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brookey8888's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.5
This was super cute! I really liked the main character just because I related to her a lot( I’m not a hopeless romantic, but everything else lol). I thought the slow burn to strangers to friends to lovers was well done and just so cute. This was just a nice fun and cute time with a few spicy scenes.i liked Trevor and how he was slowly opening up to Tara. I honestly didn’t mind the third act conflict to much because I felt like it made sense for the characters and they didn’t establish themselves as a couple yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Chronic illness
abidavisf's review
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? Yes
4.0
Exes and O’s is a snappy and funny read, detailing Tara’s quest to track down her ten exes to see if she could strike up a second chance romance with any of them.
As an avid romance reader (obviously) who talks books on social media, reading from the perspective of a very similar character was very meta. Sometimes, it was really relatable and funny. Other times, I felt a bit silly. I’m not sure if that makes sense. It’s almost like Tara’s channel both inspired me to keep going while also making me feel like I’d never be as good as her. Definitely my own insecurity there, but I thought I’d share all the same!
In many sense, Exes and O’s felt very fast-paced as the majority of the exes came and went in a matter of pages. At times, I didn’t like this as it felt rushed but, as the book progressed, I was thankful because it meant we got more Trevor time and who doesn’t want more Trevor time? It was also reflective of the fact that Trevor is our main man. He is the love interest that we’re supposed to be paying attention to and the exes are actually side characters in *his* story, not the other way around.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, witty and hopeful book, Exes and O’s is for you.
One final thought: did anyone else feel like Crystal was way too dismissive to her sister?!
As an avid romance reader (obviously) who talks books on social media, reading from the perspective of a very similar character was very meta. Sometimes, it was really relatable and funny. Other times, I felt a bit silly. I’m not sure if that makes sense. It’s almost like Tara’s channel both inspired me to keep going while also making me feel like I’d never be as good as her. Definitely my own insecurity there, but I thought I’d share all the same!
In many sense, Exes and O’s felt very fast-paced as the majority of the exes came and went in a matter of pages. At times, I didn’t like this as it felt rushed but, as the book progressed, I was thankful because it meant we got more Trevor time and who doesn’t want more Trevor time? It was also reflective of the fact that Trevor is our main man. He is the love interest that we’re supposed to be paying attention to and the exes are actually side characters in *his* story, not the other way around.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted, witty and hopeful book, Exes and O’s is for you.
One final thought: did anyone else feel like Crystal was way too dismissive to her sister?!
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Chronic illness
whatemilysreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As romance books go this was every bit as swoony as I expected, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I enjoyed the plot and the banter a lot, as well as the overall message that the right person will love you for who you are. This was a cute and quick read, but unfortunately it didn’t land with me the way that Set on You did last year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
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
pageswithpatrice's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse
beereads_23's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
general disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. Thus, no stars doesn’t indicate that the book wasn’t worthy of any starred system. It just means I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all, even if the lesson is that I’m a ho for the smut, recognizing a genre/book/author is not for me, or confronting my own mommy/daddy issues lol. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Happy reading! Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial
Usually, I love forced proximity and I love a to-do list! Tara --bookstagrammer, so we love her-- has a list of exes that she is revisiting so that she can fulfill a second-chance romance trope and find true love. She also has a new room mate, Trevor, who is a firefighter and coaches her in these interactions and sometimes on her dates! Obviously, they fall for each other instead but it's a very slow burn -- it's very much Gigi & Alex coded from He's Just Not That Into You. Like "omg you're so crazy! How is any guy going to fall in love with you?!" ick.
I just vehemently despise that Trevor made Tara feel like she was the issue, and that she was "too much" so he clearly wasn't my favorite MMC. It was almost as if he was doing her a favor??? I know he was a simp for her by the end but I didn't appreciate that it felt like he was tolerating her (if you're a Swiftie, you know what I'm talking about).
Otherwise, I did think it was a fine fluffy little romance. I liked Tara and I felt for her. I was rooting for her but still think she deserves better than Trevor. I also enjoyed the cameos from Scott & Crystal from book 1!
Steam would be 2/5 because there's not much until the very end but it was still fun! Anyway, again, it wasn't my favorite from Amy Lea but I will absolutely read the next book regardless!
Usually, I love forced proximity and I love a to-do list! Tara --bookstagrammer, so we love her-- has a list of exes that she is revisiting so that she can fulfill a second-chance romance trope and find true love. She also has a new room mate, Trevor, who is a firefighter and coaches her in these interactions and sometimes on her dates! Obviously, they fall for each other instead but it's a very slow burn -- it's very much Gigi & Alex coded from He's Just Not That Into You. Like "omg you're so crazy! How is any guy going to fall in love with you?!" ick.
I just vehemently despise that Trevor made Tara feel like she was the issue, and that she was "too much" so he clearly wasn't my favorite MMC. It was almost as if he was doing her a favor??? I know he was a simp for her by the end but I didn't appreciate that it felt like he was tolerating her (if you're a Swiftie, you know what I'm talking about).
Otherwise, I did think it was a fine fluffy little romance. I liked Tara and I felt for her. I was rooting for her but still think she deserves better than Trevor. I also enjoyed the cameos from Scott & Crystal from book 1!
Steam would be 2/5 because there's not much until the very end but it was still fun! Anyway, again, it wasn't my favorite from Amy Lea but I will absolutely read the next book regardless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
kfmcf's review against another edition
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
5.0
Listen. Is this book perfect? No. But it made me feel that warm and fuzzy feeling for the majority of it as these characters and their stories in the world of the book developed.
This book is not for people who are plot forward readers. This is a character forward book and that is my favorite. The focus is on who they are and how they're connecting. I also think their chemistry was stellar and believable and I enjoyed it.
People who see Tara as annoying and too clingy are.. just blatantly missing the point of this book. It's a story of her growth of overcoming her own stigmas and reclaiming her definition of sanity. Was she the most mature POV character? No. But if she was then her struggles and flaws would have been wholly unbelievable. The female POV protag doesn't always need to be idyllic or cool or what have you. Having a character with real person personality flaws is good.
There were definitely some issues I had, but they were relatively small. First, the exes being blasted on socials. Like. No. That's a privacy thing and odd. I don't think they would have enjoyed that.
Angie was not a believable child. And Payton telling her *nine year old* that her uncle was like a *revolving door* was unpleasant.
The one thing I do disagree with people on is the miscommunication. Yes it was there but THAT HAPPENS. IN REAL LIFE. And it was only heavy in the last act. And there's a meta comment from Flo about it. It's fine. It's not the greatest but it's BELIEVABLE.
This book is head and shoulders above book 1 in the series and I look forward to Mel's story.
This book is not for people who are plot forward readers. This is a character forward book and that is my favorite. The focus is on who they are and how they're connecting. I also think their chemistry was stellar and believable and I enjoyed it.
People who see Tara as annoying and too clingy are.. just blatantly missing the point of this book. It's a story of her growth of overcoming her own stigmas and reclaiming her definition of sanity. Was she the most mature POV character? No. But if she was then her struggles and flaws would have been wholly unbelievable. The female POV protag doesn't always need to be idyllic or cool or what have you. Having a character with real person personality flaws is good.
There were definitely some issues I had, but they were relatively small. First, the exes being blasted on socials. Like. No. That's a privacy thing and odd. I don't think they would have enjoyed that.
Angie was not a believable child. And Payton telling her *nine year old* that her uncle was like a *revolving door* was unpleasant.
The one thing I do disagree with people on is the miscommunication. Yes it was there but THAT HAPPENS. IN REAL LIFE. And it was only heavy in the last act. And there's a meta comment from Flo about it. It's fine. It's not the greatest but it's BELIEVABLE.
This book is head and shoulders above book 1 in the series and I look forward to Mel's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
kirareadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
This book prob would’ve been a 4.25 until Trevor’s last speech about her bring everyone joy and how she also deserves that. That pushed it to a 4.5 for me. As a person who has been called “over the top” many times in her life, I really connected with Tara. I loved the friends to lovers and grumpy sunshine tropes. I just wish it was dual pov.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
rickireadss's review against another edition
3.0
this book wasn't bad, it just wasn't really good either. i pushed through to the end because i wanted to see if our fmc would pull her head out of her butt (spoiler: she does but it takes until like the 80% MARK ugh) i wasn't even like engaged and excited about the story until the 70% and the entire last like 10% was horrible.
⚠️: gaslighting, emotional abuse, medical content, toxic relationship, chronic illness (side character), death of parent, death, abandonment
⚠️: gaslighting, emotional abuse, medical content, toxic relationship, chronic illness (side character), death of parent, death, abandonment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Chronic illness, Abandonment, and Death of parent