Ex v éteru

by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Shay Goldsteinová už deset let pracuje v jedné rozhlasové stanici v Seattlu a nedokáže si představit, že by měla pracovat někde jinde. Poslední dobou se však neustále hádá s novým kolegou Dominikem Yunem, který právě dokončil žurnalistiku na univerzitě a je přesvědčený, že ví všechno nejlíp.

Jejich stanice má však potíže a potřebuje něco nového, aby přitáhla posluchače. Shay dostane nápad a její šéf ho nadšeně přijme. V jejich novém pořadu s názvem Ex v éteru budou dva lidé, kteří spolu v minulosti chodili, rozdávat rady ohledně milostných vztahů. Jejich šéf se rozhodne, že se pro tuto roli nejvíc hodí právě Shay a Dominik, protože se už tak nesnášejí a neustále se pošťuchují. Ani jednomu se moc nelíbí, že budou lidem lhát, ale je to jejich jediná možnost, jak v rozhlase zůstat. Posluchači si pořad rychle zamilují a zanedlouho se z něj stane jeden z nejoblíbenějších v Seattlu, který rychle šplhá i po žebříčcích oblíbených podcastů.

Čím je však pořad populárnější, tím větší je to podvod. Zvlášť když se do sebe Shay a Dominik postupně zamilují. V odvětví, které si tak cení pravdomluvnosti, by je prozrazení mohlo stát víc než jen kariéru.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2021

About the author

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Her books have been translated into more than fifteen languages and optioned for film. Originally from Seattle, she's currently navigating expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she can often be found exploring the city, collecting stationery, and working up the courage to knit her first sweater. Connect with her on Instagram @rlynn_solomon.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hype made me try this one, but I'm sorry to say The Ex Talk was just not my cup of tea.

I'll give some credit where it's due: Solomon writes steamy sex scenes. None of that fade-to-black nonsense. This part of the book was done well, but it was a shame that I never warmed to the main couple - Shay and Dominic - like I was supposed to. I imagine if I'd been madly shipping them that it would have been all the more exciting.

Problem is, this supposedly funny romance was not that funny to me. There was something about the dialogue and jokes here that reminded me of tumblr memes. I know the parts where they're bickering on live radio were probably meant to seem a bit scripted, but their off-the-air chatter felt equally wooden. Jokes ripped from memes, constant pop culture references (Team Angel? Come ooonnn), none of it did much to convince me this was a relationship to become invested in.

Shay herself felt like an internet personality with her "oh shucks, I'm so millennial" quips, gasping at the racism around her that she had "no idea" about, and always apologizing for her whiteness. Once? Maybe a decent ally. More than once? Someone wants a woke sticker.

Outside of this, a couple of things turned me off this relationship. One was the way they started bonding during an "I'm so lonely" pity-party. These are two educated middle-class professionals who are surrounded by caring friends and family. Forgive me if I don't whip out my kleenex just yet.

The other actually baffles me. I don't usually care about age differences, as long as the characters are consenting adults and not, like, boss and employee, so the five year age difference between Shay and Dominic should not have been an issue at all. And it wasn't at first. Then Shay kept going on and on about it until it did start to feel a bit weird.

Suddenly he looks very, very twenty-four.

“Were they even still popular when you were a kid?”

“I can’t believe I was out of college when you were still in high school. Way to make me feel ancient.”
He sits down next to me. “Did you have dial-up? And CDs? What was your CD collection like?”

Way to really drive home the cradle-snatching vibe. Would this have been made into such a big deal if their ages had been reversed? I wonder.

The best bit of this book, without a doubt, is Steve the dog:

On our drive home, Steve vomits in the car carrier. When we get inside, he vomits again on a rug I never really liked, pees on my coffee table, and poops on the living room carpet. If my house felt empty before, now it’s teeming with chaotic energy. I set up his bed in my room, and he humps it for a solid forty-five minutes before finally turning around in a circle four and a half times and curling himself into a tight ball. When I try to get near him, he growls, baring his underbite.
Steve, it turns out, is kind of a hot mess.

Methinks Solomon just might not be for me, unless, that is, Steve gets his own book 😂

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wooooooooooowww! I’m screaming and crying so hard! For long a time I haven’t read it something so addictive, entertaining, smart, adorable! I didn’t want it finish. I wanted to read those smartass banters between MCs forever. I can read a book belong to their podcast episodes. Correction: I can read at least 20 books belongs to Shay and Don’s sexy, tempting, hot as hell, intelligent podcast series.

But unfortunately I stayed up all night and finished this book because I couldn’t put it down. My hands were glued to my e-reader, my mind stuck with those adorable characters and their extremely high chemistry presents you one of the epic enemies to lovers premise.

I kept giggling ( the sound I made was between Exorcist’s Reagan’s wicked voice when she is possessed by demon and morning voice of Fran Drescher before she has her cup of tea) I cannot help myself!

And now i feel so lost, frustrated. It feels like finishing the most adorable dessert at one bit and I want more but I already ate the last piece. So I’m doing something first and I reread some chapters over and over again. Trust me my friends, it’s truly worth it!

Quick summary of the plot lines before giving the entire stars of galaxy to this book ( trust me again, five stars are not enough. This was way too much better than most romance books I’ve read for a long time. It should be prescribed for all hopeless romantics and late night romcom cravers who hate Netflix’s lack of great romance movie lists just like me!)

Shay Goldstein, 29, producer of longtime radio show, working at same place: Seattle Public Radio Station for a decade, feeling lonelier after her mother’s sudden propose to her boyfriend and her best friend’s decision to consider the job opportunity at out of town.

She is also nervous ball because she cannot stand the radio’s new transfer Dominic Yum,24,is fresh off journalism master program.

His cocky smile, intimidating height and know-it-all, arrogant manners as if he can lecture her how to be real reporter for hours make her extremely pissed off.

When the studio looks for a brand new concept to attract more attention, at the brainstorming meeting, Shay pitches “ Ex- Talk” format: two exes will deliver relationship advice by criticizing own past relationship.

As you can imagine Dominic finds the idea illogical. They fight at the meeting which gives their superior the idea to force two of them host the show together because they already act like exes who cannot stand each other. If they don’t accept the opportunity, they may lose their jobs. The station has to let some of its employees go to function properly.

Shay sees this job as an opportunity for her dad’s memory by hosting her own show instead of being a producer and makes peace offer to her nemesis to give it a try for six months.

And as soon as they start their show, the numbers of listeners start to increase! Their fans grow who want them give another chance to their relationship.

What if you start to fall for your fake ex who become your friend, confidante, partner? Yes, Shay cannot help her attraction. The chemistry between them undeniable. But she always the one who declares her love at the relationships. What if her feelings are unrequited?

Overall: “Today Tonight Tomorrow” is my favorite realistic YA/ YA romance of 2020! And maybe it’s too early to announce but I think this book will be my favorite ( at least top three) 2021 adult romance novel.

The characters are so genuine, sweet and adorable. The relationship podcast concept was well worked with impressively catchy, laugh out loud, sexy, creative dialogues. So I’m not only giving entire galaxy stars but also Jupiter and bright side of the moon!

This is definitely one of the best motivational feel-good novel which should be reread many times to brighten your mood, warm your heart, feed your soul with positive energy. Congratulations dear Rachel Lynn Solomon, you did a hell of a job!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book’s review copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I fell in love with it!

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe, at this point, I shouldn't be legally permitted to read romance.

There is clearly some sort of obstacle course or large blockade between my eyes (reading) and my emotional center (where I should feel the effects of the reading, and usually don't). At this point, I probably like 1 in every 10 romances I read.

It's time to do my usual strategy, and blame myself.

I felt NOTHING during this book. The romance was not convincing to me. Also, as a 23 year old, I can barely imagine dating a 24 year old man, and if I were 29 I can only imagine I would feel more intensely. Those are such different life stages. The 24 year old man in question has only ever had one girlfriend!!! And now we're supposed to believe this is end game? I can't. I can't and I won't and I refuse.

These characters were, like, okay, and as a podcast lover I appreciated that aspect of it, but everything else felt like a bit of a snooze to me. ESPECIALLY the background characters. Who even were they??? I do not know.

Bottom line: Let's do the easy thing, say this is my fault, and ignore this review forever, yeah?

---------------
pre-review

god, i'm dead inside.

review to come / 2.5 stars

---------------
tbr review

i heard "for fans of beach read" and i needed no other information

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her local public radio station for nearly a decade. She started just after college and enjoys it so much, she can't imagine working anywhere else.

Dominic Yun is Shay's newest coworker. He's fresh out of a Masters Degree program in Journalism and boy, does he love to talk about it.



Dominic's the current hot-shot at the station that all the higher-ups seem to love, but frankly, his very presence drives Shay a little batty.

Sure, he's good-looking, tall and he smells nice, but why does he have to be so darn condescending?



Pitching ideas to try to boost the ratings of their slightly floundering station, Shay presents an idea for a relationship chat show.

Her concept is that exs would cohost a show, exploring what went wrong in their relationship, tying in other popular dating topics at the same time. To Shay's surprise, her boss okays the project with enthusiasm.



The only catch is that he expects Shay and Dominic to co-host. It's true they've never dated, but there is certainly enough animosity flowing between them to convince people that they have.

Neither of them feels good about deceiving their audience, but they don't have much of a choice. Ultimately, both Shay and Dominic begrudgingly accept the assignment.



They first need to make up an entire story behind their 3-month dating life, memorize it and stick to it. With that comes the opportunity to get to know each other better.

It's no secret that I am a fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon's work.



If I am not mistaken, this book is her debut in the Adult Romance space. I really enjoyed my time with these characters, although I will say they did both act extremely young.

At times, I could have easily been convinced they were in high school interning at a radio station; except then I would be reminded of the fact they both had completed college and had their own apartments. Then, of course, there's the steamy bits.



Those were well done. No further clarification required.

It's true, I enjoyed this so, so much. I loved Shay. I loved Dominic. I loved Shay's adopted dog. There's miscommunication, flirting, workplace debacles and soft, romantic moments. It's just a lot of fun.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.

This story gave me all the feels and I look forward to picking up Solomon's upcoming YA-release, We Can't Keep Meeting Like This.

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

on paper this book should have worked for me

- heroine older than hero
- steamy scenes
- cool podcast premise
- hero NOT a player

but the execution was just okay. i think i would have preferred this had the focus been more on the actual interactions during the show. i was surprised by the choice to have the characters go on a weekend trip mid way through the book. i wanted the development to happen on air and i wanted a liiiittle more tension before they jumped in bed.

and generally speaking, this felt similar in tone to Beach Read. hard to really define beyond being a little more melancholy than i prefer for a “rom com.” i think a LOT of people will ADORE this, and there were definitely sweet spots for me. but overall, nothing memorable.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
I had so much fun with this book. I adored both of these characters so much. We have Shay, who is nearing thirty and feeling like she’s still trying to figure out how to be an adult and she’s been working at this radio station for ten years, and her Dad died when she was a senior in high school. And we have Dominic, who is a bit younger than her, he’s Korean, and he just graduated with a masters degree and is new at their radio station.



This book was so much FUN, it was so flirty and light hearted and cute and it had some steamy scenes too! I ADORED the idea of this show/podcast. The idea of two exes hosting a dating show.. like I’d listen to this if it were a real thing. I love that it had major hate to love vibes because these two don’t get along, and it had the fake dating trope (which is one of my favorites) but with a twist!! Because they have to pretend to be fake exes, which made it even more fun.

I love that this book takes place in Seattle, since I live in Washington it made it all the more enjoyable, it had all the PNW vibes. 🌲 I really felt so much for Shays relationship with her Dad and how he passed away when she was in high school.. their relationship was really touching. I also feel like Shay was just so relatable for me.. the way she always talks about how she feels like she’s trying to be an adult but doesn’t really feel like she’s succeeding and that her life feels like a mess and she thought she’d have it all figured out by now. I’m going through similar feelings and her character made me feel a lot less alone.

These two were just hella cute together, I appreciate that Shay was a bit older than Dominic, it’s so rare to see an older woman in romance books. Their banter was on point and this book just had me smiling and laughing the whole time.

Also I think this Taylor Swift lyric fits this book perfect:
YOUNGER THAN MY EXES BUT HE ACT LIKE SUCH A MAN

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a public radio fan, i give this book two thumbs up.

i totally adore the plot concept. im a sucker for ‘forced proximity’ romance stories, so i was all for the idea of shay and dom faking their relationship (and break up) all for the sake of work. their banter works well with the easy-going writing style and the setting is perfect.

i do wish there was more ‘on air’ time between shay and dom. a few brief episode transcripts are thrown in here and there but, for revolving around a radio show/podcast, there really isnt much to show for it, which is a shame. i also could have done without the loads of pop culture references.

but overall, this is a quirky, light-hearted read. perfect for anyone in the mood for a feel good kind of story.

↠ 4 stars

[EmBibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I came here for a cute romantic comedy that would brighten my mood, but what I got wasn’t cute, romantic, or even slightly funny.

Its just that everything felt so forced. The jokes felt forced and like they were taken from some memes from the internet. Their romance felt so forced and so unnatural. I also didn’t like the fact that they became together after having a pity party. I don’t know I just felt weird seeing them interact. Like okay you both sound so awkward.

I kinda liked Dominic, he was sweet and shy. Shay, on the other hand, was really testing my patience. She was really frustrating and I felt physical pain whenever I read her inner thoughts like please stop. Like you’re supposed to be a thirty years old adult, act like it! The ending was so messy which was kinda expected. What annoyed me is that it wasn’t really satisfying. I wanted the “bad guy” to pay. I mean if you got publicly humiliated because of a sexist selfish jerk, I would’ve loved to watch you get your revenge someway!

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominic Yun, my HEART. This book was so, so special. Another one that was right at the top of my most anticipated 2021 releases, and I am so happy to say that it (mostly) lived up to the hype. Even though I didn't super love that the premise of the book revolves around a podcast that is based entirely on a lie, I grew to love and understand Shay and Dominic so much and was rooting for them SO! HARD! every step of the way. I will say, my biggest issue (and what kept this book from being a full 5 stars), is that I feel like the end of the book just kind of... fell apart? I knew that things would have to get pretty messy for the ending to work in a realistic way, but I feel like it kind of danced around realistic messy into just... straight up mess-messy and it just wasn't exactly the ending that I was hoping for. With all that being said, I did still really enjoy this book and I cannot wait to read new books from Rachel Lynn Solomon for the rest of my life. SO CUTE. SO FUN.

TW: death of a loved one

Buddy read with Joce <3

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

Man, this worked so well for me. It’s great that authors can more or less get into your heads and create characters from your thoughts and make them horribly relatable. My heart was so full!

I loved Shay. I loved Dominic. I loved the side characters, the dialogue, the radio/podcast segments and how much it made me root for this story, in general.

And I’m also starting to realise how much I love a podcast element to stories. Storytelling in all kinds of different art forms I love.

I hope Rachel Lynn Solomon continues to write more contemporary, adult romances.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The hate to love romance, the podcast & NPR elements, the face that it was set in the Pacific Northwest. It was adorable. I have read all 3 of Rachel Lynn Soloman's YA books before and loved them so I'm excited to see her foray into the adult romance genre.
Already I can tell this will make it on my favorite romance reads at the end of the year!

[Nikola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mega dobrze się bawiłam.
Trochę kliszowa, ale jednocześnie wspaniała rozrywka z ciekawymi bohaterami.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what happens when you're forced to work with your nemesis and then find out, he's not as bad as you thought he was?

The perfect recipe for a great work romance novel!

Shay Goldstein has spent the last decade as the producer of a radio show. She is content to work behind the scenes since she doesn't believe she has the voice to be on the radio. Her dad and Shay spent many days playing at having their own talk show and despite the years he has been gone, she still misses him dearly. When he died, working at the radio was the one thing that helped her get out of bed every day.

In regards to her personal life, she's currently unattached. Her mom is about to get married and her best friend is thinking of moving away. She's stressed with these changes. Then, she learns that the station might have to let people go. They need a new show to bring in listeners.

Shay pitches an idea at the next work meeting. How about exes working together and talking about relationship issues? Her boss loves the idea and when he sees her bickering with Dominic Yun, who has a master's in journalism, he decides to pair them as the hostesses of the new show.

It all begins with a lie, but soon Shay and Dominic realize they have chemistry and a shared attraction but can things work out for them?

The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn was a sweet story with the perfect balance of romance and drama. Engaging characters and a perfect blend of diversity and inclusion.

And I have to agree with Shay, forearms can be sexy.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This was an absolute joy from cover to cover.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer for Pacific Public radio for 10 years. Dominic Yun is a new hire, with a master’s in journalism, he thinks he knows everything about public radio. Naturally, this rubs Shay the wrong way. During a staff meeting Shay throws out an idea for a new show - a show where ex's give relationship advice. Their boss loves the idea. He also thinks Shay and Dominic would be perfect together on the air, posing as exes. They have been bickering and sparing back and forth and everyone can feel their chemistry. What perfect duo for being co-hosts for "The Ex Talk."

So, what happens when they pose as ex's? Will they be able to pull it off? Will their show be a hit? Will they fool their fans? What happens when these so-called exes begin to fall for each other?

This was a fun, flirty, sexy and smart book. The two main characters have a witty repartee both on the air and off. They are funny, sharp, likeable and intelligent. This is not your average workplace romance, its brilliant, rewarding and fun! Just what I needed.

When I requested this book, I was intrigued by the synopsis. A workplace romance set in a public radio station, hmmm interesting.... I was sure I was going to enjoy it, but this exceeded my expectations.

Well written, well thought out, perfectly paced and thankfully, the ending was not rushed. I enjoy romance books but cannot stand the rushed fast endings. This once fell into place beautifully. It is not rushed; it is not ridiculous, and it put a big smile on my face. This is ROMCOM at it's best!


Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Goldstein has dreamed of being on public radio her whole life. To follow in her late father’s footsteps. But despite years of dedication and sacrifice, finds herself on the other side of the booth producing rather than presenting.

When younger male hotshot Dominic Yun is instead presented the opportunity to sit in front of the microphone, Shay is absolutely dumbstruck. She has been passed over once again.

But maybe Karma is intervening. When the station becomes mired in financial trouble, they desperately need a Hail Mary to bring back listeners and revitalize the failing radio station. Well, well, well…Shay seizes this unexpected gift and concocts a brilliant plan! Ok, maybe not so brilliant... but it’s sure to work, right...!?💁🏻‍♀️

A new talk show featuring two former lovers dispensing relationship advice. Now Shay finds herself in front of the microphone with none other than young Dominic. Did they date in the past you ask? Well no. Are they truly ex’s? Well once again the answer would have to be no. But as long as no one finds out and they rescue the station it’s just a harmless little white-lie. So… we’ll need everyone to 🤫

This was a cute rom-com that had a fabulous premise. The characters on their own were a bit lacking for me but the chemistry between Shay and Dominic more than made up for it.

A rom-com weekend buddy read with Susanne!

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fun rom-com with laughs, likable characters, some depth, and some serious heat 🔥🔥 ...look no further!

Shay Goldstein has worked for Pacific Public Radio for the past decade, currently producing a show called Puget Sounds. She absolutely loves her job, even if she doesn’t always care for her colleagues. Enter Dominic Yun, an eager beaver who just completed a journalism master’s program and is working at the station. Shay and Dominic do not get along at all.

When the station’s higher ups ask for new show concepts, Shay comes up with The Ex Talk - a show where two exes will examine their former relationship and answer advice on air. Who do they decide on to host the show? Shay and Dominic. They hate each other and bicker constantly, so of course they can be pretend to be exes.

As the show becomes successful, Shay and Dominic realize they like spending time with each other, and there is strong chemistry. Will starting a relationship with each other and continuing to lie to the public ruin their show?

I have to say I really loved this book. I found it charming, with some moments hilarious...and other moments that go a bit deeper than most rom-coms. Talk about chemistry! Shay and Dominic have it in spades. They kept me glued and transfixed just like Maddie and David used to do on Moonlighting. Luckily, the chemistry never fizzles out here, and the serious heat made me OMG gasp and need water on a couple occasions. It does go into “Rated R” territory, so reader beware. ⚠️

Shay and Dominic are fully fleshed out, and the side characters are all pretty amazing as well. I really cared for all of them. I also appreciate that the author created a highly diverse cast from all walks of life. It was pretty phenomenal. This was such a joy to read, and I highly recommend. It’s adorbs!

4.5 stars. Available now from Berkley.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

[mina reads™️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Ex Talk is an interesting twist on the fake dating trope as we follow two co-workers, Dominic and Shay, who don't like each other but have to pretend to be exes for the sake of a new segment they're starting on their radio show. I will admit that Dominic and Shay's banter was quite fun, the writing was really easy to get into and I had an enjoyable time with the story but I have to say that Shay's character left alot to be desired. In the beginning of the story she absolutely hates Dominic and it seemed so unfounded and throughout the story she just had this lingering bitterness about her that was, in all honesty, unpleasant to read about, she's very human and I'm sure relatable to alot of people (particularly millenial white women) but personally I found her grating at times. Also, although I found her and Dominic entertaining I can't say I was 100% rooting for their relationship. It was a decent story but not my favorite romance.

2.5 stars

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Ex Talk" by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a sweet-sexy-hot Rom-Com!

Shay Goldstein isn't new to Pacific Public Radio in Seattle but Dominic Yun is! Shay's been a producer at PPR for 10 years. Dominic is the newest hire, has a masters degree in journalism and knows everything about public radio. EVERYTHING! Ask him, he'll tell you!

Dominic rubs Shay in all the wrong ways! The way he leans in a doorway, the way he dresses, the way he pushes his sleeves up to his elbow and exposes his forearms. Doesn't he understand how sexy forearms are? Why does she find him so attractive?

At a weekly staff meeting, Shay pitches a new concept where a couple, no longer dating, co-hosts a live advise show. Her boss loves the idea and decides Shay and Dominic should co-host. They already dislike each other so they fit perfectly as the 'ex-couple'!

There are problems though! Neither Shay nor Dominic wants to live a lie. They've never dated each other! Plus, Dominic has a touch of stage freight and Shay's voice may not be right for radio. But, the station is struggling, so it's either the show or unemployment. The deception win's and The Ex Talk begins!

The Ex Talk becomes an instant radio and podcast hit! Shay and Dominic are ecstatic and their working relationship flourishes. Outside of work things begin to ramp up, their mutual attraction is obvious to both of them, everything becomes.....significantly hotter!

It was complicated within their original deception and now they are a couple with two secrets to hide. What will happen if the original secret and their current relationship are discovered? What will it do to their fan base and their reputations in radio? The threat of discovery is real!

I loved these characters. All of them, even Shay's boss! He's so despicably misogynous! An absolutely perfect love-to-hate character! The family aspect of this book is touching. It covers different types of family and the relationships within family. The multicultural aspect was a favorite topic for me because that's what my family looks like!

In spite of being a Rom-Com, the topics are heavy in this book. At the same time they are handled in caring and realistic ways. Loss of a spouse and a parent, a second marriage and the blending of families, sexism in the workplace, dealing with integrity and deception, and the importance of forgiveness!

My heart is full, heavy and happy from reading this sweetly told story and I enjoyed the lessons it unfolds within its covers!

4.5 stars rounded up for the serious topics it covers, especially the inclusion of multicultural relationships and diversity within family! I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Goodreads and Berkley Publishing Group for a free e-copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Mary Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRULY a fun little delight! Reading The Ex Talk made me feel the exact same way that watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days / 13 Going on 30 makes me feel.

This is romcom material - there are moments of substance, but it’s never heavy; there are two spicy scenes, but they don’t overpower the verbal chemistry of the main characters; there are mishaps and miscommunications that don’t feel contrived or easily avoided; there’s an easy villain…

I really enjoyed this book and I WISH it was a movie.

Controversial opinion maybe, but this book gave me everything that Beach Read did not, while feeling remarkably similar. This book is what Beach Read set out to be.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW for grief and loss of a loved one

When I picked up this audiobook, it was just the romance I needed at the time and I ended up absolutely loving it! Shay has always dreamed about working in radio ever since she was a little girl and would listen to NPR with her dad. Her dad passed away when she was 18 and Shay took it hard, but she ended up working in radio and loves her job. Except for the new hire, Dominic. He walks around like he owns the place and the boss loves him. When Shay's job is at risk, she proposes a new show about exes talking about romance and relationships, and their boss decides Shay and Dominic need to pretend to be exes and run the show. So they do. The more time they spend together, the more they start falling for each other. I loved how adorable Shay and Dominic were together and their banter was great. They have to spend more time together to get to know each other so they can be authentic exes and the trip they took together was just the best. I loved how they were forced to spend time together and it was so cute how they started to like each other, but they didn't want to jeopardize their jobs. There's a smaller age gape between them, but the heroine is older, which I ended up enjoying. I also ended up really loving Dominic's character and the scene where Shay visits his parents. This book was just filled with so many cute moments and I loved how it revolved around a radio show. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also published on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Desperate times call for Extremely Desperate Measures!

That means Faking It.

Shay Goldstein and Dominic Yun work at Pacific Public Radio. Shay has been a Producer for 10 years, and Dominic is a Journalist. When news that their station is about to go under hits, Shay comes up with an idea for a new show she refers to as “The Ex Talk.” Ex’s who are now friends and give relationship advice on air. Her boss however, has an even better idea. Since Shay and Dominic don’t get along but have insane chemistry he thinks they should pose as Ex’s on air and co-host the show together.

Faking a relationship and a break up just for a Radio Show? Let the games begin!

What starts off as a job, of course becomes something else entirely when the Sparks Fly between these two!

Sassy, sexy and full of witty banter, this rom com, made me laugh and smile. It also dealt with a few serious issues which gave me pause. While I enjoyed this book, I do wish that Shay had been portrayed as a stronger more self-assured woman from the very beginning as I feel it would have lent to the strength of the novel and I would have enjoyed it a tad more. All in all however, this was a fun sweet read that kept me entertained.

3.65 stars.

Another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley and Rachel Lynn Soloman for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter on 1.31.21.

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have such mixed feelings about this 😭 it was cute & all but i just didn’t feel any connection or chemistry between shay & dominic. i also sort of slowly lost interest throughout the book and everyone pissed me off at least once.

i did have fun reading it tho <3

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, was I invested in this! I adore Dom and Shay so much!! I wasn’t expecting this to be top tier romance but it’s up there now!

[Rincey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty rude of Solomon to just put my thoughts in a book for the entire world to read

[Talkincloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5. Bardzo fajna, bawiłem się wyśmienicie. Bez krindżu. Doceniam reprezentację POC i nieheteronormatywne postacie drugoplanowe.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 1 out of 5]

Title: The Ex Talk
Series: Standalone
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Release date: January 26, 2020
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: contemporary romance

I really wanted to love this book and based on the rave reviews I thought my odds were promising. Unfortunately I struggled to find things I even liked about it, let alone loved. The fake relationship trope is common in romance and has worked for me on occasion in the past. In this case the way it was applied in the plot was gross-irredeemably gross. The story centers around a radio show producer (Shay) and an investigative journalist (Dominic) who are offered a job co-hosting a new show all about dating. Pretty standard fare. Except these two co-hosts are exes giving relationship advice. Great twist if it were real, but it's a complete and utter sham.

Dominic is a journalist (with a master's degree!) described as having "do-gooder morals." On his very first job, he's convinced to chuck his integrity aside for a paycheck. The idea of making up a fake relationship, invented dates, details, and all to sell to their unsuspecting listeners as truth doesn't sit well with him, but hey, it's only for six months so they can get hosting experience. Where's the harm, amiright? The alternative would be getting fired and struggling until he found something else. He is fresh out of school (with a master's degree!) so his resume is sadly lacking. Clearly passing off a fabricated broken relationship in which he is forced to spin a tornado of lies every day is preferable. I have to give him credit-he did say no at first. It took a little cajoling from Shay to get him on board. During this time, they both knew that there would be imminent layoffs, most notably the woman Shay worked with for the last ten years. Did Shay give this woman or her other co-workers a warning that they were about to get the axe?

Kent breaks the news to Paloma, Ruthie, and Griffin on Monday, and I pretend I’m hearing it for the first time.

Yet again, more than a little deceptive and she doesn't have a twinge of conscience. Both Shay and Dominic feel ashamed about their fake show so they lie to their families as well. Anytime you can't even tell your family the truth about your life, you know you're making the wrong choices. So they start the show, and the author presents the on-air scenes as "transcripts" of their dialogue. I thought this was a unique way to insert it, as if you're reading a script. Then again, it IS scripted. Even their argumentative dynamic. You see, in the beginning of the book their biting exchanges were real because Shay resented his meteoric success at the station. By the time they aired their first show, they were already friendly with one another. So literally nothing about The Ex Talk was real. This is how they introduced their story to listeners:

Shay Goldstein: [...]I'm Shay Goldstein, and this is The Ex Talk, a brand-new show from Pacific Public Radio. Thanks for joining us. We're coming to you live from Seattle, or if you're listening by podcast, somewhere in the somewhat recent past. Full honesty:[...]I've been a producer at the station for ten years, and Dominic's been working as a reporter since October. Which is around the time we started dating. And earlier this year, we broke up.

The show screams unethical, but based on the rave reviews I guess that's not an issue for others. As the book wears on, Shay's guilty conscience bites her in the ass. These moments are brief and quickly brushed aside with flimsy justifications.

This is only how it begins, I try to convince myself. We’re telling a story. That’s what radio is. The show will grow beyond our story—it has to. It’s the only way I can stomach our lie.

Shay has started to feel attraction towards Dominic (who has a master's degree!) Are you wondering why I'm being annoying about his degree? On the show, they do a "fun" game where Dominic has to put five dollars in a jar every time he mentions his lofty Northwestern master's degree. He ends up owing $25 by the end of the first week. This is even with him resisting other employees trying to bait him into saying it. Eventually he racks up enough to write a donation check to Illinois University. Is there anything more obnoxious than someone with no humility who needs to brag about their higher education 5+ times a week? That's just unbelievably tacky. I'm not kidding, he even mentions it during their first sex scene.

Once Shay and Dominic really start to have strong feelings for each other, Shay is torn on what to do. Her friend suggests that they pretend they "got back together" so they can have an open relationship.

“The whole point of the show is that we used to date, and that our breakup was amicable enough for us to host it together. “So maybe you got back together.” Lies on top of lies. “It wouldn’t work,” I say. “You know how I get in relationships. How much of a nightmare would it be if I somehow fell for him, and he didn’t feel the same way, and we were stuck still hosting the show together?”

So let me get this straight. If they were to announce their true feelings for one another...they might break up...and have to do the show together...as exes. ISN'T THAT THE ACTUAL PREMISE OF THE SHOW? *throws hands up in the air* It gets more and more fake the deeper you delve into this.

More cringeworthiness: One day a listener calls in and he's done some social media investigating. Turns out that Shay made a mistake and left a clue on Facebook that she was using a dating app when she was supposed to have been with Dominic. What follows is unapologetic, self-righteous, gaslighting to shut the caller up.

“Look, John,” Dominic says. “You can find any piece of someone’s social media history and use it to prove whatever agenda you have. We’ve seen it happen plenty of times to people with much more at stake than Shay and me. We’re not here to convince you if you’ve already made up your mind about us. I can tell you I didn’t go to journalism school to tell lies on the radio.”

Maybe he didn't go to school to tell lies, but he's sure doing a bang up job of it.

Eventually the s@#t hits the fan, and the two are outed at a convention. Panic ensues, and Shay scrambles to pacify the outraged fans. Unfortunately she's so scared about the fall out of her decisions, that she's more concerned with (in her words) "controlling the narrative" rather than letting the duped fans vent their feelings of betrayal. Lastly, I can't wrap this up without mentioning the weird scene where Shay and her soon to be step-sister Diana are wildly inappropriate in front of Diana's kids.

“But was he a huge dick where it mattered?” “Diana!” Phil says from one end of the table. “Your father is here. And there are children present.” “Dad. I have, in fact, had sex before.” She gestures to her kids. “Exactly twice.” More laughter at this.

DID HE HAVE A BIG DICK? DID HE KNOW HOW TO USE IT? *wink wink* Kids! don't play with your food, eat your vegetables. Dad, don't be so uptight. I don't mind visualizing you having sex and you're behind the times if my sexual appetites make you uncomfortable. That's pretty much how that conversation went...seems totally normal.

The resolution is rom-com standard fare. The big, romantic, public apology/profession of feelings/groveling. Kiss, kiss. Happily ever after. I was so disgusted by these characters that I didn't care what happened to them at this point. How do you like characters that are willing to lie to family, co-workers, and the audience who trusts them for months on end? This is a sad commentary on how journalistic integrity is malleable when it's up against the mighty dollar and clicks online. But in the end, the boss was villainized for being sexist so we should focus on that, and not the bad choices the main characters made for the entire book. He was the true bad guy here. I think it's obvious by now that this is not something I particularly enjoyed reading, but I am in the minority by far. So you'll probably want to read it and judge for yourself. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and regretfully this time it's going to be a loss.

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[Alex.andthebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

To było cudowne — zabawne, mądre, urocze. Miałam dwa zgrzyty przy spicy scenach (słowa), ale mogę wybaczyć! Jestem na podobnym etapie życiowym wraz z Dominiciem, więc książka bliska mojemu sercu.

[Maria Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

TENGO PENDIENTES DE MIS PENDIENTES!

Si esta frase te suena de algo, te voy a dar tres consejos para que puedas escaquearte de leer esta divertida comedia romántica!

1. SI TE VAN LOS K-DRAMA O LOS COREANOS, ni te pares a mirar esta novela, porque irremediablemente querrás saber quién es Dominic Yun🔥!
2. Y SI ADEMÁS LO TUYO ES UN BUEN ENEMIES TO LOVERS, ponte a cantar Los pajaritos o la Macarena🐤! Cualquier cosa que te impida pensar en un Dominic Yun muy provocador o en una Shay Goldstein decidida a todo!
3. PERO SI ENCIMA TE APASIONAN LAS COMEDIAS ROMÁNTICAS, solo te queda una solución: hazte la muerta🥴! Así, tal cual, cuando veas este libro tírate al suelo y pon cara de cadáver. (Ahora, recuerda que hay amigas con cierto grado de maldad que te abanicarán con este libro para que reacciones🤭Así que ni se te ocurra abrir los ojos!)

Pero si después de poner en práctica todos estos consejos, ves que la tentación sigue ahí, pues cae🔥! Después de todo, un Dominic Yun y una Shay Goldstein solo se disfrutan una vez en la vida❤️!

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fake dating Romance book. I have to say I saw so many mixed reviews about this book. When I first saw the book I wanted to read it, and then I decided not to read it...But I forgot I had ordered the book. I am so glad I ending up picking it up. I did really enjoy this book because the two main characters where so fun and everything I love about this book. I also love that one of the side story was that Shay was dealing with a boss that does not treat women the same as men, but I hate she did not stand up for herself. I think her character could not stand up for herself because she needed to find herself. I found this a book that was a cute fake date to lovers story, but I can see where this book would not be for everyone.

[Ali Hazelwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo… today is a very special day, because THE EX TALK comes out. I have read it, and if you are a fan of romcoms, or romance, or excellent writing—basically, if you enjoy anything that’s good in life, I can guarantee that you are going to LOVE it, and therefore you should read it too