Cover ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narrated by Laurie West; Connor Crais ⭐⭐⭐
Sorry by Ivy Smoak ⭐⭐⭐

I've read a few Ivy Smoak books and while this was ok, it was predictable. Ivy Smoak seems to follow the same format which is fantastic the first couple of time you read her stories, but then quickly becomes mundane.

***Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and Ivy Smoak for the audiobook***
Release date: 04.13.23
I can’t even give a synopsis because there was (almost) no plot. Main trope: second chance romance
I need to preface this by saying I didn’t realize this was a part of a series so I did struggle a bit to piece the history together (My notes look like something they’d draw on Criminal Minds to figure out the killer). The two narrators were giving dramatic AF retelling – a cross of Gossip Girl (rich city socialites) meets the Young and the Restless (or one of those daytime soaps). I didn’t love this book, probably won’t start the series to figure out the rest of the plot. I heard such great things about Ivy Smoak and this was my first book but ~gestures vaguely~. Spice starts around 35%, 2/5 on spice rating.
This entire book felt like an epilogue – there was barely any climax, no real suspense, it was instalove and everyone was just happy the entire time until the last ~5%.
My thoughts while reading this book:
Why is everyone in this book obsessed with hot dogs?
Why the hell is everyone forcing this couple together after they reunited for like 20 seconds? 16 years is a long time to suddenly be together again after one is allegedly dead.
Matt thinks about Brooklyn while with other girls, fine, but imagines her (while he is a grown ass 30+ year old) still as a 16-year-old is creepy.
Matt is selling his house? Brooklyn is buying his house? Neither know and now they live together?
Messing around with paint? That’s one way to get a UTI or yeast infection.
Nigel is the best character, he’s freaking weird but I love him.
I am mildly interested in who took Brooklyn but I’m sure it’ll get resolved

Empire High Exposed is a great book. Well written and Characters you will want to know more about. This is book 7 in the Empire High series. I do recommend that if you haven't started this series read the books in order as there are things you will have missed and leave you questioning what is happening.

I plan on picking up the first books in the series and re-reading Empire High Exposed. You have added a new fan Ivy Smoak!

DNF at 50%

I do not understand the hype. It reads like a Wattpad novel that should have stayed on Wattpad.

I did not read any other books in the series and this is not a standalone book at all. However, this was not communicated in the advertising.

I was cringing throughout most of the book and I could not get through it. Here are some reasons why:
• NIGEL – this supposed adult acts as a child and actually gets jealous of a child when the child gets attention. He speaks of others in really weird ways. There is a conversation between him and another character about a “special surprise” in a drink that made me super uncomfortable. He offers to bathe the main female character even though there is no romantic interest. I think the author though Niguel was supposed to be a comic relief character and he just comes off as creepy.
• People allude to kidnapping children
• Even though Matt and Brooklyn met in high school and it would be appropriate when they were both 16, he says he imagines having *sexy time* with a 16 yr old Brooklyn even though he is supposedly in his 30s. This is after the reunite in their 30s. He PURPOSLEY want to imagine a 16 yr old
• Brooklyn results to violence when she is mad and hits Matt. If a male main character did this to a female one, everyone would be up in arms.

I do not recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for the honest review.

I love the Empire High novels, even if the cliffhangers are absolute torture!

Cliffhangers are always a way to ensure readers return, but this series is catchy even without them. Do they make it more interesting and dramatic? Absolutely- so I’m here for it.

I started in the middle of this series and have since gone back to start catching up. It’s definitely possible to read this book without the others but the others really do add something to the story! It’s a cohesive storyline and I do enjoy it.

I received an audio copy through NetGalley and I love the narrators. They’re fantastic. The two narrators for the different POVs really bring the story to life and they way they each handle the characters is perfect.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wow wow and wow! I absolutely loved this book! I could not stop listening to this. This is not a standalone. This is book 7 in the series.

I have really little to say about this, this series feels dragged along for too long and the quality is clearly taking a toll. I am really disappointed in this book, I had really high expectations, and the book fell short to me.
I think this is the end of this series for me.

This book was cute but I did not realize it was book 7 in a series so it was definitely hard to keep up with all the characters. The 2 narrators did a good job and the cover was beautiful. I thought Matt and Nigel were annoying and I absolutely thought Brooklyn needed therapy. I wont go start the series didn't like it much.

ive been loving this series so so much! its ya but it still has some spice and suspense its the perfect read in my opinion. I love the high school drama feel.

Ivy Smoak gives us another steamy one! This one delivers in a way the earlier ones in the season didn’t but leaves us on a cliffhanger too. I love how the relationship developed through the book- mainly because she had to learn to balance grief and love at the same time. There seems to be a tremendous amount of tragedy for one young woman but something has to drive the books I guess.

🌀Synopsis
Brooklyn and Matt made a lot of promises to each other in their youth. They loved each other then and they love each other now. There is an ocean between them though and they both have to learn how to cross it.
Brooklyn is still grieving her first husband and struggling with the fact that Matt moved on from her so quickly after they parted. Matt is struggling with being Brooklyn’s second and trying to convince her that all the other women that he was with meant nothing to him.
With a lot of patience and love they find their way back to each other. They have forever ahead of them or so they think…

Finally !!!!!! So if you've read the previous book, you'll know Brooklyn and Matt deserve a hea. This book is perfect and the hea is so close you can almost touch it. Brooklyn and Jacob survive on cuppycakes😅 Nigel is still Nigel. Matt is still losing his mind over Nigel and Tanners shenanigans. Brooklyn loves said shenanigans. Jacob is the cutest. I love Kennedy ! I'm so glad the characters have their reunion and Penny and Bee and Daphne and Hailey are just perfect! FFL! The cliffhanger was really out of left field. This world is wild and unpredictable. Ivy is becoming a torturing tease. Lol she is a mastermind and I love her imagination!!!! Really makes me want more Tanner. Lol I love the bits of Rob in this story. James is just spicy!!!! His comments to Sanders at the promenade dance were H O T . This is street team review! The audiobook is really good too! This review is for both the audiobook and ARC. The voice actors are perfect for Matt and Brooklyn. The only thing I don't love is they read really slow but maybe that's the standard for audiobooks. 5 stars!

There was no savoring this one for me!! Read it until my eyes closed and then woke up the next morning to finish the last few chapters. EXPOSED was everything I expected and wanted, yet written in the way only Ms. Smoak can do. I cried. And. Cried. And cried during scenes I wasn’t expecting to. I laughed and then laughed some more. I love Tanner and Nigel but Nigel needs to leave his crazy in the SOCIETY! I was on the edge of my seat. I felt everything Brooklyn felt and was anticipating that moment they’d be pulled apart again. I am sad to see this series come to an end but I cannot wait for the last book. I know Ms. Smoak will do all these characters justice and I am looking forward to a series marathon prior to the last release.

I HAVENT LISTEN TO AN AUDIO BOOK IN A REALLY LONG TIME SO
WHEN LISTENING TO THIS I HTINK I HAD MY JAW HANGING OPEN THE
ENTIRE TIME. ESPECIALLY ON THOSE SMUT SCENES. I LOVE THAT FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING THIS BOOK GOT RIGHT INTO THE PLOT, I DIDNT
KNOW THAT IT AS APART OF A SERIES BUT IN GENERAL I THINK THIS
BOOK COULD BE READ/LISTEN TO AS A STAND-ALONE LIKE NOTHING
REALLY CONFUSED ME. I WILL SAY THOUGH THAT THE BEGINNING, I
HAD VERY MIX AND CONFUSE FEELINGS LIKE DID THEY HATE EACH
OTHER OR NOT? BUT AS THE PLOT MOVED FORWARD IT WAS REALLY
INTERESTING. AND I WILL SAY MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IS 1000%
JASON, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS KID IS LITERALLY SO ADORABLE LIKE
HIS "ABUELA". AS FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER, I MOSTLY LIKED THE
NARRATOR'S OF THE BOOK, LIKE MATT'S NARRATOR WAS HIT NO LIE
THERE AND I LIKED BROOKLYN TOO. BUT THE VOICE OF BROOKLYN
WHEN IN MATT'S POV KIND OF BOTHERED ME. BUT IN ALL, I REALLY
LIKED THIS BOOK LIKE THERE WASN'T A SINGLE MOMENT WHERE I WAS
BORED OR DIDNT WANT TO READ THIS BOOK, THE PLOT WAS GREAT,
CHARACTERS TOO AND MOSTLY LIKED THE NARRATOR

I love Ivy's writing and am so invested in this series! I love how she brought Matt and Brooklyn back together and how they worked through their challenges in this book. Nigel and Tanner are as intriguing as ever, and I loved how the whole Empire Crew welcomed Brooklyn back into their fold just like she'd always belonged.
One star off because I hate a cliffhanger ending, and I'm a little upset that there wasn't a HEA yet again, 😑 but I knew this was coming when I signed up to read another of Ivy's books lol She just can't help herself 😂 No worries though, I'll definitely finish the series when it comes out, and anything else Ivy decided to write 😉

I would like to start by saying this book is bordering on inappropriate behavior involving a minor (4YO) this weird strange adult man is on the counter, naked, in the presence of the child, and they all talk about the size of his genitals. He then takes a bath wearing swimtrunks with the boy. This whole book involving the Nigel character felt creepy, it is not funny. I believe this author is seeing how far she can push the reader with the “preying on little boys” comment! Do not read this book!

Finally a book written with a plot. It’s about time. The last three books have been so boring but this one actually interested me. It finally gave us answers we have been waiting on, Matt and brooklyn finally have the talk we’ve all been waiting on. You actually get somewhere in this book. I can’t stand the Nigel character he is disgusting and a pervert and he and tanner don’t fit into the empire high world. I don’t really care for them and their weird storyline. If I wasn’t so invested in finding out what happens with Matt & B I would completely abandon this series due to the inappropriateness of Nigel. Also Brooklyn is supposed to be such a great mom and yet her child eats cupcakes constantly which is really odd because no normal parent wouldn’t go insane from the hyper behavior the child would have. Brooklyn was honestly such an airhead around Nigel that it sounded insane, why would she let some weird guy around her child that she doesn’t even know? Stupidity. I honestly wish she would just go back to her old way of writing with keeping the EH series normal. That being said every other part of this book with the untouchables and Brooklyn and her friends was exactly what I’ve been waiting on. Matt and Brooklyns connection is just as strong in the first 3 books and that’s what I have been missing. The cliffhanger is killing me, I swear I just need a happy ending and for it to stop being dragged out. Thanks for the ARC

First of all, the narrators did a great job narrating this book!! This installment was good. This is definitely a part of a series and is best listened to in order. This book was funny with great dialogue and wonderful characters. It’s well written and well developed. It brought on all the feels. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the audiobook publisher for allowing me to listen and review this book!

Book 7 in the never ending Empire High Series.

At this point I'm to invested to not read them. This book is what I wanted in book 6 more or less.
Brooklyn is still not my favorite still acts like a kid and everything is about her and she never owns up to her own actions. (Yes I get things happen.) But she had several chances to let someone know what was going on or to let people know hey I'm still here but never did.

Matthew I have a love hate with him and the dirty secrets I was never on board with. I did feel bad for me or at least how his story went and I wanted him to be happy but with Kennedy was never a option for me. They bonded over there share trauma.

But this one picks up right where the 6th books end. But thank god she didnt drag it out of a book of nothing. they mostly got to the point us as readers wanted.

The meeting the confrontation. The back story what happen and the will they re connect or finally say goodbye.

Thats what I wanted in book 6 to end it and call this chapter done. But they didn't and I thought ok this will be the end and we will finally know.

NOPE its set up for a 8th book and Its something out of left field and I'm like why why why.

This is my spoiler section cause I can be ranty. Don't look at this unless you want to know some details. But i'm guessing your not reading this unless you've read the books.

<spoiler> SERIOUSLY end it at a sex club Matthew is out in the hall with Nigel who watched them have sex? and somehow some guy gets i while she naked and tied up and touches her and is like don't scream do what i say. The Fuck is going on? why can't they just end it with they get together epilogue they are married children something? and move on Nope it just turned the fuck to the left and I about through my phone when it happen.

And to touch on Kennedy she was sad but okay. (fine you in book 6 said I can't go with Matthew then keep making out with him like the hell. Any way she goes on 1 date with Felix after years and shes in love looking for a place together. Thats just a little to hurry up pair her off shes happy ok bye. Nope

And my biggest annoyance is NIGEL in this book hes always been annoying and over the top but this one was to much for me. Watching them have sex. watching them on the cameras again have sex and fool around. Put a door up for his private area to watch them? sitting naked on the counter and taking a bath with her son (ya swim trunks) but hes some fucking strange guy???? Everyone thinks o okay its fine. Tanner my man why ae u cool with this and also do strange things. But I couldn't take him in this book. If he has a accident and we never see him again it will be so soon. He ruins every scene hes in. Please get ride of him

Also does anyone else find her son annoying as hell. If i have to hear yessey one more time. I might scream and and nucca already got old but with him and her saying it its a over kill.
</spoiler>

Do I want to read book 8 no but yes. I'm to far in but please just end the series. Move on to someone else something else

thank you NetGalley for this advance Audio Arc in exchange for my honest Review.

I got an arc audio version of this book, and it made me soooo happy. I needed this book sooo much. I don't really do Audio books, but this one was okay. Not to cringe.

But what about the actual book, you may ask. Well I loved that the happy ending is around the corner, bit not just yet! Lol! I think that Ivy Smoak loves to keep us in suspense... Okay, this is a book seven... Soo, my question is how much more?!
I hate to say this, but I need this series to end.
And Happily !!!

Ivy Smoak you have done it again. This story has it all. I laughed, I cried (in a good way) and I cheered on this couple who has had more than their fair share of obstacles. This book was a master class in weaving together an all star cast of characters who will take you on the ride of your life. For those who dread the inevitable cliffhangers we have come to expect in this series, you may want to avoid the last chapter and keep those good feels going until book 8 is released.

Honest review given in exchange for ARC

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the dual narration of this book! It really helped bring the characters of Matt and Brooklyn to life for me. I would definitely recommend being caught up with the series as this books a way into it and it’ll make your head spin at first trying to orient yourself to the characters and how they all know each other. I’m sure I missed the last couple of books so it was difficult at first to figure out what what going on. I would not recommend as a standalone. The books was funny and witty and everything I’ve come to expect from Ivy Smoak!