, whether rivals, friends, or more; it gives the book a grounded feeling -- they are who they are throughout the narrative.
I liked the side plot of Shay's life (her mom remarrying, her best friend possibly moving away), but it made the book feel like her story alone. I would have loved to have some current Dominic drama, but that may have cluttered the story a bit.
Overall, I'm trying to find something to criticize, and I can't. It was emotional without being sad or dark, it was lighthearted but covered real issues with race and gender, and it was steamy and romantic while being vulnerable and fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
crystalmethany's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Death
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
beccaand's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Grief, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent
writtenbydnicole's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, and Cancer
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Didn't love this book as much as I hoped to. Not sure I can pinpoint an exact reason. I'm not a huge radio or podcast fan so those parts didn't intrigue me and I'm never a fan of too much deceit in storylines
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, and Cancer