I didn't love Set on You so I was nervous going into Exes and O's but Amy Lea hit it out of the park. Admittedly at the start of the novel I found myself also falling into the patriarchal traps of thinking Tara was "crazy" and doing way too much, but over the course of this novel Lea was able to change my mind. Why is it that woman have been made to feel like they shouldn't be too clingy or text too much or too often? It should be acceptable to show someone affection and how much you love and want to spend time with them. I loved that Tara was able to stand up for herself and continue being who she was and loving people they way she does. And it was incredible to follow her as she finally fell in love with someone who could love and accept her for who she is. I couldn't put this book down and didn't stop reading until 3 am. A must read!

What I liked:
The FMC was funny
The whole idea of reanalyzing your old relationships and talking to your ex's again.
The friendship between the MMC and the FMC was so cute

What I didn't like:
The MMC, i get that he was supposed to be a player but did FMC's first interaction with him have to be her walking in on him....and the FMC have to HEAR him being with another girl while she was just trying to sleep
I hate to say it but the MMC was too much of a player
I wish that there was more development in the relationship between the FMC and MMC because they got together at the end of the book.

Tara Li Chen is trying to get her life back together after her fiance dumped her less than a year ago. She's been living in her sister Crystal's bedroom, but now that Crystal's fiance Scott is ready to move in, he offers to swap spaces with her so that she can have an affordable apartment convenient to her work at the children's hospital.

On her way to the apartment the first time, after a rough day at work, she has what she imagines to be a "meet-cute" on the train -- only to have it end in the charming young man stealing her purse. And when she finally trudges up the stairs to her new place, her first view of it is blocked by her new roommate, Scott's friend Trevor, naked and having sex with a gorgeous woman on the kitchen island.

Surprisingly, this awkward beginning gives way to a somewhat more comfortable arrangement. Trevor, a bit of a neat freak and a super healthy eater, clashes with Tara in a friendly way, and though he occasionally brings home one-night stands and isn't a relationship kind of guy, he does gradually become someone Tara can talk to about her day or her sorry lack of a love life.

When Tara decides to revisit her list of exes in the hopes of finding someone to take her to the upcoming Valentine gala at work, Trevor ends up as her wingman, giving advice on texting and backing her up on dates (to great comedic effect). But as they spend more time together and learn more about each other, Tara starts to wonder if maybe looking to her past for love is pointless when it might be right in front of her instead.


It's been a while since I read Lea's debut, Set on You (Crystal and Scott's story), so I hadn't remembered anything about Tara and Trevor before picking up Exes and O's. They read as stereotypes as the book begins: Tara is the diehard romantic whose exes can't meet her emotional intensity, and Trevor is the emotionally closed-off player. Those stereotypes begin to fall away as we learn more about the two of them, and the growth and self-understanding they show at the end of the book is impressive (though it does take quite a long while to get there!). Their friendship is the strength of their eventual relationship as they learn to communicate better with each other and support each other in the ways they need.

Supporting characters add to the charm of this book: Grandma Flo makes multiple appearances, including on Tara's Instagram Live; adorable Angie gives the reader new insight into Trevor's character; and Crystal and friend Mel sometimes appear (metaphorically) as the angel and the devil on Tara's shoulder.

The plot device of looking up one's exes either to revisit love or to find closure is surely not a new one, but Lea gives it a fresh twist by having Tara make this search public on her Live and by giving her a cheering section there. I was a little disappointed that it took so long for her to have more self-awareness about her search, but it did become more and more clear to Tara that actually having a second chance with any of the men would not be in her best interest. The final resolution between Tara and Trevor was solid, though, and it showed the awareness they both had (and need) to carry them into a true HEA.

The author's note contains content warnings: an emotionally abusive ex, gaslighting, portrayal of a child with illness, mentions of deaths of loved ones, and the deliberate use of the word "crazy" (though it is condemned by the author and by main characters).

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

it’s good, but not as good as set on you (imo). i think i just liked crystal and scott more. that aside, i relate to tara’s romance-book-binging and overthinking tendencies, so i enjoyed her as our heroine. a gripe i have is that i WISH it wouldn’t have taken such a long time for anything serious to happen between tara and trevor. there was a clear progression in their relationship, but i would’ve liked things to move a little quicker.

#netgalley

I loved Amy Lea after Set on You and I think I love her even more after reading this.

I was lucky to meet her in person a couple months ago when she visited our store to sign copies of her book and that’s when she told me she’d writing a new book based on Crystals sister. A couple months later I checked NetGalley and it was there and I got approved. 🫶

I am Tara and Tara is me (except the whole finding love thing). Anyways, this book is filled with all the cute little rom com tropes and I love it for that. So if you love second chance romances, roomates/forced proximity, friends to lovers, and emotionally unavailable men falling for their soulmate, then this book is for you!

Would’ve loved to see even more of crystal and Scott tho :))) but I’m happy with what we got.

Thank you Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review !!

Such a fun read! Cleverly written with all the "tropes' foudn in romance novels covered - but especially the "second chance romance." Would recommend for anyone wanting a feel good romance with the delightful heroine and handsome love interest!

**Review will be published on my site and socials January 5th, 2023**

ADORE.

Ohhh how this grew on me. After loving Set On You I had to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint.

I loooved Tara. I connected through many of her thoughts about romance, love and life and really enjoyed the journey her character went on. Her ability to be optimistic about love and the place she wanted it to hold in her life was incredibly hopeful. Tara needed someone to see and love all of her and that’s where sweet Trevor enters the picture. TREVOR. Good heavens. From a disastrous meeting to slowly peeling away all of those layers!? I was in a PUDDLE by the ending confessions. I loved his counter balancing gruff nature and how he was just always *there*. This duo truly went from roommates to friends to lovers and I was couldn’t get enough.

The forced proximity moments had me grinning like a fool. I LOVED the banter and all the times Tara dragged Trevor along (who we all know went willingly) to whatever plan she had in store that day. The entire vibe of this book was exactly what I was seeking. A light hearted (yet serious) look at finding love.

Amy Lea is easily becoming an auto-read author for me. I love the way she writes romances and the slow burn payoff is always worth it.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 2-3 open door; mild explict
- Trigger/Content Warnings: a child with a heart condition, gaslighting, mentions of death of loved ones

I really enjoyed Amy Lea's previous book, Set On You, but I loved this one even more!

Exes and O's follows Tara Chen, a romance book influencer, as she revisits her exes in an attempt to secure her very own second chance romance. Her new roommate, Trevor, reluctantly agrees to help her out, but soon enough it's clear that she is more attracted to Trevor than any of her exes.

This is a hilarious and spicy rom-com with an addictive forced proximity romance. Tara is a little overwhelming at first, but I ended up really connecting with her and her dramatics. I loved her dynamic with Trevor, who is extremely swoonworthy. There were so many cute moments that made this book such a joy to read. It's been awhile since I've read a romance book where the characters had such off the page chemistry, and Amy has quickly become one of my favourite authors! This is a must-read for hopeless romantics!

I loved this even more than SET ON YOU! Adorable romance between Tara and Trevor. I mean, a bookstagrammer who talks to much and loves too big and a firefighter who thinks he can't do long-term relationships. And the Asian rep really made me feel seen. Highly recommend!

I know we have all had our hearts broken a time or two. That battered, bruised feeling is not fun, and when the cure becomes a trip down memory lane, the story becomes a trip too!

Lea is a gifted storyteller who delights the reader with a swoon-worthy tale of the search for the perfect man. Never mind that there is one fiery perfect specimen of a man sharing the same four walls in the apartment she is renting from him. But he is definitely not interested in her plan to track down her exes for a second chance at love.

Loaded with delightful, wacky dates – or non-dates, internal drama, banter, and enough quirks that you understand why she might be single… and don’t forget the one hottie hunk that gets her. Trevor is a walking dreamboat that can fan the flames of desire that spark right off the page. Yummmm

Exes and O’s is a perfect story for the romance trope lover written by a romance trope lover. Fun, sexy, romantic, and combustible!

Amy Lea does it again with Exes and O's! I wasn't sure if I could love a book as much as I did SET ON YOU, But I DID.

Read if you love:

- Romance books about romance books
- EXCELLENT banter
- Slow burn steam

I’m a sucker for a romance book that features romance book tropes. It’s hard not to love Tara for her quirky romantic self and Trevor for growing and changing and becoming a better him. Fans of “room-ance” are sure to love this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Jove Books for this digital ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, and Amy Lea for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I enjoyed Set On You and I was really excited to read this one because I was always a fan of Tara. She’s a bookstagrammer like me and I loved how much she yearned for love despite being heartbroken many times.

This book follows her as she moves in with her new roommate Trevor. She decides to look up her old boyfriends to see if any of them hit it off again, but things get more complicated when she starts to have feelings for Trevor.

I loved that Tara is a bookworm in this book and I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the first book again. I also really liked her family and they were just as entertaining in this one. The romance was also great, but I do think the plot with the ex’s lasted a bit too long. I started to get a little bored with the story around 60% in because I wanted her and Trevor to get together and didn’t care about her ex’s anymore.

I do think the romance was a little too slow in this one, but it’s an incredibly charming book with sweet characters. I think bookworms will really like this one, as well as romance fans and fans of the first book.

This book is definitely appealing because the protagonist is a bookstagrammer and a swiftie. I wish there was a little more romance and a little less "trying to win back an ex."

Amy is a massive genius and this book, dare i say, might have surpassed her debut! 3p yr old romance novel influencer heroine, firefighter, tattooed hero, and a roommate situation with all the tension. RUN DON'T WALK!!

After reading Amy Lea's first book "Set On You," I was positive that I would love all of the works that would inevitably come after. "Exes and O's" absolutely met (and exceeded) my expectations!

Tara Chen is an avid book reader. The kind of book reader that has a solid Bookstagram following. The kind of book reader that, beyond all reason, believes in true love and desires to live out every romance trope. After getting the idea to contact all of her exes in an attempt to live out these romance tropes (second chance love, perhaps?), she sets out to make her dreams of true love a reality.

Firefighter Trevor Metcalfe, Tara's new roommate, is a revolving door of sexual partners. Determined to avoid settling down at any and all costs, Trevor doesn't entirely believe that Tara's goals are achievable, but he still agrees, reluctantly, to help her find her love.

Neither of them anticipated having feelings for each other, so they both try to tamper them down before they get in the ways of their goals: Tara's true love quest and Trevor's non-committal lifestyle. How long can they deny the sexual tension before they both give in?

Exes and O's was an absolutely delightful read, and I can't wait to see what Amy Lea comes up with next!

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Tara is a true believer in romance. As a romance bookstagrammer, that shouldn’t be surprising! She is starting to move on from her broken engagement.. beginning by moving out of her sister’s apartment and in with a new roommate, Trevor. She is also ready to look for love again and what better place to start than revisiting all of her previous ten relationships for some insight? With Trevor’s help, she reconnects with all of her exes. Will she find love (again) or is it better to leave the past in the past?

Ok so this was CUTE. I enjoyed Set on You but wasn’t blown away with the chemistry between the characters and I feel like that was corrected 100% in Exes and O’s. I also loved that Tara has a bookstagram! This was a great slow burn with so much tension. It is a single POV which isn’t always my preference but it worked for me in this case because Tara is so hilarious and Trevor’s affection for her is evident via his actions in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review!

Suuuuuuper cute slow burn, friends to lovers, close proximity, room-ance! ❤️

This book is so cute, there’s really no other way to describe it. Tara is revisiting exes to get to her second chance romance and her roommate Trevor is along for the ride. This book is full of lots of pining, nods to bookstagram and book review life, pining, and holy mother of slow burn tension.

I loved Tara and Trevor together, their conversations and the sweet way they had about each other was soooooo cuuuuute. Seriously this book is so cute. The build up was driving me absolutely insane (I am not a patient person) and I was skimming for a bit because for the love of all things could these two gonna stop cock blocking themselves already?! Gah. There are so many moments in this book where it’s so obvious to me that Trevor has all the feels for this girl and when he puts on his boyfriend relationship pants and starts to woo this girl 😭🥹✨ It was so epic and I sighed and hugged my ebook so tight. The thoughtfulness of this tattooed firefighting man!!!

I really think this book would make the cutest rom com movie ever with its absolutely hilarious intro, AWKWARD AHHHHHH meet cute, lowerish drama at the end and omg the overwhelming sweetness that is the epilogue 😭❤️ Seriously. How many times can I say how cute this book is?

So cute.

4ish stars for the slow burn that wanted to kill me, but 5 stars because how can I dock it a star because of my own impatience?

ARC provided by the publisher, review is my own!

This was a cute book and I really liked the main characters. Tara could be a bit much but I like that she owned it about herself. Some of the things she did veered from relatable to cringe worthy, but I liked the book overall and I really liked Trevor.

This copy was kindly provided to me by the publisher and netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I love this one even more than the first. Do I totally believe in Trevor's progression from total playboy to ready to commit as fast as he did? Maybe not. Did it bother me? Not at all. I loved him. Loved how he interacted with Tara and their relationship. I loved Tara's bookish ways, her use of tropes, her optimism and growth by the end of the book.

I am beyond excited for the next book in this companion series. I find Amy Lea's books fast, entertaining and overall pretty good books.