4.5 stars

An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne is a fun, sweet, hot and very entertaining friends to lovers read.

The storyline is well written, the plot held my interest all throughout the book and Mark and Kelly were likable, engaging characters that I easily connected with.
Watching these opposites come together had me laughing one minute, then wanting to shake them the next. It was so obvious they belonged together but the fear of losing their friendship kept them from giving into their feelings.

I loved Kelly and Mark together, I have no doubt these two would have a long and happy life together.

Lauren Layne has once again written a beautiful love story that will bring out the feels and leave you with a happy heart and a smile on your face.
An Ex for Christmas is the perfect holiday read and I highly recommend it.

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*I received an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts*.

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

He looks like a lumberjack version of Clark Kent, Byrne. Other men don’t exactly love their girl being besties with sexy, scruffy Superman.

I’m nothing but the half-batty sister who believes in tea leaves and kinda sort believes Hogwarts is real.

He gestures with his fork toward my boobs, and I glance down to see a glob of cheese. I sigh and get out yet another napkin and clean up the mess, although mostly I just smear oil around. “I’m usually very elegant on dates.”

My Review:

Kelly made all her important life decisions with a Magic 8 ball, actually with three Magic 8 balls, stashed strategically so she is never without coverage. She had one at home, one at work, and a small one on her keychain to consult when she was “out and about.” She was also superstitious and believed in the “woo-woo” of fortune-tellers, tarot cards, and palm readers. So when a homeless woman on a train platform beckoned to Kelly and told her that she had already met the love of her life and would reconnect with him before Christmas, Kelly takes that message to heart and generated an Ex List of her past boyfriends and began locating them to determine which one was her “One” in the few days before Christmas. This sounded like a cute and entertaining premise, and it was. Kelly was rather obtuse and thoughtless in her treatment of her best friend and neighbor, Mark, whom I adored.

I enjoyed this delightfully amusing and light holiday read and I always enjoy Ms. Layne’s clever wit. Written primarily from a first person POV, the narrative was confessional and packed with self-effacing humor with breezy asides from the sassy and self-obsessed Kelly. My favorite scene was the procuring of the Christmas tree, one of many scenes that kept me smirking.

This is my favorite holiday read so far this year. Which is saying a lot since I started reading them in August!!

One of my favorite tropes is friends to lovers, when they are done right. This was done right. From the very beginning of the story you could see that Kelly and Mark are honest to goodness best friends. I mean, they share a dog!!! Of course, you also realize pretty early on that Mark has more than friendly feelings towards Kelly, but she’s beyond oblivious.

Mark is really the epitome of the strong and silent type. It’s strange because I feel like I got to know him really well throughout the story, yet somehow he was sort of a mystery. He comes across as kind of brooding and indifferent to Christmas but he still manages to tag along with Kelly at every opportunity. And don’t even get me started on the fact that he’s a chef!

Kelly has decided, after a run in with a psychic, to spend her Christmas break (she’s a teacher) meeting up with each of her exes to decide which one of them she is meant to reunite with forever. Despite Mark’s obvious annoyance with this plan, Kelly is so focused on her interpretation of the psychic’s vision that she doesn’t see what’s right in front of her.

This story was sexy and sweet, funny and even a little bit heartbreaking. The connection that Mark and Kelly had as friends drove this story and made it obvious that they were meant to be together as more than friends. Their story felt real and was therefore it was super easy to get lost in. I kind of want to go back and get lost all over again!

If you are only going to read only one Christmas book this season, read this one. Great story of best friends to lovers during the Christmas season.

Kelly Byrne is a school teacher and is finally on Christmas break. She splits her time between Manhattan, NY and Haven, which is in upstate New York. Kelly is on her way to her house in Haven to spend time with her best friend Mark Blakely who lives next door. While on her trip home, a psychic tells the superstitious Kelly that she has already met her one true love and she will find him again before Christmas. Kelly decides to make a list of all her ex's and is determined to hunt them all down before Christmas. What Kelly doesn't know is that her bestie Mark has been in love with her for years and he is not happy with her plan to find her ex's.

Through a series of LOL moments, Kelly reconnects with her ex's, while at the same time the sexual chemistry between the her and Mark is really heating up! Mark needs to decide if he wants to push Kelly for something real between the two of them or just let her go for good and move on with his life.

I just adored Mark and Kelly. Mark is such a great guy and the type you want to marry. Kelly was so fun and quirky you couldn't help but just want to be friends with her. The road to their happy ending was perfect! I loved this book and just couldn't put it down!

*Review scheduled on blog for 11/15 with Tasty Blog Tours*

If you're looking for a book that will put you in the perfect Christmas mood, then definitely pick up An Ex for Christmas! Not only was it fun, flirty and sexy, but I found myself humming Christmas songs for days after I finished that last page. It was impossible not to since we got to witness them decorating for the holidays, there was Christmas songs playing in the background and the story even took place in a setting that felt like a winter wonderland. An Ex for Christmas became my favorite Christmas romance, and I hope you end up loving it just as much as I did!

I turn back to Mark’s house and look up at the second floor, even though I know his bedroom window faces the opposite way. As expected, there’s nothing but still darkness, and I can’t stop the sinking sensation that things are somehow changing between us. And I don’t know why, and I don’t know how to stop it.


Kelly Byrne was a character I definitely haven't met in a book before. She used Magic 8 balls, horoscopes and tarot cards to help determine where she should go in life. I liked her quirky, friendly ways, especially since she was a huge ball of happy energy. On her way home at the train station, a woman beckoned to Kelly that she had news for her. She told Kelly that she'd already met The One, and he'll come back to her before Christmas. Taking it as the honest truth, she made a list of her exes and slowly started meeting back up with them.

The last thing I need when I’m trying to hunt down my exes is to start getting sexy thoughts about my BFF.


When Kelly started meeting her exes I was either a laughing, cringing, or desperately needing to cover my face kinda mess. Oh my gosh, count on being more than entertained each time she met a different ex lol. I felt bad for her because each time her hopes were so high. She was always so optimistic! But then when disaster would strike, she'd be reminded all over again why that man was definitely on her ex list. Thankfully Kelly always had a constant in her life, no matter how horrific her meet-ups were. And that was her best friend Mark Blakely.

He doesn’t meet my eyes. Not once. Not until he lowers his hand, his fingertips brushing over my lips at the very moment his gaze lifts to mine.
It feels like an electric shock.
The touch of his fingers on my lips, the heat of his gaze, the weight of his body pinning mine to the ground . . .
Somehow all of those combined is creating the most intense, unexpectedly carnal moment of my life. My eyes flutter in confusion.
No, that can’t be right. “Carnal” isn’t a word I associate with Mark.


Kelly and Mark had been best of friends for the last ten years. They shared a dog, a backyard and they were extremely comfortable around each other. Yet I couldn't help but melt during so many of their interactions. And the thing was, Kelly started to be affected during some of those moments too. Which she shouldn't be, because he was just her bff right?! Well it didn't help that gruff, sexy Mark was kinda hard to read. You see his actions, words or even eyes would come across in an ever so sexy way, but then the next second he'd go back to being just Mark. So I found myself smiling and sighing out loud a lot of the times when Mark was in the picture. I was all for Kelly taking that step to see if Mark was into her too. Yet she didn't want to risk their friendship and tumble down that path. I got it, in real life I would have acted the same way that Kelly did, but since this is a book I found myself wanting to bonk her over the head ever so lightly with her Magic 8 Ball and say go after Mark.

He steps even closer, a slight smile playing at his lips. “Kell?”
“What?”
“Shut up.”
He sets a knuckle to the bottom of my chin, tilting my face toward his.
My heart’s still pounding, although now it’s not so much about panic as . . . want.
I want nothing more at this moment than his lips on mine, his hands on my back pulling me close . . . >
Mark’s lips brush my cheek. My cheek.
He pulls back slightly, eyes locking on mine for one heated heartbeat.
And then he steps away . “Night, Kell.” His voice is rough.
“Night.”
He turns and walks into the raging blizzard, leaving me staring after him, mostly oblivious to the snow that’s getting all over my kitchen floor, soaking my borrowed pajama pants.
I’m ignoring the storm outside because I’m too aware of the storm within . . . and the startling realization that I want a do-over on that mistletoe kiss.
Because a part of me wishes it had gone very, very differently.


The way the story ended *happy screaming* awwww it was the best ever! So if you adore happy quirky females, guys that give off the gruff and sexy vibe, and a cute story line that will give you all the Christmas feels, then definitely check out this book. LL did a fabulous job writing this festive and fun Christmas story, and I'm hoping you'll love it too!

*ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 Stars - Top Pick

An Ex For Christmas is the perfect way to jumpstart the holiday season. Fans of the friend- to-lovers trope are in for a treat with this deliciously funny romantic holiday story.

On her way Upstate New York to her hometown, Kelly Byrne meets a woman she believes to be a psychic who warns her that she has already met her true love. Kelly believes in horoscopes, palm and tarot card readings so this is right up her alley. As soon as she arrives, she tells her best friend and neighbor, Mark, about her plan to find each of her ex and see if the sparks will fly before Christmas.

Mark Blakely has always watched men come in and out of Kelly’s life. He is none too pleased that she has created a list full of ex-boyfriends to track down during the Christmas holiday. He has been in love with Kelly for years but he held himself back. Watching his best friend look for love with someone else is almost impossible for him but he is her best friend and wants what is best for her. As they spend the two weeks together, feelings are tested for the both of them.

This book makes me giddy. This is perfect as a Hallmark Movie. Oh my, how I would love it. I read the author’s dedication and the back and it is an ode to one because she is right, Hallmark Christmas movies are the best thing in the world!

I honestly thought that this would be such a formulaic hokey story which in some way it is. However, Ms. Layne knows how to work the story with just a few minor twists that makes it just the perfect unique story. Each one of the men that Kelly meets leads her closer to her real true love. When Mark and Kelly finally come together it is so sweet. I love how it all ended with references to a certain movie.

My only complaint is that Kelly took too long to figure it out. The signs were basically right in her face but she just ignored it. When she did possibly try to slip the notion of her and Mark in her thoughts, she was already onto her next thought and worrying about whatever Ex was coming around. It got old quickly.

So if you are looking for a great Christmas story that warms your heart, look no further. Kelly is totally a Christmas fanatic so there is plenty of references to movies, songs and just plain old Christmas spirit to bring you joy this holiday season!

~ Samantha

I really wanted to LOVE this story but it turns out that I only liked it. An Ex For Christmas is a good story but there were times that I wanted to strangle Kelly. Not that I have any problems people believing in or using magic 8 balls, horoscopes, tarot cards and any of that. But letting it rule your life? It grew a bit tiresome way before we got to Christmas Eve and Christmas.
This story was…odd. More than half the story is Kelly tracking down other guys with no mention of having feelings for or even an attraction to her best friend. At fifty percent I had to go back and read the synopsis because I thought maybe I’d misread it. But no, I hadn’t. Then finally something happened but by then I was really just ready to get to the HEA.
As a writer I understand drama and storytelling so I have to give Lauren Layne credit because my reaction to Kelly, at times, was visceral. I screamed “Oh. My. God.” At least ten times from sixty percent to the end. Don’t get me wrong, Mark was no angel either. I mean it was clear he had feelings for her, but not to her.
Did you hear me? Not. To. Her.
I loved parts of this story, the history of their friendship and how close they were, even sharing a dog. I just wished that two people who had such a great relationship, could have communicated a little better. I mean, seriously!
All that being said, Kelly and Mark were adorable together. It was clear they could be a great match if she’d let go of her complete reliance on the supernatural or mystical to guide her life. As someone who used to spend her high school years poring over every horoscope printing in the Sun Times and Tribune, I understand where she’s coming from. Except…I was in high school, not looking for The One.
A good read, probably a great read if you don’t let Kelly annoy you too bad!

I had a blast reading this book with it's quirky but cute character in Kelly. I loved the interaction between the two characters, which had me laughing out loud, and towards the end wrapping me up in their emotions. This author had a fun time with these two and you will two. The story is strong and emotional, you can't help but fall face first into the story and feel the intensity as you read.

Great read. Loving this new author to me and her style of writing in this standalone read.

I really struggle with first person views. I need that 2nd persons thoughts! This is written in Kelly's point of view and this girl is a trial!!! LOL She's tarot card, Magic 8 ball, fate beliving kind of girl. She's trying to connect with all her Ex's before Christmas because a lady told her she'd already met her one true love. When all along it's been Mark, her best friend. Sigh, it was a great Christmas story! Even if it was frustrating watching her chase the wrong people. I wanted Mark's thoughts so badly, even though you can tell what he's thinking and feeling by how he acts and what he says... I wanted to smack Kelly because if I could tell how he felt, why couldn't she!! LOL

Sexy and qwirky and oh so much fun! I loved this book and read it in nearly one sitting because I could not put it down. Kelly is a teacher and set free for Christmas vacation when she has a run in with a "lady" at the train station who tells her she is destined to find her true love before Christmas and, oh yea, she already knows him. This set her on the course of looking up her old boyfriends and her infamous "ex list" to see if she can find him. Mark is the ever patient best friend who lives next door and has been secretly in love with Kelly since high school but relegated to best friend status. Watching these two work around each other as Kelly goes down her list while getting ready for Christmas all the while working around superstitions, ex-boyfriends, ex-friends, and a spunky dog. Definitely recommend this one!

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Exhilarating & Charming! Every single second of this story was just so incredibly fun, witty and sexy, it was exhilarating to read. Hands done the best holiday story I have ever read, and one I will be going back, to read again and again. Lauren Layne is definitely the Queen of Romantic Comedy.
Kelly Byrne is happy being a third grade teacher, at Emory Academy, a private prep school that is filled with rich and famous families. She is a upbeat, quirky, funny, twenty seven year old single woman, with a superstitious, nature. She believes in fate expressing itself through the magic eight ball, and uses it often, as well as using tea leaves, tarot cards, horoscopes, and she is also very familiar with, and believes in people having the gift of sight. So when a stranger at the train station, tells her that she has already met, the love of her life, and he will come back to her before Xmas, she is anxious to get the ball rolling. And who better to help her but her best friend.
Mark Blakey has been best friends with Kelly, since they met their senior year of high school, ten years ago. They are as close as a guy and girl can be without hooking up and they are opposites in many ways. But although these two are opposites, they share a lot, like a dog, a back yard and most week ends together. But Mark definitely doesn’t believe in fate, fortune or luck, so when Kelly tries to enlist his help, for her to reconnect with each one of her Ex’s to find out which one is the one, he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it.
But as Kelly sends out mistletoe sprigs to every business in town, to help her entice kisses from her Ex’s as she sets up date after date. Will the kiss of the love of her life, or the magic eight ball help her realize what is right in front of her? Will she realize that just maybe she has been in love with this person for awhile? You don’t want to miss this story! Because cutting down Xmas trees, snowball fights and shoveling snow has never been so Charming, Sexy and exhilarating! Goosebumps, Shivers and Swooning Galore! Loved this!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

I have read all of Lauren Laynes books and this one is a little different because it's not dual POV only Kelly Byrne's the heroine. Having said that I still loved this book and couldn't put it down.

This story is about Kelly Byrne who is quirky. She believes in signs, fortune tellers, magic 8'balls and horoscopes. She is also a third grade teacher who loves Christmas. She lives during the week in an Apartment in Manhattan and on the weekends in Haven at the house her grandmother left to her. Her best friend Mark lives in her backyard and they share her dog named Rigby.

The book starts off at the last day of school before Christmas break. Kelly is leaving Manhattan via train when a woman calls to her then tells her she has the " sees" and tell hers that the love of her life she has let go, but he will come back to her before Christmas. So Kelly automatically assumes that her the love is an Ex that she let go. As soon as she gets to Haven she rushes home then rushes to Marks house to see Rigby. However she walks in on Mark and his current girlfriend liplocked. Marks girlfriend leaves and Kelly excitedly tells him about what the woman at the train station told her. Mark is the exact opposite of Kelly. He doesnt believe in any of the stuff Kelly does and he is tall, dark and yum. Where Kelly believes she is short, average looking and "curvy". Despite their physical and personality differences they have been best friends for 10 years.

As Mark listens to Kellys story he goes Akon with it until she tells him she plans on making a list of all her Exes and contacts them. At that point Mark totally shuts down and all but calls her and her plan stupid. As Kelly starts meeting her Exes, Mark keeps showing with a grumpy/growly attitude. Kelly is confused bc Mark isn't bubbly but he doesn't usually bite her head off.

This book is pretty funny and sweet. Kelly gets herself into some situations with her Exes and Mark is there to help her. Mark also shows his sweet side to Kelly. I loved this book and can't wait for another LL book to come out.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

With LL you know you're getting a fun sexy book with awesome characters. When I requested from Netgalley I never bothered to read the blurb, I had every confidence I would enjoy it. I did! Kelly comes back to the house she inherited for the holidays and just wants to hang out with her neighbor/best friend of ten years/co parent of their dog Rigby. Kelly believes in horoscopes, tea leaves, the stars, fate, you name it and she will buy it. Someone put an idea in her head and Kelly needs to reconnect with her exes, after consulting a Magic 8 ball. Her best friend Mark, uber sexy chef and restaurant owner, has tried to support Kelly. You might think it's predictable, you'd be right, but the way to crazy town is quite funny. Love Actually is my all time romantic Christmas movie and I love that LL put a heavy emphasis on the move, even my favorite scene.

3.5 Love Right There... Are You Seeing It Stars
* * *1/2 Spoiler Free
Lauren Layne shares with the readers... This is the story she has wanted to write for a long time. Well, Fa La La, it is the time for her to use all of her cute, heart and sexy teases with the play on the Christmas Season. We get lots of close calls with past ex's for our gal...In all of this journey, she has her best friend chiding her, teasing her and always supporting her along the way.

Did I happen to mention her Best Friend Forever, Her One and Only Constant since College, The One Who has Always Been There No Matter What...is a Guy...

Yeah... a handsome, built, smart and just plain cool guy...

So our gal has this thing about Signs...Uses the Magic Eight Ball to make or confirm decisions...and close to the Christmas Holiday, she sees a Mystic Lady while waiting for the Subway Train...The woman tells her the True Love she is seeking... she already has known... and she needs to check them all out again as she will find him by Christmas...

All of this sounds too close to how she thinks as the mysterious lady used our gal's own phrases causing her to believe she must go on this Quest....

This is a sweet story of looking and not seeing what is in front of you... of being afraid to risk something you care about... and have one of two things happen...Having a relationship become even better and be the most wonderful...or losing the relationship all together.

Enjoy this tale and think of Lauren Layne's happiness in you doing so, Fa La La

Will post at Romance Reviews Today soon: http://romrevtoday.com/

AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS – Lauren Layne
Loveswept (eBook)
ISBN: 978-1524-79653-2
November 2017
Contemporary Romance Novella

Haven, New York – Present Day

During the week, schoolteacher Kelly Byrne works in New York City at a private school, and on the weekends, she returns home to Haven and a tiny house that is in the backyard of her best friend Mark Blakely’s property. It’s the start of the Christmas break, and Kelly is headed home for a couple of weeks when she encounters a mysterious woman who declares that Kelly will reunite with a man from her past before Christmas, and that he is the “one she’ll marry.” While shocked at the message, since she hasn’t dated anyone for a while, she decides to check out her old boyfriends to see if one of them will fit the bill. Kelly asks Mark for help, which he does so grudgingly. But as it grows closer to Christmas, with no ex giving her the right vibes, Kelly discovers an attraction to Mark she’s never noticed before.

Kelly is on a mission to reconnect with an ex who could possibly be the one she’ll marry because a sage old woman told her so. She makes a list and starts working on them once she’s back in Haven. Her parents are on an anniversary cruise, and Kelly’s Christmas plans were to spend the day with Mark and his parents, but she hopes finding Mr. Right will change her plans in AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS. She’s been best friends with Mark since they were children, and she can tell him just about anything. They live next door to one another and even share a dog. She confesses her “ex search” to him, which has him scoffing. But it doesn’t stop Kelly from proceeding with her plan.

In AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS, the tale follows Kelly in the days before Christmas as she meets—then crosses off—the men on her list. Mark shakes his head and tells her she’s crazy, but she persists. Yet, Mark always ends up finding out about her dates, and they squabble. This bickering leads to a realization by Kelly that she cares for Mark…more than she realizes. They make love and Kelly wonders if she should call off her search for her true love and concentrate on pursuing a romantic relationship with Mark. But is she not really looking at the whole picture? Could the man from her past who is her one and only mentioned by the old woman be right in front of her?

A deliciously sexy tale that is fun and captivating, AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS will be a hit for readers who enjoy best friends to lovers romances. Here’s hoping Kelly and Mark find a happily-ever-after together.

Patti Fischer

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors. Going into her books, I know she is going to introduce me to a couple with whom I want to be friends - people I wish I knew in real life.

And now she combines that with a frisky Christmas friends-to-lovers romance that will have you looking for mistletoe everywhere you go.

A resolute believer in signs, Kelly conducts her life based in no small part on what her myriad of Magic 8 balls tells her to do. When a woman at a subway station tells her that she will find her true love before Christmas and that he's someone from her past, Kelly immediately assumes the dude is an ex. As she heads home, she writes up a list of those exes, determined to track down her true love.

The first guy she runs into is her lifetime best friend Mark. It's clear that there is more to the two of them than just friends, even if Kelly can't see that. Layren Layne shows you from the start that Kelly need no look further than her back yard, but that's not the kind of girl Kelly is. She is someone who needs to learn from her mistakes, even if she breaks your heart while doing so.

Since this is a Lauren Layne romance, you can expect some deliciously hot sexy times. And since it's also a holiday romance, you can expect Christmas charm wherever you go. I loved watching Kelly slowly realize what she has overlooked, and I absolutely loved how Mark tried to show her the truth. My only wish is that he'd been a little bit more developed. There just wasn't enough Mark, which isn't a complain so much as a compliment. He's a great guy.

An Ex for Christmas is a fast-paced, fun, holiday romance that will warm you up - in more ways than one.

An Ex for Christmas was a delight to read, I’ve always enjoyed Lauren Layne’s books in the past, but this book just had that extra special something, maybe it was the Christmas theme, or amazing friendship between Mark and Kelly that bought about a flurry of butterflies in my stomach, I just had the best time reading this book. Our MC Kelly, is a believer in fate, horoscopes matching up and is known for asking her magic 8 ball all types of questions, so when catching the train one day and a random lady tells her that she’s already met her true love, she makes it mission to track him down before Christmas. Why would Kelly listen to a random lady you ask, well she also happened to make a passing comment on Kelly’s parent’s 30th anniversary cruise, which not any random person would know about. Kelly of course took this lady’s random comment to mean that her true love was one of her ex’s. It was so much fun watching Kelly compile her list of ex’s and trying to track them down and see if they would pass her mistletoe test that she had come up with.

I try not to re-read the summary of a book before I pick it up, I guess I always want an element of surprise? And I’m glad that this was exactly the case with An Ex for Christmas, as I’d naturally assumed that there was the chance that Kelly would find the one in her list, that maybe they had missed their chance long ago, but now was the time to be together, so when sparks started flying with Mark, I was absolutely delighted! The perfect guy was basically in front of her all along! I was a bit worried though, that as Mark and Kelly had been best friends for so long, that may be them taking things to the next level, could ruin the friendship that they had, but with the casual build up, I knew for sure that I wanted something more to happen between them, forget the risks and what ifs. Also, Mark was such an amazing guy! (definitely a contender for my top ten fictional crushes of the year), he always had Kelly’s best interests at heart, even though she didn’t realise it at times, he was charming, one heck of a cook, had that growly thing going on, that had me weak in the knees and was hot! I know Kelly wanted to complete what she had started with her list, but things started getting heated between her and Mark and I wanted to shout forget the bloody list, open your eyes and look at the fine specimen of a man that you have standing in front of you! This minor issue aside, I still adored Kelly’s character, she was such a bubbly character, she was funny and like any other person, had her doubts that she had to deal with, she really was a person that I could relate to in so many ways.

With the reading slump, I was in An Ex for Christmas was exactly what I needed and so much more, I kind of wished that I had saved it for Christmas, with the Christmas setting it had going, but I know I’ll just have to read it again, during my Christmas break! An Ex for Christmas, was one of my favourite reads by Layne so far, I’m glad that I picked it up, because it truly had everything going for it; a beautiful friendship with the potential to emerge into a fantastic relationship, many laugh out loud moments and vivacious characters and swoony scenes that you’ll want to read over and over again, this is one book readers definitely don’t want to miss out on!

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors in the whole world. Her novels are fun, swoony and full of feels. I absolutely loved An Ex for Christmas! It was such a sweet and sassy Christmas novel that just completely won me over. I knew the minute I read the blurb I needed to read it as it had a "What's your Number?" (Chris Evans/Anna Faris) feel to it. There was a unique spin with Kelly's obsession with signs and horoscopes, etc. but I absolutely loved it. I loved Mark as I felt he was such a steadfastly loyal and growly bestfriend. I was completely smitten with him. I also thought Kelly was the perfect sassy girl with a huge heart. I could not get enough!

Kelly Byrne is ready to find her forever love. After kissing a few frogs she has decided to keep looking for the one. But what happens when a chance meeting with a mysterious woman alerts her to the fact that she already met the one and it's up for her to reconnect with him in time for Christmas. Armed with a to-do list to reconnect with her exes, she doesn't know what to with the one constant in her life, bestfriend and neighbor Mark Blakely, who has always been her rock. Will Kelly find her forever love with an ex or will she see what's been in front of her face the entire time?

All in all, I really enjoyed this story! I thought it was filled with heart, sass and sizzle. Mark and Kelly had great chemistry and really were so sweet together. As always, I look forward to the next book by this amazing author! Bravo! 4 stars!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this title for an honest review. ~Ratula

When Lauren Layne charms, she sure does charm. An Ex for Christmas is just the perfect romantic book to spend a cold winter night with, especially if you’re in need of a “lift-me-up”. It’s delightful, and just oozes joy from every page. No doubt, lovers of all things holidays and romance will devour this magical read.

On her way back home from work one evening before the holidays, Kelly meets a psychic who tells her that she’s already met the love of her life. Being the romantic and superstitious girl that she is, Kelly is convinced that one of her exes is her true love, so she goes on a mission trying to reconnect with all of them by Christmas. Watching her on the sidelines? Her best friend, Mark, who has always been there for her! I adored the setup for this book. It was so warm and lovely, and Lauren Layne does a beautiful job with it. It could easily have gotten tangled as Kelly goes through her list, all the while ignoring the man right in front of her, but LL writes her character in a way that makes her relatable. Her goals are well-intended being the romantic at hear, and she’s not out to hurt anyone. She’s obviously very stubborn, but I had to admire her determination. She’s a sweet girl, with a funny side who had me laughing at her shenanigans.

Mark is just the perfect guy for her, but of course it takes her forever to realize it! I was enamored by him from the very beginning. He’s a chef (the way to my heart – swoon!), slightly grumpy, and a hottie! He’s everything that I love in a LL hero with his sweet and supportive nature – give me all the good hot guys! I especially loved how he was constantly there for Kelly. It’s obvious that he’s 100% hopelessly in love with her, and has been for quite a while, but he’s so guarded with his feelings around her. The romance in An Ex for Christmas was too adorable for words. In between her mission, Kelly starts to realize that she just might have feelings for Mark, that he reciprocates. They dance around each other for a while, but they can’t ignore chemistry forever. The romance had me sighing in happiness, and my cold heart melting multiple times. The Christmassy elements made the book even more perfect for me. It amped up all the romantic elements, in my opinion.

An Ex For Christmas is a love letter to all those who love romance and Christmas. Do yourself a favor, grab a hot chocolate and curl up with this book under a warm fuzzy blanket. For a few hours, you’ll be in romance heaven. 😉