Just a Highland Fling

by Naina Kumar

Sparks fly on a road trip through the Scottish highlands in this delightful forced proximity romance from the bestselling author of Flirting With Disaster.

Neelu Pillai makes a last-minute decision to fly to Scotland for her estranged father's wedding with one goal: get in and get out with as little conflict as possible. But when her tipsy tirade at the rehearsal dinner is the reason her father gets left at the altar, she agrees to help him track down his runaway bride.

There’s just one problem: the third member of this road trip through the highlands is the hot desi bagpiper from the wedding, who just happens to be Neelu’s recent one-night stand. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other a few nights ago, but now he can’t seem to stand her.

Their journey to Skye is certainly not smooth, but as the two work through the obstacles, doing their best to reunite Neelu’s father with his bride, they realize that there’s more to each other than meets the eye. And that the electric connection they’d felt the night they met is still as strong as ever…

Fiery first impressions, fierce clashes, and undeniable chemistry make for a bumpy ride through the Highlands in this swoony, witty romance about family, forgiveness, and finding love where you least expect it.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Scotland, Fiction, Humor

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 21, 2026

About the author

Naina Kumar is the USA Today Bestselling author of Say You’ll Be Mine and Flirting with Disaster. A former civil rights lawyer, she now spends her days writing and reading about love. Her books have been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, The Guardian, and elsewhere. She lives in Texas, and if she’s not at her desk writing her next book, she’s either taking her rowdy rescue dog on a walk or shopping at HEB. 

Sign up for Naina's newsletter here: https://nkumarwrites.substack.com

Content warnings for all of her books can be found at her website: nainakumar.com/home/books

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 Stars
I really loved this book and Naina is now one of my favorite authors. There are things in this book that I usually would not be a fan of but Naina is such a skilled writer, I just loved them. I truly could not put the book down.

You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 Roadtrip romance through the Scottish Highlands
💚 Complicated family dynamics
💚 Hot desi bagpiper/poet who wears glasses
💚 One night stands turns more
💚 He writes poetry for her
💚 Forced proximity and only one bed

I loved Neelu and Jacob. They start out as a one night stand and then end up running into each other at her estranged father’s wedding. I think it is so hard to pull off a one night stand because it can feel so insta-lusty but this one was perfect. There is a clear attraction between them and a clear connection and having spice early on was chef’s kiss. Their relationship then shifted into some dislike and Neelu had way more grace for Jacob than I would, but I understood why. Towards the end, the Type A personality in me wanted to shake them both and tell them to stop punting the emotional wrecking ball and just figure their stuff out, but again, Naina had written Neelu so well that her avoidant behavior made sense even if it was painful to watch.

And prepare yourselves. Jacob will be your next book boyfriend. He wears slutty little glasses. He wears a kilt. He is obsessed with her. He WRITES HER POETRY. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

I think the most compelling part of the story was Neelu’s relationship with her father. It was heartbreaking and nuanced and as they slowly began to talk, it became hopeful without feeling false or saccharine. It really affected me and was done in a way that felt so real and honest and hard.

I am so happy I got to read this book and discover Naina’s work. I am now going to go back and read all of her other books.

Thank you Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: July 21, 2026

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[Lochi's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naina Kumar is one of the authors part of my auto-buy/auto-read lexicon and it all started back in 2024 with Say You'll Be Mine (pre-bookish content creator me). I remember stumbling upon the bright pink cover, reading the synopsis and then settling in with the book and being shockingly enamoured. But then came Flirting with Disaster, now that was my absolute jam, Naina was flexing her writing muscles and as a reader it's always wonderful to see an author's growth in each of their books.

With Just a Highland Fling, I truly feel Naina has stepped into her own and it's her strongest outing. The momentum isn't letting up largely because it feels original. In a vast sea of romance novels being spewed at readers, originality is becoming hard to celebrate with many settling for mediocrity as the "next best thing" when in reality there's so much more to discover.

With Just a Highland Fling we're off to Scotland and it's charms (EEK THE SHEEP!), following Neelu and Jacob as they chase down a run-away bride, unresolved parental trauma, and remnants of a one-night-stand (blossoming into something more). The glasses wearing, poetry writing, bag-pipe playing Jacob and the globetrotting, reality television producer have outstanding chemistry. I loved every minute of this book and it's largely because Neelu's character arc really got me.

I'll leave one spoiler: Heather (once you read the book, you'll understand).

Leaving a quote cause I love doing this:
"He's writing about me. These things that scare him, that enchant him, that frustrate him. Things that he'll miss when they're gone. My head reels".

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for making my Kilt wearing and Bagpipe playing MMC lead dream come true Naina Kumar!

And a special thank you for the e-arc Ballentine and Dell <333

I will never not enjoy a book written by Naina, her vulnerable characters and angsty storytelling will always enrapture me.

Just a Highland Fling starts off with a one night stand between a Poet and a T.V. Show director, who is just visiting to attend her least favorite kind of events: Weddings.

Neelu had no intentions of staying in Scotland for very long, attending her estranged father's wedding should've been quick and simple but after exchanging some words with her father's future wife. Turns out, she may be responsible for the now-runaway bride.

Forced to road trip across the Scottish Hills with her kilt-wearing one night stand and her father, who she has no relationship with. Neelu is forced to face life changing experiences and emotions.

This book forced not only Neelu but myself to think about our complex fathers.

My heart strings were played with in every way. Naina, you will be getting my next therapy check!

Jacob and Neelu are swoon-worthy in so many ways. They face an instant attraction with some complicated relationships along the mix. They are both very protective of the people they love, which is so beautiful but this also means that they both are so afraid to embrace love for themselves.

Grab your tissues because this isn't just a romance novel, it's raw and vulnerable.

Poets, Writers, Literature lovers, this is a book you'll not want to miss!

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely beautiful! I am a huge fan of Naina’s books! Flirting with Disaster is one of the best books I’ve ever read! And now this one is added to the list! There were a lot of moving parts but it all came together so well. Between the romance and the roadtrip and grief and Neelu and her father reconnecting, it just was so beautifully written!

Jacob and Neelu!!!! They were perfect! Their instant connection was amazing. They knew it was something special even if they knew it wasn’t going anywhere….until IT DID!!! I loved them A LOT. Jacob is SWEET! I loved how easily (once they talked through things!!!!) they fell for each other. They were so affectionate and sweet and they came to care about each other so much in such short time it was just SO SWEET!

Everything was so complicated between Neelu and her father and the way Jacob perceived their past. And it took a while for them really get to the bottom of things and it was so important and necessary for them to do that work to feel comfortable to open up.

Thank you to Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Katie McNeely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bring back writing poetry for loved ones. MORE POETRY IN 2026!

[Rachael McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 - releasing on 7/21/26

This is one of my favorite romance novels I have read in a long time! I had so many elements that worked for me. Amazing chemistry between the main characters that was rooted in both an emotional and physical connection. A beautiful scenic background (trip to the Scottish highlands anyone??). It also focused on navigating real interpersonal issues including dealing with parental estrangement and grief. They worked together to overcome obstacles and you were really rooting for them to work. I loved it so much! Perfect to pick up for a summer romance when it comes out in July!


Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

[Alexis Breeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love a messy family dynamic. Neelu feels so incredibly real, complicated, and in desperate need of a hug. As a child of divorce, I was so drawn to Neelu’s relationship with her father and seeing the differences between who she’s built him up to be in her head vs who he has grown to be. Kumar’s writing was enchanting, I could not stop myself from staying up late to finish! Neelu is also balancing her attraction and frustration with Jacob while a rehearsal dinner over share with the bride-to-be turns into a runaway bride. Now, she’s jammed in her rental car with her father she hasn’t seen in years and her one night stand who is incredible close to her father… piece of cake? (Also featuring hot bagpiping)

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Just a Highland Fling! I already knew that I enjoyed Naina Kumar's books, but this has solidified her as an auto-buy/auto-read author for me. Naina Kumar really came up with an interesting and complex story that felt so fresh and new. Our FMC, Neelu, makes a last minute decision to attend her estranged father's wedding in Scotland, gets a little tipsy and maybe says some things to the bride she regrets, ends up joining her father to chase his runaway bride across the Scottish countryside, and is joined by her recent one-night stand who now despises her for some unknown reason. I was intrigued by the plot and was curious how it was going to last for he length of a book. I should never have questioned Naina Kumar. The story was so original, and I didn't want to put it down!

I also felt a special connection in this book with the family dynamics of Neelu and her closeness to her mother and being estranged from her father. I found myself sympathizing with her in so many ways and relating them back to some of my memories growing up. I don't know that everyone will relate to this to the same extent that I did, but it creates a special complexity in the book and really shows the how the characters are growing.

I also loved the romance between Neelu and Jacob. They had such chemistry and seemed to understand each other in a really special way. I liked the dynamic where they had an instant connection and then had a conflict between them. It forced them to really get to know each other, and I loved seeing how they won over the other person and also grew together.

I cannot recommend this book enough! I am going to be thinking about it for a while.

Thank you to Ballantine | Dell, NetGalley, and the author, Naina Kumar, for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley for choosing me to be an arc for this book. The book takes place in Europe and starts out as a one night stand MFC with MMC that she meets at a bar and then later finds out that he is a part of the wedding of her, very distant father that she has come all this way to attend the wedding of. During the rehearsal dinner, she says some things to the bride to be that scares her away, which gets into the main storyline of them chasing the bride to be. The FMC, her father and the man she had a one night stand with go on a road trip to find the bride. All the while, tension grows between the one night stand in herself, and it is a choice of what will happen when she has to go back to the US after all the chasing is over.

I overall enjoyed this book. It was corny and cheesy but its a romance novel so its expected. You know from the beginning how it is gonna end, but it was still cute. Nonetheless, there’s more to the book than romance though. You get to know all the characters and how the distant relationship between her and her father came to be. You also get to see whether things get repaired between them. There is always the element of if she ends up with a man that they both said in the beginning was just going to be a one night thing.

[Allison Agresti · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell in exchange for an honest review.

I know it’s early in the year and this may be a bold claim but I do believe this book is on track to be one of my favorite and most memorable contemporary romances of 2026. Naina Kumar elevated herself into auto-read/purchase territory with this one.

Neelu and Jacob’s chemistry was crackling from the very beginning and you really felt the emotional depth of their connection. The way past trauma and fear impacted both of them was crystal clear on the page. I felt as though I walked alongside them as they moved through that in order to show up for each other. It really was beautiful. Can we also just take a moment to acknowledge what a good man and perfect book boyfriend Jacob is? I rarely feel that way about a male lead but he was pretty near perfect.

Other things I loved- the Scotland adventure aspect (I want to book a trip ASAP!), the sweet relationship between Ajit and Maggie and how it in some ways mirrored what was happening with Neelu and Jacob, and Neelu’s slow stop/start healing of her relationship with her father that felt viscerally realistic.

Everyone go read this book when it’s released! It’s such a gem.

[Tara]

I really enjoy Naina Kumar’s writing style and this book in particular felt like a cozy hug. When I first saw the description, I ran to Net Galley, wanting to read it as soon as possible. Similarly, when I finally saw I’d been approve for a copy, I couldn’t wait to download it. I’m happy to say it did in fact live up to my self prescribed hype.

I loved so many little moments of this book — the way Neelu takes her tea black when it’s not chai, that Neelu’s proposal succeeded when I was primed for her network or boss to stab her in the back and how satisfying it was for Neelu to communicate to both Jacob and her dad how she felt about his treatment of her and even better how he immediately realized he’d misjudged her.

There’s no better review I can leave for this than to say it was thoroughly satisfying. It’s cemented Naina as a must read author for me and sent me right back to reading Flirting With Disaster, which I had a copy of and somehow never got around to (weirdly in my head for some reason it was a book about sisters, which it very much is not).

[Jessica Steed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I thought this book was beautiful! Did I read it all in one day and spend that day crying? Why yes I, in fact, did. Do I think a normal person would cry while reading this book? I have no idea but what I do know is it pierced through the stony texture of my traumatized millennial with daddy issues heart and I was not prepared.
This book had so much more in it that I thought I was going to and I think it will be living rent free in my brain for quite a while. I thought I was just signing up for a fun little one night stand to forced proximity romcom and is it that? Yeah, definitely, but it was also just so much more. It had the fun and cute but also complicated relationships ties, grief, and fear of vulnerability. And that's not even mentioning that he wears slutty little glasses too!!
While I don't know if this book will hit the very personal nerves that it did me for everyone, I would very much recommend this book if you're looking for a romcom that has way more heart than expected.

[Rae Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was something so incredibly light-hearted and hopeful about this book, despite some of the heavier topics and themes that occur throughout this novel.

I really appreciate that Jacob was a poet and expressed himself through writing. Overall it was really lovely to see an MMC who was softer and in touch with himself and his emotions.

Neelu was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed her dynamic with Jacob. Plus, it was nice to see her work through her complicated emotions regarding her father.

Overall, a really solid book and I’m excited to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for review!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I love this cover. The color and the illustration are beautiful. It suits the story very well. Second, I’ve read Nani’s Kumar’s other books and now I can say she gets better with every book. LOVED this one. Neelu and Jacob are my favorite couple now. I’ve been to Scotland and it made me want to travel there again. This was really everything I want from a contemporary romance. The characters were relatable, and I liked that there was so more to it than “just” the romance. Thank you for ARC, I’m so glad I got to read this early and will recommend it to everyone!

[Nikki Brodsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who recently traveled to Scotland for the first time, reading Just a Highland Fling felt like the perfect way to relive the magic of the country. Naina Kumar has crafted a story that feels like a warm embrace.

The "opposites attract" dynamic between a reality TV star and a bagpiping professor was such a refreshing and fun pairing. I especially loved how genuine their connection felt. It wasn't just surface-level romance, but a journey involving significant character growth for both of them. It’s cute, it’s cozy, and the setting is vivid & fun. If you’re looking for a romance that feels like a "cozy hug," this is it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

This was my favorite Naina book by a landslide. I rooted for Jacob and Neelu the entire way through. I deeply related to Jacob having lost my own parents at a young age. Neelu has a complicated relationship with her father, but Jacob sees him as a second father for himself. I enjoyed the road trip through Scotland and appreciated the messiness of their relationship. It felt honest and realistic.

[Molly Smiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Dell for the e-arc copy!



This book was pure joy! Naina Kumar delivers a charming, witty romance set against a dreamy Scottish backdrop that feels like a warm hug. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the banter had me grinning from start to finish.
What really stood out were the emotional moments woven throughout the story—they added depth and heart without losing the fun, flirty vibe. It’s the perfect mix of humor, swoon, and genuine feels.
If you love destination romances, vibrant characters, and that irresistible mix of laughter and tenderness, this is a must-read. I closed the book smiling—and immediately wanted to book a trip to Scotland!

[Sana Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite romance I’ve read all year!

[Shivani Mohini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naina Kumar has done it again! Just after I thought that it wasn’t possible after Say You’ll Be Mine and Flirting With Disaster, she’s completely hit it out of the park. Just A Highland Fling is FILLED with so many tropes, twists, and treats that it’s impossible not to be obsessed. Jacob is the ideal, yearning hero and Neelu is our obstinate, success-oriented gal with insurmountable walls. The Scottish highlands create the most poetic (wink) backdrop. I can’t wait for the world to read this so that the obsession spreads! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (which I started reading IMMEDIATELY upon approval).

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars
Contains (content warnings from the author) adult language, explicit content, mentions of a parent and a friend having had cancer in the past (the parent is alive and in remission and well in the present; the friend passed off-page a few years ago); grief (MMC has lost his parents, and his best friend in the past); loss due to a car accident (off-page and years ago); feelings of parental neglect/abandonment.

I'm going to give you my mini-TedTalk about the miscommunication trope (it's related to my review, I promise; we're just taking the scenic route to get there.) Here's the thing. Miscommunication happens in real life all. the. time. When miscommunication happens in real life, it's because people human beings are complex and something gets lost in translation when they try to communication their thoughts/emotions. But when miscommunication happens in books, it's often because of lazy writing. The miscommunication trope happens when authors want to artificially inject drama in a plot that lacks tension and they want an easy-fix to buy time before the couple gets their HEA.

It might seem like general miscommunication and the miscommunication trope are related, but there' actually a world of a difference between them, and Naina Kumar's books are a great example of that.

She crafts complex characters whose perspectives are so layered and nuanced, that the resulting miscommunication that happens between them are so authentically human it's not only believable, it creates an incredibly compelling story.

Just a Highland Fling is no exception.

To be completely honest, I was on the fence about whether or not to read Just a Highland Fling because one-night stands and love-at-first-sight are some of my least favorite tropes, but Naina Kumar's writing is so compelling I ended up inhaling her latest book in a single afternoon instead.

Just a Highland Fling is a love story in every sense of the word. It's obviously a romance, but Neelu's strained relationship with her estranged father and, to some extent, her changing friendships play just as a big a role in the story as the blossoming love story between and Jacob.

Despite my initial misgivings, the romance grew on me rather quickly. The nature of the story's premise basically requires everything to happen quickly, and even though I understood that conceptually, everything about the meet-cute at the pub felt rushed to me. But Naina Kumar quickly won me over. I love how she started to lay the groundwork for what would eventually be the emotional framework for Neelu and Jacob's relationship during their one-night stand. The story definitely had more sex than I'd prefer (which is none,) but I really appreciate the fact that Kumar didn't use their physical attraction as a cop-op but developed a really thoughtful emotional arc for both Neelu and Jacob as well. This could've easily turned into an insta-lust kind of a romance, but instead, it was such a genuine, heartfelt love story in which we got to watch two strangers overcome their fears of loss and rejection and fall in love. The miscommunication throughout the story felt incredibly believable, and while men in kilts (or poets for that matter) have never been my type, Jacob was such a sweet and supportive male lead, I can't help but wonder if I need to reevaluate my stance on bagpipes.

As much as I loved the sweet, soft romance (set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, no less,) I might've liked the other relationships just a little bit more. There's just something so real and honest about the way Naina Kumar creates her characters and has them interact with each other. They didn't play a huge role in the story, but Neelu's relationships with her mom and soon-to-be-step-mom were so heartwarming. I love how Kumar explored the complex dynamic of adult friendships--especially since Neelu is the token single friend whose friends have all moved on to married and mom life--because that's not something I've seen explored much in romance or even fiction. But I really loved the way Neelu's relationship with her dad was handled. It just felt so raw and honest and incredibly human--Neelu's grief, her father's regret, the small glimmers in which you can see how desperately he's trying, and Kumar's refusal to give us pat answers or an easy resolution. She wasn't afraid to delve into the complexities of a being an adult child of divorce with an estranged father and to sit there, and while the story may be fictional, the emotions felt so incredibly real.

and I think that's what make Naina Kumar books so compelling. She writes these stories that capture real, human experiences with such depth and care you can't help but feel something as your eyes sweep across the page even if you don't have a particularly personal connection with anything happening in the story. She crafts characters who are nuanced and manages to strike the right emotional chord every time.

Naina Kumar is officially one of my auto-read authors now (and also one of the authors whose books I'll be rationing because what do you mean there's only one more of her books left for me to read for the first time? 😭) . If you like your romances with layers and emotional complexity (and a little desi flare,) you should definitely check her out!

Thank you Dell Romance for providing the eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kelsie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a mess of a person what the fuck

Thank you to Dell Romance for letting me read and review this book early. All thoughts are my own!!

Naina Kumar writes witty, sexy, and emotionally tender romances, and I love it every time!! This is my second book by Naina, and I really need to go back and read the only I have yet to read. I read this one in almost one sitting, and I really didn’t want to stop reading.

Neelu is my special angel baby who I will protect at all costs. She leaves relationships and friendships before she can be left because she’s trying to protect herself from being hurt like she was when her father left her. She’s driven and smart and so funny, and I really loved her development in this book. She opens up and recognizes that she’s hurting herself by cutting people out preemptively. She works to reconnect with those she previous pushed away, and she’s open to working through her relationship with her dad.

Neelu’s relationship with her dad is so complex and honestly, intense. It was really interesting to see Jacob’s perspective on her father compared to hers. Jacob assumed something about Neelu that was wrong, which leads him to be short and rude to her after they had already built something tender and real. When he learns the truth, he apologizes and makes it up to her and I EAT IT UP EVERY TIME!! Truly one of my favorite romance tropes. I think it’s more involved than that too. I really liked how he was willing to see that Ajit wasn’t as perfect as Jacob wanted him to be. People are complex. Relationships are complex. I really love how Naina wrote this dynamic between the three of them and how it was resolved towards the end.

Jacob’s relationship with grief is a big part of this book as well. It ‘s why he reacts the way he does to Neelu and why he’s hasn’t traveled in years. I love books that talk about grief, and I love that it was the love interest this time. Even though Maggie wasn’t in the book as much as other characters, I really loved the time we did get with her. Her connection to Jacob and Ajit and eventually Neelu, was really sweet.

I really enjoyed the story structure of this book! The way they met, connected, and met each other again was a very interesting set up for their romance, and I loved it so much. I didn’t even have a problem with the third act conflict like I normally do. It was less of a breakup and more of a pause while Neelu worked through her fears and ultimately decided to overcome them with Jacob.

Their romance was very sweet, and there were so many moments that I loved. Like I said above, I really enjoyed the set up for their romance, and I was deeply invested from the start. I think they both see each other in a way that no one else has before. Neelu recognizes that Jacob’s always been the provider and needs someone to care for him for a change. Jacob sees that Neelu needs a steady, constant presence and love, and he gives that to her. They’re very special to me!! They’re also really hot, both together and apart.

Also I really loved that the epilogue was in Jacob’s POV after spending the whole book in Neelu’s POV. He’s such an expressive character, and he communicates very clearly with Neelu. We never really wonder how he feels about her, but it was very sweet to be in his head for a little bit and see it firsthand from him.

I’m dying to get my hands on Naina’s next book, but I will do my best to be patient.

[Kleio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been lamenting the abundance of cheesy bordering on objectifying romance novels set in Scotland and thank goodness for Naina Kumar. This novel is the antidote for all of the shit out there.

Neelu finds herself in Scotland for her estranged father's wedding. She has a one night stand the day she arrives, jet-lagged and exhausted and then draws a mental line under it. There were no names, no ties, no promises. Understandably, she's not happy to see the man in question at her dad's pre wedding reception. Jacob turns out to be part of her father's 'found family.' He's equally horrified to find out that Neelu is Ajit's daughter, who wasn't around to support him during his recent health problems.

Neelu has way too much to drink and goes off on the bride to be about how her dad abandoned her as a child, triggering Maggie to flee the altar. In the days that follow, Ajit, Neelu, and Jacob take a road trip to the isle of Skye, where the couple was supposed to have their honeymoon. Neelu (reality tv producer) and Jacob (professorial Desi Scottish bagpiper/poet-yes the MMC we deserve) have to get past what they think they know about each other to help Ajit find Maggie.

I really can't do this book justice in a review. It was a complete joy to read but it's not light or fluffy like the title or cover art would lead you to believe. It's about grief and loss, two things I do not like to read about, but I still think of this as one of the best books I've read all year. Kumar's novel is about how our childhood experiences shape us profoundly, and how sometimes we have to reexamine these beliefs that have become part of us and see if we can grow and forgive. How it can be heartbreaking but also a gift to see our parents act in ways they weren't capable of when we were young and needed more. The emotional arcs of these characters were so well-developed and human. I loved all of it.

I also loved that this is a diaspora story--about the pain and complexity of being removed from family and culture, and also important things like food and art are to maintaining cultural ties and creating the feeling of home.

Naina Kumar is one of my new favorite authors.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance. All opinions and words are my own.

Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar was my first read from this author, and it completely won me over. I’m already excited to read more and have ordered two of her previous books. This story reminded me why I fell in love with the romance genre in the first place. I laughed, I cried, and I was hooked from the very beginning. If it weren’t for nursing school, I would have finished this in a single sitting because it was hard to focus on anything else. The Scotland setting felt vivid and immersive. And even though I’ve never traveled beyond California’s familiar warmth, the descriptions made the Scottish Highlands feel so real that it was as if I was experiencing them right alongside the characters. What really made this book hit close to home was how thoughtfully it explored relationships in all forms, not just romance. The story dives into evolving friendships, complicated family dynamics, and the quiet self-doubt that can creep in over time. The main character struggles with wondering whether the people she loves, including her father, ever truly cared, and seeing those fears challenged and softened was both emotional and comforting. It also thoughtfully explored the uncertainty of long-distance love and the fear of whether something meaningful can survive across miles. As you get older, life gets busier, priorities shift, and it becomes easier to pull away rather than reach out. This book captured how that hesitation often comes from our own doubts rather than a lack of love on the other side. Watching the main character choose connection anyway felt both validating and hopeful. The emotional tension and yearning between the leads was compelling, the intimate moments felt fresh and natural, and the male lead was genuinely charming without being over-the-top. Neelu and Jacob’s story even made me want to take bigger risks and imagine a bolder future for myself.

Overall, this is a story that will continue to stay with me and one I would happily reread. Very well done.

[Aamira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

When my friend recommended this book to me, I knew I needed to request it ASAP. I’m so glad my request got accepted.

This book took me on an emotional journey. There was so much nuance between Neelu and her estranged father. I felt all of the conflicting feelings that Neelu was experience. That’s a tribute to Kumar’s writing. She hooks you in emotionally until the final scene. This was more than a love story (which I will get into soon). It was an emotional journey of a woman questioning her place in the relationships in her life and coming to terms with her fear of abandonment. It was beautifully portrayed in its rawness and messiness.

From the moment they first met, the chemistry between Neelu and Jacob was palpable. It felt grounded in reality, and reminded me of those special moments in life where you find a deep connection with a stranger that’s meaningful despite the brevity of your relationship. I was rooting for them to find a way to make the impossible circumstances they faced work. Both characters are complex and dealing with very real issues. While both are dealing with fears of abandonment, Jacob’s fear underlies his grief for the loved ones he’s lost. He’s such a brave character. Despite his fear of losing another loved one, he’s honest with Neelu from the very beginning. In fact, the honest communication between the two was so refreshing and welcome. No miscommunication here. I often shy away from first person POV because we only ever get a sense of the romantic interest through the perception of the MC, but this was not the case here at all. We get a very clear sense of who Jacob is and what he feels, and we as readers get to see the complexities of his fears and his loving heart.

This book had me in tears at certain moments and laughing at others. It’s such a wonderfully written story filled with lots of love. You get the sense that Kumar really loved these characters and in a way you can’t help but feel the same way!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m starting this review at the 68% point in my reading. I just have to get some of my thoughts in writing before finishing the book. Yes, the tension and yearning is doing something for me, but the portrayal of grief is doing more. Jacob has encountered profound life changing loss over and over again. As a result, he is quiet, sticks to his routine and is incredibly lonely. Jacob and Neelu meeting when they both, whether they admit it, have closed hearts is so incredibly real.

Finished the book. My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
I’m going to start with what I didn’t like, which wasn’t much. The use of the word “uncle” when Jacob addresses Arjit feels disjointed. Maybe it would make more sense if he called Maggie “aunt,” but he just calls her Maggie. It feels a little forced to establish more of a connection between Arjit and Jacob. I don’t think it’s needed, the two have a close bond and we see it mostly through the way Jacob admires and defends Arjit. One more thing that took me out of the story a bit was the miscommunication trope between Neelu and her mom, because what do you mean she didn’t really know that her mom left her dad and not the other way around… It feels like something a person would know about their parents no matter how young they were when it happened. It’s a topic that would be discussed, especially with such a close relationship as Neelu and her mom have.
Ok, getting to the good stuff. The spice was subtle enough to not detract from the plot, but still incredibly hot, which I appreciate. Everything was giving Ali Hazelwood vibes, the sweet meet cute with the MMC, but nothing felt like it was overly predictable. I live for that.. Arjit and Maggie's storyline was also interesting, I liked their ending and the growth we see within Arjit., the patience he displays while Maggie sorts her feelings... we need that in every man. Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

brb I'm going to go read every Naina Kumar book I can get my hands on.

[Sydni McStravick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possible, slight spoilers!
First of all, thank you to Naina Kumar and Netgalley for the advanced edition of this book.

The premise of this book really got me excited- the main character, Neelu, has a flirty and essentially anonymous one night stand. She then finds herself face to face with the same man.. at her father’s wedding.. where the bride runs away from the alter and goes missing.
Unfortunately for me, this one really just did not hit the mark. What should have been a quick roadtrip up to the north isles of Scotland turned into an unrealistic multi day delayed trip- their RENTAL car had apparent mechanical issues and it became their responsibility to get it fixed at a local auto body shop in the middle of Scotland, which caused a many day delay to get to the assumed location of the missing wife.
Speaking of the missing wife- why did they not even think to check the gravesite/cemetery of her son who had passed away?? My brain can’t understand why no one thought maybe she’d be there when she ran away from the wedding.
Beyond all that, unfortunately the main character truly had no character growth throughout the book. Any time there was conflict (either in her head or actually with the MMC) she deflected by initiating sex (also either in her head or actually with the MMC). Quite literally it felt like all this girl thought about or did was have sex. And I love me some smut, but it felt like too much, was extremely repetitive, and provided no substance to the plot (sex was mentioned, thought about, or happened multiple times nearly every chapter).
I wish Neelu had more growth as a character- she held decades long grudges, never truly apologized for which, and any reconciliation or resolution was extremely rushed and did not come off as meaningful relationship building.
I’m usually such a lover of cheesy/corny romance novels but this one just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay! I’m still thankful I got to read it!

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew we needed a desi bagpiper in our romance roster? Naina Kumar just created the loveliest microtrope, and I’m all here for it. Just a Highland Fling begins with a bold start, with a runaway bride in Scotland. Backtrack to two days earlier when our protagonist Neelu arrives in Aberdeen, and sparks fly when she meets Jacob on a rainy day in a pub. The two share a uniquely sweet and intimate time together, but little do they know they’ll both be attending Neelu’s father’s wedding that weekend. That’s where their connection becomes muddied by pre-conceived notions and complex family dynamics.
This novel does a great job balancing tough topics, such as complicated parent relationships, acknowledging different types of grief, and difficulties of navigating adult friendship. Naina Kumar is also endlessly funny in the book’s situational humor and her hot takes on kilts and bagpipes. I am also just a huge fan of our FMC Neelu: her straightforwardness, her compassion, how she works to deal with the complex grief in her life. Jacob, our MMC, is a bagpiping nerdy sweetheart who has so much love to give. The two complement each other so well in their differences, and their chemistry is sincerely been one of my romance faves.
The initial conflicts were primarily based on assumptions and misunderstandings, but it made sense to me considering the complicated history of our characters. The dialogue is written in such a natural-sounding manner than the characters truly felt real to me. While the final act of the novel felt a tad slow and repetitive, I appreciated the mental hurdles the characters had to go through to choose their own happiness.
Overall I adored this story about love and family, and overcoming fears. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves exploring new countries and loves an Emily Henry-level sweet and deep romance.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Naina Kumar for the ARC!

What a hot start! Our story begins with a one night stand between two strangers. What begins as an instant flame quickly melts into disaster. Our FMC is visiting Scotland to attend her estranged father’s wedding. While stumbling into town she comes across a cute ‘brain’ and brings him back to her hotel room for the night. The next day the pair unexpectedly reunite at her father’s wedding and let’s just say things don’t go well and second impressions fail hard.

Our FMC’s father is left at the altar by a run-away bride.The trio embark on a trip from Aberdeen to Isle of Skye to find the bride, and the road to redemption for the three is anything but smooth. Between a car breakdown, getting stuck in a herd of sheep, and complicated relationships, emotions are heated.

Neelu, our FMC, and Jacob, our FMC are both delightful. The characters are written in such a realistic way. While Neelu and Jacob initially can’t see eye to eye, they realize the magnetism between them as time goes on. They help each other work through variations of grief and connect on an empathetic level.

When Neelu and her father began the process of rebuilding their relationship, tears welled up in my eyes. It was a series of tender moments. What I truly appreciated here was how Kumar showed true human emotion. There was no instant forgiveness or resolution, but a build of understanding and trust over time.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Just a Highland Fling.’ It’s a solid romance novel made unique with Kumar’s heritage shining through the characters and nuanced family relationships. The ‘happy ever after’ was expected, but the amount of love and light-hearted humor surrounding difficult topics was not. I absolutely recommend ‘Just a Highland Fling’ as well as Naina Kumar’s other books.

[AmyNsReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to a 5 since I can’t do halves.

This had me shedding tears pretty early. It gripped me from the start and Naina brought out all the emotions every step of the way - I loved the characters so much!

Premise:
Neela shows up last minute to her estranged father’s wedding but has a one night stand with a handsome but brainy guy at the pub ahead chooses to keep anonymous. She runs in to him at the wedding rehearsal and he is very close with her father and bride to be, Maggie. Then she has too much to drink and says things to the bride that makes her run and leaves dad at the altar, which makes her one night stand man then on her. In an attempt to help the situation, she helps drive her dad and her one night stand on an adventure to find Maggie. As they all work through their fears and anger of the past, there’s still a heat between the two that stays under the surface (or does it)??

The chemistry and the tension - oooohhh can you feel it!! I love the way that they can’t get enough of each other physically but they connect on such an intellectual and emotional level which is beautiful to see. To have someone see you as you are, accept joy, support you, and fearlessly fight for you is a blessing in this life beyond words. Sprinkle in some yummy Indian food, food as a love language, found family, late in life romance, and we have a beautiful romance! Real love is sacrificial, is wishing the best for the other, for appreciating the things the other loves, sitting with the other even if they just have to cry, and also saying some of the hard things you each have to hear. There were so many great things - highly recommend! We need more diversity in romance books!

[Savannah Fernelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine, and Naina Kumar for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into Just a Highland Fling genuinely excited because I’d previously read Naina Kumar’s sophomore novel, Flirting with Disaster, and really enjoyed how straightforward and refreshing her writing felt. Her voice there was clean, accessible, and emotionally grounded, exactly the kind of rom-com style that works for me.

This time around, though, the execution didn’t quite land as smoothly. The biggest issue for me was the punctuation and syntax. It felt like every other sentence had the FMC and MMC stumbling over their words, and while I understand that can sometimes be used to convey nerves or chemistry, here it became distracting. Instead of feeling charming or organic, the constant interruptions in dialogue pulled me out of the story and made reading feel more tedious than it needed to be.

The plot also dragged more than I expected. The premise is fun and I was fully on board at the start, but as the story went on, the pacing slowed enough that it risked losing the initial momentum that hooked me in the first place. A bit of tightening in the middle would have gone a long way in keeping the energy consistent.

That said, there’s still a lot to like here. Kumar clearly knows how to craft appealing characters and a romantic setup that should work, and often does. While Just a Highland Fling didn’t quite match the ease and flow I loved in Flirting with Disaster, it’s still an enjoyable read overall, just one that could’ve benefited from sharper editing and a leaner plot.