An Ex for Christmas: A Love Unexpectedly Novel

There are two reasons why I requested this book from NetGalley. One is that I have read Lauren Layne’s books in the past and loved them. The other reason is the cover. I looked at it and got a huge smile on my face. It captures the book’s Christmas spirit and silliness (yes, silliness). Then I read the blurb and I had to read An Ex for Christmas. I am glad that I did because I laughed my butt off. Kelly and her misadventures had me rolling.

Kelly is a teacher in New York City who is coming home for the holidays. As an anniversary gift to her parents, she is sending them on an Alaskan cruise over Christmas. Doing that, this will be the first Christmas that she has celebrated alone. Well, not alone. Her best friend, Mark, lives behind her parents and she has plans to spend it with him. On her way to the train station, she rules into a woman who tells her that she has already met her true love. So, what does Kelly do? She makes a list of her ex-boyfriends and proceeds to track them down. What happens while she does that is pure gold. She comes to realize that her true love wasn’t an ex but someone who had been there for her through everything. Someone that she kept pushing to the side. Someone who has finally had enough and has to let her go to go on with his life.

I loved Kelly. She was a very original person. She read horoscopes and believed that astrology could tell compatibility between people. She consulted her magic 8 ball for everything. She believed in psychics. When the psychic told her that she found her true love and would be with him over Christmas, Kelly was very excited. What does she do? She makes a list of all her ex’s and weeds out the ones that are married or in relationships. That leaves her a manageable list to work with. She then proceeds to get in touch with each one of them….with Mark in tow.

I couldn’t hold back my laughs when she would go on the date with the guy and then write what was wrong. One guy actually accepted her invite to blast her. Another one made off-color comments about how she gained weight (that wasn’t funny). She started to realize that her past relationships were not what she thought they were. While I got a laugh out of those misadventures, I liked how she learned from them. She saw those guys how the other people in her life saw them. It was eye-opening for her.

I did like Mark but I felt that he got what he deserved. If he had been more honest with Kelly, then maybe he wouldn’t have been shunted off to the side every time she got a boyfriend. Now saying that he didn’t let the grass grow under him. Nope. He had relationships and was sexually active. I mean, look at what Kelly walked into when she let herself into his house. I loved how he came clean to her about his feelings. It was awesome to see a male fictional character be raw like that. He let her see how much she was and had hurt him. Then walked away. He couldn’t deal with it anymore.

I loved that the author held off on Mark and Kelly having sex until the last half of the book. By then, Kelly was questioning what she felt for Mark. I betcha Mark thought Christmas came early. The woman he has loved for 10 years is allowing him to have sex with her. Yup, it must have been like Christmas. Anyways, those sex scenes were hot. Even hotter now that I know how Mark felt about Kelly

An Ex for Christmas is told in 1st person and from Kelly’s perspective for about 95% of the book. It does go to 1st person Mark at the end of the book. Doing that made the book. It made the ending even more special because I finally got to see what was going on in Mark’s head.

The end of the book made me cry. Like I said in the above paragraph, it was told from Mark’s view and you got to see Kelly through his eyes. It was very romantic. I am hoping that there will be a book 6 and that Mark and Kelly make an appearance in that book.

An Ex for Christmas is a fun quick read. I had some good laughs reading this book. I also had a couple of good cries. So read with tissues nearby. The characters were lovable. The plot was good. I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Kelly and Mark have been best friends for years and even share a fur baby, but they have never crossed that line. Kelly’s a big believer in the Magic 8 ball and unofficial psychic predictions much to Mark’s disgust. When Kelly is told she has already met her true love, she starts trying to locate her former boyfriends instead of looking closer to home. Mark has let Kelly explore her options but he’s ready to take their relationship to the next level. I loved this book, and really enjoyed the characters. They kept me laughing and wanting them to work things out at every turn.

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.

Patti Fischer
for Romance Reviews Today

A classic holiday romance style which fell flat for me.

Kelly Byrne is the sort of superstitious woman who reads her horoscope, consults a Magic 8 ball before every decision and believes in fortune tellers. When a mysterious woman tells her that she's already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas - so she starts a campaign to contact all of her ex-boyfriends.

Kelly lives and works in New York but also has a place in upstate New York where she spends weekends, her best friend since they were children, Mark Blakely is a local chef and has the house next door, in fact they share custody of a dog.

What is blatantly clear to everyone except Kelly is that Mark is in love with Kelly and has been for years. This is my first and major problem with the book. I didn't like Kelly. I found her to be irritating, self-absorbed, selfish and (frankly) stupid for not realising how Mark felt. My dislike of the heroine coloured my feelings towards the entire book.

Then towards the end, when Kelly and Mark make their feelings known, Mark did something which was almost a carbon copy of what (I think) Logan did in [book:To Love and to Cherish|29997408], after waiting patiently for years, never telling Kelly how he felt, waiting for her to get on the same page, he can not literally wait 24 hours for her to confirm what her feelings are. No matter that he's had years to think about how he feels and to know that she is the one for him, no matter that he has NEVER said a word to her about his feelings, she has to be all-in or he walks away. Grrrh.

So, I am officially over Christmas stories and its only 14 November! They are too sweet, too cutesy, too predictable. I'm off to read something brutal and gory.

This really is like the song says--”the most wonderful time of the year!” Christmas has always been my favorite holiday going back what seems like a century since I was a little girl. I know most people are annoyed that Christmas decorations, commercials, and movies seem to be coming out way too early these days but I am like a kid in my element when the Christmas movie marathon starts in October on the Hallmark channel. To say that ”AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS” is now one of my top favorite Lauren Layne stories is a HUGE understatement. This story was everything that I love about holiday romances and so much more. It’s like I was given the PERFECT early Christmas gift. This is a whimsical, sexy, angsty and heartwarming tale of two best friends who were always meant to be soul mates.

Kelly Byrne is a third-grade teacher at a posh private school in Manhattan. It’s the start of Christmas vacation and she’s looking forward to going back to her cute little house in upstate New York, to be with her cocker spaniel, Rigby, and her close friends. While waiting for her train to arrive she meets a peculiar woman who seems to have the gift for seeing into the future. The woman tells Kelly that she’s already met the ”love of her life” and that he is coming back to her before Christmas. Most people would view this lady as a mentally disturbed person who escaped Bellevue but the thing about Kelly is that she’s very spiritual, believes in superstitions, and is into astrological horoscopes, and so she takes the woman’s predictions seriously. So for the next two weeks, Kelly’s plan is to get in touch with all of her exes in order to find her one true love.

When she arrives back home in Haven, she rushes to her best friend's house, who also happens to be her neighbor, in order to pick up her dog, Rigby. Did I mention that her bestie is a drop dead gorgeous guy who is over 6 feet tall and is probably just about every woman’s fantasy? Mark Blakely and Kelly have been the best of friends since their early High School days, and throughout the years their friendship has remained strong and survived the many failed relationships they’ve each had over the past ten years. The moment we meet Mark it is painfully obvious that these two are meant to be and it just seems ridiculous that they haven’t figured this out yet. I was rooting for them to get their act together and to take that leap of faith towards their happily ever after.

It’s becomes clear when Kelly starts her mission to meet up with all of her ex-boyfriends that Mark isn’t the least bit thrilled with her plans and that Kelly has her head so far up her butt that she can’t see that what she’s so desperately searching for has been literally right in front of her face for so very long.
I knew that once the floodgates opened and when feelings were finally revealed that the passion Kelly and Mark have between them would burn white hot and I wasn’t in the least bit disappointed! WHOA!!

The story gets angsty while Kelly stubbornly tries to hold on to her trust in her silly magic 8 balls and “signs” to lead her to true love. But it’s her underlying fear of losing her best friend that seems to be holding her back from taking that scary first step towards her “HEA”.

Here are my overall ratings on the book:

Hero: 5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5

This was a fun little Christmas romance! Lauren Layne is one of my go to authors when I am in the mood for a contemporary romance. When I pick up a Lauren Layne romance, I expect to enjoy myself for a few hours with characters that just seem to fit with each other. This was a perfect example of her writing and I had a really nice time reading the story.

Kelly and Mark were great. They have been best friends for the past ten years. They live right next to each other sharing a backyard and even a dog. Seriously, they share a dog...I am not sure that it even gets more perfect than sharing a dog. There is one little problem in that Kelly is convinced that her romantic future is with one of her ex-boyfriends after a conversation with a psychic at the train station.

So this book was a little bit predictable. I knew that Kelly wasn't going to find her happily ever after with one of her loser ex-boyfriends as soon as Mark entered the story. They were just so perfect together and I thought that they had a really fun way of relating to each other. There was some definite chemistry between them as well.

This book was filled with Christmas fun. Kelly goes all out for Christmas and this is the first year that her parents are out of town for the holiday. You will get the full holiday experience with this story with tree decorating, holiday movies, a Christmas parade, and even a bit of snow. I loved the small town holiday setting and thought it added a bit of romance to the story.

I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I thought that this was a well done friends to lovers story with a whole lot of holiday spirit. I can't wait to read more from Lauren Layne very soon.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.

Title: An Ex for Christmas
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Loveswept
Series: Love Unexpectedly # 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"An Ex for Christmas" by Lauren Layne

My Thoughts....

This is definitely one of those read where one will say wow and shaking ones head! Poor Kelly Byme was really having a lots of trouble not being able to see the forest for the woods syndrome but being caught in in 'tea leaves, tarots cards, magic eight balls and gypsies telling the future. So, when Kelly psychic has her thinking she is getting back together with a ex by Christmas...her search will start and oh my god where it will lead her! So, instead of Kelly seeing Mark Blakely who had been her best friend for years, one she could and did count on and was right their in front her her she still goes through her long list of exes. However, I did keep in mind that Mark was just a friends and not a ex. Oh, yes they did share a spunky dog! This will be one funny and have you laughing out loud as this story goes on as Kelly takes Mark along with her on this venture of hers. Will this put a strain among these two friendship? What will happen as Kelly finally starts to see what is right in front of her? This author does a good job at pulling the reader into this story wanting to know what will happen next in this emotional hot, sweet and sexy romantic story. So, as we find Kelly 'working around getting ready for the holiday, working around superstitions, ex boyfriends, ex friends, a friend and a dog' the reader will get one heck of a good holiday story.

In the end will Kelly and Mark get their HEA? Well, you will have to pick up "An Ex for Christmas" to see how this author will bring the readers one entertaining 'fun read with lots of humor and chemistry' giving us a good Christmas read. Would I recommend this novel? YES!

An Ex for Christmas was my first Christmas novel this year and I LOVED it!!!!

Do you like hallmark Christmas movies? If yes, this book is for you!!

Do you like friends to lovers trope? You are at the right spot.

Not only does Lauren Layne bring her trademark wit, she also wrote two amazing characters that started out as best friends but became eventually so much more.

Best Friends

Do you believe that platonic friendships between men and women are possible?

I wonder if platonic friendships are not in fact built on sexual attraction or at least repressed attraction on one or more sides of the equation.

In the case of Kelly and Mark, it looked on the outside as if they had it all figured out. They had been best friends for years, ever since they were seniors in high school. Nowadays they shared a backyard as well as a dog. It sounded like they had it all perfectly thought through until Kelly decided that finding the ONE right before Christmas was the thing to do.

Dating hilarity ensued....

There is often a reason why former relationships end. But after Kelly was told that she already met her ONE she decided to go on a mission to find the one that got away. LOL. Of course that never works out the way it's planned. With each date Kelly went on, Mark got a little more annoyed and aggravated and Kelly on the other hand got a little more frustrated and anxious that Christmas was coming up and she still hadn't found the ONE.

The ONE

Mark would have been my ONE too.

He was a chef, not much of a talker, hot as hell, but unfortunately was friend-zoned from the very beginning. I truly felt for him. He was a dream guy. He indulged all of Kelly's craziness, was there whenever she needed him, and he knew her inside and out. And most of all he loved her.

But it wouldn't have been a Christmas hallmark kind of novel without some sort of conflict. The physic gave Kelly an idea and Kelly ran with it. With or without Mark's support. All he could do was watch and hope for his chance to finally come.

The End

An Ex for Christmas was exactly what I hoped for. It was light hearted, featuring a wonderfully charismatic couple, with lots of sparkling and fun dialogues and a plot that was entertaining until the very end.

Two festive thumps up!!

Kelly has everything: a job she loves, a great shared apartment in the city, a home upstate that she spends weekends and holidays at, a good relationship with her parents and a custody-share arrangement with her best friend for a cute little cocker spaniel. Christmas break has come, and as a teacher it’s hard to see who was more excited for the holiday: her 3rd grade students or her? Planning her holiday out to the last second, Kelly is at the subway when a woman tells her that her ‘forever guy’ is someone she’s already met, and to wish her parents a happy 30th anniversary. Already prone to listen for the fates, horoscopes and make use of the many Magic 8 Balls she has scattered everywhere, she instantly decides that going through her ex-boyfriends to check for a ‘match’ will be her goal.

Mark has been Kelly’s best friend since his family moved to town – indulging in her quirks, there to support her during breakups, and even sharing custody of the dog. Mark is always there with food (he’s a chef), companionship and even challenges her on her more outrageous ideas. Like an exuberant puppy, Kelly can’t wait to share the encounter with the unknown woman at the trains, and tells Mark that she’ll hunt down these men, all before Christmas, to see that the woman’s foretelling comes true. Only problem – the woman told Kelly she’d already met her soulmate – not that she’d dated him.

From the first, Kelly’s exuberance and determination to be happy, celebrate every moment of the season (her favorite) and make her own new traditions. From giving her parents a cruise for the holiday, to her plans to be a sexy elf in the town’s holiday parade, she’s got almost every eventuality covered. Except for the fact that Mark has never entered into her thoughts in “that way” even as moments together are unsettling her, making her wonder. Sweet, cute and oh so frustrating when she can’t see what is right in front of her, always, the story is full of holiday moments, snowball fights, food and plenty of chick films. With a lovely last minute realize just what is there moment and big changes for both Mark and Kelly, the story is a wonderful escape for the holidays – sure to make you smile.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Are you in the mood for an extremely joyful holiday romance? Then immerse yourself in Lauren Layne's latest offering, An Ex For Christmas. This is a fast-paced and nicely-written read that primarily takes place in upstate New York. The small town of Haven is just a short train ride away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. The story grabbed my attention right from the beginning, and the characters made me laugh, smile, and contemplate the signs of the zodiac. This is the fifth book from Ms. Layne's Love Unexpectedly series, and it can be enjoyed as as standalone.

Grade school teacher Kelly Byrne is a very superstitious person. She analyzes her horoscope everyday and uses one of the three Magic 8 Balls that she owns to manage her life. On her way from NYC to Haven for the holidays, Kelly receives some unsolicited advice from a psychic located on a Subway platform. The psychic tells Kelly that she has already met her true love. This newfound wisdom causes Kelly to hunt down her ex-boyfriends, in order to find out which guy is the one that got away.

Chef Mark Blakely is an all around good guy, and his restaurant is thriving in Haven. He and Kelly are best friends, neighbors, and share the responsibility of their cuddly dog Rigby. Mark has always been in love with Kelly, but Kelly has never picked up on that little fact. Being in the friend zone is especially difficult this Christmas, because Kelly is talking about and spending time with her exes. Luckily, the magic of season creates some sexual tension between them, which evolves into much more.

I liked this entertaining and sexy story. Ms. Layne's vibrant descriptions of the snowy landscapes and seasonal activities, make you want to be in Haven for the holidays. Kelly and Mark are well-defined characters and their sexy times are both loving and hot. Kelly's superstitious beliefs were quite comical at times. Overall, this is an engaging holiday read that should be added to your TBR list.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

An Ex for Christmas should be made into a Christmas movie. There would need to be a little adjusting of the sensual scenes and probably need to remove the f-word, but it is a perfect Christmas romance. Kelly Byrne and Mark Blakeley meet in high school and become besties right away, never moving past the friend zone. For ten years, each date and break up with several loves. Then as Kelly is headed home for Christmas break, she is told by a little, old lady who ‘sees’ that she has met her true love. With Kelly having an eight ball and other superstitions to guide her, this turns her whole Christmas season upside down trying to contact former boyfriends.

Her BFF and weekend neighbor Mark has been in love with her the whole time. As one of Mark’s former lovers points out. Whenever Kelly is between relationships, so is Mark, just waiting ……

Watching Kelly contact and scratch off former loves from her ‘ex’ list, hunky Mark begins to lose patience. He even tries to help her with ‘The Mistletoe Test’ of kissing former boyfriends. Until finally, he needs Kelly to open her eyes and see him, see he has been waiting the whole time. Kelly depends way too much on her eight ball fortune telling to stop and listen to her heart.

The connection/comparison to the Christmas movie “Love Actually” is sweet. This is not your typical Lauren Layne book, but it works. I like seeing her branch out to something different. This will be a great book to pick up and read during the Christmas holidays for a light holiday season romance. Thank you Net Galley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.

An Ex for Christmas is a fun and adorable Christmas story.

I really liked Kelly. She's funny, quirky, and drives her best friend crazy. I enjoyed the premise of her going through her list of ex's to find out if he's "The One." Though, I can see why most of them were duds to begin with.

And Mark...swoon. He's an amazing best friend. I loved how he tried to throw a wrench in her plans with the ex list. You can tell how much he's always cared for her.

But what I loved most is how comfortable they are around each other. And, of course, their shared ownership of the dog. That cracked me up.

If you're looking for a fun and quick holiday read, this is one you should definitely pick up. It has humor, awkwardness, and it's a good time all the way around.

The fatalistic Kelly and her equally pragmatic BFF, Mark, will regale readers with their story of fate, ex-lovers, mistletoe and happy ever afters. Who knew the magic 8 ball could potentially run your love life?

In An Ex for Christmas, Lauren Layne gives us a great pair of BFFs in the persons of Kelly and Mark. Since high school they have been thick as thieves, close as any siblings and accepting of each others quirks. But Kelly takes the cake when she clearly has gone batty trying to find the love of her life in the next two weeks of the Christmas holiday since that crazy lady on the subway told her so. Mark has always been there for her, supportive, attractive and definitely if she was thinking of him in a romantic way, out of her reach. But when he vehemently says no to her latest scheme, she feels surprised. Until she realizes, that what was right in front of her could be the one she was looking for all along.

I enjoyed reading An Ex for Christmas and I definitely hated Kelly for the duration it took for her to realize what she was doing wrong. Don't get me wrong, this is a heartfelt romance, great in every way and drives home the element of not trusting a magic 8 ball to dictate your love life. And Kelly's action played it beautifully. She seemed callous and not at all cognizant of Mark's feelings but then you start getting the idea that she has been suppressing it for the longest time because she doesn't want to lose him. An Ex for Christmas is a page turner because HEAs are a definite must for a holiday romance!

Great holiday read. LOVED watching Kelly go back down memory lane but enjoyed Mark’s action much more. This was a friends-to-lovers romance that gave a warm holiday feel all the way to your toes. Kelly herself was sweet, unique, quirky, and more. She was the festive glitter for the world around her. Mark was the one man she never considered to be the one. He was her friends, dependable, sweet, stable, steady, honest. She thought no further than their friendship. She missed what others saw. He was hot, sexy, easy smile, and had eyes for her.

While on her hunt for the ex that she thinks will be her future Mr. Right, she finds that there are more things to the friendship she has with Mark. This holiday season has more in store for Kelly and Mark both with a little bit of superstition, quirk, patience, and the holiday season. This will be one that neither Mark, nor Kelly will forget.

An Ex for Christmas will be one of those holiday reads that you will want to come back an read over again with the each new season or multiple times before the holiday season is over. I LOVED IT.

This is book #5 in the Love Unexpectedly series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading this series in order.

Kelly & Mark have been best friends for so long. They can finish each other's sentences. They can tell when a relationship is not working. What Kelly cannot seem to notice is their attraction to one another.

Mark has been waiting for the right moment to sweep her off her feet. Kelly is always in another city, with another man, or just plain oblivious. Will Mark ever get his chance to be the man Kelly really needs?

This was such a great story. I laughed, cried and even laughed while I cried. This author never disappoints. Such a truly sweet read about best friends and why they are truly the. best for you. I loved every page and honestly hope we see these characters again.

***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers in exchange for an honest review only.

4 stars!!

Lauren Layne's book are my guilty pleasure! I love them so much! And now An Ex for Christmas?!? OMG I was so happy. This was like the best Christmas type Hallmark movie ever!
Kelly Byrne thinks she is going get back together with an ex by Christmas to make what a psychic come to reality. The problem is, she doesn't know which one. So she goes through her list of exes.

Mark Blakely has been Kelly's friend for years. Nothing more. He isn't an ex, so Kelly is kind of missing what has been in front of her face for years.

Now, at Christmas time, they might see what has been there for years!

For Lauren Layne emotion is a central character. Her tales are stories of courage, instances of heartache and in the case of An Ex for Christmas, comedy in all it's shining glory. Second chances don't come along often but for Mark and Kelly, could the first time end of being the last? Psychics, exes and a best friend are the start of something new. The road to happily ever after is paved with angst, pain and of course an abundance of rain, but in the case of these BFF's can the holiday spirit and a sprig of mistletoe, spice up those cold winter nights? Laughter and romance go hand and hand. Light and airy delight!

I just received a HUGE reminder why I love Lauren Layne’s writing. I started and finished An Ex for Christmas in a little over 7 hours. I literally could/would not put it down (thank God for vacations, because I did an all-nighter). I loved EVERY FREAKING, EMOTIONAL, TEARY WORD. I must admit, at times, I was calling Kelly a stupid idiot, open your freaking eyes!! And I balled like a baby when she screwed it up at the parade. Then the reminder what the lady actually said….Nope stop!!! Oops, sorry no spoilers.
I was gifted with an ARC of An Ex for Christmas. Thank you, Random House Publishing, - Loveswept and NetGalley. Thank you, Lauren Layne for sharing your phenomenal talents with your readers. I can ALWAYS count on you for a fabulous, emotional story. My favorite kind, especially one set at Christmas!!
Thank you for reading my review.

Kelly's superstitious so when an old lady, someone with "Sight", tells her that she's met her one true love, Kelly takes it seriously. Seriously enough that she makes a list, obviously, of all her ex's, determined to figure out which one is The One. Mark is Kelly's best friend, has been for a decade. He is not convinced, either by the Sight or the list.

This is a fun, funny, sad, and lovely Christmas story. All the emotions. All ending HEA. Layne not only manages to give us a great story but also weave in so many Christmas elements. Love Actually, for example. Seriously.

Towards the end, we're hoping that Kelly finally realises who she's been looking for this whole time, and Layne takes us through an almost agonising series of missteps. And we love it. Because it only makes the HEA even more perfect.

Mark really knows his girl:
“You’re going to suggest we decide whether or not to sleep together again based on your Magic 8 ball.”
My jaw drops. “How did you—”
“I’m not making this decision based on a children’s toy, Kelly.”
Mark is a man who wastes no time, “wait,” I manage against his mouth. “My boots . . .” He lets out a growl of frustration, then pulls back and reaches for my feet. A moment later, both boots hit the ground, my jeans and thong quickly joining them." I liked this book, I loved Mark, the man had some patience in him.

Great friend to lovers holiday romance and perfect for an evening read! I loved that Kelly was clueless to Mark's feelings, not only while she went through her ex list, but even before. They really felt like a couple, even before they crossed the line to lovers. I highly recommend it, especially if you're into Hallmark holiday movies.
4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

I love Christmas stories and Lauren Layne sure knows how tp start the holidays. We have Kelly who is kind of a nut when it comes to this holiday and well fate. She never really thought about marriage and love until a stranger tells her things. Now the countdown is on and hope is all she has now for a magical Christmas this year with her trusty sidekick Mark. Lauren Layne created such a beautiful, whimsical and funny story I wanted more of these two. Released just in time for the holidays by this talented and imaginative author. Loved it.

"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for a review.

While this isn't the sexiest story Lauren Layne has ever put out there, it is definitely one of the sweetest and funniest in my opinion. Kelly is the biggest goofball ever and I love that she always has to consult her Magic 8 Ball. It's just one of those quirks that really stands out and I love that Layne included it in this holiday novel. I also loved Mark. He's the peanut butter to her jelly and you can just see how well the mesh even though they are opposites. This book had my heart hoping that Kelly would just open her eyes and see how much Mark cares for her. Overall, super sweet and just a really feel-good novel.

Adorable, witty, clever, heartwarming, hilarious.....all the feels with this one! It's the ultimate friends-to-lovers story, with lots of charm and hilarity along the way. The writing is fun and quirky and full of personality, and I read the whole thing in two sittings. This is the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.
OOOhhhh Myyyy!!! How absolutely fabulous was "An Ex for Christmas!" It was everything you expect from Lauren Layne. Hunky Hero, Clueless, but hilarious Heroine, Best Friends and witty banter. Oh, I adored this book! I have to say that I have yet to read anything by Lauren Layne that doesn't deliver.
Yes, I'm one of those readers that is totally into the Best Friends to Lovers and this was done beautifully. If you love the Hallmark channel, you're going to love this book even more!!! (Yup, I said it.)
Please, Please, Please keep 'em coming Ms Layne

I am voluntarily reviewing this arc of this book. She is a teacher and its the last day of school for winter break. He is a cook n owner of a restaurant he is also her best friend for years. They know so much about each other. She starts looking at him different when some feelings come forward. She tried to stay in the friend zone but he n her have this connection that is strong n undeniable. I enjoyed this book very much.

AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS is everything I have ever wanted for the Holidays. After Kelly runs into a woman with "The Sight," who tells her she has already met "The One," Kelly turns to her Best Friend, Mark, to help her with figuring out which Ex it could be. Between Mark not believing in superstition of any kind, and having a special kind of hatred for each of Kelly's exes, AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS brings the heat, drama... and love. If you love Christmas trees, Magic 8 Balls, Christmas Music, Hallmark Movies, Dogs, Snow, Mistletoe...and falling in love, than you're going to LOVE this Lauren Layne book.

An Ex for Christmas
Lauren Layne
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a great Christmas romance. This should definitely become the next Hallmark Christmas movie. I loved both the main characters. Kelly is very superstitious and believes in fate. Mark is her total opposite which is great because he keeps her grounded. They are so perfect for each other but Kelly may not realize it until it’s too late.
I love Lauren Layne. She puts out such great stories. I read as many of hers as I can.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A psychic tells Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love. She decides she needs to find him before Christmas and starts a list of her exes to find out who’s the lucky guy. She decides it’s her college boyfriend who’s back in town. Her best friend Mark isn’t looking forward to the search because he’s always wanted more out of their relationship. Will these two realize what’s been there the whole time? Another excellent story by Lauren Layne.

Such a sweet and funny little romance. I loved every word of this book and I loved all the laugh out loud moments and the chemistry between the two main characters was hot. This was a great quick read. I look forward to more from this author.

What a delightful Christmas book to start the season with! The great story and character development made this book a very enjoyable and entertaining read!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

A great Christmas (or really anytime) book. Full of both cute and sexy moments. Kelly is relatable and Mark is dreamy-together they are perfection.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy received through NetGalley.

I loved this book and the female character is relatable for so many of us with her insecurities, perceived faults, and flaws. I think many of us are extremely hard on ourselves. She never sees her own beauty and how much her best friend is in love with her and sees her beauty in what she calls faults.

I love Lauren Layne novels. Fun, sexy and full of holiday cheer she does it again with another book that you just won't be able to put down. I finished this in one sitting. Can't wait to see what she brings us next!!

A sassy, sexy heroine who believes in magic 8 balls, signs and fortune tellers. Her best friend is a hunky, hot chef who has loved her secretly for ten years. Will they finally get together? Read and see. It's funny, sad and romantic. Some hot sex. Highly recommend.

Lauren Layne infuses her signature charm into the holidays with An Ex for Christmas, and this endearing friends-to-lovers romance will warm your heart and make you impatient for Christmas. Kelly is an endearing, likeable and adorably superstitious teacher, who is a holiday fanatic. When a fortune teller gives her a mysterious prediction that suggests her destiny is one of her ex-boyfriends, she takes her prediction to heart and sets out to rekindle old flames and find her soul mate. As she reunites with past beaus, her steadfast and sexy best friend of 10 years, Mark, starts acting a little differently, confusing Kelly. Her world is shaken up when she begins to see him in a whole new light, and she beings to wonder if her true love has always been right in front of her. An Ex for Christmas is the perfect holiday romance that will make you smile, swoon and possibly burst into your favorite Christmas song.

ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.

Kelly, an elementary school teacher is on her way to her hometown for the Christmas holidays when she meets a physic at the train station, who tells her that she has already met her one true love. Kelly assumes she’s talking about one of her exes and starts planning how to find which one is The one.
Mark is Kelly’s next door neighbor and best friend. He is also in love with Kelly, to which she is totally oblivious, and is not very happy about Kelly’s plan to find her HEA with one of her exes.
Somewhere along trying to find her one true love, Kelly starts seeing Mark differently, starts accepting her attraction for him, which creates some tension between them, leads to some sexy times and a little drama.
An ex for Christmas was a funny, sweet and adorable read. There were a few times I wanted to yell at Kelly to see what’s in front of her, but watching her making plans and blundering through them made for some funny moments. Mark is a total swoon worthy hero and I just loved him.
An ex for Christmas is wonderful Christmas read that will leave with feel good and warm feelings.