About the Book

Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling author of You, with a View.

Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.

With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.

What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.

As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new.

Review

For the most part, I enjoyed The Ex Vows. Georgia was one of the most relatable main characters that I’ve read all year. She’s struggling with not wanting her friends to forget about her. I thought that Joyce wrote her story beautifully and raw. The book was the best when it was focused on Georgia. That isn’t said to discount the romance. I quite loved the romance between Georgia and Eli. Both Georgia and Eli went through a self-journey. And already, we never got Eli’s POV, his journey was well characterized through the lens of Georgia.

A major complaint that I had regarding this book was that I felt the flashbacks were weird. I wish they were weaved into the story differently. They took me out of the story for a second so that my brain could adapt. And I also wish there was more groveling.

Final Thoughts

The Ex Vows does seem similar to Emily Henry’s novel—Happy Place. Others might take issue with how similar; however, it didn’t bother me. I particularly enjoyed this one more and how it involved Georgia and Eli trying to save their friend’s wedding. Those scenes were emotional and funny at times. I also enjoyed Georgia’s story conclusion better with this one.

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