The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
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Web ID: 198759775 glowing stars!
Wow this book. I'm realizing that second-chance romances are a sleeper favorite trope of mine. But they have to be done well, or I find it hard to connect to the past or present of why characters want to be together. Jessica Joyce executed the aspects of second-chance romance flawlessly. I felt Eli and Georgia's connection in both the past and present, not just one or the other. I felt the joy and heartbreak of every aspect of their past, while also seeing the joy and heartbreak and potential of what they could be in the present. Another part of why I think this second-chance trope was done so well, is the way that we get bits and pieces of the past without actually having to go back in time and see it happen on page. It happens in a few instances, but more in a memory way during a chapter instead of a whole chapter dedicated to the past. I don't know how a second-chance trope can be a favorite to me when I don't generally like a dual timeline story. BUT, I think when it's presented in the fashion that Jessica Joyce did, I eat it up. These characters were so easy to identify with and understand the WHY, on both ends, as to why they broke up when they did. It was so refreshing to see Georgia and Eli experience something so simple as not being at their best at the moment, which could hinder any relationship, but then growing to learn that they can go through those things together and come out stronger in the end, both together and individually. This made them so relatable, and even though they both messed up, and hurt each other, it was so easy to root for them and for their own personal growth. Like with any Emily Henry book I read, my heart was aching the entire time I was reading this book. Which is a testament to how well Joyce weaves together this story and what these characters experience, the highs and the lows, to get to their happy ending. Jessica Joyce is becoming a quick favorite as I also really enjoyed You, With a View, and I can't wait to see what story she comes out with next!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautiful Second Chance Romance
I am not normally keen on second chance romance but I really enjoyed this one! I think that the story is a bittersweet one and honestly I felt for both MCs. I really really liked the way that this played out and the ending. Maybe this is the start of my second chance era.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Second chance romance
(3.75 stars) The Ex Vows is a charming second chance romance. Georgia and Eli fell in love when they were in their teens, but later broke up when their lives felt like they were going in different directions, with Eli working excessively long hours, leaving Georgia to fend for herself in a new-to-her city. But now, five years later, they are being thrown back together, helping to plan their mutual friend’s wedding. So they are trying to make the best of it. When one disaster after another happens to the wedding plans - their venue burns down, for one! - Eli and Georgia have to work hard to save the day. And they realize that they both have matured and still have feelings for each other. I think the story would have been enhanced to have some chapters from Eli’s POV instead of only Georgia’s. Warning: there are some spicy open door scenes Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I'm Not Crying...You're Crying
This was such a beautiful story of love being rekindled after a messy breakup. Jessica did an amazing job at showing how the characters were able to change & grow over time so that they could make space for the love they always felt for each other. Workaholic Eli is able to change & grow so he can help is Ex Georgia pull off the wedding of the century for their mutual best friend Adam. Except Adam doesn’t know about their messy breakup. Will they say I do, or will Georgia simply walk away & tell Eli she won’t give them another chance? Read it to find out!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Jessica Joyce is a must read
Jessica Joyce’s second book, The Ex Vows, cemented her as one of my “immediate buy and devour” authors (she also self-published a novella on Amazon last November that is excellent). The Ex Vows is a second-chance romance (my fav.) telling the story of Eli and Georgia who have a list of unspoken rules they live by since they broke up five years ago, all designed to convince their mutual best friend Adam that they’re fine five years post-breakup even though they crushed each other. Key to this list is residing on opposite coasts but when Adam’s upcoming wedding is subject to a series of disasters, Eli and Georgia are forced together at a romantic Napa Valley vineyard to fix it. This time, Eli is not playing by the rules they usually follow and Georgia’s realizing she might be falling in love with him again (or never fell out of love with him) but can’t get past the idea of destroying their friend group. Jessica Joyce is a master class in writing for me, especially writing emotion. I devoured this book on my Kindle, promptly bought a paperback, and proceeded to reread while covering it in highlighter. Even if you’re not in it for the writing lesson, The Ex Vows is truly excellent and a must read if you’re a fan of Carley Fortune and Emily Henry. Also, chapter 34 should come with a disclaimer, a box of tissues and a paper ring. Read it and tell me you don’t feel the same.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
One of my favorite book of the year
**ATTENTION** SPOILERS First of all a big thank you to the publisher for the free book. Secondary, together with Funny Story and From Lukov with Love, THIS goes absolutely at the first place of my book of the year chart. I've discovered Jessica Joyce last year, when I spotted You, with a view between the summer new releases, and I fell in love with it. It wasn't just an enemies to lovers summer trip novel, but a story of multiple love relationships, some lost, others ready to bloom, in a perfect picture of life: not always happy, with painful moments, but real. I really enjoyed the depth Jessica put in her book, that's why I asked for The Ex Vows arc, and she didn't disappoint me at all. Even if I appreciated YWAV and this author's writing style, I wasn't prepared to love this book SO much. Because it's so GOOD, readers, believe me. So good I can't stop myself being emotional thinking about it. I honestly thought I would have read a more light-hearted story; instead, I found something that I'll cherish in my heart forever. I was already in love at the end of the prologue, really. As I've already told Jessica, maybe it was just the right time to read it, but this romance resonated so much with myself I couldn't not be affected by Eli and Georgia's journey. We start at a point we readers know so well: the upcoming wedding of their best friend - and the phantomatic curse that seems determined to ruin everything - forces the exes Eli and Georgia to work together to save the event from an easy disaster. The main reason of their breakup is explained in the early chapters of the book, but it hides so much more, and we unravel it during the whole story. ** continues on the blog: https://spillthebook.blogspot.com/2024/06/arc-review-ex-vows-by-jessica-joyce.html
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Ex Vows
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce Contemporary romance. Second chance troupe. Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora were once a couple. But they were young and just starting out in life. Although they loved each other, they ended up going their separate ways. The major problem? Friends in common. And now they’ve both agreed to help with all the details of their mutual friend Adam’s wedding. They get is set with lots of strife and agreements. Then comes the wedding and one thing after another goes wrong. Can they pull off all the last minute changes without ruining the big day? Georgia is the POV and has a lot of rules, lists, and feelings. Eli throws everything out the window and start over. Both with their lost relationship and all the wedding details. A lot of angst, and a lot of steam as they figure out what they want. It can be a bit raw at times. Eli is now willing to provide answers and speak about his feelings. I personally hate the third quarter breakup troupe, but it does give them time and space to settle and grow and figure out what they really want this time. Of course it’s a good ending. It’s romance.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Second chance...but didn't need to be!
Georgia Woodward figured that Eli Mora was finally in the rear-view mirror for good...after 5 YEARS of carefully putting the pieces of her life back together after a heart-wrenching breakup. Sure, the two had a passionate relationship and a very deep bond, but there's a REASON they broke up. Keeping a sense of harmony between them is especially important because they share more than just a romantic past: they STILL share a friend group. Being the type A list maker that she is, Georgia finds that one of the best ways to keep the peace is to hold fast to a set of rules she has developed to be followed at all times (and all costs) when interacting in any way shape or form with Eli...and so far, her type-A tendencies have paid off. But when their mutual friend Adam (unsurprisingly) makes the pair a central part of his wedding, all bets are off. As co best man and best woman, Eli and Georgia once again not only need to be in close proximity, but have their own individual lists of wedding tasks to complete to bring the big day to fruition. And when the wedding venue literally burns to the ground...the task of pulling off the wedding takes a quick jump from big to monumental...and the clock is ticking. There's cake tasting to be done, a new DJ to book, and oh yeah...finding a new LOCATION in short order in glamorous Napa Valley. Though Georgia had sworn their story was over, the more time she is forced to spend with Eli, the more time she finds herself WANTING to spend with him...and all of those rules suddenly seem not only limiting, but worth revisiting. But does this new and improved Eli feel the same? Will all of the romance swirling in the air be enough to reconnect these two former loves? Or, like the wedding venue itself, will what's left of their friendship BURST into flames? This is one of those stories that sounded a bit simplistic in terms of premise, but being a fan of Napa Valley (although I haven't been yet, I've had many a glass of Napa Valley wine...does that count?), a true second chance romance with friends to lovers at its core, and a wedding story to boot, The Ex Vows seemed to have all of the components to be a light, breezy, and yet still emotionally charged summer romance. Throw in an MC with the same last name as me (!), who's a Type A list queen to boot and it seemed like I just couldn't miss. But not only was this the end of any similarities between the MC and myself...because try as I might (for almost 400 PAGES!) I just couldn't understand WHY these two broke up in the first place! Take our aforementioned MC, Georgia. Despite being described as sort of a fastidious rule-follower, we hardly even get a sense of what these rules are...nor are they as important to the plot as the blurb (or the title of the book!) would imply. Georgia's biggest issue is simply asserting herself...and to be honest, also her standards. She seemed to be ready to sell her soul to be with Eli back when they were first together...but allowed him to pick his job over her and that was reason enough to break up the relationship? (Have these two ever HEARD of long distance?) And not to give anything away, but Georgia is not exactly 'married' to the area she lives in currently, to put it mildly...and she is presented as quite a catch at her current place of employment...which also begs the question, why didn't SHE just move to be with Eli? And therein lies the rub with this particular romance: the conflicts....weren't really conflicts. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine in the genre, and perhaps the one factor that makes it so hard for me to buy in to scenarios like these. The biggest 'obstacles' these two overcame together were ALL wedding and venue related (don't expect to get to know too much about the betrothed couple or any of their friends...they are only mentioned sporadically and with no clear character development) and it didn't make it quite as satisfying in terms of a second chance romance when I couldn't understand why they both let a JOB come in between their first chance. There was no overly dramatic third act conflict (at least not one I deem memorable a week later!) and nothing really standing in the way besides jobs and a bit of geography. I realize these two factors may seem like an easy deal breaker in your twenties, but as someone who chose to move along with my boyfriend (and now husband) for work, I found it very hard to relate. And no, the job opportunity in this book wasn't even some sort of overseas, once in a lifetime opportunity....trust me when I say you'll probably be shaking your head a bit too. And what could have sparked SUCH a dramatic change in the other half of this power couple? What could have possibly made Eli SUCH a changed man between the past and present of this book? Well, it all comes down to what I (unfortunately) deem to be Eli's character-defining trait: ...He went to THERAPY. Joyce mentions this not once, not twice, but at LEAST three times (it may have been more) and there are long passages of Georgia fawning over what a huge difference these sessions have made (apparently) although it's never REALLY revealed why his character needed therapy so much in the first place. The way she puts so much weight on going to therapy alone was completely bizarre: it's one thing to go to sessions and another thing to IMPLEMENT the changes in your life, and none of that was explicated here. Eli didn't seem to be buried in trauma in the flashbacks presented, wasn't abusive (verbally or emotionally) and if anything, perhaps just needed to be more vocal or insistent at times (?) which doesn't really justify in MY mind all of this life-altering therapy. I think that rather than having moony passage after moony passage at the end between the two lovebirds, Joyce could have used this bit of information as a springboard to make Eli a much more complex character and delved into his psyche a bit more...but this was yet ANOTHER missed opportunity. I also learned after reading that Joyce is a bit of a Swiftie and I think this book in general lends itself MUCH more to Gen Z than the Millennial set. (Although I believe I am TECHNICALLY an elder millennial...but let's put that aside) I have read from other reviewers that there are references aplenty but since I am not a Swiftie myself, I'm pretty sure I missed all of them. What I DID notice (and not sure if this is related) is many a reference to Georgia's desire for a 'messy' love...and the only place I've heard this phrase recently is the current season of the Bachelorette. (Yup, I'll admit it - Bachelor Nation right here!) I'm not sure if this is a chicken or the egg situation, but all I know? It just made me feel OLD. I can't imagine describing my relationship with my husband as being 'messy' in a good way...yet another reason I think this one is aimed at a SLIGHTLY younger (and subsequently inherently messy) set. An honest love? Sure. But to me 'messy' implies drama, cheating, or the like...and I'm PRETTY sure that's not actually what Joyce (or her MC) meant. (At least, we can hope so!) And although one of the grand romantic gestures in this one contains one character giving another a plethora of paper rings, I think perhaps one diamond STILL might have been the easier way to go. (I mean...talk about a BEST friend!) 3.5 stars
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com