It appears that Portia Macintosh cannot write a book (THANK goodness!) that does not just delight and make me smile pretty much from beginning to end. Her newest book, The Faking Game, is no exception. It took me only three days to read through this delightful story about Cara & Millsy. They are the perfect couple - except that they have just broken up - and are now faking their relationship so as not to disappoint their families during the holidays at the end of the year. Their ultimate goal is to make it through Christmas in Scotland.

For Cara this break-up is all a little surreal. She might have suggested the break-up - because Millsy is always in L.A. working on his acting career while she remains working in London in a job she loves. The arguments and the distance take enough of a toll on their relationship that a break-up seems like a good choice. However, all the memories, the crazy & silly situations they get into all the time, the awful dating app and attempts at other relationships AND an unwanted guest who is around constantly finally just piles on Cara too much. She decides it all needs to be over - now. Although the heartbreak is overwhelming Cara will do what she needs to protect herself.

All the crazy & silly situations Cara & MIllsy find themselves in are funny and somehow together they always manage to fix it. The mishaps of the dating app are probably what people hope never happens are hilarious. Millsy is so easy to fall in love with and is the cutest when he shows his jealousy. Cara is so full of emotion those emotions move like a rollercoaster ride. This entire book is so good! I loved the ending - it provides the perfect satisfaction for the entire book.

As always, I highly recommend reading this book! I just adore MacIntosh’s writing and everyone should as well!

I take partial blame for not liking this one as much as I could have. This is a sequel and I think it would have been better if I had read the first book in the series.

I have recently becoming a big fan of romance books, especially rom-coms. But, this one I struggled to find any kind of connection with the characters. I also felt that the characters behaved more like teenagers at times than grown adults. I know that there are adults that act this way but it made it difficult to read.

This isn't a completely awful book, just not one that I felt I connected with.

Cara and Millsy are everyone’s favourite couple but have broken up weeks before Christmas. In order to not disappoint their families they pretend to still be a couple at all their pre-planned family events including the big day itself.

This was good! I’m a huge fan of fake dating and thought this always a fresh take on it that I’ve not come across before. The only issue I had was I didn’t know this was a sequel! I think I might have related to the characters a bit more if I had read the first book already but it was still a good read.

I love Macintosh's books, they're such easy reads, full of humour and wonderful characters.

I've read many books by Macintosh now via Rachel's Random Resources and I have to say this has been my absolute favourite to date, especially with it being a festive one.

Cara and Millsy were brilliant characters and I loved their dynamic, before and after their split. Fake dating and second chance romance tropes always make for a great read and in this instance our calamitous couple were so easy to become emotionally invested in.

A cute feelgood holiday romcom that was an absolute delight to read and comes highly recommended by me.

Thank you NetGalley for this book! This was a great book to read as you go into the holiday season!! I have always loved the fake dating trope and this one did not disappoint! If you like books with romantic tension, this one will be a great read. I loved the relationship between the main characters and the build up paid off in great ways! My big complaint is the miscommunication trope.. I sort of lost interest for a bit surrounding that and got frustrated that real adults don’t do this and never felt like it got justified. Just a bit too cheesy for me.

4/5 star read! Will recommend to friends!

I enjoyed cara and millsy’s story, though I did feel slightly frustrated by the miscommunication over and over again. I loved that cara worked in the augmented reality field, it was a unique part of the story and I could totally see this turned into a cute holiday netflix romcom. it was a pacey, quick read, but I think the ending was rushed.

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

some tropes:
* second chance romance
* fake dating
* forced proximity

thank you to portia macintosh, netgalley and boldwood books for the digital arc in return for my honest review.

Perfect couple Millsy and Cara are no longer a couple but agree to fake it for the holidays so that their families’ Christmases are not destroyed. They chemistry between these two is off the charts matched only by their hilarious interactions. A perfect rom com that has me looking for more books by Portia MacIntosh.

I think that the reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of how likeable I found Cara and also Millsy to be. Their individual characters stood out and their actions chimed with my impressions of them. There is plenty of humour in the situations and the dialogue and I absolutely loved how they got themselves into scrapes and then worked together to get themselves out of them. Family is central to the story but relationships are not always straightforward between Cara's Aunt Mary and Flora and Cara's side of the family. Cara's mother's patience is amazing.

Set over the festive season, this is a lovely read for this time of year. You get a real sense of people trying to keep the peace and at the same time, enjoy being with each other. You see three generations as you would at Christmas. It does keep you guessing as to what the outcome of Cara and Millsy's deception will be. You are pretty clear on what Cara's feelings are but Millsy, being an actor, is more difficult to read. With lots of heart, this is a warm and endearing romcom.

In short: festive fun on the surface but what lies beneath it?

Cara and Millsy have always been the perfect and favorite couple. Now, they have broken up, but with several events coming up, they realize they need to pretend to still be together so that they can get through the events and then deal with the break up later.

I did not read the original book where Cara and Millsy actually first got together, so at first I felt like I was missing out on this big love story that everyone kept referencing. However, they were just so in sync and perfect that I was shocked when they actually revealed to the readers that they were split up. I love almost everything that Portia MacIntosh writes. I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it. However, I was super annoyed by Millsy through most of the book and I don't know if I was supposed to be or not. For someone who was supposed to be "faking" that he was still with Cara, he sure didn't act like it.

I now have to go back and read the book that introduced Cara and Millsy because I need to know their origin story. MacIntosh has sucked me into their world.

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

4.5⭐️
This was brilliant and the author made it as realistic as possible- realistic places, down to earth characters, awkward scenes and situations.

I love the synergy between the two main characters and the shenanigans they both get into and how they have each other’s backs even without realising it.

Written from a single point of view, the author spikes up interest in the story and you can’t help but keep turning the pages to know what happens after.

Filled with hilarious scenarios and sarcastic family members, this book explores the complicated dynamics of a ‘separated’ couple who are trying to keep up appearances with their family.

I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the single point of view but I must admit it was done so well that I was not interested in hearing or reading another point of view.

The setting was superb. There was the journey to Leeds and to the Highlands. The service station scene will stay with me for a while.

If you enjoy romance filled with funny characters and scenes then you will enjoy this. I received an advanced copy of this book and the review is entirely mine and voluntary.

If you're looking for a quintessential holiday romcom, look no further!

The Faking Game by Portia MacIntosh is full of UK holiday charm with a cast of characters that is guaranteed to have you smiling from their hijinks. If you're already a fan of Portia's writing, The Faking Game does not disappoint. If this would be your first Portia read - what took you so long?

What I loved:
The love and electricity of Millsy and Cara's relationship. Throughout the entire story it was clear that they loved each other, they just needed to get their heads out of their bottoms,
The writing! Portia's writing is quick, her characters are well rounded, and she has great comedic timing.
Millsy (finally!) laying it all on the line. His confession had me swooning.
Cara's app idea. This needs to exist in real life.

Favourite Quotes:
"I'm sorry I don't need to wear clothes with quick access to my breasts. Although, I suppose now I'm back on matcher, it might actually help." - I laughed SO loud at this.

"Christmas is a joyous occasion, a time to spend with your family-what I want to know is how it can possibly be both?" - Accurate.

What wasn't for me:
The obligatory romcom misunderstandings. I know there wouldn't be a story without them, but it drives me nuts that it took forever for the MCs to just be honest about what they were feeling.

The Faking Game is perfect for fans of:
🎄Second-chance romance
🎄Only one bed
🎄Holidays in the Scottish countryside
🎄Hilarious grannies who tell it like it is

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Portia MacIntosh for an advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.

Portia has done it once again! The Faking Game is the perfect blend of romance, humour and christmas all at once.

I have read several of Portia’s books now and they are always a joy to read. I absolutely devoured this book. Cara and her boyfriend Millsy have broken up, but for the sake of both of their families and not wanting to ruin Christmas they have decided to pretend that they are still a couple….

Cara’s nose is completely out of joint when Millsy insists on bringing his speech coach Tally with him to the family christmas this year and here’s where it starts to get sticky. In an attempt to make him jealous, Cara decides to get back in the dating world and attempts to move on by having a few dates herself. These dates turn out to be disastrous albeit very hilarious to read.

The plot of this story was brilliant and I absolutely love Portia’s writing style. A throughly enjoyable read that I was keen to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in return for a free and honest review.

I thought this was a cute book. I liked the way the book starts and how the MC isn’t the usual heartbroken character. As the story goes on it was difficult to see the bond between her and her ex-boyfriend. It felt like Cara went from place to place to create tension. She would meet someone and barely spend enough time for it to make sense why she was even there. (Scenes with her ex and her coworker). Sometimes the chapters felt formulaic the way they opened up with scenery. Although I liked the writing style the outcome was quite predictable. I guess I was hoping for the characters to have more depth and a stronger connection so that I would become invested in seeing them get back together. IMO, they seemed just as good as friends so I wasn’t all that interested in the outcome. It’s a decent story if you’re interested in a fun, light to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

It's a cute Christmas romcom with lots of Christmas feels and a fun twist on the fake boyfriend trope. Cara and Millsy have broken up but aren't telling anyone until after the new year. They have to attend a myriad of holiday and family events throughout the month. What really set this story apart for me was the madcap situations that Cara and Millsy find themselves in like adlibbing a baby shower game.
It's not often that a romcom delivers on the comedy part.

I didn't know this was a stand-alone sequel. It would be fun to go back and see how the whole relationship started with being each other's platonic plus one.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I am required by federal law to disclose this.

Cara and Millsy have been together for several years now and all their family and friends are waiting for them to announce that they will be getting married. What they don’t know is that recently Cara and Millsy have decided to break up. Millsy works in LA as a body double in movies so he is gone often. Cara works designing escape room games and stays at their apartment in Leeds.

Christmas is approaching and Millsy’s parents are planning a huge get-together in Scotland with both families and Cara and Millsy know it’s going to be difficult faking it with them until they can later come clean and tell them that their relationship is at an end.

As this story evolves, the chemistry between Cara and Millsy becomes complicated. They both seems to want to be with one another, but they can’t seem to open up and say what they are really feeling.

The inability to talk to one another in this story is sad and why they duo have so much angst in their lives. But, it’s the Christmas get together at Millsy’s family home in Scotland that finally allows everyone to open up and be honest with one another.

This is a family drama that shows the relationships among the members all with their different personalities. I found the story to be rather tedious at times but the ending was very well done.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cara & Millsy dated for three years before parting ways when Millsy left for a job opportunity in America. The only problem? Their families don’t know about the split and their first joint family Christmas celebration is rapidly approaching. In order to preserve the joy of the holidays, Cara & Millsy decide to pretend they are still a couple and worry about sharing their breakup in the new year. After all, how difficult can it be to pretend a little longer?

The Faking Game is a fake dating, second chance romance set around the holidays. Everything about that sentence is my catnip. The only way it could have possibly gotten any better was if the grumpy/sunshine trope was thrown in. I should have adored this book, but the execution was just not for me. First, The Faking Game relies heavily on the miscommunication trope which is a big no. Can this please be banished from the pages already? Second, there is Tally. Read the book, find out who Tally is and then you will understand. Why, oh why was Tally there all the time? And Cara must have the patience of a saint, seeing as she never confronted Tally or Millsy about some of actions they were taking. I am getting frustrated just typing it. With these two items featuring heavily throughout the novel, I never felt Cara & Millsy’s relationship was authentic and found it very hard to cheer for them as a couple. Also, the pacing in the novel felt off. This was supposed to revolve around fake dating, but it felt like there were more pages dedicated to Cara’s…outings than there were to showcasing the relationship between the pair.

*Thank you to Boldwood Books & Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
*Review is also posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

This book was just fantastic, a perfect mix of humour, romance and wonderful chemistry. I loved the fake dating trope and this does it wonderfully, and I was so desperate for them to notice they are perfect for each other. If you love a romance mixed with Christmas spirit and family drama then this is the book you need

This is one of those books where you just keep thinking about it because you couldn't actually imagine being in their shoes and having to pretend to be with someone when you've split up! I absolutely loved Cara and Millsy and loved seeing the story play out.

my one gripe is that I absolutely hate the miscommunication trope and would have liked to shake them to just grow up and talk to one another! Other than that I really enjoyed the story!

Dull.

Perhaps Portia MacIntosh has been too productive. Her last few books have lost the zing that earlier work has.

Millsy and Cara have broken up. Not entirely clear (or clear at all) why. Neither of them seems to want to be each other’s ex. Both rather than man up and tell the other they think they have made a mistake, they both seem to move on to their newly single life style. Or at least Cara, who has a go at online dating again.

Millsy and Cara still cause trouble everywhere they go and always try to solve it with best intention, sometimes causing more trouble. Most of the trouble they cause this time round is lacklustre. Quickly told, rather than shown.

I stopped reading when five drunks could not open a door, only to find out it was a sliding door. I cracked more of a smile when I reread that line than during the actual scene.

According to friends and family
They're the couple they admire and hope to be.
But work pressures and life has got in the way
So together they decide to call it a day.

That happened six weeks ago and now
They've agreed to pretend somehow
So Christmas festivities will go ahead as planned
Without their break up getting things out of hand.

How hard will it be to keep up their act
Faking being in love is part of their pact.
However there are pressures from other folks, too,
Including someone who is new!

Get ready for things oft to go awry
Despite how well they both will try.
There's laughter and temptation to be faced
Before the past can behind them both be placed.

What happens when faking it feels so real?
Will they be able to stick to their breakup deal?
Or will love find a way to heal their rift
As a fabulous festive Christmas gift?

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