4.5 🌟

Having really loved You, With a View I was so excited to be approved for a copy of this book too! I’m not a crazy fan of 2nd chance romances, but this one really had me gripped and I kept putting off reading it purely because I didn’t want it to end 🥲

I loved both our MC’s, Georgia is so relatable and I found her hilarious too. Eli of course was swoon-worthy and you could see throughout the whole book how obsessed he was with her even if he wasn’t saying it. I loved watching them build up their friendship again and get each other to open up more and be open to the future, it was great character growth.

One thing I particularly liked was when they had their love confession, and didn’t get together straight away. Like they clearly had a lot of baggage together and of course you’d be worried to start it up again, so I really like that Georgia gave herself time to settle in to Seattle first before going straight back to it. And when they finally got together properly it was SO sweet with the rings and the hidden notes in them - my heart melted.

Overall such a great romance and Jessica Joyce has cemented herself as a favourite romance author for me and I can’t wait to see what else is released after this!

The thing about second chance romance is that needs to be done /just/ right for it be any good. When two people separate but then decide to come back together, they need to have strong motivations to do so, and the reasons for their break up and subsequent make up must make sense. Most romance novels don't get this very basic fact right. A lot of times exes are exes for the sake of being exes. Just a plot device to add angst to the story. Very rarely is it done well. I'm glad to say, this book does it very well. The characters and their actions make sense to me. I understand why they broke up and why they got back together. The way the author made it a point to include detailed flashbacks truly made you see the difference, which was brought very well. A definite must read romance!

The ex vows by Jessica Joyce isn’t just a cute fluffy romance novel that I thought it was, going into the book. The book touched on some serious themes such as anxiety and feeling left behind as you and your friends navigate different stages of adulthood.
This was a second chance romance done right. We saw very detailed flashbacks to get a sense of their relationship in all its stages. We learned why they fell in love and how their relationship fell apart. It was a true case of right person wrong time with Georgia and Eli. In present time, both characters work through everything that went wrong. My favourite part was the inclusion of therapy without any negative comments. Mental health is so important and not talked about enough. We see a character experience an anxiety attack which can help any reader experiencing anxiety feel like they’re not alone.
I don’t have any negative comments about this book. I loved the romance and the plot in the ex vows. For me, everything was done right.

I first read Jessica Joyce with her book You with a View, and fell in love with the story, the characters and the writing. I had read this novel at a time in my life when it resonated with me. The kind of novel that deals with that time of doubt people around their thirties can feel. Exactly my time right now.

The Ex Vows is everything i thought it would be. A heart-warming second chance, where the tension and the longing keeps us in chokehold from start to finish. Georgia and Eli's love shines through in every interaction, every glance, every stolen touch. I felt the same emotions as when I read Happy Place last year, or more recently The Seven Year Slip. The depiction of anxiety, of the pressure we put on ourselves to succeed and be stable, is unmatched.

Even if the breaking point in their separation lies in a lack of communication, it highlights the difficulty of expressing emotions when you don't feel able to accept them. The fear of disturbing, suffocating or depending too much on those close to you. Eli and Georgia were both wrong in their stories, but the way they found each other step by step, until they could be honest and true to each other, was so realistic.

The friendship between Adam, Eli and Georgia was truly the icing on the cake. The three musketeers, the inseparables. This kind of trio is my weakness. I relate too much to this dynamic.

Jessica Joyce becomes one of my autobuy authors and I can’t wait for my physical copy when it comes out, July 16th

wow. wow. wow.
The second chance trope isn't my favourite, especially when it's about a couple that was in a long time relationship. In my opinion, it's often so unrealistic and based on miscommunication. BUT THIS BOOK. WOW. This book describes falling in love and falling in distance in the rarest and most realistic way. It makes sense. My heart broke for Georgia and Eli, two of the most relatable and honest characters ever. It's moving, it's honest and it's spicy!
4.5⭐

When I say i DEVOURED this book, I’m not kidding, I smashed it out in a day. From the first page I completely remembered why I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC via NetGalley, Jessica Joyce’s writing just hits me in the feels, it’s almost like she’s my inner monologue or my subconscious mind. She manages to nail putting feelings and emotions I wouldn’t usually be able to describe, into words that just resonate. This book is the most beautiful, trope littered, slow burn, complex emotion filled , romantic book I’ve read this year. I absolutely adored it and I know that she is going to be an Auto-Buy-Author for me hands down. I flipping loved it!

💍

Oh, I'm sorry, @jessicajoycewrites, but why did you have to destroy me again?!

THIS BOOK. It is PERFECTION. I sniggered, I sighed, I swooned, and I had a literal tear streak down my face, which is a feat I can tell you. I didn't think anything could beat You, With A View, but wow - you got me good 🥹

The Ex Vows is out July 18, 2024, and you do not want to miss this one!

⤵️

Two exes. One wedding.
What could go wrong?

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?

A swoony and steamy second chance romance from the bestselling author of You, with a View.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an early eARC via NetGalley.

This is a second chance romance, following Georgia and Eli, they broke up five years ago after being best friends since childhood and are brought back together to help fix their friend Adam’s wedding.

Georgia was instantly lovable. She resonated with me so much and my heart broke for her thinking she had to make herself smaller to stay in everyone’s lives.

Eli was so wonderful…recognising his mistakes, realising he needed help and taking positive steps to rectify things.

Those paper rings…oh my goodness, so so special and just perfectly perfect!

I loved that they had no option but to deal with their history, all whilst fixing all the wedding disasters that seemed to crop up at every opportunity.

The friendships, between the other characters were so wholeheartedly bone warming and highlighted the changes that everyone goes through when growing up and getting married and settling into adulthood.

This made me laugh and sob in equal parts..I don’t think a book has ever put together the emotions, in the right words, how it feels when you need to be useful to people and not burden them just in case they feel you’re too much for them and don’t want you around anymore…I wasn’t expecting the shock of how hard that hit…But it gives hope that when you find ‘your’ people, they will love you with all the messy parts too..

This is so beautifully written that you could feel all the emotions alongside Georgia.

I loved this so much and can’t wait to have a physical copy for my shelf… 💕

Thank you Penguin Random House, NetGalley and Jessica Joyce for allowing me to read this ARC, it was truly special!

Another Jessica Joyce SMASH. 4.5 stars! Jessica's writing just squeezes my heart and pokes at all my tender, vulnerable bits. The Ex Vows is an angsty, relatable, riveting second-chance romance. I loved the undeniable connection between Georgia (our heart-of-gold, people-pleaser with abandonment issues and a praise kink) and Eli (our anxious, swoony, it's-always-the-quiet-ones, boy). Their story is emotional, messy and hopeful and incredibly romantic, The banter and moments of comic relief had me laughing around the lump in my throat and the ache in my chest.

THE PAPER RING THING?! Just gorgeous.

Romance aside, I challenge anyone to read this and not relate to the upheaval that occurs in your life and relationships during your twenties. When you try to hold on to the people and places you love and that are most important to you, as everyone's goals, responsibilities, priorities and circumstances evolve.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this arc!

Read if you like:
Second chance romance
Holiday venue
Anxiety rep


The first 70% felt like it dragged out way longer than necessary. The relationship lacked any sort of angst or romance, it felt really bland. I just couldn't get invested in this couple. The last 30% was a bit more enjoyable but still not enough romance or grovelling for my liking.

I really wanted to love this one after I loved You, With a View but it just didn't hit the spot for me.

I had heard lots of good things about this book so my expectations were high. However, while the book was enjoyable, it failed to leave a lasting mark on me. I read it and then moved on. The book didn't really offer any surprises to me. It was quite obvious what was going to happen from the start. While at first I found the misfortunes with the wedding amusing, it did get a bit tiring at some point and I found myself wishing that at least something would go right. I did like finding out more about the backstory of Georgia and Eli.
That all being said and while the book had its faults, all-in-all it was an enjoyable read.

The tale of Georgia and Eli teaming up to rescue their best friend's wedding and embarking on various delightful escapades was thoroughly enjoyable. Yet, amidst the fun, it was poignant to witness the unresolved issues they grappled with. The backdrop was undeniably enchanting, though the wedding seemed plagued with misfortune at every turn. Nevertheless, the lighthearted moments served as a respite, diffusing the tension.

This narrative adeptly captured the reality of drifting apart as people mature. It struck a chord with me, observing the characters navigate these changes and the underlying message it conveyed. Love isn't solely about romance; it encompasses the evolution of friendships and the divergent paths we traverse in life. Accepting this reality can be challenging, but the story depicted it in a profoundly relatable manner. The portrayal of Georgia's people-pleasing nature and Eli's apprehensions about the future was exceptionally genuine, fostering a strong connection with the characters.

The author skillfully unveiled the past romance between Eli and Georgia, seamlessly depicting both the tender moments of their love's blossoming and the obstacles they faced as circumstances evolved.

Furthermore, the book delved into mental health and emphasized the significance of communication in relationships, handling the topic with sensitivity. It flawlessly executed the second chance romance trope. Overall, this book was a remarkable read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for approving me for this ARC.

I liked this book a lot and I enjoyed it. There were some typical tropes - one bed - but it was done in a way that didn’t feel too cliche. Because Georgia and Eli are exes, they had lots of lovely sexual tension built up, and when they gave in, it never felt rushed because they had history. There’s spice too in the story, though sometimes I don’t think it necessarily added to the story.

What did annoy me was the extent of the disasters for the upcoming wedding. How can it be that bad? I know everyone was in a panic but some of the decisions made were silly too.

It was a quick read where most of the book spans across a few days. The main characters had some depth but I didn’t care about them that much. I did like that the side characters each had their own personalities so you felt like you got to them a bit as well.

It’s a good book but, ultimately, forgettable. Would I recommend it? Yes, as part of a list of other suggestions.

I’ve rated this 3.5 stars, rounded down.

⭐️If i could give this book infinite stars i would⭐️

Jessica has yet again written a book i am absolutely in love with (not that im surprised because she’s just brilliant). The way Jessica spins words just makes me feel like im watching a movie inside my head and paints such a colourful and vibrant atmosphere.

i can’t even describe how much i love Georgia and Eli, i really related to both of them which is sometimes hard when it comes to romance books because i feel like i always relate to the fmc more but Eli’s struggles with anxiety and Georgias struggles with finding a space where she fits while navigating her late 20’s just felt like i was looking through a mirror.

this book was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2024 and i think it’s just earned reread status (along side beach read and YWAV)

thank you to Jessica Joyce, Netgalley and Random House UK for sending me this arc!

brb going to listen to Paper Rings by Taylor Swift

Such a beautifully written book where the characters felt all too real in the absolute best way. Amazing character development and storytelling. An emotional roller coaster at the end. (Full of happy tears)
Also such a fun storyline with lovable side characters. Full of hilarious banter and fantastic chemistry between the main characters.
I absolutely loved this book.

Whether you’re a fan of second chance romances or not, you absolutely need to get your hands on a copy of The Ex Vows when it comes out.

From the moment I read Jessica Joyce's debut novel, I knew she was an author to keep an eye on. With her debut, she introduced us to her talent for writing romance that not only delivered on the romantic elements, but also with deep emotional themes and flawed yet fully realised characters. Despite it only being her second novel, she goes above and beyond with The Ex Vows.

I was genuinely blown away by this book, and I have no doubt that this book will cement Joyce as a star in the romance genre. I fell so in love with Georgia and Eli’s story and savoured every page. This book was everything I hoped for and exceeded all my expectations. It’s definitely the best romance book I’ve read so far in 2024.

From the compelling plot to the humorous banter to the swoonworthy romance, The Ex Vows has it all. On top of the romance, I loved the witty dialogue and the found family. I also really appreciated the mental health representation, which I found really authentic - especially because the author depicted anxiety in a male character, which I feel isn’t too common.

An easy five stars!

this book was so beautifully written that I’ll never get over it. second chance romance and best friends to lovers are two of my fav tropes and this was absolutely perfect.
I loved the first book from the author but this one right here? It’s absolutely her best one yet. I cried my eyes out but it was so worth it.
Georgia and Eli are perfection and absolutely so meant to be. I love them!! I was truly rooting for them because they deserve the world.
Both characters are extremely relatable to me and I could see a lot of myself in both of them.
I laughed, I cried and I swooned with their story.
This is truly a masterpiece and everyone needs to read it!!!!

pub date is July 16.

thank you Jessica Joyce and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

➳ <b>1 star</b> ✩
⤿ a spoiler free arc review


💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ single pov
⤿ second chance
⤿ friends to lovers
⤿ one bed
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ found family
⤿ anxiety/mental health rep


if you know anything about me, it's that i love a *good* second chance romance. there's just something so beautiful about the heartbreak and angst behind a 'right person, wrong time' scenario that is so painful yet addicting to read. the PAIN, the ANGST!!! it’s truly one of those tropes that you can go your whole life hating but read one beautiful book with the most gorgeous prose and never understand how you could ever hate the premise of “right person, wrong time”. reading this however, i can understand the pure unadulterated rage one can feel. here it was the wrong person, at the wrong time, the whole time. i felt no chemistry between the two characters, and if someone could open the dictionary to find the word “grovelling” and thrust it into eli’s face, i would finally know peace.

every character was so one dimensional i wanted to claw my eyes out with a tablespoon. i wish i was being overdramatic.

you see georgia being this mirrorball, this is me trying people-pleaser BUT THOSE THREE DESCRIPTORS ALL ALLUDE TO THE SAME THING - she was a pushover with no spine who needed to grow up and learn to say no. and to be honest, i wouldn’t even mind all that much if she actually received some character development, where she grew i don’t need to know about how her “secret praise kink purrs” when i know nothing about her life, or her history, or anything truly definitive about her character.

eli was bland. very bland. like this man for sure does not season his chicken. he, without a doubt, eats bland chicken. now i’m slightly hazy about the laws in the us but i’m pretty sure this he could be arrested for cannibalism. i’ll need someone from the states to double check though.

side characters where?? i see nothing and no one. their mutual friend - i think his name was adam(?) - had barely any page time which was odd considering it was his wedding they were saving, and his fiancee/wife who’s name i don’t even remember (tis grace) was also just, <i>there</i>. her super-precious-to-her bff/roommate jamie (who’s name i also forgot) IS NEVER EVEN THERE!! it’s like the author planned a character cast of two then realised that would be too boring so she added in more characters, but kept the boring-ness.

oh and the plot? it was so boring: georgia and eli, childhood friends who have broken up, try to save their friend adam’s wedding after the venue burns down and eventually bang. that is literally it.

the whole inclusion of the "paper rings" plotline/side plot (?) felt very tacky to me, as if it was a way to redeem eli without him actually apologising for anything.

oh the reason why they broke up you ask? he prioritised his job over her. that was it.
so yeah, no real tension, no real stakes and no un-forced chemistry. i hate it here.


thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my *honest* thoughts!

Jessica Joyce did it again!!! Her books are always so well written and beautiful 💞

"When I say I'm still in love with you, I mean the first time I saw you and right now. I mean every second in between.

This book was written so so so beautifully and the story had such a great backstory and I was so immersed with the characters.
I think my favourite part about this book was the found family aspect of it. I absolutely loved how close the characters were. The mental health representation in this book was also done really really well. I felt so connected to Georgia and she's just honestly a very real and relatable character. As someone who is a people pleaser and finds it hard to say 'no', this book really made me feel seen. And Eli is just such a green flag. I doubted him a little in the beginning because I didn't know the reason for their first breakup (it's a second chance romance), but I honestly think they both were always meant to be. They just needed some time to grow and learn about themselves as a person. The ending was absolutely perfect and I'm so glad I read this book.

I love second-chance romances, but usually they're not done very well. Jessica Joyce did an excellent job at writing a perfect second-chance romance. Her writing is just so beautiful, real and raw. It makes you feel all the feelings. This book is not only a very cute, feel-good romance story; it also touches on how it feels to be in your 20s and all the issues that come with that. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the arc!