In a Holidaze

In a Holidaze Plot Summary

Introduction

Mae Jones wakes up screaming on a plane, but she shouldn't be here. Just moments ago, she was in a car accident after leaving the family cabin in Utah, watching a truck loaded with Christmas trees barrel toward them. Now she's in seat 19B, flying back to that same cabin on December 20th, reliving a week she thought was over. The man beside her—her brother Miles—looks at her like she's lost her mind. And maybe she has. This isn't the first time Mae has lived this week. Each time she thinks she's figured out how to navigate the holiday traditions, family dynamics, and her own messy feelings, something goes wrong. A tree branch falls, an accident happens, and she wakes up back on the plane. Mae is trapped in a temporal loop, forced to relive the same Christmas vacation over and over, until she can finally understand what the universe is trying to teach her about happiness, love, and the courage to change her life.

Chapter 1: The Endless Loop: Waking Up on December 20th

The first time Mae experiences the loop, she doesn't understand what's happening. She arrives at the Hollis family cabin in Park City with her parents and Miles, greeted by the warmth of their chosen family—the group of college friends who've spent every Christmas together for thirty years. There's Ricky and Lisa Hollis with their sons Andrew and Theo, Aaron and Kyle with their twins, and Benny, the eternal bachelor who serves as everyone's confidant. Mae has loved Andrew Hollis since she was thirteen, but she's never told him. He's kind, musical, and utterly unaware of her feelings. Instead, she's trapped in a friendship with his younger brother Theo, who seems to want something more. The cabin holds decades of memories, traditions as rigid as the icicles hanging from the eaves. Snow creature day, sledding, scavenger hunts—each activity choreographed to perfection by Ricky's detailed itinerary. But something feels wrong this first time through. Mae finds herself drinking too much eggnog on Christmas night, playing board games in the basement with Theo while Andrew goes to bed early. The alcohol makes her reckless, and when they go upstairs for water, Theo pulls her into the mudroom. Their kiss is awkward, desperate, a mistake born of loneliness rather than passion. Mae pushes him away and flees to her bunk bed, horrified by what she's done. The next morning is worse. Theo acts cold, dismissive, telling her not to make a big deal out of nothing. Andrew teases her because he saw them together, not knowing it breaks her heart. Then Ricky and Lisa deliver devastating news—they're selling the cabin. The financial burden has become too much, and this will be their last Christmas here. Mae's perfect world crumbles as they pack up to leave, her family fractured by awkwardness and her sanctuary lost forever.

Chapter 2: Breaking Patterns: Choosing a Different Path

The second time Mae wakes up on the plane, she knows something impossible has happened. She remembers every detail of the previous week, but everyone else is experiencing it fresh. Armed with knowledge of what's coming, she tries to prevent the disasters she remembers. She warns her father not to eat Lisa's rock-hard cookies that will crack his tooth. She tells Kennedy to watch out for the dog that will trip her. She acts like a fortune teller, shocking everyone with her uncanny predictions. But knowing the future doesn't make changing it easy. Mae realizes she's been passive her whole life, letting things happen to her instead of making choices. She's twenty-six, still living with her mother, working at a job that crushes her spirit. She's spent years pining for Andrew while settling for friendship with Theo, never brave enough to risk what she really wants. This time, she decides to be bold. She tells Andrew how she feels during their trip to pick out a Christmas tree, admitting she's had feelings for him since they were teenagers. The confession hangs in the cold mountain air between them like visible breath. Andrew is stunned, then thoughtful. He admits he's never considered her that way, but something shifts in his expression. A possibility opens where none existed before. Mae also confronts the source of her previous mistake. She avoids being alone with Theo, steering clear of the basement and the eggnog. But her efforts to control everything make her frantic, desperate. When the family learns about the cabin sale and Mae starts spiraling about the future, she pushes too hard, trying to force everyone to help save their sanctuary. The universe responds by sending a tree branch crashing down on her head, and she wakes up on the plane again.

Chapter 3: The Cabin's Secret: Discovering What Truly Matters

Each reset teaches Mae something new about herself and the people she loves. On her third trip through the week, she learns to let go of control. Instead of fighting the snowball fight that erupts during snow creature day, she starts it herself. Instead of following every tradition religiously, she suggests changes that make everyone happier. She discovers that the rigid routines she thought were sacred actually leave little room for spontaneity or genuine connection. Mae begins to understand that Benny has always been her emotional anchor. The laid-back locksmith from Portland listens without judgment, offers wisdom without lectures. He's the one person who believes her when she finally explains about the time loops, though it takes concrete proof—her ability to predict exactly what will happen next—before he accepts the impossible truth. Through Benny, Mae learns about the complexities of their parents' friendships. These aren't perfect people living perfect lives; they've all made mistakes, hurt each other, found their way back together. Ricky and Lisa once had a love triangle with Benny in college, but their friendship survived because they valued each other more than their egos. Mae's parents' messy divorce hasn't destroyed the group because they're truly family now, bound by choice rather than obligation. She also discovers that Andrew isn't as settled as she thought. He's restless in his job, feeling trapped by the predictability of his life. When Mae admits her feelings this time, he responds differently. There's a spark of recognition, as if he's been waiting for someone to wake him up. Their first kiss happens under the mistletoe in the kitchen, witnessed by half the family, and it feels like coming home.

Chapter 4: Confessions and Consequences: Revealing Hidden Feelings

Mae's fourth time through the loop brings new challenges. Now that she and Andrew are finally connecting, she has to navigate the complex feelings this stirs up in Theo. She realizes that Theo isn't really in love with her—he's just used to being the one everyone wants, confused by her indifference. But her growing relationship with Andrew threatens the family dynamic that's kept them all together for decades. The physical attraction between Mae and Andrew is immediate and overwhelming. They can barely keep their hands off each other, stealing moments in closets and sneaking out to the old Boathouse where Andrew has been sleeping to avoid the basement bunk beds. Their connection is everything Mae has dreamed of—passionate, playful, emotionally intimate. Andrew tells her he loves her, and Mae feels like the universe has finally given her what she's always wanted. But happiness makes Mae reckless. She quits her job via email, caught up in the euphoria of finally living authentically. She starts making plans to move to Denver to be with Andrew. Everything feels possible when you're living in a time loop—consequences seem temporary, mistakes can be undone. Mae forgets that real life doesn't come with reset buttons. When Theo discovers them together during the scavenger hunt in town, his reaction is explosive. He feels betrayed, not just by Mae but by his brother. The confrontation happens in front of the whole family, shattering the careful politeness that usually governs their interactions. Mae tries to explain, but her attempts only make things worse. She's learned to be honest about her feelings, but she hasn't learned when honesty can be cruel.

Chapter 5: Risking It All: Embracing Vulnerability

The time loops have given Mae confidence, but they've also made her careless with other people's feelings. When Andrew asks about her past with Theo, Mae tells him the complete truth—including the drunken kiss from the very first timeline that he never experienced. She thinks honesty will bring them closer, but instead it drives them apart. Andrew feels like he doesn't know who Mae really is. The confident, decisive woman he's fallen for seems to have a different history, different motivations than the shy friend he's known for years. Mae's explanation about the time loops sounds like fantasy or delusion. Even when strange coincidences support her story—like her uncanny ability to predict exactly what will happen next—Andrew can't reconcile the Mae he thought he knew with this mysterious stranger who claims to have lived through multiple versions of their relationship. Their fight is Mae's first real conflict with someone she loves. Her parents never fought directly; they passive-aggressively undermined each other until their marriage collapsed. Mae doesn't know how to navigate disagreement with someone whose opinion matters to her. When Andrew asks for space, she panics, thinking she's lost him forever. Mae spirals into despair, convinced she's ruined everything that matters to her. She's unemployed, heartbroken, and facing the loss of the cabin that's been her emotional sanctuary. In town during the scavenger hunt, she witnesses a car accident and narrowly avoids being struck by flying debris. The universe seems to be warning her that her time is running out, that she's still missing some crucial lesson.

Chapter 6: Finding Home: The Final Reset

Mae's breakdown in town becomes a moment of clarity. She realizes she's been approaching the time loops like a puzzle to solve rather than a life to live. She's been so focused on getting the perfect outcome—saving the cabin, winning Andrew, avoiding all mistakes—that she's forgotten the point isn't perfection but authenticity. Standing in the falling snow, Mae finally understands what the universe has been trying to teach her. Happiness isn't something that happens to you; it's something you create by having the courage to be yourself. All her life, she's been the peacekeeper, the people-pleaser, the one who smooths over conflicts and never rocks the boat. But real love, real family, real happiness require the risk of being vulnerable, of potentially being rejected for who you truly are. Mae stops trying to control outcomes and starts focusing on being present. She tells Benny about her feelings and her fears. She has an honest conversation with Theo about their friendship and her inability to return his romantic feelings. She lets her mother see her struggles without trying to protect her from worry. Each authentic interaction strengthens her connection to the people she loves, even when it's uncomfortable. When Mae finally talks to Andrew again, she doesn't try to convince him she's right or defend her choices. Instead, she simply tells him how much he means to her and gives him a drawing she's made—an image of them as an elderly couple, still happy together on the cabin's front porch. It's not a promise or a demand, just an expression of the love that has sustained her for thirteen years, whether he returns it or not.

Chapter 7: Forever December: Breaking the Cycle

The final day of Mae's time loop arrives with a sense of completion rather than desperation. She's learned that love isn't about getting what you want; it's about giving what you have. When Andrew appears with a trail of peppermint Hershey's Kisses leading to a closet where he's hiding—their private joke about her terrible taste in candy—Mae knows the loop has served its purpose. Andrew tells her he believes her story about the time loops, not because it makes logical sense but because he's seen how she's changed. The timid woman who never spoke up for herself has become someone who quits jobs that don't fulfill her, who tells the truth even when it's difficult, who fights for what matters. He loves both versions of Mae, but he's fallen for the woman she's become. Their reunion is interrupted by the arrival of Mae's family and the other cabin residents, who've been planning an engagement party. Mae's initial mortification gives way to joy as she realizes this is what family means—people who love you enough to invest in your happiness, even when they don't understand all your choices. The biggest surprise comes from Benny, who reveals he's bought the cabin himself. Mae's stories about the time loops made him realize how much the place means to everyone, and his early investment in Spotify has given him the means to preserve their sanctuary. The physical space that holds their memories will survive, but more importantly, the emotional bonds between them have deepened through crisis. Mae's loops end not because she's achieved perfection but because she's achieved authenticity. She's learned to trust herself, to speak her truth, to risk rejection in service of genuine connection. The scared young woman who made a desperate wish has become someone capable of creating her own happiness.

Summary

Mae's journey through time teaches her that happiness isn't a destination but a practice. Each loop strips away another layer of fear and pretense, revealing the strong, honest woman she was meant to become. Her relationship with Andrew deepens not because she's found the perfect words or actions, but because she's learned to show up as herself, flaws and all. The cabin serves as more than just a setting—it's a symbol of how the past and present can coexist when we have the courage to honor what matters while remaining open to change. Mae's family of choice proves stronger than blood relations because it's built on acceptance rather than obligation. They weather conflict, support growth, and celebrate authentic connection over superficial harmony. Mae's story suggests that sometimes the universe conspires not to give us what we want, but to teach us who we are. Her temporal prison becomes a gift, offering her the chance to live with intention rather than accident, to choose love over fear, to build the life she's always been too scared to reach for. When the loops finally end, Mae doesn't just get her happy ending—she becomes someone worthy of it, someone capable of sustaining it through whatever challenges lie ahead in linear time.

About Author

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Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren navigates the intricate dynamics of contemporary romance through themes of humor, emotional depth, and relatable modern settings. The writing duo, comprised of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, merges their distinct backgrounds to create books that engage readers with compelling narratives and engaging dialogue. By exploring familiar tropes such as enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers, their novels resonate with readers seeking both entertainment and emotional connection.\n\nTheir approach to storytelling balances humor with emotional resonance, creating character-driven narratives that captivate both young adult and adult audiences. Their book "The Unhoneymooners" exemplifies their skill in weaving witty banter and heartfelt romance, becoming a favorite among fans. Moreover, their work often appears on bestseller lists, having produced over twenty "New York Times" bestselling novels translated into more than 30 languages. This global appeal reflects their ability to craft stories that are both universally engaging and culturally specific.\n\nReaders benefit from Christina Lauren's seamless blend of engaging plots and rich emotional landscapes, making their novels ideal for those who appreciate both romance and depth. Their achievements have not gone unnoticed; the duo has received multiple starred reviews and been recognized with accolades such as the Library Reads Hall of Fame induction. As they continue to publish new works like "The True Love Experiment" and "The Paradise Problem", their bio highlights a legacy of storytelling that both entertains and connects with audiences worldwide.

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