At one point in Portia MacIntosh’s Too Hot to Handle, Molly, FMC and “biscuit” (or cookies, as they’re called in ‘Merica) company recruiter, attempts to flirt with her maybe (?) love interest and goes for something “vaguely sex-ish” to seduce him. That, in a phrase, sums up MacIntosh’s easy, breezy read. The characters are vaguely fleshed out - four friends from Leeds soaking up the Spanish sun on a hen week (again, bachelorette party for those of us who hail from across the pond) who clash with four lads from Manchester who (GASP!) have booked the same villa for the same fortnight - and there’s some vague suggestion of sex. Granted, it takes until nearly 88% of the way through the text and it’s glossed over, keeping with the vagueness, to the point where the reader isn’t quite sure which Northerner ends up with which. On the whole, the book, more “com” than “rom,” which the author attempts a tongue-in-cheekiness meta-reference as Molly spends her downtime trying to read a romance that’s sweet rather than spicy, is the paperback version of a Hallmark movie. Good, clean fun with just enough wannabe hijinx to check the box for enemies to lovers (and I do mean plural, 3 out of 4 in the respective friend groups couple up) and provide some middle-school antics, despite the fact that the cast are closer to middle age.

I knew what I was getting into with the clean romance that MacIntosh offers. Though I was hoping that the double booking would turn into . . . well, a double booking, I knew that the heat in the title was courtesy of the Spanish sun rather than some sort of last hurrah of singledom orgy. Again, fine with that (-ish). However, in other offerings I’ve read, the author fleshes out her characters and you’re on board for their romance. Molly, however . . . She gets her requisite HEA, but, at the end of the story, notes how much of a mess her life was two years ago (AKA, when the book begins). But, was it really? Yes, her story opens with her getting dumped by her long-term boyfriend - WHO MADE IT CLEAR HE WILL NEVER MARRY HER - when she thought he was proposing. It then segues into the, again, requisite scene in which she gathers her meager belongings from his place and she (MORE GASPING) runs into the Tinder date that her ex is trying to hook up with the very day after he didn’t propose. A good look? No. But, let’s face it, our protagonist is employed (granted, she’s unwarrantedly fretful that she’s on the brink of losing her job even though there’s no real evidence of this), essentially forced by her employer to take a holiday, and has escaped what seems like a crappy relationship but one of her own design. Her ex didn’t cheat on her with her bestie (or anyone, for that matter), get a baby mama pregnant, murder someone or kick puppies. Why was her life such a mess before she meets the love of her life? Methinks the lady doth protest too much. And I don’t like it.

The plot is your standard rom-com fare: aforementioned double booking in which both parties - 4 HOT guys (3 single) and 4 presumably hot-but-not-as-hot-and-why-would-he-look-at-me? girls (same number of singletons) are given refunds but must decide amongst themselves who gets to stay at the luxury villa that is, apparently, the only booking available in the whole damn country. It’s a forced proximity, one-bed trope without the sexy time fun of one. Rather than bowing out, each group stakes their claim. The men do so more successfully, however, literally locking the women out when they make the mistake of going out for little luxuries like food and drink. We end up with a real upstairs / downstairs scenario, as the girls get the former (showers and fluffy bedding!) while the boys get the latter (kitchen and game rooms!). The tentative accord will last until the weekend, when one of the lads is getting married on Saturday and Lou, Molly’s bestie, on Sunday. That second week of the booking makes for a real Lord of the Flies situation - though the clear and very obvious reference made is to Love Island - as the Manchester men and Leeds ladies decide that the winners of a contest (the games of which are TBD) will get that second week and which group will be out on their collective arses.

Shampoo is stolen! Competitive flirting abounds! Ooh, these boys are the worst! (They kind of are, actually, which makes it difficult to believe that Molly falls for Travis, the best of the lot - not saying much - with whom she has a meet-cute, since he’s part of the group that’s essentially keeping these women from those little things a modern-day woman needs: hydration, sustenance, and their dwindling sanity.) However, Travis is perhaps a kindred spirit - in what ways we’re not quite sure, keeping in that spirit of vagueishness - to Molly and certainly is the kindest in that he goes out of his way to give her a breakfast sandwich, hot coffee, and a surreptitiously obtained wi-fi password. If this is where the bar is set, ladies, oof. But, let’s not forget, he’s also HOT. And fun to touch! There’s so much middle-school touching and truth-or-daring in this book that I often wondered if I'd picked up one of my younger daughters' tween romances rather than a bona fide grown-up book. The week progresses - MacIntosh’s description of the villa and the splendor of the Spanish sun did make me sigh, mostly because it’s been nearly a month of rain (yay, spring in New England!) - and feelings are felt, vaguely. Travis helps Molly out of a work jam - wouldn’t you know it? He’s a chef! An award-winning one - and they spend a blissful drunken night together. I think. Again, vaguely sex-ish, so I’m assuming.

The dark moment is a pale grey at best. Molly rushes to the boys’ wedding so that Travis doesn’t have to be alone in his feels and, but of course, misunderstandings ensue. Now she HATES him and, upon his return to the villa, she gives him the cold shoulder even when he white knights his way to saving Lou’s wedding. The misunderstanding is cleared up in less time than it takes the random clouds to make way for that titular hot Spanish sun and Molly and Travis (and her other friends and his other friends!) get their HEA. Awwww . . .

All told, a solid, if not vague, beach, or, more apropos, poolside read. Just be ready to brush your teeth extra well since the saccharine sweetness may very well cause cavities.

ARC RECIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Molly helped plan and execute her best friend’s dream proposal. The night went off without a hitch, that is until her long-term boyfriend broke up with her. Reeling from the breakup, Molly’s work has suffered the consequences of her broken heart. But when the wedding gets drastically pushed ahead, the bridal party finds their Spanish accommodations double booked. Will Molly be able to fix both her work predicament as well as the wedding mishaps, or will a group of men stand in her way?

If you are looking for a healthy dose of serotonin, Portia MacIntosh’s writing always does the trick! It is guaranteed to lift your spirits, provide a necessary escape from reality, and deliver a page turning romance!

This book also features:
~Dueling Wedding Parties
~Idealistic Spanish Villa
~Forced Proximity
~Hidden Identity
~Clean Romance
~Witty Banter

Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Portia MacIntosh for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

A perfect summer read.

Molly is a workaholic and finds herself in a villa that’s been double booked by a stag party.

Let the games begin and be prepared for some fun in the sun!

Suuuuuper disappointed. It felt really misleading because I thought this book was sapphic. There’s two women holding hands on the cover and I didn’t realize it was a straight romance. So I did not finish reading it.

Two groups, one stag, one hen and one double booked villa…Let the games begin!

I read this in two days and was hooked!
You know when a book consumes you. I was sitting just smiling away to myself loving it and the little cute moments in the story. The little secrets. No spoilers but this was my favourite part.

It had the perfect mix of romance and comedy. This was just what I needed!

It had me laughing out loud so much, I had the giggles all throughout. How this was written was brilliant.

The games between the girls and boys was so funny, the competitiveness had me howling. The shampoo scene! Too funny!

I loved the setting. That villa sounded awesome!

Please add this to your summer read. It’s perfect. So much so I ordered a copy for my twin to bring on holiday with us. She is going to love it and I will no doubt hear her laughing from her sunbed with a cocktail in her hand enjoying both!

A MUST READ FOR SUMMER!!

Such a good story !! And I will recommend this to anyone and everyone !!

Wow !!

This book starts out a little slow at first but it does pick up soon after Few chapters so do keep reading I’ve Read a lot of Portia MacIntosh’s books and I always enjoy them.
She knows how to write romances between the banter, competitiveness,and the chemistry between the two characters this will make a Perfect summer read.
Also give Portia Macintosh’s books a try like I said I always enjoy them .

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again.

A hen and stag party accidently rent the same villa in Spain.lighthearted and a joy to read. Portia Macintosh never disappoints! Loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute; really fun & lighthearted. The romance was just a no-go for me as it was very much in the insta-love category with no real chemistry or connection.

Wasn't perfect, but it was a really good book as a palate cleanser between heavier reads!

Setting aside the idea that every character in the book is supposed to be super good looking ( given the genre, it is almost always expected) , I had fun with it. The setup is different from the ones I have recently read and even with some emotional introspection, the overall vibe is a fun one.

The book begins in a manner that made me think that our lead protagonist might be in the business of curating proposals! That is not the case, she is part of the recruiting team at a biscuit company and is a workaholic. It’s only when he best friend’s wedding plans change that she takes a holiday. Although the reason she gets said holiday from work was actually funny and totally believable.

The wedding venue is in a remote area and the only house they get for the hen party has unexpected guests, or from another viewpoint, they are the unexpected guests. This unexpected turn of events leads to a clash more suited to reality tv, while being fun to read about. It would have made sense to talk it out in the beginning about sharing but the story might not have been as entertaining. I liked the change in relationships even among the ladies as they spend more time together.


Finally the happily-ever-after reminded me of the feeling of watching romcoms in that post college phase, where you know what’s coming but it’s comforting all the same.

On average, the author’s writing style is one I enjoy and this is probably the reason my reviews of her books tend to skew positive. I would definitely recommend this author and the book to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and other books by the author.

this is such a fun summery romance. i absolutely love all the banter in this, and i was all for the competition between boys and girls. absolutely recommend!

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Too Hot to Handle is exactly the kind of book I reach for when I need a fun, feel-good escape. Portia MacIntosh has a great knack for creating charming characters, witty dialogue, and just the right amount of romantic drama.

The story follows Honor, who finds herself caught up in a destination wedding filled with awkward family moments, old flames, and more secrets than you’d expect. The setting was sunny and lush—perfect for a bit of armchair travel—and I loved how the mix of humor and romance kept things light but engaging.

It’s not overly deep or unpredictable, but that’s part of its charm. If you’re a fan of British rom-coms or looking for an easy beach read, this one definitely delivers.

The queen of the rom-com has hit gold once again, with another hilarious and feel good story.

One villa in Spain, two bookings for it, one group of guys, one group of girls, and neither really wants to share, both need it as its nearby one member of their party's wedding venue, and everywhere else is booked.

This results in full blown gender wars while each group attempts to drive the other away.

All sorts of shenanigans are at play, and the more I read, the more I wanted to read on.

This is a pure joy to devour, and leads to all sorts of surprising revelations.

I loved Molly our main character, and the male in the group she is clearly attracted to is the one I would have fallen for too.

I can't get enough of this author and am already looking forward to her next book.

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

I've enjoyed a lot of Portia's books but this one did not do it for me. It started so slowly that I really struggled to develop interest in Molly as the FMC, Louise or any of the remaining characters.

It was definitely my last try with Portia McIntosh - no matter how gorgeous the other covers are going to be, really. I am simply too old for her books - I love light - hearted and funny stories but I also need some depth and main characters that are not only gorgeous, that have brilliant bodies and long hair but that have personalities. And all McIntosh's characters are the same. I mean, her books always feel the same, as if a teenager has written them - as an author she diesn't mature and , consequently, her characters don't mature either.
The holiday vibes were there, I could feel the sun on my skin, that's for sure. The romance didn't feel real, more instlove and the highly promised competittions between the two groups felt really flat.
3 stars, because I'm feeling generous and well, it's probably me than the book - if you need a simple, quick read filled with sun and characters that don't know any problems, try this one.

This is a fun, quick read about a bachelorette party and a bachelor party from a different wedding who end up renting the same house at the same time. Initially both groups plan to harass the other group to leave, but when the singles in each group get together all bets are off.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted read, I recommend this one, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was a fun read, who doesn't love a battle of the wits and battle between the sexes. I especially loved the ending!
!

Portia MacIntosh's 'Too Hot to Handle' gives you just what you'd hope: a light, easy rom-com for a quick read. The idea of a double-booking in a Spanish villa that requires a stag party and a bachelorette to share quarters is ripe with comedic mayhem and romance. MacIntosh skillfully builds the laugh-out-loud scenes, especially from the early period of rivalry and sabotage tries between the two groups.
Where the story does ride familiar rom-com tropes, the interesting characters, particularly hard-working Molly and dashing Travis, keep you hooked. The sun-kissed Spanish background contributes to the escapism factor, making it a perfect beach read. Where some character detail may feel ever-so-slightly surface-level, the overall bright, feel-good atmosphere and undeniable chemistry make 'Too Hot to Handle' such a lovely, fun escape.