Fable needs a fake date to make her cheating ex jealous and her billionaire boss Wilder helps out. Except that fake becomes real....

Enjoy the laughs a lot. It's funny and sassy. The romance is terrific and swoony. Love Fable and Wilder together. The revenge is also terrific.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely is a delightfully sweet & spicy holiday romance that is sure to bring some cheer into your life.

My Favorite Holidate is great for those looking to read…
❤️ Holiday Romance
❤️ Single Dad
❤️ Fake Dating
❤️ Billionaire Romance
❤️ Boss x Employee

Lauren Blakely consistently delivers swoon worthy romances that perfectly balance heart, humor & heat. The connection between this pair was evident & I loved the way their romance grew. Although this is a standalone romance, you’ve met these characters in Love and Hockey series. I was so excited to see them get their own story.

The majority of this novel is set on a holiday vacation in the most idyllic small town, which I want to go visit. I absolutely loved these characters & his daughter. This was such a fun holiday romance.


Massive thanks to the author, NetGalley & Atria or the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Puts you right in the holiday spirit. I did feel like the middle was a little long but I loved the relationship between the daughter and her dad.

Fable catches her boyfriend cheating on her and is desperately in need of a fake boyfriend for the Christmas season that will make her cheating ex jealous. To her surprise, her boss, Wilder, is up for the challenge. He is a single dad who also happen to be a billionaire and is in the Fable’s sisters wedding party as well. They decide to be each others date and compete in the Christmas competition together. Will they be able to call it off after Christmas?

This was such a fun Christmas book! I loved the Christmas competition and how they competed together. Wilder seemed like the perfect fake boyfriend to make her ex jealous. He wanted to take care of Fable and slowly his feelings started to grow as well. His daughter, Mac, was a great addition and he showed great co-parenting with her mom. Overall I loved this spicy Christmas romance!

A cute holiday read - a billionaire and fake dating romance where her boss ends up being her wedding date to make her ex cry. Fable is spunky and fun where Wilder is the book boyfriend we all need. It’s a very cute read for the holiday season.

I’ve enjoyed so many of Lauren Blakely’s books over the years—even her steamy romances and festive novellas—so when I saw she was tackling a fake dating Christmas romcom, I couldn’t click request fast enough. A hot billionaire? A holiday competition? A pretend boyfriend to make the ex jealous? Yes, please. Unfortunately, despite the sparkling setup and all the ingredients I usually love, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this book was just… too long. At times it felt like wading through wrapping paper to get to the actual gift. It dragged in the middle, and I often found myself checking my reading progress, wondering how far I still had to go. So I’m settling on 3.5 stars—but rounding up to 4, because the heart of this story still charmed me in many ways.

The highlight, without a doubt, was Wilder and Fable. They’re absolutely adorable as a pretend couple who slowly—okay, not that slowly—start catching very real feelings. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry sizzles, and once they give in to temptation… well, let’s just say the heat level doesn’t disappoint. I also loved seeing a single dad as a romantic lead. Wilder’s love for his teenage daughter Mac is so genuine and sweet, and their bond made him feel so much more than just another handsome billionaire stereotype. Fable’s reactions to their dynamic felt authentic—especially as someone coming out of a relationship that left her doubting herself.

Speaking of relationships, I really appreciated how the book handled Wilder’s ex-wife. There’s no tired bitterness or drama—just two people who’ve moved on and are co-parenting with mutual respect. It’s refreshing and surprisingly touching. And while the Christmas competition wasn’t always the main focus, it added a cozy, slightly chaotic backdrop that fit the festive mood perfectly—think popcorn ball contests, glitter mayhem, awkward mistletoe moments, and just the right dose of holiday sparkle.

That said, I do wish the story had trimmed down the subplots. The football-related scenes, extended conversations with friends, and wedding prep moments (some of which felt endless) took time away from the central romance, and the pacing definitely suffered for it. It’s like eating too much frosting before you get to the cake.

Still, this book had its fair share of swoon-worthy moments, laugh-out-loud lines, and spicy scenes that made me smile. It’s exactly the kind of holiday fantasy you pick up when you want warmth, wit, and a happily-ever-after wrapped in tinsel. Just be prepared for a longer sleigh ride than expected.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this festive and steamy holiday romcom with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Here we go! Fable and Wilder, finally! I've been waiting for their story., quite impatiently one would say.

Finally! We get Fable and Wilder's story! If you've read the previous books, you know we've received teases about his crush on her! And now we finally get to see it through. This book is definitely on Santa's naughty list!

If you like your holiday romances filled with spice and everything nice, I highly recommend checking this one out.

A designer and her billionaire boss strike up a fake dating deal to thwart his matchmaking relatives and to help her save face with her cheating ex in My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely.

He’s the owner of the football franchise she works for, her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s best friend, and the best man to her maid of honor at her sister’s upcoming wedding. She’s the woman he’s been crushing on for a long time, who recently caught her (now ex-) boyfriend, who is also in the wedding party, cheating on her between the main meal and dessert on Thanksgiving.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Holiday romance
- Fake dating
- Workplace
- Billionaire romance
- Single father
- Best man + maid of honor
- Small-town Christmas competitions
- Only one bed
- 🔥🔥🔥 chemistry
- He falls first

Reasons to read it:
- The banter and verbal sparring!!!
- How Wilder dotes on Fable and shows her how a romantic partner should be treated
- Seriously y’all, the off-the-charts chemistry
- The father-daughter relationship
- The mistletoe kiss
- The Christmas games
- I did mention only one bed, right, because ONLY ONE BED
- Ribbon 😏
- The supportive friendships
- The incident involving glitter *****
- Some seriously swoony moments
- How Fable supports Wilder

4.75⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Atria Books. All review opinions are my own.

This book was really cute! I was reading Lauren Blakely’s Love and Hockey series which was where I was introduced to Wilder and Fable and when I saw that they had their own book, I knew I needed to read it! It definitely did not disappoint! Wilder, a billionaire and owner of the Renegades football team and Fable, an artistic merchandise designer for his football team, enter a mutually beneficial agreement over the holiday season. This agreement gets Wilder’s aunt off his back about setting him up and Fable gets to get back at her ex! Sparks fly in this heart warming love story!

My Favorite Holidate- Lauren Blakely

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was so good. It almost felt like two parts or a duet- the first half was big city, workplace, billionaire, boss/employee, fake dating and the second half was small town, holiday, Christmas revenge games against her ex, but also shacking up in the cute chalets and the fake dating is not so fake anymore. They were fighting it so hard. I can always count on Lauren to crack me up. And I love seeing the different Christmas kinks this time of year in all the holiday books, and this one did not disappoint.

When Fable Calloway needs a date to forget about her ex that’s always around she never expected to get her boss, Wilder Blaine, involved but, when a moment of opportunity appears they go with the flow of the moment. Now, pretending to date at the office holiday games and her sister’s wedding can they keep it professional? Omg, this is an adorable single dad/boss holiday romcom. Cute and lighthearted, perfect for the holiday season. P.S., if you’re not a fan of eggnog there is one scene that will make you never want it again lol!!! Get ready for some holiday cheer and reindeer games. TY NetGalley for the early read. Told in first person and dual POV.

I LOVE a nerdy single dad trope and Wilder did not disappoint! Yeah, he’s a billionaire but you would honestly never know hahaha he’s also such a good dad!!! And Fabels ex ??? Oooof he deserves worse honestly lol

This was such a fun, giggly time! The cover was the first thing that caught my eye because of how CUTE it was but the book was just as good! I loved the dynamic between Fable and Wilder and their back and forth was EVERYTHING! This is perfect if you're looking for a holiday romance for the holiday season! Detailed reviews will be up on my platforms soon!