4.5 stars!

I loved the premise of this story and the romance was just downright adorable! Always looking forward to reading more from this YA author!

I tried to like this book, but it became one of the ones I did not finish. I hate when I can't get into a book or complete it. However, life is too short to read books I don't like.

This is another of those I have no idea why I picked it, but this one turned out to be a fun story and one that I really enjoyed!

I really enjoyed this book!

So we've got Sari, our main character, who's trying to recover after she walks in on her boyfriend making out with his supposedly ex -girlfriend. Of course, the timing couldn't be any worse. For months, Sari and Zev had been planning on traveling to Florida for a week-long spring break getaway. Zev keeps trying to text Sari and says that it was a mistake, and that he just wants to talk. But Sari, adamant that she's not going to let some guy ruin her plans, decides to just catch an earlier flight and spend come quality time with grandmother instead.

While on vacation, though, she gets the most wonderful and horrible news- a talent agent is offering her a chance to perform some of her music at her favorite club! But again, the timing just couldn't be any worse. A massive storm is on the forecast, and Sari's parents won't agree to pay the extra fee to get her home sooner. Enter Fitz, a super hot and fellow New Yorker who's willing to offer her a ride. When Sari tells her parents, however, they aren't totally on board with the thought of her driving home with a stranger and say that the only way they'd allow this is if someone they know (Zev) also accompanies her. But Sari, desperate for any shot at getting home in time, decides to accept.

When I went into this, I was expecting it to parallel a lot with The Chaos of Standing Still, so I was pleasantly surprised when it went in a different direction. Where The Chaos of Standing Still takes place for the most part over the course of one day in an airport, this book spans not just the events leading up to Sari's breakup, but also the entire week she's in Florida and how she manages to get back.

Overall, this was a very cute and heartwarming read! I don't totally agree with the way Sari handled the situation, but I will say that it was a pretty accurate portrayal of how a typical teen would handle this situation. I would easily give this book a solid four stars, and I can't wait to read more of Shani Petroff's books in the future!

Three stars: A romance with a lot of drama that lacks the light and fluffy.

Sari is thrilled to be seeing her idol at a music concert, even if that means missing the party of the year that her boyfriend is attending. After the amazing concert, Sari and her friend, Trina, decide to pop into the party. At the party, Sari gets a heart shattering surprise. She finds her boyfriend, Zev, kissing his ex girlfriend. She flees in tears, vowing to not speak to Zev again. Their romantic spring break trip to Florida is off. She heads to Florida on her own and spends the week with her grandma. While on her trip, Sari gets the opportunity she has been waiting for, a chance to sing at a popular club. She can’t get back to NYC fast enough, but the weather has other plans. A huge storm may put a kink in her plans, and she soon finds herself stranded with her ex. Will Sari figure it out?

What I Liked:
*Airports, Exes and Other Things I Am Over is fun read even if it did lack the light, fluffy feel good vibe I was craving. Still, I liked the characters and I enjoyed watching the story play out.
Sari is a driven, headstrong protagonist. I admired her drive and her determination. She is all about her music career, and I liked that she knew what she wanted. Granted, she is stubborn, but I couldn’t help but to respect her firm stance.
*Big props to a great secondary cast. I adored Fitz, Dylan and Trina. Fitz is a potential love interest, and he has a heart of gold. I loved how he was there for Sari and how he picked her up time and time again. Dylan is a sweetheart too. I wish that he had a larger part in the story. Trina, Sari’s best friend, is the kind of best friend we all need. She is willing to drive long distances for her friend and she brings donuts. Loved these characters. I wanted more of all three of them.
*I loved the family support. Sari’s mom and dad were funny, especially her mom. I liked that they were involved in Sari’s life and that they supported her. The conversation that Sari has with her mom at the end is heartfelt and wonderful. Her parents, brother and Grandma are amazing. Big props for an involved, supportive family.
*Zev was a conundrum to me. I didn’t know whether I was supposed to like him or hate him. I will say that he was certainly a good guy and he tried over and over to make things right, even though Sari kept knocking him down. He was incredibly patient and kind. I ended up liking him when it was all said and done.
*The ending was nice. It ends in a good place, no drama or unanswered questions.
And The Not So Much:
*I wasn’t into the romance, probably because there wasn’t much romance. Instead the book is all about Sari being angry over Zev kissing another girl. There is a lot of drama that could have been corrected with a conversation. I wanted more warm and fuzzy, and it just wasn’t there.
*I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be rooting for as far as the romance. I liked one of the guys way better than the other, and I have to say I was disappointed when things didn’t play out the way I hoped.
*There just isn’t much to this one. It basically is all about drama over a kiss and getting stranded in the airport. It was predictable and a bit boring.

Airports, Exes and Other Things I Am Over is a book I picked up wanting a light, fluffy, feel good romance and instead I got a book that was overly dramatic and a bit boring. I did like the characters, especially the secondary cast of characters. This is a quick read if you want something entertaining, but don’t expect a swoon worthy romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

I really liked this book! It was funny, it was relatable, and more importantly, it was interesting and kept me wanting more! Love love love.

Overall a sweet, love story about two teens in an airport. With the appropriate amount of teen drama thrown in. I definitely enjoyed the book. This was the first book by this author I have read but am now definitely interested in reading her other work.

I love a good travel story. I specifically love a good travel story involving airports and things going horribly wrong. Partially because I travel relatively often and because I have a couple of bad travel stories in my own pocket. I don’t think this is really a trend in YA though and it NEEDS TO BE. Jessica Brody’s The Chaos of Standing Still was basically everything I wanted in such a story and I was hoping Airports, Exes and Other Things I am Over would deliver on a similar scale. It didn’t.

The book feels like it’s missing something honestly. It starts with Sari walking in on her boyfriend and his ex kissing. She runs away, doesn’t talk to him and spends an entire week and a half brooding over him while not giving him a chance to explain. I mean, again, I firmly believe that no one is owed a chance to explain in such a situation but I also felt that within the context of the plot, it was to obvious that there was more to the story. Sari also started the book extremely confident in their relationship and trusted Zev completely. If she had truly trusted him in the first place, she would have at least given him the chance to explain instead of running away and avoiding him altogether on a trip they had planned to take together.

Also, like. The book’s story arc felt like it could have been better?? The book starts with her going to Florida to hang with her grandma, she spends the week there and about 25% of the book there. During this time, we meet the ‘other’ guy, her grandma and spend not much time with either of this characters to be honest. It just felt like words? Anyway, then drama strikes on the return trip. It would have been MUCH more satisfying, I think, if the travel issues had taken up the first part of the book and allowed us actual time getting to know the stranger boy from NYU and her ex. It is a truth universally acknowledged YOU BOND WITH PEOPLE OVER BAD TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.

A minor thing I also wanted to point out was that there was an instance where a character was described as ‘Asian’ and clearly the author meant “Chinese.” Honestly, I am over people using Asian to describe characters when they clearly are thinking East-Asian. Let me remind everyone again that the Asian identity is not a monolith and accompasses an INCREDIBLY large group of people. SO. Just do the bare fucking minimum and assign the character you want to describe as Asian an actual ethnic identity because Asian ain’t one.

Having said all this, I don’t think Airports, Exes and Other Things I Am Over is inherently a bad book and I didn’t regret having read it. It was entertaining and enjoyable even if Sari made it INCREDIBLY frustrating. Sari’s relationship with her best friend was probably the best thing about this book though and I really enjoyed how consistently Trina was part of this trip even though she wasn’t actually on it.

Overall though, the book was lackluster and had nothing special going for it. I’d recommend reading it as a poolside read to flip through real quick but not if you’re looking for a substantial summer read.

This book had so much potential to be stretched a bit. I think the concept was cute: being stranded at the airport with an ex-boyfriend and a potential new love interest. My students will eat this book up! Personally, I wish it was a bit longer and maybe have the boyfriend drama not so easily explained. I liked Sari's independence, her gift with music and passion for it. I also love what an amazing best friend she'd chosen for herself: supportive, loving and such a great ear to lend when Sari was upset. This book was cute, but it left me wanting more. I really like this author and will continue to follow her career and read more of her books!

*Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Swoon Reads for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

3 stars

I was all heart-eyes for Petroff's last book, My New Crush Gave to Me, and was eager to read more of her work. She has a knack for creating a story that is fun, humorous, and heartwarming with just the right amount of drama to keep it interesting, and she has done so once again with Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over.

•Pro: I liked Sari a lot. I didn't necessarily always agree with her avoidance tactics, but when she listened to her heart and her conscience, she made some good choices.

•Pro: I found the anxiety and frustration of being stranded at the airport so relatable. I have totally been there, more than once, and just like our protagonist, I was trapped in the subpar terminal with no good food options.

•Pro: The connection between Sari and Zev was undeniable, and I know I was rooting for these two to work it out. There were definitely things revealed, which made me doubt Zev, but I at least wanted to listen to him.

•Pro: Believe it or not, I really liked Zev. He would do all these little things, which showed how much he cared for Sari, and she would relate things he had done for her in the past, and I found myself really wanting Sari to let him explain. He was also willing to fight for her, and as a hopeless romantic, I love seeing someone fight to save his relationship.

•Con: This story was told via Sari, who had a great voice and all, but I would have liked to have had a little look inside Zev's head at times. I feel like that addition POV may have pushed this one over the top for me.

•Pro: Dylan and Fitz were fun additions. They diffused some of the tension, and Fitz was just all sorts of Captain America awesome. I would have loved to get to know them better.

•Pro: Sari was someone to be jealous of, because she had a fabulous grandma, great and caring parents, and a friend who put the "best" in best friend. It was wonderful the way they all rallied for her in her time of need, and

•Pro: The ending actually elicited a few tears from my eyes. I liked it a lot, but would have liked it to have been a little longer.

•Pro: This story deals with relationship drama, so it has its weightier moments, but Pertroff keeps it on the lighter side by injecting lots of humor, heartfelt interactions, and lighthearted antics.

Overall: A light hearted story about following your heart and fighting for the things that matter with rom-coms bits which made me laugh, heartfelt bits which made me smile, and even some tender bits which made me swoon.

I definitely don’t feel like this book lived up to the first of Petroff’s books that I read, which was My New Crush Gave to Me. However, I still thought this was a very cute contemporary, and it was very fun. I wished that some things had happened differently plot-wise, but of course that’s just my personal opinion that others may not agree with. Overall enjoyable and a very quick read, great for summer and for contemporary lovers!

Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over in Three Words: Musical. Stressful. Entertaining.

What I Liked
I was a big fan of the overall plot of Sari trying to deal with her feelings about her boyfriend's cheating when she just can't seem to get away from him! Her Florida vacation turns into a nightmare as she struggles to get back home before a big storm hits. I loved this story line.
Sari's best friend is pretty awesome, but I do wish she was in the book more.
Sari's parents are present and aren't just in the background! Their worry for her seemed realistic.
Fitz and Zev are both fun and sweet characters.
I was really transported into the various settings. Whether Sari was stuck in the cramped airport or in squeezed in the backseat of a car in the middle of a storm, the descriptions were spot on.
The beautiful cover!
What I Didn't Like
It was too short! I wasn't able to really connect or get to know Sari or her boyfriend as much as I would have liked, which is kind of a bummer.
All the miscommunication. It is one of my least favorite romance tropes. This is a personal preference.
Although the drama did remind me of my teenage years, it was a little too annoying to read as an adult.
The Verdict: I think teens will enjoy the entertaining plot, be able to relate to having overly worrying (and sometimes embarrassing) parents, enjoy Sari's passion for music, and like the cute romance.

I haven't read too many books from Swoon Reads but this one caught my eye. It sounded like a cute story about a young girl trying to find herself in the midst of heartbreak. This book was cute but the main character got on my nerves a lot while I was reading this book.

So, the book starts off with our young aspiring musician heroine, Sari at a concert with her best friend. Sari is hoping to one day grace the stage at the very venue she's at. Plenty of her favorite local musicians got their start here and she's hoping to be one. The concert she's at was so good that she's feeling great. She's got no complaints about her life right now. She's hanging with her bestie, listening to her favorite band and she's got a great boyfriend who adores her. They're leaving on a week-long vacation together and she is so excited. Or, she was excited until she shows up at the party her boyfriend is at and catches him in a lip-lock with his ex-girlfriend.

Just like that, her plans and her excitement and her world come crumbling down around her. The hurt and the betrayal are huge so she does what any self-respecting young lady would do. She shows up at the airport way earlier than planned and changes her flight so that she doesn't have to travel with her cheating boyfriend and she does her best to move on. She doesn't expect to move on immediately but she gives it a try anyway. It's hard to enjoy a vacation away when your heart is broken and the guy that broke your heart keeps trying to contact you and then shows up at your Grandmother's house to make amends.

The story really takes off when she meets a boy close to her age at her Grandmother's senior living apartment complex. She may not want to jump into a new relationship or even be on board a rebound hookup but she could use a friend and Fitz quickly becomes a friend of hers. When the offer of a lifetime comes through, Sari will do whatever it takes to get home...and that includes riding home with her cheating ex-boyfriend and a bunch of strangers to make her show.

Most of this book takes place at the airport and on her drive home from Boston with three boys. Sari is desperate to get home and she's trying her best to keep her shit together but being in close proximity to the guy that broke your heart is hard. It's made even harder when her mother refuses to respect her wishes by not contacting Zev (the cheating ex) but on that end, if she didn't want her Mom to keep texting Zev then she should have stayed more on top of keeping her parents in the loop on everything going on but since she didn't...a parent's got to do what a parent's got to do.

I really sympathized with Sari's situation throughout the whole book but far too often, she annoyed me. I was also really annoyed with Zev in that he just refused to go away. I spent far too much of this book rooting for a boy that did everything right but in the end, wasn't rewarded. Sure, everything is wrapped up nicely in the end but it wasn't necessarily the ending that I was rooting for. I felt like if we were supposed to be rooting for one boy then there shouldn't have been so much of the other boy. But also, there shouldn't have been so much of the other boy for us to love.

I thought that Sari was really lucky to have the support system that she had and while she kind of drove me crazy throughout the book, I did believe the growth in her character and even supported it. So while this book ended well, there were still things that I griped about but got over.

All in all, this book gets a 3.5 out of 5 from me.

<strong>Grade: 3.5 out of 5</strong>

This was always going to be a risky book for me to read because it mentions cheating. Cheating is a big no-no for me. I've dealt with it enough in reality that I try to avoid it in fiction. Despite this, I was drawn to this book, though. Admittedly, what I expected was nothing like it turned out. I thought everything would happen on the trip home, as in some big, bad cheating would happen during the holiday. But actually, it all happens before, and it's a kiss. Sari decides to still go on her trip, as does Zev, so the airport reunion on the way home does fit the blurb. I also thought the Airport Guy would play a bigger role in things. But ultimately, this was a story about Sari figuring things out for herself.

For the most part, I liked Sari. She liked to have fun, but she wasn't irresponsible about it. She was also so sure about what she wanted to do in life (I'm jealous), and she was prepared to work for it, not giving up even when venues said no, and applying specifically to a music school. For all her zest, she did bug the hell out of me. But not (always) in a bad way. Yes, I wanted to shake her. I think she should have handled things differently, and she was so stubborn. (If only she just listened.) But at the same time, that seemed both appropriate for her as a character, and for her as a teen. She was also hella confident; I would not have been able to handle the airport situations as well as she did. I'm not even sure if I could keep my cool like that now.

Because of said cheating and my personal feelings about it, I did struggle at first with Zev. I couldn't reconcile what he did in that one moment with how he was the rest of the time. If I were Sari, I would 100% react badly, I won't lie. I know from experience. Not in the same way that she did, but then I was living with said cheater at the time, so it wasn't so easy to get away. If anything, even despite my frustrations, I must admit to admiring her. She was confident and secure enough in herself that she immediately cut Zev out. Maybe a bit too quickly, but hey, it's better than letting a cheater walk all over you, right?

Anyway, back to Zev. He was really sweet and clearly very cute, definitely my kind of guy: tall, nerdy, dark hair, hazel eyes. Swoon. Aside from this one thing, he seemed perfect. I didn't know how he could make things better, though. It was almost like a challenge: I dared the author to convince me that Zev and Sari were meant to be together. By the end, I wasn't 100% onboard, but it definitely made me think.

---- "Who said I was pretending?"
---- His eyes bore into mine. "I did. Because I know you still love me as much as I love you. That doesn't go away just because you want it to."
---- I wanted him to be wrong.
---- "Love isn't everything," I said.
---- He shook his head, his eyes still on mine. "Yes, it is."

Special mention should go to two people. First was Sari's mom, who was very mom-like. Man, that woman could worry, but in a very loving way. The incessant texts – including to Zev – plus the guilt-tripping were so relatable. The weather obsession was a nice little touch. The second person who stood out was Sari's best friend, Talia, who was sassy and loyal and ready to back Sari up no matter what she decided. And as a romance reader, I loved this little exchange:

---- "You read too much smut," I told her.
---- "You call it smut, I call it a how-to guide," she said.

Somehow, despite my hesistance, I did end up enjoying this book. It was quick, a little dramatic, but also a strong, confident teen main character setting her mark on the world while dealing with a very relatable problem.

Wow! I found this book to be a super quick and engaging read. Even though Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over spans over a week, Sari and Zev’s story definitely encompasses so much to unravel. And you know that saying, “when it rains it pours”? Well, when it came to Sari’s spring break and her one shot to sing at a local club, anything and everything seems to go wrong in the span of a few days.

One of my favorite characters in the book was Zev. I loved that his goal was to explain any misconstrued situation, so Sari knew the facts and the truth. Sari tended to overthink everything and failed to see that there are several sides to a story. It’s smart for Sari to protect herself first, but I knew there were some holes in her observations. Throughout the story, Zev is always trying to open communication between him and Sari, and it’s so adorable how he always tries to make sure that she is okay and comfortable. I liked that Zev gave Sari room to think and breathe when anything dramatic blew up, but he was also determined to fight for the truth, their friendship, and ultimately love.

The plot of Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over relies heavily on lack of communication and misunderstood situations. I’m not a huge fan of books that have so much “lack of communication,” but this plot devise definitely keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. If you love A LOT of drama in your stories, which definitely keeps the story rolling, give Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over a try. This book is such a fast read and the ending is so swoony.

Sari catches her boyfriend Zev kissing his ex-girlfriend on the night before their planned spring break in Florida. She goes on her own and meets Fitz, a handsome college junior. Zev follows her there in an attempt to win her back, but she’s having none of it. When Sari heads home for her dream music gig, her flight gets canceled, and she’s stuck in the airport with Fitz and Zev. Things aren't looking too good for Sari. Will she forgive Zev or will she move on with Fitz?

The plot is a bit contrived, as Sari and Zev obviously have a great connection, and all Sari has to do is let Zev explain himself. Still, this is a cute story, and it’s interesting finding out how things work out for them. I was rooting for them to get back together. The story reminds me a bit of the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" with bad weather, accommodation troubles, and unwanted company conspiring to prevent Sari from reaching her destination.

A light and funny read.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

I have read so many books about being stranded at an airport before, but I never seem to get sick of them. Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over follows this trope, and it is just as enjoyable. The story is dramatic, and the characters are so sweet. This is a short and sweet contemporary that is the perfect pick-me-up.

This book tells the story of a girl who is preparing to take off on a trip to Florida over spring break with her boyfriend, but catches him cheating just before they depart. Desperate to get away, she books an earlier flight. However, on the way back, a storm hits, leaving her (and her ex) stranded. I love the stuck in an airport trope, and this book was no exception. There is tension, but also plenty of fluff. If you enjoy books about travel, this is the perfect thing for you!

There is an excellent cast of characters in this book. I enjoyed Sari, especially since she is a musician who needs to get home and catch her gig. She is pretty impulsive, but I enjoyed how she stands her ground and isn’t eager to take her ex back. My favourite character was probably Trina, Sari’s friend. I mean, this girl is a literal angel. She is so supportive without judging, and she is willing to do anything for her friend. Strong female friendships are something I always like to see, and this one is especially wholesome.

Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over is a dramatic story about being stuck at the airport. I enjoyed the main character and the supportive friendship. This is a cute contemporary that I would definitely recommend this summer.

If I ask my eighteen-year-old self and put my own shoes on Sari, I would also feel terrible and cheated. But the rational part of me would kick in to do a gut check before setting the score and make myself swallow in pity or be miserable for a potential breakup.

I understood that Sari was hurt but if only she had listen, plain and simple, everything would turned out differently. She, herself said that she trust Zev but she instantly jump into conclusion that he was cheating when she chose that exact moment to find him from a pool of partying teenagers and caught him kissing someone. Worst was, it was Bethanne, Zev’s ex-girlfriend

I felt the same frustrations Zev had. No matter how he explains to Sari that he loves her, she was too stubborn without giving him the benefit of the doubt. Even when Zev did everything — chasing the mad storm on her and trying to prove himself, she was too caught up with her emotions that it’s so hard to reason with her.

In the first place, if Zev really cheated and didn’t care for Sari at all, he won’t follow her down to Florida just to apologize, right? Gaaaaahhh! See my own frustration there?

There were enough swoon-worthy and cheesy moments for me to like this book but for the most part, Sari confuses me because her reactions are exaggerated and insensitive to Zev’s feelings. When she met Fitz, there’s this one moment I wish they could have ended together instead but I’ll give Zev credit and an A++ for the effort wouldn’t still be enough. I know you could tell by now how much I rooted for him but man, if only you have read the story, you will totally understand.

I love how patient Zev was and even if the story was written on Sari’s POV, I could feel so much of him. Same goes with the supporting characters that added fun to Sari’s drama, like Trina who gave her an all-out support and always there ready for FaceTime when she needed someone to talk to. I also love the concern on Sari’s mom, sending her a million texts just to know how she was and in the end, her wisdom was what Sari needed to finally realized what she’s missing.

Special mention to Fitz and Dylan for being a good friend to Sari who gave her and Zev a ride to NYC even if they didn’t really know each other that well. After the awkwardness they had of knowing that Sari and Zev were a couple, being inside the same car in the middle of a storm, I found them cool and hoped that there’s something more for them in the story.

Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over is a fun, fast paced story about trust and relationship in a setting where disaster happen, flight got delayed there and then or people tangled and caught in a string of unfortunate events. I could say that the chaotic experience Sari and Zev in the airport was identical to the emotional mayhem their relationship had.

***Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group – Swoon Reads, Xpresso Book Tours and Shani Petroff for providing me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

4.5 stars really. This was one that I really ended up liking a lot! It honestly felt really realistic in how the characters behaved for the most part. It had a lot of humorous bits, and pop culture references, which I really enjoy. For example, it even mentioned Goodreads! I picked it up, and couldn't seem to put it down, it kept me turning pages (digital pages on my Nook, so a lot of tapping on the side of the screen). I like the way the "new/rebound" romance actually ended up going, it seemed perfect for how I was rooting for the story to go. I definitely wanted to smack Sari a lot, I mean she wasn't giving Zev ANY chance at all for the longest time. And then, the next thing that set her off, well, I feel like she totally overreacted once again. But when she did break down, that was so real to me, I can remember times I've felt the same way. And I loved the guy from NYU, Fitz, he was funny and pretty much a good guy. I definitely look forward to reading more books from this author in the future.

Overall, I was not in love with this book. I think that the if you are looking for a quick and cute story, then you will find it in this book. I think that it a perfect book to read in-between two heavy books. I didn't get to swoon as much as I wanted but in the end, I did enjoy the book. It definitely had merit and was a book that really helped me to pick up my reading pace. I thought that the ending was well thought out. It was an ending that I didn't really see coming or consider. Thank you so much to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book.