• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure & Policies
  • Contact
  • Requests
  • Winners
  • Everything Books
  • Bookish Life
  • Secondary Navigation Social Media Icons

    • Facebook
    • Goodreads
    • Instagram

Storied Conversation

every story begins a conversation

  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure & Policies
  • Contact
  • Requests
  • Winners
  • Everything Books
  • Bookish Life

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh | Book Review

Jan. 14, 2025

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh | Book Review

Can I just say that I know how Lana feels? I have a sister very much like hers and have had my birthday forgotten by my family because of something going on with her. To make matters worse our birthdays are ten days apart which meant I always had to share my celebration with her. There is a lot of issues that can come from all of this. So I get Lana completely.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh | Book Reviewfive-stars
Wish You Weren’t Here by Portia MacIntosh
Genres: Romantic Comedy

Don’t get mad, get Ethan!

Lana has had enough. Her ‘perfect’ sister is getting married. In Australia. On Lana’s 30th birthday and no one seems to have noticed. To make matters worse, she’s been given a list of rules she must follow so she doesn’t upstage the bride.

Well, rules are meant to be bent right?

She’s found a killer dress, now she just needs the most inappropriate wedding date she can find. But where to start? All her attempts at online dating are simply disasters, and not in the right way! Too boring/married/easily intimidated! But then her drop dead gorgeous ex Ethan suddenly reappears in her life. With the power to make her dizzy with excitement she reminds herself why they broke up. Together they literally attracted chaos until their relationship imploded. They couldn’t make it work. But could Lana make this work in her favour… just for the wedding?

However, when they arrive in Australia Ethan seems to have forgotten he’s only there to help cause bedlam. Instead he’s off the charts charming, nothing like she remembers and not playing by her rules. She’s here for revenge, not a rekindled holiday romance…but Ethan has other ideas!

A laugh-out-loud, fake dating romantic comedy from million-copy bestseller Portia MacIntosh

Goodreads


Get the Book



Amazon Kobo


Other books from this Author A Shore Thing

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


my review


Lana is seen as a hot mess by her father’s wealthy side of the family. The side that she didn’t grow up with since she didn’t live with her father. She is seen as so much of a mess that they stage an intervention to keep her from messing up her sister’s wedding in Australia.

A wedding that is taking place on Lana’s 30th birthday. A fact that no one seems to even care about so Lana does the only thing she can and plans to screw things up on purpose. I mean let’s face it they can only think you are something so many times before you just give in and be that. 

That is where Ethan comes in. Ethan and Lana met two years ago and there was plenty of chemistry between them. However, there was plenty of chaos as well and they decided to never see one another again. However, a chance encounter gives Lana the perfect idea. After all she needs a date for the wedding and who better help her with chaos for the big day?

This was simply a wonderful story. It has a bit of fake dating as well as some romantic comedy in it. Although I feel I should warn you that the romance doesn’t begin until about halfway through. Some people find that off putting but I think it works for this story. 

Wish You Werent Here Full Tour Banner

meet the author


five-stars

About Portia MacIntosh

Portia MacIntosh

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedy novels.

From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Newsletter Sign Up

Category: Review Tags: Rachel's Random Resources

← Previous Post
Dark Times for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis | Book Review
Next Post →
One Day and Forever by Shari Low | Book Review

You may also like

Woden's Vengeance by Donovan Cook Book Review
Woden’s Vengeance by Donovan Cook | Book Review
Tribune and the Sword by Adam Lofthouse | Book Review
Tribune and the Sword by Adam Lofthouse | Book Review
Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter | Book Review
Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter | Book Review

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. heather says

    January 15, 2025 at 9:24 am

    Clever title and now I am interested to know why. I enjoyed reading your review.

    Reply
  2. Dreaa Drake says

    January 15, 2025 at 10:48 pm

    This sounds like a great book love the cover very eye catching!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

SC 2026 sidebar graphic


Hi, I’m Rita and I write all about books. I learned at a very early age just how much I love to read and getting lost in the worlds that books provide.

Find us online

  • Facebook
  • Goodreads
  • Instagram

Currently Reading

Nothing at the moment!

Recent Book Reviews

Tyre by Fiona Davenport  by Fiona DavenportForget That Guy by Lani Lynn ValeThe Bristlecone Writers' Group  by Lisa Williams KlineMaple & Moonlight  by Daphne ElliotWoden's Vengeance by Donovan CookMurder on an Irish Farm  by Carlene O'ConnorThe Arab-Israeli Cookbook by Robin SoansThe Lady of Galway Manor  by Jennifer DeibelBaking in the American South  by Anne ByrnThe Song That Moves the Sun  by Anna BrightThe Girl from Portofino by Siobhan DaikoThe Cake Bible, 35th Anniversary Edition by Rose Levy Beranbaum, Woody WolstonDesperately Seeking a Duchess by Christi CaldwellThe Final Target  by Nora RobertsTribune and the Sword by Adam LofthouseBe the Full Problem by Lani Lynn ValeThe Burning Pages by Paige SheltonStorm of Mercia  by MJ PorterTo Kiss a Demon  by Stephanie RoweThe Cursed King  by Abigail Owen

Join Me This Year

26 in 2026 -2 challenge updated sidebar- SC everything books page 2026
The Big Read Take Two
I LOVED IT!!!!! 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍 I LOVED IT!!!!! 

𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 #𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝!

Ares “Tyre” Costa always kept perfect control…until the club’s cool-headed treasurer became obsessed with Cecily Hayes. But the sweet swimming instructor has Olympic dreams that may take her away from Crossbend.

Even with an outside crew trying to steal the Redline Kings’ underground racing territory, Tyre’s real battle was tearing down Cecily’s walls. She was terrified her dreams would force her to walk away, but he’s determined to claim his woman.

📖 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
✔️ MC Romance
✔️ Morally Grey MMC
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Protective Hero
✔️ Instalove
✔️ Opposites Attract

❤️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞→ https://mybook.to/TyreRK

#instaloveinfluencers
Beyond the Spotlight by Megan O'Brien releases Jun Beyond the Spotlight by Megan O'Brien releases June 30!

What if the life you've built isn't the one you truly want?
 
Hudson Carter has everything: chart-topping hits, sold-out arenas, and a reputation as country music's golden boy. But behind the spotlight, he's burned out and craving something real beyond the fame.
 
Lucy Kincaid is starting over in Green River, Colorado, determined to build a life that finally belongs to her. No expectations. No looking back.
 
Until Hudson walks into it.
 
The connection between them is instant, intense, and impossible to ignore. Hudson knows what he wants the moment he meets her. But can Lucy risk her heart when she's fought so hard to reclaim her life on her own terms?
 
When Lucy's past resurfaces and the dark side of Hudson's fame threatens the life they're building, they'll have to decide: play it safe... or fight for a love that feels like home.
 
A small-town romance featuring an obsessed alpha hero, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA
 
Add to your Goodreads TBR ➩ https://t.ly/6BCUk
Influencers, sign up to review ➩ https://t.ly/BeyondtheSpotlightRB

#BeyondtheSpotlight #MeganOBrien #GreenRiverSeries #coverreveal #smalltownromance #coverlove #obsessedalphahero #steamyHEA #contemporaryromance #givemebookspr
❤️ 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥 ❤️ 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 #𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝!

Ares “Tyre” Costa always kept perfect control…until the club’s cool-headed treasurer became obsessed with Cecily Hayes. But the sweet swimming instructor has Olympic dreams that may take her away from Crossbend.

Even with an outside crew trying to steal the Redline Kings’ underground racing territory, Tyre’s real battle was tearing down Cecily’s walls. She was terrified her dreams would force her to walk away, but he’s determined to claim his woman.

📖 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
✔️ MC Romance
✔️ Morally Grey MMC
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Protective Hero
✔️ Instalove
✔️ Opposites Attract 

❤️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞→ https://mybook.to/TyreRK

#instaloveinfluencers
NOW LIVE! “This series is truly one of the best I NOW LIVE! “This series is truly one of the best I have ever read” 

Forget That Guy by @lanilynnvale #DontDateHimSeries https://books2read.com/u/3JMAdg
NOW LIVE! Forget That Guy by @lanilynnvale is avai NOW LIVE! Forget That Guy by @lanilynnvale is available now!
 
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cfzMnq
B&N: https://bit.ly/3OsjEa6
Kobo: https://bit.ly/4sXT9bP
Apple Books: https://apple.co/4vhjYcr
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/3JMAdg
 
Add to your Goodreads TBR ➩ https://t.ly/0KNMl
 
Holly Lorena Cain, formerly known as Georgina Lorena Cain, was well acquainted with rock bottom. She’s coasted along its rocky shores for years. It all started when her mother left her when she was barely old enough to understand. For years, her and her dad struggled to make ends meet. A dying cattle farm can’t run itself, and with her dad having cancer, it got harder and harder to hang on to land that’s been in her family for generations.

Just as she thinks that she’s finally made it, her father passes away and leaves every single thing he owns to their neighbor. The man that’d been worming his way into her father’s good graces while she’d been away pursuing higher education.

But she can’t be mad.

Being mad would mean that she has a soul left, but she sold that a long time ago to pay for college.

Once she comes to terms with her father and the land being gone, she moves back to Bear Pass and with one thing on her mind—avoid Denver at all costs. He can never know just how much it hurt that he stole her life away from her.

Only, he makes it impossibly hard to stay away.

He’s there around every corner. He offers her a place to stay. Makes sure she has a place to work. Fixes her car. Saves her from a kidnapper. Oh, and gives her everything her heart desires.

She stays away as best as she can, but she doesn’t stand a chance against Denver’s determination and charm. He’s there when no one else is, peeling her off the floor and propping her back up again each time she falls.

The gruff motorcycle club president with his scary glares and harsh work ethic has decided to make her his, and he won’t stand for her refusal.

He’s been protecting her for her entire life, and she doesn’t even know it.

He won’t stop now, even if she’s bound and determined to stay away.
 
#ForgetThatGuy #LaniLynnVale #DontDateHimSeries #romanticsuspense #enemiestolovers #alphamale #smalltown #givemebookspr
✨Did you see?✨MAPLE & MOONLIGHT by @daphneelliotau ✨Did you see?✨MAPLE & MOONLIGHT by @daphneelliotauthor is available NOW! Grab it in KU! 
#OneClickNow
https://a.co/d/0c9nLlkf 

Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…
🍂Single Mom
🍂New in Town
🍂Neighbors
🍂Hurt/Comfort
🍂Grumpy Maple Farmer
🍂Protective

As a single mom rebuilding my life from scratch, I don’t need help. And I  definitely don’t need the attention of a six-foot-three maple farmer with a beard and a hero complex who looks at me like I’m a problem he didn’t sign up for. 
#newbookalert #daphneelliot #smalltownromance @theauthor.agency

Footer

Every Story Begins with a Conversation

Welcome to Storied Conversation, a space dedicated to he thoughtful discussion of books, exploring literary worlds one page at a time.

Categories

See all the posts in a particular category.

  • Facebook
  • Goodreads
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2026 · Storied Conversation

Lexi Theme by Code + Coconut