Member Reviews
Though the pacing felt slow some of the time, I enjoyed the snowbound happenings and the integration of the holidays and wedding plans. I'm a fan of Uzma's writing and will definitely read future offerings!
I was so excited to read this book that I forgot I had a NetGalley Advanced Reader Copy, so I went out and bought it myself! Regardless, thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC! Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley essentially created a diverse Hallmark Holiday Movie in book form. However, there is a reason why we love to hate and hate to love Hallmark Holiday Movies; there are cute, cheesy moments and a bit of holiday magic at play. But you feel overwhelmed because there is *a lot* going on while simultaneously being underwhelmed due to the lack of brevity in the copious topics - think breadth, not depth. I felt similarly about this book. Something about this novel didn't quite land for me. Maybe it was the amount of characters? At times, it felt difficult to keep track of key players. The ending also felt a bit rushed to me; I would've loved to have an epilogue with the wedding. On a positive note - Jalaluddin and Stapley seamlessly blended their voices in this novel; it truly felt as though there was "one voice" or "narrator" throughout the book. Overall, it was a nice, quick holiday read.
Three Holidays and a Wedding celebrates a holiday season when Christmas, Hannukah, and Ramadan all fall at the same time and then you throw a wedding in the mix and you have chaos but also three times the magic and all the feels. This multi-faith holiday rom-com didn’t disappoint and it combined a few of my favorite things: holiday celebrations/ traditions with family, a wedding, a snowstorm of the century and not one but two love stories.
Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are complete opposites.
Maryam is a young Muslim woman who is the glue that holds her family together. She is the planner, the one everyone counts on to handle things. Maryam loves her family and has taken her role seriously but a little snowstorm and the detour to Snow Falls, Canada makes her rethink the things she thought she knew and gives her the confidence to do the things she’s always wanted to do.
Anna is an interior designer, who is struggling to find her place in life after her father passed away. She’s outgoing, creative, and funny. She thinks she knows what she wants in life and is excited when she finds the engagement ring in her boyfriend’s suitcase before flying to Toronto to meet his family. All that comes to a halt when Anna is stuck from the storm of the century in Snow Falls. Being able to unplug and think about what she really wants she wonders if she has been watering herself down to be someone she’s not?
This book has Hallmark feels and Snow Falls, you will find, is a hidden gem. It’s magic and splendor have all the characteristics and charm you would want. The different pastries consumed in this book has me wanting to try new recipes inspired by Ramadan and Hannukah. I loved all three different holiday traditions being honored and tastefully written in this book. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Snow Falls, Canada and I can’t wait to see more written by both Uzma Jalauddin and Marissa Stapley.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC and in trade for an honest review.
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING, a highly anticipated holiday novel, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons!!
Ultimately, this novel didn't really click for me and I didn't fully connect with the story or characters. I enjoyed the authors' writing but felt this story was forgettable and tough to get into. Others seem to have loved it so I would still recommend it for folks looking for a more inclusive holiday read!
Three Holidays and a Wedding is a cute Hallmark worthy read. It takes place in the year 2000, which also helps some of the confusion, lack of communication, etc. along. I really enjoyed learning more about Hanukah and Ramadan. The way the three different religions were woven into the story was entertaining and educational. I loved the found family, the romances, and the different characters self-growth. There were times when the book seemed to go on and on about the description, or recap something that was, to me, unnecessary. Other than that, I enjoyed the characters and plot.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, Uzma Jalaluddin; Marissa Stapley and Netgalley for a digital copy of Three Holidays and a Wedding.
Rating this a 3.5, but rounding up for the authors! It was so cool to read about different holidays and how they celebrate. I love the blend of Hanukah and Ramadan. ❤️
While this starts off as a romance, the real connection in this book are the friendships. The characters have been grounded after a disastrous flight and it seems one thing after another goes wrong. Of course they don’t love being stranded in a small town during the holidays & what’s supposed to be a wedding, but they still manage to make it fun.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who prefers closed door romance and a lot of strong female characters!
This book was super cute- very hallmark romance-y without being stupid. The characters had great chemistry and I liked the focus on friendship as well as different religious practices. Would recommend!
First, the cover of this book is fun and festive, just like the story. It's a nice blend of holiday romance and humor that we all look for in a comfort read.
Many thanks to the authors, Penguin Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC! I loved seeing a traditionally published inter-faith holiday novel on the shelves and was so excited to get the arc! This novel was unique in the interfaith aspect, and the story was engaging but did get a little bogged down in the middle because so much was happening. Overall I’d highly recommend this and would love to see more books like this!
Ouf this book was not for me - but I think it was a wrong timing issue here. I wasn't a fan of many (almost any) holiday books this year and I just couldn't get into them. I actually abandoned this book after less than 30%, but then remembered I had the audio available and decided to give it a go. I listened at 2.5 speed and got through it, but I didn't really enjoy much about it. Most of the characters were absolutely insufferable, and while I enjoyed learning about the different holidays and cultures, as well as the local to me setting, that's about all I can say I enjoyed.
Three Holidays and a Wedding was an enjoyable read. I would recommend any book written by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley. Happy Reading!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.
This was an enjoyable read. I appreciated how it focused on Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan. The growth of both Anna and Maryam was satisfying. The character of Dadu was really heartwarming and I liked getting to know the entire family.
There is a lot to celebrate in this book that takes place in a year (2000) when the three December holidays (Ramadan, Hanukah and Christmas) all happened at the same time. This is a rarity as readers can imagine.
The story follows two main characters and those around them during this festive season. Anna looks to have a pretty perfect life from the outside. She works for a home decor magazine and is about to celebrate the holiday with her boyfriend and his family. However, she experiences some setbacks even as she tries to catch her flight including seeing her suitcase left behind by the baggage truck. Is her (almost) fiancee really the person for her?
Maryam is the one who takes care of everyone in her family and sometimes does not attend to her own needs. Her sister is about to get married while Maryam is not in a relationship. An old (and future?) crush is on her plane and may have overheard things not meant for him.
When the overly talkative Anna and the more reserved Maryam are in seats next to each other on the plane, they experience a rough flight; it is one of those that make a person wonder if they will land safely. This leads to their sharing a great deal.
Not really a spoiler but the plane lands, just not where it is supposed to. Watch what happens to these young women and those around them as a result in a delightful holiday read.
There are both humor and heart in these pages. Anyone looking for a celebratory read to end 23 with or start 24 with will want to take a look at this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putnam for this title. All opinions are my own.
I loved this book so much! I really enjoyed learning about Ramadan and Muslim wedding traditions. The only complaint I have is, I wish there was more on the holiday play they put on in the book. Overall, I highly recommend this book!
Cute and quirky and a nice holiday vibe. I like when other cultures and traditions are represented aside from just Christmas! Fun dialogue and quick paced. I would read more from this author
Well this was just such a delightful holiday read! It felt like it would make a wonderful and incredibly inclusive holiday movie - netflix what are you waiting for?!?!
It is the year 2000, and Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan all feel within days of each other. This doesn't happen often, and it is clear that authors Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley used this as the perfect, magical starting point.
Two strangers, Anna and Maryam are seatmates on a flight from Denver to Toronto during the holiday season. Each is dealing with a lot - Anna is en route to her first Christmas with her new boyfriend and feels immense pressure (from him) for everything to be perfect, even if she is starting to have some doubts about their relationship and Maryam is leading her family to Toronto for her sister's extremely rushed wedding, in the middle of Ramadan, that she had to plan.
A horrific snowstorm forces the plane to make an emergency landing in the picturesque and quirky Snow Falls. There they find Maryam's childhood crush, Saif, who has taken a noticeable interest in her. And Anna makes friends with a mysterious guy named Josh. There are also rumors that the holiday movie of the year is being filmed in town...
This book had so much heart and I enjoyed how it brought together three different celebrations. I always enjoy books here I learn a bit, and this one was no exception. My favorite holiday books are the ones that are happy hopeful and celebrate family, traditions and love of all forms. And this one hit the mark!! Big thanks to netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!
Will post on retail sites, goodreads and my bookstagram @scottonreads
I really liked this cute novel with 2 characters, equally 2 romances. The three holidays overlapping was so fun and festive and I loved the celebration of them all. I think this is a holiday read that would appeal to a broad audience!
Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson are just two strangers sitting next to each other on a plane headed to Toronto. Maryam is on her way to her sister's wedding and Anna is flying to meet her boyfriend and his family. When they encounter a patch of bad turbulence, they each confess their deepest secrets to each other, both expressing regrets and displeasure around current aspects of their lives. Maryam also confesses to Anna details about her lifelong crush, who just happens to be sitting right behind her on the flight and overhearing the whole conversation. After an emergency landing causes them to be snowbound in Snow Falls, Maryam and Anna both unexpectedly find themselves on journeys of love and self discovery, while also forming a new friendship along the way.
This story gave me all of the warm festive feels! I loved following each woman's journey as they navigated grief, loss, love, and how to build the life they want. I also loved learning about cultures outside of my own through the traditions and recipes that are woven thoughtfully throughout the story as characters celebrate Ramadan, Hanukkah, and Christmas. This book was cozy, romantic, and has quickly become one of my favorite holiday reads this year. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a festive/wintery book!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an original story for a holiday read. I went in not sure what to expect. But quickly I was swept away by the characters and the small snowy town they’re stuck in. I love a good celebrity storyline, so I was so happy to see that played a role in this book. I love all the holidays and traditions included which is different than most of the holiday books I read. With such lovable characters I think just about anyone would enjoy this one! And I love the bit of romance tied in. A great holiday read!
This was a sweet and inclusive holiday book that takes place in the typical, holiday-loving small town. This story felt comforting like a warm hug. There were two main characters who were trying to address their own personal and relationship insecurities that added a bit of reflection to an otherwise syrupy sweet (not a criticism) story. All in all, I enjoyed this as a good, funny Christmas read. 3.5 stars 🌟 rounded up to 4 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.