What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ex Vows
ESTRANGED EXES MUST
STICK CLOSE TOGETHER TO SAVE THEIR
BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING AFTER A STRING
OF DISASTERS IN THIS SWOONY AND
STEAMY SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE.
GEORGIA WOODWARD lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, ELI MORA. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy —and still very present— feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.
What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude, and the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in Technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them —it’s a chance at something new.
STICK CLOSE TOGETHER TO SAVE THEIR
BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING AFTER A STRING
OF DISASTERS IN THIS SWOONY AND
STEAMY SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE.
GEORGIA WOODWARD lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, ELI MORA. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy —and still very present— feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.
What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude, and the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in Technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them —it’s a chance at something new.
390 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2024
2129 people are currently reading
106463 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Joyce
3 books4,698 followersJessica Joyce is the bestselling author of relatable, character-driven contemporary romance stories that feature as much yearning as she can stuff into them. When she's not working on a new book, you can find her making a playlist, watching Sleepless in Seattle and the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice on repeat, or curled up with a book she didn't have to write.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,202 reviews
August 5, 2024
I can describe this book in just songs:
You’re losing me
Mirrorball
Paper Rings
I love you, I’m sorry
Ever Since New York
Invisible String
Do with that what you will! But I’m gonna go listen to a playlist for this book and CRY BC I LOVED IT SO MUCH! What a beautiful story!!!
You’re losing me
Mirrorball
Paper Rings
I love you, I’m sorry
Ever Since New York
Invisible String
Do with that what you will! But I’m gonna go listen to a playlist for this book and CRY BC I LOVED IT SO MUCH! What a beautiful story!!!
September 13, 2024
4.25!
“Time is a miracle. It shows you what you had, and sometimes it brings it back to you. Different. Better.”
My first Jessica Joyce novel being a hit was such a good way to start my journey with her book and not to mention it being 'Second Chance' as well which made me praise it even more because second chances are very hard to pull of and most of the second chance books are a hit or a miss and trust me when I say this they're more misses than hits, so glad that I found a good one. I would say how much I appreciated the work that she put into this by capturing the realities of a relationship that existed between Eli and Georgia and I loved that part so much because I love it when characters have some realistic and relatable attributed it just makes them so much more fleshed out and full of emotions. It reminded me of Happy Place so much so that itself gives it a bump. I didn't rate it a 4.5-5 because I would say- I enjoyed it but not enough for it to be a 4.5 or above.
“You were shown that you weren’t allowed to need things that inconvenienced people, and you learned to make yourself smaller. But why can everyone else be messy and you can’t?”
Georgia stole the show for me tbh because she was such a relatable character. It's always makes me so happy when I find relatable characters. One thing that I related to a lot was how Georgia felt about her friend's when she was moving away. How she felt as if she would loose time with them and how they would have new chapters in their life without her and how much of their life she would be missing and I feel that way so much because I moved back from a city to another city two years back and I used to worry so much about all the things Georgia is worrying about and honestly I'm just so glad that I had good friends who would still keep up with me and include me by face timing me when I couldn't be there. I really enjoyed reading this in a book, reflecting what I feel through a character. Georgia's character overall is one of my favourites.
“There you are.” A smile melts across his face, slow and sleepy. “Hey, Peach.”
Eli was a likeable character too, although he didn't make it to the best mmc's ever written he did things that would be highlighted in that section. I like how much the author explored his character as well. I liked how his character development was shown and how he himself changed + I also liked how he reacted around Georgia and the emotion's that he brought around her. The way he was trying for her and it made his character so much more enjoyable to read. Not my favourite male main character but an enjoyable one for sure!!
“It’s a gift to know someone when you’re in love with them, and a curse when you’re out of it.”
The romance was my favourite part. It had a very hard task, given its nature was a second chance and I am glad to say that it delivered because I loved reading about them. My favourite scene was when Eli wrote 212 thing he liked about her and I also was so in love with subtle touches and the glances that they shared and how everything developed and eventually wrapped together. I also think that the author made their relationships foundation so strong in this one that made their break up feel so real and how everything was communicated overall was very well done.
My one big complain was the side characters. I did not like them, they were given sufficient spotlight but they just didn't grip me as most side characters usually do and it was a mood killer at times.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to second chance lovers!
___
Second chances are a hit or a miss but when they hit....they hit hard 🙂↕️🤌🏻
(Also Hoda said that I better love this and that she would unfriend me and she also sent 🔪🔪🔪 these emojis 😨...HELP!!!)
“Time is a miracle. It shows you what you had, and sometimes it brings it back to you. Different. Better.”
My first Jessica Joyce novel being a hit was such a good way to start my journey with her book and not to mention it being 'Second Chance' as well which made me praise it even more because second chances are very hard to pull of and most of the second chance books are a hit or a miss and trust me when I say this they're more misses than hits, so glad that I found a good one. I would say how much I appreciated the work that she put into this by capturing the realities of a relationship that existed between Eli and Georgia and I loved that part so much because I love it when characters have some realistic and relatable attributed it just makes them so much more fleshed out and full of emotions. It reminded me of Happy Place so much so that itself gives it a bump. I didn't rate it a 4.5-5 because I would say- I enjoyed it but not enough for it to be a 4.5 or above.
“You were shown that you weren’t allowed to need things that inconvenienced people, and you learned to make yourself smaller. But why can everyone else be messy and you can’t?”
Georgia stole the show for me tbh because she was such a relatable character. It's always makes me so happy when I find relatable characters. One thing that I related to a lot was how Georgia felt about her friend's when she was moving away. How she felt as if she would loose time with them and how they would have new chapters in their life without her and how much of their life she would be missing and I feel that way so much because I moved back from a city to another city two years back and I used to worry so much about all the things Georgia is worrying about and honestly I'm just so glad that I had good friends who would still keep up with me and include me by face timing me when I couldn't be there. I really enjoyed reading this in a book, reflecting what I feel through a character. Georgia's character overall is one of my favourites.
“There you are.” A smile melts across his face, slow and sleepy. “Hey, Peach.”
Eli was a likeable character too, although he didn't make it to the best mmc's ever written he did things that would be highlighted in that section. I like how much the author explored his character as well. I liked how his character development was shown and how he himself changed + I also liked how he reacted around Georgia and the emotion's that he brought around her. The way he was trying for her and it made his character so much more enjoyable to read. Not my favourite male main character but an enjoyable one for sure!!
“It’s a gift to know someone when you’re in love with them, and a curse when you’re out of it.”
The romance was my favourite part. It had a very hard task, given its nature was a second chance and I am glad to say that it delivered because I loved reading about them. My favourite scene was when Eli wrote 212 thing he liked about her and I also was so in love with subtle touches and the glances that they shared and how everything developed and eventually wrapped together. I also think that the author made their relationships foundation so strong in this one that made their break up feel so real and how everything was communicated overall was very well done.
My one big complain was the side characters. I did not like them, they were given sufficient spotlight but they just didn't grip me as most side characters usually do and it was a mood killer at times.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to second chance lovers!
___
Second chances are a hit or a miss but when they hit....they hit hard 🙂↕️🤌🏻
(Also Hoda said that I better love this and that she would unfriend me and she also sent 🔪🔪🔪 these emojis 😨...HELP!!!)
January 15, 2025
★ 1.5 stars
starting my reading year weakly it seems...
this is not one of the worst books i’ve ever read (trust me when i say i’ve read worse) — but it’s certainly one of the worst second chance romances i’ve read.
i’ve noticed that second chance is a trope that people either absolutely dislike or absolutely love — no in between. i, personally, absolutely love it and it’s undoubtedly one of my favorite tropes. so given my love for this trope, i approached this book with the highest of expectations, really thinking that i would enjoy reading it and have a nice time with it, but as you can easily notice... that did not happen. i’m extremely disappointed.
it was just so. freaking. tedious. i’m telling you, i could stare at my wall for hours and i’m a hundred percent sure that it would offer me more entertainment than reading this book. there’s nothing interesting about it. nothing. and believe me, i really tried to find something interesting here, something to hold my interest at least a bit, but it seems like there wasn’t anything.
countless times i found myself dreading picking this book up — and at the times where i did gather up the courage to pick it up, i quite literally had to fight hard to not fall asleep while reading. honestly? i don’t even know why and how i managed to make it through the end. i guess i might be stronger than i think i am.
if i had to describe The Ex Vows in one word, that word would be dull. why? because every aspect of it is dull. all of the characters? dull. the romance? dull. the writing? dull. the story as a whole? dull. not a single thing here managed to captivate me. it truly saddens me because i wanted to love this book so bad; i wanted to be fully immersed by it and fall in love with it completely, but it was impossible.
needless to say, this was not what i expected. second chance romances usually deliver multi-dimensional protagonists, a palpable chemistry between said protagonists, so much emotional depth, tension & angst, and an actual good narrative that makes you wanna read more and more and makes you feel all the feels — but, from my perspective, this book didn’t deliver any of that, so it was difficult for me to get invested.
i’m fully aware that The Ex Vows is loved by most people, and while i didn’t have the best experience with it, i’m very glad others did. do i recommend it? well, yes, it’s still worth giving it a try. just because i didn’t like it, doesn’t mean others can’t (and vice versa), so i do recommend to people that haven’t read it yet. i truly hope other readers can enjoy it more than i did.
. ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖
๋ · ˚ 🖇️ ⊹ ⌇ pre-read. ⋆
⤿ started on january 2, 2025.
my first read of 2025! 🩷💐💫
starting the year with an angsty, second chance romance because why not?! i’ve heard amazing things from a lot of people, so i couldn’t be more excited to read it! hopefully it will deliver. 🤞🏻
starting my reading year weakly it seems...
this is not one of the worst books i’ve ever read (trust me when i say i’ve read worse) — but it’s certainly one of the worst second chance romances i’ve read.
i’ve noticed that second chance is a trope that people either absolutely dislike or absolutely love — no in between. i, personally, absolutely love it and it’s undoubtedly one of my favorite tropes. so given my love for this trope, i approached this book with the highest of expectations, really thinking that i would enjoy reading it and have a nice time with it, but as you can easily notice... that did not happen. i’m extremely disappointed.
it was just so. freaking. tedious. i’m telling you, i could stare at my wall for hours and i’m a hundred percent sure that it would offer me more entertainment than reading this book. there’s nothing interesting about it. nothing. and believe me, i really tried to find something interesting here, something to hold my interest at least a bit, but it seems like there wasn’t anything.
countless times i found myself dreading picking this book up — and at the times where i did gather up the courage to pick it up, i quite literally had to fight hard to not fall asleep while reading. honestly? i don’t even know why and how i managed to make it through the end. i guess i might be stronger than i think i am.
if i had to describe The Ex Vows in one word, that word would be dull. why? because every aspect of it is dull. all of the characters? dull. the romance? dull. the writing? dull. the story as a whole? dull. not a single thing here managed to captivate me. it truly saddens me because i wanted to love this book so bad; i wanted to be fully immersed by it and fall in love with it completely, but it was impossible.
needless to say, this was not what i expected. second chance romances usually deliver multi-dimensional protagonists, a palpable chemistry between said protagonists, so much emotional depth, tension & angst, and an actual good narrative that makes you wanna read more and more and makes you feel all the feels — but, from my perspective, this book didn’t deliver any of that, so it was difficult for me to get invested.
i’m fully aware that The Ex Vows is loved by most people, and while i didn’t have the best experience with it, i’m very glad others did. do i recommend it? well, yes, it’s still worth giving it a try. just because i didn’t like it, doesn’t mean others can’t (and vice versa), so i do recommend to people that haven’t read it yet. i truly hope other readers can enjoy it more than i did.
. ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖ 𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 . ݁ ˖
๋ · ˚ 🖇️ ⊹ ⌇ pre-read. ⋆
⤿ started on january 2, 2025.
my first read of 2025! 🩷💐💫
starting the year with an angsty, second chance romance because why not?! i’ve heard amazing things from a lot of people, so i couldn’t be more excited to read it! hopefully it will deliver. 🤞🏻
November 3, 2024
He’s the type of guy who would build you a bookshelf in the morning and then break a table eating you for dinner 😩
July 12, 2024
♾ stars
This book ruined me and healed me in all the best possible ways. It touched my soul and heart in an irrevocable way. I don't why I am a masochist for second chance romances but this one is a masterpiece in this genre.
The Ex Vows is a beautiful, realistic and riveting story of two people, Eli and Georgia who after their five years of cataclysmic breakup, are on the road to reckoning to mend their broken hearts while also trying to save the cursed wedding of their bestfriend, Adam. Will they follow Georgia's lists or give in to their temptations to find love in chaos and messiness of the cursed wedding preparations. It's a heartbreaking and very raw and realistic story and it took me on a wild ride of emotions both mentally and emotionally.
The romance. So beautiful. Just mesmerising, swoon-worthy, painful and sweet enough to love every second of it. The chemistry is palpable and Eli and Georgia has the sparks even after the five years gap that we so badly want in real life. The banter and the angst was effervescently present. I loved the wedding preparation moments and they added the fun element to the story. The friendship is one of the best thing in this book. I loved each and every side character and how they brought nuances to the story with their different personalities.
Jessica weaved a story of second chances, self-discovery and healing of broken hearts with comforting moments of warmth, happiness and joy that came with reminiscing the past and exploring present amidst the madness of cursed wedding. It stirred a spectrum of emotions, giving hope and happiness amidst the messiness of Eli and Georgia's relationship.
➸ Georgia Woodward
Georgia with people pleasing tendencies, lists for days, and hyper-independence capabilty is me. It was like looking in a mirror. She is the personification of 'mirror ball'. Georgia's monologues are so beautifully written, full of remarkable profundity and vulnerability that evidently shows her benevolence, devotion, compassionate and altruistic nature for the people she loves. She is dealing with her own anxiety and abandonment issues, she never felt enough, always doing what others wanted, suppressing her wants and love. It was beautiful to see how she leaned on Eli for help and her needs, how he made sure she felt enough.
“Because when he’s messiest, that’s when I see myself reflected in him.”
➸ Eli Mora
Eli is for the hot hyper-independent girls. He is the man who loves unconditionally and thoroughly, but will also break your heart. His need to have a stable life, supporting his family consumed him to his core. He deals with anxiety and that played a major role in this story. Eli with his newfound dediction is making efforts, finally pushing himself to be better; to be the Eli that Georgia fell for, one who loves his life and himself as he is without the burden to live for financial stability. He is a man of few words as he believes in showing his love through actions and that's the sweetest thing about Eli.
“You deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you.”
: ̗̀➛ Eli and Georgia
Two estranged exes and a cursed wedding? What could go wrong? Apparently everything.
Eli and Georgia are the prime example of why loving someone will never be enough. Their breakup was mutual and so realistic it hit me right in the heart. They made so many mistakes but they were just new adults at that time, trying to figure out their life and dreams, navigating through hard truths of adulthood, making sensible decisions, pushing each other away for the safety of the life they craved. Their first meet almost wrecked my heart. The overwhelming and complicated emotions, hurt and love they still have for each other even after five years of their breakup were heart-rending. The lingering touches and tension that's filled with longing, hurt and suppressed desires orchestrated their newfound love and passion.
Their previous ostentatious friendship that was for their friend's group bloomed into ardent flames of love forgotten when they were forced to plan a wedding. I loved how they slowly and steadily let each other in their lives, cultivated trust, showed messy and ugly parts of their lives, but also showed how much they still love each other with their actions and words. The emotional and vulnerable moments in this book made me question what true love is in reality and is it really enough if love is all you have to give? What about efforts, comprises and good communication skills? I loved how they struggled but didn't let their past and fears associated with it to control their present and it was hopeful and comforting.
The intimate scenes in this book deserve praise. It was very poetical and emotional. (Eli's chain also played a major role in those scenes and I was going feral everytime it made an appearance!)
I am transfixed by Jessica's exquisite, poetical, tender-hearted and deeply atmospheric writing. I resonated with the main characters and that's why this story is special for me and why this book touched my heart in a profound and true manner. Jessica delved deeper into characters' past to carefully devise their present personalities and their struggles based on it. She effortlessly reflected the frustrating decisions and heartbreaking situations with a perspicuous and rational approach.
I absolutely loved the ending. I will not talk about it much but just that it was satisfying and beautiful.
Special thanks to my bestie Rae who was there with me everytime I was crying and screaming in our dms. And special thanks to Jessica Joyce because I had a lovely time chatting with her about this book. She is the sweetest person ever 🫶🏼 Also I will never stop asking you for Cole's book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Uk for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“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 ruined me and healed me in all the best possible ways. It touched my soul and heart in an irrevocable way. I don't why I am a masochist for second chance romances but this one is a masterpiece in this genre.
The Ex Vows is a beautiful, realistic and riveting story of two people, Eli and Georgia who after their five years of cataclysmic breakup, are on the road to reckoning to mend their broken hearts while also trying to save the cursed wedding of their bestfriend, Adam. Will they follow Georgia's lists or give in to their temptations to find love in chaos and messiness of the cursed wedding preparations. It's a heartbreaking and very raw and realistic story and it took me on a wild ride of emotions both mentally and emotionally.
“How strange it is to have a first for the second time. How lucky and messy and perfect.”
The romance. So beautiful. Just mesmerising, swoon-worthy, painful and sweet enough to love every second of it. The chemistry is palpable and Eli and Georgia has the sparks even after the five years gap that we so badly want in real life. The banter and the angst was effervescently present. I loved the wedding preparation moments and they added the fun element to the story. The friendship is one of the best thing in this book. I loved each and every side character and how they brought nuances to the story with their different personalities.
Jessica weaved a story of second chances, self-discovery and healing of broken hearts with comforting moments of warmth, happiness and joy that came with reminiscing the past and exploring present amidst the madness of cursed wedding. It stirred a spectrum of emotions, giving hope and happiness amidst the messiness of Eli and Georgia's relationship.
➸ Georgia Woodward
Georgia with people pleasing tendencies, lists for days, and hyper-independence capabilty is me. It was like looking in a mirror. She is the personification of 'mirror ball'. Georgia's monologues are so beautifully written, full of remarkable profundity and vulnerability that evidently shows her benevolence, devotion, compassionate and altruistic nature for the people she loves. She is dealing with her own anxiety and abandonment issues, she never felt enough, always doing what others wanted, suppressing her wants and love. It was beautiful to see how she leaned on Eli for help and her needs, how he made sure she felt enough.
“Because when he’s messiest, that’s when I see myself reflected in him.”
➸ Eli Mora
Eli is for the hot hyper-independent girls. He is the man who loves unconditionally and thoroughly, but will also break your heart. His need to have a stable life, supporting his family consumed him to his core. He deals with anxiety and that played a major role in this story. Eli with his newfound dediction is making efforts, finally pushing himself to be better; to be the Eli that Georgia fell for, one who loves his life and himself as he is without the burden to live for financial stability. He is a man of few words as he believes in showing his love through actions and that's the sweetest thing about Eli.
“You deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you.”
: ̗̀➛ Eli and Georgia
Two estranged exes and a cursed wedding? What could go wrong? Apparently everything.
Eli and Georgia are the prime example of why loving someone will never be enough. Their breakup was mutual and so realistic it hit me right in the heart. They made so many mistakes but they were just new adults at that time, trying to figure out their life and dreams, navigating through hard truths of adulthood, making sensible decisions, pushing each other away for the safety of the life they craved. Their first meet almost wrecked my heart. The overwhelming and complicated emotions, hurt and love they still have for each other even after five years of their breakup were heart-rending. The lingering touches and tension that's filled with longing, hurt and suppressed desires orchestrated their newfound love and passion.
“Isn’t that the way I deserve to be loved— completely, messily, imperfectly? Isn’t that the way I deserve to love myself? And isn’t it what Eli deserves, too?”
Their previous ostentatious friendship that was for their friend's group bloomed into ardent flames of love forgotten when they were forced to plan a wedding. I loved how they slowly and steadily let each other in their lives, cultivated trust, showed messy and ugly parts of their lives, but also showed how much they still love each other with their actions and words. The emotional and vulnerable moments in this book made me question what true love is in reality and is it really enough if love is all you have to give? What about efforts, comprises and good communication skills? I loved how they struggled but didn't let their past and fears associated with it to control their present and it was hopeful and comforting.
“And maybe it’s not stupid, I think as he presses me into the mattress in a way that feels vital, like I’m being consumed by him. Maybe it’s just like going back to visit a home that isn’t yours anymore. Maybe you don’t have the key, but someone lets you in anyway, and you stay awhile, and it feels so good just to be somewhere you once belonged.”
The intimate scenes in this book deserve praise. It was very poetical and emotional. (Eli's chain also played a major role in those scenes and I was going feral everytime it made an appearance!)
I am transfixed by Jessica's exquisite, poetical, tender-hearted and deeply atmospheric writing. I resonated with the main characters and that's why this story is special for me and why this book touched my heart in a profound and true manner. Jessica delved deeper into characters' past to carefully devise their present personalities and their struggles based on it. She effortlessly reflected the frustrating decisions and heartbreaking situations with a perspicuous and rational approach.
I absolutely loved the ending. I will not talk about it much but just that it was satisfying and beautiful.
Special thanks to my bestie Rae who was there with me everytime I was crying and screaming in our dms. And special thanks to Jessica Joyce because I had a lovely time chatting with her about this book. She is the sweetest person ever 🫶🏼 Also I will never stop asking you for Cole's book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Uk for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2024
I wanna cry (happy tears) because I loved this book so much
September 2, 2024
4.75⭐️ oh this was PERFECT
September 15, 2024
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3 Stars ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Eli and Georgia broke up 5 years ago and have remained cordial, it also makes it easier for their shared friend group. They're at the venue for their best friends' wedding when things start go off the rails a little. In order to save the wedding and not have it turn into a complete disaster, Eli and Georgia need to work closely together.
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
Ehh... I honestly don't know peeps. I really need to stop jumping into books based on their covers and popularity - I really can't deal with myself.
Anyway, it wasn't a total loss with this one. I did enjoy the story but I think my one complaint is that I didn't really feel the chemistry between Eli and Georgia. It was a sweet and no frills kind of love in my opinion - one that reads like they've been together for many years - it was comfortable. But it wasn't exciting.
I enjoyed all of the characters well enough- they were relatable and realistic. The setting and the story was great. But nothing wowed me about the story.
I think what I'm saying is that I really do think this book will check many boxes for many readers- I just crave more than your standard ordinary love story- I want sparks and fireworks. I want to pearl clutch, scream, tear up and squeal with joy when they get their HEA.
I just didn't get that with this story. Not a total waste of money but nothing memorable either.
If you loved Happy Place by EH - you will likely quite enjoy this one.
╰›🍇 Friends to Lovers
╰›🍇 Banter
╰›🍇 Forced Proximity
╰›🍇Second Chance
╰›🍇Found Family
╰›🍇Only one cottage/One Bed
╰›🍇Single POV
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Eli and Georgia broke up 5 years ago and have remained cordial, it also makes it easier for their shared friend group. They're at the venue for their best friends' wedding when things start go off the rails a little. In order to save the wedding and not have it turn into a complete disaster, Eli and Georgia need to work closely together.
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
Ehh... I honestly don't know peeps. I really need to stop jumping into books based on their covers and popularity - I really can't deal with myself.
Anyway, it wasn't a total loss with this one. I did enjoy the story but I think my one complaint is that I didn't really feel the chemistry between Eli and Georgia. It was a sweet and no frills kind of love in my opinion - one that reads like they've been together for many years - it was comfortable. But it wasn't exciting.
I enjoyed all of the characters well enough- they were relatable and realistic. The setting and the story was great. But nothing wowed me about the story.
I think what I'm saying is that I really do think this book will check many boxes for many readers- I just crave more than your standard ordinary love story- I want sparks and fireworks. I want to pearl clutch, scream, tear up and squeal with joy when they get their HEA.
I just didn't get that with this story. Not a total waste of money but nothing memorable either.
If you loved Happy Place by EH - you will likely quite enjoy this one.
╰›🍇 Friends to Lovers
╰›🍇 Banter
╰›🍇 Forced Proximity
╰›🍇Second Chance
╰›🍇Found Family
╰›🍇Only one cottage/One Bed
╰›🍇Single POV
July 7, 2024
➳ 1 star ✩
⤿ a spoiler free arc review
[a very unpopular opinion alert!]
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ single pov
⤿ second chance
⤿ friends to lovers
⤿ one bed
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ found family
⤿ anxiety/mental health rep
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼: panic attacks, anxiety
hii! okay, i know your all probably very bored of me with all my one star ratings and ranty arc reviews and i know you’re screaming at me to change it up a bit for once, but believe me, i’m trying. i don’t want to hate every book i read because surprise surprise, i do actually read for enjoyment, and since i had already heard so many gushing reviews about this author and her newest book, i decided to request this title from netgalley. but of course, my luck with arcs is abysmal (as is my ratio). this book was also compared to ‘happy place’ which is one of my favourite romances although i know i will become it’s biggest hater if i ever decide to re-read it.
and in many ways, this felt like i was rereading happy place. so much so, i had to reduce the rating of an EH book. and that never happens. never ever.
the premise revolves around a group of 6 friends…the same as happy place. but that’s okay right? tons of fictional books have decided that it is in fact incredibly easy to have a singular friend, let alone almost half a dozen of them. okay, onto the next similarities! the novel taking place somewhere where the character’s don’t reside in but have many happy memories there, a couple who is [redacted] and [redacted] (these are spoilers for happy place), one of the “redacted” being the reason the characters are in this other area, tasks having to be completed because of this reason, a lesbian couple who a) have barely any impact on the story and b) read like a heterosexual couple, the main couple having the issue of living far away from each other and the solution being terrible (if you’re going to plagiarise a book at least copy to good stuff ffs), the main couple having to fake something or another, and this really wouldn’t be all that suspicious if it also weren’t a friends to lovers + second chance romance.
and don’t get me wrong, because if you know anything about me, it's that i love a good second chance romance. there's just something so beautiful about the heartbreak and angst behind a 'right person, wrong time' scenario that is so painful yet addicting to read. the PAIN, the ANGST!!! it’s truly one of those tropes that you can go your whole life hating but read one beautiful book with the most gorgeous prose and never understand how you could ever hate the premise of “right person, wrong time”. reading this however, i can understand the pure unadulterated rage one can feel. here it was the wrong person, at the wrong time, the whole time. i felt no chemistry between the two characters, and if someone could open the dictionary to find the word “grovelling” and thrust it into eli’s face, i would finally know inner peace. they hump and BOOM! all their relationship problems are solved.
"i wish that was how it actually worked" i say, despite never being in a relationship myself, yet knowing that this is not how two almost 30-year-olds should be dealing with one.
every character was so one-dimensional i wanted to claw my eyes out with a tablespoon. i f*cking wish i was being overdramatic.
you see georgia being this mirrorball, this is me trying people-pleaser BUT THOSE THREE DESCRIPTORS ALL ALLUDE TO THE SAME THING - she was a pushover with no spine who needed to grow tf up and learn to say no. and tbh, i wouldn’t even mind all that much if she actually received some character development, where she grew some backbone. i don’t need to know about how her “secret praise kink purrs” when i know nothing about her life, or her history, or anything truly definitive about her character.
eli was bland. very bland. like this man for sure does not season his chicken. he, without a doubt, eats bland chicken. now i’m slightly hazy about the laws in the us but i’m pretty sure he could be arrested for cannibalism. i’ll need someone from the states to double-check though.
the side characters: i see nothing and no one, yet too much of everyone. their mutual friend - i think his name was adam(?) - had barely any page time which was odd considering it was his wedding they were saving, and his fiancee/wife who’s name i don’t even remember (tis grace) was also just, there. her super-precious-to-her bff/roommate jamie (who’s name i also temporarily forgot) IS NEVER EVEN THERE!! it’s like the author planned a character cast of two then realised that would be too boring so she added in way too many characters, and also managed to keep the boring-ness.
oh and the plot? so boring it took me an hour to realise that a recount of it was missing from my review. georgia and eli, childhood friends who have broken up, try to save their friend adam’s wedding after the venue burns down and eventually bang. that is literally it. no tension, no stakes and no chemistry. i hate it here.
i beg of you to point out the drama!!! they only broke up because he prioritised his job over her. that was it. all they had to do was talk to each other and c.o.m.m.u.n.i.c.a.t.e. do authors know that their characters can use their tongues to talk to each other about their *feelings* instead of sticking their tongues down the other’s throat?
+ wayyyy more problems that i have with this book, but i have a headache (probably because of this book) so i’ll add them in later.
bottom line: my talents of finding random similarities would be so much more appreciated if i were a detective. i fear i have chosen the wrong profession. and also i should never anticipate a book again.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
and some other stuffbecause i realised this review was very ugly
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
౨ৎ • 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
➳ “How strange it is to have a first for the second time. How lucky and messy and perfect.”
➳ “We're not strangers. We’re …”
“Us.”
“We're us.”
“Then that's enough.”
➳ “Because when he's messiest, that's when I see myself reflected in him.”
➳ “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.”
➳ “Sometimes happiness is loud and messy.”
➳ “We can be all those things—good, bad, easy and needy, okay or not on an endless cycle—and trust that the other will stay. Our circumstances are messy, but so is life. It doesn’t mean that we can’t love each other through it. We already are.”
➳ “I’m in love with you.”
I get out a strangled, “Again?”
He’s not smiling, but his mouth is soft, his eyes are soft, this word is soft: “Still.”
➳ “But you deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
🎧 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽:
⤿ paper rings - taylor swift
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
꒰ 💐 ⊹˚. pre review:
guy who eats unseasoned chicken x girl with no backbone + no character development x walmart emily henry
1.5★ (later dropped to 1)
rtc
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
꒰ 🧸 ⊹˚. tbr review:
screaming, crying, throwing up because my second arc from berkely is a second chance romance with a one bed trope thats also one of my most anticipated books this year aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
⤿ a spoiler free arc review
[a very unpopular opinion alert!]
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ single pov
⤿ second chance
⤿ friends to lovers
⤿ one bed
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ found family
⤿ anxiety/mental health rep
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼: panic attacks, anxiety
hii! okay, i know your all probably very bored of me with all my one star ratings and ranty arc reviews and i know you’re screaming at me to change it up a bit for once, but believe me, i’m trying. i don’t want to hate every book i read because surprise surprise, i do actually read for enjoyment, and since i had already heard so many gushing reviews about this author and her newest book, i decided to request this title from netgalley. but of course, my luck with arcs is abysmal (as is my ratio). this book was also compared to ‘happy place’ which is one of my favourite romances although i know i will become it’s biggest hater if i ever decide to re-read it.
and in many ways, this felt like i was rereading happy place. so much so, i had to reduce the rating of an EH book. and that never happens. never ever.
the premise revolves around a group of 6 friends…the same as happy place. but that’s okay right? tons of fictional books have decided that it is in fact incredibly easy to have a singular friend, let alone almost half a dozen of them. okay, onto the next similarities! the novel taking place somewhere where the character’s don’t reside in but have many happy memories there, a couple who is [redacted] and [redacted] (these are spoilers for happy place), one of the “redacted” being the reason the characters are in this other area, tasks having to be completed because of this reason, a lesbian couple who a) have barely any impact on the story and b) read like a heterosexual couple, the main couple having the issue of living far away from each other and the solution being terrible (if you’re going to plagiarise a book at least copy to good stuff ffs), the main couple having to fake something or another, and this really wouldn’t be all that suspicious if it also weren’t a friends to lovers + second chance romance.
and don’t get me wrong, because if you know anything about me, it's that i love a good second chance romance. there's just something so beautiful about the heartbreak and angst behind a 'right person, wrong time' scenario that is so painful yet addicting to read. the PAIN, the ANGST!!! it’s truly one of those tropes that you can go your whole life hating but read one beautiful book with the most gorgeous prose and never understand how you could ever hate the premise of “right person, wrong time”. reading this however, i can understand the pure unadulterated rage one can feel. here it was the wrong person, at the wrong time, the whole time. i felt no chemistry between the two characters, and if someone could open the dictionary to find the word “grovelling” and thrust it into eli’s face, i would finally know inner peace. they hump and BOOM! all their relationship problems are solved.
"i wish that was how it actually worked" i say, despite never being in a relationship myself, yet knowing that this is not how two almost 30-year-olds should be dealing with one.
every character was so one-dimensional i wanted to claw my eyes out with a tablespoon. i f*cking wish i was being overdramatic.
you see georgia being this mirrorball, this is me trying people-pleaser BUT THOSE THREE DESCRIPTORS ALL ALLUDE TO THE SAME THING - she was a pushover with no spine who needed to grow tf up and learn to say no. and tbh, i wouldn’t even mind all that much if she actually received some character development, where she grew some backbone. i don’t need to know about how her “secret praise kink purrs” when i know nothing about her life, or her history, or anything truly definitive about her character.
eli was bland. very bland. like this man for sure does not season his chicken. he, without a doubt, eats bland chicken. now i’m slightly hazy about the laws in the us but i’m pretty sure he could be arrested for cannibalism. i’ll need someone from the states to double-check though.
the side characters: i see nothing and no one, yet too much of everyone. their mutual friend - i think his name was adam(?) - had barely any page time which was odd considering it was his wedding they were saving, and his fiancee/wife who’s name i don’t even remember (tis grace) was also just, there. her super-precious-to-her bff/roommate jamie (who’s name i also temporarily forgot) IS NEVER EVEN THERE!! it’s like the author planned a character cast of two then realised that would be too boring so she added in way too many characters, and also managed to keep the boring-ness.
oh and the plot? so boring it took me an hour to realise that a recount of it was missing from my review. georgia and eli, childhood friends who have broken up, try to save their friend adam’s wedding after the venue burns down and eventually bang. that is literally it. no tension, no stakes and no chemistry. i hate it here.
i beg of you to point out the drama!!! they only broke up because he prioritised his job over her. that was it. all they had to do was talk to each other and c.o.m.m.u.n.i.c.a.t.e. do authors know that their characters can use their tongues to talk to each other about their *feelings* instead of sticking their tongues down the other’s throat?
+ wayyyy more problems that i have with this book, but i have a headache (probably because of this book) so i’ll add them in later.
bottom line: my talents of finding random similarities would be so much more appreciated if i were a detective. i fear i have chosen the wrong profession. and also i should never anticipate a book again.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
and some other stuff
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
౨ৎ • 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼:
➳ “How strange it is to have a first for the second time. How lucky and messy and perfect.”
➳ “We're not strangers. We’re …”
“Us.”
“We're us.”
“Then that's enough.”
➳ “Because when he's messiest, that's when I see myself reflected in him.”
➳ “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.”
➳ “Sometimes happiness is loud and messy.”
➳ “We can be all those things—good, bad, easy and needy, okay or not on an endless cycle—and trust that the other will stay. Our circumstances are messy, but so is life. It doesn’t mean that we can’t love each other through it. We already are.”
➳ “I’m in love with you.”
I get out a strangled, “Again?”
He’s not smiling, but his mouth is soft, his eyes are soft, this word is soft: “Still.”
➳ “But you deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
🎧 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽:
⤿ paper rings - taylor swift
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
꒰ 💐 ⊹˚. pre review:
guy who eats unseasoned chicken x girl with no backbone + no character development x walmart emily henry
1.5★ (later dropped to 1)
rtc
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
꒰ 🧸 ⊹˚. tbr review:
screaming, crying, throwing up because my second arc from berkely is a second chance romance with a one bed trope thats also one of my most anticipated books this year aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
January 2, 2025
“We can be all those things—good, bad, easy and needy, okay or not on an endless cycle—and trust that the other will stay. Our circumstances are messy, but so is life. It doesn’t mean that we can’t love each other through it. We already are."
Brief Summary-
Georgia and Eli broke up 5 years ago and have remained "friends" due to their mutual friend group. They are now best man and best woman for their best friend's wedding and they now have a week to work together to keep their best friends wedding from falling apart.
What To Expect-
🍷Friends To Lovers
🍷Second Chance Romance
🍷Forced Proximity
🍷Witty Banter
🍷Anxiety Representation
🍷Found Family
🍷Single POV
“But you deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you”
My Thoughts-
I think Jessica Joyce nailed the Second Chance Romance trope. It was done right in this book. I really enjoyed this story.This isn't just a story about second chance romance. This is a story of self-discovery and growth. I was invested in how Eli and Georgia was going to save the wedding. The little adventures they went on were so cute, it kept you engaged. I really like how while they were out saving the day they were also finding themselves in one another again. I laughed, I was swooning, and felt so happy while reading this story.
The growth and character development in this book makes it impossible not to adore the two leads.I loved the friend group dynamic and the realistic changes that happen between friends after college, marriage, etc. I think a lot of people could relate to Georgia character. She was a people pleaser and bottle up so much inside her you couldnt help but grow a soft spot for her character. Eli was an incredible love interest. He was so handsome and had you blushing. You will find yourself rooting for him.
This story was so beautifully written. The banter, the angst pouring into each interaction was so fun to read. My only complaint was that I would have loved a dual POV story. I really wish we got more of Eli side.
Overall-
I definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it and I think a majority of people will find this to a be cute story.
“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.
Playlist-
🪩Mirrorball- Taylor Swift
🪩Fade Into You- Mazzy Star
🪩Angel Like You- Miley Cyrus
🪩The Archer- Taylor Swift
🪩Falling- Harry Style
🪩Baby, You Make Me Crazy- Sam Smith
🪩Bad Idea Right? - Olive Rodrigo
🪩Cardigan- Taylor Swift
🪩Kids Again- Sam Smith
🪩Burning Desire- Lana Del Rey
🪩Young & Beautiful- Lana Del Rey
🪩Getaway Car- Taylor Swift
🪩I Miss You, I’m Sorry- Gracie Abrams
🪩This Town- Nails Horan
🪩Invisible String- Taylor Swift
🪩Work Song- Hozier
🪩Rainbow- Kacey Musgraves
🪩Lover- Taylor Swift
🪩Can’t Help Falling In Love- Haley Rainhart
🪩Paper Rings- Taylor Swift
✨ Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Joyce, and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨
Brief Summary-
Georgia and Eli broke up 5 years ago and have remained "friends" due to their mutual friend group. They are now best man and best woman for their best friend's wedding and they now have a week to work together to keep their best friends wedding from falling apart.
What To Expect-
🍷Friends To Lovers
🍷Second Chance Romance
🍷Forced Proximity
🍷Witty Banter
🍷Anxiety Representation
🍷Found Family
🍷Single POV
“But you deserve to let yourself feel whatever you need to. You can be messy. A disaster, if you need to. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it, I promise you”
My Thoughts-
I think Jessica Joyce nailed the Second Chance Romance trope. It was done right in this book. I really enjoyed this story.This isn't just a story about second chance romance. This is a story of self-discovery and growth. I was invested in how Eli and Georgia was going to save the wedding. The little adventures they went on were so cute, it kept you engaged. I really like how while they were out saving the day they were also finding themselves in one another again. I laughed, I was swooning, and felt so happy while reading this story.
The growth and character development in this book makes it impossible not to adore the two leads.I loved the friend group dynamic and the realistic changes that happen between friends after college, marriage, etc. I think a lot of people could relate to Georgia character. She was a people pleaser and bottle up so much inside her you couldnt help but grow a soft spot for her character. Eli was an incredible love interest. He was so handsome and had you blushing. You will find yourself rooting for him.
This story was so beautifully written. The banter, the angst pouring into each interaction was so fun to read. My only complaint was that I would have loved a dual POV story. I really wish we got more of Eli side.
Overall-
I definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it and I think a majority of people will find this to a be cute story.
“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.
Playlist-
🪩Mirrorball- Taylor Swift
🪩Fade Into You- Mazzy Star
🪩Angel Like You- Miley Cyrus
🪩The Archer- Taylor Swift
🪩Falling- Harry Style
🪩Baby, You Make Me Crazy- Sam Smith
🪩Bad Idea Right? - Olive Rodrigo
🪩Cardigan- Taylor Swift
🪩Kids Again- Sam Smith
🪩Burning Desire- Lana Del Rey
🪩Young & Beautiful- Lana Del Rey
🪩Getaway Car- Taylor Swift
🪩I Miss You, I’m Sorry- Gracie Abrams
🪩This Town- Nails Horan
🪩Invisible String- Taylor Swift
🪩Work Song- Hozier
🪩Rainbow- Kacey Musgraves
🪩Lover- Taylor Swift
🪩Can’t Help Falling In Love- Haley Rainhart
🪩Paper Rings- Taylor Swift
✨ Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Joyce, and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨
July 15, 2025
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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
October 16, 2024
4 stars
In this second chance romance, Georgia Woodward is determined to keep her feelings for her ex, Eli Mora, in check as they prepare for their best friend Adam's wedding. When the venue burns down, Georgia and Eli must work together to save the day and reigniting their old chemistry. As they navigate the chaos, Georgia realises that breaking her rules could lead to a new beginning with Eli rather than repeating their past mistakes.
➸ This book turned out to be such a great second chance romance! I’ll be honest—I had my doubts going in. The beginning was super strong, and I was totally getting that 5 star vibe right away, feeling an instant connection to the characters that had me hooked. However, as I got deeper into the story, I started to feel a bit uncertain about the chemistry between Georgia and Eli it felt like their connection leaned heavily on physical attraction at times. The last 20% of the book however completely changed my perspective I really feel like it saved the story. Just when I was starting to worry, the characters evolved and began to communicate more openly, adding a layer of emotional depth to their relationship that I had been craving. Those final chapters were packed with emotion and just the right amount of tension, and I found myself really rooting for them. By the end, the resolution was so satisfying and heartfelt that I was genuinely glad I stuck with it. If you love second chance romances, I would definitely recommend this!
Georgia is such a well-crafted character, and what made my experience reading about her truly special is how relatable she is. I get her struggle as a people pleaser, always putting everyone else's needs first, often at the expense of her own well-being. Her obsession with lists really resonated with me, showing how she tries to find some control in a world that can feel overwhelming and chaotic.
One of the most touching parts of Georgia’s story is her fear of being left out and not being needed, especially when she’s thinking about moving away for her job. That fear adds so much emotional weight to her journey, making her struggles feel incredibly real. Her internal monologues are some of the most powerful moments in the book, giving us an intimate look into her heart and mind. You can’t help but feel for her as she shares her insecurities so openly.
Georgia’s loyalty is another standout quality. She would do anything for her friends and the people she loves, which really highlights her compassion. The way Jessica Joyce captures Georgia’s kindness and her willingness to support those around her adds even more depth to her character. You really see the complexity of her emotions as she navigates her fears and relationships, making her journey even more relatable. Reading about Georgia was such an emotional ride, and I genuinely appreciated every moment spent in her world.
Eli is a well-developed character, and I really connected with his journey. His anxiety about not being financially independent is such a big part of who he is, and you can really see how his childhood shaped that. Growing up around his parents and witnessing their struggles clearly influenced him, driving him to want to avoid their mistakes and build a more stable life for himself. It was really interesting to watch him work through his feelings and figure out what truly matters in life, and seeing that growth unfold was definitely rewarding.
However, Eli’s strong desire for financial security often came at a hefty price. In his quest for stability, he ended up sacrificing important relationships and opportunities that could have really enriched his life. He got so focused on hitting his goals that he sometimes overlooked the people who truly mattered to him, which added a layer of sadness to his journey. I really appreciated the depth of his situation. His determination to break the cycle of his past adds another important layer to the story, showing that personal growth often involves tough choices and sacrifices. This part of Eli’s character makes his struggles feel genuine and relatable, reflecting the real-life challenges of balancing ambition with the need for connection and support.
The romance in this book had me crying like a baby, and I think that’s a sure sign of a good second chance romance—you just know you’re going to shed a few tears along the way. I really loved how the author captured those subtle touches and the memories that were revisited. The little glances Eli and Georgia shared felt so authentic, and watching their relationship develop again was done beautifully.
Second chance romance can be a tough trope to execute, but this book really nailed it. The chemistry between Eli and Georgia is undeniable, and you can practically feel the sparks between them, even after five years apart. It’s the kind of connection we all dream of having in real life. One of the standout moments in the book has to be when Eli makes paper rings with 212 things he loves about Georgia since the moment they met. If that’s not the most romantic gesture ever, I don’t know what is! 😩
What I didn't love was that there were moments when I wasn’t fully convinced by Georgia and Eli’s chemistry. The first time they hooked up they hadn’t even addressed their past or discussed why they broke up. It felt like their connection was mostly based on physical attraction at that point, which made me wish for more emotional depth earlier on. I would have liked to see them take the time to explore their feelings and unresolved issues before banging each other. Doing so would have made their journey feel even more engaging. But like I said, the last 20% of the book was definitely convincing, and it was just that the middle part didn’t feel as strong.
As for the side characters, there were times when they overshadowed the main storyline a bit too much. I hate to say it, but I just didn’t really care about them. While they were supportive, I wasn’t fully invested in their arcs, and they didn’t stand out for me. In some chapters, it felt like the side characters took up too much space, which distracted from the main plot.
This book touches on a lot of themes that will feel familiar if you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s Happy Place, which happens to be one of my favourite second-chance romances. I think that if you liked Happy Place, you’d probably enjoy this one too. Both stories really capture the ups and downs of love, friendship, and personal growth. If you loved the heartfelt moments and relatable characters in Happy Place, you’re likely to find plenty to enjoy in this book as well!
────⋆.˚ ✩ ⋆˙⟡────
I’ve heard this is like Happy Place and I’m in the mood for a second chance romance so 👀
It’s a gift to know someone when you’re in love with them, and a curse when you’re out of it.
In this second chance romance, Georgia Woodward is determined to keep her feelings for her ex, Eli Mora, in check as they prepare for their best friend Adam's wedding. When the venue burns down, Georgia and Eli must work together to save the day and reigniting their old chemistry. As they navigate the chaos, Georgia realises that breaking her rules could lead to a new beginning with Eli rather than repeating their past mistakes.
➸ This book turned out to be such a great second chance romance! I’ll be honest—I had my doubts going in. The beginning was super strong, and I was totally getting that 5 star vibe right away, feeling an instant connection to the characters that had me hooked. However, as I got deeper into the story, I started to feel a bit uncertain about the chemistry between Georgia and Eli it felt like their connection leaned heavily on physical attraction at times. The last 20% of the book however completely changed my perspective I really feel like it saved the story. Just when I was starting to worry, the characters evolved and began to communicate more openly, adding a layer of emotional depth to their relationship that I had been craving. Those final chapters were packed with emotion and just the right amount of tension, and I found myself really rooting for them. By the end, the resolution was so satisfying and heartfelt that I was genuinely glad I stuck with it. If you love second chance romances, I would definitely recommend this!
For a girl who struggled so mightily to know the shape and feeling of home, it’s a revelation to have so many places—and people—to call it.
Georgia is such a well-crafted character, and what made my experience reading about her truly special is how relatable she is. I get her struggle as a people pleaser, always putting everyone else's needs first, often at the expense of her own well-being. Her obsession with lists really resonated with me, showing how she tries to find some control in a world that can feel overwhelming and chaotic.
One of the most touching parts of Georgia’s story is her fear of being left out and not being needed, especially when she’s thinking about moving away for her job. That fear adds so much emotional weight to her journey, making her struggles feel incredibly real. Her internal monologues are some of the most powerful moments in the book, giving us an intimate look into her heart and mind. You can’t help but feel for her as she shares her insecurities so openly.
Georgia’s loyalty is another standout quality. She would do anything for her friends and the people she loves, which really highlights her compassion. The way Jessica Joyce captures Georgia’s kindness and her willingness to support those around her adds even more depth to her character. You really see the complexity of her emotions as she navigates her fears and relationships, making her journey even more relatable. Reading about Georgia was such an emotional ride, and I genuinely appreciated every moment spent in her world.
It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished. It’s a show of trust to let you see them first thing in the morning, in the middle of a panic attack, right after they’ve cried. To give you a shaky smile after a messy fight. To come back to you again and again with their heart in their hands.
Eli is a well-developed character, and I really connected with his journey. His anxiety about not being financially independent is such a big part of who he is, and you can really see how his childhood shaped that. Growing up around his parents and witnessing their struggles clearly influenced him, driving him to want to avoid their mistakes and build a more stable life for himself. It was really interesting to watch him work through his feelings and figure out what truly matters in life, and seeing that growth unfold was definitely rewarding.
However, Eli’s strong desire for financial security often came at a hefty price. In his quest for stability, he ended up sacrificing important relationships and opportunities that could have really enriched his life. He got so focused on hitting his goals that he sometimes overlooked the people who truly mattered to him, which added a layer of sadness to his journey. I really appreciated the depth of his situation. His determination to break the cycle of his past adds another important layer to the story, showing that personal growth often involves tough choices and sacrifices. This part of Eli’s character makes his struggles feel genuine and relatable, reflecting the real-life challenges of balancing ambition with the need for connection and support.
Time is a miracle. It shows you what you had, and sometimes it brings it back to you. Different. Better.
The romance in this book had me crying like a baby, and I think that’s a sure sign of a good second chance romance—you just know you’re going to shed a few tears along the way. I really loved how the author captured those subtle touches and the memories that were revisited. The little glances Eli and Georgia shared felt so authentic, and watching their relationship develop again was done beautifully.
Second chance romance can be a tough trope to execute, but this book really nailed it. The chemistry between Eli and Georgia is undeniable, and you can practically feel the sparks between them, even after five years apart. It’s the kind of connection we all dream of having in real life. One of the standout moments in the book has to be when Eli makes paper rings with 212 things he loves about Georgia since the moment they met. If that’s not the most romantic gesture ever, I don’t know what is! 😩
What I didn't love was that there were moments when I wasn’t fully convinced by Georgia and Eli’s chemistry. The first time they hooked up they hadn’t even addressed their past or discussed why they broke up. It felt like their connection was mostly based on physical attraction at that point, which made me wish for more emotional depth earlier on. I would have liked to see them take the time to explore their feelings and unresolved issues before banging each other. Doing so would have made their journey feel even more engaging. But like I said, the last 20% of the book was definitely convincing, and it was just that the middle part didn’t feel as strong.
As for the side characters, there were times when they overshadowed the main storyline a bit too much. I hate to say it, but I just didn’t really care about them. While they were supportive, I wasn’t fully invested in their arcs, and they didn’t stand out for me. In some chapters, it felt like the side characters took up too much space, which distracted from the main plot.
This book touches on a lot of themes that will feel familiar if you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s Happy Place, which happens to be one of my favourite second-chance romances. I think that if you liked Happy Place, you’d probably enjoy this one too. Both stories really capture the ups and downs of love, friendship, and personal growth. If you loved the heartfelt moments and relatable characters in Happy Place, you’re likely to find plenty to enjoy in this book as well!
────⋆.˚ ✩ ⋆˙⟡────
I’ve heard this is like Happy Place and I’m in the mood for a second chance romance so 👀
August 15, 2025
8/11/24 - 4.25 ⭐️ might i add labyrinth, this love, and francesca to their unofficial playlist, thank you and goodnight ❤️🩹🫂🫂
2/26/24 - 5 ⭐️ WOWWWW. you guys, this was good! 🥹 this is like if happy place, you’re losing me, and mirrorball had a baby? and it was the most gorgeous thing you’d ever laid your eyes on? these people man- they’re those fictional characters that feel so REAL yk? from the dialogue to their grievances, or the second chance romance angsty ache (that will get me every time) i was constantly compelled to pick this up and read it in two good sittings.
this was heart-wrenching actually. from the prologue, i knew this book was gonna hurt like a motherfather but i didn’t anticipate how much 😃 because what the fuck jessica where’s my compensation for going through this 😃😃 georgia&eli, where to even BEGIN: miss people pleaser and mr stone cold heart had sooo much going on, and yet you can’t. help. but. ROOT FOR THEM 🫶🏼 this book is so romantic i actually can’t get over it. it’s butterfly inducing and heartstring tugging and i want to crawl into this story like no other 💔
also, paper rings is no longer happy-go-lucky for me iykyk…it HURTS. that’s gonna take a while omfg but it was one of my favorite parts ;’))) God i feel like i’m not even doing this book justice right now, you’ll simple have to figure it out for yourselves!!!!!!
thank you to netgalley and penguin uk for the arc
2/26/24 - 5 ⭐️ WOWWWW. you guys, this was good! 🥹 this is like if happy place, you’re losing me, and mirrorball had a baby? and it was the most gorgeous thing you’d ever laid your eyes on? these people man- they’re those fictional characters that feel so REAL yk? from the dialogue to their grievances, or the second chance romance angsty ache (that will get me every time) i was constantly compelled to pick this up and read it in two good sittings.
this was heart-wrenching actually. from the prologue, i knew this book was gonna hurt like a motherfather but i didn’t anticipate how much 😃 because what the fuck jessica where’s my compensation for going through this 😃😃 georgia&eli, where to even BEGIN: miss people pleaser and mr stone cold heart had sooo much going on, and yet you can’t. help. but. ROOT FOR THEM 🫶🏼 this book is so romantic i actually can’t get over it. it’s butterfly inducing and heartstring tugging and i want to crawl into this story like no other 💔
also, paper rings is no longer happy-go-lucky for me iykyk…it HURTS. that’s gonna take a while omfg but it was one of my favorite parts ;’))) God i feel like i’m not even doing this book justice right now, you’ll simple have to figure it out for yourselves!!!!!!
thank you to netgalley and penguin uk for the arc
August 27, 2024
I was so hesitant about reading this because second chance romance is one of my least favourite tropes, but ahhh this ended up being so good.
It’s such a realistic story about two people who loved each other so much, struggled a bit, but ended up finding their way back to each other. Georgia was so relatable with the way she felt anxious about asking for things or affection or other people’s time. Also, her fear that everyone would get sucked into their own life and forget about her. Every time she talks about that I felt so seen. Eli is so precious in the way he loved her and how he desperately wanted to fix things. All of those paper rings he made her?? I can’t!!!!
I loved all the side characters and their involvement in the story. They were all so amazing. Also, all the talk about how the weeding was cursed and all those struggles they had were both so entertaining and anxiety-inducing at the same time.
It’s such a realistic story about two people who loved each other so much, struggled a bit, but ended up finding their way back to each other. Georgia was so relatable with the way she felt anxious about asking for things or affection or other people’s time. Also, her fear that everyone would get sucked into their own life and forget about her. Every time she talks about that I felt so seen. Eli is so precious in the way he loved her and how he desperately wanted to fix things. All of those paper rings he made her?? I can’t!!!!
I loved all the side characters and their involvement in the story. They were all so amazing. Also, all the talk about how the weeding was cursed and all those struggles they had were both so entertaining and anxiety-inducing at the same time.
October 27, 2024
✩ 4.35 stars ✩
“It’s a gift to know someone when you’re in love with them, and a curse when you’re out of it.”
What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Anxiety Rep
➼ Best Friends to Lovers to Strangers to Lovers
➼ Wedding Chaos
➼ He calls her “peach”
➼ Found Family
➼ Paper Rings
➼ Angst & Mutual Pining
➼ Single POV (hers)
Second chance romances are hit or miss, but this my friends, is exactly how it should be done. 👏🏻👏🏻 I had my doubts at the beginning when the characters were first introduced, but this ended up being so surprisingly good! The story begins nearly five years after their break up, so the author had her work cut out for her to properly frame their relationship and the years that followed for readers without the use of a dual timeline. The first fifty pages felt a bit clumsy and information heavy, but it didn’t take long for the author to find her stride.
After years of living in separate cities and having very little contact with one another, the MC’s come together to celebrate the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam. When Adam’s wedding venue unexpectedly burns down only days before his wedding, Georgia and Eli both offer to work together to help find a new location and vendors for their big day. Georgia is a planner and the definition of dependable and Eli has a track record for being unreliable in his personal life, so her expectations for him are understandably low. Throughout the book he shows her just how much he has changed and how hard he has been working to create a happier and healthier version of himself.
Both characters are messy and imperfect and so very relatable in their own ways. I loved watching their relationship grow and develop after so many years apart. The key to making this story work was that the author truly made me believe that they were soulmates and that this was simply a case of “right person, wrong time.”They each needed to grow and learn to love and take care of themselves before they could truly love the other well.
“There you are.” A smile melts across his face, slow and sleepy. “Hey, Peach.”
There were so many swoon worthy lines in this book. 🥰 Eli wasn’t perfect but he was very clearly gone for our girl. I really appreciated the way his anxiety and panic attacks were written. Sometimes I feel like authors just throw in those details to check a “representation” box, but in this case, I felt like those details added a lot to his character and made it much more plausible that he wouldn’t have tried to win her back sooner. It also made me feel better about her giving him a second chance since it was so evident that he was actively working on himself.
I enjoyed this SO much more than You, With a View. If you’re like me and you didn’t love that one, I highly recommend giving this a shot!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: The only thing I liked about “You, With a View” was the cover, but I’m giving this author another shot! A lot of my besties really enjoyed this, so hopefully it’s good!
“It’s a gift to know someone when you’re in love with them, and a curse when you’re out of it.”
What to Expect:
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Anxiety Rep
➼ Best Friends to Lovers to Strangers to Lovers
➼ Wedding Chaos
➼ He calls her “peach”
➼ Found Family
➼ Paper Rings
➼ Angst & Mutual Pining
➼ Single POV (hers)
Second chance romances are hit or miss, but this my friends, is exactly how it should be done. 👏🏻👏🏻 I had my doubts at the beginning when the characters were first introduced, but this ended up being so surprisingly good! The story begins nearly five years after their break up, so the author had her work cut out for her to properly frame their relationship and the years that followed for readers without the use of a dual timeline. The first fifty pages felt a bit clumsy and information heavy, but it didn’t take long for the author to find her stride.
After years of living in separate cities and having very little contact with one another, the MC’s come together to celebrate the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam. When Adam’s wedding venue unexpectedly burns down only days before his wedding, Georgia and Eli both offer to work together to help find a new location and vendors for their big day. Georgia is a planner and the definition of dependable and Eli has a track record for being unreliable in his personal life, so her expectations for him are understandably low. Throughout the book he shows her just how much he has changed and how hard he has been working to create a happier and healthier version of himself.
Both characters are messy and imperfect and so very relatable in their own ways. I loved watching their relationship grow and develop after so many years apart. The key to making this story work was that the author truly made me believe that they were soulmates and that this was simply a case of “right person, wrong time.”They each needed to grow and learn to love and take care of themselves before they could truly love the other well.
“There you are.” A smile melts across his face, slow and sleepy. “Hey, Peach.”
There were so many swoon worthy lines in this book. 🥰 Eli wasn’t perfect but he was very clearly gone for our girl. I really appreciated the way his anxiety and panic attacks were written. Sometimes I feel like authors just throw in those details to check a “representation” box, but in this case, I felt like those details added a lot to his character and made it much more plausible that he wouldn’t have tried to win her back sooner. It also made me feel better about her giving him a second chance since it was so evident that he was actively working on himself.
I enjoyed this SO much more than You, With a View. If you’re like me and you didn’t love that one, I highly recommend giving this a shot!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: The only thing I liked about “You, With a View” was the cover, but I’m giving this author another shot! A lot of my besties really enjoyed this, so hopefully it’s good!
February 28, 2024
this is everything Happy Place wishes it was.
August 8, 2024
The paper rings 🫠. Swoon.
August 12, 2025
★彡 4.25 stars 彡★
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ My rotten little heart craved some pretty prose. And so, Jessica Joyce gave it a memorabilia to tuck in for ages to come. This book is truly a concoction of raw and real and I would be a darn good liar if I denied that this moved me, shattered me and moulded me, into something more aware of life and its itty-bitty givings. Helps the matter that The Ex Vows is a manifestation of all of my soul songs – from anthems of heartbreak like You’re Losing Me, to giddy bops like Paper Rings ─•─ 𖦤
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᏖᏒᎧᎮᏋᏕ ᏗᏖ ᏇᎧᏒᏦ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
➳❥ Second Chance
➳❥ Friends To Lovers
➳❥ Forced Proximity
➳❥ Found Family
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᎷᎩ ᏖᏂᎧᏬᎶᏂᏖᏕ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
: ̗̀➛ 🅣🅗🅔 🅢🅣🅞🅡🅨 & 🅣🅗🅔 🅕🅔🅔🅛🅢: A disastrously quiet breakup stemmed from unspoken grievances. It all ends up with so much longing, still – which seems to sum up Eli and Georgia’s predicament quite well, to be honest. Flash forward to 5 years later, when a cursed wedding plan tugs the two towards each other, they’recursed blessed with lots of alone time to mull things over…
YES, YES COMMUNICATE! ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ
This was like an iced latte after a scorching summer day – sweet and lullingly chill. The book was so soothing, with the dazzling setting and cozy friendship feels. The writing is another swoon-factor because guess who was getting all heart-eyed and giggly with an unsolved chemistry booklet in her vicinity?[no credits to chemistry]
: ̗̀➛ 🅖🅔🅞🅡🅖🅘🅐 🅦🅞🅞🅓🅦🅐🅡🅓: Driven by abandonment issues(gee) and her trusty lists, Georgia Woodward is the lady who handles it all. She’s always craving love, partly because she’s love-starved and partly because she never feels enough. All of that, paired with her people-pleasing tendencies, leaves behind a girl who always feels alone amidst a group of close ones.
There you have it, folks. The heart of the matter! If you relate, say AYE!
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with finding myself relatable FMCs in my contemporary romances for reasons (⊙ _ ⊙)yeah, I’m a fricking masochist, you have problems with that?! so Jessica Joyce helped the matter. Funny, because lately, these books are finding me in the right moment in time, so I might be a tad bit biased here! The vanilla aversion and the way she was pathetically tackling it, is real ( °ヮ° ) yeah, vanilla and parallel parking hate, that’s it
Not going to lie, I think that’s the reason I was frustrated by Georgia at times when she was getting a brick to the headfor things I would do and regret for not communicating her needs the right way, and feeling all the blues later. Girlie, you’re the problem, it’s you- freaking talk watch me ignore my own advice ≽^- ˕ -^≼
: ̗̀➛ 🅔🅛🅘 🅜🅞🅡🅐: First order of business… HE MAKES PAPER RINGS FOR HER ! Yes, the paper rings, people. Come on, that’s motivation enough to pick this book up already (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و
My surface-level inquisitions aside, Eli is a lot of things(no shit, Sherlock). Honestly, the fact that he’s in love with her is palpable from the moment he’s on page for the very first time. Thanks to lots of miscommunication, or rather lack of communication to begin with… they’re both alone and distressed, however (never mind the mutual pining). The matter only gets fuelled by the childhood emotional baggage on Eli’s end. But I really do feel that his love for her, imperfections and all, is an undying thing. He loves her to the point it just hits you in the heart. And as love-starved Georgia is, that’s exactly the kind of man she needs.
: ̗̀➛ 🅕🅡🅘🅔🅝🅓🅢🅗🅘🅟: See, it’s books like these that restore my faith in life. That it’s possible to love, and be together for however long you want. Moving away, growing up, growing apart? Valid things to mull over. And the way this book incorporated elements of friendship and found family? I can only say that it mended me, and made me whole again. We all have our supposedly forever-constants, and you’ll be lying to yourself if you said that you never feared them leaving you. That you never entertained that idea, even once… a big thank you to Jessica Joyce for painting the platonic feels in such a raw manner. Happy to have this book be the outlet for so much sobbing (◍•ᴗ•◍)
»»——★ fιnαℓ тнσυgнтѕ ★——««
➳ If you loved Happy Place and are looking for something that’s like that? Don’t be shy, and give The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce a try◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
ﾒ𝟶ﾒ𝟶
｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡
“It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished.”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈ My rotten little heart craved some pretty prose. And so, Jessica Joyce gave it a memorabilia to tuck in for ages to come. This book is truly a concoction of raw and real and I would be a darn good liar if I denied that this moved me, shattered me and moulded me, into something more aware of life and its itty-bitty givings. Helps the matter that The Ex Vows is a manifestation of all of my soul songs – from anthems of heartbreak like You’re Losing Me, to giddy bops like Paper Rings ─•─ 𖦤
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᏖᏒᎧᎮᏋᏕ ᏗᏖ ᏇᎧᏒᏦ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
➳❥ Second Chance
➳❥ Friends To Lovers
➳❥ Forced Proximity
➳❥ Found Family
⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖
⋮ ⌗ ┆ ᎷᎩ ᏖᏂᎧᏬᎶᏂᏖᏕ ⋮ ⌗ ┆
: ̗̀➛ 🅣🅗🅔 🅢🅣🅞🅡🅨 & 🅣🅗🅔 🅕🅔🅔🅛🅢: A disastrously quiet breakup stemmed from unspoken grievances. It all ends up with so much longing, still – which seems to sum up Eli and Georgia’s predicament quite well, to be honest. Flash forward to 5 years later, when a cursed wedding plan tugs the two towards each other, they’re
This was like an iced latte after a scorching summer day – sweet and lullingly chill. The book was so soothing, with the dazzling setting and cozy friendship feels. The writing is another swoon-factor because guess who was getting all heart-eyed and giggly with an unsolved chemistry booklet in her vicinity?
: ̗̀➛ 🅖🅔🅞🅡🅖🅘🅐 🅦🅞🅞🅓🅦🅐🅡🅓: Driven by abandonment issues
“Sometimes I swear adulthood is staring at your phone and wondering which of your friends has enough time to deal with your latest emotional meltdown, then realizing none of them do.”
There you have it, folks. The heart of the matter! If you relate, say AYE!
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with finding myself relatable FMCs in my contemporary romances for reasons (⊙ _ ⊙)
Not going to lie, I think that’s the reason I was frustrated by Georgia at times when she was getting a brick to the head
: ̗̀➛ 🅔🅛🅘 🅜🅞🅡🅐: First order of business… HE MAKES PAPER RINGS FOR HER ! Yes, the paper rings, people. Come on, that’s motivation enough to pick this book up already (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و
My surface-level inquisitions aside, Eli is a lot of things
: ̗̀➛ 🅕🅡🅘🅔🅝🅓🅢🅗🅘🅟: See, it’s books like these that restore my faith in life. That it’s possible to love, and be together for however long you want. Moving away, growing up, growing apart? Valid things to mull over. And the way this book incorporated elements of friendship and found family? I can only say that it mended me, and made me whole again. We all have our supposedly forever-constants, and you’ll be lying to yourself if you said that you never feared them leaving you. That you never entertained that idea, even once… a big thank you to Jessica Joyce for painting the platonic feels in such a raw manner. Happy to have this book be the outlet for so much sobbing (◍•ᴗ•◍)
»»——★ fιnαℓ тнσυgнтѕ ★——««
➳ If you loved Happy Place and are looking for something that’s like that? Don’t be shy, and give The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce a try◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
ﾒ𝟶ﾒ𝟶
｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡
dnf
July 8, 2024I ended up DNFing this (which made me really sad because I had such high expectations), but this isn’t a bad book by any means. In fact, I think a lot of people will end up enjoying it. I’ve heard that this is the second chance romance to read — even for the ones who aren’t fond of this trope (like myself). I do think part of the reason i didn’t end up enjoying it the way I really wanted to was that i picked it up at the wrong time. Being in the middle of a series you absolutely adore, and then reading a book that doesn’t captivate you the same way — I was bound to be sort of indifferent to it.
I did like Georgia as our protagonist. I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again — the archer/mirrorball/this is me trying girlies, you will always be loved by me. Georgia is a hyper independent, list loving people pleaser who refuses to open up to anyone about how she really feels for fear of burdening them. If that’s not relatable i don’t know what is. Eli was… kind of forgettable? I didn’t particularly love (or hate) him. I think it would have been better if we got his POV so we could be inside his head a little and see the romance from both sides.
I may try to revisit this book when I feel like I’m in the headspace for it, but I think this one just wasn’t for me.
read if you:
- like second chance romance
- are in your twenties and feel kind of lost because everything’s changing too fast (and or)
- relate to mirrorball by taylor swift
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc 🫶
—
i am a second chance romance hater (as we’ve established) BUT this sounds too promising to pass up. i better love it i will not tolerate anything less than 3 stars 😔
I did like Georgia as our protagonist. I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again — the archer/mirrorball/this is me trying girlies, you will always be loved by me. Georgia is a hyper independent, list loving people pleaser who refuses to open up to anyone about how she really feels for fear of burdening them. If that’s not relatable i don’t know what is. Eli was… kind of forgettable? I didn’t particularly love (or hate) him. I think it would have been better if we got his POV so we could be inside his head a little and see the romance from both sides.
I may try to revisit this book when I feel like I’m in the headspace for it, but I think this one just wasn’t for me.
read if you:
- like second chance romance
- are in your twenties and feel kind of lost because everything’s changing too fast (and or)
- relate to mirrorball by taylor swift
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc 🫶
—
i am a second chance romance hater (as we’ve established) BUT this sounds too promising to pass up. i better love it i will not tolerate anything less than 3 stars 😔
July 17, 2024
This second-chance rom-com amidst a wedding backdrop is the perfect thing for this upcoming summer! With a mixture of hilarious and heartwarming moments, it tugged at my heartstrings and pulled them back together all at once. This story is a great reminder that nothing has to be perfect, it is more realistic because it is messy.
PLOT SUMMARY
Senior manager Georgia Woodward and TMT (Tech, Media & Telecom) associate Eli Mora have been friends since they were 15. They eventually dated at 20 and after a messy breakup 5 years ago (where they have not been on speaking terms), Georgia and Eli, now aged 28, are suddenly thrown together again as their mutual friend Adam Kim, is getting married and wants them to be his best man and woman.
Adam believes he is cursed as everything he has planned for the wedding goes wrong: from the DJ unable to perform to no bakery available to make the cake to the venue itself going up in flames, along with many and – and I really mean many ! – more problems. Georgia and Eli are his only hope to save the week, and the wedding day itself.
As they are forced to work together with errands, Georgia and Eli’s feelings for each other resurface but old fears hold Georgia back. But being friends again is not enough. With a love of lists to keep her life in control, she has a list of all things not to do when she is with Eli which she is finding difficult to not break. On top of this, her job has been dissolved in San Francisco, and she is being promoted to manager in Seattle at the beginning of September, after the wedding. She is torn about what to do both with matters of work and the heart.
This is told from the present-tense first-person perspective of Georgia.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This is the first book I have read by Jessica Joyce and I need to now read “You, With a View”. Technically, this is Jessica’s first book but she set it aside for ages dissatisfied with it until inspiration struck some time after she released “You, With a View”.
<< Vibes >>
I was not expecting such depth and growth, inner healing and forgiveness being key themes throughout – I thought it would just be the exes and the romance.
🠚 In that regard, this is reminiscent of Abbey Jimenez’s works as she is known for having romance as a secondary aspect to bigger themes or issues. I found this to be the case for her book “Just For the Summer”
🠚 I am also reminded of Emily Henry, because it follows a similar storyline to her “Happy Place”:
• the main character Harriet has also broke up with her significant other, in this case Wyn her fiance (interestingly the exact same number of letters are used for Georgia and Eli’s names)
• he also shows up at the airport
• they also want to have fun for a week except they do the opposite of Georgia and Eli and instead of pretending they are good friends because their friends don’t know they haven’t been on speaking terms, Harriet and Wyn pretend they are still together as nobody knows they ever split.
• the story shifts between the past and present
🠚 I got major vibes of the film “About Time” (2013) reading this – of course, without the time-traveling. Tim and Mary’s wedding day, like Adam and Grace in this book, was also a mess and was raining too, but they made the most of it. I love when Tim asks Mary if she would have wanted a different day (with the secret intention of going back in time and changing it), Mary says no, it is perfect as it is.
<< Writing >>
🠚 The writing style itself is in many ways alike to Emily Henry as well. Both authors use quirky and hilarious descriptions and you will know exactly what they mean. For example, in this book:
• A gold star materializes on my mental chart; somewhere, an HR angel gets its wings.
• I struggle to find a word that isn’t too big or small for what this is, the Goldilocks of It’s Complicated.
• It’s a truth universally acknowledged that people who use the phrase “no offense, but” are the most offensive people on the planet.
🠚 I love all references from other media/stories. From the examples above, we have references to It’s a Wonderful Life, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (one of my favourites here) respectively. There were also references to the three musketeers due to the tight friendship between Eli, Georgia and Adam.
Of course, my own personal favourite, being the Tolkien fan that I am, has to be the “Lord of the Rings” reference: “You have our wedding bands, right? They haven’t been snatched by some Gollum-looking dude?” That’s the second contemporary romance ARC I have received to have a Gollum reference, the other being “Savor It” by Tarah DeWitt.
🠚 There are other great descriptions in general. Jessica Joyce is incredibly poetic and her way with words made me want to read on. There are far too many examples of great quotes (which I will leave further down) but this was one of them:
🠚 When I tell you this book made me laugh and at times get emotional, I mean it. I genuinely laughed out loud when Georgia and Eli were in that first bakery doing the cake tasting, it is just so funny! But then the moments where Georgia has her mental breakdown in the bathroom, and the confession moment in Chapter 31, the paper rings reveal – oh my goodness, I was a mess and in the best possible way. Of course, I was thinking of Taylor Swift’s song “Paper Rings” the whole time.
I think it would have been nice for this story to have been a dual POV so we could have heard Eli’s point of view too but, all around, it was a great book. The pacing was decent, some aspects typical and predictable but did not detract from the story. The plot was good, the spice was good, the angst was good. I myself am a huge sucker for second-chance romance if it is done well, and it was done very well here!
<< Negatives >>
🠚 I felt like their sudden morning making-out moment came rather out of nowhere? Like I expected a proper kiss turned makeout like something out of “The Notebook” be it an argument turned kiss or a romantic moment – potentially even from the night before. Not Georgia waking up to an entaglement and dry-humping. At first I genuinely thought he was doing it in his sleep? Helppp! I don’t know, it just really felt quite off.
🠚 I loved the communication between Georgia and Eli, and of course it takes a while for Georgia herself to open up to him. I feel like they were not acting their own age though. I expected a little more maturity.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Georgia꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I relate so, so much to Georgia! She has her lists to keep herself organised, just like me! Right now, I have a list of books I want to read and ARC books I have completed.
🠚 She thrives on company and attention but also wants to give people their space, again literally me. She arrives back to her hometown of San Francisco after being away at work only to find all her friends are now in relationships, and this is essentially how I feel too! My best friend is married, and my other close friend is in a relationship so I do not have the same people to vent to. See this:
🠚 I have also been in relationships where my boyfriend prioritised their work over me Am I Georgia? Apparently.
🠚 Also when Eli says to Georgia “You’re always taking care of other people. Who’s taking care of you?” – THIS ONE HIT ME HARD! Because this is literally me too! I feel seen – but also how dare you Jessica, I feel called out!
🠚 What I like is that by the end of the story, she has gotten rid of the need for them and lives spontaneously. AND she lives for herself and her own happiness not for the sake of others. This is something I have begun to do myself, and am much happier for it.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Eli꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Eli is so sweet! I was not sure about him at first, but as the story went on I really liked him. I love that he has worked on himself, gone to therapy and become a better version of himself. I like that we get to understand why he behaves the way he was in their relationship through Georgia explaining to us. I feel sorry for his insomnia. I love that he comes to her rescue and of course more than once.
🠚 His paper rings are adorable, too! Listen, if I had a man half as dedicated as Eli is to Georgia I would marry him tomorrow, paper rings ‘n’ all.
*⁀➷ Favourite quote
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
🠚 Adam is the best wingman and guy friend ever! Pity the poor man is so worried about his so-called curse the whole time but it is always amusing how everyone tells him to shut up! He has an amazing description of “For Adam whose natural temperament hovers somewhere near live wire, it’s been a constant test of his sanity.”
🠚 Jamie, Georgia’s best friend, she is so lovely. I love the description of her voice being “full of amusement, but also care and empathy. Her classic trifecta.” I think Jamie is also me.
🠚 Grace, Adam’s bride-to-be, is so sweet! True to her name, she is always calm and the voice of reason to Adam.
FAV QUOTES
• He’ll hold on to it for years, but eventually that spark will become a wildfire. And then we’ll burn it all down.
• Here’s the thing: I’m a list girl. I learned the magic of them long ago—the way they can streamline tasks and expectations. Needs and emotions. How they can take a messy, chaotic thing and make it manageable.
• There’s so much we need to say to each other, which means there’s nothing we *can* say to each other.
• I’m wearing a cropped black linen tank top and matching shorts, but clearly I should’ve shown up wrapped in tin foil, because I’m getting grilled.
• “You overestimate me.” “You underestimate yourself.”
• You can be messy. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it.
• Eli can’t see my heart, and it’s for better because he’d see his name everywhere in it. But it’s for worse because he doesn’t see that his name is everywhere in it
• home. It’s strange that the same word can mean different places, and yet the feeling exists when we’re together, too, no matter where we are geographically. What a comforting thought.
• It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished.
• There’s thirteen years’ worth of love here. I can see it even in the five years of absence.
PLAYLIST
Taylor Swift “Fortnight”, “imgonnagetyouback”, “Say Don't Go”, “Enchanted”, “Maroon”, “Labyrinth”, “This Love”, “Paper Rings”, and “You're Losing Me”
Ariana Grande “we can't be friends (wait for your love)”
Gracie Abrams “I miss you, I'm sorry”
Lizzie McAlpine “ceilings”
Genevieve Stokes “Habits”
Halsey “So Good”
Hozier “Work Song”
Ali Gate “It's You”
Troy Cartwright “Over You By Now” and “Unlove You”
Noah Kahan “Your Needs, My Needs”
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Jessica Joyce, NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
“I’m in love with you.”[ Contains some spoilers ]
I get out a strangled, “Again?”
He’s not smiling, but his mouth is soft, his eyes are soft, this word is soft: “Still.”
PLOT SUMMARY
Senior manager Georgia Woodward and TMT (Tech, Media & Telecom) associate Eli Mora have been friends since they were 15. They eventually dated at 20 and after a messy breakup 5 years ago (where they have not been on speaking terms), Georgia and Eli, now aged 28, are suddenly thrown together again as their mutual friend Adam Kim, is getting married and wants them to be his best man and woman.
Adam believes he is cursed as everything he has planned for the wedding goes wrong: from the DJ unable to perform to no bakery available to make the cake to the venue itself going up in flames, along with many and – and I really mean many ! – more problems. Georgia and Eli are his only hope to save the week, and the wedding day itself.
As they are forced to work together with errands, Georgia and Eli’s feelings for each other resurface but old fears hold Georgia back. But being friends again is not enough. With a love of lists to keep her life in control, she has a list of all things not to do when she is with Eli which she is finding difficult to not break. On top of this, her job has been dissolved in San Francisco, and she is being promoted to manager in Seattle at the beginning of September, after the wedding. She is torn about what to do both with matters of work and the heart.
This is told from the present-tense first-person perspective of Georgia.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This is the first book I have read by Jessica Joyce and I need to now read “You, With a View”. Technically, this is Jessica’s first book but she set it aside for ages dissatisfied with it until inspiration struck some time after she released “You, With a View”.
<< Vibes >>
I was not expecting such depth and growth, inner healing and forgiveness being key themes throughout – I thought it would just be the exes and the romance.
🠚 In that regard, this is reminiscent of Abbey Jimenez’s works as she is known for having romance as a secondary aspect to bigger themes or issues. I found this to be the case for her book “Just For the Summer”
🠚 I am also reminded of Emily Henry, because it follows a similar storyline to her “Happy Place”:
• the main character Harriet has also broke up with her significant other, in this case Wyn her fiance (interestingly the exact same number of letters are used for Georgia and Eli’s names)
• he also shows up at the airport
• they also want to have fun for a week except they do the opposite of Georgia and Eli and instead of pretending they are good friends because their friends don’t know they haven’t been on speaking terms, Harriet and Wyn pretend they are still together as nobody knows they ever split.
• the story shifts between the past and present
🠚 I got major vibes of the film “About Time” (2013) reading this – of course, without the time-traveling. Tim and Mary’s wedding day, like Adam and Grace in this book, was also a mess and was raining too, but they made the most of it. I love when Tim asks Mary if she would have wanted a different day (with the secret intention of going back in time and changing it), Mary says no, it is perfect as it is.
<< Writing >>
🠚 The writing style itself is in many ways alike to Emily Henry as well. Both authors use quirky and hilarious descriptions and you will know exactly what they mean. For example, in this book:
• A gold star materializes on my mental chart; somewhere, an HR angel gets its wings.
• I struggle to find a word that isn’t too big or small for what this is, the Goldilocks of It’s Complicated.
• It’s a truth universally acknowledged that people who use the phrase “no offense, but” are the most offensive people on the planet.
🠚 I love all references from other media/stories. From the examples above, we have references to It’s a Wonderful Life, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (one of my favourites here) respectively. There were also references to the three musketeers due to the tight friendship between Eli, Georgia and Adam.
Of course, my own personal favourite, being the Tolkien fan that I am, has to be the “Lord of the Rings” reference: “You have our wedding bands, right? They haven’t been snatched by some Gollum-looking dude?” That’s the second contemporary romance ARC I have received to have a Gollum reference, the other being “Savor It” by Tarah DeWitt.
🠚 There are other great descriptions in general. Jessica Joyce is incredibly poetic and her way with words made me want to read on. There are far too many examples of great quotes (which I will leave further down) but this was one of them:
He’s the same and totally different. The fifteen-year-old boy I liked and the twenty-year-old man I loved, and the twenty-eight-year-old I have to keep right here, because at one point he was the twenty-three-year-old man who broke my heart.
🠚 When I tell you this book made me laugh and at times get emotional, I mean it. I genuinely laughed out loud when Georgia and Eli were in that first bakery doing the cake tasting, it is just so funny! But then the moments where Georgia has her mental breakdown in the bathroom, and the confession moment in Chapter 31, the paper rings reveal – oh my goodness, I was a mess and in the best possible way. Of course, I was thinking of Taylor Swift’s song “Paper Rings” the whole time.
I think it would have been nice for this story to have been a dual POV so we could have heard Eli’s point of view too but, all around, it was a great book. The pacing was decent, some aspects typical and predictable but did not detract from the story. The plot was good, the spice was good, the angst was good. I myself am a huge sucker for second-chance romance if it is done well, and it was done very well here!
<< Negatives >>
🠚 I felt like their sudden morning making-out moment came rather out of nowhere? Like I expected a proper kiss turned makeout like something out of “The Notebook” be it an argument turned kiss or a romantic moment – potentially even from the night before. Not Georgia waking up to an entaglement and dry-humping. At first I genuinely thought he was doing it in his sleep? Helppp! I don’t know, it just really felt quite off.
🠚 I loved the communication between Georgia and Eli, and of course it takes a while for Georgia herself to open up to him. I feel like they were not acting their own age though. I expected a little more maturity.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Georgia꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I relate so, so much to Georgia! She has her lists to keep herself organised, just like me! Right now, I have a list of books I want to read and ARC books I have completed.
🠚 She thrives on company and attention but also wants to give people their space, again literally me. She arrives back to her hometown of San Francisco after being away at work only to find all her friends are now in relationships, and this is essentially how I feel too! My best friend is married, and my other close friend is in a relationship so I do not have the same people to vent to. See this:
“adulthood is staring at your phone and wondering which of your friends has enough time to deal with your latest emotional meltdown, then realizing none of them do.”I literally felt this in my soul!
🠚 I have also been in relationships where my boyfriend prioritised their work over me Am I Georgia? Apparently.
🠚 Also when Eli says to Georgia “You’re always taking care of other people. Who’s taking care of you?” – THIS ONE HIT ME HARD! Because this is literally me too! I feel seen – but also how dare you Jessica, I feel called out!
🠚 What I like is that by the end of the story, she has gotten rid of the need for them and lives spontaneously. AND she lives for herself and her own happiness not for the sake of others. This is something I have begun to do myself, and am much happier for it.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Eli꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Eli is so sweet! I was not sure about him at first, but as the story went on I really liked him. I love that he has worked on himself, gone to therapy and become a better version of himself. I like that we get to understand why he behaves the way he was in their relationship through Georgia explaining to us. I feel sorry for his insomnia. I love that he comes to her rescue and of course more than once.
🠚 His paper rings are adorable, too! Listen, if I had a man half as dedicated as Eli is to Georgia I would marry him tomorrow, paper rings ‘n’ all.
*⁀➷ Favourite quote
“I’m so in love with you that I feel like I can’t breathe. I think it every time I look at you, every time you let me in or you laugh or you look at me like I mean something to you. I know it’s fucking messy, and I know you hate that, but it’s also true.”
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
🠚 Adam is the best wingman and guy friend ever! Pity the poor man is so worried about his so-called curse the whole time but it is always amusing how everyone tells him to shut up! He has an amazing description of “For Adam whose natural temperament hovers somewhere near live wire, it’s been a constant test of his sanity.”
🠚 Jamie, Georgia’s best friend, she is so lovely. I love the description of her voice being “full of amusement, but also care and empathy. Her classic trifecta.” I think Jamie is also me.
🠚 Grace, Adam’s bride-to-be, is so sweet! True to her name, she is always calm and the voice of reason to Adam.
FAV QUOTES
• He’ll hold on to it for years, but eventually that spark will become a wildfire. And then we’ll burn it all down.
• Here’s the thing: I’m a list girl. I learned the magic of them long ago—the way they can streamline tasks and expectations. Needs and emotions. How they can take a messy, chaotic thing and make it manageable.
• There’s so much we need to say to each other, which means there’s nothing we *can* say to each other.
• I’m wearing a cropped black linen tank top and matching shorts, but clearly I should’ve shown up wrapped in tin foil, because I’m getting grilled.
• “You overestimate me.” “You underestimate yourself.”
• You can be messy. The people who love you will accept every single piece of it.
• Eli can’t see my heart, and it’s for better because he’d see his name everywhere in it. But it’s for worse because he doesn’t see that his name is everywhere in it
• home. It’s strange that the same word can mean different places, and yet the feeling exists when we’re together, too, no matter where we are geographically. What a comforting thought.
• It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished.
• There’s thirteen years’ worth of love here. I can see it even in the five years of absence.
PLAYLIST
Taylor Swift “Fortnight”, “imgonnagetyouback”, “Say Don't Go”, “Enchanted”, “Maroon”, “Labyrinth”, “This Love”, “Paper Rings”, and “You're Losing Me”
Ariana Grande “we can't be friends (wait for your love)”
Gracie Abrams “I miss you, I'm sorry”
Lizzie McAlpine “ceilings”
Genevieve Stokes “Habits”
Halsey “So Good”
Hozier “Work Song”
Ali Gate “It's You”
Troy Cartwright “Over You By Now” and “Unlove You”
Noah Kahan “Your Needs, My Needs”
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Jessica Joyce, NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
Currently reading
November 9, 2025꒰🗓️꒱ pre-read ⟢
⤿ I’ve heard amazing things so I’ve got high hopes 🧘🏼♀️
buddy read with my twin Arushi, I love you 🥹💗
⤿ I’ve heard amazing things so I’ve got high hopes 🧘🏼♀️
buddy read with my twin Arushi, I love you 🥹💗
October 14, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️
- This book was everything I needed and more. If you’re looking for a book that reminds you of the iconic love and other words by christina lauren with a soft love that you will literally never get over, you have to pick up this book! Any words of affirmation girlie will eat this up!!
- Georgia was such a relatable character in her fear of leaning on the people she loves. The author did such a great job of balancing the romance and deeper themes of friendship & trusting those you love with your heart.
- I neeeed to pick up more of this authors work after this book because this one was so good. So many beautiful quotes and special moments in this one that I’ll cherish now that I’m finished with this. Such an incredible read!!
- This book was everything I needed and more. If you’re looking for a book that reminds you of the iconic love and other words by christina lauren with a soft love that you will literally never get over, you have to pick up this book! Any words of affirmation girlie will eat this up!!
- Georgia was such a relatable character in her fear of leaning on the people she loves. The author did such a great job of balancing the romance and deeper themes of friendship & trusting those you love with your heart.
- I neeeed to pick up more of this authors work after this book because this one was so good. So many beautiful quotes and special moments in this one that I’ll cherish now that I’m finished with this. Such an incredible read!!
July 25, 2024
” through so much change and turmoil and separate growth. The one thing that hasn’t changed at all is him loving me. And me loving him. It’s out tether, the thing that never let us drift too far”
💌This was such a beautiful book. I loved it. Happy place is one of my favorite contemporary romance ( every emily henry book is a favorite so far) and this was so similar to it. But still different In it’s own unique and beautiful way! It was so realistic which made me love it more and the characters were so relatable it hurts. The side characters were so funny and lovable. The writing was so beautiful it made me emotional and made me feel the longing and the ache and the sadness, the pain in the depth of my soul i loved it 🤍
” we can be all those things—good, bad, easy and needy, okay or not bad on endless cycle— and trust that the other will stay. Our circumstances are messy, but so is life. It doesn’t mean that we can’t love each other through it. We already are”
💌 i have always had this fear that some day my friends will find new friends and then forget about me. That they won’t need me anymore. And it was one of my biggest nightmare even tho they kept reassuring me that this will never happen and that we will never be separated no matter what! I believed them and i still do but still this doesn’t make the fear go away which made me relate so much to Georgia and her fear of being left out and her fear of not being needed anymore. It made me emotional because it felt like i was reading about myself 😭 she’s incredibly strong and confident. She’s so caring and she loves her friends more than she loves anything else she will do anything for them. She loves deeply. She’s scared of expressing how she feels. Of how people might think she’s too much and that she’s so needy. She is basically me on paper 😭🤍
” when i say i’m in love with you, I mean today and yesterday and this entire week, i mean at nick and Miriam weeding and I mean for the past five years, 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.”
💌 Eli was so relatable too! I couldn’t even get made of him because I understand him so much. Growing up around his parents and seeing what they went through ofc it made him focus on not to be like them and wanting stability! Even if it made him lose alot of things in the process i still understood him. I love he worked on himself tho! How he changed for the people around him and most importantly for himself too!
” I want you any way I can have you. I want you every way i can have you”
💌 Eli and Georgia conflict was very believable with realistic problems that any couple could face, their childhood fears and trauma that manifested into anxieties that ultimately led to breakup, a love that has never gone, no matter the pain and the heartache that happened or the distance between them. Understanding and trust and friendship that never fades between them. There chemistry and love was so strong. He wrote 212 reasons why he fall in love with her from the moment they met. He made her paper rings 🥹 he never been with anyone after the breakup for 5 years because he couldn’t be with anyone else! Because he loved her. And she loved him too. And now im so obsessed and in love with them i need help.
I know it’s long review but this one deserved it✋🏻 I highly highly recommend 🤍🤍
August 15, 2025
જ⁀➴ 𝟑.𝟐𝟓₊˚⊹☀️ 𝟘𝟠/𝟙𝟘/𝟚𝟝—𝟘𝟠/𝟙𝟜/𝟚𝟝
this wasn’t bad by any means—but when i finished it, it definitely had me wondering “was that all? am i missing something?”
with the amount of GUSHING reviews for this book i was expecting angst, yearning, groveling, flashback moments that just made you feel the love between the characters. and while the book was enjoyable (mostly the first 100 pages) there were some things that i really didn’t vibe with.
1. the lack of “angst”.
for me, a second chance romance without angst is just wrong. i think there is no point even DOING second chance romance if you won’t add it in 🫠! the whole story was a bit insta-lovey which I’ll go into later! but when the characters finally addressed what happened—they were already together and it was only one chapter (which ended in them having a resolution).
2. no backstory!
“it’s always been you” second chance romances are SO. GOOD. but when you include 2 flashbacks (if that) and you don’t even include them falling in love?? it’s hard to feel the emotional connection since we aren’t actually SEEING them fall in love. all the reader is seeing is “there’s the girl/boy who I’ve always loved.” it’s definitely more show than tell.
3. insta-lust!!!
not sure if this could be considering “insta-lust”—but going off what 1 and 2 said, due to the lack of flashbacks and angst—the spice just felt very one dimensional since it was put so early. we didn’t even get to learn about the characters and they were already doing it…? 😭!!
despite these complaints, the start was actually very entertaining (the reason why this is 3.25)! it definitely did fall off when the spice was shoved in and the characterization fell flat, but it had a great start and definitely a lot of potential.
would i recommend this? maybe. it did fall flat for me and wasn’t my favorite…but i know a lot of people loved it and i definitely could’ve just missed something! ⭐️
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓 ☀️
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: 𝟑.𝟐𝟓
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
˖᯽ ݁childhood best friends
☁ second chance romance
˖᯽ ݁mutual friend’s wedding theme
☁ one bed
˖᯽ ݁estranged exes
☁ found family
˖᯽ ݁ “it was always you”
☁ new adult romance
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i’m looking for a angsty, second chance romance with an mmc who grovels so i hope this delivers 🤞🏼🤞🏼AND it has ‘happy place’ vibes which i didn’t love but i did love the overall premise of that book!!
i’ve heard the best things about this one so please don’t disappoint tiktok!!🫠 so far i’ve been in a reading slump this month so this better cure it.
this wasn’t bad by any means—but when i finished it, it definitely had me wondering “was that all? am i missing something?”
with the amount of GUSHING reviews for this book i was expecting angst, yearning, groveling, flashback moments that just made you feel the love between the characters. and while the book was enjoyable (mostly the first 100 pages) there were some things that i really didn’t vibe with.
1. the lack of “angst”.
for me, a second chance romance without angst is just wrong. i think there is no point even DOING second chance romance if you won’t add it in 🫠! the whole story was a bit insta-lovey which I’ll go into later! but when the characters finally addressed what happened—they were already together and it was only one chapter (which ended in them having a resolution).
2. no backstory!
“it’s always been you” second chance romances are SO. GOOD. but when you include 2 flashbacks (if that) and you don’t even include them falling in love?? it’s hard to feel the emotional connection since we aren’t actually SEEING them fall in love. all the reader is seeing is “there’s the girl/boy who I’ve always loved.” it’s definitely more show than tell.
3. insta-lust!!!
not sure if this could be considering “insta-lust”—but going off what 1 and 2 said, due to the lack of flashbacks and angst—the spice just felt very one dimensional since it was put so early. we didn’t even get to learn about the characters and they were already doing it…? 😭!!
despite these complaints, the start was actually very entertaining (the reason why this is 3.25)! it definitely did fall off when the spice was shoved in and the characterization fell flat, but it had a great start and definitely a lot of potential.
would i recommend this? maybe. it did fall flat for me and wasn’t my favorite…but i know a lot of people loved it and i definitely could’ve just missed something! ⭐️
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓 ☀️
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: 𝟑.𝟐𝟓
╰┈➤ tropes to expect!
˖᯽ ݁childhood best friends
☁ second chance romance
˖᯽ ݁mutual friend’s wedding theme
☁ one bed
˖᯽ ݁estranged exes
☁ found family
˖᯽ ݁ “it was always you”
☁ new adult romance
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i’m looking for a angsty, second chance romance with an mmc who grovels so i hope this delivers 🤞🏼🤞🏼AND it has ‘happy place’ vibes which i didn’t love but i did love the overall premise of that book!!
i’ve heard the best things about this one so please don’t disappoint tiktok!!🫠 so far i’ve been in a reading slump this month so this better cure it.
November 28, 2024
✨it’s TIIIIIME ✨
October 17, 2024
I'm sad to say I'm disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the book for being about friendships, about being left behind, life, anxiety and financial difficulty. I did like that it was meaningful, talked about fears and struggles, and that the mmc had some development.
However I felt like I couldn't connect to the romance, I didn't like the friends (I felt like they took advantage a lot), and I didn't like that the FMC didn't have any development? she was and stayed a people pleaser (no judgment, I am one too) and it was such a big plot point I felt we should have had something more with it. I actually think that I don't like our main characters much now that I think of it (oops).
And the whole 'we broke up years ago and have a list to keep us cordial with each other because we can't actually talk and get closure'? Yeah, it came back in a way, but it made me so mad.
----------------------------------------
me? starting another book while reading 2? no.....
However I felt like I couldn't connect to the romance, I didn't like the friends (I felt like they took advantage a lot), and I didn't like that the FMC didn't have any development? she was and stayed a people pleaser (no judgment, I am one too) and it was such a big plot point I felt we should have had something more with it. I actually think that I don't like our main characters much now that I think of it (oops).
And the whole 'we broke up years ago and have a list to keep us cordial with each other because we can't actually talk and get closure'? Yeah, it came back in a way, but it made me so mad.
----------------------------------------
me? starting another book while reading 2? no.....
July 21, 2024
UGH, REVIEW TO COME😭😭😭😭!!!!!!!!
September 16, 2025
"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."
Another solid romance from Jessica Joyce. I was a huge fan of You with a View, and while this one was also good, I don't think it quite measured up to YWAV for me.
Both character were really likeable and I enjoyed their chemistry from the beginning. It was pretty clear how their interactions were going to go from the moment they're together again, so I was really looking forward to seeing Eli put some work in.
One thing that frustrated me though was how obtuse Georgia was being in regards to Eli's actions. He was very clearly working to not only make up for being absence for the friends the past years but also for her. So her continuous confusion for why he was acting the way he was was increasingly frustrating. His declaration toward the end shouldn't have been such a surprise for her 🙄
The other thing that was really getting to me was the sheer amount of issues the wedding planning was running into. Like it was ridiculously over the top and I felt it took away from the overall storyline and the development of the relationship. This could have been an even better romance if everything wasn't going wrong all the time.
But those things aside I absolutely devoured this book. And the ending almost made up for the issues I had. So many great, emotional moments that really tugged at my heartstrings. Would recommend for romance lovers ❤️
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Another solid romance from Jessica Joyce. I was a huge fan of You with a View, and while this one was also good, I don't think it quite measured up to YWAV for me.
Both character were really likeable and I enjoyed their chemistry from the beginning. It was pretty clear how their interactions were going to go from the moment they're together again, so I was really looking forward to seeing Eli put some work in.
One thing that frustrated me though was how obtuse Georgia was being in regards to Eli's actions. He was very clearly working to not only make up for being absence for the friends the past years but also for her. So her continuous confusion for why he was acting the way he was was increasingly frustrating. His declaration toward the end shouldn't have been such a surprise for her 🙄
The other thing that was really getting to me was the sheer amount of issues the wedding planning was running into. Like it was ridiculously over the top and I felt it took away from the overall storyline and the development of the relationship. This could have been an even better romance if everything wasn't going wrong all the time.
But those things aside I absolutely devoured this book. And the ending almost made up for the issues I had. So many great, emotional moments that really tugged at my heartstrings. Would recommend for romance lovers ❤️
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2025
[Edit: bumping from 4.5 to 5🌟 bc I finished this a month ago and I just cried in the car thinking about Eli & Georgia.. AGAIN]
"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.”
MY HEART 😭🩷 ELI MORA… YOU ANGEL 😭
This was so so beautiful and so REAL. I loved that this really captured the reality of two people so deeply in love and how life can get in the way. In a way you never wanted or expected it to.
This is the kind of book I wish I had read after I graduated college. Georgia’s fear of losing people closest to her and them moving on without her. Her being afraid of needing things from people, afraid of being too much. She was so incredibly relatable to me.
But guys, the way Georgia & Eli found each other again 🥹 How they just never reallllly lost each other to begin with. They are SOULMATES. I mean god, the RINGS???? The paper RINGS??? Please 😭 Eli Mora…. I love you so bad. You could feel their chemistry through the page. You could FEEL Eli’s yearning and how in love with her he was. I was giggling, I was laughing, I was crying. All of the above, really.
I also loved the way this was written and how we got flashbacks of them from the past through Georgia’s memory. The flashbacks were woven seamlessly into the story. I really liked that it wasn’t done through random flashback chapters that cut into the story.
seriously such a beautiful second chance romance 🩷
"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.”
MY HEART 😭🩷 ELI MORA… YOU ANGEL 😭
This was so so beautiful and so REAL. I loved that this really captured the reality of two people so deeply in love and how life can get in the way. In a way you never wanted or expected it to.
This is the kind of book I wish I had read after I graduated college. Georgia’s fear of losing people closest to her and them moving on without her. Her being afraid of needing things from people, afraid of being too much. She was so incredibly relatable to me.
But guys, the way Georgia & Eli found each other again 🥹 How they just never reallllly lost each other to begin with. They are SOULMATES. I mean god, the RINGS???? The paper RINGS??? Please 😭 Eli Mora…. I love you so bad. You could feel their chemistry through the page. You could FEEL Eli’s yearning and how in love with her he was. I was giggling, I was laughing, I was crying. All of the above, really.
I also loved the way this was written and how we got flashbacks of them from the past through Georgia’s memory. The flashbacks were woven seamlessly into the story. I really liked that it wasn’t done through random flashback chapters that cut into the story.
seriously such a beautiful second chance romance 🩷
Displaying 1 - 30 of 13,202 reviews