Clara’s Verdict
There is a great deal to be said for a romance that commits entirely to its premise and executes it with genuine charm. Without a Hitch does exactly that – and having Charlotte Ritchie as narrator is a decision that elevates the whole enterprise. Portia MacIntosh has built a substantial following on precisely this kind of warm, witty romantic comedy, and this Audible Original confirms why that following is so loyal.
The fake-relationship trope is well-worn, but MacIntosh gives it enough specificity – the setting, the complications, the precise texture of Holly’s embarrassment and growing feelings – that it feels freshly minted rather than formulaic.
About the Audiobook
Published as an Audible Original in August 2025 and running at 7 hours and 32 minutes, Without a Hitch centres on Holly, a journalist who writes about weddings and who, at the start of the story, is being stood up at her own. The wedding was in Maui. When her editor subsequently assigns her to cover another wedding in the same location – at the same hotel – the situation moves from merely uncomfortable to comprehensively impossible.
The complicating factor arrives in the form of Theo, who rescues Holly from a pool shortly after arrival. The connection is immediate and mutual, which would be fine except that Theo is her ex-fiancé’s stepbrother, and is in Maui for the ex’s wedding. The fake-relationship arrangement that follows – designed to save Holly’s professional dignity and provide cover for both of them – is negotiated in a panic and complicated by the fact that neither party is as immune to the other as they would like to believe.
MacIntosh is good at comic timing and at writing secondary characters who serve the plot without feeling mechanical. The Maui setting is deployed with enough colour to feel like a genuine location rather than an abstract backdrop.
The Narration
Charlotte Ritchie – best known for her television work on Ghosts and You – narrates, and she is superb. She has a natural comic sensibility that suits the material perfectly, and her vocal performance of Holly’s escalating awkwardness is consistently funny without tipping into caricature. The listener quoted in reviews describes her as “a chef’s kiss” as Holly – high praise, and entirely justified. This is one of those audiobooks where the narrator’s specific comedic instincts are woven into the experience in a way that makes the audio version better than the text would be alone.
What Readers Say
Currently holding a 5-star rating, listener Sara Oxo writes: “What a fantastic five-star read. I adore this author, but haven’t listened to any audiobooks from them before… having Charlotte Richie as the narrator was just a chef’s kiss.” She notes that the story “will make your toes curl in the best way possible at times” and that the romantic lead Theo “makes you want to swoon.” Early response is enthusiastic, and the combination of MacIntosh’s name and Ritchie’s narration suggests it will reach a wide audience.
Who Should Listen?
Essential for fans of Portia MacIntosh, and an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys Emily Henry’s warmth or the brand of British romantic comedy that trusts its characters to be funny without being broadly played. The Maui setting makes it a natural summer listen, though it works perfectly well in January when you need something that will reliably make you smile. Charlotte Ritchie’s fans should not miss it regardless of their usual genre preferences.
Listen on Audible UK – get your copy here.
