Lana has always been held to high expectations when it comes to her personal life. Her family thinks that she must have the perfect job, perfect behaviour and perfect partner. Will Ethan meet the family expectations?

This is a fun story full of second chances, fake dating and finding true love. I loved the writing style and adored the main characters. I would definitely recommend this one.

Book Review: Wish You Weren't Here by Portia MacIntosh

Portia MacIntosh’s Wish You Weren’t Here is a delightful and hilarious romantic comedy that delivers all the fun, wit, and charm you’d expect from a rom-com with a bit of chaos and heart thrown in. Full of laughter, second chances, and a gorgeous backdrop, this book is the perfect escape for anyone looking for a lighthearted, feel-good read.

The story follows Lana, who’s already fed up with the idea of her “perfect” sister getting married in Australia on her 30th birthday. To make matters worse, she’s given a list of rules to ensure she doesn’t outshine the bride. Feeling completely overlooked, Lana decides to take matters into her own hands, and what better way to grab attention than with the most inappropriate wedding date she can find? After a series of disastrous online dates, her life takes an unexpected turn when her drop-dead-gorgeous ex, Ethan, suddenly reappears.

Ethan, of course, is the last person she should be considering—after all, their relationship imploded in a blaze of chaotic passion. But when Lana convinces him to join her as her ‘revenge’ date at her sister’s wedding, the sparks between them reignite in the most unexpected ways. Ethan, it seems, has forgotten that he’s only supposed to cause trouble for her ex and is suddenly charming and charmingly off-limits. As their chemistry heats up again, Lana must confront whether her plan for chaos might just be the beginning of something more.

MacIntosh’s writing is witty and sharp, making this book an absolute page-turner. Lana is a relatable and endearing protagonist, her frustrations with her family, her ex, and herself making her a sympathetic character you root for. Ethan, of course, is the perfect swoon-worthy love interest, with just enough mystery and charm to keep things interesting. The back-and-forth between them is fun, filled with tension, humor, and, naturally, some sizzling chemistry.

What sets Wish You Weren’t Here apart from your typical romantic comedy is the character growth and depth. Both Lana and Ethan have a history, and while their relationship seems like a recipe for disaster, their reunion makes for an emotional rollercoaster. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments, but also takes a more heartfelt turn as Lana begins to confront what she really wants from her life and relationships.

The setting of Australia adds a delightful layer to the book, with its beautiful beaches and sunny vibes, and the wedding backdrop creates a perfect tension between familial expectations and personal desires. MacIntosh’s signature humor, mixed with a bit of chaos and heart, make for a satisfying and entertaining read.

Overall, Wish You Weren't Here is a perfect rom-com for anyone looking for a fun and feel-good escape. With humor, heart, and a bit of unexpected romance, this is a book you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

Rating: 4.5/5
Fans of romantic comedies with lovable characters, hilarious mishaps, and sizzling second-chance romance will adore this book. Portia MacIntosh has truly nailed the formula for a fun, heartwarming, and memorable rom-com.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I always see this author’s stuff on my feed, so I was happy that I got a chance to read this! Thought the story was cute and funny at times. Lana, the main character, is an outcast in her wealthy family. Her sister is getting married in Australia, and she needs a date. Lana hatches a plan to try to bring the worst date to the wedding, so she dates a lot of “red flag” guys. Enter Ethan - her ex(?) from a couple years ago. Didn’t really enjoy the fact that the MMC comes around at about the 50% mark (despite the couple of scenes in the beginning of the book), but the slight love triangle scenes were a bit entertaining. The ending felt a bit too rushed. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I wanted to, I do want to try another book from this author.

A fun filled romantic romp! This is an easy going light hearted read full of great characters. I found it very difficult to put down and throughly enjoyed it from start to finish. A true ray of sunshine on a grey winters day. Great read!

Thank you Netgalley

An enjoyable romcom with love and hate characters, very nice setting and a different storyline.
I enjoyed it as I have been reading some hard subjects matter books recently and it was a very welcome change.
Recommended
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Portia Macintosh for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

This second chance romance has the perfect blend of humour and chemistry!! I enjoyed it and would recommend to those looking for a love triangle, second chance, and british romances

I love a second chance romance and this one had a healthy dose of forced proximity (hello one bed) and lots of longingly looking into each other's eyes. There were some laugh out loud moments, which are my favorite. Closed door.

Summer Beach read in the Dead of Winter? you had me at HOT Beach Bod, Chef's Kiss, Boy !! Second Chance Romance and Love Triangle all in One! Pick this Up and Beat the Winter Blues! You won't be Sorry!

This was ok. It took me a bit to get into it, but when I did I enjoyed the story. Lana is heading to Australia for her sister's wedding, and when she gets there she realizes her ex is there, charming as ever. Can the two overcome their differences to survive the wedding? Or is there more to come in their relationship?

I am so happy I got the chance to read another ARC by Portia MacIntosh!

This book is not structured like I expected, but I really liked the way it surprised me!

It's fun, it's got a love triangle (oohhh) and it is so easy and fun to read.

Great for fans of second-chance romance and troublemakers! Give it a shot and pick it up!

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books that I chose to review after reading - Cross-posted on Goodreads on January 21st, 2025)

Thank you NetGalley, Portia MacIntosh, and Boldwood Books for early access to this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a sweet, very light hearted, read. This is my first book by this author but I do enjoy British romance books. I enjoyed the characters and how their past brings them together again for a wedding. A slow start and a little rushed but once I got going, it was a sweet read.

i love the bright colors of this book it felt like i was transported to some tropical island floating in the pool with a fruity little drink in my hand. i loved the enemies to lover plot in this one, it was done very well.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Portia MacIntosh and Boldwood Books for advance access to the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've enjoyed Portia MacIntosh's books before, so I was excited for this ARC, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. I found parts of the book confusing. I don't want to go into details because I don't want to spoil for readers. While I didn't love this book, I'm open to reading more from this author in the future.

Publication date- January 8, 2025
#WishYouWerentHere #NetGalley

I like reading Portia MacIntosh's novels as they are fun reads. This one was the same - a fun beach read. Though this one wasn't as good as the others I have read from her. Lana and Ethan weren't that great of a couple and Lana's family was so toxic I couldn't get over it. It was just meh.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh is an enjoyable, easy-going read, but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. The setting is charming, and the premise, a vacation that leads to unexpected twists, has a lot of promise. However, the story often feels a bit predictable, and it didn’t deliver as much emotional depth as I had hoped.

The characters are likable, but they lack complexity, and at times, their decisions and relationships felt a bit one-dimensional. The romantic plot and the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery are sweet, but they don’t dive as deeply into the emotional stakes as they could have. I found myself wanting more character development and a stronger connection to the story.

While the pacing is generally steady, there are moments where the narrative feels repetitive, and the plot tends to follow familiar rom-com tropes, leaving little room for surprises. The ending, in particular, felt a little too neatly wrapped up.

That said, Wish You Weren’t Here still has its moments of charm and warmth. It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for a light, no-stress read.

**Big thank you to NetGallery for providing me with an ARC to review**

Lana was relatable (and funny as hell), and Ethan is JUST 🤌🏻
It's my second by Portia after You've had me at Chateau, and I can't wait to get through her backlist!!

I really enjoyed this romantic story. It made me feel emotional. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

When your perfect sister gets married, and on your own birthday at that, you have to figure out how to have a good time and what's better than the worst date ever?

But everything turns out differently and the worst date isn't so bad after all.

Have fun reading it yourself!

This book is a contemporary romance with both a second chance and fake dating tropes. I was indifferent to the female main character, but loved the male main character. I would have loved even more of his character in the story. This was a middle of the road read to me, but I plan on reading more from this author to see if I like her other work more.

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book .