This novel is filled with all of the Christmas vibes, along with a romance that contains a lot of spice! This book was fantastic! It had a whimsical tone while reading it and included some shocking moments! I found this to be humorous, entertaining, exciting, fun and magical! Along with the steamy romance, this book also comes with a billionaire boss that ends up fake dating. This book made me feel lighthearted, hopeful, relaxed and adventurous. Furthermore, it gave me all the wintery, cozy vibes. It is a medium paced read with lovable characters. The characters do change and grow throughout the story. The very first chapter captured my attention!

This came with a clear thesis and was both plot and character driven. It was really giving me all the Hallmark vibes, but with spice! Some of the tropes explored in this book is forced proximity, a Christmas romance and competition, a single Dad, and a boss and employee romance! This also comes with banter between the two main characters and a dual point of view! To me, this book came with everything a great romance should come with! The author adding the Christmas theme to this story just made it an amazing and magical read!

“My Favorite Holidate” by Lauren Blakely is a holiday romance novel that centers around a woman named Fable Calloway and a guy named Wilder Blaine. Wilder happens to be Fable’s billionaire boss! They end up teaming up for fake dating, because Fable wants her ex cheating boyfriend to get jealous. They go to holiday parties together and things between them start becoming real. Overall, I give this a 5 out of 5 stars rating!

I think anyone who loves a great cozy Christmas Hallmark movie, along with some spice would absolutely love this book! Content warnings include explicit sexual content, cursing, addiction, a toxic relationship and abandonment.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Lauren Blakely and Atria Books for this amazing reader’s new copy in exchange for my honest review! The new cover of this book is beautiful!

This book’s new copy is expected to be available on October 7, 2025!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this ARC.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The story felt a bit too predictable, with the tropes laid out so clearly that there wasn’t much left to discover as a reader. I usually love settling into a romance, but this time I was missing that spark of surprise or depth that makes the journey feel fresh.

This was exactly the kind of feel-good holiday romance I needed. From the flirty banter to the heartwarming moments, everything about this book made me smile. The fake dating setup was adorable, and the chemistry between the leads was off the charts—in a fun, slow-burn kind of way that kept me hooked the whole time.

Lauren Blakely does such a great job balancing humor and heart. I found myself genuinely laughing at some parts and then swooning the next. Plus, the holiday setting added the perfect cozy vibes—it made me want to throw on fuzzy socks, grab a candy cane, and live inside the story.

It’s light, sweet, a little steamy, and just the right amount of festive. Honestly, if you're looking for a holiday romance that leaves you feeling warm and happy, this one is a win.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy*

This book was pure holiday joy! My Favorite Holidate had everything I wanted in a festive rom-com—witty banter, warm fuzzy feelings, and just the right touch of spice.

The chemistry between the main characters was so fun to read. You can really feel the history and friendship between them, which made their romantic tension even better. It’s got that perfect fake-dating-but-we’re-so-obviously-into-each-other vibe that never gets old when it’s done right—and Lauren Blakely nailed it.

There were so many sweet, funny moments that made me smile, and it had the kind of heartwarming holiday setting that makes you want to curl up with hot chocolate and fairy lights. Honestly, it felt like a Hallmark movie and a rom-com podcast had a book baby, and I mean that in the best way.

If you’re in the mood for something flirty, festive, and full of charm, definitely give this one a go. It’s the kind of book that puts you in a good mood.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

What do you do when you have a meddling grandma or an ex who cheated on you and there's a wedding coming up? Hello, fake dating. Fable and Wilder decide that in order to get through a wedding and a holiday contest, they should team up, but what happens when it stops pretending? Really, these two are pretty obsessed with eachThanks to Lauren, Atria, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review. other from the beginning, and I wasn't mad at it. Lots of holiday-themed spice and shenanigans. The third act conflict wasn't my favorite, but it is resolved quickly. Shout out to Wilder's daughter not being the conflict! My Favorite Holidate is a fun and easy winter read!

Thanks to Lauren, Atria, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I read this book when it was initially published. I’m a big fan of Wilder the MMC and of the Author. I liked the updates and would recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and Atria books for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing Christmas read! This will be the binge worthy addictive book this holiday season. I am obsessed with Lauren Blakely’s writing and her ability to write all these books and make so many amazing character connections throughout her multiple different series. This book has an amazing line up of tropes and I love me a good billionaire romance. I loved the banter between the two characters and all the amazing holiday puns throughout. This book definitely put me in the holiday spirit and I was obsessed with the connections to her other works.

This is my second read of this spicy Holiday Romance and I still love it! Wilder and Fable are so sweet together and honestly this is one of my favorite Christmas books it’s perfect to get you I. The spirit and I love the new cover! The added epilogue was so cute and a nice added touch that I enjoyed so very much! If you enjoy a good fake dating turned real, fun Christmas games and a Christmas Eve wedding then this is the book for you!

I truly loved this book, Wilder and Fable were two great characters that had chemistry right off the bat. Even though this starts out fake it soon becomes a lot more. I loved the humor and the banter between these two, and Wilder's daughter was amazing as well. I laughed just about the entire time I was reading. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more from Lauren.

3.5 stars. I did not realize this was a fake dating trope when I started it. I rarely go for fake dating, but this was executed well enough. There was minimal lying to loved ones involved which I always appreciate. Wilder and Fable had a believable opposites attract thing going on that was fun. MVP character was clearly Mac.

I requested this on netgalley not realizing that it was an indie version now being tradtionally published. Very exciting!

Thank you to netgalley and Atria books for a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a spicy fake dating billionaire holiday romance then look no further than My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely.

Fable and Wilder agree to be each other’s plus ones to the upcoming wedding of Fable’s sister and Wilder’s best friend because it kills two birds with one stone. It gets Wilder’s aunt off his back with her constantly trying to set him up and Fable doesn’t have to show up alone to the wedding where her cheating ex is a groomsmen. Wilder and Fable had it all planned out and everyone would be none the wiser but with the more time they spent together things changed and that end date they proposed looms with dread.

I loved the way Wilder spoils those he cares for and Fable was included on that short list from the very beginning. They shared with each other things they keep hidden from others because it felt right between them even when they kept saying it was just fake. Fable saw Wilder, truly saw him and understood what makes him tick and was able to support in meaningful ways. These two were excellent sparring partners and shared the same kind of Christmas love.


Thank you @laurenblakelyauthor @atriabooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Imagine you make a plan to make your cheating ex jealous and fall for your boss instead. That is what happens in Lauren Blakely’s new stand-alone holiday romance, My Favorite Holidate. This is a spicy, small town, billionaire single dad, fake dating, office romance about Fable and Wilder. They both needed a date to the wedding of Fable’s sister and Wilder’s best friend, for which they were Maid of Honor and Best Man. To fool her ex and his matchmaking aunt, they agreed to fake date, but, after a short time, it all felt so very real. I loved this book! As usual for this author, she created a book with plenty of laughs and some genuine, heartfelt emotion. I really liked Fable and Wilder and disliked Fable’s ex. He had everything that happened to him coming. I really enjoy stories with fake dating, and wonder how often it happens in the real world. Also as usual for this author, there was plenty of spice and incredible chemistry. I also thought that Wilder’s twelve year old daughter stole the show. If you enjoy a good holiday fake dating romantic comedy, then you should make sure you listen to this audiobook this holiday season.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Atria Books, and Lauren Blakely for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

4 Stars! Fable and Wilder's chemistry is unmatched. Can never go wrong with a single-dad billionaire troupe.

WILDER IS PERFECT. He’s attractive, a billionaire, and his acts of service and gift-giving are unmatched. Plus, he’s very much into eating 🐱. After listening to this amazing audio from Lauren Blakely, I'm totally in the holiday spirit! It felt just like reading a Hallmark movie but with a rated-R twist. ;)

The story kicks off when Fable (who appears in a few other books) catches her boyfriend cheating during a Christmas dinner at her hot billionaire boss Wilder’s place, along with his aunt. Ironically, it’s the same dinner where her sister is proposed to. Plans unfold, and suddenly she and Wilder devise a scheme to pretend they're dating, but we all know how that story unfolds—especially when one has had feelings for the other for a long time, and now they find themselves in close quarters.

Wilder Blaine is a refreshing billionaire — I’m used to his sort of character being the grump, but it was so refreshing to have a down-to-earth single father in the role. Loved him, loved Fable’s characterization, loved the laugh-out-loud moments, loved the Christmas vibes, and loved the festive spice. The only thing I didn’t love was that the antagonist didn’t feel believable, and I think this would have worked just as well without a third act breakup.
This was my first Lauren Blakely book, and I am more than ready to devour the entire backlog. I am in my hockey romance era, after all, and the little hints she dropped about the other couples throughout this standalone have me thoroughly curious.

Lauren Blakey never misses. She never disappoints to have the perfect mix of humor, banter and angst for a delightful romance that will have you not wanting to put your book down and wanting more when it’s over.

Tropes:
-Single Dad
-Billionaire
-Boss x Employee
-Fake Dating
-Forced Proximity
-One Bed
-Christmas Romance
-Christmas Competition


This was the perfect Christmas romance. It was giving Hallmark movie vibes but with spicy time. Wilder is the billionaire owner of a football team and hotel chains and he has a thing for his employee, Fable, a fiery red head designer who runs an eco jewelry Etsy shop on the side. When her boyfriend cheats on her at Thanksgiving ahead of her sister’s wedding and Wilder’s aunt is trying to set him up, yet again, they team up and scheme to fake date for the holidays to beat Brady (her ex) during her sister’s wedding festivity games. Sparks fly as they like “practicing” a little too much. They grow closer with the help of his scheming daughter (who may have been my favorite character). This was a wonderful, lighthearted Christmas romance. 🥰

The writing was top notch as always. I think I prefer her hockey books, but I enjoyed this too. The Christmas jokes were fun. I loved seeing her wrapped as a bow. I love the character crossovers and seeing the people I know and love pop in.

Possible trigger for some in that it mentions gambling addiction in the mmc’s father and how to help him by not paying off his debts (even though he’s a billionaire).

Thank you Lauren Blakely and Atria Books for the e-arc. All opinions are mine and freely given.

A sexy and romantic holiday novel about a fake relationship that begins to become real. Fun characters and story. Heavy on the sex, but still strong storyline as well. I enjoyed this light read.

I can’t believe I just finished a holiday read, but My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely was just what I needed!

A beautiful read, fake dating around the holidays trope is always one of my favorite things. It really gets you into the spirit!

I love this book and it's the perfect holiday read. These two had all the humor and heat- a top holiday read.