Christmas Fling is a funny and heartwarming holiday romance about two near-strangers who find themselves fake dating over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, only to discover that their pretend relationship might just be the real thing.
Length: 384 pages / ~10 hours.
Narrator: Heather Long.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Summary:
Laura and Callum have crossed paths three times—though neither remembers the first two until a hilariously awkward third encounter leaves them both unforgettable. When Callum’s parents mistake Laura for his girlfriend, she agrees to keep up the charade and spends Christmas with his family in the Scottish Highlands. But things get even more complicated when Laura’s friends arrive posing as her family, Callum’s ex joins the festivities, and the line between fake romance and real feelings blurs as sparks fly between Laura and Callum.
My Thoughts:
Having enjoyed so many of Lindsey Kelk’s books over the years, I was thrilled to see she was releasing a new Christmas romance for 2025. Kelk has such a natural ability to blend humour with heart—she truly is the queen of romantic comedies in my eyes.
In Christmas Fling, Laura and Callum find themselves in a hilariously awkward situation after a mix-up leads Callum’s parents to believe that Laura is his girlfriend. What starts as a quick cover-up soon snowballs into a full-blown fake relationship, complete with a Christmas invitation to his family home in the Scottish Highlands. Laura suddenly finds herself playing the role of “Caroline,” a vegetarian teetotaller that Callum invented to avoid socializing with his parents. Naturally, chaos follows—especially once Laura’s best friends arrive pretending to be her family and Callum’s ex turns up for the holidays.
I loved the dynamic between Laura and Callum as they struggled to keep their stories straight while sparks began to fly. The whole setup had shades of I Love Lucy—a bit of chaos, plenty of charm, and a heartwarming undercurrent that builds toward something real. Knowing they’d have to part ways after Christmas—she’s a neurosurgery resident heading back to London, and he’s off to culinary school in Paris—made their growing feelings all the more touching.
The Narration:
The audiobook narration by Heather Long was excellent. Her energy and comedic timing really brought the story to life, especially through the dialogue and awkward moments. I did have to slow the playback down from my usual 1.5x to 1.25x, as she speaks quite quickly, but her range of accents and ability to convey both warmth and humour made listening a real treat.
Final Thoughts:
Funny, festive, and full of heart, Christmas Fling is everything I want in a holiday romance—a cozy escape with laughter, chemistry, and a dash of Christmas magic.
Some of the Other Books I’ve Reviewed Written by Lindsey Kelk:
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
I love a good fake relationship story especially set during the holidays. Wonderful review. Jodie💜
thathappyreader
Thank you Jonetta.
Her Digital Coffee
This sounds like a great read for the holidays. I’m very intrigued as to what happens for both of them after Christmas!
thathappyreader
Thanks Winnie.
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
Wonderful review, Jodie. Christmas, Scottish Highlands, fake dating, humour; sign me up!
thathappyreader
I hope that you enjoy it Carla!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I don’t think I’ve read this author, but the Scottish setting and the synopsis sound right up my alley! I’ll have to check it out!
thathappyreader
I think you’d like this one Lisa!
Abby Clark
hey ya, sorry if this a weird comment but I am customizing a copy of this for my bestie for her Christmas gift and I haven’t read the book but it is one of the authors that she has mentioned wanting to try. I was wondering if there is a nickname that Laura receives from Callum? Not sure if you’re able to reply…. plan to look at more of your reviews to get ideas to add to my ever growing TBR. For now going back to try finishing my design outline (mostly losing a fight of trying to draw tiny mistletoe plants.).
ps. “Omen of ice” by Jus Accardo, fantastic read at the 2/3 mark right now. Has great word building and a functional magic system that is balanced for both types of magic. It is a young adult but more on the mature side.
thathappyreader
I honestly can’t remember a nickname. Good luck on your quest though.