As much as I wanted to love this book I found it all a bit slow and a bit too descriptive. I did like Sam and Maya and their job and back story but I didn’t fully believe in them. I liked how Maya fought for what she wanted but think it could have been wrapped up a lot quicker. In saying that it was an easy read and I was happy to continue reading it.

If you're looking for a light hearted, super easy to read, Christmas romance, then this may be the book for you. I wouldn't say that this book blew my socks off, it was pleasant enough and I had a good time reading it, it just didn't have anything super special or different in it that would deem it memorable for me.

I do enjoy me a second chance romance and this particular one had an extra little kick. Left to their own devices, this couple likely wouldn't have split up in the first place. I did enjoy the romance between the two and following them getting to know one another again; as friends to begin with. I also enjoyed the plot line of Maya's family dynamic; it made the stakes for Maya's life decisions a little bit higher.

Overall, this was a cosy Christmas read that I had a lovely time with. I did drag it out a little but that was fine, it was definitely a story that I could easily dip in and out of. Easy, breezy and a little bit cheesy!

Loved this book. I love a good Christmas book/story. Also showing that you can stand up for yourself to live the life you want and not the life others have chosen for you

This is a delightful and fun read, full of second chance enemies to lovers romance , full of so much humour, it’s a hard book to put down I just loved how from the beginning it had me hooked and then laughing too.

I’m a big sucker for some miscommunication, it drives me insane wanting to yell at the characters, but that’s how I know I care about them , I wasn’t keen on the fact Sam was in a relationship for the first half, as I really don’t like cheating , but I am glad it was over quickly.

Overall a fun, Christmassy read with a couple you’ll root for and lots of laughter, a satisfying conclusion and of course a happy ending.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Blurb :
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.

My Thoughts :
We meet Maya Bashir, newly single and having left her job as an accountant in Glasgow, she is dreading going home for Christmas.
Maya’s parents, her dad especially expects her to be an all out top Accountant whereas Maya no longer wants to be in this line of work and has given it up.
On her way back home to Glenavie she stops off at a friends Christmas party and is shocked to see the one and only Sam Holland acting as a naked butler at the party. Sam is her best friend Liv’s brother and also the guy who she had a bit of a thing with years ago when they were 18 years old.
Maya soon takes up a job at the Ski resort as a ski instructor to help out Ben, but it also means working along side Sam who also works at the resort.
As awkward moments follow and they are thrown together, its a case of will they, wont they?!.
Zoe Allison made such fun and relatable characters in this story and the surroundings were perfect for our escapism to the snowy ski slopes.
It was refreshing to watch them reconnet and hear their back stories to what brought them to where they are today.
It shows us there is always hope and second chances. A story filled with Humor, Romance, Friendships and Family all rolled into one.
Such a pretty festive cover aswell, one that I think it would make anyone want to pick it up from the shelf and read it.
Looking forward to more from Zoe Allison in the future.

Thank you for my earc of this book. I liked the premise of this but didn’t gel with it in reality so DNF

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy.

Who knew I would read a festive romance before Christmas? I didn’t think I would but with The Ex-Mas Holidays I didn’t mind getting a festive read in early.

Read if you love:
- Festive reads
- Meet cutes
- Second chance romances

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
 
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.
 
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
 
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.

My Opinion

This is a second chance, festive romance - what is holding you back? This is the first book I have read by Zoe Allison but I picked this book as it has a beautiful cover, and I haven't regretted it. This has a slow-burn romance and is such a festive book that it is going to be a great addition to any festive reading list.

Rating 4/5

★★★✩✩

While The Ex-Mas Holidays tries to deliver a feel-good enemies-to-lovers romance, it ultimately falls a little short. The Scottish Highlands make a charming holiday setting, but the story relies too heavily on a tired miscommunication plot device. The central relationship lacks the fiery chemistry you expect from a good enemies-to-lovers tale. Still, Zoe Allison's easy writing style makes this a pleasant enough read for when you're in the mood for something lighthearted. Just don't expect to be swept off your feet. With stronger character development and a fresher storyline, this could have been a true seasonal delight. As is, it's a mediocre 3-star read.

The meet-cute in this book is the most hilarious I have read in ages! It sets the tone of fun in the story, but this is also full of emotional growth and a glorious slow burn. The friendships and family around the main couple are just as important and it’s all surrounded by a gorgeous snowy, Christmas setting.

This was a perfect cosy, feel-good story for the holiday period! Maya and Sam's second-chance romance was very lovely to read. I would definitely recommend this to friends and family.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc for an exchange with an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison. A lovely Christmassy read but not just a book to read at Christmas, you can read it whenever you like. A great easy to read book, it hooked me in straight away. The main characters Sam and Maya were likeable. Maya recently made redundant goes back home and bumps into her ex Sam. Story was set in the Scottish Highlands and skiing featured through the book as this is where Sam and then Maya work. A great read.

This was a cute read and I liked how the author wrote about experiences in a mixed race family & when a friend is in a toxic relationship. Both of which were covered very well.

Thank you to netgalley for the book.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable, easy read and Maya and Sam were engaging lead characters. The supporting cast were also well developed and believable.

Imagine you’ve just been made redundant, you’re long term relationship is over and you’re on your way to move back in with your parents. Horrendous right? But then when you stop at your friends on the way for a party, it gets worse, the guy from home who broke your heart is there, and he’s naked working as a naked waiter. This is literally what happens to Maya. Then she ends up working with him…
On the other hand, Sam is working an extra job to try to get some extra money to help a friend out, when his ex who didn’t think he was good enough for her walks in to the party. Then his car brakes down and he’s miles from home on a freezing cold frosty night.

This was a slow starter for me. It was told from a dual perspective which was good BUT it meant that it was really obvious what the ‘twist’ was and I was just reading waiting for them to work it out. It was a warm and fuzzy festive read though and it made me really want to go skiing in Scotland…

I really enjoyed this as a book full of miscommunication leading to a second chance romance. I really hope we will get Liv and Arran’s story and Elise and Nico’s in the future. I believe it’s being hinted at and then we can see Sam and Maya’s relationship progress.

Sam & Maya run into each other after 8 years while he is a butler in the buff for one of her friends parties. Sam needs the extra cash as his ski instructor gig isn't enough and Maya is back home after loosing her accounting job and splitting from her boyfriend.

The ski resort needs an extra pair of hands and as Maya used to work there she voulenters, but with Sam & Maya back working together it seems unresolved feelings might be coming back.

Alot if this book is the miscommunication trope which I normally like to see resolved quite quickly but tbh there was alot going on which leant into the story really well.

I also liked the take on Sam's relationship wirh his current girlfriend which highlights her gaslighting him and him not realising and the issues around that, it was a nice change from always being the FMC in the toxic relationship. Maya really does help Sam push through with his issues and you can tell the love between them is still there.

A cosy second chance romance. The festive setting was so cosy and I really enjoyed the UK setting.

Maya and Sam were both likeable main characters which made them easy to root for. There were also great secondary characters that enriched the story.

There is some miscommunication in this book but it’s done really well so don’t let that put you off.

It was such a cute and enjoyable read, I’d definitely recommend you give it a try for the festive period!

This was a perfect cosy, feel-good story for the Christmas period! I really enjoyed my time reading Maya and Sam's second-chance romance, it was beautiful.

This was a cute and enjoyable read! I loved the second chance vibes and it was so fun to read. Miscommunication is often NOT my fave but it was done with more depth in this book and worked well.
I absolutely loved the setting, so snowy and festive, and I liked the ski resort and the passion people had for skiing. Both characters were really likeable and I was rooting for them to end up together. At points, the book was a little slower pace than I usually like from a romance, and it was definitely a slow burn, but it was worth the wait.
Overall, a lovely christmassy read full of heart, romance, second chances and hope.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.