I enjoy every single book that Portia writes; they are fun, quirky and I know will have really interesting characters. They are always books I read quickly, just because I am enjoying them so much. This book gives us all the usual Portia fun and frolics, also a gorgeous setting to ensure we have maximum holiday envy!
Frankie is single, living in a flat share and keen for the promotion of her dreams. It’s within touching distance when one fated day, THE potential promotion announcement day, she finds everything that could go wrong does. Finally getting to her office, Frankie discovers a big change and one that threatens the promotion (and her chance to leave that flat share!)
Addison is cutting the dead wood and everyones needs to prove themselves if they are to stay, including Frankie. Pitching ideas to Addison, Frankie suggests using the old film style “meet cutes” in attempts to pick up men, i.e. ordinary situations that get her and a dream guy talking – falling over in the street, broken down car – that kind of thing.
This results in some hilarious antics, I laughed out loud a few times imagining the things Frankie does. When nothing seems to go to plan she turns to new friend Max, his idea is to invite her to join him on holiday. Hawaii, a dream destination, sounds too good to be true but Addison is over the moon with the possibilities this could have for Frankies article.
With lies being told on all sides, Hawaii may seem like an island paradise, but it soon becomes apparent that Max isn’t all he seems either. Both make bad choices, say the wrong thing but ultimately both Frankie and Max are trying to do what makes them happy whilst pleasing other people, maybe both need to take a step back and reassess.
Thoroughly enjoyable – a friends-to-lovers story with heart and action. Characters that are fun, likeable, and interesting. It ticked all the rom com boxes for me, and it played out in my head like a movie (that’d be a fun idea!)
I highly recommend checking this one out when it is released in May 2022. Many thanks to NetGallery and Boldwood Books for allowing me the opportunity to get an early copy of the book.
#blogtour

I lovedddd this book! How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days is one of my fav movies and this def has similar vibes. Loved the characters, the wit, the love story! I’ve been to Hawaii numerous times and this book has me looking at flights! Such a fun and cute read.

3.5 stars

This book is such a fun read! I honestly wasn’t expecting too much but it was light and fluffy and just what I needed then. It had so many tropes that are probably a bit cliche but that I still enjoy! The characters were great and there were parts where I really laughed a lot. I want to say that it wasn’t very realistic but something about the way Portia Macintosh wrote it made everything so believable and as I said, fun. At times o found the main character a little annoying and naive but I feel like that was also needed and it kinda shows the humane ability to miss things happening in front of you as it acknowledges. I’ll probably keep repeating that it was fun but that’s what it was and I read it in one day at a time I was feeling a bit down and it helped me laugh and see some light. This is a book that’s great to read after a lot of fantasy and serious books that gives you a break and something to laugh at.

Note: I was given this book for free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This books has all the “right” things for a cute rom com book but they just don’t come together in a way to make a decent read. I enjoyed putting this book down for a break or to read the ridiculous dialogue aloud to my husband for a laugh. The concept reminds me of 27 dresses merged with the proposal. It feels like so many of the moments have been done before from being the cute quirky girl who keeps accidentally falling or spilling drinks on people (more than once!) to being shocked that the nerdy man is well-built. I was happy to be done with the book simply because I didn’t want the author to destroy any more tropes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

3.5⭐️
« 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.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC, Netgallery, but sadly i couldn’t get into it as the writing style wasn’t for me!! I see the potential of the book and wish I could’ve gotten into it

First of all: what a gorgeous cover! If I didn’t already know I would love anything by Portia MacIntosh, this cover would have me reaching for the book off my supermarket book shelf.
Now the story. Love Rom coms? Love those meet-cute moments that you’d love to experience in real life? Love fake dating turns real? Then you’ll love this. Throw in some great main characters in Max and Frankie, some dislikable supports , a fabulous setting in Hawaii, a bit of will-she-keep-her-job and some great laugh out loud moments and you have the perfect book for your holidays. Buy it!

This is my 5th book by Portia MacIntosh and it's always a treat !

Frankie is a 34 yo writer. She works for this woman magazine and is expected to revolution the Love and Relationships section she writes for in order to keep her job (while she was about to be promoted and finally be able to afford a place of her own).

She tries so hard to get the perfect meet cute... and it just happens without her noticing.

Max is cute and funny, and they get along very well. When he offers her to go with him to Hawaii for a holiday, it seems like the perfect opportunity to change the scenery and try more meet cutes ... on professional purposes, of course !

Max and Frankie not being honest about their respective reasons to take this agreement leads to some very unconfortable/funny situations. And these bathing suits...

The not so nice secondary characters are really unlikable but they luckily seem to vanish at the end... which is maybe unlikely and too easy.

But overall Max and Frankie are really sweet together. I wish we had more steam, because they had full potential !

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing an an eARC in exchange of an honest review

I loved this so much that I can't wait to read more from this author. It was cute and hilarious! I love the characters and I was never bored.

I am telling everyone I know about this! They. Must. Know!!!

Thank you for sending me a copy.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sending over a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Meet Cute Method is a fun and delicious read for the weekend, with our protagonist Frankie going to Hawaii with someone she barely knew, as an undercover journalist. Will sparks fly?
Recommended for: all the romance novels fans!
Rating: 5/5 Chev's picks

Okay. So a couple of mixed feelings about this one. All reasonably positive, however but solely my opinion.

Let me start by saying I loved this book. Portia has a way with dragging me into these worlds she creates. Its a gift; as a reader I almost feel like I'm right there in the scene on the page, watching everything unfold right before my eyes, and I love that! Being a part of the story is my guilty escape and precisely the reason why I read. Sadly, not a lot of authors manage to pull this off as seamlessly and effortlessly as Miss MacIntosh, and it's why I keep coming back for more of her gorgeous rom coms.

And can I just quickly mention that cover! Boldwood does it again. Chef's kiss!

Now, onto the story...

The Meet Cute Method is about Frankie, a journalist who writes a love and relationships column for a popular women's mag. Frankie, an unlucky in love 30-something is on the verge of a promotion that will see her finally be able to move out of her share house and into a swanky inner-city dream flat. But just when she thinks she's going to waltz into work and receive the good news, BAM! Her boss is sacked and relentless ball-buster, Addison, is tasked with taking over the business and shaking things up. No longer is Frankie thinking of her promotion, now she's just hoping to keep her job... which is when she comes up with the idea for her next column. Meet Cutes, and do they really work or are they just for romance books and films? Frankie will set herself up with attempting few popular meet cutes on the unsuspecting men of London, and write about the success - or, unsuccess rather - in her next piece.

Frankie experiences a few hilarious fails on her meet cute mission, and feels like she is doomed and destined to lose her job.

Enter Max, a Paul Rudd lookalike who writes for the tech magazine a few floors down from Frankie.

From here we flit off to Hawaii in a fairly unbelieve plot twist - you'll understand when you read it - and, in my opinion, the story kind of loses its way a bit from here. Don't get me wrong; it's still funny and adorable and wonderfully written, but not so much about Meet Cutes and more about fake dating and the blurred lines between what's real and what's not. I felt so much time was spent on the fake dating portion of the book, that the Frankie's quest to keep her job was almost forgotten, only to be suddenly remembered at the end, where it was all a bit rushed. Again, my opinion only.

All in all, I did really enjoy this book. I loved Frankie and Max. I also loved the supporting characters and how they helped tie the story together.

Well done on another fab book, Portia MacIntosh. And thank you to Boldwood and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

4/5

This is a clean romance with a great storyline! I loved the characters and how it kept me guessing until the end.

This was just the most beautiful book ,from it's gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline. I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years!

I absolutely loved this story, just the right amount of twists, turns and misunderstandings to keep me turning the pages, I didn't want it to end! Fantastic!

A real beach read type book. Lots of fun and laughs, maybe a little too romance lite for my preferences but the characters were all vivid and fun and Portia Macintosh as an author has done this story well, I just wanted a bit more rom in the romcom

Another really great romance. I just wonder how the author comes up with these brilliantly written laugh out loud scenes, that are so true to life. Every single book I’ve read by her is great, funny and has such well written characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me access to an early copy.

The Meet Cute Method is my fourth novel by Portia MacIntosh. The story follows 34-years-old Frankie who is a lifestyle/relationship writer for a publication for the past decade. Her life isn’t exactly how she thought it would turn out as she does not even live on her own and instead lives with four flatmates, but she has hopes that promotion and more money are in her near future. After her former boss is replaced by a new go-getter, Addison, Frankie’s promotion seems to be no longer a possibility and she has to come up with new ideas to keep her job. After witnessing many meet-cutes all around her, she decides to make that the focus of her new article. Frankie begins trying to force some meet-cutes, which do not always go as planned. The first portion of the book follows Frankie’s journey trying out different meet cute methods with random men she finds.

As she is in her office one day, she meets Max in the lift of the building who works for a tech company on another floor. The two strike up a conversation and begin a semi-friendship. One day Max states that he has a free ticket to Hawaii and would love Frankie to come along as he knows she is in desperate need of a vacation and he does not want the ticket to go to waste. Once the pair reach Hawaii, Frankie discovers this trip is really a family vacation, so she needs to act as Max’s fiancé the whole time. This becomes complicated when she meets Max’s uncle, who is of a similar age, Albie, and finds him attractive. She also discovers that Max does not have the best relationship with his family, so it is not the easiest vacation for her. The latter half of the novel explores Max and Frankie fake-dating in front of his family while discovering possible real feelings for each other.

This story, for me, had great potential, but I just wanted a little more. There are very few interactions between Max and Frankie before they end up in Hawaii, so it was difficult to connect with them at first as a potential couple. Max has a lot of issues with his family, so there were moments where a lot of the story was focusing on him dealing with these problems; however, the story is through the eyes of Frankie, so it did not quite work for me. I enjoyed the Hawaii setting as it made me want to travel to Maui again, so this was a lovely location to create a nice escape read. I enjoyed the awkward meet-cutes at the beginning of the story, especially the one at the very beginning with Sean. That one stood out as mistaken identity is a very sweet meet-cute and I liked how these scenes opened the story. Overall, I liked the ease of the writing as the story flowed well and was an enjoyable read. I greatly look forward to reading more from the author in the future!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for a review copy of this entertaining and enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This is a light, fun book.
Frankie is a journalists, trying to tackle her new assignment on meeting love interests in non computer ways. She is open for a lot, and this makes for some fun moments.
Overall an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun quick read, but the romance felt non-existent. We don’t meet the love interest until about 25% in and I feel like I never learned enough about him to form an opinion. The tropical setting was fun though.

Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Meet Cute Method was such a cute read! Frankie is a writer for a magazine and in charge of the dating portion. Her new boss is on board with Frankie experiencing her “meet cute” with a date in order to have something good to write about. Frankie eventually meets Max, who is funny and charming. I think he was perfect for Frankie and was such a refreshing character. Not your typically broody man. The epilogue was sweet. Overall 3/5 stars.