An Instant Indie BestsellerPublic 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 … 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.
more
I loved this terrific enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about Shay and Dominic, competing coworkers at a public radio station. Shay has put ten years in at the station, pursuing her dream of hosting her own show. Dominic is the very serious journalist with a Master’s degree he drops into every conversation. The station is struggling and the two of them find themselves hosting a new show together, THE EX TALK, where they must pretend to be exes while doling out dating advice. The premise is fun and Solomon’s talent for writing (and clear affinity for forearms) shines through. Highly recommended!
I loved this rom-com! And I love that the love interest is Asian-American, which has been so rare. The chemistry between Shay and Dominic is so sweet, even as they were enemies in the beginning. Shay is such a relatable character and I really felt for her. Before I read this book, I knew nothing about podcasts and I felt like I learned so much about them from this book. I all around adored everything about it. A definite must-read for 2021!
I just finished reading Rachel Solomon’s adult romantic comedy debut, The Ex Talk, and it was just the fun, light-hearted read I needed right now.
It’s an enemy to lovers trope with some fake dating. The characters are well developed, likeable and totally engaging. I loved the witty banter between Shay and Dominic. It has a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, which was truly refreshing. There was even a rescue/adopted dog with so many quirks that he stole my heart.
I mentioned the wonderful characters, but there’s also a misogynistic douchebag in the story. Boy could I, unfortunately, relate to Shay’s experience there.
There were a few times I started to roll my eyes at Shay and Dominic…until I remembered what it was like when my husband and I started to go from friends to more. Yep, sometimes we were stupid and got in our own way.
It started a little slow, and didn’t pick up until about page 40, but it was worth the slow start. I prefer a more slow burn when it comes to love vs the insta love.
Many thanks to @berkleyromance @berkleypub and @netgalley for the e-galley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
4 ‘Love on air’ Stars!
ARC provided by the the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel Lynn Solomon’s romantic comedy debut is a delightful treat to read! Rachel was a new author to me but that adorable cover caught my attention fast and I was all over the idea of this novel as soon as I finished reading the blurb. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed The Ex Talk because of its diversity, the powerful messages that our society needs to seriously think about, the uncommon aspect of a romance set in a public radio station, the amount of romance troupes (workplace, hate to love, fake exes, slight age-gap) and the banter and beautiful connection between the couple. This book was such a joy!
So, The Ex Talk is Rachel’s debut in the adult comedy romance world and it’s a standalone enemies to lovers that sucks you in with its storyline and characters. Shay Goldstein has been working in Seattle’s radio for ten years and she is not having it with Dominic Yun, the new “colleague” who keeps flashing his studies all over the place. Well, the radio station is not going well and they need something to save it. Shay has the idea to start a new section called The Ex Talk, where two exes talk about relationships. What she is not expecting is for Dominic to become her partner in crime and her fake ex-boyfriend. These two start really knowing each other and forbidden sparks light up.
This is only how it begins, I try to convince myself. We’re telling a story. That’s what radio is. The show will grow beyond our story—it has to. It’s the only way I can stomach our lie.
I am happily surprised by The Ex Talk and the characters Rachel Lynn Solomon has given us with her debut in the romcom world. I have to say, the story was really entertaining, the characters and their stories incredibly appealing and the couple adorable and deliciously sexy. I love a smart romance, with gripping characters and a couple with a beautiful connection and The Ex Talk definitely has all that. I loved how Shay and Dominic are so different from the typical romance couple but still having those romantic aspects that the romance lover in me was satisfied by.
“If I kissed you again,” he says, stepping closer, an intensity in his gaze I’ve never seen before, “it wouldn’t be for the show, or for research, or for any reason other than that I wanted to.”
This story made me think, laugh, cry and swoon and that is pretty much all I ask to enjoy a good read. I am so happy these two were not as different as they thought they were and that they have found happiness together. I do wish their actual relationship was a bit more developed, because the ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, I really loved this sweet romcom!
This is real. I have to keep reminding myself because otherwise I’m not sure I’d believe it.
Therefore, I am rating The Ex Talk with 4 STARS because I am thoroughly enjoy a well-done romantic comedy and Rachel Lynn Solomon did not disappoint with this one. I loved Shay and Dominic, their wonderful banter, the start of their relationship and how it developed to more. I loved their sweet, sexy and emotional love story and I hope Rachel writes more books like this one because I will sure be on the lookout for them. Guys, do not miss this one, I really do recommend it!
What a refreshing, original story.
Shay has been a producer at the local public radio station. She has been there for a very long time, she’s almost become complacent. She finds herself often butting heads with Dominic, the new hire.
The station is at risk for funding loss. In order to save their station, Shay comes up with an idea for a show; The Ex Talk. The only problem is, her boss is making Dominic her partner and co-host. Not only that, they are deceiving their audience by stating that they are Ex’s. As their popularity grows with talks of syndication so does their deception; not only to their fans but also to their friends and family.
Will the pressure bring everything to a head?
I loved this story and characters.Watching them navigate through their broadcasting show and navigating a personal life and relationship outside of their show was original and refreshing. I would definitely recommend picking this book up.
4.25 stars–THE EX TALK by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a multi-troped, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun.
Told from first person perspective (Shay) THE EX TALK follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun. Shay Goldstein was the fastest rising producer at Seattle’s Pacific Public Radio, and her weekly radio series ‘Puget Sounds’ was going great until it wasn’t. Her barely veiled hatred of newcomer and journalist Dominic Yun would become fodder for management, and in this, our couple would be forced to work together by the station manager or lose their jobs. Liking the ‘sparring’ and ‘vibe’ between our leading couple, it is suggested a series of podcasts focusing on relationships but more specifically on an ex-relationship, that never was. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shay and Dominic, and the fall-out when the secrets and lies become public knowledge.
Shay Goldstein and Dominic Yun couldn’t have been more different, and working together to create a fake, former relationship draws the couple together but a mandatory weekend together finds our couple falling for one another, a fall that will hit rock-bottom when the truth is revealed. Developing a relationship that never was reveals one another’s relationship history, family, and future hopes and dreams.
The relationship between Shay and Dominic is a friends to enemies, forced fake relationship where the sexual tension is masked by the back and forth, yin and yang of jealousy and hate. Dominic, with a Master’s in Journalism, had just come off of a long term relationship, and our heroine was no longer looking for someone to love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Shay’s mother Leanna, and her fiancé Phil; Dominic’s parents Morris and Margot; misogynistic station manager Kent O’Grady; show host Paloma Powers; Shay’s best friend Ameena and her boyfriend TJ; junior producer Ruthie Liao.
THE EX TALK is an age-gap, multi-cultural, enemies to lovers, fake relationship story line. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s ability to slowly build the background and history of our leading couple is the ideal set up for a wonderful story that is sure to resonate to many readers. The character driver premise is engaging and imaginative ; the characters are quirky and sassy; the romance is tender and seductive.
Every so often I read a book that is so authentic and addictive that I just wish it were real. I very much need Shay and Dominic and The Ex Talk on a podcast because they are amazing.
Shay Goldstein got her love of public radio from her father. After working for over 10 years in the background at a radio station, Shay is finally given the chance to be on the air. If only her co-host didn’t hate her and she wasn’t lying to everyone.
Dominic Yun is a “serious journalist” and isn’t interested in a fluffy bit of a radio show that will have him deceiving his listeners, but he is interested in advancing his career and will do what he must in order to go further.
The Ex Talk is a wonderfully constructed story with amazing characters that I want to know. At first glance, it is a fluffy enemies-to-lovers story, but as you read through you find that it is layered with themes of abandonment, weathering adult friendships, and misogyny in the workplace. I was thoroughly hooked for this entire journey. It grabbed my attention and hasn’t released me yet, even days after finishing. I adored the little peeks into the world of public radio. It was fascinating, humorous, and touched my heart.