A review by sikonat
The Faking Game by Portia MacIntosh

4.0

My first Portia Macintosh book was 'The Plus One Pact', so it was a welcome return to catch up with Cara and Millsy. When we last saw them, these two 'plus ones' caused unintended mischief at each other's family events before realising they wanted to be each other's permanent plus ones.

Three years on however, the fun has gone, and they've secretly broken up to get through upcoming family holiday events. Adding to complications is Millsy has been cast in his acting big break, but needs to be accompanied everywhere by his voice coach Tally.

Millsy and Cara are fantastic characters who still have a lot of love and chemistry with each other. It's clear that their breakup took them by surprise. There's also a welcome return to some welcome characters (yay for Millsy’s gran) while others make an unwelcome return (boo to Millsy’s stepbrother and Cara’s aunt and cousin).

At times I did find this book a bit frustrating plotwise. Tally seemed shoehorned in with a flimsy reason for her presence. Also, the resolution to Cara’s aunt and cousin just seemed to be ‘oh well just grin and bear it’ instead of any consequences or character growth. My biggest issue was that heart of this story was centred on their sudden break-up but we never really learn why, its just explained as calling the other's bluff. I’d have liked to have seen Cara and Millsy examine this and how to make a reconciliation to stick.

This book was a such a fun treat and I couldn’t put it down, wondering what shenanigans Cara and Millsy would get themselves into. Macintosh knows how to write two characters who bring out the best in each other and know how to have fun together.

Thanks to Boldwood and NetGalley for the ARC.