Review: ‘The Ex Talk’ by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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The Ex Talk
by Rachel Lynn SolomonPublished by Berkley on January 26, 2021
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: AudioBook
Pages: 345
Narrator: Emily Ellet
Length: 10 Hours And 52 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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’ve had The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon on my TBR for a while now and finally made time to read it. All thanks to my local library for having the audiobook version so I could enjoy The Ex Talk on the go while also doing chores around the house. This was my first book by author Rachel Lynn Solomon, and I definitely plan on reading more of this author’s books, even if I didn’t enjoy this book as much.
Potential spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t read this book, you may want to hold off on reading my review.
Unfortunately, this book wasn’t my complete jam when reading it, and here’s the main reason. The main characters faking being in a relationship and then going on live radio to discuss why they broke up (from a fake relationship) and such was unethical. Yes, it’s a show about two exes discussing why they broke up, but they never really dated. They were forced to do it. Otherwise, one of them would lose their job, while the other would get to stay, even though one of them had been working for the radio for many years. All because their boss is a complete jerk, especially to the FMC, Shay.
Note: If I don’t like politicians and the media lying about something, why would I want two people lying if they were ever in a relationship on live radio and telling their fake story? Yes, I realize it’s a fictional story, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I know if a real radio show did this, I would be ticked off.
I enjoyed some parts of the book, even though I found the whole fake relationship storyline a bit odd. I loved the MMC, Dominic, despite not having access to his point of view, as the story is entirely told from Shay’s perspective. What drew me to Dominic was that I could relate to his character because I also have anxiety. I found myself wanting to comfort him during the times he faced stage fright twice in the book. I wish people understood that overcoming anxiety isn’t easy, and Shay’s reaction to him having anxiety was not compassionate at all.
I did like Shay sometimes in the book, but she did come off annoying at times, especially with how she treated others who were achieving goals, dreams, or even happiness in their lives. But I understood her frustration, especially when I realized how she was being treated at her job. Don’t even get me started with Shay and Dominic’s boss. He truly was a sexist and a horrible person.
I liked how the author addressed grief in this book and how you can’t just get over losing someone, even when it’s years down the road. Shay loved her father, and she missed him, and he was the whole reason she wanted to work in radio.
I really wished I would’ve enjoyed this book more, but overall, I just couldn’t get over the fake relationship thing between Shay and Dominic. I did like that they do end up getting together in the end, after they realize how much they like one another, but that’s after they are forced together.
Although this book only gets three stars from me, it doesn’t mean I won’t recommend it to other readers. They may not be bothered by the fake relationship storyline in this one and may very well enjoy it more than I did. I’ve passed on my physical copy of this book to my college girl who had this on TBR and was begging me to give it to her.
What to Expect:
✔️Fake Dating/Relationship
✔️Workplace Romance
✔️Hate to Love/Enemies to Lovers
✔️Forced Proximity
About Rachel Lynn Solomon
Rachel Lynn Solomon is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Her books have been translated into more than fifteen languages and optioned for film. Originally from Seattle, she's currently navigating expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she can often be found exploring the city, collecting stationery, and working up the courage to knit her first sweater. Connect with her on Instagram @rlynn_solomon.
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