Quickly becoming my favourite Rom-com author. I just find her books so easy to read and her characters are just so different all the time. It doesn’t mean that I always like them, the work colleagues in this one grated on me a lot. Still a fun read.

This was a delightful romantic comedy complete with charm, humor, and heart.
The story takes readers on a whirlwind journey of love, self-discovery, and the unexpected twists of fate that make romance so thrilling.
Robin has had a crush on her colleague, James, for some time now, and when she finds out they will be going on a work trip to Italy together, she is beyond excited. This will be a chance for her to really connect with him, away from her work rival Liz, who seems to get all of his attention. An added plus is that she will have a chance to meet up with her penpal Andrea while she is there.
After reconnecting with Andrea, Robin realizes he's not at all what she expected and between her crush on James and her newfound feelings for Andrea, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle, and that's when the story truly takes off.
The story was filled with laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt reflections that kept me engaged all through the end, and the love triangle aspect added some unexpected twists that made things even more interesting.
A cleverly written story with endearing characters that was difficult to put down! This was a simply a charming and adorably sweet story that I would definitely recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Portia MacIntosh is firmly establishing herself as a queen of fake romance rom-coms.

It seems to be a trope she must enjoy writing and have a lot of fun with, as there was elements of it present in this latest book.

Set predominately in sunny Bari, Italy this is a wonderful summer read, as there really is sun and games galore. In addition to amazing Italian food, a ridiculously impressive love interest and all manner of laughs to be had.

I loved the competitiveness between Robin and Lizzie, the way Robin is desperate to attract James' attention and all the various activities in this work trip to Italy.

It was a pure perfect delight of a book to read, as I have come to expect from one of my auto read authors! Just brilliant.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have yet to find a Portia MacIntosh book that I haven't enjoyed!. Fun, light-hearted and witty.... A wonderful read

I stopped reading this at 30 percent. I just could not get into the story at all, which is a shame because I typically like Portia MacIntosh's books.

I love her books are always full of fun and enjoyable adventures I really get fomo when I read portias books.

I really enjoy Portia's style of writing. They're light-hearted with an undertone of difficult relationships or hard decisions to be made.

I love that it's set in both Italy and the UK and the descriptions of Italy and the traditional wedding was so lovely.

I thought it was really funny about the Pen pals from school, I had pen pals too and I would have found it really funny if this had happened to me. No spoilers but I'm glad of the complication that arrives and it's hilarious when Robin tries her best to speak Italian and has everyone laughing their heads off, what she wanted to say may have come out a bit differently.

Robin's crush at work....seriously she could do so much better, he's a pig, haha and Liz well she has some issues doesn't she but less said about that the better. I knew someone a bit like Liz in my old job, so this was relatable.

Another fabulous book, written brilliantly with spot on characters. Loved it.

"It's All Sun and Games" is a delightful escape into the sun-soaked streets of Italy, filled with humor, heart, and a touch of romance. Author Portia Maclntosh masterfully weaves a tale that captures the excitement and unpredictability of both work and relationships.

From the moment Robin learns about her work trip to Italy, readers are drawn into her enthusiasm and relatable desire to break free from the daily grind. The lush descriptions of the Italian landscape and culinary delights make you feel as if you’re right there with her, savoring every moment. Robin’s determination to impress her work crush, James, adds a fun layer of tension, especially with the looming presence of her rival, Liz.

The reunion with childhood pen pal Andrea provides a poignant subplot that deepens the story. As Robin navigates the complexities of rekindling an old friendship, readers are reminded that not all connections turn out as we expect. This unexpected twist adds depth to the narrative and keeps the plot engaging.

The book shines in its exploration of personal growth, friendship, and the challenges of balancing professional aspirations with personal desires. Robin’s journey is both entertaining and relatable, making her a character you can’t help but root for.

Overall, "It's All Sun and Games" is a charming read that will leave you feeling uplifted and dreaming of your next adventure. Whether you’re a fan of romantic comedies or simply in need of a feel-good story, this book is a perfect choice. Grab your sunglasses and a glass of wine—this delightful journey through Italy is one you won’t want to miss!

Robin is thrilled when she learns she's going on a work trip to Italy, seeing it as an opportunity to show her boss and work crush, James, her true colours away from the office. She is worried about her job and tired of the constant competition between her and the other female in the office. When she finds out that the town they will be staying in, is where her childhood penpal, Andrea lives, she hopes to reconnect with her old friend. Andrea's parents are there to pick her up, but things go wrong from the start. With fake fiancés, mistaken identity, a Romeo who I was not impressed with, a couple of weddings and a missing interpreter, this is a fun romcom.

I enjoyed this fun and entertaining story. Although it was pretty predictable, there was a lot to love and laugh at. I really liked Robin and wanted her to be more self-confident. She was smart enough, but always felt her pitches were second rate. When it really counts, she holds her own. I don't want to give anything else away, so won't way much more. If you enjoy a fun romcom, one with interesting characters, friends, a great setting and a happily ever after, then I recommend It's All Sun and Games.

I could not finish this book. It was just meh and didn't connect with the characters. DNF at 25%. I look forward to reading more from this author but this one wasn't for me.

It’s All Sun and Games is the latest hilarious romantic comedy from one of the genre’s brightest shining stars – Portia MacIntosh.

Robin cannot believe her luck! She’s going on a work trip to Italy for a whole week and she cannot wait! Sure, there’s a work pitch to think about, but Robin is too busy planning which swimming costume to pack, the beaches she will visit, the sights she will see and the delicious food she will consume to worry about her career. With her work crush James to impress, Robin is determined to show him what she’s like outside of the office and put her work nemesis Liz firmly in the shade. However, Robin soon realises that the best laid plans do have a habit of going seriously awry…

When Robin discovers that the town she will be visiting is the same one her childhood penpal Andrea used to live in, she decides to do her utmost to reconnect. Only, Robin quickly realises that Andrea hadn’t been entirely honest with her and that the person she thought her penpal was was in fact a complete illusion. Things are complicated enough, however, when somebody falls head over heels in love as it looks like Robin’s dream holiday has turned into a complete and utter nightmare!

Portia MacIntosh’s sun-drenched escapist romance is the perfect summer read. It’s All Sun and Games is a fun, hilarious and feel-good charmer with characters you will love, side-splitting humour and sizzling romance. Guaranteed to keep you glued to your sun-lounger, It’s All Sun and Games by Portia MacIntosh is an enjoyable romantic comedy that should be in everyone’s beach bag this summer

Book Review: It's All Sun and Games

I recently dove into It's All Sun and Games by Portia MacIntosh, and what a delightful escape it was! From the moment I read the description, I knew I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The story centers around Robin, who is excited about a work trip to Italy. The prospect of sunny days and delicious food has her buzzing, but it’s the chance to impress her work crush, James, that really gets her heart racing. As someone who has often found myself in love triangles (or at least, near-misses), I instantly connected with Robin’s hopes and insecurities.

Portia’s humor shines throughout the narrative, especially when Robin’s plans to reconnect with her childhood penpal, Andrea, take an unexpected turn. The “only-one-bed” trope added a fun layer of tension and laughter as Robin navigates her growing feelings for James and the complications of her past with Andrea. The witty dialogue and hilarious situations had me laughing out loud more than once.

What I loved most about this book was how it explored friendship and romance in a lighthearted yet meaningful way. Robin’s journey of self-discovery, set against the stunning backdrop of Italy, felt both relatable and refreshing. The moments of culinary delight and picturesque scenery were so vividly described that I could almost taste the gelato!

This book perfectly encapsulates the essence of a summer romance—full of sun, laughter, and just the right amount of drama. Portia MacIntosh has crafted a charming tale that left me feeling warm and uplifted. If you’re looking for a fun, escapist read that balances humor with heart, I highly recommend picking this one up. It's a delightful romp that will stay with you long after the last page!

I laughed out loud so many times during this read. This is yet another wonderfully written book by Portia Macintosh, This is my first read by Portia and it definitely won’t be my last,
Lila wasa great character, so thoroughly relatable her story, the journey she is on and her romance will get you hooked and keep you engaged right til the very last page. It’s a well-paced read feel-good read with great community ,friendship and love woven throughout the story. If you’re looking for the perfect escapist read , look no further than It’s All Sun and Games.

This book was such a let down. As much as I enjoy Portia's book this one was really boring and I couldn't get into the characters or the storyline and the main characters work crush and nemesis are so typical and boring like why is this MFC so smitten with him, he is literally the most boring person alive.

Robin is into her coworker James, for some reason. He doesn’t seem to be much into her or give her much attention for that matter.

Then, about a third of the way in, James start to pay attention and it turns out he is a dick. 200 more pages to go for Robin to see the light too. And she needs all of them because she definitely has trouble seeing that this guy has the ick-factor. Rather, she seems to think his creepiness is rather flattering.

Ugh.

Andrea is great. Actually, he’s too good to be true. But I’d rather have two of him in a story, than one of James.

I read Feelgood novels for that reason: to feel good. So away with the toxic love-interests and away with the toxic workplace and coworkers.

This novel was an easy read for the most part, I really struggled personally with the toxic work colleagues I mean they were truly awful. I would have loved more depth and description throughout the story

I love Portia Macintosh. I really do. So when this book was up on Net Galley, I'm up for the fun feeling of reading it.

This book is what can be expected from Portia's books: fun story, light crisis and romance, friends group, family hanging around during difficult times even when you're 30-something (or approaching 30) and society tells you that "you should've been successful by now!".

What I like about this book, though, is also the description of beautiful Italy settings. Not just the view, but also Andrea's family.
Robin and Andrea's story is somehow believable (in a "that fiction makes sense" way). I like how this book portrays both main characters as somewhat full of flaws yet there are things that tug them together and make them really "a team".

Overall, I am pleased with how the story ends. I recommend every adult to read this book for a cozy afternoon, especially if they want some laugh and feel emotions that end up okay.

Love it!

A sweet, fun and light heart-ed read. The romance is so cute and I loved the summer romance mixed with mistaken identity and fake dating. I thought Robin's co workers and boss were insufferable though, and at times made me want to skim their parts in the book.

This book is such a fun read. The plot is fresh and full of laugh out loud moments. The read is easy but cosy, making you want to be there, in those moments. A romantic read you won’t want to put down. This author is quickly becoming my go to for a satisfying light hearted reading fix.

Thank you Netgalley

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s All Sun and Games is the perfect summer rom-com!!!

Robin is headed to Italy for a weeklong work trip. Her sights are set on her coworker James and the promotion up for grabs. While doing preliminary research she reconnects with her school penpal, Andrea, and the two agree to meet up for the first time. But, when she discovers Andrea isn’t who she thought she was, things get complicated. Will Robin win her dream man and job, or will she return home without either?

I can always count on Portia Macintosh to come through for me. She is a comfort author. I have read many of her books and enjoyed them all!!!

This book features:
-fake engagement
-mistaken identity
-love triangle(s)
-friends to lovers

This is a true five star read. Not only could I not put it down, but now I want to travel to Italy for my next vacation.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia Macintosh for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.