A Little Holiday Fling

by Farah Heron

The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a heartwarming holiday romance, full of grumpy/sunshine vibes.

There are two things that Ruby Dhanji loves with her whole entire Christmas and anything to do with the UK. For Ruby the holiday season means joy, generosity, and warm memories with her late mother. And now she’s on the verge of realizing the dream she and her mom always moving to England and opening a cozy inn. The only problem, Ruby needs some hotel experience first.

Rashid just doesn’t get all the holiday hype. But when he meets a woman dragging home a Christmas tree alone from the Winter Market, he has to offer to help—even if he soon finds Ruby adores all the things he dislikes. When Ruby discovers that Rashid’s family owns a luxury boutique hotel chain in Britain, she offers him a she’ll help him give his young nieces an amazing Christmas if he’ll facilitate an introduction to his family.

As Ruby and Rashid get closer, she realizes that the great big grump loves his large, eccentric family fiercely. And when their friendship turns to something more, she’s afraid she’s falling for someone weeks before she moves across the Atlantic and she’ll soon have to decide which dream she wants to chase.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Farah Heron is a critically acclaimed author of romantic comedies for adults and young adults filled with huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly, brown people falling stupidly in love. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two children, and a rabbit named Strawberry. She recently adopted two cats, who are now in charge.

Farah’s debut, The Chai Factor was named one of the summer’s best books by The Globe and Mail, and was praised in Book Riot, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, Bustle and more. Her next release, Accidentally Engaged, was listed as a best book of 2021 in Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, NPR, CBC Books, Kobo, and more. Her young adult debut, Tahira in Bloom, was recently released, and was praised as one of the best rom-coms of the year by USA today.

Reviews

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect romantic holiday read to get you in the mood for Christmas.

Ruby loves the holidays. She works in retail and loves everything Christmas. One day on her way home after impulsively buying a Christmas tree she runs into Rashid. Actually, her tree falls on him. He agrees to help carry it to her apartment and she finds out that he is a grump who hates Christmas. The two of them run into each other again and both of them are frustrated with one another. However she finds out that his family owns hotels in the UK. Ruby will be leaving Toronto soon to pursue her and her mother's dreams of owning their own small hotel in the English countryside. She needs a leg up so she decides to befriend Rashid and change his mind about her. They end up growing closer and Ruby needs to figure out what is the best path going forward.

This was a cute love story set during the holidays and I am all for it. It was a great escape and I really enjoyed the characters. Both of them are Indian so it was interesting to learn a little more about their culture and food while learning how they celebrate the holiday. Ruby was a great character and I loved her attitude especially with everything she had been through. I found her inspiring and wanted to read more about her. If you are a romance reader or love the holidays, this is a book for you.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron
Contemporary diverse romance. Grumpy sunshine troupe.
Ruby Dhanji loves the holiday season. The smells, the decorations, the joy of people buying for their loved ones, the festive wrapping paper. This will be her last Christmas in Canada. She’s moving to the UK after the new year to fulfill her dream of eventually owning a small country inn. She doesn’t have hotel experience yet, but she’s confident that will come.
Rashid doesn’t understand all the decorations and hype of the season but he can’t help the pretty woman trying to get a Christmas tree home. He helps her, of course, but the more they talk, the more he’s thinking, nope. Not for me. Until his sister and her young girls connect him again to Ruby and they get to know each other on a deeper level.
Ruby doesn’t want to make a commitment to Rashid. She is firm in her resolve to move to the UK.

🎧 I was able to alternate between an ebook and a audiobook. The narration is performed by Soneela Nankani who does a wonderful performance bringing Ruby to life. Her emotions are clear and easy to understand. There are voices for Rashid and others including the young girls for conversations but the full POV is from Ruby. The audiobook helped to enhance the season and romance between the grumpy hero and heroine that is searching for a place to belong.
I listened at 1.5 and slightly higher to more closely match reading comfort.

Ruby knows what she wants. She has a goal. I’m so glad someone asked the questions. While the book is not listed as being part of a series, I felt like I should know or remember some of the friend group.
Romance, friendships, belonging, and knowing yourself. A beautifully rich story filled with all of these and more.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.

[Cydney]

DNF’d @ 36%. The writing is not for me; very wordy without saying much, and I did not care for either of the MCs whatsoever.

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron

What Its Got
✅ grumpy vs sunshine
✅ found family
✅ enemies to lovers
✅ South Asian culture
✅ Canadian content and location
✅ journey of healing/finding yourself

Main Characters
Rashid- Dr Rash, very Mr Darcy, dermatologist, not a fan of Christmas, very loyal and protective of his family
Ruby- Rubina, lover of all things Christmas, believes her life long dreams are across the pond in the UK

⚠️Triggers
Emotional abuse
Breast cancer
Parents death off page

Thoughts
📕 I absolutely adored and the Canadian content, Christmas in Toronto, the Distillery district, the Tree at Eatons center, the Hudsons bay windows, the Santa Claus parade….Heron nailed the feeling of home
📕 the found family trope is a favourite of mine, I enjoyed the fresh spin Heron offers readers- a FMC who hasnt realized yet she has friends that are family
📕 the FOOD! Gah!!! Ginger bread lattes, Chai Eggnog, peppermint bushri - YUMMM
📕 are you an Austen fan? This book is definitely for you…. Complete with Mr Darcy and a trip to Pemberley
📕 the visuals- the red coat, the red lip, the vintage designer wear, the pink tree- everything about Ruby is soo vibrant - the joy she finds in the holidays is contagious
📕 Heron addresses complex family dynamics, emotional abuse, estrangement, alongside significant medical issues with care and compassion- I want to give Ruby and Jasmine the biggest hugs for their bravery and courage in fighting for themselves

Overall
A must read for this holiday season this book should be on everyone’s Christmas wish list!

Publishes October 21
Thanks to the author for my gifted ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Farah Heron never disappoints! Another 5 star read!

I fell head over heels for this story. The characters are absolutely fantastic and Ruby & Rashid are EVERYTHING!

The PERFECT story for Christmas!

My thanks to HBG Canada for this gifted copy!

[Mel (whilemelwasreading)]

DNF at 24%. Unfortunately not the one for me.

I received an early copy from Forever Pub via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and given freely.

It had a fun start, but I quickly found the MC's to be quite unlikable. There just so much shade from the start from these two strangers. Neither of them know each other... and they are judging each other so harshly. I just don't see the potential for any romance for me. For some reason this one just isn't coming across how it has for others, so do try it for yourself!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I liked this book. I really enjoyed the deeply specific setting and the characters.

But what I didn't enjoy was having absolutely no warning that this book was about a character with the BRCA mutation. There were no content notes/warnings in the ARC that I received and there's no mention of that very present part of the story in the cover copy, nor that it is related the the author's previous book which DOES make it known what the story is about. If this had been labelled 2/2 in a series, I could maybe have been reasonably expected to go look at the first book and remember that I made a deliberate choice not to read it, but it's not.

Look, I think what the author is doing is in telling stories about women faced with the choice to mutilate their bodies or get cancer is probably important. They deserve HEAs too. I respect it. But as one of those women, it's a subject that is just far too close to my current reality and I do not want to read about it. This book didn't really give me that choice and again, despite liking the book, I'm still pretty mad about it.

I hope that the author and publisher will consider adding content notes for future editions so that other people similarly effected can have that choice.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Yesenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story ended up being so much more than just a holiday romance. At its core, it’s about family, love, and finding where you truly belong and that really surprised me in the best way!

It’s a slow burn done right. We follow Ruby as she prepares to move to a new country to open a small B&B (her mother’s dream), when she meets Rasheed, the ultimate holiday grinch. What starts as a temporary deal for the season slowly turns into something deeper, warmer, and much more meaningful.

I absolutely loved the multicultural cast and the emotional journey both characters go through as they figure out what actually matters most. This was heartfelt, cozy, and way more impactful than I expected. Already thinking about a reread 🎄🤍

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby and Rashid could not be more different when it comes to their views on the holidays! She loves everything about them, and he is a massive grump about them. But she needs his help to gain experience in the industry he works in in order to achieve her dreams and goals. In exchange for his help, she offers to bring the holiday cheer for his young nieces since that’s not his specialty.

This had so many cute moments and I absolutely adored Ruby!! I loved how much this book focused around the holidays and how she tried to make everything perfect. It’s a very straight forward story and fun for a cute holiday read. My main beef with this book and most that go for the grumpy sunshine trope is that this man was insufferable and they’re usually just…mean?? He was so incredibly rude and just not matched well for her so it felt forced at times. She needed someone more willing to embrace her spunk, not someone so judgey. I almost DNFd but I’m glad I ended up sticking it out because I did think it was cute overall!

Soneela Nonkani did a fantastic job of portraying these characters!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Farah Heron, and Hachette Audio for providing this free ALC. This published on October 21st. This is my honest review!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This meet-cute involving a Christmas tree had me smiling! You immediately get a sense of Rashid's grumpy demeanour, and there's nothing I love more than a character who hates Christmas. Does he take his attitude a little far sometimes? Uh, yes. I mean, Ruby is a total stranger and he completely judges her personality and career choices. But it’s all part of the fun!

I really loved the dynamic between these two. They strike a deal to be buddies over the holiday season — Ruby will prove to Rashid that she’s not too unserious or uncommitted, and in return, he’ll introduce her to his family, who just happen to own a hotel chain in the UK. The very dream Ruby shared with her late mother.

Based on the title, I was worried this might turn into a friends-with-benefits situation. And it does head in that direction eventually, but it’s such a slow burn that focuses more on developing their friendship first, along with some heartwarming moments with Rashid's nieces, which I really appreciated. Also, his nickname “Red” for Ruby got me every single time!

The Toronto setting was so nice. Snowy streets, winter markets, holiday treats! I could practically smell the craft market they visit. Overall it was a good mix of lightness and heaviness, and I thought it was really fun, too, to have a Christmas romance following two Muslim characters. It gave a different and thoughtful perspective on celebrating the holiday, while questioning all the over-the-top consumerism along the way (aka Rashid. Haha). Really enjoyed this one!

(heat level: 1 open-door scene, brief & mild)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron is a festive rom-com that fully commits to holiday cheer—with a side of opposites-attract chaos. Ruby loves Christmas and everything British, and she’s hoping to move to the UK soon to fulfill a shared dream she once had with her late mother: owning a cozy inn abroad (honestly, same).

Enter Rashid, whom she meets at Toronto’s Winter Holiday Market—aka peak twinkle-light energy—only to discover they are wildly mismatched in tastes. What Ruby adores, Rashid actively dislikes, which leads to plenty of banter, mild friction, and “why is this working?” moments that fuel the romance.

[malaak⚔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun holiday read ✨ it was so refreshing to read a holiday story but with Muslim characters! For the FMC AND the MMC to be brown. I’ve not read one like this before but it felt so real and fun. I loved the grumpy sunshine trope, and found family—both really well done.

Ruby is a Christmas loving woman, looking to move to England to fulfill her and her mother’s lifelong dream of owning property. She meets Rashid—Christmas hating and grumpy, and finds that his family is in the hotel business in England and might help her with breaking into the industry. She strikes a deal with him: in an effort to convince him that she’s trustworthy and totally not impulsive, and can be recommended to his parents for a job, she sets up four Christmas outings with him and his nieces to introduce them to the city and show him she’s a planner. Rashid may or may not soften towards the holiday, and towards Ruby—his complete opposite. Ruby, who’s searched for home since her mother passed and she became estranged with her abusive father, finds the home she’s always been looking for.

The plot was so fun and kept me engaged! I think Rashid’s character was dreamy, and Ruby was so cute. The side characters and setting really made the story come to life as well.

The reason I knocked it down a star is for two reasons: one, I think the book comes off as *too* self aware sometimes, with certain jokes or conversations. It took me out of it, and also we’re all things I’ve seen or heard a million times before on the internet. This wasn’t a HUGE problem, just something I picked up on.

Two: I think the third act breakup knocked it down. Not because it was dumb, I actually felt like it was really realistic, but I think it played off too much like Ruby didn’t struggle when her and Rashid ended things, until suddenly she comes to an epiphany. I didn’t love it. I want to FEEL it when they break up, but she was literally just….fine. I started to not like her character as much actually by the end.

So maybe 3.75. Either way, I really enjoyed it and think it was perfect for the season! Warm, cozy, and swoon worthy.

[Leigh Kramer]

DNF at 18%

I love Farah Heron's books but I didn't realize this book is going to deal with the BRCA1 genetic mutation. Thanks to friends for tipping me off since I hadn't gotten to that part yet. I have a different genetic mutation and cancer history and I'm not in a place to read about characters in those shoes. However, I'm glad Farah is raising awareness about this issue and that Ruby is taking preventative steps to mitigate her risk.


Characters: Ruby is a 33 year old Indian Canadian Ismali Muslim store manager. Rashid is a Muslim dermatologist. This is set in Toronto.

Content notes: BRCA1 genetic mutation, past death of FMC's mother (breast cancer), secondary character going through divorce, hyperbolic language around inebriation


Disclosure: I received a free advance copy from Forever.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect mix of emotional heft and holiday spirit with a unique plot - a new favorite Christmas story! Loved it on audio.

Source: purchased via Audible credit

[Kaitlin Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for the eARC.

This had all the trappings of a cheesy Hallmark movie, but turned out to be a sweet and tender holiday romance. What happens when you take a holiday grump and give them a meet cute with a holiday fiend? You get Ruby and Rashid, destined to meet and have a little holiday fling.

Rashid is not in the holiday spirit- new to Toronto to help with his sister's young children during a messy divorce, Rashid is not having all the pomp and circumstance of Toronto at Christmas. Ruby is about to leave her hometown of Toronto to embark on her long awaited dream of moving to London and working in hospitality. She wants to spend one last Christmas doing all the holiday things she loves. She literally runs into Rashid and eventually wears him down to let her show him the best holiday Toronto can offer.

What starts as just a simple holiday fling, quickly turns into more, as they all do. With a definite end date, how will Ruby and Rashid end this fling? Has it turned into something more? Do they want something more?

This was a tender holiday book- what I thought might be a surface level Hallmark type book, turned out to be so much more and I loved how Ruby grew into her own and finally figured out what she wanted in life. The theme of what your dreams are- if they are actually yours or your family's expectations was beautifully done. Ruby thought she knew what she was doing, but once she started to question herself, she was able to figure out what was really making her happy. This was wonderfully done and the growth Ruby showed made me happy and cheer for her throughout the whole book. This definitely put me into the holiday spirit and made me want to visit a holiday market stat!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good holiday vibes, setting, and side characters.

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

There are two things that Ruby Dhanji loves with her whole entire heart: Christmas and anything to do with the UK. For Ruby the holiday season means joy, generosity, and warm memories with her late mother. And now she is on the verge of realizing the dream she and her mom always had: moving to England and opening a cozy inn. The only problem, Ruby needs some hotel experience first.

Rashid just does not get all the holiday hype. But when he meets a woman dragging home a Christmas tree alone from the Winter Market, he has to offer to help—even if he soon finds Ruby adores all the things he dislikes. When Ruby discovers that Rashid’s family owns a luxury boutique hotel chain in Britain, she offers him a proposition: she will help him give his young nieces an amazing Christmas if he will facilitate an introduction to his family.

As Ruby and Rashid get closer, she realizes that the great big grump loves his large, eccentric family fiercely. And when their friendship turns to something more, she is afraid she is falling for someone weeks before she moves across the Atlantic and she will soon have to decide which dream she wants to chase.

A Little Holiday Fling is the perfect romantic holiday read to get you in the mood for Christmas. The story is light, cozy, and makes for a wonderful seasonal escape. I really enjoyed both Ruby and Rashid—each felt authentic, well-developed, and true to who they were. Their misunderstandings highlighted how easily first impressions can lead us astray, which made their dynamic even more engaging. Ruby’s character arc was especially satisfying; her journey came full circle, and I loved how driven and determined she was about her goals, even when being stubborn at times. Seeing both characters share their Indian heritage added a lovely layer to the story, with glimpses into their culture, food, and how they celebrate the holidays. Altogether, this was a fun, festive read that will for sure put you in a holiday mood—plus, extra points for a romance set in Toronto.

[Bel lvndrgms3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy + sunshine + Christmas and I have a new favorite holiday read!

Canadian Anglophile Ruby loves all things Christmas. Rashid’s a transplant from Calgary to Toronto doesn’t. I didn’t like this dude at all at first because he was gruff and judgy, and poor Ruby tried all the ways to melt his demeanor. Anyway they have mutual friends and seeing that he’s here to help with his sister Jasmine’s dermatology practice, and her young twins, Ruby offers to show them the wonders of the holiday in the city. She does have a motive — Rashid and his sister hail from the Hakim family who owns a number of hotels in the UK, and Ruby would like a foot in the door since she’s moving there soon. She hopes they’ll put in a good word for her.

While it is a romance there’s so much backstory included it made these characters feel fully formed. Both of them stick to their convictions and also are willing to bend a little. And even with the slightly slow burn and falling in love, Ruby refuses to let a man derail her dreams. She still pursues them because she has to know for herself. Trust and abandonment issues are a big part of the story thanks to her dad. This is where friends and found family rally around her.

I’m amazed that even with the somber subplots that Heron has still given us a joyful and charming holiday treat. That’s a wonderful balance to the storytelling. I savored my time with them, enjoying every moment. There’s even a small Elizabeth and Darcy moment for any Austen fans like Ruby. If you’re looking for another holiday read, you should add this to your list!

Thanks to @readforeverpub for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute holiday read!!! i ended up listening to it via audio, which i enjoyed. the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. i liked the setting and vibes of the holiday market. rashid’s
grumpy exterior starts to fade the more he time he spends with ruby. it definitely had a good balance of romance, humor, and emotional depth with their families and following dreams.

there are two things that ruby loves with her whole entire heart: christmas and anything to do with the uk. she’s on the verge of realizing the dream she and her mom always had: moving to england and opening a cozy inn. the only problem, she needs some hotel experience first. rashid just doesn’t get all the holiday hype but when he meets a woman dragging home a tree alone from the winter market, he has to offer to help even if he soon finds ruby adores all the things he dislikes.

when she discovers that his family owns a luxury boutique hotel chain in britain, she offers him a proposition: she’ll help him give his young nieces an amazing christmas if he’ll facilitate an introduction to his family. when their friendship turns to something more, she’s afraid she’s falling for someone weeks before she moves across the atlantic and she’ll soon have to decide which dream she wants to chase. 

tropes: holiday loving fmc, found family, grinch mmc, grumpy x sunshine, set in canada

🎄🩺🇬🇧🌨️🗝️

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for giving me a chance to read this and review it! I loved this book!

A Little Holiday Fling completely melted my heart. It’s the kind of story that feels like wrapping yourself in a blanket of twinkle lights…it’s warm, funny, and unexpectedly emotional. What I loved most is how the author captures that messy, hopeful magic of the holidays, the way old wounds and new beginnings always seem to collide this time of year.

The pop culture touches were perfection. The nods to The Muppet Christmas Carol, Love Actually, Carol, The Holiday, and even Queen made me grin every time. It’s like the book knows exactly what makes the season so nostalgic for me and leans into it with so much love and charm.

The romance felt beautifully real…full of vulnerability, second chances, and the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on you. I also appreciated how the author gave both characters room to grow individually before finding their way to each other.

This isn’t just a holiday fling, it’s a story about rediscovering joy, connection, and the courage to open your heart again. It left me smiling, teary-eyed, and absolutely ready to rewatch all my favorite holiday movies. Well done! I totally recommend reading this! 🫶🏻❤️

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute holiday romance enemies to lovers ♥️Another cute Christmas read ❄️🎁🎄

[KG Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF this at 30%. I honestly just did not like the characters. Everything was over explained or just too much? I don’t even know. This book wasn’t for me.

The narrator herself was great.


Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the ALC

[Makayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️ 1 Star — DNF

Unfortunately, A Little Holiday Fling just wasn’t for me. I ended up DNF’ing because the story felt a bit too cringey at times, and I couldn’t connect with the main characters. The constant name-dropping and over-explaining of high-end brands pulled me out of the story instead of adding to it. I really wanted to love this one, but it just missed the mark for me.

[sarah-jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

author treated me like i’m stupid

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby and Rashid have a Hallmark-moment meet-cute when Ruby attempts to lug a Christmas tree by herself and ends up running into Rashid. Of course, he offers to help her, but despite an attraction, they are grumpy and sunshine. A few days later, she meets Rashid again because he is the brother of a friend. Even though he infuriates her, Ruby wants to impress Rashid because his family is well-connected in the hotel industry in the UK, and it’s Ruby’s dream to move there and open her own inn.

When she was 20, Ruby lost her mom to breast cancer. Estranged from her father, Ruby drifted from city to city, never finding a place to settle down. A few years ago, she received a trust that her mom left to Ruby, so now she’s decided it’s time to pursue the dream she and her mom shared to open an inn in the UK. At first I was not a fan of Ruby. She was using friendships and connections to get what she wants, and she didn’t seem to think or care about the other people. It was an unattractive obsession.

The story is shared solely from Ruby’s POV, so we only get her impressions of what other people think of her. She’s constantly analyzing interactions and isn’t seeing the truths of what others really think of her - they like her and value her friendship. Ruby’s verbal vomit and overanalyzing seemed like an annoyance at first, but as I got to know her, I recognized that I share some similar traits… she has a lot of anxiety and it manifests in overthinking, which I do all the time. She worries what a small gesture or silence may mean. It’s very open and real.

As Ruby gets to know Rashid, she realizes her insensitive nature and wants to be true friends. And suddenly I liked Ruby. She realizes that she has genuine friends and people who like her quirkiness and passion, and that Rashid and Jasmine are quickly becoming part of that small group. I love how with Rashid, she learns to live in the moment and go outside her comfort zone because she likes Rashid and likes making him happy. She trusts him and can relax.

A Little Holiday Fling is another great story from Heron. I love how real her characters are, even if I don’t love them at first. There is so much genuine emotion. I love that Ruby doesn’t doubt herself or want to change. She knows who she is and is happy chasing her dreams. I love that she finds a family and love.

My Rating: B+

Note: A Little Holiday Fling is the fourth standalone story in an unnamed series featuring a group of friends living in the Toronto area. Ruby is the cousin of the main character from last year’s Just Playing House. You can jump in and read any of the books without prior knowledge of the previous books.

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
review copy provided by NetGalley

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Farah Heron book I've read or listened to, but it won't be my last. Ruby Dhanji loves Christmas and anything to do with the UK. she and her mother had a dream to open a cozy inn in the UK, but when her mother died of cancer, Ruby vowed to do it for her mother. She has moved back to Toronto, working at a high end Christmas boutique for Christmas. She needed her fathevr to help her get a visa to move to the UK and that dream is about to come true. Rashid is in Toronto helping out his sister who is in the middle of a messy divorce. While shopping at the Winter Market, he spies a woman, Ruby, dragging a Christmas tree down the street. Offering to help her they have a rather unpleasant experience and she tells him she never wants to see him again. When she finds out that he is the older brother of a person she wants to meet because her family owns several hotels large and boutique, she knows she has to try and make nice. They make an agreement that she will take him and his two nieces on four Christmas adventures, he reluctantly agrees. Will she be able to turn him around to respecting her and maybe even liking Christmas a little?

This was such a fun story. I liked the meet cute between Rashid and Ruby. Watching the two of them bicker, and goad each other was a hoot. I also enjoyed the sisters who went from not speaking to Ruby to calling her Auntie Ruby. Although this book is the secular celebrations of Christmas, there are a lot of them. This is a story of friendship, family, grief, keeping promises, culture, and more. The secondary characters added a lot to this story, especially the friendship, loyalty and being there for one another. Of course there is romance and a happy ending, but getting there was fun, frustrating at times, and laugh out loud during others. There is a lot of multi-cultural references that also add to the story. I recommend this book for those who enjoy a good holiday story. The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani and she did a nice job with the story. Some of the voices were a bit off with the gender sounding, but overall, I enjoyed listening to this one.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. What a holiday delight. This book made me want to book a flight to Toronto for the holiday season to experience all the things the characters did. It was a beautifully festive setting for characters as they worked to find cheer among challenging times and faced decisions for their futures.

I loved Ruby. I loved that she was unapologetic about the things that brought her joy in life and very proudly “just like other girls” when it came to her feminine energy. She had years of high-end retail experience to help her manage all kinds of attitude from people she met, but she also had no hesitation in standing up for herself or shutting something or someone down when she felt it was necessary or a line had been crossed. This trait of hers in particular played such a key role in shifting Rashid’s perspectives after they met. She was a well-rounded character who added a light to the lives of those around her despite always feeling like she herself was always searching for that feeling of family. The way the third act played out for her may have had me as an outsider wanting to shake her, but it was completely authentic to her character.

Rashid was my favorite kind of MMC who presented as gruff and grumpy, but really had the softest heart inside. The perspective that Ruby brought to his life allowed that part of him to show more as the story progressed, and it was so heartwarming. His love for his family and his care for Ruby were a reflection of who he was at his core. I felt like he really allowed himself to open up to see who Ruby was beyond their first meeting. The way he handled the third act, to me, showed how genuine his love for her was.

This was such a wonderful, heartwarming read. I need to go read Farah Heron’s backlist to get the stories of the secondary characters from this one because I enjoyed them all as part of Ruby and Rashid’s story. Thank you to Forever for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay pinkcowlandreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Dhanji loves two things, Christmas and everything British (except colonialism- ick!). She’s currently working at the sales manager for a high-end holiday shop in the middle of Toronto’s famous Winter Market before she leaves Canada to make her British dream come true in the new year!

All is going well until an impulsive move/Christmas tree purchase finds her path mixed with handsome dermatologist, Rashid. He’s against everything she loves, but the holiday fates keep bringing them together!

To make the best of it, she agrees to help him make the best out of the holiday season and accompany him and his nieces to all the great holiday sites and activities, in exchange for a reference/family introduction to his hotel, British empire parents! What could go wrong?

First off I absolutely love Farah Heron portrayal of Muslim Canadians and Canadiana in general. She does a great job representing both the generic Canadian vibes and depicting the cultural uniqueness of her characters.

Speaking of characters, both Ruby and Rashida are fully flushed and very dynamic for a holiday romcom. I love watching these two fall in love with every date and activity, but also getting their backstory and seeing what made them tick.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Soneela Nankani and absolutely loved her reading of the story. Her voice work for Ruby was spot on, and I could feel the characters essence through the reading. This was one of those audiobooks I didn’t want to put down because it was so enjoyable to listen to.

This book is so much more than just a holiday romance, and I highly recommend it for any time of the year read!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this Christmas romance (which I read in July, something that's becoming sort of tradition to me). Grumpy / sunshine where he is the grumpy who is not big on Christmas celebration to put it mildly while she is the sunshine who is obsessed with everything Christmas in its most commercial aspect. Both MCs are Muslim, so Christmas is rather a secular holiday for both.
I am more with him rather than with her re holiday madness. I don't begrudge her enjoying all the over-the-top holiday stuff - Christmas markets, themed parties, season drinking and eating, decorations everywhere. It was special to her for deep personal reasons and liked how he got to see that when he got to know her better. They both started with the wrong assumption in the other and gradually saw the essence of the person behind the mask.
I loved how their families and friends were represented in the story. He comes from a rather wealthy family which gave him a ton of privilege which I was not a massive fan of but I am the same time he was generous with the resources he had, he was super supportive of his family and most importantly he was amazing with her. She comes from a much humbler background, and has major issues with her father (who is absolutely terrible). She has learned to rely on herself and him caring for her, supporting her and respecting her dreams and wishes and even the most whimsical interests served as a revelation for her. His love for her helped her see the love of her friends for her. Ultimately she learned she is not alone, she has her own support system, despite of the lack of support from her family.
Here comes my only reservation with the story. I found her obsession with the UK and everything British a bit weird. I can see her wanting to make her and her mum's dream come true but from a certain point onwards it seemed unhealthy.
Still, I appreciate that she gave it a try rather than giving it up for the sake of love. She needed to come to understanding that home is not a place but the people who care about you.
Some family and friends meddling in the end, but ultimately a sweet happy ending that felt just right.

CW: loss of parent (in the past), cancer (in the past), masectomy (in the past), blackmail, divorce

[Mia Cobell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this holiday romance set in a beautifully wintry, picturesque Toronto. The setting was absolutely magical—holiday markets, ice skating, cozy restaurants, delicious food, festive drinks… every detail made me want to step right into the pages and experience it all myself.

The story follows Ruby, who’s planning a move to England to fulfill a lifelong dream to own a cozy inn in the English countryside, and Rashid, who has hospitality connections in England. Ruby agrees to show Rashid (a Scrooge) and his nieces the magic of the holidays in Toronto and he will in turn provide a reference to his family business. What starts as a slightly prickly dynamic quickly shifts genuine friendship and then something more. It’s not quite enemies to lovers—they warm up to each other far too quickly for that—but their connection feels natural, sweet, and deeply supportive.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was how both Ruby and Rashid grow through their relationship. Their romance feels heartfelt and grounded, and I especially appreciated that there was no third-act miscommunication breakup. Instead, they communicate like adults, with openness and respect. Truly refreshing. I also appreciated how the author handled the trauma of abusive relationship from both a parent and a partner. It felt honest and real for both Ruby and how she dealt with her father and how Jasmine was recovering from her divorce.

✨ Overall: A charming, heartfelt holiday romance with a magical setting, lovely character growth, and a relationship built on trust and warmth.