Holiday books for me are often hit or miss - it's really easy to fall into tropes, etc. but this one was great! Christina Lauren never misses, and I enjoyed this a ton!

This was my first Christina Lauren book and it will not be my last. I enjoyed the characters and the character development as Maelyn was reliving her Christmas vacation over and over. The romance was sweet, I loved the found family perspective and it definitely put me in the Christmas mood! Romance, humor, mistletoe...what more could you ask for?
#Netgalley #Inaholidaze

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren is a holiday adult romance which follows Maelyn, who takes an annual trip to a family friend's cabin. Unfortunately, this is Maelyn's last trip to the cabin, as the cabin will be sold after the trip. However, one the way home, a car accident forces Maelyn into a time loop where she experiences the trip over and over again until she can get it right.

I have put off reading In a Holidaze for awhile as it contains a plot structure, a Groundhog's Day-eseque format, which I do not typically enjoy. I'm glad that I finally picked up In a Holidaze. While it wasn't one of my top books of the year, it was a solid holiday romance that gave me all of the Christmas vibes that I wanted to read during December.

First, let's start with the plot structure. As I mentioned earlier, this book utilizes a Groundhog's Day structure where the main character repeats a specific piece of time. Based on the plot synopsis, I expected this to occur more frequently in the book. Instead, the repetitive cycle only happens within the first 40% of the novel before it resumes into a more linear timeline. If you were interested in the book specifically for this reason, it may be slightly disappointing. However, I liked this it was only reserved for the first half of the novel as I felt it allowed me to see other parts of the plot advance, such as Maelyn's relationship.

Let's move onto the characters. I found Maelyn to be an interesting and developed character. I understood her motivations and actions throughout the novel. By the end of the book, I thought she demonstrated some positive character growth. That being said, I found the love interest, Andrew, to be a little underdeveloped. With Andrew, much of his character came through telling and not showing. Sometimes, he was described using a list of attributes in a paragraph rather than showing who he was with his actions. That being said, I did appreciate that the authors gave him a realistic reaction to hearing about Maelyn being in a time loop.

One of the best parts of In a Holidaze would have to be all of the Christmas activities! There are so many holiday traditions that featured throughout the book. I also liked the message that Maelyn learned as the traditions changed as the story progressed. Even though people and traditions changed, they still loved each other and could make new memories.

Overall, In a Holidaze is a solid holiday romance. I liked the inclusion of Christmas traditions and I didn't mind the story structure as much as I thought I would. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren is a charming and heartwarming holiday read that will captivate readers from beginning to end. This delightful novel blends the magic of Christmas with themes of self-discovery and the power of love, creating an enchanting and memorable story.

The story revolves around Maelyn Jones, a lovable and relatable protagonist who finds herself stuck in a time loop, reliving the same Christmas holiday over and over again. As she navigates the repeating days, Maelyn is determined to break free from the cycle and find her true path in life. Along the way, she discovers the importance of cherishing the present moment, taking risks, and embracing the love that surrounds her.

One of the highlights of "In a Holidaze" is the well-developed and endearing cast of characters. From Maelyn's best friend, Benny, to the enigmatic love interest, Theo, each character brings their own unique personality and perspective to the story. Their interactions are filled with warmth, humor, and genuine emotion, making it easy for readers to connect with them on a deeper level.

The setting of the novel adds to its irresistible charm. The cozy Christmas cabin and the picturesque winter landscapes create a magical atmosphere that immerses readers in the holiday spirit. The vivid descriptions of twinkling lights, snow-covered trees, and the scent of hot cocoa evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth, making it the perfect escape for those craving a festive reading experience.

Christina Lauren's writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with the perfect mix of lighthearted moments and heartfelt revelations. The dialogue is sharp and witty, capturing the essence of the characters' personalities and building genuine connections between them. The authors' ability to infuse humor and emotion into the narrative makes "In a Holidaze" a joy to read.

I was provided with an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

5 star read. Loved this book so much, gave me all the Christmas feels mixed in with a cute rom-com story line. Characters were great, well written, Christina Lauren is amazing. Highly recommend.

This review is for the audiobook which is well narrated.

I drove into this book with out knowing the storyline. So, upon hearing about the GROUNDHOG DAY trope, I rolled my eyes, but as the story moves on, I begin to enjoy the story of Mae and her secret love of Andrew. I loved the imperfect family and friends gathering at Christmas, something I have always wanted for my Christmas gatherings. Mae’s recurring vacation experience isn’t about Mae getting what she wants, but more about her realizing that she needs to trust herself and to be who she is really meant to be. The ending was wrapped up nicely, but brought a smile to my face.

A fun holiday read that I could not put down. Christina Lauren never disappoints. The Groundhog Day vibe was a unique twist on this story. I loved the holiday cheeriness of the story and the perspective it hopes to show the main characters. And of course, the hysterical dialogue helped take the cake on this. I can't wait to read more by Christina Lauren.

I loved the Groundhog Day premise for this book. It was entertaining to see Mae try to work her way through what is keeping her in this Christmas vacation time loop. I really enjoyed the family and the characters. Christina Lauren are true master's of romcoms!

The perfect holiday novel! These two have cemented themselves as a great writing duo and I will absolutely pick up anything that they write. This is a book I will be re-reading every holiday season for years to come

After leaving her family’s cabin in Utah for what she thinks will be the last time, Maelyn Jones makes a plea to the universe. Stuck in a job she hates, living with her parents, and losing the place that means the most to her, Mae just wants to be happy. And suddenly Mae is back on the plane at the start of her Christmas vacation.

In a Holidaze was a very cute romance. I loved Mae’s story and I enjoyed her getting a chance at love with her long term crush. But I don’t think the time loop/time travel element added all that much to it. I would’ve enjoyed it more if her final pass through her vacation had been her original vacation. Overall it’s a cute and quick read that’s perfect for the holidays.

We love any and all Christina Lauren, but a romcom set during the holiday season absolutely stole out hearts. We loved the tension between the leads and will continue to read anything this duo puts out!

Christina Lauren equals a feel good and fun read - and The Holidaze is no exception. Who doesn’t love fun in the snow around Christmas and a second chance at life (albeit via a tricky time loop)?! We follow Mae as she navigates these unusual circumstances and of course we are rooting for her to get her happy ever after - but can she figure out her happy before it’s too late?

Thank you to the author, Gallery Books, and of course NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just realized I never posted my reaction to this book here. It's over two years late but holy heck this book was FUN. This was a super cute, super fun, super easy read that was just a big adventure with a time loop and lots of fun holiday themes. Plus, Christina Lauren always knows how to write a fun little romance.

I love Christina Lauren! In a Holidaze did not disappoint. It's Groundhog's Day, for romcoms. It's also a great, cozy love story to read over the holidays (or should I say Holidaze?) I recommend for adult romance and adult general collections.

*slight spoilers in review*

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc of In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. I have read multiple books by this duo & although this one was not my favorite I’ve read, it still was a wonderful book.

I loved not only the main characters, but the background characters as well. Mandrew & Mae made me fall in love with them but also shake my head. I love the setting of the Christmas cabin as well.

I think the time jumping could have been a little bit better done, but still enjoyed and still worth reading.

I didn't love this one as much as I have other titles by Christina Lauren. The story overall idea was fine, but "day on repeat" plotline wasn't my favorite.
Maelyn Jones and her family and close family friends are all together again for their annual holiday gathering in the family cabin. Mae enjoys a bit too much eggnog one night and makes out with family friend Theo, younger brother of Andrew, the brother she secretly really wants to be with. She ends up in a time-loop reliving the first part of the vacation over and over in various ways. Will she make different decisions to get what she really wants?

OK OK, so we know I love a time loop story. I’m old enough to have watched Groundhog Day in theaters and was never bothered by the the repetitiveness, and love when someone has to piece together WTF to do to undo the loop.

When I realized Christina Lauren was releasing a time loop story, I was SUPER EXCITED. I immediately loved Maelyn, and found her to be refreshing and funny. The family cabin setting was delightful, rounded out with so many amazing family cast members, it really gave you a sense of what she would be missing. I’m also a sucker for a caught-between-two brothers storyline (still over here waiting for that curse to befall me IRL hahah), and this did not disappoint.

The only wish I had at the end, was that they leaned a little more into the time loop, maybe created a little more chaos and confusion to mix things up. That’s just a personal time-lop enjoyment level though and this is still the perfect book to pick up, especially at the start of the holidays so you can really appreciate your (hopefully?) non-Groundhog holiday season.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I think Christmas romance books are fun. I'm want to read feel-good books at Christmas time, and In a Holidaze was just right.

Another thoughtful, playful and enjoyable hit for Christina Lauren. A good read for late Fall. Ground Hogs Day feel. Main character was very relatable. Give it a go!

Let’s just call In A Holidaze my most anticipated Christmas book for the year okay? I have seen so many mixed reviews for this one, but I really loved it. I thought the flashbacks to holiday memories were cute and I was excited to see how the Groundhog Day effect would play out in the end.

CLo I loved the authors note at the end, and this truly was released at the perfect time in a most challenging year, so thank you for giving your fans such a treat. (Hoping for more holiday reads in the future)