“Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.”

To Fable’s surprise, her billionaire boss, Wilder Blaine, is more than willing to take on the challenge of playing her holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one for a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and she’s the maid of honor. With her ex also in the wedding party, the two team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season. Their partnership includes participating in the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.

What starts as late nights crafting the best popcorn balls for the contest soon turns into a passionate night together, where the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. But when the holidays end, can their winter wonderland romance turn into something real back at the office? Or are they destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s Day?

~Standalone~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  My Favorite Holidate
Series:  ~Standalone~
Author:  Lauren Blakely
Published:  October 7, 2025 (original 2024)
Publisher:  Atria
My Rating:  4 stars

My Favorite Holidate is a standalone Christmas Romance (rom-com). We’ll meet Fable, who discovers her boyfriend cheating on her in the worst way, and Wilder, who just happens to be a billionaire and Fable’s boss. Mix in a fake dating decision, a touch of revenge, and emotions that neither expected to erupt between them, and you have a fun, sizzling Holiday Romance.

I had fun with Fable and Wilder’s romantic adventures.  Although I will be frank and say that for me, their story seemed just too long.  I’m not an author, and I don’t pretend to have the right to tell anyone how to present their craft, yet it did drag for me at times, taking me out of the story unfolding.  But that was a me thing, you might feel differently.

It was so refreshing to see a divorced couple co-parenting their teenage daughter (Mac) as adults themselves with no unnecessary drama or back-stabbing.  Life happens, people drift apart, they change, but a child remains a bond between them. Seeing that they put Mac’s well-being first and continued to be involved and civil was a sight for sore eyes.

In all, I enjoyed my time in My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely.  It’s an engaging, fun romance with enough emotions and sizzling moments to keep me entirely satisfied.  Add in the events and the magic of the Christmas season, and this story was a delightful present.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)