Fake dating? Tired. Fake exes? Wired. Just kidding, they are both equally enchanting tropes but wow, Rachel Lynn Solomon really went for that fake exes one and I was here for it ... I didn’t have any expectations going into The Ex Talk but boy, did it blow me away ... A well-rounded romcom with flawed and mesmerising characters that will steal your heart, The Ex Talk will leave you nostalgic for radio shows and delivers the enemies-to-fake-exes-to-lovers trope you never knew you needed!
The Ex Talk is a contemporary romance about a woman on the brink of thirty, trying to figure out how to fulfil her career aspirations without killing one of her unfairly hot coworkers or being way too dishonest. It’s an amazing rivals-to-lovers romance, with some serious depth and intense emotional range. I initially picked it up because I love fake-dating tropes and podcasts, and I was not disappointed ... I loved this book. I’m not cavalier with A grades, but this one really got me ... The Ex Talk is a really great, nuanced book that doesn’t feel cluttered or overstuffed – it’s exactly right. If you’re a fan of radio or podcasts, it will be an extra fun read to pick out all of the inside jokes.
If I told you that The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon was an 'enemies-to-lovers workplace romance,' you’d probably think you’d know what to expect, right? ... But what if I said this story isn’t about faking being together, but faking breaking up? ... While its central romance certainly functions as the story’s framework, The Ex Talk also leaves room to explore other kinds of love, including love for family (it was Shay’s late father who inspired her love of radio), love for friends, love for your work—and the kind of love for yourself that means you know when it’s time to leave a toxic, misogynistic work situation. (Thought this story was all sweetness and fluff? Think again.) ... funny, sharp, charming and insightful. This wonderful romance speaks volumes about chasing your dreams, finding your courage and putting everything on the line (or on the air) for love.
Witty dialogue meets steamy slow-burn tension while fun romance tropes (fake dating! there’s only one bed!) take a refreshing turn by making Dominic the less sexually experienced, and more emotionally open, of the two. A vibrant supporting cast of family, friends, and co-workers helps round out the plot. Delightfully romantic and emotionally uplifting.
The transition from enemies to lovers is handled with wit and humor in YA author Solomon’s exceptional adult debut ... banter and obvious chemistry helps the show take off, and real romance soon develops off-mic ... Shay and Dominic are a couple to root for and the diverse, well-drawn supporting cast only adds to the appeal. This charming, multicultural rom-com is a winner.
