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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

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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.


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. 

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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.

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  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

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