In a Holidaze on Netflix | Plot Summary | Book vs Movie
On my Netflix Christmas list for 2026: an adaptation of In a Holidaze, a time loop romance by fan favorite author Christina Lauren. My post on In a Holidaze on Netflix has a full plot summary, cast and my book vs movie thoughts!
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (book)
- Published on October 6, 2020
- Thanks to the publisher for my advance review copy!
- Buy on Amazon
In a Holidaze on Netflix: What We Know
- Release date: December 2, 2026
- Format: a feature film, so you can watch it in one cozy evening.
- Filming location: in and around Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, standing in for the family’s snowy Park City, Utah cabin
In a Holidaze: Character List (book)
The Jones family:
- Maelyn “Mae” Jones
- Dan: Mae’s father
- Elise: Mae’s mom
- Victor: Elise’s new husband
- Miles: Mae’s younger brother (He’s “Myles” in the movie)
The Hollis family:
- Theo Hollis: Mae’s childhood friend
- Andrew: Theo‘s older brother
- Lisa: Andrew and Theo‘s mother
- Ricky: Andrew and Theo’s father
- Miso: the corgi
The Amir-Liang family
- Aaron: College friend of Lisa, Elise, Ricky, Dan and Benny
- Kyle: Aaron‘s husband, Broadway actor
- Kennedy and Zachary: their twins
Benedict “Uncle Benny“
In a Holidaze: Full Plot Summary
The central Holidaze friend group is based on college relationships: Lisa and Mae’s mother were roommates at the University of Utah, while Aaron, Ricky (Andrew and Theo’s father), Benny, and Mae’s father Dan lived in an off-campus house together.
When Aaron‘s mother died in a car accident during college, the group started a tradition of gathering on December 20th to spend the holidays together. For years, their gathering place has been the Hollis family cabin in Park City.
December 26
Mae sneaks out of bed, trying not to wake up Theo, with whom she’s sharing a room. Then she goes to wake up “Uncle” Benny, a college friend of her parents.
She tells Benny that she and Theo drunkenly made out. But Mae has a crush on Andrew, Theo’s older brother.
Mae and Benny agree that maybe the universe is telling her to move on from both Hollis brothers.
Mae sneaks back out of Benny’s room. She decides to wake up Theo so they can agree that their hookup was a drunken mistake. Theo’s in the kitchen and tells her not to make a huge deal about it.
Andrew saw them together, and teases her about it. He doesn’t seem jealous at all, just amused.
After that, Lisa and Ricky announce some shocking news: they’re selling the cabin, the place that this group has spent every holiday season together. It’s old, and it needs a complete overhaul.
On the drive to the airport, Mae’s mother sobs. Where are they going to spend the holidays? Mae, who has had enough change, asks the universe: can you show me what will make me happy? They have a car accident.
December 20
Mae wakes up, confused. Miles is sitting next to her in a plane flying to Utah. Time shifted backward six days. Does this mean she didn’t kiss Theo?
Everyone is at the cabin to greet them. Things seem familiar to Mae, like Theo’s new haircut and the fact that her father is going to crack a tooth on a cookie.
Mae flees to the porch, where Andrew comes out to check on her. Benny also asks her if she’s okay and she tells him about the car accident, Lisa and Ricky selling the cabin, and her makeout session with Theo. Benny tells her to go talk to her father, a doctor. But she slips and falls down the stairs.
December 20
Another time loop! Mae loops back on the plane with Miles.
Now she’s back in the attic with Benny, trying to prove she’s in a time loop. She predicts everything that is about to happen downstairs.
December 21
Mae wakes up early on December 21, which feels like a small victory. She remembers her plea to the universe. Benny comes into the kitchen and, thankfully, remembers their conversation from the day before.
December 21 is Snow Creature Building Day, a project the group takes seriously. The contest devolves into a snowball fight, which upsets Mae. This isn’t how things are supposed to go. A huge branch breaks and falls towards her.
December 20
A third time loop! Mae’s back on the plane and back in December 20th. At the cabin, she forbids her father from eating the cookies. She tells Benny she’s stuck in Groundhog Day. Just when she and Benny are talking about what she needs to be happy, Andrew shows up.
December 21
Everyone notices that Mae is in a weird mood. It’s time for snow creatures again. Andrew asks how she is, which is that she’s unhappy to be living with her parents. She hates her job. To lighten the mood, she starts the snowball fight.
That evening Andrew and Mae are Christmas tree shopping. He tells her he loves his job, but there’s no room for advancement. He asks her if she ever wishes they could do something different for Christmas. The cabin needs work. He tells her that he knows it must be hard to see her parents together at Christmas when they’re divorced. Mae impulsively admits to having feelings for him, then emails her boss and quits her job.
Mae tells Benny that she told Andrew she had feelings for her AND quits her job. She feels like she might get to December 22 by taking these big steps. They decorate the tree and take a group photo. Andrew asks her if Theo thinks she has feelings for Theo. He worries that Theo might break her heart.
December 22
Maybe her plan is working? They all go sledding and Andrew says that he never thought he and Mae could be an option.
Theo wants to play two truths and a lie. Andrew sees right through her lies.
Andrew and Mae end up under the mistletoe and are pressed into kissing. During a game of sardines, they share a real kiss.
Andrew and Mae wash dinner dishes and secretly make out in the pantry until Miles busts them.
Mae and Andrew sleep together in the boathouse, the shed outside the house.
December 23
The next day, Mae and Andrew sneak back into the kitchen the next morning to find Benny. It’s Scavenger Hunt day.
Mae worries that Andrew thinks of them as a fling, but they agree to keep their change in status a secret. Miles tells her he knows though, and worries that Theo might be hurt.
Mae and Theo end up Scavenger Hunt partners, while Miles is paired with Andrew. Andrew and Mae cross paths in a souvenir shop, and Theo catches them kissing. Theo is clearly hurt when Mae says she’s been crushing on Andrew forever. There’s a fender bender in the street in front of them, and Mae feels like the universe is coming for her again.
Theo reveals to his parents and Benny that Mae and Andrew have been secretly hooking up. As Theo runs off, the awning of a shop collapses and Mae feels responsible. She flees to a diner, where Benny finds her. Her theory is that she told the universe to show her what would make her happy, but then she messed it up.
Mae heads to the boathouse to talk to Andrew. She goes back to the beginning: her kiss with Theo and the time loops. I’m not sure what her theory is: that she has to earn her happiness? He’s mad that she made out with Theo and might have feelings for him.
December 24
Mae runs into Ricky in the kitchen early the next morning. She’s upset that she made everything so messy. He tells her something she doesn’t know: that Benny and Lisa were an item once.
Andrew comes in to get coffee but doesn’t want to talk to Mae. Mae’s mom tells her it’s okay to be a mess. later that evening, it’s time to open gifts. Andrew’s gift to Mae is perfect. When Miso eats Andrew’s Christmas sweater, it’s proof that she was telling him the truth about the time loop
Mae asks Benny if he can help her buy the cabin, but he says he’s already buying it. Mae makes up with Theo and resolves to get Andrew back.
Andrew is packed to leave. Mae tells him she’s proud of herself for being honest with him (So … did the kiss with Theo happen or not???) Mae gives him the weirdest gift ever: a frame painted by her mother of them as Mandrew and Maisie (their elderly alter egos). The frame pictures them on a porch swing in their eighties. She leaves to go for a walk. When she’s back, everyone is acting weird. Andrew has left a trail of Peppermint kisses leading to their kissing closet.
In a Holidaze: Epilogue
Mae and Andrew arrive at the cabin for July 4th. He’s renovating and expanding the cabin. They make out in their closet. Then Andrew takes her to the newly renovated boathouse and proposes. Everyone shows up to celebrate.
Cast of In a Holidaze on Netflix
This is based on the trailer and cast lists. I’ll keep it updated when we know more!
| Character | Played by | Book, movie or both |
|---|---|---|
| Maelyn “Mae” Jones | Maddie Ziegler | Both |
| Andrew Hollis | Graham Phillips | Both |
| Theo Hollis | Elias Kacavas | Both |
| Uncle Benny | Rob Lowe | Both |
| Dan Jones | Patton Oswalt | Both |
| Elise Jones | Jackie Sandler | Both |
| Myles Jones | Luke Roessler | Both |
| Astrid | Joelle Farrow | Movie only |
| Thea Harper | Danyella Angel | Movie only |
In a Holidaze: Book vs Movie (coming soon)
If you Loved In a Holidaze:
Check out my post with other Time Travel, Multiverse and Time Loop Romances
Check out my post on Top Rated Christmas Romance Books
