The Ex Talk

Rachel Lynn Solomon

Jan 2021 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

An Instant Indie Bestseller

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon's sparkling romantic comedy debut.
 
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.

Ratings and reviews

4.25 stars--THE EX TALK by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a multi-troped, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun. Told from first person perspective (Shay) THE EX TALK follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun. Shay Goldstein was the fastest rising producer at Seattle’s Pacific Public Radio, and her weekly radio series ‘Puget Sounds’ was going great until it wasn’t. Her barely veiled hatred of newcomer and journalist Dominic Yun would become fodder for management, and in this, our couple would be forced to work together by the station manager or lose their jobs. Liking the ‘sparring’ and ‘vibe’ between our leading couple, it is suggested a series of podcasts focusing on relationships but more specifically on an ex-relationship, that never was. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shay and Dominic, and the fall-out when the secrets and lies become public knowledge. Shay Goldstein and Dominic Yun couldn’t have been more different, and working together to create a fake, former relationship draws the couple together but a mandatory weekend together finds our couple falling for one another, a fall that will hit rock-bottom when the truth is revealed. Developing a relationship that never was reveals one another’s relationship history, family, and future hopes and dreams. The relationship between Shay and Dominic is a friends to enemies, forced fake relationship where the sexual tension is masked by the back and forth, yin and yang of jealousy and hate. Dominic, with a Master’s in Journalism, had just come off of a long term relationship, and our heroine was no longer looking for someone to love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Shay’s mother Leanna, and her fiancé Phil; Dominic’s parents Morris and Margot; misogynistic station manager Kent O’Grady; show host Paloma Powers; Shay’s best friend Ameena and her boyfriend TJ; junior producer Ruthie Liao. THE EX TALK is an age-gap, multi-cultural, enemies to lovers, fake relationship story line. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s ability to slowly build the background and history of our leading couple is the ideal set up for a wonderful story that is sure to resonate to many readers. The character driver premise is engaging and imaginative ; the characters are quirky and sassy; the romance is tender and seductive.

Shay has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade but lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic, 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 (I definitely agree!), given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, and as soon as their first episode airs—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. Leaving readers with one of the best romantic comedies of 2021. I can low-key relate to Shay and her personal struggles and as the story progressed, in the back of my mind, I begin to think—wait a minute… Why is this so good? It was hard not to love everything the author dished out with this release. The romance between Shay and Dominic was steady and smooth. Their chemistry was impeccable and it was amazing to see how these two lonely adults come to grow, love, and learn together. This infamous duo were real and raw which is a miss in most romcoms, and what I liked most about their dynamic was how they dealt and addressed their real life issues: death, lost love, loneliness, depression, and more. Plus we can’t forget to mention their hilarious smartass banter. I fell more in love with Shay and Dominic with their quick wit and constant back and forth. It was comedic gold! ‘The Ex Talk’ was addicting and truly entertaining, I nearly finished it in one sitting. I’d only called it a night when the clock hit 3AM! It had all the elements I look for in a great romance and I know this is a novel I will—hell anyone can read time and time again.

This was so good.

About the author

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the bestselling author of love stories for teens and adults, including The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, and Weather Girl. Originally from Seattle, she's currently navigating expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she's on a mission to try as many Dutch sweets as possible.