What do you think?
Rate this book
Just a Highland Fling
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.
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.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Naina Kumar
5 books863 followersNaina 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
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
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
July 23, 2026
What more could you want from a romance than Scotland, a bespectacled man in a kilt who plays bagpipes and writes poems, oodles of cute sheep, and a forced proximity roadtrip? Naina Kumar is the master of the strange situations that force two characters into contact, where the settings almost scream at them to get together and find a way to make it work. Be it a freak storm entrapping a husband and wife veering for divorce, to this—a wedding in Scotland turned highland roadtrip between two different wedding guests who hooked up the night before, Kumar has done it all. Just A Highland Fling is an extension of Kumar’s razor sharp dynamics and settings that were so on display with her previous novel. Here, the wilds of Scotland mirror the emotions of our couple, the ones buried so deep it takes a break in routine to break ground (runaway bride to blame). Neelu and Jacob’s bond in an Aberdeen pub steps out into the harsh reality of familial discord and grief. If they can surmount the physical distance of their homes, fear of failure presents the greater battle. Just A Highland Fling is a true romance showstopper, and not just because its love interest is constantly carrying around bagpipes at the ready, armed with an incredible sweater collection. It’s Kumar’s multi-faceted characters that are acknowledged for their strengths and their flaws, and the romance that finds a steady beat in the most unlikely places, on and off the road.
July 27, 2026
This book came HIGHLY recommended to me and I’ve gotta say 100% worth the hype! It’s the perfect mix of funny moments and moments that’ll leave you bawling!
Neelu and Jacob had such amazing chemistry and I loved the chemistry between them. They’re both such incredibly done characters with thought out backstories that when they do something you can understand why they did it.
I loved how much focus was put on the family drama and dynamics. Neelu’s relationship with her dad is so interesting! I loved seeing the contrast of how he acted with Neelu vs how he was with Jacob and Maggie. They’re both such drama is in this book is so good and makes it unputdownable!
I highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for an amazing read that may or may not include men in kilts 👀
Read if you like:
Forced proximity
Road trip
He wears glasses
Complicated family dynamics
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Neelu and Jacob had such amazing chemistry and I loved the chemistry between them. They’re both such incredibly done characters with thought out backstories that when they do something you can understand why they did it.
I loved how much focus was put on the family drama and dynamics. Neelu’s relationship with her dad is so interesting! I loved seeing the contrast of how he acted with Neelu vs how he was with Jacob and Maggie. They’re both such drama is in this book is so good and makes it unputdownable!
I highly recommend picking this up if you’re looking for an amazing read that may or may not include men in kilts 👀
Read if you like:
Forced proximity
Road trip
He wears glasses
Complicated family dynamics
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 7, 2026
✨ Rating: 3.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: roadtripping and fixing relationships
🎶 Song: castle on the hill - ed sheeran
📖 Favourite Quote: "I want all of it. I want all of it with you."
📚 Would I recommend? yes
💬 tldr thoughts: loved the setting of this book but the romance fell a little flat
In the package:
📦 one night stand
📦 roadtrip/forced proximity
📦 he writes poetry for her
Plot: Neelu is in Scotland to attend her estransged father’s wedding. She has a one night stand before the wedding, only to realize Jacob is the bagpiper at the wedding. Her tipsy tirade at the rehearsal dinner is the reason her father gets left at the altar and now she, Jacob and her father try to track down the runaway bride.
Thoughts: I asbolutely adored the vibes and the setting of this book but the romance between Neelu and Jacob didn’t completely pull me in. It felt very physical for a majority of the book and a bit repetitive as they always tried to avoid conflict by “not talking about it”. I think the true gem of this story is Neelu’s fractured relationship with her father. I loved seeing them confront their issues and how this affected Neelu’s relationship with Jacob. I think the forgiveness felt natural and the author demonstrated how much lack of communication and estrangement can affect someone in all aspects of life. Also Jacob wears glasses and writes poetry for Neelu so 🤭
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: roadtripping and fixing relationships
🎶 Song: castle on the hill - ed sheeran
📖 Favourite Quote: "I want all of it. I want all of it with you."
📚 Would I recommend? yes
💬 tldr thoughts: loved the setting of this book but the romance fell a little flat
In the package:
📦 one night stand
📦 roadtrip/forced proximity
📦 he writes poetry for her
Plot: Neelu is in Scotland to attend her estransged father’s wedding. She has a one night stand before the wedding, only to realize Jacob is the bagpiper at the wedding. Her tipsy tirade at the rehearsal dinner is the reason her father gets left at the altar and now she, Jacob and her father try to track down the runaway bride.
Thoughts: I asbolutely adored the vibes and the setting of this book but the romance between Neelu and Jacob didn’t completely pull me in. It felt very physical for a majority of the book and a bit repetitive as they always tried to avoid conflict by “not talking about it”. I think the true gem of this story is Neelu’s fractured relationship with her father. I loved seeing them confront their issues and how this affected Neelu’s relationship with Jacob. I think the forgiveness felt natural and the author demonstrated how much lack of communication and estrangement can affect someone in all aspects of life. Also Jacob wears glasses and writes poetry for Neelu so 🤭
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
July 12, 2026
3 1/2 🌟 rounded up
This is a lovely story about finding unexpected love and connection with both a new acquaintance and an absent father. The cover is deceiving as this is not a silly rom-com. This is a story that is quite heartfelt at times about the damage that divorce and estrangement can do to the relationship between a father and daughter and how poor communication and lack of trust make that chasm almost irreparable. It also speaks to the impacts of abandonment and how that influences a person’s ability to trust again.
The writing here is very good and the story line was touching and believable. The main events occur over just a couple of weeks when Neelu returns to Scotland for this first time since her childhood to attend her father’s wedding. The event brings back all of the unfinished and painful residuals of Neelu’s parent’s divorce and her subsequent move to the US and separation from her father. Amidst all of that, she meets and connects with Jacob, a friend of her father’s, and must confront all of her personal demons around relationships and commitment.
I really enjoyed this book. The pace was slow and I did become frustrated by the ongoing poor communication between Neelu and her father. However, the nicely developed connection between Neelu and Jacob and their personal and collective growth was gently handled and well done. I liked the broad array of culture in the story - Indian, US, Scottish!
Overall a sweet story with eloquent writing. I will look for more by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC and share my thoughts!
This is a lovely story about finding unexpected love and connection with both a new acquaintance and an absent father. The cover is deceiving as this is not a silly rom-com. This is a story that is quite heartfelt at times about the damage that divorce and estrangement can do to the relationship between a father and daughter and how poor communication and lack of trust make that chasm almost irreparable. It also speaks to the impacts of abandonment and how that influences a person’s ability to trust again.
The writing here is very good and the story line was touching and believable. The main events occur over just a couple of weeks when Neelu returns to Scotland for this first time since her childhood to attend her father’s wedding. The event brings back all of the unfinished and painful residuals of Neelu’s parent’s divorce and her subsequent move to the US and separation from her father. Amidst all of that, she meets and connects with Jacob, a friend of her father’s, and must confront all of her personal demons around relationships and commitment.
I really enjoyed this book. The pace was slow and I did become frustrated by the ongoing poor communication between Neelu and her father. However, the nicely developed connection between Neelu and Jacob and their personal and collective growth was gently handled and well done. I liked the broad array of culture in the story - Indian, US, Scottish!
Overall a sweet story with eloquent writing. I will look for more by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC and share my thoughts!
August 2, 2026
4.75 but 5 for good reads!
This was SO freaking good!
UPDATE:
Yesterday when I finished the book, I was so tired that writing a review was not a good idea. I am not the best with words so imagine if I tried to write something under the influence of sleep deprivation. And while I am still bad at this, I wouldn't have made the book justice so this is take two.
I've previously read Naina's debut and it was cute but it was not my favorite, which is why I didn't think of picking this one up. BUT, I saw people whose reviews and taste I trust raving about this book that I decided to give it a shot. I AM SO GLAD I DID. This book was AMAZING, and everything I want with books that start off with a one night stand. MATURE, layered, COMMUNICATIVE leads, that have INTIMACY rather than just sex. Jacob and Neelu were such wonderful main characters. I adored their chemistry and banter. Their individual struggles and fears made them feel real and even more lovable.
MY ONLYYYYYYYYYY critique is that I wished we had a bit more resolution with Neelu's dad. I understand, it takes time (which is why is a minor critique) but I wish I saw some of it in the epilogue. But other than that, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. IMMEDIATELY!
This was SO freaking good!
UPDATE:
Yesterday when I finished the book, I was so tired that writing a review was not a good idea. I am not the best with words so imagine if I tried to write something under the influence of sleep deprivation. And while I am still bad at this, I wouldn't have made the book justice so this is take two.
I've previously read Naina's debut and it was cute but it was not my favorite, which is why I didn't think of picking this one up. BUT, I saw people whose reviews and taste I trust raving about this book that I decided to give it a shot. I AM SO GLAD I DID. This book was AMAZING, and everything I want with books that start off with a one night stand. MATURE, layered, COMMUNICATIVE leads, that have INTIMACY rather than just sex. Jacob and Neelu were such wonderful main characters. I adored their chemistry and banter. Their individual struggles and fears made them feel real and even more lovable.
MY ONLYYYYYYYYYY critique is that I wished we had a bit more resolution with Neelu's dad. I understand, it takes time (which is why is a minor critique) but I wish I saw some of it in the epilogue. But other than that, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. IMMEDIATELY!
January 26, 2026
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".
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".
May 23, 2026
An easy, good read that kept me entertained and that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The ending dragged on for me, and we all know third act breakups are NOT my thing, but besides that I would consider this a five star read.
The ending dragged on for me, and we all know third act breakups are NOT my thing, but besides that I would consider this a five star read.
July 25, 2026
4.5⭐
I flew through this in a single sitting and this is my favorite Naina Kumar book to date!! Just a Highland Fling follows Neelu who goes to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding. The night before she meets a guy in a bar and they instantly hit it off. The chemistry and conversation was effortless between them throughout their night together so Neelu gets the shock of her life the next day when she discovers that said man is connected to her estranged father. The wedding doesn’t go to plan they agree to work together to get it back on track.
They embark on a road trip to fix this wedding and it was so fun!! Neelu was such a wonderful character to follow and I related to her heavily. Her vulnerability when talking about feeling left behind and repairing the relationship with her dad really got to me and had me crying in moments reading. Jacob was such a sweet soul. He had his own things to work on in this story but still was there to comfort Neelu. The tension between them was perfect, their personalities matched so well, and he writes poetry for her!!! I cannot recommend this book enough, such a great read!!
Than you to Ballantine| Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!!
I flew through this in a single sitting and this is my favorite Naina Kumar book to date!! Just a Highland Fling follows Neelu who goes to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding. The night before she meets a guy in a bar and they instantly hit it off. The chemistry and conversation was effortless between them throughout their night together so Neelu gets the shock of her life the next day when she discovers that said man is connected to her estranged father. The wedding doesn’t go to plan they agree to work together to get it back on track.
They embark on a road trip to fix this wedding and it was so fun!! Neelu was such a wonderful character to follow and I related to her heavily. Her vulnerability when talking about feeling left behind and repairing the relationship with her dad really got to me and had me crying in moments reading. Jacob was such a sweet soul. He had his own things to work on in this story but still was there to comfort Neelu. The tension between them was perfect, their personalities matched so well, and he writes poetry for her!!! I cannot recommend this book enough, such a great read!!
Than you to Ballantine| Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!!
April 23, 2026
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!
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!
January 15, 2026
Bring back writing poetry for loved ones. MORE POETRY IN 2026!
July 20, 2026
Thank you @dellromance for the digital copy to review and to @nkumarwrites for once again making tears leak out of my eyeballs.
No one is writing romance like Naina and I mean that as a compliment. Every single book I’m more impressed and this one? Definitely her best work yet.
Neelu decides to attend her father’s wedding, though they haven’t spoken much in years. When she gets to Scotland, she meets a man and has a one night stand the day before the rehearsal dinner. It’s perfect. And she doesn’t think she’ll see him again… til he’s also at the rehearsal dinner. Phewwww baby do sparks fly between these two.
Sizzling chemistry. The banter and teasing made me laugh. Jacob was sooooooo down bad the whole time. And Neelu? She’s just trying to figure out how to fix the mess she helped make. There’s forced proximity. Only one bed. Longing looks, sneaky kisses, secret confessions, and beautiful moments of tension. Everything I love in romance.
The familial relationships were absolutely wonderful and made this an even more dynamic read. Learning about each person’s past made me understand their actions more. The last few chapters and the epilogue had tears streaming down my face. Naina doesn’t miss!!!
Please pick this one up or request from your library. It’s so good!!!!
No one is writing romance like Naina and I mean that as a compliment. Every single book I’m more impressed and this one? Definitely her best work yet.
Neelu decides to attend her father’s wedding, though they haven’t spoken much in years. When she gets to Scotland, she meets a man and has a one night stand the day before the rehearsal dinner. It’s perfect. And she doesn’t think she’ll see him again… til he’s also at the rehearsal dinner. Phewwww baby do sparks fly between these two.
Sizzling chemistry. The banter and teasing made me laugh. Jacob was sooooooo down bad the whole time. And Neelu? She’s just trying to figure out how to fix the mess she helped make. There’s forced proximity. Only one bed. Longing looks, sneaky kisses, secret confessions, and beautiful moments of tension. Everything I love in romance.
The familial relationships were absolutely wonderful and made this an even more dynamic read. Learning about each person’s past made me understand their actions more. The last few chapters and the epilogue had tears streaming down my face. Naina doesn’t miss!!!
Please pick this one up or request from your library. It’s so good!!!!
July 23, 2026
Spicy, quick to the punch, amazing scenery (big Scotland lover here). I was hooked from the beginning and was into Neelu’s story from page 1!
August 3, 2026
A bag pipping poet x bug eating tv producer, was equally hilarious and emotional. A father - daughter fixing their estranged relationship and a FMC learning to keep the people she loves close to her. Beautifully done!
Thank you to Ballantine - Dell & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Ballantine - Dell & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 29, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
July 24, 2026
This is the kind of book that will leave a grin on your face the entire time you are reading it! Just a Highland Fling is wholesome, healing, and deliciously spicy. Jacob has officially earned a spot on my book boyfriend list because apparently a nerdy poetry professor is exactly my type. Neelu’s character arc was honestly chef’s kiss. All of her thoughts, emotions, and reactions felt so real, making it easy to connect with her character. I absolutely adored how naturally the chemistry between Neelu and Jacob built up; I just kept thinking, “this man is perfect.” Can we also talk about the torturous tension?! Naina Kumar really knows how to draw out even the smallest of swoon-worthy moments, and the suffering was 100% worth it! This was such an addictive read, and I easily finished it in one day. Just a Highland Fling gets ALL the stars, 10/10 recommend.
Thank you so much to Ballentine | Dell for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you so much to Ballentine | Dell for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
July 30, 2026
Listened to the audiobook. Hooked from the start. Wept at the grocery store. Loved it.
July 26, 2026
Naina has done it again with the perfect heartfelt romance that had me glued to the pages!!!!! I loved every single part of this book.
July 27, 2026
Naina Kumar's best (and horniest) book yet!
The chemistry between Neelu and Jacob made me giddy from the very beginning of this book- Jacob is PEAK fictional man, he goes to therapy, writes poetry, and even wears slutty little glasses. If you're also into men in kilts, you're absolutely done for.
Naina writes real, nuanced characters so well. They always feel fully fleshed out- complete with trauma and backstories that shape who they are and how they react. This book made me laugh out loud and cry tears of both joy and sadness. I loved every minute of it.
Thanks so much to Dell for this eARC!!
The chemistry between Neelu and Jacob made me giddy from the very beginning of this book- Jacob is PEAK fictional man, he goes to therapy, writes poetry, and even wears slutty little glasses. If you're also into men in kilts, you're absolutely done for.
Naina writes real, nuanced characters so well. They always feel fully fleshed out- complete with trauma and backstories that shape who they are and how they react. This book made me laugh out loud and cry tears of both joy and sadness. I loved every minute of it.
Thanks so much to Dell for this eARC!!
August 7, 2026
The freaking insta-lust in this book and the way it turned, WAS a ride! From the moment they met I was hooked on Neelu and Jacob’s as individual characters and as a couple! The is a way Naina Kumar rights that just speaks to me in all her books, the way she writes and tells us a story, I am hooked! Because we always have in these books this big and emotional moments and struggles but how she tells us and resolves them pieces by pieces is truly magical, because yeah they feel heavy, but they also feel light and magical! Neelu in this story is struggling with abandonment issues from her estranged father, Jacob is a man who been hurt by so much loss and is doing everything he can to keep what he has together. One wild moment tears them apart, but the road & road trip they take to try and fix that moment truly brought them together and I loved that for these characters! Thank you Naina for your work and for bringing you and your culture to us readers in such a beautiful way. As a Latina who loves to celebrate her culture in different ways some loud and big some subtle and meaningful, I see that in your work and appreciate it!
January 8, 2026
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!
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!
July 22, 2026
Synopsis: Neelu meets an attractive man in a bar on her trip to Scotland to attend her estranged father’s wedding, but she never expects to see him again. Jacob was meant to be a one night fling, but when he shows up at the wedding and ends up on a road trip through the highlands with Neelu and her father chasing down her father’s runaway bride, it becomes something much more.
Thoughts: Give me any book set in Scotland and I am immediately obsessed. I really loved this fun romp through the Highlands. There was a good balance of fun and tender moments as they travel through the charming countryside. I am not normally a big fan of the one night stand or insta-love trope, but Neelu and Jacob had enough challenges and ups and downs to make their relationship progression feel earned. I also have to talk about how much I loved Jacob…glasses, a cardigan, a kilt, bagpipes AND he writes her poetry?! Are you kidding me?! Anyway, this is a super cute book and you should read it!
Read this if you like:
🏴 Scotland
🏴 one night stand
🏴 road trip
🏴 forced proximity
🏴 family drama
Thoughts: Give me any book set in Scotland and I am immediately obsessed. I really loved this fun romp through the Highlands. There was a good balance of fun and tender moments as they travel through the charming countryside. I am not normally a big fan of the one night stand or insta-love trope, but Neelu and Jacob had enough challenges and ups and downs to make their relationship progression feel earned. I also have to talk about how much I loved Jacob…glasses, a cardigan, a kilt, bagpipes AND he writes her poetry?! Are you kidding me?! Anyway, this is a super cute book and you should read it!
Read this if you like:
🏴 Scotland
🏴 one night stand
🏴 road trip
🏴 forced proximity
🏴 family drama
July 28, 2026
This was everything I hoped for and more. I've really enjoyed Naina Kumar's other books (and I highly recommend you read those too if you haven't yet). I always enjoy stories with a Scottish setting, and Just a Highland Fling did not disappoint in this regards. I actually could not put the book down and zoomed through it because it was such an enjoyable read.
Jacob is such a lovely professorial character, who wears glasses! He has so much love and caring for those he loves, and seeing him with the other characters in the book really showcases what a gem of a character he is. He has so much speaking for him: nerdy, intelligent, hot, wears glasses, is a genuinely decent person. I'm definitely a fan.
I also really love Neelu. She is also a caring and giving character, and she is also incredibly competent and creative. Watching her grow and receive a measure of love and healing she really needed, was so satisfying to read. I liked how she doesn't give up and really tries to see life from different perspectives, even if she doesn't always initially understand exactly how it will play out. Watching her trying to heal her relationship with her dad was really beautiful, and so well written.
The sub plot with Neelu's dad, the ensuing road trip which forces Neelu and Jacob into forced proximity, was really excellent. Each step of the trip allowed all the characters to grow closer together and allowed the romance to bloom, as well as start to resolve Neelu and her dad's understanding of each other. I also really enjoyed all the family moments.
The ending and epilogue were also so satisfying. It is definitely one of my favourites for this year. If you like contemporary romance with depth and humour, I highly recommend this unputdownable book.
Jacob is such a lovely professorial character, who wears glasses! He has so much love and caring for those he loves, and seeing him with the other characters in the book really showcases what a gem of a character he is. He has so much speaking for him: nerdy, intelligent, hot, wears glasses, is a genuinely decent person. I'm definitely a fan.
I also really love Neelu. She is also a caring and giving character, and she is also incredibly competent and creative. Watching her grow and receive a measure of love and healing she really needed, was so satisfying to read. I liked how she doesn't give up and really tries to see life from different perspectives, even if she doesn't always initially understand exactly how it will play out. Watching her trying to heal her relationship with her dad was really beautiful, and so well written.
The sub plot with Neelu's dad, the ensuing road trip which forces Neelu and Jacob into forced proximity, was really excellent. Each step of the trip allowed all the characters to grow closer together and allowed the romance to bloom, as well as start to resolve Neelu and her dad's understanding of each other. I also really enjoyed all the family moments.
The ending and epilogue were also so satisfying. It is definitely one of my favourites for this year. If you like contemporary romance with depth and humour, I highly recommend this unputdownable book.
July 23, 2026
A lovely story set across Scotland about two people learning to accept and find love after loss - and how those losses make them view the world and the way others handle what they assume to be similar circumstances! A sweet story of a daughter balancing her feelings for her father between past memories and current experience! An emotional journey for a man who lost a family, gained a family, and almost lost the new family!
Naina Kumar writes so beautifully and continues to find complex dynamics to explore in her romances, I’ll be here as she keeps putting them out to see what she does next! Thanks so much to the author and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Naina Kumar writes so beautifully and continues to find complex dynamics to explore in her romances, I’ll be here as she keeps putting them out to see what she does next! Thanks so much to the author and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2026
Maybe like 4.25? This was so good!!! I love a grief book!! I love Neelu and Jacob so much, their particular traumas and hang ups made the development of their relationship and the many obstacles so realistic and understandable. It was so lovely how they grew throughout the book.
I had some minor issues with pacing near the end, and it was a little repetitive near the end (and the unrealistic depiction of someone walking into an optometrist with no prescription and leaving with glasses ten mins later) but otherwise loved this. I couldn’t put it down, I can’t remember the last time I finished a romance so quickly! I’ve also been in a contemp romance slump lately bc they have all been sucking!!! So im so glad I finally found a good one
I had some minor issues with pacing near the end, and it was a little repetitive near the end (and the unrealistic depiction of someone walking into an optometrist with no prescription and leaving with glasses ten mins later) but otherwise loved this. I couldn’t put it down, I can’t remember the last time I finished a romance so quickly! I’ve also been in a contemp romance slump lately bc they have all been sucking!!! So im so glad I finally found a good one
February 13, 2026
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
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
February 19, 2026
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)
June 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, because I adored it. It was heartfelt and funny and shockingly deep and beautiful and spicy and just the perfect summer Scottish trip.
July 27, 2026
I absolutely loved Just a Highland Fling, a really great standalone that has an emotional family drama plotline as well as a romance for FMC Neelu. The prologue starts in the midst of the action with a runaway bride, before chapter one moves into the main characters' earlier meet cute which is quite sweet and emotional, even while they're getting into what they think is a one-night stand.
The relationship arc with Neelu and her estranged father develops gradually alongside the romance between Neelu and Jacob, and the two plotlines worked so well with each other. The relationships between all of the characters felt unique, nuanced and realistic, which really made me connect to them all. The last hour and a half of the audiobook was so emotional and I definitely teared up! The single narration was excellent too, with Soneela Nankani doing an incredible job with the various international accents! I just enjoyed it so much!
The relationship arc with Neelu and her estranged father develops gradually alongside the romance between Neelu and Jacob, and the two plotlines worked so well with each other. The relationships between all of the characters felt unique, nuanced and realistic, which really made me connect to them all. The last hour and a half of the audiobook was so emotional and I definitely teared up! The single narration was excellent too, with Soneela Nankani doing an incredible job with the various international accents! I just enjoyed it so much!
August 8, 2026
What’s not to love?!? Definitely lived up to my expectations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews