Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Portia MacIntosh’s The Suite Life is the perfect pick to take on summer holiday!!!

Gigi is headed to Hawaii for her sister’s destination wedding. Spending uninterrupted time with family surrounded by scenic backdrops should be the recipe for a perfect week. But when her ex is slated to be the best man to her chief bridesmaid, things get complicated. Will she be able to enjoy her time and fulfill her role while avoiding her ex?

Portia MacIntosh has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary authors. I can always count on her to write the book I want to read. This is a fun, fast- paced read with a guaranteed happily-ever-after (HEA).

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

In this charming summer romance novel, Gigi travels to Hawaii for her sister’s destination wedding (to Gigi’s ex no less) sans wedding date. When she arrives in Hawaii, the countdown to find a date and silence her family is on, but the mix-up and room upgrade for Gigi really works in her favor -- it isn’t just anyone who gets a great upgrade and the royal treatment at a Hawaiian resort. This upgrade might just change her family’s perception of her, and Gigi might just find the perfect wedding date after all! With a beautiful tropical setting and all the trappings of luxury, this is a summer vacation in a book that readers will love to escape into. Charming characters and beautiful settings combine to create a fun and realistic atmosphere as the backdrop to a summer romance novel. Trope-y and lighthearted in all the best ways, MacIntosh’s latest novel is a fun summer read that fans of the romance and fiction genres are sure to enjoy. With her complex and charming characters, a fun plot, and a beautiful Hawaiian location, MacIntosh’s book is a wonderful summer romance which will transport her readers to Hawaii in search of a wedding date for Gigi.

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

This was the most fun rom com that I have read in a long time! I giggled and out right laughed frequently while Gigi tried to negotiate life. It has been a long time since I have had to do the dating thing, but a lot of her dates brought back the memories of some of my hideous forays into the dating world. The anxiety of trying to be the perfect woman for the man standing in front of you and then after twisting yourself into a pretzel to be the Barbie of the moment, you realize that the man standing in front of you is a dud so why did you try to be something that you are not. All while getting intense pressure from friends and family to find the one! In this book, Gigi's life is even more tragic as she is trying to be the supportive, wonderful sister to Lucy who is about to be married in Hawaii all while having to face her ex who dumped her for a reality star semi-celebrity. Unfortunately for Gigi, her ex is the groom's best friend and as such is always involved in everything. I referred to him as Douchebag Dan, he really kind of is, throughout most of the book as his behavior and personality truly fits the nickname. The plot is hilarious, fun and truly well written. This is definitely a butterfly book as Gigi transforms from the mess that she is to truly being over things and blossoming into the wonderful woman she truly is. The characters are charming and delightful, except for the ones that are intended to not be and trust me when I say the author makes you really feel their shortcomings, so that you are drawn to the story and truly engaged in the characters endings! Once again, this author has brought us delightfully fun read that is just the perfect beach read any time of the year!

This book was such a fun read! I loved reading about Gigi's fun in Hawaii. Her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, is the best man at the wedding. It's hilarious to read what happens when she tries to avoid her ex and his reality star gorgeous girlfriend. I couldn't put it down. Would definitely recommend!

Portia MacInstosh is an auto buy author for me. The flow of her books and the unique story lines - I loved this book. While the setup is not new - being the maid of honor while your ex is the best man and brought his hot new girlfriend as his date… destination wedding… but the twist in this one is fun and was unexpected. I loved it and finished it within a day. I wish I was at the resort to watch this all happen in person.

The Suite Life was enjoyable, and the mystery aspect –why was she being treated as a superstar?—definitely kept me turning the pages. The disastrous date with the chef was particularly hilarious.

In "The Suite Life," Gigi is gearing up for her sister's wedding in Hawaii and desperately needs a date to avoid the pitying looks from her friends and family. With her ex as the best man and his new reality star girlfriend in tow, things are already complicated. However, a mix-up with her hotel room leads Gigi to an unexpected upgrade to a luxurious suite, where she's treated like royalty. As she indulges in the suite life and mends her broken heart, Gigi just might find the perfect date amidst the sunny shores of Hawaii.

This is a cute, easy, entertaining romcom probably best enjoyed by the pool or at the beach. However, I think my love affair with Macintosh's books has run its course. I've been left feeling like something's missing with her last few books as they seem to only scratch the surface. Maybe it's me,... but, I'm just not enjoying them as much as I used to. Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another laugh out loud win from Portia MacIntosh! Gigi's love life is a hot mess (I can relate to her bad dates!) and she's in desperate need of a date to her sister's wedding in Hawaii. The supporting characters are SO annoying in the best way- it means you can hate all of the same people that Gigi does. If anyone deserves an upgrade in life, it's Gigi and I ADORED following along with her Gold Club Card, endless cocktails, suite life living stay in Hawaii. Hilarious, fun and that plot twist at the end had my eyebrows shooting up to my forehead! Portia MacIntosh never fails to make me laugh and The Suite Life absolutely delivered.

Oh! And I LOVED the reference to Dylan and the Burnouts- Phwoar!!

Portia Macintosh's "The Suite Life" is a delightful and lively romantic escapade, brimming with the vibrant essence of summer. Following Gigi, a spirited hair stylist navigating through the aftermath of her ex-boyfriend's newfound romance with a reality TV personality, the story unfolds with a quest to find the ideal plus one for her sister's wedding in Hawaii, thereby warding off any pity from her family. Gigi's journey is an endearing blend of charm and humor, as she embarks on a series of comically disastrous dates before jetting off to the tropical paradise where the wedding awaits.

Upon her arrival, the plot thickens as Gigi finds herself unexpectedly upgraded to a luxurious suite and VIP status, yet her quest for a suitable date persists. Amidst the backdrop of her quirky and lovable family, Gigi finds camaraderie in her newfound friend and wingman, Donnie.

The book is peppered with uproarious moments (beware of uncontrollable giggles triggered by cheeseburgers and the infamous '4G' symbol!), rendering it an uplifting and joyous read. The mid-book revelation and the surprising twist towards the end add further depth to the narrative.

In my opinion, "The Suite Life" merits a solid four-star rating and serves as a delightful choice for beachside reading or as a refreshing interlude between more intense literary endeavors. It's guaranteed to brighten your day and might even whisk you away to the sun-kissed shores of Maui!

Disclosure: I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. However, the views expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Gigi is away for her sisters destination wedding and mysteriously upgraded to a fancy VIP suite at the hotel. She is on the lookout for a date for the wedding, but will she realise the man who has become her friend is perfect for her? A fun read.

Ok Portia, I see you. I love all of the books, and love when it is a real beach read - one that is enjoyable, has a great plot, and is one that I can see myself on the beach with.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley!

I find this book to be one of Portia's best yet - the main character is down - to - earth and not overdone, the plot is lovely, original and funny, the setting is also great, it's funny without feeling that the humour is forced... - everything works! Also, the romance this time was sweet and lovely, well developed and happened in its own pace, which I really enjoyed.
Sure, some of the Gigi's dates were over the top, but also, on the other hand, rather entertaining :D

It is lightly written and easy to read, entertaining, the plot and the characters are likeable, it has gorgeous cover - so really, it is a perfect read for a nice, summer evening.

So cute this book, I really enjoyed 🫶🏻 the story is funny and very cute
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the copy

3.5 stars! what a fun vacation read!

this is a great book to bring with you to the pool, beach or just about anywhere!

4.5 stars rounded up!

Read this if you like spice-free romances with:
- friends to lovers
- close proximity
- slow burn

Reading this felt like watching a romcom. It was the perfect summer/vacation book!

I liked both the main characters. I loved getting to see them get close and eventually fall in love.

Gigi is a hairstylist and we get to see her doing her job a few times. And the way it was written felt like I was actually at the hair salon with her when she was working. I liked the little details so much.

It was a bit predictable but that’s what made it such a fun experience for me. I love romcoms because I don’t have to think about what’s going to happen next. I can just relax. And it was just that.

I had an excellent time reading this book and I highly recommend reading this if you want a light summer read. I will also be reading more books by Portia MacIntosh because this genuinely was such an amazing read!

ps: no pregnancies or babies throughout the book 🫶🏼

I received an advance readers copy of this book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It’s pretty telling that it took me over 2 weeks to read this book despite it being under 300 pages. I’ve enjoyed Portia’s shorter stories in the past, so I was shocked at how flat and juvenile I found the writing here. Each chapter ends with some kind of “wrapping up” statement that makes this read like something from elementary school. I’m not sure there was a genuine moment of dialogue or honest introspection — instead the reader is given insights such as “My life feels so different now, in so many ways, but in others, it’s like nothing has changed, which I love.” The premise is a stretch to begin with, and while I have seen similar ideas work in other books, we are asked here to suspend our disbelief so thoroughly that it ends up feeling more like a parody of the genre. I considered giving this 1 star, but I didn’t feel enough of anything to elicit that strong of a reaction.

The Suite Life is a fun summer romp! Fun, easy beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review!

3.5 stars, rounded down

This was the first book I've read by Portia MacIntosh and I was a fan. I'll definitely read more by her in the future!

I found this to be a cute, fun, summery rom com that was easy and quick to read. It was a little over the top and rather predictable, but it was still fun! Honestly, the over the top aspect was probably my favorite part. Sure, it was rather ridiculous at times and I saw the "twist" coming from miles away, but it had me laugh out loud and rooting for the main characters, so who cares.

If you're looking for a cute rom com to read at the beach or by the pool, this is definitely one to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.