Kissing Your Ex

by Brooke Stevens

A woman is confronted by a difficult choice between two very different men--her ex-husband Jack, who is doing his best to win her back, and her boss, Andrew, who has asked Maddy to marry him. By the author of Tattoo Girl. Original.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Savanna G.]

Why why why would he end it like that? I need more. I need to know what happens? Is Maddy pregnant again? Who’s baby is it? Is it Jack’s or Andrew’s? That’s how I thought it would end but it didn’t! It ended with Jack in tears and I felt that. 😭 I wanted to cry too! These feelings are strange, because I struggled with this book at first. I did not like the beginning because it was confusing and it was hard for me to keep up with but eventually I pushed through and became attached to the characters and now I feel as though I need to know what happens next! I need my questions answered!

Overall, it was a good story. The flashbacks helped plant an image about what Maddy’s relationships were like with three different guys even though she seemed undeceive about who she wanted. For somebody who was almost forty, she was still a teenager when it came to love. I always believed the saying:”you’re not in love until you don’t feel like cheating anymore,” but I think Maddy just likes the idea of being loved, and wasn’t really in love to begin with.

[MBenzz]

This book just didn't do it for me. It took me forever to finish it, and I was never really interested throughout the length of the story. I just kept thinking the whole situation was ridiculous.

Maddy Green was married to Jack, the love of her life whom she met in college. They had a great 10-year marriage which ultimately fell apart due to a series of unfortunate events. Now, I really did find the divorce sad, and even a little unnecessary...it was obvious these two really loved one another, but regardless, they separated.

So Maddy moved from NYC to Atlanta, finds a job as a graphic designer and starts dating her (very wealthy) boss Andrew. He's no Jack, but she enjoys his company. Well, Jack contacts her after 3 years of not speaking and it just seemed to me that she jumped at everything he wanted her to do. This is supposed to be an intelligent businesswoman, and she throws her future away for her ex-husband?? Unbelievable.

Overall, I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. I didn't really like any of the characters, I couldn't relate, and the story was very predictable. It seems unfathomable to me that Maddy wouldn't just get on with her life and forget about the past. But hey, that's just me. I recommend it you're looking for a mindless way to pass the time, but definitely not one of my favorites.

[Tricia]

Loved this book. Lots of emotions. I cried for Maddy. She has endured so much. I was left with questions about if he cheated before the relationship ended. Like Maddy I found it odd that he was in a new relationship so soon after the split. I will definitely reread this book. I didn't like the ending that well. I would of like an epilogue like 2 years later..... something anything other than just Jack just saying Maddy. The Author really nailed the emotions though

[ShyAnn64]

Maddy had left her memories of Jack, and New York, behind. She's in a serious relationship with her boss, Andrew Barnes, who isn't pleased about Jack's overtures. In fact, Andrew has suddenly decided he wants Maddy to marry him. And when Jack invites her to join him in the Caribbean, with the wedding only days away, she must weigh the present against the past—and choose her future...

[Em]

The title is catchy so I got this book! The story line was interesting, the style was not boring and all in all it was not disappointing.

Maddy Greene is presently engaged with a boyfriend of six months when she received a package and a letter from her ex-husband she never saw for three years. In his letter, Jack expressed how sorry he is for leaving her and how much he still loves her. He also asked for one last chance to meet up with her to decide if they should get back into each other's arms.

In spite of being engaged, Maddy decided to meet up with Jack and see how things might go between them. At the airport, Andrew, her fiancé, tried to stop her and warned her that if she goes to meet Jack then they are through. Maddy decided to go anyway.

The novel went on with a flashback to the time when Maddy and Jack were still together. It showed every detail of how they started and how each other's mistake tore them apart.

During their meet up, they were able talk things through. They were almost back into each other again when another surprise happened, again through a note addressed to Jack which happened to come from his ex-partner. To Maddy, everything began to shatter all over again. When she thought that Jack was really the one, there he broke her trust again.

The last few pages of the novel are tricky. I thought that they would finally call it quits. But in the end, they got together again.

Kissing Your Ex by Brooke Stevens is a story of great love in simple language. It is a light, fascinating read, making it easily liked. I can consider it as one of my personal favorites. There are some lines that would be nice to go back to.

[Jane Thomson]

This novel started out so well and started to go downhill from my perspective about one third of the way through. I found the main characters lacked any sense of maturity. Maddy oftens behaves like a teenager instead of an adult as she deals with her marital problems.We see Jack from Maddy's perspective alone, so we cannot judge the situation from his point of view. I am sure that the decision of when to have children has caused great anxiety for couples and that the lines of communication do break down. However, the author failed to engage me with the characters; hence, I could neither feel their pain nor sympathize with their dilemmas. The outraged fiance seemed like a plastic character, who, from my point of view, was not adequately developed. His behaviour at times should have had Maddy running in the opposite direction. It seems to me that the plot lacked depth resulting in a very uneven read.

I kept reading the book because I did enjoy some the author's descriptions of New York and Atlanta. Nevertheless, I would not recommend this novel.

[Steph B]

This was a wonderful love story. The author does a terrific job of helping us understand the characters and the reminiscing helped build a view of their history. A real perspective of how various life situations affect a marriage and how important communication (and disagreements) are to a healthy marriage. Her intermittent memories of past scenarios, helped us learn more about her as well - especially as we were taken through her mind and the affair. Great portrayal of the mind at work and how thoughts can sometimes progress. I was happy with the ending, and would've loved to have had a bit more confirmation as to whether she was pregnant or not.

[Kelly11]

Thanks for the recommendation, Nicole. This was a very good book. Makes you think about the choices you make and how they really can be life changing. Sometimes the things you think you want really aren't want you need. Good book.

[Ruth]

This was an interesting book about a married couple who gets divorded. I would not tell you to go out of your way, however, to get it to read.

[Nicole]

every once in a while, I break out this book...it makes you realize that those old relationships, are sometimes the best and you are happy and proud of yourself that you let the other ones go...

[Lauren]

My friend let me borrow this book . . although I was a little skeptical with the title haha. But the overall story was good, the ending however . . was not so good I thought. Too abrupt :)

[Crystal]

totally different from his other books, not in a good way. Sucky ending as per usual with him.

[Jennifer]

I loved this book..I think if your a woman in your thirties and have ever had relationship issues this is the book for you..kind of gave me hope lol!

[Misty Noelle]

It's been awhile since I last read a book this good. :)

[Jennifer]

Gripping because I saw myself in the protagonist. Similar in writing to Kiri Blakeley's Can't Think Straight, but more believable than her true story.

[Sherri Bryant]

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this story. Perhaps the idea of getting back with an ex-husband holds no appeal to me. :o)