This was like the perfect second chance romance. I always love this trope when it's well written, and in this case, it truly was.
Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect because I hadn't read any work by this author before, but I ended up being very pleasantly surprised by her writing.
I loved both Eli and Georgia so much; they were both so mature and I really enjoyed how they resolved their issues together. The story was addictive and very bingeable. Once I started it, I only wanted to keep going. One of my favorite parts of their story was definitely the character development; individually and as a couple. I especially enjoyed all the cute moments they had together; the tension, the angst, ... were everything. I'd for sure recommend reading this. As I said, it's a great second chance romance.
I'll definitely be reading more books by Jessica Joyce, as I really liked this one.

✨️ Has a man ever been this in love? ✨️

I have been sitting on this review for days, wondering how to put my feelings into words. In the most wonderful of ways, my words have no weight against the love that I have for The Ex Vows (and Jessica).
This book is the perfect second-chance romance - my favorite trope, I am particular about it, so TRUST ME. It serves angst, yearning, love, understanding, heartbreak, friendship, and characters you'd root for.
I could write a paper dissecting this book. There are some pivotal scenes that really stand out, including the prologue. FYI, both times I read it, the prologue completely took me out. I had to put down my Kindle and take a few breaths before I could continue. With hindsight, it feels like every little thing that happened throight this story had a deeper meaning, or reason.
Sometimes I go a little nerdy about how story structure makes the story flow so damn well, and I have to say this: Jessica Joyce did a phenomenal job with crafting this story - not only story-line-wise itself, or with respect to character arcs, but in the way everything is structured to enhance the story itself.
Anyway, congratulations to Jessica Joyce for making me cry again. My tears for your beautiful stories, forever and ever ❤️.

Jessica Joyce has an unbelievable talent to structure the most beautiful romance books (and I read a lot of them!), the characters will steal your heart and take you on the most delightful journey of love and self-discovery. Eli and Georgia’s love story hit you in the most incredible way, chapter 31 in particular!! Ex-lovers reuniting at their best friend’s wedding, attempting to save the event after a series of unexpected accidents it’s full of hope, tension, friendship, flirty banter, spice, more tension and the most beautiful paper rings (I’ll say no more about these… other than emotional).

I feel like Jessica Joyce should pay for my therapist’s bills. This book is everything. It’s heartwarming, sexy, emotional, funny, … it made me cry multiple times which I didn’t expect at all. I love Georgia and Eli and could identify with Georgia a lot. Usually I’m not a huge fan of second chance romances but this one was perfect. It’s been some days since I finished it, but I still can’t find the right words. One of my favourite reads of 2024. Everybody please go and read it.

Georgia & Eli ❤️

🏡Georgia and Eli were childhood friends with a shared best friend in Adam. Both found a second home with Adam’s family, Georgia with a mostly absent, workaholic single dad, and Eli with parents who had lost everything financially which strained their relationship.

🏊‍♂️The pair finally admitted their feelings for each other in college, and moved together to New York afterwards, with their first post college jobs.

💒Their biggest fears ended up ruining their relationship, but five years later they are thrown together helping Adam and his fiancé Grace sort out the crazy, last minute wedding arrangements. It’s either going to drive the pair apart or together.

📚I loved Jessica Joyce’s debut and was thrilled to be accepted to the ARC of her second book. Eli and Georgia’s second chance love story just knocked it right out the park. Just the perfect amount of pace and angst. Little dropped hints that become clear later. So many true feelings. That terrible time in your twenties when your friends are pairing up, starting families and leaving you behind. Figuring out your life path. It’s captured beautifully in this gorgeous story. ❤️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher
My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Pub Date 18 Jul 2024

I loved this take on a second chance romance with two former lovers thrown together to rescue their mutual best friend’s apparently cursed wedding. Georgia is at a crossroads in her life and at first dealing with Eli is just one more unwanted burden, but the tension and chemistry between them just sizzles on the page from the outset. The story develops beautifully, with a balance between present-day wedding complications and hints of their shared past as first friends and then partners, and although I usually prefer dual point of view, it didn’t matter here because enough of Eli’s take is discernible through the writing. This is another delightfully romantic tale from this author, who has definitely become a must-read for me.

Prepare yourselves. It’s going to get emotional, you will be okay I promise 🥹

TEV is everything. Set in the gorgeous backdrop of Blue Yonder Winery in Napa Valley, Georgia and Eli, now strangers over lovers, find themselves alone together for a week in a place that holds memories full of promise, happiness and friendships past, as they try to pull together their best friend’s seemingly cursed wedding. But it’s fine, totally fine, Georgia can handle this, she’s fine (honestly).

Memories and emotions entwine, overlap – wrapping like vines, taking hold and causing confusion, while feelings bubble, and looks linger. The intimate moments envelop you and at this point, Eli’s dang chain is a starring role 😮‍💨

Listen to Jessica’s Spotify playlist if you want to get lost in your emotions while you put the clean laundry away… Yeah, that happened😭 Featuring the girl TSwift (naturally) but also because sorry but did she just write half of TTPD for Eli and Georgia?! And Hozier’s The Work Song is the cherry on this emotional ride 🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️

If you like:
🍇 Second chances
🍇 Friends to lovers
🍇 Forced proximity
🍇 Slow burn
🍇 He calls her peach 🍑🥹
🍇 Anxiety rep
🍇 Found family

R E V I E W

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

☆☆☆☆☆

Advanced Reader Copy graciously provided by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Penguin via Netgalley

This was my first Jessica Joyce read and it certainly won't be my last. The Ex Vows is a beautifully written second-chance romance, telling the story of two friends turned lovers and the heartbreaking dissolution of their relationship. This story was very reminiscent of an Emily Henry novel (think: Happy Place but with slightly less devastation), and I can't recommend it enough.

Told through the perspective of people-pleasing female main character Georgia, the story begins when she is forced into an awkward reunion with ex Eli as they come together to celebrate their mutual childhood best friend, Adam, getting married. Unbeknownst to their friends, Georgia has survived the past five years since their crippling break-up by following a set of strict rules, enabling her to remain civil and friendly with Eli whilst protecting both her friendship with Adam and her heart from undergoing any more trauma.

But from the minute Eli disembarks his plane, it becomes clear that he is no longer willing to play by their unspoken rules, throwing Georgia's world off its axis. When things start to go awry with the wedding, both her and Eli readily agree to do what they can, forcing them into close proximity as they attempt to save the day. With one week before the guests arrive and a wedding venue filled with memories of the past, Georgia is forced to confront her feelings for Eli as he works tirelessly to get her to talk about where it all went wrong.

Jessica Joyce cleverly weaves memories of the past amongst the events of the present to create a story that is poignant and romantic, steamy, and heartwarming all at once. The integration of mental health conditions into the plot was very effective and framed a narrative where we fell in love with both main characters - not an easy feat for a story where a relationship has imploded and blame is often easily assigned. Eli's self-actualisation and steps towards recovery, steps which ultimately lead him back to Georgia and conversely enable him to support her with her own issues, make us fall in love with him, one chapter at a time. The quick banter exchanged and his dirty talk (the embodiment of 'it's always the quiet ones' indeed) didn't hurt either. A great read!

The perfect read for summer. A second-chance. A wedding. Hilarious and heartwarming.

The Ex Vows reminds us that relationships are messy. The author has penned, yet again, realistic individuals with careers, missteps and forgiveness. Joyce also portrays mental health with dignity.

I swooned, cried and cheered throughout this read.

Thank you, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Penguin

OMG I have found my new favourite read of 2024. This was my first Jessica Joyce book but it will not be my last. I loved every page and Georgia and Eli need to be protected at all costs. The chemistry and love between them was perfect. Second chance lovers isn’t usually my vibe but it was perfection and I loved every minute of the slow burn of them realising their feelings again. I related so much with Georgia’s insecurities and anxiety and list loving!

I was an emotional mess and I loved every page

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Joyce and the publishers Random House UK for this eARC.

After falling in love with You, With A View last year, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Ex Vows and it did not disappoint.

Joyce’s writing truly shines as we meet Georgia and Eli in their second chance romance.

The longing and angsty moments in this book were written extremely well and the romantic scenes were absolutely outstanding. With a set of wonderful side characters, a captivating plot and filled with banter, this really is the must read of 2024 for any romance lovers!

Tropes:
Second Chance Romance
Childhood Friends-to-lovers
Forced Proximity
Wedding Shenanigans
Single POV

The Ex Vows is one of my favorite reads of 2024! Hands down. I’ve read the previous two books of Jessica Joyce and loved them but this is a home run for me on all accounts. I’m a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and second chance and Joyce executes these tropes to perfection.
Georgia and Eli sucker punched me with their shared history which was filled with a strong friendship, laughs, hurt but most of all love.
How Joyce incorporated their past into the present was flawlessly done and made the story flow smoothly. I was invested and enamored with this couple. Their chemistry and connection jumped off the pages thanks to the impeccable writing. There was so much thought and attention to every word and detail between these characters and I felt it all.
The side characters were amazing too. Georgia and Eli’s friendship with Adam was another highlight among many in this beautiful story. I could go on.
All I can say is this is why I read romance. Thank you Jessica Joyce.

ARC Review

♾️⭐️

✨I didn’t think anything could beat you with a view but this book was gut wrenching and beautiful all at once. I felt like my heart got ripped out and put back together it was just so perfect and I already want to read this again.

✨ I cannot fathom how a more perfect man than Eli can be written he had my heart from the start and it was so obvious how in love with Georgia he was. I related to Georgia so much and could understand her feeling of change in everyone’s lives, you could feel the love between her and Eli within the first few chapters and I’ve never rooted so hard for a couple so quickly into a book.

✨ The side characters were fantastic in this and I loved that it felt like such a family that everyone was deeply involved in , I don’t know how Jessica Joyce can beat this but I’m so excited to read anything she writes in the future💕

À little slow at the start whilst sorting out the characters and their relationships plus a lot going on with a wedding to plan.. Builds nicely with plenty a drama along the way. Georgia, the main female character is quite emotionally needy and seems to be in tears most of the time. The book is about second chances and a lot of will they/won't they. Some passages didn't flow for me but I think that was because I'm a reader the other side of the Atlantic. Some humour involved with trying to organise the perfect unrealistic wedding with several disasters thrown in. A good holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for giving me a copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved The Ex Vows. I was rooting for Georgia and Eli throughout the whole story. I liked the depictions of anxiety and not having your life completely sorted by your late 20s. I liked the setting of the vineyard and reading about all the disasters that threatened their friends wedding.

Jessica Joyce perfectly describes being an adult in your 20s through the characters Georgia & Eli. From being scared of doing new things to still wanting to be a part of your friends life.
I loved the little adventures Eli and Georgia did to save their friends wedding 🥂and how they learned all the things about each other again. How people move on after a break up, meet their ex boyfriend again and how life goes on no matter what happens.
Jessica Joyce really did write the perfect second chance romance for people in their 20s. How someone struggles with things from their past or generally being an adult. 🌼
All in all a perfect summer read! 💕☀️
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley!

This was sooooo good and I loved it so much! I have been loving second chance romances lately, and this book represented that trope perfectly. The Ex Vows is a beautiful story about how, sometimes, your first love is meant to be forever. The characters were complex and felt very real, and I appreciated the mental health representation and how it was portrayed, as well as the importance of self love and acceptance. I really enjoyed the storyline and set up, as well as the writing style.

The angst, tension, and longing between Georgia and Eli was so real and I experienced all the emotions that they went through - yes, I cried a few times… also may have screamed at my Kindle at some points because I just wanted them to give in and talk but also didn’t want them to hurt again, but also wanted them to be happy and in love…Agh! *screams in frustration*

This was my first book by Jessica Joyce, and I will definitely read anything she writes from now on! I’m now off to preorder this book because I need the physical copy in my bookshelf!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this second chance Romcom! It was so deep and raw and emotion filled - I’m still not over it. I was rooting for Georgia and Eli from the start, I loved how they rekindled their friendship before learning how to love each-other again! What I didn’t expect was this book to be filled with found family and acceptance, took me by surprise and made me fall in love with this book even more. Jessica Joyce represented anxiety so beautifully which added so much more depth when reading!

☀️ this book is one for the summer reads Pile!☀️

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was not expecting to be completely blown away by this romance. The Ex Vows is a second chance romance between Georgia and Eli. Both characters are perfectly built and their relationship absolutely had me rooting for them. I devoured the banter and loved the backdrop of planning their best friends wedding. This book had an easygoing vibe and atmosphere that captured the joy reading this felt like. While, there were humorous moments, the serious issue of why Georgia and Eli's relationship didn't work out the first time, his dedication to his job including his mental health regarding anxiety was perfectly balanced. The looming reckoning and over the course of the book for their relationship kept me reading. I enjoyed the overall conclusion which nicely fits these two characters I got to know over the bumpy ride of their relationship. A very pleasant romance story that I've read in a long time. 4⭐

This story gives us :

Friends to lovers
Second chance
Forced proximity
Single POV

Single POV is not my favourite and I didn’t realise this when I picked this book up. It is defiantly a personal preference and I’ve done my best to not let it influence my review of the plot .

I haven’t read many books that span the timeline of college and life afterwards. It’s usually one or the other and I felt the plot covered so many changes in life realistically .

In this second chance romance Georgia and Eli are brought together for their best friends wedding and need to work to stop it all falling apart.

The book sits mid way for me , I felt like it was but could have been so much more , a little more personality with the characters , a little more drama in the plot but hey that is just my opinion and may not be what that author wanted