A review by genthebookworm
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

5.0

{Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy}

I enjoy a rom-com from time to time but they can all start to run together for me after a while. After hearing some of my trusted reading sources raving about The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad I did!

Shay and Dominic are two work rivals who are talked into fabricating a past relationship, in the interest of a new podcast show. Shay had worked for almost a decade at Seattle public radio station when Dominic enters the scene.

After putting in her time, she is ready to finally see all of her hard work pay off but isn't prepared for her arrogant new co-worker whose presence is now helping make this new series a great success. The witty and intelligent banter was spot on and the chemistry between Shay and Dominic is palpable...making this a completely compulsive read.

The Ex Talk has plenty of twists and amazing and realistic characters. I love when real-life issues are a part of more light-hearted plotlines and Solomon nailed this aspect. You can also tell that Solomon knows the into and outs of public radio, and as an NPR junkie, this behind-the-scenes look at all the work that goes into making a show successful was super compelling.

This book was just as much about finding your way in adulthood as it was a romance, and it left me with all the feels. The storyline was perfectly paced, resulting in a very satisfying (and believable!) conclusion...something I always wish for but rarely find in this genre. I know this book will be one of my favorite contemporary romances of 2021 and I highly recommend picking up a copy!