You absolutely need to get your hands on Portia MacIntosh's Going Overboard! If you're anything like me, you live for a romance that serves up delicious banter, and let me tell you, Jessa and Brody deliver it in spades. Their back-and-forth, especially given their hilariously awkward predicament, is pure gold. I found myself grinning like a fool through so many of their interactions.
This book is a masterclass in all my favorite tropes – fake dating, forced proximity, and an enemies-to-lovers arc that will have you absolutely swooning. The "only one bed" situation? Chef's kiss! You just know that's going to lead to some seriously delightful moments. And the revenge pact? Oh, it's just as fun as it sounds!
MacIntosh has a real knack for creating characters you can't help but root for, even when they're making questionable decisions (looking at you, Jessa and Brody!). The chemistry between them is electric from the get-go, and watching it simmer and spark had me completely hooked. If you're a fan of Emily Henry or Alex Aster, you're going to adore this. It's the perfect blend of humor, heart, and just the right amount of steam for a truly unforgettable summer read. Seriously, dive into Going Overboard – you won't regret it!

Thank you to Boldwood Press for the advanced copy!

This book was the PERFECT summer read! It was addictive, funny and the characters were so lovable! I loved how the story linked together at the end. The perfect book to read while lying on the sunlounger by the pool. Thank you to Portia MacIntosh and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really wanted to like this book, but it just couldn’t hold my attention. The pacing was so slow, and I kept waiting for something to happen—but it never really did. Eventually, I just lost interest and put it down for good.

Maybe it picks up later, but I didn’t have the patience to find out. Not for me.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review of Going Overboard.

Firstly, how gorgeous is the cover of this book, it just drew me in instantly. It got me in the moon for a holiday instantly.

I loved this book from the off, going through the trauma that Jess encountered with being dumped by her boyfriend, and then being in close proximity with him and her replacement, his new girlfriend just 2 weeks later — I really felt this. As somebody who has been in a similar situation, I felt her pain really went along on this journey with Jess.

The humour in this book was really adorable, and it went from giving me giggles, feet kicking and some laughing out loud. The cruise ship vibes was something I really loved, the whole cruising experience and how many different entertainment and food options onboard were really involved in the story.

Jess was lovely to get to know, she was incredibly likeable and I really wanted her to win in this storyline. Now, let’s talk about Brody Ryan, I feel like every girl needs a Brody in their life, especially when they are going through a breakup. He was such a sunshine character, full of fun and banter (and a professional sportsman playing Cricket for England - which was actually really refreshing to have a Cricket player rather than a hockey player etc) - I absolutely loved him!!!!

Jess and Brody winding up awful Nikki and Todd the whole way through this book was brilliant but the book ended all this just at the right time I think before it started to get tedious, and Brody reminding Jessa regularly that they no longer mattered really helped with this also.

My only issue with this book is I wish it had been longer!! Yes it was the perfect length as it was but I just would like to spend more time in this World and group of friends. Book 2 for their wedding with all their friends is needed - Please and thank you!

I love the whole "Our-partners-left-us-so-we'll-pretend-to-date-to-get-back-at-them (but are we really pretending?)" plot. And having that while on a cruise to Italy? Absolutely devoured it. I loved Brody so so much. How laidback, funny and caring he is. I also liked Jessa, but felt like she was a bit too focused on making her ex pay? I felt like this has taken a bit too much space, and while I really enjoyed it at the beginning, I wanted more genuine, we're-not-pretending anymore moments between Jessa and Brody. We had a lot of friendly, bantering moments, but I wanted a bit more steamy, lovy moments.

It was cute, lighthearted, chaotic, messy, and funny. I loved the writing and overall had a fun time!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion 🫶🏽

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more. I felt like this was a great summer read and definitely made me wish I was on a cruise. I’d love to see this being turned into a film as I’d definitely go see it. The main character Jessa, is so relatable and the dictionary definition of bad luck. This was so funny and I’d definitely recommend this to others. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Jessa and Todd are attending a wedding of their friends. She’s happy in the relationship and thinks Todd will propose and it to the next step. But, at the wedding, on the married couple’s first dance Jessa is dumped by Todd.

Now, they’re both due to attend another wedding, firstly aboard a cruise ship to Sicily, where the wedding is taking place. When she boards the ship, Todd attends with his girlfriend Nikki, not only that, expecting a single room, she finds out that along with Brody, who was dumped by Nikki, they have to share a suite.

Todd and Nikki are thinking that their ex’s are a couple, so Jessa and Brody decide to act like they are. On board the activities the engaged couple have set up don’t go according to plan when Nikki gets jealous.

As Brody and Jessa continue to act loved up, they soon start to enjoy being together with funny moments and finding out more about each other. The acting starts to become more than that.

Will they end the fake relationship once the wedding is over and go back to their own lives, or will they admit their feelings to each other?

I highly recommend this book.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I absolutely love reading books from this author! MacIntosh does not disappoint. I always find myself laughing out loud and can't wait for the next door! I can't wait to hear this book on audio! If you like Sophie Kinsella type books you will love this one!

Going Overboard was such a fun rom-com read. A cruise ship, fake dating, only one bed. What more could you ask for? I love a fake dating trope. And this one with a side of revenge was so fun. The banter and flirting were top notch.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Going overboard is another great summer read by the fabulous Portia MacIntosh!

The book follows Jessa who’s happily in a relationship with Todd and going to the weddings of friends in their friendship group.

While at a friends wedding, Todd dumps Jessa out of the blue saying that settling down with her wasn’t what he wanted. She is heart broken and while at yet another of her friends weddings two weeks later, has to come face to face with Todd for the first time since breaking up and shockingly he has a new girl on his arm - Nikki.

A bit of drunken drama ensues where Jessa ends up in the room of Brody who will be best man at her best friends wedding and who happens to be Nikki’s ex.

Cue Jessas best friends wedding which starts with a cruise to Sicily. The wedding planner messes up the rooms on the ship so Todd, Jenna, Nikki and Brody end up sharing a 2 bedroom suite so obviously Jessa and Brody pretend to be a very loved up couple to mess with their exes!

There’s lots of fun, flirting and drama that follows with Jessa and Brody growing closer and Todd and Nikki seeming growing more jealous of their exes and cracks forming in their relationship.

I loved the characters of Jessa and Brody and loved to hate Todd and Nikki. The secondary characters were all fun too! This book was a delight to read - it was easy to read, funny and lots of drama and romance to keep me fully invested in the book. I’ve been a fan of Portia MacIntosh for a while and will continue to read her books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the arc of Going Overboard - I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book.
This was a fun summer romance set on a cruise ship, but I felt like it fell a little flat in some aspects especially the chemistry between the love interest. I like how it was a light read though which really is perfect for this time of year.

This was such a fun, feel-good read! If you’re a fan of classic romcom tropes like fake dating, forced proximity, only one bed, revenge pacts, opposites attract, and enemies to lovers, this book delivers them all in the best way.

Set on a cruise ship, the setting added an extra layer of fun and chaos that worked perfectly with the light-hearted tone. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the characters, they had great banter and believable chemistry.

The revenge-on-exes plot was handled in a playful, not-too-serious way, which made it even more enjoyable. I found myself genuinely laughing out loud, and overall had a really great time with this story.

If you’re looking for a cute, tropey romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one’s worth picking up.

A lighthearted, sun-soaked escape filled with quirky characters, awkward mishaps, and a charming cruise ship setting. Going Overboard delivers exactly what you'd expect from a rom-com read: fun, flirty chaos with a dash of heart. While some plot points felt a bit far-fetched, the humor and fast pace kept me entertained. A solid 3.5 stars!

3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐✨

Going Overboard is a splashy, feel-good rom-com that delivers big laughs, swoony moments, and serious vacation vibes. 💕☀️📖 It’s the kind of story that makes you wish you were sipping cocktails on a cruise ship deck while watching a fake dating scheme unfold in real time.

The FMC, Jessa, is a lovable chaos magnet whose life feels like it’s constantly one step away from a disaster—which makes her so relatable. 😅💁‍♀️ Her mix of sass, sarcasm, and just the right amount of revenge energy had me rooting for her from page one. The romance is equal parts sweet and spicy, with flirty banter, awkward encounters, and just enough emotional depth to balance out the fun. 💘🔥

Portia MacIntosh’s writing is smart, playful, and super easy to sink into. The plot is light but layered, with just the right amount of heart. After being dumped by her boyfriend Todd mid-wedding-dance (yes, really 😬💃), Jessa later discovers Brody—a dreamy, down-to-earth cricket star—was dumped at the exact same time. One year later, fate throws them together again on a wedding cruise, where they hatch a fake-dating plan to make their exes jealous. But, of course, sparks fly.

This is a textbook-perfect rom-com for fans of the fake-relationship-to-real-love trope, especially if you like your romances with a side of sunshine and sea breeze. 🌊❤️ It’s got that delicious enemies-to-lovers tension and just the right amount of wedding drama.

I read this while on a Bahamas cruise and honestly? The vibes could not have matched better.!!! This is the ultimate vacation read—whether you're poolside, beachside, or ship-side. ☀️📚🛳️

💬 Final thoughts: Going Overboard is fun, flirty, and full of charm. It made me laugh out loud and grin like a goof. This is a perfect palate cleanser after a heavier book. 10/10 recommend tossing it in your summer bag—or suitcase if you're setting sail!

🎉 Thank you to Portia MacIntosh, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC! I loved this one!

This book is such a cute summer read! Reading it felt like watching a rom-com movie. Jessa and Brody growing closer while Nikki and Todd seems to grow further apart was *chef’s kiss* - I was totally living for the HEA in this one!

This is a light summery romance with lots of laughter, perfect for lounging on the beach or for dipping your toes in a pool.

I loved the premise, a fake relationship to get revenge on their exes who just so happened to dump both our MCs at the same wedding. The shared suite shenanigans were amusing and the cruise activities were a lot of fun.

This seems like a great friendship group to be part of (well minus Todd and Nikki of course, I mean how many times can you push someone in a pool? Not cool nikki).

I do have one small complaint though... the bantering and sexual tension and it was closed door!? No but seriously that's just personal preference but I loved Brody and Jessa and it could have been even longer to be honest. I would have loved to see even more of Brody and maybe a dual POV would have made this even better.

An absolutely brilliant romantic comedy. Portia Macintosh honestly never fails - her books are hilarious with delightful characters and plenty of humour and romance throughout - a good and quick summer read

Portia Macintosh has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. Her books are always a fun time and they're quick reads for me. This one was no exception. Jessa and Brody were fantastic together. I loved the banter and the build up of tension. I do wish there had been a couple more chapters at the end to better see where everyone ended up. But if my biggest complaint is that I wanted more of the book, is that really a complaint? Highly recommend to anyone who loves books with fake dating, only one bed, and revenge on the exes.

I liked the premise for this one but the execution was a bit bland and generic. The story was slow to start but it turned into a fairly quick and easy read overall. I found it a little hard to engage and stay engaged with the story and characters, and I specifically had some difficulty connecting with Jessa. There are some satisfying moments of connection between Jessa and Brody, but I would have liked reading from Brody's perspective too. I don't feel I was the right audience for this book, but I do think this is the kind of light read that's perfect if you're looking for a book to keep you company for a few hours. Great for fans of jilted exes revenge fake-dating each other, forced proximity and flirty banter turning into something genuine, fade-to-black romance.

Going overboard is a short romcom about a rather catastrophic breakup in the middle of a wedding. I felt that the main plot revolved solely around this concept, not the one whereby she has to pretend to have a fake boyfriend and falls in love in the process.

It was a light read, but I felt more hate than love in the novel. Also that the couple has not been developed almost nothing, I have not felt that love or that attraction characteristic of this type of books, I perceive that it has been touched very above.

It was a very quick and enjoyable read, and in the end I liked it, the only thing I would have liked much more if it had gone deeper into the couple <3