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The Ex-Mas Holidays
It's hard to escape your ex when you're working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend's festive party doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart. And he's serving drinks. Naked.
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn't entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they truly want in life...or else they might miss their second chance at love.
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend's festive party doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart. And he's serving drinks. Naked.
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn't entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they truly want in life...or else they might miss their second chance at love.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2023
244 people are currently reading
18094 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 964 reviews
October 4, 2023
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Color me pleasantly surprised by this second chance, enemies to lovers, winter romance! Usually, a miscommunication trope is a hard pass for me, but this time it did seem at least remotely believable in why the couple hadn’t talked through their issues. The set up in the beginning was hilarious, and it does cover some deeper emotions that not many holiday themed books tackle. This one isn’t overly Christmas themed, and the setting definitely had me dreaming of the Scottish Highlands. If you’re looking for an angst filled romance that you can curl up with by the fire, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Color me pleasantly surprised by this second chance, enemies to lovers, winter romance! Usually, a miscommunication trope is a hard pass for me, but this time it did seem at least remotely believable in why the couple hadn’t talked through their issues. The set up in the beginning was hilarious, and it does cover some deeper emotions that not many holiday themed books tackle. This one isn’t overly Christmas themed, and the setting definitely had me dreaming of the Scottish Highlands. If you’re looking for an angst filled romance that you can curl up with by the fire, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
September 26, 2023
Happy release day!
Thanks to Berkley Romance via Netgalley for a copy of this to review; The Ex-Mas Holidays will be out September 26th.
We're just gonna hash out all my critical reviews today apparently! This was an over-long, second-chance romance, where the first chance was ruined by miscommunication, and one of the leads is with someone else past the halfway mark. I can do one of the above, but not all at once as this book tried to do.
Exposition was way too long, scene-setting passages going on and on for a simple contemporary romance setting. The writing needed a lot of tightening up.
Maya and Sam's years-later reunion was hilarious, him clad in only a short apron as he does a serving gig for cash and she orders a drink. A great setup, right? Except Sam not only isn't single, he's with an objectively horrible, petty on-again off-again girlfriend who insults her own friends. He's with her for most of the book.
And the Miscommunication in Our Past trope rears its head again. One conversation could have steered this the right direction. One!
The book wasn't obnoxiously Christmassy, which I appreciated, nicely wintry, but nothing lined up in this for me.
Thanks to Berkley Romance via Netgalley for a copy of this to review; The Ex-Mas Holidays will be out September 26th.
We're just gonna hash out all my critical reviews today apparently! This was an over-long, second-chance romance, where the first chance was ruined by miscommunication, and one of the leads is with someone else past the halfway mark. I can do one of the above, but not all at once as this book tried to do.
Exposition was way too long, scene-setting passages going on and on for a simple contemporary romance setting. The writing needed a lot of tightening up.
Maya and Sam's years-later reunion was hilarious, him clad in only a short apron as he does a serving gig for cash and she orders a drink. A great setup, right? Except Sam not only isn't single, he's with an objectively horrible, petty on-again off-again girlfriend who insults her own friends. He's with her for most of the book.
And the Miscommunication in Our Past trope rears its head again. One conversation could have steered this the right direction. One!
The book wasn't obnoxiously Christmassy, which I appreciated, nicely wintry, but nothing lined up in this for me.
September 25, 2023
Really enjoyed this romance! Set entirely in Scotland with an entirely Scottish cast, it felt much more true to the setting than most "Scottish romances." We also loved that this is a picture of multicultural contemporary Scotland: all of the characters consider themselves Scottish, but many are children of immigrants, and reckon with their "Scottishness" in different ways than their friends whose families have been in the highlands for generations.
We especially liked the dialogue. It felt really authentic and fresh: it's "real friend" banter, complete with stupid puns, inside jokes, and silly flirtations. (Sometimes "banter" means it makes readers wish they were as smart as the characters in the book; here, it feels like a true conversation.) The romance itself is your pretty basic second-chance romance. In high school, Maya and Sam were just about to make things "official" when they broke up. Turns out they each thought the other ended things, and have been harboring grudges for nearly a decade. Maya's back in town and she takes a holiday job at the ski resort where Sam works, throwing them back into daily proximity with each other. It doesn't take too long for them to realize what actually happened.
Anyhow, this was a fun Christmassy book with a setting that felt real, appealing characters, and a satisfying HEA.
CN: Sam is in a relationship with another woman for much of the book. There's no cheating, and she's a villain that the reader loves to hate, but if you don't love a growing relationship while one of the members is technically taken, you'll want to take note!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
We especially liked the dialogue. It felt really authentic and fresh: it's "real friend" banter, complete with stupid puns, inside jokes, and silly flirtations. (Sometimes "banter" means it makes readers wish they were as smart as the characters in the book; here, it feels like a true conversation.) The romance itself is your pretty basic second-chance romance. In high school, Maya and Sam were just about to make things "official" when they broke up. Turns out they each thought the other ended things, and have been harboring grudges for nearly a decade. Maya's back in town and she takes a holiday job at the ski resort where Sam works, throwing them back into daily proximity with each other. It doesn't take too long for them to realize what actually happened.
Anyhow, this was a fun Christmassy book with a setting that felt real, appealing characters, and a satisfying HEA.
CN: Sam is in a relationship with another woman for much of the book. There's no cheating, and she's a villain that the reader loves to hate, but if you don't love a growing relationship while one of the members is technically taken, you'll want to take note!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.
December 19, 2023
This book sucked.
November 17, 2023
Maya just broke up with her long-term boyfriend and left her boring accounting job and is moving back in with her parents while she sorts herself out. She stops at a friend's house on the way there and finds her one true love/ex-sort-of-boyfriend, Sam, serving drinks as a naked butler. Sam and Maya haaaaaaaate each other because of a high school-era misunderstanding but can't seem to stay away from each other and end up doing a lot of skiing.
I just cannot with the miscommunication trope anymore. ONE conversation would have cleared everything up like ten years ago, and both characters made stupid, stupid decisions and were constantly assuming the worst about each other (but still liked each other?) I also thought hating Sam's current girlfriend was too easy -- she may as well have been twirling her mustache while tying him to a train track. There was no complexity -- he was a weenie and she was evil. The end. I don't know. There were some fun and funny parts to this, but it was overall much too long, and I didn't like anyone enough to want them to end up together. That said, the naked butler situation was pretty hilarious and gives me hope that I'd enjoy future books by Allison more than this one.
* thanks to Berkley for the NetGalley review copy. THE EX-MAS HOLIDAY published in September.
I just cannot with the miscommunication trope anymore. ONE conversation would have cleared everything up like ten years ago, and both characters made stupid, stupid decisions and were constantly assuming the worst about each other (but still liked each other?) I also thought hating Sam's current girlfriend was too easy -- she may as well have been twirling her mustache while tying him to a train track. There was no complexity -- he was a weenie and she was evil. The end. I don't know. There were some fun and funny parts to this, but it was overall much too long, and I didn't like anyone enough to want them to end up together. That said, the naked butler situation was pretty hilarious and gives me hope that I'd enjoy future books by Allison more than this one.
* thanks to Berkley for the NetGalley review copy. THE EX-MAS HOLIDAY published in September.
November 27, 2023
I have never read a novel by Zoe Allison before, but if she writes more books like The Ex-Mas Holidays I am definitely in! This had just enough spice and for being a Christmas book, it wasn't all that focused on the holiday so you could easily read it year round. I love that the story starts with Maya seeing her ex in a somewhat compromising (although perfectly legal) position and things just get more interesting from there! Maya's family dynamics stressed me out if I'm being honest, and a general theme of this book is if the characters (including Maya and her father) could just have one conversation, everything could have been fine and explained. The way Maya crumbles under her father's behavior towards her drove me crazy at times, but it is no doubt a realistic reaction.
The banter between Maya and Sam was great, and the book alternates between both of their viewpoints so you know exactly what each of them is thinking in each situation they find themselves in. There is some betrayal that needs to be faced, and definitely a case of fake friendship, and I did enjoy all of the various themes and how they turned out. The audiobook is narrated solely by Nikki Massoud and while I adored her as the voice of Maya, I REALLY wish there had been a male narrator with a sexy voice to narrate Sam. For some reason, these kinds of stories with both a male and female POV just work better for me on audio if there is a narrator for each. That being said, I would 100% still recommend the audio as Massoud was truly an excellent voice for the book, especially as the FMC.
I received an advanced listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The banter between Maya and Sam was great, and the book alternates between both of their viewpoints so you know exactly what each of them is thinking in each situation they find themselves in. There is some betrayal that needs to be faced, and definitely a case of fake friendship, and I did enjoy all of the various themes and how they turned out. The audiobook is narrated solely by Nikki Massoud and while I adored her as the voice of Maya, I REALLY wish there had been a male narrator with a sexy voice to narrate Sam. For some reason, these kinds of stories with both a male and female POV just work better for me on audio if there is a narrator for each. That being said, I would 100% still recommend the audio as Massoud was truly an excellent voice for the book, especially as the FMC.
I received an advanced listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 25, 2023
The Ex-Mas Holidays
by Zoe Allison
Pub Date: 26 Sep 2023
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Romance
Spice 🌶
Rating 4/5
Zoe Allison's The Ex-Mas Holidays is a cozy Christmas read. If you are looking for a slow-burning festive and heartwarming escape this holiday season, this book is a great contender. As a reader, I immediately fell in love with the main characters, Maya and Sam, because both of them are sweet, charming, and witty. The Ex-Mas Holidays would make an ideal gift for a friend or family member who is a fan of lighthearted romance.
Maya Bashir fears traveling home for Christmas. She doesn't want to tell her parents that she recently ended her long-term relationship with Rich and lost her high-paying job, so she detours to a friend's party. After all Maya is looking forward to her friend's holiday gathering; it gives her a chance to celebrate the end of an emotionally and financially draining year. Maya enters the party with a glimmer of hope for an uplift; however, her ex-boyfriend Sam quickly puts that to rest. He is the one person Maya wishes she never saw again. After breaking her heart eight years ago, he now serves drinks at the party...naked?
Sam secretly keeps an extra job to help his friend Arran pay some expenses. Maya surprised him when she re-entered his life, discovering his hush-hush side-job. On top of that, she returned to her ski instructor job in the Scottish Highlands where he also works during to day.
The reason for Maya and Sam's heartache so many years ago isn't what it seems. With newfound insight, Sam and Maya will have to find the courage to be honest and express their true feelings, otherwise they run the risk of losing their chance at love.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. Your kindness is appreciated.
#ThExMasHolidays #BerkleyPublishingGroup #BerkleyRomance #Netgalley #NetGalleyreviews
by Zoe Allison
Pub Date: 26 Sep 2023
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Romance
Spice 🌶
Rating 4/5
Zoe Allison's The Ex-Mas Holidays is a cozy Christmas read. If you are looking for a slow-burning festive and heartwarming escape this holiday season, this book is a great contender. As a reader, I immediately fell in love with the main characters, Maya and Sam, because both of them are sweet, charming, and witty. The Ex-Mas Holidays would make an ideal gift for a friend or family member who is a fan of lighthearted romance.
Maya Bashir fears traveling home for Christmas. She doesn't want to tell her parents that she recently ended her long-term relationship with Rich and lost her high-paying job, so she detours to a friend's party. After all Maya is looking forward to her friend's holiday gathering; it gives her a chance to celebrate the end of an emotionally and financially draining year. Maya enters the party with a glimmer of hope for an uplift; however, her ex-boyfriend Sam quickly puts that to rest. He is the one person Maya wishes she never saw again. After breaking her heart eight years ago, he now serves drinks at the party...naked?
Sam secretly keeps an extra job to help his friend Arran pay some expenses. Maya surprised him when she re-entered his life, discovering his hush-hush side-job. On top of that, she returned to her ski instructor job in the Scottish Highlands where he also works during to day.
The reason for Maya and Sam's heartache so many years ago isn't what it seems. With newfound insight, Sam and Maya will have to find the courage to be honest and express their true feelings, otherwise they run the risk of losing their chance at love.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. Your kindness is appreciated.
#ThExMasHolidays #BerkleyPublishingGroup #BerkleyRomance #Netgalley #NetGalleyreviews
November 22, 2023
I really struggle with getting into romances that are "lovers to enemies to lovers" because of one simple miscommunication. We can do better. Also, giant red flag for the book when one of them is in a relationship until over halfway through the book. I can't with it.
On top of that, it was really boring. Not Christmas fun at all.
On top of that, it was really boring. Not Christmas fun at all.
December 13, 2023
Roped in by the title and cover and skimmed the last half. An extremely sappy book with weak character development. Don’t waste your time!
December 16, 2023
Review coming soon.
November 30, 2023
The Ex-Mas Holidays was a sweet second chance romance! Despite having miscommunication as the original source of conflict and the fact that Sam has a girlfriend for two-thirds of the book, I whole-heartedly enjoyed it! The author weaved a compelling story, and it was easy to like and relate to Sam and Maya. Their interactions were as reluctant friends, both wary because of what they thought happened in the past. As they get to know each other again, the events from the past don’t seem to fit, and so they start to question what really happened. I was invested in seeing Sam and Maya sort out the past and work their way back to each other.
I loved the support they provided for each other, and the awesome friends that also helped guide them! Both needed it as they faced their own separate issues. Sam with a toxic girlfriend, gaslighting him and undermining his confidence. Maya’s parents loved her, but her father had very set ideas about the career path Maya should take. He considered the job that brought her joy beneath her, and Maya had a hard time disappointing him.
I alternately read and listened to an audio copy, and I recommend either version. Nikki Massoud’s wonderful performance enhanced my enjoyment. I loved her Scottish accent! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
An e-copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the support they provided for each other, and the awesome friends that also helped guide them! Both needed it as they faced their own separate issues. Sam with a toxic girlfriend, gaslighting him and undermining his confidence. Maya’s parents loved her, but her father had very set ideas about the career path Maya should take. He considered the job that brought her joy beneath her, and Maya had a hard time disappointing him.
I alternately read and listened to an audio copy, and I recommend either version. Nikki Massoud’s wonderful performance enhanced my enjoyment. I loved her Scottish accent! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
An e-copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2023
I picked this book because I love a ski resort setting for a book in the winter. It provides the winter feel without the heavy boots and travel. However, I was a little surprised that this one was less about the holidays and more about family expectations and problematic relationships. That being said I very much enjoyed the story.
I enjoyed seeing how Maya's family dynamics affected her and her sister differently. Some people internalize pressure and others resent it. I thought she and Sam made a good couple and I liked that she was willing to point out to him when his reactions were unreasonable. You see very few romances where the hero deals with emotional abuse from a former partner (not a parent) and I thought it was a very interesting inclusion.
While I enjoyed this book I don't think it will be for everyone. First, it isn't really a holiday book despite the title. That didn't really bother me, but don't feel the need to read it in time for the holidays. Second, there is significant miscommunication and emotional cheating. While I think it worked in the context of Sam's unhealthy relationship, it will make the book a no go for some people. Finally, in this book the hero works as a naked butler. While I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It is treated differently than it would have been if it was the heroine. There is a passing mention that people are grouping him and it is brushed off with no acknowledgment that it could be upsetting. I do think it's important to be mindful that we aren't acting like men objectifying women is horrible but women objectifying men is just a fun party activity.
Overall, I think this is an enjoyable book, that is being marketed in a less than idea way. For one thing, seeing the US cover I assumed the female main character was white when she is mixed race. Second, the title and description go out of their way to mention the holidays which are a very small part of the story, and do not mention the relationship drama which is a much larger part of the story.
I recommend this one if you enjoy, familial drama, right person wrong time, a Scottish small town setting and stories about dealing with the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship. There is skiing and a great winter setting so this one is a great winter read even if you don't get to it around the holidays.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title and I wouldn't recommend it for a picky audiobook listener. It is single narrator even though the book is dual pov and the narrator has an American accent but then uses Scottish accents for the characters. I prefer books where the narrator and the main character share an accent.
I enjoyed seeing how Maya's family dynamics affected her and her sister differently. Some people internalize pressure and others resent it. I thought she and Sam made a good couple and I liked that she was willing to point out to him when his reactions were unreasonable. You see very few romances where the hero deals with emotional abuse from a former partner (not a parent) and I thought it was a very interesting inclusion.
While I enjoyed this book I don't think it will be for everyone. First, it isn't really a holiday book despite the title. That didn't really bother me, but don't feel the need to read it in time for the holidays. Second, there is significant miscommunication and emotional cheating. While I think it worked in the context of Sam's unhealthy relationship, it will make the book a no go for some people. Finally, in this book the hero works as a naked butler. While I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It is treated differently than it would have been if it was the heroine. There is a passing mention that people are grouping him and it is brushed off with no acknowledgment that it could be upsetting. I do think it's important to be mindful that we aren't acting like men objectifying women is horrible but women objectifying men is just a fun party activity.
Overall, I think this is an enjoyable book, that is being marketed in a less than idea way. For one thing, seeing the US cover I assumed the female main character was white when she is mixed race. Second, the title and description go out of their way to mention the holidays which are a very small part of the story, and do not mention the relationship drama which is a much larger part of the story.
I recommend this one if you enjoy, familial drama, right person wrong time, a Scottish small town setting and stories about dealing with the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship. There is skiing and a great winter setting so this one is a great winter read even if you don't get to it around the holidays.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title and I wouldn't recommend it for a picky audiobook listener. It is single narrator even though the book is dual pov and the narrator has an American accent but then uses Scottish accents for the characters. I prefer books where the narrator and the main character share an accent.
December 27, 2023
I was hoping this one would be fun, but it just wasn’t. I felt dropped into a story and it never really grabbed my attention. The setting in Scotland was nice, but the characters were kind of boring. Basically it’s a second chance between the characters, they split years ago in the past with a miscommunication and then he’s with someone else for most of the book on-and-off. This just felt more like a fiction, and an uninteresting one at that sadly.
December 7, 2023
3.5 stars
December 9, 2023
3,5/5 ⭐️
October 25, 2023
A cute winter, but not too Christmasy, romance. It's a perfect escape to snowy ski slopes.
It's a second chance romance, which I almost never like, but I really enjoyed it here, probably because the first time never got off the ground. It also had my least favorite, miscommunication trope, but again I liked it here. So, 2 tropes I don't love, but the author made me enjoy them? That's a great book.
It's a second chance romance, which I almost never like, but I really enjoyed it here, probably because the first time never got off the ground. It also had my least favorite, miscommunication trope, but again I liked it here. So, 2 tropes I don't love, but the author made me enjoy them? That's a great book.
December 18, 2023
Unfortunately the worst book I’ve read this year and was oh so close to a DNF. I’m just too nice and always want to give the book a chance.
Maya’s been recently laid off from her accountancy job and stops at a friend’s party on her move back to her parent’s house. She’s quite surprised to see her “ex” (they hooked up once as teenagers) at this party, not as an attendee, but as a naked butler. There’s so much awkwardness here.
Fast forward, we’re back in wintery Glenavie. The pair ends up working together at the local ski resort when Maya agrees to take up an empty ski instructor position. Sam’s in an 8 year on-again off-again relationship with an immature narcissist and Maya is just plain single. They both start to develop feelings for each other and the set up here is painfully LONG to find out what drew them apart in the first place and their love is still there between them.
Overall, this reads as the author’s debut novel (and it very well could be). There are paragraphs back to back that often repeat the same information or thoughts making it read both juvenile but maturely at any given moment. There was a lot of fluff in the book that could’ve been eliminated. The last 100 pages of the book were also excruciating to read. It’s not overly Christmasy, which could be up your alley if you like a not so in your face holiday book. I’d say skip it and pick your next holiday read.
Maya’s been recently laid off from her accountancy job and stops at a friend’s party on her move back to her parent’s house. She’s quite surprised to see her “ex” (they hooked up once as teenagers) at this party, not as an attendee, but as a naked butler. There’s so much awkwardness here.
Fast forward, we’re back in wintery Glenavie. The pair ends up working together at the local ski resort when Maya agrees to take up an empty ski instructor position. Sam’s in an 8 year on-again off-again relationship with an immature narcissist and Maya is just plain single. They both start to develop feelings for each other and the set up here is painfully LONG to find out what drew them apart in the first place and their love is still there between them.
Overall, this reads as the author’s debut novel (and it very well could be). There are paragraphs back to back that often repeat the same information or thoughts making it read both juvenile but maturely at any given moment. There was a lot of fluff in the book that could’ve been eliminated. The last 100 pages of the book were also excruciating to read. It’s not overly Christmasy, which could be up your alley if you like a not so in your face holiday book. I’d say skip it and pick your next holiday read.
December 1, 2023
Where to begin. This book was almost a DNF but I had a slow day at work so I fought on.
For starters, the writing was just not good & throughout this book I was physically cringing. The flow and dialogue of conversation was not realistic, and it felt as though the author was pushing too hard for a ‘self awareness/growth’ hidden message. The actual content of the writing was extremely repetitive & realistically this book could have been 150 pages shorter.
Adding to the unnatural flow of conversation, I’m getting the vibe the author googled definitions for words and placed them directly into her book, including but not limited to ‘gaslighting’ & ‘narcissist’.
To sum this review up, this book will always have at least 1 hater, and it will be me.
For starters, the writing was just not good & throughout this book I was physically cringing. The flow and dialogue of conversation was not realistic, and it felt as though the author was pushing too hard for a ‘self awareness/growth’ hidden message. The actual content of the writing was extremely repetitive & realistically this book could have been 150 pages shorter.
Adding to the unnatural flow of conversation, I’m getting the vibe the author googled definitions for words and placed them directly into her book, including but not limited to ‘gaslighting’ & ‘narcissist’.
To sum this review up, this book will always have at least 1 hater, and it will be me.
December 19, 2023
DNF @ 10%
i’m usually not one to dnf, but i didn’t see the point is siting here forcing myself to read this. i actually cannot bear this writing… it feels like reading self published wattpad and i keep rolling my eyes 😭😭 was hoping for a cute christmas read but this is just not it for me - please look elsewhere if you’re looking for a holiday read. might try to come back to this later but likely going to throw this in a free library or something 🤷🏻♀️
i’m usually not one to dnf, but i didn’t see the point is siting here forcing myself to read this. i actually cannot bear this writing… it feels like reading self published wattpad and i keep rolling my eyes 😭😭 was hoping for a cute christmas read but this is just not it for me - please look elsewhere if you’re looking for a holiday read. might try to come back to this later but likely going to throw this in a free library or something 🤷🏻♀️
December 20, 2023
You ever meet a couple that goes, “we have the craziest and cutest meet-cute ever” … and then proceeds to tell you the most average story? That’s kinda what this book sums up to be. It’s not horrible, exactly, but it’s kinda boring, or at least told in a boring way. It was very one-note, without emotional levels or heightened moments. Not a rom -com. Not a deep-dive serious story, though it makes some efforts to be. A bit monotonous.
What did work? The Scottish setting was fantastic and listening to the audio, the Scottish accents made it fun for the ears. The opening, with a naked waiter moment, hilarious and awkward (though that was the only comedic moment). The journey toward self-discovery as an adult, gaining independence from parental expectations. There is a great base to the story.
Both leads are such doormats though, and it was hard to take by the end. One or the other would have been fine but both together made the story drag on and on. Sam has a girlfriend, regardless that she’s horrible, for the majority of the book so the constant romantic thoughts were awkward. And there are so many secondary characters just thrown in like the reader is already supposed to know them making it confusing and clunky.
Honestly, I don’t know why I gut-rated this 3 stars as I’m now listing all its faults, except that as an audiobook it was easy to listen to. Obviously not perfect but the narrator really sold it. So there’s that. Moving on now.
What did work? The Scottish setting was fantastic and listening to the audio, the Scottish accents made it fun for the ears. The opening, with a naked waiter moment, hilarious and awkward (though that was the only comedic moment). The journey toward self-discovery as an adult, gaining independence from parental expectations. There is a great base to the story.
Both leads are such doormats though, and it was hard to take by the end. One or the other would have been fine but both together made the story drag on and on. Sam has a girlfriend, regardless that she’s horrible, for the majority of the book so the constant romantic thoughts were awkward. And there are so many secondary characters just thrown in like the reader is already supposed to know them making it confusing and clunky.
Honestly, I don’t know why I gut-rated this 3 stars as I’m now listing all its faults, except that as an audiobook it was easy to listen to. Obviously not perfect but the narrator really sold it. So there’s that. Moving on now.
November 13, 2025
This book is SOO under rated whatt.
I literally had zero expectations for this book, I literally bought it at my local Dollar tree.
BUT
I was instantly sucked in! I read the whole thing in 1 day, I couldn't put it down. I was so frustrated, and heartbroken for Sam and Maya, there love story was so insane!!
I laughed, I cried! This book deserves more hype!
I literally had zero expectations for this book, I literally bought it at my local Dollar tree.
BUT
I was instantly sucked in! I read the whole thing in 1 day, I couldn't put it down. I was so frustrated, and heartbroken for Sam and Maya, there love story was so insane!!
I laughed, I cried! This book deserves more hype!
December 31, 2024
2,5 ⭐️ My last read of 2024! I'm not really sure what to think of this one. The tropes were not it. I did enjoy the setting!
November 26, 2025
What an odd book
September 26, 2023
It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re stuck working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands. The last thing Maya wanted to do was drive home for Christmas and have to explain the latest changes in her life. So a detour to a friend’s holiday party might be just what the doctor ordered. That is until she runs into the one who broke her heart eight years ago..
The Ex-Mas Holidays is just the book to put you in the holiday spirit. I found this book to be well-written and entertaining. The characters were fun and easy to connect with. I loved the idea of exes being stuck with one another and ultimately having to see where things went wrong. Maya and Sam’s story is a slow-burning second-chance romance that is definitely worth the read.
If you’re looking for a second-chance, holiday romance, you won’t want to miss The Ex-Mas Holidays.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via Berkely Romance, in exchange for an honest review*
The Ex-Mas Holidays is just the book to put you in the holiday spirit. I found this book to be well-written and entertaining. The characters were fun and easy to connect with. I loved the idea of exes being stuck with one another and ultimately having to see where things went wrong. Maya and Sam’s story is a slow-burning second-chance romance that is definitely worth the read.
If you’re looking for a second-chance, holiday romance, you won’t want to miss The Ex-Mas Holidays.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via Berkely Romance, in exchange for an honest review*
December 4, 2023
Easy read with life lessons in this cheesy Christmas book! Do what you want to do for you, communication is key, mental/emotional health is important & process your emotions!
January 18, 2025
This one missed the mark for me and that’s okay. It felt way too long and I had a really hard time connecting with the characters.
November 19, 2023
Maya & Sam. A winter a delight!
✨THINGS AND STUFF✨
-scottish highlands
-friends to lovers
-second chance
-forced proximity
-besties twin brother
-small, ski town life
-hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows and cream
-a christmas lights walk
-help is on the way, dear! i’ll save you!
-🌙 & ⭐️
-sled races
-slow burn
#IsThisAKissingBook: open door. so many cheek kisses!
ps. if you’re sensitive to emotional abuse and gaslighting send me a DM and i can let you in on the deets.
thank you for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #berkleyig
✨THINGS AND STUFF✨
-scottish highlands
-friends to lovers
-second chance
-forced proximity
-besties twin brother
-small, ski town life
-hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows and cream
-a christmas lights walk
-help is on the way, dear! i’ll save you!
-🌙 & ⭐️
-sled races
-slow burn
#IsThisAKissingBook: open door. so many cheek kisses!
ps. if you’re sensitive to emotional abuse and gaslighting send me a DM and i can let you in on the deets.
thank you for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #berkleyig
January 21, 2024
This book touched upon a lot of really serious topics without being preachy or becoming boring. It was absolutely fabulous! Work/life balance, narcissism, gaslighting, and the family dynamics were incredible. I have to read about the other friends in this group. In fact, I’m going to go look for more books by this author right now.
December 16, 2023
It’s officially girl from a big city quits her fancy job to go to a small town to find herself and ends up being taught the true meaning of christmas by some lumberjack named Carson season and this book is literally that. It is definitely a classic Christmas romcom book version and it was a very fast read, took me about 2 hours. The setting is very cozy and warm and the love story is literally by the book holiday romcom.
I didn’t like that both the characters were very self-pitying/whiny. Like Sam’s inner monologue always being “Oh Maya would never like me I’m just some broke guy from a small town and she’s this cool girl from a rich family” (pretty sure he says these exact words). And Maya was always like “Oh Sam would never like me he wants a hot blonde glamorous girl and I’m a nerd that doesn’t have her shit together” (again pretty sure she says those exact words). Like let’s please be positive ITS CHRISTMAS!!!!
Lastly I do feel like the entire plot of this book could have been avoided if the two main characters had had literally one conversation during the course of 8 years. They were that in love with each other, Maya’s best friend was Sam’s twin sister, they are from the same small hometown, have a bunch of common friends, run into each other, and they still couldn’t have literally one conversation…
But in general it was a cozy and comforting holiday read and made me lowkey want to learn how to ski even though I feel like I would die within 3 minutes but it’s okay
I didn’t like that both the characters were very self-pitying/whiny. Like Sam’s inner monologue always being “Oh Maya would never like me I’m just some broke guy from a small town and she’s this cool girl from a rich family” (pretty sure he says these exact words). And Maya was always like “Oh Sam would never like me he wants a hot blonde glamorous girl and I’m a nerd that doesn’t have her shit together” (again pretty sure she says those exact words). Like let’s please be positive ITS CHRISTMAS!!!!
Lastly I do feel like the entire plot of this book could have been avoided if the two main characters had had literally one conversation during the course of 8 years. They were that in love with each other, Maya’s best friend was Sam’s twin sister, they are from the same small hometown, have a bunch of common friends, run into each other, and they still couldn’t have literally one conversation…
But in general it was a cozy and comforting holiday read and made me lowkey want to learn how to ski even though I feel like I would die within 3 minutes but it’s okay
December 13, 2023
DNF at 14% - I really wanted to like this because the first scene was a cute hook but it immediately took a downward turn.
The miscommunication is just too hard to get past, everything these two say about each other is so far from the truth and I refuse to believe that they wouldn’t figure that out after having a conversation longer than 10 minutes. Like how does their past just not come up at all and how are the assumptions they’re making being supported when there is no evidence! It’s just aggravating and annoying. December is the only time I really read romance and it’s mostly for the holiday vibes - so I’m not forcing this when there are so many others in the genre. I hope it gets better, maybe you’ll love it! Unfortunately, I’m not sticking around to find out.
The miscommunication is just too hard to get past, everything these two say about each other is so far from the truth and I refuse to believe that they wouldn’t figure that out after having a conversation longer than 10 minutes. Like how does their past just not come up at all and how are the assumptions they’re making being supported when there is no evidence! It’s just aggravating and annoying. December is the only time I really read romance and it’s mostly for the holiday vibes - so I’m not forcing this when there are so many others in the genre. I hope it gets better, maybe you’ll love it! Unfortunately, I’m not sticking around to find out.
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