
Member Reviews

I love Lauren Blakely books. I like the interconnected characters. She delivers the spice! I’m never disappointed! I had gotten hints of the FMC in another series, so it was nice to get her story!

Lauren Blakely, popular romance author, has written another novel with one of my favorite tropes front and center: fake dating. "My Favorite Holidate" is the fifth book in Blakely's series "How to Date." This book is all about Fable, who is dreading her family's annual holiday competition because her ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend (that he cheated on her with). When her hot boss, Wilder, offers to be her partner in this competition, Fable gladly takes him up on it. Along the way, she gets to know him and his daughter as well and starts to fall in love with them both. What will she do when she discovers that he feels just as strongly (if not more) for her? Read this book to find out!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was my first ever Lauren Blakely book and I fear I’m now hooked. Like I am going to read all her books now. Auto buy author for me. This was such a fun book and story line. Truly truly adored it

I loved this book. Fable and Wilder were a great combination. There was humor and sadness and wonderful family and friends and of course it takes place at Christmas. I only stopped reading when I had to sleep. Love Lauren Blakely

Billionaire romance set during my favorite holiday season, say less! I loved this couple and was rooting for them consistently the whole story. I loved Wilder. I am a goner for a single dad but especially when the father is clearly cares so much and does anything to support and love his child.

This was a really cute holiday romance. Fable and Wilder are great characters. The supporting characters are all well developed. For anyone who loves a good Hallmark Christmas movie, this one is for you. Lauren always writes a great romance novel, and this one is no exception. I definitely recommend this book for a great Christmas read!

A fake dating Christmas love story seemed like the perfect book for me. Billionaire romance seemed like the perfect hook. Unfortunately this book had me bored to bits. The spicy scenes were the only redeemable part. Everything else felt like the a drawn out hallmark movie. Maybe there was a page quota that the author had to hit because this seemed unnecessary long.
I didn’t even find myself rooting for the main characters. The build up of their angst was so nonexistent that I wasn’t even excited when they did finally get together.
This book might be good for someone who is new to reading romance but for the rest of us this felt like a basic and cliche “fake dating” trope that just didn’t land.

So when I requested this book I didn't think it was going to be a smut read. But I was wrong. There is a lot of sexy times/smutty stuff in these pages and I really had to get past some of the cringe-worthy sex dialogue to finish the story.
Aside from that, this was a really great story with wonderful characters. I can't even pick a favorite character because I liked them all, except for the Fable's ex, Brady, who deserves what he gets in the story.
Contemporary romance has changed a bit since I started reading it. Workplace romances are more common, but always now include consent, which I find sexy and worthwhile.
Wilder and Fable are fab characters and foils and they simply belong together.
If the book hadn't made me wince so many times during the smut scenes, I would have rated it higher.
4 stars and a great storyline with memorable characters. Thanks Netgalley for a sneak peek.

I actually read this at the end of last year and loved it!
I love that it wasn’t completely “Hallmark-y” and so funny. Wilder and Fable’s banter was top tier comedic sexiness and I adored their relationship. He is all man but loving and she is so sweet and caring towards all of her loved ones.
I like that it still had such a solid plot and didn’t over deliver the holiday spirit.
Still can’t look at Rudolph the same way!

My Favorite Holidate was my first ever full cast audiobook and boy was it an amazing one to start with!
This was my first book from @laurenblakelybooks and it exceeded my expectations! The meddling aunt, the puns, and the banter, everything was top tier. I couldn’t get enough of Wilder and Fable.
It was breath of fresh air that a FMC did not fight the billionaire spoiling her. Girl, yes, go on your shopping spree 🛍️ On top of the comedy though there was still a sweet aspect in the way they leaned on to each other and heal their previous trauma. Definitely a must-add to your TBR! 💖
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC!

My Favorite Holidate is the fifth book in the How To Date series written by Lauren Blakely.
Originally published in 2024, released in 2025 with a new cover.
What to expect:
*Boss x Employee
*Fake dating
*Holiday / Wedding Shenanigans
A very cute holiday themed romcom full of holiday contests, family drama, and spicy holiday puns.
No OW drama, tiny bit of OM drama in the form of the FMC’s ex boyfriend. Slight third act breakup but very quickly resolved by the main characters!
Ends with a cute short story set two years after the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this title!
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Fable (FMC) & Wilder (MMC)

Who doesn’t love a spicy, hilarious holiday romcom in May? My Favorite Holidate delivers big laughs, fake dating shenanigans, and a billionaire boss who’s basically Santa—but way hotter and with better abs.
🎄 Tropes You’ll Love:
• Billionaire Boss
• Fake Dating
• Single Dad
• Office Romance
• Holiday Wedding
• Forced Proximity / One Bed
• Slow Burn but when it hit... it HITS
When Fable needs a fake boyfriend to stick it to her cheating ex at a wedding, Wilder (aka her swoony, single-dad boss) steps up—Christmas lights, mistletoe, and all. What starts as a pretend romance quickly melts into the real thing, with enough heat to roast chestnuts and your Kindle.
Wilder and Fable’s banter is charming, their chemistry undeniable, and the holiday competition adds festive flair— I grinned my way through this holidate and loved the sweet single dad angle. Who Doesn't love a jolly, swoony, single dad? Wilder was perfect.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lauren Blakely for the ARC!

Much like the overly sparkled tee shirts that Fable designs, this book has too much going on. A billionaire, a fake relationship, a precocious daughter, a large cast of friends, a bottomless pit of Christmas themed puns, a million cringe moments and somehow it still manages to be incredibly boring.
I could not keep half the characters straight and the more I read the less I cared. It was not for me. It was just so long and dragged out.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This title has some of my favorite things: billionaire boss/employee relationship, Christmas, a wedding, revenge, flirty banter, and much more! The book's cover is super appealing, and the story is as well! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

🎄Holiday
🎄Single Dad
🎄Billionaire
🎄Fake Dating
If you are looking for your next holiday romance then look no further! I loved Fable and Wilder so much! They had me laughing all through out the story. Their chemistry was off the charts and the spice was spicing! I have been wanting their stories since they were introduced in a previous book and it did not disappoint! Wilder is a single dad that needs a date to a Christmas function to keep meddling family out of his love life. Fable also now needs a date to this function after finding out her boyfriend has been cheating on her (and he will be at the same function). I loved everything about this book. The storyline kept me wanting more, the banter was great, and I loved the Christmas competition leading up to the wedding. This was a fun and entertaining read that left me feeling festive and ready for the holiday season.

4 stars
Fable is a merchandise designer in San Francisco, working for Wilder designing items for his football team. When her boyfriend cheats on her at Wilder’s Thanksgiving dinner, Fable is determined to not let it mess up her sister’s upcoming Christmas Eve wedding to Wilder’s best friend. Meanwhile, Wilder is dodging set-ups from his well meaning aunt. Together they make a plan to be each other’s dates to the wedding.
It was a fun, fast read. The characters were cute and the storyline was full of Christmas cheer. Even if the story was predictable, that’s half the fun of these kinds of books. Very much worth the read.

A Christmas and fake dating romcom? Say no more! It was such a fun and enjoyable read! Wilder and Fable are wonderful main characters and Wilder's daughter Mac with her sweet and sassy personality adds extra spark to their story.

My Favorite Holidate follows the story of Fable, a merchandise designer for the football team, and Wilder, the owner of the professional football team. After finding her ex boyfriend in the act of cheating with the caterer, she concocts the plan of fake dating her boss to get back at him during the holiday competition surrounding her sister's wedding.
This was such a fun and playful read. There was also the perfect amount of spice, that I have come to expect with a Lauren Blakely book. The way they supported each other through all of the situations, and how he spoils her was absolutely swoonworthy.
Pick this one up if you enjoy:
* Holiday Rom Com
* Billionaire
* Single dad
* Boss x employee
* Revenge fake dating
* Festive fun

My Favorite Holiday is a charming, feel-good romance that blends holiday magic with heartfelt emotion and signature Lauren Blakely wit. The story follows two endearing protagonists whose chemistry leaps off the page as they navigate love, timing, and festive traditions. Blakely delivers her trademark banter, steamy moments, and emotional depth, making this a perfect read for cozy nights and holiday escapism. It’s sweet, sexy, and sure to leave you smiling — a delightful addition to any romance lover’s holiday reading list.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely is the ultimate festive rom com that brings all the best tropes! Fake dating, billionaire boss, single dad…swoon! The story starts off with Fable needing a fake boyfriend to get back at her cheating ex. Enter the gorgeous and loaded Wilder, who just so happens to need a plus one for a cozy Christmas wedding. I absolutely loved the banter and the explosive chemistry! This was such a festive and flirty book for the holiday season.