I loved this book by Portia McIntosh.  It is the first book I've read that she has written but definitely not the last. The book was full of humour, poignancy and the true meaning of friendship.  Every woman can relate to the main character Luca.  The book flicks between her college days when she fell in love with Tom to the present day when she meets him again at one of their friends weddings.  It is the perfect balance of a light hearted read with making you think how each of our decisions effect our lives.

This book was about a college friends reunion at one of their weddings. The book goes back and forth in time to 2009 and then to the present 2019. We split each chapter between past and present. The book is easily to follow. We go back in time to New Years Day and all the events that happened that day and how it somehow has led us to where these characters are today. This was a very quick read for me, very light hearted and refreshing.

Snigger....

Sorry, but Marky Clarky Whathisface is a door knob, he really is. I mean, I can only assume that friendship groups always have that one person in it who decides to make a fool of themselves, not caring whether their actions end up hurting their so called friends. I wouldn't know, I didn't go to university and, in all honesty, I am a bit of a loner as an adult. However, he is still a door knob. Or a knob cheese. Whichever.

Portia MacIntosh always laces her storylines with such relatable and witty humour, often allowing her readers to step back in time to some point in the eighties or nineties, where cone bras were a thing, and SClub7 weren't vintage. So, I'm sure you can guess what I am about to say here - I snorted my little ass off multiple times whilst reading this! I can't pinpoint exactly what made me laugh, but the situations Luca found herself in, literally had me doing the seal having an epileptic fit kinda laugh.

And Al....I couldn't help but hum the popular Paul Simon tune every time the character went, 'it's not Alan, it's Al.' Snort!!

Sorry, veering off a little.

'The Time of Our Lives' reminded me of a modern day Friends...with more males and one less female. Anyway, specifics aside, the friendships and the lengths they all went to protect each other from landing themselves in the shizzle, gave me a warm fuzzy vibe....whilst also reminding me of Friends. Naturally.

I really enjoyed this book. As soon as I started to read it, I couldn't put it down! I actually didn't put it down until I finished reading it an hour or so later. I just found the whole storyline such a realistic and laugh out loud read. The author didn't need to pad out the storyline with unnecessary things, instead she wrote about the embarrassing situations people found themselves in, the fake niceness between people who would rather stick pins in the other persons eyes instead of making small talk with them, as well as the 'ughhhhhhh' feelings at coming face to face with an ex....or two. It's real life really, isn't it? How many of us going to a social event, find out that someone who we wouldn't wee on in a fire is there, yet have to spend ages trying to gear ourselves up to be fake nice? We all do it, but reading about it in this storyline really brought it home just how quirky us human beans are.

'The Time of Our Lives' is a read which just delivers on humour, wit, warmth, and everything else in between. I wouldn't have been fussed if the conclusion of the book had a happily ever after or not because I felt that the storyline was such a refreshing, breath of fresh air which, as far as I am concerned, gave me my own little happily ever after by laughing. Because, if you're a chronically ill loner like me, laughing out loud is an absolute tonic. I recommend that everyone shove this on their TBR piles, and prepare to be taken on an energetic, hilarious and heartwarming, rollercoaster ride of a journey. A belter!

A funny, fresh and witty book which weaves past and present together.
This is an easy read, light and fun and is ideal as a gentle and amusing read with flashes of zany humour

This book is highly addictive. It captured my interest from the very first page. I absolutely loved this book and will be looking for more titles by this author.

An incredibly cute story about Luca’s trip to her former uni roommate’s wedding, where she meets up with her 5 former housemates, 1 ex-boyfriend, her arch rival, a new love interest, and the man she still loves (the one who got away). 

This story is told through a series of flashback chapters mixed with current story, the results are a heart felt, full story. I really liked this one.

This had been a quick read, with funny scenes, witty dialogue and weird coincidences! Perfect for anyone who wants to have the time of our live!
I already know that Portia Macintosh books are always refreshing and leave a smile on your face, this case is not an exception, but maybe the smile is much bigger than any previous book!
We will start this book following Luca who is going to a wedding, a wedding she doesn’t want to go, but know that she can not miss… one of her old friends from Uni is marrying, this means that she will reunite with all her old friends and she will have to remember how her heart was broken in a thousand pieces. What she doesn’t expect is to meet again the guilty person who broke her heart, will the feelings return?
Luca will not have the time of her live, as you can expect; she will meet with the ex-boyfriend Alan (now called Al Atlantic), the guy who broke her heart (Nathan) and an interesting new guy, maybe the love of her life? (Ed) But don’t expect to only read Luca’s love life, you’ll meet all her old friends too; and they are quite a group, don’t doubt it!
The story will be told between the present (the wedding) and some memories of the group from the past; Luca’s friends are special, they all have their faults, and some of their worst moments will be remembered during the wedding, but who didn’t do anything wrong during Uni? You’ll have to read The Time of Our Lives if you want to know some of the moments!
I liked how all the characters at the end of the story try to connect all their faults, like trying to justify that everything that they did in the past was to be in this special moment in the present. Maybe is true maybe not, but now I have a happy face remembering the book, so I prefer to think that is true! 😉

This had way too much drama! I didn't like any of the characters and I found I was not even a little bit interested in the story. The women were catty, judgemental, and mean to each other and I had not interest in continuing after the first part of the book. It didn't really dig to deep into anything either and I would have like more substance to the story.

This was a fun mix of past and present. The present is a wedding weekend that Luca attends for one of her past roommates from University. With her old roommates in attendance along with friends of the house that Luca knew or dated, Luca was bound to bring up memories of her time at University with her friends. Two of those friends are guys that Luca dated; Alan and Tom. The past parts of the book dealt with flashbacks at all of the things that went wrong with either Alan or Tom, mostly Tom, and what would have been if misunderstandings were dealt with in the past. Ten years have passed and a lot of what would have happened if things had turned out differently between Tom and Luca resurface during the course of the weekend through the flashbacks.

I cringed a lot while reading because this reminded me of some of the stupid things I did while in college, so I could relate a bit to Luca. I have never met a Pete type at a wedding, but I've heard stories of stuff like that happening. I will now know not to go onto a wooden bridge with more than one other person. That scene made me laugh!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I love being in Portia MacIntosh world and after reading this book had just one question? How does she always manage to create characters that I feel like I knew before I read her book? If anyone knows the answer, please feel free to let me know and also tell me which of her books is your favourite? I have to say that as much as I enjoyed Summer Secrets at the Apple Blossom Deli and Love and Lies at The Village Christmas Shop, I do love the style of writing in Time of Our Lives and her earlier books. Not that she can't do both brilliantly, I just think she's amazing at first person, quirky stories, of which I could read an anthology of...next book Portia?? ;)



The Time of Our Lives, is an upbeat, non stop, laugh out loud read, that drew me in and had me sinking into my couch that little bit more and assuring myself just one more chapter was absolutely fine at 11 o'clock at night!! It reminded me of movies like 'House Bunny' and 'Sydney White' in a good way, pretty much any movie with a university theme really. I say that because Portia's writing makes it feel so vivid that it's like I was actually watching a movie play out in my head. I know technically you may do that with every book you read, but I don't feel like all are this action packed and real and make you feel like you've just watched a whole movie when you've read the last chapter. Have any books made you feel like this? Let me know!!



Luca is now my new best friend, I'm pretty certain I have a 27 dresses line up going now with all of Portia's characters, but that's another good movie so #winning! She was fun, she was practical, she tried to keep her shit together, even though let's face it, we all have our moments and I just loved her. She overthought certain things, she went with the flow, there was just so much of her that made me connect to her and that's what I adore so much about Portia's writing. She truly makes you connect to the characters, even if they can often be quite bold or say things or dress the way I would never dress, I somehow finish the book feeling like "yep that was so me, she's me and we are now best friends because of it" - an actual conversation in my head.



As for Tom - oooh he was a tricky one!! At first I was like "Dude just tell her the truth" because I was starting to second guess things myself and was wondering how he could be so perfect and thinking "what is going on with you?" - You're getting completely inside my brain with this review, it's like a gift that keeps on giving! He worried me at the start and I was concerned for Luca and almost wanted her to leave him be, but as the story progressed I wanted to know more about him and I softened a little, okay a lot, he really was rather perfect. His and Luca's whole story and friendship was all so sweet and serendipitous!



It was entertaining, it was fun, it was over way too quickly - my fault, not Portia's - and now I'm back to waiting, like a puppy at the front door - metaphorically not physically - for Portia's next one! The Time of Our Lives should definitely be on your reading list!

A lovely story, funny, warm, full of great characters you can relate to, a great light summer read. A few unnecessary scenes and a bit mad at times, but that’s half the fun sometimes 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Witty, addictive, and undeniably romantic!

The Time of Our Lives is a lighthearted, comical read that takes you into the life of the ordinary, but content Luca as she dreadingly travels to the wedding of her old flatmates and embarks on a weekend that includes reminiscing with old friends, a blossoming new love interest, and being reunited with the one that got away. 

The writing is sentimental and whimsical. The characters are multi-layered, gregarious, and endearing. And the plot, using flashbacks to the past is an enticingly nostalgic tale full of secrets, friendship, chemistry, humorous moments, romantic drama, self-reflection, and hilarious mishaps.

Overall, The Time of Our Lives is another uplifting, humorous, addictively entertaining tale by MacIntosh that is perfect for anyone who loves a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that’s not only heartwarming but laugh-out-loud funny.

Thank you to Portia MacIntosh and HQ Digital for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So does fate really exist when it comes to your love life?  That is the question that I am left pondering after reading The Time of Our Lives, where you learn about a series of events, which if they hadn't occurred in the order they did may have led to a vastly different outcome. 

Luca is dreading going to wedding of one of her old uni flatmates, as she is the only one from their group that is still single. So  imagine her surprise when there is an ex boyfriend at the wedding too,  the man she almost got together with one New Years Eve, 10 years ago, and a seemingly too good to be true man all vying for her attention. 

Add in being roped in as a last minute extra bridesmaid, and you still haven't scratched the surface of what happens at this wedding. 

In addition to the wedding, we are treated to flashbacks of the year or so that the group all lived together,  not always in chronological order, but in a way designed to drip feed their pasts, and understand fully just how they have arrived at the situations they are now in. 

Expect lies and secrets to be uncovered,  definitely some romance, plenty of comedy, and just a massively gripping story, as everything is untangled. 

This is a cleverly crafted tale that is incredibly enjoyable, and it will certainly entertain you. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

Romance is not my usual genre, but a fresh, original voice with a sense of humor will sometimes reel me in. With "The Time of Our Lives," Portia MacIntosh got me. Her narrative reminds me in a good way of "The Neanderthal's Aunt" by Dr. Gina DeMarco (which a friend read at my insistence and two-starred, to my amazement; it's five stars all the way!). "The Time of Our Lives" also reminds me in a good way of "Hyperlink from Hell: A Couch Potato's Guide to the Afterlife" (not a romance, not really) by Lindy Moone. I can't resist the quirky humor and crazy antics. Fans of TV shows like "Friends" and "The Big Bang Theory" might gravitate to this romance for the cast of college kids meeting up ten years later at a wedding.

What set this romance apart from the usual is the way the cast of characters alternate from past (college roommates) to present (yes, the whole novel takes place at a wedding). With each flashback to college days, a new insight is revealed, and as the end rolls at us like a runaway train, we discover the extremes of loyalty, the cost, the consequences. A Catwoman costume. A dog in the road. People leaping to the wrong conclusion. People telling white lies to save a friend from the unthinkable.

On the one hand, I kept getting annoyed with the heroine who, like too many others, lacks "agency" - things happen, and she accepts them as her lot in life, her fate, or just Things That Happen, and I'd have liked to see her have more faith in herself and fight harder for what is hers. But that would deny us the fun of the novel, and the agony of "Why didn't you just ---"? One reason we love stories is that we see how wrong, how irrational, other people can be. They drive me crazy. And then I realize I'm just as guilty of assuming the worst and failing to fight harder against an opponent trying to usurp what I could, and should, and must claim as my own.

Some of the one-star reviewers fault the story for "stupid" people doing stupid things, but to me, that is not a fair analysis of a novel. Romeo and Juliet were the penultimate idiots. If this were not so, we'd have no story. I've strived to avoid spoilers, so let me warn you not to read the one-star reviews on Goodreads. Spoilers! and (if you ask me), spoil-sports. This novel is not for literary scholars. It's sheer, unadulterated fun. Thank you, Portia MacIntosh, for a much-needed bit of escapism.

I'd cite excerpts from the text, but this is a NetGalleyARC with the usual disclaimer about not quoting from anything but the final, published copy.

The Time Of Our Lives by Portia MacIntosh is a feel-good contemporary novel that shows the bond between a group of friends.
The action alternates between a present day wedding and 2008. It shows the impact that choices in the past have on present day life. Different choices would have revealed very different results.
There is a wonderful eclectic mix of friends who met at uni, paired up and are now living adult lives. There is good natured teasing and bonds that the reader feels will last a lifetime. There are some highly amusing situations including a rescue from a pond. The reader can ‘feel’ a force of attraction that the characters are trying to deny. There is good natured banter.
Within the group of couples, the reader senses the awkwardness of being single. Singleness is not always welcomed. It can be a state of mind as we see some singles having fun.
This novel is about friendship. There are great lengths that some will go to, to protect their friends. Friendship is to be celebrated.
I love Portia MacIntosh’s books. The characters are quirky but realistic and likable. The Time Of Our Lives is a delightful fun read, just perfect for long summer evenings… or cold winter nights.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Nope not for me. I hate when the heroine on the book is spinless and the reasons and excuses of my everyone is the way they are because of their past is so boring.

It is a fun and entertaining story that hooks from the first page.

A group of friends from the university meet at the wedding of one of them after ten years without seeing each other. On this special day, many secrets will be uncovered that until then they have been strongly kept. 

Luca, is the main character of this novel and fate will want her to meet Tom again. Ten years have passed since Tom broke her heart and all because of a misunderstanding provoked in the New Year's Eve party, and perhaps also because none of them had the courage to confess the true feelings they really felt for each other. It seems that a decade has not been enough time for the couple to forget the love that existed once between them.

Portia MacIntosh gets the reader to form part of this group of friends with what you can enjoy this novel to the fullest. It's the first book I've read about this author and I think it's not going to be the last.

Friends from uni reunite ten years later at a friends wedding ,most are in relationships but for Luca it brings Tom back into her life the one who she loved but never quite made it into relationship status with ! He who ended up with someone else namely Cleo ,who is also at the wedding and pregnant!
Tom keeps trying to talk to Luca and seems quite keen but Luca is trying to protect herself from getting closer and being disappointed again .
As at all weddings there is a little chaos helped along with some drinks, some truths come out while the drinks are flowing .

I loved the seemless tranistion between now and the past. Luca is one of my favourite characters from this year - she's quite like me. Her impromptu bridesmaiding was hilarious! A really feel good book, and it's made me get back in touch with my college friends.

A fun easy cozy story. I enjoy the other stories from this author and this didn’t disappoint. I look forward to the next story.