While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again. Except when she finds out that she's not divorced & her ex-husband is getting married again in a few days. She rushes to Scotland in order to get the papers signed but instead a whole lot of chaos wait for to happen.

This was a hilarious & entertaining book with a touch of emotional aspect to it. Although the first few scenes/chapters felt a bit unnecessary & stretched out, but this turned out to be a pretty enjoyable read.

The whole divorce fiasco was one bell of a ride; are they or are they not divorced was the biggest question until the very end.
In all it was a fun, quirky rom-com that you can enjoy by the poolside.

Thank you netgalley & publisher for the ARC.

Days before her ex's wedding, Poppy discovers that their divorce never went through. A rush trip to Scotland is supposed to end things between her and Zac forever. But the reunion doesn't go as planned. With a snowstorm coming and someone trying to sabotage the wedding, can Poppy escape with her heart intact?

I love Portia MacIntosh's books. This one seemed a little unfocused in the beginning, but it quickly came together once once Poppy left for Scotland. I love how the story weaves together the whimsical characters and events with deeply heartfelt moments.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What I liked: This book had many genuinely funny rom-com moments. However, there were also moments that made me connect with the character's anger or sadness. It wasn't too much cheesiness, and I appreciated the range of emotional content. I really enjoyed Poppy's character and how she grew throughout the book. She became more direct and truthful as time went on. I really liked how natural the relationship between the love interests felt. It didn't feel forced and I was rooting for their happy ending.

What I didn't like: Only one thing, I felt that the ending was rushed. I can't explain too much without spoiling, but there was a very important conversation I wish we saw before the end.

Overall, if you like rom-coms, you should read this!! It was very enjoyable and I loved it!

Instagram review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYTzj5Drx0d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Poppy attends one of her closest friend's weddings. Weddings are hard for Poppy due to being a divorcee. Whilst at the wedding meets new friend Kat and Fit Fred.

Poppy thought she was divorced till her dad breaks the news to her that she's not actually divorced.

Kat and Poppy set off to Scotland in search of Zac.

Will Poppy work out what she wants in life?

An enjoyable easy read set around Poppy and Zac.

There were a few things I didn‘t like that much (too many stereotypes, hateful friends, negative main character, sidestory until 29% is not really necessary for the plot and drags a little…)

BUT the story and narrative got better after 30% (glad I didn‘t dnf it) and I quite enjoyed it. The time jumps were very well placed and interesting. These chapters gave you an insight into the relationships of the heroine and everything that happened leading up to the big 'event‘.
I loved Kat and her quirkiness and the way she deals with life. Everybody should have a Kat in their life.

A little side note: Please be aware of the trigger warnings before reading.

There were a few things here I found a little too incredulous (Poppy's mother being in charge of the divorce for example) bit it was a lovely and quick read.

I loved Kat, and think everyone needs a friend like her. Rachel, Lindsey, and Sally can get in the bin though.

Not a huge second chance romance fan but this was really well done. I loved the flashbacks to show us how their relationship started, and subsequently how their marriage broke down.

I found this book to be cute and I couldn’t put it down. I love having the accessibility on my phone to read whenever I want to. I’ve never read this author before and it has been a pleasure to be introduced to Portia Macintosh’s style. I have grown to love British novels and their landscapes. Macintosh does a great job describing the landscape for the person who is not necessarily familiar with the area. She has great character development. The one criticism I have is that she doesn’t right away have flashbacks to the past, so when it is introduced, it is a bit of a surprise. Five stars from this book lover.

Calling all Hollywood movie producers, please turn this book into a film, it feels like a film, it was like a movie running through my head the whole time and its completely fabulous, so deserves to be on a big screen.

I can't put my finger on whether this is loosely based on potentially an amalgamation of existing rom com movies, or whether its completely fresh and just written in a way that had the scenes playing out so so clearly in my head, but its brilliant!

I've laughed quite a bit at this amusing story, which I whizzed through as it was just so readable and captured my attention so much more than quite a lot of the books that I've read recently. It's reinvigorated me and reminded me just how much fun, and how much I really do love an excellently written rom-com. (Not to say other books haven't been great, by my attention span has been iffy recently).

I loved the race against time for Poppy to locate Zac at his new wedding, to explain that they are still married and that the divorce papers need re-signing. The circumstances leading to this a great, and the location of Zac's upcoming nuptials, a massive castle in Scotland is spectacular.

Add in a new friend who is rather zany, some what are apparently out of character moments for Poppy as she tries to enjoy life, even though all her old friends seem to be freezing her out, and also flashbacks so we can see key moments of Poppy and Zac's relationship from the start to the end of it, and you have plenty to keep you entertained while reading this.

Utterly fantabulous, I just hope my wish comes true and that we can see this on a big screen in the future as it would definitely be a hit!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I love Portia Mcinstosh’s books, they never fail to entertain me, and this one didn't disappoint!

No Ex before Marriage is the perfect escape from the real world, filled with laughing out loud moments and also emotional ones.

I especially loved the chapters set in the past, that tells us the story of Poppy and Zac's young love, they reminded me of my teenage years and the beginning of romance with my (ex) husband.

This is the ultimate perfect balanced rom-com: just the right amount of com and the exact amount of com, for ideal enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extremely enjoyable read and I think I got it exactly at the right time as I devoured it the first day after the New Year. And I don't know why, but it was very satisfying to know the characters were going through all that around the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, that being the same time I was actually reading the book.
It's romantic and funny, a total page turner and a great depiction of second chance romances and different kinds of friendship.

Poppy is a divorced woman in her very early thirties whose single status influences a lot of aspects, including her inner circle of friends. At Rachel's wedding, one of her 3 best friends, it becomes absolutely clear that, being the last one in the group without a significant other, she's left out. But that's when she meets Kat at the single's table and they bond surprisingly well, turning into fast friends. So when her father informs Poppy that the divorce papers have never, in fact, been finalized and that she have to find Zac to sign them, Poppy can't think of anyone else to help her with this crazy mission but Kat. Especially since Zac is about to get married with Lilac Strong, influencer and daughter of Sonny Strong, a movie star.
But when the two women show up in Scotland, at the castle where the wedding is about to take place, Zac panics and tells his bride that they are cousins, which results in an extended invitation to the wedding for Poppy and Kat.

I liked it a lot and it was funnier than I was expecting. Kat was by far my favorite character, with her impulsive nature and original way of solving things or getting out of situations. Poppy and Zac were sweet, but a bit infuriating, because it was clear they were in love with each other and it felt as if they were creating all those issues entirely by themselves. However, I think that it showed pretty nicely that if something is meant to be, it will find its way back to you.
Even though it was a romance, the thing I liked the most here was the portrayal of friendship. Kat and Poppy had an epic friendship, something like love on the first sight in a platonic way, that promises adventure and no chances of boredom. With Rachel, Lindsay and Sally, things were different a bit, but I think that not everyone can have that rebellious soul that keeps a friendship interesting. I felt like things were more mature with the four of them and, even when they seemed less good friends, in the end you could see that all those years spent together meant something and when push came to shove, they were there.

All in all, it was a good start for my reading year and I recommend this to anyone in search of something light and sweet, with nice writing and a happy ending.

So many twists and turns and a true story of love always finds a way. This books is for anyone who believes in second chances and fate. I loved the author’s writing style.

No Ex Before Marriage is the first book I have read by Portia MacIntosh, so I went into it without any real expectations. From the cover and synopsis, I expected a cute, fun read. I was a bit disappointed as this book was not for me.
First, I like Poppy and could only imagine her shock and horror at finding out that she was still married. We are not told at the beginning why she and Zac divorced, so you assume their marriage ended poorly. I was annoyed at how Poppy’s friends were treating her but appreciated that she was trying to make the most of the situation. I think her friendship with Kat was fun.
While this story is supposed to be about Poppy and Zac, we don’t meet Zac until the almost halfway point of the story. It’s hard for me to like him, given his current situation, and the way he handles the situation. I can’t say more than that without giving away spoilers.
I prefer clean reads, and not knowing this author, did not realize profanity would be in the book. That is on me. However, even without that, this was not my kind of story. I did not find it humorous, and it read more like a drama than a romantic comedy.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really fun, easy read. My first by this author but definitely won’t be my last

Poppy’s friends are all joining the married and cosy couples club. Poppy, in her early 30s, married and divorced young and frankly doesn’t want to go through all that again.

When she learns that her divorce may not have properly gone through, she has to track down her ex, Zac, and get him to sign the paperwork, especially as he is due to get married that weekend. An ex she has never really gotten over.

This made me laugh and the more poignant moments are sensitivity written.

Poppy is an extremely likeable character, as is Zac and her friend Kat. Her other friends though definitely needed a kick up the butt!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

As the last of her friends is getting married, Poppy find herself as the odd woman out. Already married and divorced, she's now the single one of the group, excluded by friends she's always depended on. And now, she finds out her divorce never went through... and her husband is about to get married. After the divorce, Zac completely disappeared for six years and the only way to find him and get the divorce papers re-signed is to attend the wedding festivities. Set in an exclusive Scottish castle, Poppy and her new friend Kat steal a boat and sneak into the castle grounds. But when Zac sees her he panics and calls her his cousin, inadvertently causing her to be invited to stay by the bride herself. Can Poppy really stay and watch the man she still loves marry another?
I absolutely hated Poppy's friends in this book. I can understand not including her in couples activities, but like mean girls, they outright insulted and snubbed her. The movie set wedding side was a little weird, but funny, as was the side mystery of Poppy's "investigations".
I thought this was a cute second chance rom-com.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This is a 3.25 ⭐️ read for me. Overall this was a cute book! It was funny and sweet and I read it quickly. It’s about a girl who has to track down her ex-husband, who is about to get married, because she finds out they technically aren’t divorced. The story follows Poppy on her journey with friendships, heartache, healing, and love. Lots of layers to this story. Maybe too many for a shorter book but that is wasn’t really my issue. My biggest problem with this book is the cheese factor. It has too many unbelievable, silly elements that just make me roll my eyes. And the ending….while happy it kind of disappoints me. I’m glad I read this one and will continue to read books by this author.

Thank you Boldwood books for the ARC.

Portia MacIntosh has a way of writing romance novels that immediately pull me in. I have enjoyed every one of her books that I've read. This one was no exception.

This novel follows Poppy as the last of her friends gets married, leaving her the only one in the single club. Not that she hasn't tried to find her married bliss. She was the first of her friends to marry, and also the first to divorce (years ago). She finds herself being left out of plans as she isn't part of a couple any longer. She is struggling with the changes this is bringing to her life, when her father drops a huge bomb on her: she is actually still married to Zac, and he is days from walking down the aisle with his new fiancée. Now. Poppy is heading to Scotland to get him to sign divorce papers.

With a fun cast of characters that you would love to befriend, No Ex Before Marriage is a quick read that is perfect for fans of second chance romance.

Portia MacIntosh has this amazing ability to take romance plots (in this case crashing the ex how you're still in love with's wedding) and turn it into something new and fresh. Poppy is not the usual ex-wife who wants to stop her former husband from getting remarried because she is still in love with him. Yes, she is still in love with him, but when she sets out to see him again she is trying to make sure he can marry his current fiancé. She does nothing throughout the entire pre-wedding fiasco (which is really Zac's fault) to sabotage their wedding or make him want to leave Lilac. I still can't understand why Zac even dated Lilac let alone got engaged to her - she's vapid and self-centered. I was also not a huge fan of Poppy's friends. They are rarely supportive of her and just seem to make her feel bad about everything she does and thinks. Kat is probably the best thing to happen to Poppy - she gets her back out there enjoying life and encourages her to step outside her comfort zone. She's also always supportive of her. I'm glad to learn that Poppy and Kat stay friends. I also really liked how things were resolved with Zac and that he and Poppy don't get back together right after the wedding-that-didn't-happen. Poppy is right, that's not the story anyone wants and she needed to keep working on herself. The little reveal at the end with Poppy's father I did not see coming, but found to be so sweet. I have yet to read a Portia MacIntosh book I haven't liked and can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

Such a cute book!

This was a definite rom-com, no questions asked! I laughed, and I was shocked throughout. Poppy was an amazing character, and she made me smile so much. Though there was much more content than plot, I still enjoyed it. Truthfully I wish we got to see more of Zac in the book. Overall this was a heartwarming book. There were some sad moments, but that made it all the better.

This was such a fun and enjoyable story to get lost in on the day after Christmas!!

I dove in without reading any reviews or much of the synopsis and I think that was the way to go.

I adored Poppy and her Dad and getting to know Kat but I stand by my convictions that the rest of Poppy's friends need to be left behind. AWFUL women!

The story is told with about 2/3 in the present and 1/3 in the past jumping ahead to significant points in Poppy and Zac's relationship history. I don't mind these kind of storylines but I know some do.

Overall it was a perfect light-ish story for a day where you just want to sit and enjoy a story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Another light-hearted and kick-ass book from Portia MacIntosh. I love how there are lots of proper laugh out loud moments.

Poppy is almost 31 years old and is at the wedding of one of her oldest friends, the last in their group to get married. Poppy and her other two friends are bridesmaids however when it comes to getting seated for the meal, Poppy realised that not only is she not at the same table as the other bridesmaids but due to her single status she has been banished to the ‘sad singles’ table where her friends 21year old brother tries to hit on her. All is not lost though as she hits it off with the groom’s cousin, Kat, and together they decide to ditch the wedding and find something a little more entertaining…. a New Year’s Party in the adjoining function suite. Poppy meets a man but then pretty much the rest of the night is a blur due to the levels of alcohol consumed (Poppy not me :))

The next day is Poppy’s birthday which, given all her friends are now smug marrieds, she spends with Kat. When her Dad drops a bombshell on her it’s Kat who is there to support her and accompany her on the drive up to Scotland where she must face her ex before be gets married.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.