Shout Out To My Ex is the second book in the Ever After Agency series and is another fun, feel good read from Sandy Barker.
Elle and Leo were destined to be together but what happened 10 years ago to send their lives in different directions- this is certainly an interesting challenge for the skills of the match making agency.
I’ve really enjoyed reconnecting with the team at the agency, and adding the close partnership of sisters Elle and Cassie has been great. Covering London and Paris, we’re treated to front row seats at the best show in town, so grab your best hat and sit down to enjoy the story of Leo and Elle, with a few bumps along the journey.

"Shout Out to My Ex" is not just a romance; it's a celebration of self-discovery and the resilience of the human spirit. Sandy Barker's writing is like a breath of fresh air, infusing warmth and laughter into every page. If you're a fan of feel-good romcoms with a Parisian twist, this book is an absolute must-read. It left me with a smile on my face and a longing for a trip to the City of Love.

I love it when the previous characters show up in the sequel, and it basically continues where the previous book left off.

This time Pippa has a secret case ( the clients aren't aware she's a match maker) Fashion designer Elle Bliss and Lorenzo (Leo) where a couple and then suddenly 10 years ago something happened to change that.
Enter Elle's Cassie, who contacts the Ever After agency for help.
But Elle can't stand the 'new' Leo and his seemingly egotistical ways.


I loved the dual POV- Poppy and Elle and watching Elle fall back in love while her amazing career takes off! You gotta love a heroine who gets it all.

The sisterly bond was very sweet, and I actually really liked Cassie.

Even though this is book 2, it can read read as a standalone, but I'm still excited for book 3 (and 4!)

Should this be your first visit, you’ll soon discover that the Ever After Agency is something a little different – a dating agency catering only to the very top end of the market, with the necessary levels of secrecy and professionalism demanded by its clients, who only arrive at their door by personal referral. I don’t really need to set the scene though – the author does that so very well herself, including introducing the really well-drawn characters who provide the service. And, if you read the first book, you’ll already know Poppy – a former psychologist, an Australian living in London, who found her own path to happiness – although I would stress that you’d have no issues at all if you chose to read this book as a standalone.

The client this time is Cassie, but not approaching the agency on her own behalf. Her sister Elle might be finding real success as a fashion designer, but she’s never been able to find happiness in her personal life, with no-one matching up to first love Leo, who inexplicably walked out of her life after their time at college together. Cassie, while harbouring the hope that bringing them together might just rekindle what they had, feels it’s important for her sister to get some proper closure, tasking the agency with finding Leo (without Elle’s knowledge) and bringing them together again, just to see if the spark is still there and whether there’s any chance of his abrupt departure being forgiven. And it turns out he might just have been hiding in plain sight – but some time at Paris Fashion Week, where they’re unable to avoid each other but also have to steer around the gaze of the paparazzi and the machinations of others trying to further their own careers, provides that opportunity to take those first few steps.

The behind the scenes view of Paris Fashion Week is quite wonderfully done – all the glitz and glamour you’d expect, but the backbiting and chaos you’d probably be anticipating too. And poor Poppy – undercover, so she can help things along, posing as a rather less than confident journalist so that she’s able to access all areas. The author’s knack for making you present in the moment is just perfect – armchair travel at its very best, and an opportunity to fully experience the kind of glittering occasions none of us would ever be privileged enough to attend.

But I also thoroughly enjoyed the developing relationship between Elle and Leo – their bringing together might have been engineered, but coming to terms with past betrayal is something they both have to work hard for. And that’s not the only relationship I loved – there’s the rather special one between the two sisters too, and how Elle might react when she discovers that refinding the love of her life was something other than a happy accident. And any book from the author wouldn’t be complete without those wonderful friendships she always includes – particularly, in this case, through a thread unfolding in parallel where Poppy is attempting, with even more subterfuge, to make sure her very best friend Shaz doesn’t throw away her own chance for future happiness.

The characterisation is so excellent, both the main characters whose happiness I felt fully invested in (the story’s told from the viewpoints of Elle and Poppy, which works really well) and the smaller cameos (investigator Marie and the magnificent Paloma were real personal favourites). There are plenty of dramatic moments, and the romance and friendship (and the working relationships) are beautifully done – combined with the fascinating setting, this was a story I thoroughly enjoyed from the very beginning to its absolutely perfect end. With an enticing short taster of the next instalment at the book’s end, I’m very much looking forward to my next visit to the Ever After Agency and spending time with Poppy once more. This is a book I’d very much recommend you add to your reading list – I really loved it.

'Shout Out to My Ex' is the second book in the 'Ever After Agency' series. It can be read as a standalone, still, I highly recommend reading them in order; one of the POVs follows Poppy, the protagonist of the first book, and even though we are been provided with all the necessary information, I struggled to connect with this character. This was like reading two love stories, one about the lovey-dovey scenes after the happily ever after and the other all about a broken love. As you can see, it is a bit hard to find the balance in the beginning.
The story perks up halfway through as more revelations come pouring in finally convincing me of the utility of a match-making agency. Does that mean I was sceptical of the idea before? Oh, yes. I wanted Elle to move on from her first love who disappeared without trace. A reunion, if such a thing is possible, should have been orchestrated by Leo (who is responsible for all this mess) or by fate, if I indulge the romantic inside me.
What changed my mind then? Well, not everything in our lives can be untangled by our own. That is what I learned from Leo. Sometimes no harm in asking some outside help. That is also part of being an adult, right? So by the end of the book, I became a full-fledged supporter of Ever After Agency. You go girls! Can't wait for the next instalment in this series.

A brilliant rom com set in Paris and London that had me captivated from the beginning.

Sandy is my go to author. Her books are filled with romance, laughs, warm characters and usually set in a wonderful location creating a great travel element. Which I love.

After falling in love with One Summer in Santorini I always look forward to a new release. When this was on Rachel’s blog tour I jumped at the chance.

I am a sucker for a second chance romance and enemies to lovers trope. I always want that happy ever after for everyone.

Elle and Cassie were a great duo and shared such an endearing bond. Sisters and best friends who had a wonderful business in the fashion world. I adored them both.

I really enjoyed the fashion element and was obsessed with the Paris fashion week. I really want to go to Paris and explore all the landmarks mentioned.

This was the second book in The Ever After Agency series. I have just read the first; Match Me If You Can and I really enjoyed it. This book recaps Poppy’s story but as it’s great I would reccomend reading it.

I was excited that poppy was still a main character in this second book. It was great catching up with her and her squad!

A part that really made me laugh was when Poppy was having a soak and was Nibbling olives and drinking wine in the bath, I love baths with food and wine! It’s a must!

I am so glad there is a third book in the series and cannot wait for this.

Thanks for letting me be part of the blog tour.
As always Sandy this was fabulous.
Can Cassie get some romance now please 🌸🥰

Defo add this one to your list ❤️

What a fun story! I made sure to pick up the first book in the series (Match Me if You Can), which was on sale from Chirp, and this was the best decision - the main female character from the first is a major character and one of the POVs in this book, Poppy. I highly recommend reading this first before picking up Shout Out to My Ex, though you could get by if you don’t.

It’s a great second chance romance where all of the side characters are intent on getting the couple together after a decade apart (torn apart by family circumstances on his side, but on her side she just knows he disappeared without a word)… and a matchmaking agency has been recruited for the very difficult task, taking place at Paris fashion week - since the two are both fashion designers breaking into the business, and not interested in reuniting… especially since he just got engaged to a model!?

So enjoyable and I loved how involved in the story Poppy and the crew from book 1 is! Loving in the Ever After Agency world again was great but now we have a long wait for the next book in the series. Elle and Leo (Lorenzo) were such a great pair!

I definitely recommend this book (and series)! A great and fun read, and while there are definitely some big emotions that are handled, it’s not so heavy that the readers feel it hard - mostly romcom.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books, and this is my honest feedback.

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of Sandy's books. I read the synopsis of 'Shout Out To My Ex' and it certainly sounded like the sort of fun and light hearted romantic comedy that I have come to expect from Sandy. I couldn't wait to dive in and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for a fun afternoon of reading. I really enjoyed reading 'Shout Out To My Ex' but more about that in a bit.

As is usually the case with Sandy's books, I was drawn into 'Shout Out To My Ex' from the start. In fact by the time I got to the bottom of the first few pages, I knew that I was going to become addicted to the story and that I would find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. I was spot on too. Part of the reason why I enjoyed 'Shout Out To My Ex' so much has to do with the main character of Elle, who is a lovely young lass. In fact Elle ended up feeling more like a friend rather than a character in a book. I had my own theories as to how the story was going to pan out and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Shout Out To My Ex' and I had to say goodbye to Elle and the others. I found 'Shout Out To My Ex' to be a delight to read from start to finish with laughs aplenty and a generous helping of romance.

'Shout Out To My Ex' is really well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Sandy Barker. Sandy has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Sandy's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Sandy clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I always find that the sign of a good book is when I find myself becoming far too involved in the story to the extent that I 'interact' with the characters as if they can hear me. Well that's exactly what happened with 'Shout Out To My Ex'. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I really enjoyed reading 'Shout Out To My Ex' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Sandy's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

There is so much to enjoy in this new book by Sandy Barker that I am not sure where to start! How about with the setting, which I mentioned in my opening paragraph. A large part of the book is set against the backdrop of Paris Fashion Week and all the glamour and mayhem that goes along with it. We get to see behind the scenes at a show, experience the thrill of a showbiz party and take in some of the sights of the City of Lights along with the characters; this surely is something that would make you want to read the book, even before I mention anything else. As a massive fan of armchair travel, it was certainly a big factor in my enjoyment of the story.

Then we have the main premise of the book. ‘The One That Got Away.’ Elle has spent a decade wondering why the love of her life from fashion college, Leo, ghosted her at the end of their course and she has never got over him. No other man has measured up, as can happen when a relationship hasn’t had ‘closure’ and her sister, Cassie, who loves Elle dearly, decides that the only solution is to get them back together. But of course, people can change over the course of a decade. This book is a really fun exploration of whether young love can really be rekindled and whether people can get over feelings of confusion and betrayal caused by a love affair that was never properly resolved. If you want to find out if they can, and how, you’ll need to read the book but I certainly enjoyed the story and found the way it played out very plausible. Many of us have those ‘what if’ relationships in our past that we bring out and examine when our current romantic relationships are unsatisfactory so I’m sure lots of readers will be able to relate.

Finally, there is the involvement of The Ever After Agency and what happens when deceit is involved in relationships. We all know the famous quote from Sir Walter Scott, ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive,’ and that is certainly an apt tag line for this novel, when there are many threads of deception running through the book, of other people and often by the characters of themselves. It is a really clever exploration of the fallout of lying to others and to ourselves about our intentions and, more importantly, our feelings. Is honesty always the best policy? You’ll have to decide for yourselves once you hav read the book.

This is another great book from Sandy Barker, light, romantic and entertaining on the surface but full of layers and ideas to explore if you dig below the surface a little. Everything I look for in a romance novel, which is why I continue to be a huge fan.

Last year I read and enjoyed the first book in the Happy Ever After series, Match Me If You Can. I already knew that I would read the second book, and I might as well declare it now.... I will be reading the next book too!

Elle Bliss is unlucky in love. Unlike her older sister and business manager, Cassie, Elle does go out on dates, but none of the men has ever lived up to the memory of her greatest love, Leo. Elle and Leo were inseparable until he broke up with her and disappeared off the face of the earth. She has searched for him on and off over the years, but there is no trace to be found.

Luckily Elle can throw herself into her work. She is an up and coming fashion designer who is on the verge of a huge career breakthrough. A spot has opened up at Paris Fashion Week and she is going to take it, even though it will be a huge amount of work for her team to get everything ready in time.

Cassie has decided to do something about Elle's love life though. She has enlisted the Happy Ever After agency to try and find out what happened to Leo and maybe, just maybe, orchestrate a meeting between them. However, the whole thing needs to be kept secret from Elle.

As for Leo, he too is an emerging fashion designer known as Lorenzo although his focus is on designing fabulous shoes.

Poppy, whose story we got to hear about in the last book, is back at work after her honeymoon and ready for her latest assignment. If that assignment means popping over to Paris whilst pretending to be a fashion journalist then so be it. But the assignment becomes increasingly complicated as she juggles pretending to be a journalist, trying to ensure that Elle and Leo's meetings appear coincident, and navigating the hurt feelings that are there, just under the surface

Given that Elle and Leo are both in fashion, it should be easy to orchestrate a meeting, especially when there is an opportunity for a collaboration, but Elle was very hurt, and she is also angry.

I liked Elle and Leo, and I understood why they both felt the way that they did. Leo was clearly ready to try and mend bridges with Elle before she was, but once she got past the Lorenzo persona, she did begin to see the Leo she knew and loved hiding under there. But the world of high fashion is cut throat and everyone has their own agenda, so there are plenty of obstacles that get in the way.

Now I am not a particularly fashion conscious person. I am not 100% sure I actually have a style, and my days of wearing sky high heels are a distant memory so some of the fashion stuff passed me by a little. However, you know that I am all about Paris at the best of times, so I loved that this book was at least partially set there in the heady days of Paris Fashion Week.

One of the unusual aspects of this book was that there were two viewpoints. One was obviously Elle, but the other was less obviously Poppy rather than Leo. It was different, but it worked. It was especially lovely to see how Poppy was going given that she was the star of the first book.

If you are after a fun read, featuring fashion and France (see what I did there) give this books a go!!

Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel's Random Resources and the publisher for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour

Rating 4/5

Another fun story from Sandy Barker and i must say I adored Leo and Elles story, the icing on the cake for me was getting an update on how Poppy and Tristan were doing as well. Loved it!

A good story but it was a little hard for me to connect to the characters. I don't know if it was because I haven't read the first book I didn't realize it was a series, or if they just weren't my cup of tea. It was well written and kept me interested.

Read from February 4th, 2024 to February 10th, 2024. Written on February 14th, 2024.

Not what I was initially expecting, but not bad overall.

First off, I did not know that it was the second book of a series. That was my mistake. But it does affect my rating in the end because, as it turns out, the first book influences the storyline of the second book and I didn't particularly enjoy that because, as a reader, I wanted to focus on the main storyline, not the continuous storyline from the first book.

Nevertheless, the writing was good (though the ordinary ARC typo popped up sometimes), the plot was a bit rushed at times but still quite enjoyable. I don't think I have much more to point out, the main thing was really the fact that I wished the author had focused more on the main characters, AKA the couple, and not the characters from the first book. Especially since the book doesn't clearly advertise the fact that it belongs to a series, let alone be the second in it. I would advise to do that in the future to avoid confusion (like it happened to me).

Shout Out To My Ex comes out today so if you enjoy a enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance, full of witty characters, I'm sure you'll like this book!

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books that I chose to review after reading)

This book had a lot going on. There's a matchmaking business, two sisters who are in the fashion business, a second chance at love, a really messy first relationship, family issues and a fake relationship. It is told from an alternating point of view. The two viewpoints are from Elle, the main target of the matchmaking, and Poppy. Poppy seems to have been the main character in the first book of the series. She works for the matchmaking business.

It took me a while to warm up to the book, but it got better as it went on.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Yet another wonderful book from Sandy, with twists and turns that keeps you continually reading the book to the end. Thank you for the ARC.

This is the second book in the Ever After Agency series, which are romance stories centered around an agency that secretly matches couples, usually at the request of a friend or family member. For Shout Out To My Ex, we’re introduced to Elle Bliss, who is on the cusp of becoming a big fashion designer but can’t let go of the boyfriend she was with ten years ago at Fashion School. He left her one day without explanation, and she hasn’t been able to track him down. Her sister and business partner gets the agency involved, and they manage to find Leo, going by Lorenzo now, who is also a fashion designer about to hit it big. Enter Poppy, the matchmaker from the first EAA book, who got her happy ending and is now tasked with giving Elle and Leo theirs. There’s fashion, misunderstandings, paparazzi chases, fake and real romances, and secrets. Although I didn’t quite gel with Elle and Leo, I loved revisiting Poppy and the other characters from the previous book, and I can’t wait to see what they get up in the next. Recommended for fans of fun, light romance, and happy ever afters.

What a fun read this was! A brilliant follow up to Match Me if You Can. It was so great to see Poppy in the next stages of her relationship with Tristan, and Elle and Leo’s journey was a hoot! I’ve read all Sandy Barker’s books and I think she’s a brilliant writer. Her writing style is so easy to engage with (and I do not say that about all writers!), and I just love the humour and warmth in her stories.

3.5 stars!

As a bookworm who adores tales of love and adventure, I couldn't resist diving into this charming enemies-to-lovers romcom that whisks readers away to the magical world of fashion and romance.

A Dreamy Parisian Setting:
From the bustling fashion scene to the quaint cobblestone streets, Barker's vivid descriptions of Paris make the city come alive on the pages. As I followed Elle Bliss, a talented fashion designer, on her quest to conquer Paris Fashion Week, I couldn't help but feel like I was strolling alongside her, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

A Delightful Love Story:
Elle's journey takes an unexpected turn when her first love, Leo (now known as Lorenzo), reenters her life. Their reunion sparks a whirlwind of emotions, from passion and longing to frustration and humor. Despite their differences, Elle and Lorenzo share a palpable chemistry that kept me eagerly turning the pages, rooting for them to find their happily ever after.

Embracing Life's Imperfections:
What I loved most about "Shout Out To My Ex" is its celebration of imperfection and growth. Elle and Lorenzo are flawed, complex characters who grapple with past mistakes and uncertainties about the future. Yet, through their journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, they learn to embrace their imperfections and take risks in the name of love.

While the storyline may follow a familiar enemies-to-lovers trope, Barker infuses it with humor, heart, and genuine emotion, making it a delightful read from start to finish. Whether you're a hopeless romantic like me or simply craving a feel-good escape to the City of Love, "Shout Out To My Ex" is sure to sweep you off your feet and leave you smiling.

I really enjoyed this second book in the series. I got so invested in this couple! The parts of the book where Elle and Leo interacted were perfection. I was happy to get a little bit more or Poppy and her husband as well. I can’t wait for the next book to see what shenanigans come next.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and Boldwood Books the chance to review Shout Out To My Ex by Sandy Barker. I love a second chance romance and this did not disappoint! Elle was ghosted by Leo after four years, and her sister, Cassie is going to try to play matchmaker. She and lists the help of matchmaker service - matchmaker Poppy is a second POV. Both of the former loves are fashion, designers and puppy and Cassie develop a plan to have the meet up in Paris. Can they give their love a second chance?

I thought this book was so sweet and heartwarming. Leo was a lovely MMC and I quickly forgave him for ghosting Elle. Elle was funny and quirky, and I loved the supporting cast of characters!