This is a novella so I finished it super fast. Overall, it kind of made me uncomfortable. I didn’t like either of the main characters and the way they acted just kind of gave me the ick. Loved the setting of course and the family chaos made it fun, but everything else was a no from me.

Highlighted this book on my bookstagram page:
Short and sweet spicy little holiday nugget that follows two exes who are forced to celebrate the holidays together. All their past feelings hit a boiling point in a small little mountain town where he vows to win her back no matter what!
#10daysofxmas #spicynovella

This was such a cute read! I loved the cozy holiday vibes. Charlie wasn’t my favorite MMC truthfully. He was kind of arrogant and I just didn’t vibe with him. I did love the setting and christmasy feel of this book! A perfect third book in this series! ❤️🎄

I loved it!!! such a cute little romance book that's set in the Christmas setting. I haven't read a lot of Christmas book yet, but this was a favourite for sure!

I definitely enjoyed this novella and found it to be such a cute Christmas-y themed romance. The writing wasn't perfect but was good and gave me smexy-Hallmark vibes. I thought Bea and Charlie's romance was so nicely done and I was so glad there was a lack of unnecessary drama. My only criticism really is that I would have liked to have spent even more time with the characters. I thought the author did a great job of creating people that I would actually want to spend Christmas with. And, not to be blunt, but Liz Alden writes smut really well too and found a great balance between too little and too much Christmas.

Loved the title, Loved the cover. Now that that's out of the way! For the book... Such a fun read! Everything and I mean absolutely everything was fun to read! Can't wait to read it again next winter!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Liz Alden’s Ghost of Ex-mas Past is a festive, spicy second-chance romance that’s equal parts cozy and steamy, with just the right amount of holiday cheer to warm even the iciest of hearts. This novella expertly captures the bittersweet tension of reconnecting with a lost love while embracing the magic of the season.

The story revolves around a classic setup: two exes forced into close proximity during the holidays. Our protagonist’s sharp wit and lingering resentment toward Charlie, her high school sweetheart turned wealthy workaholic, create plenty of friction that practically sparks off the page. But as they’re shoved together (thanks to some strategic meddling from their mothers), cracks appear in her defenses—and in Charlie’s polished, driven facade.

Charlie is a delightfully nuanced character. Yes, he’s ambitious and has a past of prioritizing success over relationships, but his growth is apparent from the start. This year, he’s humbler, more thoughtful, and determined to prove he’s changed. His steady determination to win back the love of his life—while facing her pointed barbs and understandable doubts—is swoon-worthy, to say the least.

The road trip to the family cabin provides a perfect blend of humor, tension, and nostalgia, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their past and what tore them apart. The forced proximity in a car, combined with snowstorms and cozy cabin vibes, creates an ideal backdrop for sparks to reignite. The chemistry between them? Undeniable. And yes, the spice level is definitely turned up—this novella doesn’t shy away from steamy moments, balancing the emotional with the physical in a way that feels natural and satisfying.

Favorite moments? The scene where Charlie surprises her with a thoughtful, personal gesture that ties into their shared history hit me right in the feels. It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why second-chance romances are so irresistible—those threads of shared memories and lingering feelings woven into new beginnings.

While the novella is packed with charm, humor, and heat, it’s not without its challenges. The brevity of the format means some aspects of the story—like their reconciliation—feel slightly rushed. I wanted a bit more depth in their conversations about the past to fully buy into the transformation of their relationship. Still, Alden does a commendable job of making their reunion believable, given the limited page count.

The holiday setting is another highlight, with just enough festive detail to immerse you in the season without overpowering the story. From family gatherings to snowy landscapes, it’s the perfect cozy backdrop for romance.

Final verdict? Ghost of Ex-mas Past is a spicy, heartfelt holiday treat for fans of second-chance romances. With its relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and festive charm, it’s the kind of novella that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and hot cocoa while rooting for love to conquer all. Liz Alden delivers a story that’s as heartwarming as it is steamy—perfect for the holidays.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for a fair and frank review.

I loved this book as it was based in a cabin in the snow. Two families have gotten together every year for Christmas since their children were small and this year is no different despite the fact they are all adults now. Bea and Charlie got together in their teens but he broke her heart. When they meet up this year all of those feelings come back and they fall in love with one another again this time as adults.

This had so much Christmas magic in it that the story came off the pages and became alive.

Steamy second chance romance for two career obsessed New Yorkers who grew up together and got pulled apart. Lots of fun rediscovering each other and discovering new ways to turn each other on! I love how their time apart gives them a new perspective on their relationship and what they want from life.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetness ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my copy. These opinions are my own.

What an amazing read, couldn’t put this book down from start to finish! It is definitely the perfect Christmas Novella - fast paced with plenty of story to get your teeth into…
Great work, definitely recommend reading this book!!

This is an entertaining and steamy Christmas novella. Bea and Charlie were childhood sweethearts, they grew up next door to each other and their parents are close friends. They see each other every year at Christmas.

Charlie is selling his startup company that makes sensors for VR technology, and the profits will set up his family for life. He’s hoping he can get back the girl who got away, Bea.

This year they’re staying in a gorgeous cabin, and Bea is driving up there with Charlie. He seems different this year, and when they get to the cabin Charlie tells Bea he wants her back.

Can they get back together after so much time has passed? They still have explosive chemistry, is that enough?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

***2 Stars***

I’m always down for a good second chance romance ~ no matter the season ~ but this one just didn’t give me the feels like I wanted it to. It was a fun read as far as family and friends getting together for the holiday and the shenanigans that tend to happen because of it, but the second chance part fell short for me. In part I think it’s because I didn’t connect with Bea or Charlie on any level, I didn’t not like them, but my feelings towards them were tepid. And the catalyst that had Bea deciding to give Charlie a chance, well, it wasn’t a bad thing, but it just had me going ‘ok’.

I wish I loved this one more than I did. It wasn’t a bad read, as I said there were some fun moments, but it just didn’t hit the way I would have like it to.

I love holiday novellas so much, so I had to read this. This book was cute and I really liked the characters. The ending is predictable but the storyline was good and I enjoyed that more than anything. A great book to get you in the holiday spirit!

This was a really fun, festive novella! I love a second chance read, and this was really sweet and I enjoyed every second of it. It was an easy, lighthearted read which was perfect in between some longer books. I just wish it had a little more romance between the two characters.

I am so, so impressed! I can’t believe how much Liz Alden was able to pack into this little 170 page novel! This was the best possible way I could start off my holiday reads.

The winter wanderlust series follows a bunch of different couples and their holiday themed stories, and while I previously read Nutcracker with Benefits, this one really blew that out of the water for me. This is a second chance romance between Charlie and Bea, who were childhood sweethearts who couldn’t make it work when they separated during their college years. They’re both looking to start families of their own now; and fortunately have kept some manner of close because their families are best friends. Now that they’re both living in the same city, Charlie is determined to win Bea back.

The holiday antics in this are top notch: two big lovable families sharing a big beautiful cabin and practicing all manner of Christmas traditions together. There’s forced proximity, second chance romance, toe-curling spice, a lovable larger cast, a relatively short third act upset, and overall quite good communication between everyone involved. I also found it to be genuinely funny, which is something I absolutely need in my romance books.

I’d skipped over the second book in this series, frosty proximity, but definitely realizing now that I’ll need to download it ASAP. I had so much fun with this! Thank you to Liz Alden and NetGalley for this eArc!

4/5⭐️

I have to say, I love a holiday romance novella and this one hit the spot for me! It was a second chance, friends to lovers holiday romcom with tons of humor, a decent amount of spice and an enjoyably good plot that is rare to see in shorter books. This felt like a full, complete story just condensed into fewer pages and didn’t feel like it was missing crucial plot points like many novellas do.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Bea and Charlie are used to spending Christmases together, even in the 8 years since their breakup. Their families are close, and they've learned how to navigate any awkwardness that might come up. Except this year, Bea has accidentally volunteered to give Charlie a ride to the house their families have rented. And they're both starting to think more seriously about their futures...

Second-chance romances can be really hit or miss for me--I have to really see how the characters and/or circumstances have changed in order to really root for them, and I have to say I was sucked in right from the beginning. The childhood friends to lovers to exes felt very natural and right from the beginning I wanted things to work out between them. I loved both characters, as well as the family dynamics, and loved getting to see characters from a previous book as well. And the spice was, as usual, very good!

As always, I absolutely loved this Liz Alden book! I've been in a massive reading slump lately, as well as dealing with a move and some pretty intense illness, and when I was finally able to sit down and read it, I flew through it in one sitting.

This was a lovely second-chance Christmas romance. Charlie and Bea grew up together and their parents and families are best friends. Since their break-up, Bea has had to spend every Christmas with Charlie and his family, doing her best to avoid him. She expects this Christmas to be the same, but Charlie seems different, more the old Charlie she fell for instead of the workaholic he was when they broke up. Charlie has a deal in the works with his business that could finally put him into a position to rekindle things with Bea and make all their dreams come true. I liked both Charlie and Bea and Alden did a great job with making sure the reader understood the relationship from both points of view. There was lots of Christmas cheer and great chemistry between the main characters. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a Christmas romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liz Alden for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely short holiday read! I'm always happy to read a work by Liz Alden and this didn't disappoint. This is such a cozy second-chance romance with really strong family ties and it was a joy to read!

This was such a cute novella! Perfect to get that Christmas spirit going!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!