The Time of Our Lives

Portia MacIntosh

Apr 2019 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

What happens when your past meets your present?

Luca is used to being ‘the single one’ – which is partly why she dreaded going to the wedding of an old university friend. Surrounded by faces she hasn’t seen in 10 years, Luca can feel herself being sucked back into the immature, decade-old gossip that no one seems to have forgotten.

But when Tom walks in, Luca’s heart stops. He was her ‘almost boyfriend’, and she had been completely swept off her feet by him... but he’s currently standing next to the girl he broke her heart with at a party all those years ago.

As the evening draws on and the champagne continues to flow, it’s clear that Tom can’t take his eyes off her. Will Luca’s luck in love finally take a turn?

The laugh-out-loud new novel from bestseller Portia Macintosh, perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald and Mhairi MacFarlane!

Ratings and reviews

Now in her early thirties, Luca is feeling just slightly as if time has moved on without her, particularly when an invitation to one of her uni friend’s weddings appears. Always the single one, and with no real prospects of that changing anytime soon, it’s time to pick up with the gang and see how things have changed for everyone else. And more than anything else, this light and quick read is a testament to the power of friendship and the effects of choices made years ago on the present day. With plenty of laughter, memories and lots of long-held secrets revealed, the dramas in this are low as these are real friendships not determined or decided by proximity or constantly seeing one another. These friends allow for missteps, don’t worry about position in the now, and always refer back to the fun and support they all shared years ago. The story mixes past moments with present: each character is introduced and presented with enough background to show the progression of who they were to who they are, without missteps. The refreshing nature of a supportive set of friends, with little actual drama but plenty of moments both laugh out loud and cringe-worthy kept the read pleasant and flowing. While there are no great surprises here, and only a touch of ‘love’ interests, the progression of the story felt natural and kept me cheering Luca onward as she, although later than the others, tries to find her own way into growing up and starting to actually live the life she hoped for (or dreamed of) so many years ago. Easy to read and sure to leave you smiling – this is a perfect hideaway weekend read, guaranteed to leave you refreshed and relaxed. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

Portia MacIntosh has been ‘making stuff up’ for as long as she can remember – or so she says. Whether it was blaming her siblings for that broken vase when she was growing up, blagging her way backstage during her rock chick phase or, most recently, whatever justification she can fabricate to explain away those lunchtime cocktails, Portia just loves telling tales.

After years working as a music journalist, Portia decided it was time to use her powers for good and started writing novels instead.

Bestseller Portia writes hilarious romcoms, drawing on her real life experiences to show what it’s really like being a woman today – especially one who doesn’t quite have her life together yet.