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.

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!