I think I'm giving up on Portia McIntosh - I might be too old for this superficial and forced reality of her characters.
The beginning of the story was really good, quick and sparkly and the introduction to the characters was engaging and interesting. But then it went downhill.
I'm really sorry, but I didn't feel the chemistry and spark between Lana and Ethan and those accidents when they were together, those were how many of them? One? Two? It's good that Lana kept reminding about them in every single chapter because I might have forgotten about them quickly, as they were almost non - existent.
The chapters were short, which is a good thing, but it felt as we were skipping from one chapter to another, there was no fluency between them, no continuity. The characters, as usual, lacked in depth and were too much stereotyped for my liking. The interactions between them felt like a table tennis - just playing the ball, changing points of view really quickly. Also, the relationship between Lana and the rest of her family was awful - I'm not sure if it was supposed to be funny but it didn't work for me at all. Class here of there.

Well, maybe it's a case of "it's not you, it's me", but the book didn't work for me. It felt unrealistic, the characters behaved childish and many things felt forced and very convinient. Sure, sometimes you need an easy read, so just try the book for yourself.

I loved this, it was a real page turner. I expected a typical romcom (which I love by the way) but this one surprised me. Loved the main characters, and their interactions. Cosy up and enjoy.

📚 Book Review 📚

I am a massive Portia Macintosh fan, and feel privileged to be involved in the tour for the hottest new romance of 2025!

This story follows Lana, a likeable and down to earth character who I loved getting to know. Lana needs a date for a wedding, and she finds the right guy in the most unexpected of places. Her online dating escapades gave me some funny flashbacks, but ultimately none of them are right for her.

Lana's ideas to exact revenge on her thoughtless sister's big day are hilarious and mischievous. This book was very lighthearted and humorous in places, but it was also about self worth, family values and identity.

My two favourite aspects were probably that Portia featured my favourite tropes - fake dating, second chance romance and meet cute, all bundled into this brilliant romance. The other favourite aspect was that this book took us to Australia - somewhere on my bucket list that I'll probably never go cos of my fear of flying, so the more I can escape there through books, the better.

Another corker from a romance fiction queen. Thank you, Portia!

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I have read Portia Macintosh's work before, and was excited to receive this ARC, but sadly this one was a disappointment. I was confused by the choices the main character made, in addition to the questionable choices her family made as well. The pacing was off, and I felt like this was very long when it didn't need to drag on that way. I was not a fan of this one, but I am open to reading more by this author in the future!

Lana is seen as a hot mess by her father’s wealthy side of the family. The side that she didn’t grow up with since she didn’t live with her father. She is seen as so much of a mess that they stage an intervention to keep her from messing up her sister’s wedding in Australia.
A wedding that is taking place on Lana’s 30th birthday. A fact that no one seems to even care about so Lana does the only thing she can and plans to screw things up on purpose. I mean let's face it they can only think you are something so many times before you just give in and be that.

That is where Ethan comes in. Ethan and Lana met two years ago and there was plenty of chemistry between them. However, there was plenty of chaos as well and they decided to never see one another again. However, a chance encounter gives Lana the perfect idea. After all she needs a date for the wedding and who better help her with chaos for the big day?

This was simply a wonderful story. It has a bit of fake dating as well as some romantic comedy in it. Although I feel I should warn you that the romance doesn’t begin until about halfway through. Some people find that off putting but I think it works for this story.

An enjoyable romance read following the blossoming romance of Lana and Ethan.

I found this an easy read with a sprinkling of humour throughout. I loved getting to know Lana and Ethan and watching them fall in love - even if it took them an age to get there!

Reading about the family dynamics was highly amusing and I really don’t know how Lana put up with them.

If you like a lighthearted romcom then this is the book for you.

Lana’s sister is getting married in Australia, on her 30th birthday, which the rest of her family has conveniently forgotten about. Known for being the wild single one, Lana is given rules to follow to make sure she doesn’t spoil the wedding…

Lana needs the perfect wedding date to take with her but when all her attempts at online dating fail, it looks like she’s going to have to go alone. When her ex Ethan suddenly reappears in her life. The ex who when they are together, cause chaos. Perfect date for the wedding?

But when they arrive for the wedding, everything seems different between them. And Ethan seems to be there to charm everyone, including Lana.

Friends to lovers, fake dating and a holiday romance all rolled into one. What’s not to love? Wish You Weren’t Here is a great light romance novel with a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure.

I really enjoyed the dating adventure Lana went onto try and find a date for her sister’s wedding. There really were some terrible ones! But getting both of Lana and Ethan’s stories was great, we got to see exactly what they were before to what they are now, which I really liked.

Thank you Netgalley, Portia MacIntosh and Boldwood books for this advanced reader copy of Wish You Weren’t here, in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise of this book - it’s right out of a ball mark movie and i loved the first 40% - fake dating, enemies/friends to lovers falling again, but i felt like the last 30% was too hurried and it made me fall off. I wish there were more moments with Ethan and Lana acknowledging them and their relationship more!

Wish You Weren’t Here is Portia MacIntosh’s latest workplace and family second-chance romantic comedy. While the characters are British and the story contains British phrasing, it is easy for Americans to understand. There is no profanity, and the sex scenes are “closed door.”
Wish You Weren’t Here begins on Valentines Day, 2023 with 28-year-old secretary Lana Pemberton assigned to horrible software CEO Jennifer Carter. While Lana is seated at Jennifer’s desk trying to get her computer to function properly, a handsome man walks in and offers to help. Ethan is from London and meets up with Lana after work, and they enjoy a wonderful, crazy 2-day tryst. At the time Lana is fending off advances from a too-friendly coworker, Steve, and looked down upon by her newly engaged younger half-sister, Persephone.
Fast forward two years and Lana is once again temporarily working for Horrible Jennifer. Meanwhile her flat-mate moved away and she can’t afford to live on her own, so she’s staying in her ex-boyfriend Steve’s spare bedroom. When her father invites her to a family lunch to discuss her sister’s upcoming wedding in Australia, Lana is blindsided by their fears of her embarrassing them and ruining Persephone’s wedding. She’s deeply hurt by their decision to hold the actual ceremony on her thirtieth wedding, making her feel even more insignificant. At that point Lana decides that she’s going to find the most unsuitable man possible to serve as her wedding date.
Lana uses various dating apps to meet unsuitable men, with hilarious consequences. She’s about to ditch her plans when Ethan reappears in her Leeds office. He agrees to be her wedding date, but she’s wary of rekindling their relationship. Their attraction is so strong that they just throw common sense out the window when they are together and cause lots of mayhem. When they arrive in Australia, Ethan has a 180 personality change and becomes a significant other that Lana’s family approves of. Lana’s trying to figure out how to make it through the wedding with her heart and sanity intact.

Wish You Weren’t Here is an enjoyable escapist romance that contains many hilarious scenes. I started off not liking Lana very much, because I couldn’t relate to her carefree ways, but I realized that she was self-supporting and enjoying her single status. When Lana was openly criticized by her father and stepmother, I immediately became sympathetic to her and agreed with her strategy to enact a little revenge. It became clear that Lana had a good head on her shoulders and was planning to settle down in her thirties, while enjoying her twenties. Ethan was a perfect romantic hero, the “one who got away” and probably the reason that other guys didn’t measure up.

While the story moves slowly at first, the descriptions are so vivid that it’s like watching a movie. The dating scenes are absolutely hilarious, and Lana and Ethan’s misadventures are over the top! Readers will absolutely enjoy Wish You Weren’t Here and its original plotline.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook!
So sorry I am behind on reviews with the holidays and all and being deathly sick during Chrisrmas. Ha but this book got me through it! Once again I have fallen in love with another book by this author! A great rom com that is guaranteed to make you laugh and not be able to put down. I do not want to give anything away. I highly recommend you read this! Perfect for winter readers due to we have a warm location! :)

I enjoyed this to an extent, its and easy read and I enjoyed the relationship between Ethan and Lana. However, I took an issue with the premise of the rich family and her growing up with nothing. Mainly because if her parents were to get divorced the Dad would have to give her half unless there was a prenup which was never mentioned. Anyway it all just felt a bit weird.
I've read a few Portia MacIntosh's books and this was good but I dont think its her best. Would recommend as a light read though!

To be honest, this book lost me at the very- cringey- beginning. I pushed through, but this book lacked cohesiveness. I didn't believe there was any chemistry between Lana and Ethan and didn't feel at all connected to them or their story. I also really disliked Lana which didn't help. Overall, this book felt rushed, crammed and inauthentic. However, just because I didn't enjoy it, doesn't mean that others won't. As such, I will not be rating on social media. I am aware of how much work it takes to write a book and want to give the author a shot,

Macintosh writes such endearing characters in her books.
I was a goner for Ethan after the first sentence he appeared. He was the real deal and I thought Lana would never open her eyes to their potential.
True, they are a couple who get into many catastrophes but that’s what makes them combustible too.
Lana’s family was ghastly and I thought they all were stuffed shirts.
I did wonder how Lana could afford air fare for herself and a partner to Australia when she couldn’t afford her own digs.
It’s a cute read about the possibilities of love and doesn’t every woman dream of meeting a man like Ethan??

In Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh, Lana is irked when her sister schedules a wedding in Australia on Lana's 30th birthday, further exacerbating the situation with strict rules to ensure Lana doesn’t overshadow the bride. To regain some control, Lana plots to bring the most inappropriate date possible to the wedding. After unsuccessful online dating attempts, her ex-boyfriend Ethan reappears. While she initially sees this as a chance to cause some chaos, Ethan’s unexpected charm and cooperation make her rethink her plans—and their dynamic.

The novel combines humor and romance, utilizing the fake-dating trope while exploring themes of personal growth and familial relationships. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Australia, it’s an engaging, lighthearted read. While many found the premise entertaining, some reviewers noted issues with the pacing and relationship development, making it a fun but mixed experience for readers. If you enjoy humorous romantic comedies with a twist, this could be a delightful addition to your reading list​.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lana is a party girl. But when Mr Right is standing right in front of her, the universe seems to have other ideas.

But he may be her only option and be the one to help her heal.

Macintosh gives us a main character who needs to find self-love and acceptance before she can find love. I struggled to like her at first because she seemed to be self-sabotaging, however as the novel continued, she grew on me and I started to understand her as a character.

I loved the character of Ethan, who every reader will be rooting for from the very start. I loved that he didn't actually give up on her, and he was able to show her how being herself is the most lovable and perfect way to be.

There was also a great contrast between characters whom we knew to dislike; this author always knows how to give depth to each character.

This narrative is a really easy escape that I read quickly, which is one thing that makes me always come back to this author.

2.75 stars rounded up

This book started off with a top-notch meet-cute, but unfortunately that was the high point for me. This was a very fun premise, but the execution fell short. There was an inordinate amount of filler, especially considering the book was under 300 pages. Much of the book was the main character dating and pursuing other men, yet I still did not feel much chemistry between the two MCs. It felt like a first draft where everything is dumped in and nothing is quite flushed out yet.

I really liked the intention the author had with the main character Lana being a woman not obsessed with meeting Mr. Right and not being a workaholic. Lana doesn't take life too seriously, and she finds fulfillment in enjoying the simple pleasures in life, and I love that message. The author also brings in the topic of class and how people are treated differently based on their station in life and that resonated with me.

A good foundation for a story, but not the best execution.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh
The beginning was great, easy to walk right into the story and relate to the characters, then it fell flat. The plot seemed random and somewhat disorganized. It just didn’t flow and after connecting with Lana and Ethan at the beginning, the story became disconnected with the reader.
You have family disconnect with a rich father and one sister who is the favored child. Lana is overshadowed when her sister plans to get married on Lana’s 30th birthday. Lana finds the perfect dress and then Ethan shows up to be her plus one, saving the day.
I appreciate the humor but the story just didn’t flow and resonate with me. 2.5/5⭐️
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review and ARC of this book.

The undisputed Queen of the romcom is back with Wish You Weren't Here. Written in her inimitable style Macintosh takes us on a fun filled, antic strewn romp to Australia.

Quintessentially British, the story had me laughing out loud repeatedly as Lana along with ex Ethan try not to upstage the bride with their 'fake dating'.

It's a light and easy read that was so quick to read in an afternoon. It's entertaining, highly enjoyable, has a charming cast of characters and is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face 😊

The story started off with a funny encounter between Lana and Ethan, and for a few chapters, we could see the attraction develop between the two of them as they go on dates and get closer.

However, not even ten chapters in, we suddenly lose Ethan, and he doesn't show up until chapter 20. Now, I really hate long and unnecessary fillers, and reading through ten whole filler chapters felt like my own personal hell, so that was disappointing to go through.

Further, I spent more time hating most of the characters in this rather than enjoying the actual plot. I was frustrated with Lana's family for the most part, and that just made me lose the will to seriously read it per chapter.

Another aspect in this book that let me down was the romantic development between Lana and Ethan - it wasn't as pronounced as it could've been, and I felt that there was less time spent on Ethan and Lana, and more on Lana with other characters. Although I liked Ethan and Lana individually, their pairing ended up feeling rushed.

As for the ending, it just wasn't satisfying for me. I almost got whiplash at how easily Lana "made up" with her sister, but even more when she and Ethan got together at the end - it just felt like random happenings. If only we were given more chapters to witness the authentic development between the two, this would've turned out better.

Overall, for this book specifically, I wasn't able to appreciate the characters and the plot, and I also thought this wasn't structured or paced that well. I did want to like this because it started off really well, but it just fell as soon as we lost Ethan for those ten chapters. However, I think the author's writing was good, and I'm not opposed to reading another story from her.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and the author for allowing me to share my honest comments on this ARC read.