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Life's a Beach
Sun, sea and inescapable exes...
Peach is excited to hear that her sister, Di, is getting married. Of course, she would have preferred her little sister to be engaged to someone she's known longer than a week - and the fact that his name is Charles doesn't bode well - but who is she to judge?! After all, her own love life is non-existent, and who doesn't love a destination wedding...?
Whisked away to the gorgeous Italian coast, Peach assumes her role as chief bridesmaid and, despite her reservations about the groom, she tries to ensure everything goes to plan.
But weddings are never straightforward affairs... throw in some unexpected guests in the form of ex-boyfriends and one night stands, and soon enough there is more drama than a reality tv show.
Can Peach keep the show on the road, or might she end up in a whirlwind romance of her own...?
Peach is excited to hear that her sister, Di, is getting married. Of course, she would have preferred her little sister to be engaged to someone she's known longer than a week - and the fact that his name is Charles doesn't bode well - but who is she to judge?! After all, her own love life is non-existent, and who doesn't love a destination wedding...?
Whisked away to the gorgeous Italian coast, Peach assumes her role as chief bridesmaid and, despite her reservations about the groom, she tries to ensure everything goes to plan.
But weddings are never straightforward affairs... throw in some unexpected guests in the form of ex-boyfriends and one night stands, and soon enough there is more drama than a reality tv show.
Can Peach keep the show on the road, or might she end up in a whirlwind romance of her own...?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2021
1341 people are currently reading
1790 people want to read
About the author
Portia MacIntosh
52 books2,103 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 - 30 of 398 reviews
May 30, 2021
I recently asked one of my Facebook reading groups for recommendations of adult romcom books that don’t have explicit “open door” sex scenes. Many of the comments I received were along the lines of “why limit yourself when you can just skip those bits?”
The thing is, I do not want to skip bits of the books I read. But I also do not want to read about people touching one of their c-word bits to another person’s c-word bits. (Or touching their own bits, for that matter!)
Enter Portia MacIntosh, an author who appears to write light and breezy romcoms that are EXACTLY in my lane. The characters are adults who do adult things and use adult language, but the bedroom door closes just before the bits come out.
Her latest, Life’s a Beach, follows a secret shopper from Yorkshire as she heads to Naples for her sister’s impromptu destination wedding. Romance, miscommunication, and surprises abound, making for an all-around enjoyable read that reminded me of watching a Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock PG-13 romantic comedy (with British accents, of course).
I will happily be working my way through Portia MacIntosh’s previous books whenever I get the romcom itch, and lucky for me (and you!) they’re available on both the Hoopla library app and through Kindle Unlimited.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
IG: @confettibookshelf
The thing is, I do not want to skip bits of the books I read. But I also do not want to read about people touching one of their c-word bits to another person’s c-word bits. (Or touching their own bits, for that matter!)
Enter Portia MacIntosh, an author who appears to write light and breezy romcoms that are EXACTLY in my lane. The characters are adults who do adult things and use adult language, but the bedroom door closes just before the bits come out.
Her latest, Life’s a Beach, follows a secret shopper from Yorkshire as she heads to Naples for her sister’s impromptu destination wedding. Romance, miscommunication, and surprises abound, making for an all-around enjoyable read that reminded me of watching a Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock PG-13 romantic comedy (with British accents, of course).
I will happily be working my way through Portia MacIntosh’s previous books whenever I get the romcom itch, and lucky for me (and you!) they’re available on both the Hoopla library app and through Kindle Unlimited.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
IG: @confettibookshelf
June 10, 2021
This was such a fun read! Funny, witty, and entertaining.
I really enjoyed the whimsical writing and clever plot. The story played out in my mind like a fun rom-com movie. From beginning to end, this was an entertaining and heartwarming story.
It's the first book I read by this author. I'm now looking forward to reading more of her books.
I really enjoyed the whimsical writing and clever plot. The story played out in my mind like a fun rom-com movie. From beginning to end, this was an entertaining and heartwarming story.
It's the first book I read by this author. I'm now looking forward to reading more of her books.
May 15, 2021
Portia Macintosh is my auto-buy author. There is something special about her romcoms, something kind and uplifting. Her newest one, Life's a Beach is as good, if not better, as her previous books, so if you're a fan of Portia's writing set aside an afternoon (you know you won't be able to stop until you've devoured the book) and pick up this light and entertaining read.
Peach loves her job and she is great at it. She is a mystery shopper which means she gets to check out what the service is really like at various restaurants, shops, hotels and even chemist chains, and then she has to write an honest report for the business. Sometimes she has to get into a character and even mention her fake fiance Matt once or twice. This time she is having a dinner and is staying overnight in a hotel near the airport and she is doing it with her younger sister Di who is about to fly back from her holiday in Greece. Only Di's flight gets delayed and Peach meets aman who is similarly waiting for somebody arriving with the same flight.
When Di's flight finally lands, she has a bombshell of news- she is getting married to someone she has known forone week. Should Peach try to stop her from making this huge mistake or is is the case of 'When it's love, it's love'and she should just be happy for Di? The wedding party throws in a heap of surprises, including a few blasts from the past. What happens next is a real comedy of mistakes and misunderstandings to the soundtrack of 'It's the Groundhog Day...Again and again...'
I really like all Portia's lead characters. Peach is strong and realistic at the same time. She is kind, caring and forgiving. When life throws her a curveball, she picks up pieces and gets on with it. Her message is really positive: everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. I must say I wasn't sure she was going to have her happily-ever-after at the end of this book- this is how realistic this romcom is, but then the ending just melted my heart and was so true to the characters.
Reading this book was like a mini-holiday with all the sunshine, happy, warm feelings, and lovely memories of being truly relaxed and entertained . Thank you, Portia, and I hope to read your next book very soon!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s RandomResources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Peach loves her job and she is great at it. She is a mystery shopper which means she gets to check out what the service is really like at various restaurants, shops, hotels and even chemist chains, and then she has to write an honest report for the business. Sometimes she has to get into a character and even mention her fake fiance Matt once or twice. This time she is having a dinner and is staying overnight in a hotel near the airport and she is doing it with her younger sister Di who is about to fly back from her holiday in Greece. Only Di's flight gets delayed and Peach meets aman who is similarly waiting for somebody arriving with the same flight.
When Di's flight finally lands, she has a bombshell of news- she is getting married to someone she has known forone week. Should Peach try to stop her from making this huge mistake or is is the case of 'When it's love, it's love'and she should just be happy for Di? The wedding party throws in a heap of surprises, including a few blasts from the past. What happens next is a real comedy of mistakes and misunderstandings to the soundtrack of 'It's the Groundhog Day...Again and again...'
I really like all Portia's lead characters. Peach is strong and realistic at the same time. She is kind, caring and forgiving. When life throws her a curveball, she picks up pieces and gets on with it. Her message is really positive: everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. I must say I wasn't sure she was going to have her happily-ever-after at the end of this book- this is how realistic this romcom is, but then the ending just melted my heart and was so true to the characters.
Reading this book was like a mini-holiday with all the sunshine, happy, warm feelings, and lovely memories of being truly relaxed and entertained . Thank you, Portia, and I hope to read your next book very soon!
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s RandomResources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 17, 2021
Romcom perfection! That’s it, that’s the review!
I’m kidding, but seriously that’s all you really need to know. Portia MacIntosh writes such whimsical stories filled with such fabulous characters and this might be her best yet! Peach is heading to her baby sister‘s destination wedding when she learns that the best man is someone she knows intimately. Not only that it appears as though she has accidentally invited her sister’s ex-boyfriend to the wedding. And that’s just the Half of it. Additionally little sister Di is marrying a man she’s only known for a week named Charles, nonetheless. At least the wedding is taking place in Italy at a gorgeous villa. But as the guests start arriving the entanglements get Wilder. This was just SO much fun! Peach was such a great character I adored her and I loved her job. Seriously the girl was a secret shopper and got to go visit fancy hotels and eat at five star restaurants for work. The setting of the story was Beautiful! All the characters were so dynamic and well-developed, I’d love to get to know most of them. The story had so many laugh out loud moments, i’m still laughing thinking about it. A perfect beach read that I cannot recommend highly enough!
I’m kidding, but seriously that’s all you really need to know. Portia MacIntosh writes such whimsical stories filled with such fabulous characters and this might be her best yet! Peach is heading to her baby sister‘s destination wedding when she learns that the best man is someone she knows intimately. Not only that it appears as though she has accidentally invited her sister’s ex-boyfriend to the wedding. And that’s just the Half of it. Additionally little sister Di is marrying a man she’s only known for a week named Charles, nonetheless. At least the wedding is taking place in Italy at a gorgeous villa. But as the guests start arriving the entanglements get Wilder. This was just SO much fun! Peach was such a great character I adored her and I loved her job. Seriously the girl was a secret shopper and got to go visit fancy hotels and eat at five star restaurants for work. The setting of the story was Beautiful! All the characters were so dynamic and well-developed, I’d love to get to know most of them. The story had so many laugh out loud moments, i’m still laughing thinking about it. A perfect beach read that I cannot recommend highly enough!
May 14, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
My dad somehow thought he was sparing me by explaining the inner workings of Naked Wednesday to me so that I could find somewhere else to be moving forward, and when he started trying to explain what was special about Friday nights, I stopped him. I told him that once we were all back from the wedding, no explanation necessary, he just needed to tell me when he wanted me to make myself scarce. No details required. Please, God, spare me details.
She isn’t twenty-eight at all, she’s thirty-one, the same as me. It seems almost silly, to lie about just three years, but I think Van might be playing the long game with that one. I get the feeling she’s going to be twenty-eight for a long time – for as long as people will believe her or medical advancements will allow.
I had a big birthday last year, and Van lives in LA, so she couldn’t come. She sent a stripper in her place. They called him Magic Spike. He was a Viking themed stripper, because of course they exist. He had a terrifying weapon – in more ways than one.
I must have checked my room four times when I was packing to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind, but I don’t feel like anyone has truly invented a suitcase that can safely transport a holiday romance back to reality.
My Review:
I doubt anyone could claim to have solved or foreseen the well-contrived secrets to this enjoyable and amusing tale, as there were several clever twists and blind alleys to navigate. And I delighted in them all as I smirked my way through this fun and wittily penned dance of exes. The premise was bright and shiny as were the wily plotting and wry humor. The characters were an enticing yet not totally likable bunch from the outside looking in, but things were not always as they seemed as several participants of a lavish destination-wedding holiday were walking a crooked path of denials, half-truths, and hidden agendas. There were frequent surprises and some will they/won’t they tease and tension to keep us guessing.
My dad somehow thought he was sparing me by explaining the inner workings of Naked Wednesday to me so that I could find somewhere else to be moving forward, and when he started trying to explain what was special about Friday nights, I stopped him. I told him that once we were all back from the wedding, no explanation necessary, he just needed to tell me when he wanted me to make myself scarce. No details required. Please, God, spare me details.
She isn’t twenty-eight at all, she’s thirty-one, the same as me. It seems almost silly, to lie about just three years, but I think Van might be playing the long game with that one. I get the feeling she’s going to be twenty-eight for a long time – for as long as people will believe her or medical advancements will allow.
I had a big birthday last year, and Van lives in LA, so she couldn’t come. She sent a stripper in her place. They called him Magic Spike. He was a Viking themed stripper, because of course they exist. He had a terrifying weapon – in more ways than one.
I must have checked my room four times when I was packing to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind, but I don’t feel like anyone has truly invented a suitcase that can safely transport a holiday romance back to reality.
My Review:
I doubt anyone could claim to have solved or foreseen the well-contrived secrets to this enjoyable and amusing tale, as there were several clever twists and blind alleys to navigate. And I delighted in them all as I smirked my way through this fun and wittily penned dance of exes. The premise was bright and shiny as were the wily plotting and wry humor. The characters were an enticing yet not totally likable bunch from the outside looking in, but things were not always as they seemed as several participants of a lavish destination-wedding holiday were walking a crooked path of denials, half-truths, and hidden agendas. There were frequent surprises and some will they/won’t they tease and tension to keep us guessing.
May 13, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
I know, I know, I might be starting to repeat myself with each new Portia MacIntosh’s book review I write, but it is the absolute truth. Each and every one of them is a pure delight to read and Life’s a beach could not be different. It is adorable!
I have yet to meet a Portia MacIntosh leading lady that I don’t like. Peach was a really nice character, witty, fun, realistic, lovable, supporting her sister even when she had reasons to do the exact opposite. Her first encounter with Matt was so charming I could not wipe the smile off my face while reading it. Also, where does one apply for a job like that? Asking for a friend!
Soon the story turns into a sitcom with lots of funny and crazy characters, with everyone seeming to have a past relationship with another and hiding some secrets, leading to a whole series of misunderstandings. I loved most of the characters, even those I thought I would dislike at first. I was the first one surprised by Charles growing on me!
The setting was absolutely gorgeous. All the island descriptions made me wish I was there (I would have eaten those calamari, thank you very much!).
If Peach and Matt first encounter was charming, their last one went out of the adorability charts!.
The writing style was so enjoyable and fresh. Everything moved at a perfect pace providing a really fun and entertaining read. Although there were lots of characters and their current and past relationships to keep track of, both the characters and plot lines were so engaging that it was not a problem at all.
Life’s a beach (I adore the title, btw) is the perfect summer read even in spring!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I know, I know, I might be starting to repeat myself with each new Portia MacIntosh’s book review I write, but it is the absolute truth. Each and every one of them is a pure delight to read and Life’s a beach could not be different. It is adorable!
I have yet to meet a Portia MacIntosh leading lady that I don’t like. Peach was a really nice character, witty, fun, realistic, lovable, supporting her sister even when she had reasons to do the exact opposite. Her first encounter with Matt was so charming I could not wipe the smile off my face while reading it. Also, where does one apply for a job like that? Asking for a friend!
Soon the story turns into a sitcom with lots of funny and crazy characters, with everyone seeming to have a past relationship with another and hiding some secrets, leading to a whole series of misunderstandings. I loved most of the characters, even those I thought I would dislike at first. I was the first one surprised by Charles growing on me!
The setting was absolutely gorgeous. All the island descriptions made me wish I was there (I would have eaten those calamari, thank you very much!).
If Peach and Matt first encounter was charming, their last one went out of the adorability charts!.
The writing style was so enjoyable and fresh. Everything moved at a perfect pace providing a really fun and entertaining read. Although there were lots of characters and their current and past relationships to keep track of, both the characters and plot lines were so engaging that it was not a problem at all.
Life’s a beach (I adore the title, btw) is the perfect summer read even in spring!
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2021
My second read from MacIntosh and this one had me chuckling throughout. It was a warm, funny read and I felt completely transported to this idyllic, private resort on the Italian coast. Who needs a holiday when you have this book instead?
I feel in love with Peach’s character from the beginning. Her monologue and interpretation of events around her is really funny and I especially enjoyed watching her banter with other characters. Although is sounds like she has a dream job of being a mystery shopper, it is clear that she feels incredibly lonely on the love front. Hence, with her sister announcing her engagement after a very quick romance of seven days, Peach feels she needs to show Di that perhaps this wedding is too soon for the length of their relationship.
Accompanying the bridal party to the Italian resort, it is clear early on that this is not going to be a romantic retreat, concluding with a beautiful wedding. There are exes of both Di and Peach that arrive, and recent past mistakes that Peach cannot seem to leave behind. It is a car-crash of past memories and it was difficult not to share in Peach’s awkwardness. But, at the same time, she keeps her chin up and this just adds to the liveliness and happy-go-lucky atmosphere of the book.
Whilst some elements of the story were predictable, MacIntosh still kept plenty of surprises coming in the narrative. There’s a sweet love story running throughout the book and, actually, this was exactly what I was hoping for from this read. It definitely does not disappoint and I felt as swept away by the story as Di is with the excitement of her pending marriage.
It takes a lot for me to laugh out loud with books but this one definitely did the trick! With its summery, Italian setting, I think this is an ideal candidate for a beach read. Some of the chapters are a bit lengthy but I found I barely noticed once I was absorbed into the story. Peach is far from being perfect and I think the mistakes she has made and her attitude towards like makes her a truly relatable character that will prove popular with readers.
A highly enjoyable read that was a great distraction to everything going on around me, I finished this book with a great smile on my face. MacIntosh provides the perfect happy ending and, although I could not help but growl at some of the male characters, applauded Peach’s strength to carry on and support her sister’s engagement. It’s a book that shows the importance of family and friendships with a group that, from the outside, should surely not holiday together!
With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I feel in love with Peach’s character from the beginning. Her monologue and interpretation of events around her is really funny and I especially enjoyed watching her banter with other characters. Although is sounds like she has a dream job of being a mystery shopper, it is clear that she feels incredibly lonely on the love front. Hence, with her sister announcing her engagement after a very quick romance of seven days, Peach feels she needs to show Di that perhaps this wedding is too soon for the length of their relationship.
Accompanying the bridal party to the Italian resort, it is clear early on that this is not going to be a romantic retreat, concluding with a beautiful wedding. There are exes of both Di and Peach that arrive, and recent past mistakes that Peach cannot seem to leave behind. It is a car-crash of past memories and it was difficult not to share in Peach’s awkwardness. But, at the same time, she keeps her chin up and this just adds to the liveliness and happy-go-lucky atmosphere of the book.
Whilst some elements of the story were predictable, MacIntosh still kept plenty of surprises coming in the narrative. There’s a sweet love story running throughout the book and, actually, this was exactly what I was hoping for from this read. It definitely does not disappoint and I felt as swept away by the story as Di is with the excitement of her pending marriage.
It takes a lot for me to laugh out loud with books but this one definitely did the trick! With its summery, Italian setting, I think this is an ideal candidate for a beach read. Some of the chapters are a bit lengthy but I found I barely noticed once I was absorbed into the story. Peach is far from being perfect and I think the mistakes she has made and her attitude towards like makes her a truly relatable character that will prove popular with readers.
A highly enjoyable read that was a great distraction to everything going on around me, I finished this book with a great smile on my face. MacIntosh provides the perfect happy ending and, although I could not help but growl at some of the male characters, applauded Peach’s strength to carry on and support her sister’s engagement. It’s a book that shows the importance of family and friendships with a group that, from the outside, should surely not holiday together!
With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2021
I read a lot, and I read all genres: sci-fi, biographies, novels, historic fiction, psychological thrillers, chick-lit... Lately I've found myself getting sometimes bored by rom-coms. That what I thought, at least. Portia MacIntosh made me realise I get bored by boring rom-com, which this one definitely isn't.
Life's a Beach is ADORABLE! It's fun, witty an brilliant. The characters are vibrant and relatable and the style is very fresh.
There are some twists in the plot that adds to the story and the end is soooo perfect!! Loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Life's a Beach is ADORABLE! It's fun, witty an brilliant. The characters are vibrant and relatable and the style is very fresh.
There are some twists in the plot that adds to the story and the end is soooo perfect!! Loved it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2021
Another smash hit from Portia MacIntosh, and again exactly what I needed when looking for my next read. A bit of sun, a bit of romance, and a light relaxed read. As an author she never fails to deliver on the romantic comedy genre with enough of both to be both hilarious and heart warming with the comedy being far from slap stick with intelligence and solid plot lines built into her writing.
Life’s A Beach opens with Penelope…ahem, Peach… viewing a wedding venue. A very expensive, ‘prices not on the brochure’, type of venue. You get my meaning. Immediately Portia has my attention. Who is she there for? Her sister? Herself? Neither make sense since the blurb talks about her sister having a whirlwind romance and wedding having met her fiancé a week (yes, a week) previously and wanting it in Italy (not York where this venue is) - but ok, maybe she made time to send her sister. The other option being for herself doesn’t seem right, the blurb again talks about Peach finding love herself perhaps… but hey that is very possible even if she has a partner. Ok. Now you have an insight into my brain and it’s whirlwind of nonsense and how Portia MacIntosh does *such* a good job of engaging it - can I just mention this is within the first 2/3 of the *first chapter* - that I’m intrigued and fully sold on the story. I’m a sucker for this kind of lit when it is well written, and Portia is the best of the best at it. Getting back to where my brain went berserk, the answer to why Peach is visiting the venue is neither A nor B. It’s C. An answer I had not envisaged. She’s a mystery shopper! I don’t feel qualms about saying that in my review as it gives a good idea of the kind of casually thrown in side balls that you don’t see coming but make the books so much more. It doesn’t lead loads to the book and all happens and is revealed within a mear chapter, and yet it gives you a great idea of what to expect from the writing.
Onwards for the actual story. Peach and her sister Di are best friends and are about to move in together once Peach picks her up from the airport after Di’s holiday in Greece. What is meant to be a relaxed airport pickup turns into the beginning of a whirlwind adventure of utter craziness when Peach finds herself picking up her newly engaged sister - *SURRRRPRIIIIISE*! Oh, and the wedding date is set for the following week and Peach is maid of honour. No pressure at all. Not to mention that her sister was meant to be her new flatmate and pitching 50% towards their rent…as of…like now. That seems like a lot of drama at the time until you get to literally about chapter 2 when it kicks off with, although sometimes pretty predictable, nevertheless great drama… such as the wedding invite list containing, both purposefully and not, ex boyfriends galore. Oh happy days! Not stressful at all on any of those points (ahem sarcasm). Ive also skipped past a whole load of other totally believable but utterly insane hilarity but A) my review would be way too long (maybe a bit late for that) B) spoilers doctor! (Nope this isn’t dr who - turn it off Beth). Honestly though. The whole book launches from one laugh to the next with interchangeably utterly heartwarming and cringing into your seat drama. Heartily recommend this book <3
Life’s A Beach opens with Penelope…ahem, Peach… viewing a wedding venue. A very expensive, ‘prices not on the brochure’, type of venue. You get my meaning. Immediately Portia has my attention. Who is she there for? Her sister? Herself? Neither make sense since the blurb talks about her sister having a whirlwind romance and wedding having met her fiancé a week (yes, a week) previously and wanting it in Italy (not York where this venue is) - but ok, maybe she made time to send her sister. The other option being for herself doesn’t seem right, the blurb again talks about Peach finding love herself perhaps… but hey that is very possible even if she has a partner. Ok. Now you have an insight into my brain and it’s whirlwind of nonsense and how Portia MacIntosh does *such* a good job of engaging it - can I just mention this is within the first 2/3 of the *first chapter* - that I’m intrigued and fully sold on the story. I’m a sucker for this kind of lit when it is well written, and Portia is the best of the best at it. Getting back to where my brain went berserk, the answer to why Peach is visiting the venue is neither A nor B. It’s C. An answer I had not envisaged. She’s a mystery shopper! I don’t feel qualms about saying that in my review as it gives a good idea of the kind of casually thrown in side balls that you don’t see coming but make the books so much more. It doesn’t lead loads to the book and all happens and is revealed within a mear chapter, and yet it gives you a great idea of what to expect from the writing.
Onwards for the actual story. Peach and her sister Di are best friends and are about to move in together once Peach picks her up from the airport after Di’s holiday in Greece. What is meant to be a relaxed airport pickup turns into the beginning of a whirlwind adventure of utter craziness when Peach finds herself picking up her newly engaged sister - *SURRRRPRIIIIISE*! Oh, and the wedding date is set for the following week and Peach is maid of honour. No pressure at all. Not to mention that her sister was meant to be her new flatmate and pitching 50% towards their rent…as of…like now. That seems like a lot of drama at the time until you get to literally about chapter 2 when it kicks off with, although sometimes pretty predictable, nevertheless great drama… such as the wedding invite list containing, both purposefully and not, ex boyfriends galore. Oh happy days! Not stressful at all on any of those points (ahem sarcasm). Ive also skipped past a whole load of other totally believable but utterly insane hilarity but A) my review would be way too long (maybe a bit late for that) B) spoilers doctor! (Nope this isn’t dr who - turn it off Beth). Honestly though. The whole book launches from one laugh to the next with interchangeably utterly heartwarming and cringing into your seat drama. Heartily recommend this book <3
March 28, 2021
This book was an enjoyable read. It wasn’t amazing but it wasn’t a let down either. It was just a nice book to read in bed before going to sleep.
I’ve been reading so many of Portia MacIntosh’s books over the past few months and I can safely say that this one in particular sits somewhere in the middle of the pack.
I say the same thing with all of her books and I’ll continue to say it as often as I need to but the characters in these books are just so relatable! Add to the fact that they’re from the UK (which is where I reside), I genuinely feel like I’m reading about someone I know or someone who I would just casually pass on the street on the way to work, that’s how relatable the characters are to me and I love it! It’s one of the main reasons why I continue to read Portia’s stories.
I liked the plot of this one. It was different but not too over the top or too bland and the ending just had me smiling ear to ear so that definitely helped to boost the rating up for me personally.
Overall a good read and would recommend it to anyone just looking for a casual romance story with a bit of drama thrown in.
*Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
I’ve been reading so many of Portia MacIntosh’s books over the past few months and I can safely say that this one in particular sits somewhere in the middle of the pack.
I say the same thing with all of her books and I’ll continue to say it as often as I need to but the characters in these books are just so relatable! Add to the fact that they’re from the UK (which is where I reside), I genuinely feel like I’m reading about someone I know or someone who I would just casually pass on the street on the way to work, that’s how relatable the characters are to me and I love it! It’s one of the main reasons why I continue to read Portia’s stories.
I liked the plot of this one. It was different but not too over the top or too bland and the ending just had me smiling ear to ear so that definitely helped to boost the rating up for me personally.
Overall a good read and would recommend it to anyone just looking for a casual romance story with a bit of drama thrown in.
*Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
May 31, 2021
2,5 Stars
Portia MacIntosh often writes stories that are a bit over the top and a tad unrealistic. But in "Life's a Beach" she is reaching for the sky: A marriage after one week. Everything is pure luxus, no expenses spared. Ghosts from the past turn up at every corner. Then even the pop idol of her teenage dreams makes an appearance! A bunch of thirty-somethings play spin the bottle. Cringe moments galore...
Plus: while I normally like Portia MacIntosh's protagonists, and are thus interested in their adventures - I couldn't really connect to Peach and the rest of the gang. I can't even say why that is, because Peach is not dislikable per se.
But both things combined means that "Life's a Beach" was not more than a silly distraction from the monotony of my daily life. But not less either. Probably perfect for reading in a similar luxurious holiday lodging that Peach and her friends are partying in - but who of us is gonna be this lucky?
Portia MacIntosh often writes stories that are a bit over the top and a tad unrealistic. But in "Life's a Beach" she is reaching for the sky: A marriage after one week. Everything is pure luxus, no expenses spared. Ghosts from the past turn up at every corner. Then even the pop idol of her teenage dreams makes an appearance! A bunch of thirty-somethings play spin the bottle. Cringe moments galore...
Plus: while I normally like Portia MacIntosh's protagonists, and are thus interested in their adventures - I couldn't really connect to Peach and the rest of the gang. I can't even say why that is, because Peach is not dislikable per se.
But both things combined means that "Life's a Beach" was not more than a silly distraction from the monotony of my daily life. But not less either. Probably perfect for reading in a similar luxurious holiday lodging that Peach and her friends are partying in - but who of us is gonna be this lucky?
August 10, 2023
The heroine was nice, the hero was nice, everyone else was varying degrees of awful. There are some things that the h forgave that she should never have forgiven. Her sister, in particular, is anthrax dressed up like a cupcake. Even though there’s an HEA for her, the fact that she is willing to remain in the same circle as her sister makes me feel depressed. I mean, sure, to forgive is divine, but her sister shows signs of being a habitual liar and emotionally stunted, and that’s not going to change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
Life's A Beach is a nice, entarteining and very enjoyable story.
The author once again succeeded to write a novel so easy to read that it seems like it plays in your mind as a movie. I particularly loved the setting of this story because I live in Naples and even if the love island is not real it's easily believing the contrary, the wedding restaurant instead is inspired to a real one.
I really liked the heroine, Peach, she always ends up in the middle of some hilarious situations, I was caught up into her life and I was curious to know how she would have come out of all them.
Matt is swoon worthy, but I didn't like too much how even if he is attracted and besotted to Peach they end up arguing at the littlest misunderstanding.
A new Portia MacIntosh novel I had to get it, read it and shout out about it.
May 12, 2021
Zero passion between the leads. Too many side characters. Not enough time devoted to the main couple. Overall, this book didn’t really succeed as a romance for me...more women’s fiction maybe. Meh.
January 19, 2022
To me, the ideal rom-com should have a strong romance and should be funny. The comedy part of Life's A Beach was excellent but unfortunately, I found the romance a bit lacking.
In general, this was a fun and a light book to read, great for reading on a beach or if you're looking for a book to escape into. I found some of the events a little too unbelievable, especially as the book progressed, but hey - I guess that's par for the course with a rom-com.
The protagonist Peach is a sweet character and I wanted to see her find her happiness but I wasn't convinced that the person who she could find romantic happiness with was Matt.
Because much of the book centres around the wedding, the reader doesn't get to spend as much time with Peach and Matt and to see their relationship develop. We see the comedy of errors and the multiple miscommunications they have but the reader doesn't really see them moving to address those miscommunications. Peach is dealing with her sister, she's dealing with the wedding, she's dealing with the other people that are with them in Italy. With all this going on, she doesn't have as much time to really deal with her relationship with Matt.
Honestly, I'd have still enjoyed reading the book if it wasn't advertised as a romance and if Peach and Matt left the wedding separately which is not a good thing for a romance, but this book was so funny that it made up for my disappointment about the romance.
This book is a closed-door romance with no steam.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
In general, this was a fun and a light book to read, great for reading on a beach or if you're looking for a book to escape into. I found some of the events a little too unbelievable, especially as the book progressed, but hey - I guess that's par for the course with a rom-com.
The protagonist Peach is a sweet character and I wanted to see her find her happiness but I wasn't convinced that the person who she could find romantic happiness with was Matt.
Because much of the book centres around the wedding, the reader doesn't get to spend as much time with Peach and Matt and to see their relationship develop. We see the comedy of errors and the multiple miscommunications they have but the reader doesn't really see them moving to address those miscommunications. Peach is dealing with her sister, she's dealing with the wedding, she's dealing with the other people that are with them in Italy. With all this going on, she doesn't have as much time to really deal with her relationship with Matt.
Honestly, I'd have still enjoyed reading the book if it wasn't advertised as a romance and if Peach and Matt left the wedding separately which is not a good thing for a romance, but this book was so funny that it made up for my disappointment about the romance.
This book is a closed-door romance with no steam.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
October 28, 2021
Well, this was a fun read! Italy, sun, weddings and exes - It felt like, throughout the book, I was watching a romcom film, with Cameron Diaz playing the role of Di (why her? I don't know. Don't ask. Never mind the fact that this is an English novel, i.e. novel about English people, and she is not English). It was a light, escapist read that I finished in around 8 hours. There were some funny and witty lines, and the writer did a good job of making supposed-to-seem-charming people look actually charming. She also evoked the beautiful setting perfectly. A lot of things seemed *pretty* forced and not at all realistic, but well, who looks for realism when they are reading a romcom book like this? Overall, a good way to pass time if you like romcoms. It's available on Prime Reading, currently, so you can read it for "free" if you have an Amazon Prime membership ("free" in quotes because you obviously need to pay to have an Amazon Prime membership).
August 4, 2022
I read the first chapter of this round a family members house and I had to download it to my Kindle asap. It's such a light hearted (not very me) book. Lots of drama! I loved every minute of it. Making me wish I was on holiday now!
June 8, 2021
Fun and easy. The characters we’re easy to enjoy and relate to in many instances. A bit predictable, but overall an enjoyable summer read. It started quick and read fast. Light and breezy, much like the title.
Thank you netgalley for the advance copy.
Thank you netgalley for the advance copy.
November 1, 2021
Cute story, easy read
April 18, 2023
Super cute romcom to listen too
September 19, 2023
Absolutely loved it 😁 A romance with humor, fun times, weird situations and a happy ending. Lovely easy read
May 2, 2025
I was getting confused whether to rate this 3.75 or 4..but the ending was so cute. So 4 stars it is.
April 11, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ Twas cute. Reallyyy easy read which is what I wanted. Rom-com vibes. But a little too much chaos, even for a rom-com. The constant miscommunication was annoying. And please tell me we’re not acting like lying to your significant other is a great way to start a relationship?? Anyway it was an entertaining read, but the plot was a little weird.
May 9, 2021
I read the synopsis for ‘Life’s A Beach’ and it certainly sounded like just the kind of read that I needed at that time. I was feeling a little low and in need of a light hearted and fun read. Well ‘Life’s A Beach’ certainly ticked those boxes and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Life’s A Beach’ but more about that in a bit.
The main character in ‘Life’s A Beach’ is a young lady called Peach. Peach is just so lovely but things for her don’t often turn out like they should. Peach is a ‘mystery shopper’ and it just sounds like the ideal sort of job in that she goes around visiting hotels as a guest and assesses the facilities, the food, the service and the staff. Peach is close to her family and she has a sister, who is also her best friend. Peach is supposed to be picking her sister up from the airport but things take an unexpected turn and she ends up spending time having much more fun than standing in an airport. Peach’s sister ends up getting engaged and it’s when Peach meets #TeamGroom that she gets another surprise. What is the surprise? Will Peach find her ‘happy ever after’ ending? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out was I am not going to tell you.
I can honestly say that I haven’t laughed as much as I did whilst reading ‘Life’s A Beach’ in a long, long time. I started chuckling away from early on in the story and I didn’t stop chuckling until long after I had finished reading the story. I picked the book up only intending to make a start on it and read a couple of chapters. There was one problem, I started reading and I just couldn’t stop. I loved the character of Peach and I just had to keep reading to see how the story turned out for her. I became so wrapped up in the story hat I lost all track of time and I lost track of how quickly I was getting through the story. I found ‘Life’s A Beach’ to be a gripping read, which held my interest from start to finish.
‘Life’s A Beach’ is extremely well written. Portia certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into one hell of a light hearted and funny story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I love the way in which Portia creates such lovable characters and she describes them so vividly that they seem to jump off the page and they seem just as realistic as you and I. I love the way in which Portia makes the reader feel part of the story and at the centre of the action. ‘Life’s A Beach’ was unputdownable and a true page turner.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Life’s A Beach’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Portia’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
The main character in ‘Life’s A Beach’ is a young lady called Peach. Peach is just so lovely but things for her don’t often turn out like they should. Peach is a ‘mystery shopper’ and it just sounds like the ideal sort of job in that she goes around visiting hotels as a guest and assesses the facilities, the food, the service and the staff. Peach is close to her family and she has a sister, who is also her best friend. Peach is supposed to be picking her sister up from the airport but things take an unexpected turn and she ends up spending time having much more fun than standing in an airport. Peach’s sister ends up getting engaged and it’s when Peach meets #TeamGroom that she gets another surprise. What is the surprise? Will Peach find her ‘happy ever after’ ending? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out was I am not going to tell you.
I can honestly say that I haven’t laughed as much as I did whilst reading ‘Life’s A Beach’ in a long, long time. I started chuckling away from early on in the story and I didn’t stop chuckling until long after I had finished reading the story. I picked the book up only intending to make a start on it and read a couple of chapters. There was one problem, I started reading and I just couldn’t stop. I loved the character of Peach and I just had to keep reading to see how the story turned out for her. I became so wrapped up in the story hat I lost all track of time and I lost track of how quickly I was getting through the story. I found ‘Life’s A Beach’ to be a gripping read, which held my interest from start to finish.
‘Life’s A Beach’ is extremely well written. Portia certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into one hell of a light hearted and funny story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I love the way in which Portia creates such lovable characters and she describes them so vividly that they seem to jump off the page and they seem just as realistic as you and I. I love the way in which Portia makes the reader feel part of the story and at the centre of the action. ‘Life’s A Beach’ was unputdownable and a true page turner.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Life’s A Beach’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Portia’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 21, 2021
Portia MacIntosh's best book so far, just go and read it for yourself now, especially if you are already a fan of hers. And if you aren't well all the books are fab so this one seems like another level of fun and brilliance.
So we have a mystery shopper, Peach with a fake boyfriend, who was a wonderful one night with a real man with rather similar characteristics to the fake boyfriend.
We have her sister Di, who fell in love at first sight at a friends wedding a week ago, arrived back in the UK to say she is getting married in a week or so's time, in a luxurious Italian resort.
But, well by the time the bridal party all make it to Italy, in the group that are spending the week getting ready for the wedding there is - Peaches most recent one night stand, the man she lost her virginity too, Di's long term ex, the groom and let's just say there is some overlap between the labels I've given the various men!
And I'm not telling you what the overlap is, add in Peach and Di's cousin Van over from LA who is the life and soul of the party, a cousin of the groom that takes an instant fancy to Peach, and Di's best friend who never seems to like Peach, and seems jealous of any male attention that Peach gets - and you have the cast for a wonderful rom com!
And it truly is wonderful, and I could easily see this on the big screen, and 100% is should be made into a film. But until then well the movie playing out in my mind while I was reading the words was rather fantastic! And I have to say I haven't even touched to the surface of men and the various connections between them and the various women of the group!
It's nuts and it really does show what a small world it is. And the Italian setting is gorgeous, just what is needed especially when fate seems to be pushing two people together a lot!
But does Peach really believe her sister can be happy after only knowing the groom for a week, or will she try to throw a spanner in the works. And is she the only one thinking like that, or are there perhaps more at the wedding that may not be completely on board with the happy pairing!?
Well you will need to read to find out, and I was hooked from the first few pages, and that was before the situation evolved the way it did at which point I couldn't get enough of the book.
It's completely brilliant, very entertaining and amusing and just a top notch rom com! I'm gutted I reached the end would have happily kept on reading for a long while as I was enjoying these characters so much.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
So we have a mystery shopper, Peach with a fake boyfriend, who was a wonderful one night with a real man with rather similar characteristics to the fake boyfriend.
We have her sister Di, who fell in love at first sight at a friends wedding a week ago, arrived back in the UK to say she is getting married in a week or so's time, in a luxurious Italian resort.
But, well by the time the bridal party all make it to Italy, in the group that are spending the week getting ready for the wedding there is - Peaches most recent one night stand, the man she lost her virginity too, Di's long term ex, the groom and let's just say there is some overlap between the labels I've given the various men!
And I'm not telling you what the overlap is, add in Peach and Di's cousin Van over from LA who is the life and soul of the party, a cousin of the groom that takes an instant fancy to Peach, and Di's best friend who never seems to like Peach, and seems jealous of any male attention that Peach gets - and you have the cast for a wonderful rom com!
And it truly is wonderful, and I could easily see this on the big screen, and 100% is should be made into a film. But until then well the movie playing out in my mind while I was reading the words was rather fantastic! And I have to say I haven't even touched to the surface of men and the various connections between them and the various women of the group!
It's nuts and it really does show what a small world it is. And the Italian setting is gorgeous, just what is needed especially when fate seems to be pushing two people together a lot!
But does Peach really believe her sister can be happy after only knowing the groom for a week, or will she try to throw a spanner in the works. And is she the only one thinking like that, or are there perhaps more at the wedding that may not be completely on board with the happy pairing!?
Well you will need to read to find out, and I was hooked from the first few pages, and that was before the situation evolved the way it did at which point I couldn't get enough of the book.
It's completely brilliant, very entertaining and amusing and just a top notch rom com! I'm gutted I reached the end would have happily kept on reading for a long while as I was enjoying these characters so much.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
May 13, 2021
Because sometimes life is a beach.
Life is a Beach is a lovely rom-com where all possible things go wrong during a destination wedding.
Peach is a sensible 31yo who inadvertently had a one-night-stand with the person who would turn out to be the best man in her sister's wedding.
She didn't expect to see Matt again after he left the morning after without even saying good-bye, but there he was, and now she would have to endure a whole trip to Italy in his company and to spend the entire week in the same vila with him.
To make matters even worse, Peach accidentally invited her sister's ex to the wedding, and he meant trouble.
The book was so much fun! Everybody was connected and had something to hide.
I love Portia's witty dialogues and her adorably awkward characters. Peach and Matt were so lovely and had great chemistry.
I read the book in one sitting. I just could not put it down.
Life is a Beach is a fun light read, with wonderful characters and great bantering.
Lovely read!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
Life is a Beach is a lovely rom-com where all possible things go wrong during a destination wedding.
Peach is a sensible 31yo who inadvertently had a one-night-stand with the person who would turn out to be the best man in her sister's wedding.
She didn't expect to see Matt again after he left the morning after without even saying good-bye, but there he was, and now she would have to endure a whole trip to Italy in his company and to spend the entire week in the same vila with him.
To make matters even worse, Peach accidentally invited her sister's ex to the wedding, and he meant trouble.
The book was so much fun! Everybody was connected and had something to hide.
I love Portia's witty dialogues and her adorably awkward characters. Peach and Matt were so lovely and had great chemistry.
I read the book in one sitting. I just could not put it down.
Life is a Beach is a fun light read, with wonderful characters and great bantering.
Lovely read!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
January 19, 2022
I was fairly well entertained by this, but it had some pretty significant issues, which subtracted two stars.
First of all, I absolutely hate it when the main conflict could have been - if not avoided, then at least diminished significantly by two people just communicating with each other. I fully get why the conflict arose, but good grief! Two words a bit earlier on in the book would have solved everything.
And the worst thing was that Peach didn't learn anything from it! Conflict #1 was exaggerated because of no communication, then by all means, let's not communicate when conflict #2 rolls around either!
Gah. That plus the extremely moralizing tone suddenly assumed in the last chapter made me roll my eyes and bring the rating down a notch.
But apart from those things, I did actually really enjoy the book. It wasn't nearly as good as "Honeymoon for One" (which I'd still recommend unreservedly), but took place on the same Italian island, which is never a bad setting for a book. Also, with a few exceptions I liked all the characters, and loved seeing the growth in some of them! And that what I had assumed was supposed to be the main plotline/conflict ended up being only a minor detail in the end.
First of all, I absolutely hate it when the main conflict could have been - if not avoided, then at least diminished significantly by two people just communicating with each other. I fully get why the conflict arose, but good grief! Two words a bit earlier on in the book would have solved everything.
And the worst thing was that Peach didn't learn anything from it! Conflict #1 was exaggerated because of no communication, then by all means, let's not communicate when conflict #2 rolls around either!
Gah. That plus the extremely moralizing tone suddenly assumed in the last chapter made me roll my eyes and bring the rating down a notch.
But apart from those things, I did actually really enjoy the book. It wasn't nearly as good as "Honeymoon for One" (which I'd still recommend unreservedly), but took place on the same Italian island, which is never a bad setting for a book. Also, with a few exceptions I liked all the characters, and loved seeing the growth in some of them! And that what I had assumed was supposed to be the main plotline/conflict ended up being only a minor detail in the end.
March 27, 2022
Started out promising, went down hill from there. By the end none of the characters felt real to me. I can overlook a lot of dumb hijinks if there is enough charm in the story or the characters, which was sadly not the case in this book.
June 15, 2021
Life’s A Beach by Portia MacIntosh, ready by Karen Cass is a 2021 Boldwood Books publication. Cass’s narration was excellent. Male and female voices were well-defined. I especially liked the lightly accented lilt of Peach’s voice.
I can’t think of a time I’ve rated a rom-com higher than four stars, and until a little over halfway into Life’s A Beach, I was thinking I had found a unicorn and would rate this book five stars because it was so witty and entertaining with a great story and characters.
Peach – thirtyish mystery shopper – meets the man of her imagination, Matt, when she’s at the airport to pickup her younger sister, Di. When Di’s plane is delayed overnight, Peach and Matt end up getting acquainted intimately (wink, wink), but by morning he’s only a memory.
Two weeks later, She’s on the Italian coast for her sister’s impromptu wedding. Can you guess who the best man is?
And that’s only the beginning of awkward situations when the guest list bears ex-boyfriends and one-night stands in attendance.
________________
This story was everything I could want in a fantastic rom-com. Peach was funny, intelligent, and confident – an all-around likeable heroine. She was dealing with realistic situations and had relatively normal parents and sister. Matt was charming and sincere, not at all like a reprobate. Peach and Matt showed the chemistry and spark of a new couple seriously attracted to one another. The humor was fun, witty, perfect.
By the time all the characters were on the island and connections were explained, the drama had reached a level that required suspension of reality to be believable. Which wasn’t too bad, since this was a rom-com, but it was that so many characters had slept with each other in the past. I’m not talking about cheating here, just past relationships however brief they may have been. This intimate sharing among the group kind of grossed me out.
Miscommunication trope was used here. Initially it worked for the couple, but it when it was used a second time, I began to lose interest. It tainted my enjoyment of their relationship.
Secrets were kept hidden; this didn’t feel right to me. The theme seemed to be that some details or connections should not be revealed, even to someone you are close to and who would be emotionally affected by knowing that information. Had I been in this situation with a person keeping this secret from me, I would have felt grossly betrayed by the secret keeper, more so than by the fact they kept, were the secret ever revealed.
Some of the male characters were on the sleazy side. Their past behavior was accepted and forgiven too quickly and lightly for me. And the total reversal of one man from never having more than sexual encounters to fully committed to one woman in a matter of weeks seemed unlikely, and no reason was given to support this sudden change of behavior.
What started out as a fantastic promising read in the first half of the book, turned into overly dramatic partner swap reveal in the second part. This overshadowed the romance and left me feeling unsatisfied.
I can’t think of a time I’ve rated a rom-com higher than four stars, and until a little over halfway into Life’s A Beach, I was thinking I had found a unicorn and would rate this book five stars because it was so witty and entertaining with a great story and characters.
Peach – thirtyish mystery shopper – meets the man of her imagination, Matt, when she’s at the airport to pickup her younger sister, Di. When Di’s plane is delayed overnight, Peach and Matt end up getting acquainted intimately (wink, wink), but by morning he’s only a memory.
Two weeks later, She’s on the Italian coast for her sister’s impromptu wedding. Can you guess who the best man is?
And that’s only the beginning of awkward situations when the guest list bears ex-boyfriends and one-night stands in attendance.
________________
This story was everything I could want in a fantastic rom-com. Peach was funny, intelligent, and confident – an all-around likeable heroine. She was dealing with realistic situations and had relatively normal parents and sister. Matt was charming and sincere, not at all like a reprobate. Peach and Matt showed the chemistry and spark of a new couple seriously attracted to one another. The humor was fun, witty, perfect.
By the time all the characters were on the island and connections were explained, the drama had reached a level that required suspension of reality to be believable. Which wasn’t too bad, since this was a rom-com, but it was that so many characters had slept with each other in the past. I’m not talking about cheating here, just past relationships however brief they may have been. This intimate sharing among the group kind of grossed me out.
Miscommunication trope was used here. Initially it worked for the couple, but it when it was used a second time, I began to lose interest. It tainted my enjoyment of their relationship.
Secrets were kept hidden; this didn’t feel right to me. The theme seemed to be that some details or connections should not be revealed, even to someone you are close to and who would be emotionally affected by knowing that information. Had I been in this situation with a person keeping this secret from me, I would have felt grossly betrayed by the secret keeper, more so than by the fact they kept, were the secret ever revealed.
Some of the male characters were on the sleazy side. Their past behavior was accepted and forgiven too quickly and lightly for me. And the total reversal of one man from never having more than sexual encounters to fully committed to one woman in a matter of weeks seemed unlikely, and no reason was given to support this sudden change of behavior.
What started out as a fantastic promising read in the first half of the book, turned into overly dramatic partner swap reveal in the second part. This overshadowed the romance and left me feeling unsatisfied.
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