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Out of Your League
Not yet published
Expected 13 Nov 26A BRAND NEW sparkling laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from MULTI-MILLION-COPY bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Sometimes love is a contact sport...
When Brooke York loses her job, her flat and her boyfriend in one spectacularly bad week, her only option is to accept a new role in an industry she knows absolutely nothing about.
But after landing a job with a professional rugby team, one tiny white lie leaves everyone believing that Brooke is dating Eddy the grumpy but gorgeous 'king of the league ', who it turns out is in need of a cover story of his own.
Keeping up appearances means public displays of affection, family lunches and an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia. But complicating matters is Jamie Royle, Eddy's charming younger rival, who is determined to steal his crown - and maybe his girlfriend too.
As fake feelings start becoming dangerously real and the competition moves off the pitch, Brooke needs to decide who is playing games, who is playing for keeps and whether she's brave enough to risk putting her heart on the line.
Can Brooke tackle a new job, two feuding sportsmen and turning thirty - or is she completely out of her league?
When Brooke York loses her job, her flat and her boyfriend in one spectacularly bad week, her only option is to accept a new role in an industry she knows absolutely nothing about.
But after landing a job with a professional rugby team, one tiny white lie leaves everyone believing that Brooke is dating Eddy the grumpy but gorgeous 'king of the league ', who it turns out is in need of a cover story of his own.
Keeping up appearances means public displays of affection, family lunches and an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia. But complicating matters is Jamie Royle, Eddy's charming younger rival, who is determined to steal his crown - and maybe his girlfriend too.
As fake feelings start becoming dangerously real and the competition moves off the pitch, Brooke needs to decide who is playing games, who is playing for keeps and whether she's brave enough to risk putting her heart on the line.
Can Brooke tackle a new job, two feuding sportsmen and turning thirty - or is she completely out of her league?
- GenresRomance
418 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 13, 2026
About the author
Portia MacIntosh
59 books2,386 followersPortia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedy novels.
From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.
Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.
Find out more at www.portiamacintosh.com
From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.
Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.
Find out more at www.portiamacintosh.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book because this author’s writing can salvage any story, but the story itself was a little mid, so 2.5 stars rounding up for all the laughs.
Brooke loses her job and her apartment, and then catches her boyfriend with another woman. Luckily, she quickly finds a new job and a fake boyfriend who, as per romcom rules, will (spoiler alert!) become a real boyfriend in the end.
It was funny because this author’s books are always funny. Brooke’s internal monologues made me laugh out loud. The writing was great too, so I sped through this book.
But.
Thank goodness for romcom rules, because Brooke and Eddy didn’t have much else going for them. They barely ever interacted, so even if there was chemistry between them, I honestly couldn’t tell. Until they decided that it wasn’t fake anymore, because yk, the rules.
Then there was the part about Eddy’s rival hitting on Brooke, which was an unnecessary muddle which stole what was left of the spotlight.
Overall an okay read, but this author can do much better.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Brooke loses her job and her apartment, and then catches her boyfriend with another woman. Luckily, she quickly finds a new job and a fake boyfriend who, as per romcom rules, will (spoiler alert!) become a real boyfriend in the end.
It was funny because this author’s books are always funny. Brooke’s internal monologues made me laugh out loud. The writing was great too, so I sped through this book.
But.
Thank goodness for romcom rules, because Brooke and Eddy didn’t have much else going for them. They barely ever interacted, so even if there was chemistry between them, I honestly couldn’t tell. Until they decided that it wasn’t fake anymore, because yk, the rules.
Then there was the part about Eddy’s rival hitting on Brooke, which was an unnecessary muddle which stole what was left of the spotlight.
Overall an okay read, but this author can do much better.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the span of one week, Brooke loses her apartment, her job, and her boyfriend. Then, on the very first day at her new job, she somehow ends up fake dating one of the Leeds Lions rugby players to save his career after him helping her with her ex turns into a whole PR mess.
One thing I really liked about Brooke was her sense of humor. That was probably my favorite thing about her and honestly what made me like her character.
Eddy didn’t really do much for me. He was just kind of there. Jamie, on the other hand, was funny, had such a fun personality, and I was actually rooting for him even though I knew he wasn’t getting anywhere with Brooke. But I actually saw more chemistry between Jamie and Eddy than I did between either of them and Brooke.
Overall, this was an easy read, but I definitely felt like there was more of a connection between Jamie and Eddy than between Brooke and either of them. Not that I’m complaining, because I was living for their rivalry moments. Those were easily some of my favorite parts.
One thing I really liked about Brooke was her sense of humor. That was probably my favorite thing about her and honestly what made me like her character.
Eddy didn’t really do much for me. He was just kind of there. Jamie, on the other hand, was funny, had such a fun personality, and I was actually rooting for him even though I knew he wasn’t getting anywhere with Brooke. But I actually saw more chemistry between Jamie and Eddy than I did between either of them and Brooke.
Overall, this was an easy read, but I definitely felt like there was more of a connection between Jamie and Eddy than between Brooke and either of them. Not that I’m complaining, because I was living for their rivalry moments. Those were easily some of my favorite parts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had promise but all the characters got in their own way of being a good book as a whole.
Brooke, loses her job, her apartment and her boyfriend in very quick succession. She ends up in a fake relationship with a rugdy player at her new job, and a new place to live in the stadium of her new job despite having no knowledge of rugby or the team. Her ex is also in the rugby industry but after the cheating part he just kind of disappears into the ether and we don't really hear from him again. What about the fake boyfriend? We don't see him often either. Eddy and Brooke barely interact and never develope the chance to have chemistry so it comes as no surprise that by the time they fall for each other it falls flat because they don't seem suited to each other. There's a awkward love triangle in the making that doesn't fully manifest bacuse it was more of Brooke leading the guy on then getting confused when he is confused.
There's also an insane amount of rugby in this book. So much so that this could be a rugby book with a little romance and not the other way around.
Loose ends aren't tied up and the comeuppence you wait the whole book for never comes to fruition.
It wasn't all bad but this book did not quench my book thirst.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Brooke, loses her job, her apartment and her boyfriend in very quick succession. She ends up in a fake relationship with a rugdy player at her new job, and a new place to live in the stadium of her new job despite having no knowledge of rugby or the team. Her ex is also in the rugby industry but after the cheating part he just kind of disappears into the ether and we don't really hear from him again. What about the fake boyfriend? We don't see him often either. Eddy and Brooke barely interact and never develope the chance to have chemistry so it comes as no surprise that by the time they fall for each other it falls flat because they don't seem suited to each other. There's a awkward love triangle in the making that doesn't fully manifest bacuse it was more of Brooke leading the guy on then getting confused when he is confused.
There's also an insane amount of rugby in this book. So much so that this could be a rugby book with a little romance and not the other way around.
Loose ends aren't tied up and the comeuppence you wait the whole book for never comes to fruition.
It wasn't all bad but this book did not quench my book thirst.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️ My third Portia MacIntosh book, and I really love how she writes! Her books are always so easy to get into, addictive, and well-paced.
Out of Your League had some tropes I really enjoy—fake dating, sports romance, and a little love triangle drama. Though I wasn’t completely sold on the romance here. We’re almost halfway through before the romance really starts developing, and even then, I felt like the relationship-building was a little lacking.
Still, this was a short, fun, and easy read that I flew through in one sitting. I definitely enjoyed it overall!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Out of Your League had some tropes I really enjoy—fake dating, sports romance, and a little love triangle drama. Though I wasn’t completely sold on the romance here. We’re almost halfway through before the romance really starts developing, and even then, I felt like the relationship-building was a little lacking.
Still, this was a short, fun, and easy read that I flew through in one sitting. I definitely enjoyed it overall!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
October 19, 2026
This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. Out of your League is a sports romance that had some fake dating and a love triangle. The author did a great job writing the characters because I had a hard time deciding who I wanted for Brooke up until the very end. This was a fun, cute, lighthearted read. My only complaint was that there was a lot of rugby talk! I realize that it’s a sports romance so I expected that but I felt like rugby was first and then romance was second. Other than that, I had a fun time and enjoyed this. Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review
Yet another of Portia's books that didnt disappoint. Im also fairly knowledgeable about rugby now too.
Loved these characters, they all just bounced off each other and as Brooke finds her feet in a strange environment, you see her confidence shine through.
It was another easy read with plenty of laugh out loud moments that I love when reading Portia's books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Yet another of Portia's books that didnt disappoint. Im also fairly knowledgeable about rugby now too.
Loved these characters, they all just bounced off each other and as Brooke finds her feet in a strange environment, you see her confidence shine through.
It was another easy read with plenty of laugh out loud moments that I love when reading Portia's books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Have you ever had a bad week? Brooke York has: not only does she manage to lose her job and her flat, she loses her boyfriend too. Being left with no other option, she accepts a role with a rugby team… which is an industry she has literally no idea about! People believe Brooke is dating the gorgeous (but grumpy) Eddy Hood - apparently he is ‘king of the league’. Them being a couple isn’t quite true… but as it happens, Eddy could do with a fake date too. So now PDAs are expected, family lunches need to be attended together and there’s even a paid trip to Australia (any spare spaces left?)! But soon a complication, in the name of Jamie Royle appears. Jamie is Eddy’s charismatic (and younger) rival and he has his sights set on Eddy’s crown… and maybe his ‘girlfriend’ too.
The Pros:
1) The romance. Both the characters are really likeable and you want them to get together.
2) Eddy... is... hot, lol
3) Loved the humour in the story. Poor Brooke and her bad week 🤣
4) I love a fake dating plot!
5) There is travel to Australia (I want to go!)
6) The rivalry between Eddy and Jamie was fun
The Cons:
1) This might surprise you but the story has a lot of rugby in it (lol). If you aren’t that into sports, then just be aware it is quite prominent in the book - however as a very non sporty person, I liked the way it was incorporated into the plot.
The Quotes:
1) I know, I’m not in a position to be declining help, but if I get in a random car with a random man, at night - well, that’s how Netflix documentaries start.
2) Oh God, no, don’t do that. I don’t want to talk. Just... be a man, pretend you haven’t seen me, and f*ck off.
3) ‘I promise to keep my hands to myself tonight,’ he replies.
Devastating news.
The Summary:
I always know I’m going to have a great time with Portia’s books, and I’m happy to say, Out of Your League stuck to the brief. I really loved Brooke and her humour in the story is hilarious. Eddy... is hot lol. I really liked how he was with Brooke and there was a frisson of ‘will they, won’t they’. I love me a fake dating plot as well (who doesn’t right?) The rivalry with Jamie is a fun extra element and it was great how it was done in the story. This is a sports romance, so if that’s not your thing, be aware the rugby is quite prominent in the book, but as you are seeing it from newbie to the sport, Brooke, I think it’s told well. Overall, Out of Your League is a funny, sports romance with a dash of fake dating and a free trip to Australia - what’s not to love?
Summed up in a sentence?:
Brooke joins a new role in PR for a rugby team, where they think she’s dating the star - Eddy.
I rated the book 4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.
A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Pros:
1) The romance. Both the characters are really likeable and you want them to get together.
2) Eddy... is... hot, lol
3) Loved the humour in the story. Poor Brooke and her bad week 🤣
4) I love a fake dating plot!
5) There is travel to Australia (I want to go!)
6) The rivalry between Eddy and Jamie was fun
The Cons:
1) This might surprise you but the story has a lot of rugby in it (lol). If you aren’t that into sports, then just be aware it is quite prominent in the book - however as a very non sporty person, I liked the way it was incorporated into the plot.
The Quotes:
1) I know, I’m not in a position to be declining help, but if I get in a random car with a random man, at night - well, that’s how Netflix documentaries start.
2) Oh God, no, don’t do that. I don’t want to talk. Just... be a man, pretend you haven’t seen me, and f*ck off.
3) ‘I promise to keep my hands to myself tonight,’ he replies.
Devastating news.
The Summary:
I always know I’m going to have a great time with Portia’s books, and I’m happy to say, Out of Your League stuck to the brief. I really loved Brooke and her humour in the story is hilarious. Eddy... is hot lol. I really liked how he was with Brooke and there was a frisson of ‘will they, won’t they’. I love me a fake dating plot as well (who doesn’t right?) The rivalry with Jamie is a fun extra element and it was great how it was done in the story. This is a sports romance, so if that’s not your thing, be aware the rugby is quite prominent in the book, but as you are seeing it from newbie to the sport, Brooke, I think it’s told well. Overall, Out of Your League is a funny, sports romance with a dash of fake dating and a free trip to Australia - what’s not to love?
Summed up in a sentence?:
Brooke joins a new role in PR for a rugby team, where they think she’s dating the star - Eddy.
I rated the book 4.25 stars, rounded down to 4.
A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, Brooke is certainly having a week. Losing your flat, your job, and your cheating boyfriend in the span of a few days is bad enough, but when a professional rugby player punches said boyfriend and the whole thing goes viral, things get considerably more complicated. Especially when you're starting a new job handling PR for his rugby team. What could possibly go wrong?
I had fun with this one! There were some genuinely hilarious moments, and I enjoyed the chaos surrounding Brooke, Eddy, and Jamie. Beyond the fake-dating storyline and rugby rivalry, I actually appreciated the themes of growth, accountability, and learning to communicate like actual adults. Imagine that! I liked how the story explored the possibility that people can change, take responsibility for their mistakes, and move beyond old grudges.
My biggest issue was that I wanted a little more emotional depth, particularly between Brooke and Eddy. I kept waiting for Eddy to really show how invested he was in their relationship, and while there were sweet moments, something about the emotional connection never quite landed for me. I enjoyed the characters, but I wanted to feel a bit more attached to their relationships.
Still, this was a funny, heartwarming, easy read that didn't take itself too seriously. If you enjoy a good fake-dating trope, some entertaining rivalry, and a romance that's much more focused on the story than the spice, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.
Not necessarily a new favorite, but an enjoyable read with some good laughs and surprisingly thoughtful messages about communication and personal growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
I had fun with this one! There were some genuinely hilarious moments, and I enjoyed the chaos surrounding Brooke, Eddy, and Jamie. Beyond the fake-dating storyline and rugby rivalry, I actually appreciated the themes of growth, accountability, and learning to communicate like actual adults. Imagine that! I liked how the story explored the possibility that people can change, take responsibility for their mistakes, and move beyond old grudges.
My biggest issue was that I wanted a little more emotional depth, particularly between Brooke and Eddy. I kept waiting for Eddy to really show how invested he was in their relationship, and while there were sweet moments, something about the emotional connection never quite landed for me. I enjoyed the characters, but I wanted to feel a bit more attached to their relationships.
Still, this was a funny, heartwarming, easy read that didn't take itself too seriously. If you enjoy a good fake-dating trope, some entertaining rivalry, and a romance that's much more focused on the story than the spice, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.
Not necessarily a new favorite, but an enjoyable read with some good laughs and surprisingly thoughtful messages about communication and personal growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🩷 Blurb-
When Brooke York loses her job, her flat and her boyfriend in one spectacularly bad week, her only option is to accept a new role in an industry she knows absolutely nothing about.
But after landing a trial with the Leeds Lions, one tiny white lie leaves everyone believing that Brooke is dating Eddy Hood: the grumpy but gorgeous ‘king of rugby league’, who it turns out is in need of a cover story of his own.
Keeping up appearances means public displays of affection, family lunches and an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia. But complicating matters is Jamie Royle, Eddy’s charming younger rival, who is determined to steal his crown – and maybe his girlfriend too.
As fake feelings start becoming dangerously real and the competition moves off the pitch, Brooke needs to decide who is playing games, who is playing for keeps and whether she’s brave enough to risk putting her heart on the line.
Can Brooke tackle a new job, two rugby stars and turning thirty – or is she completely out of her league?
🩵 Review -
I have read and enjoyed other books by the author and Out Of Your League certainly didn't disappoint. I loved the author's writing style and I found the pacing just right. I was so hooked that I couldn't put it down and I read it in one sitting. I found the story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author Portia Macintosh and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When Brooke York loses her job, her flat and her boyfriend in one spectacularly bad week, her only option is to accept a new role in an industry she knows absolutely nothing about.
But after landing a trial with the Leeds Lions, one tiny white lie leaves everyone believing that Brooke is dating Eddy Hood: the grumpy but gorgeous ‘king of rugby league’, who it turns out is in need of a cover story of his own.
Keeping up appearances means public displays of affection, family lunches and an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia. But complicating matters is Jamie Royle, Eddy’s charming younger rival, who is determined to steal his crown – and maybe his girlfriend too.
As fake feelings start becoming dangerously real and the competition moves off the pitch, Brooke needs to decide who is playing games, who is playing for keeps and whether she’s brave enough to risk putting her heart on the line.
Can Brooke tackle a new job, two rugby stars and turning thirty – or is she completely out of her league?
🩵 Review -
I have read and enjoyed other books by the author and Out Of Your League certainly didn't disappoint. I loved the author's writing style and I found the pacing just right. I was so hooked that I couldn't put it down and I read it in one sitting. I found the story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author Portia Macintosh and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun, lighthearted rom-com that I really enjoyed! 💖
When Brooke suddenly finds herself without a job, a home, or a boyfriend, she ends up working in the world of rugby, despite knowing absolutely nothing about the sport. One little white lie later, everyone believes she’s dating Eddy Hood, one of the biggest stars in rugby league, and what starts as a misunderstanding quickly turns into a fake relationship.
🏉 Sports romance
💘 Fake dating
☀️ Lighthearted rom-com
💕 Love triangle
What I enjoyed most about this book was how fun and easy it was to read. It’s the kind of story you can pick up when you want to switch off, relax, and enjoy something entertaining without having to think too much.
The characters were likeable, although I would have loved to get to know them a little better. I also felt that the romance was quite superficial and could have been developed further. However, despite this, I still found myself invested in the story and wanting to keep reading!
Overall, I had a really good time with this book. It’s a perfect palate cleanser between heavier reads, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, lighthearted story with a little romance.
This was my first book by Portia MacIntosh, but I really enjoyed her writing, so it definitely won’t be my last! I’ll be keeping her other books in mind for whenever I’m in the mood for something fun and entertaining! ✨
A big thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
When Brooke suddenly finds herself without a job, a home, or a boyfriend, she ends up working in the world of rugby, despite knowing absolutely nothing about the sport. One little white lie later, everyone believes she’s dating Eddy Hood, one of the biggest stars in rugby league, and what starts as a misunderstanding quickly turns into a fake relationship.
🏉 Sports romance
💘 Fake dating
☀️ Lighthearted rom-com
💕 Love triangle
What I enjoyed most about this book was how fun and easy it was to read. It’s the kind of story you can pick up when you want to switch off, relax, and enjoy something entertaining without having to think too much.
The characters were likeable, although I would have loved to get to know them a little better. I also felt that the romance was quite superficial and could have been developed further. However, despite this, I still found myself invested in the story and wanting to keep reading!
Overall, I had a really good time with this book. It’s a perfect palate cleanser between heavier reads, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, lighthearted story with a little romance.
This was my first book by Portia MacIntosh, but I really enjoyed her writing, so it definitely won’t be my last! I’ll be keeping her other books in mind for whenever I’m in the mood for something fun and entertaining! ✨
A big thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Out of Your League, Portia MacIntosh's latest offering, is a fake dating story set in the rugby world. The book sees Brooke, a down-on-her-luck PR exec who knows nothing about sports, take a job working for a rugby team. She winds up accidentally fake dating the star player Eddy while also being tasked with rehabilitating his image. There's a "Roy Kent (Eddy)/Jamie Tartt (Jamie; yes, really)" rivalry/love triangle subplot that keeps the love birds from making it real until near the end of the book, which makes the actual love story feel a bit rushed. The story is cute overall, but I found Brooke to be frustrating, wishy-washy, and kind of a jerk. From early on, it's clear Eddy is a great guy, and she justifies a lot of bad behavior toward him through a mixture of denial, lack of self-awareness and deep self-involvement. She's also unprofessional and exhibits poor judgment; who refuses to do their job because their feelings are hurt??
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In one spectacularly bad week Brooke lost her job, her flat, and her boyfriend, and I was howling at how she landed on her feet at the Leeds Lions, a sport she knows nothing about, then ended up fake dating Eddy, the grumpy king of rugby league, over one tiny white lie. Her sense of humor carried every cringeworthy moment, and I loved watching her stumble through public displays of affection, family lunches, and that trip to Australia. Jamie, Eddy’s charming younger rival, stole every scene he was in, and the rivalry between the two men crackled even more than the romance at times. Brooke could be wishy washy and make questionable choices, and the love story felt a bit rushed once the rivalry finally gave way, but the chaos was so much fun that I didn’t mind. It’s an easy, charming, laugh out loud read, perfect for fake dating and sports romance fans.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my third read by Portia MacIntosh and she has yet to disappoint. I love a good sports romance, but this was my first rugby romance, and I really enjoyed it.
Brooke's story got off to a great start with one terrible day after another: losing her apartment, losing her job, and then discovering her boyfriend was a complete scumbag. It set up the story well and made it easy to root for her from the beginning.
I really liked both Eddy and Brooke, and I enjoyed the fake dating storyline. My only complaint was Jamie. I didn't find his character all that interesting, and I would have preferred the story spend more time developing Eddy and Brooke's relationship rather than continuing to add more Jamie-focused plotlines.
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining sports romance and another great read from Portia MacIntosh. Thank you Boldwood Books, Portia MacIntosh and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brooke's story got off to a great start with one terrible day after another: losing her apartment, losing her job, and then discovering her boyfriend was a complete scumbag. It set up the story well and made it easy to root for her from the beginning.
I really liked both Eddy and Brooke, and I enjoyed the fake dating storyline. My only complaint was Jamie. I didn't find his character all that interesting, and I would have preferred the story spend more time developing Eddy and Brooke's relationship rather than continuing to add more Jamie-focused plotlines.
Overall, this was a fun, entertaining sports romance and another great read from Portia MacIntosh. Thank you Boldwood Books, Portia MacIntosh and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2026
I enjoy the fake dating trope so with that said it pains me to say where was the fake dating? The story itself was good but the execution didn’t do it for me. There was so little interaction between Brooke and Eddy and more between Brooke and Jaime that it made me wonder some point if Jaime was going to succeed and steal Brooke from Eddy. My favorite part and where I feel there was the most real interaction between Brooke and Eddy has to be where she meets his family. She learns that he knows how to bake and bakes cookies with him. With how he comes off and is described the last thing I expected was him baking. I do kind of wish we would have gotten some chapters from Eddys POV then maybe we would get where his head was and his feelings. Overall it was a cute read and did have me entertained and laughing at parts. Just for me it also lacked in some aspects.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Portia MacIntosh knows how to do fake-dating romcoms! I loved this book and I could not put it down!
Brooke has lost both her apartment and her job, so when a trial PR position with a rugby team comes along, she’s willing to give it a shot—even though she knows absolutely nothing about rugby! Then she meets Eddy, and an unfortunate situation involving her cheating ex leads to them pretending to be a couple. What follows is a fun, entertaining story filled with hilarious moments. I laughed out loud several times! Eddy and his rugby rival, Jamie, also have some learning to do when it comes to getting along. This was such a fun read with great chemistry, humor, and plenty of entertaining chaos. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Portia MacIntosh for the eARC!
Brooke has lost both her apartment and her job, so when a trial PR position with a rugby team comes along, she’s willing to give it a shot—even though she knows absolutely nothing about rugby! Then she meets Eddy, and an unfortunate situation involving her cheating ex leads to them pretending to be a couple. What follows is a fun, entertaining story filled with hilarious moments. I laughed out loud several times! Eddy and his rugby rival, Jamie, also have some learning to do when it comes to getting along. This was such a fun read with great chemistry, humor, and plenty of entertaining chaos. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Portia MacIntosh for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Brooke was out of a job and homeless, staying at her current boyfriends flat.
He has put her forward for a job at Leeds Lions rugby club as their PR agent. She gets a trial period and wants to celebrate with boyfriend. Eddy Leeds star player agrees to give her a lift where she finds boyfriend in a clinch with his colleague. Things kick off and later the next day she is called into work as a video was posted of Eddy punching Ron her ex is all over the media to try to save Eddy from trouble she says he was protecting her cause he's her boyfriend and Ron her ex made disparaging comments. Things take off and they agree to pretend to be a couple. Allsorts of trouble follows.
This was a fun story with a lot of romance. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy
He has put her forward for a job at Leeds Lions rugby club as their PR agent. She gets a trial period and wants to celebrate with boyfriend. Eddy Leeds star player agrees to give her a lift where she finds boyfriend in a clinch with his colleague. Things kick off and later the next day she is called into work as a video was posted of Eddy punching Ron her ex is all over the media to try to save Eddy from trouble she says he was protecting her cause he's her boyfriend and Ron her ex made disparaging comments. Things take off and they agree to pretend to be a couple. Allsorts of trouble follows.
This was a fun story with a lot of romance. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book as an ARC read from NetGalley.
I am a fan of Portia and was really looking forward to reading this book. I got the story fake relationship, closed proximity, grump to sunshine but then you had the added on other person to the mix. The FMC has an array of misfortunes in the beginning, looses her job, her home, her bf cheats on her. She gets a job she barely knows about but she is good at PR so she gets to work and live in the facility. Everything is starting to look up. Enter the rival and then the FMC is all maybe he is or isn't flirting but I'm not really in a relationship but I have to pretend like we are. It was her indecision of what she truly wanted and who she truly wanted that got annoying. I felt the love story felt a bit rushed.
I am a fan of Portia and was really looking forward to reading this book. I got the story fake relationship, closed proximity, grump to sunshine but then you had the added on other person to the mix. The FMC has an array of misfortunes in the beginning, looses her job, her home, her bf cheats on her. She gets a job she barely knows about but she is good at PR so she gets to work and live in the facility. Everything is starting to look up. Enter the rival and then the FMC is all maybe he is or isn't flirting but I'm not really in a relationship but I have to pretend like we are. It was her indecision of what she truly wanted and who she truly wanted that got annoying. I felt the love story felt a bit rushed.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One of my favourite authors she writes in a funny, realistic style with sassy lead characters. This book was special for me as it combined this with my favourite sport rugby league. My son plays professionally so it made me giggle a lot as it was absolutely spot on. I really enjoyed the ups and downs as she navigates some really bad luck, getting let down over again and then caught in the middle of two rivals. However, as always the lead character is stronger and more talented than she realises. A real romantic story that keeps you gripped - I literally read it all in 24 hours! I’d definitely recommend this book it honestly doesn’t matter if you like sport or know anything about rugby league as it’s a fantastic romantic read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Out of Your League by Portia MacIntosh is a cute fun romance read with little spice. When Portia has a run of bad luck and loses her home, her job & her boyfriend, she ends up applying for a job with a Rugby League club as their PR rep. After an incident nearby she fabricates a relationship with the famous 'bad boy' player Eddie to save his career. Through this fake dating she learns he is much more than he appears. While I felt there could have been more 'slow burn' scenes to up the stakes, the romance did feel real and very very sweet.
This was a medium paced book that was easy to read and quite heart warming. Would be suitable for young adults as there are no explicit scenes.
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the premise of this story! Brooke loses her job, home, and boyfriend all at once, only to get a new opportunity working in PR.
The fake relationship trope had so much potential, and I was excited to see where it would go.
My biggest disappointment was that the fake relationship itself felt underdeveloped. I wanted more interaction between the couple throughout the book, especially during the dating phase, rather than having most of their relationship development happen toward the end.
Jamie added a nice touch to the love triangle and jealousy aspect of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise and the characters. Portia MacIntosh has become one of my “auto read” authors.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers !
The fake relationship trope had so much potential, and I was excited to see where it would go.
My biggest disappointment was that the fake relationship itself felt underdeveloped. I wanted more interaction between the couple throughout the book, especially during the dating phase, rather than having most of their relationship development happen toward the end.
Jamie added a nice touch to the love triangle and jealousy aspect of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise and the characters. Portia MacIntosh has become one of my “auto read” authors.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2026
I’m not generally a big romance reader, but as soon as I saw that this was based around rugby league I couldn’t resist! Rugby League is my favourite sport, and it isn’t often featured in books. (It isn’t featured enough full stop in my opinion, but that’s a whole other subject!)
I thought this book did a great job at representing the sport, the team spirit, the family atmosphere that you get at games and the overall spirit that permeates the league.
And this was never at the expense of the underlying romance which I thought was well handled as well. It was a gentle, undemanding read but also ultimately an uplifting and satisfying one with some great characters and a sweet love story.
Thanks to the author and publishers for this eARC which I read through NetGalley
I thought this book did a great job at representing the sport, the team spirit, the family atmosphere that you get at games and the overall spirit that permeates the league.
And this was never at the expense of the underlying romance which I thought was well handled as well. It was a gentle, undemanding read but also ultimately an uplifting and satisfying one with some great characters and a sweet love story.
Thanks to the author and publishers for this eARC which I read through NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story is just sublime and so much fun. Who knew Rugby League was so much fun, I am now so desperate to go and watch a match, and the company I work for get tickets all the time, and I am normally like I’m not much of a fan, after reading this my first email was to our team asking when then next match was as I want to attend. It sucks you in that much, not just because the King and the Price are such fun characters. Brooke York is just delightful as a character, she will win over even the coldest of hearts, as she is having the worst time, but still manages to pull it all together and make the most out of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cozy, fun, and easy-to-read rom-com.
Brooke was a ray of sunshine, and I loved Eddy's calm, steady demeanor. Their dynamic was sweet, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book.
I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the overall lighthearted vibe, but by the end I was hoping for a little more fire. Instead, the romance felt more like a warm candle glow: sweet, cozy, and comforting, but not quite as emotionally intense as I wanted.
I also felt Brooke was perhaps a bit more patient with Jamie than I would have been, but that's very much a personal preference.
Brooke was a ray of sunshine, and I loved Eddy's calm, steady demeanor. Their dynamic was sweet, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book.
I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the overall lighthearted vibe, but by the end I was hoping for a little more fire. Instead, the romance felt more like a warm candle glow: sweet, cozy, and comforting, but not quite as emotionally intense as I wanted.
I also felt Brooke was perhaps a bit more patient with Jamie than I would have been, but that's very much a personal preference.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the eARC of this book.
This was a quick, sweet read. I like Portia’s style of writing, and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments and sweeter moments that I was smiling to myself. I found Brook to be a little clueless when it came how she interacted with Jamie. I know the whole point was for her to realize that she should be with Eddy, but it just was weird like the handholding and what not with Jamie when she was supposed to have a boyfriend. Overall, it was just a really cute book.
This was a quick, sweet read. I like Portia’s style of writing, and there were definitely some laugh out loud moments and sweeter moments that I was smiling to myself. I found Brook to be a little clueless when it came how she interacted with Jamie. I know the whole point was for her to realize that she should be with Eddy, but it just was weird like the handholding and what not with Jamie when she was supposed to have a boyfriend. Overall, it was just a really cute book.
October 1, 2026
This one had humour packed in it right from the start which immediately drew me in.
Another great book by Portia. I really enjoyed it. I was so invested in Brooke and Eddy and really wanted them to become a real couple. It showed whatever life throws at you you can turn it round.
It’s written in such a fun way, even if you aren’t a sports fan it makes for a brilliant read. It kept me fully engaged and invested in the story and was a fun, lighthearted read. I’d definitely recommend this one.
Another great book by Portia. I really enjoyed it. I was so invested in Brooke and Eddy and really wanted them to become a real couple. It showed whatever life throws at you you can turn it round.
It’s written in such a fun way, even if you aren’t a sports fan it makes for a brilliant read. It kept me fully engaged and invested in the story and was a fun, lighthearted read. I’d definitely recommend this one.
October 1, 2026
Portia MacIntosh - out of your league!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love Portia’s books and this was no exception! I love her versatility, sports, cowboy, reality tv, dating apps. She can write it all. This book is such a fun, easy read but with all the charm, cringeworthy events and humour of a Portia MacIntosh book. I honestly love each and every book she writes and she’s an auto buy auto read author for sure. This is due to be released on November 13th and deffo a good read for your sports romance / fake dating fans!
Arc received from Boldwood books through NetGalley
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love Portia’s books and this was no exception! I love her versatility, sports, cowboy, reality tv, dating apps. She can write it all. This book is such a fun, easy read but with all the charm, cringeworthy events and humour of a Portia MacIntosh book. I honestly love each and every book she writes and she’s an auto buy auto read author for sure. This is due to be released on November 13th and deffo a good read for your sports romance / fake dating fans!
Arc received from Boldwood books through NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic read! Heart, humour, humbling. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend to anyone but if you do love or work in sport - you're going to love it. Very cleverly pulls you one way and then next min you're like, what? What did I miss? Did I read it wrong? And go back and check. Loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Who knew rugby could be so romantic? I love sports romance and this was my introduction to rugby. This was a cute fake dating, sports romance, with slow burn and a second lead syndrome. I'm really loving Portia MacIntosh's books. Lovely read.
I got the ARC from Boldwood Books via Netgalley. This is my honest review
I got the ARC from Boldwood Books via Netgalley. This is my honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first Portia MacIntosh book and it was a fun read. If you are looking for a feel good read that will make you laugh and swoon, this is it.
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