Synopsis
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.
Rating
★★★★
Thoughts
This was such a fun read! It took me back to the 80s and 90s when we worshipped our local radio disc jockeys, who were very much the celebrities at our school dances. If you like a light romance and appreciate a good radio personality, you will likely enjoy this story.
Shay and Dominic were naturally interesting main characters, with enough charisma to entertain the mases through the airwaves. They represented young adulthood well, bringing a mix of personal, family, and career issues to the overall story arc, which was enjoyable. Most importantly, the pair’s banter and chemistry were swoon-worthy.
My only criticism is that the story’s pacing could have been a bit more even. It dragged ever so slightly in the middle and felt a bit too fast in the end. I would have enjoyed more of a happily ever after for this enemies-to-lovers couple.
Edition
My beautiful book comes from Illumicrate Afterlight.