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