Buzzwords/Keywords/Vibes- Christmas, family time, snow.

I've read a few Christina Lauren books and have only really liked The Unhoneymooners (5 star). The two books published after that was a 2 star and the other I did not finish. I was very close to not finishing this book. I only liked the first chapter maybe the second. After that it went very much downhill for me. It was extremely boring. I even found myself skimming some of the book. The main character seemed childish which I guess she was considering she was still living with her parents even though she is a adult.

The romance was also bland. I am not even into romance but I know good romance when I read it and this just did not give me the vibes I wanted it to. I wish I would have read the synopsis before picking this up because it felt like I was reading a boring Christmas movie that plays on TV every year that everyone skips.

However I can say this was a fast read! I still have faith in this author duo, always will so I will pick up their next book. Sadly, I will not be buying a copy of this book.

Please take this with a grain of salt as romance is not my top genre if you will.
Thank you Netgalley & Galley books for the E arc!

I loved this book! Such a fun friends to lovers story. I adored Mae as she sorted out her Christmas version of Groundhog Day and how much she learned to trust herself. The whole group of the found family that celebrates holidays together was wonderful and heartwarming. This wasn't as steamy as some of their other books, but it was sweet and the grand gesture was *chef's kiss*

Thank you so much @GalleryBooks & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 06 October 2020)

SYNOPSIS | Maelyn Jones is in the midst of a life crisis. She is living at home with her mom, she doesn't particularly like her job and she has been pining after Andrew (a close family friend) for the past 13 years. Their two families spend the Christmas holidays together every year in a cabin in Utah, except this year when Mae is leaving she asks the universe to show her what will make her happy. After a screech of tires, she wakes up back on the airplane on her way to the Utah cabin for the beginning of the Christmas holidays again.

WHAT I LIKED:
- time travel isn't usually my jam (i get easily confused), but I loved this spin on it
- friends to lovers trope (oh swoon)
- the family dynamic was spot on & the side characters actually felt relevant to the story
- this had such a cozy christmas vibe, like a cup of hot cocoa for the soul

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the kiss conflict felt quite immature. Surely they could have just talked it out?

I received an ACR from Netgalley

Maisy ends up in Groundhog's Day version of her Christmas vacation with her family and friends. She has to figure put how to do it right and follow her heart.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit slow going at the beginning but it gets better and soon I couldn't put it down. The characters are relatable and it's an unique cast of characters. It's a book about traditions, friends, and love

This is a cute story where Christmas meets Groundhog day the movie. Mae Jones is spending Christmas with her family and the friends she spends every Christmas with. It is a lovely cabin in the mountains surrounded by snow. What's not to like? Mae wakes up on the day after Christmas realizing she made out with her lifelong friend, only it's his brother she has always had a crush on. Enter the Groundhog Day. She is on her way home and then she wakes up back at the cabin. It takes a few times of this before she realizes she can change her future. And change it she does. There are times when family and friends thinks she is crazy, but in the end everything turns out like the fates what them to. It is a nice holiday escape story. Be sure to stick around for the Epilogue. I think I will have to check out more of Ms. Lauren's books.

I read this book on the 2nd day of fall, but it made me SO READY for the holiday season! When Christina Lauren says it's time for the holidays, you have no choice but to give in to all the festivities!

IN A HOLIDAZE was so cute! I won't give too much away, but this one made me laugh, cry, gasp, and smile so much. I mean, who doesn't live a holiday, time travel, fun family dynamic, friends to lovers troupe-filled book?

You can never go wrong with Christina Lauren, and this book is sweeter than Christmas cookies & steamier than hot cocoa!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Gallery Books for this eARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny and heartwarming and I wish I had family/friends as depicted in this story. I can definitely see this as a movie.

In a Holidaze was an absolute delight to read! I have never felt the need for Christmas so much in my life. This story was full of holiday spirit & heartwarming moments. I couldn’t get enough of it.

The wintery, snowy cabin setting was so atmospheric. I promise you, you will want to snuggle up with a warm blanket & a mug of coffee while reading this book. It was August/September & 80 degrees while I read this story, but you can bet that I acted like it was full on winter. In a Holidaze is basically the perfect cozy read.

I related so much to the main character Mae. She is the type of person who wants to much out of her life, but she is kind of scared to take the leap for whatever reason. When Mae makes a wish, the universe responds by sending her back in time. I’ll admit, I’ve never seen the movie Groundhog Day, but I love the idea and it really worked for me in this book. Getting to see Mae relive days was interesting. It was a super weird and confusing time for her, but it made her grow as a person and find what makes her happy.

Okay, so all I’m saying is that if I ever get married and we don’t spend the holidays with our friends and family in a snowy cabin…then I don’t want it. With fun traditions, food and togetherness the group in In a Holidaze made this story fun & festive. Found family plays a huge role in this book and I have to say, it was probably my favorite part. I loved all of the characters so much. Each of them were so supportive and loving of one another. I specifically adored Benny. He was the cool uncle of the group and I am so happy that Mae could confide in him. Their relationship was so special.

The romance was perfection to me! I’m a sucker for friends to lovers, and this one was the best! There was also a hint of a love triangle which added a little tension & entertainment. Mae & the love interest (no spoilers!) were so precious together, but I also loved them as individuals. The love interest was calm, thoughtful and oh so charming. Their relationship happened rather quick, but it was very realistic. The chemistry between the two was SO obvious and I was living for it!

My one take away from this story would be…do what makes you happy! If that means taking chances, take them. You can’t live your life stuck wondering what would happen if. Step out of your comfort zone and find your happiness!

Basically I loved this book! If you are looking for a fun & cozy holiday read with a steamy romance, I highly recommend picking up In a Holidaze! I can totally see myself rereading this around Christmas time!

In a Holidaze is the perfect book to get you out of a reading rut! The book is a fast and flirty romance filled with laugh out loud moments that is perfect for the holiday season. Fans of Christina Lauren will not be disappointed!

Early copy received from the publisher through NetGalley; opinions are my own

In a Holidaze, is a Christmas book, but it's also so much more than that. Mae and her family spend every Christmas at a cabin with lifelong friends. Lifelong friends that have known each other since college and the kids (Mae) grew up together. Mae has a little too much eggnog on the final evening of the trip and crosses a line. It's awkward. More bad news follows. On the ride to the airport, Mae silently pleads with the Universe to show her what'll make her happy. Then there's a car crash and Mae wakes up on an airplane, on a flight to the cabin, before Christmas, before the mistake and news that changed everything. Is she dreaming, is she in a coma, is she really reliving the vacation, is the universe really going to show her what would make her happy?

If you're willing to suspend any time travel, Groundhog day-esque disbeliefs you have, this book is a joy. The characters are a blast, the romance is on point, and you can't help but root for Mae as she takes control of her life and sets her goals on what will make her happy. There were a few plot points that I thought could benefit from further development and a few instances where it was a bit much at times, but overall this is a great read and will make you believe in the magic of Christmas, but most importantly the magic of going after what you want and growing as a person in the process. My favorite Christina Lauren book yet!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn 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.”

Be careful what you wish for! Mae is now stuck in a time loop, reliving the same holiday over and over again until she figures out just what she wished for – what makes her happy. It’s one hilarious disaster after the next, with CLO’s signature comedic spin on a contemporary romance novel. I audibly cackled at the line “I am the human equivalent of a fart that clears a room”. I loved the friends to lovers trope here and kept rooting for the two characters to be together. I also really enjoyed reading about Mae’s personal growth as she learned what truly made her happy.

It’s a bit early for Christmas novels, but this one isn’t in-your-face Christmasy and will get you in the happy holiday spirit that I think we could all use right about now.

I was so excited when this book was announced. I loved holiday romance novels and this did not disappoint. It was well written and I really enjoyed reading it. The plot was unique and added to the story.

Maelyn Jones loves Christmas, and enjoys spending it every year in Utah at her family's mountain cabin with longtime family friends. But this year things are a bit different. As she is leaving she realizes that she is not happy, and wonders if she ever will be. Then something strange happens. Maelyn goes to sleep and wakes up on an airplane with her family headed back to Utah to start the same Christmas holiday again. How can this be.? What is going on? This scenario continues several times and she is wondering how she can stop it. Will she ever find happiness and love, or will it find her under the mistletoe?

Faced with the knowledge that this is her last Christmas at the beloved cabin in Utah where she gathers with her closest family friends, Mae doesn't know what will make her happy. She's stuck in a job she hates and struggling to get over her lifelong crush on one of her childhood friends. As her family is leaving Utah for the last time, they get in a car accident and the next thing Mae knows, she's awake on a plane headed for Utah at the start of the trip that just finished.

I was in need of some great holiday and CLo cheer and this book definitely gave me that! For me, this was one of those books that you read at just the right time, hitting me with the message I really needed right now. Though I found the Groundhog Day aspect a bit bizarre it was also fun, and overall well-done, I thought. The book left me guessing as to how it all was going to wrap up, which I don't always get with romance stories. And while the romance is a central part of the story (and was definitely enjoyable), I really loved the focus on Mae's own individual story and that's the part that really resonated with me. In a Holidaze felt like a warm hug - the cast of characters making up Mae's real and chosen family brought the whole story to life. The only thing I didn't like was that I felt there could have been a little more time in the middle of the story for the relationship to have a bit more time to develop.

4.5/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since she was a child, Maelyn Jones and her family have spent their Christmas holiday in a Utah cabin along with their closest family friends. She lives for this time of year: the cozy cabin, the snow, the food, but most importantly, spending time with Andrew, her crush for the last thirteen years. On the very last day of their holiday, Maelyn learns that the cabin is being sold and to say that she's devastated is an understatement. On the way to the airport, Maelyn throws a desperate plea to the universe to help show her what will make her happy. Then everything goes black, and she wakes up in her plane seat heading to Utah to start her holiday all over again.

Maelyn is the only one who seems to remember the first version of their vacation, so she knows that she was sent back for a reason. The only problem is, she can't figure out what that reason is. After a few missteps send her back to that plane seat and reset the time loop, she knows she needs to figure it out quickly. The more she relives her holiday, the more confident she becomes in herself and what she wants out of life--namely, Andrew. It takes a few tries, but eventually, Maelyn discovers that if she plays her cards right, she might just get everything she's ever wished for this Christmas.

I was all about this Groundhog's Day scenario from the get-go, and I'm so happy that it lived up to all my expectations. Everything from the characters to the story to the dialogue was spot on. Maelyn is instantly likable and relatable, and Andrew is charming and sweet. They already had such a fun friendship (Mandrew and Maisie are adorable) that when it finally progressed to something more it was so satisfying. This wasn't as steamy as some of their other books, but I actually felt it fit the vibe way more. This was such a cozy cute read that had all the humor and heart that this dynamic duo is known for, and would be perfect for fans of Hallmark holiday mov

If this wasn't the cutest, most heart-warming holiday romance novel ever! This book was like jumping into a Hallmark movie. It has a cozy, mountain cabin setting, family, friends, all the Christmas vibes, and of course the key ingredient.. Romance! I really enjoyed the Ground Hog day aspect of the book. The whole getting a second chance at doing what makes you happy really resonated with me, The romance between Mae and Andrew was so sweet and charming...I just couldn't get enough of them. I binged this in a day and I wish I could read it again for the first time. I just loved it so much! Well done on this one Christina Lauren!!

In a Holidaze was the first book by Christina Lauren that I've read, and I LOVED it! What a truly fun, emotional, festive, and hopeful holiday story!

When Maelyn Jones wakes up in her own version of Groundhog's Day, she relives her holiday week at a Utah cabin with her family over and over until she finds what makes her happy. Filled with humor, tears, heart, and Christmas spirit, this book was EXACTLY what I needed right now.

Everyone could use a bit of Christmas cheer early - so go ahead and get this book!

This was my first Christina Lauren book and I read it at the very best time. I was looking for a lighter read while on the elliptical and thought I would actually review an ARC early for once (two birds with one stone!). I've also been up a couple of nights worrying about things and I read this book to try and take my mind away from all the anxiety. It really helped, so that in itself makes this a winner.

At first, I was a little disappointed and wasn't sure I understood all the hype that goes into Christina Lauren books, but then I got about 30% in and I really enjoyed it. I loved Maelyn and Andrew, I loved the supporting characters, I loved the dialogue AND I loved the setting! (Park City is an awesome place! I highly recommend a visit.)

I look forward to reading another book by them and the way things are going it might be sooner than I originally thought!

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Review Date: 09/23/2020
Publication Date: 10/06/2020

What a fun and festive holiday read! Main character Maelyn Jones wakes up from a car accident living in her own personal version of Groundhog's Day. She's stuck in a loop beginning the same holiday over and over again. This book packs lots of laughs and humor, and is perfect to get you into the magical Christmas spirit!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 Stars!

Seriously, this book could not be any cuter. I have to start by saying that when I began reading I totally forgot about the premise and when it hit me I actually gasped. Maelyn Jones has left LA and moved back into her childhood home, she's stuck in a job that doesn't value her and is going nowhere, and to top it off she has a crush of epic proportions on her childhood friend who is basically family. So, when she finds out that her favorite place in the world, the cabin where she and her family and friends spend every Christmas together, is about to be sold, it's easy to see why she might have a full meltdown. While crying in the back of her dad's car, she asks the universe to show her what would make her happy and ------ BAM.

It's days before Christmas all over again and Mae isn't exactly sure what she should do. Mae is trapped in a loop living the same Christmas over and over while trying to figure out why she keeps dying and waking up on an airplane back to the Cabin.

In a Holidaze made me so happy! The characters are struggling with their own issues but so supportive of each other, it's really what everyone is looking for in a chosen family. I could read so many more stories about Mae, Andrew, Theo, and Miles, and I definitely want to know SO MUCH MORE about Benny! Even though this book starts as a Groundhogs Day story, it's a lot more than that and a MUST READ feelgood holiday story!