Thank you to the publisher Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating:
3.5 Stars (rounded down)
My Opinion:
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and I think it was done well. I enjoyed the characters and their development. I liked this author's writing style. It was easy to read and it didn't take much brain power to follow with all of the characters. It was a little simple, but it is great for a cleaner after a tough book. The short chapters and the book is not too long itself. The setting was fitting for the book, fun and flirty.

✨ Publication date: July 11, 2024✨

It’s All Sun and Games is a romantic comedy, fake dating book by Portia Macintosh. This is my first book by this author.

Robin is in a bit of a rut. She works in advertising and can’t quite seem to catch her bosses attention with her work ideas or catch the eye of her work crush James.

When a new client pitch gives the small work group an opportunity to come to Italy for a couple of weeks to try and secure the business Robin jumps at the chance to spend time with James.

Robin realizes that where they are staying in Italy is the same small village her penpal from school lives and decides to reconnect with Andrea while in town.

An-dreea turns out to be An-draah who is most definitely not the awkward girl Robin thought she was writing to. Andrea is not only gorgeous but incredibly sweet and kind.

Andrea and Robin decide to fake date during her time in Italy. Not only to make James jealous but to prove to Robin’s boss she is a valuable member of the team, Andrea agrees to be their translator as well.

As Robin and Andrea spend more time together she realizes that James only wants what he can’t have. Robin begins to reevaluate what she wants in life and realizes that her time with Andrea is unforgettable. Can she figure out a way to make things work with him?

This was a cute story. There were a few things that didn’t sit well with me like, the boss suggesting how Robin dressed or encouraged her to be a married woman. That was icky. James’ character was awful and the fact that Robin was swooning over him for so long didn’t work for me either. Andrea was awesome and so was the Italian culture thrown in. This is a 3 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #portiamacintosh #itsallsunandgames

I usually enjoy Portia MacIntosh's books, so I was excited to see that she had a new book coming out! "It's All Sun and Games" centers around Robin, a workaholic determined to win a client pitch on her work trip to Italy. Not only does she want to win the client's attention, but she also wants to win the affection of her coworker James. In anticipation of her travels to Italy, she reaches out to her childhood penpal/friend, Andrea. However, her trip to Italy doesn't go at all like she expects. Andrea totally doesn't meet her expectations, and James seems to be a complete waste of time. How will this trip conclude? Read more to find out!

I didn't really care for Robin and had a hard time rooting for her. I also found myself skimming through parts of the book. This wasn't MacIntosh's best book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Whenever I pick up a Portia Macintosh, I know I will love it and her books are guaranteed to be at the top of my recommendation list. I think this would perfect as a summer escapism read that you will struggle to put down. This book had such a great storyline, set against a stunning Italian Backdrop. I loved the chemistry between Robin and Andrea and was desperate for Robin to see their connection. I loved the quirky unique characters; they really made the story fun and easy to get lost in. I was so sad when this book ended, I needed more Andrea and Robin.

There is plenty of humour in this 'friends to lovers' romcom, whether it is from the range of work colleagues Robin finds herself surrounded by or the events which become clear as her work trip to Italy evolves. A basic misunderstanding leads to a major surprise for Robin and of course one secret leads to another... As a holiday read, this would be a perfect distraction. Set in beautiful Italy, the sun bears down and you are treated to all the sights and sounds of the Italian summer.

With mistaken identity and fake dating, you are deep in romcom tropes. You feel Robin's desperation to be better than her colleagues and disdain for their superficial approach to their work. James comes over as a larger than life character who is all surface and little depth. Liz, her work enemy is always predictably obnoxious. As for Andrea- no spoilers!

In short: an entertaining read

Portia MacIntosh has done it again with her latest novel, It's All Sun and Games! This delightful, sun-soaked romantic comedy is the perfect escape, brimming with humour, heart, and a touch of mischief that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
The story follows marketer Robin, a woman who has her eyes on colleague James and is always in competition with another woman in the office – Liz. During a trip to Italy, Robin connects with former pen pal and is has a (pleasant) surprise when it turned out it was a male pen pal all this time. Following a series of events, Robin finds herself in a fake engagement and a competition to create the best pitch. On top of this her new fake romance seems to have caught the attention of lothario James. Is Robin about to get everything she’s wanted?
What starts as a fun, carefree adventure quickly turns into a whirlwind of unexpected romance, hilarious misunderstandings, and heartfelt moments that will make you laugh out loud and root for the characters.
MacIntosh excels in creating vibrant, relatable characters who leap off the page. It's the perfect book to transport you to a holiday destination, even if you're just reading it from your couch.
But beyond the humour and the romance, It's All Sun and Games also touches on themes of self-belief and the importance of staying true to oneself. MacIntosh has a way of weaving deeper messages into her stories without ever losing the light, breezy tone that makes her books so enjoyable.
If you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you with a smile on your face, It's All Sun and Games is the book for you. Portia MacIntosh has crafted a delightful romantic comedy that is as refreshing as a summer breeze—perfect for fans of light-hearted, fun-filled fiction. This is one book you won't want to put down!

This was a cute summer read. Loved how it took place in Italy. It was a quick read but it contained interesting characters.

Andrea and Robin are penpals. Robin works for an ad agency which is pitching for an Italian brand out in Italy She meets her pen pal assuming Andrea is a woman, but who is in fact a very very dishy Italian man. In the confusion, both her boss and Andrea's family assume the two are engaged. Chaos ensues as Robin tries to impress her boss, and also realises that James, the office heartthrob is now more than interested in her.

This was a really fun rom com, ideal for summer!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was the perfect summer beach read, I loved the mix-up and how it all played out. James was horrible, but it made the ending that much better. Can't wait to read more by Portia!

I am fully in my romance era at the moment and this book was exactly what I needed to keep it alive.

The characters were great (Minus James and Liz - eww). James is everything I hate in a male so I'm so glad that Robin didn't destroy any of her morale's in this wonderful read.

I loved the mix up - I loved how the story unwound and I really loved that this book highlighted that whilst it's super important to be happy at work, it isn't everything and family is so much more important. Trust me that message came at exactly the right time for me!

I loved the trip to Italy and I do wish Priya was a bit more prominent because she's exactly what Robin needed.

I'm a big Portia fan and as always -this didn't disappoint. I just wish it was longer! I need more Andrea and Robin!!

Robin is currently packing for a trip with the boss and staff of the advertising agency she works for. They are off to Italy to pitch to a new client, and attending their bosses wedding which is also happening whilst they are out there. As she is going to be in the country for a week, Robin decides to reconnect with her old pen pal, who she hasn't written to for years, In hopes that she can show her around and they can catch up on each others lives. But on arriving in Italy and being collected from the airport by Andreas, parents she soon realised things are not exactly as they seem and Andrea is actually a male Andrea. A very handsome male. The friends them start a fake relationship and Robin is totally head over heels for her co-worker who is also on the trip James and Andreas parents have ended up with the wrong end of the stick.

The book is very funny and the characters cute, especially Andrea who was a refreshing change and very romantic. The pair form a bond from their previous correspondence and their friendship re-ignites, once they both get over the mortification of them both thinking each other were boys all those years ago.

Portia Macintosh is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Her writing style and charming characters just hit the mark for me. So when I saw this one advertised I was dying to read it. I wanted to love it as I did with her previous books, but I just couldn't get over what a total idiot Robin was around James. It just didn't fit into her character at all, and had me rolling my eyes. I really did not like his character or Liz for that matter and I just thought him being an absolute tool was over done a few too many times.

I did enjoy the book it just isn't one of my favourites.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was definitively too long on my tbr.
It’s all sun and games is the perfect summer read for your vacation. It has friends to lover/second chances vibes with an Italian setting. It made me laugh more than once. And when I finally started the book, I couldn’t stop and kind of binged in a day.
Portia was very relatable and I felt like we had a connection right from the beginning.
I loved that there where so many side characters like family ant the colleagues.
I do not like to spoiler BUT I loved the twist with penpal (didn’t expect it).
Even though we all new how it would end, I really enjoyed every page of it .

It's All Sun and Games was a quick, fun beach read full of sun and games! The Italian backdrop was fun, as was the premise of meeting up with an old pen pal. I wish the story had shared some snippets of Robin and Andrea's pen pal letters. You're telling me there's no way that they didn't know the other was of the opposite sex?! What a hilarious gaffe though.

As far as side characters, James was major ick and Liz was BEC. I wish Priya had been able to go on the trip- a built-in bestie would've added more sun and games!

Overall, a quick, fun read that made me laugh, especially when Robin messed up when attempting to speak Italian!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book! It’s all sun and games is such an easy and happy summer read.
While I did overall enjoy this book, and get through it pretty quickly, I do wish it went more in depth on Robin and Andrea’s pen pal relationship. I feel like this book could have taken more time and included more substance to really build on the story and romance. But I did overall really enjoy this book, and would recommend it to anyone wanting a cute, feel good romance!

In MacIntosh’s latest summer rom-com, readers join Robin as her company advertising team takes an exciting work holiday to Italy for a client and their boss’s destination wedding. Her chance to spend time with her work crush James outside the office, Robin seizes the opportunity to change her image at work and get one up on her work and romance rival Liz. When it turns out that their vacation spot is her penpal Andrea’s home town, Robin is excited to meet them until expectations on both sides turn out to be incorrect. Weaving in a host of tropes -- friends to lovers, fake dating, one bed, childhood acquaintance, and more -- MacIntosh’s novel is a fun, funny, and enjoyable summer read. Robin is a relatable protagonist and Andrea is a charming Italian love interest who compliments her in many ways, and the continued miscommunication and confusion throughout the book really gets the readers invested in the story. The setting is charming, of course, and functions as a perfectly romantic backdrop for Robin’s Italian adventure, and readers will definitely enjoy the summer vibes in this escapist romance novel. A nice summer read that will transport readers to Italy with these vibrant and funny characters, fans of MacIntosh’s other books will definitely enjoy this novel.

Another fantastic book by Portia MacIntosh! Just in time for the summer season. The characters are funny and Portia's style of writing is laid-back yet keeps you wanting to read more. Read this book, you won't regret it! Thank you to NetGalley and Portia MacIntosh for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It took me a while to get into this one but once I did, the plot was so engrossing. To be honest I need to find myself an Andrea, or at minimum see them on the big screen!! Another brilliant Portia MacIntosh book.

It’s All Sun and Games is another wonderful read. It feels good and is full of humour. Portia MacIntosh masterfully balances a trope that is a bit overdone with an original plot that will have you laughing out loud and will leave you smiling.

It is a lovely, steamy, and fun romance that is absolutely perfect for summer.

This is one of those books that I just couldn't put down. I am continually amazed at the content Portia MacIntosh is able to put out. Kept me absolutely engaged until the very end!!

Recommended: sure
For a fake dating in Italy story, for low-stakes conflict, for silly language barrier mishaps

Thoughts:
It's pretty much exactly what you expect! The setting is fun and their chemistry is entertaining. The conflict is handled quickly, though that also served to make me feel like it was a huge waste of time when the resolution was apparently so simply achieved. Still, that did give it a more adult feeling, like it wasn't just two young idiots being stubborn and refusing to fix the problem.

The biggest issue I had in this story was how the main character is still harping on her work crush for most of the book despite SO MANY RED FLAGS and just a general ickiness about the guy. He's clearly a sleaze and has no redeeming qualities that I could see. Genuinely, what the fuck is she so into him for? I don't want to yuck anyone's yum, but this guy was just every gross and bad thing available. She even saw and acknowledged those things and was still like "oh boy maybe he'll love me soon!" and , uh, gross no.

I was surprised that the initiation of the fake dating was by the man! That's pretty unusual in the trope, so it was fun to see that turned around a little bit. And of course there is miscommunication, but in this story it's more about the fact that she doesn't speak Italian rather than people just being unwilling to have honest, hard conversations.

The setting is very fun and there's a lot of family involvement as is probably expected for a cliche Italian man as the main romantic interest. Overall I enjoyed this one and it delivered just what I expected, albeit with a little more ick towards the MC for her apparent love of red-flag-laden men.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!