Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. My Favorite Holidate is the fifth book in the How to Date Series. Even though this book is part of a series, it can absolutely be read as a stand alone. This book is a fake dating Christmas romcom. This book is the story of Fable and Wilder. This book is humorous and witty. This book was a fun read.

3.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
☃️🎄

Super cute employee/billionaire boss single dad holiday fake romance. I’m a sucker for holiday romance, even when it’s heating up outside and this one brought the holiday in spades! When Fable finds her soon-to-be ex slinging his candy cane with the Thanksgiving caterer she needs a new date for her sister’s wedding. And Wilder, her boss and the best man, needs someone to run interference from the matchmaking efforts of his meddling family. These two team up and their rapport is immediate and the chemistry strong. But can they trust themselves/, their feelings and each other?

I really enjoyed this one. There was no real angst, but sometimes a fluffy read hits the spot and it’s all the more real because of it. Everyone wants a partner who will treat them right, even if it’s a little over the top. But that’s what fantasy is for!

I’m a sucker for a good side character, and I loved Bibi and Mac.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Anything Lauren Blakely writes? I will eat up and my favorite holidate is everything you could ask for from a spicy holiday romance and more.

Hot billionaire? fake dating? a competition? I was sold and it did not disappoint. Fable and Wilder had so much chemistry and their dynamic was so good. There's so many fun tropes like workplace romance, he's her boss. he's also a single dad and I loved the funny charm of the book seeing them pretend to be together but you see how down bad that man is for her. It's witty, charming, spicy and heartwarming. It's so Lauren's style of writing thats easy to read and you will devour it in a sitting, even when it isn't Christmas, its a must read!

Such an amazing Christmas romance with lots of spice and heart. Perfect to read to get into that holiday spirit!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

🎀 Wrapped in Holiday Vibes
I came for the holiday sparkle and the swoony romance, and yes, the Christmas vibes are strong here. We’ve got mistletoe moments, cosy settings, Christmas trees, festivities, and competitions… the whole deal. The chemistry was even on fire!
But when it comes to the actual writing? I was less ho-ho-ho and more... huh? I just wasn’t hooked.

💸This book has a “Billionaire Boss” kink
Just so you don’t think I’m exaggerating, the word boss is mentioned 73 TIMES!! Billionaire = 22 times…..
I get it. He’s a billionaire and her boss. Can we move on already?

❤️ Obvious Love, Mysterious Logic
Here's one of my biggest pet peeves: when the writing spells out the obvious, but the characters stay blissfully oblivious.
You know it. I know it. The entire town knows it. But they’re still playing dumb in the name of conflict. And just when I thought the third act might steer clear of immature plot nonsense, nope — these two go and throw the sleigh off the rails again.
Combine that with some eyebrow-raising choices (I can’t take a man seriously when he’s randomly growling in every chapter — sir, are you okay?) and the whole thing starts to lose its charm.
Also, if the MCs dump a novel’s worth of personal trivia on each other during their first fake date, and somehow they remember every detail? That’s just too weird and unrealistic.

🔔😅Holiday Charm with Jingle Bells of Frustration
The book gave me festive fluff with a few sweet sips of romance, but it didn’t stick the landing for me. If you’re in it for holiday warmth and a touch of bossy spice, you might still enjoy it, but don’t expect it to rewrite your Christmas romance list.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I’ve found my favorite steamy holiday rom-com! This book combines the best of holiday charm with swoon-worthy romance and plenty of heat. The chemistry between the down-to-earth billionaire and the fearless designer is electric, and their “practice kisses” make the tension between them irresistible. The fake dating, snowy chalet, and unexpected matchmaker daughter add layers of playfulness, but there’s also a depth to their connection that feels real and meaningful. The holiday wedding, cozy scenes, and laughter-filled moments just enhanced that sense of holiday magic.

This story was a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and heartwarming — definitely one to re-read every holiday season!

Eeeekkk!! Oh my goodness I did not think this series could get better but I was wrong!!! Fable and Wilder may be my favorite couple yet! Fable is fun and spunky and while she may have a little baggage she doesn’t let it slow her down. Wilder is one of the most genuine mmc’s I have ever read. When he care for someone he cares deeply and he will stop at nothing to show them how special they are. This book is fun, full of banter and lots of holiday spice! This is a must holiday read!

Mistakes were made…

When I saw this cover and read the blurb, I was hooked—My Favorite Holidate looked like a cute, sweet holiday romance in the style of Emily Stone.

I knew my expectations were dashed when the book was dedicated to “those who always wanted to bang under a Christmas tree” (um excuse me? Who has that much room under there??).

But I’ve never heard of this author, so I figured, eh, I’ll give any book a shot and I certainly don’t mind more ahem—risqué stories. Then I realized this was book 5 in a series when some reviewers were excited to get Fable’s and Wilder’s story. But I was completely lost in the beginning. Why is Fable at her boss’s Thanksgiving party and why does everyone seem to know or be related to one another? And why does it seem like Wilder is this hot, young billionaire that Fable may or may not be about to fake date?

Oh he IS young and hot???

Wait a minute…has anyone SEEN an NFL owner? They’re all about 90. Seriously, all I could picture was Robert Kraft and I was ready to boot this book across the room.

Yeah I was lost and confused. But what really made this a miss for me, and the reason I’m DNFing this, is the tone of this book is just so gross. It’s crass—and not in the voicey, cute way, but tacky and cringy, like a 12-year-old boy wrote it. Egg nog is forever ruined for me and by the time I got to chapter “Dongs and Schlongs,” I’m out. And Goodreads tells me I’ve still got at least over 400 more pages of this.

Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me this NetGalley widget, but I’m just not the right audience for it.

This was such a fun Christmas romance. I absolutely loved the main characters. The side characters were really fun as well, my favorites were definitely the MMC's family.

The fake dating trope was done really well in this story, it was fun, the banter was perfect, and the different scenarios were interesting.

The "villain" of the story, he was so easy to hate. The author did a great job making him entirely annoying and unlikable, and it really made me invested in the plot.

For people who like a spicy holiday romance, you should totally pick this up when it comes out, and enjoy it with a few cups of hot cocoa.

This comes out on October 7th, 2025!

*This ARC was given by Atria Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you Net Galley, Lauren Blakely, and Lauren Blakely Books Publishing for an EARC of this book.

I love a romance book centered around the holidays. This employer-employee, fake romance is great! I loved the characters and can’t wait to go back and read the other books in this series! Fast, great read!!

This was my first Lauren Blakely book and I immediately need to read her previous books!!! This was the perfect Christmas book. Fake dating. Christmas competition. Billionaire. Banter. Single dad. It was so amazing !!! I will be rereading this every December!

I’ve read her other works and i love this one the best. It’s banter forward with sprinkle of christmas magic

I’m an absolute SUCKER for a cheesy Christmas special, sue me!!! Christmas, billionaire boyfriend, fake dating, what more can you ask for?

“My heart goes up in flames. I feel like confetti and champagne.”

I loved this book and thought it was so well done for a holiday novella, including how these characters were set up in the prior book. I hope to see them later on in the series!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story from first to last page.A delightful read great characters wonderful story perfect vacation reading.So happy this is a series.#NetGalley #atria

The moment I saw this book featured a fake dating scenario with a hot billionaire boss, a festive holiday competition, and a mission to make the ex jealous, I was all in. It’s packed with everything I love about holiday rom-coms: witty banter, steamy tension, cozy vibes, and just the right amount of chaos. While there were a few moments where the pacing slowed, the overall story was so fun and heartwarming that I found myself smiling more often than not.

The chemistry between Wilder and Fable is electric. Their banter is sharp, their connection magnetic, and once they finally give in to all that simmering tension... let's just say it delivers. Wilder, in particular, stole the show. He's a billionaire, sure-but also a swoony single dad who's thoughtful, attentive, and completely smitten with Fable. His love language? Acts of service and next-level gift giving. Oh, and he's also obsessed with food, which made him feel all the more real (and ridiculously charming).

Fable, too, is a standout heroine. Independent, witty, and still healing from a betrayal, she steps into this fake relationship with both reluctance and courage. Watching her find her footing again-not just in love, but in life-was so satisfying. And her relationship with Wilder's daughter Mac? Heart-melting. Mac is written with such care-mature, sweet, and a key part of the story, not just an afterthought.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the story was the portrayal of Wilder's ex-wife. Instead of leaning into unnecessary drama, Blakely offers a co-parenting relationship built on mutual respect, which felt both realistic and incredibly touching.

Though the book runs a bit long, it's filled with laugh-out-loud moments, spicy scenes, and enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch smile. The Christmas competition-complete with popcorn ball contests, glitter explosions, and awkward mistletoe moments-adds just the right amount of cozy chaos to the backdrop.

This story is like reading a Hallmark movie with an R-rated twist: warm, cheeky, and full of heart.

Read this if you love:
* Fake dating
* Billionaire romance
* Single dad heroes
* Office romance
* Only-one-bed moments
* Cozy holiday vibes with a side of spice

My Favorite Holidate is festive, flirty, and full of swoon. It's the perfect pick if you're craving holiday magic with a steamy, heartwarming twist. Just be prepared-this sleigh ride is a bit longer than expected, but the destination is totally worth it.

Oh my goodness- My Favorite Holiday certainly jingles all the bells! This book is SO such a blast.. The perfect mix of festive fun, salacious spice, and charmingly swoony romance. From the dramatic (and heartbreaking/shocking) beginning to the tension-filled, longing driven fake dating scenario, I fell wildly in love with these two characters.. And with so much family shenanigans, the most picturesque setting, yummy sexual tension, AND the most charming secondary cast, this one is just the perfect holiday read. Not to mention, Blakely showers us with the most festive and memorable and delightfully ho-ho-hilarious holiday activities that gave me all the festive feelings and are the perfect backdrop for this holiday romance. This one will certainly go down as one of my favorite holiday reads that I'll revisit each her- the perfect blend of humor, heartfelt connection, and wonderfully paced romance. Lauren Blakely at her best!


What to expect:
-workplace (boss-employee)
-fake dating/fake relationship
-cheating ex /wedding party forced proximity
-billionaire
-single dad
-only one bed
-Christmas contest/activities
-idyllic wintery small town
-wonderful secondary cast
-revenge dating
-he falls first/pining
-epic sexual tension

This was another amazing book!

I couldn’t get enough of Wilder and Fable! They were both amazing characters who had such amazing chemistry together! I was hooked the entire time and couldn’t wait to see their happy ending.

This is definitely a must-read book for Holiday Romance fans!

Thank you Atria Books and Lauren Blakely, for a free copy of this book!

This is a fun, fast, engaging holiday read. I don't typically read holiday books in May, but I needed something that I knew would hit all of my reading needs. It's been a rough reading year.

Fun to find out this is a series, I will for sure check out the others. If you've read any Lauren Blakely, this will not disappoint.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the absolute CUTEST holiday, fake dating romance! Lauren always brings me the best giggles + spice so I knew I would adore this book! 📖

Wilder + Fable work together and end up fake dating during the holiday season, each for different reasons. Wilder is a closed off, single dad, billionaire while Fable is an artsy and cute employee. They end up finding more than a fake dating romance and holiday cheer but you’ll have to read to find out what happens next! 💓

Wilder was absolutely PRECIOUS. Someone please find me a billionaire like him ASAP! The way he cared for Fable + made her feel so special and wanted was swoon-worthy! He truly cared for everyone in his life and I loved watching him to come to realize his feelings for Fable.

Fable was the cutest artsy + goofy personality. Her art designs were adorable and I loved how she personalized gifts for Wilder throughout the book. She was so truly original as a character, in my opinion! 🎨

This book beautifully wraps up themes of trust, growth, and self-love, coming together like the perfect Christmas gift tied with a bow. 🎁

So funny! I started smiling at the first chapter...love her energy and optimism. She keeps smiling as her love life falls apart. Okay he is a loser. But she needs a plus one for her sister's wedding. Now who would think of asking her boss? She would. What a humorous story of fake love. I set everything aside so I could read this one. It was well worth my time. Loved it!