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Just a Highland Fling: A Novel
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.
Audible Audio
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Naina Kumar
3 books882 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.
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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 616 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 ⋆ ೀ ⋆
September 13, 2026
"You would have loved her"-- I am in actual TEARS. I hope Naina Kumar at least kissed that brick before she decided to throw it at me and ruin my day. No, actually this book was incredible, like a combination of Leap Year and Runaway Bride, and even though it opens with what we think is going to be a one-night stand, it's one of those unforgettable love stories that doesn't just show a romance, but a snapshot of who two people REALLY are at their core and what is going to make them work out with each other for the long-haul.
Neelu is a reality TV producer who's in Scotland to see her estranged father get married. She also finds out that the guy she hooked up with is a close family friend of the bride (her dead son was his best friend). It's a surprise when finding out about this makes him cold to her. And it's a cold shock when her angry, embittered confession to her new stepmother makes her abandon her own wedding, leaving her father at the altar. Duty-bound to fix this, with the deadline of a new show hanging over her head, Neelu ends up on the worst of all possible road trips, with her father and her bagpiper poet professor hookup, Jacob.
It's been a while since I related to a book this aggressively. First, I used to live in Scotland and Kumar captures everything about it that made it such a glorious place to be. I miss it more every day (especially now). I also loved both leads. Neelu, because I feel like her trauma is so relatable, and sometimes it's hard for us to process how are parents are different people with other people, and we don't always get their best side as their children. And Jacob, because he has been so powerfully touched and affected by loss, and it's hard to move past grief like that and learn to love people despite risking losing them.
This was such a smartly written, sensitive, and thoughtful romance and I loved every second. I am definitely going to have to check out all her other books because this one is a new fave.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
4.5 stars
Neelu is a reality TV producer who's in Scotland to see her estranged father get married. She also finds out that the guy she hooked up with is a close family friend of the bride (her dead son was his best friend). It's a surprise when finding out about this makes him cold to her. And it's a cold shock when her angry, embittered confession to her new stepmother makes her abandon her own wedding, leaving her father at the altar. Duty-bound to fix this, with the deadline of a new show hanging over her head, Neelu ends up on the worst of all possible road trips, with her father and her bagpiper poet professor hookup, Jacob.
It's been a while since I related to a book this aggressively. First, I used to live in Scotland and Kumar captures everything about it that made it such a glorious place to be. I miss it more every day (especially now). I also loved both leads. Neelu, because I feel like her trauma is so relatable, and sometimes it's hard for us to process how are parents are different people with other people, and we don't always get their best side as their children. And Jacob, because he has been so powerfully touched and affected by loss, and it's hard to move past grief like that and learn to love people despite risking losing them.
This was such a smartly written, sensitive, and thoughtful romance and I loved every second. I am definitely going to have to check out all her other books because this one is a new fave.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
4.5 stars
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!
August 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ slutty little glasses and a kilt? SOLD
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".
March 22, 2026
I was really looking forward to reading "Just a Highland Fling" mostly because I love anything set in Scotland, and I thought it would be such a fun, cozy read. The setting definitely delivered, but the story itself didn’t fully work for me.
A lot of it felt repetitive, and I kept waiting for something bigger to happen, but it never really got there. The romance was also kind of lacking. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the main characters beyond the physical side of things, and that made it hard to really get invested in them. At times, it also felt like every guy Neelu met was immediately into her, and wanted to sleep with her.
One thing I did really like was getting to see parts of Indian culture and Neelu’s relationship with her dad. The way Ajit’s choices affected their dynamic, and how they slowly started to reconnect, was probably the most interesting part for me.
Overall, I just wish the book had gone a little deeper, especially with the emotional parts and the relationship itself. It had a lot going for it, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
A lot of it felt repetitive, and I kept waiting for something bigger to happen, but it never really got there. The romance was also kind of lacking. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the main characters beyond the physical side of things, and that made it hard to really get invested in them. At times, it also felt like every guy Neelu met was immediately into her, and wanted to sleep with her.
One thing I did really like was getting to see parts of Indian culture and Neelu’s relationship with her dad. The way Ajit’s choices affected their dynamic, and how they slowly started to reconnect, was probably the most interesting part for me.
Overall, I just wish the book had gone a little deeper, especially with the emotional parts and the relationship itself. It had a lot going for it, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
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!!
August 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Audio was great! This was a fun story but yeesh the miscommunication between the main character and her father was so frustrating. The romance between her and Jacob was very heartwarming (and steamy!).
Audio was great! This was a fun story but yeesh the miscommunication between the main character and her father was so frustrating. The romance between her and Jacob was very heartwarming (and steamy!).
August 18, 2026
this was fine! too many daddy issues! #triggered
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!!!!
August 17, 2026
Neelu Pillai has a rocky relationship with her father, so it's a surprise even to her that she finds herself traveling from LA to Scotland for his wedding. She meets a handsome desi stranger at a bar, and sensing the chemistry she takes a risk, knowing she'll never see him again. Until she discovers he's also a guest at the wedding. Where there was once chemistry, there is now skepticism and mistrust, which only grows worse when the bride runs away from the wedding. Neelu, Jacob, and Neelu's father embark on a road trip chasing Maggie, who is like a second mother to Jacob, to Skye, to try to salvage the wedding.
Just a Highland Fling is a very sweet, sexy contemporary desi romance set in Scotland. It hits all the right beats: the romance is excellent, the conflict is realistic, and Neelu's relationship with her father is very well explored. It both kept me entertained and touched on deeper emotions. I'm picky about my contemporary romances, but Just a Highland Fling hit all the right notes for me, and I'll certainly pick up more of Kumar's writing in the future.
Just a Highland Fling is a very sweet, sexy contemporary desi romance set in Scotland. It hits all the right beats: the romance is excellent, the conflict is realistic, and Neelu's relationship with her father is very well explored. It both kept me entertained and touched on deeper emotions. I'm picky about my contemporary romances, but Just a Highland Fling hit all the right notes for me, and I'll certainly pick up more of Kumar's writing in the future.
August 24, 2026
3.5 stars
“‘I think you overestimate how many women are into bag-piping poets,’ Jacob says. ‘And you clearly underestimate them!’”
Cute little story featuring MCs from the Indian diaspora and set mostly in Scotland. It was a little slow-paced for me, and at times the characters made comments that were ridiculous considering they’d only known each other for a week or two, but lines like that always stand out to me in “instalove” stories.
“‘I think you overestimate how many women are into bag-piping poets,’ Jacob says. ‘And you clearly underestimate them!’”
Cute little story featuring MCs from the Indian diaspora and set mostly in Scotland. It was a little slow-paced for me, and at times the characters made comments that were ridiculous considering they’d only known each other for a week or two, but lines like that always stand out to me in “instalove” stories.
June 6, 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 24, 2026
I genuinely don’t know how to review Just a Highland Fling without starting with a disclaimer: this is not a book for girls with complicated relationships with their fathers. Because apparently I chose the absolute wrong moment in my life to read a romance centered around an estranged daughter, her emotionally complicated father, and the man who decides to take the father’s side. I was not prepared. I was, in fact, completely triggered.
The premise is admittedly irresistible. Neelu Pillai travels to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding, hoping to survive the festivities and get back home with minimal emotional damage. Before the wedding, she has a no-strings-attached one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger. Naturally, because romance novels enjoy watching us suffer, she discovers that the stranger is Jacob Cherian, a bagpipe-playing literature professor who is part of the wedding party—and someone who knows her father rather well.
Things go spectacularly wrong when Neelu, after a few too many drinks, tells her father’s bride-to-be exactly how she feels about her father and the years of neglect she believes she suffered. The bride gets cold feet and runs away, leaving Neelu, her father, and Jacob to embark on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands in pursuit of the runaway bride. And yes, this means forced proximity, unresolved sexual tension, gorgeous scenery, emotional baggage, and eventually the inevitable realization that maybe that one-night stand wasn't quite as casual as either of them wanted to believe.
On paper, I should have eaten this alive.
Neelu is actually a character I found incredibly compelling. She’s prickly, funny, wounded, ambitious, and very clearly carrying around years of resentment that she has never properly unpacked. Her relationship with her father is the emotional heart of the novel, and I appreciated that Kumar doesn’t make it simple. Neelu has every reason to be angry, but adulthood has a funny way of forcing you to confront the fact that your parents are complicated, flawed human beings rather than the monsters or heroes you imagined them to be.
Her father, however, made me want to crawl out of my own skin.
And then there is Jacob.
Fuck Jacob.
I am sorry, but I have never wanted to slap a book character more.
Jacob begins as this sexy, nerdy, bespectacled Scottish Desi poetry professor with a bagpipe and apparently enough sexual chemistry to set the Highlands on fire. The attraction between him and Neelu is supposed to be explosive, and I absolutely understand why so many readers have fallen for him. But the moment his loyalty to Neelu's father became more important than understanding Neelu's experience, I was DONE.
I could not get past it.
There is something uniquely infuriating about watching a woman explain her pain only to have the romantic hero essentially decide that the person who hurt her deserves the benefit of the doubt. Maybe if I had picked this book up at another time, I would have had more patience for Jacob's perspective. Maybe I would have appreciated the nuance. Maybe I would have understood his own history with grief, loss, and Neelu's father. But I didn't. I was sitting there absolutely incandescent with rage.
And this is where I think Just a Highland Fling simply wasn't the book for me right now.
Because objectively, Kumar is doing a lot of things well. The Scottish setting is gorgeous, the road-trip structure keeps the story moving, and the romance has plenty of heat. Neelu and Jacob's chemistry is undeniable, and the novel clearly wants to explore forgiveness, grief, family, and the possibility of loving people despite the damage they have caused.
But emotionally? I wanted to launch Jacob directly into the nearest loch.
I don't care how epic the sex is. I don't care about the glasses. I don't care about the kilt. I don't care about the bagpipes. Anything but this.
Maybe someday I'll reread Just a Highland Fling and find the emotional complexity more moving. Today, however, I am choosing violence.
Jacob, respectfully: absolutely fucking not.
The premise is admittedly irresistible. Neelu Pillai travels to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding, hoping to survive the festivities and get back home with minimal emotional damage. Before the wedding, she has a no-strings-attached one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger. Naturally, because romance novels enjoy watching us suffer, she discovers that the stranger is Jacob Cherian, a bagpipe-playing literature professor who is part of the wedding party—and someone who knows her father rather well.
Things go spectacularly wrong when Neelu, after a few too many drinks, tells her father’s bride-to-be exactly how she feels about her father and the years of neglect she believes she suffered. The bride gets cold feet and runs away, leaving Neelu, her father, and Jacob to embark on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands in pursuit of the runaway bride. And yes, this means forced proximity, unresolved sexual tension, gorgeous scenery, emotional baggage, and eventually the inevitable realization that maybe that one-night stand wasn't quite as casual as either of them wanted to believe.
On paper, I should have eaten this alive.
Neelu is actually a character I found incredibly compelling. She’s prickly, funny, wounded, ambitious, and very clearly carrying around years of resentment that she has never properly unpacked. Her relationship with her father is the emotional heart of the novel, and I appreciated that Kumar doesn’t make it simple. Neelu has every reason to be angry, but adulthood has a funny way of forcing you to confront the fact that your parents are complicated, flawed human beings rather than the monsters or heroes you imagined them to be.
Her father, however, made me want to crawl out of my own skin.
And then there is Jacob.
Fuck Jacob.
I am sorry, but I have never wanted to slap a book character more.
Jacob begins as this sexy, nerdy, bespectacled Scottish Desi poetry professor with a bagpipe and apparently enough sexual chemistry to set the Highlands on fire. The attraction between him and Neelu is supposed to be explosive, and I absolutely understand why so many readers have fallen for him. But the moment his loyalty to Neelu's father became more important than understanding Neelu's experience, I was DONE.
I could not get past it.
There is something uniquely infuriating about watching a woman explain her pain only to have the romantic hero essentially decide that the person who hurt her deserves the benefit of the doubt. Maybe if I had picked this book up at another time, I would have had more patience for Jacob's perspective. Maybe I would have appreciated the nuance. Maybe I would have understood his own history with grief, loss, and Neelu's father. But I didn't. I was sitting there absolutely incandescent with rage.
And this is where I think Just a Highland Fling simply wasn't the book for me right now.
Because objectively, Kumar is doing a lot of things well. The Scottish setting is gorgeous, the road-trip structure keeps the story moving, and the romance has plenty of heat. Neelu and Jacob's chemistry is undeniable, and the novel clearly wants to explore forgiveness, grief, family, and the possibility of loving people despite the damage they have caused.
But emotionally? I wanted to launch Jacob directly into the nearest loch.
I don't care how epic the sex is. I don't care about the glasses. I don't care about the kilt. I don't care about the bagpipes. Anything but this.
Maybe someday I'll reread Just a Highland Fling and find the emotional complexity more moving. Today, however, I am choosing violence.
Jacob, respectfully: absolutely fucking not.
September 24, 2026
Neelu suddenly decides to attend her sort of estranged father's wedding in Scotland after she discovers he recently went through cancer treatment. The night before the wedding rehearsal she has a wickedly hot one night stand with a sexy professor type she meets at a pub. Thinking she'll never see him again, Neelu proceeds to the wedding festivities, only to inadvertently scare her father's bride with a drunken confession.
The day of the wedding, Neelu discovers not only is the bride MIA, her one night stand is not only the the bagpiper at the wedding but ALSO her father and her father's bride-to-be's surrogate 'son.' And he is royally mad she ruined the wedding.
Now on an unexpected road trip with her father and the man who is fuming at her while also still giving her pants feelings, Neelu can only hope to fix what she broke.
I had a lot of fun with this! i think still too much grace was given to Neelu's father, despite his actions being 'explained.' I was glad it wasn't magically better, but it still felt like more repair needed to happen, or a firmer boundary set.
Definitely fun though, the dad does NOT deal with any more cancer scares as a plot point, phew, and there was plenty of spice!
I checked this one out from the library in print.
After Neelu
The day of the wedding, Neelu discovers not only is the bride MIA, her one night stand is not only the the bagpiper at the wedding but ALSO her father and her father's bride-to-be's surrogate 'son.' And he is royally mad she ruined the wedding.
Now on an unexpected road trip with her father and the man who is fuming at her while also still giving her pants feelings, Neelu can only hope to fix what she broke.
I had a lot of fun with this! i think still too much grace was given to Neelu's father, despite his actions being 'explained.' I was glad it wasn't magically better, but it still felt like more repair needed to happen, or a firmer boundary set.
Definitely fun though, the dad does NOT deal with any more cancer scares as a plot point, phew, and there was plenty of spice!
I checked this one out from the library in print.
After Neelu
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.
September 7, 2026
Enjoyed this romance and I’ll definitely pick up the author’s other books.
July 29, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
August 6, 2026
5⭐️
2🔥
Quick Breakdown
Set in Scotland
One Night Stand
Estranged Dad
Wedding Vibes
Desi Rep
Road Trip
Only One Bed
Vacation Fling to More
Single POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate
Neelu travels to Scotland to celebrate the wedding of her estranged father. She has a 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 one night stand, but they don’t exchange names or personal details. Neelu is shocked when she shows up to her father‘s rehearsal dinner and her mystery man, Jacob, is there. Once he learns her identity, though, his kind demeanor turns frosty & after a couple of drinks, Neelu lets her feelings slip to her father‘s bride to be. The bride then bolts halfway down the aisle & Neelu feels responsible. Neelu, her dad & Jacob - a close family friend, travel through Scotland to Skye in attempt to find her with lots of bumps along the way.
It’s giving The Simple Wild meets Leap Year vibes & I ate it up. Neelu & Jacob together just worked. Their connection was palpable & I loved the pacing from like to dislike to so much more. There were flaws & growth & depth & resilience.
I listened on audio & was enchanted. This is a single POV romance, narrated by Soneela Nankani whose voice was smooth & gentle to listen to & who also does a heck of a job with a Scottish accent. Highly recommend if audio is your thing.
2🔥
Quick Breakdown
Set in Scotland
One Night Stand
Estranged Dad
Wedding Vibes
Desi Rep
Road Trip
Only One Bed
Vacation Fling to More
Single POV
Open Door - Mild to Moderate
Neelu travels to Scotland to celebrate the wedding of her estranged father. She has a 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 one night stand, but they don’t exchange names or personal details. Neelu is shocked when she shows up to her father‘s rehearsal dinner and her mystery man, Jacob, is there. Once he learns her identity, though, his kind demeanor turns frosty & after a couple of drinks, Neelu lets her feelings slip to her father‘s bride to be. The bride then bolts halfway down the aisle & Neelu feels responsible. Neelu, her dad & Jacob - a close family friend, travel through Scotland to Skye in attempt to find her with lots of bumps along the way.
It’s giving The Simple Wild meets Leap Year vibes & I ate it up. Neelu & Jacob together just worked. Their connection was palpable & I loved the pacing from like to dislike to so much more. There were flaws & growth & depth & resilience.
I listened on audio & was enchanted. This is a single POV romance, narrated by Soneela Nankani whose voice was smooth & gentle to listen to & who also does a heck of a job with a Scottish accent. Highly recommend if audio is your thing.
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!
September 16, 2026
Perfect to read while in Scotland…that’s about it lol
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.
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