After getting fired, Jas receives an unexpected invitation to join her old school friends for a week long reunion. The week holds everything from misadventures, old secrets, and a second chance at love.

Portia MacIntosh is one of my favorites for British romcoms! Here's what I loved with this one:

The humor--Spot on! I laughed for a majority of this book. The one liners and situations all had me in stitches.

The friends--I wanted to be friends with ALL of these characters. They are flawed, don't get me wrong, but they are each endearing in their own way (even Clarky). They also share this really genuine connection with each other.

Second chance at love--I'm a sucker for it and it's done well here. You get to two different love interests, although it's not a love triangle (I promise!). There is a clear front runner early.

This is a perfect summer romcom that will steal you heart!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. My reviews are always honest

Thank you to netgalley for the approval. I did enjoy this read. It was a cute summer read and easy to follow.

Portia Macintosh is one of my favourite contemporary romance authors. Her books are hilarious, laugh out loud , closed door romances, with a touch of spice and a great escape from day to day life.

This one is no different, but it has a hilarious risqué aspect thrown in, which for the characters is mortifying and funny! Sometimes at the same time. 😉

What happens when a group of high school friends (Maxi and DJ, and Jas and Mike were couples) reunite for a luxurious holiday?
Secrets are kept (and unravelled) mostly to save face in front of what they believe to be more successful friends. Everyone has an insecurity. Some just go to different lengths to hide it.
The flashbacks added a touch of mystery and intrigue.
With second chances at love, friendships being tested and strengthened, this is a perfect poolside read.

Endlessly funny and relatable. There’s something comforting about coming of age mixed with a reunion trope. People change but it goes to show that no one is perfect and it’s okay to be a mess. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good laugh or a pick me up!

This was very different to the previous books I have read by Portia MacIntosh. It was no less enjoyable though I have to admit that I didn't find the characters to be as likeable.

This is what happens when you meet up with people you haven't seen in a very long time. While you may have had a lot in common and kept in touch, the moment you see each other again it's either as though you've never been parted, or you have a lot of secrets that you aren't too sure you want to share.

The book starts with Jas, she's in her early 30s and though initially it seems as though she has everything together, within minutes she's lost her job because her boss is a bit of a weirdo who apparently showers with her bra (?) and understandably his wife doesn't want her living with them anymore.

Moving back home is not what anyone wants at 33, but that's what happens...though an offer saves her immediate humiliation from her wealthy school friend Maxi who invites her on a trip to Italy to stay in a celebrity's villa so they can have a catch-up.

Of course, the offer is not without a catch...all their old school friends are going to be there, including Jas's ex-boyfriend Mike and her crush, Cam.

I enjoyed the moments where the group were getting to know each other again, though the secrets were always going to cause problems, hidden divorce papers, and a secret baby. The revelation of the latter, I personally felt, was added and could have been used more.

I do personally wish that the story had more closure, it ended, as MacIntosh's books tend to do, in a rather open-ended matter, sort of a 'write your own' if you will. I would have loved to find out what happened when they returned to the real world. And as for Clarky, a more annoying character could not have ever been created. Yes, he may have had his reasons, but seriously?

As always I love Portia's writing, she writes brilliant books. For me this book felt different to any of the books ive read of hers before, not in a bad way, just different in the style.

This book is filled with lots of adventure. There are a lot of characters and there is also the split in chapters of then and now, so it does take a bit of getting your head round.

I was fully invested in this book and as always I look forward to reading what's next from Portia.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Jas gets fired and is forced to move back home with her parents while she’s in her 30s, she knows she’s trust hit rock bottom. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do next until one of her best mates from school days sends her an invitation to an all expenses paid vacation to a private island in Italy. With no job holding her back, she decides she may as well go for it even though she hasn’t seen her friends in a long time, despite them all pledging to stay in touch after school. Of course, this also means that her ex boyfriend will also be joining them as well as Cam, the one that she crushed on the whole time. When the band gets reunited as adults, secrets get revealed, lies get uncovered and the story of their lives back then proves to not be what everyone thought it was. And it also turns into a nit so relaxing vacation when Clarky takes them on a “Shipwreck” excursion because he thinks he’d be so great at shows like Naked & Afraid. Ugh. All Jas wanted was a free break from life before she had to face the reality of her situation and instead she is forced to face her feelings all over again, in the S & M room even lol and they all just needed to grow up and tell the truth.
This was ok but not my favorite by this author. The characters were kinda flat and not super likeable. That being said, it was a quick read and it is always a pleasure to read about scenes in Italy.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The last thing that Jas wants to do in her 30s is move home after being fired by her boss because he was the one doing something wrong. She well and truly has hit rock bottom. That is until her best friend from secondary school calls and invites her on a vacation to a private island in Italy. With nothing else holding her back, she decides to go. She was so caught up in her own life that she didn't stop to think that Maxi would invite the rest of the gang too. Meaning her ex-boyfriend and the one that got away. With the whole group being reunited as adults, secrets get told, and lies get unleashed. So much for a relaxing week away before having to face her real world.

I am well and truly exhausted from reading books about 30 year olds that act like teenagers. Maybe it was the fact that they hadn't seen each other in 15 years, but gosh they all acted so immature. I genuinely couldn't put the book down in the beginning, but then it started to decline fast. Jas was just immature the whole time and so naive and frustrating. Maxi was questionable, but she was funny and lovable. DJ was strange but he wasn't a main focus so it was fine. Mike was frustratingly annoying. Why is he always so angry? Clarky just was the most annoying character the whole time. Comedic relief? More like relief when he wasn't in the scene. And Cam was just so nice it was annoying. No one is that rational. The characters make or break the book, but in this case, I found they broke it for me. I wish I liked this more.

Portia can do no wrong!! And she took us to Italy?!

Pick this up. Preorder this. Do what you need to do, to get your hands on a PERFECT summer read!

Jas has to move back home after her current job doesn't work out. However, she ends up on an all expenses paid vacation to Italy to reunite with high school friends shortly after! But, she comes face to face with an ex and a former "one that got away!" So much drama follows...

I have never found a Portia MacIntosh that I didn't enjoy. Her writing always entertains me. This one didn't really hit the spot though. It started right around the beginning when Jas was invited on the trip and just went from there. The plot sounded great and as I said before, Portia's books are always a 4 or 5 for me, so I'm not sure why I couldn't get into this one,

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After Jas suddenly loses her job, how could she possibly say no to an all expense paid vacation with some of her high school besties? Even if she hasn't seen or spoken to them in years. Oh, and both her ex-boyfriend and the boy that got away will be there too. Come along as she navigates through past and present feelings during this fun summer novel.

This was a quick, fun summer read. There were moments that had me laughing out loud, but the pace slowed for me when I noticed myself wanting to spend more time on the present timeline and less on the high school timeline. I think someone searching for a quick escape would definitely enjoy this book! 3.5/5 stars

Perfect summer read! It has humor, adventures, friendship and love all in one messy vacation to Italy! A perfect escape to Italy arrives after Jasmine has been let go from her job. Who wouldn't want to stay in a gorgeous villa with old friends? Jasmine is excited to catch up but when she realizes her ex boyfriend and first crush both happen to be along for the ride, things take a turn toward the messy. Rivalries reignite but so do friendships.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This is the perfect summer read and escape to Italy!! You simply just melt into the pages and get lost in the story. I loved this and could so see this made into a movie!!
I just reviewed Long Time No Sea by Portia MacIntosh. #LongTimeNoSea #NetGalley
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You are invited to an all-expense paid trip to a fancy villa on a private island in Italy via a private jet to spend a week with your oldest friends whom you haven't seen in 15 years. It is the perfect chance to let go, forget your worries, and have a good time.
What could go wrong?
That's exactly what our heroine Jasmine Bartlett was thinking especially now that she is unemployed and going back to live with her parents, this is the perfect getaway for her.
Until she is face to face with her ex and the one that got away (Cam) it feels like yesterday she was him and all those feelings started to resurface again.
Now Maxi, DJ, Mikey, Clarky, Cam, and Jas are all together for the holiday they've dreamt about since they were in high school however, there are so many secrets to unfold, and things unsaid that we get to explore through the dual timelines between now and in their time in school.

It's a story about friendship and adulthood.
About making mistakes and learning.
About forgiving and starting over.
About living in the moment and having fun.
Written beautifully and I enjoyed every min of it.

Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #LongTimeNoSea in exchange for my honest review.
Xoxo 💋

all I can say is MEH , I think my expectations might of been to high ! I IT is your average summer romance book . I do not think it in anyway reflects the authors writing style.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Portia MacIntosh is one of my auto-read authors. This story was no exception. Its the perfect summer read! I loved Jas' story and how she was turning her life around after things didn't go as planned. And a second chance romance is always a favorite! This also talks about the complexities of friendship and how things change as we grow up. Cant recommend it enough!

I really love Portia's books, her writing style is addictive, easy to read (that sounds odd, but I mean the writing flows wonderfully).

The plot in this book was really interesting and the flashbacks kept things interesting whilst keeping it relevant to the 'now' chapters. The characters all had a lot of their own drama however none of them seemed particularly likeable, which is really unusual for me as a really huge Portia fan. I think that's why I've rated this a little lower than normal, it felt too far fetched with the goings on and the fact I didn't really route for any of the 'romances' made it take a little longer than usual to get through this book.

Lots of laughs throughout, lots of drama, and interesting twists and turns. I'll continue reading all her new books - this one though, was just a little off the mark for me!

MacIntosh creates a beautiful story about friendship, the secrets we keep & letting go of the past and living in the moment. The story jumps back and forth between when the characters where younger, in school together, forming a close friendship group and maneuvering the issues of growing up. Balancing this out are the chapters focusing on the present lives of the characters – Jasmine, Maxi, DJ, Cam, Mikey & Clarkey – all of whom have not seen each other for 15 years. Once they reunite for a holiday away everything goes a little haywire. What begins as a relaxing holiday turns into an adventure no one signed up for – a shipwrecked ‘adventure’ – a resort hotel with some “interesting” experiences & hotel room furniture – plus, confessionals of all time from everyone! Secrets from when they were teenagers come out – secrets NO ONE knew existed – emotions run high – feelings and attractions from long ago reignite and finally have the chance to be explored. MacIntosh manages to keep the reader turning pages with little cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. It moves the story along nicely and easily pulls the past and present together. I enjoyed reading this novel very much and I found it to be a enjoyable read for the summer!

Absolutely hilarious book by Portia Macintosh.... absolutely loved this.

As Jas tries to sort her life out after a crisis and having to move back home, her best friend offers a free trip in sunny Italy. What a perfect solution to get her head sorted out....sure what could go wrong?????

Will the holiday with her oldest friends be all she s looking for???

Brilliantly funny book......fabulous read.

Typically when I read a book with 6 friends on a vacation in Italy it ends in murder so this romance was a nice change. I was actually in Italy this weekend so I read it on a beach and it helped immerse me into the setting. I didn't really vibe with the characters because they're all immature and lied about the dumbest things. I just finished Mhairi "Between Us" and it had a similarish background of vacation with old friends gone wrong. I wish the author spent more time on the past and what drove them apart.