The thing that initially drew me to The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon was the fact that it was set in the world of public radio about two co-hosts who pretend to be exes, but whoops, they end up falling for each other. If you’re a big time public radio and/or podcast listener, just that element of the story is super fun. They’re selling this one as a rom-com, but it’s really a contemporary romance with a grand gesture.
I LOVED that this hate(ish)-to-love romance tackles issues women in their late 20s/ early 30’s have faced for decades…sexism in the workplace, making your career your life, loneliness in the big city, grief over the loss of a parent (and your other parent re-marrying). If you’re the same age as Shay and Dominic (29 / 24) it’ll be totally relatable. If you’re not, it’s totally relatable.
The romance, once it gets going, is sweet and steamy…and wrapped in that can’t get enough of each other of early relationships. Gah, so good.
As someone who lives in Seattle, I loved the details Rachel brings to the story, all the way down to the Nalley pickle jingle. If you know, you know.
Last thing, while this is a multi-cultural romance (Shay is Jewish, Dominic is Korean American) and their cultures are referenced a few times, they don’t figure into the story in any really significant way.
4 stars
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