I generally love Christina Lauren, but this was not my favorite of her books. The Groundhogs Day premise seemed a bitter convoluted and got dropped fairly early in the book. While I liked the idea of going back and redoing what went wrong previously, it seemed quite arbitrary when she was sent back. A fun read, but not one I would necessarily go back to or think about after it's over.

This book was a cute, cheesy holiday book that wasted potential.

I had just finished The Unhoneymooners last week and it took me a couple of chapters before I recognized the style of this author. When I went on Goodreads to check I was all AH, okay makes sense. The writing itself is always super solid, but the author has the same problem of making the characters seem much younger than they are supposed to be. A lot of the interaction between Mae/Theo/Andrew seemed more akin to highschoolers than mid-twenties. This book also had the same issue as The Unhoneymooners where it kind of flatlined halfway through.

Again—this was a super solid premise, but really she replays the day like 4 times max and it all happens in the first 1/3 of the book. The rest of the time is a super awkward cheesy relationship. For me it was predictable and I felt like the book should have gone in the opposite direction where what makes her happy is the last thing she expected instead of the thing she's been lusting over for half of her life.

I do think it will do great during the holidays esp for those who enjoy those Halmark-type cheeseball romances. For me, it was a bit of a miss.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Christina Lauren is one of my favorite authors for romantic comedies. This is the perfect romance to read during the holidays. It was laugh out loud funny and had plenty of sexy and romantic moments. Looking forward to more from Christina Lauren.

Signature Christina Lauren with a holiday twist. It’s a cute, fluffy and festive read that will be perfect to get readers in the holiday spirit this year and it’s not nearly as predictable as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Although, I admit that I did find myself not connected to the protagonist as much as I usually am, but if you love Christina Lauren’s other books, you will probably enjoy this one! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of In A Holidaze in exchange for an honest review. 🌟🌟🌟💫

This was everything I want in a holiday story. All the elements of the season, found family, and a dash of magic.
I walked into this blind. Had no idea what it was about. But I love this writing duo, so I was sold no matter what.
Basically, this is Groundhog Day meets Christmas.
I loved it. The do-overs, the lesson of letting go and being herself. And everyone should have an Uncle Benny. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I saw Christina Lauren was coming out with a Christmas book, I knew I needed it in my life. Although I'm reading this in June, it still felt festive and fun, and I really enjoyed this story!

In a Holidaze is a charming Christmas novel, that will be absolutely perfect to read around the holidays. It's charming and fast-paced, with a swoon-worthy romance that will put you right into the Christmas spirit.

The story follows Mae, as she relives the same holiday over and over again. She has no idea how she strangely fell in to this time-loop, bur she's determined to figure it out. Mae has been crushing on Andrew, her best friend's brother, for the longest time. The fact that their families are super close makes things a little awkward. But as she keeps on repeating the same day, she has an opportunity to find out what she really wants with her career, love life, and more.

The Groundhog Day vibes were awesome, and if you like that movie, I highly recommend this book.

Maelyn Jones can think of no better place in the entire world than the cabin her family and close friends stay at every Christmas. The friendship of four families began when her parents were in college and met their group. Now grown, the college friends had their own families which included Maelyn and the people she holds most dear. This Christmas is a little weird though... Maelyn can't seem to get out of a time loop and relives the vacation multiple times trying to figure out what to change to continue. Even worse is that, this doesn't seem to be happening to anyone else. Can she finally figure out what she wants in life to move on?

This was a funny read during our own "Groundhog Day" scenario in quarantine. It was funny and cute. In the beginning, the time loops could get a bit slow, but Christina Lauren wrote in a way that wasn't just repeating the same events over and over. Instead, they added in different details and had Maelyn trying new changes to get out of the time loop.

The rom-com aspect of the story was pretty good. It was pretty relatable in the sense that, no one ever wants to admit their feelings because they are afraid of throwing off the entire friendship dynamic. I thought the ending was a little rushed, but still a sweet way to wrap up the whole story.

Overall, I wouldn't say this was my Number 1 favorite by Christina Lauren, but still a great rom-com that can get you into the holiday spirit. I will definitely have to read again during the holidays because this is a perfect read for a snowy day at home.

I absolutely adore Christina Lauren’s romcoms and this one is no exception. These are a auto go to for me. And they especially feel right nowadays with all the crazy going on. To just escape Intl a comfy world like this - a cozy family group enjoying their winter holiday (especially a nice escape from the summer heat in the southwest!) with a big group of folks who love them (I miss being able to be with my family due to the stay at home orders!). So this hit a perfect note for me.

I also love the Groundhog Day trope. Only I wish they had hit that a bit harder and made her work for it. She basically figures it out almost right away. And come on. Bill Murray was stuck in a time loop for YEARS! So. I would have liked her to work for it a bit more. But it was so lighthearted and a perfect holiday escape book (no matter the time of year) that I can’t be too sad.

Thank you NetGalley for a review copy!

I needed a little Christmas in June, so this was such a nice surprise! I am always excited for a new Christina Lauren, so when I got approved for their upcoming release on Netgalley, I squealed!

Things I liked:
- I liked the idea of a Groundhog Day type of rom com, and this definitely delivered on that aspect. It didn’t feel too repetitive, and I really liked all the different days the main character lived. It was so fun to see how things changed when she made different decisions.
- I also liked the big family get together! There were so many heartfelt moments between all these families that are so close! I especially loved Maelyn’s relationship withe one of her uncles! They are literally goals in terms of openness and acceptance.
- The ending was super satisfying, and it was so cute to see everyone get their happy-ever-after!

However, even though I had a lot fun reading In A Holidaze, it didn’t feel suer invest in Maelyn and Andrews relationship until around 20%, and even then I felt they lacked a lot of chemistry. I also wish Maelyn and Theo’s friendship was more developed. They always take about how close they are, but it was never shown so it was hard to believe why he would be upset with her for liking Andrew.

Overall, if you like cheesy, Hallmark-like Christmas romances, definitely give In A Holidaze a read!

After reading The Unhoneymooners about a year ago and finding it hilariously charming, I read eight more of Christina Lauren's books. When I saw that they had a holiday book coming out, I was geeked. I am happy to report that this book did not disappoint. It's sweet and Christmas-ey and the Groundhog Day did not get out of control (I had some anxiety that after certain scenes it was going to start over). The epilogue was the bonus I didn't know I needed. Highly recommended!

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reminiscent of Groundhog Day Mae keeps reliving the Christmas holiday with her family and the friend group they think of as family. Why is this happening? Is she losing her mind? Or is there a purpose? What will it take for her to be happy in her life? And will finally making the choices that lead her to her best life finally break the loop? a celebration of family and friends that are family and finding your happiness.

A holiday romance from Christina Lauren? Yes, please!

There was so much to enjoy about In a Holidaze. I loved the whole Groundhog Day movie vibe to the story. Normally, I'm not into the whole time travel thing, but it worked for this holiday romance. I loved what Maelyn learned from the past. It was also fun to see how different scenarios worked out not only for Maelyn, but the whole group.

I have to admit I wasn't sold on the romance aspect of this book at first. There were some things that I was low key embarrassed for Maelyn about. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about things, but the charm in the romance was how it all played out. I was a believer by the end.

If you're looking for a cute holiday romance for any time of the year, I would recommend In a Holidaze. It will put you in a festive mood.

I broke my own rule and read a Christmas book in the middle of June and well, rules were made to be broken. In a Holidaze is a return to form for Christina Lauren, with everything I've come to love about their writing -- the humor, the true-to-life characters and even a bit more steam than we've seen in their recent novels.

Maelyn finds herself in a Groundhog Day like time loop waking up over and over at the beginning of the Christmas week she spends with her extended family. But it turns into a chance to really figure out who and what's important in her life. Andrew, a friend she's crushed on for more than half her life, is chief among them.

I absolutely loved In a Holidaze. Christina Lauren sidesteps all the usual twee trappings of holiday romances and delivers a story with heart, heat, and humor. A must read.

I read this book in one sitting. My husband slept peacefully next to me well into the night, while I couldn't put this down. I have read most of Christina Lauren's books, and just like the rest, I was pulled into the story right away. All of the characters were so well-developed, and I particularly enjoyed Benny, I could picture him in my head right away. I found myself laughing during parts, crying during parts, and downright sobbing with snot at parts. I would definitely recommend this book, I guarantee you will love it!

An absolutely charming and romantic holiday novel! I couldn’t help smiling and laughing all the way through. I absolutely loved it! A fun take on what happens when you mix ground hogs day, holiday activities, and a massive secret crush on your friend. Seriously a perfect read! I loved the various characters and Benny will forever be the coolest uncle! I liked the relationship between Mae and Andrew and how above everything else they are each other’s friends. A great ending and I just felt so happy reading this book!

I love every Christina Lauren book. This one was different, but different in a mostly good way. You connect with the characters. You root for success. And even as summer starts later this week, I was so excited to read a holiday book. I typically can't put their books down, but this one took a little longer to get into.

This book made it feel like Christmas in June!

I just started reading Christina Lauren recently and have enjoyed some of her other books, and so I was very excited to read In a Holidaze. The book started out with Mae waking up and being absolutely horrified after remembering that she made out the night before with Theo, a best friend who is basically family, and also the brother to Andrew, the man she has been in love with for years. The day gets worse from there: Theo blows her off, Andrew knows about the kissing, and they all find out that their "family" cabin is being sold. As they drive away, Mae asks the universe to show her what would make her happy, and almost immediately, her family is hit by another car. She wakes up on the plane on the way to the Christmas vacation again. From there, she lives the vacation a few times over before deciding to say "F*** it!" and goes for who she truly wants: Andrew.

This was a very easy read and the romance between Mae and Andrew felt comfortable and natural. For those who have ended up dating their best friend of many years, their relationship will feel very familiar.

As we neared the end of the book, I wondered if Mae would wake up again on the plane and have to live all of this over again. I was slightly disappointed as I felt there was not a lot of closure to the time travel aspect. But I did enjoy the ending, regardless of that. It was a happy ending and that's exactly what I needed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy and for bringing some Christmas cheer to my summer!

My favorite romance authors tackling one of the greatest tropes of all time - the Christmas romance?! YES PLEASE. This is Christina Lauren's first go at a holiday romance and it was such a run read (especially to review an advanced copy in June when the thermostat is topping 90 in Florida these days).

After waking up with a hangover and a lot of regret from a drunken kiss with her long-time best friend Theo, Maelyn Jones finds herself in a "Groundhog Day"-esque scenario where she keeps repeating the same holiday vacation over and over again. Mae has been pining for Theo's older brother, Andrew, since she was a teenager which makes the fact that their families are super tight-knit a little awkward. As Mae keeps reliving the same days, she gets the opportunity to explore what she really wants for her career, her living situation, and her love life. The story is written with the wit and banter you expect from Christina Lauren. I think this epilogue might be my favorite of all of their books (but don't tell Josh and Hazel that!).

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy in exchange for this review.

Christina Lauren books never disappoint with producing sweet, fun and utterly romantic stories that take us away. In a Holidaze is a great story about college friends that have remained close through marriage, divorce, children and growing older. They all gather for Christmas and July 4th at the same cabin, do the same activities and eat the same meals year after year. This Christmas has a little twist, Mae re-lives the vacation multiple times like Groundhog Day and getting injured resets the day each time. She has lived with a crush on Andrew for over a decade and decides to do something about it on one of her do-over days. The results are heartwarming but not without a little drama. Can college best friends have children that fall in love and get married? The question is which son will Mae end up with????

This book was SUPER FUN! In A Holidaze was a mix of Groundhog Day, The Family Stone, and for me, Christmas Vacation. I absolutely loved Maelyn's story here. Christina Lauren kept me guessing until the very end. Such a fun twist on a holiday romance and classic Christina Lauren romantic comedy, it was aces!