This book was Fantastic! Certain tropes don't always land the way authors want but this one landed on its feet! An excellent book and I highly recommend it to all. We sell it in my store and I have already sold a good number.

Got about 30% in and just couldn't stand the MC - she just seemed like a mess- doesn't eat fruits & vegetables (!?!), kept complaining about her mountain of debt, doesn't try ANYTHING new, came on super strong - I just didn't find her likable and it was really hard to root for her. Didn't feel like she had any chemistry with the male lead (he sounded hot!) and I wasn't convinced how they could actually end up together.

Romance book connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men—all of whom dumped her because of her “stage-five clinger” tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead, thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.

Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn’t his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara’s journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.

The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily ever after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection?

4.5*
This was so cute and addictive, I missed my subway stop while reading it. Tara Chen is a nurse and romance bookstagramer and our main love interest is a firefighter *swoons*. I loved the romance tropes and bookstagram mentions throughout the book, it made Tara more relatable.

I really enjoyed the romance build up as the main characters go from roommates to friends to lovers. Their dynamic was really wholesome as they helped each other work through some of their baggage. I loved their banter and conversations, it made the progression of their relationship feel natural.

P.S. I enjoyed this so much more than Set on You. I didn't love Crystal's character and in this book she kind of got on my nerves.

Exes and Os is a cute, fun contemporary romance. Both characters are sweet, easygoing, and likeable. This book is perfect for those who like their romance light on conflict and angst. That's not to say that there isn't some steamy moments, though. I'd call this spice level medium without a lot of very detailed passages.

When I first heard about this book I remembered not even reading the synopsis. I knew from book 1 she was a romance book social media influencer. I didn’t need to know more than that. I immediately wanted to read it as fast as I could. I got an e-ARC, but I wanted to wait until it was closer to the pub date. And let me tell you, it was torture.

I really should have read the synopsis tho. Because Lordt that plot. Tho it was creative and I haven’t read anything like that before, but it was so cringey. Maybe it’s just because I am not a fan of exes, but I was not ok with that lol She definitely should have listened to all of the people that told her “Exes are exes for a reason” because ALL of them were shitty lol Ok not all of them, but enough of them were. And that was enough for me.

The romance between them was really cute tho. They were both idiots. They been liked each other, but I’m sure neither one knew what it felt like. I mean why else were they doing all this weird stuff like talking about their dates with each other? Like I can’t imagine the way she felt when she was offering pop tarts, or how he felt when she was telling him about each date? Like I don’t understand how he didn’t kill all of them? (Too much mafia romance? lol) But whatever, I was finally glad they got it together.

I also liked the way the bookish social media influencer part of her was showed. Lea must have talked to a real bookstagrammer/booktuber/booktoker or something because she did some of the same things I’ve done lol I definitely related to all the things she had done. From like the way she had everything set up to the leaving piles around the apartment because she did what she needed to take a pic and then left it right there lol It was so real.

This was very cute! This was my favorite in the series. Although they weren’t my favorite individually, I loved them together. And that epilogue?! Listen, I really hope she revisits them. I cried at that epilogue. I mean what bookworm wouldn’t? I can’t wait to see what else y’all this series has. I don’t know why, but I love the influencer aspect of this.

The next one is a fashion influencer and I don’t know how I’ll like this one. Fashion to me is some jeans and my J’s. But then again, I liked the first one ok and I don’t know a thing about fitness either lol I guess we’ll see!

I love reading books about books, but a book about a romance bookstagrammer? SIGN ME UP!

Tara Li Chen is a romance book influencer who loves romance tropes, Cheetos, and love. Unfortunately, her ex broke her heart, and now she’s being painted as the ‘crazy ex-girlfriend’ that’s ‘too much to handle’ that men run to the hills from. 

Enter: Trevor Metcalfe. A Boston firefighter and best friend to Tara’s best friend’s fiance - and Tara’s new (super hot) roommate. Who very much so loves a one night stand, and cannot stand to talk about relationships. 

Tara and Trevor are two characters that I really liked, and also really related to! This is the first book I’ve read that features a male love interest/hero who is non-committal and emotionally unavailable, but isn’t painted out to be some bad guy that leaves behind a string of broken hearts. There’s always the double standard that a woman who sleeps around is a slut, and a man who does it is a ‘player’ or a ‘real man’, but in reality, sometimes men also get painted in a bad light if they prefer one night stands to relationships (and sometimes it’s just because they suck as a person.)

Like, I’m sorry, but if we want to eliminate the normalized double standard, we also need to re-evaluate how we view just about anyone who prefers sex to romance/committed relationships. 

Okay, now I’m off my sex-positive soapbox! This is my second book from Amy Lea, and her humor and relatable, yet polished writing really shines through in her sophomore novel. Lea has always been funny, but I think this is the most I’ve laughed while reading! I also really appreciated how Lea approaches the idea of owning your happiness and passion, and not being ashamed to be yourself with Tara. If someone truly cares for and loves you, you will never be ‘too much to handle’ for them. Whether it's friends, loved ones, or a romantic partner - they like you for YOU, and that includes the good, the messy, and the bad. It's a much-needed reminder, especially during a time where I feel like so many people are ridiculed for knowing what they want out of a relationship, or having expectations for their partner.

All in all, I really enjoyed this steamy and oh so fluffy romance! It’s the perfect read for the big romance lovers, Valentine’s Day lovers, and romcoms.

I'll start by saying that I loved the easy going writing style and the story! I am definitely going to keep an eye on Amy Lea's books in the future.
I think what didn't work for me in particular in this book was Tara. I just did not relate to her at all and her obsession with being with a man and being in a relationship. I just found Tara to be so dense and at times very annoying. I could MAYBE expect this from a younger character, but 30??? Come on.
Props to Trevor for loving her despite her "boy craziness" lol

Overall I did enjoy this book and I will read more by Amy Lea in the future! I hope to read Set on You soon!

This book was fine, even good but I had really high expectations & hence just felt something's missing.

I was very very excited to read this one ever since I've read it's sneak peak in Set on You. And getting its arc was just an another level of joy, really!

It started in a great way, it was extremely hilarious & I loved it.
Tara & Trevor's first meeting, omg!🤣🤣😆

But then this book got slow, like extreemely torturously sloowwwww.

Though there were a number of moments here & there that I loved & enjoyed.
Also the epilogue's is extremely sweet🥰


Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC

I enjoyed the first book in this series but loved this one. The banter was great and I literally laughed out load several times. The incident on the subway (no spoilers) sent me!! It was a slow burn, but I enjoyed it. I loved all the booksta and book trope references. The characters were super lovable. Looking forward to reading what’s next.

Wow, talk about starting my 2023 reading out with this romantic hit! I fell hard for Trevor. I wanted Tara to be my best friend since she’s also a bookstagrammer and works in healthcare. I loved all the little moments between Trevor and Tara in this forced proximity romance. I also thought “returning to the exes” was excellent and entertaining because dating is terrible. I loved Amy Lea’s first book, Set on You, so I was happy to have those characters throughout this story. It has all the parts to make it a great romance. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was perfect as well. It’s early to say this, but I know Exes and O’s will be one of my top 10 favorite romance books of 2023! Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

Set On You was one of my favorite reads last year, so I jumped at the chance to read Amy Lea's new book as soon as possible.

This book was adorable and heart warming right from the beginning. Tara, like many romance heroines, is trying to piece herself back together after her last relationship tore her to shreds (also, her ex fiancé, Seth, is such a douche). After her grandmother's successful second chance romance, she decides to take on the task of meeting with her own list of ex boyfriends, guided by her grumpy roommate, Trevor.

Over the course of the book, we learn that Tara has been falling for the wrong sort of guy, being called crazy and clingy for wanting open, honest communication from her partners, so much that she has convinced herself she is completely unlovable. Trevor's icy exterior melts the second she barges into his life, and he shows her all the ways that she is wrong.

I absolutely adored this second installment from Amy Lea. As someone who has identified with Tara on many occasions in the past, it was both terrifying and cathartic seeing past mistakes play out on the page. The book itself was well written, and I was drawn into the relationship that developed between the two main characters.

Loved this book! Can't wait for more from Amy Lea.

This book made me feel all happy and giddy! I absolutely LOVED IT!

This was a grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, roommate to lovers book and I seriously ate this story up!

OK, first off, Tara was a fantastic female main character. I could relate to her so much! She loves love and believes in happily ever afters and loves to read romance novels. She has had a hard romantic history with men breaking her heart. Men thinking that she was crazy and too much! But she never lost hope! And she always thought that she will still find love. And that made me so happy and hopeful!

Now Trevor!! holy shit y'all I couldn't stop swooning!! He started off as your typical playboy. But fell hard and fast for Tara once she was in his life. He was so romantic and sweet with Tara. He opened up to her and loved her so fiercely. It made my heart so freaking happy.🥰And best of all he loved, and accepted her for who she was, and gave her that happily ever after she was looking for! Oh my gosh, I am so in love with the story.😩 when is it my turn to be happy y'all?!

I will never lower my standards after reading this book!😌💖

The steamy moments were absolutely wonderful. They were so intimate and romantic. I love the way that they were written! Trevor and Tara's connection really had my heart pounding! 🔥🤭

Amy Lea really killed it with this book. It was fantastic! I adored the romance so much in this book, and I will be thinking about it for a long time. This is the romcom that y'all need in your lives! I highly recommend!💖

I devoured this book! It was so fun and the heroine so relatable in many small ways (her eating habits clinched it for me--no judgement!). I loved the slow burn and the pay-off. This couple also had great communication but also had to learn that no one is perfect and no relationship will be either.

This book is sweet, dreamy and swoon worthy. Friends to lovers done at its best! Ugh!! This book, it is like a magnet to all the romance lovers.

"The best love stories just magically fall into the laps of those who don’t expect or want them."

Tara is a romance girl. She goes on this stupid hunt of her exes. Not all of them deserve second chance, I want to shake her and tell this. Only the ones that were true to you and wanted you with anything be it more or less. Oh and her Bookstagram, loved it!

Trevor and Tara are cute, funny, witty, sarcastic and just perfectly flawed. Trevor is just, I don't know what to say, awesome, delicious and sometimes stupid?
{I need to find a Trevor for me? Or will one come along the way when I least expect it?}

"Love has the power to strip you raw, to the bone. And that’s the beauty of it. There’s an immeasurable bravery in opening your heart and baring your soul when all hope is seemingly lost."

This has a great message also, to be ourselves and love ourselves and just not bother with what the world thinks. The quotes, I have highlighted so much. The miscommunication section where Tara and Trevor discuss this trope, it is all so well written.

The more I read this, the more emotional it gets. This hot, forced proximity, slow burn romance is worth it. If you love the idea of love, are firm believer, an optimist and love Valentine's Day, this is FOR YOU!

This has to be the best ending or grand gesture I have ever read in a romcom. This book makes it to my list of bookd I would reread. Wow! I am speechless, wide emotional happy eyes(if it can be made).

This book was perfect and I highly recommend it.

This was a fun slow burn romcom. I loved the friendship they developed throughout the story.Hunting down her exes for a second chance trope was interesting. This book was full of bookish talk and Taylor Swift. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it didn’t give me feelings. I honestly think I’ve been reading too many romance books. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review.

𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘖’𝘴 is what I’d like to think of as every 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 dream - a romance about a 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫. I mean, come on. I FEEL SEEN. I’d feel even more seen if I were still single. 😅⁣
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I’d also be out there trying to find a 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐞 of my own. 🤤⁣
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I have so been looking forward to this book ever since I finished 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶 by 𝐀𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚, one of my favorite reads of 2022. I loved any time 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 was involved in 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥’𝐬 story and couldn’t wait to read hers.⁣
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It did not disappoint.⁣
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𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘖’𝘴 is an adorable “room-ance” that had me swooning from the very beginning. It’s a sweet, sweet slow-burn and really set the tone for my romance reading for the year. The bar is high, y’all!⁣
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𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐞 is the perfect love interest who really took me by surprise. I definitely made a lot of assumptions about him in the very beginning that he quickly proved to be incorrect, and I love him for it.⁣
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Honestly, the only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 got a little ….insufferable, there for a while. I kinda wanted to shake her and tell her she was being an idiot, but I guess that was also largely the point. 🤔⁣
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Thank you so, so much to @berkleyromance for my advance copy of this precious book! Y’all run out and get your copies today like I’ll be doing after work!

Amy Lea has done it again folks! Not only a scorching hot slow burn (get it? Cause he's a fireman 🤣) But also just so goofy and FUN, and beautiful. This book is a love letter to every girl that was sold she was "too much," "too emotional." and needed to lower her expectations. And a big FU to gaslighting assholes. Plus she's a romance bookstagrammer so there is SO MUCH delightful trope talk, romance book talk, and just romance readers will love this book so much. Not to mention all the fun cameo appearances from Crystal and Scott! Now here’s to hoping there will be a book three for everyone’s favorite plus size fashionista!

I am so sad to say that this book was a DNF for me.

Going into this book, I had really high hopes and was excited. However, early into my reading I began noticing a variety of writing and dialogue that made me full body cringe. I struggled to connect to the story and felt like the dialogue at the beginning was unrealistic and, again, cringe-y.

I got over halfway through before realizing this book simply wasn't for me and I didn't have any motivation or connection to keep reading. I don't think this book is bad, but it certainty wasn't the book for me.

Close proximity trope… with a hot fire fighter… sign me up!

This book is the second in the “Influencer” series by Amy Lea. I didn’t know that though and did not read the first book in saying that I think you can read these out of order yes the characters from the first book are mentioned but it didn’t spoil anything for me. I plan to read the first one soon so I’ll have to check back to follow up.

Not gonna lie I resonated with this character quite a bit, Taras in her 30’s and is basically starting over from a shit relationship (been there), works as a nurse and has a bookstagram like hello….. Tbh if you’re from the bookstgram community I think you’ll like this one.

Tara is a hopeless romantic and decides to take her Grandma Flo’s advice and compile a list of her exes and track them down for a possible “second chance romance” By the end of the book I was over the list and was glad when it kinda taught her about herself and how to move forward.

I will say her ex Seth (barf)….. deserves the biggest throat punch for existing what a waste of air, a complete asshole and I feel like Tara didn’t go hard enough to stand up for herself and tell him off... #iykyk

Now Trevor on the other hand…. Yummy. A true brooding playboy with a commitment phobia. I loved their initial dynamic of being roommate and friends first because they really got to know each other and it wasn’t all lust and physical attraction, they really liked each other for who they are. But when it did get spicy…. flaming

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!