Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley is a holiday rom-com that delivers all the cozy vibes, heartwarming moments, and unexpected love. From the unexpected connections to the heartwarming holiday magic, this book is a fun, cozy ride that keeps you hooked till the end. If you’re a fan of sweet holiday romances, snowy backdrops, and unexpected love stories, Three Holidays and a Wedding is a must-read. I loved how both women found love in ways they didn’t see coming. It’s a story that’s sure to bring some holiday cheer!

Moved along at a nice pace. It's interesting to read about different cultures their customs and traditions and how they celebrate.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Three Holidays and a Wedding is set in the year 2000, a rare time when Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan/Eid coincided within days of one another. The story follows two women: Maryam, traveling to Toronto with her family for her younger sister's wedding, and Anna, en route to Toronto to meet her boyfriend's family. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when their flight is diverted, and they find themselves snowbound in a small winter wonderland called Snow Falls.

While the setup had potential, the execution left much to be desired. One major flaw was the unrealistic premise of the passengers being stranded for nearly a week due to a Canadian snowstorm. This felt implausible considering Canada is well-known for receiving a lot of snow each year. This was confusing and inconsistent as we’re being told people could die if they’re out in this blizzard, yet the characters were somehow able to wander around town freely, and even a movie crew managed to continue filming…despite the supposed blizzard that kept them trapped here for days on end. I’m not sure if the authors thought the time period would make this seem more realistic, but the lack of logic in these details made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.

The book also struggled with balancing its ambitious premise. It tried to pack in too many elements, forcing readers to suspend disbelief far too often, and ultimately came across as overly cheesy and reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. The characters felt flat and stereotypical, with dialogue that matched this energy. Though the representation of various religious holidays and cultural groups was interesting, the story fell short in delivering meaningful character and relationship development. The romantic pairings lacked chemistry, relying too heavily on insta-love rather than building genuine connections. I truly didn’t feel invested in any of the romance shenanigans in this; they all just felt very meh.

Additionally, this book felt like a missed opportunity to really show the connectedness of Abrahamic religions and their traditions. It felt a bit like they didn’t know where to take the story of actually bringing these faiths together. For instance, the planning of the winter pageant initially seemed like a promising way to unite the characters and their faiths, but this thread was underdeveloped. Instead of experiencing the pageant’s significance firsthand, readers are only given brief impressions of the performances from other characters’ perspectives without explaining the performance itself. This left the narrative feeling superficial and unfulfilled, as if it only skimmed the surface of deeper themes.

As someone who typically loves Uzma Jalaluddin’s books, I found this one disappointing. The overwhelming Hallmark vibes and lack of depth detracted from its potential, leaving me craving the heartwarming charm it promised but didn’t deliver.

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I love a Holiday read and Three Holiday’s and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley doesn’t disappoint. Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are traveling on the same flight to Toronto. Maryam, to her sister’s wedding and Anna to her boyfriend’s family’s house. A turbulent flight, turns strangers to friends and they start to confide in each other. What does it matter anyway, they will never see each other again & don’t know any of the same people. But an emergency landing, to a beautiful town confused the situation. Saif, the love of Maryam’s life heard the ladies conversation and now she has to deal with that. The Bridal party are all snowbound in the this town and things begin to get interesting. A famous actor, is filming a Holiday film, The Snow Falls Inn is a beautiful backdrop and all these stranded people, make the best of the situation. People have to be honest with themselves and others to get what they want. They need make a plan for when they leave this beautiful town and they need to make plans for their future. This was a fun, quick read. I want to thank Netgalley, the authors and Penguin Group Putnam for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this one.

Love the incorporation of all the different holidays and intersecting story where almost every trope is represented (childhood love, celebrity). It was so visual and quirky where I could see this novel even being a TV show.

Thank you NetGalley.
I have struggled with liking christmas books and sadly I have to add this one to my list of holiday books I didn’t enjoy.
Way too many characters. Way too much going on.
I‘m sorry but this wasn’t for me

A delightful romance that pulls you in from the first page! The characters are relatable, and their relationship feels authentic. The story balances humor and emotion beautifully, making you root for them every step of the way. A great pick for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming love story!

I loved the various cultures represented in this book. The plot was a little far fetched but a great holiday story!

I decided to dive into "Three Holidays and a Wedding" because the idea of a holiday romance set during a rare overlap of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan sounded too good to pass up. The story promises a heartwarming blend of cultures and festive cheer, all set in a picture-perfect Canadian town during a snowstorm. I was really looking forward to seeing how these different holidays and traditions would intertwine within the romance.

While I appreciated the diversity and the cozy setting of Snow Falls, the story didn’t quite hit all the right notes for me. The characters were likable, but their relationships felt a bit rushed and lacked the depth I usually look for in a romance. There were some predictable moments that took away from the potential magic of the story. Still, the book did have its charming elements, especially if you’re in the mood for something light and festive. It’s a nice escape, but not one that left a lasting impression​.

I loved this holiday book! so much love and friendship and connection. It made me feel so warm inside.

Three Holidays and a Wedding is a Hallmark holiday movie in a book. Is that a bad thing? Heck no! It means that this book is a quick, easy read. Perfect for curling up with a hot drink and a blanket. Trust me!

Christmas in July

As you may remember, Much Ado About Nothing was one of three books I deemed my favorite reads of last month. This, too, surprised me, because I notoriously 1. don't like second chance romance, and 2. don't like Austen retellings. Two five stars for Uzma, who, through the book community, is a friend of a friend.

I didn't start off loving this. Books written by two authors can feel awkward and disjointed. At the beginning, I preferred Maryam's story to Anna's. However, as we peeled back each of Anna's layers, I discovered something of myself in her, and began to understand her more readily. I loved Maryam from the beginning. As the slightly spicy eldest daughter in an immigrant family, we just had so much in common. I'm unfortunately not as close to either of my grandfathers as she is to her Dadu.

I particularly loved this book because it centers on a time when three major holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan, occur around the same time. Maryam and Anna meet on a plane bound for Toronto, off to do very different activities. Their plane is diverted to a tiny Canadian town that is ripe with diversity and friendliness.

So while the book features two blossoming relationships, that isn't even the main feature of it, or rather, what I felt I got the most of. This is a book about friendship, and the friends who become family. On the flip side, it is about family that can take advantage, maybe without meaning to. It is about speaking your mind, getting what you want, and achieving your worth. It is about career changes and loving what you do in life, and in turn, loving yourself.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons

What if a Hallmark holiday movie actually had a diverse cast? It would be this delightful book. It leans into every delightfully cheesy holiday movie trope, and I am here for all day!

This was a fun, breezy novel. While I didn't enjoy it as much as Uzma Jalaluddin's other novels like Ayesha at Last and Hana Khan Carries on, it was still enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
I really loved the Christmas romance!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

As a Canadian reader, it is always a great pleasure to read books written by Canadian authors. And in this particular instance even more so… You might ask why? Well – Three Holidays and a Wedding check off a number of my likes -> story at Christmas time, romance, set in Canada, written by Canadian authors and it is such a well written and enjoyable read. Now to get on with the review 😊

Three Holidays and a Wedding is a romantic comedy (romcom) as well as a story about multiple faiths navigating the holiday season as well as a wedding. Maryam Aziz is travelling by plane to Toronto to attend an impromptu wedding for her sister. Anna Gibson is sitting next to Maryam and she is travelling to meet the parents of her boyfriend for the first time. They strike up a conversation (with Maryam’s “love of her life” Saif – sitting a mere couple of rows back and the rest of her family elsewhere on the plane), sharing many things because, well, they will never see each other again. Maryam and Anna need to talk and get clarity with respect to numerous life issues and this seems like a perfect opportunity – they will not see each other again. Just plane buddies for a few short hours. Well – until the plane gets brought down by an emergency landing due to “the biggest snowstorm of the century” in the little town of Snow Falls – a picturesque small town known as a great filming location for holiday movies (though this is not known to Maryam or Anna when they first landed).

I quite enjoyed the segment where Anna is in the bar just after landing in Snow Falls (touted as your happy holiday town). She meets her actor-crush in the bar as he is in town filming a holiday romance (you know, like a Hallmark Christmas movie). I chuckled immensely as Anna made her way from the airport to the bar, with no luggage or coat and wearing high heels… with the only taxi from the airport already busy with a fare…all I can say without any spoilers is – funny!

The diverse cast of characters along with the many different traditions that were entwined into this holiday romance made it a delight to read. And how did the two authors manage such a feat! Great collaboration. The reader was exposed to an abundance of family drama, romance and second chances. Additionally – new friendships developed beyond just the plane ride.

We are led through numerous days of being snow bound in Snow Falls. How does Maryam’s sister handle with being stuck in this small town when all she wants to do is get to Toronto and have her wedding! It is stressful. But both Maryam and her sister are gifted many wise words of wisdom from their grandparents. I loved Maryam’s grandfather – such a character.

This was a magical time – a time when Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah all take place at the same time making for a unique holiday season. It showed me that while we have different beliefs, we are the same. We are all people who cherish our beliefs, love our families, and handle chaos very much the same! And in true Canadian fashion – loved the segments about hockey and know team rivalries.

The cover art is storytelling all by itself. I found it gave this reader a glimpse of what a delightful story was held within its pages.

I would love for this story to be optioned for a holiday movie – it is definitely a story that needs to be told.

If you love (or even like) a good romcom – then I suggest Three Holidays and a Wedding! You will be consumed by its depth and its lightness. You will laugh at the characters as they navigate the challenges bestowed upon them and sigh when it all comes together as it was meant to be. And as an added bonus – lots of love connections in due time 😊!! Thank you to Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley for penning such an enjoyable book. I can’t wait to read other titles you have written.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Three holidays all converging at the same time - Christmas, Hannukah, and Ramadan. Two parties traveling from Denver to Toronto cross paths and end up snowed together in Snow Falls Canada. Their flight is diverted from Toronto to Snow Falls due to a major blizzard. In a story line that is a cross between a Bollywood and Hallmark movie, the story twists through the days leading up to their eventual leaving of Snow Falls.

This was such a great book - I enjoyed learning about other cultures.

This was the perfect holiday romance! Closed door, funny family, disasters that occur to thwart plans and a cozy Christmas town. Live that we got two FMC and to see more than just Christmas. I have read Hannakuh holiday romance books but have never seen a Ramadan included before. It was great and touched on the customs in a way that was easy to understand for someone who was not familiar. Highly recommend adding to your reading list in the winter!

I loved this book! It has a great storyline, is entertaining and is an interesting mix of history and culture set in a small town. When Maryam and Anna get stuck as seatmates on a flight to Canada, the last thing they expect is to end the experience stranded in a snowstorm and to become friends. Although fictional, it provides insight into weddings in other cultures, Islam and Judaism and how holidays can overlap. Overall, it was a great read.