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A review by mackenzierm
Exes and O's by Amy Lea
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
EXES AND O'S was my first book club read with a group of ladies I met on Bookstagram and how fitting it was! Tara is a romance novel obsessed Bookstagrammer who is on a hunt for her true love by revisiting her exes in hopes of securing a second-chance romance. Trevor doesn't think love is his thing, but when his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he agrees. The more time Tara and Trevor spend together, the more their connection grows.
This was such a hit. I quickly fell in love with Amy Lea's storytelling, her quirky main character, and the banter between Trevor and Tara. I found myself goofy-smiling and outright gushing over this story from the first chapter. And I felt so rewarded that that feeling carried on throughout the rest of the novel, making for an excellent reading experience.
The romance was a bit on the slow burn side but it was ultimately very well done. It's told solely in Tara's POV, which for me can be a deal-breaker in some romances. I love a dual POV to know what the MMC is thinking and feeling, but Amy Lea navigated this nicely and I think it really benefited the slow-burn romance vibe to have solely Tara's perspective. The chemistry between the two is on point and I loved the banter and dynamic that developed.
I did find that Tara revisiting her exes as potential romances was cringey, but it ends up serving as a weird type of closure for her and contributes to her character's growth.
The epilogue was the perfect way to tie off this novel. It was the ultimate chef's kiss to a lovely romance. I can't wait to see what Amy Lea will write next and will absolutely be circling back to read her first book, SET ON YOU!
This was such a hit. I quickly fell in love with Amy Lea's storytelling, her quirky main character, and the banter between Trevor and Tara. I found myself goofy-smiling and outright gushing over this story from the first chapter. And I felt so rewarded that that feeling carried on throughout the rest of the novel, making for an excellent reading experience.
The romance was a bit on the slow burn side but it was ultimately very well done. It's told solely in Tara's POV, which for me can be a deal-breaker in some romances. I love a dual POV to know what the MMC is thinking and feeling, but Amy Lea navigated this nicely and I think it really benefited the slow-burn romance vibe to have solely Tara's perspective. The chemistry between the two is on point and I loved the banter and dynamic that developed.
I did find that Tara revisiting her exes as potential romances was cringey, but it ends up serving as a weird type of closure for her and contributes to her character's growth.
The epilogue was the perfect way to tie off this novel. It was the ultimate chef's kiss to a lovely romance. I can't wait to see what Amy Lea will write next and will absolutely be circling back to read her first book, SET ON YOU!