Book Review: Exes and O's by Amy Lea
Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
Exes and O’s, Amy Lea’s sophmore novel, is a super cute grumpy x sunshine, very slow burn, roommates x friends to lovers romance. The humor was fabulous. The tension palpable. I loved being back in the world of Crystal and Scott from Set On You. These characters definitely have my heart! Let’s review Amy’s latest story, Exes and O’s.
“The corner of his mouth quirks up when he notices me blatantly ogling him like a tiger awaiting a hunk of raw, bloody meat to be tossed into its enclosure. I think I may have just ovulated.”
About The Book
A romance novel– and love–obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy.
Book Details
Title: Exes and O’s
Author: Amy Lea
Publication Date: January 10, 2022
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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Synopsis
Romance-novel connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men — all of whom dumped her because of her "stage-five clinger" tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.
Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn't his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara's journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.
The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily-ever-after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection?
“His mere presence soothes all my swirling thoughts. Every time he smiles or laughs (or, God forbid, both), I lose all circulation in my limbs.”
The Story
spoiler-free
Tara is on the hunt for true love. Mending her heart after it was broken yet again, she’s finally ready to start the next chapter in her life. It’s time to move on. She’s got a new place, a new roommate, Trevor, and a new perspective, but make no mistake she’s still open to love. And why couldn’t she have a book-worthy second-chance romance? She totally could! So, she decides to revisit her exes of the past to try and rekindle those flames, but in her quest to do so, it’s the guy not on her list that’s got her heart and insides in a tangled mess. But Trevor is a closed-off, habitual-one-night-stander. What could possibly go wrong?
The Characters
Tara, our sunshiney, on the mend, love-obsessed FMC (female main character) who is on the hunt for her true love story.
Trevor, Tara’s new roommate, is a bit grumpy and a little closed-off, but will always have your back.
The Exes of Tara Past are about what you might expect — they are all exes for a reason.
Angie, the mysterious girl in Trevor’s life has Tara on the hunt for his story, too.
There’s also minor appearances by Scott, Crystal, Mel and the family!
Steamometer
❤️ - NICE AND SWEET
💃🏼 - SASSY SPICE
I’d say this story falls between nice and sweet and sassy spice. It’s very slow burn with only a couple of spicy scenes that aren’t very explicit.
For those who are unfamiliar with my Steamometer, check it out below (it’s ever-evolving lol)!
❤️ NICE AND SWEET
💃🏼 SASSY SPICE
🔥 STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
🥵 MY OVARIES ARE BURSTING
🌋 my whole body is on fire and I’m melting
🖤 SMUTASTIC
Overall Thoughts
While I loved the humor, the bookish vibes, all the subtle movie and TV show references, and even Trevor and Tara’s dynamic, I wanted more. More of Tara and Trevor and more of them earlier on. And less of the exes list, I think. I was loving the build up in the first half. But by the halfway point through 75%, I was kind of feeling like when is this going to take off?? When are Tara and Trevor going to have their moment(s)?!
I never really felt like I got to know Trevor. It almost felt like he wasn’t there during the second half. But I think that’s because the attention was put on the exes rather than the development of Trevor and Tara’s connection. I definitely think Trevor’s POV (point of view) would have helped in this case. And it almost started to feel like Tara was looking for love for all the wrong reasons. And that does get addressed later on in the book, but it seemed a little late.
Ultimately, this story fell a little flat for me. I definitely had high hopes, but I love Amy and the world she has created for her characters. And I’m really excited to get Mel’s story next in The Catch!!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
Hopeless romantic
Hot tub nights
Forced proximity
Slow burn (very)
Roommates x friends to lovers
Snarky, exaggerated, self-deprecating humor
Grumpy x sunshine
Thank you to Berkley Romance for my early e-copy and happy pub day!
“He’s not just the hero of my dreams. He’s the hero beyond my wildest imagination. The best part? He’s nonfiction.”
About The Author
About Amy Lea:
Amy Lea is a Canadian bureaucrat by day and contemporary romance author by night (and weekends). She writes laugh out loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, witty banter, mid-2000s pop culture references, and happily ever afters. When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and goldendoodle.
Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter | Website
*Pic and bio Courtesy of author’s website
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I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
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