What do you think?
Rate this book
A Daddy For Christmas
You can’t choose your dad, but you can choose your daddy…
A slow-burn, fake relationship, age-gap Christmas romance with a twist.
Lucas Hart – 31yo aspiring sci-fi novelist/librarian whose idea of a good Sunday is brunch and a trip to TK Maxx. He likes loud shirts, lie-ins and ‘the nerdiest of nerdy stuff’. Disowned by his Dad for MANY reasons – he’s liberal, gay, feminist and camp af – he believes in choosing your own family, and is looking forward to marrying his boyfriend Julian and starting a life together. Even though Julian seems to be embarrassed by everything Lucas likes, and refuses to even hold his hand in public. Whatever, it’s totally fine.
Sid(ney) Shale – 46yo sound engineer (currently works in a tech repair shop) whose idea of a good Sunday is a lie-in before a hike, pub lunch and a live band. He recently walked in on his partner of 16 years having sex with his boss. Said partner, Frank is a self-obsessed former rocker, who declined Sid’s proposal twice because ‘that stuff’s for the straights’. Sid is looking forward to dying alone, because love isn’t real and the world is a cold unfair place. He’s totally fine.
*
When Lucas’s boyfriend Julian gives him an ultimatum – invite his estranged, homophobic father to his first Christmas with Julian’s family, or end their relationship – he has no idea what to do.
That is until his absentee landlord, Sid stumbles into the flat at 2am, drunk, recently dumped and in need of somewhere to spend Christmas.
After sobering up and apologising for turning up to what was once his mum’s flat in his drunken state, Sid reluctantly agrees to be Lucas’ Dad for the week. So long as he doesn’t have to go home and face his cheating partner of 16 years.
The two of them head off to the Yorkshire countryside, but it soon becomes clear that working class Sid doesn’t fit in well with Julian’s posh family…and neither does Lucas. As the two men get closer and share the events that led them to this mad week, are they forging a relationship that’s purely platonic, or is Sid more of a Daddy than a father figure?
A slow-burn, fake relationship, age-gap Christmas romance with a twist.
Lucas Hart – 31yo aspiring sci-fi novelist/librarian whose idea of a good Sunday is brunch and a trip to TK Maxx. He likes loud shirts, lie-ins and ‘the nerdiest of nerdy stuff’. Disowned by his Dad for MANY reasons – he’s liberal, gay, feminist and camp af – he believes in choosing your own family, and is looking forward to marrying his boyfriend Julian and starting a life together. Even though Julian seems to be embarrassed by everything Lucas likes, and refuses to even hold his hand in public. Whatever, it’s totally fine.
Sid(ney) Shale – 46yo sound engineer (currently works in a tech repair shop) whose idea of a good Sunday is a lie-in before a hike, pub lunch and a live band. He recently walked in on his partner of 16 years having sex with his boss. Said partner, Frank is a self-obsessed former rocker, who declined Sid’s proposal twice because ‘that stuff’s for the straights’. Sid is looking forward to dying alone, because love isn’t real and the world is a cold unfair place. He’s totally fine.
*
When Lucas’s boyfriend Julian gives him an ultimatum – invite his estranged, homophobic father to his first Christmas with Julian’s family, or end their relationship – he has no idea what to do.
That is until his absentee landlord, Sid stumbles into the flat at 2am, drunk, recently dumped and in need of somewhere to spend Christmas.
After sobering up and apologising for turning up to what was once his mum’s flat in his drunken state, Sid reluctantly agrees to be Lucas’ Dad for the week. So long as he doesn’t have to go home and face his cheating partner of 16 years.
The two of them head off to the Yorkshire countryside, but it soon becomes clear that working class Sid doesn’t fit in well with Julian’s posh family…and neither does Lucas. As the two men get closer and share the events that led them to this mad week, are they forging a relationship that’s purely platonic, or is Sid more of a Daddy than a father figure?
Paperback
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 5, 2026
[Review of digital advance copy received from Netgalley]
The corner of Tumblr that I discovered this particular title is between me and God. That said… I loved this book. A romance with small town vibes set in England! Rain! Jumble sales! Wellington boots! More of this type of thing, please! This isn’t romance by numbers. The characters have real depth and personality to them, and when they inevitably fall for each other, you really get the sense that it’s because they fancy each other, rather than “because the author says so”. These two just radiate “best friend you think is hot” energy, and, actually, despite the title of the book and the age-gap and the fake-father-son of it all, they feel like equals. Everyone’s flawed, everyone’s got baggage - but it doesn’t feel like those things define the narrative, just give it an emotional punch. Achingly romantic, a little sad, a little sweet and spicy. Funny, always. I devoured the whole thing in one go, and had a happy little cry at the end.
The corner of Tumblr that I discovered this particular title is between me and God. That said… I loved this book. A romance with small town vibes set in England! Rain! Jumble sales! Wellington boots! More of this type of thing, please! This isn’t romance by numbers. The characters have real depth and personality to them, and when they inevitably fall for each other, you really get the sense that it’s because they fancy each other, rather than “because the author says so”. These two just radiate “best friend you think is hot” energy, and, actually, despite the title of the book and the age-gap and the fake-father-son of it all, they feel like equals. Everyone’s flawed, everyone’s got baggage - but it doesn’t feel like those things define the narrative, just give it an emotional punch. Achingly romantic, a little sad, a little sweet and spicy. Funny, always. I devoured the whole thing in one go, and had a happy little cry at the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucas Hart is between a rock and a hard place. His boyfriend had given him an ultimatum, invite his homophobic father to join them for christmas or break up with him. Just as he was about to bite the bullet and call his estranged father a new option comes barreling through the door… Literally.
Sid Shale just caught his partner of fifteen years sleeping with his boss. Distraught, he does what any rational human would do, get absolutely piss drunk. Unfortunatley alcohol and logic don’t go hand in hand. That’s how the 46 year old accidentally ends up breaking into his tenant’s house. What was initially an embarrassing mistake turns into a new opportunity for the two of them.
The plan is simple, Sid will pretend to be Lucas’s dad, and in turn, Lucas will give the flat back to Sid when he inevitably gets proposed to by his boyfriend. With such an iron-clad plan, what could possibly go wrong?
This book was equal parts refreshing and hilarious. Spriggs’ prose was jam-packed with wit and snark that left me smiling throughout my entire read. However, despite the hilarity and bizarre premise, the book felt extremely grounded and real. The love that blossomed between Sid and Lucas was a natural progression, with their undeniable chemistry and internal monologues (the book alternates perspectives each chapter), and the two of them felt inevitable. Spriggs does a fantastic job of foreshadowing little moments between them. One of their partners did something shitty? Well, they do the opposite. The two of them are both equally kind to one another, doing small things, even unknowingly, that comfort or reassure the other.
Another thing I appreciated was the fact that neither MC’s appearance was ‘perfect,’ there was pudge on stomachs, thicker frames, crooked noses, and each of those characteristics was deemed attractive and even desirable by the other MC. It was a pleasant surprise.
Even the previous relationships the two MCs had felt realistic. Both Julien and Frank (their respective partners) felt real in the sense that you or someone who knows has had an ex like them. Often in romance, where one MC is in a relationship but falls for someone else, authors feel the need to vilify the partner almost to the point of making them into a caricature. Spriggs didn’t need to do that. The cold way Julien treated Lucas compared to the care that Sid gave him spoke for itself.
I was blown away when I found out this was a debut novel, not to be dramatic, but it would be a crime if Spriggs never writes again. To continue my dramatics, I would give up my firstborn to have this book adapted into a movie.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
.
Tropes: Age gap, found family, forced proximity, sunshine x grumpy mc, slowburn
Triggers: Cheating (not between MCs), homophobic parents, bad partners (also not MCs)
Third act break-up: No
OM/OW: Sid meets Lucas hours after finding his boyfriend actively cheating on him. He spends a lot of the book thinking back on his partner, but they don’t get back together after the MCs meet. Lucas is actively dating his boyfriend, but the most they do throughout the book is kiss once or twice. As someone who is usually very sensitive about these things, I found no issues with the OM drama presented here.
Sid Shale just caught his partner of fifteen years sleeping with his boss. Distraught, he does what any rational human would do, get absolutely piss drunk. Unfortunatley alcohol and logic don’t go hand in hand. That’s how the 46 year old accidentally ends up breaking into his tenant’s house. What was initially an embarrassing mistake turns into a new opportunity for the two of them.
The plan is simple, Sid will pretend to be Lucas’s dad, and in turn, Lucas will give the flat back to Sid when he inevitably gets proposed to by his boyfriend. With such an iron-clad plan, what could possibly go wrong?
This book was equal parts refreshing and hilarious. Spriggs’ prose was jam-packed with wit and snark that left me smiling throughout my entire read. However, despite the hilarity and bizarre premise, the book felt extremely grounded and real. The love that blossomed between Sid and Lucas was a natural progression, with their undeniable chemistry and internal monologues (the book alternates perspectives each chapter), and the two of them felt inevitable. Spriggs does a fantastic job of foreshadowing little moments between them. One of their partners did something shitty? Well, they do the opposite. The two of them are both equally kind to one another, doing small things, even unknowingly, that comfort or reassure the other.
Another thing I appreciated was the fact that neither MC’s appearance was ‘perfect,’ there was pudge on stomachs, thicker frames, crooked noses, and each of those characteristics was deemed attractive and even desirable by the other MC. It was a pleasant surprise.
Even the previous relationships the two MCs had felt realistic. Both Julien and Frank (their respective partners) felt real in the sense that you or someone who knows has had an ex like them. Often in romance, where one MC is in a relationship but falls for someone else, authors feel the need to vilify the partner almost to the point of making them into a caricature. Spriggs didn’t need to do that. The cold way Julien treated Lucas compared to the care that Sid gave him spoke for itself.
I was blown away when I found out this was a debut novel, not to be dramatic, but it would be a crime if Spriggs never writes again. To continue my dramatics, I would give up my firstborn to have this book adapted into a movie.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
.
Tropes: Age gap, found family, forced proximity, sunshine x grumpy mc, slowburn
Triggers: Cheating (not between MCs), homophobic parents, bad partners (also not MCs)
Third act break-up: No
OM/OW: Sid meets Lucas hours after finding his boyfriend actively cheating on him. He spends a lot of the book thinking back on his partner, but they don’t get back together after the MCs meet. Lucas is actively dating his boyfriend, but the most they do throughout the book is kiss once or twice. As someone who is usually very sensitive about these things, I found no issues with the OM drama presented here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 Stars)
thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️🎄
release date: November 14, 2026
tropes:
• fake relationship
• age gap
• forced proximity (holiday edition 🎄)
• found family
• grumpy x sunshine vibes
A Daddy for Christmas* by Lizzie Spriggs had such a fun and unique premise, and I was definitely intrigued going into it—but it ended up being a bit of a mixed read for me.
First, I will say I really liked the **characters**. **Lucas Hart** is chaotic in the best way—loud shirts, nerdy interests, and just unapologetically himself. I loved how passionate he was about chosen family and staying true to who he is, especially after everything with his dad. He felt very real and easy to root for.
And then there’s **Sid(ney) Shale**… grumpy, a little emotionally closed off, and honestly just going THROUGH it after his long-term relationship implodes. I really enjoyed his character arc and the vulnerability we got from him as the story progressed. Watching him slowly open up (even if reluctantly) was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The setup—Sid pretending to be Lucas’s “dad” for Christmas with his boyfriend’s family—was honestly so entertaining and full of potential. The awkwardness, the tension, the class differences with Julian’s family… all of that worked really well and kept me engaged.
However… this book felt **very long-winded** to me. There were a lot of moments that dragged, and I found myself wishing parts of the story were tightened up. At the same time, the **ending felt rushed**, which was frustrating because that’s where I really wanted more time—especially with the emotional payoff.
I also struggled a bit with the **romance**. It’s not that I didn’t like Lucas and Sid together—I did—but I wanted *more* of it. It doesn’t need to be super spicy, but I needed more development, more moments, more *feeling* between them. It sometimes felt like the story leaned more into personal growth than fully delivering on the romance, and I just wanted that balance to hit a little stronger.
That being said, I did enjoy the themes of **self-discovery, healing, and chosen family**, and there were definitely moments that made me smile. The writing has charm, and the characters carried a lot of the story for me.
Overall, this was a solid 3.5-star read—great concept, lovable characters, but pacing and romance kept it from being a higher rating for me.
thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️🎄
release date: November 14, 2026
tropes:
• fake relationship
• age gap
• forced proximity (holiday edition 🎄)
• found family
• grumpy x sunshine vibes
A Daddy for Christmas* by Lizzie Spriggs had such a fun and unique premise, and I was definitely intrigued going into it—but it ended up being a bit of a mixed read for me.
First, I will say I really liked the **characters**. **Lucas Hart** is chaotic in the best way—loud shirts, nerdy interests, and just unapologetically himself. I loved how passionate he was about chosen family and staying true to who he is, especially after everything with his dad. He felt very real and easy to root for.
And then there’s **Sid(ney) Shale**… grumpy, a little emotionally closed off, and honestly just going THROUGH it after his long-term relationship implodes. I really enjoyed his character arc and the vulnerability we got from him as the story progressed. Watching him slowly open up (even if reluctantly) was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The setup—Sid pretending to be Lucas’s “dad” for Christmas with his boyfriend’s family—was honestly so entertaining and full of potential. The awkwardness, the tension, the class differences with Julian’s family… all of that worked really well and kept me engaged.
However… this book felt **very long-winded** to me. There were a lot of moments that dragged, and I found myself wishing parts of the story were tightened up. At the same time, the **ending felt rushed**, which was frustrating because that’s where I really wanted more time—especially with the emotional payoff.
I also struggled a bit with the **romance**. It’s not that I didn’t like Lucas and Sid together—I did—but I wanted *more* of it. It doesn’t need to be super spicy, but I needed more development, more moments, more *feeling* between them. It sometimes felt like the story leaned more into personal growth than fully delivering on the romance, and I just wanted that balance to hit a little stronger.
That being said, I did enjoy the themes of **self-discovery, healing, and chosen family**, and there were definitely moments that made me smile. The writing has charm, and the characters carried a lot of the story for me.
Overall, this was a solid 3.5-star read—great concept, lovable characters, but pacing and romance kept it from being a higher rating for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A perfect christmas story about love, about some one who has barely known you.I can know you better than someone who's known you for years.And have your back more. Sid and lucas have an interesting meat cute - lucas wakes up one day and finds a strange man sleeping on his sofa, said, is waking up and not knowing where he is, then he starts to realize the floor looks familiar- oh, wait he's in his old apartment that he rents out after his mother passed away and he moved in with his partner - then, he remembers the rest.His life blew up yesterday because he found his partner and his boss in bed together( well the couch but still) lucas figures out who he is, and they get to talking and all of a sudden, lucas, has a great idea- lucas's boyfriend Julian has been wanting Lucas to come to their family Christmas in the country. Finally, after 3 years. And it's all Lucas wants, because he feels like a proposal. Cannot be that far behind. But Julian what's lucas to bring his awful homophobic father Clive to the country to meet the family even though Lucas has not spoken to him for years- lucas wants nothing to do with his father. And while talking to Sid and listening to his story, he has a great idea. Sid could pretend to be his biological dad.( the fact that Clive is the only father he's ever had. And is his biological dad is besides the point) he tells Sid that he has nothing to lose. Spend a week in the country away from the mess that his life is. So off they go to the country to spend the week, and together, as soon as they get there from the first introduction sid can tell something is off about this whole arrangement? Starting with the room assignments and Julian's parents. He just doesn't feel like this is legit- they end up doing all of Julian's family's traditions. Christmas markets and hikes and other things. And it becomes obvious both Lucas and said, are the odd men out. So they start spending a little more time together - i don't want to give out any spoilers because I don't like to do that. So definitely pick this one up. If you like a Christmas story, this one has an age gap romance. It's obviously LQBTQ+ plus plus it's an awesome Christmas story. I enjoyed I definitely recommend
Thank you netgalley for the arc.In exchange for an honest review
Thank you netgalley for the arc.In exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and author for this ARC.
Rating 4.5⭐️
Content warning: cheating, gaslighting, racism, homophobia (none of these done by our main characters)
It was my first book from this author and it was a great read for a cozy evening. It has slow-burn, faking family relationships (which is a new one for me in a romance), slow building relationships, and a nice age-gap that won't make you cringe at the mental math of it all. We just have to get through the bad vibes both partners of our main guys bring to the table.
Loved all the nerdy talks and witty comebacks, loved seeing a character love Doctor Who so much and talk about it. I also love when others positively take in hobbies and likes of those around them and actually listen!
We have Lucas who craves a family bond, to be included, wanted and loved, even if that means toning down on who he is and what he likes. Enter Sid, his landlord, and taking the role of Lucas's fake father to help him get that cozy, loveable Christmas bond with Julian, Lucas's boyfriend, and his family. A bit rough around the edges acting, especially as he just caught his partner of 16 years cheating with his own boss just a night before.
But they slowly make gaps in each others hardened walls, crack those glasses over what they think is good in their lives, and see reality what it is. It's a slow build from strangers to allies, to friends, to tensionate moments of being in each other's presence. You just have to get through the ick of being around Julian and his family (not all bad though), and hear about the douchebag that is Frank, Sid's ex-partner. Also, the romance does not happen while they are still in relationships with others, so no need to worry about that, as a slight spoiler.
It was a fun read, and I loved the fact neither of them looked like an Adonis walking the earth. Too many books have that trope. This is perfect because while they are insecure about their own looks, they are perfect in each other's eyes, and they make sure to tell each other that!
Loved it a lot, totally recommend it for a cozy night in; doesn't even have to be Christmas time to read it!
Rating 4.5⭐️
Content warning: cheating, gaslighting, racism, homophobia (none of these done by our main characters)
It was my first book from this author and it was a great read for a cozy evening. It has slow-burn, faking family relationships (which is a new one for me in a romance), slow building relationships, and a nice age-gap that won't make you cringe at the mental math of it all. We just have to get through the bad vibes both partners of our main guys bring to the table.
Loved all the nerdy talks and witty comebacks, loved seeing a character love Doctor Who so much and talk about it. I also love when others positively take in hobbies and likes of those around them and actually listen!
We have Lucas who craves a family bond, to be included, wanted and loved, even if that means toning down on who he is and what he likes. Enter Sid, his landlord, and taking the role of Lucas's fake father to help him get that cozy, loveable Christmas bond with Julian, Lucas's boyfriend, and his family. A bit rough around the edges acting, especially as he just caught his partner of 16 years cheating with his own boss just a night before.
But they slowly make gaps in each others hardened walls, crack those glasses over what they think is good in their lives, and see reality what it is. It's a slow build from strangers to allies, to friends, to tensionate moments of being in each other's presence. You just have to get through the ick of being around Julian and his family (not all bad though), and hear about the douchebag that is Frank, Sid's ex-partner. Also, the romance does not happen while they are still in relationships with others, so no need to worry about that, as a slight spoiler.
It was a fun read, and I loved the fact neither of them looked like an Adonis walking the earth. Too many books have that trope. This is perfect because while they are insecure about their own looks, they are perfect in each other's eyes, and they make sure to tell each other that!
Loved it a lot, totally recommend it for a cozy night in; doesn't even have to be Christmas time to read it!
Read
April 24, 2026\\\\\ 4.5 \\\\\
I stumbled upon this one when I opened my NetGalley and it just called my name. It was "read now" and since I have no self-control I clicked on it. 2 days later, I finished the book and am super happy I listened to my mood because this was a wonderful one!
Read if you like:
Christmas vibes
Fake da...ddy!
Slow burn
Age gap
Nerdy characters
Cozy reads
I love a good slow burn and character driven story, so this one was perfect for me. It started right away with the funniest meet-cute, and I was hooked.
Our two characters had so much depth to them so they were easy to relate to in so many ways. They were flawed in the best way and I feel like together they really brought each other to a better place. Their insecurities and how abusive their previous relationships were really broke me. They are the type of characters you just want to hug so bad. I was truly happy they got each other and that they defended one another and made sure the other knew how much they deserved better.
The fact that this relationship was not a fake dating one but a fake daddy one was so funny. It was refreshing and really made that slow burn savoury. At first, the idea of getting together was not even a possibility and I loved how it slowly made its way in their heads until they realized how much they cared about one another. This is my favourite kind of relationship evolution because you really get to see it all happen and nothing feels forced. Even if it's happening fast considering it's only on a one-week timeline, it feels sincere. We got to see enough for it to all make sense, and it feels honestly so good.
There were a lot of emotional moments, heartbreaking realizations, but also funny exchanges, sweet and comforting interactions and spicy ones as well. I'm not a fan of epilogues (yeah, I'm weird like that), but this one hit me right in the feels. So good from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I stumbled upon this one when I opened my NetGalley and it just called my name. It was "read now" and since I have no self-control I clicked on it. 2 days later, I finished the book and am super happy I listened to my mood because this was a wonderful one!
Read if you like:
Christmas vibes
Fake da...ddy!
Slow burn
Age gap
Nerdy characters
Cozy reads
I love a good slow burn and character driven story, so this one was perfect for me. It started right away with the funniest meet-cute, and I was hooked.
Our two characters had so much depth to them so they were easy to relate to in so many ways. They were flawed in the best way and I feel like together they really brought each other to a better place. Their insecurities and how abusive their previous relationships were really broke me. They are the type of characters you just want to hug so bad. I was truly happy they got each other and that they defended one another and made sure the other knew how much they deserved better.
The fact that this relationship was not a fake dating one but a fake daddy one was so funny. It was refreshing and really made that slow burn savoury. At first, the idea of getting together was not even a possibility and I loved how it slowly made its way in their heads until they realized how much they cared about one another. This is my favourite kind of relationship evolution because you really get to see it all happen and nothing feels forced. Even if it's happening fast considering it's only on a one-week timeline, it feels sincere. We got to see enough for it to all make sense, and it feels honestly so good.
There were a lot of emotional moments, heartbreaking realizations, but also funny exchanges, sweet and comforting interactions and spicy ones as well. I'm not a fan of epilogues (yeah, I'm weird like that), but this one hit me right in the feels. So good from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“I’m middle-aged.”
“Yeah, but you’re a daddy.”
Sid's finally celebrating Christmas with his long-term boyfriend but he needed to bring his father on this holiday. Not wanting to do that, he offered for his landlord, Sid, to be his fake-dad in the holiday.
Shoutout to my book bestie, Kristina (@readingisallwedoallday), for sending me the screenshot of this book, that made me intrigued.
I'm typing the book summary and I'm laughing for how ridiculous that sounded, which was honestly very refreshing for me. We always see fake-dating tropes in romance book but never this fake-parent trope lol.
But I was really hesitant going in, because of the cheating trope which I will adress later.
I love both characters. They were both endearing, and sweet and generally a good person. I resonate with Lucas so much. He's a nerd that loves Doctor Who, he loves being a homebody and an introvert. Sid's been in a SIXteen (IYKYK) year relationship and caught his partner cheating on him with his boss (of all people). He pays the bill, he goes to the gym, and loves music.
On the outside, they don't have much in common, their lives don't intersect but they both wanted to be loved, but they chose the wrong person.
Now, idk why I read a Christmas book during April so I did not get the right vibes this book emitted but it's def a great Christmas book. The whole setting is perfect for Christmas so I might reread this December.
Plot-wise, it's very straight-forward, you know what to expect going in but there's no usual hanky panky considering they are father and son. It's slow burn which I love because they literally are strangers to tentative friends to lovers. And I think the cheating trope here was done well. They did have some moments and tension between the characters but they didn't cross the line until the break up. I appreciate that so much.
Overall, a fun and refreshing book that made me escape reality for awhile.
“Yeah, but you’re a daddy.”
Sid's finally celebrating Christmas with his long-term boyfriend but he needed to bring his father on this holiday. Not wanting to do that, he offered for his landlord, Sid, to be his fake-dad in the holiday.
Shoutout to my book bestie, Kristina (@readingisallwedoallday), for sending me the screenshot of this book, that made me intrigued.
I'm typing the book summary and I'm laughing for how ridiculous that sounded, which was honestly very refreshing for me. We always see fake-dating tropes in romance book but never this fake-parent trope lol.
But I was really hesitant going in, because of the cheating trope which I will adress later.
I love both characters. They were both endearing, and sweet and generally a good person. I resonate with Lucas so much. He's a nerd that loves Doctor Who, he loves being a homebody and an introvert. Sid's been in a SIXteen (IYKYK) year relationship and caught his partner cheating on him with his boss (of all people). He pays the bill, he goes to the gym, and loves music.
On the outside, they don't have much in common, their lives don't intersect but they both wanted to be loved, but they chose the wrong person.
Now, idk why I read a Christmas book during April so I did not get the right vibes this book emitted but it's def a great Christmas book. The whole setting is perfect for Christmas so I might reread this December.
Plot-wise, it's very straight-forward, you know what to expect going in but there's no usual hanky panky considering they are father and son. It's slow burn which I love because they literally are strangers to tentative friends to lovers. And I think the cheating trope here was done well. They did have some moments and tension between the characters but they didn't cross the line until the break up. I appreciate that so much.
Overall, a fun and refreshing book that made me escape reality for awhile.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun read, for sure! I'm not in the right festive spirit, but once I got into it, I flew through it! It was engaging, sweet and, although cheesy and predictable, that didn't detract from my enjoyment whatsoever. It was very light-on with romance, I would say, so if you're looking for anything where romance or steamy scenes is all you're interested in, you might not love this. If you're here for a sweet, slow-burn though, this is your dream book!
Slightly spoilery thoughts below>>>>
My main issue with this book was that it seemed to be stuck in the middle of a romance book and a friendship/self-journey book, and I wish it had picked one to really dive into (or really strongly hit the landing with both). The romance was very cute, but I would honestly have loved it infinitely more if the romance wasn't in this book.
I think the themes and message would have been more poignant and impactful if the romance wasn't an element to the novel. If Lucas and Sid had grown to have a strong friendship while pushing and supporting each other to grow and become more confident with themselves, this book would have been an instant 5 out of 5 stars. The themes would have landed a lot smoother if the point was that they can love themselves more despite not having romance, not just because they found a better one.
I didn't dislike the romance, of course, but it needed to be a stronger and larger element of the book for it to feel impactful. The main plot continued for so long without any major movements in the romance department, and it felt extremely rushed - if there was no romance and it was a discovery/growth arc for both Lucas and Sid, or if the romance was a strong aspect of the book, I would have loved it a lot more.
Overall, a fun and good time, and I would recommend if you want a light-hearted read. The book wasn't bad at all, just would have levelled up if the romance either became a larger element to the book or (preferably) was removed altogether (in my opinion!).
Slightly spoilery thoughts below>>>>
My main issue with this book was that it seemed to be stuck in the middle of a romance book and a friendship/self-journey book, and I wish it had picked one to really dive into (or really strongly hit the landing with both). The romance was very cute, but I would honestly have loved it infinitely more if the romance wasn't in this book.
I think the themes and message would have been more poignant and impactful if the romance wasn't an element to the novel. If Lucas and Sid had grown to have a strong friendship while pushing and supporting each other to grow and become more confident with themselves, this book would have been an instant 5 out of 5 stars. The themes would have landed a lot smoother if the point was that they can love themselves more despite not having romance, not just because they found a better one.
I didn't dislike the romance, of course, but it needed to be a stronger and larger element of the book for it to feel impactful. The main plot continued for so long without any major movements in the romance department, and it felt extremely rushed - if there was no romance and it was a discovery/growth arc for both Lucas and Sid, or if the romance was a strong aspect of the book, I would have loved it a lot more.
Overall, a fun and good time, and I would recommend if you want a light-hearted read. The book wasn't bad at all, just would have levelled up if the romance either became a larger element to the book or (preferably) was removed altogether (in my opinion!).
April 11, 2026
I downloaded this book under false pretences lmao. I hate to break this to anyone who isn't aware, but in queer circles a Daddy is not just an attractive older man, it's a whole kink dynamic, and for the convenience of my fellow readers, I must state this is not a Daddy book, it just has a very misleading title. There are no kids involved either.
With that out of the way, I actually really enjoyed this. I had some problems with the file, the editing and proofing were bad and the formatting was worse, which will hopefully be solved before publication, but I enjoyed it enough to push through the relentless formatting issues. It's actually a really clever concept and believable despite being slightly ridiculous. I enjoyed having something that focuses on both the magic of Christmas and the nightmare of Christmas with the in-laws, and I loved the slow burn relationship from total strangers to accomplices to friends to lovers. It was really well done and I loved every minute of it. It was also really funny and made me giggle a lot, and the relationship progression was great. It even made me think a little bit about being part of queer culture as opposed to just being queer, which wasn't something I was expecting to get a lesson on from someone who apparently doesn't know what a Daddy is, but here we are.
I would definitely recommend if you enjoy ridiculous scenarios and horrible people being horrible to lovely MCs, but with little angst within the relationship. I loved the way the MCs both stood up for and protected each other and helped them to eventually stand up for themselves It was a good read and I got through it very fast, despite the initial misunderstanding.
With that out of the way, I actually really enjoyed this. I had some problems with the file, the editing and proofing were bad and the formatting was worse, which will hopefully be solved before publication, but I enjoyed it enough to push through the relentless formatting issues. It's actually a really clever concept and believable despite being slightly ridiculous. I enjoyed having something that focuses on both the magic of Christmas and the nightmare of Christmas with the in-laws, and I loved the slow burn relationship from total strangers to accomplices to friends to lovers. It was really well done and I loved every minute of it. It was also really funny and made me giggle a lot, and the relationship progression was great. It even made me think a little bit about being part of queer culture as opposed to just being queer, which wasn't something I was expecting to get a lesson on from someone who apparently doesn't know what a Daddy is, but here we are.
I would definitely recommend if you enjoy ridiculous scenarios and horrible people being horrible to lovely MCs, but with little angst within the relationship. I loved the way the MCs both stood up for and protected each other and helped them to eventually stand up for themselves It was a good read and I got through it very fast, despite the initial misunderstanding.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Got sent this through Netgalley and wanted to give it a read, even though it's a little out of season, as I wanted a bit of a romantic tragedy with potential for a happy ending. This didn't disappoint on this front at all.
The story follows both Sid and Lucas as they navigate their relationships, past, childhood and their future as well as what other people think of them around Christmas. As that happens they also navigate their feelings for each other and about themselves as well. And yes, it does come with spice. It starts off fairly mild spice but the last 10% of the book ramps it up (not to an overwhelming level but certainly to a - good reader friendly level -.
I ended up giving it a not perfect rating because there were moments when we could have done with a little more. And I don't mean more spice but sometimes I could have done with a little more descriptions as it really required a lot of imagination from me as the reader in terms of certain characters and settings and my mind really struggled to make it quite there. A lot of things ended up being silhouettes; It didn't impact the story too much but did stop for full immersion(?). Also where it was from a Netgalley unpublished version I also encountered a few typos in terms of names swapping spellings and other words being a grammatically incorrect option and it disrupted my flow a lot.
The story follows both Sid and Lucas as they navigate their relationships, past, childhood and their future as well as what other people think of them around Christmas. As that happens they also navigate their feelings for each other and about themselves as well. And yes, it does come with spice. It starts off fairly mild spice but the last 10% of the book ramps it up (not to an overwhelming level but certainly to a - good reader friendly level -.
I ended up giving it a not perfect rating because there were moments when we could have done with a little more. And I don't mean more spice but sometimes I could have done with a little more descriptions as it really required a lot of imagination from me as the reader in terms of certain characters and settings and my mind really struggled to make it quite there. A lot of things ended up being silhouettes; It didn't impact the story too much but did stop for full immersion(?). Also where it was from a Netgalley unpublished version I also encountered a few typos in terms of names swapping spellings and other words being a grammatically incorrect option and it disrupted my flow a lot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked up this book because of the absolutely insane premise and it was a delight. Lucas needs a fake-dad to come with him to his boyfriend's family Christmas and Sid needs to get away from his cheating ex, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Absolutely nuts.
This book was funny, but it didn't go down the roads I thought it might. Sid and Lucas are definitely into each other, but it doesn't cause that many weird moments. (Mostly because Julian and his family are awful.) Sid and Lucas gets along really well, and it even though the story progresses over the course of a week, it didn't feel like the relationship was rushed in any way. The core of their relationship really is compassion, and it's nice to see the way the gravitate towards each other, each knowing the other desereves better but neither seeing the same about themselves. It's also nice that they're just two normal dudes. They talk and act and think like normal people who have bills and not enough time for hobbies. Sid is kind but not necissarily nice. Lucas is honestly kinda devious. I liked them, especially in contrast to Julian and his family. Julian sucks and I hate him.
It was a solid, cozy read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, without which this review would not be possible.
This book was funny, but it didn't go down the roads I thought it might. Sid and Lucas are definitely into each other, but it doesn't cause that many weird moments. (Mostly because Julian and his family are awful.) Sid and Lucas gets along really well, and it even though the story progresses over the course of a week, it didn't feel like the relationship was rushed in any way. The core of their relationship really is compassion, and it's nice to see the way the gravitate towards each other, each knowing the other desereves better but neither seeing the same about themselves. It's also nice that they're just two normal dudes. They talk and act and think like normal people who have bills and not enough time for hobbies. Sid is kind but not necissarily nice. Lucas is honestly kinda devious. I liked them, especially in contrast to Julian and his family. Julian sucks and I hate him.
It was a solid, cozy read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, without which this review would not be possible.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is your vibe if you like
Cute/sweet
Age gap
Holiday romances
Going into A Daddy for Christmas, I was expecting an actual daddy romance, but this really just read as a cute age-gap romance instead. If you’re specifically looking for a strong daddy dynamic, this probably won’t fully hit that mark.
One thing that really didn’t work for me was the amount of pop culture references throughout the book. I know some readers enjoy that style, but personally it pulls me out of the story very quickly and dates the dialogue for me. It ended up feeling a bit excessive rather than natural.
I also struggled with the ex drama. The asshole ex felt very cliché and mostly existed to create an easy villain/conflict point, which made those parts more frustrating than compelling for me.
This book also leans very heavily into the cheesy holiday romance energy, and for me the dosage was just a little too high. Some readers will absolutely love that, but it didn’t quite land for my tastes.
On a technical level, I also found the formatting awkward at times, which made the reading experience frustrating in places.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me personally, though readers who enjoy sweet, festive age-gap romances may still have fun with it.
This is your vibe if you like
Cute/sweet
Age gap
Holiday romances
Going into A Daddy for Christmas, I was expecting an actual daddy romance, but this really just read as a cute age-gap romance instead. If you’re specifically looking for a strong daddy dynamic, this probably won’t fully hit that mark.
One thing that really didn’t work for me was the amount of pop culture references throughout the book. I know some readers enjoy that style, but personally it pulls me out of the story very quickly and dates the dialogue for me. It ended up feeling a bit excessive rather than natural.
I also struggled with the ex drama. The asshole ex felt very cliché and mostly existed to create an easy villain/conflict point, which made those parts more frustrating than compelling for me.
This book also leans very heavily into the cheesy holiday romance energy, and for me the dosage was just a little too high. Some readers will absolutely love that, but it didn’t quite land for my tastes.
On a technical level, I also found the formatting awkward at times, which made the reading experience frustrating in places.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me personally, though readers who enjoy sweet, festive age-gap romances may still have fun with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
3.5 stars. I like to call myself the queen of holiday books, so when I saw this one I obviously had to read it! This books follows Sid and Lucas as they journey to the English countryside for a Christmas visit with Lucas’s boyfriend’s family. Sid has roped Lucas into pretending to be his dad and Lucas fresh off a new breakup decides that the arrangement would also be in his best interest.
I found the characters in this book absolutely delightful. I loved Lucas and his cheer and his geeky side. I wish there was more about him being “loud” as I was stuck between whether he was a geeky homebody or this loud personality he was portrayed as at some points in the book. But either way he was a delight!!
The author also described the bodies of the characters in this book so well, not everyone has to be thin and tall or petite and cute, and this book shows that so well with the diverse bodies.
In terms of Holiday books this was a bit more serious than I normally like, it dealt with heavy topics like complicated families, emotional abuse, and breakups.
It was still a sweet romance and if you’re looking for something that isn’t your typical “coming home to a small town and falling in love with your high school sweetheart” holiday romance than this book is a fabulous choice.
3.5 stars. I like to call myself the queen of holiday books, so when I saw this one I obviously had to read it! This books follows Sid and Lucas as they journey to the English countryside for a Christmas visit with Lucas’s boyfriend’s family. Sid has roped Lucas into pretending to be his dad and Lucas fresh off a new breakup decides that the arrangement would also be in his best interest.
I found the characters in this book absolutely delightful. I loved Lucas and his cheer and his geeky side. I wish there was more about him being “loud” as I was stuck between whether he was a geeky homebody or this loud personality he was portrayed as at some points in the book. But either way he was a delight!!
The author also described the bodies of the characters in this book so well, not everyone has to be thin and tall or petite and cute, and this book shows that so well with the diverse bodies.
In terms of Holiday books this was a bit more serious than I normally like, it dealt with heavy topics like complicated families, emotional abuse, and breakups.
It was still a sweet romance and if you’re looking for something that isn’t your typical “coming home to a small town and falling in love with your high school sweetheart” holiday romance than this book is a fabulous choice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Not gonna lie, the book title made me think this was going to be some daddy kink book and thank goodness I was wrong. I was a bit hesitant to start reading it because of that assumption but once I read the first few chapters, I realized it was a fake-parent trope.
Lucas is in a relationship and has been for a few years before his boyfriend invites him over to his Christmas family dinner, with the caveat that Lucas has to invite his estranged, homophobic father, who turned his back on him and abandoned him when he came out as gay. First off, boyfriend is giving red flags for trying to make Lucas bring this butthead to the FAMILY dinner.
Enters Sid. Lucas' landlord who is also in a terrible relationship with a man who cheated on him.
Lucas sees an opportunity here and invites Sid to the family dinner as his fake father.
This book was the type of slow burn we like to see. There's a ton of fake dating tropes, but the fake father one felt new to me. We go from fake father, to allies/tentative friends, to lovers. I laughed so much throughout this book. It was funny, cozy, heartwarming. I loved it.
Lucas is in a relationship and has been for a few years before his boyfriend invites him over to his Christmas family dinner, with the caveat that Lucas has to invite his estranged, homophobic father, who turned his back on him and abandoned him when he came out as gay. First off, boyfriend is giving red flags for trying to make Lucas bring this butthead to the FAMILY dinner.
Enters Sid. Lucas' landlord who is also in a terrible relationship with a man who cheated on him.
Lucas sees an opportunity here and invites Sid to the family dinner as his fake father.
This book was the type of slow burn we like to see. There's a ton of fake dating tropes, but the fake father one felt new to me. We go from fake father, to allies/tentative friends, to lovers. I laughed so much throughout this book. It was funny, cozy, heartwarming. I loved it.
April 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this arc!
I hadn’t actually planned on reading this yet, but as soon as I read the first page I was just drawn straight in and read the whole thing in one sitting. I loved this book, it’s just so good - genuinely funny, incredibly sweet and so brilliantly English (jumble sales, charity shops and Dr Who all feature) This really wasn’t what I was expecting from the title at all, in the best possible way!
Lucas and Sid are such wonderful characters, completely real and relatable and you are just rooting for them the whole way through. They are both stuck in terrible relationships with awful people and it just made me so happy to see them wake up and find someone to genuinely adore them.
Also, as someone who lives in York, it was lovely to see one of my absolute favourite spots turn up in this - Holy Trinity Church is my go to spot for a quiet lunch - and, like Lucas, I love exploring all the charity shops near here.
I will absolutely be rereading this, a lot, and eagerly looking forward to lots more from this amazing author!
I hadn’t actually planned on reading this yet, but as soon as I read the first page I was just drawn straight in and read the whole thing in one sitting. I loved this book, it’s just so good - genuinely funny, incredibly sweet and so brilliantly English (jumble sales, charity shops and Dr Who all feature) This really wasn’t what I was expecting from the title at all, in the best possible way!
Lucas and Sid are such wonderful characters, completely real and relatable and you are just rooting for them the whole way through. They are both stuck in terrible relationships with awful people and it just made me so happy to see them wake up and find someone to genuinely adore them.
Also, as someone who lives in York, it was lovely to see one of my absolute favourite spots turn up in this - Holy Trinity Church is my go to spot for a quiet lunch - and, like Lucas, I love exploring all the charity shops near here.
I will absolutely be rereading this, a lot, and eagerly looking forward to lots more from this amazing author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"A Daddy For Christmas" is a gorgeous, fun, funny and heartfelt romantic comedy (thankfully without any daddy kinks in sight!) A slow-burn romance, it tells the story of Lucas and Sid, two men dealing with rough patches in their lives. Lucas is dating Julian, a walking red-flag, and is pressured into bringing his father along for his first Christmas with Julian's family. Not wanting to spend time with his estranged, homophobic father, Lucas ends up enlisting Sid, his landlord who is going through a messy breakup, to pretend to be his recently discovered biological father. As I said, Julian is a walking red flag, but the focus isn't on trying to fix that relationship. Instead, the story follows Lucas's journey of building self-love and self-confidence in the face of an upbringing by a father who rejected him, and Sid is key to that. I really loved this book - it's like a big cozy hug. Lizzie Spriggs has a great eye for romantic comedy, and I'm glad to finally see their work published. I can't wait for your next read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC. I adored it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC. I adored it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this arc.
I absolutely enjoyed it. It took me a a bit to get into the novel, but I love a good age gap story. The premise is hilarious and sinfully delicious, so of course I had to read it. The chemistry and the banter between Lucas and Sid had me smiling and giggling. And the ending was so satisfying and cozy! I think it's a wonderful holiday read.
I do think the author spent too long with the exes. Julian (Lucas's boyfriend in the beginning) was so terrible and made me so angry. It was a little strange to read Lucas fall in love with another man as he was in this terrible relationship. Actually, I was a little worried for most of the novel that the writer wouldn't be able to convince me that these two belong together since Sid had just left a 16 years long relationship; however, the ending put my fears to rest. They were able to smoothly overcome what would send most couples running of the hills, so I was convinced!
Overall, I would give this novel a solid 4.5/5.
I absolutely enjoyed it. It took me a a bit to get into the novel, but I love a good age gap story. The premise is hilarious and sinfully delicious, so of course I had to read it. The chemistry and the banter between Lucas and Sid had me smiling and giggling. And the ending was so satisfying and cozy! I think it's a wonderful holiday read.
I do think the author spent too long with the exes. Julian (Lucas's boyfriend in the beginning) was so terrible and made me so angry. It was a little strange to read Lucas fall in love with another man as he was in this terrible relationship. Actually, I was a little worried for most of the novel that the writer wouldn't be able to convince me that these two belong together since Sid had just left a 16 years long relationship; however, the ending put my fears to rest. They were able to smoothly overcome what would send most couples running of the hills, so I was convinced!
Overall, I would give this novel a solid 4.5/5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review for A Daddy for Christmas by Lizzie Spriggs
Publish Date 11/14/2026
4 Stars
This was my first book by Lizzie Spriggs, and I was so happy to have the opportunity to get an advanced copy!
This age-gap MM romance had a unique take on the popular fake-dating trope- a fake father to take home for Christmas with the future in-laws. I laughed out loud at the chaotic meet cute of the main characters Lucas and Sid, and rooted for them from the jump. My heart went out to how tragically relatable they were- seeking a sense of love, belonging and family despite the glaring red flags in their respective relationships. Lucas and Sid go out of their way to build each other up and be each other's safe space during this cringey Christmas holiday. A Daddy for Christmas was such a cozy, festive read, and I highly recommend it curled up in front of the fireplace with a gingerbread latte.
Read this if you like: MM, age-gap, slow burn, holiday romance
Publish Date 11/14/2026
4 Stars
This was my first book by Lizzie Spriggs, and I was so happy to have the opportunity to get an advanced copy!
This age-gap MM romance had a unique take on the popular fake-dating trope- a fake father to take home for Christmas with the future in-laws. I laughed out loud at the chaotic meet cute of the main characters Lucas and Sid, and rooted for them from the jump. My heart went out to how tragically relatable they were- seeking a sense of love, belonging and family despite the glaring red flags in their respective relationships. Lucas and Sid go out of their way to build each other up and be each other's safe space during this cringey Christmas holiday. A Daddy for Christmas was such a cozy, festive read, and I highly recommend it curled up in front of the fireplace with a gingerbread latte.
Read this if you like: MM, age-gap, slow burn, holiday romance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for feedback.
I stayed up all night to read this book.
It took me about 5 hours. I didn't expect to get into it -- literally downloaded it, looked at it, read a few pages, was like, "Meh, I'll see how far I get," and then I stayed up all night reading it.
A few times, I felt the change of POV existed to tell me as a reader context I didn't really need, because it felt like some POVs went back in time instead of continuing the timeline as it went. Other times, I lost the scenes playing in my head while reading (like during make-out sessions) because my brain was trying to comprehend how realistic it could work.
However, I enjoyed the read so much I went back and read over some parts again. Lizzie Spriggs is a new-to-me author I will seek other books from.~
It got me out of my reading slump & back to reading, and this is now a book I'm gonna have to own the physical copy of so ~
I stayed up all night to read this book.
It took me about 5 hours. I didn't expect to get into it -- literally downloaded it, looked at it, read a few pages, was like, "Meh, I'll see how far I get," and then I stayed up all night reading it.
A few times, I felt the change of POV existed to tell me as a reader context I didn't really need, because it felt like some POVs went back in time instead of continuing the timeline as it went. Other times, I lost the scenes playing in my head while reading (like during make-out sessions) because my brain was trying to comprehend how realistic it could work.
However, I enjoyed the read so much I went back and read over some parts again. Lizzie Spriggs is a new-to-me author I will seek other books from.~
It got me out of my reading slump & back to reading, and this is now a book I'm gonna have to own the physical copy of so ~
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you the author Lizzie Spriggs, and Netgalley for an E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this Christmas book. Loved Lucas and Sid but wish their was more of them as a couple instead of the majority of it being about Lucas’s boyfriend Julian who is a pure asshole that belittle Lucas for how he looks and that he likes “nerdy” things. I loved seeing the journey of Sid letting go of his abusive ex and the author showing how difficult it is to leave a relationship when you are accustomed to being in it even if your partner is shit. This is a slow burn but it was great seeing Lucas and Sid build their relationship despite them having to work through the emotional/mental damage both their relationships did to their self-esteem. Loved seeing them defend each other. It was fun to see a different take to the fake relationship trope. Would recommend for someone that likes slow burns romances with Christmas vibes.
I enjoyed this Christmas book. Loved Lucas and Sid but wish their was more of them as a couple instead of the majority of it being about Lucas’s boyfriend Julian who is a pure asshole that belittle Lucas for how he looks and that he likes “nerdy” things. I loved seeing the journey of Sid letting go of his abusive ex and the author showing how difficult it is to leave a relationship when you are accustomed to being in it even if your partner is shit. This is a slow burn but it was great seeing Lucas and Sid build their relationship despite them having to work through the emotional/mental damage both their relationships did to their self-esteem. Loved seeing them defend each other. It was fun to see a different take to the fake relationship trope. Would recommend for someone that likes slow burns romances with Christmas vibes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honestly I loved this book! I feel like the name almost ruined it for me as I thought it was going to be extremely Daddy/baby vibes with a huge controversial age gap and it was NOT like that at all!!!
Lucas needs to bring his dad to Christmas to stop his boyfriend from dumping him. Sid is his landlord that drunkenly lets himself in after his relationship falls apart. Lucas gets Sid to pretend to be his dad, which had me worried however Lucas is 30/31 and Sid is 45/46. So whilst there is an age gap, both characters are very much adults which I loved.
The book touches on self worth, family, loss and how all these things compound at Christmas to be a tough time. I really enjoyed the relationship between Lucas and Sid, it developed so naturally and the author truly demonstrated their similarities and compatibility.
Truly a feel good, wholesome Christmas romance that will be perfect to reread come November.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.
Lucas needs to bring his dad to Christmas to stop his boyfriend from dumping him. Sid is his landlord that drunkenly lets himself in after his relationship falls apart. Lucas gets Sid to pretend to be his dad, which had me worried however Lucas is 30/31 and Sid is 45/46. So whilst there is an age gap, both characters are very much adults which I loved.
The book touches on self worth, family, loss and how all these things compound at Christmas to be a tough time. I really enjoyed the relationship between Lucas and Sid, it developed so naturally and the author truly demonstrated their similarities and compatibility.
Truly a feel good, wholesome Christmas romance that will be perfect to reread come November.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.
April 10, 2026
This is a slow burn Christmas romance that I enjoyed. I never once was bored and there was just the right amount
of drama. I also really loved Sid. However the formatting for the e book was terrible. Every chapter started with the first word broken up and any time the text messages were italicized they weren’t spaced out and were a pain and a half to read. Hopefully that will be fixed before release. I also think that Sid and Lucas needed more time as lovers. Their friendship was well done but I had a hard time believing their romance. Maybe if the second half had been more fleshed out and less rushed it would have been more genuine. My last quibble is the sheer number of pop culture references. It was just too much.
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc
of drama. I also really loved Sid. However the formatting for the e book was terrible. Every chapter started with the first word broken up and any time the text messages were italicized they weren’t spaced out and were a pain and a half to read. Hopefully that will be fixed before release. I also think that Sid and Lucas needed more time as lovers. Their friendship was well done but I had a hard time believing their romance. Maybe if the second half had been more fleshed out and less rushed it would have been more genuine. My last quibble is the sheer number of pop culture references. It was just too much.
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book as an ARC from netgalley.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book initially. I wasn’t overly keen on the description of the characters and didn’t instantly like them. However I kept going with it and ended up loving the two main characters. They were just normally flawed people. I liked that neither character was perfect or rich which is often the case in romance novels. Having 2 main characters which are working class was refreshing.
The pace of the story was really good, it felt believable how their relationship developed.
Overall I really enjoyable book with great characters.
This book was gifted to me by Netgalley in return for a review. All opinions of this book are entirely my own.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book initially. I wasn’t overly keen on the description of the characters and didn’t instantly like them. However I kept going with it and ended up loving the two main characters. They were just normally flawed people. I liked that neither character was perfect or rich which is often the case in romance novels. Having 2 main characters which are working class was refreshing.
The pace of the story was really good, it felt believable how their relationship developed.
Overall I really enjoyable book with great characters.
This book was gifted to me by Netgalley in return for a review. All opinions of this book are entirely my own.
April 14, 2026
Peep me kicking my feet and giggling as I read this in the April in 70° weather lmao.
You do not need to be in the Christmas spirit to read this cute story. It’s a wonderful read even in the April heat.
Spoilers ahead:
I was so worried that Sid and Luc would get caught kissing before their secret was up and it would turn really weird really fast. I’m so glad that didn’t happen. I also feel like I was anxious for Clive to show up the whole time and I am also so glad he didn’t. I wouldn’t want to read anything he has to say anyways.
Sid and Luc are both such sweethearts and I love reading them fall in love. So sweet and such a wonderful story. I loved getting to read this story.
You do not need to be in the Christmas spirit to read this cute story. It’s a wonderful read even in the April heat.
Spoilers ahead:
I was so worried that Sid and Luc would get caught kissing before their secret was up and it would turn really weird really fast. I’m so glad that didn’t happen. I also feel like I was anxious for Clive to show up the whole time and I am also so glad he didn’t. I wouldn’t want to read anything he has to say anyways.
Sid and Luc are both such sweethearts and I love reading them fall in love. So sweet and such a wonderful story. I loved getting to read this story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A DADDY FOR CHRISTMAS is a great holiday romance a la Lily Morton. When Lucas is caught between inviting his estranged, homophobic father to Christmas with his boyfriend's family or Sid, his landlord and a complete stranger, the choice is easy. But when neither fit in with the posh in-laws-to-be, they end up finding Christmas romance with each other. Really enjoyed the Christmas special vibes and the sprinkles of fandom within. The soon-to-be-ex partners are easy to root against, and though things move quickly, the romance is still believable, with Christmas charm aplenty. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an ARC to review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Your landlord turns up at your flat drunk in the middle of the night just when you need to bring your father to your boyfriends family Christmas. As meet Cutes go this one is a doozy! Sid agrees to pose as Lucas' father to impress his future in Laws, I mean what could possibly go wrong.
It is such a refreshing change to read a story where both characters feel like real people, flaws and emotional baggage and all, plus neither of them being totally ripped adonises just adds to they way the characters just jump off the page. The slow burn feels so natural and the festive York setting has me itching for a gingerbread latte in April!
It is such a refreshing change to read a story where both characters feel like real people, flaws and emotional baggage and all, plus neither of them being totally ripped adonises just adds to they way the characters just jump off the page. The slow burn feels so natural and the festive York setting has me itching for a gingerbread latte in April!
May 1, 2026
Read as an ARC from NetGalley
This is not a “daddy” book.
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, this was really cute.
Age gap (early 30s to late 40s), forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and a fake dad?? (a very funny take on the fake dating trope).
The writing was great for a cosy Christmas romance, and the visceral hatred I had for Lucas and Sid’s exes made the ending even sweeter.
Overall, a great read. Likeable characters, and the romance felt like a slow burn, even though it’s a short book.
This is not a “daddy” book.
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, this was really cute.
Age gap (early 30s to late 40s), forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and a fake dad?? (a very funny take on the fake dating trope).
The writing was great for a cosy Christmas romance, and the visceral hatred I had for Lucas and Sid’s exes made the ending even sweeter.
Overall, a great read. Likeable characters, and the romance felt like a slow burn, even though it’s a short book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a new author for me and didn't she exceed my expectations!
Lizzie's writing is so good, her character developed so cleverly descriptive that I was gripped and rooting for the MC's straight away.
This is a slow-burn with a dual POV, and it had a perfect pacing.
This kept me engaged and giggling at the MC's witty come backs.
I loved this so much and will be looking for more books by this author.
Lizzie's writing is so good, her character developed so cleverly descriptive that I was gripped and rooting for the MC's straight away.
This is a slow-burn with a dual POV, and it had a perfect pacing.
This kept me engaged and giggling at the MC's witty come backs.
I loved this so much and will be looking for more books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun slow-burn MM romance set during the holiday season.
I’m usually not a huge slow burn fan, but this one was just too good. It’s also an age gap romance, which I always love and the characters were written really well. It also gave me The Nightmare Before Kissmas vibes, which is one of my favorite books.
I definitely recommend this if you love age gap holiday romances that will make you laugh.
I’m usually not a huge slow burn fan, but this one was just too good. It’s also an age gap romance, which I always love and the characters were written really well. It also gave me The Nightmare Before Kissmas vibes, which is one of my favorite books.
I definitely recommend this if you love age gap holiday romances that will make you laugh.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another new author for me and genre but I loved it.
I had no idea where the book would take me but I loved how it ended. Staying in a relationship which feels just comfortable or safe but really isn't right shouldn't be how life is lived. This book explores that and is wonderfully resolved for the better when the fog clears and the real meaning of love, friendship and belonging is discovered.
Ready to read your next book offering Lizzie! 🥰🏳️🌈
I had no idea where the book would take me but I loved how it ended. Staying in a relationship which feels just comfortable or safe but really isn't right shouldn't be how life is lived. This book explores that and is wonderfully resolved for the better when the fog clears and the real meaning of love, friendship and belonging is discovered.
Ready to read your next book offering Lizzie! 🥰🏳️🌈
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews