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The Date Escape
Do movie romances ever happen in real life...?
Frankie doesn't believe in true love. As relationships expert at popular magazine Stylife, she has learnt that dating disasters are far more common than happy ever afters.
So when she is tasked to find out if meet cutes can work in real life she is up for the challenge - but whether it's being a damsel in distress with a flat tyre, or spilling coffee over a stranger, she isn't convinced this can really lead to love.
But little does Frankie know that the ultimate meet cute opportunity is just around the corner. As she is whisked off her feet (all in the name of her work project of course...) perhaps true love isn't just for the movies after all...?
Join bestseller Portia MacIntosh for a laugh-out-loud, feel-good summer read, guaranteed to whisk you away and put a smile on your face.
Praise for Portia
'A hilarious, roaringly fun, feel good, sexy read. I LOVED it!' Holly Martin
'This is a heartwarming fun story, perfect for several hours of pure escapism.' Jessica Redland
'Super-romantic and full of festive spirit. I loved it!' Mandy Baggot
Frankie doesn't believe in true love. As relationships expert at popular magazine Stylife, she has learnt that dating disasters are far more common than happy ever afters.
So when she is tasked to find out if meet cutes can work in real life she is up for the challenge - but whether it's being a damsel in distress with a flat tyre, or spilling coffee over a stranger, she isn't convinced this can really lead to love.
But little does Frankie know that the ultimate meet cute opportunity is just around the corner. As she is whisked off her feet (all in the name of her work project of course...) perhaps true love isn't just for the movies after all...?
Join bestseller Portia MacIntosh for a laugh-out-loud, feel-good summer read, guaranteed to whisk you away and put a smile on your face.
Praise for Portia
'A hilarious, roaringly fun, feel good, sexy read. I LOVED it!' Holly Martin
'This is a heartwarming fun story, perfect for several hours of pure escapism.' Jessica Redland
'Super-romantic and full of festive spirit. I loved it!' Mandy Baggot
284 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2022
831 people are currently reading
1575 people want to read
About the author
Portia MacIntosh
48 books2,050 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 442 reviews
May 2, 2022
Frankie writes about dating and relationships for a women's magazine yet she is an utter failure at both in real life. When her new boss demands that she create something new and exciting this millennial shuts down her dating apps and decides to meet someone the old fashioned way: in person. However, arranging various meet-cutes around town turns out to be more difficult than she realizes. Another failure to add to her already long list.
What she didn't expect was to meet Max who works for a tech magazine on the floor below hers. When they find themselves trapped in a stalled elevator the sparks fly, or do they?
After bumping into each other on numerous occasions they strike up a friendship and Max decides to ask Frankie on a 2 week vacation to Hawaii when his friend bales on him. He doesn't want to go alone and she has mentioned how long overdue a vacation is for her. All expenses paid how can she say no.
Once they arrive in Hawaii things get zanier and zanier. He never mentioned that this was a reunion of his eccentric and dysfunctional family!
This was a fairly cute and lighthearted read but I did have some issues with it. First of all I never really cared for Frankie. We get it, you're not like other girls with all your clumsiness and penchant for quirky clothing so please stop reminding us how unique you think you are. You aren't. This isn't the first book I've read where the main character is a writer on love and relationships yet is a total failure at both themselves. How in the world did you qualify at being an expert at it? And what are the chances that Max comes from a family worth billions? Slim to none in the real world. In all my 46 years I have yet to meet a billionaire. Not to mention everything in the end gets wrapped up with a pretty bow that's so darn convenient that it stretches reality to the point of snapping.
Gripes aside this does make for a great escapist read for those that could use a break from the drudgery of the real world.
If you're a person that can overlook the complaints that I mentioned then you will be rewarded with a silly, smile worthy beach romp so pack up that beach bag and stroll the shores of Hawaii with a family you won't soon forget! 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my complimentary copy.
What she didn't expect was to meet Max who works for a tech magazine on the floor below hers. When they find themselves trapped in a stalled elevator the sparks fly, or do they?
After bumping into each other on numerous occasions they strike up a friendship and Max decides to ask Frankie on a 2 week vacation to Hawaii when his friend bales on him. He doesn't want to go alone and she has mentioned how long overdue a vacation is for her. All expenses paid how can she say no.
Once they arrive in Hawaii things get zanier and zanier. He never mentioned that this was a reunion of his eccentric and dysfunctional family!
This was a fairly cute and lighthearted read but I did have some issues with it. First of all I never really cared for Frankie. We get it, you're not like other girls with all your clumsiness and penchant for quirky clothing so please stop reminding us how unique you think you are. You aren't. This isn't the first book I've read where the main character is a writer on love and relationships yet is a total failure at both themselves. How in the world did you qualify at being an expert at it? And what are the chances that Max comes from a family worth billions? Slim to none in the real world. In all my 46 years I have yet to meet a billionaire. Not to mention everything in the end gets wrapped up with a pretty bow that's so darn convenient that it stretches reality to the point of snapping.
Gripes aside this does make for a great escapist read for those that could use a break from the drudgery of the real world.
If you're a person that can overlook the complaints that I mentioned then you will be rewarded with a silly, smile worthy beach romp so pack up that beach bag and stroll the shores of Hawaii with a family you won't soon forget! 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my complimentary copy.
July 15, 2022
I’ve enjoyed quite a few of this author’s rom-coms, and this one’s no exception. I enjoyed the characters, the setting (London and Maui), and the plot. I especially liked the banter between Frankie and Max. If you’re looking for a funny and entertaining story, give this one a try!
September 18, 2022
This was an okay read. The writing was decent, and the book felt like it had been rewritten many times over to get the details just right, but I feel like in doing so, it lost a lot of the pizazz that most books in this genre have. Everything felt a bit OTT or unrealistic, and the huge climax felt rushed when it should have been more drawn out.
There's a lot of telling, and the main character has plenty of thoughts, but I couldn't "feel" much. I'm not sure I'm really explaining myself well, but when I read, I want to feel like the character. This book didn't give me that.
A 2.9 read.
There's a lot of telling, and the main character has plenty of thoughts, but I couldn't "feel" much. I'm not sure I'm really explaining myself well, but when I read, I want to feel like the character. This book didn't give me that.
A 2.9 read.
May 16, 2022
With an opening line that grabbed me straight away, I thoroughly enjoyed this book from MacIntosh, especially as, to be honest, I had no idea what the title meant!
When Frankie is tasked with an article that could save her or fire her, she knows she has her work cut out. As a dating/romance writer for a women’s magazine, Frankie is investigating whether love can be found through old-fashioned, chance meetings, rather than the digital, remote world of dating apps. Yet, every time Frankie creates such an opportunity, the results are a hilarious catastrophe that had me laughing out loud at the hopelessness of the situation. Even when she happens to get stick in a lift with a cutie, Frankie is haunted by the demands of her article, leading her to even more falsified actions that sees her travelling to Hawaii and meeting a very rich and influential family.
I did laugh with this book; it was the light-hearted tonic that I needed. I can always rely on MacIntosh to write a romantic yet entertaining story, and this ticked all the boxes. I think it helped even more that the story moves to Hawaii and I very much felt like I was experiencing the sun, sea and snorkelling with Frankie. The setting is described as very extravagant and I could vividly picture Frankie’s eyes popping with disbelief at the luxury of the resort and her companions.
To be honest, I was a bit sceptical about the opening of the novel, thinking that MacIntosh’s writing had taken a very new turn. However, I was so pleased I didn’t bin the book because it establishes the fun tone for the rest of the story. I really enjoyed listening in my head to Frankie’s narrative: she is portrayed as so ‘normal’ and ‘girl next door’. I think this made the story so appealing – Frankie is a realistic character who does not seem to be able to find love so easily when apps are apparently there to help navigate the dating game.
I have read several books by this author now and have never been disappointed. This novel is a perfect candidate for a beach read and I found that I just could not put it down because I was desperate to see what meet-cute disaster would befall Frankie next. It’s an entertaining book with love, laughter and sunshine – a perfect combination.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Frankie is tasked with an article that could save her or fire her, she knows she has her work cut out. As a dating/romance writer for a women’s magazine, Frankie is investigating whether love can be found through old-fashioned, chance meetings, rather than the digital, remote world of dating apps. Yet, every time Frankie creates such an opportunity, the results are a hilarious catastrophe that had me laughing out loud at the hopelessness of the situation. Even when she happens to get stick in a lift with a cutie, Frankie is haunted by the demands of her article, leading her to even more falsified actions that sees her travelling to Hawaii and meeting a very rich and influential family.
I did laugh with this book; it was the light-hearted tonic that I needed. I can always rely on MacIntosh to write a romantic yet entertaining story, and this ticked all the boxes. I think it helped even more that the story moves to Hawaii and I very much felt like I was experiencing the sun, sea and snorkelling with Frankie. The setting is described as very extravagant and I could vividly picture Frankie’s eyes popping with disbelief at the luxury of the resort and her companions.
To be honest, I was a bit sceptical about the opening of the novel, thinking that MacIntosh’s writing had taken a very new turn. However, I was so pleased I didn’t bin the book because it establishes the fun tone for the rest of the story. I really enjoyed listening in my head to Frankie’s narrative: she is portrayed as so ‘normal’ and ‘girl next door’. I think this made the story so appealing – Frankie is a realistic character who does not seem to be able to find love so easily when apps are apparently there to help navigate the dating game.
I have read several books by this author now and have never been disappointed. This novel is a perfect candidate for a beach read and I found that I just could not put it down because I was desperate to see what meet-cute disaster would befall Frankie next. It’s an entertaining book with love, laughter and sunshine – a perfect combination.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2022
Have I mentioned recently how much I absolutely love Portia MacIntosh's books?
Oh only every time I review one, I can hear you say...
.. well that is because it's true and Portia has hit it out of the park, a complete home run of brilliance with this latest book.
It's like an ode to rom-com films, with Frankie trying to set up various movie-esque meet cutes. However she doesn't have much luck in any romantic sense, but instead makes me laugh with each attempt.
And then there is the man who she meets in the lift at work, who she is actually attracted too. However her editor reckons office romance isn't interesting enough for the article Frankie is writing. Well up until the point where she gets an interesting offer from him and from there the book catapults itself from the great light hearted fun it was -
- into more of the same but ramped up to new levels, with a new location, a world that is unfamiliar to Frankie and leads to some rather interesting situations! It's just fabulous all over!
And kudos to the cover designer for such a gorgeous cover, and having now read the book one that really does fit to story so well too!
It's just all so so good, and so entertaining and had me smiling and generally feeling happy throughout. Another utterly fabulous rom-com from the extremely talented Portia MacIntosh.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Oh only every time I review one, I can hear you say...
.. well that is because it's true and Portia has hit it out of the park, a complete home run of brilliance with this latest book.
It's like an ode to rom-com films, with Frankie trying to set up various movie-esque meet cutes. However she doesn't have much luck in any romantic sense, but instead makes me laugh with each attempt.
And then there is the man who she meets in the lift at work, who she is actually attracted too. However her editor reckons office romance isn't interesting enough for the article Frankie is writing. Well up until the point where she gets an interesting offer from him and from there the book catapults itself from the great light hearted fun it was -
- into more of the same but ramped up to new levels, with a new location, a world that is unfamiliar to Frankie and leads to some rather interesting situations! It's just fabulous all over!
And kudos to the cover designer for such a gorgeous cover, and having now read the book one that really does fit to story so well too!
It's just all so so good, and so entertaining and had me smiling and generally feeling happy throughout. Another utterly fabulous rom-com from the extremely talented Portia MacIntosh.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 3, 2023
✈️🧳 ¡Haced las maletas que nos vamos a Hawái! 🍹🌴⛵🍍🦀🥥🏖🤿🌠
Empiezo esta reseña dando de nuevo las gracias a la plataforma de NetGalley, la autora y editor que me proporcionaron una copia de este libro. Es el primero de Portia que leo, pero no será el último teniendo en cuenta que ya sé qué esperar.
En The Meet Cute Method, encontré algunos de mis clichés favoritos:
🌴 Friends to lovers
🌴 Fake dating
🌴 Segundas oportunidades
Cuando leí la sinopsis de esta historia, lo primero que me vino a la cabeza fue la comedia romántica «Cómo perder a un chico en 10 días» sin saber lo mucho que acertaría. No es la misma trama exactamente, pero tiene bastantes puntos en común. Y tengo que admitir que no tenía ni idea de lo que significaba el título.
Por poner un poco más de contexto, tenemos a la protagonista Frankie que trabaja en una revista de moda y estilo de vida tal y como lo hace Andie Anderson en la película. Max, en cambio, escribe para una revista de tecnología y no de deportes como Ben Barry.
Frankie está a punto de perder su trabajo y la única forma de mantenerlo es escribiendo un artículo para la nueva editora, Addison. Para ello, se concentra en provocar encuentros casuales típicos de película, y durante la historia vamos repasando algunos de los títulos más famosos de comedias románticas. No hace falta decir que ninguno sale bien y, por eso, tras quedarse encerrada en el ascensor con Max, que trabaja en el mismo edificio, se presenta la oportunidad de su vida.
La ambientación en todo el libro es muy descriptiva y te mete de lleno en toda la estética, haciendo de este libro una lectura perfecta para el verano. Ha funcionado el engaño a mi mente para hacerla creer que, por un momento, estaba ahí viendo la historia de Frankie y Max.
Algo diferente que he apreciado de este libro es que los protagonistas tienen más de 30 años, lo que hace una diferencia de mentalidad en los personajes a los que estoy acostumbrada a leer, que suelen ser más jóvenes y orgullosos.
He disfrutado mucho leyendo esta historia por todos los momentos graciosos e inoportunos, pero también había cosas que me molestaban, como los continuos comentarios de Frankie sobre cómo ella no era una chica como el resto. Es una mentalidad muy millenial que no me gusta nada.
Para concluir, no hay mucho más por decir de este libro: la historia es entretenida y la química entre los personajes es buena. No le doy cinco estrellas porque hasta el 40% del libro se me hizo muy lento, me sobró bastante del principio y se podría haber acortado bastante esta historia. Principalmente, no le doy las cinco estrellitas por ese motivo.
Empiezo esta reseña dando de nuevo las gracias a la plataforma de NetGalley, la autora y editor que me proporcionaron una copia de este libro. Es el primero de Portia que leo, pero no será el último teniendo en cuenta que ya sé qué esperar.
En The Meet Cute Method, encontré algunos de mis clichés favoritos:
🌴 Friends to lovers
🌴 Fake dating
🌴 Segundas oportunidades
Cuando leí la sinopsis de esta historia, lo primero que me vino a la cabeza fue la comedia romántica «Cómo perder a un chico en 10 días» sin saber lo mucho que acertaría. No es la misma trama exactamente, pero tiene bastantes puntos en común. Y tengo que admitir que no tenía ni idea de lo que significaba el título.
Por poner un poco más de contexto, tenemos a la protagonista Frankie que trabaja en una revista de moda y estilo de vida tal y como lo hace Andie Anderson en la película. Max, en cambio, escribe para una revista de tecnología y no de deportes como Ben Barry.
Frankie está a punto de perder su trabajo y la única forma de mantenerlo es escribiendo un artículo para la nueva editora, Addison. Para ello, se concentra en provocar encuentros casuales típicos de película, y durante la historia vamos repasando algunos de los títulos más famosos de comedias románticas. No hace falta decir que ninguno sale bien y, por eso, tras quedarse encerrada en el ascensor con Max, que trabaja en el mismo edificio, se presenta la oportunidad de su vida.
“Don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to”.
La ambientación en todo el libro es muy descriptiva y te mete de lleno en toda la estética, haciendo de este libro una lectura perfecta para el verano. Ha funcionado el engaño a mi mente para hacerla creer que, por un momento, estaba ahí viendo la historia de Frankie y Max.
Algo diferente que he apreciado de este libro es que los protagonistas tienen más de 30 años, lo que hace una diferencia de mentalidad en los personajes a los que estoy acostumbrada a leer, que suelen ser más jóvenes y orgullosos.
He disfrutado mucho leyendo esta historia por todos los momentos graciosos e inoportunos, pero también había cosas que me molestaban, como los continuos comentarios de Frankie sobre cómo ella no era una chica como el resto. Es una mentalidad muy millenial que no me gusta nada.
Para concluir, no hay mucho más por decir de este libro: la historia es entretenida y la química entre los personajes es buena. No le doy cinco estrellas porque hasta el 40% del libro se me hizo muy lento, me sobró bastante del principio y se podría haber acortado bastante esta historia. Principalmente, no le doy las cinco estrellitas por ese motivo.
July 29, 2023
*Guilty Pleasure*
Frankie is a journalist and is living in a shared accommodation that she hates and is writing for a romance magazine for women. It is not stretching or challenging her. At least her editor is easy going. She turns up late for a meeting of throwing ideas around and finds herself with a no nonsense new editor and the idea she had planned was the very thing this new editor says she does not want to hear. She has to think on the spot. She comes up with meet cutes meaning meeting a man the old fashioned way and not online.
She then has to come up with examples which she tries with hilarious lol moments and as Frankie is so skeptical about dating & love she ends up missing what’s right in front of her …. Will she take the plunge and go for what has been staring her in the face……
This was hilarious in parts and lighthearted, a touch silly in parts but I could easily gloss over due to the lol moments a great beach read
Frankie is a journalist and is living in a shared accommodation that she hates and is writing for a romance magazine for women. It is not stretching or challenging her. At least her editor is easy going. She turns up late for a meeting of throwing ideas around and finds herself with a no nonsense new editor and the idea she had planned was the very thing this new editor says she does not want to hear. She has to think on the spot. She comes up with meet cutes meaning meeting a man the old fashioned way and not online.
She then has to come up with examples which she tries with hilarious lol moments and as Frankie is so skeptical about dating & love she ends up missing what’s right in front of her …. Will she take the plunge and go for what has been staring her in the face……
This was hilarious in parts and lighthearted, a touch silly in parts but I could easily gloss over due to the lol moments a great beach read
July 23, 2022
3/5 ⭐️
thank you boldwood books for this arc! this book was published on may 4th, 2022.
this book was an alright read for me, but e wasn’t really anything spectacular. i enjoyed the story overall, but i really didn’t feel so invested in the story that i couldn’t put the book down. this is a contemporary romance story, but the one sexy scene is a fade to black so there is really no spice. this was a good escapist read simply because of the hawaii setting and the vacation vibes, but overall wasn’t my favorite. i liked max as a character, but i really didn’t love frankie’s character. she was the stereotypical “quirky MC” that i feel is a bit overrated at this book. their love story also felt too insta-love for me, but i did like the workplace romance trope, the one bed trope, and fake dating.
“don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to.”
thank you boldwood books for this arc! this book was published on may 4th, 2022.
this book was an alright read for me, but e wasn’t really anything spectacular. i enjoyed the story overall, but i really didn’t feel so invested in the story that i couldn’t put the book down. this is a contemporary romance story, but the one sexy scene is a fade to black so there is really no spice. this was a good escapist read simply because of the hawaii setting and the vacation vibes, but overall wasn’t my favorite. i liked max as a character, but i really didn’t love frankie’s character. she was the stereotypical “quirky MC” that i feel is a bit overrated at this book. their love story also felt too insta-love for me, but i did like the workplace romance trope, the one bed trope, and fake dating.
“don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to.”
May 4, 2022
4,5 ⭐️
“Don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to”
Pack you suitcases! We’re going to Hawaii! Sounds nice, right? In the absence of a real vacation I settled for second best and flied there with Portia MacIntosh’s latest novel, The Meet Cute Method. And one thing it has a ton of is cuteness!
It’s not a secret I’m a big fan of her books. I’ve never rated one of them lower than 4 stars (and I’ve read quite a few), and The Meet Cute Method was not the exception. It is another great lighthearted romance, paying homage this time to classic rom-com movies with a series of hilarious, romantic and sometimes straight bonkers meet-cutes that had me smiling the whole book.
Frankie writes about love and dating for a women’s magazine, but her love life is far from a success. When her new boss asks her to write about meeting people the old fashioned way she’ll have to come up with several meet-cute scenarios to demonstrate you don’t need a phone app to find love, although it will soon prove trickier than she expected.
The story goes through several tropes of the genre (friends to lovers, fake dating, second chances) but it does it in a really natural way, not feeling forced at all. It’s not as if the author was trying to cram as many things as possible into the story but the logical way for the story to develop.
When you think things could not get any better the action moved to Hawaii and that was my favorite part of all. Not only was it a gorgeous location that made me wish I was there (I’ll even settled for a non 5 stars resort), but I just loved Frankie and Max’s whole inner journey while in there. I loved both of them so much, both individually and together. Despite a rocky start and some hiccups they had such great chemistry.
If you’re in the mood for some light read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling, a Portia MacIntosh novel is always a sure bet.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour.
“Don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to”
Pack you suitcases! We’re going to Hawaii! Sounds nice, right? In the absence of a real vacation I settled for second best and flied there with Portia MacIntosh’s latest novel, The Meet Cute Method. And one thing it has a ton of is cuteness!
It’s not a secret I’m a big fan of her books. I’ve never rated one of them lower than 4 stars (and I’ve read quite a few), and The Meet Cute Method was not the exception. It is another great lighthearted romance, paying homage this time to classic rom-com movies with a series of hilarious, romantic and sometimes straight bonkers meet-cutes that had me smiling the whole book.
Frankie writes about love and dating for a women’s magazine, but her love life is far from a success. When her new boss asks her to write about meeting people the old fashioned way she’ll have to come up with several meet-cute scenarios to demonstrate you don’t need a phone app to find love, although it will soon prove trickier than she expected.
The story goes through several tropes of the genre (friends to lovers, fake dating, second chances) but it does it in a really natural way, not feeling forced at all. It’s not as if the author was trying to cram as many things as possible into the story but the logical way for the story to develop.
When you think things could not get any better the action moved to Hawaii and that was my favorite part of all. Not only was it a gorgeous location that made me wish I was there (I’ll even settled for a non 5 stars resort), but I just loved Frankie and Max’s whole inner journey while in there. I loved both of them so much, both individually and together. Despite a rocky start and some hiccups they had such great chemistry.
If you’re in the mood for some light read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling, a Portia MacIntosh novel is always a sure bet.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour.
July 18, 2022
I really really tried with this book , but I'm giving up at 72%.
I don't feel any connection to the characters, I don't see Frankie's attraction to Max, and it doesn't help at all that Frankie again and again meets up with Albi and is charmed by him. Frankie is dull, boring and not very bright. She could have been interesting but the auzhor made no effort. Max's character was equally under developed, he wasn't attractive at all.
I couldn't detect anything funny or banter-like in the book!
The part that made me finally quit reading was Frankie and Max talking about past partners... Frankie tells him about an experience with an ex: she had given her consent to sex, so she obviously couldn't tell him to stop during it, although she felt weirded out, and was covered in scratches, love bites and bruises afterwards ? What the.....? And then they moved on to Max's past as if this was just some random usual thing?
I was not amused.
I don't feel any connection to the characters, I don't see Frankie's attraction to Max, and it doesn't help at all that Frankie again and again meets up with Albi and is charmed by him. Frankie is dull, boring and not very bright. She could have been interesting but the auzhor made no effort. Max's character was equally under developed, he wasn't attractive at all.
I couldn't detect anything funny or banter-like in the book!
The part that made me finally quit reading was Frankie and Max talking about past partners... Frankie tells him about an experience with an ex: she had given her consent to sex, so she obviously couldn't tell him to stop during it, although she felt weirded out, and was covered in scratches, love bites and bruises afterwards ? What the.....? And then they moved on to Max's past as if this was just some random usual thing?
I was not amused.
July 17, 2022
The Meet Cute Method was most definitely cute. In it, you will meet Frankie. Now she writes about dating, romance and relationship advise for a magazine. Unfortunately, for her, her romantic life is the complete opposite of what she's writing. That's right, it's non-existent. A complete failure.
So, when her boss demands something new and exciting, well, I was pretty excited to see what she would come up with. Maybe she will eventually find her own romantic spark and love. Stepping away from the dating app life, she sets out to meet someone in person. Which ends up being a lot harder than she originally thought it would be.
Enter Max. He works in the same building as her and they end up meeting when their elevator gets stuck. Sounds romantic, right? Well, they keep bumping into each other after that and soon a bond/friendship is born. Somehow, he ends up getting her to agree to go on a 2-week vacation to Hawaii.
Once there, things just get crazier and crazier. I laughed so much when it came to these two. I also really enjoyed watching them turn the friendship into something more. With so many little reveals happening on this trip, it's no wonder that I couldn't put the book down. Definitely enjoyed just how crazy this actually got.
So, when her boss demands something new and exciting, well, I was pretty excited to see what she would come up with. Maybe she will eventually find her own romantic spark and love. Stepping away from the dating app life, she sets out to meet someone in person. Which ends up being a lot harder than she originally thought it would be.
Enter Max. He works in the same building as her and they end up meeting when their elevator gets stuck. Sounds romantic, right? Well, they keep bumping into each other after that and soon a bond/friendship is born. Somehow, he ends up getting her to agree to go on a 2-week vacation to Hawaii.
Once there, things just get crazier and crazier. I laughed so much when it came to these two. I also really enjoyed watching them turn the friendship into something more. With so many little reveals happening on this trip, it's no wonder that I couldn't put the book down. Definitely enjoyed just how crazy this actually got.
May 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!
2.75⭐️
« Don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to. You never really know if that person you end up stuck in a lift with may just be the love of your life. »
Frankie and Max meet in a stuck elevator - that probably makes for a « meet cute », but at 34, Frankie doesn’t really believe in love and this Paul Rudd lookalike seems too good to be true, anyways. Ironic, considering what her job is. Nevertheless, the two of them strike up a friendship - but could it really be more? And can Frankie use this situation to her advantage for work? To find out, follow Frankie and Max to Hawaii as he gets her to pretend to be his fake fiancée, « Fran » (who really is his ex), in front of his less than stellar family. Can Frankie navigate through this tricky situation without making a mess of things? Doubtful.
A romcom, with another cute cartoon cover, short chapters, the fake dating trope and a love interest who looks like a young Paul Rudd. What more could you want?
I liked the book, but not as much as I thought I would. I can’t really explain it - I liked the characters and as I’ve said before, this contains a lot of things I like. But I am an avid romcom reader, and while this is a good book, this is not one of my favorites. I think I expected the romance to be more than it was - we don’t really see Frankie and Max together that much. I wanted more pining, more longing glances - little things to indicate that there is actually something there. Well, I guess we got it from sweet Max with the jealous looks whenever his sucky uncle got too close from his fake fiancée. But I didn’t get enough from her. It was just too sudden, just like the resolution was. I wanted something to work for. And I expected some spice because of the description but really this is fade to black. Not that is is necessarily a bad thing - I like the innocent, sweet romances just as well. I’m just saying I felt like there was a little something missing.
2.75⭐️
« Don’t ignore what’s around you because you’re so focused on what you’re trying to move closer to. You never really know if that person you end up stuck in a lift with may just be the love of your life. »
Frankie and Max meet in a stuck elevator - that probably makes for a « meet cute », but at 34, Frankie doesn’t really believe in love and this Paul Rudd lookalike seems too good to be true, anyways. Ironic, considering what her job is. Nevertheless, the two of them strike up a friendship - but could it really be more? And can Frankie use this situation to her advantage for work? To find out, follow Frankie and Max to Hawaii as he gets her to pretend to be his fake fiancée, « Fran » (who really is his ex), in front of his less than stellar family. Can Frankie navigate through this tricky situation without making a mess of things? Doubtful.
A romcom, with another cute cartoon cover, short chapters, the fake dating trope and a love interest who looks like a young Paul Rudd. What more could you want?
I liked the book, but not as much as I thought I would. I can’t really explain it - I liked the characters and as I’ve said before, this contains a lot of things I like. But I am an avid romcom reader, and while this is a good book, this is not one of my favorites. I think I expected the romance to be more than it was - we don’t really see Frankie and Max together that much. I wanted more pining, more longing glances - little things to indicate that there is actually something there. Well, I guess we got it from sweet Max with the jealous looks whenever his sucky uncle got too close from his fake fiancée. But I didn’t get enough from her. It was just too sudden, just like the resolution was. I wanted something to work for. And I expected some spice because of the description but really this is fade to black. Not that is is necessarily a bad thing - I like the innocent, sweet romances just as well. I’m just saying I felt like there was a little something missing.
August 3, 2022
i enjoyed this for the most parts but tbh the ending felt kind of rushed as well as the conflict situation…
but really cute love story!
but really cute love story!
August 8, 2022
Frankie is writing a column about being single and trying to find a guy to fall in love with. She's been experimenting with dating apps and various methods of meeting people and pretty much everything has been a disaster. When she gets stuck in the lift with tech writer Max he ends up inviting her to a Hawaiian holiday with him. Her fearsome editor thinks this could be great fodder for her meet-cutes column. But if she ends up liking Max for real and he finds out that she flirts with men for work it might not go down very well. This had its amusing moments but given that Frankie gives so much page time to the many other random dudes she flirts with her actual romance is left a little superficial, and when she realizes she's in love with him it seems a bit sudden.
Steam level: sex is implied but I didn't see anything.
Steam level: sex is implied but I didn't see anything.
April 12, 2024
I definitely laughed out loud!
Want to read more by this author!
Want to read more by this author!
May 4, 2022
This is my first book by this author and what a great book to start with.
Before I get carried away this really started with Addison, a new editor at Stylife who has been given the task of shaking things up. Replacing former editor Jane who was about to promote Frankie, she is cutting staff and showing no mercy.
During a staff meeting, the only good idea comes from relationship expert (irony in it’s best form) Frankie and she suddenly finds herself Addison’s new pet project. Dating the old fashioned way via meet cutes rather than online and via an app.
Frankie is an absolute disaster when it comes to dating and the scrapes she got herself into when trying to set up meet cutes were brilliant, especially the dog in park scenario. These men are missing out as I found Frankie completely adorable and I fell in love with her, blue tongue and all.
Then there was Max, Paul Rudd lookalike who works for a tech company in the same building. Finding themselves stuck in a lift it’s the perfect meet cute. It’s just a shame that Frankie missed seeing that.
Then the book took a complete turn and Frankie ends up in tropical paradise and posing as a fake fiancée. I love the fake dating trope as it always leads to so much fun and games. Poor Frankie who can barely scrape rent suddenly has to pretend to the family of a billionaire that she’s a spinal surgeon. Hard to do, especially with your bum on show and the odd boob slip.
This was sweet and funny, with glamour, private pools and a super yacht. Brimming with misadventures and a protagonist that you hope gets the happy ever after.
Before I get carried away this really started with Addison, a new editor at Stylife who has been given the task of shaking things up. Replacing former editor Jane who was about to promote Frankie, she is cutting staff and showing no mercy.
During a staff meeting, the only good idea comes from relationship expert (irony in it’s best form) Frankie and she suddenly finds herself Addison’s new pet project. Dating the old fashioned way via meet cutes rather than online and via an app.
Frankie is an absolute disaster when it comes to dating and the scrapes she got herself into when trying to set up meet cutes were brilliant, especially the dog in park scenario. These men are missing out as I found Frankie completely adorable and I fell in love with her, blue tongue and all.
Then there was Max, Paul Rudd lookalike who works for a tech company in the same building. Finding themselves stuck in a lift it’s the perfect meet cute. It’s just a shame that Frankie missed seeing that.
Then the book took a complete turn and Frankie ends up in tropical paradise and posing as a fake fiancée. I love the fake dating trope as it always leads to so much fun and games. Poor Frankie who can barely scrape rent suddenly has to pretend to the family of a billionaire that she’s a spinal surgeon. Hard to do, especially with your bum on show and the odd boob slip.
This was sweet and funny, with glamour, private pools and a super yacht. Brimming with misadventures and a protagonist that you hope gets the happy ever after.
September 29, 2022
This rom-com is so fun! And so funny! It’s cheeky and irreverent but sweet. Frankie is a magazine writer assigned to write about the best meet-cute methods. Max works in the same building, and they meet when they get stuck in an elevator together (because of course they do). And off the story goes from there. It’s a quick read that will put a smile on your face. I might rate this even a little higher than 4⭐️-we’ll see how it feels with a little distance.
May 23, 2022
Sigh, where do I begin?
I really wanted to like this book. It had all the makings for a cute book, however, it missed the mark. The characters where not charming as they thought they were and the author felt the word “yeeted” needed to be used unironically.
With that said I found myself bored and rolling my eyes 95% of the time.
I really wanted to like this book. It had all the makings for a cute book, however, it missed the mark. The characters where not charming as they thought they were and the author felt the word “yeeted” needed to be used unironically.
With that said I found myself bored and rolling my eyes 95% of the time.
Read
August 5, 2022DNF @ 7%. It was only when I was looking at my profile page that I remembered I had marked this as "reading" over a week ago. It obviously didn't make much of an impression. The plot reminded me of Would Like to Meet (which I really liked), but the writing here wasn't as impressive.
April 17, 2023
This was such a cute Read the Situations Frankie found herself in were Hilarious....
I felt there could Have been a little more chemistry between the main couple but all in all brilliant!
I felt there could Have been a little more chemistry between the main couple but all in all brilliant!
May 12, 2022
This book was really cute! It went in a different direction than I expected based on both the setup with the work assignment to test out meet-cutes, as well as different from what the synopsis kind of led me to believe. But in a totally good way. I adored all the crazy situations the meet-cutes got Frankie in at first. Like the lost dog one, that was hilarious!
About halfway through is when the big twist showed up, and from there on it became a little different type of story, while staying true to what it began as. There were a lot of different things going on with the different members of Max’s family that we met on their big Hawaiian vacation. So much going on in that family it was probably good we didn’t have a lot going on with Frankie’s family. But I adored Frankie. So many of the ways she tried to meet guys sounded like what I’d end up doing if I tried those things. And the things she said in those situations, especially when she was trying to flirt? Yeah, sounds like my level of flirting, negative one hundred on a scale of 1 to 10.
I liked how even though we knew who the villains or bad guys were, they kind of had their own back story, most of them, that made me feel a little sympathy towards their behavior, or at least a little bit of understanding. Overall there were some parts that seemed a little longer maybe or more descriptive than I might have needed to completely enjoy the story, but those things didn’t take away from the story. This was a fun, sweet read, and I think I would like to read more by this author in the future!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
About halfway through is when the big twist showed up, and from there on it became a little different type of story, while staying true to what it began as. There were a lot of different things going on with the different members of Max’s family that we met on their big Hawaiian vacation. So much going on in that family it was probably good we didn’t have a lot going on with Frankie’s family. But I adored Frankie. So many of the ways she tried to meet guys sounded like what I’d end up doing if I tried those things. And the things she said in those situations, especially when she was trying to flirt? Yeah, sounds like my level of flirting, negative one hundred on a scale of 1 to 10.
I liked how even though we knew who the villains or bad guys were, they kind of had their own back story, most of them, that made me feel a little sympathy towards their behavior, or at least a little bit of understanding. Overall there were some parts that seemed a little longer maybe or more descriptive than I might have needed to completely enjoy the story, but those things didn’t take away from the story. This was a fun, sweet read, and I think I would like to read more by this author in the future!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
April 30, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the Arc!
Actual rating 3.5⭐
I choose this book when I think I need a romcom right now. Following Frankie who had to write an article about meet cute by trying various things to create this meet cute. But as expected, nothing as easy as pie.
Looking at how Frankie trying so hard to do this meet cute but end up met such a ridiculous situation and I enjoy reading this part. She and her subordinate ideas really beyond reason while trying so hard to create this meet cute!
The situation suddenly change into fake dating when she met Max and after that we follow Max and Frankie relationship. The relationship not easy because the way Max and Frankie met in such an unusual way and how the things got complicated with Max family. I like how open they become and how the things progress but surely something will happen and that's when the mess happen.
I love both Max and Frankie here. They have a cute relationship. Even I still think that they have a fast progress. And I like how author wrap the ending.
Actual rating 3.5⭐
I choose this book when I think I need a romcom right now. Following Frankie who had to write an article about meet cute by trying various things to create this meet cute. But as expected, nothing as easy as pie.
Looking at how Frankie trying so hard to do this meet cute but end up met such a ridiculous situation and I enjoy reading this part. She and her subordinate ideas really beyond reason while trying so hard to create this meet cute!
The situation suddenly change into fake dating when she met Max and after that we follow Max and Frankie relationship. The relationship not easy because the way Max and Frankie met in such an unusual way and how the things got complicated with Max family. I like how open they become and how the things progress but surely something will happen and that's when the mess happen.
I love both Max and Frankie here. They have a cute relationship. Even I still think that they have a fast progress. And I like how author wrap the ending.
May 21, 2022
“𝕎𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕨𝕖’𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣, 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕨𝕖? 𝔹𝕦𝕥, 𝕚𝕟 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪, 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕦𝕤.”
⠀
Frankie is jaded when it comes to true love, in fact she’s quite certain it doesn’t exist. Which is ironic since she writes the love and relationship at the popular magazine Stylife. A new boss comes in and upsets the whole work environment, and now Frankie’s job is on the line.
⠀
This romcom was hilarious. In the beginning It’s full of all the meet cutes any heart could desire, and they all turn out tragically. Like apocalyptically tragic, these forced meet cures result in Accidentally stealing a dog, Almost getting arrested, and being forced to the hospital.
⠀
Then the story takes a fun turn with an au natural meet cute this time and… going to Hawaii! (Since I just went to Hawaii a month ago and have been dying to go back ever since, this was absolutely delightful)
⠀
This lighthearted romance knocked it out of the park for me. I’ve never read any of Portia MacIntosh’s books before but this one was great! And I’m excited to go back and read some more of hers!
⠀
Frankie is jaded when it comes to true love, in fact she’s quite certain it doesn’t exist. Which is ironic since she writes the love and relationship at the popular magazine Stylife. A new boss comes in and upsets the whole work environment, and now Frankie’s job is on the line.
⠀
This romcom was hilarious. In the beginning It’s full of all the meet cutes any heart could desire, and they all turn out tragically. Like apocalyptically tragic, these forced meet cures result in Accidentally stealing a dog, Almost getting arrested, and being forced to the hospital.
⠀
Then the story takes a fun turn with an au natural meet cute this time and… going to Hawaii! (Since I just went to Hawaii a month ago and have been dying to go back ever since, this was absolutely delightful)
⠀
This lighthearted romance knocked it out of the park for me. I’ve never read any of Portia MacIntosh’s books before but this one was great! And I’m excited to go back and read some more of hers!
March 28, 2022
I enjoyed this book, our main girl Frankie was relatable and I appreciate a writer who creates characters who don’t look like they walked off a magazine cover, she was also 30-something which makes a nice change from the 20-something characters we so often see.
I didn’t really gel with the “surrounding” characters – her housemates or supposed best friend felt a little two-dimensional and there wasn’t much to their relationships. I did enjoy the vacay to Hawaii, possibly because I am desperate for travel and reading about a 5 star resort made me feel, a little emotionally closer to travelling (although, of course not on the same scale). It does gloss over (what I would call) some Tory vibes and there’s a couple of jibes made about Max’s dad underpaying and treating employees badly which made me uncomfortable as it wasn’t really addressed or dealt with – and for a millennial, I cant see Frankie being okay with that but she seemed a little blindsided by all the consumption and materialistic over-indulgence of the place/family.
Overall, if you’re looking for a witty, quick summer read, then this definitely ticks the boxes
I didn’t really gel with the “surrounding” characters – her housemates or supposed best friend felt a little two-dimensional and there wasn’t much to their relationships. I did enjoy the vacay to Hawaii, possibly because I am desperate for travel and reading about a 5 star resort made me feel, a little emotionally closer to travelling (although, of course not on the same scale). It does gloss over (what I would call) some Tory vibes and there’s a couple of jibes made about Max’s dad underpaying and treating employees badly which made me uncomfortable as it wasn’t really addressed or dealt with – and for a millennial, I cant see Frankie being okay with that but she seemed a little blindsided by all the consumption and materialistic over-indulgence of the place/family.
Overall, if you’re looking for a witty, quick summer read, then this definitely ticks the boxes
April 17, 2022
Reading The Meet Cute Method by Portia MacIntosh reminded me of drinking several Mai Tai’s in a row—it seems like a great idea until the sugar and liquor catches up to you and, instead of cheerfully tipsy, you find yourself vaguely sick. MacIntosh’s story is a laid back romance that nourishes readers who want to escape but whose main character (and sadly the sole first person POV) continuously gave me the dreaded ick.
So what is this story about? Thirty-four year old Frankie George is feeling the pressure as the sole Love & Dating writer at Stylife, a women’s magazine based in London. A new editor is brought in to clean house, and desperate to keep her job, Frankie pitches using meet cutes straight out of the movies to find love instead of swiping endlessly on Matcher. While she attempts different meet cutes, Frankie meets Max Ray, a tech reviewer who works in the same building as her. Their friendship grows, and during a lunch conversation about how overworked she feels, Max offers her a free trip to Hawaii. It sounds too good to be true—and it is. Frankie arrives in Maui to find that Max, who she met only a week ago, has told his family that she’s his fiancee. Told in not so many words by her boss to focus her article on this wild twist or be fired, Frankie must decide whether to let her practical need for her job outweigh the growing desire she has to turn their fake engagement into a real relationship with Max.
From the bat, the thing I noticed most about The Meet Cute Method is that its characters are flat and cliche. Frankie, who should be the most dynamic and compelling of the cast, reads as whiny, listless, and suffering from the worst case of Not-Like-Other-Girls Syndrome. Having unhappily worked at Stylife for a decade in the same position, the reasons Frankie gives for wanting to stay seem more like excuses to not try. Max, the rich boy with a sad history and messed up family dynamics, is equally boring and cliche. He fits perfectly in with bland Nice Guy book boyfriends, but his actions are so unrealistic that he’d fit in better as a Ken doll. He acts only to react, with even his worst moments being so perfectly understandable that Frankie forgives him fast. Side characters, from Frankie’s boss Addison and work bestie Cora to Max’s entire close family and playboy uncle serve only as a means to an end without any personality to share between the lot of them.
In a twist I did not see coming, it is Frankie’s meet cutes themselves that ended up proving the most realistic component of the story. Frankie goes through numerous meet cutes of varying degrees, though all sort of stem under damsel-in-distress. Her car breaks down and she needs auto help. She “loses” a book with her phone number in it on the bus. Her keyboard gets drenched. She’s left without her wallet at the hotel bar. And, my favorite of the batch, Frankie is “struggling” in four foot deep water and needs the life guard to save her. Unluckily for her article, each meet cute is thwarted by reality— a group of women stop to help her instead of men; her fellow commuter just keeps the book; tech support is too busy for her flirting; drinks are complimentary; she just needs to stand up. Luckily for me, these delightful failures are so authentic as to what would likely happen if a reader tried to replicate them that I found myself smiling at each new plan. There are meet cutes I think Frankie missed out on that would work without being damsel in distress (same coffee order as a stranger and going for the same cup, as an example) but overall they were my favorite part of the book.
After their third-act breakup, readers and Frankie alike are led to realize that while she has been engineering romance tropes at every turn, it is with Max that they occur naturally. This realization is a complete shock to Frankie and is the catalyst she needs to quit her job at Stylife, but any romance fan would see the signs in glowing neon. I mean, they literally meet in a stuck elevator the first time and the second is when she spills a drink on him! Those situations are classics yet could not save this book. Perhaps Frankie’s rampant cynicism rubbed off on me from the first portions of the book, but I find myself doubting Frankie and Max would last anywhere outside of their so-many hundred pages story, the ultimate strike I have against a romance.
At the end of the day, I feel the best romance novels are those that manage to make the unbelievable situations feel authentic to readers. That connection just never happened for me with The Meet Cute Method. I wouldn’t regret picking this book up if I found it at a library, as I did get some kicks out of reading it. I just cannot feel justified in spending money on a copy of it going forward.
Rating: ⭐️.75/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: .5/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (There is set up for a steamy scene that fades to black.)
**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
So what is this story about? Thirty-four year old Frankie George is feeling the pressure as the sole Love & Dating writer at Stylife, a women’s magazine based in London. A new editor is brought in to clean house, and desperate to keep her job, Frankie pitches using meet cutes straight out of the movies to find love instead of swiping endlessly on Matcher. While she attempts different meet cutes, Frankie meets Max Ray, a tech reviewer who works in the same building as her. Their friendship grows, and during a lunch conversation about how overworked she feels, Max offers her a free trip to Hawaii. It sounds too good to be true—and it is. Frankie arrives in Maui to find that Max, who she met only a week ago, has told his family that she’s his fiancee. Told in not so many words by her boss to focus her article on this wild twist or be fired, Frankie must decide whether to let her practical need for her job outweigh the growing desire she has to turn their fake engagement into a real relationship with Max.
From the bat, the thing I noticed most about The Meet Cute Method is that its characters are flat and cliche. Frankie, who should be the most dynamic and compelling of the cast, reads as whiny, listless, and suffering from the worst case of Not-Like-Other-Girls Syndrome. Having unhappily worked at Stylife for a decade in the same position, the reasons Frankie gives for wanting to stay seem more like excuses to not try. Max, the rich boy with a sad history and messed up family dynamics, is equally boring and cliche. He fits perfectly in with bland Nice Guy book boyfriends, but his actions are so unrealistic that he’d fit in better as a Ken doll. He acts only to react, with even his worst moments being so perfectly understandable that Frankie forgives him fast. Side characters, from Frankie’s boss Addison and work bestie Cora to Max’s entire close family and playboy uncle serve only as a means to an end without any personality to share between the lot of them.
In a twist I did not see coming, it is Frankie’s meet cutes themselves that ended up proving the most realistic component of the story. Frankie goes through numerous meet cutes of varying degrees, though all sort of stem under damsel-in-distress. Her car breaks down and she needs auto help. She “loses” a book with her phone number in it on the bus. Her keyboard gets drenched. She’s left without her wallet at the hotel bar. And, my favorite of the batch, Frankie is “struggling” in four foot deep water and needs the life guard to save her. Unluckily for her article, each meet cute is thwarted by reality— a group of women stop to help her instead of men; her fellow commuter just keeps the book; tech support is too busy for her flirting; drinks are complimentary; she just needs to stand up. Luckily for me, these delightful failures are so authentic as to what would likely happen if a reader tried to replicate them that I found myself smiling at each new plan. There are meet cutes I think Frankie missed out on that would work without being damsel in distress (same coffee order as a stranger and going for the same cup, as an example) but overall they were my favorite part of the book.
After their third-act breakup, readers and Frankie alike are led to realize that while she has been engineering romance tropes at every turn, it is with Max that they occur naturally. This realization is a complete shock to Frankie and is the catalyst she needs to quit her job at Stylife, but any romance fan would see the signs in glowing neon. I mean, they literally meet in a stuck elevator the first time and the second is when she spills a drink on him! Those situations are classics yet could not save this book. Perhaps Frankie’s rampant cynicism rubbed off on me from the first portions of the book, but I find myself doubting Frankie and Max would last anywhere outside of their so-many hundred pages story, the ultimate strike I have against a romance.
At the end of the day, I feel the best romance novels are those that manage to make the unbelievable situations feel authentic to readers. That connection just never happened for me with The Meet Cute Method. I wouldn’t regret picking this book up if I found it at a library, as I did get some kicks out of reading it. I just cannot feel justified in spending money on a copy of it going forward.
Rating: ⭐️.75/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: .5/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (There is set up for a steamy scene that fades to black.)
**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
January 17, 2023
Cute! This was a little predictable but still cute!
May 24, 2025
4.5⭐️ My favorite Portia MacIntosh book so far. So cute.
June 6, 2022
just could not get into this book
gonna DNF it and maybe I will get to it later idk
gonna DNF it and maybe I will get to it later idk
August 24, 2024
“Don't reject love just because you're scared of it.”
July 21, 2023
Its nicely written, it's just a bit boring at times. I wished I could give it 4* but it drags on a little too much.
The characters are nicely written, could have wanted some more growth and thoughts on the characters.
The idea is very great and I did find it funny a couple of times.
The characters are nicely written, could have wanted some more growth and thoughts on the characters.
The idea is very great and I did find it funny a couple of times.
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