I read this right as the ARCs were sent out more than two months ago. Unfortunately, I didn't take any notes so my review will be brief.
I enjoy Cathy Yardley's books and this series has worked great for me. I have to say this one is not my favourite of them all.
I did like the tension and the romantic plot of two former lovers coming back together. I was excited for the STEM heroine but the whole hacking/computer stuff was not as good as I hoped it would be.
Interesting family dynamics but I found the romance ultimately forgettable.
Loved the cameos of the couples from the previous two books - felt real and I loved catching up on their lives.
Overall, this is not a bad installment in the series but the first two books worked better for me.

We have seen glimpses of Vinh and Emily through the other books, and their story always intrigued me. I wanted to know what happened all those years ago between the two of them because I could tell that they still were connected, still loved one another. When Vinh is placed on "leave" from work, he returns to Ponto Beach, not only to connect with his sister and friends, but to enlist the help of Emily. He needs a hacker to save his job and she is the best one around.
Emily isn't happy seeing Vinh again, especially after he decimated her heart, but she can tell that he is in some serious trouble. He is willing to do almost anything to get her help, and she is going to capitalize on that. She just has to guard her heart, refer to the reasons why being with Vinh would be disastrous, and make sure she doesn't fall again.
Vinh has never, ever wanted anything more than he wants Emily, and if one day she ever finds a way to forgive him, he will show her just how sorry he is. Maybe the time is now.
I really, really love this series. I love the Nerd Herd and I love the friendships they have with each other. These are true and genuine people with genuine problems.
Thank you to Montlake, Cathy Yardley and Netgalley for an early copy.

Charming, sweet and sassy, Ex Appeal is a fun and lighthearted read.

With an engaging plotline, great characters and palpable chemistry, this second chance story is chock full of smart banter, geeky references and laughs. Add in some exotic animals, nerdy tech-talk and snark and by the power of friendship, I pronounce this book a pleasant surprise.

4 stars and a boa constrictor

Right off the bat, this book completely grabbed my attention. I had such a hard time putting it down.

I have thoroughly loved this series, the Nerd Herd definitely has a piece of my heart. I’ve been waiting for Vinh and Emily’s book for what seems like forever, and it totally lived up to my expectations!

I loved the fact that Emily is a hacker, and Vinh’s job so very unique. Their second chance romance, has plenty of steam and spice. Emily’s growth in this book, standing up for herself especially, had me cheering. I’m really glad we got to see multiple characters getting redeemed in this book.

This book is the third in the series, and could be read as a standalone, but I would definitely recommend reading in order to get to know the many side characters this book has.

Vinh needs help. And the only help he can get is from his high school sweetheart, turned enemy, Emily. When Vinh needs an expert computer hacker to help him get out of a tricky situation at work, he knows who to call, and she doesn’t want to pick up the phone. Reeling from their past, these two have a lot to work out before they can finally be in the same room together in the present day. But Vinh needs Emily, and Emily needs money so it’s time to figure out what these two can do when they are back together in the same room.

Another series that I ended up reading backwards so I actually started with this one before reading the other two! I loved how cute this one was. A girl after my own stubborn heart with Emily, but I love how she slowly let her walls down with Vinh. I also loved the history that they had and that they FINALLY were able to open up to each other about what happened. Of course, with a delightful and predictable happily ever after!

Cute but slow, this book is a second chance romance between Vinh and Emily, who were high school to college sweethearts (at least for part of the first year). I like how honest the two were, taking ownership of their roles in the breakup. I also like the little mystery interspersed in this story- Vinh is being framed for money going missing and Emily, a hacker, is tasked with trying to help him find it. The rest of the characters were fun and sweet, well written and interesting. I love the Nerd Herd!

Overall, a slow start leads to a sweet and amusing read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early read.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This was a sweet second-chance romance but it didn't stand out in any way. It was too much angst regarding their past and in a romance I want more angst regarding the future instead of the past :)

3 Stars Ex Appeal by Cathy Yardley is a sweet, albeit predictable, second chance rom com. Vinh returns home to California ten years after he broke up with his high school sweetheart, Emily, to ask for her help. A financial consultant, someone stole $10 million from one of his clients and tried to pin it on him. Emily, a hacker, is struggling to make ends meet and can’t pass up Vinh’s lucrative offer, even if it means seeing the man who broke her heart.

I love second chance romances and this one hit all the right notes. It was fairly predictable, especially their reconciliation and who ended up trying to frame Vinh. I still enjoyed the story and would recommend it.

Loved this series! Ex Appeal is a great end to the Nerd Herd of Ponto Beach. I especially loved this one because I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. I need more people to read this series!

This is the perfect second chance romance. Estranged exes Vinh and Emily who didn’t exactly have an amicable break up are brought back together when Vinh had a situation at work that only Emily can help him with.

I love how we see them going from perhaps hating one another to becoming friends again. Fabulous book!

A second chance romance, gentleman in distress, found family, a pet snake with asthma, and a love to fight for.

Vinh and Emily used to date but broke up 10 years ago for complicated reasons. In present day Vinh works for a high profile consulting firm in NYC, living a lonely life of eating sleeping and working an ungodly amount. Emily still lives in SoCal, trying to make ends meet and paying the debts her late father left her with. When Vinh has a 10 million dollar problem at work, and is put on leave, he can only think of one person who can help him clear his name, Emily. Can they overcome their baggage, heal old wounds, and find a way back to each other romantically?

This book was outrageous in the best way. The found family of the Nerd Heard is so comforting. Emily being a badass and not falling for money being thrown at her. I just had so much fun reading this.

I love a good second chance romance and this one delivered! It took me a minute to get hooked but I found myself getting more and more invested by the chapter and was totally hooked before I even knew it! I'll definitely pick up the earlier books of the series!

I really enjoyed this story filled with all the best storylines like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, overbearing family members, and evil corporations. I’d guessed early on whom the bad guy was who was wrecking our hero’s career, but it was interesting to see how it played out. My only complaint was the graphic sex scenes, as I feel the book would’ve flowed better had they been closed door, but otherwise a very good story

It took me a while to finish this book, not only because I barely had time to read but also because I just wasn‘t as into the story. It‘s a cute little romance but nothing special. It‘s the kind of book that I read and I know in a months time I probably don‘t remember what‘s it really about other than that it‘s a second chance romance. I personally didn‘t really care for either of the main characters.

Vinh is a high-flyer, a fixer, wedded to his job. Unfortunately his job doesn't feel the same way and he's facing career ruin through somebody setting him up. He needs a hacker to help clear his name, but the only one he knows is his ex, Emily. And after the way he broke up with her years ago, she wants nothing to do with him.

This is part of a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to enjoy this one. (I am, however, planning to check them out.) I appreciated the way the story developed - Emily's initial reactions to Vinh particularly, because who wouldn't want to take the chance to put him through the wringer, just a little? - and how the two main characters are depicted: not living the lives they really want to, beholden to family expectations, and still with so much chemistry between them. Add in a realistic supporting cast, a bit of a heist, and a snake called Herman, and this was a great read.

A fun read! The writing style was good and it was easy to connect with the characters. Definitely recommend!

This second-chance enemies-to-lovers romance tells the story of Emily (former upper middle class darling hacker whose father died, leaving her to drop out of school to take care of her family) and Vinh (a quiet, hard-working man who becomes a colder and more cutthroat fixer when life throws the worst of challenges at him); these two fell in love in high school but 10 years later Emily hates him for breaking up with her during one of the worst moments of her life. All is not what it seems as the break up didn’t happen without reason and they both had some growing up to do. So can time and a (second) reunion (due to fixer Vinh needing hacker Emily’s help) give Emily the perspective she needs and Vinh the courage he needs to take a leap of faith? Two flawed characters that were lovable in their way and who both owned up to their own mistakes with some steamy scenes along the way. This was a quick and fun read and it was a delight to see characters (the nerd herd) from previous books!

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC.

I didn't know this book was part of a series since it can Stand alone. its a witty second chance romance that was a fast and entertaining read. The premise lured me in and overall it was a fun read. Not the best read I've had this year but certainly enjoyable

Thank you to Montlake & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Vinh & Emily were high school / college sweethearts until Vinh dumped Emily out of the blue. A decade has passed when they are reunited at their school reunion, with Vinh in need of Emily’s hacking assistance.

Working in close proximity inevitably leads to the emergence of unresolved issues between the pair, giving them the opportunity to start over.

This book was incredibly easy to read and I really enjoyed the concept and writing style. The author managed to create an almost immersive dynamic within the friend group.

I really enjoyed how both Vinh & Emily had to overcome their own issues regarding their families and jobs before finally coming together at the end of the book. It’s always refreshing to see characters thriving independent of the other love interest and getting to decide their future.

Overall, this book was a page-turner and I definitely want to read the previous books in the Ponto Beach series!

The Ponto Beach Reunion series have been some of my favorite books ever! You don’t have to read them in order because they are all standalone but since the first book I have craved Emily and Vinh’s story! You could tell there was a deep history there and still a deep love!!

These two exes haven’t seen each other in almost 10 yrs! The pain that their last encounter caused is still there! A pain that seats through Emily when she sees the man who let her go! But when Vinh’s life turns upside down there is only one person who can help him and he will do what he can to make it happen!

Thrown together again Emily and Vinh find themselves finally having to hash it all out! With their love still intact both will have to find a way to heal the past and navigate their future!!

This book was everything I thought it would be and MORE! I was dying for this book and now that I have read it I want to reread all over again because I just can’t get enough of these characters! The nerd hers is my happy place! Characters I never knew I needed! Yardley has done the most amazing job creating characters that you can’t help but relate to and love!!