Too Hot to Handle by Portia MacIntosh is a forced proximity, rivals to lovers read that drew me in by the engaging cover.

Workaholic and single Molly is the maid of honor for her best friend Lou, hoping for the perfect hen trip to Spain at a luxury villa with her bridal party. The four women arrive, only to find that the villa has been double booked with a stag party of four men, one of which is getting married the day before Lou at the same resort. Both groups refuse to leave, leading to a boys vs girls competition with plenty of humor and ridiculous behavior. I really wanted to love this book, but it just fell short for me. The banter and conversations felt rushed at times, especially when it came to the conflict resolution between MMC and FMC at the end of story. Overall, it was just a pretty light, easy read with minimal substance.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and the author for this e-ARC.

I can’t get enough of Portia Macintosh’s romcoms. I could not stop smiling the whole time I read this one! It was hilarious and definitely felt like an episode of Love Island. The competition was so funny and it all worked out in the end. Definitely makes me want to take a vacation to a villa in Spain!

Firstly thank you very much to BoldwoodBooks and Portia Macintosh for the opportunity to read this book! It was my first ARC read and I was very excited by the prospect.
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun, light and had the right amount of sweet and spice. It was such a fun premise, who wouldn’t want to go to Spain for a destination wedding to end up playing games at a villa with a bunch of handsome guys?!
I loved the pairing of Travis and Molly, I thought their banter and relationship was sweet. Travis had a really genuine and cheeky nature which I loved.
I enjoyed that Molly was able to develop in herself and see that making mistakes is all part of life and being happy.

This was a fun summery book - with a bit of a romance and a lot of friendship and childish competition. I want to be in Spain for a wedding fighting over a villa with a bunch of hot men!

The romance actually was only about 25% of the book, the remaining balance was a lot of fun and hijinks between the girls and the boys in the villa. Lots of love island references and plenty of giggles made me enjoy this book more than I thought.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I DNF at 24%. I did not care for the writing style- nor the characters.

Thank you for the opportunity to read though!

This was such a fun read! 🤩 I absolutely loved the premise of this book, a really great idea!

Molly’s best friend Lou is getting married to one of the greatest men on earth 🥰 unfortunately for Molly, her boyfriend turned out to be a bit of a dud so she is newly single. When disaster strikes with Lou’s wedding plans which then coincides with a mishap at work, Molly finds herself spending two weeks in Spain with Lou, and friends Nita and Willow, in the run up to Lou’s wedding. Two weeks of sunshine with your best friends, it sounds like bliss. Except when the girls arrive at the glorious villa, they find a group of boys already holidaying there - with both groups determined that they are not leaving, they are in for a bumpy ride!

This was laugh out loud funny. Sooooo many moments had me giggling! I loved the competition element between the two groups, and how determined they were to get on each other’s nerves! Such childish antics but they made me laugh so much 😂

The chemistry between Molly and Travis was sizzling! I loved their scenes together, from the flirty banter to the deeper conversations, they just worked so well together. All of the characters (apart from Dean obvs) were just so great - a really funny, warm, down to earth and relatable bunch.

I now desperately want to be in a Spanish villa lying by the pool and I think it’s very unfair that this is not my current situation!! 🥲

⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first ever ARC!!! Thank you thank you thank you to Boldwood Books and Portia MacIntosh. This is my first read by this author and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! This is perfect for summer time and the most fun beach read.

Too Hot To Handle Synopsis
Workaholic Molly is thrilled to be maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding and plans a perfect bachelorette trip to Spain. But their dream villa is double-booked with a rowdy group of stags who refuse to leave. With no compromise in sight, they agree to a winner-takes-all competition—girls vs. boys. As tensions rise, Molly finds herself drawn to stag Travis, but falling for the enemy is definitely not part of the plan.

This book was so fun and easy to read. I enjoyed the easy banter between the two groups and the character development you see from the boys. I do wish that certain scenes were given more depth and that the relationship between Molly and Travis was built up a little more.

There were a few flaws throughout the book. One that stood out to me was that they were supposed to to compete in 8 challenges to see who would stay the second week in the villa and instead only did 4 but then ended up saying they did 6. Also, the events were supposed to be taking place within one week, however it felt like they were there for much longer.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable book and I definitely see myself reading more from this author in the future.

I think Travis & Molly may be my favourite pairing out of all of the Portia MacIntosh books I’ve read. I absolutely loved them both, individually & even more during their interactions.

This story is silly, but also really fun. Even though there were quite a lot of characters, it was easy to keep them all straight which is obviously ideal. It did take me a bit of time to like some of the side characters, but maybe I just didn’t like anyone as much as the main characters and it wasn’t a fair comparison.

I already knew that Portia MacIntosh’s writing just worked for me, and this book didn’t disappoint that way either. I laughed out loud multiple times, and had a smile on my face constantly just from reading this. I’m really glad I picked it up & definitely recommend it as a fun and fast read!

Book Review: Too Hot to Handle by Portia MacIntosh

Too Hot to Handle by Portia MacIntosh is the perfect rom-com for readers seeking a hilarious, sun-drenched escape filled with rivalry, romance, and lots of laughter. MacIntosh, known for her witty storytelling, delivers yet another charming and entertaining tale that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

The story revolves around Molly, a workaholic who is thrilled to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. Her excitement peaks when the bachelorette party is planned in a stunning Spanish villa, offering the promise of sun, sea, cocktails, and endless fun. However, her dream holiday takes a dramatic turn when the villa turns out to be double-booked by a rowdy group of stags. With no room to back down, the two parties are forced into a competition to determine who gets to stay in paradise.

The concept of a rivalry between the hens and stags is both amusing and filled with potential for drama, and MacIntosh nails it. As the competition heats up, so do the sparks between Molly and Travis, one of the stags. Though Molly is adamant that she cannot fall for the enemy, the chemistry between them makes it impossible to ignore. The banter, tension, and gradual development of their relationship provide the perfect blend of sweet and spicy romance that keeps you hooked.

What makes Too Hot to Handle so enjoyable is its lighthearted, fast-paced nature, and MacIntosh’s ability to craft fun, relatable characters. Molly, while a bit uptight and driven, is easy to root for, and Travis, with his playful charm, is the perfect foil to her. The forced proximity trope is executed brilliantly here, with the constant back-and-forth between the groups and the slow burn romance adding layers of tension and excitement.

The book also shines with its setting—the sun-soaked Spanish villa is almost like a character itself, adding to the escapist vibe of the novel. You can almost feel the warmth of the sun, hear the clink of cocktail glasses, and sense the rivalry in the air. The hilarious competition and the blossoming romance make this the ideal beach read or vacation escape.

MacIntosh’s writing is witty and sharp, with plenty of pop culture references and humor that keep the story light yet engaging. The perfect mix of funny moments and heartwarming romance makes Too Hot to Handle an absolute joy to read.

Fans of rom-coms will find this book irresistible. If you’re looking for a story full of laughs, love, and a touch of drama, this one is a must-read. Portia MacIntosh has once again proven that she is the queen of feel-good, entertaining romances that are impossible to put down.

Highly recommended for those who love a lighthearted, fun read with a bit of rivalry, romance, and a lot of heart.

Such a witty read. I didn't really get adult 'the summer I turned pretty vibes" but I did enjoy reading it

Lots of fantastic romance tropes rolled into one to make this a proper page turner of a read!
A luxury villa for two weeks in Spain, a destination wedding at a much sought after hotel, four girls (bride included) excited about a hen week, before a glam wedding... what could go wrong?
Finding that the villa was double booked. And there are four rather hunky male specimens already there, and not willing to give up their spot in paradise without a fight!
Molly, one of the ladies group, and a bridesmaid, is here after a break-up, which has left her doubting the male species. And she has a whole heap of work stress to deal with, too.
However, she keeps getting drawn to one lad, Travis, despite a girl pact that they would not get involved with any of the 'enemies' and concentrate their efforts on winning the villa for the second week.
This is 100% a romantic comedy with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It also has the added spice of forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and that underlying spice throughout the trip.
I finished it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

What a fun and flirty five-star read. This was a great story and Molly just made me smile, even as her life was falling apart, she still managed to pull it all together to give her friend the best hen week and wedding possible and that just shows the great strength of character she has. When they realise the villa has been double booked, the madness they get up to and the deviousness just made me smile so much, you know that they would just be having so much fun. This author always brings the joy to the stories, but this one brought more than just joy and sunshine, it brought the sparkle as well.

Okay - wow! I was not expecting this. I LOVED THIS BOOK. It pulled me in from the beginning. So cute, and perfect for a summer day!

Thanks to @netgalley, the author & the publishers for the ARC.

You can't beat Portia Macintosh when you need a light, funny, and charming book to read, and this was no exception! It had plenty of humour, spice, and overall lighthearted fun! It was a bit of a slow burn to get going, but that was the only negative!
It should definitely be on your summer list to read!

Thank you to NetGalley, BoldBooks, and Portia MacIntosh for the chance to read this ARC of Too Hot To Handle!

What happens when two groups have been double booked at the same villa. Attraction and a friendly competition of course!

This one started off on the slow side but once I got to the halfway point I really started to enjoy it. It was funny and cute! This would be a great summer read.

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia MacIntosh for this ARC in return for an honest review!

This book was literally Too Hot to Handle in novel form—except with an extra twist. A double-booked villa, two groups competing to see who gets to stay? That’s such a fun concept, and I was hooked on the idea right away! It had all the summer vibes, reality show drama, and laugh-out-loud moments that make for a perfect beach read.

While this leans more into comedy than romance (I definitely wanted more of the romance!), it was still such an entertaining read. One of my favorite parts was the friendships between the girls—they had such a fun, supportive dynamic, and it made the story even more enjoyable. The forced proximity added to the chaos in the best way, leading to some really funny and unpredictable moments!

I will say the pacing felt a bit slow at the beginning and then rushed toward the end. And while the romance had plenty of attraction and tension, I wished there were more emotional moments or deeper conversations between the main couple. I get it—it’s a villa full of ridiculously good-looking people—but I would’ve loved to see their connection build beyond just the physical attraction.

That said, this was still a super fun, lighthearted read! I found myself cheering for the characters (especially the girls) throughout the competition, and it had just the right amount of chaos to keep me entertained. If you're looking for a short, fun summer romance that feels like watching a reality show, this one is definitely worth picking up!☀️🏝

What a funny and entertaining escape this novel was! This novel had such a great girl vibe as a Bachelorette Party in Spain, where they find out the villa they’re supposed to stay in was double booked by group of hilarious and adorable men. What ensues is a week of them competing to see who will stay. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times! Perfect summer beach read.

This was my first novel by Portia MacIntosh, but will definitely not be my last!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

This author always delivers a really great fun easy read so of course I had to grab this one. I was not disappointed at all! This book had me laughing out loud and I read it with a big smile on my face.

🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷 Rivals to lovers
🩷 Friend group
🩷 Wedding trip
🩷 Sweet and Spicy

This book is about a group of friends heading off on a bachelorette party as one of them is getting married. The original plans get cancelled so with a crazy reshuffle a new plan is made and off they go. Let’s just say the plans are not what they planned though, throw in an unplanned stag do and we are in for some fun.

This book was such a breath of fresh air, I really enjoyed the storyline and enjoyed all the banter between the characters. I loved the setting of the book, even if it was primarily set around a swimming pool, you forgot you were in one area as so much happened there.

I loved both friend groups, each person was so different and brought their own unique antics to the groups.

I thought the ending was brilliant, it was the perfect ending after Mollys horrible start to the storyline.

I absolutely recommend you pick this book up when it comes out.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

Another enjoyable beach read from Portia MacIntosh.

When Molly and her three friends arrive at a villa in Spain for a hen do, they discover that there has been a mix up and Travis and his three friends have also booked the villa. With neither party wanting to leave, they resort to competing for the right to stay. The resulting chaos causes sparks to fly between Molly and Travis.

Unlike others, I didn’t think the pre-holiday part of the story was too long, and I’m someone who likes a story to start right in the action.
The female characters were different enough to be interesting. I liked the premise and the setting, though I would have preferred a bit more in different locations like the town. In terms of language and humour, one of the best I’ve read from this author. Sharp, sometimes subtle, some genuinely funny moments rather than just amusing.

My main sticking point was that I did not like the boys. And that kind of affected me caring about the outcome. They’re really unpleasant. And whilst they become less hostile, I wouldn’t want anything to do with someone who had behaved like that. Even if it’s the lad on the periphery who’s not really joining in with the others, he’s not trying to stop his friends' behaviour, and you can judge a person from the company they keep.

A light-hearted read with plenty of humour.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

(3.5/5) I think this would make the perfect summer read! I loved the comparison to Love Island and the villa setting—it added such a fun, entertaining vibe to the story. The book had me laughing out loud, especially during the shampoo scene. This was my first book by this author, and I can’t wait to read more from them. That said, the pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, and I wasn’t a fan of the fade-to-black scene (just a personal preference). A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing the early ARC!