EXES AND O’S by Amy Lea is my first favorite read of 2023. I told you all before I read it that it was going to be five stars, and it still is now that I’ve finished it. Just as much as I enjoyed Set On You, the first standalone in Lea’s Influencer series, Exes and O’s was made for book lovers and us bookstagrammers that love reading romance. 

Tara Chen and Trevor Metcalfe were the main reasons I loved this book. Going in, I knew it was going to be a “room-ance” (a romance between two roommates) and friends to lovers, but I didn’t expect how much more we were going to get as Lea took the time to flesh them out and build their friendship. I thought it was done so well that I had a great time reading their banter as friends before it even got romantic. I think it was only once it started to get intimate on an emotional and personal level, as both Tara and especially Trevor began to let their guard down, that I was patiently waiting and anticipating for them to become more than friends. That whole build up between them tied in with Tara meeting her exes to see if there was a possibility of a second chance romance with any of them, made this book fun, as any rom com would, but also heartfelt.

I also really liked how Lea was able to play with and explore this idea about tropes and stereotypes, similar to what she had done in Set On You. Tara has such a kind heart and a beautiful personality. She was never annoying or self-righteous and just always saw the good in people. The way some of her exes claimed that her clinginess or how she acted was “crazy” bothered me because they failed to truly see and accept her as she is. Trevor meanwhile may seem like a flirt, but he’s actually quite sensitive and guarded for deeper reasons. Tara and Trevor aren’t your average grumpy-sunshine or room-ance trope, they have sincere qualities beyond what may be initially perceived.

I could go on and gush about all my favorite moments (ch. 26 had me swooning!), but I will just leave you to read it and enjoy it yourself. I can’t wait for Mel’s book that was previewed at the end. Anything Amy Lea writes, I will read it - she is the ultimate romance queen.