Minefields - My Review of The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

 

Title: The Ex Talk

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: January 26, 2021

Source: ARC from the publisher through Netgalley

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon's sparkling romantic comedy debut.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.

When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.

As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

Rachel Lynn Solomon writes, tap dances, and collects lipstick in Seattle, Washington. Her romance and YA novels include THE EX TALK (January 2021), TODAY TONIGHT TOMORROW, and YOU'LL MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE. Once she helped set a Guinness World Record for the most natural redheads in one place. You can find her online at rachelsolomonbooks.com and on Twitter and Instagram @rlynn_solomon.

Every so often I read a book that is so authentic and addictive that I just wish it were real. I very much need Shay and Dominic and The Ex Talk on a podcast because they are amazing.

Shay Goldstein got her love of public radio from her father. After working for over 10 years in the background at a radio station, Shay is finally given the chance to be on the air. If only her co-host didn't hate her and she wasn't lying to everyone.

Dominic Yun is a "serious journalist" and isn't interested in a fluffy bit of a radio show that will have him deceiving his listeners, but he is interested in advancing his career and will do what he must in order to go further.

The Ex Talk is a wonderfully constructed story with amazing characters that I want to know. At first glance, it is a fluffy enemies-to-lovers story, but as you read through you find that it is layered with themes of abandonment, weathering adult friendships, and misogyny in the workplace. I was thoroughly hooked for this entire journey. It grabbed my attention and hasn't released me yet, even days after finishing. I adored the little peeks into the world of public radio. It was fascinating, humorous, and touched my heart.

5 out of 5 stars

Minefields - Faouiza & John Legend

8 Letters - My Review of YOU HAVE A MATCH by Emma Lord

Title: You Have a Match

Author: Emma Lord

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Publication Date: January 12, 2021

Source: ARC from the publisher through Netgalley

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB WINTER YA PICK

A new love, a secret sister, and a summer she'll never forget.

From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord's You Have a Match, a hilarious and heartfelt novel of romance, sisterhood, and friendship...

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents — especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

Emma Lord is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn't writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, lots of love, and a copious amount of grilled cheese.

I absolutely adored Emma Lord's debut, Tweet Cute so when I saw that she had another YA Rom-Com, I knew I had to have it on my list. Her characters are well-developed and the swoon factor is off the charts.

With Match, Lord explored the family aspect a lot more, when Abby and Leo sent off a DNA kit in hopes for find more information about Leo's biological family. Abby is knocked off her feet when she discovers that she has a match, a sister that no one in her family has ever talked about. Abby and the sister, Savannah make plans for her to attend a summer camp where Savvy (and Leo) will be working.

This isn't strictly a story about family as Leo, who is Abby's best friend, is also the object of her unrequited love. She is hoping this time at camp will give her a chance to explore her feelings for him and either move on or finally find the nerve to tell him how she feels.

You Have a Match is full of the typical YA ups and downs and misunderstandings and the camp ensures that the parents have very little interference. However, Abby's parents discover that she lied about failing a class at school and make a trip to the camp there they run into Savannah and her adopted parents, their one-time close friends.

The story is cute and I loved exploring the family drama, but there were several times of suspended belief. Of course, this is something that occurs often in fiction, it just seemed a little larger with this story. Also, the very beginning of the book seems separate from the rest of the story. I know there had to be a setup, some background info, but the tone is totally different, and felt disconnected.

Overall, You Have a Match was a cute, fun story and a quick read. I laughed, I swooned, I re-evaluated my relationship with my family. Definitely add this one to your TBR.

4 out of 5 stars.

8 Letters - Why Don't We

New Releases 1/18/21

 

This is not a list of all books releasing this week, but rather a list of books

 releasing this week that I am excited about getting in my hands.

**All purchase links are provided as a courtesy to the blog followers.  I receive a small compensation for purchases made through these links.  These links may not lead to the best price and you can always shop around for a better one.**

Something is rotten in the heart of Winterkeep...

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

But when Bitterblue’s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth–putting both Bitterblue’s life and Giddon’s heart to the test when Bitterbue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what’s wrong in Winterkeep.

Lovisa Cavenda is the teenage daughter of a powerful Scholar and Industrialist (the opposing governing parties) with a fire inside her that is always hungry, always just nearly about to make something happen. She is the key to everything, but only if she can figure out what’s going on before anyone else, and only if she’s willing to transcend the person she’s been all her life.

The first time I met Hudson Rothschild was at a wedding. I’d received an unexpected invitation to one of the swankiest venues in the city.

Hudson was a groomsman and quite possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. He asked me to dance, and our chemistry was off the charts.

I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with him, considering the wedding I was at. But our connection was intense, and I was having a great time.

Though the fun came to a screeching halt when Hudson figured out I wasn’t who I’d said I was. You see, that unexpected invitation I received? Well, it hadn’t actually been addressed to me—it was sent to my ex-roommate who’d bounced a check for two months’ rent and moved out in the middle of the night. I figured she owed me an expensive night out, but I guess, technically, I was crashing the wedding.

Once caught, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. As I bolted for the door, I might’ve plucked a few bottles of expensive champagne off the tables I passed, all while the gorgeous, angry groomsman was hot on my tail.

Outside, I jumped into a taxi. My heart ricocheted against my ribs as we drove down the block—but at least I’d escaped unscathed.

Or so I thought.

Until I realized I’d left my cell phone behind at the table.

Take one guess who found it?

This is the crazy story of how Hudson Rothschild and I met. But trust me, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

A new, sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller, Vi Keeland.

Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.

The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galápagos—best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galápagos Islands...together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.

With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

**You will not be charged for Pre-orders until release.**

Coming in later in JANUARY

Coming in FEBRUARY

Coming in MARCH

Coming in APRIL

Coming in MAY

Coming in June

What books are you excited about this year???