Ihad requested this prior to reading my last book by Macintosh, had I read that one first I never would have requested a second by her.

I cannot stand the characters she writes. They are far too “I’m not like every other girl” to the extreme. And enemies to lovers? More like not dating to dating.

It really fell short of the trope and from being enjoyable. I will not read anything by this author again.

I'm having a hard time rating this one because as a general fiction story I'd give it 4 stars, as a romance I would give it 2. I'll split the difference and mark it with 3 (book math).

I watched the Nine Perfect Strangers adaptation (did not read the book by Liane Moriarty) and this storyline felt like a lighter romcom version of that premise. I was interested in the story and how it would all play out. The cast of characters and their storylines were entertaining. Hope was a TRIP and I pictured her as Nicole Kidman the whole time. Overall, as a genfic story, I was entertained.

Now for the romance...or lack thereof. This book had all the makings of a romance I would enjoy; fake dating, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, only one bed, enemies with a romantic history. Unfortunately, you can throw as many good tropes as you want into a book but without chemistry between the MCs it will not a romance make. These two felt like they were building a relationship throughout the story, it just wasn't a romantic one.

TL;DR: This book was an enjoyable genfic that was miscategorized as a romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I usually like the enemies-to-lovers trope, but this one didn’t click with me. And I really like Portia Macintosh’s books. But this one was disappointing.

We don’t get too many details about the early experience that led to the heroine, Lara, to detest Sonny. Sure, they are competing against each other and Sonny seems to usually get the best of those moments. Otherwise, he seems like a nice guy. They have a lot in common and he’s Chris Hemsworth-level hunky and dreamy.

So her constantly brooding over him and being snippy toward him got a bit irritating. And I don’t like that they’re both celebrity journalists. It’s just not a career I can relate to. Then there is the setting - a super mysterious couples retreat where Lara and Sonny are tasked with reporting on a couple of TV stars whom all the paparazzi have been following trying to gin up some sort of scandal. Humorous complications ensue and it all gets wrapped up very quickly. They turned enemies to lovers in basically a few minutes. There could have been more build up to their suddenly being in love and ready to make a future together. And the obnoxious couples retreat suddenly turned into a big success. It was all supremely unbelievable. And why would an expensive couples retreat for the super wealthy not require a NDA? Who can believe that?

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.

I have enjoyed other novels by Portia MacIntosh but this was not my favourite. Not a lot of depth in the story, but a good quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I tend to love the enemies to lovers trope (and, as an anxious reader, love a predictable HEA), but this one just didn't do it for me. Technically a DNF since it took me so long to get through and I feel like I put it down so many times/skimmed through some parts because, while the concept is very cute, I just wasn't sold on the main characters' relationship or how clueless they were to some of the events happening around them (sorry!)

While this one wasn't a win for me, I'd recommend looking into the author's other books for a cute and easy romance read (i.e., Faking It or Life's a Beach).

Portia MacIntosh has hit it out of the park with another totally hilarious story, that I loved every second of it.

Every single bit of dialogue between Lara and Sonny is totally brilliant.

Some of it is friendly banter, some of it may lead to them both potentially being sacked, and then when they are forced to be a fake couple at a couples retreat therapy resort things get really ramped up.

And just like Eden in the Couples Retreat film, the Eden in this book is lets say unconventional. In fact this book reminded me a lot of the film, but with its own spin on it.

There are so many funny moments it would be hard to pick a favourite, I just loved the Lara and Sonny dynamics, as well as the other people on this retreat too.

Another complete fun book from one of my auto read favourite rom com authors I loved it!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The first half of this book took me awhile to get through as it seemed like the typical rom-com: he did this, I hate him, oops I slept with him, I hate him, I love him style of book. Once I reached about 50% I flew through the rest of the book in a couple hours. The banter between the two leads made me smile and the unexpectedness of the retreat made for an interesting turn. If you need a quick light escape this book will provide just that.

✨ENEMIES TO LOVERS✨

Thank you @netgalley for giving me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review❤️

Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes so I was instantly sold when I saw a book with that exact name!

A quick synopsis📖
Lara and Sonny are rival journalists but their bosses ask them to team up and go undercover at an exclusive couples retreat to try and get an exclusive scoop on a celebrity couple...

My thoughts💭
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this read! It's definitely a perfect poolside read and reading it in the depths of winter in Scotland was perfect escapism for me! I really liked Lara and Sonny and was invested in their relationship... There was a definite element of mystery surrounding the couples retreat and I was very intrigued to find out what was going on. I loved Lara and Sonny's character development throughout the story. Initially they were ruthless journalists above all else and it was great to see them grow into people with a bit more empathy for others. Some of the situations at the retreat were wild and a bit far fetched but then it is fiction so if you can overlook this and just take it for what it is, you'll enjoy this!

I would recommend this book, and it's one I suggest reading on holiday or over summer in better weather. It's light hearted, funny and super enjoyable! ☀️

Lara and Sonny work for two different magazines but for the same parent company and when the higher-ups get the idea they should do an undercover at a club med type secret get away I was very excited they were going to go undercover as a couple to get the scoop on the most popular showbiz couple of the moment. Unfortunately from the gold room to him pointing out how materialistic she is to the fact at the very beginning he stole her interview question and so much more this book really was a letdown for me. I am a humongous Porsche McIntyre fan and this is coming from someone who isn’t big on romance books but not love her books it look so forward to seeing them on the list of books coming up it really is a humongous letdown because one of my favorite books ever is one of her books she really is A talented author but everyone has their off days and I guess in terms of riders their off books and that’s what this one was. They weren’t even really enemies more like coworkers who irritated each other. I want to thank Boldwood books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Enemies to Lovers-a standalone
by Portia MacIntosh-I read The Faking Game and gave it 4✨
Publication date: 1-4-24 , read 12-29-23
Page Count: 287
Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Setting: London

What to expect:

✔️Contemporary Romance
✔️Enemies to Lovers/Work Rivals
✔️Rom-Com
✔️Showbiz Journalists/Office romance
✔️Couples Retreat/Celebrity Retreat
✔️2nd chance romance
✔️opposites attract

Summary: Lara and Sonny are journalists and work rivals who have sabotaged each other to threat of being fired. Their editors make arrangements for them to work on a joint undercover project. They will pose as "nepo" babies from wealthy parents at the swanky couple's retreat-Eden. Only the wealthy and celebrities go to be left alone. Duane Fox and Brittany Coleman are the hottest, most private celeb couple that no one has gotten an exclusive until now. Lara and Sonny plan to infiltrate and report if they don't kill each other first.

Main Characters:

- FMC Lara Bailey, works at Stylish women's magazine. Conservative, needs everything planned

-MMC Sonny Hale, works at Mach men's magazine. Charming, self confident, "go with the flow" type guy.

What I liked 😊
- Their banter. They try to one-up each other at work. They have known each other (10 years) since college, attended same Uni end of their 1st year.
- h makes friends with the women at the retreat mainly Brittany
-Lara has a conscious and doesn't want to break trust w/ the women she met.

What I didn't😞
-Sonny didn't have his POV told.
-Why do they make fun of sexual harassment training?
-Lack of connection between H/h.

🙏🏿Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC💛! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

1,5/5

This book was NOT for me. My first thought, reading this book was "Ok, another MMC who looks like a Greek god. Wow, shocking". But maybe everything else is not as predictable? Maybe the story is cute and original, maybe the FMC is relatable, since the MMC is not. Well, my hopes were not met. The FMC was not at all relatable, I found her insufferable. She sounded so judgemental about everything - yoga, really? What can you possibly have against people doing yoga? - and she hated the MMC for the majority of the book and then suddenly she was in love with him. I felt no chemistry at all between the two characters. I was not invested in the story.
And the MMC! I think he was supposed to be a (greek god) fun guy, always ready to banter. I don't know, he felt kind of flat to me - and apparently his only expression is a cheeky grin.

I also think the whole "live to work" idea is awful - it's presented as if that's what life is and we can't do anything about it. It's terrible, and not healthy at all. And what's wrong with healthy food now? The FMC says it's sad and says it's not satisfying. I feel like this book is promoting all the wrong messages.

The only thing I liked was the couple retreat idea (although the fact that they didn't realise things were done on purpose was just weird... something else I kept rolling my eyes at). Some of the secondary characters were also not too bad though, although very one-dimensional.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance and perfect for a lazy day. It follows Lara and Sonny who cannot stand each other as rival journalists. They cannot stop sabotaging each other and so when their bosses send them undercover at an exclusive celebrity retreat they pretend to be a couple. Funny, entertaining and light-hearted. A definite comfort read.

Rating:3.5

I throughly enjoyed this book and once I started it I couldn’t put it down. So word of warning if you start this book be prepared not to move for a while as you won’t be able to stop reading.

I would highly recommend reading this book!

I would like to say thank you very much to NetGalley and Boldwood books for letting me review this book early.

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for the E-ARC. This book was a roller coaster of feelings for me...the FMC was starting to annoy me and then I got over it. This was a easy breezy read there was not much depth to it but sometimes that is just what is needed. Cant wait to read more books by this author as this is like my 5th book

"Enemies to Lovers" by Portia MacIntosh, courtesy of an ARC provided by NetGalley, is a playful romp into the rom-com genre, featuring the dynamic and often comical rivalry-turned-romance of journalists Lara and Sonny. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious couple's retreat known as Eden, the novel offers a blend of humor, light-hearted mischief, and the sweet, albeit predictable, evolution of a relationship between two spirited characters.

Lara and Sonny's transition from professional adversaries to romantic interests is at the heart of this tale. Their sharp banter and escalating pranks are entertaining, and as they navigate the quirks and challenges of Eden, their relationship takes on new depth. The setting itself, with its mix of opulence and odd therapy sessions, provides an amusing stage for their antics and a series of comedic misadventures that keep the story buoyant.

However, while "Enemies to Lovers" is undoubtedly a fun read, it doesn't fully explore the potential intensity and complexity of the enemies-to-lovers trope. The romance unfolds smoothly but lacks the fiery tension and buildup some readers might crave. Additionally, the humor, though a highlight, can feel repetitive or over-the-top at times, and the plot treads a well-worn path without many surprises.

In its favor, the book is easy to dive into, making it a good choice for those seeking a breezy, feel-good escape. The characters, including a cast of intriguing secondary personalities at the retreat, are generally likable and contribute to a lively, if not always deep, narrative. It's a solid 3-star read that delivers on its promise of a lighthearted romance with plenty of laughs along the way.

In conclusion, while "Enemies to Lovers" may not leave a lasting impression for those seeking a more profound romantic dive, it's an enjoyable, straightforward story that offers a pleasant way to pass the time. For anyone in need of a quick, cheerful read, this book is a fitting choice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Couldn’t put it down I was so engrossed! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I am a fan of Portia MacIntosh so it’s no surprise to me that I enjoyed this book. I love an enemies to lovers troupe. This story follows Lara and Sonny. I enjoyed both characters and the dynamic that was between them. I’ve never read a book with this plot line and I really enjoyed it. I like that the supporting characters were just as well written as the main characters. It was a good light and fluffy read that was easy to navigate through!

Special thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia MacIntosh for providing me with the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

General info:
- Contemporary MF romance (romcom) with showbiz journalist investigation.
- 1st person, single POV, single timeline.

Tropes/Hooks:
- Romcom
- Rivals to lovers
- Forced proximity (one bed included)
- Reverse grumpy/sunshine

What is the book about?
This book follows Lara and Sonny who are showbiz reporters in rivaling magazines. They know each other from the uni, but let's just say they made some stupid mistakes being young and they are not big fans of each other now. Since they work in the same field they cross paths many times and one of their mutual pranks didn't go well, so now their bosses send them undercover to a secret couple retreat to get a story on a famous couple or they both are out of their jobs. Of course, Lara and Sonny had to pretend to be a couple in therapy, you get the gist.

My thoughts:
I really wanted to love this book, because I read and loved other books by the author, but this one didn't work for me. When I read the synopsis I thought it would be a book for me, but it fell a little bit flat.

Let's dive into some of my concrete thoughts:
- The name of the book. Unfortunately, I don't think the name of the book is justified. They in no way were enemies, they were work rivals and we could see rivalry banter only in the beginning. All their hate towards each other was based on some error they made at uni due to being young and a little stupid. If you put such a huge and beloved trope as the name of a book at the very least the book has to deliver on it.
- The romance. I wouldn't classify this book as a romance. There is a romance subplot, but it's far from being at the forefront of the book, we spend much more time diving into the investigation of the other couples and the retreat itself our heroes have to make.
- The humor. Some jokes hit the point but there were others that I just couldn't be ok with. For example, everything regarding the sexual harassment course didn't make any sense or made me laugh.
- I have nothing to complain about the writing. It was to the point, and easy to follow and understand. It is a quick read and could be a nice palette cleaner.
- I did enjoy the banter and bickering between Lara and Sonny in the beginning, even though some of the things they did came out a little childish. It was hilarious how they ran each other constantly. Unfortunately, this banter disappeared once they were on the island. There were some sweet moments between them too, like for example Sonny "contrabanding" tea bags to the island because he knew how much Lara loved it. Unfortunately, those moments were too few and far in between for me to call this a romance.
- The Eden was a pretty different concept of couples therapy retreat. A lot of bizarre and crazy stuff happened there. I personally, up until the last point, thought they were some kind of a scheme (just like the couples in the said retreat thought) and I think it might have made my reading experience worse since I wasn't connecting to the plot. After everything is revealed you kind of understand why everything that was happening was happening and theoretically it could work, but I am not a therapist to be there judge of that.
- I personally was seriously lacking Sonny's POV. I could understand why Lara fell for Sonny, but I don't understand the feelings he has for Lara.
- The friendships. The things I liked the most were probably the friendships Lara and Sonny made during the retreat. We have some famous couples that are shown as real people with real problems. It was nice to see that Lara and Sonny didn't betray them in the end.
- Since I didn't really believe the romance, the ending felt a little bit rushed and not justified. Lara and Sonny had just left their rivalry and hate in the past and Lara was already ready to move with him across the world.
- I like the cover. It's something I would buy if I saw it in the store. The plot summary is also something I would be interested in if I saw and read it in the store. Unfortunately, the implementation felt a little flat.

To be honest, this book wasn't entirely my cup of tea. I think the main issue is that having a title like Enemies to Lovers primes a reader to expect a certain dynamic from characters. Perhaps without that title, I think this story would have probably been better set up for success. The main issue is that I don't think the characters were actually enemies at all -- rivals at best, but enemies implies a stronger, more heated relationship in my head! I think the book could have used just more of everything; amping up the stakes, amping up their relationship, making both of the characters (Lara and Sonny) just seem more invested and more real. It's much easier to say that than to deliver on that of course, but I genuinely do think that it was hard to feel immersed in the book for those reasons.

This was a fun and lighthearted romance, perfect for a holiday read!

I loved the way that the characters backstory was described, as well as the gorgeous setting. However, I didn’t feel a huge amount of chemistry between the main characters and expected more from the “Enemies to Lovers” title as promised, it is more like a workplace rivalry romance!