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A review by kfmcf
Exes and O's by Amy Lea
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