This book is such a quick and cozy read to get into the autumn spirit! I really liked the writing style - there was great dialogue, both inner dialogue and character banter, and it was surprisingly emotional. It dealt with heavy topics, which I liked, and I absolutely loved how it dealt with LGBTQ+ rep in such a matter of fact way that just made it so natural in the story. I loved the characters and the setting, and appreciated all the pop culture references. I felt like it was such a cool window into the character's heads and personalities and helped me really connect to the story. This book made me want to go to a café and listen to Cindi Lauper while watching leaves fall from the trees.

I'm going to post this review on my Instagram, @haleywillreadit, on August 29th. I've already posted on goodreads and story graph, and will also post to Amazon!

Allie esta estancada, por años a dejado a un lado sus sueños, pero cuando conoce a Ryan le ayudará a ver que su miedo le está saliendo muy caro y que se está reteniendo en todos los ámbitos de su vida.

Allie estuvo en un grupo de música, ella tomaba muy enserio lo que hacían lamentablemente las demás integrantes solo lo veían como algo para pasar el rato, entonces cuando su amiga le dice que ninguna de las chicas quieren seguir tocando se lo toma muy mal y se encerrará por años por miedo a sufrir.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an utterly charming, cozy romance that strikes all the right notes for music lovers and anyone seeking a heartfelt story about second chances. Allie Andrews, once the lead singer of a punk rock band, has spent the last decade hiding from her past, tucked away in her aunt’s café in Brooklyn. Life for Allie is safe, quiet, and comfortable until a chance encounter with Ryan Abernathy—her biggest fan—brings the past rushing back into her life. Ryan is determined to help Allie rediscover her passion for music, leading them on a journey to track down her former bandmates, reawakening the dreams she buried long ago.

What makes this novel so delightful is Whiteford’s ability to infuse a bustling metropolis like Brooklyn with a small-town, intimate vibe. The café becomes a warm haven for a colorful cast of characters who feel like family. The romance between Allie and Ryan is a slow burn, beginning with witty banter and growing into a sweet, genuine connection as they both help each other navigate the complexities of life, love, and unfulfilled dreams. While Allie’s prickly, avoidant nature keeps Ryan at arm’s length for much of the story, his big-heartedness and unwavering support eventually break down her walls.

The novel is laced with musical references that act as a soundtrack to the characters' lives, making the story even more vibrant. Whiteford beautifully explores themes of self-discovery, accountability, and embracing the messiness of relationships. Allie’s journey is not just about finding her way back to music but also about confronting the pain and trauma she has carried for so long, finding peace in herself, and learning to let others in. The secondary characters add depth and charm, making the story feel like a cozy escape into a tight-knit community.

With autumnal vibes, holiday parties, and tender moments that will tug at your heartstrings, "Make Me a Mixtape" is a perfect read for fans of feel-good romances with depth. Whether you’re a music lover or just someone who enjoys a story about finding yourself and creating new beginnings, this book hits all the right chords.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Doubleday Canada for sharing this heartfelt novel's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest thoughts. I really appreciate it!

This was super cozy, with fall + Gilmore Girl vibes. I love the use of music as a language as so many of us share it! The story weaves finding yourself, accountability, and romance together in a way that makes a borough sound like a small town. I loved this!

This book was so good. I loved how it beautifully explores the themes of second chances and the courage to embrace one’s true passions, all while delivering a cozy, heartwarming read perfect for fans of feel-good romances.

sinopsis en español pañol:

Allie sintió que sus hombros se relajaban mientras deslizaba su micrófono favorito en el soporte y enchufaba su cable en su pequeña caja de resonancia... La música no era lo que le había fallado. Fue todo lo demás lo que vino con él... Allie Andrews se dio por vencido en el mundo de la música hace diez años. Sin giras salvajes, sin noches, sin explosiones entre bandas que ponen a su carrera. Justo un día después de un cómodo día de trabajar en el café de su tía en Brooklyn y grabar canciones de versiones de los 80 en su pequeño apartamento. Lo último que quiere, o espera, es ser reconocida como la ex rockera punk Allie Jetski. Pero una entrega de café de última hora la lleva cara a cara con el gran, encantador, guapo (y muy posiblemente fanático número uno de los Jetskis) Ryan Abernathy. Ryan no se olvida de conocer al cantante principal de una de sus bandas favoritas. Sin indesudir por su comportamiento espinoso, se propone ayudar a Allie a encontrar el camino de regreso a los Jetskis, para que pueda aceptar lo que sucedió hace todos esos años. Allie encuentra a Ryan difícil de resistir, y su tranquila vida se pone patas arriba mientras se ve arrastrada en una caza de torbellino de sus antiguos compañeros de banda. Pero cuando la tía Mindy anuncia que ha decidido vender el café, Allie se enfrenta a una opción que cambia su vida: ir a lo seguro y hacerse cargo del negocio, o arriesgarse a abrirse a un futuro en la música... y tal vez incluso a amar.



Reseña:
3.5 ⭐️
Me gustó.

Es un romance slow down de dos personas con muchos miedos.

Allie era parte de una banda, pero las demás integran lo hacían como hobby y no como algo para dedicarse como Allie, entonces cuando se separan, decide dejar a un lado la música y trabajar en una cafetería.

Años después conoce a Ryan, quien era fan de la banda, él le hace querer encontrar a sus ex compañeras para darle un cierre a esa parte de su vida

"Make Me a Mixtape" spun a sweet love story that hit all the right notes, self-discovery, and a front-row seat to how we can be our own worst enemies. Allie and Ryan, the perfectly imperfect leads, have just the right amount of sweet and sour to keep their friendship on edge until they figure out if they can tune their relationship to something more. The supporting cast? Just as irresistible as our main duo, blending seamlessly into their Brooklyn backdrop. The search for Allie's long-lost bandmates set the perfect stage for this friends-to-lovers tale, making me just as invested in her past as in their future. Throw in a soundtrack of 80s hits and a punk rock scene, and I was sold before the first chorus. Jennifer Whiteford, you’ve got me hooked. I'll be eagerly awaiting your next release.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this AR!C.

This was such a refreshing concept for a romance book. It’s giving fall, it’s fast paced, the music elements were so fun and I LOVE a good cafe setting. Sadly there were too many flags for me personally to love this one, but I hope others find this and enjoy it!

Wow, what a cute little book. Only a few pages in and I was already laughing and kicking my feet from the cuteness. Give me any book set in New York during the seasons changing from fall to winter and I am in. The story was also a good one with pretty much all of the main characters going through life changes. Everyone was so relatable and easy to fall in love with. I also enjoyed all of the music references in the book. Overall, a very cute but real book,

This was a cute and sweet romance. It read quickly and was pretty predictable but I appreciated that about it. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford

Make Me a Mixtape is an ode to music, dreams, and relationships and what it means to build your community.

Allie Andrews is an ex-punk rocker whose foray into the world of music with her band was successful until their break-up. Since then, she works at her aunt’s cafe in Brooklyn grieving and believing she breaks relationships. In a chance meeting, Allie meets Ryan Abernathy, who surprisingly recognizes her. Their connection is immediate and Allie begins to learn the importance of communication, community, and chasing your dreams.

Make Me a Mixtape is for music lovers as it’s filled with artist and song references and Allie’s palpable passion which jumps for the page. Despite being set in the metropolis of New York, Whiteford gives Brooklyn a small town feel through lovable characters and making the cafe a warm haven of community. I really enjoyed this story. My only caveat is a personal preference of closed door romance (there’s a couple spicy scenes). Otherwise, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters.

This story is perfect for lovers of cozy fall and winter reads looking for a Gilmore Girl vibe of quirky, lovable characters and close-knit community.

Thank you to Penguin Canada and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All options are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I think this novel might just be a new comfort book for me. Full of songs that pull at emotions, the iconic streets of Brooklyn, the warmth and hominess of Mindy’s Cafe. But at the heart of this novel is Allie and Ryan’s love for music - everyone’s love for music. There isn’t a chapter - or even a page - where we’re allowed or able to forget that this story ebbs and flows around music. This book comes across gentler (this is a good thing!) than some other picks on the Romance shelf BUT it’s still got a new book boyfriend to ogle over, swoon worthy moments and a few epic grand gestures. Looking for a romance that’s a perfect combo of fall, food, fashion, friendship and tunes? This is it.

✨BOOK REVIEW: Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford

4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

Music is a language that connects so many of us, even if we don’t share the same culture, background or language because music is just that — a language on its own. I am someone who also finds solace between the words of songs and sometimes feel like songs can put into words what my mind is unable. I love how music was at the center of this book and connecting all the different people together.

I found myself able to connect to Allie both in her ability to process emotions through music but also helloooooo avoidant girly who runs away at the first touch of anything romantic. Ryan was a teddy bear. A giant teddy bear. I don’t know why I was getting Marshall from HIMYM vibes, but I was. And the fact that he was an OG groupie?! Adorable.

I found all the characters amazing and they were genuine, flawed, owned up to their problems and ultimately CARED.

Make me a mixtape? The language of love. Truly. Need to apologize to someone? Send them a song. Need to confess your love? Send them a song.

⭐️⭐️✨ = 2 stars and a consideration

⭐️ I didn’t expect to be reading this book and find myself double taking at the fact that one of the characters in the group was named Anisha, like, WHAT?! I never see my name in things like that, so that made my heart happy. But this Anisha was totally giving me a run for my money and proper grown up boss lady. Love her!

⭐️ I really wish that Mindy’s cafe was a real place because I would love to go there and spend time with such cool people. In my head, Anisha and Ren incorporate live music nights on the weekend at the cafe to bring the musical community together just as Mindy has been doing things to create ties with the community (and one day Allie, Jessi and the rest of the Jetskis play a show.)

✨Not really a consideration but I am just sad that the book had to end.

Thank you to Jennifer Whitefor, Penguin Randomhouse Canada, DoubleDay and Net Galley for this ARC

Pub Date: October 8, 2024

Make Me a Mixtape was a fairly cute, light story about a former punk rocker and an awkward Alabamian boy in the big city. Ryan had some red flags that I could not see past- his inability to express himself, his insistence on insertin himself into Allie’s search for her former band mate… he just seemed like a wimp in some ways and overly aggressive in others. I do appreciate the diversity of characters and body representation, and I love that the story focused on a female musician. It was cute, but not amazing. I’d try another by this author.

This was pretty cute! i like the chemistry between allie and ryan. the punk rock vibes were pretty cool but honestly the writing was fun and i really enjoyed the plot.

For me Make Me a Mixtape was a sweet love story about finding yourself and taking a good look at how we sabatoge our own happiness. The main characters are sweet but flawed in a way that causes friction in their friendship that they need to figure out before they can become more.

I loved the supporting characters as much as I did Allie and Ryan, and they blended together perfectly to set the scene in their Brooklyn neighbourhood. I think the driving plot line of finding Allie's long lost band mates was a great backdrop to the friendship turned romance, and I found myself as invested in her history as I was their relationship. 80's hits and a punk rock scene were an easy sell for me to pick this up and I'm so glad I did! I would definitely read more from Jennifer Whiteford and I'm looking forward to her next release.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC to review.

This was a sweet love story that also spends a lot of time exploring the ups and downs of adult friendship. It gets a bit steamy, too!

‘Make me a mixtape’, was a funny, romantic, and touching read for me. These protagonists are seriously just a serious blast to read. I adored both Allie and Ryan. And, I already can’t wait for another novel from Whiteford.

Allie Andrew’s is a former punk rocker who now works in her aunt’s Brooklyn cafe. She mainly keeps to herself but one day she delivers coffee to a bubbly podcaster named Ryan, who remembers her from her rock days and it sets off a new era for her with friends, a crush, and a giant life change.

I liked this book, but as a former traveling musician and a person from the American South, I feel like it has problems. Beginning with the Southern character Ryan, so much about his “Southernness” was beyond stereotypical. People from Birmingham DO NOT think moving to NYC is akin to being in league with the Devil. Are people religious down South? A lot of them are. Do they think anything above the Mason Dixon line is from hell? No. It was just weird and offensive. And as a former touring musician, while I felt a lot about Allie’s existence in her punk rock world was true, it felt … self conscious. I definitely felt like the whole set up was a bit stereotypical or assumed rather than known. That being said, I think the ideas behind the book are solid, the characters are well drawn, and I love that it centered around mix tapes. The 80s pop song cover idea was fun and genuine.

There were two spicy moments in the book but they were ruined by consent. I have noticed that people go out of their way now to reflect consent in the act but this was waaaaaaaay overdone. It was odd how many times the people asked each other permission to touch the other. It pulls the reader out of the story and makes it self conscious.

I think Whiteford is a good writer and she lays a solid foundation for a pretty unique set of characters. (And I was so happy to see a character from my hometown! Even if he was stereotypical.) The romance is there, the plot points are there, I just think it could do with a little more attention to being genuine than what’s expected of a punk rocker/Southerner/modern relationship. I give it 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.