A lighthearted festive fairy tale.
The only thing wrong with this book is the title as I found myself thinking not another book set in a chateau.
This book has so much more to it and is funny and delicious. I
loved Amber who is such a great character and Caleb who could make anybody go weak at the knees.
Really enjoyed the book.

You Had Me At Chateau by Portia MacIntosh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Romantic comedy writer Amber Page is stuck in a rut.

After her editor tells her she needs to "up the spice" in her books (literally Amber's worst nightmare...), she is at a crossroads of what to do with her career.

When the opportunity arises to go on a writer's retreat at an exclusive château in the beautiful French Alps, Amber reluctantly agrees, hoping a change of scenery will help with inspiration.

While she tries and fails to spice up her writing - with the unhelpful guidance of the eccentric romance writers at the château - she meets two leading men who cause her own real-life romantic comedy to unfold...

My Opinion

Another delight from Portia MacIntosh. A light-hearted, entertaining read. Amber is a writer that wants to change genres but when she is unable to convince her publisher she ends up on a writers retreat.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book and Portia has written some relatable characters. This was easily a book that can be finished over a weekend, it was just so difficult to put down.

Rating 4/5

A laugh out loud Christmas season rom com. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, and the fmc was funny and entertaining. There were a few laugh out loud moments and some sweet romantic ones. I highly suggest this book for romance readers.

This was a good read if you want something easy to read and a bit festive. I enjoyed Caleb - I found him endearing, I also loved the setting of the resort in the alps. I came into this expecting something other than what it ended up being but with that being said- this was my first book by this author so perhaps I need to read more of their books to adapt to their writing style more.


I gave this three stars because the plot was such a fun and intriguing concept but it felt like was way too much going and not enough time to cover it all. The first half was a bit slow with a slightly rushed wrap up of all the ends.

I did not leave a review of it on socials (IG, TikTok, Tumblr) as I do not leave social reviews on books I rate less than four stars (just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be some else’s favorite read so I would never want to leave a review on social that could possibly steer someone away!)

Amber is a romantic writer who wants to change genres. Her editor insists she need to spice up her writing so she suggests she should go to a writer’s retreat in the ski resort in France.
The place is dreamy but her fellow writers, Mandy, Bette and Gina, are not so friendly to her, and even though the place is inspiring she cannot write what her editor wants.
While trying to reach her deadline and finish her book, she meets two handsome fellows who might contribute do the work she needs to finish.
Meanwhile back in a London her family drama is not helping, as the news of her parents splitting up after all this time is shocking.
I’m a big fan of the author’s books, this one did not disappoint, I loved the story, the incredible setting and the insights of the life of a writer.
Thanks to Portia MacIntosh, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy

Another enjoyable read from Portia MacIntosh. I personally felt the love triangle was a little unnecessary as it was obvious from early on who Amber was going to end up with, and the last minute drama felt like it was resolved a little quickly. But overall an enjoyable read.

"You Had Me at Chateau" is a delightful romantic comedy filled with charm, wit, and a healthy dose of laughter. Portia MacIntosh weaves an irresistible story of Amber Page, a romance writer stuck in a rut who reluctantly heads to a writer's retreat in the French Alps. The setting, an exclusive château, is perfect for the kind of inspiration Amber desperately needs—except she’s being pushed to "up the spice" in her novels, which isn’t quite her style. What follows is a laugh-out-loud journey as Amber navigates not just her writing but also her own love life.

With two leading men vying for her attention, Amber’s life begins to feel like a romantic comedy of its own, and MacIntosh’s quirky cast of fellow writers adds even more hilarity to the mix. The setting, the witty dialogue, and the humorous situations make this book an absolute joy. If you’re a fan of forced proximity romances, love triangles, or stories about writers finding their mojo, this one is a must-read!

You Had Me at Chateau is Portia MacIntosh’s latest workplace romantic comedy that involves a love triangle. While the characters are British and the story contains British phrasing, it is easy for Americans to understand. There is no profanity or sex scenes.
Amber Page is a romance writer at a crossroads in her career. Her editor told her that she needs to "up the spice" in her books, which is not something that she’s comfortable doing. When she is offered the chance to attend a writer's retreat at an exclusive château in the beautiful French Alps, she agrees to go. Amber hopes the change of scenery will inspire her to write “spicier”.
Unfortunately for Amber, the other romance writers at the retreat are eccentric and not helping her writing. She bumps into Caleb, a social media influencer who she met previously at her publisher’s office. She also attracts Henri, a resident at the chateau. Between exploring the romantic possibilities with Caleb and Henri, she’s getting a lot of phone calls from her family members because her parents are separating.
You Had Me at Chateau is an enjoyable winter romance that contains many funny scenes. Amber is a likable heroine, and the reader wants her to find success as a writer.
The writers’ retreat is an excellent setting for Amber to find a romance of her own. Amber’s family drama adds to the hilarity of her circumstances. The descriptions of the food and scenery will make readers want to book a trip to the Alps. If you are looking for a clean romantic comedy that features a romance writer, then You Had Me at Chateau is your weekend read.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Romance novelist Amber is facing a creative slump and pressure to write spicier novels. She attends a writer’s retreat at a chateau in the French Alps. Amid a group of eccentric authors, she finds unexpected inspiration—and romance—in two charming men.

I loved this—it’s heartwarming and hilarious, uplifting and fun. The hero and heroine are sweet together. I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Karen Cass.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed this romantic and humorous read with bookish themes and numerous romance tropes cleverly interwoven into the story. Amber is likeable and relatable from the onset. She is living the literary dream, but it's not what she expected. I like the familial relationships created, especially the sibling relationship. There is a good mix of likeable and unlikeable characters, all seen from Amber's viewpoint, and the interactions with the other female writers provide many humorous moments. The romance is gentle and conflicted, giving the reader all the heartwarming and heartbreaking moments they need. I like the witty dialogue, the laugh-out-loud moments and the glamorous, wintry setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I feel like I say this after every Portia MacIntosh book I read, but she must write with a magic pen because every book is wonderful. Normally, I shy away from love triangles but this one had me wondering if I’m really not against them. This book was filled with humor and wit, as I’ve come to expect with her.

I absolutely love Portia MacIntosh, and this book just reaffirms why. From the very beginning, I could hardly put this book down. As always, I found myself both laughing and crying during the book. By far my favorite author to escape into. I love that it's about an author, and the constant jokes crack me up! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

As per usual, Portia has given us a book that has it all- fake dating, one bed, friends to lovers, meet cute , miscommunication-every trope under the sun and yet it still works. I loved all the little side stories-they were so well flushed out and the humor, oh my gosh, the humor! This is a rom com that is heavy on the com, and that makes it a win for me! It is also closed door so if you don’t like steam with your romance, you’ll be good with this one.
The story takes a look behind the scenes of the publishing industry as Amber is a struggling author and her editor sends her on a retreat in France with other authors to get some inspiration when her latest work in progress needs a lot of help. While she’s there she meets Caleb, who’s an influencer who needs help promoting some items while keeping his breakup a secret, and agrees to help her book to try and get it done so she get back home in time for Christmas.
The writing was light, funny and engaging and the chapters were short which made it easy to fly through the story. And of course there was the gorgeous setting. It sounds like paradise! And the food sounded amazing too!
Overall this was another winner by Portia for me.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

📚 PUBLICATION MONTH BOOK REVIEW 📚

You Had Me At Chateau
By Portia Macintosh
Publication Date: September 15, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded up to 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

This is my second read from Portia Macintosh, and she created yet another swoon-worthy rom-com with You Had Me At Chateau!

Macintosh is SUCH a master at writing strong, intelligent, and witty female main characters, who feel like your best friend by the end of the first chapter. In Chateau, our female MC, Amber, is a romance writer who finds herself struggling to write spicy scenes in her books. She'd much rather write murder mysteries with a romance subplot -- much to the chagrin of her editor, who wants her to stick to what sells... With more spice.

After a hilariously awkward meet-cute with reality TV star Caleb, in the elevator of her publisher's office, Amber is sent off by her editor for a reset at a writer's retreat in a chateau in the Swiss Alps with three other successful female authors. As an aspiring writer myself, the idea of a writer's retreat pulled me in when I read the book's summary and I was intrigued to see where this one would go...When Caleb shows up at the chateau too, the rom-com plotline really kicks into high gear.

This is an absolutely adorable friend-to-lovers trope that was a quick read for me. The romantic setting of the Swiss Alps provided a fantastic backdrop for the cast of supporting characters. The hilarity of the dramatics happening within Amber's family, including her parents' pre-Christmas announcement that they are now in a "pre-divorce" phase of their marriage and their decision to embroil Amber and her brother Tom into the middle of their daily petty arguments, added so many fun subplot storylines to the main rom-com plot of the book.

There was just so much to smile about in this one and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good rom-com! If you haven't yet read a book from Portia Macintosh, and you enjoy reading rom-coms, be sure to grab one of hers as soon as you can! She's definitely become an auto-read author for me. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review!

#YouHadMeAtChateau #PortiaMacintosh #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #BoldwoodVIPs #boldwoodbookclub #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #romcomreads #romcoms #bookcommunity #booklover

I really enjoyed this book, the chemistry between them and the story was really interesting.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my book

Fn, breezy read - perfect for an afternoon on vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in excahnge for an honest review.

As always, thanks to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is hands down THE BEST Rom Com I've ever read!
The banter, flirting and wit was perfection. The chemistry between the characters left me swooning! This was a great fun and light read. I've never read a Portia MacIntosh book before, but I will for sure be putting many more on my TBR!

This book was very slow to start. I was about 40% in before I really started to enjoy the book. It became very funny and I caught myself laughing out loud at times. I wish the entire book would've have been written that way. I also could've used a little more spice and a little more romance between the two main characters.

Author Amber is trying to finish her new book, but her editor wants her to "spice" it up with more sex scenes. Amber would rather be writing a murder mystery than a sexy rom-com, but her editor is having none of it. To help inspire her, the editor secures her a spot at a writer's retreat at a ski resort in France. It's the last place that Amber wants to be right before Christmas, but she goes anyway.

Amber finds herself involved with two men at the resort - Caleb, an influencer and social media star, and Henri, who resides at the Chateau. Meanwhile, at home, her parents have announced that they are "pre-divorcing" and Amber finds herself taking calls from both her mom and dad, along with her brother, who feels stuck in the middle of their parents' battles!

This book was engaging and very funny - pick this one up now! Special thanks to the Publisher and Net Galley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this title!

As expected, Portia MacIntosh's latest novel, You Had Me at Chateau, is a winner. This rom-com is a funny page-turner from the beginning to the end. The great plot, interesting characters, and witty text made this an easy afternoon read.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.