Having read a couple of Portia MacIntosh’s books, I was eager to read Just Date and See. It did not disappoint at all. The description made me really want to just dive into the book and it was phenomenal.

Billie has just finished renovating her house after her boyfriend left. She was hoping for a quiet Christmas when suddenly her whole family shows up. Dreading being stuck with her crazy family in her home, she signs up for dating events in the area. Here she meets Rocco and several other fun characters. I loved the dating events she went to because there were a lot of mishaps and if you've ever been to any events like that, you know that those sorts of things can happen. I would love to go more into what happens, but you'll just have to read the book to find out the funny chaos.

Portia MacIntosh has such a way of bringing characters to life. Billie was wonderful and usually, I can find fault with the main character, and I could not find many flaws with her. Rocco was so wonderful and so sweet. I have seen other reviewers say that they didn't care for Billie’s family, but I didn’t mind them. I kind of enjoyed all of them and they all had redeeming qualities in the end.

I love Christmas books and this one did not disappoint. If you are looking for a cute, quick read this holiday season I would definitely recommend Just Date and See.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia Macintosh for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A funny, enjoyable Christmas read. Billie is looking forward to Christmas alone, and as we know in these books, it's not going to happen.
Cue extended stays from parents, sister and others, and Billie in an attempt to escape agrees to go on dates with a matchmaking service. Predictable but fun, with a couple of unexpected twists and turns makes this a fun, humorous, light hearted read.
I enjoyed it and will look definitely read more of the authors work.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this novel.

Thank you #Boldwood, #rachelsrandomresources and #netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Super cute and funny. Poor Billy is having to deal with some changes in her living arrangements. She's a teacher at a Private School in Canterbury. Her mum is very young looking thanks to some enhancements, which attract a lot of male attention.
Her sister is also a slight annoyance to her but thats families. Their story and mainly Billy's is fun and hilarious.
An enjoyable and easy read.

This book was so much fun. It really did make me laugh out loud. That is often promised and rarely true. Never a dull moment with all the twists and turns. You will love this book.

It really did make me laugh...and giggle.
It certainly made my Xmas tragedies seem like small change – I’ve had the flu with 2 children under 3; I’ve had powercuts in the middle of cooking dinner – for hours and it was snowing and windy; and I’ve had the cat eat the turkey!
But at no time did I have so many people turn up and expect to stay and be catered to – good job her father and his new wife brought food.
I confess I didn’t realise the outcome of the meeting with ~Rocco – I did think he was going to have a significant part to play in the story but really, what a denouement.
This story had so many ups and downs that it really created a good humorous plot in the way it completely upended Billie’s life and house not to mention her expectations of what her Xmas was going to be like. Well written in a light style that was easy to read and well crafted.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

I love a Christmas book, and I'm not usually bothered that they're quite predictable, however this totally had a few surprise twists and the amount of times it actually made me laugh out loud really surprised me.

I could not recommend this book more, the characters were brilliant. I loved that there were so many but they didn't get lost but they also connected together really well. I loved the comedy, I loved how relatable it is because Christmas is always chaos but it was super cute too.

I've already started recommending this book out - totally BRILLIANT.

Random "first things first" moment...
...when I went to review this one, I thought I had the wrong book!
Why? Well, it seems it went through a title change between when I got the blog tour invite and it was to be read/reviewed...talk about confused, because I was! The thing is...whether it kept the old title or this new one, it was definitely a case of "a rose is still a rose".

Billie was looking forward to her first quiet Christmas, all by herself in her newly renovated home. Sounds peaceful, right? Well, it DID sound peaceful, until her mom needed a place to stay until her new place was ready...and then her sister shows up unannounced....and then her dad and his new wife need accommodation....and then a blast from her past arrives, drunk and all...and suddenly her quiet holiday is turning her home into a bloody hotel! Good things she's full of holiday spirit. Good thing she can take anything head on, spread goodwill, and keep her good cheer. Good thing....she's single, and the dating app she use to use has an "in case of emergency" type button that suddenly fills her calendar with a WHOLE lot of mingling that simply must be done, and if it gets her out of the overcrowded house, so be it! Yes, Christmas is really looking up...and it doesn't hurt that there's a tall, dark, and sexy, fiendishly nice man at her first, well second, but still first, matcher meet up. Santa Baby, she's been an awfully good girl this year... Seriously, though, she's not looking for love, and yet that's generally when it finds you, but it won't be any smoother sailing than the rest of her holiday...then again, the best things in life often take a little work...

I loved Billie from the word go, and not simply because she's kind hearted, unable to leave anyone in a lurch, and simply looking forward to a little downtime in her own abode. I love how she took my perception of the first few pages and totally swung me around, complete 180. I'm reading, feeling melancholy, and BOOM...we're suddenly no longer feeling empathy for her, but rather laughing with relief that things aren't the way they first seemed! The laughs continue as the stresses pile up, and she seeks more time away with her new matcher friends. She and he are truly bad at pretty much everything they try, but it's not always about coming out on top, it's about enjoying one's self...and if it happens to be enjoyment shared, than you're definitely winning! Watching these two potentially come together after all the events they attend, sabotage, and laugh their way through was too much fun...until it wasn't and I wanted to slap a few about the ears, but all things come out right in the end, and THAT'S what really matters. You'll laugh, you'll tear, you'll count your lucky stars you don't have family like them, and yet wish they were some relation to you by book's end...all except the one chap because seriously, he's still a bit of an A-hole.

A great read now or for the holidays...so long as you read it!

Portia's books are always an absolute delight to read, filled with fun, humour and in this case Christmas! And my favourite of Portia's books to date.

The characters were all so much fun, realistic and certainly turned Billie's quiet Christmas into absolute chaos.

Just Date and See was lighthearted, easy reading, feel-good festive fiction.

Highly entertaining and definitely worth the read.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Billie just wanted a quiet Christmas but that is getting further and further away from her by the minute!

This was a great Christmas rom-com that shows the chaos of the Holidays and different family dynamics that will surely make you laugh.

Highly recommend to add this one to your Holiday reading list!

Billie wants a quiet Christmas holiday in her new renovated house. But when a lot of unwanted guests decide to stay, she needs an escape. With a friend suggesting a dating app Billie thinks why not, what's the worst that could happen?

But these dates may just turn into love.

I found this a little slow to get started but once it does I loved it. I felt the irritation from the different characters and wanted to escape with the main characters, however, felt sorry for her on the dates.

MacIntosh's writing gives a great atmosphere to her words, allowing the reader to be involved with the narrative. The one-liners are hilariously funny and the misleading events had me shocked.

I found this a really fun read and will easily pick up a novel by this author again as this is the second novel I have read by them so far.

As usual, Portia Macintosh DELIVERED. This was just such a nice lovely read to sink into. Lots of humor and lots of heart, exactly what we all want and need. Gorgeous, absolutely recommend.

I love a Portia MacIntosh books and this one is another beauty. I love books that make you howl with laughter and really lift you up.

Just Date and See is a delightful, laugh-out-loud holiday romance that you will not be able to put down.

I really do adore Portia’s books; they are fun and charming and leave you with all those feel-good feelings. Just Date and See is her latest holiday romance, and if you are a fan of The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss, then you will love this book.

Our heroine Billie wants a quiet Christmas in her newly renovated house, but the universe (or her family) has other plans for her. This book is full of quirky and fun characters that will have you laughing and smiling for the entire story. Billie’s holiday plans go out the door as more and more family members appear at her front step, looking for a place to stay for the holiday season. Her home becomes a bit of a mad house with her mom, sister, dad and his wife living all under one roof. Throw in a few other unexpected guests, and you have got lots of fabulous drama and awkward family situations that I just devoured. All this craziness at home pushes Billie to participate in a series of festive dates with strangers arranged through a dating app. While on one of these dates, she meets the gorgeous Rocco. Sparks fly between these two, but Rocco is only in town for a short time, and Billie has sworn to have a man-free Christmas, so is there any reason to pursue a relationship that won’t last past Christmas?

I flew through this book! I could not put it down and read it all in one day (while sitting on a beach in Greece). The story is fun, with just the right amount of holiday and craziness to hook you in and leave you wanting to read more. Even though this is an easy read, there is still plenty of depth to the characters and their relationships. The family dynamic in this book is complex and full of drama and heart. Portia did a fabulous job at showing readers how complicated family life can be. Families are constantly changing, and sometimes it can be hard to deal with these changes. I thought she dealt with those serious issues by putting a positive spin on them.

I love Billie, she is fun and sweet, and I love how disaster tends to follow her wherever she goes. Whether dealing with her family or going on these festive dates, I knew I would be laughing alongside her as she struggled to get through the holiday season. The series of dates that Billie went on were hilarious! Because Billie didn’t decide to join this festive dating series with the intent of finding her one true love, it meant she approached these dates in a more fun and playful manner.

I adore Billie and Rocco as a couple! Their banter was perfect, and I loved every moment they had together. I loved how they were able to joke around with each other, and I loved their antics at these dating events. The chemistry between these two was believable, and even though there were lots of light cute moments between them, I still felt like their relationship had lots of depth.

Just Date and See is one of my favourite holiday rom-coms!

Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a big fan of Portia’s books, Just Date and See did not let me down. It was highly entertaining, funny, interesting and a eclectic mix of characters; some you love, some you instantly dislike.
Main character Billie is looking forward to a calm, man-free Christmas, looking forward to some peace and quiet in her house over the festive period. Poor Billie has no chance! As her house fills up with (un)invited guests (each with various bad habits) her dream of that Christmas slowly turns into a nightmare.
To escape Billie takes drastic action by signing up to every singles event she can. Meeting another like-minded soul, she is soon having fun and adventures of her own. But are things too good to be true? What secrets are being kept and why?
I loved It from start to finish. I loved Billies character and really felt for her, she is taking advantage of by just about everyone in her life. Luckily she has support in the unlikeliest of places.
Another hit that is perfect reading this upcoming festive season.

I love Portia MacIntosh and her books never fail to make me giggle and smile. Mix this with a cosy, festive plot and you've got the perfect combination for an excuse to stay in with your PJs on and read your way to happiness.

Billie's plans for a quiet Christmas fall apart when she end up with several unexpected visitors, each with their own drama. With a little pressure, and the need to escape, Billie embarks on a singles week and just maybe she'll bag herself a tasty Christmas present.

Billie is such a loveable character but at times I wanted to give her a little shake but…that's what makes her human and so real! I could feel Billie's anxieties around dating and how much she'd been hurt previously and the tension during some situations leapt from the page.

Full of hilarity, fun and memorable characters, Just Date and see is perfect to kick off your festive reading if you've not already started.

I loved this story. It is so full of wit and humour and the central character of Billie is thoroughly likeable. I enjoyed the tension between Billie's ideal quiet Christmas and the Christmas she actually ended up with. Her family are hilarious, in fact all the characters add to the humour. Billie's one liners are genuinely funny.

Billie decides to disappear from her house for some evenings by filling her nights with trips out with the Jingle All the Way dating app. Of course, this is a great vehicle for more humour but also for some budding romance. I was surprised by one of the revelations near the end. I certainly had not guessed what was coming. With some lovely festive touches and some hilarious interactions, this is a great Christmas read.

In short: festive fun and games

Everything a Christmas rom-com should be! When Billie finds her plans for a quiet Christmas turned upside down by an influx of visitors to her newly decorated home, she is determined to spend as little time at home as possible and signs up for a week of singles events. Great characters and lots of humor make for a great read!

Just date and see was such a binge read ! It wasn't what I was expecting especially with the title ! This is such an unexpected Christmas book from the title alone which was lovely as I find sometimes books with Christmas in them a bit off putting. 
 
I feel so sorry for billie, she has so many unexpected things thrown onto her that she doesn't feel comfortable staying in her own home so she throws herself into the dating world. It was so hard to put this book down even though it didn't seem billie would ever get a break from it all. It was very well written and very enjoyable.

A festive read to put a smile on your face,
With family drama and plans out of place.
Expecting Christmas in her home, peaceful, alone,
When folks keep arriving, its enough to make her groan!

Her Mum's downsizing house move is the start,
As her home is sold but the move can't take part.
Then her sister arrives out of the blue
So now there are three for Christmas instead of just two!

When others arrive, Billie really wants to shout,
Instead she finds excuses to keep going out.
A dating app gives her other places to be
But what happens then you need to read to see!

What a fabulous, festive read this story proved to be,
With secrets, family dramas and surprises you'll see.
I thoroughly enjoyed it right from the start
As bowling, bingo, scones and salt play a part!

Get ready for accidents, fun, laughter and more
As well as different dates to explore.
A heartwarming read with a brilliant epilogue, too,
Making this a book I have no hesitation highly recommending to you!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

Just Date and See by Portia MacIntosh was an unexpected Christmas novel surrounding Billie and her wild, unconventional family.
Billie is an English teacher and was looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her mother recently moving into her renovated home but it seems the guests are not stopping there. No, her sister Jess, father and stepmother turn up to move in for Christmas and she was not happy.
To escape a chaotic household, Billie signs up for the dating app Matcher that's doing a week-long event leading up to Christmas for mingling. She meets Rocco, who warned her about a sleazy man she was speaking with and escapes with him, mutually agreeing to help each other survive the chaotic events. The two end up getting along and meeting up becomes less of a chore.
If everything that could go wrong in Billie's then it has. Her frustrating ex Declan shows up, her sister starts seeing the creepy neighbour Kenny, her parents have some weird flirty relationship and put that all together they take over her home.
The start was really funny, I loved to banter between Billie and her teacher friend. It was also nice to see a book character that had a good relationship with her mother and even have insight into modern-day dating and the trials and tribulations this created.
I did become infuriated towards the end. Billie was supposed to be a secondary school teacher but she showed 0 authority and backbone in any aspect of her life, letting almost everyone walk all over her. I think a smaller, less personally challenging career choice would make more sense or if she was more confident in what she did and did not want. It got to the point I was getting mixed up with the plot about her family life and the romance plot and then the two combined and became even more infuriating.
I love the cover, but you would never know it was a Christmas romance novel.
I think if you're looking for a kooky family dynamic where a heroine has buckets of bad luck trying to navigate festive activities then this is great.
Thank you Boldwood!