Exes and O's

Starred review from November 28, 2022
A romance-obsessed social media star refuses to give up on her own happily ever after in Lea’s captivating second Influencer rom-com (after Set on You). Bookstagrammer Tara Li Chen is “trash for a second-chance reunion trope,” especially after witnessing the real-life rekindling of her Grandma Flo’s love for a childhood sweetheart. So Tara decides to date her exes—all but her recent ex-fiancé—in hopes of finding her own second-chance romance. The experiment goes as hilariously badly as readers will expect, and Tara realizes she may be giving off “crazy ex-girlfriend” vibes. Meanwhile, her new roommate, Trevor Metcalfe, has a very different view of relationships—i.e, avoiding them at all costs and bringing home a different woman every night. He can’t help but be sucked into Tara’s chaotic love life, however, offering much-needed advice and a shoulder to cry on. Their developing friendship is one of the book’s chief joys, with Lea making their dynamic feel tender, fun, and entirely believable. Then Trevor appears in one of Tara’s livestreams, leading her followers to instantly start rooting for a relationship (or “room-ance”) between them. The resulting romance is as sensitive and swoony as it is self-aware, playfully engaging popular romance tropes. This is a winner. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary.

Starred review from March 1, 2023

Tara Chen may work as a NICU nurse, but her true passion is love. As an aspiring romance reviewer and influencer, Tara knows every trope and has an ex for each, from opposites-attract to the-one-that-got-away. She's certain that happily-ever-after lies with one of these former flames, but setting her sights on second-chance romance may have blinded her to the forced-proximity friends-to-lovers potential of her foxy firefighter flatmate, Trevor. Though their introduction was less "meet cute" and more coitus interruptus, can Tara and Trevor push past the tropes to their own happy ending? Lea (Set on You) crafts a clever contemporary romance with this second installment in her "Influencer" series. Narrator Natalie Naudus seamlessly shifts from sarcastic and silly to sultry and sensual. Her playful performance creates an engaging listening experience and gives unique voices to the diverse and well-developed cast of characters. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a fast-paced roommates rom-com that is sexy and sweet. Recommended for fans of Alisha Rai, Andie J. Christopher, and Helen Hoang.--Lauren Hackert

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