De facto 3.5 ⭐️ because this was better than Happy Place, in my opinion, but otherwise, I’m pretty meh about it. I was expecting something filled with so much second-chance tension, only to get a couple that was barely together for two years before they broke up and then nearly immediately fell back into bed together with no fireworks or drama.

I think the flurry of information/flashbacks to their past relationship we got at 85-90% would’ve been better nearer the start of the book because I should’ve been given more reason to care about their relationship having fallen apart in the past.

I did appreciate that Eli had been working on himself & improving his internal issues when it came to feeling like he always had to be striving toward some very stressful professional goal to be "enough". But I didn't think Georgia underwent any personal growth or development. And then, as previously mentioned, since we did not see a lot of them being "together" in the past, I simply wasn't given enough reasons for me to want them to get back together.

This was my second read from Jessica Joyce and they both contained a lot of “No Communication” trope, which I’ve decided I do not like. So it’s definitely a case of these stories not being for me.

I loved this so much, like truly this was outstanding!! It’s been so long since a book gripped me like this, I actually felt a little emotionally exhausted after reading it because the way the author writes is so amazing that it makes you feel like you’re actually there, living all this with the characters!

I can’t thank @aliciasallbookedup enough as I’d had this on my kindle for a little while and then I saw her review about how much she loved it (her reviews and recommendations are so so good) that it encouraged me to start reading it right away and I’m so happy I did!!

If you’re looking for a second chance that is done to perfection then this one’s for you!!

From the blurb -
Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora broke up five years ago so they’re definitely over each other… right?

When they’re thrown together at their best friend’s wedding, sparks fly – quite literally when the venue burns down a week before the big day. Now, it’s up to Georgia and Eli to get everything back on track.

As they rush to put on the perfect wedding, old feelings start to resurface. And now there’s only one bed…

Jumping back in is terrifying, but this time will love be worth the risk?

*ARC from NetGalley ✨

4.5 stars!

That was quite possibly the best ending I’ve ever read in a romance. SWOON.

I appreciated the growth both leads had throughout the book, and while I usually prefer second chance romances to have past and present chapters, I was satisfied with the amount of glimpses into the past which made it work.

One of my favourite authors delivers a fresh take on second-chance romance. This story is a wonderful mix of heartache, humour, and hope, all wrapped up in Joyce’s sparkling writing style. It’s a book that feels like a warm hug while keeping you on your toes with unexpected twists.

The novel follows two exes, Georgia and Eli, brought together for a wedding. This setup could have felt cliché, but Jessica breathes new life into the trope. The tension between the two is evident, their chemistry electric, and their shared history is unpacked in a way that makes you root for them from the get-go.

Jessica absolutely excels at creating characters who feel achingly real. Georgia’s emotional journey is compelling and relatable, while Eli is just the right mix of flawed and swoon-worthy. Their banter is sharp, often laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s the quieter moments that truly shine, revealing layers of vulnerability and depth.

Beyond the romance, the book explores themes of forgiveness, growth, and learning to let go of the past. The balance between light-hearted scenes and emotional depth is expertly handled, making this a story that resonates on multiple levels.

If you’re a fan of witty, heartfelt romances with a dose of nostalgia and plenty of laughs, this book will not disappoint. Anything written by Jessica will never disappoint. In my opinion, it is the perfect read as it is fun, emotional, and utterly satisfying.

I loved this one, Jessica has a way of writing that just warms the heart. This was a cute, funny read. All the characters were likeable and I found myself rooting for them all. The disasters from the “curse” were hilariously done and I loved that it all came together in the end.

I am becoming such a. fan of Jessica Joyce! I haven't read enough romances with the ex trope to know how I truly feel about it, but all I do know is that I was a massive fan of it in this, and couldn't wait for them to work through their problems and get back together!

Jessica Joyce simply doesn't miss. I'd read anything she published! This is the ultimate second-chance romance. Big emotions, big tension, satisfying spice. Feel so lucky to have read this early!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

book: the ex vows
author: jessica joyce

if you love paper rings by taylor swift, READ THIS BOOK! this is an absolutely perfect romance book which i had been anticipating all year and it did not disappoint, it is one of my favourite second chance romances that i have ever read 🥹

my favourite thing about jessica’s writing is that it felt so REAL… georgia and eli had such incredible chemistry and both felt so human that at times i felt like i was reading a real story. the anxiety rep was incredible in my eyes, and i can’t wait to dive back into another one of her books, i haven’t read “you with a view” yet, so that one is high on my TBR!

read if you love:
🧡 second chance romance
🧡 forced proximity
🧡 found family
🧡 anxiety rep
🧡 pining
🧡 cute nicknames

(thank you so much to @penguinukbooks and @netgalley for the EARC! 🫶🏻)

(i’ve been so sick lately so i’m trying to catch up on my reviews, i’m so sorry that they are so late!)

🩵

Joyce has delivered such a delightful rom-com here! Imagine two exes, messy past unresolved, suddenly thrown back together in close quarters. Sparks fly, old feelings resurface, and it’s hilarious to watch them try to keep things “strictly business” (spoiler: they don’t).

The banter is on point, making it so easy to root for them as they wrestle with both their differences and undeniable chemistry. Joyce captures all those complicated emotions that come with second chances—awkwardness, old wounds, and that glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could get it right this time.

It’s got heart, humor, and all the romance feels you’d want in a second-chance story. Perfect for fans of witty, feel-good reads that remind you love is anything but simple!

Stop it, THE CHEMISTRYYYYY!! This was my first Jessic Joyce book but damn, it definitely won't be my last. As a self proclaimed romance connoisseur I can definitely say that this was one of my favourite reads of the year. It's so refreshing to read a romance novel that not only has incredible characters, but is also realistic.

This book cemented Jessica Joyce as one of my favourite romance authors in the current market! I loved Georgia and Eli, and the ending made me actually cry.
Georgia's anxiety and people-pleasing tendencies are so realistically captured, and Jessica Joyce treats this so sensitively as an author. The cast of secondary characters was so lovely, and I can't think of a single character I disliked. Just like You, With A View, this will be a romcom I return to again and again.

This is one of my top reads of the year so far!

I loved everything about this and I cannot wait for Jessica to release more books!

The main characters were both great, the chemistry and development between them both had me hooked. The setting of the book was also a bonus!

Oh I really enjoyed this one, which was a huge surprise to me because second chance romances are jot my usual go-to. But again, Jessica Joyce just knows how to write a good, enticing, heartfelt book!

Eli, the paper rings? Such a sweetheart. Georgia, the constant need to fix things and be there for your people so they don't leave you behind, is such a relatable characteristic for me.

I loved all of the characters, even the side characters were so relatable! The friend group they had was so heart warming. I had to laugh at all the things that went wrong for the wedding though, I think I'd start believing I was cursed after all of that!

5 stars, 10/10, highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

anything jessica writes, i will be reading. this is so wholesome and i loved every second. the covers of her books never miss and i cannot wait for more of her work to come.

i can’t believe i have only just got round to reading this!
what a great story, beautifully written with characters that you want to get to know more.
would be a great holiday read to lose yourself in

I loved the book! It was by first book by the author en don’t be the last! The characters were really relatable, the chemistry was amazing! I had a good time reading it! Highly recommended 😍

that was messy in every way possible. the messiness IS the plot. Georgia and Eli are both messy individually and as a couple.

Adam, their mutual best friend, is getting married in less than 2 weeks but the wedding prep so far is a myriad of disasters. literally nothing went right. the peak is when their supposedly wedding venue caught on fire so they need to find a new venue and basically starting the ceremony-related prep from scratch. being the good best friends, at the same time Georgia and Eli volunteered to help fix things on the new venue and Adam was thrilled so they couldn't refuse even if that meant they have to work together and help each other after they had a messy broken up 5 years ago. and because they came to meet every vendor together, those vendors always assumed that they're the ones who's getting married. and they're too tired to correct them.

so in short, this book is about wedding prep simulation between a couple of exes in less than 2 weeks.

when the book started, it's already full of history since Georgia and Eli met at high school, became best friends with Adam, turned into a couple, then turned into strangers after they break up but still putting on "we're okay" act whenever they're around Adam.

when the roots of their break up 5 years ago, i was a little frustrated because they were just only 23!!! SO young!!! very understandable that they didn't have their shits together. i didn't really care about he wedding prep stuff. it's really messy to the point that it's unbelievable. but the last chapters, when Georgia and Eli finally TALK, really touched my heart. i wept a little.

I really enjoyed this book. Jessica Joyce is a fantastic author at writing second-chance romance. I loved Eli and Georgia. I did feel at times the characters were a little repetitive in what they were doing and saying. It was full of angst, it was messy yet it was beautiful. Messy and beautiful are always a great read.

thanks to netgalley, Jessica Joyce and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

I absolutely adored You, With a View so I was so excited to read this one!

And it didn't disappoint. I loved the main characters of Eli and Georgia and how their relationship played out as the book went on.
I will say that I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. If it had been as strong all the way through it would definitely have been a 5 star! But the miscommunication and intensity in the second half was a bit much for me, Georgia was getting a bit repetitive with what she was saying with regards to their relationship and I think a lot of it could have been cut back... having said that though, still a solid 4 stars!

The side characters were brilliant and really brought together the themes of friendship and they all had such fun personalities. I'm not always a huge fan of the second chance romance trope, but I really enjoyed it in this one.

I loved the concept of the wedding 'curse' and they way this brought the main characters together, it was so entertaining reading about how they found their way around all these different challenges.

Jessica Joyce's writing is really great, she is clearly a very talented author! And I will look forward to what she brings out next!

The romance in this book was my favourite aspect. Given its second-chance nature, it had a challenging task, but it truly delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their relationship. My favourite scene was when Eli wrote down 212 things he liked about her. I was also captivated by the subtle touches, the meaningful glances they shared, and how their relationship evolved and ultimately came together.

The author built a strong foundation for their relationship, making their breakup feel incredibly real. The way everything was communicated was exceptionally well done, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

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