Thank you for my earc of this book. I enjoyed both the premise and execution of this book and in particular like the friendships and secondary characters, but I feel like it was too long at times and could have been edited down.

This book was such a ride of emotions. Not only did it touch on deeper themes of anxiety and insecurity but still made me kick my feet and giggle with glee. This is the perfect second chance romance and honestly I had slouch a good time reading it. I will definitely be checking out more of this authors work because this was a romantic masterpiece.

3.5 stars

I really struggled with this book, and it's definitely a me thing idk why but I just wasn't connecting with the story and took until maybe 60/70% to get invested in it

I love Jessica's writing and am a sucker for second chance romances so I was so excited to read this but something with it wasn't working, not sure if it's the slow burn or I just wasn't in the right reading mood when I started (also seeing everyone online saying how much they loved it when I was struggling definitely put me off picking it up cos i wasn't getting the same vibe)

I'm definitely going to give it another shot at some point

- second chance
- it's always been you
- working together to stop their best friends wedding from being a disaster
- forced proximity

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for the arc - all opinions are my own

i read jessica joyce's first book and wasn't over the moon about it, but I DID think it was clear that she could write some nice sentences so i thought i'd give her another try. i'm glad i did! i liked this one loads more!! i thought about it during work when i couldn't read it, too. my problem with her first novel was that i didn't buy it, which is such a big part of a romance novel, but i bought it here! i really had a great time reading these two absolutely whacko anxiety monsters. when they didn't communicate, i got it, because i thought their issues were so clearly spelled out.

also i just thought this was fun. i enjoyed the set up and the mild hijinx they got up too. i enjoyed reading the anxiety monster spiral about whether things had changed enough. i felt that tug of the past sinking into them. i think i didn't really enjoy certain parts of it and i don't like the ending at all (i hate an epilogue like this but that's a me thing, they're v standard for this genre). i think i ultimately thought this was very charming and it had a nice setting and flow. it felt silly and light, but also something that took its main characters problems seriously. it was really enjoyable tbh! i think maybe it was stretched a bit too much and, like i say, the end of this didn't do it for me (the last like idk 10% or so i didn't love). but up until then i thought this was a fun ride that i wanted to keep reading.

This was a beautiful love story that spanned time. Through the ups and downs of life love remained strong and brought Georgia and Eli back together.
I loved how the characters developed and overcame their anxieties but also realised they could be honest about their feelings and true love would remain.

Trigger warning this is not a closed door romance although described it's not graphic. There is also mild language.

Thank you to Jessica Joyce and Net Galley for an ARC copy to honestly review.

Second-chance romances are very hit or miss for me, I need a lot from the characters to believe they actually work together and aren't better off apart.

The reason for Eli and Georgia's split is very simple but it's made into a bigger deal through miscommunication and ignoring their feelings. I liked how the flashbacks revealed little bits of their history as we worked through the current timeline.

I did like Eli, and I liked that he took the time he needed to work on himself but I can see why Georgia didn't feel like she was worth doing it for. It's a weird one for me, we don't see a lot of Eli and Georgia in a relationship so is he really a new and improved version?

Georgia is quite an annoying character, she's a total people pleaser and apart from one outburst near the end she didn't really get any personal growth or spend any time making herself happy.

The whole plot with the wedding was silly but fun, the chaos and disasters were constant and the group of friends tackled it all. The friendship group and element of found family was well done.

i laughed, cried, fell in love. the characters are real and so messy, which i enjoyed. i absolutely adored the mcs—georgia x eli have my whole heart. ya’ll are going to love this one! Definitely a fave read of mine this year!

Georgia met her best friends Adam and Eli when they were 15 and they became her family while her dad was working long hours. The three of them did everything together but there was always an underlying connection between Georgia and Eli which was finally recognised on Georgia's 20th birthday and they finally became a couple.

Georgia followed Eli out to New York from San Francisco for his job at a bank but due to his commitment to his job, they started to see each other less and less until one day Georgia called it quits and she moved back to San Francisco alone. They remained friendly for the sake of their shared friendship with Adam but they never really spent much time together or had their "reckoning" until now.

Eli has shown up over a week early for Adam's wedding determined to be a better best man after missing so much already, including the bachelor party. He's come at the right time as well, because Adam is convinced he's cursed as everything has gone wrong with his wedding - the venue had a fire, the DJ broke their arm, the caterer can no longer make the cake. He needs his best people - Eli and Georgia to help him fix everything. They take off for Adam's family vineyard in an effort to fix everything.

It's clear they both still have feelings for each other and while Georgia is happy to fall back into bed with Eli she doesn't want to discuss anything about their past or future, even though Eli keeps trying to talk to her. I didn't particularly like Georgia as a character, she came across as needy and pathetic, she only seemed to care about how she was feeling (which was left out) and how her friends moving forward in life would affect her. Her communication skills are dismal as well, instead of talking to Adam, her best friend, she just pretends everything is fine until she breaks down on his wedding day. Talk about bad timing!

As for Eli, he's actually recognised his failings and is attempting to correct things. He left is super demanding job in New York, is moving back to California and has been seeing a therapist to help him navigate his panic attacks. He's doing all the positive things he needs to do while Georgia whines about everything.

Saying all that though, I did enjoy the book. I just wish Georgia had used her words instead of pretending everything was fine. The steamy scenes were great and I loved the end when she finds out the meaning behind all the paper rings Eli had given her over the years.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Loved it so much, another great, emotional, heartfelt journey from Joyce who is really making a name for herself in this genre! Can't wait to see what she writes next!

I absolutely loved The Ex Vows, which is without a doubt my favourite romance of the year so far.

I read it on a flight (on my way to a wedding, which made it extra fun) and devoured it completely in one sitting. I loved the relationship between Eli and Georgia - the forced proximity, the second chance romance and their friends to exes to lovers again arc - and the problems they faced were relatable and emotionally gut-wrenching, though I did cry happy tears rather than sad ones by the end!

I was a huge fan of You, With a View so I knew I’d enjoy this one, I just didn’t realise how much. Jessica Joyce is definitely an auto-read author for me now. A massive thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for the e-ARC.

You know when you read a book and it has such a profound effect on you? Like it really does change your brain chemistry? That's how I feel about this book. I'd heard mixed things about this book from various mutuals in the book world, and I went into this one with an open mind having never read from Jessica before. It took me by surprise, I won’t lie to you.

Tropes to expect here:
- Second Chance
- On a time limit
- "It's always been you" vibes
- Forced Proximity
- Slow Burn
- Dual Timeline

I love Second Chance romances, so that put this one in a good position before we even started. Georgia and Eli were childhood friends to lovers, but ended their relationship 5 years ago and subsequently their friendship fell apart. Their mutual best friend is getting married and, as his best-man and best-woman, he tasks them with ironing out all of the issues that have cropped up in the imminent build up. What could possibly happen?

There is a great dual timeline running sporadically through this book which gives you little snippets of their childhood relationship, adult relationship and the reasons why they broke up. Although the book is written in Georgia's POV it becomes apparent that Eli has changed his ways over the years, and this leads to a 'on a time limit' style re-kindling of their romance with such a bittersweet ending as they both go their separate ways after the wedding. Don't worry though, this is not the end of the book, and a HEA is coming your way.

The character development and individual growth in this book was immense. I loved their dynamic as both friends and lovers. Great banter. Lots of angst. Perfect chemistry and tension. I didn't expect a ton of spice in this book, but what we got was wonderful, and really cemented Eli as a deliciously handsome MMC I will be thinking about for eternity.

The paper ring reveal has to be one of my favourite moments I've ever read in a book; Reason 199 was the ruining of me, and I sat with tears dripping off my chin and gasping for breath for what felt like forever after. The single POV really bolstered the meaning of this moment, and I think a dual POV would have totally ruined the magic of this moment, so if you're turning your nose up at that, please stick with it.

Overall a really solid read and I'm going to get myself together and read You With A View, because Jessica is a wizard and I'm under her spell.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC copy of this book. What an absolute treat!

After reading You, with a View last year, I’ve been waiting for Jessica Joyce to release another romance book. When I found out that this one was going to be a second-chance romance I was beyond excited and for good reason, it was excellent.

Georgia and Eli broke up five years ago, so they are definitely over each other… right? But, when they’re thrown together at the best friend’s wedding, sparks fly, literally when the venue burns down a week before the wedding. It is Georgia and Eli’s jobs to get it back on track. So, as they rush to put on the perfect wedding, old feelings start to resurface, and there’s only one bed…

I adored Georgia and Eli. Georgia in particular is for the over-thinkers, planners and makers of lists. She cares so deeply for all the around her and I adored her. I’m sure so many readers will see themselves in Georgia which makes her such a reassuring character.

Eli is quite literally the real life embodiment of ‘it’s always the quiet ones’ which is exactly what Georgia says about him. He is always trying to do the best for those around him, is such a loyal friend and is going through so much that he is trying to hide from others. Add to them, the incredible side characters we meet in this book and you have an excellent selection of characters. A special shout out goes to Adam and Grace who I loved.

The romance in this book is wonderful. Georgia and Eli are meant for each other and you can tell that from the very start of the book. The way they interact, their care for other another and the undeniable tension between them.

Aside from the romance, this book covers the important topic of mental health awareness. Both Eli and Georgia have found their way to therapy as a way to make sense of their lives. This allows them to have open and honest discussions with each other about their feelings and worries. This means they trust each other more which is the basis of any good relationship.

Jessica Joyce has definitely made her way onto my auto-buy author list. Her books have both been excellent reads and ones I’ve had a lot of fun reading. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Overall, The Ex Vows is a wonderful second-chance romance with childhood best friends at its heart. If you like both of those tropes then this is certainly one for you. I would highly recommend it!

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce is a second chance romance and the story of Georgia and Eli.
 
These two thought they had found the one, but it ended up not working out.  Five years later they meet again at their best friend’s wedding, and they must work together to salvage it. That was a great opportunity for them to get closer again and you can still feel the sparks between them. But a lot has changed and sometimes they felt way too estranged from each other. I feel like I needed to see more from their past to understand where they fell in love. But there were definitely very cute moments like the found family aspect or the paper rings. Ultimately, I didn’t just fall head over heels in love with these characters. I absolutely loved the author’s other book, You, With A View, but unfortunately this story just didn’t work for me.
 
If you like second chance stories or books like Happy Place by Emily Henry, you will definitely enjoy this one. 3 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Jessica Joyce’s debut novel You with a View was a fantastic read in 2023 so I was very excited to read the Ex Vows. Former lovers who are now enemies forced to reconcile for the benefit of their best friends? Sign me up!
Georgia is the ultimate people pleaser. She works tirelessly to remain important to those around her as she’s terrified of losing their favour. After a troublesome childhood, Georgia found refuge and support from her best friend Adam, whose family made her feel welcome and loved once more. After a while Eli enters the picture and becomes the third best friend in the group. Eli also found solace with Adam and his family. Things become complicated when Georgia and Eli fell in love and began their adult lives together until Eli grinds their relationship to a halt, forcing Georgia to reevaluate her life and out herself first. Following their break up, the pair avoid one another as much as possible. If they do see each other it includes minimal interaction. As far as Adam knows, the two remain friends and nothing is wrong.
When Adam announces his marriage plans, Georgia steps up to organise the special day but after Eli slips on his best friend duties due to work, he is back and determined to prove his loyalty to both of his childhood friends. Disaster after disaster strikes the wedding party and new obstacles are placed in Georgia and Eli's path almost immediately.
This was a really great second chance romance. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the miscommunication trope. Georgia is certain that Eli hates her and was relieved by their relationship ending. Whereas it is pretty clear Eli still loves Georgia. It was an emotionally charged book that kept you engaged right until the end. I look forward to seeing what Jessica Joyce releases next!

the ex vows is a fun romcom that’s quite easy to get into and read. eli and georgia are characters that you immediately root for and you can feel their connection through the pages. for me personally, while it was a good book overall, nothing really stuck with me. i had a good time while reading it but it is nothing i will come back to or really think about again in the future. so if you are looking for a cute little romance story now and them this would be quite a good pick!

Ahh this was so cute.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the discussion around anxiety and the way our childhood can impact our behaviour as adults.

I liked the romance as well although I found some parts to be a bit too quick.

A nice summer read!

I loved loved LOVED this! I was recommended this by a colleague but wish I read it sooner. It was amazing!

3.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

While I did enjoy this book, I just couldn't stop comparing it to Joyce's first novel, You With a View, which I absolutely adored. The Ex Vows just didn't quite hit the mark for me but it was an enjoyable read.

Georgia and Eli are both such lovely characters to follow and I enjoyed learning about their past while seeing them at their present. Will be a great summer read!

✔️second chance
✔️found family
✔️forced proximity
✔️friends to lovers
✔️cute nickname for her
✔️open-doors
✔️anxiety rep

How can I even start with this review? I have so many feelings. First of all, I must say that Jessica Joyce is quickly becoming one of my favourite rom-com authors. I enjoyed her debut novel last year and I was excitedly waiting for her second one. The Ex Vows was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 and it met and surpassed my expectations.

Jessica's writing is so captivating. She knows perfectly well how to mix romance, banter, angst, heart-ripping situations, wholesome friendships and real-life moments.

As someone in her late twenties, I relate to Georgia, our FMC, in so many ways. I was touched by so many of the situations and feelings she experienced. I loved the growth she had throughout the book so much. And I loved how fiercely she protects and loves those who are important to her. There were times though, were I just wanted to scream at her 'Oh c'mon Georgia! just love him' but I understand our girl's apprehension.

Eli, our MMC, was perfect. I loved him. The way he loves Georgia is the kind of love you want to be loved. His love is steadfast, constant, and determined. I loved Eli's growth and change SO much. And how vulnerable but strong he was with his struggles with anxiety.

Their story was so beautiful and poignant. So perfect because of their imperfectness. So angsty and heart-wrenching but wholesome, funny and moving.

When I finished this book, I wanted to start it all over again immediately, and it made me want to cry so many times, especially by the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I truly think people haven’t experienced true love if they haven’t read The Ex-Vows by Jessica Joyce. This was everything I needed and more after an extraordinary debut with You with a view. The way Jessica Joyce was able to embody the superiority that is the second chance trope, without breaking my heart into a million pieces, was absolutely incredible. Georgia and Eli were giving me the same vibes as Harriet and Wyn from Happy place written by Emily Henry, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Jessica Joyce is well on her way to become the next big author that everyone is obsessed with. One of my favorite quotes from this book was “The one thing that hasn’t changed at all is him loving me” and i just feel like that fully captures the emotion in a second chance romance; that while our two main characters go through life and change, the love they have for each other never will, and on the contrary, will grow fonder. If you haven’t already, please please please (sabrina carpenter reference) pick up The Ex-Vows by Jessica Joyce. I can promise you will not be disappointed.