A fun light hearted easy read, The main plot ended up being a little odd, but i mostly enjoyed this book.

Just from the title you can go into the book and can easily guess what trope will be used.

The age old troupe of enemies to lovers is a guaranteed crowd pleaser and this book certainly delivered. Lara and Sonny go way back from university mates (of a fashion) to colleagues at sister publications yet their relationship is complicated, constantly engaging in one-upmanship. When their respective bosses request that they work together on an exclusive, attending a couples retreat as, well, a couple, they need work to put aside their differences and put on a show. With thanksnto netgalley and boldwood books for an advance copy of this entertaining, easy read in exchange for an honest review.

The title of the book Enemies to Lovers gives away the plot line, but not really. The two main characters Sonny and Lara are work rivals and find themselves often in competition with one another.
Lara’s character is just a grumpy one, even making light of a mandatory sexual harassment in the workplace workshop and so does Sonny.
After things escalate one step too far, they are both sent by their respective bosses undercover to a super secret, elite island for couples. There is a celebrity couple there that their bosses want some dirt on.

The big problem is that there isn’t any chemistry between the two main characters, and that it seems unrealistic that anyone on the island would believe they are in a relationship. It all seems forced.

There were parts of the story I enjoyed, but I felt it was lacking something to fully make it work

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced ebook in return for my honest review

The book title gives you the plot, though I don't believe Lara and Sonny were ever truly enemies, more rivals at best. The book was an easy read and had good elements but lacked character development or even any background for our main characters beyond how they know each other. I enjoyed the female camaraderie elements of the story but ultimately I felt underwhelmed by the book as a whole. The potential is there in the story but need more development.

Let's start with the positives! I think that the relationships that are built between those at Eden are great. I enjoyed that it felt like the four women at Eden were becoming really good friends, sharing their secrets and supporting each other. The celebrity types featured in this story do also feel like three-dimensional people, instead of being very shallow.

There are some really fun moments and interesting situations, but the main plot is a little weird.

Unfortunately, there aren't really many further positives. Spoilers to follow.

The relationship between Sonny and Lara really didn't feel developed at all. They are weird-acquaintance-friends, then one night get absolutely drunk and sleep together. There isn't a build-up to this and it really just happens overnight. I like to see the relationship develop between the characters, but this was very flat. The title is also, 'Enemies to Lovers' but they're very much rivals and not enemies.

Also, at the end Lara just decides to move to Australia with him after just the few good days at the end of their trip to Eden? It feels very rushed and forced.

This was light and entertaining in parts, but was a very average read.

Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me a copy of this one, all opinions are my own.

Well, this was a book. I just didn’t feel like this book offered us anything new for the genre or the tropes used.

There were lots of fun, cute parts but overall the main theme did not intrigue me. The storyline did not seem new and exciting. I noticed a couple times while reading it where the incorrect character was mistaken as the person talking when they were not part of the discussion or in the room at the time.

Thank you netgalley for this advance copy! When the book started I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it but I actually read it in one sitting. It’s a very cute rom com though I must say it was a little abrupt and probably not very memorable.

This story was okay but it was missing something. Firstly the title feels like it's trying to hard and doesn't even accurately represent the relationship between Sonny and Lara which is more of a rivals to lovers (and poor ones at that). There was little to no chemistry between the two main characters and it was unbelievable that they'd actually have a healthy relationship. The writing was good and some parts were funny but the story was just lacking. Thank you to netgalley for providing me with the copy in exchange for review.

I was expecting a real enemies to lovers, but this was not.

I don´t know, an ok read but not what I was hoping for.

Another Portia book for me, I’m always excited to read these!

Overall I enjoyed the story. I would have liked a bit more dialogue between the characters and more from their POVs about their developing feelings towards each other.

Enemies to Lovers gives the game away with the title from the off. Yes, this is a story, and the trope is exactly that. Enemies to Lovers.
Two people who have an age-old vendetta against one another, Lara and Sonny, work together as journalists in the same role, but for two separate magazines. There is plenty of one-upmanship going on all the time.
One such occurrence goes a step too far and their editors decide to send them off on a secret mission, where they will need to spend a lot of time together, which is not something either of them want to do.
The concept is there. It's an easy read. They hate each other, then they fall in lust/love. With a job to complete on the side!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early! I found this book easy to read and get into early on. I enjoyed the work enemies to love interest plot line. I thought it moved at a great pace and this felt like it was a more realistic love story. I loved that we got some back story of the characters throughout the book naturally. Nothing felt rushed, which I can find happens in romance books! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will definitely be reading more books by Portia!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an eARC of Enemies to Lovers in return for my honest opinion.

This book was a really quick and easy read for me. I really liked the concept of two competing journalists fake dating on a mystery island retreat for celebs to get a story, but it just kinda fell flat for me.

First of all, I don't think this is a true 'enemies to lovers', more so a 'work rivalry to lovers' between Lara and Sonny. I didn't quite get their back story, I feel that it was quickly brushed over but we didn't get any clear idea of why things were so tense between them. I don't actually think there was any real build up of chemistry or tension between Lara and Sonny before they got together either, and the third scene conflict really wasn't much of a conflict, it all just felt a bit rushed. For lovers of spice this book is a fade to black so this is not the book for you!

There was a bit of a mystery vibe to this book, but even the conclusion of this felt odd and a bit rushed. I did kinda like some of the secondary characters and their stories, but again I don't think we were given enough to get truly invested in any of their relationships.

Overall this book had a good concept that unfortunately just fell flat for me.

[3.25⭐️]
Romance books are often unrealistic and that’s usually part of the fun of it, but with this one it was way too much to fully enjoy.
Some bits we’re actually funny so it wasn’t all bad but in the end it was just a bland book. I read other books by this author and they’re always such cute and funny books but I guess I didn’t really fully connect with this one.
Another problem for me was that we didn’t really have romance scenes until the 75% of the book: before that point the romantic interactions were close to zero and even after there were only a few scenes between the two, so it all felt a bit too rushed.
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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

"Enemies to Lovers" is one of my favorite romance tropes, so when I saw this (rather obviously) titled novel, I was excited to read it. Portia MacIntosh's book centers around two journalist rivals, Lara and Sonny. When they simply cannot get along at work, their bosses get frustrated and decide to give them one final challenge: whoever can write the best report about a couple at an exclusive couple's retreat will get to keep their job. But this couple's only retreat will require them to go undercover as a couple themselves. What will happen when these enemies have to pretend to be lovers?

I enjoyed reading about the craziness of the retreat, and wish the book had maybe focused on that a bit more. The other couples were fairly interesting to read about, but I didn't really enjoy the side-plot about the yoga instructor who was apparently a journalist as well. Also, Lara doesn't seem very likable as she's always arguing and distrusting Sonny. I liked the overall plot of the book, but thought it was missing a little something. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

It’s always fun to read enemies to lovers, but I did feel this lacked depth, I wish the characters were more developed and their chemistry went beyond just competing bc of their job, the ending felt rushed and the mastery part about the couples retreat felt like it was going to be a huge reveal but turned into something very simple. Overall the book felt like it had to many plot points and not enough time for them to be explored properly, not enough fun moments for it to be a rom com book

Two journalists with a past betrayal are tasked to going to an exclusive couples resort undercover to get dirt on a celebrity couple. There's an unnecessary subplot that Sonny packed a secret case for Lara full of clothes she wouldn't normally wear which was just a bit weird? I think it was part of the 'one uping' each other but it wasn't cute. Unfortunately, I didn't find the characters likeable nor the romance actually romantic. It was all 'ugh Sonny' until around 75% and then Lara's opinion seems to flip flop, and there was quite a lot of repetition - her thoughts on Sonny, her career, the resort, the FOOD. God, you would think it's a 10yo boy who can't possible go a few days without junk food and not an adult with no health issues. I was sick of hearing Lara drone on and on. There was no fluff, flirting, angst, yearning, build up, or any of the good stuff. It's like a flip switched on (then off then on then off then on right up to the end) but it didn't take me along for the ride and I didn't feel any of it. It felt more like friends with benefits who shag when they’re drunk than an enemies to lovers romance. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Enemies to Lovers is a good little book and a quick read. I wouldn't put it in my favorites list but it was still worth the time to read and I enjoyed a lot of the characters. The main character Lara had a really interesting and heartwarming friendship, especially with the character Brittany, that I loved reading about. I did find the relationship between Lara and Sonny a bit lacking. The didn't ever feel like real "enemies" as the title suggested but rather work associates with a history to overcome. They did have some really entertaining scenes throughout the book though and I loved the mixture of showbiz, celebrity and behind the scenes of the entertainment world. I would recommend this to someone looking for a light and fast read!

⭐⭐⭐½

"Enemies to Lovers" by Portia MacIntosh is like a quick trip to a familiar place—a cozy read with Lara and Sonny leading the way through the glamorous but cutthroat world of showbiz journalism. Picture this: two sworn enemies, a tropical island, and a mission that requires them to play the role of a couple in therapy.

The story flows effortlessly, offering a delightful escape. It's one of those books that you breeze through, enjoying the banter and the unfolding drama. But, truth be told, it didn't leave a lasting mark.

Lara and Sonny are engaging, but their characters feel a bit like acquaintances. You root for them, but you wish there was more depth to their journey from adversaries to something more. The chemistry is there, but it's like a spark that flickers rather than a flame that roars.

The undercover assignment premise is promising, and there are moments of humor and intrigue. Yet, it's like a well-rehearsed dance where you know the steps before they happen. The tropical island setting adds a touch of allure, but you can't help but feel it could have been a character in itself—a bit more vibrant, a bit more alive.

As a reader, you appreciate the swift pacing, making it perfect for a lazy afternoon. It's a book that does what it promises: a light, undemanding read that entertains. However, if you're looking for a deeper exploration of the enemies-to-lovers theme or a narrative that lingers in your thoughts, you might find yourself longing for a bit more substance.

"Enemies to Lovers" is your go-to vacation read—a companion that keeps you company on the beach, providing a pleasant escape. But like the fleeting warmth of a tropical sunset, once the adventure with Lara and Sonny concludes, it fades into the horizon of enjoyable but not entirely memorable reads. 🌴📚