Easy read book, with tons of romance – couldn’t get any better!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

absolutely adore a Portia book. This has delivered on every level. It’s been a book I have been pulled into and devoured in one sitting.

This has been charming and filled with adventure. I’ve loved every second of this cute and heartwarming book.

Portia has a real talent for capturing the reader and keeping you hooked until the very last page. This has been no different.

This is fun and filled with adventure. I loved the characters and found myself completely invested in this gorgeous book.

This is the perfect summer read. I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s next.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

this was a very slow romance but fun overall! I enjoyed the drama in the friend group, i'd definitely read more by this author.

Portia MacIntosh's "Long Time No Sea" is a delightful and sun-soaked journey through the past and the possibilities of the future. With a backdrop of the beautiful Italian coast, this book is a romantic escapade filled with unexpected twists, endearing characters, and the unraveling of long-buried secrets.

Jas, the relatable and slightly apprehensive protagonist, finds herself facing an unplanned move back home in her 30s. When her best friend offers an all-expenses-paid reunion with high school friends in Italy, it's an opportunity too enticing to resist. Little does she know that this trip will not only reunite her with her ex-boyfriend but also bring the one who got away back into her life.

MacIntosh's storytelling captures the essence of a love triangle, wrapped in the allure of a picturesque Italian getaway. As the sun-soaked week progresses, readers are drawn into a whirlwind of emotions, as secrets unravel, and the dynamics of past and present love ignite once again.

The characters in "Long Time No Sea" are well-crafted and multi-dimensional, making them feel like old friends. Jas, her ex, and the one that got away, all contribute to the book's charm with their individual quirks and relatable experiences.

MacIntosh's narrative prompts readers to contemplate the merits of revisiting the past and the potential for second chances. The book seamlessly weaves themes of love, nostalgia, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of Italy's stunning coast.

Long Time No Sea - Portia MacIntosh

A perfect holiday read, I really enjoyed getting to understand the ins and outs of the friendship group, and felt that the characters were easy to latch on to. A quick read, that flows really well. Lots of little laugh out loud moments too! I have not read any other books by Portia MacIntosh so will search others out now. Thanks so much Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Portia is a fantastic writer. I really enjoyed this. It was an easy read and the story line kept me up turning pages into the morning. Will definitely recommend to all I know.

When a group of friends from school are reunited, they fall back into their relationships easily. There are a few issues from the old days to work through but by and large, all the dynamics between them all have survived and there is plenty of unfinished business to work through. This is a light hearted and entertaining read throughout with plenty of laugh out loud moments.

Friendship is very much at the centre of the story. The group’s relationship with Clarky is the most interesting as they all can see how irritating his behaviour is and yet they accept him, warts and all, just as they did when he joined the school years ago. In a way, friendship emerges as a non judgmental thing although Clarky’s actions push its limits to the edge. Jas finds herself back in a love triangle just as she was in her teens and has to decide how to make her feelings clear. Humour runs through every page and makes for an enjoyable read from the very start.

In short: friends and lovers reunited

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This story follows Jas, who finds herself on an unexpected reunion trip with her high school friends, all expenses paid. However, what seems like an idyllic getaway becomes a week of sun, sea, and unravelling secrets, as Jas confronts her past, including her ex-boyfriend and the one who got away.

The narrative skillfully explores themes of love, second chances, and the complexities of relationships. With a charming backdrop and a well-drawn cast of characters, the story keeps readers guessing about the potential for a second chance at love.

A heartwarming read that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering a dose of romance and self-discovery.

It's the first time I've read a book by Portia MacIntosh, but I think I need to read another book by the author. It was very difficult for me to get into the story and enjoy the book itself, but I don't think it's a bad book.

I totally recommend reading it if you're looking for a light story and good company for the summer.

Portia MacIntosh is back with another delicious romantic comedy, Long Time No Sea.

Jas never imagined that she would be in her thirties and left with no other choice but to move back home. With Lady Luck looking the other way, Jas doesn’t think things will get any better for her in the foreseeable future – until her best friend announces an all-expenses paid trip to Italy for a reunion with their high school friends. This is just the break Jas had been looking for – even though she will find herself coming face to face with two people she never hoped to see ever again…

Meeting your ex high school boyfriend is hard, but even harder is finding yourself in close proximity to the one that got away and wondering what might have been. As old feelings resurface, Jas finds herself taking a starring role in a decades-old love triangle that has her wondering whether the past should be left where it is or whether she should grab this second chance at happiness with both hands.

Portia MacIntosh never disappoints and Long Time No Sea is a gorgeous summer read full of sun and secrets that makes for the perfect beach read. A wonderfully written page-turner about love lost and found, friendship and putting your heart on the line set on the Italian coast, Long Time No Sea has a wonderful cast of characters and plenty of humour, drama and emotion to keep readers riveted to the page from beginning to end.

I absolutely love this author and have read so much of their work. It’s always daunting starting a new novel as I worry it won’t live up to her previous books. However, Portia MacIntosh has done it again with another brilliant read!

I love the authors writing style and with this book, I felt fully engaged by the 20% mark of the book.

The storyline was relatable and funny. Characters were well written and described.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

Everyone has that group of friends that got them through their school years. Jas, found her people during her daily commute. Now that the group is preparing to leave for various universities, they vow to stay in touch.

Fast forward fifteen years, and the group has lost all connection. When Maxi graciously offering to finance everyone’s trip, they set out on an Italian holiday. Will this vacation remind them how important their friendships truly are, or will it prove they were meant to go their separate ways?

This is the fifth book I have read by Portia MacIntosh. While MacIntosh is primarily known as a contemporary romance author, I would say the real love story in this book, is between the group of friends. On paper they don’t make sense, but in real life they do. I loved seeing their different personalities and how they made each other better.

Another thing MacIntosh does beautifully in this book, is the use of dual timelines. She alternates from 2008 to the present. Getting to spend half of the time in the past and the other half on the present rounded out the characters. It was fun to see their progression, or lack there of, from child to adult.

Read this book for:
*big friend group
*dual timelines
*Italian getaway
*minor love story (featuring love triangle)
*touch of a mystery (who started the fire?)

Special thanks to Netgalley, Portia MacIntosh, and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m always a fan of Portia MacIntosh and I really enjoyed this one as there was a lot of her usual romance and humour and had an extra little sprinkle of mystery to it as well.
I really enjoyed the characters and seeing their friendships and of course I loved the romance bubbling between Jas and Cam.

A perfect summer read. (Just wish I was sat at the beach while reading it lol)

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this ARC.

A surprise invitation to a reunion holiday
Has these grown teen friends meeting, with somewhere special to stay.
They've not seen each other for a decade or more
So there's a new place and old relationships to explore!

For Jas, whose job just came to an end
It seems a great opportunity to reconnect with her friend.
A week of being pampered somewhere plush
What she's not so sure about is meeting both her ex and her teen crush!

Rekindling memories, some of which are sad
Is this a great idea or going to be so bad?
It's also a chance to make new ones, too,
And maybe look on the past from a different point of view.

A dual timeline story sharing the present and the past
Will their friendships prove the kind that will last?
There are surprises and secrets they conceal
There'll be drama and turmoil at their big reveal!

A fun read to put a smile on your face
With adventure, mistakes and possible disgrace!
Will this be the opportunity for romance
If only Jas will give it a chance!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is a book where the blurb doesn’t do it credit.

A fantastically well written, dual timeline story which has you guessing, turning the pages and falling a little bit in love with the characters. There is a good balance of smiles and heartbreak throughout.

Like other skilled writers in this genre, the best part of this story is watching the characters unfurl, learning about their pasts and joining them as they move through their present.

The story itself might be one where you have to suspend your disbelief, but this doesn’t take away from the enjoyment factor.

A highly recommended, light read.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy of this book, it’s my first by the author and it won’t be my last! It was a really fun, funny, laugh out loud book which I really enjoyed. Lots of nostalgia and fun along the way. Definitely recommend!

I am not one for love triangles because they tend to just be whiny and irritating, but I picked this one up because of the Italian vacation part of the plot. I was pleasantly surprised by all of it!

The love triangle was still a love triangle, so I quickly tired of the “who will she pick???”, but the vacation aspect more than made up for it. :)

Looking for a fun and refreshing read during these scorching summer days? Look no further! Long Time No Sea is your book! As usual with Portia’s books it is the perfect mix of romance and comedy, making it a light and uplifting read. She’s definitely one of my MUST READ authors when I’m in need of some laughs.

How does an all expenses paid trip to the Italian coast sound? Bloody awesome, if you ask me! That’s what Jas thinks when her best friend from high school arranges a reunion of their old group of friends. But she’ll have to share her holiday with her ex boyfriend and the one that got away, reigniting an old love triangle that will get even more complicated when a day trip turns out unexpectedly.

The story is told in dual timelines, and it was a fantastic way to add some depth to the characters. In the past we get to witness how their friendships grew when they were teens, allowing the reader to better understand them in the present and where they were coming from during their reunion in Italy. A big event when they were kids made them lose touch, keeping secrets from each other for a long time. This whole thing added a nice touch of suspense to the story, making you guess what could have happened to break their friendship.

All the characters felt pretty real, even though some of them were a bit hard to relate to. Clarky was such an annoying guy. I admit it was fun to read about him, but dealing with him in real life would be a huge NO! All of them had their strengths and their flaws. Even though on the outside they seemed to be living their best life, they were all struggling some battles, and secrets and silence weren’t letting them move forward.

I think the whole premise was quite relatable. That bittersweet moment when, after many years, you meet old friends, realizing that maybe now you don’t have so much in common as you did, and that the things that tied you together back then may be the ones keeping you apart now, basically because you’re not anymore the same people you were then. Accepting that, and not trying to force old patterns, is the only way to let a new friendship develop.

What promised to be a relaxing vacation soon turns into a series of hilarious situations that made me laugh out loud several times. That resort was quite something! But the story also has some emotional moments and the author did such a good job balancing both, inserting a joke or making a witty remark to lighten the heaviest moments.

Long Time No Sea (great title, btw), will bring you back to your teens with that sense of nostalgia of when you were a kid ready to eat the world, only to end up being eaten by it. Romance, laughs and old friendships make of this the perfect summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for a honest review.