Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a few books now by Portia and this one was just as good. Lara and Sonny have been sworn enemies for years and after a particularly bad incident at work, they are shipped off to Eden to report on a celebrity couple hiding away there. It’s an exclusive place for couples therapy for the rich and famous, no one knows where it is or how to get there, apart from paying big bucks!

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments throughout, and a few cringey therapy sessions too. The dynamic between our main characters is brilliant, feeding off each other all the way through, and the couples they meet are just the same.

Only thing missing for me was an epilogue! I wanted more Lara and Sonny after the story ended, or even another book about them - they were amazing together. Definitely a fun cosy beach read or rainy day comfort book, already looking forward to more from this author.

The story of Lara and Sonny, rival showbiz journalists, unfolds in an intriguing setup where they're sent undercover to a celebrity retreat. The tropical setting and the premise of them posing as a couple in therapy had the potential for a captivating story. However, I found the development of their relationship from professional rivals to romantic interests somewhat lacking in depth and believability. The characters didn't resonate, and I struggled to feel their chemistry. While there were some humorous moments, the overall character development and the story's approach to specific themes didn't fully align with my expectations. The novel does offer some enjoyable aspects, but it might have benefited from richer character exploration and a more nuanced portrayal of the evolving relationship.

I had anticipated a stronger connection with this book, hoping to love it more than I actually did. While it offered an enjoyable read with some fantastic humorous moments, I couldn't quite sense the chemistry between Sonny and Lara. There seemed to be a missing element in their relationship, and at times, I found Lara to be more childish than amusing. Nevertheless, Portia MacIntosh remains a must-read author for me, and I wholeheartedly recommend her work.

What trope is this romcom working? Well just read the title. It’s the enemies to lovers trope, which is always a fun one. Lara and Sonny are both entertainment journalist, often times covering the same events/stories. Early on we get a good vibe for how they feel about each other when Sonny steals Lara’s angle for an interview. So of course she is not the least bit thrilled at the idea of going ‘undercover’ at an exclusive celebrity retreat with him, even if it does happen to be in a tropical paradise. While this was a fun, light read and author Portia MacIntosh hits all the beats you’d expect (and I definitely did enjoy it), something about this one just felt a little off compared to a number of her previous books. And the vexing thing is I can’t say exactly what. I still enjoyed it though, and I’m sure most fans will as well. 4 out of 5 stars.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1J4OYVCWDFU0V/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Another amazing book from Portia Macintosh, I adored Sonny and Lara and their whole rivalry going on throughout the book,

There were so many laugh out loud moments in this story

This is the story of how Sonny and Lara who are journalists are nearly sacked so to save their jobs their bosses send them of to Eden an exclusive couples retreat, The catch is they have to pretend to be a couple and get the scoop on how Eden works! What could possibly go wrong?!

A good, fun quick read! Can't wait for the next Portia Macintosh book!

So overall it was a good read. Maybe more of a 3.5 than 4. I don’t think Sonny and Lara were ever true enemies. I didn’t buy it. Their secret mission to Eden was fun and at times felt like it was going to crossover into a thriller. Overall though nice easy read to start 2024.

Another great one from Portia Macintosh, I really liked the idea behind this one. The retreat part with all the couples was really good and I liked finding out all the gossip about the them too.
Overall a really good enemies to lovers story with loads of laughs and a fab ending. If you love Portia’s other books you’ll love this.

I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping to see some legitimate enemies to lovers, but it just seemed like pettiness from beginning to end.

Lara and Sonny are journalists for rival publishers, but apparently, their history goes back to when they met in college. Lara’s resentment toward Sonny’s betrayal has invaded her life for years and now she tries to protect herself by being childish and petty toward him, not to mention unprofessional. After a particularly ugly encounter, they are sent to a remote retreat to sus out an exclusive on the UKs “it” couple, but not everything is as it seems.

Both characters were unlikeable and the chemistry was just not there. I just felt like the story was quickly put together with no clear plot and the characters did not evolve. I’ve been a fan of Ms. MacIntosh for some time and was confused and discouraged about this story.

I was hoping this book would get better the further I read, but, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

Thank you to Ms. MacIntosh for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This was a short audiobook that I managed to listen to in one sitting. Rival journalists Lara and Sonny are teamed up to write an exclusive on a celebrity retreat that their companies fund for them. While there, the two get close. I love my romcoms but this one had me gagging for some action and I had to wait until towards the end of the book for anything! It seemed more a story of the friends the couple made at the retreat than their love story.

@portiamacintoshauthor has been an auto buy author for a while and this did not disappoint. Lara & Sonny had a great chemistry, I love the will they won't they and enemies to lovers trope. I feel like every reader will relate to them on some level. I laughed so much and was screaming at them to notice each other. I was instantly hooked and if you need a cosy romance that has a little bit of everything then you will love it too. #portiamacintosh #enemiestolovers #NetGalley #Goodreads #bookstagram

Lara and Sonny are rival entertainment journalists whose main aim in life seems to be to sabotage and one up each other to find the best showbiz scoop. Following a public press event mishap their bosses send them away together to an exclusive couples therapy retreat to get the ultimate scoop on tv’s hottest couple.
What could go wrong, undercover reporting with your enemy pretending to be in love on a tropical island.

This was a fun rom-com with a unique setting. There was some good banter between Lara and Sonny and the therapists at Eden retreat were hilariously crazy and the things the couples had to do made for some decent entertainment. You could see this easily playing out as a tv show.

I did find the relationship a little forced and felt we missed pages of them getting closer or even talking to each other. The other guests at the retreat were also very one dimensional characters.

This was an easy read, and made me wish I could book a tropical holiday (however I would pass on the ‘quinoa surprise’).

This may just be a case of wrong book at the wrong time. I had just finished a really good feelgood novel and while that pulled me into the narrative immediately, I had a hard time connecting with Lara.

<em>Enemies to Lovers</em> is the story of work rivals Sonny and Lara. He’s a showbiz writer for a lad’s magazine and she’s a showbiz writer for a lifestyle magazine. They run into each other everywhere. Before interviewing a celebrity, at a sexual harassment awareness course (mandatory through work), as each other’s blind date. Obviously, these two are meant for each other. (The way my socks are made for my vests because I throw them into the same drawer.)

That course, by the way: no, no, no. The woman giving the course is passive-aggressive, which is already bad enough. But she makes the participants act out harassment scenarios. What the heck?! She should have actors for that, or short videos where actors play out these scenarios. And she should know if any of the participants have ever been victim of (sexual) harassment. At the very least to prevent that she should traumatise them further with her course.

Anyway, to get one over on Sonny, Lara tells a female wrestler/actor some stretched truths to emphasise his jerkiness. Then during his interview with the wrestler/actor Sonny gets slapped and Lara gets blamed for this. I don’t know what Sonny said before he got slapped, but it should have been the wrestler that got the brunt of the blame.

In stead, Lara and Sonny get it and are put on an assignment together.

And that’s as far as I got, because I really, truly do not care to learn why Lara is still in a job that she doesn’t like all that much and even questions its morality. For F- sake. Quit the job, find something new (not necessarily in that order). There are always job vacancies for talented people. The job market is only ever slow for the mediocre and the talentless.

These two journalists work on sister publications
When their bosses send them together on an investigation.
A tropical island with celebrity couples should be great
But working together seems a twist of fate.

The two were once lovers till betrayal tore them apart
Since then they're enemies - will they have a change of heart?
Can they uncover the secrets of the famous there
As their fake relationship they endeavour to share?

A great contemporary read involving therapy and more
As Lara and Sonny try the resort to explore.
Their rivalry, their mission and new friends, too,
Give opportunities for laughter all the way through.

This is a read to put a smile on your face
As this pair reconsider just what is taking place.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

2 stars

Don't come to this book thinking the name of the book is literally the trope/content of it because it's not. It's work rivals to lovers at best.
Both mcs of this book are infuriating and childish, and I hated it.
Also, I couldn't find the chemistry between them. It's so bad I thought at first they were siblings 😭 (that's on me tbh)
Our fmc is supposedly a journalist, but she was the dumbest journalist I've seen.
Our mmc was just meh.
There were some good things like the friendships, but everything else was not it.
I'm very disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

With a title of Enemies to Lovers you know what kind of troupe you will find in the pages. I loved this lighthearted romcom that takes place on a tropical island. Two journalists who normally compete with each other are thrown together on an assignment to a couples retreat where they must act like a couple. The title gives away the ending so it is predictable but how they get to the ending is a very fun read. I can see this as a great movie. If you are looking for a fun, relaxing read this one is for you!

I'm not a huge romance reader but I love an enemies to lovers trope. I enjoyed this light read and the isolated setting.

The couples therapy element was fun and I liked all of the characters. This was a funny and at times cringey read which ticked all the boxes for me in a romance book.

This would make a good beach read for a summer holiday too.

Enemies to Lovers is a cute and appropriately named Mom for the trope Portia Macintosh brought to an unconventional approach to romance and getting to the HEA. It was unpredictable (in a good way) and a treat to read.

This is a Rom-Com about two rival showbiz journalists Laura and Sonny who have to pretend to be in couples therapy to go undercover at an exclusive celebrity retreat on a topical island. The banter and chemistry between the two makes for a feel good funny romance.
I’ve read a few books from this author and I’ve always enjoy them.

Enemies to Lovers
Fake Dating
Witty banter
Forced proximity
Thank you @netgalley

Lara and Sonny are former university colleagues, nowadays forced to compete each other as work colleagues. Kind of enemies, in fact. Journalists working for gendered magazines of the same media company, their pathways often cross, often with sparkling effects. Not the good kind of sparkles, anyway.

For the sake of their job though, they are forced to play the couple, as they are sent on assignment in an exotic unnamed destination, with a clear mission: to gather gossips about a famous couple, short-term residents on Eden ´the world´s best couples´ therapy and wellness retreat´. A posh retreat that looks sometimes as a sadistic prison, with dietary restrictions and useless ridiculous exercises. As they are becoming friends with the other couples on the island, Lara and Sonny are becoming more and more aware of the toxic game of the journalism practiced by their magazines. And there is more than an awakening they are getting through, as at the end of the way, they may turn from fierce enemies to...(not) surprisingly lovers.

Enemies to Lovers by romcom author Portia MacIntosh is both romantic and hilarious, not shy from creating characters as human as anyone of us: making mistakes, trying to change, fighting unsuccessfully against their ego bigger than life. Told by Lara, the story is not lacking some surprising twists, that may help us change the perspective on many of the characters. Indirectly, it is also a critique towards the yellow world of the British boulevard media, keen to destroy destinies for the sake of the audiences.

I enjoy following the story, and given the high degree of relatability of the characters, would have been more than curious to see what happened with Sonny and Lara after their return from Eden. A good sign that the story was able to convene empathy and a juicy slice of everyday life.

A romantic comedy full of funny one-liners. Lara and Sonny love to hate each other. A day wouldn't be complete for them without finding a way to wind the other up in some small way.

The events leading up to Lara and Sonny being sent away to work together on a story really had me laughing and I couldn't wait to see how the pair would survive their time in a fake relationship. It was great fun watching the pair bicker and it played well into the idea that they needed couple's therapy.

The celebrity friends they make whilst on the island added some drama and side story but seeing Lara and Sonny become better friends and forgive mistakes made in the past was the heart of the story. They would be perfect together if they could only take the time to be nice instead of always competing against each other.

I liked the way the story concluded and that neither Lara nor Sonny were comfortable with betraying their new friends for a story. Their romance did happen quite suddenly towards the end of the book but it rounded off the story nicely in a heartwarming and uplifting way.