Recent Reads: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date:  October 6, 2020

 

Format: Kindle Ebook
Source: Bought/ Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

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.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

Review: 

I know it is a bit late to be posting about a holiday romance... and also an older one at that but I felt the need to share...

This holiday romance had such a fun premise—a woman time-lopping through her Christmas holidays—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver on all fronts. While the festive atmosphere was charming, and the setup promised a heartwarming journey, the execution left me wanting more.

Mae is headed to the cabin, the place her family and their long-time family friends all go to celebrate the holidays. This year Mae is especially down on herself and asked the universe to help her see what will make her happy, and seeming it does giving her a Groundhog day-esq time looping opportunity to make it for herself. Sadly, it is this sci-fi element and some others that fell so short for me. 

One of my biggest issues was the character development. Mae, the main character, never really grows, she just adapts to the time loops and then starts to get bossy when she becomes frustrated with the outcomes. There are also so many characters but none of them really get the attention that they deserve to really highlight their differences.  Then, the romance itself felt rushed, making it hard to truly invest in Mae and Andrew's connection. It seemed like the author was explaining things away with 'they have known each other forever' that's great, but the readers haven't known them and we were all left wanted more. The time loop/sci-fi element could have added more depth but instead felt repetitive or underutilized to build on these relationships or as part of the plot overall.

There were some moments of warmth and humor that made it enjoyable in parts. The holiday setting was cozy, and I did appreciated the charming traditions that the families have together. However, I wish the story had spent more time fleshing out the relationships and making the emotional pieces hit harder.

Overall, while this book had potential and some enjoyable moments, it ultimately fell flat in execution. If you’re looking for a light, holiday read and don’t mind a romance that feels a bit surface-level, this might still be worth picking up.