Running from the altar in a wedding dress? Not exactly how I pictured my big day. But crashing back into the lives of my ex-best friends? That’s where the real trouble begins.
Colt, Noah, and Logan weren’t just my best friends—they were my whole damn world. Oh, and the ones who got my V-card in one unforgettable night. Then I ran, leaving them behind with nothing but questions and broken trust. When the guys find out I ditched my cheating ex at the altar, they make an they’ll coach me on how to date someone who deserves me.
Logan, with that panty-dropping smirk, gives me lessons on how to use my hips on the dance floor—lessons that end with us tangled in the back of his truck.
Noah, the golden boy single dad with muscles for days, reminds me exactly how his touch can undo me when we’re “building my profile.”
And Colt? Dark, broody, and built like a tank, sets me up on a blind date only to scare the guy so bad he leaves skid marks in the parking lot.
Somewhere between steamy “practice” sessions and the lines we swore we wouldn’t cross, I realize these three men might be the best thing I ever ran from. But when buried truths surface and betrayals cut deep, the question isn’t just whether I’ll stop running—it’s whether my heart can survive staying.
My Ex-Best Friendsis a steamy standalone reverse harem rom-com with laugh-out-loud moments, second chance charm, and spice hotter than a jalapeño. HEA guaranteed!
Hmmmmmm I started out enjoying this book till we got to the third act breakup and started hating it lmao like I’m sorry but Brooke feeling like she was wrong about keeping her trauma (trying not to spoil anything even though it really doesn’t matter) was bullshit. And in my opinion the three idiots should’ve groveled for like four more chapters.
And speaking of the third act breakup, this is a woman that these three ding dongs have been hung up on for ten years, and the man who cheated on her on her wedding day was able to convince them that she was cheating on them???? Make it make sense! Why did they believe him so easily! Trash! This also the same issue I had with the previous book in this series and that book was worse because that woman was fucking assaulted and the men didn’t even as much as give the ex a dirty look.
I also kind of found her mom and aunt annoying but that’s neither here nor there. All in all, a fine book that really did not need to be this dramatic.
I’m always in love with character growth and FMCs learning they deserve better even after making a mistake. Rebel Bloom always delivers. I loved the side characters in this book as much as the main characters. Even though I typically stay away from books that have third act breakup, Bloom makes them worth it with the character’s growth.
My Ex-Best Friends, book 2 of the Ex Marks The Spot series, by Rebel Bloom. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Rebel!
This was such a great book about Brooke, Colt, Logan & Noah! Tropes: Contemporary, Reverse Harem, no MM, Second Chance, Single Dad, Friends to Lovers, Found Family & HEA!
This was more of 3.5 stars for me. It was fast paced. Small town cutesy spicy read. I did like the other book a little more than this one but I did like the crazy mom & aunt duo.
I read one book.... And then was off like a shot.... I read everything available an then had to wait tapping my fingers with impatience for this one..... It was so so so worth the wait... As a loss mama of four I do suggest a trigger warning for pregnancy loss.... Even after years that one can blindside you. Just a thought.
Listen, did I think this book was going to be award winning writing? Decidedly not. Was it still so much worse than I was expecting? It was! It gets a single star for its ability to take me out of reality regardless of how painfully bad the writing (and story if we’re being honest) were.
Relatable sexy AF characters, with unique personalities, adorable quirks, and of course, the one-liners. Even the secondary and tertiary characters are just a riot. I really think that Rebel Bloom is a Master of the well-placed (and well-timed!) side character.
I really felt like I wanted more time with the characters, to get to know them better. I almost felt rushed. Like someone was taking the book away and I HAD TO FINISH IT!!!! LOL 😂 I’d have loved to get a deeper look at the other MMC’s childhood/teen years, and meet their families… And I also wished there were more detailed physical descriptions of all 4 of the MCs, and further, Daisy, Karlene, Sinclair, Kellie, Lucy, and even the tertiary characters.
>>>>>>>> But, it could also be that I’m a greedy cow 🐄 and I just adore the tale… Yeah… That tracks too. ‘Cuz now I’m sad that I can’t spend more time with them in her world. 🤣 <<<<<<<<
That said, I’m probably feeling that way because I ABSOLUTELY LOVED and was SO GRATEFUL for: • how much I FULL-ON, FREAKING ADORE Sin and Kellie • Lucy. I need Lucy in my life. WHERE CAN I FIND ME A LUCY??? • Henry. He’s a saint! • Brooke’s curves. REPRESENTATION MATTERS! • O.👏🏼 M.👏🏼 G.👏🏼 THE.👏🏼 DIRTY.👏🏼 TALK.👏🏼 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😵😵😵😵😵 The dirty talk from all 3 boys, but def THE one (IYKYK) … IT.👏🏼 WAS.👏🏼 LIFE.👏🏼 ALTERING!👏🏼 I LEARNED $H¡T ABOUT MYSELF!!! • Finn’s bull$h¡t not lasting too long in the present day story — though I only wish that KEY detail could have been brought into the story differently, and his presence axed • Other than that, a perfect amount of angst, and even angst that was as funny as it was angering. lol
{{{ #warning #soapboxrant #angst }}}
I like a little bit of angst, or hardship, etc. in my stories, as much as the next bookish peep. Sometimes maybe more than a little! I especially LOVE IT if it’s: • action-packed, • kinda unrealistic • kinda dangerous • ESPECIALLY… 😈 if the villain(s) gets their just desserts. lol 😜
Why? Because: a) it’s makes it more interesting! It draws you into the story, and gives you reasons to be invested in the outcome b) it’s a contemporary tale, so that means it’s KINDA real life, so even “unlikely” angst is gonna be more plausible than perfect sailing. (And omg how boring!) AND… c) it makes the HEA (or HFN) THAT MUCH SWEETER because of the work that the characters put in, and the obstacles they overcome!
You ever read a book and it’s like the author just wrote so much more BS than it needed? And you’re like, OH. MAH. GAWD. JUST. STOP!!!! ✋ Dude, I’m reading this book to ESCAPE my own reality, not just be immersed in a character’s depression! I mean, if you’re gonna keep making me cry, be intentional and use it to further build out your characters, FFS. 🤦🏻♀️
{{{ /end rant /steps off soapbox }}}
Please note: THE ABOVE RANT WAS NOT ABOUT REBEL! LOL 😂
»»» MOVING ON… lol
I have read every single novel of Rebel’s that is available on Kindle… because I LOVE HER STORIES.
But I do have one final thing I want to say… it’s a niggle, a point, not really a complaint, but… a change I’d LOVE to see. And that is that I would love to see more diversity with respect to: • sexual orientation • romantic orientation • gender identity ○ with respect to the above 3 points, that would mean different relationship dynamics, aside from the formulaic 1:3. For ex: 1:3 + 1:1 with 2 of the male characters together as well, etc. • neurodiversity • differently-abled • different family dynamics, ESPECIALLY: ○ intentionally choosing to not have children (NOT DUE TO INFERTILITY or HEREDITY ISSUES, etc, but intentionally choosing to buck the societal view/norm that “all of humanity MUST procreate” — NOTE: that wouldn’t preclude any occurrence of breeding kink 😜😈), or ○ pursuing fostering or adoption, etc. • location (ie, outside the US) • people of colour • immigrants
I passionately adore the reverse harem trope, and I would love for Rebel to explore other types of “different” in the poly relationship dynamic, with respect to those top 3 points. I realise I’m only one reader, but as I mentioned above about loving Brooke’s curves because representation matters, so too does representation matter for ALL of the above points. And I am certain that there are hundreds of your readers — if not thousands — who would appreciate these various forms of representation as well. And, think of how many NEW readers you could gain for the inclusion of that diversity and showing them that their visibility matters too.
That said, I still loved it, Rebel, soooo much.
So THANK YOU, for yet another “un-put-down-able” book. 😜😜😜
Aw man this one was so fun to read!!! I think I had one issue through this whole story and that was the idiocy that the guys showed when Brooke’s ex Finn showed up to talk to them. They didn’t believe him at first and spoke up for her but then all it took was false messages to make them believe she cheated???? Yeah she kept a huge secret from the guys, and she never said it was right, but she did what she thought was best to not break everyone’s hearts like hers was. And for Finn to twist Brooke’s retelling of her miscarriage to he guys like that, is just disgusting. Making it sound like she did it on purpose cause she didn’t want a child with them. And what really pisses me off is when she decided not to run and actually TALK to them about it, they shut her down and kept talking about their breakfast and then told her to leave and never come back. After all the crap they gave her for running the first time. And then to believe she actually cheated on them? I’ve never been so mad on behalf of a fictional character before. I know they were miserable without each other but they should’ve specifically apologized for that moment when she was trying to tell them about Sara. They apologized for not believing her but I wished they would’ve talked more regarding the miscarriage. Brooke deserved better in that moment. I’m glad she had her mother crazy Daisy and her aunt to back her up. They said it best, men are dumb, but I’m glad it worked out in the end.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 this book was incredibly hot 🥵 It was funny, spicy, and such a good romcom read! 10/10 recommend the Ex Marks the Spot series!
This second book in the Ex Marks The Spot series is really good. I thoroughly enjoyed book one. But I think book two is even better. The book just hit my kindle yesterday morning. I got to read a little before work. Then read most of it in the afternoon and evening finishing this morning. It’s been a hot minute since I finished a complete book in 24 hours. 😁. But I just didn’t want to put it down. My Ex Best Friends starts with Brooke catching her fiancé railing her boss. She’s in shock and leaves before they realize she saw them. She lets herself go through the steps of getting ready for the wedding. It’s when she’s standing in the back of the church that she finally wakes up from the shock. She takes off running to her car and burns rubber out of the parking lot. She doesn’t have anywhere to go except home to Beaumont Georgia. She had left there ten years ago. When she stops for gas just outside Beaumont she runs into Logan. He tells her that since a hurricane tore up her other two best friends houses that they all live together. Logan Noah and Cole three men that she ran from a decade ago. Her mom and aunt are both crazy and they embrace it. This story has laugh out loud moments and tearful ones too. The writing is awesome as always. The cast of characters is perfect. I especially loved Lucy. 😁😁. I highly recommend this book. Now I just have to wait for book three. 😁😁
I don’t usually read second chance stories, but this one was okay. I think I’m a little disappointed though. Brooklyn runs away from the altar after seeing her soon to be husband in a compromising position with her boss. She runs back to her hometown and encounters her ex-best friends Colt, Noah and Logan. It started off good! Genuinely I liked the unique side characters! Brooke’s mom and aunt are some interestingly..free women. Coming back after a decade still in her wedding dress and mid breakdown from believing that she didn’t have anything to show for it. Yeah that’s harsh. The story proceeds with the men coming to terms in their own ways with Brooke’s return. Now… what I didn’t like… was when they found out something about Brooke after being harassed by her ex-fiancé, Finn Love, they completely turned their back on her… didn’t listen to her… and I know some things are omitted from stories for the sake of plot and drama… but this was kind of ridiculous to me.. Brooke she said it out loud… and even if they were hurt because they decided to believe that hogwash Finn told them… miscarriages are a thing… idk it just seemed unnecessary and kind of ruined the rest of the book for me.. the groveling was nice I guess, but fell flat for me. All in all not a terrible book, just not the best in my opinion.
2.5/3 Stars - not mad at it, but won't recommend it.
Pros: - Occasionally funny banter, kooky family moments, small town community up in everyone's business, all of who get dragged into said kooky family moments. - Spicy scenes were good in the beginning.
Cons: - The entire book, both the past "event" and present "event" is due to miscommunication or unwillingness to say literally 2 mature sentences to each other. I DESPISE a miscommunication trope. Yet when it comes to FINALLY explain something, there are pages and pages of dialogues. - Spicy scenes become repetitive and don't seem to add to the intimacy for the RH couple. - Mention of a traumatic event is revealed to the guys in the RH, then when everything is done and over, they never mention it again. I won't put in spoilers for that, but just look at the trigger warnings for the book. With how mad the guys are at the FMC, they spend maybe 4 sentences talking about the traumatic event, and when they are all good again, they don't even really on *the event* but rather only apologies for the hurtful things they said. It was all kind of done in poor taste IMHO.
Ick: "Little Bunny" as a normal non-intimate pet name. I cringe thinking about being called "little bunny" in public like it's perfectly normal.
This is not my first Rebel Bloom book. In fact, she wrote another book - Fake and Don't Tell - and it's basically a different version of this one, lol. So if you like this, I recommend that one, because they're almost the same and I have almost the same things to say about them.
Listen, the friends to lovers trope is going to get me every time. I'm a sucker for that one, so a reverse harem where they've all been besties since grade school? Yea, this was almost a sure thing for me. And this one was funny, but also a little too eccentric at points and instead of laughing I rolled my eyes.
This isn't meant to be a masterpiece of literary art. It was written for easy entertainment and that's what I got. Probably things were a little too all over the place and probably the plot was weak, but I knew I what I was getting into here and I wasn't mad.
Overall, this is a funny, spicy, smut over plot read that made my friends-to-lovers trope loving heart happy. I did hate the "little bunny" name though. Gross.
everything was going smoothly and it seemed to be an enjoyable easy book with a good amount of steam. then, the male characters fucked up big time and treated the FMC so terribly and in such a childish arrogant way after discovering that she had miscarried a child that they didn’t know she was pregnant with (and they believed her cheating ex when he told them she had been cheating on them with him, after she literally left him at the altar because he himself was a cheating SOB). i’m talking blaming her for the loss, not asking if she was okay, not bothering to understand, and more so acting like she was literally invisible when she tried to communicate like a functioning adult and admit her mistakes. of course, they were then swiftly forgiven of any wrongdoing in a matter of days after the FMC was encouraged by pretty much everyone to go back to those douchebags instead of telling her to please find someone better. the MMC also had barley a couple of words to give her regarding THEIR CHILD who SHE miscarried ALONE. the fact was then forgotten and they went ahead to have 3 children and marry. good for them, and a pity for her. that’s a mistake you don’t forgive
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is book 2 in Bloom's Ex Marks the Spot series and can be read as a standalone. In the spirit of transparency, this is the first book by Bloom I've read, and I have to say, I don't know where I've been to have missed out on this author and this great contemporary, reverse harem romance! I for sure will be going back to read more and am looking forward to any new books as well. Brook is our main character and after fleeing her wedding and returning to her hometown which she also ran from years ago. Stopping to get gas she comes face to face with Logan who's now living with other besties Noah and Cole. A wonderfully well written and captivating storyline the flows beautifully. Great characters - not just our main characters but I also especially loved Lucy. Bloom delivers a roller coaster of a ride in this book with laughs and tears and a beautiful HEA. Again- I can't wait for more! A great read <3
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another great story. Took me about six hours to read. I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the book. There was cheating, a runaway bride, running into the ex best friends that lead to shock. So much hurt and hatred, love, sadness and then happiness.
Brooke, Noah, Logan and Colt were best friends growing up, before they crossed the line and Brooke freaked and then disappeared for a decade. A cheating financee created the reason for her to become a runaway bride and go back to her hometown to her family and ex-best friends.
What is going to happen between the four of them? Will the guys be able to forgive her for leaving? How does she react to Noah having a daughter? Will she chose just to be with one of them? If so how will she choose? How much trouble will her ex financee cause for the four of them? How does their small town react to the outcome? So many questions and the only way to find the answers is to read this awesome book!
I enjoy all of Rebel's books. In this one, we've got Brroke, who ran from home after losing her v-card to her 3 best friends. 10 years later, on her wedding day, she finds her fiance doing the deed with her boss and hightails it out of there before walking down the aisle. And who does she run into as soon as she's back home, in her dirty dress, mascara running, but her former best friend Logan. Logan, Noah, and Colt all live at the same house, and it turns out Brooke needs a place to stay because her mom really wants to express her sexual freedom ALL over her house, so Brooke can't stay there. Read along as they figure out if they can forgive each other for the pains of the past. I always love a good book with some crazy, in this one it comes in the form of Brooke's sex-crazed mother and maybe-psychic aunt. Love them!
This was another fun and entertaining read by this author but this story really hit me as more realistic in dealing with grief and loss. Brook ends up back in town and runs into her old best friends, Colt, Logan and Noah. These four had a past that scared 18 yr old Brook and she lit out of town. Now back, they all have to reconcile her leaving them and the events that happened to her. I loved her mother and aunt, this books' comedic characters, but all the side characters really added to their story. With groveling, acceptance, forgiveness and hot romance, I'm thrilled to say they did get a fab HEA. Expect to root hard for Brook, though, as her journey is a tough one. I'm definitely on the lookout for the next book in the series :D
Y’all, Rebel had so many emotional ingredients mixed up in this one story, and as always, she got us in ALL the feels 🥹 What do you expect when you’ve got Brooke, a bride running back home after catching her groom cheating before the wedding. Then you add her 3 ex-best friends back home that she ran away from 10 years earlier after losing her v-card to all of them 🤯 What follows afterwards is a story filled with humor, tears, pain, anger, regret, forgiveness, chemistry, romance, hope, passion, and a love story multiplied x 3 & done in a way that only Rebel seems to know how to do. She never fails to take me on such a wild & crazy emotional roller coaster ride, and I always step off wanting to take another ride because they’re always that good 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️
This is book 2 in ex marks the spot but it can be read as stand alone. Really loved that this is what I call a true reverse harem so no sword crossing here. It is all about the girl. I loved the single dad trope here. Ok first things first what do you do if you see your fiancé railing his boss? Well you are preparing for your wedding still in shock but just before walking down the isle you have a wake up call from your brain and run for it. Now with nowhere to go but going to her hometown she runs into Logan and he tells her that because a storm crashed the house that now he, Nash and Cole live together. Brooke previously ran from these guys. Can the guys forgive her from running? What will she do? Choose one or all?
A light read. Good for a slump. These are always something to go back to. Rebels writing has only gotten better with time. I want more spice, but the spice that’s in here is chefs kiss.
Honestly just such a good read❤️
********Spoiler ahead********
I wish that the FMC had more of a back bone when it came to putting the men in their place (the miscarriage comment about it being her fault). I mean, a simple apology and some minor grovel is fine but I wanted her to tear into them, I could’ve used more of an arch about her finding herself (I loved Lucy tho—fave character). Also I wanted more revenge on Finn. Brooke was so whimsy and badass, truly just wish there was less blame.
*Spoilers* I really had a hard time with the end of this book, in fact I just skimmed the last 5% and skipped the epilogue. 3rd act breakups are not my favorite but it wasn’t the breakup in itself that pissed me off. It was the resolution, like the whole town was acting like she was being dramatic and it was the fact that everyone else including the FMC did more to fix the issue than The MCs did. The whole town did more to help her heal from their f*** up. In the end she went to them. The mom was just ugh. The guys should have done more, tbh. They didn’t do much more than give her pretty words. I have a hard time in general with this author’s third act breakups but this was a just unfinishable for me.
This is exactly what I expected it to be when I went for another Rebel Bloom book. I picked this up bc I am reading several fantasy books that are all at a heavier plot point and I wanted something easy and light to counteract that. And ta-da! it met my requirements!
The spice in this one is pretty hot. The MMCs aren’t bad, they are just like, hot, gruff dudes essentially. One is a dad. And that’s that. I like Brooklyn, as far as FMCs go she’s pretty enjoyable and has a bit of depth to her. I enjoyed the OTT ridiculous mom & aunt & small town vibes.
Rebel Bloom is great for when you want to relax and know exactly (almost anyway) what you’re going to read before you read it. And sometimes that’s the vibe I’m looking for!
3.5⭐️ I liked all the things I’ve like with the other books I’ve read by this author. The spice is good, the characters are usually likeable and there is a plot. My biggest complaint is the main drama 3/4 of the way through the book. I believe that the author has tried to express that Brooke is unreliable and that the MMCs are kind of on tenterhooks regarding bringing her back in. But to for them to instantly believe what they did and to act as uncharacteristically as they did seemed off. It wasn’t the lie of omission that bothered me, honestly I don’t blame her for that, it was the other shit that they just … believed. Especially from a known unreliable source who had motives THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF!
Second Chance 3 ½ stars - Brooke returned to their hometown and realized she still loves her best friends. This time she’s older and wiser even if her mom and aunt are still hilariously crazy. Logan, Colt and Noah almost blew their second chance with Brooke. There’s so much drama because of mistrust all due to what happened in high school with the four of them. Naturally, present drama is being caused by past drama that was caused by miscommunication among teenagers. If you like very steamy scenes, you’ll like this book down to the epilogue. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily chose to review it.
I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.
In this book we meet Brooke, Colt, Logan, & Noah. After catching her fiance cheating on her the day of the wedding she decides she is done. She runs from the altar and straight back to the town she ran away from in the first place. Colt, Logan, & Noah watched the only woman they wanted leave their small town. When she comes back they know they are not just standing by again. Can they all find a HEA or will they always worry if they will be left behind?
Another amazing story by this author. I would highly recommend it to anyone.