This has HANDS DOWN been one of the best ARC reads I have had this year and I just know that people are going to love it when it releases. The Ex Vows tells the story of two ex-lovers Eli and Georgia who come together as the Best Man and Best Woman to make sure their shared best friend's wedding doesn't crash and burn. This book is a perfect romance read for those who love second chances, best friends to lovers, and the healing journey from broken hearts. Right from the start I was absolutely hooked and the author does a fantastic job of keeping the readers engaged all throughout. I honestly came into this thinking it would be a fun fluffy read but it was so much more! The last few chapters had my heart twisting so much, and it is so beautiful how the author tackles mental health, anxiety, and the importance of loving someone through the good and the bad. I really enjoyed this author's previous work You With A View, but this one I think has taken a #1 spot for me. I am so excited for this to release so I can buy a physical copy. I love Eli and Georgia so so much!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an early copy to read and review for my honest opinion.

Wow, did I love this book. I really loved Joyce’s novel last year so I was so excited to see this one coming. And here’s the thing, I loved this one even more. The writing was great, the story was fun and fresh, and the characters were fantastic. I really am a sucker for second chance romance so I was immediately on board. But then I found myself completely invested in Georgia and Eli’s lives. You know the kind of invested where if things were going to blow up it was going to feel like my life was blowing up? Yeah, like that. Individually they’re great, flawed, realistic characters but together they’re so so good. I’m a bit obsessed with Eli… just a bit. Okay, a lot. And I really loved Georgia. Her vulnerability and her personal journey was just so good. I related to her in a lot of ways, which made the story even better. Both of these characters go on such a great personal character journey and I LOVED it. Listen, a man who goes to therapy is an automatic win for me, we love a man who wants to change and work through things 👏🏼 again, the writing in this was so good. The way Joyce combines their memories and the current events was written in such an interesting way, I’m a big fan. Romance readers, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Tropes/themes:
-second chance
-childhood friends
-forced proximity

Words cannot describe how this book hit home. It feels like a lost Emily Henry book with its heartbreaking but so true romance and its very emotional topic anyone can identify to.
First of all, this book being second chance happening during a chaotic wedding and in summer felt very personal to me. Of course I would love this book. But this went even beyond. Eli has made his way to my top 5 book boyfriends and this romance is now part of my favourite of all time.
I feel like what really hit home with this book is the “loneliness” topic that’s talked about in this book. How you’re scared of change and what will become of your friendships with time and work separating you. It made me cry so bad but i’m so happy books talk more about this and it’s why i’ll say (i’m sorry i hate to compare but how can i not !??) that if you loved Happy Place by Emily Henry, you’ll fall in love with The Ex Vows.

I ADORED THIS BOOK! When I first read the description I had an evil smile on my face because this sounded like the perfect book and let me just say it didn't disappoint. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't put it down. We get to go on a journey with them as they figure out who they are now and it's wonderful. I wish I could forget all about it just so I could experience it again for the first time.

Okay, how to explain this...

I loved it up until roughly chapter 21, and then it all fell apart. But if you don't mind what happens between chapters 20 and 21, this book is for you. It just wasn't for me.

Pre chapter 21:

I absolutely loved how hard Georgia was trying to be everything her long-time friend needed. I don't quite understand how you forget about your wedding cake or how you can just completely dump all your wedding problems on your friend to deal with but...I guess these people aren't my kind of people. Cause I would have handled all that myself, no matter what. So, Georgia gets stuck trying to look for a wedding cake with roughly a week to go till the wedding, along with a DJ and then the worst thing happens at their venue. So she's frantically trying to do these things and help fix up the ol' stomping ground area (others were on this, thank goodness) so it's barebones ready for a wedding.

Add the complication of her ex as her fellow best person/man who INSISTS on having his hand in everything she's doing in an attempt to make it up to the groom because he has done absolutely nothing up to this point…It's the longest, what, 7-9 days ever? Who would be comfortable being stuck with their ex all day when you and your ex broke up on less then stellar terms.

Basically, Eli chose his career over the 'love of his life.' In the end you learn the reason. But what you get to see pre-chapter 21 is a guy who seems to be struggling in life but is trying to shift his priorities from constantly working to being there for the people who matter most. Also, getting back on Georgia's good side.

Georgia is obviously resistant after everything that's happened, and she's so used to being in control, so the fact that Eli insisting on doing everything with her, or at least half by himself, is the worst. They try to put on a friendly front for their mutual bestie, but it's awkward as hell and I loved that true depiction of what it must be like to be thrust back into the proximity of your ex who you have decided to get along with for the good of the friend group.

End then the end of chapter 20 came along and everything I liked about this book came crashing down.

Now, I knew they were going to get back together somehow, some way. The title alone gave that away. How the author went about doing that was my problem...I loathed it. Absolutely hated it. I had to stop and give myself a break to maul over if I really wanted to finish this book. I was really hoping it would be further down the line... and better. But I guess the author had to find a way to get all her spice scenes in there somehow.

Still, I hated it. It might seem realistic to some people, but I could never see myself doing it. I don’t know anyone who would. So I was pretty bitter about what was happening until the wedding. Everything that happened just before, Georgia's speech, was beautiful and the story had a few pages of redemption before it sank back into the muck pile. The major conversation that should have happened at the end of chapter 20 FINALLY happened. Better late than never does not apply for here for me.

I personally think the author should have started addressing the 'elephant in the room,’ a lot sooner in order to make what happened around chapter 20-21 feel less...abrupt? More plausible? At least for people like me. Anyhow, I digress.

I did enjoy the author's writing style. Nothing felt stilted when reading and all the dialogue felt natural to me. While I will admit the discovery about the ring thing was kind of sweet, but I honestly was exasperated with these two. Those conversations should have happened halfway through the book, the way things were set up, not the ending. Or at least that first serious conversation. That is just my personal opinion though.

Conclusion?

This one, at the end of chapter 20 and beyond, was not for me. I did thoroughly enjoy the beginning half though. The writing was good. Conversations were smooth to read. I didn't notice any writing errors. Just not my cup of ex-lovers back to lovers tea.

I have often seen reviewers say/write things like "This book broke me and put me back together" and I would honestly kind of roll my eyes at the drama of it all.... Welp. Let this count as my formal apology. I GET IT NOW. Anytime I hear that phrase I will now nod my head in agreement and understanding because: THE EX VOWS.

Reading The Ex Vows was like a conversation with friends, a love story, comedy show, and therapy session all wrapped into a book I couldn't put down. It is not often I read a book that moves me so deeply on so many levels. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I grieved - it truly is a work of art. I feel my review cannot even do this story justice and had to stop myself from just writing "READ. THIS. BOOK" over and over and over.

I loved You, With a View from Jessica Joyce and have been looking forward to The Ex Vows since reading the sneak peek at the end of Y,WAV. I cannot even begin to explain how this book just MOVED me to my core. The way Jessica Joyce intertwines the thematic elements of the story and the cyclical emotions and relationships that both exist and evolve is inspiring. Georgia and Eli are everything. Eli Mora is the ultimate book boyfriend - and Eli Mora in therapy? book boyfriend on steroids.

The growth of the Eli and Georgia throughout the book is physical as we watch them turn from teenagers to young adults into fully functioning grownups; relational as we see their relationship change from friendship to love to acquaintances and somewhere in between; And their emotional growth as Georgia and Eli learn to navigate life's challenges and while facing their OWN truths and, most importantly, SHARING them with each other and those they love. I did not want this story to end (but was thrilled with the way it did).

I will close by saying what needs to be said....

READ. THIS. BOOK.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Jessica Joyce’s writing. I adored You with a View and I loved this one just as much. This was a second chance romance with a little childhood friends to lovers in there.
I thought Eli and Georgia were both likable and realistic. I also enjoy when books take place around a wedding, it was romantic and heartwarming.
Adam is a little Cupid and he was such a fun character too!
This is a 5 ⭐️ romance for me.

infinity stars!! this is honestly one of my favourite reads of 2024, i couldn’t even comprehend the love i have for eli and georgia. they were so beautifully written and the way they fell back in love was so mesmerising. and the way they fell back in love was so real and raw, it showed the reason why they fell apart.

the struggles that you face when you are buried in your job and having that anxiety of feeling alone and abandoned was so well written and it really hit close
to home.

i was crying a lot, the way eli put a lot of pressure on himself and the way he accepted what a ‘bad’ friend he was really broke me. i felt like the characters were really real, like some of the characters fears is what we face everyday and the way jessica joyce wrote it was beautiful as she always managed to insert the ways to overcome them and how to maintain them.

the second chance romance was done so perfectly. not once did i ever feel bored or wanted to put it down. the pace of the book was perfect and loved the way it went back and forth, it was done so clearly.

i think anything that jessica joyce writes is going to be 10/10 and so grateful for receiving this arc!!! it is truly going to stick with me as this book paints the real and honest ways of mental health.

AlSO THIS IS HOW YOU DO A TAYLOR SWIFTED CODED BOOK. the paper rings thing???? OUTSTANDING. i was even like to boyfriend that i want that!!!

thank you berkley and netgalley for trusting me🤍

If I could give this book a millions stars, I would. No notes. I think this might be one of my favorite books of the year! And that is not something I say lightly when we’re not even 2 months into the year.

The premise: exes Georgia and Eli find themselves working together to save their mutual best friend’s wedding. They’ve been broken up for five years and have acted like everything is fine between them, when in reality things are not okay. They have so many unresolved feelings, and a lot of hurt to unpack.

This book has:
- forced proximity
- top tier pining
- anxiety rep
- a people pleasing FMC
- “Maroon” by Taylor Swift vibes

I don’t think I’ve cried while reading a book as much as I did with this one. Their reason for breaking up was a little too real, and the way they unpacked the breakup (5 years later) was so mature. Jessica Joyce knows how to tug at your heart strings, rip you apart, and put you back together.

I wanted to read it again immediately after I finished it.

Georgia and Eli have my heart

This book had everything I wanted and more in a second chance romance! The characters and plot were impeccable, and I was so absorbed in the book that I finished it in less than 24 hours. Highly recommend it.

Jessica Joyce is an auto read for me!!! This story was exceptional. I love the setting, the plot, and the characters. 💓

The wedding saga was fun to read and I liked how the two main characters were thrust together. Eli and Georgia have history so it makes every moment more intimate and heightened.

The steamy scenes were perfect! They were very hot and well paced!

I love how the third act was more of a breather than a breakup! 🫶

5 Stars!!!!! Jessica Joyce is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I adored “You With a View” and was so excited to see that the “The Ex Vows” was being published. Let me tell you Jessica did not disappoint and I devoured this book in one sitting.

I am not a fan of second chance romances. I find the typical flashbacks annoying and sometimes boring. And some of them I find too angsty and the reason the couple originally broke up easily solved with a conversation. However, Jessica proved me wrong with “The Ex Vows” and I loved every second of this book. Georgia and Eli’s tension is so palpable and you know they love each other and are rooting for them every second of the book. The reason they broke up in the first place is extremely relatable and the growth both characters go through is important and needed. It doesn’t hurt that Eli is oh so very swoon worthy with his dark hair and broad shoulders.

Beyond their relationship, Georgia and Eli’s struggles with their friends and beginning new chapters in their lives is something we can all relate to and have felt.

“The Ex Vows” makes you feel every emotion: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Jessica does a great job of interspersing the tension with hilarity.

Pick this up immediately if love Emily Henry’s “Happy Place” (or really any Emily Henry Book) or Abby Jimenez.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Georgia and Eli were best friends turned lovers when they went through a terrible, heart wrenching breakup. They each put on a brave face to hide how much they were hurting from their other best friend, Adam. When Adam is getting married, both Georgia and Eli need to work together to save Adam from one wedding disaster after another.

I absolutely loved Jessica Joyce’s debut novel You, With a View and her second book was every bit as beautifully written. The characters were both flawed but good hearted. The vineyard setting was a lovely backdrop for a love story. The grand gesture and ending melted my heart. Eli had the sweetest way of showing his love for Georgia, even in the hard moments. I loved the message of the story that love is found in the other person’s flaws and in hard times. The book features forced proximity, second chance romance, and found family tropes, all excellently executed. There is also anxiety and therapy representation. Ultimately, if you love a feel good rom com that will leave you smiling and swooning, you need to pick this one up!

Thank you to Jessica Joyce, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book an almost ridiculous amount. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and this one is done so well. I loved the wedding triage subplot--it really framed their relationship perfectly.

This heartwarming novel is a second chance romance about a former couple coming together to help salvage their mutual friend’s wedding that’s gone awry. Georgia and Eli has fantastic banter and you could feel their love rekindling itself along the way. It was absolutely romantic and raw and real feeling as they reckoned with their past and their current selves.

The switch between past tense, present tense, and fourth-wall-breaking in the prologue was quite jarring. The writing style wasn’t for me. I stopped in chapter 1, after I realized it continued.

I’d guess it will be a solid three to four stars for the target audience,

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Another win from Jessica Joyce! Her sophomore novel hit all my favorite second chance, friends to lovers notes plus throw in the chaos of helping to pull off a seemingly cursed wedding and the drama just wrote itself.

Georgia, Eli and Adam were best friends who bonded over absentee parents. Things got serious when Eli and Georgia took things to the next level but everything blew up five years ago when the two moved to New York City for Eli's career and he turned into a workaholic with raging anxiety.

Now, reunited for Adam's Nappa Valley wedding, the two get sent ahead to help work out some last minute details and old feelings resurface. Can they stay friends and not let the past wreck the wedding or will things get messy all over again?

My only complaint was that I would have loved a dual POV story. Aside from that that though, the highlights for me included the mental health and therapy rep, Georgia's love of lists, the found family friend group and the sizzling chemistry between "Geli."

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a must read for fans of authors like Emily Henry, Christina Lauren and Tarah DeWitt. Make sure to get it on your summer TBRs!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing a DRC of this title.

Forced together five years after their heartrending breakup, Georgia and Eli must team up to rescue their friends’ disastrous wedding, working through old hurts and exploring whether they can build something new together.

After loving You, with a View— Joyce’s debut— last year, The Ex Vows was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Joyce totally delivered with shimmering chemistry, deft characterization, and well-drawn emotional journeys that many readers (me included) will relate to, as Georgia and Eli experience friendships changing with adulthood. Even for someone who is not typically drawn to second-chance stories or books with ~HiJiNkS~ I was so drawn in by Joyce’s luminous prose and these characters that I still fell in love with this book. I will definitely look forward to recommending this heartfelt summer romance to my patrons and to reading Joyce’s next works! 4.5/5 stars.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from her sophomore novel, but I did not think I would absolutely fall in love with these characters. Jessica Joyce is a phenomenal storyteller, as I completely devoured this book in one sitting. There is everything you want in a book.

You dive deep into these character’s flaws and what makes them a bit messy. Joyce’s writing is so vivid, I really felt like a fly on the wall watching their interactions with one another. Their friendship really comes back to surface as we watch them slowly come back together. Eli is so tender with Georgia I wanted to cry from my heart melting. The paper rings, ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Not only do we get the sweet, but we get the spicy. They are hot, they are STEAMY 🥵

What stood out the most was the dynamic of their friendship with Adam and Jamie, and how Eli and Georgia feel sort of like outsiders sometimes. That heart to heart with the four of them really is how communication with friendship should be. Sometimes feel unwanted or overlooked or even put ourselves down for feeling “needy”. We all struggle with feeling like our friends might replace us with new people, so I really connected with Georgia here.

This book is going to stick with me for a while, truly one of the best I’ve picked up in a long time.

Cute and light, very reminiscent of the film Anyone But You. Joyce has another hit with her newest novel. While I still preferred her debut more, this was an enjoyable romantic comedy to slip away into.