Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for sending me a review copy of this book.

Going Overboard is a brilliant, quick-witted rom-com that has become one of my favourite Portia MacIntosh books to date.

The main character, Jessa, thinks her relationship with her boyfriend Todd is great. That is until he breaks up with her at another friend’s wedding. Brody is also left by his girlfriend who is now Todd’s new girlfriend. In order to get through a destination wedding on a cruise ship, the pair decide to help each other out by fake dating.

Jessa is a fun and quirky main character. There were many moments where I was laughing out loud because she got herself into some hilarious situations. One instance that stands out is when she mistakes Brody, a member of the wedding party, as the valet and throws her keys at him.

I liked how loyal Jessa was to her friends and how much the friendships she had was a solid part of the story. Her friends were also fearlessly loyal to her too, even going as far as offering to postpone the wedding. It wasn’t just a love story between her and Brody but also a story of the importance of friendships which was beautifully written.

Brody is a great love interest, he’s also funny and matches Jessa’s silliness. They have great banter throughout. The idea of them both being broken up with so their ex’s can get together makes for a unique and engaging plot point.

The cruise ship setting also makes the whole thing extremely entertaining and would make the perfect holiday read. I also thought the dialogue felt realistic and kept me gripped.

If you’re a fan of fake dating and the only one bed trope then this is the perfect book for you. I was so entertained by it that I finished it in one sitting. If you enjoy books by Lindsey Kelk, I think you’d love this one too.

I really enjoyed this fake dating, couple-swap romcom. The meet-cute was subtle – actually there are kind of two of them! Brody is a fun character, and the forced proximity set-up helped to move the story along. There were a couple of clunky and/or repetitive plot points, and both the main female characters were a bit irritating at times. But it had a decent pace and enough genuinely funny moments to keep my interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was very much just fine. Parts were cute but overall just very middle of the road. The narrative style of knowing EVERY thought in the main character's head was a bit much for me and made it read a little younger/more juvenile than I think was intended. Also the mean girl was over the top mean in a way that was too unbelievable and borderline comical. Also the third act breakup made literally no sense? Like it could have been resolved with a single sentence and instead is supposed to be dramatic? But then also makes her realize she's in love with a guy she's been "real" dating for 24 hours? Nope nope nope.

.ೃ࿐ <i>Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwoods Books for the opportunity to read and review the ARC before release! </i>

.ೃ࿐<i> rating</i>

3✨

.ೃ࿐ <i>my thoughts </i>
<b>A quick read, but overall an annoying FMC.</b>
I really enjoyed Brody’s character. I thought he was a very realistic character but sadly the story didn’t show much of him. I also liked the fact that this story was only told through 1 POV, I think that prevented the ensign from being too obvious through both POVs.
I found Jessa’s internal monologue to be quite annoying and a little childish. I think for a 30-something year-old woman, she acted a bit too childish. This kind of put me off her character. I also would have liked to see more emotional development between Jessa and Brody so we could see <i>why</i> they fell for one another.
Overall, this book delivered a fun, quick read but it lacked emotional depth.

GOING OVERBOARD by Portia Macintosh
3.5/5 Stars

Huge thanks thanks to Boldeoodbooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, evident by the spend I read it. Told from Jessa’s point of view, we meet her at a bar getting accosted by a drunk young lad and a guy saves her, then leaves without much of a comment.

Flash forward a few years and Jessa is in love at a wedding with Todd when it all goes belly up for her as she is dumped on the dance floor and then to top it off a few weeks later at another wedding things get worse as her ex shows up with someone new, Nikki, who also broke up with Brody at the same wedding!

But by chance she meets Brody, turns out he’s her best friends fiancés best man so they team up at the their wedding to keep everyone happy and of course to one up their ex’s. With lots of banter, sharing a room with the ex’s and other antics in between it’s all you can imagine from a fake relationship.

I must say, I liked that it took place on a cruise and gave them lots to do and kept it interesting!


Cards on the table there was predictable elements in the story and I personally found some of the repetition frustrating, but thinking about it I justify a lot inside my own head so maybe it shouldn’t frustrate me 😂 BUT honestly I loved it. It was such a nice, easy read and I was invested in Jessa and Brody.

So, I’m guess I’m saying yes it’s predictable in ways but in a good way, you can see things happening but you also enjoy being taken along for the ride. If anything, I wanted more. I always find with books I want more of an after. I’m hooked on the couple I want their life! Especially if you’re clumsy like Jessa!

So yeah 3.5 stars from me ❤️
Bring on another great read from Portia!

Oh and this is my July @bookshelfraiders pick, a book set in / featuring a different country.

This was totally and utterly hilarious.

Fake Dating and Portia MacIntosh at their very best.

It's wedding season and when Todd dumps Jessa at one wedding and then turns up to the next wedding with Nikki, well it hurts Jessa. Jess is already having an embarrassing sort of a day, with some hilarious realisations involving a person called Ryan.

So discovering that Brody has been recently dumped by Nikki at around the same time she was dumped and then realising that all four of them are due to attend some at least one more wedding leads to all sorts of shenanigans.

Especially while on a cruise ship when the rooming arrangements are rather interesting and Jess and Brody decide the best revenge they can get is to make their exes jealous and start playing all sorts of mind games with them.

I was totally there for all of it, and this is the author's funny bone at its very best.

Multiple weddings, a cruise, interlocked friendship groups, fake relationships and a whole lot more, this is a perfect summer read. Total escapist fun and games!

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

This is a good summer read that’ll make you wish you were on a cruise ship! I did find some of the dialogue to be a bit unnatural at times, but overall the book is enjoyable!

4.5
I loved this book! Did it help that I read it on the plane ride to my own cruise? Maybe, but truly it put me in the perfect summer mood.
I love the joy of the main male character, and how much they both genuinely enjoy their jobs and friends.
A couple plot points felt a little hastily resolved and could have used a bit more, but overall a very fun, very cute vacation romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc!

4.25 stars! Big thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC!

I really enjoyed this one — it felt like a warm, hilarious throwback to a ’90s romcom, in the best way. The banter between the leads was top-tier: sharp, funny, and filled with chemistry. The situation they found themselves in was a little messy (as expected in a good romcom!), but I had such a fun time watching it all unfold. Both main characters were super likable and well-written, making it so easy to root for them. A delightful, feel-good read!

Going Overboard had me grinning from page one. The lovable leads bring just the right kind of chemistry - I was fully invested through every hilarious twist and turn. The supporting characters were just as entertaining. A lighthearted, fun read that left me smiling. Perfect for a sunny afternoon or when you need a romantic laugh-out-loud moment.

I always enjoy books by Portia MacIntosh and this one doesn’t disappointment! Another perfect summer read full of laughs, steam, and it hooked me right from page 1!

Going Overboard, by Portia MacIntosh, is another rom-com win! Both Jessa and Brody are dumped by their partners at the same wedding. All four share a friend group, and all end up on the same cruise ship, en route to another wedding. Things get a little crazy when the exes rethink their decisions. Fun abounds with many laughable moments.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Another cute romcom by Portia Macintosh. A quick read but funny and adorable. Fake dating plus one bed on a cruise ship. Not my favorite of this authors but definitely enjoyable.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Going Overboard is the perfect summer beach read! Jessa is suddenly dumped by her boyfriend and quickly finds out he is taking his new girlfriend to their friend's destination wedding, a cruise to Sicily. Through a series of mishaps, Jessa meets the new girlfriend's ex, Brody, who just happens to be a cricket superstar. They decide to fake date to make their exes jealous, which won't be too hard, since they are all sharing a suite together on the cruise, and Jessa and Brody can't fight their instant connection.

This was such a funny romcom with dynamic main characters and a stunning setting. I could not stop laughing! There were so many funny scenes that I wanted to actually witness in real life, and I loved the chemistry between Jessa and Brody. I very much enjoyed this book, but I wish there was more. I felt the ending was a little rushed and was left wondering what happened to a few of the characters.

Overall, this was a fun, summer romcom that I would recommend to any romance reader. Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I will post a review on Tiktok around the middle of July.

A fun, lighthearted romantic romp on the high seas!
Going Overboard had me laughing from the first page—Portia McIntosh (writing as Portia Macintosh) delivers a hilarious setup with quick-witted narration and charming characters. Jessa is relatable and full of spirit, and Brody is hands-down one of the most enjoyable heroes I’ve read from this author.

The chemistry between them is delightful, and the cruise-ship shenanigans are pure summer holiday fun. With fast pacing, romantic banter, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this is the perfect light & sunny beach read—highly recommend it for a carefree weekend escape!

“True love is never plain sailing”

My first ever Portia MacIntosh book and I have enjoyed reading it so much! I had a tingling sensation from page one! The book is well written, a page turner. I was totally immersed in the story and the characters and found it relatable. The subject of travelling on cruise was very well researched and written precisely how it is, as I know from own experience and believe the author has written this part from a personal perspective also thus making it so enjoyable to read.
The book is funny, in places laugh out loud and I just love how real it feels, the camaraderie amongst friends, the trust, loyalty, and the betrayal, jealousy- it’s all written how it is and made it such a good read.
I have also found the subject of home staging very interesting and, believe it or not, have taken some notes to utilise in real life! What a joy, truly!
My only constructive note would be related to the last chapter- some great points were touch upon in it and I would love to read more about these (without giving spoilers here). The chapter seemed rushed and too short for the magnitude of what was going on in these last few pages!
Overall, a delightful and amusing book, which I wholeheartedly recommend! My new favourite romcom author! Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books!

this is such a cute romance book for a vacation! if you plan on going to the beach or just reading a summer romance, let this one book be it!!

i’m not going to go over the plot since you can read the synopsis 👀 but i’ll just mention some moments that may caught you eye. basically the main characters are stuck with their exes, so they decide to play a couple to make a revenge. basically fake dating, stuck in the same room, having to be affectionate and sweet to each other slow burn. perfect mix for a romance😭

while the book itself was fun and easy, i was struggling a little bit with finishing the book. some characters just didn’t make sense to me, especially those exes and their behavior. i understand the premise of jealousy but they were both portrayed pretty childish. in opposite way, i liked main characters as separate people. they were similar in a lot of ways but also were not cringy or had that “main characters” behavior. as a couple? idk, they didn’t have as much chemistry until the last 5 chapters and it was very light. they seemed more like best friends rather then a couple.

have to mention that this book had no poor dialogues and everyone (expect those 2 weird exes) were acting like adults. what a rare thing. everyone stood their ground and were communicative about conflicts and relationships.

overall, this book has some flaws but if you want something fun and lightheaded for a vacation, this is a perfect option💛

Going Overboard by Portia MacIntosh is a lighthearted novel centered around Jessa, who gets unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend Todd—at a wedding, no less. She’s devastated, and even more shocked when Todd immediately starts dating Nikki, who also just broke up with her boyfriend. Awkward.

Fast forward to a cruise for a mutual friend’s wedding, where—surprise!—both Todd and Nikki are attending. In an effort to save face (and maybe stir the pot just a little), Jessa decides to fake a relationship with Nikki’s ex, Brody—a professional cricket player who, luckily, is not hard on the eyes.

The plot was fun, though just okay for me overall. I felt the characters could have used a bit more development, but it was still an enjoyable, fast-paced read filled with plenty of humorous moments and cruise ship chaos.

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

You can never really go wrong with a Portia MacIntosh book. They are always great Summer reads, quick insights into cutesy characters with a HEA to wrap it up.

I think my only critique of this book is that these characters seemed a lot less mature than people who should be in their 30s. I also feel that by the end of her books, I still dont really know her characters - why are they the way they are, what makes them tick? They always feel a bit 2-dimensional.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. All views are my own.