Ghosts of Ex-mas Past: A Spicy Holiday Romance Inspired by A Christmas Carol

by J.E. Reid

Mary Douglas knows how to pick a shit boyfriend, but it’s her asshole father who inspires her and her sister to make a pact to never let a man change them. One Christmas when Mary brings home a new guy, it all blows up in her face.

Now, six years later, commitment-phobe Mary is cut off from her family and still keeping the people she cares about at a distance. After an accident at her company’s ski retreat, she wakes up floating outside her body—and she’s not alone.

A parade of disastrous ex-boyfriends guide Mary through the last six Christmases to set her on the right path. But when one particular ex makes a reappearance, she realizes not every relationship deserves to stay dead and buried.

To get a second chance at life, Mary must confront the past that haunts her, forgive herself and those she’s pushed away, and decide who's worth letting back into her heart.

Genres: Holiday, Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

​​J. E. has an Award of Achievement in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and an MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing from Emerson College, where she co-founded the program’s genre fiction magazine, Page Turner. From Montreal, Canada, she has over 15 years of experience in digital journalism and content marketing. GHOSTS OF EX-MAS PAST is her debut novel. She lives with her two loud children, two loud dogs, and her #1 fan, her husband. She owns 40 Christmas sweaters and is most likely wearing one right now.

Reviews

[KELLY · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of B. K. Borison's "Good Spirits" and Christina Lauren's "In a Holidaze", "Ghosts of Ex-mas Past" is a spicy Christmas Carol retelling with one bed, fake dating, and second chance romance tropes. This festive Spicy holiday read has plenty of heart, humor, and holiday magic!

Mary has commitment issues and a seriously complicated past and a cold heart so at first I wasn't liking her very much but as the story went on I understood why and watching her revisit six years of relationships and confront the choices, mistakes, and boyfriends she left behind I understood. Add ghostly Christmas chaos, spicy scenes with the Ex's, she’s forced to learn how to forgive herself and realize that maybe some relationships deserve a second chance.

A fun, heartfelt holiday read about messy exes, second chances, and finding your way back to happily ever after!

Read on release date 11 / 03 / 2026.
Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for the book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very cute! It’s a fun and spicy Christmas Carol modern retelling!

Mary has commitment issues and a knack for picking bad boyfriends. She makes a pact with her sister that they’ll never let a man change them, but that changes one Christmas. Years later Mary gets hurt on a ski retreat and wakes up floating above her body with all of her ex boyfriends there.

I loved seeing Mary interact with the different Exs and their different dynamics. I think this a very sweet Christmas romance about forgiving yourself and those around you. I definitely recommend this if you’re a fan of Good Spirits by B.K. Borison!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Steamy Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zacchia Publications for the ARC! 🥹🫶🏻

Mary has had some horrible boyfriends, a difficult relationship with her father, and serious commitment issues. After a ski accident at a Christmas retreat, she wakes up in the hospital to the ghosts of her exes, and she has to deal with her past!

I LOVED Mary’s character growth and I just wanted to give her a big hug! 💔

Chris was amazing, and I was so happy she has him by her side. He was exactly what she needed: “I don’t want you to be afraid of your future anymore. I want you to know I’ll be there.”

This was so much more than a cute Christmas romance. It was packed with emotion and depth! 🫶🏻

And it was SPICYYYY, and the scenes were done so good!! 🔥🤭

I recommend this one if you want a cute, messy & emotional Christmas romance! 🎄

[paux ౨ৎ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

─── 3.75 starts ᯓ★ˎˊ˗

❝ All I can do is stay away from the people who matter, so their lives don’t get infected by whatever parasite festered into my soul and convinced me I’m unlovable ❞

! Thank you NetGalley and J.E Reid for the copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own !

⋆˙⟡ omg i loved this book so much and it’s the perfect christmas read for sure. I loved who it can be see the change on Mary character and how she developed her character and get through her insecurities of not being enough. And i absolutely loved the second chance trope and how the author reflected it so well. So please give me a Chris in my live

[Monique Costella · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Ghost of Ex-mas Past by J.E Reid

Release Date: November 3, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎄 Fake Dating
👻 Ghosts of her Ex's
🎄 Christmas Romance
👻 Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄 One Bed

The start of this book was fabulous and the first line got me. "If Mary could break up with a guy, she could break up with her piece of $#it father." He was always calling begging for money after her company took off and she was super successful. He had already ruined her, her mom and sister's life so all she could do was constantly block his number. Her and her younger sister Evie made a pact - no man would ruin there lives. Mary was at her company's party and decided to quickly ski and do a few runs to meet clients and she gets in an accident and wake up above her body in a hospital. Her dad visits her and when he leaves he says, "Your first visitor comes at one o'clock, then each hour until three." 👻

"If we visited a thousand different Christmases and a thousand possible futures, I'd love you in every one."

"I am more than my mistakes or successes."
"We are not our parents, we are not our pasts, we are not our fears."

This author is from Montreal, Canada and this is her debut novel. I absolutely love reading books by Canadian authors and this book did not disappoint. I don't even know how to describe in words how much I loved this book and how much it made me think and re evaluate my life. This book was not a fluffy, happy go lucky fairytale. This book had depth and made you really think. The characters were well developed and I felt encapsulated by Mary's world. I read this book in one sitting. I spent an entire Sunday with my head in this book and could not get enough. This love story was not the one I was expecting and it was beautiful, messy and brilliant. This book taught me that you can learn from your bad decisions and there's always lessons to take away. This book speaks profoundly on forgiveness and how you can't move on with your life without forgiving yourself and others. The Ghost of Ex-Mas Past book focuses on Mary finding her self worth and realizing for once that she is deserving of love and the life that she so desperately wants. She comes off as cold and uncaring and too much of a workaholic for relationships but deep down she is loving and kind. This wasn't the Christmas book I was expecting to read but it was so much more than that and I absolutely loved it. It really made me think and the ending was beautiful. I really appreciated how the author used a million adorable nick names for her cat. Everyone who owns a pet knows you don't call it by it's actual name. This book was definitely a 5 star read!

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an advanced reader copy from IRIS influence society and author.

We meet successfully business woman Mary who is at a resort at Xmas for her team thinking about last Christmas when she shouldn't. She goes skiing reminiscing about him and last Xmas when disaster strikes. Mary wakes up floating above her body...wth...is she dead? She can see her body and then her ex-father comes in and tells her she will be visited by 3 ppl between 1 and 3am. Ugh. It's the Christmas ghosts and of course her no good father is the one to tell her. Ghost #1 is her ex bf Eric. They have been together a couple years. She started her business and had been busy with that. What she didnt see was her sister and Eric together and it was a Xmas gift he got Eve, not her or his family that got her. She blames him and Eve and then cuts them out of her life. Eve went against their no men pact. Mary doesn't need love. Ghost #2 is another ex, Francis. A doctor she met at uni in a bar. His busy schedule allow her to keep her busy schedule. But when she goes with him to montreal she meets his younger brother Chris. He is the screw up of the family anf Francis doesnt let him forget it. Taking and eating over midnight snacks lets Mary get to know him better. A spark between the two but it can't happen, she is not her sister. Again the following year that spark is still there and Francis sees it. Another failed one for Mary at Xmas but they knew they werent right for and another. Chris being her get away driver and they decide to be friends and also to pose as a fale couple for her mother. They do coupley things without the benefits. But Xmas at a skiing lodge crossed that line. Mary cant and wont love Chris. Ghost #3 is the future...but is it a future that Mary wants or will the future lead to one where she remains in that hospital bed? I cried during this book. It has realistic theme where one thinks they dont deserve love after a not so good upbringing. Drama, deceit and coming to terms with what's important makes this a good read.

[Kenzie Wharf · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you J.E. Reid and NetGalley for this advanced copy for an honest review!!

5/5 stars!

Ghosts of Ex-Mas Past was such a warm, messy, and heartfelt holiday romance. What stood out to me most was how raw and complicated the relationships felt. I genuinely loved every character introduced, and I especially appreciated how each relationship revealed something different about the main character and the person she was becoming.

The main character, Mary, has a complicated past that she is able to look back on with a surprising amount of insight. I loved seeing her recognize the ways that past experiences shaped her tendency toward self-sabotage, and watching that awareness develop throughout the story. Each of her past relationships felt distinct, and seeing how she changed from one relationship to the next made her character development one of my favourite parts of the book.

The romance itself felt like a warm hug once she finally found it. The story balances messy emotions, humour, romance, and just the right amount of spice (which I'd rate a 3/5 for spice level).

I also have to mention the setting because I genuinely felt like I could feel the Canadian winter while reading this. The Atmosphere was so well done and made the holiday setting feel especially cozy.

The pacing was just right for me, and the combination of one-bed, grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, fake fating, and second chances made this such an enjoyable read.

A heartfelt, cozy, spicy Christmas romance with complicated characters, messy relationships and plenty of emotional growth. Absolutely recommend this read!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

RWA 2026 challenge: book that makes you feel cozy

Thank you to NetGalley and Zacchia Publications for sending me this arc! I’m a sucker for a cozy, cheesy, holiday read - and this definitely delivered. Overall, I would rate this book a solid 3.5 stars (down from my initial 4). I felt like this novel took me on an emotional journey; I was devastated on the MC’s behalf in the beginning and was finding forgiveness near the end along with her (which I really didn’t think I would come around to). I loved the underlying message regarding family and unconditional love, it had me in my feelings the whole time!

Some of the spicy scenes were… questionable (IYKYK, near the end) and I felt like the love story would’ve been better had there been more scenes focused on developing their friendship, rather than just fast forwarding to the Christmas spicy scenes all the time. Some of the dialogue (both from Chris & the MC) was cheesy, but most of it was really well-written, I saved more quotes from this book than I anticipated!

This felt like a cozy Hallmark movie in print, which I normally wouldn’t read in September but regardless, I felt like I was transported right into the holiday season and I loved it! This won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but as my guilty pleasure genre… I approve!

[Anahi Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

second chance x fake dating x grumpy/sunshine x ex-boyfriends brother x christmas romance = a perfect time

Mary Douglas history with men could resume in one word: horrible, starting with her dreadful father and continuing with a parade of disastrous ex-boyfriends. After the pact of never letting a man change them with her sister falls apart one Christmas six years ago, she now finds herself miserable, cut off from her family and with a big gamophobia. Funny how life works because after an accident at her company's ski retreat, her second chance at life is in the hands of the man of her past. Mary's ex-boyfriends guide her through past, present, and future Christmases, determined to set her back on the right path by confronting the past that haunts her. Can Mary amend herself and learn how to forgive and let people in or would it all be too late?

I cried. I didn’t expect to cry. It was supposed to be a short, fun, sweet Christmas story but it was so much more than that. I loved the underlying message of needing to learn to forgive ourselves and others for mistakes and decisions that we made, that resentment and bitterness only cause us pain and unhappiness.

I’m a hypocrite. I’m a hypocrite because I was very much rooting for Chris and Mary while she was in a relationship with his brother. I was endeared against my will. I was rooting for infidelity, yet I crucified Eric and Eve for what they did. Despite what Mary did or didn't do with Chris I hated how she was portrayed as the bad guy in the family break up when she was the one betrayed in the first place.

I love the ex-boyfriends brother trope, and this book did not disappoint. I loved Chris, his yearning was EVERYTHING. Their chemistry was so good. I really liked how they didn’t jump into a relationship right away and decided to be friends instead. The emotional growth Mary had was marvelous. I loved how she was able to drop her cold emotionless facade and allowed herself to embrace the love she deserved.

“Me. Myself, and I don't give a fuck about other men, I was lying. You let me in, and I won't take that for granted. I can't imagine what kind of a person would have you and want anything else.”

"Do. You. Love. Her? You don't, do you? Then I am sorry, Francis. I'm sorry she met you first. I'm sorry you've had more time with her. I'm sorry things had to happen this way.”

“I fucking love you, Mary Douglas, and all the stupid, ridiculous things you say, and the stupid, ridiculous way you pretend you don't love me back."

“I think two people who are meant to be together always find a way back to each other. If we visited a thousand different Christmases and a thousand possible futures, I'd love you in every one."

“I am more than what I tricked my mind into thinking I could be. I am limitless with an ever-expanding heart. The past can keep its ghosts. I've got big plans for our future.”

This love story was sweet, touching and very messy. 5/5 ⭐

Thank you J.E Reid, Zacchia Publications and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Janissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghosts of Ex-Mas Past is a quick, cozy Christmas romance with a modern retelling of the famous Christmas Carol with the ghosts taking the form of ex-boyfriends. When Mary Douglas gets injured during a ski trip and falls into a coma, she wakes up to the ghosts of her previous boyfriends taking her through a wild journey to heal a part of herself that never recovered from her parent’s failed marriage and solve her commitment issues that had her pushing not only those she was romantically involved, but her family and friends.

Overall, I really liked and enjoyed the whole underlying theme to forgive those who have done you wrong in the past, but most of all, to forgive yourself for all the mistakes and choices made while hurt. And I had really enjoyed reading and seeing Mary’s character growth from being a cold, standoffish founder of Douglas Designs to be deliriously happy and madly in love with the love of her life. Admittedly, it was quite difficult to start in the beginning with how unlikeable she was, but as the story went on and her past was revealed, I felt so bad for Mary I wanted to dive into the book and give her a big hug.

While I loved the theme of finding forgiveness, I felt that there were some things that aren’t warranted for forgiveness. For one, some of the characters were making it out Mary to be the bad guy for pushing them all away when they were the cause of it. Worst of all, they tried to make it seem like what Mary did was of the same level as them, if not worse (which can be argued that she had done the same thing, but her actions were similar, not the same). I didn’t like that at all and didn’t like that she forgave them in the end, even if it’s as to help her forgive herself for pushing them all away and being alone. Yes, it’s vital to, in order to heal and move on from the anger and hatred, forgive others and yourself, sometimes it’s okay to not forgive someone even if they are a member of your family.

The second thing I found issue with this book is Mary’s relationship with the love interest. While the chemistry was there from the start, I wished their relationship was developed more than just little moments and spicy scenes. I wanted to believe that they belonged together other than “oh, they have the spark so they must end up together”.

All in all, I think I would have enjoyed this book if I wasn’t a Mary Douglas myself (not saying that I push people away, but that sometimes it’s hard to forgive people). Thank you to Zacchia Publications and J. E. Reid for gifting me an eARC.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a classic retelling of a christmas carol, if you don't know what that is, I highly recommend finding an adaptation that you can get into, there's tons of them, short version- something is going on in someone's life and they're not dealing with it very well, and they are visited by three ghosts, one of christmas past, one of christmas present,one of christmas future.... That said this is a story of Mary. Mary had a very rocky upbringing with her parents. Her dad was not a nice man, both to her and her sister Eve and her mother, after her father leaves, the three women make a pact to never let a man run or ruin their lives- when we meet mary, she is a very successful woman who has started her own business and is doing very well for herself. In that regard, but not so well in the relationship category and is estranged from her mother and her sister- something occurs to her (no spoilers from me) where she has visited by the ghost of her father to start, and then by the three ghosts of Christmases - we get in a look into what has caused her issues at present day. The book does a really good job of tying the past. The present and the future together and I enjoyed it. The people who were the ghosts made sense in the story. And I thought it was really good. Enjoyed it a lot. I do enjoy a good retelling of A Christmas Carol (my favorite is the Bill Murray Scrooged version) - this was a very quick fun read - it's got a little bit of spice in it, not a lot although I could have honestly lived without the spice between the two ghosts that was a little creepy, but over all a fun holiday read -

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Kami | wellreadkami · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Zacchia Publications for the digital advanced copy of this book! Here are my honest thoughts.

This Christmas paranormal romance was so cute!

When Mary survives an accident at a ski resort, she’s forced to reckon with her decisions when she’s visited by three ghosts of her ex-boyfriends. As she revisits memories from her past, she has to come to terms with the consequences of the choices she’s made.

J.E. Reid created such a fun twist on the classic story of A Christmas Carol. The prose is conversational and easy to follow, and even though the book is written in single POV, I never felt like I was missing context from the other characters or their development.

I really appreciated how the plot and spice complement each other in this book. It’s quite spicy, but those scenes are tied to important memories and never feel out of place or forced. It’s fast-paced without feeling rushed, making it such a good dopamine read when you’re short on time!

This was a 4.25 star read for me. It’s memorable and fun without being overly emotional—a great read for the holiday season! If you enjoy paranormal romance and want something a little different for Christmas, add this one to your holiday TBR!

Trigger Warning: This book deals with mild descriptions of infidelity.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley once again for the advanced ebook copy of Ghosts of Ex-mas past . I am a big fan of retellings, and this Christmas retelling of A Christmas Carol was really good. Ghosts of Ex-mas Past, but J. E. Reid is about a woman Mary who is all business and has very little time for love and romance. She had a terrible father and made a pact with her sister Eve, that they would never put men first and they would never let a man come between them. Poor choices on Eve's part, lead to a period of time where her and Mary did not speak. Mary dated for datings sake, but never to be in love. Then she met Chris. They have a complicated history and when a skiing accident leaves Mary in the hospital in a coma for some time, Mary is visited by her father and three ghosts of her past. Mary has to relive the hardest parts of her history in order to move forward. This was funny and charming at times, and also has you rooting for things that maybe you shouldn't be. It was a quick and solid Christmas story with lots of heart and emotions. I really liked the character of Chris and how patient he always was with Mary. I did not 100% love how they met and got together, but like I said, I was fully invested and rooting for them in the end.

[Kailee Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Ghosts of Ex-mas past by J.E. Reid. This is the author’s debut novel and it did not disappoint!

The opening sentence sets the tone immediately-and I was here for it! Ghosts of Ex-mas Past is witty, charming and spicy, with unforgettable lessons on forgiveness, love, and self-preservation. It is a rom-com mirror held up to the holiday classic we all know, but with a fresh, modern, and many entertaining twists.
I was completely engaged from the start and honestly could not put it down. Reading cover to cover in one sitting, the characters, the humour, and raw honesty energy made this such a fun read.
And one of my favourite things? It’s Canadian! There’s something extra satisfying about finding a festive rom-com that brings a little Canadian flavour to the shelf.
If you’re looking for a holiday romance this season, add this one to your TBR-you won’t regret it!

[Von Macelf · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you so much, J. E. Reid, Zacchia Publications, and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

​If you are looking for a fast-paced, high-heat holiday romance that you won't be able to put down, Ghosts of Ex-mas Past by J.E. Reid is an absolute must-read.

The heat level in this book is no joke! 🥵

It captures an incredible, cozy Canadian winter atmosphere that makes you feel the cold setting right alongside the warmth of the romance.

Mary's journey from messy relationships to self-awareness is deeply rewarding. Plus, the romance is wrapped up in incredible tropes like one bed, grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, fake dating, and second chances.

Steamy, and surprisingly emotional! This was such a fantastic read. Add it straight to your Christmas TBR!

[Beth Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute take from a new author. For fans of BK Borison and Christina Lauren in a holidaze. What if you could go back and see where you went wrong? Mary is a bit of a Scrooge. And in this Christmas retelling she’s haunted by her ex boyfriends after an accident leaves her in the hospital. She has commitment and family issues. Will she always be alone? I really didn’t like Mary like at all. But when things started happening and she was cast as the villain immediately it ticked me off. Also there’s cheating on a couple different occasions which I really hate. Breaking up isn’t hard. Christian was everything and I felt like that was used to his disadvantage. Cute idea, just not a fave sadly.

[Chloe Kaljouw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun Christmas Carol retelling that got vulnerable and didn’t shy away from some very real, traumatic situations for the characters.

Chris was my favourite and the real MVP of the book. The journey Mary went through was hard at times but very honest. Too often do we put ourselves in similar situations to that of Mary where we push ourselves away from those we love because we feel we don’t deserve what they bring to our lives and relationships.

Naturally, there had to be a happy ending and the epilogue was exactly what was needed!

Thank you to Iris Influencer Society and the author for an advance copy of the book!

[Coral Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Ghosts of Ex-Mas Past was a good book and I did enjoy the overall storyline, unfortunately, it just wasn't quite the book for me. I liked the idea behind the story and found the concept enjoyable, but I struggled to really connect with the characters.
I also found that the writing style, particularly how much of the book was written in the third person, made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story and feel connected to what was happening.
Overall, it was a good read, and I can definitely see why others might enjoy it, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me personally. 🎄👻

[Sophia Moser · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Ty to NetGalley for this ARC. I’m leaving a voluntary review.

This one got me in my FEELS.

It had that A Christmas Carol feel, but with a romance twist, and I really enjoyed seeing Mary forced to look at her choices from a different perspective. And that ending?! I was literally crying. Seeing the people she had pushed away still there for her, still loving her, absolutely got me.

A sweet Christmas story about second chances, forgiveness, family, and finally letting yourself be loved. ❤️🎄

This was such a cute, fun, easy read with that classic Christmas story feeling.

[Bella Higgins · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable Christmas read. The retelling of A Christmas Carol but with a woman struggling to love not only herself but let others love her. I must say I had a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings towards each and every character but I’m very glad they all got their happy endings. The perspective changes was creative and helped the narrative flow with ease — a very simple way to distinguish what was the past and the present. Very good.

[Becki_reads_83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely story.

Mary realises she can love with the help of her ex boyfriends

After an accident skiing, Mary is in a coma and is visited by her ex boyfriends ghosts.

They all show her different parts of her life, to show her she can forgive and love.

This book wasn't just a sweet little romance it had so great spicy moments in it.

I definitely recommend reading this book.

[Mel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was so fun to read. I love Christmas time and this book felt like a great start to the holiday season. I really liked the main characters and from the moment the MMC was introduced I was rooting for them. I spent so much of this book just smiling and laughing out loud.

[Abby Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so fast and so fun and lovely. I’m a sucker for any book that’s Christmas Carol inspired and this was so so so very fun. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this release in exchange for my honest review of the work!

[Tonya Scherrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute read.