{Review} Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Posted by Donna
Release Date: October 6th, 2009
Finished Date: December 14th, 2014

Publishers: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Two Exes. One holiday adventure. Merry Ex-Mas? 

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.
Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

The Review: With Christmas approaching fast I wanted to find a Christmassy read to get me in the festive mood and so, I was recommendation Ex-Mas by Kate Brian by a few people and it was definitely a cute festive read! 

Lila Beckwith can't wait for her parents to go on a vacation because she's planned the school's biggest party of the year, in the hopes that she will become someone memorable when she graduates. But when Lila's little brother Cooper discovers her plans and tells their parents, the party is off and Lila's hopes of getting a car before she starts college hangs in the balance. Things however go from bad to worse when Cooper discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole and now, he and his best friend have run away to try and save Santa. Lila's only help is in the form of her ex-boyfriend Beau, the one she's tried to leave behind but things were never easy between the two. Can Lila and Beau put aside their differences and reach their brothers before their parents find out and before their old feelings resurface?

Ex-Mas is a fun packed read. It's cute and has some funny moments and it offers everything you want in a short read, but the down side, it's just that, a quick read that's not very memorable despite how enjoyable it is. It's full of adventure though - even though a little unrealistic - but still, enjoyable. 

Beau had to be my favourite character. At times I wasn't too sure in what he saw in Lila because while Beau is a down to earth character, I found Lila a little shallow. She's always quick to judge people and she judges Beau the most. I didn't like that about Lila. But as the story progresses, she stopped doing it so much, stopped caring what other people thought about her and became a much more likable person. But Beau, he was awesome from the start and with a name like that - how could he not be awesome? 

In all, Ex-Mas is a cute and quick holiday story but don't go into it with too many expectations, otherwise you may be disappointed.