THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere … Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.
But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.
The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.
Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.
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I read this book in one go, and while I couldn’t put it down while I was reading, it didn’t leave me with quite as much of a rush of affection for the characters as I hoped it would. It’s a solid holiday option, fun and easy to read with some likeable characters (but none that I fell in love with, I’m sad to say). I think the cabin itself was as much of a treat as anything else for me. Andrew and Mae’s relationship was cute, but I have to say I understood Theo’s feeling of being led on because I felt the same way–not that I wanted her to wind up with Theo, but I absolutely kept expecting the book to take a turn in that direction. Not sure I’ll come back to this one, but I’m not sorry I read it.
Meh. Not one of their best efforts.
A novel that is Ground Hog Day turns Hallmark Christmas movie. Full of a family’s (both by blood and chosen) holiday traditions complete with highs and lows, rights and wrongs, and a few do-overs. I think most of us would like a shot at a do-over at some point in our lives. Very cheerful and fun holiday read.
I’m not usually a fan of romances, but this was a Christmas book and it was on sale, so I went for it. This was actually a good read. It’s quirky, cute and fitting for the holiday season.
It has some definite Groundhog Day vibes (it even references the movie). But instead of becoming repetitive, Lauren offers enough intrigue and variance to keep the book moving along smoothly.
I missed this Christmas story last year, but just knew I had to go back and pick it up this year. I’ve just started reading the duo of Christina Lauren and I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by them. I was surprised by the number of negative reviews for this one. It really made me laugh and left me happy when it was over. I also thought the Groundhog Day (movie) type theme was very unique for a Christmas story.
I loved how all of the unrelated by family ties characters really cared for each other enough to go back to this cabin every single year to have Christmas together. Let’s be real–most families wish they didn’t have to spend Christmas together. If I’m honest, it made me a little jealous and I wish I could experience the atmosphere they created for each other.
The time loop Mae found herself in gave her the opportunity to go back and try to do things right. Although it was frustrating for her waking up back on the same day again and again, it was super rewarding when she got everything to work out. Yeah for the romance!
I listened to the audio version narrated by Patti Murin. It was awesome!
#RomanticComedy #Holiday #FriendsToLovers
This sweet and sexy holiday romance would make a great movie. It is written in first person from Mae’s POV. Mae’s holiday has not gone well and neither is her life as a whole. As she leaves her holiday to go home she asks the universe to show her what will make her happy. From that point, Mae is stuck in a time loop until she figures it out.
I love the chosen family dynamics of her group. Mae’s character is not perfect and makes mistakes and I appreciated the family support she receives in the process. Benny is a secondary character that I absolutely loved. Everyone should have a Benny in their life. I adore how much Mae learns about herself in the process of getting through the time loops. There is humor, heat, and an adorable HEA. This was my first book by this author duo and I found it very enjoyable. I could not put it down as I kept waiting for the next time loop to take place. I can 100% recommend this holiday romance that kept me guessing and made me smile.
I really thought this one was going to get me. Oh how the Christmas setting and the love for your best friends brother had all the great makings of a solid 4-5 star read. While I did end up rooting for these two I wasn’t completely sold on their love and everything just felt so I hate to say vanilla. Christina Lauren is so much better than that and what I typically love so much about their books didn’t quite hit like it normally does. Still fun and enjoyable. The story would have been good even without the Groundhog Day parts.
Mae’s time loop to happiness was such a fun holiday read. The lineup of family characters and the location of their holiday gathering sets the tone for a fun family Christmas.
I know I’m like a year behind on reading In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, but I finally made the time to read it and it was the perfect way to start off the holiday season.
It is a cute friend to lovers romance and a really quick read. The MC, Mae, asks the universe for a sign of what she should be doing with her life and the answer came in the form of a little bit of time travel and a second chance to tell her true love exactly how she feels about him. I especially enjoyed the bit of time travel involved. I thought that was a clever integration into the story.
If you like friends to lovers, spending a snowy Christmas in a mountain cabin surrounded by a bunch of fun, supportive and loving characters/family you will enjoy reading this book. If you are like me and didn’t get around to it last year, don’t make the mistake of missing the chance to read it this year!!
An absolutely dazzling holiday romance: clever and cozy and deliciously sexy, with a cast of characters and a spirit-of-the-season lesson you won’t soon forget.
Maelyn has been on love with Andrew for years. Maybe her wish will be granted this holiday. I really liked Maelyn, all the characters are great. This book reminded me of Groundhog Day, I liked that movie, so liking this book was a no brainer. It made me so happy when Maelyn got her wish. This is my first book by Christina Lauren and I loved it. I know a lot of people love these authors books, now I see why. I will for sure checking out the rest of they’re books.
Groundhog Christmas Week!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration:
Romance:
Heat/Steam:
Story/Plot:
World building:
Character development:
The heroine: Maelyn Jones (a.k.a. Noodle) – she is at her favorite place in the whole world. A cabin in the Mountains owned by her parents friends where her parents and all their college friends have gathered for Christmas her whole life. She has grown up loving this cabin and the friends and family gatherings ever year.
The Hero(s): Andrew Hollis (a.k.a. Mandrew) – The eldest son of two of Mae’s parents college friends. He lives for music and works in the music industry. He has always treated Mae as a kid sister and mentions at one point that everyone expected her and his younger brother Theo since Theo and Mae are the same age.
The Story: On December 26, after a week at the cabin, Mae and her family find out that the cabin is going to be sold, so this will be their last year. On the drive to the airport, they are in a car accident and Mae loses consciousness only to wake up on the plane to Park City on December 20th. She is living the week at the cabin over again.
“I laugh because this feels genuinely impossible. How does one move on from a man so kind of heart and fine of ass?”
Mae made a huge mistake the first time around so is determined not to make that same mistake. Everything seems to be going fine, she is even able to convince her parents Australian friend Benny who is like her favorite uncle, what is happening to her. When she takes a header down some stairs and wakes up on the plane again.
I don’t want to give away everything that happens in this extremely cute and funny version of Groundhog day, but I really enjoyed this story. I have been watching a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies over the past few days and this would make a great one. Of course the Groundhog day trope has been done before, but so have a lot of the Christmas movies. I can’t tell you how many I have seen where the heroine falls for a Prince.
The narration on this book was great. It was done by Patti Muran. I usually love dual narration with a male and female narrator, but this one was good, she has snark and great comic timing and even does Benny’s Australian accent pretty well. This is definitely a good book to do via audio.
“You’ve never been for me, Maisie. I never knew you were an option.”
This one was a twist on Groundhog Day and every Christmas movie you’ve ever seen. Maise is stuck in deja vu when after she and her family leave after their Christmas vacation and she made out with Theo and the next morning he turns his nose up at her. Then she finds out they are selling the cabin. On the way to the airport they are in an accident. BAM! she wakes up on the airplane and they are getting ready to land for their vacation. She knows what is going to happen. First off, she is not going to make out with Theo, her dad is going to break his tooth, and when things start happening she gets hit in the head and BAM! she wakes up on the plane again. This time she is going to confide in someone. Uncle Benny. LOVE him! Right away, don’t let dad eat the cookies so he doesn’t break a tooth, check, tell Andrew what she is feeling about him, check, go figure he feels the same! and watch the rest fall into place. This one was far fetched but fun, in a big way. It was just pure fun. Give it a go and enjoy!
Okay honestly why is this not already a holiday movie? I would watch it every. single. year. So fun. Like a christmas present just for me.
I recently read another book by this author, so I wanted to read a different one to see if it was a one hit wonder.
It wasn’t. I enjoyed this book more than the first one.
I’m not sure why I decided to read a Christmas book in August, but I’m glad I did. It was the perfect contemporary romance after a rough few weeks. I loved the family chemistry and Andrew — swoon worthy hero! I think I have a crush.
A few more f-bombs and a little more descriptive than the other book I read, but not overly explicit. I will definitely read more by this author!
R-rated for language and sexual content.
I enjoyed In a Holidaze. I admit I was a bit confused initially with the characters. I felt like I was missing an introduction. There a lot of characters in the group of friends and I felt like the characters were mentioned before an official introduction. I did get the characters figured out after a few chapters, though. I also felt the characters seemed a bit immature for mid to upper twenties but it could be the characters resorting back to childhood from the family Christmas traditions. I usually am not a fan of the time loop dynamic. I get irritated and bored after a while. However, the time loop was minimal and not repeated excessively so it did not bother me at all. I loved Mae and Andrew’s chemistry and they definitely had steam. Overall I enjoyed this book more than I had anticipated in the first couple of chapters.
I would never say no to a Holiday Contemporary Romance!
Funny, heartwarming, and sweet! A lovely romance story. I loved all the family and friendship aspects of it
“The only person whose expectations you have to live up to is yourself.”
Published: October 6, 2020
Gallery Books
This was my December BOTM
Christina Lauren is the combined penname of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling American author duo of contemporary fiction, teen fiction, and romance novels.
“How many things like this do we do without thinking, just because it’s the way we’ve always done it?”
Mae is joining her family and their close family friends for their traditional Christmas at the cabin. As the festivities come to an end, it is announced the house is being sold. Life as Mae knows it is about to change until she gets a sudden do-over. Then another. And then another.
This book was the perfect holiday read. It was charming, whimsical, and original. I enjoyed this fable very much.
The running theme in this book is going after what will make you happy. Even if it scary. And I think that is something we all needed to hear this year. Especially this year.
2020 has been rough for so many of us. We have all struggled. We have all wanted things we were too afraid to go after. But maybe we should be. Perhaps we should channel our inner Mae and go after our own Andrew.
Maybe we should stop being afraid of the outcomes. Go after the job we want. Quit the job that is draining us. Go after the love we feel we may not deserve. Who knows… maybe it will lead to a happily ever after we never saw coming.
It’s hard to imagine a day that can’t be made better by reading a Christina Lauren book. This one is no exception: a lovely detour from the pandemic malaise, traveling with characters you want to know in real life. The story concept couldn’t have been easy to make work, but make it work they did, in spades, and in the process both charmed me and made me sigh. Lovely, lovely fun, this book filled with heart!
In a Holidaze was my final holiday read of 2020 and I loved this original story.
I was a bit hesitant going in because generally speaking, I do not care for time traveling in novels. However, I am glad I took a chance because I really enjoyed In a Holidaze. Mae and Andrew gave me all of the warm holiday feels.
P.S. I hope Theo gets his own story one day.