I appreciate the opportunity to read this title and thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an eARC, however I am prioritizing other books on my list at this time. I will amend my review to reflect my thoughts, should I read this book in the future.

This was SO CUTE! My first book by this author but I really enjoyed it! The cover is also gorgeous, which makes this an almost perfect read!!!

Cozy, fun read about following your dreams and believing in love even after getting your heart broken emotionally and professionally. Ryan and Allie were fun to watch as they took a chance on love and life.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Doubleday Canada for the ARC!

This book was a bit slow to start, but I got into it very quickly. It follows Allie, former punk princess and Ryan, who meet on a serendipitous chance encounter. Their friendship quickly morphs for Allie, and the ensuing story follows her as she struggles with the crossroad she's at in life and love.

The suspense of wondering when Allie and Ryan were going to smarten up was MADDENING at times, and I felt like it could have happened much sooner and with a smidge less drama.

I loved that this book was closer to women's fiction with a bit of spice, and that Ryan was not a typical "body of a God" type MMC. He was sweet and damaged and not physically perfect, which made him so loveable. . I initially didn't like Allie, but quickly changed my opinion after she showed character growth.

This book was warm and cozy, heartfelt and gave me hope

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Allie is a former punk rocker who’s not ready to give up on her music dreams. Ryan is a podcast tech who happens to be a fan, and wants to help her. I absolutely adored these characters, and the way they came together. I really don’t like a miscommunication trope, which there was a little bit of between Ryan and Allie. But the conversation when Ren sat down with Allie to discuss her feelings made up for a little miscommunication. I love the representation, the antics, and especially the music theme. As an emo girl, I really related to the “scene” and the mixtapes.

I was not attached, nor did I connect, with these characters. I feel like the premise was cute but the delivery was a little lackluster. I would consider giving this book another chance in a different time in my life. But for right now, it was readable but not my favorite.

Make Me a Mixed Tape is a cozy, nostalgic fall romance about second chances, music, and finding your voice. Perfect for fans of 90s vibes, mixtapes, and love stories with heart. A debut full of charm, though the romance may not hit every note.

Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford is a warm, nostalgic, and utterly charming contemporary romance. Following two characters as they rediscover themselves and learn to trust each other with their truths, the story delivers a perfect mix of laughter, tears, and heartfelt moments. The relatable FMC, delightful music references, and fun supporting characters bring extra layers of depth and joy to the book. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt, music-infused love stories!

Overall, an enjoyable read with some fun Christmas theming for this time of year.

Both MC were mostly likable, although Ryan's quick shutdown was a bit surprising/abrupt.

I appreciate Allie finding her true calling and putting herself out there to pursue what she really loved.

Plus, the supporting characters all had fun personalities and intertwined through the story effortlessly.

Read it!

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC, this is my honest opinion.

This book has great vibes and nostalgia but missed the mark with the romance. I had a really hard time connecting with the romantic aspects of the novel and really didn’t care for the conflict.

Such wonderful writing. I loved the musical and family aspects of this book. It definitely felt like a new story.

A very fun read of a pair finding their true selves after years of just living, and finding and trusting each other with their whole truths. A few good laughs and tears.

This books back cover description pulled me in immediately. Who doesn’t love a good 80’s song?! If you are looking for a quick and simple read, this is a good place to go. I wish the story had given us more in the character development to pull the reader deeper into the story but overall it was cute.

So nostalgic and cute, I was kicking my legs with joy at this book. The FMC is relatable, and loved all the music references. I would love to read more by the author and many more with this exact vibe!!

I got this book as an E-ARC thanks to NetGalley and penguin random house, I found it a really charming book and super cozy, I love reading this books when im a little overwhelm with fantasy books I find them refreshing and makes me enjoy fantasy books again is a little like a palette cleanser loved it a quick read that you can enjoy in a cozy fall weekend! I would recommend this book.

I love a warm and cozy contemporary romance.. I loved the new twist on a routine romance story. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

As a product of the 80s and music lover, this book was a no thought needed read for me due to the title alone! I had high hopes of getting sucked into a cozy autumn romance with music as a main theme, and while the setting (Brooklyn coffee shop in the fall and into Christmas time) was definitely a cozy one, this one just fell flat. The diverse cast of characters were all likable enough, but I didn’t fall in love with any of them, and the story felt one dimensional. While the title does make sense, I didn’t get as much of the music vibes as I was hoping for.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford.

I liked this until I didn’t, but I don’t hate it. There was some funny and cute moments that kept me involved and the premise of the story is good in theory, but the execution fell short. My main gripe is with the writing. I don’t feel like the story ever painted a picture or set a scene. The cafe is like a main setting in the story and I never felt like I was “there” or that I knew what I was “seeing.” So that sucked because NYC is a magical place and it would’ve been nice to feel that atmosphere and ambience of the city. Even the depth of emotion re: Allie and music was lacking for me. Further, I felt like Allie was exhausting, the romance with Ryan didn’t have enough tension and build up or follow through, the plot had some pretty big holes, and the wrap up was entirely unrealistic and /too much/. The side characters were more interesting than the main characters and it felt like they weren’t utilized properly. I would say if you want a quick read and to not think too much, this is a good book for you.

Cute, well plotted, and full of lovely moments. It made me smile and brought memories to my mind.
Loved the characters and the plot
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine