In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

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Title: In A Holidaze
Author: Christina Lauren
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Release Date: October 6, 2020
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Patti Murin
Length: 7 hours and 40 minutes
Genres: Romantic Comedy, Holiday, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Libby
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 12 Books of Christmas Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 Audiobook Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 Monthly Motif Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 New Release Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ IndieBound ✩ iTunes ✩ Book Depository ✩ Libro.FM
My rating:

Blurb:

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 Review:

4.5 stars — You know what?  This fucking delighted me.  I don’t even know why, but I just was completely enamoured with Maelyn’s bizarre journey, and I ended it with so much satisfaction.

I think part of that delight was wholeheartedly the narration by Patti Murin.  Which is funny, b/c she wasn’t perfect.  But there are like x factors that make up great narration for me, and she had most of them.  She was funny, sassy, portrayed the perfect emotions, just drew me in.  The problem is that, other than Uncle Benny (which, I have no idea how good the accent was), the voices weren’t necessarily distinct.  They were okay, but not really standout.  More importantly, a lot happened in Mae’s head, and I basically could not tell the different between thoughts and dialogue.  It’s super hard to do as a narrator, I get that; but as a listener it’s really frustrating when half way through you’re like “oh she’s *thinking* this part”.  This factor is basically the only reason this isn’t a full 5 star read for me.

I think in the end there were a few standouts for me.  First, the whole family group and their traditions and the cabin and their comradery, and the realness of all that was just…exactly what I was needing this Christmas.  I loved that they felt like real friends — who had missteps and bumbles along the way, and hardships, but you could tell how much they valued their little made family group.  I just want that for myself now.

Second, and by far the most important, was Mandrew and Maisy.  My god I loved them together.  Seriously, Andrew was the kind of book boyfriend that my reader dreams are made of.  Again, not perfect by any means.  My heart ached at different times for the struggles that they were through.  But he was sweet, and kind, and funny, and a bit beta, and just…swoon.  Like total fucking swoon.  Like, I can’t not swear when expressing how much I loved him.  And it wasn’t just him, it was the connection between him and Mae that was just happiness twitters and stupid smiles and snorts and awesome.  I loved it.  Genuinely.  I loved that there were some intense emotions, but there was also a lot of fun mixed into the sexy…if that makes sense.  I love steamy scenes that include laughing, b/c I think having the kind of relationship where you can be so yourself that it’s not all seriousness is just #relationshipgoals.

Now don’t get me wrong, I loved Mae too.  I especially loved seeing how she grew because of what was happening to her.  She was flawed, but she had such a great heart, and I was ecstatic when she got to her best self by the end, you know?  I was just rooting for her.

I also really loved the fun relationship she had with Uncle Benny.  They made me laugh, but I was just so glad she had him to confide in.  He was a character in himself.

I don’t know, I just really loved it.  Not sure if that was evident.  Maybe it was just exactly what I was needing at this moment in time, or maybe it just hit all my Lenore buttons…it just made me happy.  I mean, so happy that I would go for walks listening to the audiobook and I’m sure I looked ridiculous with the stupid grin I had on my face most of the time.  I can definitely see a reread in Christmases future.