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Ex-mas by Kate Brian is like heaven for me, as a sucker for all things road trip and Christmas. I loved the idea of a little boy going to the North Pole to save Santa from global warming and how cheesy the book really is. I only had one problem with this book (the main character’s snobbiness), but still enjoyed the book.
Title: Ex-mas: A Love/Hate StoryAuthor: Kate Brian
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Rating:
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?
Book Review: Ex-Mas by Kate Brian
Ex-mas has such an adorable concept that really made me smile. After Lila shows her little brother an article from her science class, he goes on a mission to the North Pole to save Santa from global warming with his best friend, who just happens to be the brother of Lila’s ex. Lila then sets out with her ex to go find her brother before her parents come home from their own trip. I loved reading about the journey from Southern California to Seattle and all the drama along the way. If you enjoyed books like Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour, you will love Ex-mas.
❀ Cute and Predictable
This is the kind of Christmas book that is perfectly cheesy and unrealistic. I mean, who lets two eight-year-olds take public transport across the country unsupervised? However, in this kind of book, the whole thing is cliché, so you don’t bother questioning it. I love to read these short and cute books around Christmastime, so I don’t mind the predictability at all.
❀ Main Character is Hard to Connect With
At the beginning of the book, I didn’t really like Lila’s character. She is such a snob and is so rude to her brother. She also doesn’t see what’s right in front of her and how much she’s changed for the worse. Lila’s personality bothered me so much at times that I almost wanted to put the book down. While a trip with someone from her past was able to knock some sense into her, I still had trouble connecting with her character.
❀ Sweet Holiday Story
Ex-mas by Kate Brian is a sweet holiday road trip book that is perfectly cliché. I loved everything about this book except for the rude main character. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the story and would recommend it this winter.
About Kate Brian
Kate Brian is the author of the SHADOWLANDS TRILOGY (SHADOWLANDS, HEREAFTER & ENDLESS), as well as the New York Times bestselling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, and the wildly popular MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS. She also writes teen fiction under the name Kieran Scott.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
Ex-Mas sounds cute! I love the title. Great review.
It really is a cute holiday read! <3
What a cute cover! So glad you enjoyed this book. It looks like a good holiday read ^_^
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I feel like I read this a million years ago, but I agree, it’s a cute Xmas story and romance!
It is one of those old books that I dug around for to read this year! <3
I can 100% imagine two little boys or girls getting it into their heads to save Santa from global warming! I definitely don’t want it to happen in real life, but I could enjoy it in a story, I believe!
Hahah! Yes! It is so much fun to just get into the story and believe the most unlikely things! <3
Oh my god, her brother wants to save Santa?! You’re right, sometimes, the cliches work and the story is just perfect in all it’s cheesy gloriousness!
I also think that you just need to be in the mood for this type of read! 😉
It’s too bad you were not able to connect to the main character. Still sounds like a good book tho.
It really is a cute story! <3
I love the premise for this book! I’m glad you were able to enjoy it despite the main character.
Sounds like a great Christmas romance.
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