An Ex For Christmas: Love Unexpectedly 5

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 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.

Lovable, happy-go-lucky Kelly was as nutty as pecan pie and just as sweet. No, she wasn’t certifiable, but her dependence on Magic 8 balls, tarot cards, and other psychic what-nots would be questionable by some, probably most. But this doesn’t stop her best friend of 10 years, Mark, from loving her anyway.

The problem?

She thinks one of her ex-boyfriends is The One because of a comment made by a stranger, and she sets out to make her love match her Christmas present.

Mark knows he’s The One for Kelly because she’s the only one for him. They know each other better than they know themselves, and their no-nonsense friendship keeps their worlds right.

Mark has most emphatically been added to my book boyfriend harem. I totally adore him and his sometimes grumpy, yet sexy, ways. I liked how he dealt with Kelly, he let her be herself, without having to pretend with her. Kelly is without a doubt a girl’s night out contender, but her refusal to rely on her own heart and mind exasperated me after a while. I still rooted for her, but I did huff and puff and roll my eyes a time or two. I couldn’t help it. Perhaps I was crushing on Mark, or perhaps she went overboard with her superstitions to the point of exhaustion. Doesn’t matter the reason, I huffed and rolled.

But…

I still loved her.

I loved the writing – I laughed out loud a time or 50, and Hallmark Christmas movies? Golden!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book, given by Netgalley.
thesecretworldofbooklovers.blogspot
A funny and witty story about the type of love that has always been there but sometimes we are too bind to see or too scared to confront.

Kelly was a strange and hilarious character, her whole list idea was probably one of the worse I heard in a while, exes are that for a reason, you might not remember right away but there is always something that caused that relationship to fail and time probably wont fix that.

Yes there are some relationships that seem to have had the "not the right time" factor involved, but those are the minority.

Mark's patience with her was unbelievable. She kept making mistake after mistake, and kept choosing losers over him, I wouldn't have been so lenient with her.

My favourite part of the book was his soul baring moment, he had always been there for her, and he tried time and time and again to get her to notice him, but the timing always seemed wrong, instead he settled for the best friend role, which probably caused him a lifetime of hurt.

The teaching moment of this book would be to never let this things go on for so long, if you love someone GO FOR IT, tell them how you feel. Worst case scenario, they say no and you can move on.

There's only one chance at life, we don't get do overs.

An Ex For Christmas brought a Hallmark movie feel to a book filled with the usual flair of a witty and steamy Lauren Layne novel. Written with a quirky heroine that makes her choices depending upon signs from the universe and her oft used Magic 8-Ball, the story follows her struggle of locating all of her exes to find the one she might’ve missed, all due to a woman with Sight telling her she’s already met her fated true love.

With a wonderfully warm hometown feel and the setting of Christmastime, this story easily developed into a beautiful romance built from deep friendship and years worth of feelings. And because Layne’s known for her charming, quiet heroes that say more without words and are easily magnetic, it was really too easy to fall under Mark’s spell. His stoic nature and patience clashed with Kelly’s whimsicality, but one could instantly sense their compatibility the first scene they had together. Kelly was flawed and deeply romantic, but her inability to see what was in front of her face was all too human–something of which made her very relatable to the reader.

An Ex For Christmas read like a movie, and it was enjoyable all the way through. The humor and wit of her characters made it light, but the deeply constructed romance and steaminess gave it a hearty substance. If you’re looking for a holiday-themed romance, this is the perfect choice; but outside of the holiday featured, it was a wonderful romance that all will enjoy.

Are you a sucker for all things Christmas, especially the sweet, funny, romantic movies? Or maybe you’re as addicted to friends-to-lovers stories as much as I am? If so, this is THE PERFECT Christmas story for you! It had everything I love most about that time of year, as well as the passionate, confusingly conflicted feelings that only a best friend can provoke. This is definitely a book I'll read again!

I absolutely adored Kelly and Mark. Having the single point of view left a little mystery to their journey. And since I hadn't read the synopsis again before reading their story, I forgot that Mark was her destiny. It was easy to get wrapped up in the possibilities that each ex might bring, but I was slowly falling in love with everything Mark and Kelly along the way. Their story, while not completely original, was well-written, exciting, heart-breaking, and passionate. The tension was palpable and their chemistry was off the charts! All the little moments leading up to Mark and Kelly's first kiss had me on the edge of my seat, begging them to just go with what they were feeling. 

Lauren, I'm so glad you finally had the opportunity to write your Christmas story after all this time. I would love to see more of this pair down the road. Maybe as secondary characters in a book for Erika? ;) 

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy of this book.

Where to beginning, because An Ex for Christmas was a fun read. Then again, Lauren Layne usually knows how to make a fun read. So, we have Kelly Byrne. She definitely has quirks. I mean she believes in fate, superstitions, and cosmos. Not the most logical girl, but sweet. So when she hears that she has met her true love, she decides to revisit her ex-boyfriends. Seriously, who thinks this is a good idea, there's a reason why they are an ex. Basically we go on a wild ride with Kelly to find her true love. Along for the ride is her best friend Mark. Poor Mark. He gets a front row seat to this train wreck. By the way, tracking down exes is a train wreck waiting to happen.

I love the writing style of this story. We get front row seat to Kelly's adventure on revisiting some of the exes that make the cut. Along the way she learns some things, but doesn't fully grasps the info until towards the end. I adore Mark throughout this whole story, because he puts up with Kelly's craziness, and almost misses out on the best thing in her life. Seriously, this an adorable holiday read. Probably the funnest one I have read so far. I mean who doesn't want to take a wild trip on revisiting ex-boyfriends during Christmas. By the way, Kelly gets a little crazy with the mistletoe. Anyway, you don't want to miss this holiday caper.

Copy provided by LoveSwept via NetGalley

I always enjoy Lauren Layne’s romances. This one was a little different from her earlier works that featured sophisticated urban women and the men who love them. In this novel, the heroine is an elementary school teacher in New York City who returns to the small community she grew up in for the Christmas holidays. A superstitious woman, she resolves to find all her exes because a strange woman tells her that she has already met her true love.

As the reader will quickly realize, that man is her best friend, Mark, who lives in the house behind her and with whom she shares ownership of an adorable dog. Mark has been her friend for 10 years and she is suddenly noticing how hunky he is and how unenthusiastic he is about her drive to reconnect with all her ex-boyfriends.

We all know how this is going to end, but it’s a fun journey getting there. This book really reminded me of some of Kristin Higgins’ romances with quirky heroines looking for love in small towns in the blend of humor and romance between likable protagonists. It was a very enjoyable read and I liked it as much as I liked Layne’s books with a more sophisticated setting and heroine.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly and Mark have known each other since they were kids. They're best friends, although seemingly polar opposites in terms of personality. Kelly is a superstitious believer in "fate" and things like fortune tellers and Magic 8 balls. Mark is, well, most decidedly not. Kelly sets off on a quest to reconnect with her exes after being told by a psychic that she's already met her true love.

Kelly's borderline obsession with "superstitious" stuff like horoscopes, Magic 8 Balls and psychics could have come off as totally flaky and annoying, but instead, I found it kind of endearing (although a bit hard to relate to, myself). As her polar opposite, Mark initially comes off as a bit stuffy, and while not supportive of Kelly's quest, still has her back. It seems to be obvious to everyone but Kelly who she should end up with, but her journey to enlightenment was fun to read. The dynamic between Kelly and Mark is cute and although it's a bit of a slow-burn, once they connect, their chemistry is great.

Although part of Layne's LOVE UNEXPECTEDLY series, there is absolutely no reason this couldn't be read as a stand-alone.

*ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley*

What a fun and quirky story, I loved every second of it. It had the small town charm with a real sense of community and family. You don’t see that a lot any more. With all the hustle and bustle of the big city and family drama that tends to weigh down the emotions in a book. Can I also say that I LOVE this cover. The red in her socks just makes it pop.

Kelly is someone I’d love to have in my life. Superstitious-like me, always cheerful, and an overall joy. She eats up life voraciously and enjoys every second of it. I love when an authors writes characters that are quirky and fun-that don’t take themselves too seriously.

Mark all dark and broody just how I like my H’s. He doesn’t say much but, his actions speak way louder than his words. I really enjoyed his character, he had a lot of depth and a soft spot for dogs!

This was a sweet, fun, relaxing read. It makes you want to curl up in front of the fire while the snow comes down with the smell of Christmas cookies filling the air. It also made me want to put up my Christmas decorations now, though I should probably wait until at least November!

Lauren Layne is so darn good at writing crisp characters and witty dialogue. The people she creates are so tangible, I always feel like I could stumble upon any one of them in my local coffee shop.

An Ex for Christmas is a friends to lovers story, my very favorite trope, and it didn't disappoint. Oh and the Love Actually moment, my heart! The only thing that could have made the story better for me would be if it were told from dual POVs.

Anytime you get a chance to read a Lauren Layne romance, I recommend you go ALL-IN. An Ex for Christmas is just one more example of why I'll continue to do just that.

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
OMG this is my first time reading Lauren Layne and IT WILL NOT be my last
I LOVED this book, Not only was Kelly adorable, she was quirky she believed in
fate, tarot cards, the magic eight ball. When a lady in the subway told her that
she would find her true love and that it was 'someone she already knew" Kelly
immediately starting thinking it was an ex boyfriend.
Mark who has been her best friend for 10 years, ever since the day he started high school
and Kelly was the one to show him around etc. Mark is stoic, he does not believe in any
of the "crap" Kelly does and he is ALWAYS there for her.
This book had me laughing many times (I LOVED the ex list and the notes on each man)
When Mark and Kelly FINALLY gave into what they were feeling for each other OMG so so wonderful
But Kelly was still being pigheaded about what the "physic" told her. She ALMOST missed out
on her TRUE LOVE.
OH and that it is a Christmas story just made it even better for me! I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book~

Kelly believes in fate - she has at least 3 magic 8 balls in case she has to make a decision. On her way home from work, she misses her train, but a woman with the ability to see the future tells her she has met “the one” already and will be with him before Christmas. Kelly, being somewhat oblivious to everything else around her, has determined that must have meant one of her previous boyfriends will be coming back into her life. Strangely, she then decides to set up meetings with each of the men instead of looking just past her nose at her best friend for 10 years. Mark has been her best friend forever, and it becomes obvious that he really hates her plan, but doesn’t come right out to tell Kelly why.

The book reminds one of a Hallmark movie. I enjoyed the way this book was written. A lot of it felt like a friend confessing to another. You could see the way Kelly thought things through, and when the lightbulb finally clicked that Mark was the one for her.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I always love the best friends to lovers theme. Mark and Kelly were fantastic. I loved how well they knew each other and could finish each other's thoughts and sentences. They had such a great friendship and of course shared custody of Rigby. When they decided to take their relationship to the next level, all was good. I totally loved Mark and how we was with Kelly, accepting all her quirkiness and even the really special thing he did for her. He is definitely a swoonworthy man. I am glad she came to her senses and that she understood exactly how deep and real her feelings for Mark were.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

Cute, hallmark Christmas story about best friends who should be lovers. Totally saw this as a movie. Kelly was a clueless doofus who had what she always wanted in her next door neighbor, Mark, and didn’t know it. This was a one afternoon read for me, and the only thing I would have wanted more of was Mark’s POV. We never heard his side of the story or at least in his voice until the last chapter and this was one of those books that I think would have worked well if they had each had alternating chapters. This is just my opinion and certainly no detraction from the book overall. Thanks as always to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

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.

This is truly a special story. It is the absolute best Christmas story. I read it in one day; I could not put it down. Kelly had me in stitches from the beginning until the very end. What a great character. And Mark was perfectly adorable. Just biding his time. This story had me floating with happiness. I love Lauren Layne's romantic, special stories. And I totally agree with Kelly, Love Actually is the best Christmas movie. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy.

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.

Cute story and I absolutely fell in love with Kelly. Her quirkiness and superstitions were adorable. I loved the eight ball and all the Christmas routines and traditions. Mark is so patient and sexy. I'm not sure how Kelly held back for so long. These two are so connected and yet mismatched that they worked for me.

An Ex for Christmas is perfect for the holidays!

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.