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A stand-alone prequel novella to More Than Music.

Keyboardist Kyle Cross may look like a bad boy with his tattoos and piercings, but he’s really the good guy who’s always stuck fixing his band’s problems and never gets the girl. His band is competing in a college Battle of the Bands, but when their bassist doesn't show, Kyle must track her down with the help of the person he least expects: his ex-girlfriend Alexis Monroe.

Kyle hasn’t seen Alexis since she dumped him in high school, and she’s dropped her preppy image for fiery red hair and a bold new attitude to match. With only hours before his band goes on stage, Kyle has to be a little bad if he wants to win both the Battle and the girl he's never gotten over. But when their old problems resurface, the good guy might just get his heart broken all over again.

88 pages, ebook

First published October 26, 2014

80 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Briggs

43 books3,016 followers
Elizabeth Briggs is a New York Times and Top 5 Amazon bestselling author of paranormal and fantasy romance featuring twisty plots, plenty of spice, and a guaranteed happy ending. She's a Stage IV cancer warrior who has worked with teens in foster care and volunteered with animal rescue organizations. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter, and a pack of fluffy dogs. Find her online at http://www.elizabethbriggs.com

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5 stars
185 (23%)
4 stars
271 (33%)
3 stars
259 (32%)
2 stars
60 (7%)
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28 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for ~Stéphanie~.
623 reviews361 followers
November 21, 2014
This story takes place before More than Music which is already out since June 2014. It's a small novella about Kyle, Jared's brother and Alexis, his ex he hasn't seen for nearly 3 years.

The story begins with Kyle complaining that him being a nice guy, he never get the girls at the end because girls are looking rather for bad boys, like his brother Jared.

The whole story takes place during an evening where Kyle and his group, the Villains Complex have to play to win a music contest that could move them beyond playing frat house parties. Only there's a small problem, their bassist is missing.

During the evening, he meets Alexis. Their history hasn't ended well since Alexis dropped Kyle before heading to Princeton even if they had promised to stay together. Kyle also believes that social differences separated them and that it's under pressure from Alexis father that she left him.
After their surprise meeting, Kyle will do anything to avoid his ex because he doesn't want to have his heart broken again. Yet Alexis seems very interested in him but he doesn't dare believe it.
Even if I still loved her, I wasn't sure love was enough anymore


As their bassist is still missing, Alexis offers her help.

What I thought about the book.

I enjoyed this very cute story of two people which in fact should never have been separate.
I think this is the problem of the book. The story is rather simple and from the beginning we know what will happen. I find it hard to understand why the author felt the need to make this book after Jared story.
If the goal is to make a book for each member of the group, alright, I love the idea, but then do a real book, not a novella.

For a rockstar story, I expected something more powerful. By his own admission Kyle is too nice, and he'd want to try something else, but never seems to go against his will. Even when he finally decides to kiss Alexis, it's awkwardly done.

So 3 stars because I liked it, the writing was good and I kept turning the pages pretty easily but it was a little too sweet for me.

I think Jared will be more my kind of guy! Because yes, I'll definitely read his story. The guy is an asshole in this novella but you see clearly that there's more to this guy

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Out now:
US: http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Exes-...
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Than-Exe...
FR:http://www.amazon.fr/More-Than-Exes-C...

ARC provided by Victory Editing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Jay.
532 reviews29 followers
August 2, 2015
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publishers

enjoyed this one as much as More Than Music. set prior to MTM, it was nice to get Kyle's story, & see what really happened with Becca causing her to leave the band.

great read!!
Profile Image for Shinjini.
189 reviews83 followers
March 15, 2018
Being in a crime novel/drama spree the last few days, I was in a mood to cleanse my palate. A romance novella seemed like the best bet at the time so I picked this up.

Since this was a random pick, I didn't really read the blurb and I knew nothing about this story. That helped as I didn't have a jaded perspective before reading this.

What I Liked:

1) Length- It was short and a pretty quick read.

2) Setting- It has a musical band setting and is my first book of this kind. I kind of liked it.

3) Ending- The ending brought everything together in a nice way and even though I was having a bit of a hard time in the middle, I liked the way the story finished.

4) Preview- There was a small preview of the next book in the series and I liked it. Would be interested to read it in the future.

What I Didn't Like:

1) Tropes- I'm just annoyed with the Bad Boy Trope, to be honest. Here, the protagonist, who is actually nice, is trying to be a bad boy to be more attractive to women and I just couldn't take it.

2) Character Development- Since this was such a short book, there wasn't much in the way of character development and I didn't get to know much about the characters in it.

Overall, I liked the book so 3 stars it is.
Profile Image for Maria Lynn.
337 reviews145 followers
June 10, 2015
Great intro to the series! I really wish Kyle would’ve had his own full length novel. I wanted way more time with him than the novella allowed for! But I’m happy just to have gotten this brief look into his past. I was instantly intrigued by his good guy persona with bad boy looks, and totally sided with him as far as the undeclared battle of the exes goes.

How could you not want to be with him?! I was convinced Alexis had to be crazy not to want him! But then the whole ugly truth regarding the breakup unfolds while they’re running around town together trying to locate the missing bassist of Villain Complex, so Kyle and his band can compete in the Battle of the Bands. Then you realize there’s more to the story than meets the eye and maybe there’s no need to pick a side ;)

In this awesomely fast paced novella you can expect equal parts of humor, romance, and angst (the good kind) with a totally unique New Adult feel.

I’m sold! Onto the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Lex.
820 reviews145 followers
March 2, 2015
Pretty good and short. It was a heck lot of cheesy too. lol. but it works for Kyle and Alexis (same name as me!)
Profile Image for Kai (CuriousCompass).
652 reviews27 followers
January 3, 2022
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Fun! I feel roughly the same about this prequel as I do the book that it sets up: which is to say that while they're both full of very common new adult romance tropes and genre cliches, they manage to feel fresh and fun instead of derivative or unoriginal.

I absolutely love Kyle and Alexis and honestly wouldn't mind an entire novel about them. Their chemistry, history, and reluctance about their relationship all felt realistic in regards to how guarded they each were, and why.

The passages about music were fun, especially the more relatable one about Kyle editing and mixing stuff in their home studio. As a musician who sometimes writes musician characters, I love details like that. Computer Software and the process of using it to produce music is very stimulating and pleasing to me and is a part of what got me into it. The way each member of the band brings something to the table was great too.

I adored seeing Maddie's cameo as well. This makes me want to read the first book all over again! That said I also love the chemistry between Kyle, Jared, and Hector, as this tightknit band of brothers. I would love to see a novel about the three of them going on a brocation or road trip without their girlfriends, just the boys in the band getting into fun shenanigans and supporting each other. I will die on the hill that Hector is their brother too, even though it's not biological. Love those guys.

A cute, fast, fun first read for 2022! Onwards and upwards.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
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November 10, 2020

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349 reviews179 followers
July 23, 2015
Villians Complex is competing at the college Battle of the Bands and Kyle Cross is nervous as fuck because the bassist of his band is nowhere to be seen. Keyboardist and peacemaker, he knows the best way to get her there is to, you know, actually go get her.

Whom he did not expect to find, however, is his old flame and only love Alexis Monroe. What he also did not expect is for him to need her help to track his bassist down.

Though the story was kind of foreseeable, it was pleasant. There’s some obvious chemistry between Kyle and Alexis since the start and I was kind of anxious to see how that would go down. However, like I said, the entire plotline was glaringly predictable and that made me reduce the stars on this one.

Kyle seemed to be a reasonable character. Although he can be a bit daft sometimes, he’s sure of what he wants—to win the competition, and score some girl while he’s at it. But deep inside of him, he knows that he’s never forgotten Alexis and it seemed to me that he’d almost learnt to live with the pain of losing her. Strong man, this one. Alexis, on the other hand, was this good girl gone bad type and I liked her a lot. She wasn’t afraid of going for what she wanted and somehow, she managed to make Kyle see her side of the story. The only thing I didn’t like about her: the entire fiasco with Alexis’s friend. She said, he said and the entire thing got out of control pretty fast. That too was resolved, though, and reasonably, so I can’t complain too much about it.

All in all, the novella was really cute, a bit predictable—okay, very predictable—and a bit too short for my taste. I haven’t read More Than Music yet so I don’t know how that’ll go but I think I’ll like this Jared guy ☺



*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,254 reviews186 followers
October 26, 2014
3.5 stars

I was offered a copy of More Than Exes for review but I initially hesitated, I wasn't sure I had the time to fit in another review book, but I also thought this came after More Than Music, and was worried I would miss out on something as my memory is kinda hazy. When I looked into it more I realised it was set before More Than Music, but that it was also a short read, one that I could fit in easily between books, after this revelation I quickly got my copy of More than Exes.

More Than Exes follows Jarred, Kyle, and Villain Complex before we meet them in More Than Music. We get to see them as they enter the competition, but also deal with the past, and some current issues.

More Than Exes was a quick read and I really liked getting to see the band before more than music, and seeing what lead them to The Sound. The past that comes back to bite Kyle in the butt wasn't one I expected, and had actually forgotten about this character which made the progress of their 'relationship' even more eventful and surprising. Seeing Jared through his brothers eyes was an enlightening experience, and definitely explains a moment in More Than Music.

I liked getting to see familiar faces from More Than Music, it just added that little bit extra to blend these stories together. The covers for these books are also spectacularly amazing, and I really love how they are so similar, but different in their own way, and you can definitely tell they are part of a series.
My only issue is once I got into the story I wish it could have been longer, even though that completely counteracts my statement above.
Profile Image for Cristina (My Tiny Obsessions).
473 reviews103 followers
December 13, 2015
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I did this all out of order! First I read the second book in the series (More Than Comics), then I jumped to the fourth book (More Than Once), until I finally went back to the prequel. I’m just glad that I finally got around to read it.

From the little we got to see of the band in More Than Comics, I already loved them, but here I really appreciated Kyle for the first time. I absolutely loved him, and man, he was funny! Such a delightful and complex character.

I already knew I would love Briggs’ writing, this was my third book by her after all and I thought the plot was pretty cool too, even if it was short, and I loved Kyle and Alexis’ relationship. When I read the blurb I was expecting it to be more messy, but I loved the reasons of the break up, they felt real, and their process of reuniting was just heart warming.

I’m also kind of glad that I read Becca’s story before this one, because Oh God, Becca in the first 2 books is not nice…

The only thing I kind of missed was the dual POV, but because this was just a novella I didn’t think much was lost because of it. I do wish that Kyle had had his own full length novel though, because he’s such a delight.
Profile Image for Beatrice.
1,255 reviews1,728 followers
July 14, 2015
Sometimes we easily judge bad boys with their looks, like when they have tattoos and piercings. Kyle Cross has that but his personality isn't. He is a good and respectful guy. Sometimes he's awkward, unlike his brother Jared who is confident, bad boy rock star.

Kyle dated girls, but he couldn't get over with his first love, Alexis. They broke up because their worlds won't complement which broke his heart. One day, Alexis returns after to rekindle her relationship with Kyle for the second time around.

The story is a cliché, the characters were likable and we just get a glimpse of their past but there's not much conflict to it. It was an okay read to me since this is a novella. I think it was a great because the writing style was light and easy to read. I might pick the series up.
Profile Image for Riley Edgewood.
Author 8 books165 followers
September 30, 2014
I had the pleasure of reading this novella early and I'm trying my hardest not to stick my tongue out at everyone who didn't. ;) This story? It's steamy and funny and sweet. At first glance, Kyle is a badass rocker (which, he is!) but he's also just... a good guy with a huge heart that's been dented along the way. I loved getting the story from his perspective. And then there's the heart denter, Alexis. Also badass. She's not afraid to go after what she wants, and even if you're not sure she'll get it, you'll root for her the whole ride.
Profile Image for Mandy Saial.
1,155 reviews
December 16, 2015
I did finish the whole short story .It's actually 85 pages on my e reader .
It was a cute second chance romance involving a Rocker ,the girl that got away, His Manwhore of a Brother & Their Band . The story was filled with angst riddled emotion, The characters had some great sexual tension & a few of them get involved in some really great fight scenes.
The only thing I wanted was a longer story ..it felt to rushed out to me , but I know this is a series so maybe their relationship will be revisited .Have to Definitely read the book about his brother , that will be interesting .
Profile Image for Sharon Mariampillai.
2,269 reviews95 followers
February 6, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.75

This was a great read. The story was great and I liked learning more about Kyle, Jared's brother. The story is set before More Than Music. I also liked learning about why Becca left the band. The characters were great and likable. The ending was interesting. I can't wait to More Than Music. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Charity(brazenlybookish).
168 reviews19 followers
February 6, 2021
Rocker Novella Prequel

Rated: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Heat: 🔥🔥 2/5
Angst: 🖤🖤 2/5

I liked this novella, but like most novellas it lacks due to it's size. Understanding that it is a prequel doesn't change my mind on the matter. Some of the best prequels are full length. That being said, what you get for the shortness is pretty good. Kyle sees he ex girlfriend from years back and the feels start rolling. I can appreciate the style of writing and am a rockerstar romance junkie by default, so I'm definitely reading the next two in the series that belong within the the rockstar category.
Profile Image for Janice.
3,076 reviews
December 7, 2017
Kyle's band is in the battle of the bands in LA when he runs into his ex, Alexis who broke up with him 3 years earlier.
Profile Image for Emily.
132 reviews7 followers
March 22, 2018
The book was cute but I’m not really intrigued enough to read the rest if the series
Profile Image for Ashley.
315 reviews16 followers
November 18, 2014
**I received a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.**

Since reading More Than Music I’ve been highly interested in Kyle. He played a fairly heavy role in the first book but to actually learn his story was a much better experience for me. More Than Exes is told entirely from his POV and it was wonderful. There is not enough NA written in just a guy’s POV. It’s really refreshing when I do find one.

More Than Exes is the story of the Battle of The Bands that’s mentioned numerous times in More Than Music. Exes also is the beginning a new chapter for Kyle. While waiting for his band to perform he sees a girl and is attracted to her immediately. What he wasn’t expecting was for that girl to be his ex-girlfriend, Alexis, with an entirely new look.

Second chances and being yourself are the major themes throughout the novella. Kyle goes out of his way to act like Jared, his bad-boy older brother, to be able to be with Alexis and not feel bad about himself later on. But in the end it’s the original Kyle that Alexis has always loved and still loves. It was a hard lesson for Kyle to learn because he almost lost Alexis again. But in the end I feel like it made him a stronger character, that he was able to learn from his mistakes and be happy with himself.

If you enjoyed More Than Music you’ll have no problem enjoying Kyle’s story. More Than Exes is a quick, easy read. There’s little drama and the heat wasn’t too much or too little. Kyle will always be my favorite over Jared but if I’m being completely honest, I cannot wait for More Than Comics and Hector’s story.
Profile Image for Sienna Logan (Lost to Books).
1,064 reviews20 followers
October 17, 2014
More reviews at http://losttobooks.blogspot.com

After being pleasantly surprised by book 1 (More Than Music) earlier this year, I just had to request this from NetGalley. This time I went into reading it knowing the author's style and everything about the band, because this is a prequel, so it didn't surprise me. I knew I'd enjoy it, and that's what happened.

More Than Exes is a short novella that is based around one night before 'The Sound' competition you read about in book 1. I thought it gave a nice, additional scene that explained some of the issues that arise in More Than Music and you learnt more about why the characters became who they are in it. The pacing was good and everything flowed well. It's unusual for me to read a book written solely in the guy's POV, but it worked in this because Kyle is the good guy and a likable character.

Just like any novella, this doesn't go into huge amounts of detail about things, and it is quick. However, I think the author did a good job of including a little of everything. There was a small backstory, drama, romance, and a little tension. The characters were well developed and it leads on into book 1 well.

Overall this was an enjoyable, easy read that was nice to relax with. I'll definitely be looking out for more in this series.
Profile Image for Ashley - Book Labyrinth.
1,251 reviews314 followers
October 27, 2014
I absolutely loved Elizabeth Briggs’ debut, More Than Music , so I jumped at the chance to review its prequel novella, More Than Exes. I was looking forward to reading about Kyle’s romance, and the book did not disappoint. Briggs’ writing style is so addictive! Kyle is this rough looking tattooed rocker with the personality of the sweet boy next door, so it was a lot of fun to hear from his POV.

More Than Exes is a novella, so there's a pretty quick pace to both the general story and the romance, but it’s a pace that fits the situation. Romance wise there's a history between the characters, which automatically makes a fast happening romance more believable. In terms of general pacing I loved how frenetic some parts felt. It really matched the Battle of the Bands scene and the excited crowd atmosphere.

Whether you have or haven’t read More Than Music I definitely recommend you check this one out. If you have read the book it’s a perfect little taste of the characters from a different perspective, and if you haven’t, it’s a perfect introduction. Basically? A very, very cute New Adult novella.
Profile Image for Mika *My Name is Rio Blog*.
32 reviews
November 1, 2014
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

You can also read this review and others on http://mynameisrioblog.com/

Elizabeth Briggs brings us back into the lives of Villain Complex's members in this super hot novella about Kyle, Jared's younger brother.

The reason I enjoyed this novella so much was because it was short and stripped off unnecessary drama. Kyle and Alexis were great characters and I think Elizabeth Briggs did an excellent job layering them in the short length of the story.

The events of the novella take place on one evening when Villain Complex is competing at Battle of the Bands. We see more details about the issues that will trigger Maggie's inclusion in the band in More than Music. In a way, I would have preferred to read this novella first because it kind made me want to read More than Music again. But I won't, lol. Simply because I actually preferred Kyle's story over Jared's. It was more engaging and Alexis was a far better MC than Maddie.

Elizabeth Briggs has quickly become a go-to author for me and I'm looking forward to read Hector's story in More than Comics.

If you're into NA and novels about music in general, I can't recommend this series enough.

Profile Image for Tash.
256 reviews133 followers
November 17, 2014
More Than Exes by Elizabeth Briggs left me in awe of such a beautiful story, yet concise & beautifully written to a tee. I had the please of reading this novella a little before the release date and I was blown away by the charm and heart that the prequel entailed. The story follows Kyle; keyboardist in an upcoming band that captured most of our hearts in More Than Music. This prequel novella takes place in one night, as preparation and playing at Battle of the Bands leads two hearts finding each other again. The novella focuses on Alexis , the ex and Kyle in the short read that was beautifully written, yet had juice and sexy scenes written between the pages. I really enjoyed it, but could only hope it would have been a little longer.
Profile Image for Elodie.
Author 29 books427 followers
November 3, 2014
Such a fun read! I loved getting to know Kyle and Alexis after getting a glimpse of them in MORE THAN MUSIC. If you haven't started this series and you love sexy and fun new adult novels, you NEED to get to it :)

Kyle is not a bad boy and it is such a refreshing character to get to know. Alexis knows what she wants. Their attraction and history makes this novella shine.

The band aspect is entertaining and you can totally feel the music through the pages.

I know I cannot wait to read more!
Profile Image for Emily (Mrs B's Books).
1,731 reviews83 followers
November 23, 2014
**My thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I really loved Elizabeth Briggs first foray into the writing world, and when given a chance to get my hands on a copy of how Kyle and Alexis got together and their past.

Elizabeth has a wonderful writing style that really draws you into the story, making you feel every emotion and living the story as if you too were there with the characters.

I cannot recommend this author enough.
Profile Image for Tori.
2,844 reviews476 followers
November 21, 2014
3.5 Stars

Prequel to Briggs’s More Than Music, this novella focuses on the band’s keyboardist and the girl who broke his heart. Sexy with dashes of humor and angst, the book follows a predictable path as two young lovers reunite amidst the jealousy and insecurity of a new band struggling to make its way to the top. Definite chemistry is felt between our protagonists and I enjoyed the backstage look into the battle of the bands contest.
Profile Image for Katie.
634 reviews168 followers
October 19, 2014
ARC received via NetGalley

This was a great little book. It was written really well and read easily. Although it focused on one character, you got to know a little about the band and other band members-so as a starting point for the series it did good.

The only thing I didn't like was the length of the book. It was too short for my liking. Kyle was a great character and I would have loved for his story to have been longer.
Profile Image for Kazh.
372 reviews41 followers
April 8, 2015
Review to come.
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