"Just don't go falling in love with me for real." 

3.5 Stars!

The Plus One Pact by Portia Mactintosh is a light hearted rom-com. 

It takes place in present world Leeds where we are trying to find our partners through dating apps and constantly being disappointed. She even runs out of guys to swipe on Matcher in her area! This entire scene was all too funny and all too relatable for our time. 

After some rather interesting and funny dates, Cara finds herself a new best guy friend after she was stood up by one of her amazing dates. After she realizes Millsy (aka Joe) is a normal, nice guy they develop a good friendship. Cara has her not-so-nice cousin's wedding coming up and needs a date because the ex-boyfriend that she broke up with and didn't plan on seeing again will be in attendance and will be staying at her parents house. Millsy and Cara develop an understanding to be each other's plus ones to work and life events. Then they end up being flat mates and spending more time together. Their misadventures are actually funny. 

Although the story line sounds very cliche, it was slightly different than I expected. I assumed they would be going to events pretending to be in love, rather, they went simply as plus ones! There were hints throughout the book from Cara's point of view of her attraction to him, like when they slept together in the same bed as friends at Millsy's gran's place. But for the most part they were both set on being friends throughout the book until the end.

It is told in Cara's point of view and scenes are wonderfully described. I do like that Cara has an unconventional job, I think it added a little more character to her than in other rom-coms. However, without too many spoilers, I did not like how Cara did not listen to Millsy when it came to an opinion on a certain someone and I also didn't like how she just didn't ask him what he does for a living and moved in with him without having a real conversation. 

Thank you to Net Galley, Boldwood Books, and Portia Mactintosh for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest reivew.  

Release Date May 21, 2020
Boldwood Books 
Romance, Women's Fiction

This is a fun and engaging novel in which we see Cara give up on online dating and embrace a new her.

I enjoyed the book, despite knowing pretty much where it was going from early on. Its written in the first person and whilst that isn't my favourite style it works for this book.

If definitely look for others by the author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me a copy of the Plus One Pact to read and review early! I’ve been really vibing on romance novels lately and I love British things, so this was a great combination! This was an adorable, quick read that I really enjoyed!

The Plus One Pact 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: What if your plus one could be the one...?


Cara has officially run out of men. Her most recent dates have gone from bad to worse, and when her dating app informs her there is no one left in her area to choose from, she is at a dead end.

But with a summer of events ahead of her, she needs to find a solution, fast; someone to keep her company at the never-ending weddings, family gatherings and gender reveal parties that she can’t face going to alone. So when she meets handsome, confident, Millsy on a night out she may be in luck. They could not be more different in personality, but he too has a summer of events ahead and is desperate to get his family off his back about finding a ‘nice girl’. What if they made a pact to help each other out and be a plus one for the summer? Just as friends of course...?
As someone who has had periods of bad dates after bad dates and times when dating apps have told her that there’s no one left, I definitely empathized with Cara there! Having Millsy show up at the perfect time to help her out for the summer was great and the way things played out was super cute! I thought the Cara’s family dynamics really added to the success of this book- I would have hated to have had a cousin like hers! Overall, this book was super adorable and I really liked the way it was! It comes out on May 21st, so make sure to check it out!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my review of the book. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is expected to publish at the end of May, and I can't help but think that it may be the perfect book to start off the summer with! And I have to say, it makes me so glad to be 'old and married' rather than dating, because poor Cara really does have a run of bad luck with her dates from matching apps!

Much of Cara's life is unknown to me - I haven't used dating apps, I don't have a huge family with lots of family events and weddings and the like. But it sure was fun to read about! The women's fiction/contemporary fiction genre is a new one for me, I haven't read many over the years, but I am noticing some standard plot lines from one to the next. This started out much like the others, but I thought the twist of meeting a cool guy friend near the beginning and making a pact to be each other's 'plus one' for the summer's events was a cute idea. Reminded me of a song, St. Patrick's Day, that I always thought would make a cute story. And of course, as Joe and Cara get to know each other more, as 'just friends', their relationship grows and changes. But you expected that, right?

I didn't love Cara's self image at the beginning of the book. But maybe that comes from too many years of lots of dates, of feeling like she was 'less' for not finding Mr Right, with too many suggestions that she was 'too nerdy' for her love of puzzles - even if it did lead to a cool job! - that hurt her self image. I would imagine that happens for a lot of women - and for that matter, a lot of men as well.

This was a fun little book, a quick and easy read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light read over the summer months.

Love conquers all as they say and this book has it all. Different to most stories and very enjoyable. Portia Macintosh gets better as she writes and this is a 5 star novel. Her books are a joy to read and I recommend this one.

Witty and sweet. Portia MacIntosh has written such a fun lighthearted feel good book! The fake relationship trope is one of my favorites and this is one of the best I’ve read. Cara and Millsy meet one night at a bar when Millsy approaches Cara after she’s been stood up. Cara has gone on a recent string of bad dates and is convinced there is nobody that she matches with who is also geographically desirable and Millsy doesn’t do relationships. The two of them form an unlikely bond and soon decide that they are going to be one another’s plus one for the summer. Both of them have countless family obligations, including Cara’s bitchy cousin’s wedding where her ex-boyfriend is on the guest list. The story was not terribly unpredictable, but that did not matter at all because the journey was divine.

Cara and Millsy were both such tremendously likable characters and I cannot remember the last time I was so anxious for a couple to realize the feelings they have for one another. They also both had great families filled with fabulously colorful characters that I loved getting to know. I really just enjoyed every minute I spent reading this book and was sad to see it end. I would love to see a follow up to the story perhaps a book with Oliver, Cara’s feminist Brother. This book was definitely one of the best romcoms I’ve read this year.

This book in emojis 🧩 🍷 👰🏼 🛥 🎈 🐶

*** Big thank you to Boldwood for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Really enjoyed this. Millsy and Cara were a breath of fresh air. The book starts out a little muddled but works out well over the course.

A good escapist read in these terrible times.

This book is perfect if you are looking for an easy read and if you like crazy scenarios. The book did take me a bit longer to finish because I just couldn’t wrap my head around some of the scenarios, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There were definitely times I did laugh out loud, but all in all I found it predictable like a Hallmark movie (don’t get me wrong – I am a secret Hallmark movie fan. Shh…).

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

A cute story which was amusing when Cara Millsy became each other plus one as settled by their Pact.

They got into quite a few problems in various events, and it was fun to see them come out of it. Both refused to admit they liked each other. Aww gosh...

Portia MacIntosh has written another sweet story filled with mad capers and delightful characters. This was an easy breezy readwhich for done in a couple of hours

I felt like a lot of this book was repetitive, characters explaining things they already felt or said. While I knew the main characters were being set up, I didn’t feel any real chemistry when they were thrown together. It was like all of a sudden they decided it was a romance without any lead up.

Thanks to Netgalley for a ARC of The Plus One Pact. This book is perfect for people who know *exactly* what they want to make them have warm fuzzies. It reminded me a lot of a Hallmark movie in that way. I also understand the pressure of being 30 and unmarried and the pressure your family places on you in that way. It was a cute fun book and if you need something sweet, this is the way to go.

This is your classic feel-good romance book. Girl meets boy. Girl falls in love. The couple finds their happily every after.

I had two major issues with this book. The first was that the whole story was told through Cara's POV. Her POV was just an inner dialogue of thoughts, like "that's a mood" or "he couldn't be serious, right?" Maybe I'm just not a fan of this style of writing, but it just seemed a bit too youth/pop-culture oriented for a modern romance book.

My other issue was that Cara is an incredibly static character. Her entire life revolves around dating men, and when she runs out of men on her app, she has a crisis. I'm not sure that this is incredibly realistic––women do have lives outside of men. I would've liked to see more personality from her throughout the book and a little bit of character development.

It's a sweet read, but I think it's one where you definitely need to like the narration style to enjoy the book.

Special thanks to Rachel @ Rachel's Random Resources for including me in the blog tour and thanks to Boldwood Books and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!

This is the kind of book you bring to the beach because it's light, funny and exactly what you'd want to read when you don't want to think too hard while still enjoying a story. If you've read a few romances or women's fiction books it's not hard to see where the story goes and what will happen next, but sometimes there's really nothing wrong with that. That said, I'm on the fence with how I feel about this book because I did enjoy it and I liked the characters, especially Cara and Millsy. However, we're "told" plenty and not shown much, and there was an unfortunate lack of character development that I feel would've greatly benefitted the story.

The humour from page one already had me thinking that yes, this is a book I'll definitely like and overall, I wasn't wrong. In terms of the plot, there isn't much going on. Cara and Millsy form a pact to go to events together after meeting on a night out and immediately hitting it off as friends, and things move quickly from one event to the next after that. I did have to suspend my disbelief slightly at how the two met, but I've certainly done my fair share of uncharacteristic things that have resulted in very positive outcomes so, I guess it does happen... It just moved very quickly, is all. What also threw me off initially was that it's narrated in first person and it's like Cara is talking to you, the reader, directly and while it's not my preferred POV, it was still okay.

Cara is a pretty funny character and I really related to her thoughts and experiences, especially about being a 30-something year old and being the only one in a group of friends who is single, unmarried and doesn't have kids. I get the pressure that she talks about and I was very much one with her thoughts on this aspect. She's sassy and smart and I enjoyed following the story through her perspective. For the most part I also liked Millsy's character. He was charming, funny and sweet but honestly there wasn't a lot of depth to work with and his character ended up coming across as a bit aloof? I liked that he would go to great lengths to make the people in his life happy though, even if he would moan about having to attend functions etc.

But as I said before, my biggest disappointment is the lack of character development and we're told about their connection (even as friends) rather than shown it. I wanted to see them interact more instead of having Cara tell us that they're getting on like a house on fire and it would've helped me feel their chemistry more and root for them as a friends-to-lovers couple. I obviously thought they should end up together but I wanted to feel more invested.

Despite all of that though I did enjoy it. It was a fast read that I finished in a few hours and I didn't have to think all that much to enjoy it. The humour throughout the book was really spot on and it had me constantly laughing or giggling and that was a big reason why I liked it as much. I'm glad that I got the chance to read this and I would be keen to see what else this author has published!

"The Plus One Pact" is an adorable, witty romance. The story line centers around Cara, who is desperate to find a date for an upcoming family wedding, and Millsy, the man who has quickly become her best friend. Of course they fall in love along the way, and while that may seem like a predictable ending, the author adds so much chemistry and funny moments that it is so enjoyable to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read a few books by this author and have always really liked them and PM’s writing style. This one did not disappoint. Friends to lovers trope, cute, funny and relatable leads in Cara and Millsy. Some might find it predictable but I love these kinds of stories and it’s all about the journey to the end and I found this one to be an engaging and very enjoyable one. Would recommend.

Nice light story.

Millsy and Cara make a pact to be each other's plus one at the many family gatherings they have over the summer. They manage to create a situation that could ruin the event each time, but also each time manage to save the day just before anyone notices.

They're great friends until Cara realises she wants more but doesn't think Millsy feels the same; even though she's noticed she seems to be a good influence on Millsy.

The big fall-out was a bit dumb (basically Cara not listening to what Millsy said), but luckily it wasn't played out for too long.

An uplifting, easy to read, romantic comedy to lift your spirits.
The Plus One Pact is a story about two people finding their perfect match, someone who will take them as they are and not expect them to change.

Cara is kind, good with people but unlucky in love, just not finding the right kind of guy especially , and Millsy, the devilishly handsome and charming man she meets who seems to good to be true, and far too popular with the ladies for Cara.
This witty, romantic tale is very cute. It is probably a tad predictable for some, but I don’t see what is wrong in that. I enjoyed their adventures, the laugh out loud moments entertained me throughout. I was willing Cara to see what was right, slap bang in front of her. Millsy is a fun-loving guy, very good with the ladies. I loved their friendship, getting each other in and out of scrapes was fun.
I think this story shows it may be worth expanding our horizons at times. It’s a light-hearted tale, well written and really enjoyable, take a look if you want something fun to read.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but straight away I got hooked into the story. Cara grows in confidence when she meets Millsy in a bar. They develop a friendship where they agree to be each other's plus one to events. They realise they have more in common as they go on a road trip to meet Millsy's Gran and Cara finds that her ex Lloyd hasn't changed and she should trust her own instincts. A really great read and I will look out for more of Portia's books. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

A nice easy predictable read - perfect for light summer reading. Though I liked the book, there wasn’t a lot of depth to the characters. Cara has dated many many guys - enough to know there isn’t someone out there for her. She meets Millsy at his wedding to her friend. Though the wedding didn’t work out, they built a great friendship throughout the experience and he becomes her friend. This book follows the predictable friend-to-lovers formula.

The Plus One Pact is an adorable and clean Adult Contemporary Romance. Cara is struggling with the dating scene. She strikes out every time she tries to date someone on a dating app, and she's beginning to give up. When she is stood up by the last available guy on her dating app, she is ready to throw in the towel. At least until a handsome stranger comes over to save her. Millsy notices Cara has been stood up, and wants to help her. He enlists friends to give her a makeover and revamp her life as he tries to help her navigate the dating scene. They become fast friends, but could it ever be more?

I found this book to be so cute and I liked that it focused more on Millsy and Cara's friendship for the summer instead of forcing a romance. Sometimes books jump straight into romance, but there are a lot amazing relationships that begin as just friends and organically grow into something more. That is Millsy and Cara's story. They spend the summer being each other's Plus One's to family events - while trying not to *ruin* said events (there are some close calls!). At every point of the books, they are what the other needs in that moment, it's truly beautiful.

As much as I enjoyed the friendship aspect, I almost wish the book was longer so you got to see more of the relationship aspect. It seemed to end kind of abruptly so I feel another few chapters could have continued the story without feeling unnecessary.

The Plus One Pact was an easy read that makes you wish you have a friend as good as Millsy. Because at the end of the day, it's important to be friends with your partner.