Title: My Favorite Holidate
Series/World and Book #: How to Date series (#5)
Couple/Pairing: Fable x Wilder
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
The Main Characters
Fable is walking into a Christmas wedding weekend with fresh heartbreak and zero patience for nonsense—especially because her cheating ex is still in the mix. She’s the kind of heroine you root for fast: funny, a little frazzled (understandably), and trying to keep her dignity intact while everything around her is screaming plot twist.
Wilder Blaine is her billionaire boss (yes), a single dad (yes), and also very firmly in the “romance is not happening for me” mindset—until it absolutely is. What I liked about Wilder is that he isn’t closed-off in a moody, dramatic way. He’s more guarded in a life has shaped me and I’m careful about what I let in kind of way…which makes it even sweeter when he starts showing up for Fable in real ways.
And together? The chemistry is immediate—but the feelings still build like they should. It doesn’t feel rushed. It feels like two people realizing they’re safer with each other than they expected.
About the Author
Lauren Blakely knows how to write a holiday rom-com that feels like a good time and still sneaks in those softer emotional beats. Her style is playful, flirty, and fast-moving—with that signature mix of banter, heart, and spice.
Also: if you’ve read her other books, you’ll probably enjoy seeing familiar characters pop in (it adds to the cozy “shared world” vibe). If you haven’t, this still works as a standalone—expect a bigger cast with lots of connections.
My Thoughts About the Book
This book is basically: Christmas wedding chaos + fake dating + “we’re not supposed to fall for each other”…and it’s so easy to binge.
The setup is simple but effective: Wilder needs a plus-one for his best friend’s wedding. Fable needs a date because her ex will be there, and she’s not about to suffer through a weekend of side-eyes and awkward moments alone. So, they make a deal—fake romance for the long weekend.
But the fun part is how quickly the “fake” starts feeling not-so-fake.
You get:
- festive events and holiday energy
- banter that actually made me smile
- sweet moments that feel earned
- and plenty of steam (Blakely did not come to play)
There’s also this underlying theme about how family history and past experiences shape what people allow themselves to want. Wilder’s reluctance around romance doesn’t feel random—it feels tied to who he is and what he’s carrying. And Fable’s emotions hit, because getting cheated on in a public, humiliating way can shake your confidence even when you know you didn’t do anything wrong.
It’s funny, yes—but it’s also surprisingly sentimental.
And I love a holiday romance or any romance book that can be both.
Almost Perfect… Except
The only real “thing” for me is that there are a lot of names and relationships to keep up with—family members, wedding party connections, side characters, and familiar faces from other books. It adds to the big, lively holiday atmosphere, but if you’re reading quickly, you might pause like, wait…who is this to the groom again?
Not enough to ruin anything—just something to know going in.
Favorite Quote
“You deserve to be treated with respect. With adoration. With real affection.”
That line hits because it’s the moment Wilder stops being her “holiday solution” and becomes her standard—he names what her ex failed to give her and quietly resets her worth back where it belongs. In a fake-dating setup full of performance, that quote lands like something real: respect first, affection second, and no more settling.
You can grab My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely on Amazon here.
You can check the reader reviews and rating for My Favorite Holidate on Goodreads here.
You can listen to the audiobook edition of My Favorite Holidate on Audible here.
You can browse more books by Lauren Blakely (and see what to read next) on her author page here.
If you’re in the mood for more workplace flirtation and holiday chaos, you’ll love my Spicy Office Christmas Party Romance round-up next.
Want something softer (but still swoony) for your winter TBR? My Best Cozy Winter Romance picks are perfect for that cozy-night reading mood.
If the big friend-group energy and wedding-weekend vibes were your favorite part, head over to my Best Found Family Christmas Romance list for more heart-and-heat together.
Love that festive small-town atmosphere—twinkle lights, gossip, and chemistry everywhere? My Best Small Town Christmas Romance post has a whole stack of those.
Since Wilder brings strong single dad energy, you might also like my Best Spicy Single Parent Christmas Romance Recs for more protective heroes and real-life stakes.
And if you’re building a comfort-read pile with lots of snowy charm, Small Town Snowfall: Cozy Christmas Rom-Com Reads is an easy next click.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the mood for a holiday romance that’s fun, festive, oh so steamy, and filled with rom-com chaos (including a very satisfying fake-dating setup), My Favorite Holidate is a great pick.
It’s cute without being corny, spicy without losing the story, and sentimental in a way that lands where it needs to.
Heat & Mood: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (steamy, playful, romantic, holiday wedding vibes, big feelings sneaking in)
Some romances leave a mark—and those are the only ones worth reading.
~Kay~
