The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Synopsis (via Goodreads):  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 received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

"But maybe that's what we all are—halfway-broken people searching for things that will smooth our jagged edges."

This is another book that's been on my "Currently Reading" shelf for far too long. It wasn't that I didn't like or enjoy the book, but I sat it down and just sort of... forgot about it. I picked it up recently and fell back into the story like I'd never left. The public radio aspect of The Ex Talk was the best part of this book. I loved learning more about the innerworkings of public radio and seeing characters that had a passion for journalism and reporting. I enjoy listening to NPR and really liked the references that were peppered in throughout the story.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: the miscommunication trope kills a book for me. When we as readers know the characters like each other, but we see them fight those feelings because of course they don't feel the same way, it's annoying. Shay and Dominic clearly fell hard for each other, and deciding on "something casual" felt like an insult to both of their characters. They repeatedly assumed they knew what the other person wanted from the relationship, or they made it about work, and I found myself rolling my eyes at their excuses.

I also think The Ex Talk would have benefitted from duel POVs. Seeing Dominic's perspective through all of this would have added a much needed layer to the story. We just see Shay making decisions on behalf of them both, and we never really get his input on how situations play out. It would have helped to know what he was feeling and thinking in certain situations and added depth to both of their characters. 

We all know there has to be conflict in order for there to be resolution. Something bad has to happen before the characters inevitably admit their true feelings for each other and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, the villain in this story was someone that should never have had a role in their relationship in the first place. They were slimy from the start, and I hate that it was them that outed Shay and Dominic, seeing as they weren't completely innocent themselves. Their decision impacted the lives of several people yet they were left mostly unscathed. I wanted Shay and Dominic to come clean on their own terms, and not have it decided for them. Now it just feels like they were honest only because they were forced to be, and not because they were good people wanting to do the right thing. 

The intimacy was also super weird. It felt awkward to read about and I almost wish we'd had a closed door romance with this one. I think their lack of experience and shy personalities should have meant their private moments were just for the two of them, and not for us as readers. I don't know if it was how the author described those moments, but I felt like I should have skipped them for the character's benefit. 

The Ex Talk was a super fun concept with awkward and adorable characters that I could totally get behind as a couple. I just wish they'd been more open with each other. I also think Dominic should have been more assertive and supportive of Shay in the workplace. Yes, Shay was absolutely capable of handling herself, except she didn't. I would have preferred if Dominic had stepped in and stopped the mistreatment she received in her work environment, and been more bold with his intentions and how he felt about her. He was too passive for my tastes. 

The antique shopping, Steve (Shay's dog), Ruthie (an awesome friend), and how the story dealt with family loss were amazing. I thought the author addressed a really tough issue with the care and attention it deserved, and her comments about the loss feeling new even after 10 years really hit hard. So definitely give this one a go, if any of these elements appeal to you, and if a lack of communication doesn't make you crazy. (★★★☆☆)