Scan barcode
bzliz's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
2.5
I didn’t have high hopes for this which is probably for the best because it was just okay. I enjoyed it enough to finish it but it wasn’t anything special.
I think the author tried to include some more serious subjects that people face in life like sexism, racism, loss and grief, but none of them went in depth enough to feel genuine. The closest was the sexist boss at the radio station getting minorly told off for his awful behavior but it was mostly handled through conversations about him between female characters which means nothing really came of it. There was also some mention of the struggle of interracial dating but it was brief and the main characters didn’t have to deal with any of it.
Shay and Dominic were fine characters but they were hampered by a downright obsession with public radio. There were a couple of romance tropes used to varying degrees of success. The rivals to lovers aspect was fun vs the ‘just one bed’ trope which was super predictable from the moment they were being sent on a trip. And Shay mentioned being pushed up against the wall roughly a dozen times which got old quick.
If you read purely for vibes, this is worth checking out. If you’re looking for something with more heart, you can skip this.
I think the author tried to include some more serious subjects that people face in life like sexism, racism, loss and grief, but none of them went in depth enough to feel genuine. The closest was the sexist boss at the radio station getting minorly told off for his awful behavior but it was mostly handled through conversations about him between female characters which means nothing really came of it. There was also some mention of the struggle of interracial dating but it was brief and the main characters didn’t have to deal with any of it.
Shay and Dominic were fine characters but they were hampered by a downright obsession with public radio. There were a couple of romance tropes used to varying degrees of success. The rivals to lovers aspect was fun vs the ‘just one bed’ trope which was super predictable from the moment they were being sent on a trip. And Shay mentioned being pushed up against the wall roughly a dozen times which got old quick.
If you read purely for vibes, this is worth checking out. If you’re looking for something with more heart, you can skip this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Racism and Cancer
ambeesbookishpages's review
5.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
*Thank you so much BERKLEY and NetGalley for letting me read and review THE EX TALK*
This Book. I am in love. I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up The Ex Talk since contemporary novels aren't typically what I read. But once I read the synopsis I was sold. Rachel's adult debut novel did not disappoint one bit. I was flying through the pages of Shay and Dominic's story wanting to know more and waiting for *that* moment.
I LOVE Shay's character so much. I loved seeing her internal and external troubles with radio, how she is self conscious of her voice and how her ethics are compromised with the idea of The Ex Talk when she agrees to the idea. I also liked how Rachel took time to include the small details, the good and the bad about her father who passed away ten years earlier. Shay felt so incredibly real! I wish she wasn't a fictional character because I wish we could be best friends.
I couldn't help but love Dominic. At first he comes off as a jackass, but slowly we get to learn the real him and I was quite literally swooning for him. Rachel did a good job about explaining his background too, his insecurities and making him feel just as real as Shay is.
THE TENSION. The sexual tension in this book is something else. It is so obvious that they are into each other to everyone else but them and I loved that aspect so much. They don't have the traditional "boy meets girl and they fall in love" story but thats what I love the most. I also enjoyed that Shay is actually a few years older than Dominic, I feel like that is something that needs to be more normalized in romance novels is that the girl can be older in the relationship.
Overall I loved The Ex Talk and I can't wait until it is out in the world so other people can love it as well! Rachel did not disappoint and I can't wait to read more from her soon!
*Thank you so much BERKLEY and NetGalley for letting me read and review THE EX TALK*
This Book. I am in love. I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up The Ex Talk since contemporary novels aren't typically what I read. But once I read the synopsis I was sold. Rachel's adult debut novel did not disappoint one bit. I was flying through the pages of Shay and Dominic's story wanting to know more and waiting for *that* moment.
I LOVE Shay's character so much. I loved seeing her internal and external troubles with radio, how she is self conscious of her voice and how her ethics are compromised with the idea of The Ex Talk when she agrees to the idea. I also liked how Rachel took time to include the small details, the good and the bad about her father who passed away ten years earlier. Shay felt so incredibly real! I wish she wasn't a fictional character because I wish we could be best friends.
I couldn't help but love Dominic. At first he comes off as a jackass, but slowly we get to learn the real him and I was quite literally swooning for him. Rachel did a good job about explaining his background too, his insecurities and making him feel just as real as Shay is.
THE TENSION. The sexual tension in this book is something else. It is so obvious that they are into each other to everyone else but them and I loved that aspect so much. They don't have the traditional "boy meets girl and they fall in love" story but thats what I love the most. I also enjoyed that Shay is actually a few years older than Dominic, I feel like that is something that needs to be more normalized in romance novels is that the girl can be older in the relationship.
Overall I loved The Ex Talk and I can't wait until it is out in the world so other people can love it as well! Rachel did not disappoint and I can't wait to read more from her soon!
awildgingersaur's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
beaceschim's review against another edition
5.0
Lembro que eu AMEI este quando li, mas já não me recordo de nada da história - tirando o podcast de ex-namorados falsos e que tem uma viagem de trabalho
tayla_west's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mxxnphxsxs's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sarahely's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0