In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Contemporary romance. A twist on the movie Groundhog Day, Maisie makes a wish to be shown what happy could be, and the universe delivers. Deja Vu.
Maisie has had a crush on Andrew since she was thirteen. Now at twenty six and during the multi family Christmas holiday, Maisie makes her feelings known.

A lovely and engaging romance where deep friendships of a lifetime become more. Emotional and enriching.
Surprisingly, there also seems to be a deeper meaning in the writing: Acceptance of yourself. I say surprisingly because I don’t remember getting a message from this author from prior books. But perhaps I just read past it. It was a good message and fit the storyline.

A few small quotes that made me smile:
“We are now celebrating the small victories.”

“I use the opportunity to give Andrew a warning expression that I can’t seem to hold; it immediately cracks into a smile that feels like sunlight on my face. In my head, Julie Andrews sings and spins on an Austrian mountainside. Confetti bursts from a glittery cannon. A flock of parrots take flight from the top of an enormous tree. I am silvery, glimmering happiness.”
Excerpt from In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

I love reading stories by Christina Lauren but I think this might be the best I've read. A cross between zany Christmas movie and the movie Groundhog Day Mae sees a repeat performance of the Christmas Holiday after making a wish on her last day (the first time around).
She is caught between 2 brothers that she has grown up with - one who everyone assumes she should be with and his older brother that she has been in love with since she was 13. Each time she goes back, she tries to fix things - or at least do them differently but different isn't always better.
The situation is touch and go there for awhile before the most happy of Happily Ever Afters happens. It is truly an occasion for happy tears.
I received an advanced copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super fun read and I blew through it. If you liked Groundhog's Day or any of the bazillion movies/TV shows that have used the the repeat-things-until-you-get-it-right trope, you'll enjoy this cute romance that takes place in a cabin over Christmas.

Though not my favorite from Christina Lauren, In a Holidaze is a super cute Christmas romance that I'll definitely be recommending at my library! Maelyn has grown up spending Christmas with her parents and their family friends at a cabin in the snow. She's been pining after Andrew for years, but he's never seemed to see her that way. After a particularly awful Christmas, Mae's family is hit by a car on their way to the airport. When Mae wakes up, she's not in a hospital as she expected--she's on a plane. She discovers that she's been sent back in time to relive the week and fix it.

This is essentially a Groundhog Day-esque Christmas story: Mae repeatedly relives the week of Christmas over and over again. While not a super original idea, this was fun. This book really delivered on the Christmas vibes with snow, sledding, hot cider, and tree farms. I love that In a Holidaze highlighted chosen family.. In terms of diversity, there was a M/M couple as supporting characters, but otherwise no queer & trans characters. Race of any characters was not mentioned.

Overall, this was cute and definitely a solid romance! It's not my favorite Christina Lauren, but I still enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I think the pacing could have used some work and I have mixed feelings about some of the tropes used in this novel. I'll definitely be recommending this to romance readers who want some holiday vibes!

You ever read a book just because of the author and you don't bother to read the synopsis? Yeah, that was me and this book. I really loved getting caught up in Maelyn Jones life and figuring out what was happening to her! It was an interesting twist and I oftentimes found myself laughing out loud while reading. However, this story was completely endearing and I didn't want to put it down. Maelyn took the time to find herself and what she truly wanted since she kept having do-overs. Life was unexpected for her in many ways, but the sweet love she found was something she cherished! Set around Christmas, this was a delightful holiday read. I can't recommend it enough!

When Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings write a new book I always drop everything to read it. In a Holidaze is a Groundhog Day trope/Hallmark Christmas movie wrapped up in a good old fashioned rom-com. Everything that is great about the season (warm fires, cozy sweaters, the magical possibilities) are in this book. It is a wonderful story of family, friends, and self-growth. Would make a perfect movie. Already casting the actors in my head.

mae is reliving the same holiday over and over as she made a simple plea as to what will make her happy. She has a go nowhere job, she is still living at home and she can't wait for her life to go right. This is so relatable and brings such comfort knowing that we have to look for he happiness and joy in the world surrounding us. A beautiful holiday tale for any hallmark loving romantic.

Not my favorite book. The idea was such a good idea but I just didn’t like how it was written. It had a lot of swearing, drinking, and sex (although not super graphic). Maybe I’m just a prude but none of it added to the story. This wasn’t my kind of book, but if that sort of stuff doesn’t bother you then maybe you would really like this story.

A holiday book from one of my favorite romance authors? Yes please! In this Christmas version of Groundhog Day, Mae is forced to relive her week with family and friends over and over again. The universe decided to take her up on her request to show her what makes her happy. So now she has to figure out if that means a career change, finally take a chance on her lifelong love, saving the beloved cabin or something else.

At this point, a bit of ridiculous is always expected in my holiday rom coms, so the time loop aspect was just another delightful part of the story. It was fun seeing how far through the week Mae would exist before being thrown back in time again.

There is a colorful cast of characters, but Mae and Andrew took center stage. I loved their friendship and the possibility of more between them. Plus, the backdrop of Christmas and the group's holiday traditions make this a perfect cozy winter read.

These ladies know how to write a winner - I read it in one day! It's glorious, magical, romantic, and amazing. I can't fully describe my love for this book!⁠ Just as their other romantic comedy books, In a Holidaze has a little bit of everything readers know and love in a romance book. Add in the holidays and it is even more amazing!
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In a Holidaze has everything I want in a holiday romance novel - longstanding Christmas traditions, friends to lovers romance & angst, hilarious family conversations, snowy vacation setting, and just the right amount of steam! You'll laugh, cry and swoon during this one...at least I know I did.

I don’t normally start my holiday reading this early in the year, but I’m more than happy to make the exception when it’s to read a new novel by Christina Lauren. Their latest collaboration, In a Holidaze,, follows Mae Jones, a young woman who has found herself in a bit of a rut. She’s stuck in a job that’s going nowhere and is currently living with her parents. Mae’s life spirals in an even more downward direction when, at her family’s traditional Christmas vacation at their best friends’ cabin in Utah, two terrible things happen: 1) she drunkenly kisses the brother of the guy she’s in love with, and 2) she learns their friends have decided to sell the cabin.

While Mae is mortified about kissing the wrong brother, she’s truly heartbroken about the cabin because it’s her absolute favorite place in the world and they’ve been coming there every Christmas for her entire life. As they prepare to leave the cabin for what will be the last time, Mae makes one simple wish to the universe: “Show me what will make me happy.” The universe is more than happy to oblige Mae’s request, in its own special way, and Mae ends up somehow reliving this last week at the cabin over and over again because apparently the key to her happiness can only be found there.

I had so much fun reading this book! I’ve always enjoyed the movie Groundhog Day so having that kind of déjà vu, time travel element in the story was such a treat for me. I also really loved Mae and found her entire situation, and particularly her sadness about the potential loss of such a huge family tradition incredibly relatable. I was in her corner every step of the way, hoping she would not only figure out what would make her truly happy but that she would also find a way to convince the family not to sell the cabin.

While I adored Mae, what really made the story such a special read for me was the family tradition and how it brought both family and friends together in such a wonderful way. I loved watching them spend the holidays together, especially all of their often hilarious holiday traditions. They really did become one giant extended family over the years and it was just so heartwarming to read.

And it wouldn’t be a Christina Lauren book if there wasn’t a romance and I was totally on board with the romance in In a Holidaze. Mae’s chemistry with the brother she really is attracted to is undeniable, and he’s adorable, so I really wanted her to figure out a way as she keeps reliving this week to make it work out between them.

If a mashup of the film Groundhog Day and your favorite Hallmark Christmas movie sounds good to you, I highly recommend Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze. It’s the perfect read to get you into the holiday spirit!

Do you like a friends to lovers romance? It's one of my favorites and In a Holidaze didn't disappoint!

When Mae sends out a wish to the universe, "show me what will make me happy", she ends up in a time loop reliving the holidays at a mountain cabin. This is a special place not only for Mae and her family, but her parents best friends and their families. Should Mae risk all that she has for something even more special?

I loved both Mae and Andrew! It was great watching Mae admit her long time feelings and seeing Andrew's reaction. There were fun moments (the sled scene!) and good one-liners that I expect from this author. The supporting characters really rounded out the story. This book had all the feels--making me laugh and cry.

In a Holidaze is a magical and romantic holiday read that I highly recommend!

Christina Lauren is my favorite set of duo authors. I loved this holiday themed, childhood friends to lovers romance read. All the characters were delightful and loved that this book promoted self growth. I felt like I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie while I was reading this book. There are a couple of sappy/cheesy moments, but that was to be expected. I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times. Overall, I highly recommend checking this one out if you love Christmas romance novels!

I requested In A Holidaze mainly because I was looking for something with a punny title for the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge and this sounded like such a cute read and sometimes I feel like I need to get out of the dark book spiral that I get lost in so often. I’m so glad I got to read it!

In a Holidaze was the perfect feel good holiday romance and it’s the first time I’ve really read a book like this even though I spend December watching those kinds of movies nonstop. I think I finished this in like 3 hours and couldn’t stop reading it. I sat on my couch the other afternoon just to “read for a bit” and then looked up and it was evening.

Just like a good holiday romance, it balanced the cute and wholesome hot chocolate vibe with the steamy romance so it wasn’t too cute you wanted to roll your eyes or too racy to where you’re just reading smut with Christmas hats.

I’m usually not a friends to lovers kind of person, but I loved the romance anyway. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters. Most of them felt pretty well developed aside from the ones we didn’t really interact with, but I felt the love that the family and friends around the main character had for each other and their Christmas cabin.

It’s a strange pick for an October read, but I wanted to get this out before the release date and I know some of y’all weirdos skip from Labor Day right to Christmas, so if that’s you, add this to your TBR immediately. And if you’re like me and you like to fill your October with the darkest and the bloodiest books, add this to your TBR for the holidays or when you need a break from the darkness. It was so much fun, quick, and just utterly heartwarming and you can’t help but love it.

In a Holidaze is a feel good holiday romance that will leave you swooning and smiling.
Mae is stuck reliving December 20th. She is in a funk. She isn’t happy with her job, she is living with her parents. The one bright spot is spending the holidays at a cabin in Utah that is owner by long time family friends, only she founds that it will be the last holiday there.
I love all the family traditions throughout this story and really just the family vibe throughout the story itself. Benny is one of my favorite characters and I love how he helps Mae at the beginning. Mae and Andrew though. I completely loved them. The friendship, their relationship and the slow burn.
Reading In a Holidaze is like watching a Hallmark movie. They story line is perfect and the way the cabin and everything is describe paints such a vivid picture in your mind.
If you’re looking for a feel good holiday romance with a little groundhog day vibes this is on you’ll want to check out!

Christina Lauren's book are always way too cute. I love the family dynamic of "In a Holidaze." I enjoyed how Mae and Andrew actually communicated through out the book. This book was such a great read, it made me want to curl up in front of a fire with some hot coffee.

It's no secret that I LOVE Christina Lauren books so I was beyond excited when I was able to score an ARC of In a Holidaze from Gallery Books (thank you), out October 6th!!

In a Holidaze was Groundhog Day meets The Butterfly Effect. After a crazy Christmas week with her family (and family friends turned family), Maelyn Jones's world screeches to a stop as a bomb was dropped right as everyone left. On the car ride to the airport with her family, she sees a quick glimpse of a wreath before she finds herself back on a plane.

After waking up, Maelyn must relive the week she just had, as though sent back to change the outcome. How many times does she have to live through the crash before she'll get it right?

In a Holidaze is the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season. It was light, airy, and such a breath of fresh air in the year 2020. I loved this book SO much it may be a staple for all Christmas seasons to come. I may actually read it again this year when it gets colder out. THAT is how much I loved this book.

As always, a huge thank you to Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for allowing me to read this before the rest. I absolutely loved it and quite literally cannot want for the next one!

In A Holidaze was cute - and officially my first Christmas book of the year. If you’ve been wishing for a new Groundhog Day but for Christmas, this may be the book for you!

I enjoyed the romance and loved the epilogue. But there were parts of the plot that I felt were really unnecessary and I didn’t feel like the Groundhog Day device really worked here. I would have liked it a lot more without the Theo plot line.

Thank you to Gallery and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

I love it when a book sneaks up and surprises the heck out of me. IN A HOLIDAZE, from writing duo Christina Lauren, is one of the best holiday romance books I've read. Like the best presents under the tree, IN A HOLIDAZE filled with so much to love! There's:

- a bit of a fantasy/sci-fi (TIME TRAVEL!!)

- friends that are family that you want to spend time with

- holiday traditions that warm your heart

- friends to lovers’ romance that's sweet AND sexy

- character growth that makes me a little teary-eyed

- characters you miss as soon as you read the last page.


- just enough angst to make the ending as emotional as can be


I'm still grinning like a fool. Maelyn Jones is definitely one of my favorite characters written by Christina Lauren. At 26, Maelyn thinks she has it all together--except for her 13 year-long, seemingly unrequited, crush on Andrew Hollis. When everything appears to go wrong during the traditional Christmas gathering with Maelyn's friends and family, she makes a wish while driving to the airport at the same moment she sees another car crashing towards hers. When she wakes, her holiday has reset to day one. Thus, begins Maelyn's personal Groundhog Day.

IN A HOLIDAZE beautifully, sometimes humorously, sometimes a bit achingly sad, takes readers on Maelyn's journey to discover what brings her joy. Over and over, with each reset, Maelyn is forced to decide what makes her happy. Throughout this journey Maelyn discovers herself and what she means to those that love her.

All of the characters of IN A HOLIDAZE are delightful and bring so much to the book, most especially Andrew, who Maelyn has loved from afar for years. He's sexy, steadfast, and just a little clueless when it comes to Maelyn. Maelyn’s parents and friends round out the cast of characters providing humor and loving support that warms the heart.

I have no doubt that IN A HOLIDAZE is a book I know I'll come back to each year to start off the holiday season.

Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze is a perfect holiday rom com with a fun, engaging premise. Maelyn Jones is relishing her holiday tradition of vacationing with her family and friends in a cabin in Utah—every year, she joins her now-divorced parents, her younger brother, and her parents’ college friends and their families to celebrate the season. Maelyn loves everything about this annual gathering, especially the faithfully-followed traditions and time with her long-time crush, Andrew.

This Christmas, however, Maelyn has made a mistake: in a drunken moment, she made out with Andrew’s younger brother Theo. Now, Theo won’t talk to her, Andrew thinks they’re together, and Maelyn finds out that Andrew and Theo’s parents are selling the cabin, meaning the end to the traditions she holds so dear. She’s bemoaning her life situation on the way home with her family when they hit a deer, and . . .

She wakes up, back at the cabin, on Christmas Eve again.

Yes, it’s like Groundhog Day! Maelyn has the chance to live her Christmas vacation over again, searching desperately to get things right, to save her holiday traditions, and to figure out how to win Andrew.

I’m a sucker for this trope—who hasn’t wished for a do over at some point?!—and for the balance of comedy and serious soul searching from this fabulous writing duo. I’m a big fan of Christina Lauren’s books, and I felt as if this was a real return to form, hearkening back to some of my Christina Lauren favorites.

If you’re looking for a holiday romance with a lot of heart, this is the perfect book to add to your Christmas reading list!