Exes and O’s

Description

A romance novel-obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of Set On You.

Romance book connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men—all of whom dumped her because of her “stage-five clinger” tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead, thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.
 
Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn’t his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara’s journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.
 
The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily ever after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection?”‘Unapologetically romantic, wonderfully sexy, always brilliant. I adored Set On You, but Exes and O’s is the stuff bookish dreams are made of. With this stunning sophomore novel, Amy Lea has officially rocketed her way into my heart as a must read author!“—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author

“Amy Lea’s Exes and O’s is for anyone who’s ever dreamed their book boyfriend could exist in real life. It’s a charming and funny friends-to-lovers romance that sparkles with Amy’s signature sweetness and steam.”—Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

“Laugh out loud, ardently feminist, and with a hero straight out of a fevered daydream, Exes and O’s is an outright, unmitigated delight!”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners

“Exes and O’s is every rom-com reader’s dream, a delightfully meta romp with a heroine who loves tropes as much as her readers. Tara’s quest to find herself a second-chance romance of her own is swoony, hilarious and ends in the perfect HEA.”—Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of The Roughest Draft

“A gorgeous friends-to-lovers slow-burn, Exes and O’s is filled with fun, charm and an appealing hero who sees and loves the protagonist for exactly who she is. A perfect mix of relatable characters, hilarious banter, and steam, Exes and O’s is for everyone who has wondered about past relationships and future loves.”—Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In

“I flew through this book—Amy Lea packed every sentence with so much hilarity and heart. Get ready for some trope-y goodness in Exes and O’s, including a meta awareness of those same tropes that’s a blast to read. If you love the roommate vibes of New Girl, a heroine who’s unabashedly ‘extra,’ and a hero who unabashedly accepts her for who she is, you won’t want to miss this one!”—Alicia Thompson, national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

“Lea’s follow-up to Set on You (2022) is a hilarious, relatable exploration of life and love, filled to brimming with soft moments, small gestures, and a clear love of the romance genre itself…A comically delightful romance about how the best love stories are found where you least expect them.”—Kirkus (starred review)Amy Lea is an Asian Canadian government analyst who runs the Bookstagram account @amyleabooks, where she promotes and reviews contemporary romance novels. Set on You is her debut novel.Reader’s Guide
Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
Discussion Questions:

1.   Tara is a massive fan of romance tropes. What are your favorite and least favorite romance tropes and why? What is the main trope for Exes and O’s?

2.   Do you agree with Tara that classic romantic comedy–style meet-cutes are “dead” in today’s technologically driven society? Have technology, the internet, and dating apps made modern dating harder or easier?

3.   What is your favorite breakup song?

4.   Inspired by Grandma Flo, Tara decides to seek out her own second-chance love story by exploring whether there is relationship potential with her past boyfriends. Would you reach out to any of your exes? What are the benefits of second-chance romances?

5.   Many of Tara’s ex-boyfriends refer to her as the “crazy ex-girlfriend,” a term that is often used against women. Why do you think the term “crazy” is used as a weapon against women in particular? What are some examples of “crazy ex-girlfriends” in film, television, or music that depict this stereotype? Is this portrayal usually negative? Does Tara fit this stereotype?

6.   How did Trevor’s childhood experiences and his family situation impact the way he views love and relationships? In what ways did Tara’s passion for romance (and romance novels) change his understanding of relationships?

7.   In what ways are Tara’s and Trevor’s outlooks on love and relationships different? In what ways (if any) are they similar? Do you believe a relationship can work between polar opposites?

8.   Tara’s ex Seth believes that reading romance has given her unrealistic expectations when it comes to love. Do you agree that romance books or movies give people unrealistic expectations? Why or why not?

9.   In what ways could romance books or movies be beneficial to romantic relationships?US