Review- In a Holidaze

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In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

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 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.

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Call me impulsive. Call me a harlot. Call me hungover.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of In a Holidaze in exchange for an honest review.

I am so ready for all of the holiday-themed books! I have a feeling I am going to need them to get into the Christmas spirit this year. In a Holidaze feels like you are reading the script to a Hallmark movie. I could easily see this book adapted, which is true for most of Christina Lauren’s books.

I am usually not a fan of the “groundhog day” trope where the same day plays over and over again, but I felt like the days were different enough that it never seemed repetitive. This is a book that will make you nostalgic for Christmas and there are some great family moments. I absolutely adored one character in particular- Benny, who is a family friend that Mae sees as an uncle. He becomes her confidante and I think we all need an Uncle Benny in our lives.

I loved the setting as well. Who doesn’t want to spend Christmas in a snowy cabin?

I will say that there is something I noticed with Christina Lauren’s novels and that is that the chemistry between the main character and the love interest never quite feels authentic to me- the only exception of the books I have read so far is The Unhoneymooners. There is sort of a love triangle within In a Holidaze and it does something that I have said before is one of my pet peeves when it comes to love triangles. I will say no more because I don’t want to spoil anything for you. I still think that this a book worth reading if you need some holiday cheer!

• Characters: 6
• Atmosphere/Setting: 8
• Writing Style:  7
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 6
• Enjoyment: 7

Overall CAWPILE score: 48/7=6.8

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