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hellowildflower's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism
Minor: Cancer
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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? No
3.25
This was my first Rachel Lynn Solomon book and while it did give me the break I was looking for from some of the heavier books I’ve read recently, it didn’t entirely steal my attention as much as I thought it would.
The Ex Talk has everything you expect from a novel of this genre—it pretty much follows the romcom formula to a T. In my head I was checking off this list below as each thing happened, waiting for the next, knowing it would be coming.
* Enemies-to-lovers
* Fake dating
* Forced proximity/stuck together
* Workplace romance
* One bed
* Ridiculously petite MC and ridiculously tall male lead
* Age gap
* Several pivotal work crises
* The eureka moment of clarity and self-discovery
* The romantic grand gesture
In this way, relatedly, I was never super invested in the main couple. Everything felt a little too on the ball. There was some great banter and some great spice, but overall I never really got that empathetic-butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling while reading about them. Still, they were cute.
Miscommunication does run a little rampant at times, which sort-of stunts the flow of the story near the middle-end. Of course, this is common in an enemies-to-lovers fake dating novel, and I understand the reason for the easily avoidable conflicts that arose, though it did annoy me. JUST ADMIT YOU LIKE EACH OTHER. HOW CAN YOU BE THAT OBLIVIOUS??!
Anyway. This is not to single The Ex Talk out. Many romcoms do this. I think maybe I’ve just gotten to the point where I’ve read too many books with similar plots to this one, so it’s not as exciting anymore. And maybe also I will forever compare every one of them to Beach Read and/or The Love Hypothesis. Oops.
The Ex Talk has everything you expect from a novel of this genre—it pretty much follows the romcom formula to a T. In my head I was checking off this list below as each thing happened, waiting for the next, knowing it would be coming.
* Enemies-to-lovers
* Fake dating
* Forced proximity/stuck together
* Workplace romance
* One bed
* Ridiculously petite MC and ridiculously tall male lead
* Age gap
* Several pivotal work crises
* The eureka moment of clarity and self-discovery
* The romantic grand gesture
In this way, relatedly, I was never super invested in the main couple. Everything felt a little too on the ball. There was some great banter and some great spice, but overall I never really got that empathetic-butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling while reading about them. Still, they were cute.
Miscommunication does run a little rampant at times, which sort-of stunts the flow of the story near the middle-end. Of course, this is common in an enemies-to-lovers fake dating novel, and I understand the reason for the easily avoidable conflicts that arose, though it did annoy me. JUST ADMIT YOU LIKE EACH OTHER. HOW CAN YOU BE THAT OBLIVIOUS??!
Anyway. This is not to single The Ex Talk out. Many romcoms do this. I think maybe I’ve just gotten to the point where I’ve read too many books with similar plots to this one, so it’s not as exciting anymore. And maybe also I will forever compare every one of them to Beach Read and/or The Love Hypothesis. Oops.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Cancer
Minor: Vomit
kennyscoffee's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
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
4.75
As a lover of radio and podcasts, this book was very accurate to the radio world! I was a big fan of the dynamic between the main characters even if the book was full of your classic book tropes. Its a slightly spicy enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, office romance, one bed, podcast heavy book. Its a great and fun quick read if you are looking for a happiness boost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent
chuckielittle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
An adorable & fun read! I love when authors take tropes (in this case: fake dating, enemies to friends to lovers) and twist them just a smidge so the story feels new and exciting. This is a workplace enemies to lovers with fake exes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexism, Cancer, Death, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism
filipa_maia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.5
I enjoyed, but did not love, this book. The classic "enemies-to-lovers" trope that is, apparently, in fashion now... very cliche.
The story is nice, they are a very cute couple, I really enjoyed their relationship and was rooting for them. But at the same time she is really annoying with that "age difference" thing - it's 5 years, not 50! Calm down! He is not annoying, but is described like every other man in a romance: tall, strong, hot, and even though is sexually inexperienced off course that he was the full Kama Sutra mastered! Ok, he is honest and really, really, likes her which makes him very desirable and redeems his other characteristics.
My favorite couple was, obviously, her mother and the new husband. Their stories of loss broke my heart. I would read a full book just telling their stories.
The story is nice, they are a very cute couple, I really enjoyed their relationship and was rooting for them. But at the same time she is really annoying with that "age difference" thing - it's 5 years, not 50! Calm down! He is not annoying, but is described like every other man in a romance: tall, strong, hot, and even though is sexually inexperienced off course that he was the full Kama Sutra mastered! Ok, he is honest and really, really, likes her which makes him very desirable and redeems his other characteristics.
My favorite couple was, obviously, her mother and the new husband. Their stories of loss broke my heart. I would read a full book just telling their stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, and Cursing
stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
bookcrushin'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
4.5
Really enjoyable adult f/m romance, and I loved the podcast/radio station nerdery!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexism
Minor: Racism
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
kinga1204's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Cancer