The day you barged into my life and talked my ear off, you rewrote everything I thought I knew. I’ve told you this before, but I felt like I already knew you. I fell in love, fast, with your warmth, passion, and kindness. Somehow, you go to great lengths to make everyone in your life feel special, and you don’t even have to try.
Most of all, after everything you’ve been through, you never once gave up hope for love.
I don’t think I can ever repay you for the joy you’ve given me over the past year. I know there will be challenges ahead, but I want to face them head-on with you by my side. I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you get the happily ever after you deserve.
Will you marry me?
Tears spring into my eyes, and I fumble the book. It plummets to our feet, facedown. Through my blurred vision, I see that Trevor holds a red box. In the cushion sits a stunning oval diamond atop a thin yellow band. It’s an exact replica of the one from all my Pinterest boards.
The weight of his eyes on me produces an instant smile. “This is . . . the grand gesture of all grand gestures.”
“You deserve all of this and more,” he says, his tone unwavering. “If I’m going to keep up with those heroes in your books, I need to up my game.”
“I don’t need gestures, honestly.” I stare into the eyes that captivated me from day one. They’re brimming with pure love, drowning out every last bit of doubt I’ve ever had. “You are more than enough. Just you.”
“I love you.” He stands, giving me a tender kiss on the temple that makes me see stars. “Now can you please answer my question? I’m gonna pass out if you don’t say yes right now.”
I raise one brow. “Metcalfe, did you really think there was a reality where I’d say no?”
A grin lights up his entire face like pure sunshine, just for me. “Nah. But I want to hear you say it anyway.”
“Yes!” I shriek, yanking the ring out of the box.
Trevor’s steady hand helps to guide it onto my finger.
When I hold my hand up, the diamond hits the ray of sunshine streaming in from the window. Aside from my new fiancé’s smile, it’s the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I will never take this off as long as I live.
I go on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Are you sure you know what you signed up for? Me, all over you, talking in your ear, forever and ever? Swooning over the other fictional men in my life?”
“I can’t imagine a future more perfect than that,” he says without an ounce of hesitation. “As long as I’m your favorite hero in the end.”
Without notice, I leap into Trevor’s arms, wrapping my legs around his waist like a koala. He holds me there, tight to him, laughing softly into my mouth.
I tell him I love him, over and over, planting feverish kisses everywhere I can manage, one for each of the infinite reasons I am crazy in love with him.
He’s not just the hero of my dreams. He’s the hero beyond my wildest imagination.
The best part? He’s nonfiction.
acknowledgments
The struggle to write the second book is all too real (ask me how I know). Exes and O’s took me much longer to write than Set on You, but it is truly the book of my heart. First and foremost, thank you to John, who held my hand as I wrote, trashed, and rewrote parts of this book over and over. I also owe so much to my sweet goldendoodle, Albie, who is always by my side through every book.
As I write these acknowledgments, I am gearing up for the publication date of Set on You (yes, publishing timelines are strange). There are so many people to thank for their role in getting my books into the hands of readers: Endless thank-yous to my team at Berkley, including Kristine Swartz, Mary Baker, Fareeda Bullert, Yazmine Hassan, Tina Joell, Lindsey Tulloch, Christine Legon, Andrea Monagle, Daniel Brount, Vikki Chu, Allison Prince, and Alex Castellanos. Thank you for making my publishing experience an absolute dream. I couldn’t have imagined a better team to champion my work.
A huge shout-out to my hardworking, upbeat, and fantastic team at BookSparks, including Keely Platte, Grace Fell, and Crystal Patriarche, for all your work in spreading the word about my debut. You guys are amazing.
Thank you to my incredible team at Viking/Penguin UK—Lydia Fried, Harriet Bourton, Ellie Hudson, Federica Trogu, Olivia Mead, Tineke Mollemans, Samantha Fanakan, Rachel Myers, and Linda Viberg—for all your work in getting my series across the pond. I’m blown away by your enthusiasm and am overjoyed to continue working together!
I am so grateful to Penguin Random House Grupo, Editions Arquerio, Brainfood Publishing, Nemesis Yayincilik Hizmetleri, Helion, and Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur for getting Set on You into the hands of readers around the world.
As always, thank you to my amazing agent, Kim Lionetti, and the whole BookEnds team for all your publishing expertise and support, and for shepherding me through this process.
Piles of gratitude to Jackie Lau, Sarah Echavarre Smith, Denise Williams, Lynn Painter, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Kerry Winfrey, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Ali Hazelwood, and Helen Hoang for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read and endorse Set on You. I’m very humbled and grateful for your support.
I wouldn’t have been able to get through the lead-up to publication without the emotional support of the Berkletes, all of whom have become such close friends. Thank you endlessly for all the laughs, love, and inappropriate GIFs.
Thank you to Jordyn, who talked me through the day-to-day life of a nurse, and Kathleen for inspiring Tara’s hots for Dwight Kurt Schrute—a highly underrated love interest.
My sincerest gratitude to all of the passionate and creative bookstagrammers, BookTokers, bloggers, influencers, journalists, booksellers, and librarians for spreading the word about my books. The steadfast support of readers and creators has meant the absolute world.
Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the crappy exes (my own and friends’) who inspired this book, and thank you to Taylor Swift for inspiring me to turn my bad experiences into something beautiful.
READERS GUIDE
Exes and O’s
AMY LEA
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Tara is a massive fan of romance tropes. What are your favorite and least favorite romance tropes and why? What is the main trope for Exes and O’s?
Do you agree with Tara that classic romantic comedy–style meet-cutes are “dead” in today’s technologically driven society? Have technology, the internet, and dating apps made modern dating harder or easier?
What is your favorite breakup song?
Inspired by Grandma Flo, Tara decides to seek out her own second-chance love story by exploring whether there is relationship potential with her past boyfriends. Would you reach out to any of your exes? What are the benefits of second-chance romances?
Many of Tara’s ex-boyfriends refer to her as the “crazy ex-girlfriend,” a term that is often used against women. Why do you think the term “crazy” is used as a weapon against women in particular? What are some examples of “crazy ex-girlfriends” in film, television, or music that depict this stereotype? Is this portrayal usually negative? Does Tara fit this stereotype?
How did Trevor’s childhood experiences and his family situation impact the way he views love and relationships? In what ways did Tara’s passion for romance (and romance novels) change his understanding of relationships?
In what ways are Tara’s and Trevor’s outlooks on love and relationships different? In what ways (if any) are they similar? Do you believe a relationship can work between polar opposites?
Tara’s ex Seth believes that reading romance has given her unrealistic expectations when it comes to love. Do you agree that romance books or movies give people unrealistic expectations? Why or why not?
In what ways could romance books or movies be beneficial to romantic relationships?
Keep reading for a sneak peek at Amy Lea’s next book
The Catch
A THICK PLAID FLANNEL button-down covers a barrel chest so broad, I doubt I could wrap both arms around him and touch my fingertips. Not that I would dare get within a five-foot radius of someone whose hostile blue stare is so poisonous, I think he could vanquish all his enemies with a single look.
His commanding presence freezes me in place. A foreboding sizzle zips through me as I take in the thick, unkempt ashy beard concealing his jawline, barely covering a surly, grim expression. Dirty blond, overgrown hair wings out the end of his faded and frayed Maple Leafs ball cap, which has seen better days.
“Who the hell are you?” His voice is gruff and terse, like uttering anything beyond a single syllable is a herculean effort he’d rather not be bothered with.
My body betrays me with a bark of laughter. The moment it spills out of me, I hike my tote over my shoulder, righting my posture in a sad attempt to match his height. From his position on the staircase, my eyeline hovers at his distressed, oil-stained jeans. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. Your voice took me by surprise.”