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.

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

The book was a true delight! Sometimes you just need a book that is light entertainment. Gigi is unfortunately heading to her sister's destination wedding in Hawaii, While that should sound like a wonderful adventure, it is instead a curse because the groom's best man is her ex-boyfriend. Gigi has a mission, find an impressive date to outshine Nathan's new girlfriend, Sunshine. There are plenty of hilarious antics on this quest as well as the addition of Gigi being mysteriously upgraded to a luxury suite. And her new partner in crime, Donnie... Swoony sweetness...

Yes, the book is a little over the top and slightly predictable...but who cares! This book was a lot of fun and made me smile.

4 stars

Let's be honest here, there's no such thing as a Portia Macintosh book that I haven't liked lol. I love the lightheartedness of the stories, the humour and of course the romance that always hits perfectly.

I loved Gigi and and the ridiculous situations she gets herself into! and on the flip side I felt so sorry for her having to be at a destination wedding with her ex and his new girlfriend and could really understand just how vulnerable she felt, Such a fun story!

It took me a long time to finish this book. That was on me and not the author. Her writing style was not one that I could read quickly. I loved the premise of this book and thought the idea was well thought out.

This was such a fun read! I really loved the storyline, however the mistaken identity component felt strongly unrelated to the story which was hard to get past for most of the book. The end twist caught me wildly off guard and I actually laughed out loud. That easily took the book to 4 stars for me due to the shock factor. Plus any book the references Taylor Swift and reiterates that Donald Trump is an actual joke, is perfect for me

I really enjoyed this one, and now want to jet off to Hawaii and stay in a suite! Gigi is on her way to Hawaii for her sister’s wedding without a date, which ordinarily wouldn’t be too bad if her ex and his new girlfriend are going to be there too. So of course, she looks for the best person she can take along as her plus 1 leading to a couple of disastrous dates in London and once she’s there.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Suite Life, and can’t find anything to fault. It was the perfect mix of drama, romance, and comedy. I’ll be picking up more from Portia Macintosh!

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my guilty pleasure is Portia MacIntosh novels. Whenever i get my hands on one i sneak off into a quiet space and devour it. This was another brilliant read, Gigi is trying to snag herself a date for her sisters destination wedding in Hawaii, her family think she's been left on the shelf, she's a bridesmaid and her ex is best man and he has a flashy girlfriend. Funny and entertaining and a corker of a read.

"The Suite Life" is a romcom set in Hawaii, offering a delightful mix of travel, humor, and romance. The story follows Gigi, who needs to find an impressive date for her sister's wedding in Hawaii, especially since her ex, Nathan, is the best man and he dumped her for a famous influencer. This leads to a series of awkward and cringe-worthy dates, providing plenty of comedy.

The setting in Hawaii is vibrant, with a luxurious hotel backdrop that enhances the story. The plot's twist involves Gigi's unexpected hotel upgrade, leading to humorous and intriguing situations. Although some plot elements are predictable, the overall story remains engaging.

Character-wise, Gigi is fun, but she could use more assertiveness, especially around her ex and his new girlfriend. Nathan and his new girlfriend, Sunshine, are almost caricatures with their despicable behavior. The character of Donnie, who works at the hotel, adds warmth and charm to the narrative, although the slow-burn romance is slightly slower than expected. The love triangle complicates things, and there's a hint of cheating that could have been avoided.

Despite these minor issues, "The Suite Life" is a fast-paced and enjoyable read, ideal for a beach or vacation book. It's a story filled with humor, romance, and the beautiful setting of Hawaii, making it a delightful summer romcom.

Anytime I read a book by Portia MacIntosh, I know I will laugh. A lot. Through the whole book. There will be loveable characters who are charmingly flawed and endearing that are so easily relatable because we’ve all been there at one point. I loved the setting of Maui for the wedding. My only issue is Gigi being willing to travel this long distance for over a week with an almost complete stranger – this seems like a nightmare to me! Otherwise, I loved everything about this book. It was the perfect escape for the day.

Gigi isn't looking for the one. Just someone...!

As she gears up for her sister’s destination wedding in Hawaii, the countdown is on for Gigi to find a date. Being the only single person in the wedding party she told them she's bringing a date, now she just needs to find a date!
She can't wait to be bridesmaid for her sister but it's not ideal that her ex is also the best man, especially when he's bringing his hot new reality star girlfriend.
But when Gigi arrives at the hotel in Hawaii to find there has been a mix-up with her room, and she’s been upgraded to a suite, things start to look up. Not only is the room bigger than her entire flat, but the staff are waiting on her hand and foot, and she’s being treated like royalty!

Something isn’t quite right, but The Suite Life suits Gigi, and why shouldn’t she pamper herself while she mends her broken heart? It may even lead to her finding the perfect date after all…

I enjoyed this book and I read it in the middle of a pretty hard hitting topic series and it was very refreshing to read. It's a light read which would be perfect on the sunlounger by the pool on holiday or if you're British and try to make the most of any sun we get, in the garden!

I loved that as Gigi was going on all these dates it turns out that the one she was after was under her nose the whole time. Donnie, who she meets at the resort who's alone after a break up saves her on many occasions and after a couple of times they become friends and he becomes her wingman!
I loved the twist at the ending with true identities and it's not one I would've guessed.
The humor and wit throughout this book kept me reading and wanting more.
I'm really happy that there's more British characters being included in books.

- Friends to lovers
- Mistaken Identity
- Fade to black
- Slow burn
- Secret Identity
- Weddings
- British

Another brilliantly funny and fast paced read from Portia MacIntosh! I really enjoy her writing style, witty but always good fun with well thought out characters, I love books set in lovely exotic places so this one in Hawaii was perfect! these are brilliant books to re-read too, perfect for your hand luggage and the beach!

I recently stumbled upon a delightful romcom set against the backdrop of the stunning Hawaiian islands, and let me tell you, it was the perfect escape into a world of sunshine, laughter, and love.

The protagonist was a wonderfully crafted character, with depth and quirks that made them instantly relatable. As the story unfolded, I found myself swept away in a whirlwind of emotions, from laughter to heartache and everything in between.

The wedding scene, complete with the protagonist's ex and their seemingly perfect new girlfriend, added an extra layer of tension and intrigue, keeping me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the juicy secrets and fun twists that awaited.

Overall, this book was a fantastic springtime indulgence, transporting me to a summer paradise filled with love, laughter, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

4 stars. Fun and easy read!

I hadn't read any of the Portia MacIntosh books before, and the plot of this book sounded promising.

The main character Gigi travels to her sister's destination wedding. Gigi's ex and his new gorgeous girlfriend also arrive. Gigi needs a great date for her wedding. Where would he find one...

Once at the destination, strange things happen to Gigi: she gets to live in a suite and is treated like royalty. Weird, but so what! Suite life is really sweet. Gigi makes the most of this weirdness. She goes on dates looking for a companion for the wedding, and also meets a man named Donnie, with whom she befriends.

The plot of the book was structured well. Questions arose in my mind: why on earth does Gigi get such special treatment? Will the truth be revealed? Will he find a date for the wedding? The exhilarating misunderstanding was revealed gradually, in a totally funny way.

I liked this book, it was an easy and relaxing read. However, I didn't quite understand why Gigi went on dates with other men when cute Donnie was always a possibility!

This book is a perfect read for a vacation or a beach stay.

What to expect:
* Fade to black (no explicit scenes)
* Friends to lovers
* Forced proximity
* Hea
* Mistaken identity
* Secret identity
* Slowburn
* Third act: NO break up
* Weddings

Thank you to my partners, Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, and the author. I appreciate the gifted eARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 - If anyone is ever going to mistake me for someone else, I pray that it is in a situation like Gigi finds herself in! What seemed like a small error on the part of the resort turned into a huge upgrade for her!

2. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐬𝐞 - Why does it often seem like what you are looking for is right in front of you? Gigi grapples with this throughout the story and I was so impatient with her to fully realize it!

3. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 - I really did think I had the mystery identity figured out, but I was proven incorrect. There is a character that fit the bill perfectly…and actually, I was left wanting to know what happened with that specific character.

4. 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐬 - What Gigi has to go through with her ex and his new famous girlfriend in tow is not something I’d wish on my worst enemy (well…maybe that person 😂). And when the truth of the past comes to light, it only reaffirms that Gigi is over him.

5. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 - It is just crazy to think that celebrities and rich people are actually treated like Gigi is at the resort. I mean, it really should be us “normal” people that get a taste of the high life once in a while, me thinks!!

Another witty and heart warming read by Portia Macintosh. As always I really love the main characters in this they always feel really relatable.
I loved the mystery around the suite upgrade unfolding and it was also a fab setting that makes this book perfect for a summer read.
Overall a light hearted easy read that just leaves you feeling warm inside.

Gigi Marsden is going through a bit of a rough patch. First her boyfriend dumps her for a reality tv star/influencer, which is bad enough, but because he’s best friends with her sister’s fiancé, Gigi has to endure the wedding with him as best man and her as maid of honor. When everyone becomes worried that she hasn’t moved on, she decides to try to find a plus-one for the wedding, hopefully a man who is as famous, if not more so, than her ex’s current. Hijinks and comic disasters ensue in Portia Macintosh’s The Suite Life.

At her sister’s destination wedding, Gigi is inexplicably upgraded to a suite, an incredible beautiful suite. And then, she is treated to the best service the resort has to offer. It’s all very mysterious and just adds to the fantasy aspect of the novel. Who wouldn’t like to be treated like a billionaire in a fancy Hawaiian resort? Especially when things just haven’t been going your way?

The Suite Life is for any reader who wants mindless, slapstick escapism. And, this is nothing at all against the novel, but seriously (seriously?! hmm 😉 ) the less you think about it, the more you’ll be entertained. Some of the slapstick might be overdone so just open yourself to the humor of it all.

A fun beach/vacation read when you don’t want to think about doom and gloom. Well, under those circumstances, it’s pretty much an anytime read!

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for sending me a copy.

This was a very quick, fun read. I enjoy rom-com’s and this one hit the mark. Having to support your sister at her destination wedding, fun, but having your ex and his new girlfriend be involved as well????What could go wrong. This was hilarious, laugh out loud at times fun. If. You enjoy a light hearted read, this is the ticket.