Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Review: I didn’t finish “The Ex Vows”…”The Ex Vows” finished me. 

 

“The Ex Vows” follows Georgia Woodward and Eli Mora, estranged exes,  as they are thrust together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters. 

 

I think the reason why I hold this story so close to my heart is because I have never resonated with a book as much as I have with this one! It is so perfectly in sync with where I am at in life and I am convinced that Georgia and I are practically the same person. I found myself relating to her need for control, her desire for belonging, and her hesitance in communicating her needs. Watching her character grow as the story progressed not only gave me hope for myself in terms of where I want to be but genuinely made my heart so happy! 

 

Though this story is told from a singular perspective, Joyce masterfully uses Georgia’s observant nature to shed light on Eli’s character. She does a great job weaving in snippets of what their relationship was like before it soured in the present day narrative and executes their reunion perfectly in having them face each other in order to step into their roles for their mutual friend’s wedding. I love how Eli slowly but surely shows pieces of himself that are unpolished to Georgia, giving up the control and stability he once clung to, to encourage her to do the same. Watching them finally let go and be messy, embracing all of themselves and each other, to make their relationship work the second time around brought me to tears. It destroyed me and put me back together (a commonality in all her books). I cannot thank Joyce enough for this story of love, loss, and healing. It has irrevocably changed my life and has left an imprint on my soul.