don’t know where to start with this and I’ve been thinking on it for 24 hours. You, With a View is one of my favorite books in the world so I expected a lot from this and somehow it exceeded my expectations.

This book felt so real. I felt like I was reading about real people with real problems. The fmc, Georgia, was so relatable with her people pleaser tendencies and her fears about the future. Eli is a therapy positive mmc who acknowledges his wrongs and has worked so hard to be better. I fell in love with both of them. The side characters are also excellent and contribute a lot to their story. I loved them all.

This is a second chance romance, one of my favorite tropes ever, and it was done perfectly. I don’t have a single complaint. Their reason for splitting up felt so authentic. Right person, wrong time in life and they both knew that. There are a few scenes / thoughts from the past that really helped me understand why they fell apart. Their character growth and reunion felt real and like they were ready for each other. Sometimes second chance reasons for breaking up are silly or don’t make sense, but this felt like a real life situation.

I loved the wedding plot with Georgia and Eli having to put aside their feelings to work together to save their mutual best friend’s wedding. Even just the character growth through that was excellent.

All in all, this book was everything I hoped for and more. I loved the writing, the characters, the plot, everything about it. Please add this to your tbr!!

Jessica Joyce is a magician when it comes to writing books that just squeeze your soul right out of your body and this one is no different. The Ex Vows is a masterpiece of a 2nd chance romance, capturing so diligently and authentically what it’s like to love someone in your youth, to lose them in the complications of adulthood, and to wonder what could have been (even though you know you shouldn’t). It’s a love letter to who we once were, who we often become in spite of what we want, and who we might still be if we do the work to disassemble what we’ve built and re-build it better.

Eli and Georgia are imperfect people who love each other imperfectly but wholly, and this story weaves us through their journey of coming to the realization that that is enough. Coupled with a beautiful setting, well-formed side characters, and the right mix of humor, heat, and nostalgia, this book a shoe-in for a top 2024 read.

Somehow, Jessica always manages to capture the feelings that we’ve all had, the desires we’ve all kept hidden behind our ribs, the ways we’ve all felt like not enough and too much, and the fear that we might get left behind when the people we love chart new paths for their lives. She makes a reader feel fully seen. This isn’t a book, or an author, that you’ll want to miss!

The Ex Vows cemented my initial gut reaction to You, With a View- that Jessica would be an auto-buy author. She has a way with words that feels so simple and natural and yet so emotionally evocative. Second chance romance is my favorite romcom trope and yet the hardest, in my opinion, to properly execute. The angst and pining in this was off the charts. My stomach was actually hurting at one point, and I LOVED IT. I would let Jessica stomp all over my heart and thank her for it. 10/10 stars. Highly recommend.

4.5/5

Okay wow. This is my first book by Jessica Joyce and it blew me away. This reminded me why second chance romance books are just so amazing. The tension between Georgia and Eli was through the roof. As described, Eli is the definition of “it’s always the quiet ones.” This man was just such a sweetheart. I absolutely adored being able to see such beautiful characters work through their insecurities alone and then together as a team. It was beautiful to see them work through their pain and come out even better in the end. I did feel like some parts were slightly slow or felt longer but otherwise this was truly such a beautiful story.

Read if you like:
Second chance romance
Friends to lovers
Single pov
Forced proximity
It was always you
Spicy
Only one cottage

5 stars.
The angst! The pining! The emotional growth! I’m not usually a book crier but I literally actually physically cried when reading this. In a good way. A cathartic little sob.
Second chance romance is hard to pull off - but Jessica Joyce nailed it.

Also?? The prologue actually knocked me to the ground. Like OMG.

But this book wasn’t just about the romance. It’s about friendship, finding where you belong, and confronting the wounds of the past. And there are so many quotes highlighted in my arc because Jessica just *gets it*.

So final verdict: read it. And bring some tissues.

A beautiful, gut wrenching, romance story. This is what second chance dreams are made of. While reading this, I felt like I was looking at a mirror. What a charming and delightful way of portraying how two soulmates can get back to each other after drifting apart due to life circumstances.

Eli and Georgia made me feel all the sentiment that comes with growing up, being excited for the future but having to deal with all the not so positive aspects of leaving your friends and family behind and giving all your time to trying to do better and please everyone. The fear of disappointing the people you love the most and losing yourself in the process.

I loved how gracefully the author dealt with the mental health aspect in this book. There's something about a man seeking out therapy that will always do it for me. These two characters were made for each other and I loved how they worked individually to be a better versions of themselves, acknowledging their past mistakes and owning them. It was beautiful to see and it made me sobbed uncontrollably.

The pacing was perfect. The back and forth between the past and present events was excellent and I loved the banter, the steam, the love confessions and every single detail of this story. I am in awe with all the emotions that this book made me feel and I can't wait for everyone else to read it.

Side note: if you loved "happy place" by Emily Henry you'll probably love this one. A lot of themes were also similar to the ones portrayed in "The Seven Year Slip" by Ashley Poston and I loved to see those in books.

This is also for the Swifties. Paper rings????? SOMEBODY SEDATE ME

“‘There you are.’ A smile melts across his face, slow and sleepy. ‘Hey, Peach.’”

I absolutely adored You, With a View, and this one was just as good! Sometimes it’s hard to follow up amazing debuts, but Jessica blew me out of the water. Second chance is my favorite trope and I knew from the prologue that this was going to be good!!

The Ex Vows is incredibly romantic, emotional, and REAL. Georgia felt very relatable especially with her dependency and anxiety struggles, and I felt the same way about Eli. The mystery aspect was also super fun and I love that Jessica provides little snippets into their past throughout the book.

I do wish we got Eli’s POV or even some chapters focusing on their past more, but I felt like Jessica did an amazing job illustrating the unraveling of their relationship five years prior. I teared up so many times during this read, especially when things start coming to light about their history. The forced proximity also worked so well for this story. This book felt very realistic which is one reason I loved it so much — specifically the idea of growing up & growing apart in their own relationship but also with friends.

Plot wise, I definitely got Happy Place vibes which I loved!!!! THE SETTING!!!! The paper rings had me SCREAMING!!! I loved the found family aspect too. Jessica Joyce does not miss and I expect amazing things for her as an author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy.

A second chance romance you will not want to pass up. The most beautiful love story. A book you will not be able to put down.

I do not know what I was expecting when I started this book but it was not how obsessed I ended up with it. I cannot stop thinking about the book. Everything about it was so perfect. The pace, the writing, the characters, the tension/ chemistry between the main characters, and the love story. Jessica Joyce nailed it all and just did not disappoint with her second novel. In hopes of not spoiling the book for anyone, I have decided not to go into more detail. It's been a full week since I finished the book and I still cannot get over it and I will be talking about it non stop. The characters are very relatable which is always very important to me as a reader. I felt like I could connect with them and that they could be a real person. I found myself crying and just feeling all the feeling which doesn't happen often unless I really feel connected to something. Overall, it was a very well written read and enjoyable that I believe every reader needs to pick up.

This book completely reshaped my bookish preferences. I never thought I could adore a second chance romance so intensely.

What a journey. The characters captured my heart, and the tension, chemistry, and banter between them had me alternating between screams and giggles. The romance was nothing short of fantastic, they were undeniably meant for each other. Every aspect of their story was truly beautiful. What's more, I deeply connected with both main characters, making the entire experience even more special.

This is an exceptional romance, easily one of the best I've ever read.

A second chance romance for childhood best friends turn lovers, turn exes. I was excited for this book and it is a good book, I just felt that it was quite slow for the first 60ish percent of the book. I love a good slow burn but I found myself getting bored and quite frustrated (just talk to each other already!!!!) until the last 30%. But that 30% was so good and I finally found myself really rooting for Eli and Georgia. 3.5 stars.

For fans of Emily Henry's "Happy Place" and Taylor Swift's "Paper Rings" comes a tender second-chance romance, "The Ex Vows"

Jessica Joyce's greatest strength is in alluding to what characters are really thinking and feeling without having to say it. Even in the beginning, when there is tension between Georgia and Eli, you can feel the irresistible pull he feels toward Georgia. Georgia is a little slower to unravel (as is her biggest hurdle to overcome), but when she finally, finally, finally gets there, it is the most satisfying experience as a reader. The anticipation swells and pops, and the emotions just overflow!

Which reminds me--the slow burn! WOW! It was so good. And the steamy scenes were top-notch. Everything about this book felt like it was handled with such intention and care, especially the mental health rep, which I loved. The banter was also incredible!! I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and I swooned so hard I didn't want this story to end. 10/10 would recommend!

Absolutely adored this book- it was unputdownable. Joyce's voice just SINGS through every single line. A story of self-love as much as romantic love, and a true pleasure to sink into. Joyce has a forever fan in me!

You. You. You.

THIS BOOK. I’M STILL NOT OVER IT. Jessica Joyce is a STAR.

I like KNEW I’d love this book, because I LOVED You with a View, but I honestly didn’t know I could love it so much. This book is deep, the emotions are so raw, the yearning, the angst and the tenderness, it all felt so so real. I felt like I was going through a break up in this book, finding love again and then finding myself again. It was a whirlwind!

So, beautiful love story…CHECK.

Now let’s talk about the friendships in this book. The dynamics portrayed in this book are so real, in fact I feel like I have been going through the same thing as Georgia for last few months. It’s about how life just gets in the way, no matter how fiercely you love your friends. But the way they come together and show out, it was just beautiful.

Beautiful friendships.. CHECK.

Now let’s talk about the anxiety rep - again, so real. I thought it was perfectly depicted, and so relatable. I felt for these characters as they went through their waves, and I thought it was shown in such a powerful way.

Representation… CHECK

I could GO on and ON but I’ll stop because I don’t want to ruin this for folks, but here are my final last words:

MVP of the whole story: Eli’s Chain

I literally cried my eyes out! When I expected to read something about exes with unresolved feelings, I didn't anticipate engaging with their messy, genuine, complicated yet deep, realistic, passionate, embracing, heartfelt love story so much! I am proud of putting this sentimental book on your radar and advising you to read, cry like a baby, and just like I did, choose "Paper Rings" from your playlist. Listen to it at a high volume while you sing along until you hurt your vocal cords or neighbors bang on your door to shut you up! Who cares what other people think or react when you find the perfect book that matches your soul, awakening so many feelings you bottled up and all set to resurface with the lyrical symphony the author played with the heartstrings of us!

This is by far the best work of Jessica Joyce that deserves more than five stars. I didn't only fall for team Geli (Georgia-Eli) but also loved their true connection with their friends and the portraits of Napa Valley that may convince you to get married in Blue Yonder. After finishing the book, I returned to read some chapters between Eli and Georgia and got mesmerized by their emotional dialogues, truly resonating with me, might be the most honest description of the sad-sweet-compelling love story of them.

Both of the main characters' self-journey couldn't be reflected more powerfully. There's no exaggeration, unnecessary angst, or clichéd misunderstandings in this book like the regular romcoms that follow a well-known formula. The honesty, reliable perspective helps the readers connect more with the characters and ride the wave with them until they embrace the full experience in full joy!

Let's take a look at the plot: Can you imagine being the best woman at your childhood best friend's wedding, which already turns into a cursed one with so many unlucky incidents fate keeps throwing their way, including the place where the ceremony will take place getting burned to the ground? Is it a sign? This is not the only challenge Georgia Woodward has to face, like fixing the ceremony organization in one week, including driving to Blue Yonder, walking down memory lane, finding the pastry shop for the wedding cake that won't make the bride puke, hiring a DJ, etc. Unfortunately, she has to do all these chores alongside the man who stole her heart at the age of 15, declared his love with a one-dollar store cupcake and a birthday candle, made her move to NY to live with him, and at the age of 23, broke her heart and pushed her into a misery that she cannot commit to another relationship: Eli Mora; the bane of her existence returned from NY as the best man of the wedding.

Georgia is adamant about sticking to the rules they created not to make things complicated. For 5 years, they both act like they are not affected by the breakup for the sake of their friendship group. They didn't have eye contact, barely greeted each other, tried hard not to spend time in the same space, but now Eli keeps looking at her eyes, calling her nickname "Peach," showing signs of the 15-year-old boy she fell in love with, not the workaholic, resigned man with anxiety issues she left 5 years ago.

As they spend more time together to pull off the perfect wedding for their friends, unsaid words, harbored feelings, palpable chemistry push them to face their past.

Georgia is so scared to burn again, but what if the only way to embrace her happiness is to give another chance at the risk of jumping into the fire? What if only hiding her feelings and rejecting her closure may only bring her sadness? What if they have another chance not to blow up and bring them the happiness they seek?

I loved it! Did I say how much I loved this book? Okay, let me say it again: I loved it too much! I'm all for team Geli!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Five resounding stars for this absolute GEM!

I already knew I was going to love this book but I truly didn’t know just how much I was going to love it. Second chance is such a special trope and the fact that this also had best friends to lovers made it even more special! And you know when you read a book and realize the characters are absolutely meant to be together?! Yeah, that’s Georgia and Eli 🥹.

This book is the epitome of “you have to love yourself before you can let someone else love you.” The author tackled difficult subjects like anxiety, depression, fear of abandonment with such care that if you relate to any of those struggles you will feel seen and taken care of.

I do wish we got multiple POV cause I was desperate for Eli internal thoughts, but Joyce is SO good at expressing emotions both in words unsaid and facial expressions that I didn’t feel like I was missing a whole lot. I also had minor irritations at some repetitive words/phrases throughout the book, but maybe that’ll be fixed up in editing so I’m gonna let it slide. Just hope someone catches how many times someone “wipes a thumb under her eyes” 😅.

Read if you like:
👰🏼‍♀️ weddings
🍇 wineries
🫂 found family
🌶️ open door romance
✌🏼 second chance
🥰 friends to lovers

This review is truly all over the place but after crying with sad and happy tears for the last 15% of the book I can’t fully formulate thoughts. Just know I loved it from the bottom of my heart!

I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put it down! The characters have my whole freaking heart 🥹🥹 set in the Bay Area made it even better as that’s where I’m from and it was all geographically very correct! The lists, the rings, the LOVE they share, I’m a puddle 😍 this was my first book from this author and I’m running to grab whatever else she has written!

4.75/5

oh how i love this book!!!

after hearing such good things about this authors debut, you with a view, this book was a instant request for me when it popped up on net galley. this book has everything needed to make a great romance story, exes, a wedding, anxiety representation, and so much more. it actually pains me to say that i can't rate this book five stars but the fact that this book wasn't dual pov literally broke me. i so badly needed to see this story from eli's mind as well. georgia was great and all but the angst would've hit so much harder if it was coming from both of them. also all of the cole scenes would've been ten times better if we knew everything and what his conversations with eli really entailed...

that being said, this book is so fucking good. i mean i was sobbing when he showed up in seattle, no lie. the paper rings... ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! so many parts of this book were just so cute and romantic that screaming and crying was necessary, multiple times i found myself laughing out loud at the wedding "curse" or just the antics of the characters!! georgia and eli were not only the cutest couple, they were also hot... like i am a tad bit obsessed with eli now. this book is a second chance romance, which i love, and the author did such a good job adding in moments from the past without making them be full chapters. the way they came to georgia as memories was so unique and more second chance romances should use that technique of flashbacks because it works so well. the best part of this book though was by far the found family trope. this friend group means so much to me now and i just want to see all of them happy for ever and ever. also cole needs a book like now because he stole the show during multiple scenes in this book.

now i must be on my way to pick up this great debut i've heard so much about because i need some more of jessica's writing!! if you liked you with a view or you're just in the mood for a romance with a great friend group and a romantic as hell male lead, pick this up in july!!

*thank you NetGalley + Berkeley for the ARC*

I’ll have to try to make this coherent through my tears because the ending of this book made me cry more than I expected?? I honestly think this book was written for me (and not just because I’ve always made little folded trinkets out of my straw wrappers that my husband has saved over the years). It’s hard for me to not love a friends to lovers second chance romance, but Jessica Joyce really knocked it out the park with this one and truly cemented herself as an auto buy author for me. I just love her writing and I think it will be hard for me to not like anything she releases. I was so drawn to Georgia and Eli together, and I loved both of their character development in terms of how they grew both individually and together.

And that ending?? Ugh I just love them.

I know it’s annoying to compare every contemporary romance to Emily Henry, but if You, With a View was for the Beach Read lovers, this one is for the Happy Place lovers. (I am all of them)

A million thank you’s to Berkely for magically approving my Netgalley request for this.

The absolute best relationship is if you manage to fall in love with your best friend. The worst possible outcome is if you break up - especially if you're determined to stay in the same friend circle. Now add in the fact that this friend group happens to be the kind of squad we all aim to find in our lives.

The Ex Vows starts with two estranged ex-lovers tasked with saving the cursed wedding of their mutual best friend. If you read romance, you already know how this will turn out and you're not wrong but the actual magic Jessica Joyce uses at each turn will leave you breathless and swooning. This story is delicately and lovingly crafted to form a perfectly messy love story with a glorious twist. #TeamGeli!

I have never been a big second chance romance gal but this blew me away! I had tried Joyce's "You With a View" but couldn't get past the social media references / plot line in it. However, I figured I would try The Ex Vows out and see if this would be more my speed and it was absolutely fantastic! The real star aspect of this book for me was how relatable the main character was with avoiding tough conversations and feeling intensely worried about how large scale changes can impact friendships. I will be keeping my eye on Jessica Joyce's future books!!