I couldn’t put this book down!!! Georgia and Eli are so perfect for each other. Friends to lovers is my jam and I’m obsessed with how much he still loved her during their time apart due to life circumstances and trials that they have to overcome, Eli with his anxiety and Georgia with her fear of being left or too needy. The ending with how he tells her he has loved her all along had me crying!! So so good!

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Narrator: Kyla Garcia
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 7/16

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my gifted e-copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

I absolutely LOVED this swoony, steamy second-chance romance. The story revolves around Georgia and Eli, estranged exes who must collaborate to save their best friend, Adam’s, wedding after a series of disasters threaten to cancel the whole thing.

Georgia is terrified that her breakup with Eli will disrupt their tight-knit friend group, so she relies on a list of rules to manage their interactions. However, when Eli returns with a new attitude and the wedding venue burns down, Georgia's meticulous plans crumble. As they race to Napa Valley to salvage the wedding, their old chemistry reignites, and Georgia begins to see the man she once loved in a new light.

This book is everything I love about the romance genre. The pacing is perfect, the MCs are loveable, the side characters add humor and heart, and the setting is breathtaking.
Joyce's writing is a rollercoaster of emotions, and the story hooked me from the first page. Eli's unwavering devotion to Georgia makes him endearing, and the sizzling tension between them is beautifully portrayed.

Georgia's fear of heartbreak and the challenges of navigating old feelings in close quarters make her so relatable, and the witty banter and humorous mishaps as Georgia and Eli attempt to save the wedding are delightful. These moments, combined with the heartfelt journey of their rekindled romance, make "Ex Vows" a captivating read. The dynamic between the main and side characters, especially Adam, makes the story even more enjoyable.

Kyla Garcia's narration in the audiobook enhances the experience, making it a highly recommended format for this delightful romance.

I loved Joyce’s first novel, You With A View, but The Ex Vows really solidified her place as a favorite author. This book is sure to make readers laugh, cry, and swoon.

Read if you like:
* second chance romance
* friends to lovers
* forced proximity
* found family
* single POV
* open door spice

The one thing Jessica Joyce does WELL is on page chemistry. You get the attraction, the emotion, the reason they could and should be together from the very first page. I loved the way Eli and Georgia found their way back to each other, all the while realizing they were never out of love in the first place.

It's everything contemporary romance should be, romantic, funny, emotional, heartbreaking, steamy with character growth and beautiful sentiments. And that ending! Be still my heart.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Georgia and Eli broke up five years ago. Now, they’re the best people at their mutual best friend’s cursed wedding. Everything is going wrong; there’s no DJ, there’s no cake, and Georgia and Eli are forced back together after years of avoiding each other. This is a second chance romance novel about wedding mishaps. The cursed wedding might lead readers to believe that this is a romantic comedy, but, while there were funny moments, this book is so much more. It’s about found family, anxiety, and growing up and losing touch with friends. The romance was steamy, but the friendships really make this book special.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The perfect second chance romance to tug on your heart this summer! Really perfect for fans of Happy Place by Emily Henry.
I loved the setting and the wedding planning backdrop to this romance. It added so many elements and opportunities that made it come to life. I hope you won't need a second chance to give this book a read!

The angst. THE YEARNING. The Ex Vows was like reading The Tortured Poets Department if you know what I mean. The way the main characters could barely breathe the same air without it just absolutely decimating their hearts?? Kill me now. The big reveal that had been there all along? I'm dead.

I didn’t know I would love this book as much as I did. It made me cry so hard when she gets the paper rings. It was beautiful and lovely and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved it.

I ended up DNFing this (which made me really sad because i had such high expectations), but this isn’t a bad book by any means. In fact, I think a lot of people will end up enjoying it. I’ve heard that this is the second chance romance to read — even for the ones who aren’t fond of this trope (like myself). I do think part of the reason i didn’t end up enjoying it the way I really wanted to was that i picked it up at the wrong time. Being in the middle of a series you absolutely adore, and then reading a book that doesn’t captivate you the same way — I was bound to be sort of indifferent to it.

I did like Georgia as our protagonist. I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again — the archer/mirrorball/this is me trying girlies, you will always be loved by me. Georgia is a hyper independent, list loving people pleaser who refuses to open up to anyone about how she really feels for fear of burdening them. If that’s not relatable i don’t know what is. Eli was… kind of forgettable? I didn’t particularly love (or hate) him. I think it would have been better if we got his POV so we could be inside his head a little and see the romance from both sides.

I may try to revisit this book when I feel like I’m in the headspace for it, but I think this one just wasn’t for me.

read if you:
- like second chance romance
- are in your twenties and feel kind of lost because everything’s changing too fast (and or)
- relate to mirrorball by taylor swift

Gah this was sooo good and definitely will be one of my favorite romances at the end of the year. This is what I would call an incredibly well rounded romance, it’s full of messy angsty moments, the characters are well drawn and relatable, the setting gives all the amazing vibes and provides a beautiful backdrop for an emotional second chance romance and besides the romance the core friend group is everything you want in a secondary plot and more. It’s also deeply romantic and there were so many gorgeous quotable moments. I can’t say enough good things about this one, no notes. If you’re a romance reader this is a must!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

This is my first book by the author and she is now on my “auto-buy” list. I loved this novel so much. I finished it two days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I love second chance romance. Love. This was such a good one to add to the list and it was woven together so beautifully. While you don’t get “then” and “now” chapters, the way the author is able to narrate you through then and now without confusion is masterful.

Something that stands out too is the depth to the characters. It’s not necessarily the big things but the little moments: the paper rings, the shared memories, the family relations. Altogether these formed characters that felt so real and emotional and tangible and I want to pick this book right back up again and read it.

This also has great anxiety representation which means a lot.

One of my fav reads of 2024 hands down.

I loved this book SO SO much!!! Truly one of my favorite rom-coms of the year. The struggles that the main characters go through felt so relatable and real- things that any couple could be dealing with. Jessica Joyce is so good at building relationships on the page and making the reader fall in love with her characters. Will definitely be handing this to my friends!

I’m a sucker for second chance romance, and to see one written by Joyce? Chef’s kiss. I’m truly impressed by her ability to weave words in a way that has me simultaneously swooning and also wanting to study craft because the writing is just gorgeous! The chemistry was off the charts in this one and I had a lot of fun reading.

4.5 stars! Mark my words this is literally going to be the next viral "Emily Henry-esque" book. The Ex Vows had everything I adore in a second chance romance, and it's one of those rare books that I'm going to be thinking about CONSTANTLY for years.

Georgia and Eli met in high school, fell in love in college, moved in together in NYC...then broke up. Flash forward five years, their mutual friend Adam is getting married. And of course there's a snafu or two (or twenty), so Georgia and Eli have a week to work together and pull off the perfect wedding. The forced proximity makes it easy for Georgia to see why she loved Eli, but have the two of them grown enough that they can rekindle their past relationship or will they fall back into old patterns?

First off, the entire time I was reading this book, I kept thinking, "Oh this is so You're Losing Me, Maroon, and Paper Rings by Taylor Swift-coded." Then I read the acknowledgements, and the author mentions ALL of those songs. Literally OBSESSED. Georgia was very The Archer and pathological people pleaser.

Moving forward, Georgia and Eli had such amazing chemistry and tension. I couldn't stop giggling. I think this book felt so romantic because it was raw and emotional. The book dove into realistic couple conflict and actual problems that couples face. Lots of raw feelings that cut me to the core lol. And Eli is SO down bad for Georgia, it's not even funny. His romantic gestures? How he knew her habits and preferences? I was no joke tearing up, especially towards the end.

I also loved the Napa Valley wine country wedding aesthetic. The descriptive imagery was fantastic in this book, and everything about it felt so summery. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars was because it started out very slowly. And there were some other parts that felt a bit dragged out, but overall, this book was incredible!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for sending me a copy of The Ex Vows. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

The Ex Vows had me hooked right from the start. I couldn’t put the book down. This was my first Jessica Joyce book and I enjoyed it so much I have already placed a hold on her first book.
I will definitely be recommending this title and author to romance readers.

Gah this book. I thought I loved You, With a View, but there’s absolutely no sophomore slump to be found from Joyce with this gorgeous second chance romance.

I felt such a deep kinship with Georgia, and her desire to be everything for everyone all the time. The way she puts her own needs on the back burner and shrinks herself to make sure everyone else is taken care of first and always.

I loved the way Joyce wove the past moments of Georgia and Eli’s story into the fabric of their present. It was such a refreshing take on the standard NOW and THEN presentation of second chance romances. It fully immerses you in the story, never taking you out of the MCs finding their way back to each other to throw you into the past when they were building up to the fallout.

Georgia and Eli’s story was messy and heartfelt and had me crying in multiple occasions. I absolutely adored the found family, the strong friendships, and the messages of enduring love both in the platonic and romantic spheres of life.

I cannot say enough good things about this story, and I highly recommend!

This has one of my least favorite tropes: I want things but won’t tell you what they are. That being said, I enjoyed Eli and Georgia finding their way back to each other. The cursed wedding was a little much, but it gave them lots of opportunities to work together, which is my absolute favorite trope. It still takes FAR too long for them to have any semblance of a conversation – compounded by the fact that they are supposed to be working together. The story drags in the middle, and definitely spends far too much time in Georgia’s head (the problem of a single POV narrator). Definitely a second chance romance with heart.
3.5 stars

This was a heartfelt romance! The second chance romance between Georgia and Eli was filled with tension. The story unfolded at a good pace, the two coming together to help their best friend pull his wedding off. I was weepy reading the last quarter of the book, the author really captured how as adult lives grow, friendships change shape leaving one to feel a bit lost in the shuffle. A well written story and I’m interested in reading more from this author.

I didn’t finish “The Ex Vows”…”The Ex Vows” finished me.

“The Ex Vows” follows Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora, estranged exes, as they are thrust together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters.

I think the reason why I hold this story so close to my heart is because I have never resonated with a book as much as I have with this one! It is so perfectly in sync with where I am at in life and I am convinced that Georgia and I are practically the same person. I found myself relating to her need for control, her desire for belonging, and her hesitance in communicating her needs. Watching her character grow as the story progressed not only gave me hope for myself in terms of where I want to be but genuinely made my heart so happy!

Though this story is told from a singular perspective, Joyce masterfully uses Georgia’s observant nature to shed light on Eli’s character. She does a great job weaving in snippets of what their relationship was like before it soured in the present day narrative and executes their reunion perfectly in having them face each other in order to step into their roles for their mutual friend’s wedding. I love how Eli slowly but surely shows pieces of himself that are unpolished to Georgia, giving up the control and stability he once clung to, to encourage her to do the same. Watching them finally let go and be messy, embracing all of themselves and each other, to make their relationship work the second time around brought me to tears. It destroyed me and put me back together (a commonality in all her books). I cannot thank Joyce enough for this story of love, loss, and healing. It has irrevocably changed my life and has left an imprint on my soul.

ARC Review: The Ex Vows by the incomparable @jessicajoycewrites
Pub Date: July 16th
Thank you to @berkleyromance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As a skeptic of most contemporary second chance romances, when I heard Jessica's next book was second chance, I immediately knew I would love it. And love it, I sure did. I don't even know what all to say about this book other than I could not recommend it more and it will be one of my favorite books of the year. Just like with You, with a View, I highlighted so many freaking quotes on my kindle that I cannot possibly choose one to share with you.

Eli and Georgia's chemistry from the very beginning was just absolute fire - the tension was DELICIOUS. And even though Georgia may have been just a little obtuse in not seeing Eli's true motivations, we as readers know it even though it's single POV. I'm also so often a hater of single POV and almost always prefer dual POV. However, Jessica Joyce again just defies my usual because her single POV books are better off for being so in my opinion. (Though Jessica, if you're reading this and ever want to give us bonus content in Eli's POV I will eat it up)

And Georgia - just. Ugh. I felt such a kinship with her. Her fear of falling out of touch with her friends with her potential move was so real and understandable. As someone who just moved across the country and left many of the friendships I've made as an adult, this just really hit me! I'm so glad to be living in a time where technology exists to stay connected to people but it takes effort from both sides!

Eli and his dang paper rings, be still my freaking heart! I swooned, you swooned, we all swooned for Eli. (If you haven't read this yet, just trust me, you will swoon I promise). I love him so much that again, I'm just mostly incoherent about it.

I just could not recommend this book enough. Jessica Joyce's writing is special and spectacular and I can't wait to see what she does next. (Though in the meantime, I'll be rereading this via audio)

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"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."

Another solid romance from Jessica Joyce. I was a huge fan of You with a View, and while this one was also good, I don't think it quite measured up to YWAV for me.

Both character were really likeable and I enjoyed their chemistry from the beginning. It was pretty clear how their interactions were going to go from the moment they're together again, so I was really looking forward to seeing Eli put some work in.

One thing that frustrated me though was how obtuse Georgia was being in regards to Eli's actions. He was very clearly working to not only make up for being absence for the friends the past years but also for her. So her continuous confusion for why he was acting the way he was was increasingly frustrating. His declaration toward the end shouldn't have been such a surprise for her 🙄

The other thing that was really getting to me was the sheer amount of issues the wedding planning was running into. Like it was ridiculously over the top and I felt it took away from the overall storyline and the development of the relationship. This could have been an even better romance if everything wasn't going wrong all the time.

But those things aside I absolutely devoured this book. And the ending almost made up for the issues I had. So many great, emotional moments that really tugged at my heartstrings. Would recommend for romance lovers ❤️