Member Reviews

Making Up is a great addition to the Shacking Up series. Cosy is a great strong character. I adored her connection with Griffin. Their meet-cute was hilarious. I can't wait for the next installment of this series. Thanks St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

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This book will make you laugh out loud and then aw all in sitting. Making Up is a sweet, hilarious and sexy romance wrapped into one delicious book.

The story and the characters are so easy to fall in love with and I truly enjoyed Cosy and Griffin (their meet cute is uh-mazing).

Cosy, Cosy, Cosy – young, laid-back, self-aware and ready to take on the world. She is charming, funny and hasn’t become jaded about the world. Instead, she sees life as the adventure that it is and she couldn’t care less of what people think about her and that is so refreshing.

Griffin Mills, my goodness he deserved his HEA. He was damaged, thus becoming a mix of possessive and vulnerable. He has no game whatsoever, which made him so real.

These two had so many great scenes together and their chemistry is amazing, they clicked and just make so much sense together. Like most Helena Hunting rom-coms, you are in for a treat, what with sweet, hilarious and steamy scenes.

Read this if you’re looking for a sweet, sexy and funny story. It can be read as a standalone, but do yourself a favor and read the other ones in the Shacking Up world.

Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.

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Totally loved Cosy and her character. She knows what she wants when she wants it and she won't take any crap. When Griffin walks into the sex toy shop she works at she can't help but notice how attracted she is to him, however she has rules NO DATING CUSTOMERS. Her rules have always worked for her until Griffin breaks her down. Griffin wasn't looking for love or dating, but he can't stop thinking about Cosy and her bright light. When he asks her out he doesn't imagine how things will progress. However his past comes back to bite him. Will he loose Cosy forever for his past? Or can they work through it and show each other what love really is?

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THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! OH my god, I am addicted to it and I need help because Griffin and Cosy are so good together!

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This is an opposites-attract story. Cosy works at a sex shop and meets the hero of her story when he stumbles in to buy items for a bachelor party. They explore their insane chemistry while delivering some hilarious moments. There’s also an age gap here that Helena Hunting addresses in fun ways. I also really enjoyed Griffin, he’s the stuffy executive that’s finally having some fun in his life. Plus, he’s so swoonworthy! Cosy is a good balance for him as she’s eager to forge her own path, maybe with a partner like Griffin.

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Helena Hunting, from the very first page, hooked me up with Making Up. Griffin and Cosy story is everything my “need a good rom-com” heart craved and so much more. The author created simply a delicious story, with a dose of steamy, funny, awkward and angsty moments. Even though there is almost a decade between the main characters they fit perfectly together. Love doesn’t know an age. Making Up destroyed my age banter alert! I laughed, swooned, waved at myself and sometimes wanted to teleport myself in this story and hug Griffin and high-five Cosy.

Cosy, although being very young and free spirit, knows what she wants. I love her very unconventional way of looking at life. She is an honest, open, confident, independent and responsible woman. She doesn’t want to be in a relationship right now but certain very manly “stalker” may change her mind and status.

Griffin owns my heart, completely. I need a guy like him in my life. On the other hand, he is a very mature, smart, possessive and protective businessman and on the other nerdy, goofy and vulnerable man who simply wants to be loved. I loved how Cosy breathed a dose of adventure and playfulness in his life. He is a smoking hot guy and yet doesn’t know his game. His awkward encounters with Cosy made him irresistible and swoon-worthy. And he is very determined to show Cosy that being in a relationship isn’t bad.

I loved how Cosy and Griffin story wasn’t rushed. They took their time getting to know each other’s, went to amazing dates and simply opened their hearts. The chemistry between Griffin and Cosy was off charts! Although they came from two completely different words, had their own life baggage and dangerous secrets, together they fought obstacles to be together.

I really enjoyed reading Making Up. Helena Hunting with a bang ended the last Mills brother story and I can’t wait for her future books!

An arc kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

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Book Boyfriend: 💋💋💋.5
Griffin Mills is the oldest of the Mills’ brothers (33 years old) and the most straight-laced. Griffin travels a lot and stays for extended time periods for his job… like maybe even months at a time. He is anything if not dedicated to his family’s hotel empire and doing his job to the best of his ability. Griffin is extremely good looking but doesn’t make a big deal about it. He is smart and enjoys the finer things in life. He doesn’t think twice about dropping a thousand dollars on a bottle of champagne or spoiling the woman in his life with extravagant gifts. He’s definitely a gift wooer. Griffin can get jealous and lets his “caveman” out every now and again when he feels threatened. Kind of cute most of the time but a little over-the-top others. He didn’t really do it for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Strong Female Lead: 💋💋💋💋
Cosy Felton is a young, free-spirited college student that works at a sex shop to pay for school and her adventures. She likes to get in her car and go wherever life takes her. She isn’t a big planner and doesn’t mind finishing college on the extended track. Cosy isn’t interested in a serious relationship or getting feeling involved because she thinks it’ll tie her down. She’s a hard worker and passionate about the hotel/service industry which is what she is majoring in. Cosy is also a virgin. She just hasn’t met anyone she felt like giving that piece of herself. Cosy is a fiery, strong independent woman that wants to make her own way.

Plot: 💋💋💋
The plot was your typical older man meets younger girl and wooes her with the finer things in life while she tries to retain her independence. There were many ups and downs throughout the story and I definitely understand the meaning behind the title because there was a lot of making up. The plot was a little slow and predictable. I was a little disappointed.

Steamy Factor: 💋💋💋
There were definitely some graphic scenes in the book but not overpowering or a focal point of the story.

Overall: 💋💋💋
I absolutely love Helena Hunting’s books and have thoroughly enjoyed the three books previous to this one in the series. I have to say that I’m a little disappointed with this one. The character development just wasn’t there. I never really saw who they were or got attached to them. It also seemed like since the book was set over a period of months that some things were just skimmed over or told about instead of experienced as a reader. The humor was still there which I love about her books but overall not one of my favorites.

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Ah, I have a thing for Helena Hunting's brand of humor, as evidenced by my adoration for her books--but she writes angsty love stories like nobody's business, too!--and mix that in with female main characters who have sass and intelligence and male main characters who love fiercely and protectively, then you'll understand why she's got the following that she does. In Making Up, Cosy Felton is the girl with a dash of wanderlust and the fact that Griffin Mills is no stranger to travelling from country to country and city to city, it almost feels like kismet that these two would fall in love. She was the one that stirred up his more passionate and possessive side and he was the one to inspire her to plant some roots and believe in second (or more) chances. I laughed and I sighed and I simply fell in love with their story. Making Up receives five-plus stars, and expectations are high for the next book in this series! ♥

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HELENA HUNTING IS THE QUEEEEEEEEN! I love, love, love her writing. I think all of my reviews of her books start this way, but I can't help it. She writes romantic chemistry between two people like no other. I always devour her books and get sad that they're done. I've read this one twice already. I end up wishing I was friends with these characters--they seem real and they're so. damn. funny!


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

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What an all-around great story! Funny, cute, romantic, interesting. This story has it all. It is the fourth book in the “Shacking Up” series and tells the story of Griffin Mills, the brother of Bancroft (“Shacking Up) and Lexington (“Hooking Up”) Mills.

This time around, I felt that the focus of the story was on the growth of the characters, how they learned from their past experiences and how they started to trust and open up to each other. I really appreciated how relatable and just honest the characters were, which made the story so refreshing and easier to connect to on a personal level. And guess what? It warms your heart, it makes you smile! The characters have a radiant chemistry and their love is like a flower that you must see growing! Their romantic moments and beautiful romance really pleased me. The pace was great and at no point did I feel bored or tempted to skip any parts.

The storyline was good. Granted, it has some very conventional elements and there was a bit too much drama with Griffin’s ex-fiancée. On the surface, it's the story of a rich hotel mogul falling for a much younger college student. But the way the story is presented is a breath of fresh air. Helena Hunting ‘s special brand of humor is just awesome!

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”I’ll take the uncertainty of a future with him, rather than the certainty of his absence and the hole it will leave in my life.”

With Making Up, Helena Hunting delivers another hilarious romcom in the Shacking Up series. It was about time that Griffin got his very own story that will lift your mood in record time.
I enjoyed every second of this book. The story ran smooth, in a perfect pace and aces the balance of lighter and heavier topics.

”You’re not a rebound or a fling; you’re exactly what I want and I’ll do whatever I can to keep you in my life.”

With Griffin and Cosy we get another fantastic fit out of this authors feather. Even though there is a little age gap and they are both in different points in life, they balance each other perfectly.
Cosy is exactly what Griffin needs to detach himself and find himself more in this Mills Hotel imperium world. Whereas Griffin is exactly what Cosy needs to give her some more stability and guidance and to push her towards her goals.

”Talk to me. Fall apart on me. Show me your weakness, so I can give you my strength.”

Making Up is a funny and highly entertaining story with great characters that will steal your heart at first sight.

”You’re the only person I want to road trip through this life with.”

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I love Helena Hunting's writing so much, but this time the story didn't work for me. The book begins as promised, a romantic comedy, but later becomes a succession of cliché and predictable dramas without much emotion.

Cozy works in a sex shop and meets Griffin thanks to a bachelor party he needs to go and bring fun toys. The attraction between them is instantaneous and they start a game of seduction that they both know will end soon.

Griffin has just gotten out of a relationship in the worst way possible but can't resist the joy of Cozy and Cozy decides she will enjoy this casual relationship as best she can.


The story promised a lot but it became warm and did not make me connect and cheer for the couple, as I could not understand where all of love suddenly came from. Griffin is a billionaire and is in Vegas on business due to be back in New York soon, I waited for more funny moments and the impasse between them would remain in the distance issue, but that's not what happened and the excess of drama completely discouraged me. .

So sad.

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Cosy and Griffin are amazing!!! This story had my attention from the very beginning because Cosy is so like me in many ways. This book was funny, sweet and frustrating all rolled into one and I couldn’t put it down. Griffin’s ex-fiancée Imogen was awful and I just wanted to smack her for the trouble she was causing, and his cousin Armstrong is just as bad. I loved Cosy’s sister Nevah and would love to see a part two centered around her. This book is definitely one I can recommend, I truly enjoyed it!

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MAKING UP is the fourth instalment in Helena Hunting’s contemporary, adult SHACKING UP erotic, romance series focusing on the Mills siblings and extended family. This is twenty-two year old, college student Cosy Felton, and thirty-three year old, billionaire hotelier Griffin Mills’ story line. MAKING UP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cosy and Griffin) MAKING UP follows the building relationship between is twenty-two year old, college student Cosy Felton, and thirty-three year old, billionaire hotelier Griffin Mills. To put herself through college, our heroine Cosy Felton, works as a retail clerk in a local Vegas ‘adult’ shop, where she will come face to face with her future in guise of Griffin Mills, a man who has been relegated to buying ‘trinkets’ for a friend’s bachelor party. From the outset their attraction to one another is immediate and palpable but Cosy struggles with their age difference, a struggle that persists through most of the story. What ensues is the building relationship between Griffin and Cosy, and the potential fall-out as not once but twice issues of trust push Cosy out of Griffin’s life.

At thirty-three years old Griffin Mills has a past, a past that he is reluctant to speak of, including his families billion dollar hotel business but Griffin’s need keep secrets is about to implode when the woman with whom he is falling in love feels betrayed when the truths are finally revealed. Cosy Felton is a bit of a free spirit who refuses to remain in one place very long. Meeting Griffin Mills finds our heroine instantly intrigued but her obsession with their differences in age forces Griffin to work that much harder to seduce the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The relationship between Griffin and Cosy is an older man, younger woman that struggles in the face of past sins, and lies of omission. Cosy has spent most of her life free of commitment but meeting Griffin is something Cosy is willing to explore. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Griffin’s brothers: Bancroft and Lexington, and their father Mr. Mills as well as their cousins Lincoln and Armstrong Moorehead; Griffin’s ex-fiancee Imogen; Cosy’s wild-child sister Nevah; and co-worker Helun Alix.

MAKING UP is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and love; a story of past indiscretions, new beginnings, secrets and revelations. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is sexy and hot; the characters are colorful and energetic but Cosy’s obsession about their age difference became repetitive and long. MAKING UP is a fun, heart breaking and emotional roller coaster of romance and love.

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I am just going to admit it, I love Helena Hunting stories. And I even love it even more when she release more fantastic romance books. And she does. She published Making Up, and I can say that everyone is going to enjoy so much. Like you cannot since it will make you laugh so hard while you are also swooning over their cuteness too. But let's get started on Cosy and Griffin persona.
I definitely appreciate Cosy strong persona. She is very stronghold that it might intimated some people but who cares for them anyway. Less people to worry about. She has a game plan that you either fall into or not. And you better do cause she won't be talking to you or messing with you. She definitely does not want to waste any time at all. And who does? But Griffin is going to test her limit, but a good way. It's going to shape her up but she needs it. Nothing ever goes to plan. Everything change in a instant.
Griffin is too cute. I want him for myself. I'm kinda jealous of Cosy. She gets to have him but like I want him. He may lacking confidence in the dating department but he is too caring and sexy that someone whole got to have him. And Cosy is the one for him. He is willing to obey her rules because he wants her and he respect her. But he may face some difficulties when he starts dating Cosy. It may be rough at first, but he got this and he is willing to pay it work. I definitely appreciate the determination that Griffin has.
Cosy and Griffin are cute for each other. But there will be some challenges for them. I feel like that Cosy should not be too hard. Everyone cannot be perfect at all. No one is perfect. Everything makes mistakes. It's up to them to own up to it. And Griffin does. Cosy needs to stop being too hard cause she is not perfect either. She needs to adapt cause Griffin is a catch. Besides my little rant, I know that Cosy and Griffin are going to make it. They are meant for each other.
Making Up will make you realize that life is nothing easy, it has some difficulties but along the way you find the person for yourself.
5 Stars.

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Drama, drama and more drama. That was a sum up of everything that happened in the book. I don't think these two had many moments to breathe and just be. The book tired me and for me, it's the worst in the series. I have read books almost all the books in the series and I am in the middle of Handle with care which is the next book in the series and this one is by far the worst in the series (edit: this might change once I finish HWC because who knows what will happen in the unread part, but I don't believe it will).


This paragraph is re-written because I missed something and I ended up having a different impression for the book. I thought that Nev and Griffin had slept together, but as Nev later says, they didn't and they just passed out in his car. This made me raise my rating to 2 stars. I still consider this the worst book because the Nev/Griffin plot proves that the drama was useless. It was just another plot to keep them apart as if everything else was going so well for them. And somehow Griffin was always the one who was at fault which was also annoying. He was the one doing the chase and trying to fix things.

The reason above, the drama and the feeling that these two were not meant to be is the reason why I decided to go with 2 stars. It's harsh, I know, but I didn't enjoy the book, Cosy's character could have been better and Griffin seemed to always make the wrong decisions. I liked Griffin in the beginning and how he made a move on Cosy, but after that, it went downhill.

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I like Helena's books and writing style but I don't think this "world" is for me. While the initial meet cute was entertaining, that is about as much enjoyment I got out of the story. I did finish this novel pretty quickly but I dont think I will be recommending it.

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Oh my heart… this book is so darn perfect! Making Up by Helena Hunting is an amazing and delightfully entertaining romcom that will steal your hearts and give you all the swoony feels.

From the very first scene until the epilogue, I honestly enjoyed every moment with Cosy and Griffin. I know now why so many romance fans fall in love with Helena Hunting. With plenty of humor, steam, sweetness, and heart, this book is addictive and so much fun. I found myself smiling so much, laughing out loud a few times, and feeling so giddy with all the feels. There’s just enough drama, complications, and unexpected surprises that keeps the story interesting. While some parts are a bit predictable, Hunting manages to make it so exciting and fun that I was engrossed the entire time. The characters are absolutely wonderful and relatable. They’re also adorably quirky, amusing, and just so lovable. I won’t deny it.. this cute romcom definitely has my heart and I’m utterly smitten with Cosy and Griffin.

Cosy is my girl and I admired everything about her. She’s funny, smart, adventurous, independent, and just an awesome heroine. Griffin stole a piece of my heart from the moment he stepped into the adult toy store where Cosy works. He’s ridiculously hot and rich, but there’s this sweet, tender, and vulnerable side of him that I find so irresistible. I also really love that he’s down to earth, honest, kind, romantic, and just a really good person. His determination to show Cosy just how much he cares and loves her is so heartwarming and I just think he’s perfect for Cosy and vice versa. They’re seriously such an adorable and cute couple. Their chemistry is sexy and undeniable. I love their playful bantering, their flirtatious and steamy scenes, and all their amusing and endearing moments together. They gave my heart plenty of delicious swoons and feels and I honestly love love love them together!

Adorably hilarious, deliciously swoony and irresistibly charming, Making Up by Helena Hunting made my heart melt over and over. It’s humorous, entertaining, sexy, romantic and sweet. It’s truly an absolute fun and delightful read and I honestly cannot recommend it enough. If you love romcoms, awkward meet cutes, quirky lovable characters, and swoony romances, then you need to get this book ASAP. I adore Cosy and Griffin and their story so much and I hope you get to meet them really soon.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Feels 2
Steam 5
Storyline 5
Overall Rating 5
Kindle eArc provided by Netgalley
Reviewed by Robin

I love this series and how they are all interconnected! Cosy is use to being a wanderer. She has that independent and adventurous spirit. Griffin is more logical and a planner. These two just were so adorable together. I loved the humor, sparking chemistry and how they made so much sense despite the little age difference. The twists made the story a page turner where I couldn’t wait to see how they were going to move past the bumpy road thrown at them. Every single time I read a book about this family I end up with a smile on my face and laughter in my heart.

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Making Up was just an okay read for me. I really wanted to love this book like I have the others in this series, but the age gap of these two characters was too much for me. There are some laughs, but I never felt the connection between the characters that I expected. I even skimmed a few pages, and I have never done that with a book this author has written before. Of course we can't love every story that an author writes, and I will grab her next book.

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