Didn't vibe with the characters or the story. Both the main characters gave me the ick. And it wasn't really enemies to lovers, as advertised.

To be fair, this one redeemed itself towards the end but I slogged through most of it. The writing felt clumsy and childish. The use of discourse markers to start a chapter were sometimes irritating because it set the narrative into an awkward space, as if the main character was always blundering her way through. It got to a point when it became expected.
Lara and Sonny were sent on a secret project together where they had to act as a couple, when in fact they were sworn enemies. The way these two would pit against each other was immature. As they were forced into situations that had them break down the walls between them, the storyline became less forced and immature.
I really think I would give this book 2.5 stars but will happily round up to 3 because the writing improved the longer I read.

I received an advanced reader's copy via Boldwood Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (Disclaimer: I assume that because it was an ARC there were more editing errors that were hopefully corrected for the release.)

This is an author who I enjoy reading. I might not like all her books equally, but they have characters who are well-defined and people we want to reach their happily-ever-afters.
The two main protagonists in this tale are celebrity reports in sibling publications under the same media conglomerate. They have a history that comes out much later in the story, but their current rivalry is very cutthroat. They both want to present a unique take on celebrity interviews and not make it sleazy.
They both have been given a super secret assignment when their personal rivalry becomes a little more obvious and jeopardizes the image of the company. Their fights are petty but realistic. Once they get going, they can't stop - until they find a common objective and a zeal to do more than try to expose the not-so-ordinary lives of bigshots.
I like undercover stories as well as forced proximity plots, making this a winning combination for me. I would recommend this to fans of the author because she managed to keep me hooked all the way through.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This was a fun read. A rivals to lovers workplace romance it’s always a great choice. I guess my only wish would have been an epilogue with his pov, maybe so we get to learn more from him! Overall good book!

A fun light heartened read, thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. An inventive storyline with that added zip that makes all the authors books so enjoyable. No spoilers in this review but the formula for this book isn’t so predictable that you already know the ending from the start. Recommended read.

Thank you Netgalley

A great romcom featuring Lara and Sonny, sworn enemies and rival showbiz journalists who are forced to go undercover at a couples retreat to gain information about a celebrity couple. This is a lighthearted read, pure escapism , and very entertaining . Recommended

I recommend Portia MacIntosh's new book Trouble in Paradise. Wonderful story for everyone to enjoy. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy reading!

After reading others reviews i wasnt sure if i was going to enjoy this book. However i absolutely loved it and couldnt get enough of these characters. A fantastic summer romcom

I coudlnt connect to the characters and to be honest found them to be childish. The plot was a bit unrealistic although I did like the authors writing style.

loved this romance and how the characters changed through the story. also loved the friends and all of the interesting things that happened during the story. loved the growth of the main character and all of her trials .

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

If you like workplace enemies to lovers, look no further—you've found your next read. This book is about two journalists who are forced to go on location to a secluded camp meant to provide top-of-the-line couples counseling for any couple rich enough to afford it. Sent to get information on Hollywood's most popular couple, Lara and Sonny find themselves rekindling their old flame on a remote island amongst other celebrity couples.
I enjoyed this book and Lara and Sonny's dynamic that changed throughout the book. Each of the characters were interesting and I loved getting to see how they all coped with the odd activities they had to do as part of this retreat. Both characters go through a change in priority, from meeting the people at the retreat to going through it.
I loved the tropes covered in this book with forced proximity to enemies to lovers, but the ending of the book felt rushed. While I was totally behind Sonny and Lara's choices at the end of the book, I would've liked to have seen how they played out and the effects of those choices. The perfect read for anyone looking for a summer enemies-to-lovers island read.

Trouble In Paradise by Portia Macintosh

My rating:
2.5/5
⭐️⭐️💫

Journalists Lara and Sonny are work place rivals that are forced to work together on a story at an exclusive couples retreat called Eden. They must work together to get the hottest story and pretend that they are dating.

Read if you enjoy
- fake dating
- enemies to lovers
- one bed
- closed door romance

I requested this one on netgalley when it was previously called Enemies to Lovers. I blindly requested based off name and the cover. Sadly this one was not my favorite.

For the enemies to lovers trope, this one fell short. I did not feel any chemistry between the two couples and didn’t really feel like they had true reason why they “enemies.” When they arrive at the couple’s retreat, there was so much separation of the main characters that it was impossible for them to form a proper bond.

This was a quick read with about 270 pages. I didn’t love the characters but I did really enjoy the writing style! This had good character development with the side characters and was a cute read.

Overall while this wasn’t my personal favorite, it could be a nice read for a palette cleanser!

Thank you netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! You can read this one now.

Enemies to Lovers
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Portia MacIntosh

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: As rival showbiz journalists, they are always out to get one-up on each other – whether being the first to scoop the latest celebrity gossip, or sabotaging a potential lead.

So when their bosses ask them to join forces and go undercover at an exclusive celebrity retreat, they can’t think of anything worse - except that they are going to need to pretend to be in couples therapy to blend in...

Being on a tropical island for work would be most people’s idea of heaven, but for Lara and Sonny it’s hell. Can a week of sun, sea and uncovering showbiz secrets together chip away at Lara and Sonny’s rivalry? And once they get home and the fake relationship is over, could a real one be left in its place?

My Thoughts: This was a cute, endearing love story between two competing work rivals. It was a bit slower than I would have liked, however, I am a fan of this author’s previous works so I managed to pull through the story. Lara and Sonny have known each other since college, even dated some in college. Today, they work in journalism under the same brand, two different departments, and always trying to one up each other. There latest one upping has landed them both in the principal’s office a/k/a boss’s office. In order to redeem themselves, they must go undercover as a couple at a reclusive and exclusive retreat that caters to the wealthy. The resort resembles a couple therapy treatment center and their methods seem unorthodox. Will Lara and Sonny make it through the retreat with a juicy story or will they end hating each other more? This follows the tropes of work rivals to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, and second chance. There was celebrity and journalism representations throughout the story.

I felt like both of our MCs were childish and petty, more so Lara than Sonny, however, they both had the qualities. While pranking and playing jokes on people happens when we are adults, when you do a joke that could have real life consequences, that just seems a bit too far. Some of things that happened, most adults would consider serious happenings, and these two just did not take things seriously enough. Most professional journalists can sense when someone is pushing for a story, yet Lara never saw it. I felt the relationships that Lara established with the other women at the retreat was genuine and it evolved, where the relationship between Lara and Sonny did not really evolve, its was just not there one page and there the next. I liked how you got a little inside on a celebrity’s life, how hard it is sometimes being an entertainer, people think they should always be entertainers and the paparazzi holds no bar into their personal lives. Having said all of this, I still really enjoyed this story. There was some character development, there was definitely banter, tension, and chemistry between Lara and Sonny. The author’s writing style was funny, endearing, swoony, and engaging.

I have loved MacIntosh’s previous books and would not hesitate to read another. I would still recommend this book, it just may not be for everyone.

This book is a delightful romantic comedy following two rival showbiz journalists who must pretend to be a couple at an exclusive resort. The fake relationship trope, coupled with the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, adds to the charm of the story. As Lara and Sonny navigate their pretend relationship, they encounter humorous situations and quirky couples at the resort, making for an entertaining read. Despite some tropes, the premise is original, and the characters are well-crafted, feeling authentic and relatable. While the frequent use of the word "insist" can be grating, the overall experience is enjoyable, perfect for fans of light-hearted romantic comedies with a happy ending.

I really liked the twists and turns of this rom com! It was a really unique concept. These two journalists are in the dog house and they have to fake a couples retreat in order to dig up intel on an elusive celebrity couple. It is very apparent from the get go that this isn't going to be a relaxing retreat. Something isn't right and Sonny and Lara have to figure it out while trying not to kill each other. Each of them have incredible antics with each other that really draws the reader in. I promise you will not put this down until you've finished it, you will want to know what the heck is going on with this Hope lady. I also really like Lara's internal banter. She makes some pretty hysterical jokes to herself that you will 100% relate to.

This is the best book! Enemies to lovers, fake dating rom-com and I couldn't get enough of it. This was absolutely perfect!
I just reviewed Trouble in Paradise by Portia MacIntosh. #EnemiestoLovers #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Single POV (Lara’s)
Set in London and on a tropical island
Workplace rivals
Blind dates
Forced proximity
Only one bed
Second chance

Sonny and Lara met freshman year at uni (university), and interned for the same company. Their paths diverged after freshman year, but they now both work for the same parent company, in the same role, but at different publications. It’s never a coincidence when they end up on the same assignment for their prospective magazine, and it’s never a coincidence how quickly Sonny finds himself under Lara’s skin. Lara feels in constant competition with Sonny, while Sonny appears unbothered and continues to poke the bear. Either way, they’ve both perfected the art of psychological warfare, and are on the receiving end when they’re sent undercover on assignment to a remote location to bring back celebrity gossip.

Lara’s inner monologue made it difficult to connect with her. I sometimes struggled to see her as a working professional; the maturity didn’t line up with her actual lifestyle and responsibilities. She puts herself down constantly regarding her fitness capabilities and dietary preferences.

This book felt rushed and also like I was jogging around in circles. I love a good enemies to lovers, but this missed the mark for me.
If you’re familiar with UK slang, you will have a leg up on the dialogue between characters.

This book is not available to review in Goodreads.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

**Looking for a light-hearted, trope-filled romp with a second-chance twist? Look no further than Portia Macintosh's latest offering!** This book throws everything in the mix: playful workplace rivals, enemies-to-lovers, fake relationships, vacation romance, and even a dash of undercover journalism. Buckle up for a quick, fun read that might surprise you with its emotional depth.

**Strengths:**

* **Trope-tastic:** This book embraces classic rom-com tropes wholeheartedly, making it a comfort read for fans of the genre. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic is particularly well-executed, with banter that both sizzles and stings.
* **Second-chance romance:** The college-era backstory between the protagonists adds depth and complexity to their relationship. Watching them overcome past hurts and rediscover their connection is satisfying.
* **Undercover twist:** The fake relationship element set against the backdrop of a luxurious retreat adds a touch of intrigue and keeps the story moving.
* **Quick and easy read:** Perfect for a weekend escape or a cozy night in, this book is devour-able in one sitting.

**Overall:**

This is a fun, lighthearted read with a satisfying second-chance romance at its core. If you're looking for escapism with a touch of drama and a whole lot of tropes, this book definitely delivers. Just be prepared for a whirlwind ride!

**Recommendation:**

For fans of light-hearted rom-coms with second-chance romances and enemies-to-lovers dynamics.

**Rating:**

5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. It was a pleasant read and got me out of a slump! I would definitely reccomend it.