Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley's "Three Holidays and a Wedding" is what happens when your standard holiday rom-com drinks way too much eggnog and wakes up stuck in the snow with Hanukkah candles, Ramadan lanterns, and Christmas lights tangled together. Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson meet mid-flight during the kind of turbulence that makes you reconsider life choices, and after an unexpected landing in the picturesque-but-suspiciously-perfect town of Snow Falls, their holiday plans spiral delightfully out of control.

Maryam is racing to her sister’s impromptu wedding (as one does), while Anna is heading toward a boyfriend-related crisis waiting to happen. Throw in Maryam’s swoon-worthy ex, Saif—who naturally chooses this moment to pop up like holiday stress acne—and Anna’s charming confusion about life choices, and you've got festive chaos at its best. The quirky townspeople, family drama, and Bollywood-obsessed grandpa add delicious comedic spice, even if the storyline occasionally feels as predictable as finding socks under the tree.

Landing a solid 3 stars out of 5, "Three Holidays and a Wedding" is festive comfort food in book form: a bit cheesy, reliably entertaining, and heartwarming enough to keep your spirits bright. It won’t change your life, but it might inspire you to believe that holiday miracles (or at least cute, snowbound romances) are just one emergency landing away. Pack snacks, embrace the chaos, and consider inviting Maryam’s grandpa to your next holiday gathering.

**Review of *Three Holidays and a Wedding* by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley**

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

*Three Holidays and a Wedding* by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley offers a heartwarming collection of stories that revolve around love, family, and the meaningful moments that can occur during the holidays. The combination of festive settings and romantic twists makes this a cozy, lighthearted read, perfect for those looking for a feel-good escape.

However, while the holiday themes are delightful, the stories themselves feel somewhat predictable and don’t offer much in terms of depth or complexity. The characters are likable, but they could have been more fully developed to create a stronger emotional connection. Some of the plot points felt rushed or overly familiar, making the stories less impactful than I expected.

Overall, *Three Holidays and a Wedding* is a pleasant, easy read with festive charm, but it doesn’t quite deliver the emotional punch or originality I hoped for. It’s a good option for readers who enjoy light holiday romances but may not stand out for those seeking something more unique or thought-provoking.

Cute, I wish we got more about the religions/holidays of each character, I am always interested in learning more about different cultures.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Three Holidays and a Weding by Uzma Jalauddin/Marissa Stapley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Cute Hallmarky story that was a fun holiday read.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley. Pub Date: September 26, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. This novel started out very Hallmark Christmas movie-esque, but turned into a celebration of three cultures/holidays, faith, family, community and relationships. I think this novel tried to do too much all at once, but I really enjoyed learning about the different cultures and their holiday celebrations. Thanks to #netgalley and #penguingroupputnam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

this book is so cute! It follows Anna who is traveling to visit her boyfriend’s family and is having second thoughts about her relationship and her life. It also follows Maryam, the older and responsible daughter of a South Asian family. They are traveling for a family wedding during Ramadan and Maryam is keeping everyone afloat. On the same flight, Anna and Maryam bond over their desire to follow their own hearts and dreams. Their flight is rerouted to a snowy, Hallmark type town where anything is possible.

I loved the multiple holidays and cultures mentioned, the traditions, and the food! It was a wonderful escape during the holiday season! It also takes place in the year 2000 and had some fun throwbacks to that time period.

Never downloaded. Been having trouble with books downloading. Would still like a copy to read and review.

This felt like a multi-faith, well-represented Hallmark movie brought to the page. I really appreciated how the town was brought to life. There were lovely elements of found family, of community, of feeling truly seen as yourself rather than the version you've been presenting to the world. Not to mention the celebration of various cultural traditions all with the backdrop of a snowy small town.

I found the writing to be engaging and the plot to be just what I was looking for this holiday season.

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 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