Shay Goldstein has always wanted to be on radio. Never mind that she doesn't have a voice for radio. She's determined to make it on the air. She's put in the time (ten years), she's the producer of a talk show, and she's got a plan. Until her nemesis derails it. Dominic Yun has worked at her station for four months, and, after graduating from Northwestern with a master's in journalism, is convinced he knows everything about radio.

The banter between the two is legendary, and when Shay proposes a brilliant idea for a talk show run by two exes that dives into relationships, her boss gives her an ultimatum—she and Dominic pretend to be exes and headline the show, or the stations tanks and she gets laid off. The three concoct a plan, and the show is a hit, but the lies—and their undeniable chemistry—is creeping up on them.
Every time I imagined adulthood, it looked different from this reality.

Practically perfect in every way.

I never thought I'd be bowled over by a book about public radio, but holy moly this did. I loved Shay's banter and chemistry with Dominic, and I loved the secondary characters! Ruthie! Paloma! Shay's mom and Phil! Even Adeema and TJ!

Fuck Kent though.

I loved Shay, and I loved that she was slowly realizing that what she thought she desired no longer completely fit—and that she could find happiness slowly but surely. She owned a house because that was her goal before 30, and then she adopts a dog on a whim, and she and the terrifying Steve are on a roll. She's coming to terms with her mom's remarriage ten years after her dad's unexpected death, and the idea that her duo is going to be a squad. On top of that, her best friend/surrogate sister has a chance to pursue her goals, but that dream will take her across the country. Shay was messy, complicated and really, really fucking good at her job, no matter what her misogynistic boss thought.

And I loved how her relationships with her female coworkers went, and how they evolved and figured things out, and their communication.

And I loved her relationship with Dominic, from their banter to their chemistry to their everything. And the Beanie Babies. I will never stop laughing.

Seriously though. Fuck Kent.
But maybe that's what we all are—halfway-broken people searching for things that will smooth our jagged edges.


I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

Super super cute! really liked this one - a fun & original premise. likable characters & I was digging the chemistry! Would definitely recommend to romance fans.

If you want a whip-smart book with blazing hot chemistry, look no further than The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon. This laugh-out-loud funny romantic comedy is a perfect example of how this genre can confront important issues while also creating a swoony and steamy love story. Solomon does an elegant job of handling typical genre tropes in a way that makes them feel fresh, unique, and hilarious. I especially enjoyed the way she subverted fake dating with the fake exes set-up. Workplace romance can be hit or miss for me, but this books did it absolutely PERFECTLY. It’s brilliant, sweet, and full of strong feminist energy.

Synopsis: Shay is a producer with ten years of public radio experience, and Dominic is one year out of his master’s program, determined to be a “serious” radio journalist. When setbacks at their PNW public radio station hint at impending layoffs, Shay spontaneously pitches a show on dating with the twist of it being hosted by two exes. The boss loves the unique idea, bit he insists Shay and Dominic host. A big problem since they’ve never dated, and their professional relationship consists of bickering and low-key hatred. But if they want to keep their jobs, they’ll have to go along with the lie. As the show gets more and more popular, the stakes get higher and steamy attraction sparks between them. If their big deception get discovered, they might lose more than their careers

Review: I LOVED this book. The pacing, the characters, the setting—it was all fantastic. Especially impressive is the was Solomon confronts the misogynistic microaggressions that occur so frequently in the workplace. It was all very relatable. Because I loved this book so much, I’m going to forgo the traditional review style and simply make a list of a bunch of things that made this book excellent.

* The snarky banter—it’s some of the best dialogue I’ve read recently.
* The absolutely brilliant acronym WWAMWMD—and I’m not telling you what this stands for. Buy the darn book.
* Public radio nerd Shay who’s hilarious, smart, and sexy.
* The hot and very tall main dude Dominic who wants to make the world a better place and owns the grand gesture.
* EVERYTHING public radio related including references to Car Talk and Wait,Wait Don’t Tell Me, and a reference to googling ones NPR crushes and the disappointment when their face doesn’t match their voice (Been there, girl!). Just to be clear, you don’t have to love public radio to enjoy this book, but it does enhance the experience.
* The cultural references (Especially those to Buffy)
* The acknowledgement that a bar playing Nickleback is, by definition, a crappy bar.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Berkley, and author Rachel Lynn Solomon for gifting me this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review Review will be posted to instagram @andiewritesandreads and goodreads this week and Amazon on publication day

This was a great book that definitely built momentum as the story progressed. My only only moments that stopped me from 5 stars is the constant mention that she's older. Were the ages reversed, it would've never been mentioned more than twice, at most. Also, this constant "flaw"of falling too quickly is odd, since so much romance writing involves insta- love/ soul mates.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at Seattle Public Radio for ten years, but the fresh out of journalism school Dominic Yum already appears to be a favorite at the radio station. She is annoyed with the attention the new guy fresh from Northwestern is getting. When news hits that the station is struggling, and many will soon be jobless, Shay pitches an idea for a show to her boss. A show hosted by exes, dishing out advice while rehashing their relationship. Station boss likes the idea and puts Shay and Dominic as co-host. Shay sees the show as a huge opportunity in public radio, while Dominic is hesitant, because the show isn’t what he sees for himself as journalism. Dominic eventually agreed, and the show started to gain popularity.

Dominic and Shay spend time working on their show, and time together away from their show. Despite how they initially felt about each other, there is a connection and a relationship develops between Dominic and Shay. As their relationship develops, Shay decided it was best for their show and relationship for them to come clean.. As they were set to come clean about their relationship, everything comes crashing down.

This book was a bit of a surprise for me. I was a bit hesitant to read because I wasn’t intrigued by the premise, but I found that I really liked Shay, and even related to her feelings about working for a place for a long time. Both Shay and Dominic were so likeable it was hard to get angry with them when it was warranted. The dialogue was smooth,, and there were some very relatable moments between the characters and the people in their lives.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a delightful & fun romantic stand alone novel. This is my first-time reading Solomon, and it will not be my last; as I loved The Ex Talk, which turned out to be a fun enjoyable read.
Shay Goldstein, our heroine, has worked as a producer on her Seattle Pacific Public radio station for 10 years. Lately, Shay has been feeling a bit lonely, as her mom is remarrying, and her best friend is possibly moving to Virginia; but most of all, she finds herself annoyed and jealous of a newly hired colleague.

Dominic Yun, our hero, has only been with Pacific Public for three months, and keeps promoting his master’s degree, and how good he is. It doesn’t hurt that he is cute, smart and arrogant. When he manages to interrupt her show with a scoop about the local mayor, Shay is not too happy, but management loves him.

At a team meeting, the boss tells his staff that the numbers are going down and they need some new ideas for the station. Shay throws out a new concept; have a couple that are ex’s and talk about their issues, as well as help others calling in. The boss loves the idea, and later to their surprise, he wants Dominic and Shay to pretend to be ex’s and do the show; since their constant demeaning of each other was perfect (fake enemies to lovers). Neither one of them is interested, until the boss tells them that there will be layoffs all around the station and if they won’t do this, they could be one of the layoffs.

What follows has both of them working together, especially in preparation as to questions about their fake relationship, and to be able to give advice live. Shay at first wasn’t sure about her own voice, which she didn’t like, as she was always behind the scene as the producer, but when they go live that never became an issue. In fact, the show went through the roof, with the show becoming an instant success. Everyone loved them together, with their constant bickering, fun and even sexy comments, as well as giving advice on various subjects. In a short time, Dominic and Shay become closer, helping and learning more about their lives, which begins the start of a slow build romance. I also loved Shay’s weird dog, Steve, who Dominic seemed to be able to handle him well. There were some great secondary characters that were also great; Shay;s mom, her best friend, her assistant, Ruthie, and others from the studio.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon was a fun, feel good story, that was also sexy, flirty and totally enjoyable. When things fall apart at the end, we prayed that somehow Shay and Dominic would stay together. Will they? You need to read the book to find out. As I noted before, this was a fun, delightful story that is not to be missed.

4. 5 Stars

Shay Goldstein has spent the last ten years working at a Seattle public radio station. The only job she has ever had including beginning as an intern, Shay has an even deeper connection to being part of the station family. Shay and her late father were big fans of talk radio so she has some deeply held feelings connected with this job that go back to her early years. Shay also has some intense feelings about the station’s wunderkind, Dominic Yun, who is fresh out of a journalism master’s program and takes every opportunity to remind Shay of his degree. He makes her feel old at 29 and more importantly, Shay wonders if she is becoming obsolete as well when the show that she produces gets the ax.

Dominic and Shay have a prickly relationship at best so when she proposes they do a talk show called The Ex Talk about a couple who broke up but remain friends as well as working together, Dominic is less than thrilled. The program is built on a lie so readers can imagine what kinds of subterfuge is required to make their “relationship” work on and off the air especially after they become a big hit. Shay has always wanted to be on the radio rather than behind the scenes while Dominic considers himself a very serious reporter looking for important stories that matter to the world.

Added to all the angsty mix, it is clear that Shay is very attracted to this man who is five years younger and very inscrutable when it comes to showing his feelings for working with her on the show other than what would seem to be contempt. As Shay and Dominic spend enforced time together, the mood shifts from fake exes to a real relationship that, ironically, must also be keep hidden from the listeners. If their subterfuge is exposed, the house of cards implodes and their careers will be damaged, possibly permanently.

Shay is quite an angst queen who spends a whole lot of time obsessing over her love life or lack there of as well as dealing with some major changes in her family and work. Dominic is still learning how to function in his first job as well as dealing with Shay’s passive aggressive treatment, and eventually, being in a relationship with someone who has a lot more experience in the love arena. Shay’s dry humor and laundry list of neurosis make for an entertaining Women’s Fiction with a slow burn romance. Ms. Solomon spent time working in a public radio station lending an authenticity to the ins and outs and daily rigors of trying to produce worthy programs while keeping the station dependent largely on listener contributions afloat. Fans of her quirky style of storytelling will enjoy this amusing book. (

“But maybe that’s what we all are- halfway broken people searching for things that will smooth our jagged edges.”⁣
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Normally I’m not one for a slow burn, but this slow burn romcom was so good! The characters developed so nicely over the course of the story. The banter between Shay and Dominic was so funny at times.⁣
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Every time they went on the air their constant back and forth had me cracking up. This story briefly discussed grieving- a husband losing his wife and finding new love in a woman who lost her husband, Shay’s mom. Shay getting through the loss of her dad but latching on to men who didn’t love her in return, until she realizes she does this and refuses to get close to men. Dom suffering heartache of his own, from a long term to break, to feeling lonely even while having a big family.⁣
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You would never guess there was an age gap between these two. Dom seemed mature and stable and reliable, he always wanted to communicate, which Shay sometimes refused to do as the older character.⁣
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I also appreciated the culture in this story, Dominic being from a Korean family and Shay being from a Jewish family, and Shay’s moms partner being from a Nigerian family. Shay’s friend Ruthie being bisexual and Paloma being a lesbian. Each character just had a beautiful story in and of themselves, and it made for a really enjoyable read, with a background story on public radio like I’ve not read before.⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
#bookstagram #books #romcom #theextalk #romance #netgalley⁣
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Thank you @netgalley and @berkleyromance for an ARC for an honest review.

Rachel Lynn Solomon has done it again! The Ex Talk was such a fun an refreshing read. Her main characters Shay and Dom were funny and also extremely human. The banter between the two was everything I’ve ever wanted in a romance, and the way they are open and honest with one another made me swoon. Solomon has such a knack for writing books that feel like real life. They are relevant and sweet and they just make you feel good. Another easy 5 stars for this book. Rachel is an auto-buy author me now.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this from @netgalley and @berkleyromance. This comes out on 01/26/21, so you don’t have to wait long to get your hands on it!

Shay has worked her way up to producer after 10 years at a public radio station, and Dominic is new reporter who just graduated from Northwestern with his Masters. Surprisingly, they don’t get along. When Shay pitches an idea for a radio show hosted by exes, Dominic and Shay fake a relationship and a break-up. As their radio show gets more and more popular, their relationship gets more and more real.

I read this after work today - I couldn’t put it down! I highly recommend you pick a copy up.

This was an adorable read with unique content that kept be super engaged throughout the whole story!
The Ex Talk follows Shay, whose dream has always been to be a radio host ever since her late father sparked her love for it as a child. She‘s worked as a producer for a public radio station in Seattle through her 20’s until the unexpected opportunity to host a show comes Shay’s way. The only catch is that her co-host would be Dominic, the new employee straight out of graduate school and the boss’ favorite, who she isn’t exactly fond of. On top of that, the show is about exes, so the two have to pretend to have dated in the past in order to make a believable show out of The Ex Talk for their listeners. Feelings and lies get tangled together in this humorous yet touching book.
The whole premise is kind of a twist on fake dating with a fake breakup with a fake relationship that never actually happened and honestly the whole thing sounds convoluted when I try to explain it but the author made it work so well. I loved this idea and it played out perfectly in the book.
Shay is a likable main character and Dominic is definitely swoon-worthy. I was rooting for their relationship really quickly. I definitely got sucked right into the chemistry. While the romance was a high point of the book and brought a lot of levity, I liked that it touched on some heavy moments that I’m sure a lot of people will connect to.
I legitimately would listen to a show like The Ex Talk. I loved that this story centered around radio/podcast hosts as podcasts have been a lifesaver while staying home more often. Relationship & dating stories are always interesting to hear about so if anyone knows any good dating podcasts let me know!!
The ending was a little rushed for me as all the drama was wrapped up but I did appreciate the last chapter that gave a glimpse of how everything turned out a few months in the future.
The Ex Talk was entertaining and steamy but also discussed serious topics like loss and grief. It focused on love and romance but also looked at the relationships between friends and family. It was a well-rounded story with characters that felt super genuine.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and the author for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review!

My first book of 2021 didn’t disappoint! Rachel Lynn Solomon created a world of well-rounded, relatable, and lovable characters, and a creative premise that I haven’t seen done before. Co-workers turned enemies turned fake exes for a podcast? Yeah, it’s bananas, but it works.

Anyway, my main issue with the book was that we simply didn’t see enough of the actual podcast. I wish we would have gotten more transcripts— there were snippets here and there, but a lot transpired towards the end of the book that simply didn’t make sense because we had very little insight as to what they covered on their podcast. I was highly interested in the podcast aspect of the book but it just felt a little unfinished to me.

Of course, I loved the Jewish rep. And many of the conversations Shay and Dominic had felt very true to life and authentic. 🥰

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

5 NPR Love Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Yes, I admitted it, I love NPR. Listen to it all the time and this book was perfect. It takes an NPR station in the throes of financial issues, meaning jobs will be cut. It has two "talents" who do not get along at all with the experienced and well-qualified woman who has grown up in NPR since high school and the man who, "Thinks" he knows everything there is to know about public radio and loves Mansplaining all about it.

When our gal pitches a show to save her position at the station, the station manager decides great and deems these two should be the players of the show. No choice, other than losing a job.

Great except the show is about a pair of Ex's and talking to others over the air...and these two never were ex's let alone even friends. Doing a show based on a lie is not what either wants to do...but do it they do.

Little did they plan on learning about each other and possibly learning to like or maybe love each other.

I loved this book. The romantic story was great and the two main characters had believable chemistry. I appreciated that Shay was Jewish and she not only celebrated Hanukkah, but also Passover! Jewish representation in books is very important to me. The one issue I had with the Jewish rep was the opportunity to mention that oyster isn't kosher. Shay did not eat the oyster because she doesn't like seafood, but this was a time where the author also could have educated that many Jewish people don't eat oyster due to the kosher laws. Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this title before its publication date.

First of all, I have been meaning to read from Rachel Lynn Solomon for too long and I'm sad that it has taken me so long to pick one of her books up because this .was. everything.

The Ex Talk follows Dominic and Shay, two employees at a public radio stations whose antagonistic working relationship leads to them being co-hosts of a new show where must pretend to be exes and dole out relationship advice. Hate to love, fake dating (and breakup haha), and at one point there is ONLY ONE BED. Be still my heart.

I loved everything about this book. The pace was wonderful, the swoons were plentiful, both Shay and Dominic felt real and relatable. I loved that Shay was a few years older than Dominic as I feel like we don't see that sort of age gap in adult contemporary romcoms. I was just totally in love with this pairing and think this is going to be on everyone's list of favorite 2021 romances!

This book was so much fun! I needed a good romantic comedy to get me through the unpleasantness in the world right now, and this one was perfect.

This smart and sexy romance was one of my top reads in 2020; I can't wait for others to discover it when it's released this year!

...It’s your typical coworkers turned enemies turned fake exes turned cohosts turned real romantic partners kind of love story.

Ha! Actually, it is! And it’s pretty great. And not confusing at all - I promise!

Shay Goldstein, 29, started working as an intern at Pacific Public Radio in college and never left. She loves public radio! Ahem. When The Ex Talk begins, she’s been at PPR for ten years, and is now senior producer for Puget Sound, a daily live show that focuses on longer features, deep dives, human-interest pieces. But lately she’s been frustrated by the newest member of the PPR team, Dominic Yun. Dominic, 25, finished his master’s in journalism at Northwestern shortly before he joined the PPR team as an investigative journalist, and is convinced he knows everything about public radio. Shay isn’t a fan, and their mutual dislike is obvious to everyone around them.

Unfortunately for Shay, shortly after Dominic breaks a big local story that pre-empts her own show, their PPR boss announces cuts at the station. With Puget Sound on the chopping block, Shay pitches The Ex Talk , a dating show hosted by exes. Her boss likes the idea, and then he suggests Shay and Dominic host it. Everyone at PPR knows the two despise each other, and they have the chemistry and experience to pull it off. What's the harm in lying? Um. Well. Moving on.


With their jobs on the line, Shay convinces a reluctant Dominic to give it a try.

The show is an immediate hit with listeners - the only problem? The more time Shay and Dominic spend together, the more they like each other. A lot.

The premise of the story is terrific and the tropes - opposites attract, enemies to lovers, a secret relationship - are The Bomb. Everything about this story works, especially the chemistry between our principal couple - which is off the charts excellent. Dominic and Shay - on paper - appear to have little in common aside from their careers in radio, but once they start co-hosting a radio show and become invested in its success, they discover that isn’t exactly true. And so do we!

Oh reader, it’s lovely watching these two get to know each other via the premise of the show, and it’s a swoony, awkward slow burn as they fall hard for each other. I loved every bit of it - especially the sharp, pitch-perfect, witty dialogue that peppers each and every one of their interactions on-air and off. I highlighted a bunch of conversations - their text exchanges are particularly good - but rather than paste them here, I recommend you discover them for yourself.

Featuring a multicultural and diverse cast of primary and secondary characters, some of my favorite romance tropes, and a principal couple you just can’t help but root for, The Ex Talk is the perfect book binge. Charming and funny and sexy and original, I predict it finds its way onto many Best of lists at the end of 2021. Let’s hope it’s a harbinger of more GREAT ROMANCE NOVELS to come from new-to-me authors.

One quibble, however.

Dominic’s parents own an antique store but his apartment is full of Ikea furniture. Um. Why? His parents don’t have any furniture they can give him? What’s up with that?! This plot detail sort of made me nuts.

I have been a HUGE fan of this author ever since I read Today Tonight Tomorrow and let me tell you...The Ex Talk did not disappoint!

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. Enter Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio. 

With their station struggling to survive, Shay proposes the concept for a new radio show where two exes deliver relationship advice on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic will be the hosts, pretending to be exes since they already despise one another. As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other.

The quick, witty dialogue hooked me from the very beginning! I loved the chemistry between Shay and Dominic and how real the relationship felt. I love that it wasn't cookie cutter perfect like many books portray relationships to be -- this book had a strong "realness" component to it, and I couldn't recommend it more!

I was SOOOO excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! I loved the characters and the premise and was laughing and swooning throughout the whole book.

I mean...

THE NPR LOVE!

THE BANTER!

THE FOREARMS!!

It was steamy and funny and everything I love about romance. Rachel Lynn Solomon is definitely an auto-buy author for me and I highly recommend "The Ex Talk."

*Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book!