The premise behind this book sounded really fun, but the writing was not great and in the end it just didn’t come together. The main character falls in love after knowing the guy for almost no time, but there wasn’t much of the two of them together during that brief period. This book would probably be better as a movie (and that’s not a compliment).
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

This was an adorable rom com. It was a good light hearted read. This will be a perfect beach read this summer to get your mind off anything serious. The main character was cute and fun to follow along her journey. I kind of got How to Lose a Guy vibes but without as much drama.

This was a cute summery read that explored Frankie and Max’s sudden relationship! I thought their relationship with each other was quite fun to see and seeing them fall for each other was lovely!

I wasnt too big of a fan of the roommates and their characters, they felt a little underdeveloped. I feel like it was hard to connect to all the characters in this book within the amount of pages given.

There's a moment not too far into this book where I jut knew exactly where this story was going. I'm glad I had it wrong. A cute twist on the fake dating trope with some good old sibling rivalry thrown in.

Frankie and Max are likable but I didn't feel heat between them. While I found Max engaging early on, their relationship fell a little flat for me, as did the overall story.

I do have to say that, when pitted against his brother by their father to come up with pitches for the family business, Max’s idea is genius, even if I don’t fully understand how it would work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The premise of this book sounded amazing, and I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. Frankie is the romance writer at a popular magazine, and her new boss has a reputation for firing most of her staff. So Frankie suggests creating "meet cute" situations for a new article, and her boss loves that idea. But when Max, an attractive writer that works in the same office building, invites her on vacation with him, the article gets more complicated. This plot should have been incredible but really fell flat. It seemed to jump from plot point to plot point without any setup or flow between the ideas. It also really relied on common romance tropes, which isn't surprising given the book's plot, but somehow just didn't work. I love romance tropes, but these seemed forced into the plot and were not fun to read. Overall, a disappointing read.

Let me start by saying, I think that this book had a lot of potential, I was enjoying the first portion meet cutes, though they were a little cringey and embarrassing, but hey, that's life. Embarrassing things happen a lot, especially whenever you are purposely putting yourself into a situation that is outside of your comfort zone. I also found the book a little slow. We don't meet Max, the fmc's main love interest until later in the book, and even then it's sort of just a passing through type of vibe. Then, miraculously, Frankie and Max end up going on vacation together in Hawaii where Max's parents think that Frankie and Max are engaged, hence, the fake dating. However, I just never really felt that much of a connection between Frankie and Max. They had, what? One date together and a couple of times hanging out and they figure out they're in love? The chemistry between the two was just sort of lacking for me. 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.

This was a light and easy read - it's perfect for a holiday read, especially because the main character is lucky enough to go to Hawaii!

I've read a few of Portia's books and I like her writing style because it is relatable and easy to follow and she will make references to people or tv shows that you've probably heard of/watched, so it didn't take me long to finish this.

But it wasn't my favourite of Portia's books so far. I loved reading about the location and I really liked the description of the love interest at first, but without going into spoilers I wanted more romance and at times there wasn't really any interaction between them and I was left wondering what direction the story was heading in.

Also I felt annoyed about the situations Frankie's boss puts her in and can't imagine there's no one higher she could have spoken to about her concerns. The meet cutes idea got me really hyped for this book but I felt quite disappointed and the one in the park was just too big of a coincidence.

I just didn't really root for Frankie because she seemed a bit flaky when it came to making decisions about her love life, changing her mind from one minute to the next. Also the way she behaved seemed kind of rude in Hawaii and when she finds out about a lie, she gets immediately angry even when she isn't being upfront about everything herself.

There were a few moments which made me smile or laugh, and I liked the character of Max, so I'll give this 3⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood books and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow wow wow! Portia MacIntosh does it again and this has to be one of my favourite reads. Now I fully appreciate that I say that about every book that she releases but that's because they just get better and better.
Frankie is such a relatable character, who is trapped in a flatshare with many room-mates, currently in a job that doesn't fulfil her, she wants more from life. She needs a promotion to get the flat she wants. When the day comes for promotion day, everything starts to go wrong, restructuring starts to take place and she basically can feel this promotion slipping away from her until she speaks to Addison who is sent into the get rid of the dead wood in the company and that is when Frankie makes a pitch for the meet cutes. She decides that there has to be a way of meeting people other than online.
Frankie finds herself trying to set up the meet cutes so then she can write about them. This is just so funny and the situations that Frankie finds herself in are hilarious. She tries to pick up men by staging losing her dog or a broken down car, honestly, I was laughing out loud to all this.
Frankie makes a new friend at work called Max who suggests that she goes on holiday to Hawaii with him. Addison thinks this is perfect and insists that Frankie joins him because this could be perfect for the article.
This book is everything, its got amazing, zany characters who are relatable, the humour is throughout and you are willing for Frankie and Max to see what they have in front of them.
Thank you to Netgalley, Portia MacIntosh and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book as eArc in exchange for an honest review

The book has started so well. It has given me a good laugh on the first few chapters of it. The main female character’s meet cute escapades have totally kept me entertained. This book is totally hilarious and quick fun to read. Just like other romance-comedy books, this one has a lot of potential. Actually, it’s a great beach read! I’d definitely recommend it to any avid readers who is up to another light-hearted romance book.

Thank you to the publisher, @boldwoodbooks for providing me an e-ARC through @netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback. I devoured this cute and hilarious rom-com book overnight.

The Meet Cute Method is full of surprises! It reminded me of How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days and was an entertaining read. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was dual POV, with a bit more romance. A book to add to your summer TBR! Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia MacIntosh for the ARC.

This had the "How to lose a guy in 10 days" effect when I read the blurb. And I had to get it immediately!!!

It started so well and had me laughing out a lot... But somehow things started getting a bit weird as it progressed.

What worked for me:

The premise, the main characters set up and exotic places.
Even the way the story was developed up to 50% felt too good and then it started having a different feel. The story and the characters had so much potential and would have been a 5 star read - if only it was a executed a bit better.

The concerns I had:

< spoiler>

The chemistry between Max and Frankie could have been developed better - the story had so much scope for this.
Several instances I felt Frankie not defending Max is front of his family.
It felt as if she spent more time with Albi and others than with Max.
I wasn't really OK with her flirting with Albi even after knowing he was related to Max.
Would have loved for Max to do a bit more of groveling when he did not tell her the full reason behind the trip and for her to have groveled a bit more towards the end [am all for equality😁].
The ending felt a bit rushed.

</spoiler>

All said, it still was an interesting book. Overall - 3.25 stars for a quick read.

You know you are always onto a good read with a Portia MacIntosh book,albeit that you can often ‘predict’ where the story is going to some extent. Her books are cute and lovely and leave you with a warm feeling.

Frankie is a journalist who writes about love for a woman’s magazine. The downside is that she is hopeless at meeting men and having any sort of relationship. She lives in a shared apartment and her dream of moving out into her own place (without bugs in the bath) seems to be getting nearer to reality as she has a promotion in her sights. That is until new management is brought in to freshen up the workplace and Frankie can feel her dreams slipping away.

When her new boss asks her on the spot to come up with new, fresh ideas - she comes up with an idea based on meet cites. Her boss loves it and immediately wants her to get started on the research and the article. Here follows disaster after disaster and just when it looks like things couldn’t get much worse, Max (who Frankie was briefly stuck in a lift with) offers her a lifeline - his friend can’t go on holiday with him so would Frankie like to go. After much debate (she hardly knows this guy) Frankie agrees to go and her boss immediately wants it to be a working holiday where she can write about being away etc. I mean what could possibly go wrong?

This was a good book but I just felt there was a little something missing. I do recommend you read it - you won’t be disappointed. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Frankie's job is a relationship expert for a magazine but she doesn't exactly love her job as her relationships don't exactly turn out the way she expects. A new boss has come in and is looking to cut jobs so to try and save her own she suggests that she tries meeting men in unexpected ways. Let's just say that doesn't exactly go to plan either.
Enter Max who she immediately likes on sight and sees as a friend, and he asks her to go on holiday with him as a friend has dropped out. Frankie agrees but only finds out when they arrive that he should have been going with his fiancee but they have split up. Frankie meets his well off family who think that she is his fiancee after some pleading from Max she agrees to the pretence which turns out to be easier said than done
A fun read

Frankie is a journalist and in order to keep her job she is forced in to writing an article on meet cutes. She sets up scenarios to try and meet someone, but nothing seems to work and then she meets Max by chance. Soon she is on holiday with him and meeting his family, but not all is as it seems.
A fun read.

Ah i don't know really, overall it was a nice story. Started strong then kind of lost it's plot there was no real tension or build up for the main love interest it was no they won't to okay yes? But to no this a very lukewarm epilogue.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

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.

3.5⭐️
If you are looking for a fun, rom-com movie-style book where everything that happens is so bizarre and crazy, you just say to yourself, "Yeah, this will never happen in real life". Because, god, the moments made me laugh out crazy, made my jaw drop A LOT and made me wish stuff like this did happen in real life. Like, wouldn't YOU want your office crush to just randomly offer you an all-paid luxury trip to Hawaii? Did I mention he was also extremely good-looking? Yeah, stuff like this never happens in real life. So, I guess, the book is what it says on the cover, the meet-cute between the two characters with a relatively relatable main FMC. There were also more than a few cringe-worthy moments which meant this would be a one-time read for me as it annoyed me more than just giving me second-hand embarrassment which I can still handle if the book is well written. However, I guess, because personally, I wasn't able to connect with the characters or the writing style meant while I enjoyed the book, I didn't LOVE it.

This was a cute story. I considered this a quick read. You may get a few giggles in and enjoy the characters. Max and Frankie pretend to be engaged and from there the story becomes the mad dash to falling in love.

This was such a good book! I haven't read any of Portia's book before this but I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

Amusing book that speeds along well. Slightly silly in places but enjoyable non the less. Good characters, not too many which I prefer. Nice ending wrapped up nicely. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy