This book was a classic from Portia Macintosh. I’ve read a few of her books now and this one was just like the others. Fun, cute and full of so much love. While some parts are a little bit too much for me, I still had such a good time reading it.

This author has such a beautiful writing style and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future

Portia MacIntosh is my go to girl when I need a funny light read in between my usual psych thriller reads. Too Hot to Handle is another winner by Portia. While it started out a bit slow, it didn't take long until I started in with my usual laugh out loud (for real not just in my head!) moments.

In this novel, main character Molly finds herself single and told by her boss she needs to take a break from her job after she accidently tells off a potential new hire thinking it was her ex. Molly's BFF Lou is getting married and it is perfect timing to take two weeks off with the bridal party and head to Spain for some girl time before the wedding. Once they arrive, however, they discover the villa was double booked and a group of guys are there for the same reason. One of them is getting married and they are there for guy time before one of them gets hitched. Neither group wants to leave so they are forced to co-inhabit the villa together.

It all starts out with competition contests, sabotages and cold shoulders but after a while being in close quarters, guards start to lower and some new friendships start to form. And...maybe more? Hmmm....!

Overall, the perfect beach read. This book is easy to read, funny, light hearted and a feel good story. This is fade to black, not explicitly spicy

the parts at the villa were very wordy and full of internal monologue, i wish we got to see more banter between everyone. the second half of the book really picked up, i loved Molly and Travis together!

i had fun reading this! this was such an easy & lighthearted read, it would be such a great read on holiday by the pool 🍹🏖️

thank you to the publisher, the author & NetGalley, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nice, easy, lighthearted read. Skimmed over a few chapters in the middle but once the story developed I was interested in what was going to happen between the various characters. 3.5 stars!

Too Hot to Handle, by Portia MacIntosh, is a fun, lighthearted rom-com. A perfect beach read for this Summer. 3.5⭐️
Molly’s future seems to have stalled out. She just can’t win. Her best friend, Lou, however; is fast-tracking her dream wedding at the picturesque La Palacio de la Mar resort in Spain. Molly refuses to let her messy life get in the way of her being there for Lou.
Sped up time line or not, everything seems to be falling perfectly into place. Until Lou, Molly, and their friends, Nita and Willow, arrive at the villa they’ve been lucky enough to rent, last minute, and find that it’s been double booked with a bachelor party. Queue the immature competition and hijinks. And maybe a little romance too.
For the most part, I enjoyed the characters and the premise of this book. However, there wasn’t much character development. Everything remained fairly surface level. I also found the pacing to be a bit rough. The book started out slow and felt very rushed at the end. But, don’t worry, you’ll still get your HEA.
Too Hot to Handle is a “fade to black” spice level with some adult language.
Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Too Hot to Handle by Portia MacIntosh is a clever and entertaining romcom that offers more than just laughs. Molly’s journey as a maid of honor dealing with a chaotic double-booked villa perfectly captures the unpredictability of life—and love. The dynamic between her and Travis evolves naturally, balancing humor with subtle emotional depth, making their chemistry feel real rather than rushed. The backdrop of a sunny Spanish villa adds warmth and escapism, but what stood out most to me were the moments of self-discovery amid the chaos. MacIntosh skillfully weaves in themes of vulnerability, letting go, and embracing the unexpected, giving the story substance beneath the comedy. It’s a breezy yet meaningful read, ideal for a feel-good pick-me-up.

This sun-soaked romantic comedy is a perfect mix of humor, rivalry, and sizzling chemistry. The chaos of a double-booked villa sets the stage for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud battle of the sexes that never takes itself too seriously. The banter is sharp, the antics are wildly entertaining, and the forced proximity only adds to the tension—both competitive and romantic. Molly’s no-nonsense attitude and Travis’s effortless charm make for an irresistible dynamic, keeping the push-and-pull energy alive throughout.
Beyond the fun and games, there’s a heartwarming undercurrent of self-discovery and letting go, making the romance feel all the more rewarding. The setting adds to the escapism, making this an ideal beach read or a perfect pick-me-up for anyone craving a dose of sunshine, romance, and laughter. Lighthearted, flirty, and full of feel-good vibes, this is the kind of rom-com that’s impossible to put down.

Portia MacIntosh delivers a hilarious, feel-good rom-com with Too Hot to Handle, a sun-soaked, laugh-out-loud read filled with sizzling chemistry, rivalry, and just the right amount of chaos.

Molly is ready for the ultimate bachelorette getaway in a stunning Spanish villa with her best friends. Sun, cocktails, and gossip—it’s the perfect pre-wedding escape. But when they arrive, disaster strikes. The villa has been double-booked, and the other occupants? A group of stags who have no intention of giving up their spot in paradise. With neither side willing to budge, they decide there’s only one way to settle it: a winner-takes-all competition. Let the battle begin!

What follows is a series of hilarious pranks, playful sabotage, and undeniable sparks between Molly and Travis, one of the stags. Their flirty banter and sizzling tension make for a captivating slow-burn romance, complicated by Molly’s vow not to fall for the enemy. But as the competition escalates, so do their feelings—leaving Molly questioning what (or who) she really wants.

Packed with forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a dreamy vacation setting, Too Hot to Handle is the ultimate escapist read. MacIntosh’s signature humor shines through, making every page a delight. The chemistry between Molly and Travis is electric, and the supporting cast adds plenty of charm and chaos.

This book is pure fun, perfect for fans of romantic comedies that mix flirty tension with laugh-out-loud antics. If you love The Unhoneymooners or People We Meet on Vacation, this is a m

Too Hot to Handle is a fun, lighthearted read that kept me entertained. This was my first book by Portia MacIntosh, and I really enjoyed her witty writing style and engaging storytelling.

The book is filled with humor, romance, and just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting.

Overall, Too Hot to Handle was a delightful surprise, and I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Portia MacIntosh in the future!

Loved this book Portia MacIntosh yet again manages to create a fantastic balance of humour and emotion. You are rooting for the characters because you can totally identify with them. I enjoyed the twists and the chase. A lovely balanced read

Too Hot to Handle by Portia Macintosh

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank You to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for this ARC! This was a pretty cute, easy read.

It’s labeled as a romantic comedy but there honestly wasn’t much romance and nothing revealed until about 85% of the way through. I think it definitely could’ve been incorporated earlier in the book as to build it up a bit more. By the time romance was finally involved the book wrapped up pretty quickly leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the that aspect.

I enjoyed the characters overall but honestly just disliked the entire premise of the book (which could be a personal thing). Basically a villa is double booked by a group of girls for a bachelorette and a group of boys for a bachelor party. When neither group volunteers to leave, they launch into a competition of sorts to see who can keep the villa for after the weddings and coexist in a divided house until then. As someone who got married recently I promise you I would NOT be okay with this and despite “not having any other options” I’d definitely find an alternative.

Anyway, it was fairly short with quick chapters so it wasn’t difficult to get through in that regard. Definitely not a groundbreaking book by any means. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend for a romance lover but if you’re looking for a lighthearted beach read this could be a solid option.

💍🌞💁‍♀️ Too Hot To Handle by Portia Macintosh 💁‍♀️🌞💍
Genre: Rom-com
Length: 288 pages
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

🩷 forced proximity
🩷 rivals
🩷 vacation destination
🩷 wedding

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

Summary:
Job recruiter Molly is gearing up for her best friend Lou's wedding. Unfortunately, she is coming off a painful break-up and has to suck it up to help with their girls' Bachelorette destination week in Spain, followed directly by the wedding. It is just what the four of them all needed, but their arrival at the gorgeous Spanish villa is ruined when they see there is already a group of four guys who were also double-booked to stay there during their same two weeks. Thus begins a 'war' between the girls and the guys to gain sole residence of the villa. Molly is determined to help the girls win, but one of the guys, Travis, is finding his way into her head... and heart.

Opinion:
This was yet another adorable comedic romance by Portia Macintosh. I loved the 'events' that the girls and guys created for their villa competition. The whole story was fun and fast-paced, with a gorgeous setting and bachelorette/wedding theme. Molly and Travis had such great chemistry from the get-go and I was really rooting for them to not only bridge the gap between the two groups, but of course, to find their own romantic happy ending. I'm never disappointed by this author's light-hearted and enjoyable romance novels!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s the perfect popcorn read—light, fun, and ideal for the beach or a lazy summer afternoon. It has that easygoing charm that instantly puts you in a holiday mood.

That said, I did have a few minor gripes. The negativity toward Willow felt a bit unnecessary. Sure, not everyone in a friend group is going to get along perfectly, and it was nice to see Molly and Willow setting their differences aside for Lou’s sake. But the tension between them seemed to just fizzle out without much resolution, and Willow’s comment about Dean being single again felt out of place, especially since nothing really came of it.

The characters’ behavior also leaned a little too immature at times. The whole villa situation could have been resolved with a simple conversation, yet they resorted to petty pranks and passive-aggressive antics instead. Thankfully, things did smooth out eventually.

I also wished the characters had a bit more depth—it would have added to the chemistry between them. And while I don’t mind a happy ending, *everyone* pairing off felt a little too neat and tidy.

That said, this book never pretends to be something deeper than it is. It’s a breezy, entertaining summer romance that delivers exactly what you’d expect—and despite my nitpicks, I had a great time reading it!

The premise was interesting but the start was so slow and felt like a book I would have enjoyed in the 90s. It felt stale and repetitive. Both the men and women introduced seemed to lack intelligence and innovative ideas. Maybe the book gets better later on, I abandoned it at 33%.

Thank you NetGalley and Portia MacIntosh for the Arc.
What happens when a group of four girls celebrating an upcoming wedding and a group of four guys celebrating and upcoming wedding get double booked in a villa. Attraction, competition and a whole lot of sexual tension.
Molly was just looking forward to a holiday after getting heartbroken by her ex-boyfriend and didn’t expect to find more. I loved the back and forth banter between both groups and how in the end lasting friendships were made even if you thought there would be blood by the end of the holiday. Each single girl and guy connected and the 2027 excerpt had one wedding with a second on the way. Many times Molly and Travis’s heartbreak lead them to not allow them to open up again, luckily the week gave them plenty of time.
Maybe started off a little slow with needing some background on Molly and the gang but after they got to the villa and the initial skinny dipping incident, I couldn’t put it down and finished the rest in one sitting. A great summer beach or pool read for the romantic comedy lover.

A fun, romantic read with a competitive edge which was compelling. A good light hearted read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Loved this romance, it was definetely hot to handle. Loved the chemistry between the caracters, the spice was just perfect.

I’ve never read a book that gives off that much of a British vibe (not a bad thing, just interesting). Also the first half of the book was pretty boring and seemed to drag on. But when we got to the point where the 2 main characters had to stand against one another - that’s where things got interesting. Overall it was a good read.

This Spanish holiday romcom, with double-booking/forced proximity, is fun and easy to read. The romance doesn't start until quite late in the book - around the 60% mark, but the childish tricks the two groups play on each other, and the competition hijinks (which should determine which group gets to keep the villa) is amusing and holds your interest. I have read a few books by this Author and whilst this isn’t the best (Ex in the City and The Meet Cute Method are my favourites), it is still a great read and would be ideal as a beach read this summer. Many thanks to NetGallery and Boldwood Books for allowing me to get an early copy of this book, which is out on 8th April 2025.

Portia Macintosh has set another book in a sunny location which somehow gives you a warmth as you read it.
 
It is amusing, as ever, I particularly enjoyed an early scene as Molly got a client mixed up with an ex-boyfriend.
 
The dynamic between the four boys and four girls is a little silly at times but generally great fun,
I particularly enjoyed one of the card games they concocted.
 
Overall, as enjoyable as normal and I look forward to this author’s next book

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.