The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon Published by Berkley Books on January 26 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon's sparkling romantic comedy debut.
Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.
When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.
As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. This does not influence my thoughts on the book or this review.
Romance is slowly becoming my favourite genre (not that I ever disliked it!) and as a fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon, I knew I had to read her adult romance debut. I am very pleased to report that I was not disappointed at all! The Ex Talk quickly became one of my favourite reads of last year which means I can spend this year pushing it onto everyone I know.
The Ex Talk has a twist on the fake dating trope in the most fun way. Shay and Dominic both work in public radio and have contrasting opinions on the platform. Shay is interested in human interest stories while Dominic is a journalist who’s more interested in uncovering facts and scandals for the public good. As their station is experiencing cutbacks, they are asked (more like forced) to do a radio show together where they give their experience as a former couple. The only problem? They never actually dated. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers but rest assured that this ends exactly how you think it would.
I loved Shay and Dominic. While the novel is in Shay’s POV, I felt that we really learn about Dominic’s life in depth as well. I really admire Solomon’s ability to turn loathe to love so easily. I wasn’t sure if it would be possible at first because of Shay’s strong opinions about Dominic but I felt that Solomon really pulled it off! The chemistry between the two was just amazing and I really loved it.
The other part that I enjoyed about this novel was the public radio aspect. While I can’t say I have ever really been interested in the subject before (I am an occasional podcast listener), I really enjoyed both character’s passions for the craft.
Overall, The Ex Talk is definitely a romance novel I’ll be hyping for anyone who’s a fan of the genre. This book rekindled my admiration for the author and it inspired me to go back and read the author’s backlist (which I was neglecting for no reason!!) and I have zero regrets. If you’re looking for a great new book to start the year off or for a great new author to become obsessed with, you can’t go wrong here!
