Another brilliant release from Portia Macintosh! I’m hooked on her books - she’s absolutely a one-click author for me. I cannot miss any of her new releases. This is most definitely another 5-star winner! I loved it the whole way through!

This is such a fun storyline - Lana’s half sister is getting married on her 30th birthday… in Australia. Lana’s family sit her down and lectured her about how she’s got to behave and dress and… and… so Lana decides to go on a dating app to audition guys to be a terrible date in exchange for the free trip. With time fast approaching and the candidates sadly disappointing, she has to rely on a willing coworker to attend as her fake date - someone who, when they are together, tends to help her create chaos.

A fantastic read, which I couldn’t put down. Macintosh can weave a tale like no one else! She’s hilarious and her romcoms are far and away above the rest out there. If you need a laugh and pick-me-up and a great romance all in one, this is it! A great read to start the new year off right.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early copy. This is my honest feedback.

This book is about Lana who has to go to her younger step sister's wedding and she wants to show them (her dad's new rich family) that she isn't beneath them like they always seem to imply. And when that plan doesn't work she decides if they're gonna talk let's give them something to talk about so she brings her ex, Ethan, who she always ends up causing chaos with.

I previously read ‘The Suite Life’ by Portia Macintosh and to be honest this book felt like a copy and pasta but with different names and locations. Like I mentioned in my previous review, the MMC is not actually in the story besides the prologue until 44% into the book. I can’t fall in love with a man I don’t know. Lana’s dates are funny and entertaining but I wish we had interactions with Ethan sprinkle inbetween so we could see the relationship build. I feel like this book had all the right ingredients, but it just didn’t come together for me. It was similar to the previous book of hers I read. The writing and characters are so good, but I think the connection in her books is missing.

Overall, it's a quick entertaining read

Rating: 3/5
Spice: 1/5

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this arc! All thoughts in this review are my own.

Portia MacIntosh never disappoints! The writing was the perfect blend of crazy, funny and charming. The characters were likable and I had so much fun seeing them through their journey.

"Wish You Weren't Here" is an engaging and charming read that immediately pulled me in. Getting to know Lana and Ethan was an absolute treat, and Lana’s quick wit had me laughing throughout. While her relationship with her stepmother occasionally felt a bit over the top, it added depth and intrigue to the story.

I’ve been gravitating toward British rom-coms lately, and this one didn’t disappoint—it was a joy from start to finish. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars!

#WishYouWerentHere #NetGalley #boldwoodbooks

Fine/enjoyed. I'd say the pacing was maybe a little off, with lots of filler content. Our FMCs family was cartoonishly toxic and bad - perhaps a little heavy handed. And I couldn't quite get in her head/understand her hold ups and motivations which made the story's arc a little frustrating at times. overall though it was quick and easy to ready, delivered on main romcom tropes, and entertained.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book started off so well and I had high hopes for this romance. Our couple Lana and Ethan have a perfect meeting/date with a night of only YES. We see a fun and sweet night of romance with a strong connection between the two...and then we jump to the present day where the two are not together!

Lana has a disconnected relationship with her father and half-sister.... let me say, this family is just horrible and so unaware of how toxic they are. The way they treat Lana made me so angry. They literally had a lunch with the sole purpose to hold an "intervention" discussing how Lana should act, dress, and what kind of plus one she should bring to the wedding. Hense, the idea of Lana trying to find the most inappropriate date for the wedding.

And here is where things started to go downhill a bit. The plot to find this "horrible date"...while some funny moments, it took way too much away from the on-page time with our true romantic interest, Ethan. Over half the book! We finally find out why the two called it quit because of their magnetic pull of not only chemistry and connection, but they seem to attract chaos as well.

Ethan does end up going to the wedding as Lana's plus one, but she fights what she feels the whole time. She even tries to start up a relationship with someone else at the wedding. Sigh.

There was too much filler before our couple (mainly Lana) finally gets the "aha moment" that they are not actually cursed, and some chaos is okay...I also wish Lana got some closure or a true moment where her family made amends or were less horrible to her.
Nope.

I enjoyed our couple, I just wanted more of them together. I still look forward to what this author has to offer!

3 stars

This author was a first for me as I had previously never read any of her books, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Hilarious, quirky fun read!

Yet again Portia has smashed it out the park with this bloody hilarious romcom. I was in bed not very well when I started this book, but by the end of it, I was crying with laughter and feeling so much better.

Picture two sisters that are polar opposites. Lana is your average twenty something, down to earth Yorkshire lass, just trying to make her way through life. Her half-sister on the other hand, grew up in a family with lots of money and is now marrying into another family with even more money. As far as Lana is concerned this is going to be the wedding from hell and she sets out to cause chaos.

This is slightly spicier than a lot of Portia’s books, but as always her characters are relatable and use realistic vocabulary. You won’t find any oh fudge or flippin hecks here

This is my first book by Portia MacIntosh and I’ve already bought my next one! I live for quirky, easy to read romance books and this is definatly that! No major plot to follow nothing complicated just humour and romance.
The perfect beach read!
Lanas perfect sister is getting married! On the same day Lana turns 30! As the wedding gets closer and her family give her the “best behaviour” talk Lana starts to think of ways to show her family just who she is!
When her ex boyfriend shows back up a series of unfortunate events happen just in time for Lana to take him with her to the wedding and to meet her stuck up family!
I laughed out loud a lot reading this book, some of the situations Lana found herself in are very similar to how my life in my 20’s was!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 8th January 2025

This book had very fun and cheeky English humor. I loved the main couple’s chemistry and overall love of fun. I thought the family dynamics especially at the whole wedding week were super interesting. However, I struggled in the middle of this book where there was no moving of the plot or character work at all. It felt strange and out of place. Had the middle section been done differently, I feel I would have rated this book much higher.

This book follows Lana as she rebels against her snooty family’s wedding rules, planning to bring the most inappropriate date she can find. After failing miserably, she runs into her charming ex, Ethan, and the two decide to stir up some chaos together. While the book is fun and fast-paced, I didn’t feel a strong connection between Lana and Ethan, and I couldn’t stand most of the other characters, who were self-absorbed and rude. Still, it was an enjoyable read with some amusing moments of chaos.

This book had it all for me, I loved the characters and there were so many funny moments, great quicky read overall.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Portia Macintosh for my free arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a quick enjoyable read, full of classic british humour and a small dose of steamy romance between the main characters.

The beginning was great, however the story felt a little predictable for me and the ending seemed a little rushed. I have read books from this author before and loved them, so this has not put me off reading more in the future, I guess this one just wasn’t my favourite.

"I'm not bossy, I'm the boss!"

Lana is annoyed. Her family is nothing like her. She's down to earth while they are snooty. She is having fun and her younger half sister is getting married. After finding out that they've moved the wedding to her 30th birthday AND have a list of rules that have been designed to help keep her from embarrassing anyone else. Lana has decided to get revenge.

She'll bend the rules and find the most inappropriate wedding date that she can bring with her. But after several unsuccessful attempts, she runs into her gorgeous ex, Ethan. The one with whom she finds she causes chaos with. Perfect. He's up for helping her out but there's a problem. He changes the game once they get to the wedding and is being the perfect date.

This was cute, but I felt it was a little flat. I didn't really feel like the relationship between Ethan and Lana was really developed. Also, I HATED every other character. They were mean and very self-centered. Not only that, but with Lana wanting to prove them wrong about her, why would she want to try to date someone from the same circle.

Overall, enjoyable. I read it fairly quickly and did enjoy the chaos that Ethan and Lana seemed to cause! Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Portia MacIntosh for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia McEntire, I really thought this book started out like gangbusters because Lana was so likable and then the first two or three chapters. I thought she would absolutely be my favorite character by this author, but I must admit I liked her with Eathan but didn’t like the way she let her family get over on her not to mention the book is called. Wish you weren’t here and for most of the book Eathan isn’t. Lana meets Eathan by pretending to be the COO of the app company where she works only to be embarrassed when her real boss shows up. despite that he still wants to date her on Valentine’s night where they played the “yes” game and I’m not gonna lie. I thought this part was so funny. Unfortunately, the bliss only lasts a couple of days because he has to head back to London. It’s two years later and her stepsister’s big day has arrived. She’s getting married in Australia and Lana is scrambling for a date when she runs into none other than Eathan. she soon starts thinking about their chaotic fun filled relationship and decides to invite him thinking it will shake things up in Australia, but unfortunately, Eathan, who was supposed to be a negative distraction and over shine the event turns out to have a public meet the parents persona that only goes to impress her dad and Beatrice her stepmom. I think where this book went wrong is the whole thing with Steve her being 30 and not having her life together nor her own apartment her definitely having problems with personal space and self-respect I mean that whole thing with bringing him to Jennifer‘s office I just thought that was terrible. Not to mention Eathan when they first meet tells her he lives with his parents and is on a job interview so he is unemployed I just think this whole book could’ve been way better because it was funny and initially I loved Lana but then again in the beginning I like Steve as well but boy did he change. i’m still giving this book 3 stars because I laughed so much as always. It just wasn’t in my opinion, swoon worthy.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #PortiaMcEntire, #WishYouWeren’tHere,

A year on from Enemies to Lovers I am back for another dose of Portia Macintosh. Wish you weren’t here- a great read to kick off 2025. Lana was a great lead. Unlucky in love and the black sheep of the family. Sister’s wedding in Australia on her big birthday gives Lana the opportunity to get even with her family. Question is what lengths would she be willing to go to.

Enjoyed it. Looking forward to more reading in 2025

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Wish You Weren’t Here, while there parts of this book I really loved it mostly fell flat for me. I felt like there were too many unanswered questions and the characters were underdeveloped. The ex boyfriend was creepy and that side plot felt unnecessary. I’m sure this book will definitely find its way into many readers hearts.

A really easy read, perfect for your holiday read in the sun!
It was simple, funny, and quick to get through.
Just what you need to escape from the cold weather!!
First from this author and won't be the last. Definitely will pick up another for my next holiday.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I felt like this was a pretty cute rom-com! It definitely had some cute moments and some moments that tended to drag a bit. Towards the beginning/middle when she’s trying to find someone to take with her to Australia I felt like it dragged a bit. I would have preferred to cut some of that section, but still show her struggle while finding someone, and then have more story of them falling for each other in Australia. I’m thankful to NetGalley for the ARC (whoop whoop) and I’m glad a read it even though it wasn’t a 5 ⭐️ read for me personally
3/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

Another fantastic romcom from one of my favorite romance authors! Portia MacIntosh masterfully creates female characters facing realistic issues, problems, and challenges in both their professional and personal life and I adore her for it!

This book was a four star read. I enjoyed the fake-date to a family wedding trope especially since it was set in Australia. I loved how Lana was determined to be her worst self after her wealthy father and his new family felt the need to warn Lana about her behavior at her half sister’s wedding just for Lana to realize she only needed to be herself. And I loved how Ethan was there, every step of the way, to help Lana come to the conclusion she was more than good enough even if her family didn’t agree.

I HIGHLY recommend checking this book out as soon as you can! And I also encourage you to binge all of Portia’s other novels. I’ve loved every single one of the books I’ve read by her and am always excited to see a new one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Portia MacIntosh, and Boldwood Books for gifting me an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.