REVIEW | In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Every year, Mae spends Christmas with her family and her parents’ friends at the cabin. She’s spent her whole life crushing on her parents’ friends’ son, Andrew. When the holiday doesn’t go as planned, she finds herself wishing to be happy- and strangely ends up in a time loop. Will she make the most of it and go for what she really wants?

Full disclosure: I’m reading this in August but damn, it got me in the Christmas spirit. Here are some of the things I loved:

🎄Mae’s holiday traditions with all the families was so heartwarming. It made me so envious and desperate to do some of those same holiday activities. And it showed how close some non familial bonds can be.

🎄The concept was so unique and well done! Admittedly, it stressed me out, but I liked how it was handled in an easy, casual way that really allowed me to suspend belief.

🎄As usual with CLo’s books, the dialogue between Mae and Andrew was adorable. I really liked seeing their relationship develop.

🎄The cabin setting was so well described. I wanted to rent a winter cabin ASAP after reading.

Overall, I really recommend this one for a light, fun, feel good holiday read. Massive thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, Netgalley and Christina Lauren for access to this ARC.

As soon as I got approved for this ARC I started reading it. I couldn’t put it down!

This is the perfect Christmas story. I love that it is family and romance heavy! The family aspects are perfect for Christmas. In the book they have so many family traditions and activities. They have a day where they make snow animals which is so cute and reminded me of how my family always plays charades and mafia together!

The romance was so cute. It had me smiling with so much happiness! It was SO adorable! The banter was written so well, it was so much fun. I really liked the love interest. This romance gave me major Jenny Han vibes but the adult version! The love interests were childhood family friends which is one of my favourite things!

I can’t wait to reread this during Christmas!

I received an e-galley from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

This review contains spoilers.

I’m a fan of Christina Lauren’s books - I’ve always enjoyed the books I’ve read from this duo and so it was with an eagerness that I jumped into this latest release - In a Holidaze. I love contemporary romance novels and Christmas is my favourite holiday - so it truly seemed like it was going to be a great read. But unfortunately, I felt like I was disappointed and for 75% of the book, I was constantly looking for more.

Here is a brief synopsis that I jumped into the novel with: one girl, two brothers, time travel in which the Maelyn keeps jumping back until she gets it right. And so we have the two brothers - Andrew and Theo - one of which Maelyn kisses the first time around in a drunk episode but it’s not the brother she’s been infatuated with. So, the set up of the novel led me to believe that perhaps she goes back in time, to realize that the brother she didn’t mean to kiss is actually the one meant for her the entire time. Not the brother she’s been infatuated with. But then things progress and Maelyn manages to start something with the brother she’s always wanted. And while I am all for a happy ending where the girl gets her first love and all.. I sort of felt cheated out of ever knowing about the other brother.

We never get to really get to know this other brother. We are told things about him but even these are contradictory statements from the Maelyn herself and the people around them. And there is just too much in the story and the characters that is not developed that convinced me that Maelyn was with the person who was truly right for her.

I ended up feeling so confused and unsettled with he novel. Did I enjoy it? Yes, I did enjoy certain parts of it - the going back in time storyline is always interesting to see play out. I enjoyed some of the side characters in the story. I liked the general romance at Christmas time vibes. But I truly truly cannot get over how the love triangle that’s set up never got to be fully developed in the story.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the read.

I read this book in a day... and I don’t do this often! Well I usually do it with Christina’s books. I was soooo excited to get a copy of this book! I can’t Thank you enough!
This book was a holidays book like I love them: funny, romantic and full of surprises and then not really. We all want the cheesy cute ending and Christina always delivers it to them. I really loved these characters and I will miss them all. You get attached to them and wish they were your own family ❤️
I will probably get this book and reread it at Christmas time