Cute.

I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about the beginning or end… but I loved the middle, The characters were fun and I loved her crazy family!! I personally would have liked to see a little more to the ending. Such as, what was her Christmas gift and what does he need to give it to her early? I want my full and complete HEA people!

Overall, however, it was a cute story and would make a great holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts expressed are mine alone.

Billie is looking forward to a nice, relaxing Christmas in the house she has just finished renovating when she suddenly finds herself with unexpected company.
For those of a certain age this reminds me of a Whitehall farce, albeit without a trouserless Brian Rix. There is that wonderful sense of hopelessness as someone is surrounded by events totally out of their control and a great cast of characters. The singles events varied from the sublime to the ridiculous, with some laugh out loud moments, and made me really glad that I'm not in that market. There are also some totally unexpected twists and turns to add to the fun. It is based around Christmas, but is a great read at any time of the year and I can recommend it to cheer you up.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I thought this was a really fun Christmas rom com. I would say though, that it’s more ‘com’ than ‘rom’ as its very much a slow burn romance. Billie is a very empathic character and you can’t help but feel for her as she navigates her complicated family dynamics as well as a series of disasterous dates. The humour is top notch throughout and I found it a very easy, relaxing read.

Summary
Billie has been looking for a lowkey, quiet holiday break. Her couple friends are going on a ski trip, but since she and her boyfriend broke up last year, Billie opted to stay behind and enjoy her house that she fixed up and relaxing. Then her mom needs a place to stay for a few weeks. Then her sister shows up unexpectedly. It is one unwanted visitor after another. So to minimize her time stuck in the house with her divorced parents, her dad's new wife and her sister, Billie pretends to have already planned a busy holiday break while signing up for every singles event a dating app is offering over the holidays to keep her out of the house. Even though Billie planned restful, quiet break, she may just date and see there is someone out there for her after all.

Review
This was a cute and funny holiday read. I loved the friend group that Billie made for herself within the singles events. I loved the situations Billie kept finding herself in with her family and unwanted guests. And the twist totally caught me by surprise. Usually I can spot those coming a mile away and I was totally floored.

Billie is a teacher, wanting a lovely peaceful Christmas in her newly renovated home, her pride and joy. Her mum ends up staying, as she is in the middle of a house move. Then Jess, Billie’s sister turns up. Then Billie’s Dad and second wife Gail turns up, needing somewhere to stay. Billie just can’t say no and so in an attempt to escape this extended family gathering, signs up to a series of “fun” gatherings on dating app Matcher.

Cue a cast of fun new characters, twists and turns, appearances of unwanted ex-boyfriends and comedy moments that had me cackling with laughter as the story unfolds. The sister, Jess was my favourite character, she had some great, zingy one-liners.

Portia always writes these moments and the dialogue so well. The stories are always fresh and on trend (e.g. Binfluencers) and the characters are realistic. A fun read.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just Date and See was such a cute Christmas romcom. As someone who has a huge loud Christmas, as much as Billie hated it, I loved watching Billie's family have a big loud Christmas together. I found Rocco and Billie's dating app activities adventures so fun, and I loved watching them compete and mess with each other because of their attraction to each other. I didn't like how there were some jumps in the story, especially in parts that sounded fun. Overall, I loved the writing in this story and found the story to be fun and enjoyable while reading. I was shocked by the twist at the end, but I didn't enjoy that there wasn't too much talk about the elephant in the room. And then to just skip a year in the future and not talk about that BIG taboo topic?! I didn't love that, but I loved Billie and Rocco's chemistry so much that I'm just going to forget it.

I found this to be dry, predictable, and too cutesy for my taste. The characters were fine, the plot fine, the shenanigans fine...just fine.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before publication. 5 stars for a DNF as I am unable to comment on the overall quality of the novel. I was drawn to this book due to the premise; I'm always looking for a good dating app/blind dating rom com. Unfortunately this wasn't the one for me. I found the writing longwinded and clunky and I struggled to connect with the protagonist.

Just Date and See is now one of my fave Portia MacIntosh books! I loved that our main characters were normal folks who had common sense and surrounded by screwball folks and situations. The scenarios felt both plausible and hilarious. It gave me all the happy feels of Christmas in the middle of this crazy heatwave.

That's a Christmas book. I really think it's important to know that before reading it because well, we are in summer. I'm not a big fan of reading books by their season so that's not a big deal that the story take places during winter.

It was great, not my favorite read this year but that on me. Honestly this book is really easy to read ans kind of perfect for the "enjoy and rest" type of reading.

Billie is a really appreciative character, she just wants a calm Christmas but we all know that it's not gonna happen.... But Rocco give us some "too good to be true" vibes and I'll be honest I love it so much !

thanks to net galley for the arc :)

Flirty fun, set to a festive backdrop, this is Portia MacIntosh at her finest.

Billie's family situation is hilarious given she was adamant that she wanted a quiet Christmas at home, ideally alone.

But then it seems multiple family members, even estranged ones descend on her, expecting a room for the holidays and it turns into a a bit of a farce.

So Billie decides to escape them each day for a singles event run from a dating app, and the results of that are even more funny.

Just the whole book is feel good fun that you can't help but smile and laugh along with.

I adored every moment of it, including some rather surprising conversations.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Just Date and See
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/19/22
Author: Portia MacIntosh
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Goodreads Rating: 3.78

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

Synopsis: Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas, then her family arrives unexpectedly. So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum's mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour. While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all - she'll just have to date and see...

My Thoughts: I love Christmas Books and Movies (Hallmark). This book stole my heart. It is the perfect read to gear up for the festive season. Cute, light-hearted, quick read. The humor in this book was off the charts, it really did put the comedy into Rom-Com. I literally laughed out loud several times while reading, I love those type of books, that just put you in a good mood. The characters were divine and well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and creatively written. The characters were likable and relatable. The author does such an amazing job at describing the tension Billie experienced that you could feel it. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous, intriguing, engaging, and brilliant. This book releases on 9/19/22 and I would highly recommend preordering from Amazon for only $2.99!

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

"Quiet Christmas" turns into "Chaos Christmas" with this funny holiday romcom. When Billie goes from a quiet Christmas with her mum to a chaotic house full of people who only sometimes get along, she opts into every mix-and-mingle event available on a dating app. From a disastrous Bingo mix up to an accidental sex party, Billie is in way over her head, but at least she has Rocco to accompany her. But will her friendship with Rocco turn into something more? And when an unexpected twist brings him into her home life, will the two make it out with their holly jolly feelings intact? Or will it go up in festive flames?

There were a few things I really liked about this book. Most importantly, it was FUNNY. I loved the chaotic dates, Billie's humour, and her banter with Rocco. I loved her and Kenny sniping at each other over the fence, and in general loved how her relationship with Kenney changed over the course of the novel. And, of course, we can't forget the too-good-to-be-true Rocco!

Unfortunately there were a few things that definitely took this book down a few stars for me. I didn't really love the writing, although it did help to emphasize the overall chaotic nature of the book. I also DESPERATELY wanted Billie to grow a spine throughout most of this book. She was borderline too nice, to the point she was a bit of a doormat.

That said, the ending of a book is extremely important to me and this one wrapped up SO nicely! It was just a bit of a bumpy journey to get there, hence why this is getting 3 stars. It was good, and I enjoyed it, but I wasn't overwhelmingly impressed. If you're looking for a funny, cozy, holiday romcom then you will absolutely enjoy this book!

So. The book had its moments but I can't say that it was Portia McIntosh's best - she has already delivered better novels, to be honest. Probably it's my problem, but I'm starting to feel that nothing new is ever going to happen in this author's books. I mean, sire, it's a rom - com, I know what I'm getting, no worries here, but the books simply starts to feel like a copy of the previous one. Same old, same old. Maybe I am simply too old for those books already?

This book introduced us to another quirky heroine who, I had a feeling, always knew better. And to a gorgeous hero too, of course. Add some misunderstandings, and here we are.
However, Portia McIntosh's books win because of her great sense of humour, light writing - style and superb execution. If there is a great idea, you can be sure that the author will write about it in a fresh, original way, like for example the dating events. They were funny, filled with awkward moments, simply great. In the middle it started to drag a bit, though.

And honestly, I'm really not sure if it's such a great idea to publish Christmas book in summer. I didn't feel "festive" when reading this book. Which is a shame. It would help to enjoy it more. But I can't feel festive in August with another heat wave on the way. It's not the author's fault, of course not, but I've never understood this need to publish sooner rather than later.

This was cute but the main character was annoying. Why did she let everyone stay in her house? Also her mom having a boyfriend was not an answer as to why her mom and dad were flirting. The book could of been better if it focused on the romance and not the family.

I received an arc through netgalley.

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐞💖
To say this is the most humorous, funniest, cozy, Christmassy book would be an understatement! I loved this book and finished it in 2 days.
It made me feel happy, cherry, and nostalgic. It was perfect from A to Z.
The story revolves around Billie May a teacher at a private school who recently has been dumped by her boyfriend Declan after buying a house together and thinking of marriage. Therefore, she was looking for a quiet Christmas in her home where she has worked so hard to make it one.
However, a quiet Christmas is far off the market due to multiple reasons ( when you read the book you will find out about them😉) her mom, sister, her dad whom she hasn't seen in a decade and his wife, and her ex-boyfriend come and ask to spend Christmas with her till the new year 🥴.
Leaving Billie with no choice but to come up with a solution to avoid them all and that by engaging in a Dating App which is doing an everyday event till Christmas Eve and let me tell you reading these chapters about each event made me laugh out loud 😂😂😂.
Of course, Billie wasn't planning on falling in love but the universe have other plans for her 😉😉😉.

If you love unexpected twists this book is for you.

I started thinking that Billie was going to snap after her quiet Christmas was destroyed so thoroughly, however she is stronger than I expected.

Billie ends up hosting her whole family for Christmas and in a desperate attempt to get some time away from them, ends up signing herself up to a whole host of singles events.

This book has a series of calamities that anybody can see themselves ending up in.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Boldwood Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Cute, lighthearted story with charming charcters.

I really enjoyed this cute story. Really would recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of a light hearted escape. Fantastic read

Thank you Portia MacIntosh, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really tried to read this but had to DNF about 25% of the way through. I just couldn't connect with the characters. It was a slow burn that really didn't give me anything to get excited about. I'm bummed because I normally love Portia's books! Better luck next time I guess.