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jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I loved Tara and Trevor’s story in this book.
Like any romance this is chock a block with tropes, including forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chance romance and more.
I loved how just like the first book of this series we got to see the close characters we follow in the other book. With Tara’s sister returning and Trevor’s co worker Seth still present it’s nice to get a continued insight into their relationship that formed in the first book.I liked getting the closure that they were planning on eloping abroad together.
Although these romances are fast paced, and the relationships similarly so in their steps up from stage to stage I did still ultimately enjoy the read as it kept me engaged at a good pace. Overall as I’ve said in many other reviews, part of the reason I don’t rate as highly is because I don’t relate to the romance as a queer person but this doesn’t mean it isn’t a great entryway book to adult romance that I would recommend to others.
Like any romance this is chock a block with tropes, including forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chance romance and more.
I loved how just like the first book of this series we got to see the close characters we follow in the other book. With Tara’s sister returning and Trevor’s co worker Seth still present it’s nice to get a continued insight into their relationship that formed in the first book.
Although these romances are fast paced, and the relationships similarly so in their steps up from stage to stage I did still ultimately enjoy the read as it kept me engaged at a good pace. Overall as I’ve said in many other reviews, part of the reason I don’t rate as highly is because I don’t relate to the romance as a queer person but this doesn’t mean it isn’t a great entryway book to adult romance that I would recommend to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
lex_is_bookish's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
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
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
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical content, Gaslighting, Grief, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Chronic illness
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Well, this was utterly delightful. RTC although I am falling a bit behind with these.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, Ableism, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
I have put ableism as a warning because of the heavy use of the word “crazy” which is directly challenged on the page by the main character and the prose.ruthypoo2's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall, the book had a lot of fun bits and humor, but for me, I didn’t get any chemistry between Tara and Trevor. I don’t understand why a self-assured and professionally-satisfied man would be deeply enamored with a scattered, emotionally immature woman full of self-doubt (which became tedious) - who’s not passionate about either her nursing career in a neonatal care ward (how is she not???) or strongly-aligned with her BookTube/Bookstagram presence. Her social posts were sadly anemic… maybe because she doesn’t seem to read books that often, even though she sure has a lot of free time for someone who works a nurse’s schedule while also being a book influencer. 🤷♀️
The first book in the Influencer series, Set on You, was better all around for creating a strong, confident, self-reflective FMC and a MMC who was believable as her counterpart with a history where you could see their compatibility and shared physical attraction to each other. Maybe if Exes and O’s had two POVs I could’ve understood why Trevor was interested in Tara as any more than a little sister who needed moral support. And again, where does the Lieutenant of a firehouse find all that free time to shadow Tara, counsel her full-time, and sit around watching hours of movies after adopting her couch potato lifestyle (I thought they were supposed to have opposite and demanding work schedules so it’d be rare they’d be home at the same time)? LOL… I guess I just didn’t relate to Tara’s aimless life plan and dish rag personality.
The plot of this book had so much potential. I love Amy Lea’s writing style and clever quips… though I have to say, people groaning while just kissing seems more awkward than sexy, especially if you’re out in public or in a little girl’s hospital room. No mas, por favor! 😖 On a final note, maybe the next Influencer to find hot steamy love (Mel, I’m assuming) will end up with an ordinary guy as opposed to the most physically perfect lust-worthy white male dude within climbing proximity… you know, climb him like a spider monkey, ladder, koala, etc. I’m just sayin’.
I listened to the audiobook edition and thought the narrator, Natalie Naudus, did a very good job capturing Tara’s manic and sometimes cute personality, as well as Trevor’s male character.
The first book in the Influencer series, Set on You, was better all around for creating a strong, confident, self-reflective FMC and a MMC who was believable as her counterpart with a history where you could see their compatibility and shared physical attraction to each other. Maybe if Exes and O’s had two POVs I could’ve understood why Trevor was interested in Tara as any more than a little sister who needed moral support. And again, where does the Lieutenant of a firehouse find all that free time to shadow Tara, counsel her full-time, and sit around watching hours of movies after adopting her couch potato lifestyle (I thought they were supposed to have opposite and demanding work schedules so it’d be rare they’d be home at the same time)? LOL… I guess I just didn’t relate to Tara’s aimless life plan and dish rag personality.
The plot of this book had so much potential. I love Amy Lea’s writing style and clever quips… though I have to say, people groaning while just kissing seems more awkward than sexy, especially if you’re out in public or in a little girl’s hospital room. No mas, por favor! 😖 On a final note, maybe the next Influencer to find hot steamy love (Mel, I’m assuming) will end up with an ordinary guy as opposed to the most physically perfect lust-worthy white male dude within climbing proximity… you know, climb him like a spider monkey, ladder, koala, etc. I’m just sayin’.
I listened to the audiobook edition and thought the narrator, Natalie Naudus, did a very good job capturing Tara’s manic and sometimes cute personality, as well as Trevor’s male character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Sexual content
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