My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded down from 4.5 - this was cute and sweet and funny, also unrealistic but… its fiction!!!

Laura and Callum have met exactly three times - once at a mutual friends wedding (Laura doesn’t remember), once at a baby shower (Callum doesn’t remember) and once right now - when Laura lets herself into his flat to find him exiting the shower completely naked (both remember)!!

When Callum’s parents walk in and mistake Laura for his mystery girlfriend, Laura has no choice but to play along, accepting their invitation to spend Christmas at home in the Scottish Highlands. But then Laura’s best friends show up pretending to be her family, Callum’s ex is invited and as Laura gets closer to Callum she can’t tell if the increasingly sizzling chemistry between them is real or just a very convincing part of the act….

Ok, so this is my first Lindsey Kelk novel, and I am doing some dabbling with RomComs. I was not disappointed!!! There was plenty of Com in this one and it was a bit of a calamity of events… when Laura’s red skirt (owned in fact by Desi) flew off the balcony leaving her in her knickers I thought I would wet myself laughing.

The chemistry between these two was pretty good from the get go and you have that Fake Dating thing down pat. Laura plays the awful new girlfriend to a tee and Callum is ever the gentleman.. except when he cant read the room.

Thankfully for me, the spice was low… not nil but there was one open door scene that wasn’t too horrific for me… and the rest was just quite cute and nice or ridiculously funny.

I think its pretty predictable but from my limited experience I think these novels are all fairly predictable and thats the way the girlies like them… and to be honest why fix it if it isn’t broken.

Also loved that this was set in Scotland the description of the weather, the scenery and the people was awesome.

Overall I really enjoyed this one, I felt a bit sad to say goodbye to Laura and Callum at the end. If you are a RomCom fan, this is for you. If you are a Kelk fan I am assuming this is also for you… if you love disgusting erotic filth… this is not for you 🤣

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a great festive story this turned out to be. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, my first Christmas story of 2025. It was funny, touching and easy to read, with some great characters, misunderstandings, revelations, and all set in Scotland too.

From their first meeting, Laura and Callum were on a roller coaster ride. She is looking to rent his flat, but when his parents show up and assume that she is his non-existent girlfriend, Caroline, and then invite her to join them for Christmas in the Highlands, chaos is bound to ensue.

Callum's father is chauvinistic, his sister has a massive chip on her shoulder, and her best friends Desi and Joel all add to the mix to make a fantastic story.

Lindsey Kelk is such a good writer; her style is flowing and her stories are always captivating. I highly recommend this Christmas story.

Callum and Laura travel to the Highlands over Christmas to convince his family they are dating but they fall in love. Beautifully written and great chemistry. I really enjoyed the book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

She's done it again - what a glorious Christmas book.

Christmas is about family, eating too much chocolate and drinking baileys before lunchtime. But this book makes you think is everything really as you see it - is what people share really the whole story.

This delightful cast of characters slowly reveal their inner truths - it was interesting seeing the family dynamics through the eyes of Laura as an outsider. With the bonus of seeing Laura and Callum's romance develop.

Witty dialog, funny and also touching situations; this book really does deliver it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, festive romance!

Laura and Callum were great main characters, I enjoyed getting to know them and laughing at all the hijinks that ensued in this fake dating Christmas stay. Where this book shines for me is the relationship between Laura and her two best friends, they were such delightful characters and I wanted so much more with them!

There were moments where I thought the pacing was slightly off, but I still devoured this in one sitting.

An absolute joy, an easy 4.5 stars and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A very intense, funny at times and enjoyable read. Set in Scotland. There is no way you could work how this would go. Families cause pressure. I loved the main characters dress sense . Some real laugh out moments over food. I loved it . The food shop in M and S made me laugh and the lost skirt . It was a clever ending. Read it

Really good book which I will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I haven’t read the authors books in a while but this one sounded amazing and it is , it’s so good I was up,to the early hours howling with laughter reading it , who doesn’t love a book set at Christmas I loved all the characters

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for this honest review

Firstly, thank you so much for letting me read Christmas Fling early.
I really enjoyed this book, with fake dating, close proximity, it had it all. Highs and lows, I was laughing at most of it too.
I very much recommend this to everyone.

I have not read a book by Lindsey for a very long time and I don't really know why. This was everything and more. It is about Laura who has decided for Christmas she is going to flat sit for a stranger, but nothing is as it seems and before she knows it she is being mistaken for this really hot guy's girlfriend and being whisked away to his home in the Scottish Highlands. This is not what Laura had intended but at least it should makes for some interesting stories. It was funny, relatable and there was great character building. I did not want to put this book down. Now I need to go and read more of Lindsey's books as I fear I have been missing out. I would highly recommend this book.

Lindsey Kelk once again proves she's the mistress of feel-good rom-coms with Christmas Fling. This festive delight brings sparks, humor, and heart as Laura, swept into a pretend-girlfriend role, navigates the holidays alongside charming Callum. Their chemistry is irresistible, with laugh-out-loud banter and tender moments that feel authentically romantic. Kelk’s signature wit shines, making every page a joy. As fake feelings begin to feel real, the story delivers all the warmth and magic of a perfect holiday movie. Christmas Fling is a cozy, uplifting treat that leaves you believing in love, mistletoe, and the magic of the Christmas season.

I love Lindsey Kelk, her books are always a must read for me and Christmas Fling did not disappoint. A perfect Christmas setting, crazy family and romance, what more could you want in a cosy, Christmas story!

I always enjoy Lindsay Kelk books. Women’s fiction with a romantic heartbeat that carries me along to a happy ending.

Laura and Calum have a super meet-cute and from that point misunderstanding galore take us on a roller coaster ride up to Scotland with Laura pretending to be Calum’s fiancé.

I found some of the side characters really irritating and unlikeable, Laura’s friend and Calum’s sister in particular were not people I would want to spend time with.

But overall, an excellent read. I loved the fact Laura was training to be a Neuro-surgeon. Nice to see female characters doing something more than running a cafe or a bookshop. (Not that there’s anything wrong with doing that - but ther are SO many of them now!

Lindsey Kelk, check. Dreamy Scottish Highlands, check. Fake dating, check.
This book checked all my boxes and more! I was so happy to read a book set during the holiday season while we endured a heatwave, it helped me cope with the high temperatures.
I absolutely loved this book from the first to the last page. Very well-written, wonderful characters, great chemistry between Laura and Callum, lighthearted despite some heavier topics and heartfelt moments. I couldn't put the book down, and at the same time, I didn't want it to end.

I will definitely reread Christmas Fling later this year under a cosy blanket.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book - it was funny, lighthearted and the perfect festive read. Lindsey Kelk is an auto-buy author for me so I was so excited when I received an early copy. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting.

The story follows Laura who ends up being her future landlord’s fake girlfriend for the Christmas holidays after his parents are misled into believing they are an item. The plot itself leads to a lot of hilarious moments - especially as they try to make Laura’s alter ego, Caroline, completely horrid with the hope she won’t be invited back. The dialogue was witty and entertaining. Laura and her fake boyfriend Callum had a lot of banter and great chemistry too.

Set in the Scottish highlands, the scenery and backdrop of the book felt like a perfect winter movie. Callum’s home sounded so picturesque as well.

There were many great characters - from Laura’s best friends to Callum’s crazy family members. All of them added to the story and seemed like an integral part to the plot. I enjoyed the found family that Laura had with her friends and how they genuinely cared for one another even when they could see each other’s flaws.

In between the laughter, there are some tender moments and more heavier topics mentioned. This includes the loss of a family member and feeling disconnected to people who are still around. Kelk deals with grief well and shows how difficult it can be to let barriers down when life hasn’t always been so kind.

The main character’s job was fascinating too - it’s not often you read about a female neurosurgeon falling in love with a pastry chef. I loved the fact that the stereotypical gender roles were scrapped and Laura was one of the best in her field. The story felt very empowering.

From fake dating, close proximity, found family and more - there are plenty of tropes for all those who love a good rom-com. This book has the best feel-good vibes that I would recommend to read any time of the year.

I absolutely adore Lindsey's writing style she always has such great characters and those hilarious moments.

A fabulous Christmas read, Laura pretends to have a fake romance with Callum as she spends Christmas with his family up in Scotland!

This will have you in stitches with Laura's antics and sticky situations.

I bloody loved it.

Excellent fun. I struggled with the idea of reading a Christmas book in July but I needed a guaranteed win to break my bad book streak and this absolutely did that. Funny, sweet, romantic and ridiculous in perfect Lindsey Kelk fashion 👌

4.5 stars!
As a Scottish, book loving, Christmas girlie reading this book in July I can safely say I will be re-reading this one in December!
I adored the Scottish hints and booktok references in this laugh out loud, low spice festive romance. The main trope is fake dating - one of my favourites except i am used to high spice so i was dubious about reading one with very little - it worked well and the book didny need it i am pleased to confirm.
I resonated with the main characters Laura (Caroline) and Callum well and also loved the best friend side characters Joel and Desi and also brother Rory!
The only reason I knocked off the half a star is that I wish Caroline hadn't gone in to the wild ruse with the mission of being hated... I feel if she had acted more like Laura I may have given it a five stars.
None the less, I enjoyed the wild ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lindsay Kelk for the copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

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I didn’t think this would top The Christmas Wish which is one of my favourite Lindsey Kelk books, but this was her best book yet. I couldn’t put the book down yet at the same time I just didn’t want the story to end.

Laura unexpectedly meets her new landlord Callum for the first time while he is naked and then just to top it off his parents turn up and think she is his girlfriend. This chaos sets the tone for this fantastic book which had me laughing out loud most of the way through.

I loved most of the characters in this book especially Rory and Joel. Callum was a beautiful character who I really felt for and he was so thoughtful to Laura such as the Christmas stocking. I even had a soft spot for Lizzie and I loved seeing her relationship with Laura and how it began to develop even though Laura wasn’t being her true self.

The setting was so Christmasy and the McClay family home sounded absolutely breathtaking.

While the book was funny such as the massage scene there were some heartfelt moments and parts where I was in tears.

A fantastic Christmas read which I would give 6 stars if I could.

Thanks to NetGalley, the fabulous Lindsey Kelk and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

i’ve read my first xmas themed book of the year and well it’s time to let the dancing begin or dare i say let’s start this review :)

first i need to say that this one was my first lindsey kelk’s book and what can i say? it was a lovely surprise since the first chapter i found myself smiling by the things that were happening especially from the first encounter between our 2 main characters aka our scottish man callum and our laura… their first meet was unexpected and trust me very unforgettable because imagine yourself going to your new house and finding a naked man that happens to be also the tenant of your house… CRAZY right? but obviously we need to add his parents as well because when u think that situation couldn’t be more crazier well here we go with our laura that decides to help callum and play his fake girlfriend and this will lead her to go to his parents house for the holiday in scotland!!

yup! i know crazy and this is just the start so u can at least try to imagine the rest… 🤓 so to immerse yourself better in the vibes u need to add to the story some misunderstandings, 2 protective friends, a big family, an ex girlfriend and our main characters that in the meantime while they get to know each other happens to u know… fall in love during the holiday season and here you go being served of a funny, cute and warm xmas romcom story ❄️🌟💘🥂.

i can say that i appreciated various things inserted in the story such as the feelings and the emotions of the characters portrayed and especially laura’s backstory and the small popular culture references during the story and all the pieces all together made me feel more included in the plot and made me had a picture of the whole situation happening while reading so i would say that if u are in the mood for a romcom xmas themed story u know already that this one could be easily added in your tbr!!

least but definitely not last a lot of thanks to harpercollins uk, harperfiction and netgalley for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!