Lindsey Kelk’s Christmas Fling is the perfect combination of holiday charm, witty romance, and cozy escapism. Kelk takes readers on a festive journey to the snowy Scottish Highlands, where Laura, planning a quiet solo Christmas, finds herself unexpectedly swept into a whirlwind of mistaken identity, family chaos, and irresistible romantic tension. The premise—being mistaken for a stranger’s girlfriend—could have felt clichéd in lesser hands, but Kelk turns it into a playful, heartwarming adventure that is both funny and deeply engaging.

What makes this novel stand out is Kelk’s impeccable characterization. Laura is relatable, smart, and refreshingly authentic; her reactions to absurd situations are believable and often laugh-out-loud funny. Callum, the stranger whose chemistry with Laura is palpable, balances charm with a touch of vulnerability that makes him impossible to resist. The side characters, from quirky family members to local Highlanders, add depth, humor, and warmth to the narrative, creating a fully realized and immersive world.

Kelk also shines in her setting. The Scottish Highlands, with their breathtaking landscapes, cozy pubs, and festive traditions, are practically a character in themselves. The author evokes a sense of place so vividly that readers feel transported, experiencing the crisp winter air, the snow-covered hills, and the cozy interiors alongside the protagonists.

The romantic tension is skillfully paced, blending slow-burn flirtation with moments of genuine connection and vulnerability. Kelk ensures that the romance feels earned, and the humor never undercuts the emotional stakes, striking a delightful balance between levity and heart. Themes of self-discovery, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, and opening oneself to love and unexpected experiences are woven throughout, making this more than just a seasonal romance—it’s a feel-good story with emotional depth.

Overall, Christmas Fling is a sparkling holiday read that will leave you laughing, swooning, and longing for a snowy getaway of your own. It’s an utterly charming, heartwarming story, ideal for fans of festive rom-coms and readers looking for a joyful, immersive escape. Lindsey Kelk proves once again why she’s one of the most beloved authors of contemporary romantic fiction.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A perfectly festive, funny, and heartwarming read that will stay with you long after the final page.

Oh, how I love Lindsey Kelk’s writing style. So much so, that I have abandoned my teetering tbr pile to read a Christmas book in August.
Laura Pearce is a neurosurgeon (trainee) who is planning to rent a flat from a friend of a friend who is off to Paris. Somehow, in a ridiculous turn of events, she meets the current tenant, Callum, and his parents when she goes round to check out the flat, and ends up agreeing to spend Christmas in Scotland with him as his girlfriend, who he has invented; Swedish masseuse Caroline.
A total comedy of errors ensues as Laura tries to make Callum’s family hate her so he won’t have to visit again. There are some very funny moments, especially when her friends turn up, and some totally expected romance.
I love that Kelk’s obsessions are always present in her books - there’s a good smattering of Taylor Swift references and a scene in an M&S food, which made me smile. These little Easter eggs are a treat for long-term fans.
This is definitely a Christmas book, but I think it could be enjoyed at any time! I would absolutely love a sequel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Lindsey Kelk is a master of her craft. I love her writing. Christmas Fling has her usual wit, charm and many, many references to Taylor Swift and Marks and Spencers. I would definitely say that Christmas Fling is my favourite read this year. Laura and Callum are hugely likeable characters and throw in some fake dating, Christmas in Scotland in a fancy Downton Abbey style house, a lot of torturous situations thrown at Laura (the vegan meal was particularly grim) and strong supporting characters, you've the ideal Christmas chick lit read. I really hope that this isn't the last we've seen of these characters.

I love a good fake-dating romance story and if you couple it with mistaken identity and Christmas then it should be a winner!

Thankfully this one is! It worked so well and had a great mix of humour, seriousness, fun, angst and Christmas vibes. The main characters, Laura and Callum worked well together and did their best with the situation they were in. I liked how they gained mutual respect and trust with eachother but still with just enough angst and misunderstanding to keep the story going.

The side characters were well constructed and I could clearly picture each of them. Laura’s friends were funny and protective and added some humour to the story, Callum’s sister made a good misunderstood villain (although I would’ve liked to have seen this more resolved at the end).

All in all a solid Christmas rom-com that would be perfect to snuggle up with during December (preferably in a snowy Scottish country manor - the main setting of the book).

I received a free copy of, Christmas Fling, by Lindsey Kelk, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I found this book to be way to unrealistic, I could not get into it at all. To much playing around and lying to people.

Callum and Laura have only met three times and after his parents caught them in a compromising position they invite her for Christmas. Pretending to date Callum for a few days seems like a small price to pay when she gets to spend Christmas in the beautiful Scottish highlands. Turns out pretending might be more difficult than she’d thought.

I don’t typically read holiday themed books outside of the winter months but I couldn’t turn this arc down. If you ask me Lindsey Kelk is one of the best romance authors out there.

Some of my favorite things about this one was all of the outrageous characters details Laura had to adapt to on the fly. The slow burn and the gorgeous Scottish scenery, I love that it’s actually winter. A white Christmas is a must if you ask me.

Read this if you like
🩷Fake dating
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scottish highlands
❄️Holiday reads
🔥Slow burn

I always enjoy Lindsey Kelk’s novels so was excited to read her latest: Christmas Fling. The story hits the ground running with the two main characters, Laura and Callum, unexpectedly meeting when Laura goes to visit the flat she will be subletting through a friend.

Callum is the landlord and by the end of the first meeting, they have arranged for Laura to accompany Callum to Scotland to appease his parents who are keen for him to settle down and return home to Scotland to take over the family farm and estate. I must admit, I wasn’t completely sold by this at first but the added twist of Laura aiming to make Callum’s parents dislike her was a very fun plot point.

The pair end up on an overnight train to Scotland, in a very cosy cabin, and then have days for Laura to make her terrible impression on the family. Christmas Fling is a fun and sweet romance and I loved the supporting cast of Callum’s family and Laura’s best friends. Highly recommended romantic Christmas reading!

Brilliant romance with a touch of mild spice. Really liked the fake girlfriend to girlfriend with lots of drama. Made me laugh in a few places.

A charming and humorous Christmas romance from the ever-reliable pen of Lindsey Kelk.

Laura just wanted to rent a house while she finishes her medical training, but is now somehow on her way to Scotland to pose as her landlord's girlfriend for Christmas. Callum just wants to become a pastry chef, without the pressure of his family to return to Scotland, so he concocted an awful fake girlfriend to keep them off his back.

The book that ensues is a genuine and heartfelt romance infused with Scottish humour that will have you wanting to re-read it as soon as you flip the last page. As always with Lindsey Kelk, the characters are complex and relatable to the reader as we find out their full story throughout the book.

The imagery of the Scottish Highlands at Christmas is one that will have you flocking to see just how expensive the flights would be. As someone with right-from-Scotland family, this book made me laugh out loud at some of the cultural references and the struggle of being a lightweight amidst seasoned whiskey drinkers.

It's also worth noting that the side characters in this book are amazing, especially Joel and Lizzie.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

An excellent fake dating Scottish Christmas book that has just the right balance of drama, tension, chemistry and hilarious characters. I couldn't help but laugh out loud several times and both Callum and Laura are fantastic and loveable. A true romcom, as if you'd expect anything less from Lindsey Kelk.

Trainee neurosurgeon Laura gets more than she bargained for when walking into her new rental flat when she comes face to face with her landlord, the naked pastry chef Callum. After his parents wrongly assume Laura is Callum’s mystery girlfriend, she finds herself on the Caledonian sleeper to Scotland, posing as caroline, Callum’s massage therapist girlfriend.

The two have devised a plot to make ‘Caroline’ so repulsive, Callum’s parents would never want her to darken their door again. Will their plan work? Or will family and friends reveal their secret plan?

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was great and the chemistry between Laura and Callum was great and worked amazingly for the fake dating trope. A couple of the side characters rubbed me up the wrong way, but that’s just me personally.

Overall a great festive read with a dash of Spice for those cold winter nights.

Another great read from Lindsey. Her books are always so comforting for me. A lovely Christmas romance, which felt realistic and fun. Great banter too! A lovely read for Christmas.

Talk about getting hot under the collar !! wow Lindsey has totally shamed it .
One of my favourite forced proximity /fake dating .
The plot was so much fun and i loved how it kept you guessing what was going to happen it was a page turner .
the characters Laura and Callum had me in fits of giggles , the chemistry between them was perfect .

if you love a Christmas romance this one you will very much love ,this has got to be one of my favourite from what Lindsey has written ,
her writing is wonderful i love Lindsey's work anyway ,but this was the icing on the cake after everything else i have read by her this year .
She had me falling for Callum swoon worthy and Hot !! he is a perfect new book boyfriend .

The book over all is cosy warm ,grounded , most wonderful Christmas read 2025 ,huge thank you to HarperFiction for allowing me to review such magical romance .

I am giving the book 5 wonderfully romantic stars .

Absolutely loved this
Great insight to a variety of personalities, perspectives & perceptions
Great characters, hilarious plot, great setting with a feel good factor

Lindsey Kelk’s Christmas Fling is a warm, witty, and wonderfully escapist rom-com that delivers all the festive feels with a generous side of charm. Set against the snowy backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, this story is a delightful blend of fake-dating hijinks, slow-burn chemistry, and laugh-out-loud moments that make it impossible to put down.

Laura, our smart and refreshingly grounded heroine, finds herself swept into a holiday charade when she’s mistaken for her flatmate’s girlfriend. What follows is a heart-warming (and often hilarious) journey through family chaos, unexpected connections, and the kind of romantic tension that makes you want to curl up with a hot chocolate and keep reading long into the night.

Callum, the “stranger” turned fake boyfriend, is equal parts swoon-worthy and endearingly awkward, and their dynamic crackles with genuine chemistry. The supporting cast—especially Joel and Rory—add depth and sparkle, making the story feel like a festive ensemble film you’d rewatch every December.

Kelk’s signature humour shines throughout, peppered with pop culture nods (yes, there are Taylor Swift references!) and moments of emotional sincerity that elevate this from a standard holiday romance to something truly special.

Whether you’re a die-hard rom-com fan or just in need of a feel-good festive escape, Christmas Fling is a joyful, heart-warming treat that’s as satisfying as a mince pie by the fire.

With thanks to Lindsey Kelk, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I feel like I could just say that this book is a Lindsey Kelk set at Christmas, in Scotland and that should be more than enough to convince you to read it. Add in a third act break emotional breakdown over picky bits in M&S and honestly need I say more?! I will though, because I adore Lindsey Kelk and this book was so very good!

One fake romance. One magical Christmas. One chance to fall in love.
Laura was all set for a quiet solo Christmas – just her, a bottle of wine, and flat-sitting for a stranger. But when the stranger’s parents mistake her for his mystery girlfriend, she’s swept off to the snowy Scottish Highlands with Callum and his whole family. Between the cosy sleeper train, charming pubs and breathtaking views, this could be the no-strings-attached Christmas of Laura’s dreams. But stranger Callum is hot, hilarious and their ‘fake’ chemistry is off the charts.So is this just a Christmas fling? Or the start of something more?

I have always adored Kelk’s writing; she gifts us the most wonderfully complex and deeply human characters and Christmas Fling is no different. Laura and Callum are brilliant MCs, they’re messy and flawed but they’re trying their best in the complicated situations they find themselves in. Oh and their chemistry was electric! The supporting cast was excellent, I loved Laura’s best friends, thought Rory, Callum’s brother, was fab and loved to loath his sister. I also felt a lot for his mum Lizzie.

As always Kelk strikes the perfect balance between the more serious issues and pitch perfect humour - it’s the kind of novel that will have you guffawing and crying very real tears. I loved the Christmas setting and being amongst the beauty of Scotland. Honestly this novel was a dream.

I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

Fantastic if you love fake dating and forced proximity tropes. Laura is great as the fake girlfriend trying to get her fake boyfriend’s family to hate her. They were some brilliant moments , especially each time a member of the family revealed another trait of the girl she is pretending to be. Callum was thoughtful and hot and they had real chemistry. Throw in the perfect festive setting and you have the perfect festive read.

I always enjoy a Lindsey Kell book and this was just as good.
It made me laugh and smile, almost made me cry.
Brilliant friends and family characters. Supportive, argumentative and brutally honest just as true friends and family should be.
Laura agrees to be the pretend girlfriend over the holiday period for Callum.
Callum is hiding behind guilt at not wanting to run the family farm. Having invented a pretend girlfriend as an excuse not to visit home in Scotland and attend family events. Leaving to attend culinary school in Paris he rents his London flat to Laura. Having his parents barge in when there's confusion over the start date of the rental starts the rollercoaster of fun, lies and half truths.
Hiding behind a persona allows Laura to let her guard down and have feelings, the first in a long time.

I love Lindsey Kelk’s writing style, it is just so easy to read. This book has very engaging characters and definitely has enough comedic moments to make this a romcom rather than being a saccharine sweet romance like others. A fantastic bit of escapism that is easy to read.

Laura & Callum ❤️

🛤️Trainee neurosurgeon Laura walks into the flat she’s going to be renting only to discover the chef owner walking around starkers when he should already have moved out. Callum’s parents arrive and next thing, she’s playing his fake girlfriend Caroline and being invited to the family home in Scotland for Christmas.

🛤️The twists and turns this fake relationship takes are insane but as Laura and Callum get to know each other better, their feelings get stronger, even though all the headwinds are against them..

✏️Lindsey Kelk’s charming voice and wit shines through in this Christmas-in-Scotland play on all the tropes. Laura’s funny and sweet even when she’s trying to get the parents to hate her, and she soon forces Callum’s family to have strong feelings about her. This entertaining read had me smiling and wanting to take it all in. There’s a theme of being honest here, not just with others but also ourselves.