Scan barcode
theoceanrose's review
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Gaslighting
Minor: Death and Toxic relationship
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
funny
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
3.75
Another fun rom-com from Amy Lea, but could’ve earned a higher rating. Exes and Oh’s follows Tara, a bookish influencer and nurse who is infatuated with romance. After moving in with her soon to be brother in law’s best friend Trevor, Tara begins to document her quest to manufacture her own second chance romance by reconnecting with her exes. This story was a fun ride, but I also felt this truly needed to have Trevor’s pov. Trevor is an incredibly closed off character that quickly puts himself into the friend zone with Tara and essentially makes himself her wingman. I absolutely loved their budding friendship, but with the train wreck that was Tara’s exes we didn’t really get any romance until the end. Sometimes I forgot Trevor was the love interest in any capacity. This was a great story but also one of the few I felt needed an extra voice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Minor: Death and Death of parent
dailbrae's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Chronic illness, and Stalking
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death
kreadsromance's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
krisalexcole's review
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Medical content, and Chronic illness
Minor: Death, Alcohol, and Abandonment
samcanuel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Amy Lea truly outdid herself with her second book. I loved the chemistry between Tara and Trevor, Tara’s bookishness, and Trevor’s soft core hidden behind a tough exterior. Tara was very relatable to me and the main concept of the book, dating your exes, was interesting! Trevor was just the best leading man. I would highly recommend for rom com lovers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death, Medical content, Ableism, and Alcohol
sdupont'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
This book was a quick read, it was cute and cheesy in a fun way! I liked Tara and Trevor, I enjoyed the friendship that developed between the two and how they opened up to each other. I wish this book was dual POV because Trevor’s perspective would’ve added some depth to the story. One thing that bothered me was how tough Crystal was on her sister I know she was trying to prevent her from being hurt but she came across as dismissive. I would recommend this book for fans of the movie What’s Your Number?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
inkdrinkers's review
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
5.0
"You really think you're a sidekick?"
Tara Chen is fresh off the heels of a hot-ass mess of a failed engagement. After things ended horribly with her ex, Seth, ending in her giving her entire already booked wedding away - she's floundering. Combine that with a move into an awkward roommate situation (her future brother-in-law's best friend has a vacant room for her, of course) and the fact she's still working with said ex, Tara is certain her future is only going to be full of fictional men from here on out. That is, until she gets the idea to just go through her list of exes and revisit the men that didn't quite work out, effectively cutting out the awkward get-to-know-you period and jumping right back into a second-chance romance. Only Tara's head over heels approach to romance has caught the attention of her new (very hot) fireman roommate and under his tutelage Tara is certain she won't mess it up this time, or she will, and she'll fall for the very off-limits man who she shares an apartment with.
This book brought me to tears. It made me laugh out loud too many times. It had me closing the pages in sheer desperation that the next pages would hold what I hoped for - and then it delivered on all my hopes and dreams and even more. Cheesy? Maybe, but I freaking love Amy Lea and I would fall to my knees in front of her to thank her for the gift that is Trevor Metcalfe. I loved Set On You, I actually made it my entire personality last year and it still has a grip on me, but Exes and O's is a whole-ass love letter to the book community, the hopeless romantics, and the swifties wailing the lyrics to You Belong With Me.
I adored how this book approached Tara's romance. She's thirty, she's been through her fair share of exes, and they've all treated her kind of garbage in one way or another. Including the fact that she can't shake the gaslighting behavior of Seth, this just felt like a stupendously self-aware book that tackles the stereotype of the "crazy" ex, the clingy girlfriend, and all the horrible things women are called in and out of relationships. I loved seeing Tara embrace and unpack the names and labels she was given, just as much as I loved Trevor unpacking his own labels and understanding his own pitfalls. They danced around each other beautifully and I'll die on this hill, but Amy Lea's third acts are the best part of her books. Each character reaches a moment where they have to come to terms with themselves first and I adore that there's no question about it, there's no falling back on the love interest to save them, everyone figures their own shit out first and then you get the happily ever after you deserve.
This book was everything I hoped for and more, which is honestly so incredibly satisfying considering it was my biggest hopeful of the year. I thought Amy couldn't pass my love for Set On You, but she did and I love Exes and O's in ways I didn't even anticipate. No notes, I'm going to blast some Taylor Swift and maybe go stalk a fire station.
Content warnings: sexual content (a few very steamy scenes), gaslighting (from an ex/coworker), emotional abuse (from an ex), medical content (Tara is a nurse, Seth (ex) is a doctor, and Trevor has a plot point revolving around the hospital, it's present throughout the novel), toxic relationships (various), death/death of a parent (discussed in a couple scenes), and abandonment (discussed throughout)
Tara Chen is fresh off the heels of a hot-ass mess of a failed engagement. After things ended horribly with her ex, Seth, ending in her giving her entire already booked wedding away - she's floundering. Combine that with a move into an awkward roommate situation (her future brother-in-law's best friend has a vacant room for her, of course) and the fact she's still working with said ex, Tara is certain her future is only going to be full of fictional men from here on out. That is, until she gets the idea to just go through her list of exes and revisit the men that didn't quite work out, effectively cutting out the awkward get-to-know-you period and jumping right back into a second-chance romance. Only Tara's head over heels approach to romance has caught the attention of her new (very hot) fireman roommate and under his tutelage Tara is certain she won't mess it up this time, or she will, and she'll fall for the very off-limits man who she shares an apartment with.
This book brought me to tears. It made me laugh out loud too many times. It had me closing the pages in sheer desperation that the next pages would hold what I hoped for - and then it delivered on all my hopes and dreams and even more. Cheesy? Maybe, but I freaking love Amy Lea and I would fall to my knees in front of her to thank her for the gift that is Trevor Metcalfe. I loved Set On You, I actually made it my entire personality last year and it still has a grip on me, but Exes and O's is a whole-ass love letter to the book community, the hopeless romantics, and the swifties wailing the lyrics to You Belong With Me.
I adored how this book approached Tara's romance. She's thirty, she's been through her fair share of exes, and they've all treated her kind of garbage in one way or another. Including the fact that she can't shake the gaslighting behavior of Seth, this just felt like a stupendously self-aware book that tackles the stereotype of the "crazy" ex, the clingy girlfriend, and all the horrible things women are called in and out of relationships. I loved seeing Tara embrace and unpack the names and labels she was given, just as much as I loved Trevor unpacking his own labels and understanding his own pitfalls. They danced around each other beautifully and I'll die on this hill, but Amy Lea's third acts are the best part of her books. Each character reaches a moment where they have to come to terms with themselves first and I adore that there's no question about it, there's no falling back on the love interest to save them, everyone figures their own shit out first and then you get the happily ever after you deserve.
This book was everything I hoped for and more, which is honestly so incredibly satisfying considering it was my biggest hopeful of the year. I thought Amy couldn't pass my love for Set On You, but she did and I love Exes and O's in ways I didn't even anticipate. No notes, I'm going to blast some Taylor Swift and maybe go stalk a fire station.
Content warnings: sexual content (a few very steamy scenes), gaslighting (from an ex/coworker), emotional abuse (from an ex), medical content (Tara is a nurse, Seth (ex) is a doctor, and Trevor has a plot point revolving around the hospital, it's present throughout the novel), toxic relationships (various), death/death of a parent (discussed in a couple scenes), and abandonment (discussed throughout)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
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
3.25
Tara Chen, a lover of romance novels, has had 10 different men break her heart, all of whom left her because she was a "stage-five clinger." Tara is nonetheless committed to finding The One. The sole issue? Because of today's dating applications, traditional meet-cutes are extinct. In order to find her own second chance relationship that fits the stereotype, Tara seeks to reconnect with her ex-lovers.
Trevor Metcalfe, a Boston fireman, will be the last to hurry into a relationship but the first to rush into a blazing structure. Simply put, he's not into love. He grudgingly agrees when Tara, his new roommate, asks him to assist her in getting in touch with her ex-lovers. However, Tara's adventure is inspiring him to write a new chapter in his own life.
As their relationship develops, Tara becomes increasingly aware that Trevor is the only one who truly values her dramatic, honest self. Can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their developing relationship to secure their happily ever after?
This book is for 1989 stans who enjoy watching rom-coms and are hopeless romantics themselves. This novel is the offspring mad woman and Blank Space might have had. I can't emphasize enough how tone-wise, this novel was quite similar to Broken Hearts Gallery. In contrast to my normal dislike of contemporary romance literature, I like the writing style in this book. It wasn't particularly overwhelming, it was simple to grasp, and it was yet distinctive, in my opinion.
I was really enjoying the book up until the climax. If you've read any romance books at all, you're aware that there are usually these awful "third act breakups" brought on by misunderstandings. and I just detest those. Although it fits with Trevor's character, I wish it had been executed well. I kind of started to lose interest in the book after that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death and Abandonment
chloelj27's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
After reading Set On You back in November, I couldn’t wait to read about Tara and Trevor’s story. I was intrigued from Set On You about what kind of person Trevor was and what happened between Tara and Seth (most infuriating man EVER!). It was interesting delving into both of those topics.
I really loved Tara. She was funny, sweet, caring and one we can all appreciate - A BOOKSTAGRAMMER! It was fun seeing her talk about different romance tropes and getting slight glimpses of them with her exes. I did feel that I wasn’t reading about a 30 year old at times though (probably more early/mid 20’s). Trevor was a great representation of a grumpy character with a heart of gold. I loved his sarcastic interactions with Tara, but his sweet gestures were adorable! I wish we got to delve into a bit more detail with his past as I think there was more to unpack there and I love knowing about a character’s past, so I can connect even further with them.
In terms of the plot, although I enjoyed it, it may not be for everyone. It was interesting to see Tara’s exes, to go through that journey with her and see her learn a lesson about love and herself. I don’t mind a couple of pop culture references in a book, but there was quite a few which is one reason why I felt Tara was younger than she was.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and was able to relate to both main characters in different ways. I think I preferred this slightly over Set On You, but both make for good, entertaining reads.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury