In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren
(Format used for this read: Audiobook)
I’m still on my Christmas audiobook kick.
Apparently it is what my brain needs as an escape right now because I am zipping on thru them like they white fudge covered Oreos.
Random Christmas tidbit: Those Oreos are my FAVORITE seasonal junk food, yall….and once they cross the threshold into my house, they do NOT have a long shelf life. (I’m talking we are lucky if we make it past 3 days without snarfing the entire box down!)
I wasn’t sure about this one because it is a romantic comedy….and those can tend to be a little too Hallmark holiday movie cheesy for me.
Not really my kind of jam.
But I figured “What the hell…it IS the holidays so Imma just go for it.”
2020 is the year for living outside your norm, right?
Here is the official summary:
“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.”
Okay….so this DID have LOTS of familiar cheesy unrealistic holiday rom-com aspects…
the snowy cabin get away setting, the unrequited love for a childhood friend, the friends who are family get together, the parents who are divorced yet still are friends, the good looking 20 something characters, the cute character names and nicknames (Maisy and “Man-drew” for example), cliche happy endings….that’s just to name a few LOL
And while there was plenty of predictable and “I’ve seen this so many times before” moments, the time travel Groundhog Day aspect to it all was a fun kind of twist to add in.
Don’t we all wonder how our lives may have turned out differently “if only” we would have done one thing and not another? And how would our different actions affected not only our future but those around us as well?
(I love stories that explore that in some way….my favorite holiday movie of all time is “It’s A Wonderful Life” for THAT VERY REASON.)
This was a fun and a bit frustrating bit of the book. Because as a reader you will have a few times of saying “NO MAISY! Don’t do THAT, you moron!” as her story unfolds. (if you talk to characters out loud like I do…but maybe your weird doesn’t look the same as mine LOL)
I sheepishly admit to yall that despite my eye rolling and typical reluctant aversion to this type of thing, I totally got into this book and HAD to keep on listening.
I know….WTF has 2020 done to me?!?
I am beginning to wonder who I even am anymore 😆
Totally could see this as a Hallmark movie though no lie….EXCEPT there are just a few love scenes that would maybe be a bit too racy on the Hallmark channel.
I’m thinking it would be a TV14 rating instead of a TVG…so maybe it would air on Lifetime instead? 🤣
Anyways, you will not have any profound thoughts while reading this…this is by NO MEANS a deep or impactful book.
You will not be surprised by the ending or feel like this is some world changing, phenomenal work of literary fiction.
Is it entertaining though?
Yes.
Will it give you those Christmasy warm fuzzies?
Yes.
Are the characters precious and likable?
Yes.
Will you read it and get a little pissed that your own life isn’t as romantic and magical as the unrealistic pages you just read?
Highly possible…. or maybe that is just me 🤣
If you like Hallmarky rom-coms that also have just a SMIDGE of sex mixed in, then you MUST read this….it is written JUST FOR YOU my friend.
Final thoughts?
Light, entertaining with holiday vibes….not life changing.
Which is what many of us need right now isn’t it….this book is kinda like some peppermint flavored brain candy.
PS. Remember how I’ve mentioned trying to finish another book in my past TWO reviews? Yeah…..*still* not done, yall. Can you guess how I’m gonna feel about THAT one? Stay tuned…..