Fake Dating His Brother Christmas Edition

by Mandy Huang

Nothing says "I've got my life together" quite like photographing a shirtless stranger at 4am and then running face-first into a pole to escape him.

In my defense, I was drunk. And he was really hot.
Nia Wilson has zero dollars, zero job prospects, and zero desire to face her judgmental family at Christmas. So when her best friend Jace begs her to pose as his girlfriend to throw off his matchmaking mother, she says yes—because free food and avoiding her own family drama sounds like a holiday miracle.

My life is a
I just got fired. Again.
My bank account is in the negative. Again.
My family thinks I'm a failure. Still.
I'm pretending to be engaged to my gay best friend.
And his older brother watches me like he's waiting for me to slip up.

Hayes Madden built a billion-dollar empire by trusting no one. When his brother brings home a fiancé he's never mentioned, Hayes knows something's off. His plan? Expose her. His problem? He can't stop thinking about her.
Between a mother who communicates with the universe, a surprise engagement announcement that spirals wildly out of control, and an unfortunate incident involving Hayes's pants at the Christmas pageant, Nia finds herself falling for the one man she absolutely cannot have.
When the truth comes out, will their connection survive—or was this just another beautiful disaster?
A fast-paced, steamy, laugh-out-loud holiday romance perfect for fans of fake dating chaos, protective billionaires, and men who fall obsessively hard.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2025

About the author

Mandy Huang is a romance writer and lifelong reader who decided, optimistically, to write the stories she wanted to read. She writes romance with warmth, humor, and heart. You can find her on social media linked through her website, where she shares bookish updates and increasingly awkward content while she figures out social media marketing.

Reviews

[Danae Southerland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and team for allowing me to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review!

This Christmas rom com was a joy to read! I was laughing from the beginning and had multiple moments of full on laughing out loud! The story is cute and fun and this made for a quick read!

[Tiffani Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun debut and I am so glad I got to read it early. It is light, funny, and perfect if you want a holiday romance that does not overstay its welcome.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who should read this book?

Anyone who loves a fast, festive romance with messy family dynamics, fake dating chaos, and a billionaire hero who is completely undone by the heroine. I read this as part of the ARC team and it was such an easy, enjoyable holiday escape.

If you are looking for something fun, romantic, and perfect for a cosy afternoon, grab Fake Dating His Brother Christmas Edition on KU today.

Tropes to expect
🎄 Quick Holiday Read
💘 Enemies to Lovers
🎭 Fake Dating
💍 Fake Engagement
💵 Billionaire Hero

Thank you @author_mandyhuang and @literaryinspired for letting me be part of this ARC.

#LiteraryInspiredARCs #ChristmasBooks #KUReader #RomComReads #RomanceCommunity #BookishLife

[Brita Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing says "I've got my life together" quite like photographing a shirtless stranger at 4am and then running face-first into a pole to escape him.

In Nia’s defense, she was drunk. And he was really hot.
Nia Wilson has zero dollars, zero job prospects, and zero desire to face her judgmental family at Christmas. So, when her best friend Jace begs her to pose as his girlfriend to throw off his matchmaking mother, she says yes—because free food and avoiding her own family drama sounds like a holiday miracle.

Jace’s life is a mess.
He just got fired. Again.
His bank account is in the negative. Again.
His family thinks he’s a failure. Still.
He’s pretending to be engaged to his gay best friend.
And his older brother watches him like he's waiting for him to slip up.

Hayes Madden built a billion-dollar empire by trusting no one. When his brother brings home a fiancé he's never mentioned, Hayes knows something's off. His plan? Expose her. His problem? He can't stop thinking about her.

Between a mother who communicates with the universe, a surprise engagement announcement that spirals wildly out of control, and an unfortunate incident involving Hayes's pants at the Christmas pageant, Nia finds herself falling for the one man she absolutely cannot have.
When the truth comes out, will their connection survive—or was this just another beautiful disaster?

A fast-paced, steamy, laugh-out-loud holiday romance perfect for fans of fake dating chaos, protective billionaires, and men who fall obsessively hard.

Tropes: Holiday Romance, Fake Dating, Protective Billionaire, MMC Falls Obsessively Hard, Quick Holiday Read, Billionaire MMC, Broke FMC, Enemies to Lovers, Christmas Novellas, MMC Falls First

Fake Dating his Brother Christmas Edition by Mandy Huang. I have to say that this is Mandy’s debut novel and this story is pure Gold.

I just fell in love with this Holiday romance; it’s just pure holiday gold.

If the opening of this book doesn’t catch your attention and hook you then I’m not sure what would, it’s memorable and the humour, I mean really, it just seems like nothing else possible could go wrong for Nia, and yet you know that it could.

Nia doesn’t have a job, she’s totally broke, she’s still single, and she’s forced to play second fiddle to her golden child sister.

I mean it really doesn’t seem like anything else could possibly go wrong for Nia.

You wouldn’t expect anything to go wrong when Nia’s gay roommate and best friend asks her to pose as his fiancée to help him fend off his family of matchmakers.
Or his whacky and crazy family.
Or the judgemental fake fiancé’s older brother.

Certainly, none of those could cause Nia any problems.

I will say that even though there is a lot of humor and comedy in this book, this story really does touch on some really very sensitive topics. But I have to give Mandy a lot of credit as the writing and handling of the topics is so well done that is never gets preachy, and you never find that it weighs down the story.

I absolutely loved and adored Hayes POV. I loved the way that he appeared to be so put together, and when you get to his voice, you can’t help but swoon. He’s absolutely striking, even when he staggers.

And the bonus epilogue that Mandy gave us? Man, oh man, it was just tantalising, and yet it still had the same humour that we saw through this entire story. I just loved it.

Fake Dating his Brother is just absolutely breathtaking for a debut novel. I am so excited to see what this author comes up with next to write. I will defiantly be watching Mandy Huang in the new year.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing hooks me faster than a book that opens with chaos, bad decisions, and a very attractive stranger—and this one delivers immediately. From fake dating to Christmas disasters to a billionaire brother who sees straight through the lie, this story was pure rom-com joy. I laughed, cringed (affectionately), and absolutely flew through the pages.
Nia is the kind of messy, relatable heroine you can’t help but root for. She’s broke, recently fired, and wildly improvising her way through life. Her fake engagement to her gay best friend is already ridiculous, but adding his hyper-observant, suspicious older brother Hayes into the mix turns the tension way up. Hayes is all control and sharp instincts…until Nia completely derails his emotional stability. Watching him go from “I will expose you” to “I cannot stop thinking about you” was the absolute best part!
The holiday setting is packed with unhinged family moments, escalating lies, and the kind of secondhand embarrassment that somehow makes everything better. It’s funny, fast-paced, and swoony without taking itself too seriously. If you love fake dating chaos, protective rich men who fall hard, and festive romances that feel like a warm mess in the best way—this one’s for you.
I received a complimentary copy from Literary Inspired and am voluntarily leaving my review. 

[Brandys_bookography · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with so much laughter and enjoyment. I will be honest I am not usually into Christmas story, I do try them though, however this one was so funny that I could not put it down. The description of the book made me want to give it a try because fake dating your gay best friend, I just knew there would be some shenanigans, and it did not disappoint.

Nia was so relatable with her humor and sarcasm, I enjoyed her banter and playfulness in the story. I do feel as though we didn't get a lot of the characters in the first part of the book. I wanted to know more about them. I truly appreciate the representation of mental health, due to experiencing that with my own daughter.

I love a billionaire romance and this was just a different feel to the normal stories as the gay best friends brother is the billionaire. He is totally suspicious of Nia and sets out to reveal her "plans." Hayes was a likeable character and could help falling for Nia too.

If you want a quick, laugh out loud, Christmas story, then you should definitely check this out. It will keep you entertained. This is a great debut for Mandy Huang. Thank you Meg with Literary Inspired for sharing this story with me. All of my opinions are my own.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut author, this is GOLD
Oh My! I received a free ARC of this story and am leaving this review voluntarily. I cannot express how enjoyable this book was to read. I have literally laughed out loud at the characters, felt sadness at the realistic portrayal of a serious mental illness, then cracked up again at a deaf aunt’s confusion. This book reads like all the crazies escaped from a zoo and then moved in together. Readers who loved One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest will be thrilled with this priceless nugget of reading gold. I loved the author’s expressive writing style and dry humour. She has tackled some pretty heavy topics, however as a reader I don’t feel that I was made to dwell in them, very tactfully & cleverly handled. Absolutely wonderful characters – the whole crazy cast of them. A story of found family, believing in your dreams, love triumphing over all odds, and giving without expectation of a return. A standalone HEA. Follow the link for the epilogue. I felt good after reading this story, so I will be keeping a keen eye out for more from this author. Well done & thank you 😊

[Chantilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the author's debut book and it was a great one for a first time author. I laughed throughout the book and I enjoyed the last half of the book more than I did the first half. The first half felt like there may be holes in the storyline and was a bit choppy. I struggled with the lack of character development in the first half and I struggled with feeling the connection with the characters and the connection between Hayes and Nia. It also felt a bit rushed for me in the beginning with the relationship between Hayes and Nia. However, this all changed in the second half of the book. The first half and second half almost felt like different writing to me! It got so much better. The character development fell into place and while I still struggled with the story at times, it got much better. I really struggled with whether to rate this a 3 or a 4 as it was a solid 3.5 for me, but it was the constant humor and the connection that the author built in the second half that pushed it to a four for me. I have signed up for her newsletter and look forward to reading her future books. Oh, and make sure you sign up for the newsletter and get the bonus chapter emailed to you.

[Megan Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love fake dating and the fact that it wasn’t between the MCs was such a good concept. This was a fast paced, quirky read and I enjoyed it for the most part. I do think that it could have been just a little longer, some of the concepts and events of the book just didn’t have time to fully develop.

There were also just some weird things that just didn’t truly make sense. For one, In the beginning, Jace was so upset because David didn’t want to come to meet his family for Christmas. Jace wanted to come out to his family and introduce his boyfriend to them- which had a bit to do with the faking of the relationship, just to get his mom off his back and stop her from trying to set him up. However, when Jace and Nia are at the family home David comes to apologize and Jace doubled down and then pretended him and Nia were engaged. That whole situation could have just happened differently. Or maybe a little later in the book. I just felt like in general, the book was a little rushed and some things were a little u finished.

But, I like the concept and liked the characters. I also had a few moments where I laughed out loud.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book, and I am so glad that I took the opportunity to read this.

This. This is holiday romance gold.
The opening to this book is certainly memorable… and the humour… if anything could go wrong for Nia, it certainly would.

No job.
No money.
No boyfriend.
Second best to golden child sister.

I mean… what else could go wrong?

Certainly not being asked to be her gay roommates girlfriend to fend off the matchmakers.
Or his kooky and crazy family.
Or a judgmental fake fiance’s older brother.
Certainly not….

Despite the comedy action, this story actually touches on some very sensitive topics. But it’s done so well that it’s not preachy, and it doesn’t weigh down the story.

As for Hayes, I adored his POV. He seems so put together, and then when you get his voice… swoon! He’s gorgeous. Even when he fumbles.
And that bonus epilogue? Gorgeous, yet still funny.

For a debut… this is absolutely awesome. I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.

[Kathryn Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake dating is not for the faint of heart!
Nia is broke, just lost another job, hates her family—essentially, a hot mess. Having very few (if any) choices, she agrees to help her roommate/best friend and spend Christmas with his family. I loved the humor and Nia’s can-do attitude. Especially when navigating Hayes’ whackadoodle family. Their attraction is immediate, but she’s tied up playing a role that has gotten out of hand. The banter is witty and the Christmas escapades a wild ride, constantly throwing the two together. I loved the whole story here except a few of the scenes felt incredibly rushed, like I thought I skipped pages rushed. Parts of the story and dialogue got lost for me because it felt too contrived. I did love the story though. Overall, a 3.5, bumping to a 4 because it was well written and I always enjoy a hot mess woman.
So grateful to @author_mandyhuang and @literaryinspired for the ARC opportunity.

[Lindsay BusyMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, funny holiday book! This had me laughing out loud so many times. Nia is witty, she’s also jobless and broke so the very horrible idea to pose as her best friend’s (Jace) girlfriend, who is gay, is just crazy enough to make her say yes. Well, that and she avoids her own judgmental family, so she’s in. Nia meets Jace’s older brother, Hayes, and he’s sexy and bossy. They have a simmering chemistry, but things don’t go as planned and chaos ensues. Will Nia get her own happily ever after? Or has she been taking care of herself so long that trusting anyone is just to scary.
You’re going to love this fun little story!
I received an arc copy of this book for my honest review. Now go enjoy!

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Dating His Brother is an amazing fake dating Christmas story but from a different take on it.

Nia is asked by her best friend to pretend to be dating with him so his family stops badgering him with questions. However, upon getting to meet his family she seems to fall instantly for Hayes. I loved these two. Everyone in the room could see the intense chemistry they had together. They tried to fight their feelings for each other but something just kept pulling them closer and closer. Well things go bad real fast and we see Hayes have to dig himself out of the hole be out himself in. But I loved every moment where we got to see him care for and show his unconditional love to Nia. She needed someone to put her first and love her and Hayes did a fantastic job of it.

[Chele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Gosh! This is a quick holiday read and debut for Mandy Huang. People...I laughed so hard I cried during portions of this book. The FMC is so darn witty and snarky and I LOVED IT.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to more works from this author. Do yourself a favor and curl up with a blanket, your favorite drink, and dive in. (Ummmm...careful not to spit out your drink when you start cackling!)

🎄 Quick Holiday Read
💵 Billionaire Hero
🌧️ Broke Heroine
💘 Enemies to Lovers
🎭 Fake Dating
🔥 Hero Falls First

Thank you to Author Mandy Huang and Literary Inspired ARCs for the opportunity to dive into this book prior to release day!

[mamaqueleeromance (Sofia Gajewski) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mix of fake dating and Christmas? Perfect.
I actually laughed out loud reading this book—some scenes are hilarious.
Nia, the FMC, is an amazing friend—very supportive despite her difficult past. She agrees to help her best friend by accompanying him to his family’s Christmas celebration.
And… his family is everything. Every one of them is remarkable. I especially love the mom’s character—mystical through and through.
Hayes, the MMC, is a very fatherly character: a workaholic and a bit obsessive.
For such a short book, it was an incredible read—I want more from this author. I really enjoyed it.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nia doesn't want to face her judgmental family. Jace isn't ready to come out to him. Is posing as a fake couple the solution to both of their problems? Or will his brother Hayes bring their plan tumbling down?

Read if you like:
-Fake Dating
-Christmas Novellas
-Billionaire Romance

Fake Dating His Brother Christmas Edition has good bones, but was hindered by the short page count. The story felt rushed and certain aspects never had a chance to develop. For example, I had to keep reminding myself that Hayes was supposed to be a billionaire. However, I did love the fake dating the wrong brother aspect of the book. It was nice to see Nia so comfortable with Hayes.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and I’m glad I got a chance to be one of the first readers of this book. It Is a holiday gem. It is all you would want in a holiday romance-sweet,spice, and a lot of family craziness! The personality of the main character was an instant draw for me because I saw a little bit of myself in her; sarcasm, humor, craftiness, and doing anything for a friend. The fake dating your gay friend plot, the crazy “in laws” and the billionaire brother who couldn’t take no for an answer, as wild as it all sounds, all seemed to work together. I would have given it a 5 star if some of it didn’t feel so rushed. The overall love story was a slow burn but then at the very end their dating over a one week span didn’t seem to me like a long period to wait. The much anticipated sex scene that was interrupted by the crazy family was appropriate for the ridiculousness of it, but somehow didn’t work for me because it could have been a really funny part. However, overall I found it to be a very entertaining read and a solid 4. I would definitely read from this author again and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have read it in advance!

[Kirsten Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, cozy holiday read. The fake dating her best friend setup already had me hooked, but the real star was his broody brother. The tension between them was insane—so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. Every stolen glance and barely-there moment had me kicking my feet.

It was genuinely hilarious, especially with all the fake relationship chaos mixed into Christmas family time. The spice was a slow burn, but honestly? That just made it better. When it finally happened, it was 100% worth the wait. Super cute, swoony, and perfect if you love holiday romances with delicious tension and a broody MMC. 🎄🔥

[Tracey Tonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light-hearted Christmas rom-com with a struggling FMC with bad family vibes and an obsessed billionaire MC who knows what he wants, even when he thinks he shouldn’t. If you enjoy a fake dating/engagement to save face with the family plot, a slow burn romance and a little spice, along with some whacky family, this quick Holiday read might be what you are looking for this season.

3.5 stars for me, just a bit rough in patches, so 4 it is as I round up, and overall for a simple, light fun read it is a good start for this debut author.

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nia and Jace were fake engaged to get his family off his back. Only problem is, he’s gay. And it doesn’t take long for his brother Hayes to realize something isn’t right. So his goal is to bust both of them. But somewhere down the road he started developing feelings for Nia. Then to make matters worse for poor Jace, his ex boyfriend drops by.
This book was so funny, quirky, and enjoyable. I lived this so much. For the authors debut, this was perfect. I love a good holiday romance with a tiny bit of spice and some humor to go along with it. This was truly a wonderfully fun read.

[Lisa Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and chaotic! I loved this book by Mandy Haung. Nia is so relatable dealing with life and family angst. Hayes is taking care of everyone but himself.
When they meet, crazy chaos reigns! I recommend you step on the crazy train and read this fast!!

Tropes inside this story are:
A Quick Holiday Read
Billionaire Hero
Broke Heroine
Enemies to Lovers
Fake Dating
Hero Falls First
Thank you to @author_mandyhuang.
#LiteraryInspiredArc

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn book. But it’s so good. You get hooked right away. The characters and their drama between both families is hilarious.

Nia tries to help her gay best friend by pretending to be his girlfriend to his family. Then it go downhill from there when his ex-boyfriend shows up.

His brother starts to like Nia and she feels it too. Until something happens between them. It’s a short, fun, great slow burn book.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nia and Hayes' story is a fun one. I love how quirky Hayes' family is, including Nia's friend and roommate, Jace. His mom is hilarious! And how Nia and Hayes met is brilliant!

I loved how Hayes stuck around once he had his "Aha" moment, and I thought his gestures were really sweet.

This really was a funny, sweet, and even a little bit of a spicy read, and great for the holiday season!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Many Huang for the opportunity to read this book before publication. It was an absolute masterpiece! This book is funny, while also tackling some serious topics, such as family dynamics and mental health. I loved the writing style and the way the story unfolds so effortlessly. And the longing, Mandy Huang definitely knows how to write longing, I felt it in my bones.

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the author's first book & it was a great holiday romance with lots of laughs. I waivered between a 4 & 5 star, but wanted to appauld a new author for starting out. There were parts that felt a little rushed, and I think the characters & relationships(especially between Hayes & Nia) could have been fleshed out more...but overall a great holiday romantic comedy with lots of humor and fun.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. There was laughter until I couldn't breathe then tears that the people who are supposed to live you can be so mean. I love that Hayes is usually so in control but not where Nia is concerned. Love his family, particularly Maisie.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

[Alison Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, even though I'm not typically a Christmas book reader. Took me a while to get into it but there were some laughs, some sadness and a whole lot of lust. Definitely worth the read.

[Brittney Traudt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my first Christmas themed read, and I’m here for it!! This was cute, funny, and a perfect touch to my holiday season. The chemistry was full of tension, the sisters’ commentary had me cracking up, and overall this felt wholesome. Thank you Literary Inspired for the ARC copy!

[jiill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a cute Christmas rom-com! This was a fresh take on the fake dating trope for me, I think this is the first book I've read where the fake dating isn't taking place between the MMC and the FMC. I love enemies to lovers, when he falls first and hard, plus a quirky family? gold

[Ingrid Spera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very cute and sweet! A fun fake dating story with just enough drama and humor to keep everything lighthearted without dragging it down. Thoroughly enjoyed!