A review by natashaleighton_
Seven Exes by Lucy Vine

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A wonderfully witty and wildly chaotic Rom-com that’s packed full of humour, and sees hopeful protagonist Esther reflect upon her past relationships and romantic mishaps in the hope of discovering ‘THE ONE’.

I absolutely loved every second of this and—given the lighthearted tone of the premise (which sounded fabulously Rom-com-y and reminded me of the movie What’s Your Number), I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotion and social commentary that we get to explore. 

Dealing with past insecurities, infidelity, mental health struggles and even exploitative workplace relationships— Lucy Vine cleverly traverses the highs and lows of dating and how our perceptions (and life experiences—both the good and the bad) shape us into the people we are today. 

This is actually the first book by Lucy Vine I’ve ever read but I know given how much I enjoyed this—it certainly won’t be the last!

I adored the writing which was easy to follow and wonderfully conversational in tone. I truly felt immersed in Esther’s world and loved getting to know the vibrant and beautifully nuanced characters within her friend group. The banter was off the charts good and made me chuckle on more than once occasion—especially during their drunk/ tipsy conversations. 

I absolutely loved Esther, who was such a relatable character and I loved watching her grow in confidence and learn to accept all the great things in her life (even if they don’t fit the dream version of her life she visualised as a teen.) 

The exes were interesting to meet and I enjoyed the flashback scenes which gave us a good sense of what each relationship was like (and true reasons behind the initial breakups).

I had soo much fun watching Esther and her besties (Bibi and Lou) comparing each ex to their past selves and discussing whether reconnecting would be worth it. 

I laughed, cried and (a couple of times) got irrationally angry —and in one particular scene got completely grossed out, but the bond of friendship and the unconditional support of the people you love was what really made this a standout read for me. 

Overall, a heartfelt and humourous read that’s perfect for fans of Rom-coms with Bridget-Jones level catastrophes, drunken shenanigans and endearing characters you can’t help but root for.

Also, a huge thank you to Simon and Schuster for the physical arc. 
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