Jessica Joyce is a romance author to watch! After enjoying You, With a View, I knew I had to get my hands on The Ex Vows. I had the perfect setup: this eARC prepped on my Kindle for me to read on a beach vacation. It was great! This book was very easy to fly through and extremely sweet. I am not usually one to super love second-chance romances, but this one worked for me because the characters were easy to root for. It also helped that you get a chance to see them in the past through flashbacks to get the full context of everything. The chemistry and tension between Georgia and Eli was sooo good. Joyce has a way with creating couples that just *go* together so well. The mutual pining, all of the emotions... I ate it all up! I am really looking forward to Joyce's next romance, I will be among the first in line to read it without a doubt.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED this book so much! Jessica Joyce has quickly become my favorite new author I’ve read this year. I adored You With a View and The Ex Vows was equally amazing. I adore second chance romances and wow did she bring the angst with this one! I’d give it ten stars if I could! I listened and read and the audio was excellent!

now THIS is how you do a second chance romance

I'm a bit late with my review but I think about this book at least once a day so I figured it was time to just put my thoughts into words and post my review.

honestly, this book is so incredibly emotional. be prepared to read this with a box of tissues by your side. This book is ripe with longing and deep heartache. My heart hurts just even imagining the place of pain that both Georgia and Eli were put into in regards to each other.

There was so much about Georgia and Eli's struggles that deeply resonated with me. I loved the therapy arc that was present and I really appreciated that the ending wasn't immedately happily ever after, but rather involved both of these characters working on themselves to come back together.

Also the paper rings? Devastation. I bawled like a baby once we realized the signifcance of the rings.

Jessica Joyce really knocked it out of the park with her sophomore release and I can't wait to see what she comes up with after this.

Jessica Joyce has found the key to my heart because holy moly did I cry. Romance books don’t usually get me emotional because the story structure is familiar but the emotional journey in this one? THE WATERWORKS WERE ON.

i don't even like second chance romance, but i basically cried like a baby throughout this whole book. everything about it was excellent, and I found Georgia extremely relatable. the hype for this one is valid.

Heart flutters galore thanks to The Ex Vows

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce was a perfect second-chance romance. It reminded me of classic feel-good rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and even the more recent Your Place or Mine, not because they have similar plots but because of how they made me feel: all heart flutters.

The plot
Sparks flew when the teenage versions of Georgia and Eli met at Adam’s house. After years of friendship, they decided to surrender to their harbored feelings. Unfortunately, as young adults found their way, they weren’t compatible. Eli was a workaholic, and Georgia felt alone, so she walked away but never stopped loving him.

For the five years after their breakup, they’ve convinced Adam their bestie trio never broke up, putting up a facade for his benefit. Now, they must work together to help their best friend save his wedding by essentially re-planning a wedding in only a week. Of course, the forced proximity and the palpable feelings (and undeniable still-existing chemistry) are overpowering them both. They must confront why they broke up and how much they still love each other.

A Five Star Rom-Com
It’s difficult for me to write a review for a book I love because I’m not inclined to dissect it; I accept it. A book you love is just one you love. (But here I try.)

Bee Val also read The Ex Vows and sent me this text about it: “I love that Eli just kept showing up. He knew that Georgia didn’t trust him, but she was too polite to say anything, and he still kept showing up.” Eli’s (sometimes quiet & sometimes gritty) fight for Georgia—his determination and unquestionable love—was my favorite part of this book. Add Jessica Joyce’s fun dialogue and narrative, and it makes the book hard to put down.

I loved The Ex Vows because Georgia and Eli never doubted their love for each other, and they found their way back. I also loved it because they felt relatable—no hyperbolic character flaws & no forced interpersonal drama meant to delay their reunion. Their story is about finding their way back to the heart that is their home. Plus, there’s the right amount of angst & some excellent spice. I will read this story one hundred times and still feel all the heart flutters at the hundredth read.

Music: The obvious choice is Paper Rings by Taylor Swift (read to find out why), but Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros also sets the mood.

When I say I'm still in love with you, I mean the first time I saw you and right now. I mean every second in between.

I’ll admit it; I’m a list person when it comes to certain things, and I often find myself fixated on them, which can be counterproductive.

Meet Georgia, a list enthusiast who finds herself unexpectedly working with her ex-best friend and former boyfriend, Eli, to ensure their mutual best friend Adam’s wedding goes off without a hitch—despite the looming threat of a curse. Georgia and Eli have maintained an unspoken list of rules for five years, giving Adam the impression they've managed to be cordial.

As Georgia and Eli travel to Napa Valley together, their shared experiences force them to confront their own issues. While dealing with a series of wedding disasters and the supposed curse, they also tackle their personal list of unresolved feelings, including forgiveness, second chances, and a reckoning neither of them anticipated.

The beginning of the book really hooked me, but around 35%, I found Georgia’s internal monologue a bit frustrating. Fortunately, I pushed through a few more pages, and things improved significantly.

I absolutely adored the friendships portrayed in the story—imperfect yet refreshingly honest. It’s tough to start a new chapter especially when friends are on different pages. I related to Georgia’s anxiety about not fitting in as she once did when she thought of relocating.

The ending was unexpected and emotional—it left me moved. Here is my list of reasons to read this book:

1. Exes to lovers
2. Authentic friendships
3. Themes of forgiveness
4. A touch of spice
5. Found family
6. Job relocation
7. Fresh starts
8. Adorably cute! 🥰

This book made me love a trope I have been known to be picky with. It might just change how I view second-chance romance forever. Jessica Joyce has written the perfect romance book, truly. Literally, any fan of the genre will be taken by this stunning work.

Happy pub day to this PERFECT book! 🥳 THE EX VOWS by Jessica Joyce is out today!

Yall I loved this book so much. This was one of those books that I KNEW a few pages in that I’d be obsessed. It’s a second chance romance but the MC’s are also childhood best friends who get together in college, breakup, then finally see each other again after 5 years and their collective best friend’s wedding (that might be cursed)! I loved all of the characters so much and found the plot surrounding Georgia and Eli’s reconnection to be so fun and entertaining!

I absolutely love a second chance romance and I loved that this one only had 5 years separating the MC’s breakup and their reconnection! The pining and tension was just so palpable on the page and I ate up every single word! 🤭

Highly recommend this one - thanks to @berkleyromance for sending me a copy! 🍇💚

Thank you PRHAudio for picking me for your Influencer program and thank you for this audio.
Thank you Berkely for my ARC of the ebook. This book deserves infinite stars.

From the bottom of my heart; this has just moved to the number one fave book of 2024.


“The one thing that hasn’t changed at all is him loving me. And me loving him. It’s our tether, the thing that’s never let us drift too far.”

This book IS a soundtrack ; and it is from the heart of Taylor Swift and other equally profound songs:
Say Something
You’re losing me
Everything Has Changed
Mirrorball
Paper Rings
I love you, I’m sorry
Ever Since New York
Invisible String
The Alchemy
Endgame

The Tropes
╰›🍇 Friends to Lovers
╰›🍇 Banter
╰›🍇 Forced Proximity
╰›🍇Second Chance
╰›🍇Found Family
╰›🍇Only one cottage/One Bed
╰›🍇Single POV

“Time is a miracle. It shows you what you had, and sometimes it brings it back to you. Different. Better.”

Georgia Woodward
This character is 25-year-old me . Before children , before life had changed me. She is hyper focused ; list oriented and time crunched. Every moment she is trying to make sure she makes everyone in her circle happy with every fiber of her being and it is a cycle. She is the epitome of a helicopter friend. Worrying that if she stopped being hyper vigilante her best friends would no longer have use for her. They would no longer include her in the circle and leave her for the job; the partner; a better friend that was more "fun" or less needy. Georgia knows she makes herself smaller , she makes her needs less because she doesn't wish to be ' too much' too messy" . But real love is loud, messy and all encompassing, and these people she doesn't want to lose dont want to lose her either. The love of my life had anxiety like Eli Mora. He didnt go to therapy while we were together either. I understood why Georgia left New York. She couldn't continue to live with Eli and feel like she was the only one trying in the relationship.

Eli Mora
The mental health aspect of this book was well done. Eli over worked to quiet the anxiety, but over working made it worse. Overworking pushed people out of his life, and I wonder why these two couldn't talk about these feelings. He was genuine; loving and when he was present this week he was everything.

“But while he was trying to fix what was broken in his past, he was breaking something that was right in front of him.”

Eli put a pin in his life and made the decision to put Adam and Georgia first. When he couldn't speak , couldn't voice his words he made Georgia a paper ring. They were all the words he felt but couldn't say.
This week; this wedding gave them the time to unravel the past with Georgia.
This wedding that was cursed was messy ; loud but so incredibly full of love with this circle of friends.

“When I say I’m still in love with you,” he says quietly, “I mean today and yesterday and this entire week. I mean at Nick and Miriam’s wedding and I mean for the past five years.” If possible, he gets even quieter, but now he’s closer so I get every word. “When I say I’m still in love with you, I mean the first time I saw you and right now. I mean every second in between.”

Jessica Joyce wrote a book that wrecked me. The last three hours I listened to with tears running down my face. Even in the funny parts I continued to cry because Adam and Eli were just perfect men. I am glad Georgia put herself first. I am glad Eli learned to meet her how and where she needed him to, and put her first. Because in love we need to meet each other halfway and be the love each other needs.

A romance writer who can convince you to love your least favorite trope is elite. I tend not to like second chance romance because I usually find the couple’s reasons for not being together to either be contrived or I’m not really interested in seeing them get back together. The Ex Vows has neither of those problems, but is a heartfelt, swoony, steamy romance that will have you both laughing and crying. I loved seeing glimpses of Georgia and Eli’s early relationship, and was fully invested in their second chance! The forced proximity element about them helping to replan their best friend’s wedding was so fun. And the big final reveal - omg it was so romantic. I loved this so much!

This was so stinking cute! I love a good second chance romance and this one did not disappoint. I felt like the characters had insane chemistry and I love how it flashed back and forth between their previous relationship and the current one. Such a good romcom to read at the beach!

This book has my heart. I loved it so much. The chemistry between Eli and Georgia was shining from the start. The emotional and relatable dialogues were written so well. I love a second chance trope and this book is now at the top. After a five year breakup that almost wrecked them, I felt their angst and their longing for each other while they also tried to save the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam.

Told in dual timelines that showed how Georgia and Eli met at 15 and started dating quickly thereafter and the present time where they were on-site doing all the wedding stuff for Adam and falling for each other again. Their relationship was messy but earnest, complicated but passionate and very realistic. Georgia’s personal growth and realization of how much she is loved by both her ex and her friends made me get that warm fuzzy feeling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC. Easily one of my top books read this year, The Ex Vows is out now.

♾️⭐️ — the best book i read this month! jessica joyce has such a way with words and describing the raw, tender emotions her characters feel. loved the therapy representation & the ending made me weepy. if you see me quoting this book at my wedding, no you didn’t❤️

Jessica Joyce, this book! My word. Georgia and Eli are too soft and wonderful for this world.

“I might be messy on the inside, but I’m pathologically good at keeping it locked up tight. Except, unfortunately, when I’m not.”

After successfully avoiding really interacting with each other for years, exes Georgia and Eli are thrust together to help save their best friend’s wedding from disaster after disaster. Do you love a second chance? Forced proximity? Gorgeous scenery? A wonderful friend group you just can’t help but want to be part of? This book is so for you!

There was so much of Georgia that was utterly relatable and made me feel so seen. The Ex Vows is written with so much heart, so much depth of emotion. And it was also fun with multiple moments that made me laugh out loud. I just loved it. I Received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

3.5-4⭐️This was cute and I liked the story and the characters but I just felt a lot of it was miscommunication or lack of communication which made it feel like it dragged a bit for me. But I super loved the paper rings and the second half of the book saved it for me.

Thank you PRH audio for my gifted audiobook.

What an absolutely beautiful second chance romance. Set against the backdrop of a childhood friends wedding, Jessica Joyce blends the tenderness of first loves with modern day breakups, issues and navigating the messiness of adulthood. Jessica’s writing is so incredible - rich with imagery & filled with lines that will stay with me a long time.

Highly recommend the audio - Kyla Garcia is the narrator and she is chef’s kiss - so good!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted e-copy.

Another fantastic read from Jessica Joyce. I didn't love this one AS much as You With a View, but it was close. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, and this one absolutely delivered.

Georgia and Eli's arc was a bit predictable, but everything they went through to get there just tore at my heart. Reading how Georgia felt when they lived in NYC and Eli was 200% invested in his career made me sad, especially because I really thought they belonged together. My heart hurt for them because I knew Eli wanted things to work but wasn't sure he could be what Georgia needed, or even if he deserved a second chance. Their chemistry was intense!

I'm glad it wasn't just a hook up, make up, get back together, HEA story arc - there was a lot more to it before we get to our HEA, and I appreciated that.

4.5 stars rounded up

This was a beautiful second chance romance that burrowed it's way into my heart.

Estranged exes Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora are childhood friends turned lovers turned frenemies that have found themselves partnering up to save their best friends wedding from an alleged curse that continues to complicate every plan they have.

Years ago when Georgia and Eli were living together, Eli's work-life balance destroyed their relationship and split them apart. Now, they are trying to keep it together for the sake of maintaining their mutual best friend Adam's, sanity during the disaster that has been planning and executing his wedding.

As they spend more time together, Georgia starts to realize the differences in Eli. He's no longer attached to his phone and the way he has been looking her is less friendly and more like the looks he would give her back when they were in love. But what does this mean? They had an agreement. No touching, no talking about the breakup, no acknowledging the uncomfortable awkwardness that they have tirelessly tried to keep Adam shielded from, and absolutely no smoldering looks that make Georgias knees feel weak.

So what is happening here? Because it looks like these two exes are breaking their vows...

My Review:

I think what I loved most about this book is the character growth and the idea that people can change if given the chance. I really admire the way Eli made his tough decision (no spoilers) not just out of love for Georgia but for himself and to improve the life he was clearly not happy with. It takes tremendous strength and courage to take the path with resistance, and so I believe this part of his character deserves acknowledgment.

Georgia also experiences a shift in her character when she finds it within herself to loosen her people pleasing quality and ask for what she wants and allows herself to express her needs. In these moments she is rewarded with the most happiness because she is allowing herself the experiences and love she limited herself to for the sake of keeping everyone else happy. This also takes a lot of courage.

What I also loved is their love. Because of Georgia and Eli's familiarity with each other, their souls remembered the affection they once had and when that spark was rekindled, the floodgates opened and what was revealed was a much stronger version of who they used to be. This is why I love second chance romance. It tells a story of two people who just needed time to become the person they were meant to be. For them it was right person, wrong time and I just love how they made it back to each other.

Additionally, I adore how Eli calls Georgia "peach".

ALSO: the paper rings melted my heart.

Overall, I rated this book 4.5/5

With gorgeous writing and a fun premise, Jessica Joyce's second chance romance is as believable as it is swoonworthy. I loved the wedding-planning-forced-proximity premise and the vineyard setting and the banter was beyond. One of my favorite romcoms this year!

4.5 stars

Thanks to Berkley for the copy to review.