I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it.

I feel like I can always rely on Portia to deliver such a fun read! Her books feel like pure escapism to me and I love it 😍

The book starts two years earlier, when Lana and Ethan meet for the first time. They have the most amazing few hours together and it’s clear that they have chemistry, but when everything they do turns out to be a massive disaster, they decide that maybe it isn’t meant to be and they don’t take things any further. Fast forward to two years later, Lana is preparing to travel to Australia for her sister’s wedding - which just so happens to be on the same day as her 30th birthday - something that Lana’s family either don’t realise or don’t care about!

Having being briefed by her family not to act too much like herself in Australia, Lana is determined to take a walking red flag as her plus one. Her endeavours to find such a man leads her right back into Ethan’s path, and he ends up accompanying her with strict instructions to be his worst self. Back in each other’s company, how will Lana and Ethan cope, especially when chaos follows them wherever they go.

Lana was such a brilliant firecracker of a character! And what I really loved was how Ethan loved that about her and didn’t try to turn her into something she wasn’t. The way that Ethan was Lana’s cheerleader was just so, so lovely. I need an Ethan 😂 The were so real and down to earth as well.

As always with Portia’s books, there was so much humour that I was laughing out loud. She just has this way of writing books that are so easy to read, I didn’t want to put it down!

I devoured this delightful novel in just 24 hours!

The writing and pacing were excellent, making it a smooth and addictive read. Ethan completely stole my heart—he’s the kind of boyfriend you wish existed in real life: smart, sweet, fun, and unwavering in his care for Lana. Their chemistry was fire, and the chaos they caused together was just the right kind of entertaining.

I also loved the layers within the story. While it’s not a suspenseful read (it’s a romance, after all), the various subplots kept things interesting and helped maintain a fun, engaging rhythm throughout.

That said, I had mixed feelings about Lana. While it’s clear her family treats her poorly—honestly, they were just plain awful—she also made a few choices I didn’t love, especially in how she handled things with Ethan. Her self-sabotage felt unnecessary at times, and she occasionally lashed out in ways that felt a bit cruel.

Still, it didn’t take away from how enjoyable and heartwarming this story was overall. Definitely one I’d recommend!

I read everything Portia MacIntosh writes, and I liked this book but perhaps didn't love it as much as I have her other books. I felt bad for the main character as her family is so awful for her, and it felt like it took awhile to get to Australia and for the story to get going. That being said, a mid Portia MacIntosh book is still a delightful escape!

Die Geschichte dreht sich um Lana, deren "perfekte" Schwester ihre Hochzeit in Australien ausgerechnet an Lanas 30. Geburtstag plant. Um ihre Familie zu ärgern, beschliesst Lana, den unpassendsten Begleiter für die Hochzeit zu finden. Nach mehreren fehlgeschlagenen Versuchen trifft sie zufällig auf ihren Ex-Freund Ethan, mit dem sie vor zwei Jahren eine turbulente Beziehung hatte. Gemeinsam reisen sie zur Hochzeit, wo Ethan jedoch nicht wie erwartet für Chaos sorgt, sondern charmant und zuvorkommend auftritt. ​

Das Buch ist eine charmante, wenn auch vorhersehbare Wohlfühllektüre. Portia MacIntosh schafft es, mit Humor und einem Hauch Chaos eine Geschichte zu erzählen, die trotz aller Leichtigkeit kleine emotionale Tiefen streift.

Lana als Hauptfigur ist sympathisch in ihrer Unperfektheit – sie versucht, mit dem Erwartungsdruck ihrer Familie umzugehen, während sie selbst ein bisschen auf der Suche nach sich ist. Besonders gefallen hat mir die Dynamik mit Ethan – es ist diese klassische „Ex-zurück-im-Spiel“-Spannung, bei der man als Leser sofort ahnt, wie es enden wird, aber trotzdem dranbleibt, weil der Weg dorthin unterhaltsam ist.

Fazit: leicht, romantisch, ein bisschen schräg und mit einem versöhnlichen Ende.

A fun read, but it felt like the ending was rushed, and that there could have been a few more twists. It was like she got 2/3 of the way through and then decided she'd had enough, and rather than add in any more plot, she just decided to head straight to the ending. A pity, as what there was of the book was really fun and well written. It would have been much more satisfying though, if there had been more of it.

A fun light hearted read perfect for the summer.
Lana has been invited to her perfect sisters wedding in Australia.
There are 2 issues one she doesn’t have a date and 2 it’s when she’s turning 30.
Will she find love ?

3.5 ⭐

This was a fun summer read (as an Australian!) to read on a hot summer day.

It was light and easy to read. Enjoyable plot, I love the cover and the tagline is quite cute!

This is a great type of book to read on holiday / beach / relaxing for brain off and light entertainment.

I would recommend and am keen to check out more by this author!

Title: Wish You Weren’t Here
By: Portia MacIntosh
Pub. Date: Jan. 8, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Women’s, Romance (closed door)

Trigger Warnings:
Profanity, Closed Door (Romance)

Summary/Review:
Lana’s sister is getting married, and has chosen her destination wedding. Lana has the dress but she really needs the right plus one… until her ex, Ethan reappears into her life. Ethan is happy to help Lana with her plus one situation, however, Lana is debating if taking Ethan is a wise decision? Is rekindling old feelings a smart choice?

I have read and enjoyed Portia MacIntosh’s past novels. Here writing is enjoyable, cozy, and fast paced. The British humor was spot on and the rom-com kept my attention at the beginning of the novel. However, overall Wish You Weren’t Here didn’t measure up to her earlier novels for me. It was lacking character depth, and the ending felt rushed.

Thank you to Portia MacIntosh, Boldwood Books , and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

#Wishyouwerenthere
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#BoldwoodBooks
#NetGalley

Wish You Weren't Here is a second-chance romance. Lana's perfect and "posh" sister is getting married, which is all good until Lana finds out it's on her 30th birthday in New Zealand. While she struggles to make it, her dad and his rich family fail to realize that she doesn't have it as good as they do and don't get how it's possible. When they set up a lunch solely to ensure she won't "embarrass" them at the wedding, she is furious and decides to find the worst date possible to rub it in. After several failed attempts to find a horrible date, she bumps into her ex, Ethan. Whenever she and Ethan were together, disaster would happen. As a last resort, she takes Ethan, and he decides to help her until things change. Can real feelings come out of fake dating? It's a fun read, though the ending feels a bit rushed.

If you're a fan of laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with a generous sprinkle of chaos, then this is your next must-read. Lana is a woman on the brink of turning 30 and has been unceremoniously sidelined on her sister's big day—scheduled in Australia, no less—on her birthday. But instead of sulking, Lana decides to make a bold move and show up with the most inappropriate wedding date she can find. Enter Ethan, her charismatic ex who has the ability to set her heart racing and her life on fire (in the best and worst ways).
What could go wrong? Oh, everything, of course! The chemistry is undeniable, but the chaos they caused the first time around is hard to forget. Lana’s plan? Get back at the bride, have some fun, and show her sister she’s not to be ignored. Ethan, however, has other plans—he’s all charm, all the time, and he’s not playing by Lana’s rules. A tropical backdrop, wedding drama, and a whole lot of unexpected sparks flying? It's the recipe for one hilariously messy, heartwarming adventure.
The writing is sharp, witty, and irresistibly fun. The tension between Lana and Ethan is delicious—just enough to make you root for their rekindled romance while cringing at all the missteps along the way. If you're looking for a feel-good read with a bit of sabotage, romance, and plenty of laughs, this book is your ticket to the best wedding disaster you could ever imagine. Just make sure you're ready for a whirlwind, because when Lana and Ethan are involved, it’s anything but smooth sailing!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I DNF this book - it was okay to begin with but i found it quite difficult to get through so did end up DNF
Not to say if this is your vibe then you would probably love and enjoy this book but just not for me

I had so much fun reading this new book by Portia MacIntosh, one of my favorite author! This book is hilarious, I found myself laughing outloud several times! I absolutely loved the plot, the settings (which is mostly in Australia), the main characters, the building romance, everything! It's a 4 stars out of 5 for this book for me! Perfect book to read to relax!!!

Special thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, this book was a fluffy lightheaded romantic comedy. What fell a little short for me is that I did not find the FMC to be very likable. She was slightly annoying during the book and selfish. I did not find myself rooting for her to find romance. The love story in itself was not fleshed out very well in my opinion. I definitely liked the male love interest more than the female. The side characters were more entertaining to me than the main characters.
Although it was a relatively short book (<300 pages), the book did seem to drag and I did not find myself wanting to go back to it at times.
Overall, I found it to be OK. 2.5-3 stars.

In this fun, spicy, and summery new romance novel, readers follow Lana, fed up with her perfect sister and her decision to schedule her big wedding on Lana’s thirtieth birthday, as she searches for a way to bend all the wedding rules put specifically in place for her. When her charming and handsome ex Ethan reappears just in time for the wedding as her plus one, Lana almost forgets why they broke up -- they attracted too much chaos -- and Ethan’s decision to not cause chaos at the wedding has totally upset her plans. As the events pass and their Australian holiday continues, readers and Lana must figure out what they really want -- from the wedding and Ethan’s presence. With a chaotic and funny protagonist in Lana and a classic love interest in Ethan, readers will love the eccentric cast of characters and their shenanigans in this holiday romance novel. The characters are the star of the novel, and the hostile, friendly, and changing dynamics between characters really add to the drama and tension while also allowing them to change and develop in some fun ways. Exciting, entertaining, and unpredictable, this is a great new release that Portia MacIntosh fans will love.

I couldn't get into this.

I thought it was going to be a cute little fake dating rom-com because the description reminded me a little of The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren but it ended up just being a bit of a wild, disjointed plot.

For a book that was under 300 pages, this felt like it went on FOREVER with no advancement of the characters or anything exciting in the plot. It took over half the book to even get to Australia and even then it was kind of a mess.

This is a fun read! I love the wedding themed romances, something always goes wrong.
In this book, Lana’s sister is getting married and has a list of rules everyone needs to follow. Lana wants to bring a date that will start a buzz, so she brings her troublesome and gorgeous ex boyfriend, Ethan. When Ethan arrives from Australia, he’s not the guy Lana remembers. He’s following the rules and seems intent on winning everyone over, including Lana.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was laughing out loud from the first page. Another winning story from Portia M. Riotous fun all the way through.

You can never go wrong with a Portia MacIntosh book—her characters are always a highlight, and this one is no exception. Packed with laughs from start to finish, it’s the perfect read for a bit of lighthearted fun and a mood boost.

Wish you weren't here by Portia MacIntosh
Pub Date: January 8th, 2025

Lana and Ethan met in her office and had a very interesting night together. What started with passion ended up in a very embarrassing disaster. After a couple more failed attempts resulting in disaster, Lana felt that it was best they remained friends.

Lana was raised in a modest home by her mother. Her father and his new family, on the other hand, are very well off and have very high standards. Lana feels she doesn't fit in with her father's world and is nervous about going to Australia for her half-sister's wedding. It's on the same day as Lana's 30th birthday, not that anyone remembered. The family arranges for an intervention on Lana's behavior to ensure that she's properly dressed and behaved to not embarrass the family. Lana decides to get even by just being herself. She finds the perfect dress and sets off to find the perfect date for the wedding.

It was a fun, lighthearted read with lots of funny moments.

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.