This is such a heartwarming holiday romance. I loved Maryam and Anna, I loved the town. The romances were sweet but the standout part of this book is the character growth of our main characters.

Three Holidays and a Wedding is a great holiday book with Hanukkah, Christmas and Ramadan all being featured. I enjoyed learning about each holiday throughout this book and felt that the holidays were well represented. Not only were there multiple holidays represented but also multiple romances. This story follows two POVs, Anna who is supposed to be on her way to meet her boyfriend's family for the "perfect" Christmas vacation and Maryam, traveling with her family to watch her sister get married to a man she just met only a few months ago. When their plane is diverted to Snow Falls, both main characters learn about what they truly want in life and also who they want. Although a side note to this story, I immensely enjoyed the nostalgia of the book being in the year 2000. I laughed when they described flip phones, 24-inch televisions and the serious lack of internet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to review Three Holidays and a Wedding. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun festive read. Maryam and Anna meet on a flight that gets delayed,forcing a stopover on a snowy town. The time here will mean big changes for them both.

A sweet, sometimes corny, multi-holiday romance that’s perfect for anyone who loves Hallmark movies. There were parts that warmed my heart and there were parts that made me roll my eyes. I almost DNF’d at the beginning because it was just too cringy for my taste, but I’m glad I stuck it out because it was an enjoyable read! There’s a part in the beginning when Anna, a main character, comments that her boyfriend looks like Scott Foley and she finds that attractive; all I could think was “Roman? From Scream? Really???”, but that’s a me problem.

The thing that makes this book stand out amongst other holiday romance novels is that it celebrates three holidays; Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan, as well as a traditional Muslim wedding. As a white woman who was raised Catholic (I no longer identify with any religion), I cannot speak to how accurate a portrayal this was of Hanukkah and Ramadan traditions. However, I respected the amount of detail and care that went into each character and their faith. I enjoyed learning more about each celebration! The authors, Marissa and Uzma, created a beautiful story set in a picturesque small town with lovable characters (even if they were so sweet they made my teeth hurt). Parts of it were predictable and didn’t make much sense (it’s the worst blizzard ever but there’s food delivery??), but sometimes it’s nice to cozy up with a silly little romance novel and escape to a small town!

This isn’t something I will read again, but if you’re looking for a quick, heartwarming winter romance, you might consider picking this one up! Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the eARC.

This was a fun book that had lot of people, stories and holidays all mingled together. The perfect thing for the holiday season.

I throughly enjoyed this sweet holiday read. Two unlikely friends meet on a turbulent plane ride to Toronto. In the moments when their fear takes hold, they reveal their innermost thoughts about themselves to each other, both realizing that maybe the life they're living isn't exactly what they had hoped for.

Maryam (the protector and rock of the family) is headed to Toronto for her sister's rather last-minute wedding. During the flight, Maryam reveals her nearly lifelong crush on her childhood friend, Saif, who is also on the same flight and happens to be sitting behind Anna and Maryam.

Anna is flying to Toronto to meet her boyfriend, for what promises to be the 'perfect' first Christmas together. But when the flight needs to divert, she begins questioning how much she wants to be the 'perfect' girlfriend to the perfect-on-paper boyfriend with the flawless family?

As Maryam and Anna find themselves trapped in Snow Falls, they realize that anything can happen during this tri-holiday season (Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan).

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet and heart warming. It kept me reading and I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

I absolutely loved the whole premise of this book. Small towns, strangers, and a snow storm. It made me want to go to a small town this holiday season. I definitely enjoyed and recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of Three Holidays and a Wedding in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled to finish this for a multitude of reasons, the biggest being the two female protagonists who were spineless doormats. Anna, after losing her beloved father to a heart attack two years prior, is working at a job she doesn’t like and dating a man who just wants everything “perfect.” In their five month relationship, she’s hidden most of herself to fit the image he wants. Maryam, who is clearly still suffering from the demise of a previous relationship that wasn’t her fault, has convinced herself that everyone is ashamed of her as a result, but she’s really just gaslighting herself. Of course, both of them, when presented with the possibility of being with good men who adore their real selves, are ready to torpedo the relationships before they even get started. It isn’t until 75% into the book that they finally grow a spine and start believing they deserve better.

The second big reason I disliked the book was the entire premise of their flight being grounded during a Canadian blizzard and conveniently being stuck in the quaint, Christmassy town of Snow Falls. I can understand having to divert the flight during the height of the storm, but it makes zero sense that they’d be stuck there for almost a week. It’s Canada, for god’s sake; they know how to handle snow. And no way would the airlines be willing to lose a week’s worth of revenue. Despite the weather, somehow the characters are able to walk around town unimpeded and a movie crew is able to continue filming, Make it make sense!

The third reason is the town of Snow Falls itself. We’re led to believe that it’s something straight out of a Hallmark movie, but to fit the theme of this story (the very rare occasion of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the end of Ramadan coinciding), this small town is like the United Nations with shops and restaurants featuring wares and cuisines from all over the world. I’m a huge proponent of diversity in books, but not when it isn’t authentic.

The final reasons I can’t recommend this book are the clunky, repetitive dialogue when the main characters are sharing their feelings, the instalove between the two couples, and little annoyances like saying that Josh was putting a “Yule-log shaped cake” in the oven when any baker knows that it would be batter in a jelly roll pan that’s rolled after cooking. Little annoyances that add up.

The only reason I didn’t give it one * is because it was just interesting enough for me to finish it, but I definitely would not recommend it when there are so many other well-written, engaging holiday stories to choose from, including one of the author’s own (The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox). This is just a case of two decent authors whose collaboration was a fail.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley introduces us to two complete strangers, Maryam and Anna. As they fly home for the holidays, an emergency landing leaves them stranded and snowbound in a magical small town at the Snow Falls Inn. We follow along with two whirlwind romances over the course of three holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan - which happen to fall within days of each other for the first time in over 30 years. The novel features characters from diverse backgrounds and offers multicultural representation. TAGS: fiction, romance, forced close proximity, friends-to-lovers, magical small-town, holiday romance, inclusive, ownvoices, bipoc, multicultural *Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free eARC #ThreeHolidaysAndAWedding #UzmaJalaluddin #MarissaStapley

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Three Holidays and a Wedding comes out on September 26th, 2023
3.5/5 Stars

This story is set in December in a year when Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas all overlapped. It centers on two women, Maryam and Anna, who are both flying from Denver to Toronto over the holidays - Maryam with her whole family for her sister's wedding and Anna by herself to meet her wealthy boyfriend's (soon to be fiance?) family for the first time. When the plane is redirected to Snow Falls, a small Canadian town, due to a severe snowstorm both women must figure out how to salvage their holidays. In the process, they form an unlikely friendship while each woman goes through her own process of self-discovery (with a healthy dose of romance).

I typically don't go for holiday books because I find them too saccharine (read: Hallmark-y) but I can genuinely say that I enjoyed this one. It is a feel-good, charming holiday story with a little extra substance thanks to the diverse representation of different holidays and cultural backgrounds. While it definitely falls into the small-town romance trope and you know that everyone is going to get their happy ending, I really did learn a lot about Ramadan and Hanukkah and I also appreciated the friendship storyline between Maryam & Anna.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley is seriously a great holiday rom-com!

I thought Three Holidays and a Wedding was so cute and perfect for the feel-good read I was looking for this time of year!
I was immediately drawn into this novel from the first chapter.
The descriptions of the scenery were stunning.
I adored the town of Snowy Falls.
A charming holiday read with a stunning setting and amazing characters.
I was immediately charmed by our characters. The characters were very relatable and I loved how we got a look at the culture’s that was shared in this book.
A cozy holiday atmosphere that sucked me in and one I didn’t want to end so soon!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4.5 stars

This is the movie Hallmark should be making! It’s so much more than a cute holiday read. I learned so much about the other holidays and religions, and loved all the characters. I loved the community of Snow Falls, and the winter wonderland setting. The characters were well developed and had a lot of self-discovery and growth. This book had small town vibes, found family, romance, some drama, and holiday magic! I definitely recommend this inclusive holiday romance with depth.

Maryam is the eldest daughter and the people pleaser in her family, taking on all the stress and problem solving required, but is she happy? Or is she just pleasing everyone but herself? Anna feels alone, her dad passed and her stepmother remarried, so she clings to a new seemingly perfect boyfriend. But is he perfect for her? Is she happy with her current life? Snow keeps Anna and a wedding party grounded in a small town in Canada where Anna and Maryam become friends and start to rethink their lives. I don’t want to give anything else away!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and @PutnamBooks for a copy of Theee Holidays and a Wedding in exchange for a honest review. #partner

This one was just okay for me. I thought it was a fun representation of multiple cultures and traditions. We always love to read about a cozy little Christmas town. The book was just a little long and far fetched for me. I was getting Disney Channel Movie vibes... which is not a bad thing.

Cute story but a little disjointed at times. You can definitely tell that 2 people are writing this book but I did enjoy the characters at least! Got me in the mood for the holidays.

This book had me laughing and crying with the many mishaps of Maryam and Anna. They had such plans for Ramadan and Christmas. A snow Storm, flight delays, and being stranded in a small Canadian town. Their plans and hopes for the future changed. This book is set in 2000 with flip phones and fax machines. I enjoyed getting to know more about the Muslim faith and Ramadan. This is such a wonderful holiday romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Three Holidays and a Wedding
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: September 26, 2023

Three Holidays and a Wedding has a little something for everyone. When a plane flying from Denver to Toronto is sidetracked to a small Canadian town due to a severe snowstorm, all passengers onboard are inconvenienced, but Maryam & Anna are primarily in a pickle. Maryam is the eldest daughter of a prominent Muslim family and is planning her sister’s wedding in Toronto during Ramadan, and Anna is meeting her wealthy boyfriend’s family for Christmas. Maryam has many family members, and Anna has been alone since the death of her Dad two years prior. But sometimes, getting sidetracked turns from disaster to good fortune. For both ladies, we learn the meaning of kindness, romance, and different cultural traditions and that good things can come from something disappointing. I enjoyed the sharing of three holidays which occurred at the same time in 2000 when this story is set and the different traditions. The romance was chaste, and the entire story would make a good Hallmark show. #life #love #marriage #snow #smalltown #kindness #holidays #Muslim #Ramadan #Hannukah #Christmas #friendship #women #romancelight @putnambooks @netgalley @uzmajalaluddin @marissastapley #holidays #book #bookreview #bookstagram #threeholidaysandawedding
🎄
I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and the authors for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: September 26, 2023.

If you love a holiday read, family drama, and sweet romance you will love Three Holidays and a Wedding in which three holidays converge.

Maryam and her family are traveling to Canada for her sister’s wedding. Anna is flying to Canada to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time. These two strangers are seatmates on what becomes a turbulent flight to Toronto. Because they both are unnerved by the turbulence they share their deepest fear with each other thinking they will never see each other again. An emergency landing finds them stranded together (along with Maryam’s family) at the quaint Snow Falls Inn in rural Canada. A Hollywood crew filming a holiday romance complicates the situation. In a year where Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan fall during the same time period, the traditions of three holidays converge.

A unique premise and unexpected fun. I love a unique premise and was intrigued by the aspect of three holidays in one seasonal read! I wasn’t sure what to expect from a story that included three religious holidays. This part of the story added a depth and complexity that I enjoyed! I think the authors did a wonderful job of including all three faith traditions in a balanced and satisfactory way.

In the romance genre, we anticipate (eagerly or not) some predictable tropes. In Three Holidays and a Wedding, we have movie star falls in love with an ordinary girl and old friends to lovers.

More than romance, Three Holidays and a Wedding includes thoughtful themes of parental expectations, cultural differences, second chances, lack of confidence, honesty, discovering your gifts and desires, self realization and taking risks, living authentically, and making the best of a situation. In this sense, I might categorize this as women’s fiction with a side of romance.

Maryam and Anna are complex and relatable characters whom I enjoyed meeting. Each is dealing with complicated circumstances and has different faith traditions. This added depth that sets it apart from chick lit that is primarily focused on the romance. If fact, the romance (although cute and enjoyable) is in the background to Maryam’s and Anna’s growth and self discovery. Each character arc and romance is compelling in its own right and equally heartwarming.

Perfect for a cozy read in front of a cheerful fire this winter! Fans of Uzma Jalaluddin will enjoy this new release. I’m warmly recommending Three Holidays and a Wedding for fans of thoughtful romance that includes substantial content and holiday themes. Book Clubs will find lots to discuss.

Thanks #NetGalley @PutnamBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #ThreeHolidaysAndAWedding upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. This book is set back in 2000 when Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas all fell at once. I loved learning about Ramadan, Eid and Hanukkah, the cultural differences between our holidays, and a lot more while reading about these characters. I absolutely adored how this story was a dual POV, but instead of your typical Female MC and Male MC, it was actually two women who become fast friends while stuck on a plane! They experienced terrible turbulence while flying through a snow storm on their way to Toronto. And, spoiler alert, they don’t make it to Toronto. The storm is too bad and they have to make an emergency landing in a small town that ends up being the perfect place for all of them. I won’t go into detail as to why, but let’s just say that it had everything that every character needs and allows (most) of the characters to live each day without worrying about the future. They are stuck in their own little snow globe.

Also, I absolutely adore Saif! He is the sweetest, kindest man!

I highly recommend this book because although there is romance, this book has so much more than that!

Read for:
🕎 holiday rep
❄️ LOTS of snow
⛄️ small-town romance(s)
👯‍♀️ friendship
👴 a quirky, loving grandparent, Dadu
✍🏻 FMC who loves to write
🎥 Hollywood heartthrob
👰‍♀️ a wedding that’s in jeopardy
And a whole lot more!

Three Holidays and a Wedding has a lot going for it. Our two MCs (Maryam and Anna) come from wildly different backgrounds. One's grumpy and one’s sunshine, one’s Muslim and celebrating Ramadan with her large family, one’s celebrating Christmas (and sort of Hanukkah) by herself, one’s falling in love with her childhood crush and one’s falling in love with a famous actor. They’re both stuck in a picturesque small town, unable to get to their final destination (Toronto), one for her sister's wedding and one for Christmas with her asshole boyfriend’s family.

This book was just okay for me. I loved the Ramadan rep and loved Maryam, Anna, and Maryam’s Dadu. The small town setting was cozy and cute. I loved Maryam and Anna’s relationship and they had great chemistry! They did not have any chemistry with either of their love interests. There was nothing romantic, nothing swoon-worthy, no witty or fun banter. They were just there, taking up space and time away from the more interesting characters and storylines.

Even though it wasn't my favorite I did enjoy it and I do think this would make an absolutely fantastic Netflix or Hallmark Channel holiday movie.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.