Macintosh’s books always deliver for me. Great characters, wonderful dialogue and very easy to read - this one also had me guessing until the last couple of chapters as to which way the narrative would lead. Delightfully silly in places, which only adds to the charm. Bring on more please!

A romcom author is sent on a writers' retreat
To the French Alps - it should be so neat.
But she's not sure she should do as her publisher says
Especially as her parents are having pre-divorce days!

Her editor wants to spice up her book
And at her alternative cosy crime won't really look.
Maybe time spent with other authors will aid
But then maybe other plans need to be made.

The luxurious setting should really inspire
But spicing things up doesn't set her on fire.
With two men there vying for her attention
She isn't quite sure if she'll get anything done!

With three established authors sharing the getaway
Maybe they'll help throw her writer's block away?
A hilarious story that had me wondering how much is true
Is something similar what the author went through?

Such a hilarious read, with laughter galore
Just the kind of fun story that I adore!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

It's an easy and light-hearted read however somàe parts were too descriptive about uninteresting things that I honestly skipped through (e.g. the TV show during the flight and just about every place the amber was set!) it would have been enough with one detailed description of the French Alps and the chateau and Caleb's chalet.
Overall I enjoyed athe snowy french escape and my faavourite parts were the conversations between Amber and Caleb. Wish there was more of that!aaa

Amber just can’t seem to win. Her parents just dropped a bomb on she and her brother Tom while her editor tells her she needs to add more vavoom in her romance books.
Macintosh always makes her main characters slog through a pile of merde before they emerge on the other side.
I had sympathy for Amber but I never early warmed up to Caleb, especially after the way he treated Amber at the end of the chateau stay.
I thought Tim was the hidden hero of the book and I really liked the three chateau ladies because they were genuine.

‘You Had Me At Château’ by Portia Macintosh is a welcome dose of festive fun, set at a luxury writers retreat in the French Alps. The main character, Amber, is an author experiencing writers block as she tries to pen the novel her agent wants even though it doesn’t align with her creative flow. When she is offered a free December trip, it feels like the perfect opportunity to finish her book before Christmas and network with fellow writers… what she didn’t count on was becoming part of her very own love triangle!

I really enjoyed the bookish setting and found Amber to be a very likeable and relatable character - I was rooting for her all the way through, even when I was giggling at some of her hilarious misfortunes. While her relationship evolution with the two handsome male leads - a British influencer and a French member of staff at the château - was the key focus of the story, I found myself really connecting with the family dynamics sub-plot in which Amber’s parents navigated a potential divorce.

While I really enjoyed the glimpse into publishing, I felt that the other authors at the retreat weren’t given enough depth and didn’t love the way they interacted with Amber. The plot also seemed kind of chaotic to me and took a while to get going, though I adored how things wrapped up!

Overall, this was a three star read for me, and I’d recommend it as a lighthearted and funny Christmassy book, perfect for those who’ve enjoyed any of Portia’s other novels.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Another brilliant read by Portia Macintosh. This author’s books are always current and very funny. This one is no exception with several stories going on at once: which handsome hunk will our heroine choose? What are her parents up to? Lots of fun and interesting characters in an engaging storyline A book which is well worth reading.

🏔🩷 BOOK REVIEW! [e-ARC] 🩷🏔

You Had Me At Chateau by Portia MacIntosh
Genre: Rom-Com
Length: 305 pages
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2024
My rating: 5🌟!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions written here are solely my own!

Synopsis:
Amber Page is a romantic comedy writer. She recently had amazing success with her last few books, but her editor is now pressuring her for her next book to have more spice! 🌶🌶 Amber has a deadline to meet, right before the upcoming Christmas holiday, and is stuck trying to insert the smut! Her editor sends her on an all-expenses paid writer's retreat to a fancy French Chateau in the Alps, hoping she will find inspiration.

A chance encounter with a famous male influencer in addition to and another male employee who works at the chateau puts Amber in a strange love triangle. Maybe writing a steamy love scene or two won't be such a stretch after all...

Opinion:
This was the second book I've read by Portia MacIntosh and I loved it just as much as The Suite Life! She has such a witty way about her writing and makes Amber so relatable and likeable! I loved the setting for this book (who wouldn't love a French chateau?) and there was a cute little sub-plot that involves Amber's family back home in the UK. I loved how real all of the characters felt and I always enjoy a little fake-dating trope. This is a great one and is also would be fun to read as we get closer to winter and the Christmas season!

I absolutely love every book I’ve read by Portia MacIntosh and I’ve read all but two or three of them! This one is no exception!

A struggling romance writer is being encouraged to add more spice to her books but she finds that a rather difficult task. Instead, she’d like to cross over to comedic murder mysteries which her publisher is dead set against.

When she’s offered to spend time at a writers retreat in France just before Christmas, she figures “why not?!” Little does she know she just might find the inspiration she’s needed to add some spice to her books!

In true MacIntosh fashion, this made me laugh out loud and made me feel like I was sharing an evening with a close girlfriend. Snuggle in with some cozy blankets, a warm drink, and indulge in this charming romcom! It’s available now so there’s no excuse not to go read it immediately!

I am such a huge fan of Portia MacIntosh – I really don’t think there is a book that I have read so far that I haven’t totally loved, and this one is no different. Struggling author, Amber is at a crossroads in which direction to take her next book – she wants to go in a very different direction than her editor wants – and then add in that her editor has told her she need to ‘spice’ up her books – something that literally makes amber feel sick!

Feeling totally lost at what to do, Amber books herself onto a writing retreat in the beautiful French Alps, hoping that a complete change of scenery will spark her imagination, and get the words flowing again. What follows just makes things even more complicated for Amber, when she meets the incredibly gorgeous influencer, Caleb, but also the equally handsome caretaker, Henri. Amber certainly didn’t expect to be creating real-life spicy scenes for her book. But will she choose Caleb, Henri or neither of them?

You had Me At Chateau is another brilliantly written book by the queen of rom-com, Portia MacIntosh. Her characters are aways so beautifully written, with lives so interwoven, that as the reader, you just cant help becoming invested in what happens next. You NEED to add this book to your TBR pile right now!

A lighthearted festive fairy tale.
The only thing wrong with this book is the title as I found myself thinking not another book set in a chateau.
This book has so much more to it and is funny and delicious. I
loved Amber who is such a great character and Caleb who could make anybody go weak at the knees.
Really enjoyed the book.

You Had Me At Chateau by Portia MacIntosh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Romantic comedy writer Amber Page is stuck in a rut.

After her editor tells her she needs to "up the spice" in her books (literally Amber's worst nightmare...), she is at a crossroads of what to do with her career.

When the opportunity arises to go on a writer's retreat at an exclusive château in the beautiful French Alps, Amber reluctantly agrees, hoping a change of scenery will help with inspiration.

While she tries and fails to spice up her writing - with the unhelpful guidance of the eccentric romance writers at the château - she meets two leading men who cause her own real-life romantic comedy to unfold...

My Opinion

Another delight from Portia MacIntosh. A light-hearted, entertaining read. Amber is a writer that wants to change genres but when she is unable to convince her publisher she ends up on a writers retreat.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book and Portia has written some relatable characters. This was easily a book that can be finished over a weekend, it was just so difficult to put down.

Rating 4/5

A laugh out loud Christmas season rom com. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, and the fmc was funny and entertaining. There were a few laugh out loud moments and some sweet romantic ones. I highly suggest this book for romance readers.

This was a good read if you want something easy to read and a bit festive. I enjoyed Caleb - I found him endearing, I also loved the setting of the resort in the alps. I came into this expecting something other than what it ended up being but with that being said- this was my first book by this author so perhaps I need to read more of their books to adapt to their writing style more.


I gave this three stars because the plot was such a fun and intriguing concept but it felt like was way too much going and not enough time to cover it all. The first half was a bit slow with a slightly rushed wrap up of all the ends.

I did not leave a review of it on socials (IG, TikTok, Tumblr) as I do not leave social reviews on books I rate less than four stars (just because it wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be some else’s favorite read so I would never want to leave a review on social that could possibly steer someone away!)

Amber is a romantic writer who wants to change genres. Her editor insists she need to spice up her writing so she suggests she should go to a writer’s retreat in the ski resort in France.
The place is dreamy but her fellow writers, Mandy, Bette and Gina, are not so friendly to her, and even though the place is inspiring she cannot write what her editor wants.
While trying to reach her deadline and finish her book, she meets two handsome fellows who might contribute do the work she needs to finish.
Meanwhile back in a London her family drama is not helping, as the news of her parents splitting up after all this time is shocking.
I’m a big fan of the author’s books, this one did not disappoint, I loved the story, the incredible setting and the insights of the life of a writer.
Thanks to Portia MacIntosh, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy

Another enjoyable read from Portia MacIntosh. I personally felt the love triangle was a little unnecessary as it was obvious from early on who Amber was going to end up with, and the last minute drama felt like it was resolved a little quickly. But overall an enjoyable read.

"You Had Me at Chateau" is a delightful romantic comedy filled with charm, wit, and a healthy dose of laughter. Portia MacIntosh weaves an irresistible story of Amber Page, a romance writer stuck in a rut who reluctantly heads to a writer's retreat in the French Alps. The setting, an exclusive château, is perfect for the kind of inspiration Amber desperately needs—except she’s being pushed to "up the spice" in her novels, which isn’t quite her style. What follows is a laugh-out-loud journey as Amber navigates not just her writing but also her own love life.

With two leading men vying for her attention, Amber’s life begins to feel like a romantic comedy of its own, and MacIntosh’s quirky cast of fellow writers adds even more hilarity to the mix. The setting, the witty dialogue, and the humorous situations make this book an absolute joy. If you’re a fan of forced proximity romances, love triangles, or stories about writers finding their mojo, this one is a must-read!

You Had Me at Chateau is Portia MacIntosh’s latest workplace romantic comedy that involves a love triangle. While the characters are British and the story contains British phrasing, it is easy for Americans to understand. There is no profanity or sex scenes.
Amber Page is a romance writer at a crossroads in her career. Her editor told her that she needs to "up the spice" in her books, which is not something that she’s comfortable doing. When she is offered the chance to attend a writer's retreat at an exclusive château in the beautiful French Alps, she agrees to go. Amber hopes the change of scenery will inspire her to write “spicier”.
Unfortunately for Amber, the other romance writers at the retreat are eccentric and not helping her writing. She bumps into Caleb, a social media influencer who she met previously at her publisher’s office. She also attracts Henri, a resident at the chateau. Between exploring the romantic possibilities with Caleb and Henri, she’s getting a lot of phone calls from her family members because her parents are separating.
You Had Me at Chateau is an enjoyable winter romance that contains many funny scenes. Amber is a likable heroine, and the reader wants her to find success as a writer.
The writers’ retreat is an excellent setting for Amber to find a romance of her own. Amber’s family drama adds to the hilarity of her circumstances. The descriptions of the food and scenery will make readers want to book a trip to the Alps. If you are looking for a clean romantic comedy that features a romance writer, then You Had Me at Chateau is your weekend read.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Romance novelist Amber is facing a creative slump and pressure to write spicier novels. She attends a writer’s retreat at a chateau in the French Alps. Amid a group of eccentric authors, she finds unexpected inspiration—and romance—in two charming men.

I loved this—it’s heartwarming and hilarious, uplifting and fun. The hero and heroine are sweet together. I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Karen Cass.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed this romantic and humorous read with bookish themes and numerous romance tropes cleverly interwoven into the story. Amber is likeable and relatable from the onset. She is living the literary dream, but it's not what she expected. I like the familial relationships created, especially the sibling relationship. There is a good mix of likeable and unlikeable characters, all seen from Amber's viewpoint, and the interactions with the other female writers provide many humorous moments. The romance is gentle and conflicted, giving the reader all the heartwarming and heartbreaking moments they need. I like the witty dialogue, the laugh-out-loud moments and the glamorous, wintry setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I feel like I say this after every Portia MacIntosh book I read, but she must write with a magic pen because every book is wonderful. Normally, I shy away from love triangles but this one had me wondering if I’m really not against them. This book was filled with humor and wit, as I’ve come to expect with her.