This was a nice, sweet, uplifting read with some lovely feel good moments. I so loved all the references to Bookstagram, the fact that Tara was such an avid reader was such a great touch and her grandma having her own crocheting insta was adorable! Trevor was definitely book boyfriend material with being a fireman and the tattoos but I’m not sure if this was meant to be a grumpy/sunshine trope because I certainly wouldn’t say he was grumpy just a commitment phobe. When he showed up at that restaurant though, that was the best part of the book, just so cute, what a gent! I can’t say I I was overly invested in Tara’s character, she actually annoyed me at points in the book and I found her a bit pathetic. When she took Daniel to the Valentines Ball I just cringed, I think I lost all respect for her at that point. Overall though I would recommend this book, it’s a sweet slow burn which you could read in one sitting.

As Amy Lea’s second book, I really enjoyed Exes and O’s. I gave it 4/5 stars and a solid 8.5/10 rating.

Tara Chen, sister of Crystal Chen from Set on You, is finally getting her life back together after the breakup with her fiancé (who she still works with 😬).

She moves into a new apartment for a fresh start where she meets the hot, playboy roommate, Trevor Metcalfe, doing hot, playboy things. Oh, did I mention he’s also a firefighter?! 🔥 As an avid romance reader and book content creator, she’s set out to find her second-chance romance and document it for the world to see, because who doesn’t love a second-chance romance?! She slowly becomes best friends with Trevor, while he also helps her connect with her exes and pick up the pieces from the aftermath of an epic fail of a date with her exes.

I loved that this book didn’t jump straight into the main character and love interest’s romance and there was actually a storyline. Roommates with benefits would be a sticky plot to begin with so I did appreciate that. However, I do feel like we got to see more of Tara and less of Trevor because of this. We didn’t really hear about Trevor at work, I was waiting for the firefighter content!! Also because it’s written in Tara’s POV only, we weren’t able to read what Trevor was feeling whenever Tara had a date with her exes (I want the jealousy!!)

The steamy scenes were everything and so I was not disappointed in that area! But if miscommunication is not something you like, this turning point might may slightly vex you, it gets resolved quickly but it could have been avoided.

The book overall had some great, memorable scenes like the cuddling up on the couch and watching The Bachelor together?! Or the cozying up and reading side by side - it was quite literally a romance book waiting to happen. And the EPILOGUE?! It was THE BEST ending to the book possible. Trevor Metcalfe knows what he’s doing, ladies and gentlemen.

Both characters are really loveable and I was rooting for their romance. The writing is beautiful with just the right amount of witty humour to get you to carry on reading. I absolutely adored this book. Amy Lea is an author that I wouldn’t miss the chance to read her work!

This book follows Tara Chen who is a romance book connoisseur but she isn't quite content with her own love life, so she sets off on a quest, with the help of her extremely attractive roommate, to reignite sparks with her ex's to work out which one is the one.

I loved this book!!!! The concept was fun and fresh, a little rushed maybe but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Trevor Metcalfe is my newest book boyfriend and I think his character/character arc was stunning. I loved how we as readers knew he was secretly pining but Tara herself couldn't see. The spice was stunning but could probably have done with some more, you can never have too much spice.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting!

I rated it 4 stars!

"𝐂𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬. 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞."

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
After devouring Set on You by Amy Lea, I was extremely excited to be approved for the eARC of Exes and O’s. This book had my attention right from the get go. Tara is such a likeable and relatable character, that I found myself connecting with her almost immediately. She is a book blogger and bookstagrammer, who loves the idea of love. We follow her on her journey of second-chance romance by re-dating her ex boyfriend’s in the hopes of finding her soulmate - just like her Granny did. But through this journey we are introduced to some interesting men and entertaining dates to say the least.

Cue Trevor, her broody firefighter roommate, who often keeps to himself but slowly overtime starts to open up to Tara. Without realising the slow burn romance starts to build between this grumpy-sunshine duo and develops into one of my favourite romantic comedy reads.

This book was filled with witty banter, friendship and a beautiful love story. Amy-Lea has definitely become one of my auto-buy authors💕
Exes and O’s releases on 10 Jan 2023, make sure you get your preorder in!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
💓 Contemporary romance
💓 Grumpy-Sunshine trope
💓 Room-ance (Roommate romance)
💓 Slow burn
💓 Banter
💓 Friends to lovers trope
💓 Bookstagram references
💓 Forced proximity
💓 Relatable characters

𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴. 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵? 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @penguinbooksya & @netgalley for the #gifted review copy of this book.

This is the first book by Amy Lea that I've read, and I really enjoyed it. The writing is really easy to read, and I have to admit... I very much relate to Tara and her love of books and romance. I am as much a romantic as she is, and just like her, I've thought back over past relationships with rose coloured glasses and wondered if they deserved a second chance. This book is relatable, funny, emotional, and honest. It made me smile and think about some areas of my own life where I could stress a little less and let life take its own course!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(I almost always rate romances highly, they are instant serotonin for me).

This was SUCH a GOOD romance wowowow. It was exactly the kind of romance I love, hence me reading it in 2 days and not 2 weeks 🙈

The highlight for me was the relationship/ romance - it was SUCH a great romance with such well crafted characters. The relationship was healthy, founded on communication and learning to work with each other to meet the other’s needs. This is a flatmates to lovers romance which is slow burn, but in a perfect pacing. The slow burn suited the character of the love interest & their story, and we gradually see him blossom and open up over the course of the book. I’ve already reread multiple scenes from this - it’s SO good.

Trevor was lovely. Lacking in trust, creating the iconic grumpy x sunshine dynamic, but funny and so caring. A new favourite book boyfriend - the perfect blend of brooding but beautiful. Tara is a bookstagrammer, so there is regular references to these live videos she does as well as posts. These were, i’ll be honest, a bit too cringe for me at times BUT I love Tara. She’s over the top, talks nonstop, falls instantly in love, and is just so lovable. That extremely talkative, over the top personality didn’t feel forced though - it felt authentic. This book had many laugh out loud moments, with witty banter that just made me love them even more.

I love the way that, as this book progresses, they learn the ins and outs of each other. What has hurt them, coping mechanisms, etc. It makes them SUCH a beautiful couple. Oh &&& the steam is written so well (in my opinion) - not cringy, natural.

Honestly, hardly any critiques! Just the perfect romance if you need a light, feel good book.

- lara <3

I find romance to be very hit and miss but this was certainly a hit. It had the right amounts of funny and spice. I loved the sarcasm and the relationship between the two main characters. It was very reminiscent of Joey and Rachel from friends, when they shared an apartment but there was a spark there.

I absolutely loved this sweet, feel good romance! It has some of my absolute favourite tropes, forced proximity, playboy and secret pining from the start. One of my favourite romances that I have read all year (and I’ve read maybe too many).

Exes and O’s starts with Tara’s day going utterly and completely wrong, she is mugged on the subway and then walks in on her brand new roommate, who she has never met before, having sex in their now-shared kitchen. Of course she is mortified and hides in the bathroom to escape her unbelievable reality. Luckily, despite the rocky start, Trevor and Tara remain roommates and become friends. He even helps her when she decides to try and reconnect with her ten exes in an effort to give herself the second chance romance of her dreams. However, it’s clear that Tara is beginning to develop feelings for Trevor, and maybe just maybe, he feels the same?

Trevor is a really well developed character, we learn a lot about him as Tara slowly breaks down his barriers. He hasn’t had an easy life and definitely prefers casual hookups (which Tara hears through their shared walls), as opposed to long term committed relationships. He’s a dedicated fireman, friend and uncle and despite his troubled past, he’s still a sweetheart.

Tara is the perfect romance protagonist. She’s a hardworking nurse and on the side she has her very own bookstagram and booktok where she talks exclusively about romance books and her quest to find nonfictional love. Her exes have not been kind to her, repeatedly calling her ‘crazy’ and ‘clingy’ but she still doesn't stop believing in true love.

A great romance novel with just the right amount of steaminess, and incredibly loveable characters.

Exes and O's by ⁠Amy Lea, is by the same author as Set On You.

This book is technically a stand-alone, but I didn't release it would have the characters from Set on You in it!! Which, I have not read and the next book will be about their friend Mel from the looks of things. You do not need to read Set on You, I assume it would just add a deeper more enjoyable element to reading Exes and O's.

I really enjoyed it, it was light, funny and very sweet.

Tara is a nurse, bookstagrammer and romance-novel coonisseur, but has had her heart broken so many times.
But Tara is still hoping to find the "One", so with the inspiration of her favourite romance book trope - second Chance Romance - Tara starts the hunt to reconnect with her exes... oh boy.

Tara and all her books have recently moved in with her sisters' (Crystal ) fiancé (Scottie) ex roomate and best friend (wooh thats a mouthfull!). Who you might have met frm the first book, Traveor Metcalfe.

Trevor is a Boston firefighter, he definitelysuffers with OCD but he definitely doesnt do relationships, nor he does not beileve in love. So, Tara enlists Trevor as her unofficial wingman to help her find and attempt to date her exes.

and I think we can all guess which way this book is going to go...

If you like:
•forced proximity
•opposites attract
•roommates
•grumpy x sunshine
•friends to lovers
•slow burns
•wholesome-ness
then you will love this romcom

bonus points for the book including;
•a bookstagrammer
•a sexy firefighter
•Crocs
• and reality TV.

⁠
Exes and O's is out in January !!

This story take a really interesting look at how we talk about 'crazy' ex's and the ways in which false promises that are said by partners can be interpreted, leading to someone perhaps reading more into the relationship, leading to a power imbalance in the relationship. Tara comes across as intense when really she just loves fully and believed her boyfriends when they told her things. Given that this book has a romance obsessed FMC - books, tropes, and romance and almost like a third main character in the book which I adored. If you enjoyed Set on You, you're going to enjoy this. Crystal and Scott do feature in the book and it's written with the same funny light style which I really enjoyed in Amy's first book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holy shit, Trevor. I swear this man has my heart.

This was an incredibly slow burn but it was fantastically done. I loved the way the tension between the two kept building and building, it just made everything more satisfying when they finally got together. The chemistry and dynamic between Tara and Trevor is really wonderful and so believable and I would happily read many more books about these two! Tara is just such a fun and relatable character to read from and I really enjoyed her POV throughout.

I really loved the premise of her trying to create her own second-chance romance, it was so much fun to watch her try and rekindle her old romances, whilst fighting the feelings for the boy across the hall. I love forced-proximity romances and this one delivered. This book feels full of cliches but I think it works in such a wonderful way, and the contrast of the two leads just make them perfect together (once they sort through some of their emotional issues!)

Is it silly? Yes. Is it cheesy? Yes. But I absolutely adored this book, I read nearly the entire thing in one sitting, it was just addictive. Sure there were a few moments where it got a little bit too cringy (mostly all the stuff about her bookstagram and booktok accounts - it felt a bit too much), but if you ignore those bits then it is wonderful.

There are also some really tender and sweet moments in this one, so it’s not all just about the romance, if that’s something that you’re looking for! I would highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out. I will definitely be picking up all of Amy Lea’s books in the future! She just has a way of writing men that I adore!!

From the author of “Set on you” comes Exes & Os and I am SO EXCITED to read this!
I’m one chapter in and I feel like it’s my life… OK, I’m not a nurse. Nor live in NYC. Or moving into my sisters fiancés apartment where I walked in and caught some guy bending a girl over the kitchen island….
OK so maybe not word for word my life… but 30 year old Tara had an epic break up with her fiancé eight months ago, and since then has been living with her sister.
Thankfully…or a rub salt in the wound with a squeeze of lemon for extra measure… her sister, Crystal, is now engaged and her new fiancé is moving in. So that means his apartment is vacant and Tara can plonk right on in there.
But, question. Who IS that in the kitchen? The ones that are bent over the kitchen island getting very intimate. Is she living with the fucker, or fuckee…?

Firefighter Trevor sounds all too good to be true. Well, he would be for a romance reader if he was actually romantic. But one month in and he’s on girl number three… wham bam thank you ma’m.
But our Tara is a hopeless romantic with all the romance books to go along with it. And a Grandma Flo who married her second-chance cutie after the death of her husband.
Which got Tara thinking… maybe she should look at her ex boyfriends and see if she could get a second chance romance trope too!
10 exes. Two already scrubbed off due to the whole marriage thing. And the third (number 20 on the list) is ex-fiancé Seth for obvious reasons…
But really, how bad could it be?

After a couple of failed dates with exes, Tara is about to give it up when… Trevor. Wants. To. Kiss. Her!
How the hell did we end up there!? Guess you better read it to find out. Hey, I’m not giving it all away!

I absolutely LOVED this book because it is me! I’m forever reading romance books and hating myself that there are no guys like that in real life. I know I probably talk to the ear off of whoever will listen to me retelling my fave stories… and this is probably why I am single.
But I couldn’t do a second chance romance… OK, maybe one guy I could. John. He’d definitely be my one-that-got-away. If only I could find him on social media…

Anyway, I don’t like talking about the style of writing from an author as everyone is into different things, different styles. I’ve picked up books people have loved and hated the way it was written. And I’ve read books that I just cannot stop recommending, but then I’ve read comments that say the style of writing is awful!
So I will say this: for me, this is the right amount of descriptive writing and conversation. It’s a lot of in Tara’s head, her thoughts and feelings of course. So we do read a lot of that sort of thing. But it doesn’t become too much thankfully.
I highly recommend this! And I will be needing to buy “Set On You” next day I’m in work…

This is such a cute book! I loved this author’s previous book, Set On You and couldn’t wait to read this one! I was so thrilled to be approved for an ARC and dove straight in! This is a slow burn, roommates to lovers romance and it is soooo worth the wait 🥵
Tara is the girl we all are, romance book obsessed with a Bookstagram account! I loved seeing characters from the last book, especially her Granny who now has her own Instagram account for knitting 😍 Trevor is the fireman playboy new roommate and as Tara is hunting for her Mr Right in her Ex List, Trevor gets to know her and sparks begin to fly. Cue both not thinking the other is interested and we have our slow burn!

Yet another author to add to my autobuy list! I love love love her books! 😍💜

This book was everything!!! It was cute, witty, fun and highly entertaining. I loved Tara so much and her chemistry with the MMC was swoon worthy. I can’t wait enough for it be out and about in the world so I can recommend everyone to snag a copy of it.

Suuuuuuper cute slow burn, friends to lovers, close proximity, room-ance! ❤️

This book is so cute, there’s really no other way to describe it

This was genuinely a really great romance. Such a good trope and all of the good tension to back it up, I really believed these two. The only downside is that Tara is a little too sickly sweet for me but that's just personal preference. Otherwise this was a solid story that I'd recommend to any romance readers.

Tara is my ideal woman! God damn why she gotta be straight!!!

I didn't realise there was a book 1 when I started reading this.. but it turns out that didn't matter Amy Lea gave us enough bsckstory that this can totally be read as a standalone. Needless to say I'm off to purchase Set On You.

I have so much love for this book and its characters. Tara is awesome. Like she is who us book bloggers aim to be right! All the way through I was like... she can go live and I'm so scared to show my face on the gram but I feel I need to take some inspiration from her. Her room mate is a dream... and their relationship is seriously hilarious!!!

This is the BEST romance I've read in a long time, it was chaotic, beautiful, emotional and a realistic journey of healing and self-discovery.

You absolutely must read it!!!!!

This book was okay, it was cute, the romance was sweet and I enjoyed that the FMC was a book blogger (who doesn't love feeling like the main character of a romance book). But it didn't blow me away, it was just good. The slowburn was a bit too slow at times and she was a little too peppy at times too

Another TikTok wirthy romance sensation that I'm sure my Sixth Formers will love. All the classic tropes centered around a surprisingly lijeable main character.

I loved this book so much!!
Dare I say it, even more than Set On you!

I was intrigued by Tara, who is Crystal's sister from Amys debut novel, Set On You and was looking forward to getting to know her better.
Let me tell you, this woman is a blast!! I 100% adored her!!

This book had everything I needed.

✅ Roomates to lovers
✅ Slow burn
✅ Romcon
✅ MC commitment fobe vs Sunshine lover of love
✅ Diverse characters
✅ Fmc BOOKBLOGGER - YES THIS GIRL LOVESSS TO READ AND BLOGS ABOUT IT 😭😭

Filled to the brim of witty banter, sizzling slow burn tension and a FMC I just wanted to wrap in a big hug, Ex's and O's was 🤌😘.

I laughed ALOT reading this book.
I swooned when they started to fall.
I very nearly cried at then end.
I couldn't get enough.



loved this book so much!!
Get ready to fall in love HARD!
-------- ♡ -------------
I was intrigued by Tara, who is Crystal's sister from Amys debut novel, Set On You and was looking forward to getting to know her better.
Let me tell you, this woman is a blast!! I 100% adored her!!

This book had everything I needed.

✅ Roomates to lovers
✅ Slow burn
✅ Romcon
✅ MC commitment fobe vs Sunshine lover of love
✅ Diverse characters
✅ Fmc BOOKBLOGGER - YES THIS GIRL LOVESSS TO READ AND BLOGS ABOUT IT 😭😭

Filled to the brim with witty banter, sizzling slow burn tension and a FMC I just wanted to wrap in a big hug, Exe's and O's was 🤌😘.

I laughed ALOT reading this book.
I swooned when they started to fall.
I very nearly cried at then end.
I couldn't get enough.