Trope Tuesday: Fake Dating at the Holidays — 8 Favorite Picks

genredpodcast
Dec 16, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Dec 21, 2025

There are romance tropes we adore year-round… and then there are the ones that simply hit harder during the holidays. Fake dating at the holidays is one of them. Add in twinkly lights, nosy relatives, forced proximity, and the pressure to bring a plus-one home, and suddenly pretending to be in love feels a little too real.

From Christmas parties and small-town winter festivals to Hanukkah celebrations and family dinners where everyone is watching very closely, Fake dating holiday romances deliver cozy chaos, emotional vulnerability, and some of the most satisfying slow burns out there.

❄️ Quick Definition

Fake dating is a romance trope where two characters agree to pretend they’re in a relationship — usually for convenience, social pressure, or mutual benefit — only to develop real feelings along the way.

In holiday romances, the trope is supercharged by:

Family expectations
Seasonal traditions
Forced proximity
Emotional nostalgia
And the looming deadline of “this ends after the holidays… right?”

🎁 Why We Love It

Fake dating at the holidays works so well because the setting does half the emotional labor:

Holiday gatherings push characters into vulnerability faster
Pretending to be in love makes real feelings impossible to ignore
The “it’s only temporary” rule guarantees angst
Shared bedrooms, small towns, and festive chaos raise the stakes

Watching characters insist this means nothing while emotionally unraveling in front of a Christmas tree or menorah? Elite romance behavior.

📚 Our Favorite Fake Dating Holiday Romance Books

Here are 8 fake dating (or fake-relationship-forward) holiday romances we keep recommending — spanning Christmas, Hanukkah, queer romance, and one unapologetically spicy pick.

The Christmas Pact — Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Vibes: NYC Christmas, banter-heavy, high chemistry

A chance meeting leads to a mutually beneficial fake relationship just in time for the holidays. What begins as convenience quickly turns into something messier — and much more real — as feelings sneak in under the glow of Christmas lights.

Why we love it: This one fully commits to the fake dating trope and delivers peak tension, banter, and payoff.

The Mistletoe Motive — Chloe Liese

Vibes: indie bookstore, rivals-to-lovers, cozy competence

Two bookstore rivals agree to fake date to boost holiday sales, and feelings inevitably complicate the plan. Thoughtful representation, gentle emotional growth, and peak winter vibes make this one especially comforting.

Why we love it: Soft, smart, and cozy — fake dating with heart.

Faking Under the Mistletoe — Ashley Shepherd

Vibes: workplace romance, holiday parties, unresolved feelings

A workplace misunderstanding spirals into a fake dating situation during the holidays, dredging up old feelings and new complications along the way.

Why we love it: Office romance + holiday pressure = emotional chaos in the best way.

The Holiday Swap — Maggie Knox

Vibes: twin swap, small-town Christmas, rom-com chaos

Two twins swap lives for the holidays, leading to unexpected romance and fake-relationship-adjacent antics. Think cozy towns, festive food, and holiday hijinks.

Why we love it: Lighthearted, fun, and perfect for rom-com holiday readers.

A Holly Jolly Ever After — Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

Vibes: mall Santa, second chances, heartfelt holiday romance

A former child star and a romance writer find themselves navigating a very unexpected holiday romance scenario that leans into fake dating vibes and emotional honesty.

Why we love it: Quirky, tender, and surprisingly sincere.

The Christmas Fix — Lucy Score 🌶️

Vibes: small-town Christmas, fake relationship optics, forced proximity, high spice

A big-city fixer heads to a struggling small town during the holidays and teams up with the town’s grumpy mayor. A professional arrangement — complete with fake relationship optics — quickly escalates into undeniable chemistry and open-door spice.

Why we love it: This is the pick for readers who want real Christmas vibes and real heat. Festive and feral.

Written in the Stars — Alexandria Bellefleur

Vibes: queer romance, opposites attract, holiday pressure, fake dating

After a disastrous blind date, two women agree to fake a relationship over the holidays to appease family expectations. Pretending soon turns emotionally complicated — and deeply sincere.

Why we love it: A beloved queer holiday romance with sharp banter, cozy vibes, and fake dating done right.

Love You a Latke — Amanda Elliot ✡️

Vibes: Hanukkah romance, small-town winter, fake dating, cozy community

Abby Cohen is helping plan her town’s first-ever Hanukkah festival when Seth, the only other Jewish resident, asks her to fake date him for the holidays. Candlelight, community, and unexpected feelings follow.

Why we love it: A true Hanukkah-centered fake dating romance that celebrates Jewish identity, tradition, and winter coziness alongside the trope we love.

💬 Join the Conversation

Do you have a favorite fake dating holiday romance? Are you team Christmas, Hanukkah, or “I’ll read them all”?

Drop your recs in the comments, tag us on social, or tell us which fake dating moment lives rent-free in your head.

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❓ Mini FAQ

What is the fake dating trope?

Fake dating is a romance trope where two characters pretend to be in a relationship for social or personal reasons — and inevitably develop real feelings.