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A review by ruthypoo2
Exes and O's by Amy Lea
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