There are hundreds of things we know we must never do. For example, we shouldn’t run with scissors or take candy from strangers. But there’s another lesser-known rule, and it’s just as important as the ones you learned as a child: Never, never call your ex-boyfriend when your life is falling apart.
But that’s exactly what I did.
Isaac:
What do you call it when your ex-girlfriend contacts you out of the blue on the very same day her mother invites you over for Christmas? Some would call it fate, others coincidence.
I call it an opportunity. One I’m not going to pass up…
Author’s note: 10 Ways to Survive Christmas with Your Ex is a fun and festive 26,000-word Christmas novella. It can be read as a standalone, or along with the other books in the series.
Shari Lynn Cook is a pen name for USA Today bestselling author Shari L. Tapscott. Unable to choose between her love for fantasy and romcoms, she created the Cook name, finally giving her contemporary romances a home of their own.
When she’s not traveling the US with her family in their fifth wheel, you can find her in western Colorado, exploring the mountains, drinking too much tea, and arguing with her characters.
This was a cute, quick read. Perfect for a chilly Sunday morning curled up in bed. I loved Isaac! I knew Georgia wouldn't be able to hold out for long! Haha. I really enjoyed it. But I wish it was longer... I wanted a lot more of Isaac and Georgia! 😍
Super cute! After finishing book two, I was excited to find this novella about Isaac. I loved him in the previous book and was excited to get his story. Isaac was great in this, charming and fun. Georgia is prickly and it was fun watching Isaac push her buttons. I loved the Christmas setting and thought it was an entertaining read. Love this series!
This story is novella length which I knew when I started but still, in the end, I really wanted more. That's always a good sign This is a sweet, second chance at love story with Christmas all around! Perfect for this time of year.
Sometimes when it rains, it pours and that's just what happens to Georgia. Everything that could go wrong in her life goes wrong at the exact same time and who does she turn to? Her ex high school boyfriend from 10 years ago--Isaac.
Georgia is the type of person who wants to be fiercely independent and make a name for herself, but that's hard to do when your life is falling apart. Isaac, on the other hand, is the type of person who fixes things. From cars to people, he's a generously helpful guy. Doesn't it sound like a match made in heaven? It could be if pride wasn't an issue. These are great characters with a delightful situation, marked with some inklings of swoon and holiday magic.
This novella is adorably cute and as sweet as a Hallmark movie, but I wanted more. I wanted to see their second chance at love unfold in more detail and I wanted to savor it as I savor my delectably smooth and creamy Christmas chocolates. I guess with this one, instead of savoring, I devoured it in one sitting. It was still delicious, just not quite as satisfying as I wanted it to be.
This was cute:) Think Hallmark. A novella length story. I thought the heroin over did the anger a bit. There was no reason for it. Dang, the leading man was so nice and chill. Fun Christmas story.
What’s better than a Hallmark Christmas movie?! This. This book is! I love a good Christmas romantic comedy and this one gave me all the feels! I was literally grinning, swooning, or laughing throughout most of the story.
Georgia has had a bad week. She lost her job, her dog passes away, she’s getting evicted from her home (through no fault of her own), and when her car breaks down, she breaks down too and calls her ex boyfriend from high school.
Isaac is a car mechanic at a famous car shop, Kentworth’s. You might remember him if you’ve read the first two books in this series (although they can easily be read as stand alone books, too.) He wasn’t planning on spending Christmas this year with his parents, since they were going to spend it with Georgia’s family, but when Georgia calls him out of the blue, he has a change of heart.
Now the exes are under the same roof spending Christmas with both of their families and as you can imagine, there are sparks, lots of banter, chemistry, funny family interactions, and so much more.
I wasn’t expecting much from this novella, but I liked this author’s other works, so decided to give this a chance…and I’m so glad I did. This story was fantastic. In a short amount of time, the author skillfully made me adore the characters and get super engaged in their tangled love story. This is a second chances love story between Georgia and Isaac (who works at the same restoration shop as Carter from Book 1). They were high school sweethearts, but she broke things off between them before she headed off to college in another state, knowing long-distance wouldn’t work for them again. But now, they’re both spending Christmas with each other, since their parents are spending it together and insisted they both be there. It’s a fun book with lots of laughs and lots of swoony moments. A perfect pick-me up book for if you’re feeling down. Or a perfect pick-me up story for if you’re feeling great. 😊
I have really loved the books in this series and this was no different. The books don’t have to be read in order, but it helps to know some characters better. Isaac was present a lot in the first book in the series, so K loved getting to read his story. Georgia is a good fit for him, and I loved the way he took care of her and taught her to forgive herself. The 10 “rules” were just too good. Another great read by this talented author!
I had so much fun with this one! It's a short, light, adorable second-chance Christmas romance and was exactly what I wanted to start off my reading month with.
Murphy’s Law = when everything that can possibly go wrong, does...
Car breaks down? Check ✅ Lose your job? Check ✅ Dog dies? Check ✅ Get evicted? Check ✅
-‘I’m single. Jobless. Homeless. Dogless. Probably even carless.’-
She broke up with him ten years ago. So why is he the first person she calls?
-‘Emotions—lots of them. I’m like the Grinch, clutching my cold, too-small heart.’-
This author is brilliant at YA and NA clean romance. She’s an instant “Yes, must read!” for me whenever she has anything new out. As soon as I saw it, I pounced on this book and started reading it. After a stressful day, there’s nothing better. Couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved it! A great romantic comedy. A hearty 5 stars from me!
Georgia has had an incredible string of bad luck. In a very weak moment, she calls Isaac - her boyfriend from high school who she hasn't talked to in 10 years. When Isaac gets invited by Georgia's mom to visit them for Christmas, he can't pass it up. Even though he knows Georgia isn't going to be happy about him coming.
Georgia comes up with 10 rules that she wants him to follow so they can survive the holidays together. But, Isaac isn't interested in her rules - he wants her heart and he's going to have to break all the rules to have a chance! He definitely pushes her buttons, but at the same time he's so patient and understanding with her!
This is just like him. He’s always been too helpful, too friendly, too eager to be of service-and apparently too eager to offer his friends’ service as well.
My eyes move back to Isaac. He looks exactly as I remember him and yet completely different at the same time. A man and not a boy. But his smile is the same-genuine. Charming, too. Maybe too charming.
Georgia looked back and gave me a wry smile, the first of many. It was like sunshine, and all it took was one hit, and I was addicted.
We’re opponents in a friendly battle that’s spanned more than a decade.
They were merely memories, shadows from long ago. Intense, but fleeting. And I might have lashed out in hopes of hiding them.
Shirtless Isaac. Isaac without a shirt. Yummy Isaac.
“Let me help you,” he murmurs. “Watching you struggle all alone is killing me.” I close my eyes and let out a tired laugh. “Are you trying to break all the rules? It wasn’t a checklist, Isaac. We’re supposed to cross them off.” “I hate your list,” Isaac says. “I know.” I pause, almost smiling. “That’s why I made it.”
I enjoyed this book. But, I wasn’t really a fan of Georgia. She was always mad or saying sassy comments to Isaac. It was almost like, it was Isaac who broke up their relationship years ago, where it was actually Georgia who did it. Isaac deserves better. Isaac is charming, funny and fun. This had that Hallmark Christmas movie feel to it. 4 stars.
Meh. Got to chapter 5 but it’s not capturing my attention at all. I already started to skim. The MC is cold and rude, the hero is overeager, there’s been 10 years since they dated and the guy hasn’t really moved on and the girl hasn’t found life fulfillment in all that time, we learn that they argued a ton back when they dated (which I find lame- apparently she was just as prickly back then), and it’s dual perspective which isn’t my fave. There is no chemistry at all so far. I think I’ll bow out now bc apparently this just isn’t for me. 😂
I wish it was longer. The story had the makings for a fun novel, but it was a little too short. The characters were witty and had good chemistry. Fun clean read.
Romance, clean; Series, but stand alone read Gorgeous clean holiday romance. Georgia calls her ex-boyfriend for help in a moment of panic when the last straw broke her 'back'. Isaac sends help (even though he is 2 hours away). Between meddling mothers, and just general 'moments', her defenses are broken down, and both their true hearts come out. Sweet, honest heartfelt romance, with tender moments, and some great side characters that flesh out their story. Charming, wonderful chemistry, family dynamics and of course just the general holiday chaos that ensues as Gigi (Georgia) and Isaac are home with Georgia's family and his for the holidays. S.L.T. writes some great characters, their emotions tug at your heart strings and make you care for them and hope for their HEA. Always a perfect read.
I liked this book. It turned out pretty good. Though I got a little bored!!!
I liked how Issac still cared but was showing Georgia, like regardless of what happened when we were younger. I still love you, and I knew you weren’t ready.
Yes, I agree with Georgia. It’s surprising that Isaac never dislikes or hated her. But I felt like she could’ve at least called him way before ten years happened. I don’t think that Issac shouldn’t call her since she was the one that broke up with him...
But at least, in the end, they both work things out he got this marriage proposal accepted and not denied... and he got his girl back. & she Georgia realize that she still had feelings for Issac... she only got back with him with the help of her mother..... which in the end work...
This is a fun, clean novella perfect for the Christmas season! Georgia's life seems to be going crazy, she just lost her place and now she is going home for Christmas. With her ex-boyfriend and his family. She is not thrilled. But as they spend time together, are things as clean cut as they seem? I really enjoyed this story! It was sweet, funny, and romantic. Georgia was a focused and relatable heroine. She loves her family. Isaac was so sweet! He really cared about Georgia and he obviously was pursuing her. I loved how they knew each other and the antics of their family around them. I would recommend this book to those who like sweet clean romances! It is shorter than I would have liked, but it is a novella. This book also made me want to read more about the couple and their friends. I am excited to see more from Tapscott!
This was a cute read. It is short so it went fast. The book is also 3 days long (okay, like a week but that's it!). The wrap up at the end is a year later. This book is take on "you don't marry your high school sweet heart" and falling for your first love again. I think there could have been more to the story to help show Georgia opening up. I felt like Isaac's side of the story was pretty straight forward, but come on, us girls take our time to soften and realize thing (at least it takes me longer than my husband). I would have enjoyed the extra banter and conversation.
That being said, I really did enjoy this light read. It was a clean read with just a touch of heat in a couple of kisses.
Georgia & Isaac have been apart for a decade. That's a lot of water under the bridge. They've done some growing & maturing since then, and the attraction never really died, just kind of smoldered. After Georgia calls him out of the blue for help, Isaac seizes an opportunity to rekindle the flame and the swoony fun commences!
The family pets' obsession with the Christmas tree, and the matchmaking manipulation by the two moms is pretty hilarious! I also liked seeing some of the other characters from the earlier books. This is a strong conclusion to an excellent series!
Absolutely love this whole series with the lists! So fun. The story started just a hair slow, and I didn’t care for the short back flash, but I loved Isaac’s character, and loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Georgia was a bit fussy and stiff, but I loved all the elements with holiday fun and family life. I actually wanted to see more interaction with the family, but all the amusements with the cat were cute. Loved the epilogue.
This was a cute little bit of Christmas fluff, something that is read in a few hours time, preferably with a cozy blanket, a fire, and something warm to drink. Georgia is a likable MC, and Isaac is a lot of fun as her ex. I think this book works perfectly as a novella; enough of the story is known without needing a lot more background, and it felt complete by the end. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a short, sweet, Christmas romance.
Isaac and Georgia are forced together after breaking up 10 years ago. Their story was refreshingly filled with quirky moments that twisted my heart strings. A broken Christmas tree, an emergency visit to the vet on Christmas Eve and a forgotten pan of rolls pull these two together in the best way. The Christmas sweater party made me laugh out loud! Yes, this perfect Christmas book was delightful!