What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ex Effect : A spicy second-chance rom-com
They had a night to remember. For all the wrong reasons.
Thirteen years ago, Ash was planning the night of her life with her high-school boyfriend, Logan. They were madly in love, wild about each other, and had been waiting patiently for this moment. It was going to be perfect.
That is, until it went down in very unsexy flames. Logan disappeared and Ash was left, quite frankly - and very inconveniently - sexually cursed.
After years of disastrous dating and even more disastrous sex, cinematographer Ash has almost given up. But some seriously flirtatious emails with location agent Maximillian Adam, to set up a scouting trip, offer her hope. Because if rumor is to be believed, Maximillian Adam might just be God's sexual gift to women.
Is Max going to be the one to finally break the curse? And, even better, break it over and over again?
Or when Ash and Max finally come face to face, will they both get so much more than they bargained for?
........................
What fans say about Jo's books!
'If this doesn't speak romcom perfection I don't know what does!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Wow! This book would make THE most amazing romantic movie'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'OMG!!! I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book!!! I must say it has got to be one of the best romances I have ever read!!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A laugh-out-loud novel with unique and realistic characters'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Why haven't I heard of Jo Watson before?!! Such a brilliant read and one that totally and utterly broke my star rating system!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Thirteen years ago, Ash was planning the night of her life with her high-school boyfriend, Logan. They were madly in love, wild about each other, and had been waiting patiently for this moment. It was going to be perfect.
That is, until it went down in very unsexy flames. Logan disappeared and Ash was left, quite frankly - and very inconveniently - sexually cursed.
After years of disastrous dating and even more disastrous sex, cinematographer Ash has almost given up. But some seriously flirtatious emails with location agent Maximillian Adam, to set up a scouting trip, offer her hope. Because if rumor is to be believed, Maximillian Adam might just be God's sexual gift to women.
Is Max going to be the one to finally break the curse? And, even better, break it over and over again?
Or when Ash and Max finally come face to face, will they both get so much more than they bargained for?
........................
What fans say about Jo's books!
'If this doesn't speak romcom perfection I don't know what does!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Wow! This book would make THE most amazing romantic movie'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'OMG!!! I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book!!! I must say it has got to be one of the best romances I have ever read!!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A laugh-out-loud novel with unique and realistic characters'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Why haven't I heard of Jo Watson before?!! Such a brilliant read and one that totally and utterly broke my star rating system!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
43 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Jo Watson
33 books1,100 followersBest selling author of romantic comedies and young adult fiction
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
February 14, 2025
Happy Release Day!
I need a llama emoji for this review. Don’t ask.
🦙🦙🦙🦙 Four llama stars.
Ash had a boyfriend in high school. They loved each other, but when they finally decided to have sex, it went horribly wrong. He disappeared after that, and her sex life has been a disaster ever since.
What I really appreciated about this book was the deromanticizing of the first time; you don’t see it often in romance. And we need it, because listen, kids, even if it’s with someone you love, it is possible that it will not be spectacular right away. Especially if you’re both inexperienced teenagers. Don’t let it discourage you; this stuff can be learned. 😈
I enjoyed the writing and the chemistry between Ash and Max (at least for the most part). It was also a great story; I loved the African setup and all the travels and adventures. It was a very entertaining book, but there were things that bothered me.
The first problem was the constant oversharing. Ash had a group of close friends, and she shared absolutely EVERYTHING with them. The updates about her sex life on their WhatsApp group were so cringe 😩. This is my personal pet peeve; I firmly believe that some things should stay between two people. Sharing with a bestie is bad enough, but with a whole group? I can’t even.
As much as I enjoyed most of the story, it went downhill in the last few chapters. The constant push and pull was getting on my nerves, and it didn’t stop until the very end, which made for a very rushed and confusing ending. I did not believe that everything fell into place so easily in the end. Especially with no epilogue.
Ranting aside, if there will be a sequel, and I hope there will be, I will absolutely read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
CW: death of a sibling and grief, mentioned, off page, snake bite
Thanks Headline and NetGalley for the arc❤️
I need a llama emoji for this review. Don’t ask.
🦙🦙🦙🦙 Four llama stars.
Ash had a boyfriend in high school. They loved each other, but when they finally decided to have sex, it went horribly wrong. He disappeared after that, and her sex life has been a disaster ever since.
What I really appreciated about this book was the deromanticizing of the first time; you don’t see it often in romance. And we need it, because listen, kids, even if it’s with someone you love, it is possible that it will not be spectacular right away. Especially if you’re both inexperienced teenagers. Don’t let it discourage you; this stuff can be learned. 😈
I enjoyed the writing and the chemistry between Ash and Max (at least for the most part). It was also a great story; I loved the African setup and all the travels and adventures. It was a very entertaining book, but there were things that bothered me.
The first problem was the constant oversharing. Ash had a group of close friends, and she shared absolutely EVERYTHING with them. The updates about her sex life on their WhatsApp group were so cringe 😩. This is my personal pet peeve; I firmly believe that some things should stay between two people. Sharing with a bestie is bad enough, but with a whole group? I can’t even.
As much as I enjoyed most of the story, it went downhill in the last few chapters. The constant push and pull was getting on my nerves, and it didn’t stop until the very end, which made for a very rushed and confusing ending. I did not believe that everything fell into place so easily in the end. Especially with no epilogue.
Ranting aside, if there will be a sequel, and I hope there will be, I will absolutely read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
CW: death of a sibling and grief, mentioned, off page, snake bite
Thanks Headline and NetGalley for the arc❤️
May 31, 2025
4 Llama Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Thirteen years ago, Ash tried to lose her virginity to her long-term boyfriend, and it went horribly wrong...think worst night ever. And then? He vanished. Gone without a trace, leaving Ash heartbroken and possibly cursed because every single time she has tried to hook up with another man since, something disastrous happens. Fast forward to the present. Ash finds herself flirting with a guy named Max, a RUMOURED SEX GOD, over email. Max is assisting with scouting locations for an upcoming commercial she is working on as a cinematographer. But when she finally meets Max in person? She realises that he is none other than the man who cursed her to begin with. Now, Ash is faced with a dilemma. Does she risk her heart again, or take the chance to finally break this ridiculous curse once and for all? I mean, there’s no way she still has feelings for him after all this time… right?
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really loved the humour in this (if I haven’t said it enough already - which I know I have). I legit laughed so much. I’m talking full-on belly laughs, squeals, and giggles. I'm pretty sure people looked at me like I was a teenage girl fawning over her crush with the amount of noises I made while reading this. I think this is because this is very much a comedy of errors, like basically ridiculous in plot and absurd in situations.
I MEAN IT involves:
✔ Snakes
✔ Spider Webs
✔ Fish
✔ Pink Dolphin Dildos
✔ An unhealthy obsession with cheese
✔ A smelly Llama called Lucy
Basically, everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. Most of it is probably realistically impossible, especially considering a large part of the plot revolves around a sexual "curse", but it's the kind of story you could see as a rom-com movie. Because it’s so over the top and doesn’t take itself too seriously, you can sit back, relax, and have a great time reading it.
On top of that, the book takes you to some amazing locations. Now, I am biased toward Southern Africa (because I live here and have firsthand experience of these stunning locations). But this book takes you on a gorgeous, exquisite journey from Kruger to Zambia, Botswana, the Chobe Reserve, and Lake Malawi, which just does an amazing job of showcasing the stunning diversity of wildlife and landscapes this part of the world has to offer.
Then we have the romance. There is a lot of sex, a lot of top-tier banter AND even more sexual tension. It’s there right from the start, and if you're not comfortable with characters openly discussing their sex lives (in detail), you might not enjoy this one. The FMC shares everything with her best friends, and she is very open. There’s also a lot of “let’s just get it out of our systems” talk, and the tension between them is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Max does give off slight 'instalove' vibes when he reconnects with Ash, but considering realism had already gone out the window with everything going wrong, I just rolled with how quickly he caught feelings again.
The one aspect that frustrated me slightly was the initial conflict between the characters. It felt weak, and I didn’t really believe that this type of thing would cause such a rift, lack of communication and 13-year silence between them. But honestly? I was having too much fun to look too much into the flaws.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ It's Always Been You
▶ One Tent
▶ Childhood Sweethearts
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ "Sit on my Face"
▷ A Lot of Texting
▷ "Out of our systems"
▷ "Forehead Kisses"
▷ Never had a proper Orgasm Before
▷ "Fuck It"
Overall, if you want a cute, funny, low-stakes rom-com that will make you laugh out loud, this is definitely one to pick up for the laughs… and the llama… and the cheese!
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Jo Watson for the gifted ebook copy and thank you to Johnathan Ball Publishers for the physical copy, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
“There is no ‘d’, Ash. I love you. I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you. You are all I’ve ever wanted. It’s always only been you.”This was delightfully funny. I don't know if it’s because I just vibe with Jo Watson's writing as an author, or if it's because she and I share South African humour (you know the one built on self-deprecation and sarcasm) but I was absolutely hosing myself at some of the situations in this book.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Thirteen years ago, Ash tried to lose her virginity to her long-term boyfriend, and it went horribly wrong...think worst night ever. And then? He vanished. Gone without a trace, leaving Ash heartbroken and possibly cursed because every single time she has tried to hook up with another man since, something disastrous happens. Fast forward to the present. Ash finds herself flirting with a guy named Max, a RUMOURED SEX GOD, over email. Max is assisting with scouting locations for an upcoming commercial she is working on as a cinematographer. But when she finally meets Max in person? She realises that he is none other than the man who cursed her to begin with. Now, Ash is faced with a dilemma. Does she risk her heart again, or take the chance to finally break this ridiculous curse once and for all? I mean, there’s no way she still has feelings for him after all this time… right?
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really loved the humour in this (if I haven’t said it enough already - which I know I have). I legit laughed so much. I’m talking full-on belly laughs, squeals, and giggles. I'm pretty sure people looked at me like I was a teenage girl fawning over her crush with the amount of noises I made while reading this. I think this is because this is very much a comedy of errors, like basically ridiculous in plot and absurd in situations.
I MEAN IT involves:
✔ Snakes
✔ Spider Webs
✔ Fish
✔ Pink Dolphin Dildos
✔ An unhealthy obsession with cheese
✔ A smelly Llama called Lucy
Basically, everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. Most of it is probably realistically impossible, especially considering a large part of the plot revolves around a sexual "curse", but it's the kind of story you could see as a rom-com movie. Because it’s so over the top and doesn’t take itself too seriously, you can sit back, relax, and have a great time reading it.
On top of that, the book takes you to some amazing locations. Now, I am biased toward Southern Africa (because I live here and have firsthand experience of these stunning locations). But this book takes you on a gorgeous, exquisite journey from Kruger to Zambia, Botswana, the Chobe Reserve, and Lake Malawi, which just does an amazing job of showcasing the stunning diversity of wildlife and landscapes this part of the world has to offer.
Then we have the romance. There is a lot of sex, a lot of top-tier banter AND even more sexual tension. It’s there right from the start, and if you're not comfortable with characters openly discussing their sex lives (in detail), you might not enjoy this one. The FMC shares everything with her best friends, and she is very open. There’s also a lot of “let’s just get it out of our systems” talk, and the tension between them is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Max does give off slight 'instalove' vibes when he reconnects with Ash, but considering realism had already gone out the window with everything going wrong, I just rolled with how quickly he caught feelings again.
The one aspect that frustrated me slightly was the initial conflict between the characters. It felt weak, and I didn’t really believe that this type of thing would cause such a rift, lack of communication and 13-year silence between them. But honestly? I was having too much fun to look too much into the flaws.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Second Chance Romance
▶ It's Always Been You
▶ One Tent
▶ Childhood Sweethearts
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ "Sit on my Face"
▷ A Lot of Texting
▷ "Out of our systems"
▷ "Forehead Kisses"
▷ Never had a proper Orgasm Before
▷ "Fuck It"
Overall, if you want a cute, funny, low-stakes rom-com that will make you laugh out loud, this is definitely one to pick up for the laughs… and the llama… and the cheese!
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Jo Watson for the gifted ebook copy and thank you to Johnathan Ball Publishers for the physical copy, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
January 27, 2025
the ex effect was my very first book written by jo watson and well i can say now that it was truly a joyful experience!
this romcom was so funny since the very first page i was easily curious about the next chapters and this was also easy since the main characters were likeable and sometimes,dare i say,such a mood too?
if you need a gateway from your life well you could use this book as a refreshing,funny and lovely trip and i mean i think the cover’s already speaking for me! right? right because it’s gorgeous in my opinion and it captures the vibes of this romcom so well!
and btw this is a perfect escape especially for the second chance romance and slow burn lovers!
just give it a try and u’ll be catapulted in a lovely trip with ash and max!
A lot of thanks to Netgalley, Headline for the advanced e - arc of this book in exchange of my honest opinion!
this romcom was so funny since the very first page i was easily curious about the next chapters and this was also easy since the main characters were likeable and sometimes,dare i say,such a mood too?
if you need a gateway from your life well you could use this book as a refreshing,funny and lovely trip and i mean i think the cover’s already speaking for me! right? right because it’s gorgeous in my opinion and it captures the vibes of this romcom so well!
and btw this is a perfect escape especially for the second chance romance and slow burn lovers!
just give it a try and u’ll be catapulted in a lovely trip with ash and max!
A lot of thanks to Netgalley, Headline for the advanced e - arc of this book in exchange of my honest opinion!
June 12, 2025
Por lo general los libros que he leído de esta mujer me han gustado pero este no me ha terminado de convencer. Y eso que tiene muchas cosas que me gustan, humor, segundas oportunidades, un aire a los Bridget Jones… Pero, para mí, nada está bien logrado. La historia va de Ash, una chica a la que solo le pasan desgracias sexuales que cree que es todo culpa de una especie de maldición que arrastra desde que intentó tener sexo con su amor adolescente y eso fue una catástrofe total. Del chico nunca más supo y ahora en el sexo y en el amor a ella le va fatal, pero una vez una pitonisa le dijo que sus maldiciones se irían volviendo a la causa de ellas y justo se le va a presentar esa oportunidad. A priori todo muy bien pero no ha terminado de desarrollarse bien. No sé si es porque la protagonista es excesivamente insegura, con lo que se avanza y se retrocede constantemente, dándote la sensación de que el libro no va a ningún lado, o porque transcurre en un entorno tan exótico (Sudáfrica) que a veces parece un anuncio turístico, o porque hay muchas partes que parecen forzadas (especialmente el humor), pero el caso es que no me ha convencido.
Se lee muy rápido, eso sí
Se lee muy rápido, eso sí
February 9, 2025
This was one seriously good spicy second chance romantic comedy.
Some of the scenes and situations had me laughing so much that I had tears in my eyes.
The characters were super relatable and the background the author sketched in the different locations were amazing.
Highly recommend this one.
Some of the scenes and situations had me laughing so much that I had tears in my eyes.
The characters were super relatable and the background the author sketched in the different locations were amazing.
Highly recommend this one.
January 24, 2025
This book had a lot of internal laughing, especially with the dolphin (if you know, you know) 😂
The amount of travel in this 😍 I want to go explore all of these locations! The love for Africa shines through and makes me feel so proud to be a South African 🥰
Ash and Max are super cute though! Ash had me wishing I had a friend group like hers 🥹
The amount of travel in this 😍 I want to go explore all of these locations! The love for Africa shines through and makes me feel so proud to be a South African 🥰
Ash and Max are super cute though! Ash had me wishing I had a friend group like hers 🥹
May 30, 2025
3.7 stars ⭐️
Tropes:
• second chance romance
• spice & tension
• gorgeous landscapes
• working together
• teen exes that reconnect
• hidden identity (temporarily)
☀️🎥⛺️
The Ex-Effect writes as a really good rom-com that you can easily dive into and get lost within the pages.
Despite it being over 400 pages for a contemporary romance this still posed as an easy and fairly enjoyable read. Once you pass the first 100-150 pages it gets really good!
If you want some of that wattpad nostalgia The Ex-Effect brings it in some ways.
The tropes were done well and the insider dolphin emoji joke will make you laugh once you realize what it means 🐬 I even messaged the author about it when I read that bit,I was like "Omg Jo!😂"
The shenanigans that transpired were hilarious and I loved how supportive and caring the mmc,Max was.
He definitely fell first and harder,even all those years ago. They were 100% a super cute couple and the way Max was so whipped, he had me aww'ing.
The tension and chemistry between these too were electrifying to the point where you are there like "JUST KISS ALREADY PLEASE! DO IT" Ash kept fighting it but I'm so glad Max persevered epicly. The spice was written well too and it fitted with the story.
The author paints the gorgeous
backdrops very vividly with her words and creates these beautiful scenic settings that makes you feel as if you are there at this current moment. I love that the book was based in South Africa and it got to shine with the author's descriptions. Jo is a South African author which made it even better. She really created that slowburn between the MCs well. Love a good HEA and so glad Max & Ash eventually got it!
• Thank you,Jo Watson for the pr copy •
Tropes:
• second chance romance
• spice & tension
• gorgeous landscapes
• working together
• teen exes that reconnect
• hidden identity (temporarily)
☀️🎥⛺️
The Ex-Effect writes as a really good rom-com that you can easily dive into and get lost within the pages.
Despite it being over 400 pages for a contemporary romance this still posed as an easy and fairly enjoyable read. Once you pass the first 100-150 pages it gets really good!
If you want some of that wattpad nostalgia The Ex-Effect brings it in some ways.
The tropes were done well and the insider dolphin emoji joke will make you laugh once you realize what it means 🐬 I even messaged the author about it when I read that bit,I was like "Omg Jo!😂"
The shenanigans that transpired were hilarious and I loved how supportive and caring the mmc,Max was.
He definitely fell first and harder,even all those years ago. They were 100% a super cute couple and the way Max was so whipped, he had me aww'ing.
The tension and chemistry between these too were electrifying to the point where you are there like "JUST KISS ALREADY PLEASE! DO IT" Ash kept fighting it but I'm so glad Max persevered epicly. The spice was written well too and it fitted with the story.
The author paints the gorgeous
backdrops very vividly with her words and creates these beautiful scenic settings that makes you feel as if you are there at this current moment. I love that the book was based in South Africa and it got to shine with the author's descriptions. Jo is a South African author which made it even better. She really created that slowburn between the MCs well. Love a good HEA and so glad Max & Ash eventually got it!
• Thank you,Jo Watson for the pr copy •
February 22, 2025
The Ex Effect by Jo Thomas was a fun and flirty read following the relationship between Ash and Max. It flits between both their points of view which is great because you really get to understand how both their characters are feeling about each other. Ash is still devastated at being abandoned by her high school sweetheart Logan thirteen years ago after a disastrous attempt to move their relationship to the physical level. She also feels she’s been cursed by him since she’s never had a fulfilling physical relationship with anyone since then. She hears many rumours about location scout Max who has a bit of a Casanova reputation and wonders if he might be the one to break the curse. When she has to work with him in her role as a cinematographer, things take an unexpected turn.
This is a slow burn relationship under the heat of the African sun and the beauty of the African landscape comes through well. I loved reading about all the beautiful places they visited and the wildlife they encountered. The sexual chemistry between the two is high – this is one hot story! Sexual tension between the two builds and builds, towards a perhaps inevitable climax – pun fully intended. If you don’t like uninhibited raunchy scenes, this isn’t a book for you. If you do, well then you will love this!
The Ex Effect includes many popular romance tropes – second-chance romance, slow-burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity – so there’s almost certainly something that every romance reader will enjoy. It’s funny, romantic, poignant in parts and yes, sexy! I really enjoyed it and would be happy to read more from this author in future.
This is a slow burn relationship under the heat of the African sun and the beauty of the African landscape comes through well. I loved reading about all the beautiful places they visited and the wildlife they encountered. The sexual chemistry between the two is high – this is one hot story! Sexual tension between the two builds and builds, towards a perhaps inevitable climax – pun fully intended. If you don’t like uninhibited raunchy scenes, this isn’t a book for you. If you do, well then you will love this!
The Ex Effect includes many popular romance tropes – second-chance romance, slow-burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity – so there’s almost certainly something that every romance reader will enjoy. It’s funny, romantic, poignant in parts and yes, sexy! I really enjoyed it and would be happy to read more from this author in future.
January 27, 2025
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Nobody writes a slow-burn, second-chance, banter-filled, snortingly laugh-out-loud love story like Jo Watson!
Recipe
Ingredients:
▪️Take one accident-prone main female character, who believes she has been 'sex-cursed' by her catastrophic first-time attempt at a sexual encounter with her high-school sweetheart.
▪️Add one sex-god of a male specimen who, if the rumours are true, is the answer to every woman's prayers.
▪️Throw in a combination of fabulous friends who spend a lot of time sharing incredibly up close and intimate information on their juicy WhatsApp group!
▪️Insert stunning descriptions of African destinations - it's literally like a love story to Africa! The landscapes are spectacular, in-depth and detailed
▪️Drop in a moving backstory of a mother with dementia, and a son willing to move heaven and earth to ensure that all in her world is happy, safe and secure.
Method:
▪️Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl very slowly, one by one.
▪️Start mixing together very slowly.
▪️Increase speed when you start to see the Ingredients merging together.
▪️When everything is completely blended, your recipe is complete.
▪️Sit back, relax, have a laugh or 50while reading, and then smile and enjoy!!
(Do NOT - I repeat - do NOT eat or drink while reading this book!!!!!)
Nobody writes a slow-burn, second-chance, banter-filled, snortingly laugh-out-loud love story like Jo Watson!
Recipe
Ingredients:
▪️Take one accident-prone main female character, who believes she has been 'sex-cursed' by her catastrophic first-time attempt at a sexual encounter with her high-school sweetheart.
▪️Add one sex-god of a male specimen who, if the rumours are true, is the answer to every woman's prayers.
▪️Throw in a combination of fabulous friends who spend a lot of time sharing incredibly up close and intimate information on their juicy WhatsApp group!
▪️Insert stunning descriptions of African destinations - it's literally like a love story to Africa! The landscapes are spectacular, in-depth and detailed
▪️Drop in a moving backstory of a mother with dementia, and a son willing to move heaven and earth to ensure that all in her world is happy, safe and secure.
Method:
▪️Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl very slowly, one by one.
▪️Start mixing together very slowly.
▪️Increase speed when you start to see the Ingredients merging together.
▪️When everything is completely blended, your recipe is complete.
▪️Sit back, relax, have a laugh or 50while reading, and then smile and enjoy!!
(Do NOT - I repeat - do NOT eat or drink while reading this book!!!!!)
February 12, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you Jo Watson for this ARC copy, I am so happy to be apart of your street team
I loved this book. Honestly, I could not get enough. It was the perfect book to read in between a fantasy trilogy. It was exactly what I needed. I think Jo Watson is the only author who can write about travel. She did it so effortlessly. Her characters were so fun and so likable, Ash and Max have a little piece of my heart ❤️
The found family in this book was *chefs kiss* 🫶
This is the perfect feel-good book, and if you need something to read over Valentines/Galentines. THEN READ THIS BOOK! Read it any other time too because it is so worth it.
This book also had me in stitches, ahem 🐬 (IYKYK)
𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲.
"𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐌𝐚𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐞"
Thank you Jo Watson for this ARC copy, I am so happy to be apart of your street team
I loved this book. Honestly, I could not get enough. It was the perfect book to read in between a fantasy trilogy. It was exactly what I needed. I think Jo Watson is the only author who can write about travel. She did it so effortlessly. Her characters were so fun and so likable, Ash and Max have a little piece of my heart ❤️
The found family in this book was *chefs kiss* 🫶
This is the perfect feel-good book, and if you need something to read over Valentines/Galentines. THEN READ THIS BOOK! Read it any other time too because it is so worth it.
This book also had me in stitches, ahem 🐬 (IYKYK)
𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲.
"𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐌𝐚𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐞"
February 18, 2025
4.25⭐️ *Arc Review*
The witty banter, the relatable characters, and the second-chance romance storyline all combined to make this a truly great read. The author's writing style is engaging, funny, and heartfelt, making it easy to become fully invested in the characters' lives. The romance is sweet and sexy, with plenty of tension and chemistry between the leads. What I loved most about this book is its realistic portrayal of relationships, love, and personal growth. The characters are flawed, genuine, and likable, making it easy to root for them.
The witty banter, the relatable characters, and the second-chance romance storyline all combined to make this a truly great read. The author's writing style is engaging, funny, and heartfelt, making it easy to become fully invested in the characters' lives. The romance is sweet and sexy, with plenty of tension and chemistry between the leads. What I loved most about this book is its realistic portrayal of relationships, love, and personal growth. The characters are flawed, genuine, and likable, making it easy to root for them.
May 27, 2025
Ash's bad luck with men in the bedroom made me laugh out loud a few times! How can someone be so cursed in that department? It seems that after a terrible experience with her high school crush, one that left her devastated, Ash feels like she's cursed. She feels like Max the hottie she's been emailing might be the one who finally breaks that curse. When they meet things get rather interesting. I enjoyed this and loved all the cool locations in Africa where it was set. Another book worth reading by South African author Jo Watson.
October 12, 2025
Book was well written..
Story-line was good..
Unfortunately the characters fell a bit flat to me..and I felt the whole sex and O thing made it very immature!
It wasn't one i hated, and there were funny bits throughout, but just not for me, I can see this one being popular with the booktok smut girlies though
Story-line was good..
Unfortunately the characters fell a bit flat to me..and I felt the whole sex and O thing made it very immature!
It wasn't one i hated, and there were funny bits throughout, but just not for me, I can see this one being popular with the booktok smut girlies though
February 28, 2025
4.5🌟🌟🌟🌟
Immediately one of my favourite romcoms! Such a great holiday read / beach read / summer read.
Loved the characters. Someone check on me because I do not like the second chance trope but this book SMASHED this trope! So so good!
Note: Took me about 60 pages to get into it.
Immediately one of my favourite romcoms! Such a great holiday read / beach read / summer read.
Loved the characters. Someone check on me because I do not like the second chance trope but this book SMASHED this trope! So so good!
Note: Took me about 60 pages to get into it.
August 9, 2025
The story line is wholesome, however, it gave 15 year old fanfic language and I couldn’t get past that
April 3, 2025
Loved loved loved this!
Really enjoyable.
Really enjoyable.
October 28, 2025
1. she's not like other girls because *checks notes* she likes cheese
2. if a man held my shirt hostage while i was half naked i would deck him in a second
3. this woman had an accident happen every other chapter like be so serious like she stepped on a thorn, she was stuck in mud, then she got bitten by a thousand mosquitos, THEN she got bitten by a snake AND THEN THERE WAS A PANTHER?????
4. fmc is the epitome of 'dandelion mentality'' i love him', 'i don't love him', bla bla bla
2. if a man held my shirt hostage while i was half naked i would deck him in a second
3. this woman had an accident happen every other chapter like be so serious like she stepped on a thorn, she was stuck in mud, then she got bitten by a thousand mosquitos, THEN she got bitten by a snake AND THEN THERE WAS A PANTHER?????
4. fmc is the epitome of 'dandelion mentality'' i love him', 'i don't love him', bla bla bla
May 4, 2025
not for me!
June 27, 2025
Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶½/ 5
"You always have to lose control when falling in love"
Fans of Letters To Juliet, Booklovers and all the Summer-y vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, this one is for YOU!! The Ex Effect is sunshine personified and if there's one book to add to your TBR this Summer, let it be this! I devoured this book in less than 48 hours and that's only because I stopped reading several times just so that I could stay in this world a little longer!!!
Meet Ash, our strong independent woman who has an unhealthy obsession with cheese (I'd say the obsession is healthy) and a pesky little "curse" that she just can't seem to save herself from. Ash, THE diva, lives in a stunning apartment overlooking Camps Bay in Cape Town and drives a little red Mini Cooper... I mean what more do you need?! Our girl is an inspiration!! (As a South African girly... I admire her and so desperately want to be friends with her!!) Ash has made it her job to break her "curse", which is having horrible sexual experiences ever since her first time with her boyfriend in high school. She is going nowhere with her attempts to break the curse... that is until word reaches her that Maximillian Adam might just be God's sexual gift to women. Maximilian Adam, who happens to be the agent that Ash is working with and the same agent that Ash has been flirting with via email. Enter Max. Maximilian Adams is a man filled to the brim with charm, has looks that leave women breathless, and just moved back to South Africa after living in Greece, to look after his mom with Dementia. When sparks fly between Max and Ash and their love for cheese, adventures in the wild and undeniable attraction evolve into something more, Ash begins to wonder if Max just might be the curse-breaker she so desperately has been looking for this whole time.
Dearest reader, do not make the mistake of not reading The Ex Effect!!! This book was magical! The banter, the spice, the found family trope and the pure love that these two characters have for each other exceeds all expectations!! I'm a high fantasy reader through and through but this book has truly garnered huge amounts of respect from me and I'm definitely going to be reading more of Jo Watson's romcoms!!
Also let's not forget the mouth on Mr Maximilian Adam!!! Both sweet and spicy, this man had me laughing, swooning, crying, and drawing up a list of standards that I expect my future husband to uphold. THE MAN LEFT HIS BUSY WORK SCHEDULE AND GOT ONTO A PLANE WITH ASH JUST SO THAT ASH WOULDN'T BE ALONE BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID OF FLYING!!! and he carries mint gum with him even though he despises it...why? Because it makes her feel better whilst flying!!!!
"There is no other woman in the world I want to be with, other than you."
What more can I say?🤭
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Ex Effect by Jo Watson
Review by Madds @bookloverkay
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶½/ 5
"You always have to lose control when falling in love"
Fans of Letters To Juliet, Booklovers and all the Summer-y vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, this one is for YOU!! The Ex Effect is sunshine personified and if there's one book to add to your TBR this Summer, let it be this! I devoured this book in less than 48 hours and that's only because I stopped reading several times just so that I could stay in this world a little longer!!!
Meet Ash, our strong independent woman who has an unhealthy obsession with cheese (I'd say the obsession is healthy) and a pesky little "curse" that she just can't seem to save herself from. Ash, THE diva, lives in a stunning apartment overlooking Camps Bay in Cape Town and drives a little red Mini Cooper... I mean what more do you need?! Our girl is an inspiration!! (As a South African girly... I admire her and so desperately want to be friends with her!!) Ash has made it her job to break her "curse", which is having horrible sexual experiences ever since her first time with her boyfriend in high school. She is going nowhere with her attempts to break the curse... that is until word reaches her that Maximillian Adam might just be God's sexual gift to women. Maximilian Adam, who happens to be the agent that Ash is working with and the same agent that Ash has been flirting with via email. Enter Max. Maximilian Adams is a man filled to the brim with charm, has looks that leave women breathless, and just moved back to South Africa after living in Greece, to look after his mom with Dementia. When sparks fly between Max and Ash and their love for cheese, adventures in the wild and undeniable attraction evolve into something more, Ash begins to wonder if Max just might be the curse-breaker she so desperately has been looking for this whole time.
Dearest reader, do not make the mistake of not reading The Ex Effect!!! This book was magical! The banter, the spice, the found family trope and the pure love that these two characters have for each other exceeds all expectations!! I'm a high fantasy reader through and through but this book has truly garnered huge amounts of respect from me and I'm definitely going to be reading more of Jo Watson's romcoms!!
Also let's not forget the mouth on Mr Maximilian Adam!!! Both sweet and spicy, this man had me laughing, swooning, crying, and drawing up a list of standards that I expect my future husband to uphold. THE MAN LEFT HIS BUSY WORK SCHEDULE AND GOT ONTO A PLANE WITH ASH JUST SO THAT ASH WOULDN'T BE ALONE BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID OF FLYING!!! and he carries mint gum with him even though he despises it...why? Because it makes her feel better whilst flying!!!!
"There is no other woman in the world I want to be with, other than you."
What more can I say?🤭
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Ex Effect by Jo Watson
Review by Madds @bookloverkay
February 9, 2025
The ultimate Galentines treat!
This book was an absolute joy to read. It was so funny, that at one point I tripped on the treadmill whilst reading in my own little freak accident. This was due to my giggling and not a curse.
What I loved most about this book was that it was like having a margarita and a catch-up session with your best friend - one of the mishaps that happened in this book actually happened to a real-life friend of mine, though I wont say which one. Like the best girls nights, it was effortless, hilarious and just the right amount of spicy (enough that you feel the evening had some substance, but not so much that you feel uncomfortable the next time you see her husband).
The book also had some amazing descriptions and scenes from Southern Africa that could convince even the biggest home-body to leave the comfort zone and come visit. As a South African it made me want to immediately get in my car and start travelling like a tourist in my own country.
My favourite things about this book: I loved the group-chat. The friendship was 🤌 and I would have loved to see more of that dynamic at play. A found-family is something I always adore in a book and this one was great. I also really like the 🌶️build-up, whilst not a slow-build at all, I think the tension management was perfect.
What I didn't really like: I felt like the accidents that befell the main character towards the end became just a tad much, pushing it into a more unrealistic realm than it would have been if there was just one less bad thing that happened to her and giving a slight been-there-done-that feel to the book. I also think that the editing could be just a bit tighter.
Favourite quote: “I am on a detox! And you are not healthy for me! You are cheesecake, Max, and I need celery juice.”
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for providing me with a free ARC to review. It was a blast.
#TheExEffect #NetGalley #HeadlineEternal
This book was an absolute joy to read. It was so funny, that at one point I tripped on the treadmill whilst reading in my own little freak accident. This was due to my giggling and not a curse.
What I loved most about this book was that it was like having a margarita and a catch-up session with your best friend - one of the mishaps that happened in this book actually happened to a real-life friend of mine, though I wont say which one. Like the best girls nights, it was effortless, hilarious and just the right amount of spicy (enough that you feel the evening had some substance, but not so much that you feel uncomfortable the next time you see her husband).
The book also had some amazing descriptions and scenes from Southern Africa that could convince even the biggest home-body to leave the comfort zone and come visit. As a South African it made me want to immediately get in my car and start travelling like a tourist in my own country.
My favourite things about this book: I loved the group-chat. The friendship was 🤌 and I would have loved to see more of that dynamic at play. A found-family is something I always adore in a book and this one was great. I also really like the 🌶️build-up, whilst not a slow-build at all, I think the tension management was perfect.
What I didn't really like: I felt like the accidents that befell the main character towards the end became just a tad much, pushing it into a more unrealistic realm than it would have been if there was just one less bad thing that happened to her and giving a slight been-there-done-that feel to the book. I also think that the editing could be just a bit tighter.
Favourite quote: “I am on a detox! And you are not healthy for me! You are cheesecake, Max, and I need celery juice.”
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for providing me with a free ARC to review. It was a blast.
#TheExEffect #NetGalley #HeadlineEternal
February 7, 2025
3.75 stars
Read: December 2024
Thank you so much to Jo and team for sending me an ARC/proof in exchange for an honest review.
Our story is about Max and Ash who used to date in high school and thought they would be together forever. They waited to have sex until night of their final school dance as they wanted it to be special. Unfortunately it doesn’t go as planned and after the awful experience, Max vanishes into thin air… leaving Ash believing that the night cursed her to only have bad relationships and awful sexual encounters.
Now 13 years later, they are unexpectedly reunited through a work project (they both work in the photography/film industry).
Another wonderful contemporary romance from Jo! I can tell she’s definitely upped the spice level and sexiness of her MMC. Max is hot 🥵 At times it was frustrating that Ash kept resisting him but considering she has been carrying the hurt of Max’s disappearance 13 years ago with her, she had A LOT of emotions to work through!
I feel the book did end a bit abruptly. I wish we just had one more chapter at the end to see Ash and Max happily in love. Maybe a special scene from the wedding or a prologue to see that Ash is enjoying life “curse free” 😂 Also- what about her friends who seemed to be in love with each other?
I loved the travel aspect of the book. Our characters are in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. I also liked that Ashley had a good & diverse friend group supporting her. You’ve got to have people to share your every thought with right 😂
Read: December 2024
Thank you so much to Jo and team for sending me an ARC/proof in exchange for an honest review.
Our story is about Max and Ash who used to date in high school and thought they would be together forever. They waited to have sex until night of their final school dance as they wanted it to be special. Unfortunately it doesn’t go as planned and after the awful experience, Max vanishes into thin air… leaving Ash believing that the night cursed her to only have bad relationships and awful sexual encounters.
Now 13 years later, they are unexpectedly reunited through a work project (they both work in the photography/film industry).
Another wonderful contemporary romance from Jo! I can tell she’s definitely upped the spice level and sexiness of her MMC. Max is hot 🥵 At times it was frustrating that Ash kept resisting him but considering she has been carrying the hurt of Max’s disappearance 13 years ago with her, she had A LOT of emotions to work through!
I feel the book did end a bit abruptly. I wish we just had one more chapter at the end to see Ash and Max happily in love. Maybe a special scene from the wedding or a prologue to see that Ash is enjoying life “curse free” 😂 Also- what about her friends who seemed to be in love with each other?
I loved the travel aspect of the book. Our characters are in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. I also liked that Ashley had a good & diverse friend group supporting her. You’ve got to have people to share your every thought with right 😂
February 13, 2025
Can you be sex cursed? Thirteen years of disastrous sexual encounters suggest that not only is it possible, but that Ash is bona fide-ly sex hexed. She knows exactly who to blame: Logan, the boy she one day thought she was going to marry... until he ghosted her after high school. That first heartbreak seems to have set off a chain of nothing but ever since. Ash decides a dating detox might be what she needs to realign what's going wrong. Of course, as soon as she swears off men, there's a new guy in town whose reputation precedes him. Word around the water cooler is that he's as sex blessed as Ash is sex cursed. He's also the guy she's been maybe kind of flirting with over work emails for the past month.
I don't need to tell you how hilarious Jo Watson's writing is. Her books never fail to make me laugh. What I loved about THE EX EFFECT was the breathtaking scenery. The action takes place in various African game preserves, making several tried-and-true romcom tropes (like being locked in a closet together, and sheltering from inclement weather) feel fresh and exciting. The romance was STEAMY without being smutty. Watson is a very sex positive writer and its always enjoyable to read about a couple having an unabashedly good time. This is more of a straightforward romcom romp than some of Watson's emotionally deeper books, so I really appreciated how heartfelt the ending was. It gave me that final something I thought the book was missing up until then. This had excellent pacing as always and was generally just a bunch of fun.
I don't need to tell you how hilarious Jo Watson's writing is. Her books never fail to make me laugh. What I loved about THE EX EFFECT was the breathtaking scenery. The action takes place in various African game preserves, making several tried-and-true romcom tropes (like being locked in a closet together, and sheltering from inclement weather) feel fresh and exciting. The romance was STEAMY without being smutty. Watson is a very sex positive writer and its always enjoyable to read about a couple having an unabashedly good time. This is more of a straightforward romcom romp than some of Watson's emotionally deeper books, so I really appreciated how heartfelt the ending was. It gave me that final something I thought the book was missing up until then. This had excellent pacing as always and was generally just a bunch of fun.
February 3, 2025
The Ex Effect will be the only thing that pops into your head the next time you think of Fate🩵
Jo, the RomCom Queen, has done it again! From the well-known luxurious shores of Cape Town to the beautiful, lesser known views of Malawi, Jo takes us on an adventure with Ashleigh and Max that you're bound to remember!🤭
Oh the adventures Max and Ash will go on, starting with meeting each other... Ash is prone to bad luck, nobody thought it would extend to all aspects of her life, including the more private ones🫢
Max has had a great go at life, from women nearly passing out at the sight of him to having an incredible job that takes him all over the world!
What happens when these 2 world collide? Will they have a good time touring lodges in Malawi? Will Max break the supposed curse that has been put on Ash, and even if he could, will Ash let him?
All in all, The Ex Effect is one of many beautifully written books written by Jo🩷
Jo, the RomCom Queen, has done it again! From the well-known luxurious shores of Cape Town to the beautiful, lesser known views of Malawi, Jo takes us on an adventure with Ashleigh and Max that you're bound to remember!🤭
Oh the adventures Max and Ash will go on, starting with meeting each other... Ash is prone to bad luck, nobody thought it would extend to all aspects of her life, including the more private ones🫢
Max has had a great go at life, from women nearly passing out at the sight of him to having an incredible job that takes him all over the world!
What happens when these 2 world collide? Will they have a good time touring lodges in Malawi? Will Max break the supposed curse that has been put on Ash, and even if he could, will Ash let him?
All in all, The Ex Effect is one of many beautifully written books written by Jo🩷
February 22, 2025
This book was absolutely hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud and having such a great time reading it. I can’t wait to dive into more of Jo's work!
It is filled with funny moments, and the way it realistically captures the characters' feelings and flaws makes it so fun and relatable. Ash’s journey isn’t just about finding love; it’s also about discovering more about herself as she faces her fears and learns from her past. Max adds an intriguing, mysterious vibe, playing a key role in Ash’s transformation and personal growth.
I love how the main characters interact—it’s so spot on, packed with humor and passion! They really push each other to open up, trust, and explore their identities. The pacing is just right, with each chapter flowing effortlessly into the next. I was always eager to see what would happen next, and I appreciated how well each chapter wrapped up its own story.
Thank you, Jo, and Happily Booked PR for the gifted copy to read and review.
It is filled with funny moments, and the way it realistically captures the characters' feelings and flaws makes it so fun and relatable. Ash’s journey isn’t just about finding love; it’s also about discovering more about herself as she faces her fears and learns from her past. Max adds an intriguing, mysterious vibe, playing a key role in Ash’s transformation and personal growth.
I love how the main characters interact—it’s so spot on, packed with humor and passion! They really push each other to open up, trust, and explore their identities. The pacing is just right, with each chapter flowing effortlessly into the next. I was always eager to see what would happen next, and I appreciated how well each chapter wrapped up its own story.
Thank you, Jo, and Happily Booked PR for the gifted copy to read and review.
February 17, 2025
This book was a DREAM! Laugh out loud, sexy and so relatable.
The Ex Effect had probably one of the best opening lines I’ve ever read - I started this book almost cry laughing and I knew I was in for a good time.
Our two main characters are reunited after a 13 year period of no contact, they have a lot of history and conflicting feelings about what happened the last time they saw each other.
Max is the definition of a book boyfriend - incredibly hot, flirty and the kind of man who knows exactly what he wants. Some of the stories that Ash hears about him are hilarious (& slightly intriguing) .
I loved hearing the bad experiences Ash had with sex, while some of them were slightly farfetched a lot of them were incredibly relatable and that is something that you don’t see a lot in romance books.
Her friends in this were such a great addition to the story. I really liked hearing the commentary from the whatsapp group, another aspect that made this book hilarious.
My first Jo Watson but it won’t be my last. I would highly recommend!
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.
The Ex Effect had probably one of the best opening lines I’ve ever read - I started this book almost cry laughing and I knew I was in for a good time.
Our two main characters are reunited after a 13 year period of no contact, they have a lot of history and conflicting feelings about what happened the last time they saw each other.
Max is the definition of a book boyfriend - incredibly hot, flirty and the kind of man who knows exactly what he wants. Some of the stories that Ash hears about him are hilarious (& slightly intriguing) .
I loved hearing the bad experiences Ash had with sex, while some of them were slightly farfetched a lot of them were incredibly relatable and that is something that you don’t see a lot in romance books.
Her friends in this were such a great addition to the story. I really liked hearing the commentary from the whatsapp group, another aspect that made this book hilarious.
My first Jo Watson but it won’t be my last. I would highly recommend!
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.
May 11, 2025
I really appreciated the South African imagery in this book and the places that were mentioned. I loved the way the author described the beautiful game lodges and the experiences the characters had at such locations. The close knit friendships Ash had with her circle of confidants was incredible. I also loved the diversity of the characters in the story. However, the plot itself was not for me as I am not a huge fan of the second chance romance troupe or excessive smut. Nevertheless the book was an enjoyable read with cameos from Petal the cat and Lucy the Llama that definitely kept me entertained 😇
June 2, 2025
The Ex Effect is a charming, laugh-out-loud romance that depicts love in the most perfect and realistic light.
A sex curse that manifested thirteen years ago leaves Ash with mortifying lovers and experiences that lead her to believe that sex will never be on the same wavelength as her…
Enter Max. The ‘sex-god’ of the ages 🔥
Ash may have a cure for the one thing that has never been perfect in her life. All it takes is one email.
And one blistering hot individual that sparks the flames in Ash’s life. Sexually and emotionally…
Initially the synopsis brought me to the belief that The Ex Effect was going to drag me to ‘smut-island’ and leave me there in despair as I fought my way through an empty plot and devastatingly under-developed characters 🫣
However, through expressive writing that held immense promise, Jo Watson did bring me to smut-island but did not leave me to fight for my life (thank you 😭) Instead, I was taken aback by her eloquent and descriptive writing that led the plot through hilarious and hysterical moments.
A smile accompanied me through this novel as Ash found herself in precarious, true to South Africa, situations that highlighted her comedic personality and entertaining banter.
I was completely and wholly obsessed. The story of Ash and Max was mesmerizing and so utterly heartwarming that my heart LITERALLY squeezed with emotion. It encapsulated love, friendship and the particles of a true love story that ended up creating one wonderful adventure.
Jo Watson embodied the truest form of love and South African lore in The Ex Effect. Ash was an intricate character of pure complexities while Max was the epitome of green-flag behaviour with desirable traits and a beautiful mind 🥹
In all honesty, reading this novel made my aversion to love a whole lot less and that is all thanks to Jo Watson and her incredible storytelling.
New auto-buy author?
New favourite romance ever?
Yeah…yeah, sign me up…
I recommend The Ex Effect whole-heartedly to those who love Emily Henry and Beth O’Leary. Love has never been this pure, until now… 🩷🦋
Rating: 5/5 💫
A sex curse that manifested thirteen years ago leaves Ash with mortifying lovers and experiences that lead her to believe that sex will never be on the same wavelength as her…
Enter Max. The ‘sex-god’ of the ages 🔥
Ash may have a cure for the one thing that has never been perfect in her life. All it takes is one email.
And one blistering hot individual that sparks the flames in Ash’s life. Sexually and emotionally…
Initially the synopsis brought me to the belief that The Ex Effect was going to drag me to ‘smut-island’ and leave me there in despair as I fought my way through an empty plot and devastatingly under-developed characters 🫣
However, through expressive writing that held immense promise, Jo Watson did bring me to smut-island but did not leave me to fight for my life (thank you 😭) Instead, I was taken aback by her eloquent and descriptive writing that led the plot through hilarious and hysterical moments.
A smile accompanied me through this novel as Ash found herself in precarious, true to South Africa, situations that highlighted her comedic personality and entertaining banter.
I was completely and wholly obsessed. The story of Ash and Max was mesmerizing and so utterly heartwarming that my heart LITERALLY squeezed with emotion. It encapsulated love, friendship and the particles of a true love story that ended up creating one wonderful adventure.
Jo Watson embodied the truest form of love and South African lore in The Ex Effect. Ash was an intricate character of pure complexities while Max was the epitome of green-flag behaviour with desirable traits and a beautiful mind 🥹
In all honesty, reading this novel made my aversion to love a whole lot less and that is all thanks to Jo Watson and her incredible storytelling.
New auto-buy author?
New favourite romance ever?
Yeah…yeah, sign me up…
I recommend The Ex Effect whole-heartedly to those who love Emily Henry and Beth O’Leary. Love has never been this pure, until now… 🩷🦋
Rating: 5/5 💫
May 11, 2025
The book wasn’t quite for me, but there were definitely parts I appreciated. I really enjoyed the main character’s close-knit relationship with her friends—it brought warmth and heart to the story. The book also made me laugh out loud more than once, and the way the author described the places the characters visited was truly vivid—it felt like I was right there with them. Jo Watson did a wonderful job bringing those settings to life, even if the overall story didn’t fully resonate with me.
June 8, 2025
That was so much FUN😍. I couldn’t read this fast enough. I have read a few of Jo’s books and I love her writing style. It is fast, love the banter and even the Llama (which is my favorite animal) and the Dolphin. The tears that flowed was absolutely welcome.
I love the fact that Max knew what he wanted but a bit frustrated that Ash was trying so hard to dismiss her feelings. And I hated the fact that she still went on a date with Sibu, only because Max was already perfect😂
An epilogue from his point of view would’ve been awesome but I loved the fact that he is such a caring and sensitive son to his mom.
I would’ve loved if she had some sort of interaction with her parents as I think her trauma from her sister was also a big factor in her pushing so hard against Max but other than that, this was such a cozy, laugh out loud, red cheeks🌶️ romance that I absolutely enjoyed😉
I love the fact that Max knew what he wanted but a bit frustrated that Ash was trying so hard to dismiss her feelings. And I hated the fact that she still went on a date with Sibu, only because Max was already perfect😂
An epilogue from his point of view would’ve been awesome but I loved the fact that he is such a caring and sensitive son to his mom.
I would’ve loved if she had some sort of interaction with her parents as I think her trauma from her sister was also a big factor in her pushing so hard against Max but other than that, this was such a cozy, laugh out loud, red cheeks🌶️ romance that I absolutely enjoyed😉
February 12, 2025
Jo Watson writes romance and female embarrassment so well! I thoroughly enjoyed The Ex Effect and all the moments between Ash and Max. Such an easy read and was so nice to read a book that’s based in South Africa and Cape Town!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 for Jo Watson!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 for Jo Watson!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews