The cover of this book is what initially attracted me. I love music, likely similar to what the main characters band, the jetskis, would have sounded like. Mix tapes and cds are my love language, so I did love how this mix tape story line came full circle- you’ll have to read it to know what I mean! How ever, many parts of this book felt drawn out to me and there were parts I struggled to get through. This book is about music, second chances, friendship, cozy romance, and figuring out what you really want (or don’t want) in life. Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC

This book was a big dose of nostalgia with and found family and a little bit of romance. I was immediately suck in. While I enjoyed Allie and the rest of the side characters (especially George), I had a hard time connecting with Ryan's character. 4 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book so much. I loved all the music references and checked out a few songs that I wasn't familiar with. And the plot point about the mixtape at the end of the story was *chef's kiss* perfect. I still don't quite understand the falling out between Allie and Jessi but I loved how it was resolved. Allie and Ryan were so great together! In fact, all of the characters were great together in that found-family kind of way. I absolutely loved the ending - a very good friend of mine did the same thing (no spoilers) and it brought back a good memory for me. All of the characters show depth and growth throughout the story, which was lovely to see. Very much looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next. Highly recommend.

This is short and sweet! The plot really interested me, I loved the musical aspect and the fact that Allie was in an all-girl punk band in her youth. That immediately made me want to like her. The setting is also so cozy, fall and winter in a Brooklyn cafe? Perfect.

Something about this just fell a little bit flat, the characters needed some oomph to them. I wasn’t very invested in the romance like I wanted to be. I really loved the moments of rekindling with some of the bandmates though, those were so heartfelt and lovely. I loved that Allie learned she’s not the villain she made herself out to be for so long.

I’d be interested in what Jennifer writes in the future! I think her work has really great potential and I love the creative ideas in this.

Books and music are the way to my heart. Combine the two and you are absolutely speaking my love language!

I enjoyed reading about Allie's post-punk band member life. Life at the cafe with her aunt and friend Ren sounded wonderful, but her roots leave her unsatisfied. When she meets Ryan (the sunshine to her grumpiness), Allie starts to remember how much she loved performing. The recordings she made for elderly patron George were adorable. I also appreciated how Allie and Ryan built their friendship before their inevitable hookup. There were a lot of sweet elements to this book, despite it being punk rock (punks don't cry, do they?! Yes, they do. Many times apparently).

I absolutely loved the mixtapes that went along with the book titles. There is a twist at the end that I utterly adored. Overall a fun, punk rock story full of love and music (and love for music!).

Allie has been stuck in a music-less rut after her punk band broke up almost ten years ago and she hasn't spoken to her then best friends since. When her grumpy runs into Ryan's sunshine, her life changes forever (despite her best efforts to keep it exactly the same).

This was a really original story of found family, friendship, love and an obvious ode to music. Also, a heartbreaking warning of the stories we weave in our own heads that hold us back from living a full life.

I loved the story, the mystery and the small little town of quirky characters that was created within their community and friends.

I just wasn't the target audience for most of the themes and a lot of the music references went over my head so I wasn't able to enjoy it to its fullest.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Make Me a Mixtape was a read that had me reminiscing about my high school days. I wonder what happened with my old mixtapes.🤔

Nostalgia for youth and DIY punk shows and mixtapes, wrapped up in an autumn/winter Brooklyn setting. Miscommunication tropes tend to annoy me and the two main characters here have neurotic miscommunication hardwired into them, but i was still very much on board with their romance and invested in a HEA. Made me want to make myself a mixtape with all the songs discussed.

Make Me a Mixtape is an ode to cassettes and 80s music with a side of romance. Allie and Ryan are both likeable and flawed, their character growth was wonderfully crafted with the support of the secondary characters who I also found myself enjoying.

I can’t wait to read what Jennifer Whiteford writes next.

2.5* rounded up to 3!

This was a fun read, quick, cozy and rather enjoyable. The group dynamic between Allie, Ryan, Anisha & Ren was wholesome. Mindy came across as a great figure for Allie, it would have been interesting to understand more what their relationship was like during the Jetskis

The main criticism I have is that the story feels unfinished. The blurb made it seem like we would have more of Allie’s past, and what actually happened between the Jetskis, with Ryan helping along the way.
It started off that way but towards the end segued into a messy love story. It felt like the two sub-plots weren’t flowing together, but two completely different stories.

It was cute & I don’t regret reading it, I just wish it was a bit more fleshed out, it felt rather rushed unfortunately

Thank you penguin random house & netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Make Me A Mixtape is such a cute read! Allie is living in NYC working in a cafe trying to avoid her past life as a musician. Ryan immediately recognizes her and begins to remind her of what she is missing and what she can become. Ryan is your quintessential Retriever male, always happy and willing to please; definitely the sunshine to Allie's grumpy! I do wish there was more tension between Allie and Ryan; I needed more romantic buildup. Overall I thought it was a cute and heartwarming story about found family, loss, redemption and of course romance.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and to Jennifer Whiteford for providing this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

⋆˚⟡˖𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞-𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! ♡︎

𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐃𝐍𝐅 𝐚𝐭 𝟐𝟒%

⋆˚⟡˖okay so i really wanted to finish this book and continue reading it but i just could not get into it. i started off really enjoying it; this book started out really cozy and autumn vibes and the premise sounded really interesting: 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐣𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐤𝐢, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝. i just didn’t like ryan from the beginning and he really turned me off to the whole book.

⋆˚⟡˖𝐰 𝐫 𝐢 𝐭 𝐢 𝐧 𝐠: this girl needs a better editor. i only made it 24% of the book and there were so many repeated words and phrases. idk it was just incredibly boring

⋆˚⟡˖𝐜 𝐡 𝐚 𝐫 𝐚 𝐜 𝐭 𝐞 𝐫 𝐬: every single character is incredibly flat and one-dimensional and boring and annoying i was sick of them :(

⋆˚⟡˖𝐬 𝐞 𝐭 𝐭 𝐢 𝐧 𝐠: i LOVE the setting of this book! it’s so cozyyyy i love the fall, new york coffee shop and neighborhood!

⋆˚⟡˖𝐨 𝐯 𝐞 𝐫 𝐚 𝐥 𝐥: unfortunately i can’t recommend this book i just didn’t enjoy it. i was really excited for it because its a cozy fall, musical book but it was falling incredibly flat.

——————
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: dnf at 24% i just can’t get into it, rtc

𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: i got approved for another arc!

MAKE me A Mixtape is a cute, slow burn romance. It unfortunately just wasn’t for me. There are a ton of music references and likeable characters, it just took me awhile to warm up to them, especially with Allie, the MC. Overall it reminded me of Susanna Hoffs’ This Bird Has Flown.

A lovely story about two wounded people who fear being abandoned so much that they would rather just be friends than risk losing each other. The friendship and the secondary characters are a delight. Definitely recommend!

Tell the truth… Have you ever gone to a punk rock show in the basement of a church? Did you grow up with a boom box full of CDs you bought at said shows?

This book is full of nostalgia, set in Brooklyn, NY, dripping with found family and bursting with cozy fall charm.

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.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a book that, when starting, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with the way that I did.

It was a super sweet story and there were a few parts that pulled at my heartstrings. I will be looking into other books by this author as I thought the writing style was really good!

I will recommend this book to anyone who likes a sweet love story.

The cover of the book immediately grabs the reader's attention with its vibrant colors and inviting atmosphere, setting the scene for a delightful fall day and accurately reflecting the storyline. The characters are well-developed, each possessing unique traits. The interactions between the main characters, Ryan and Allie, and the rest of the cast are skillfully crafted, adding a realistic and cozy feel to the narrative. The author employs compelling comparisons throughout the book, allowing readers to connect with the characters' emotions and circumstances. For instance, the analogy of letting go of one's passion like a balloon slipping from its string beautifully illustrates how things we cherish can sometimes drift away unexpectedly. The mutual support Ryan and Allie offer each other in confronting their pasts is commendable. Ryan's endearing friendship with his roommate Anisha exudes a sense of lifelong camaraderie. A charming detail in the book includes cassette tapes labeled with Allie's cover album project songs, indicating the current timeline and hinting at what may unfold in the upcoming sections. While the romance is well-executed, there are moments of ambiguity in the characters' feelings, particularly with Ryan's evolving emotions towards Allie. Including Ryan's perspective intermittently could have provided a clearer insight into his sentiments and reduced confusion for readers. The narrative features a couple of spicy scenes that, although well-written, may elicit some cringeworthy reactions. Allie's enduring affection for her former bandmates underscores the deep bond they share, despite the band's dissolution. The author adeptly captures the essence of Brooklyn, New York, transforming it into a cozy and inviting setting reminiscent of a small, welcoming town. The writing style is engaging, vivid, and immersive, evoking a sense of watching a heartwarming Christmas movie about friendship, self-discovery, and family. While the plot encounters minor obstacles due to miscommunications, it remains captivating and well-structured. Although it took some time to fully engage with the story initially, the book eventually becomes engrossing, making it difficult to put down. The book maintains a logical timeline, plot progression, and character development, offering valuable lessons on self-discovery, pursuing passions, fostering new relationships, effective communication, and the warmth of community and family. Despite occasional uncertainties regarding Ryan's feelings for Allie and a slow start, the overall narrative, characters, and cozy small-town ambiance make for an enjoyable read. "Make Me A Mixtape" by Jennifer Whiteford is a heartwarming romance that transports readers to Mindy's Cafe, where they can immerse themselves in the lives of the characters, enjoy music, and perhaps create their own mixtape. This book is recommended for those seeking a romance enriched with strong friendships, music and pop culture references, self-discovery themes, and the courage to confront the past.

Thanks to Doubleday Canada for the ARC of this one! It was a fun little read and I truly enjoyed it! Allie is a former member of a punk rock band who has been living comfortably for the last 20 years helping her aunt run a cafe in Brooklyn. She seems content to just have a life of routine with no surprises. Her band met a father spectacular end and she has not made much room for friendship since then. While delivering coffee, she meets Ryan who works at the podcast studio nearby. They strike up a friendship that eventually develops and their love is very sweet and realistic. It was a fun journey reading about how they discover who they are as people both together and apart. I loved the writing style as well.

As a teenager, Allie was a member of a punk rock band called the Jetskis. They were on the verge of gaining more attention before abruptly breaking up. For the past ten years, Allie has been working at her aunt’s café in Brooklyn and struggling to figure out her relationship with music now as an adult. One day, she delivers coffee to a nearby building and meets Ryan. He immediately recognizes Allie because he was a fan of her band when he was younger. They slowly start to become friends despite Allie’s initial hesitations. As Ryan learns more about Allie’s struggles regarding getting back into music, he convinces her to find her long-lost band members so that she can hopefully find closure about their breakup and discover her love for creating music again.

Any book set in New York during the Fall automatically pulls me in. I felt like I was walking around the streets of Brooklyn and working in the coffee shop alongside Allie and her aunt. Allie’s overall story and love of music kept me interested in this book. I would’ve loved to see alternating chapters of flashback scenes about her time with the Jetskis. I think it could’ve added more of a connection to her current struggles with music and the plot line of finding her former bandmates. Unfortunately, I did not like Ryan’s character at all. He was initially very pushy and slightly annoying. His response to every new relationship he entered into felt immature and confusing. A simple, honest conversation between him and Allie would’ve gone a long way. About halfway through, I hoped she’d stay friends with him, and then we’d be introduced to another possible love interest. As a debut, this was just okay for me. I would be interested in reading more from the author in the future, though, as I liked the storylines involving Allie, her aunt, and her friends.

Thank you to author Jennifer Whiteford, publisher Doubleday Canada, and NetGalley for the eARC of Make Me A Mixtape in exchange for my review.

This was my first book by this author and I will gladly read more. What an enjoyable read with a fun plot and truly likable characters. Add in the “found family” aspect (which I adore) and it’s a real winner!