The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Book Review
If you’re looking for something fun and sexy that has scenes so well imagined that you will be deciding who will play the characters of Shay and Dominic in a movie (yes, please), look no further than Rachel Lynn Solomon’s debut romantic comedy The Ex Talk. Read on for why I absolutely adored this book!
I received an advanced copy of the book from Berkley via NetGalley; all opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon Published by Penguin on January 26, 2021
Genres: Chick-lit, Contemporary, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
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Goodreads
Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon's sparkling romantic comedy debut.
Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.
When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.
As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.
My Thoughts on The Ex Talk
This book was such a delight on all levels, and is my first romance 5-star review of the new year! I was hooked by the synopsis, but really wasn’t expecting just how delightful – and spicy – this turned out to be.
The Ex Talk had a little bit of everything for me. It was fun, romantic, had great, snappy dialogue, some really relatable moments. Whether you love podcasts or public radio or just plain fun romantic comedies, this is the book for you.
This had the enemies to lovers trope (done right), Jewish rep, Asian-American rep, workplace misogyny (and while I wish Shay had pushed back harder, I do love what she DID do), and even the “sharing a single bed” thing.
There was fantastic dialogue, likable characters, along with some great character development. Both Shay and Dominic grew over the course of the book, personally and professionally, and I was just as invested in Dominic as I was with Shay. Did I mention that it gets a bit steamy? fans self
Speaking of Shay’s personal growth, she deals with a lot of really relatable issues. Be it the remarriage of a parent, figuring out what being “grown up” means to you, the rules we bend in justifying things (like our job), career paths (and how they relate to our parents’ dreams for our vs our dreams for us) – there was a lot of substance underneath the romance and the quick banter.
This was a fast, fun, unputdownable read.
Looking for more fun romances? While the giveaway is long over, my love for The Theory of Happily Ever After still remains:
If you like your romance mixed with a little magical realism, this one by Roselle Lim is a new favorite!
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