I enjoyed this book, but sometimes it felt too cute. The story is about Alice, who buys a non-refundable ticket for a three-week bus tour around the UK after a terrible breakup. She buys the ticket when she is a bit drunk, which was a funny start to the story.

The bus is full of older women, which surprised Alice because she thought more young people would be on the trip. The ladies are interesting but sometimes their characters feel too simple - there's a bird-watching German lady, a sweet old woman with her dog, and others. I liked how they all became friends during the journey, even though they are so different.

The book describes many famous places in the UK, and I learned some interesting facts about them. The Scottish places were my favorites! But sometimes there was too much history information that made the story slow.

Robbie is the only man on the tour - he's the Scottish bus driver and guide. He and Alice hate each other at first, and they argue all the time with clever insults. Their arguments are really funny to read! Alice is chaotic and always finding trouble, while Robbie is organized and calm. They are very different but perfect for each other. Their love story was the best part of the book for me.

The book has funny moments and some touching parts too. It's a good read for holiday time, even if some things are a bit predictable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

I loved this one so much! The cover was adorable and every single character found a place in my heart. I absolutely adored Alice Cooper and every single person she met on her UK bus tour. The chemistry (romantic and friendship) was off the charts and so well written. Now on to look up every other book Kat Mackenzie has written right now!

Alice always lived her life in an orderly manner, with lists and limits and her dreams on hold to keep a job she didn't really like and a man who seemed good on paper. When she loses both the man and the job, she does the first impulsive thing she's ever done and heads on a UK literary tour. Except the tour isn't with young, adventurous women who will inspire her, it's with a bunch of fluffy-haired octogenarians. And the tour guide happens to be a devilishly handsome Scottish driver who makes her blood boil from the moment they first meet. But who better to help Alice find her way than women who have already done it? Who says octogenarians can't be inspiring? And why can't she let the handsome driver make her blood boil for more pleasurable reasons?

It's a fun, if slightly, predictable plot that puts the spotlight on the ways that Alice learns to let things go and embrace the positives in her life. There is excellent banter from memorable characters that pull you into the story in charmingly relatable ways. It's not just the main characters that get the chance to shine, every single one of the older ladies also brings something to the story.

Alice and Robbie clash adorably, with their fights lacking any true malice even in their most antagonistic moments. You know they're perfect for each other, and so do they as soon as they stop trying to pretend otherwise. I loved the many ways that Mackenzie allows them to explore who they are as a couple and apart even when, and perhaps because of, the limited time they actually spend together. It shows that they really did think things through and are in it for the long haul.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the wonderful read!

3.5 stars for this funny, sweet book. Alice and Robbie and the tour group ladies were all great characters, and I loved reading bits and pieces about the scenery and the places they visited. However, a few things bothered me about the story: first, the author never addressed why Robbie was so rude to Alice in the first scene of the book - based on his behavior and attitude throughout the rest of the book, it seems very uncharacteristic. Second, as much as I enjoyed the story, it didn't really pull me in - I wasn't dying to pick it up again each day to continue. Somehow some stronger emotion was missing to make me feel invested in the characters and the outcome.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the first chapter, I was cracking up—jajajajaj! So much laughing and giggling. But beyond the humor, this book carries some deep life lessons.

One of the biggest takeaways? No matter how much you plan, nothing is ever certain. I loved how Alice gets to be completely honest, voicing her self-doubts to strangers who genuinely listen. It felt so liberating—more people should do that.

It’s a slow burn, but it feels real. The romance is just one part of the journey; at its core, this is a story about self-discovery—learning to be happy on your own and embracing the unexpected. That’s something I’ve come to understand myself over the years. One lesson that really stuck with me: No one should be responsible for your happiness but you.

And the setting? A road trip through England and Scotland filled with beautiful historical sites and traditions. This book isn’t just about love—it’s about adventure, growth, and finding yourself along the way.

I absolutely loved it!

The only reason I’m giving it 4 ⭐️ is because I personally prefer romantic comedies that focus more on the couple. But this was still an amazing book!

Ahh I absolutely loved the banter between these two. I’ve read three or four books set at least partially in Edinburgh this year and I think this one is my favorite so far.

I loved the tour group ladies and wish I could keep them in my pocket for a good laugh on my worst days.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5/5 stars

This was a cozy, slightly chaotic little journey—and while the pacing dragged a bit for me at times, the side characters totally made it worth the ride. The cast of older women on the bus tour were an absolute highlight: fun, sharp, and full of heart. I would've happily read a book just about them sipping tea, gossiping, and causing gentle mayhem across the UK.

The premise is super cute—heartbroken woman books a spontaneous, literary-themed bus tour, expecting wanderlust and maybe a touch of Eat, Pray, Love energy... but instead finds herself surrounded by retirees and one very infuriating (and charming) tour guide. It leans into rom-com tropes with a bit of enemies-to-lovers banter, and while I didn’t totally connect with Alice or the romance, I appreciated her growth and the quiet moments of self-discovery.

It’s slow at times, but if you’re in the mood for something light, quirky, and full of charming chaos—with a side of bookish vibes and found family—you’ll probably enjoy the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance copy of this book.

A cute and fun rom-com that doesn't skimp on enemies-to-lovers...so promising! I really enjoyed the way this story kicked off, and I loved the sassy older ladies who joined our FMC on her journey.

Definitely recommend!

This book was so fun! I will always read a Scottish romance. It was heartwarming and light and hilarious, everything I love in a good rom com. I loved, loved, loved all the elderly ladies and their stories and life lessons. 10/10 read!!!

This book started off really strong for me—the first 50% was funny, charming, and thoroughly engaging. I especially loved the older ladies Alice ends up on a bus tour with—the humor was top-notch! However, once the couple realized their feelings, the story took a turn with a frustrating miscommunication trope (an overheard phone call). I saw where the author was going with it, but it felt like it dragged. After that, some parts became repetitive, and I found myself ready for the book to wrap up. The audiobook was 12 hours long, which felt about three hours too long for a rom-com, in my opinion. That said, this was still a cute and pleasant read. I debated between a 3- or 4-star rating, but ultimately, the charm and humor pushed it to 4 stars.

Loved it! Characters were tangible, loved the plot and setting! Pace was a bit slow but other than that it's a great read.

This was such a fun book! I adored all of the side characters, and I really enjoyed the setting and plot as well. The banter between Alice and Robbie was amazing, and I really enjoyed the romance as well. Overall, I would recommend this book and am excited to see what Kat Mackenzie writes next! :)

Work in Progress was so fun and clever! I absolutely loved every page and I laughed out loud so many times. Kat is such a master of banter, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted copy and eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I am obsessed with this book. The slow burn and the enemies-to-lovers aspect worked flawlessly, and I was enamored by all of the characters. This didn't read like a debut at all. I really hope Kat Mackenzie will be writing more, because I will be first in line to read whatever's next!

I always love a story about someone trying to rebuild their lives, but having it set in the UK with a bunch of great side characters is even better! It was a little rough at the beginning since it was hard to side with the FMC on her dislike of the MMC since it didn't really seem justified, but as she warmed up to him it became less of an issue. I do wish there had been more of the literary reference woven into the book since they were on a book themed tour, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment. Overall I really enjoyed the story and getting to travel through UK for a bit.

An extremely sweet and healing read, this book was like warm coffee and sunlight <3

The tourism aspect was written amazingly well, I felt like I wanted to go on the tour! And the found family was so so wholesome and I really loved how they all made sm meaningful connections with each other.

Also, the slow-burn romance?? Perfection, okay, the hate/enemies to crushes to enemies to friends to lovers pipeline was just >>>>>>

TWs (past) - cheating ex, parent with cancer

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This wasn't bad, it just felt a little surface level for me at times. Like a little too cutesy/flowery/etc for me

Work in Progress is a great rom-com inspired by Bridget Jones's Diary. Alice signs up for an impromptu book tour around the U.K. to get over her cheating ex-boyfriend and find the motivation to move on with her life. After a long trip, she arrives in Edinburgh exhausted and anxious to not miss her tour only to find out her luggage has been squashed to a pulp, that her tour driver is the good-looking Scotsman she had a showdown with at the airport and that all the other members of the tour are decades older than her. This trip is a learning adventure for Alice, where she grows, accepts that change is inevitable and even finds love, albeit reluctantly. It was a great read and impossible to put down.

I knew from the very first page that I was going to love Work in Progress by debut author Kat Mackenzie and that definitely became my reality as well! I flew through this hilarious and completely fresh romcom, and it is another one of those books that I never wanted to end. I have to thank many friends on Bookstagram for putting this on my radar, and I hope Mackenzie will write more romcoms soon because I don’t know how long I can wait for the next one. 🥺 Alice Cooper (such a great name for a character) and Robbie the tour guide stole my heart, and I never wanted to leave their story. I loved the lists, tallies, and lessons that were included in every chapter, and they were so great that sometimes I read them again just because I could.

If you are looking for a fantastic audiobook you will also find that here thanks to Angela Dawe. She effortlessly switched between American Alice, Scottish Robbie *sigh*, and octogenarian Brits which created such a delightful listen. I have to give some credit for my book love to her because she made it so easy for me to fall into the characters and writing. This enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine-esque storyline was full of humor, silly banter, sexiness, and a lovability that I fell head over heels for. It also made me want to take a trip to Scotland, especially if I could be on a tour bus full of snarky octogenarian women and a Scottish hunk. But also, minus the poop. 💩

Read this if you love laugh-out-loud humor mixed with heartfelt moments, escape reads, and that magic that is felt from new beginnings. The end will leave you with a smile on your face!

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a cute book, and I enjoyed it right to the end! Alice Cooper (no relation) has signed up for a 3 week tour of the UK. She’s broke, unemployed, without a relationship of any kind thanks to a boyfriend who was definitely not worth keeping. But she didn’t realize that the tour was made of senior ladies, and some of them were a little odd (putting it mildly).

The day-by-day of the trip sounded like it was fun, if you kept a sense of humor—-but for at least the first week, Alice wasn’t having it. just call her grumpy, and most of her bad temper was aimed towards the tour director, Robbie, who is gifted with handsome favor and beautiful blue eyes. A great part of the rest of the story is a push-and-pull between the two. All is intensified because they both are acutely aware that the clock is ticking and Alice needs to go home to try to put her life back together.

The book had me wanting to draw it out so it wouldn’t end! In addition, the new friendships Alice has formed with all the other ladies have become precious jewels and treasured gifts as well.

It’s a wonderful story and definitely worth reading! I loved it. 4.5 stars rounded up.

I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.