Long Time No Sea by Portia Macintosh
There’s trouble in paradise…
Moving home in her 30s was not the life plan Jas had in mind. So when her best friend gets in touch to say she’s arranging a long overdue reunion with their high school friends, Jas is very much up for the escape. Oh, and it’s all expenses paid to Italy – so that’s a bonus!
But while being whisked away to the beautiful Italian coast may seem idyllic, Jas has to come face to face with not only her ex-boyfriend, but the one that got away too!
It’s a week of sun, sea and unravelling secrets, and as the love triangle from the past starts to develop once again, this trip is not panning out exactly as Jas imagines…
Should the past be left where it is, or could there be a second chance at love on the horizon..?
Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for a sun-drenched, laugh-out-loud love triangle romantic comedy!
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/longtimenoseasocial
Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 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.
Social Media Links –
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/
- Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNews
What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Long Time No Sea is a reflective romantic comedy about second-chance romances and adventurous holidays with old friends.
My Reading Experience:
I love the adventurous part of this story. It is hilarious and unexpected. I can’t say much more about it, but if you read this story, you are in for a treat.
I love witnessing these old friends reconnect. The reunion felt utterly authentic, with posturing at first and eventually finding their way toward rekindling genuine connections. This aspect of the story is truly heart-warming.
The romance between Jasmine and Cam had just the right amount of push and pull – will they/won’t they struggle – to pull me in and fully invest me in their relationship. Their story was unfinished, and I enjoyed watching them get to their happily ever after. I love that it was closed door too.
Lastly, I enjoyed the dual timelines, which enabled me to experience what happened at the end of high school and juxtapose it with the current timeline story. It completes the story by having both timelines explored and told.
Characters:
Jasmine Bartlett left high school with her head high and loads of promise for a successful future.
15 years later, she finds herself a glorified unemployed nanny due to no fault of her own. She jumps at the chance to reunite with her childhood friends, especially since it comes at the perfect time. Through reconnecting with those friends and old dreams, she also is reminded of all that she hoped to accomplish and who she wanted to be.
Narration & Pacing:
The story moves along at a nice consistent clip that makes reading quick and effortless. I enjoyed the first-person narration as done by the main character – Jasmine. It’s mostly her story, and she tells it in an entirely relatable way.
Setting:
The setting is two islands off the Italian coast, and I loved my book vacation to at least one of those islands. Considering their idyllic location, the islands are described with all the exquisiteness they are due. The settings were well utilized to develop the story’s humor and friendship themes.
Read if you’re in the mood for:
- Stories about friends and second chances
- A beautiful Mediterranean setting
- A romantic comedy that is funny, light-hearted, adventurous, and reflective
Overall Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
| Originality | 8 |
| Writing Quality | 10 |
| Pace | 6 |
| Character Development | 8 |
| ‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness | 6 |
| Setting | 10 |
12 responses to “Long Time No Sea by Portia Macintosh #BlogTour #BookReview #RomCom”
I need to add this to my TBR list – I love books that take place in the Mediterranean.
Excellent review!
Me too. What a wonderful location 😍
This sounds like a nice read, great review 💜
It really was 😊
I have heard many praises of books by the author but haven’t got a chance to read any yet. This sounds interesting. I don’t enjoy love triangles but looks like it wasn’t bad here. Great review, Tessa!
It wasn’t really a true love triangle. It was in the past timeline and was more of a teenage “I like this guy but he hasn’t asked me out and this other guy has, so maybe I’ll try dating him” kind of thing.
Great review. Sounds like a fun read.
It is a very fun read 💕
I’m not usually one for love triangles but this sounds cute. Great review!
Yay! No love triangle. This sounds fun and I’ll try and give it a whirl. Wonderful review, Tessa💜
I sure like that setting – wouldn’t mind this book vacation at all.
Lovely review, Tessa. I love a good friends reunion story and second chance romance so that is all attractive to me. Throw in a great setting and I am in. Off to see if my library has this one.