Author: kimberlyfayebaker

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 “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

Amazon • IndieBound • StoryGraph

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

While I’d typically prefer to tackle my holiday reads once my Christmas tree is up and the weather has turned colder, I just couldn’t wait any longer for In a Holidaze. I’m glad I didn’t hold off any longer, to be honest. This book gave me all the magic I so desperately needed right now. It was a light and fun read, but it also packed a bit of an emotional punch. (At least for me.) There were tears, but that really shouldn’t surprise anyone that much because I am an emotional reader. 

Friends-first romances are my jam. The relationships take time to evolve. There’s often some amount of unrequited (or, is it?!) love and loads of longing. I can’t get enough. Sure, I often want to force the characters into a closet and make them confront their feelings, but I still freaking love it. (Side note: there are some delightful closet scenes in this book, too.) I couldn’t NOT love Maelyn and Andrew. They gave me all the heart eyes, even when things weren’t smooth and that one time in the story where I legit wanted to scream. But all’s well that ends well, right? 

If I had to describe In a Holidaze in three words, they would be delightful, magical and swoony. It’s the Christmasy romance novel version of what would happen if you mixed the movies Groundhog Day and The Family Stone (but without the cancer storyline). I straight-up read it in one sitting. That’s something that doesn’t happen very often anymore. 2020 has taken a toll on my reading focus, but it didn’t hinder me a bit here. I loved being able to escape into the snowy (and dreamy!) Park City setting and this wonderful, quirky family.

Favorite Quotes

I want to capture this moment. I want to put it in a snow globe and be able to see it just like this, forever.

“You’ve never been for me, Maisie. I never knew you were an option.”

“It never occurred to me that you might be mine.”