I think this was a nice romance for the summertime, but it lacked something. I found it a little bit boring at times, even if Jessica and Brody were good characters. I will definitely reread this in the future because I feel like it’s that book that can grow on me. I really enjoyed the fake dating aspect. Didn’t really connect with the side characters either.

All Jessa wants is a comfortable relationship. When her boyfriend dumps her at a wedding, she is a rock bottom. Her ex-boyfriend shows up to next wedding with a new girlfriend, Jessa convinces Ryan to be in a fake-relationship in order to make their exes jealous.
This book started out very fun but it got a little too insane for my liking. I did not connect with the characters and they all felt very superficial.

I want to like this so much. Jessa seems like a good person, in a decent relationship - not earth shattering kinda love, but comfortable/stable kinda love with Todd. Todd to be honest, is a bit self-center and Jessa puts up with it, thinking who can ask for more... apparently you can.

At one of the wedding circuit, as 20s/30s something do. Jessa was dumped on the dance floor. The next wedding deft Todd came in with a hot girl on his arm. Luckily, time and again, she was rescue by the best man Brody. Curious they never crossed paths, apparently they have, just that they were so dedicated to their respective partners that didn't have a wandering eye - unlike Todd and Brody's ex Nikki.

One thing led to another, Brody who also got dump and Jessa got put to situations time and again. Eventually, all the pretend feels real, very real.

Here's my thing: Jessa was all vulnerable and she lets Brody sees it. He loves her, all of her, but we never found out his side. We see he's not a fame-grabber f-boy, but a good-hearted guy, but what was his vulnerability with Jessa, and their love? You feel their love, the author portrayed that well, and their heat, but what was the emotional connection?

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC

Fun, flirty and the perfect summer escape

Going Overboard is a lighthearted and thoroughly entertaining forced proximity romance that had me smiling from start to finish. Portia MacIntosh delivers her signature charm, witty dialogue and a cast of quirky, lovable characters that make this story a real feel-good read.

The chemistry between the main characters is playful and fun, with plenty of banter and just the right amount of slow-burning tension. The cruise ship setting adds a unique and summery touch, making it easy to get swept away in the story.

While the plot is more on the light and comedic side, there are some lovely emotional moments sprinkled throughout that give the story a bit more depth. A few scenes were a little predictable, but honestly, that’s part of the charm with this kind of cozy, romantic comedy.

Verdict: A delightful rom-com full of sunshine, sass and sweet moments. Perfect for readers who love forced proximity, laugh-out-loud moments and a romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This was a book that I enjoyed reading. It had an amazing plot, and the storyline had me hooked, and I loved how it developed towards its conclusion. The characters were perfect, and i enjoyed reading their journey. Portia has an amazing ability to write books that are amazing and just hook readers in, with amazing characters and sensational plots.

Thanks @netgalley @portiamacintoshauthor and @theboldbookclub for the ARC.

This was a fun, easy reading, chick-lit book about a couple of jilted lovers, who, to get back at their exes (who are together), pretend to be in love, in order to get through the wedding of their respective best friends. There wasn't any spice to it but it was a cute read, but it could've had a bit more to the story.
It was a good palate cleanser to read though.
Great holiday read.

Another great book from Portia MacIntosh! I love her characters and the backdrop of different vacation scenes. This was a fun read and made me feel like I was on vacation by reading it. The only downside I will say about it was that I had trouble finishing the last bit of the book. I flew through the book up until then, but at a certain point (no spoilers of course), I felt like the tension wasn’t in the plot anymore, and I didn’t see what else would add to the book by continuing the story. Whether it was shortened a little at the end or met with higher stakes to continue the plot, I would have been interested to see a little different approach to the ending. All of that to say, I still very much enjoyed reading this, I would recommend it to others, and I am excited to read future books by Portia MacIntosh!

Thank you, @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and Portia Macintosh the gifted ARC!

Rundown:
✨️fake dating
✨️one bed
✨️exes dating each other
✨️cruise to a wedding
✨️forced proximity
✨️cricket player
✨️closed door
✨️enemies to lovers

Synopsis ✒️
Jessa thought her life was in order until her boyfriend, Todd, dumped her. A few weeks later, she showed up to the cruise they booked together, ready to sail to her best friend's destination wedding. But, there was a mix-up. In a two room suite are Jessa, Todd, Todd's new girlfriend Nikki, and Nikki's ex Brody. Since Todd and Nikki are already dating, Jessa and Brody hatch a plan to fake date to get revenge.

Thoughts 💭
Overall, this is a cute, sweet summer read. There wasn't a lot of spice, but I did enjoy seeing Jessa and Brody slowly get to know each other and realize they were pretty perfect together. I would've loved to have more time with them and their thoughts and less time with the complicated plot of who knows who and how or Nikki acting like a five year old. I think developing the characters a little more would've easily made my rating jump up a star. Having the setting mostly on a cruise ship was fun and entertaining, although a little unrealistic. I am still left with a few questions that weren't ever really answered. Overall, I did enjoy this one, I just wanted a little bit more from it.

The Book:

It's wedding season and Jessa's boyfriend Todd breaks up with her at a wedding. Just great. She has another wedding coming up - her best friend's destination wedding where they will board a cruise ship to take them to Sicily for the wedding. But it's. It's totally fine. Jessa will contact the wedding planner (or coordinator - she can never keep them straight) and make sure she is no longer sharing a room with Todd on the cruise ship.
To her horror, the planner (or coordinator) has put Jessa in a two-bedroom suite. To be shared with her ex, Todd, his new girlfriend, Nikki, and Nikki's recent ex, Brody.

Clearly, in this situation, the only option is for Jessa & Brody to go along with sharing a room together in a suite with Todd & Nikki and pretend like they've both moved on from their breakups and are a hot new couple.

My Thoughts:
Oh, I really liked this. It was so so funny right from the start. Just a really fun, entertaining rom-com. The cruise ship lent itself well to mishaps and Jessa's group of friends was made of a great mix of characters.

🚢Going Overboard🚢

Thank you @PortiaMacIntoshAuthor
@BoldwoodEverAfter
@LoveBooksTours for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, I am so so grateful!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a fun read! Sometimes with ARCs I do feel like I’m pushing through but that was not the case with this one 🫶🏻

I absolutely fell in love with Jessa and Brodie; how easy their personalities flowed together, the banter and of course the tension 🫢

Now I very much disliked Nikki she should’ve gone overboard for all I care, a very intolerable character with a very jealous, popular girl personality type!

I loved the run up to the cruise it was very much giving romcom movie style planning and it set the scene beautifully for when we get to the cruise!

What I also loved about this book is that it’s 274 pages, and considering that’s quite a short length the narrative didn’t feel rushed and i was able to enjoy myself and laugh at the little moments 🥹

Thank you again for allowing my early access to this wonderful book 📖

Going Overboard was lighthearted and quick to read. As with some of her other books, this one is a little chaotic, but it was also fun. I was worried that Jessa was going to spend the entire book looking over Brody’s shoulder to make sure her ex was unhappy, but there was character growth and it happened at the exact right time. Brody was a solid MMC, but I wish there had been a little more time given for great conversations between the two of them.
3.5 stars, rounded down. Light and fun. Perfect for summer reading.

Another book about fake dating. You would think I liked that particular trope.

This story follows Jessa, who gets dumped by her boyfriend at their friends’ wedding so she decides to start fake dating Brody at her next friend’s wedding because her now ex is bringing his new girlfriend who just happens to be Brody’s ex. Then they all have to share a cruise cabin. It’s a rather convoluted plot but I had a great time reading it.

Going Overboard is another extremely fun romcom read from Portia MacIntosh and it is a lot of fun. It has all the hallmarks of a great romantic comedy, the protagonist getting her heartbroken and humiliating herself at a wedding in a hilariously comedic way, fake dating for revenge, being forced into close proximity with not only her fake boyfriend but also her ex and his new girlfriend. There’s lots to enjoy about this book.

Jessa and Brody work well together as they both try to thwart their now dating exes. They were both very likeable characters and I was rooting for them. Nikki did annoy me quite a but though. She was weirdly catty when she had no right to be annoyed at Jessa “dating” her ex when she is the reason Jessa’s ex broke up with her. She was lacking self-awareness and that got on my nerves.

Other than that, I had a great time with Going Overboard. It’s the perfect summer read, light and breezy with a fun story.

Jessa is publicly dumped by her boyfriend Todd at a wedding, whilst at the same time Brody is splitting with his girlfriend Nikki. It transpires that Todd and Nikki are now a couple, things go from bad to worse when these four end up sharing a two bedroomed suite on a cruise going to a mutual friend's wedding. Brody and Jessa agree to a fake relationship to annoy the other two.
This is an enjoyable romp set on a cruise ship, I've been on several cruises so could appreciate the setting. I liked Jessa, I wasn't sure about Brody as I'm not a fan of alpha type males (I'm obviously not one) but you begin to see the other side of him as the story develops. Todd is a bit of nothing, but Nikki is a bit of a cartoonish baddie, but that's all part of the story. Read and enjoy when you need cheering up.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This was the perfect summer read. It was relatable and definitely felt like its base in personal experience. I love the love you see between the characters and the growth.

I don’t usually read romance, this was a chance to read outside my go to! And this makes me want to change my tune and read them all!

Super cute beach read romance. As the blurb says you get all the tropes, loved the fake boyfriend for revenge.

This circle of friends needs to widen their circle and date outside of their friends’ friends, well at least bow that Jessa and Brody have found their match!

Jessa and Brody are just so likable and Nikki is just to hate-able that it creates fabulous tension and chaotic antics from one weeding to the next in this circle of pals.

I enjoyed the humor and closed door spice, I’d definitely read another romance by Portia Macintosh!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm generally a fan of Portia Macintosh books - this one lands more middle of the pack for me than some others I've read. It's your classic fake dating trope and an easy breezy summer read. Smashed this one out in two sittings.

Going Overboard by Portia Macintosh is a fun and fantastic romantic comedy.

Jessa gets dumped by Todd at her friend’s wedding, only to discover a few weeks later that Todd is already dating someone new. Jessa and Todd’s new girlfriend’s ex (Brody) how to plan to pretend that they’ve fallen madly and passionately in love to get revenge.

I enjoy this novel immensely. It had me laughing out loud numerous times. You could not help but route for Jessa and Brody.

Is this is a summer read, I would say it is the perfect book to read for a day at the beach but when you get to spend an afternoon beside the pool.

Going Overboard is a light-hearted, fun, summer romance read.
Being stuck on a cruise ship with your ex for your best friends wedding is not how Jessa expected to spend the time before the wedding. After meeting Brody at a previous wedding after being dramatically dumped by Todd in the middle of the dance floor, everything changes for Jessa… this book covers their cruise being stuck between her ex Todd and Brody’s ex Nikki.

This was such a fun, light hearted, easy summer read. Loved how even though this book was written as Jessa’s POV it really well conveyed how Brody felt throughout the story.

Thank you netgalley and boldwood books in a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author Portia Macintosh.
What a great rom-com, I had a wonderful time with these characters, good laugh and often with a smile on my face.
Recommend
4 stars

This is kind of a sweet summer read, perfect for lounging around the house, on the deck or on the beach.

Broody was also sweet, as were the secondary characters and I am always a sucker for fake-it trope. This pulled a few laugh-out-louds out me, truly.

However... the chemistry was somewhat lacking between our two stars and I have to admit that Jessa got on my nerves. Maybe it was the writing style with the way the chapters ended or just the way her inner thoughts were written, but it's hard to invest completely if one main character annoys you.

Still, I think this really is a short and sweet read to take your mind of things and just be happy for a couple of hours.