Friday, December 18, 2020

A Love Triangle That Wasn't Really...

 

TITLE: In a Holidaze
AUTHOR: Christina Lauren
PUBLISHER: Gallery Books
PUBLISHING DATE: October 6, 2020


FROM GOODREADS: 
One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.. 
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. 
But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy. 
The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe. 
Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

MY THOUGHTS:
 I HATED Geometry class.  I mean I seriously struggled with proofs.  They were my enemy and I knew they were out to destroy me.  I even recall demanding my teacher explain to me how proofs would help me in law school (my goal at that point - thank Heavens it changed) because I highly doubted I would ever have a client stuck in a triangle I would have to prove was a triangle.  She didn't see the humor.  Anyway, what does that have to do with this book?  Well I'll tell ya!  It reminded me of trying to prove something was a triangle.

Maelyn Jones and her family and friends spend each Christmas in a country cabin.  Her parents, who have been divorced for several years, both still attend.  This Christmas though things change.  Not only does she kiss one brother after some drinking games instead of the brother she has secretly had a crush on since she was a kids,  their parents have decided to sell the cabin.  On the way to the airport to leave, Maelyn and her parents are in a wreck.  But instead of winding up in the hospital, she winds up back on the airplane on the trip TO the cabin.  So basically, time loop premise.  Mae wants nothing more to be happy but will making some serious life decisions change the outcome or is she destined to be stuck in Christmas forever?

This was a cute premise and while I liked Mae and she was rather comical at times, I didn't enjoy the whole brother triangle thing.  And seriously if you've read the book, did it really seem like a love triangle to you?  And come on, why am I so hung up on this, I HATE love triangles anyway.  The holiday aspect was cute and I liked the outcome.  I could really get on board spending Christmas at that cabin every year as long as it promised to end after the holidays and not get stuck on repeat.  

Basically, I've seen some mixed reviews of this book and while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.  It was a pleasant enough read but it just didn't wow me.  My favorite character was Mae's hippie Uncle who was trying to help Mae end her time loop.  I think I'd really enjoy a book about him.  If you love Christmas reads or this author, then you might as well pick this up.  It does seem to be one of the "it" books this Christmas season.

RATING: 3 PAWS


20 comments:

  1. So if I go into this one not expecting too much I'll probably enjoy it? I do love the sound of spending Christmas at cabin some year. And I do like a Christmas romance. :)

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    1. That's definitely the way to go into it. And it is kind of perfect for the holiday season. I'm glad I picked it up!

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  2. Ah boy, anything that even comes close to a love triangle irks me... I just finished a horror read with one. Oye!

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    1. Hope at least two of them died! They don't belong in horror!

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  3. I enjoyed this and how Mae grew enough to be honest with herself and others. I'd love to have a place where family & friends met every year.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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    1. It was such a great setting and I think it was a perfect place to spend a holiday season.

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  4. Anything connected to the math universe had me running creaming from the room. Trigonometry was my particular hatred. 'A goat is tethered to a pole in your garden. At what angle is the lead to the grass.' OK WHY IS THERE A GOAT IN MY GARDEN??? Who put it there and is it chewing my plants??? 'At what angle is your ladder to the ground'. Who cares as long as I don't fall off!

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    1. I'm laughing so hard. I TOTALLY get where you're coming from!

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  5. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this too. And I can take or leave love triangles, I guess it depends on how well they're done.

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    1. It was just weird. I'm not even sure it was really a love triangle. Maybe I would have liked it more if it had been more clear.

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  6. I like the Groundhog Day aspect of this! It sounds cute!!

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    1. Cute is the perfect description. I'm glad I picked it up even if I didn't love it.

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  7. I'm glad it wasn't really much of a triangle, because the whole brothers thing is weird!

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  8. I've heard some mixed things about this one too. It has been getting tons of hype. Glad you mostly enjoyed it even with issues. The hippy uncle sounds fun. :)

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    1. I think they really capitalized by releasing it close to the holidays. I'm sure that really ramped up the hype. I TOTALLY want a book about the Uncle.

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  9. I like love triangles, and I don't know what the one in this book was. LOL

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  10. So, not a bad read really but at the same time a little 'meh'.
    Lynn :D

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    1. Definitely just meh but I'm not sorry I read it. Good holiday fluff.

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