This book was definitely unique to me and something I’ve never read before. Alice was such an interesting character but I really liked reading about her journey to living life spontaneously and finding comfort in taking risks and learning what she likes and doesn’t like. The book says it’s a romance book but I think it is a bit deeper than that and everyone can definitely learn something from Alice and her journey with finding herself and the choices she makes. Don’t get me wrong though the romance was adorable and so sweet! Robbie was pretty funny with how well he handled Alice and her witty sarcastic comments she had. But then we have a surprise appearance from a past character that I honestly didn’t care for. But overall was a really good book and I would recommend!

I really enjoyed this book! Alice, though a bit judgmental at first, experiences great growth as she connects with a lively and lovable cast of characters. Robbie brings the perfect mix of charm and playfulness, and their chemistry is undeniable. The romance is sweet and natural, while the humor gives off fun Bridget Jones vibes. The supporting characters are fantastic, especially the hilarious older women, adding depth and heart. With a beautiful setting and a story full of warmth, it’s a feel-good read that leaves you smiling!

Post-breakup and jobless, Alice Cooper (no relation) books herself on a three-week literary tour through the UK, imagining meeting many like-minded women (and maybe a hot kilted Scotsman) around her own age and bonding with them. She is surprised to be the only thirty-something on a busload of senior citizens being driven around by a handsome but surly rogue.

With lush descriptions of the scenery of England, Wales, and Scotland, Alice channels Brigdet Jones through mishaps and mouthwatering descriptions of cream teas. Each destination is related to a carefully curated list of recommended reads. The accompanying book chats and many, many literary allusions, make this novel is a dream for readers.

A truly fun and swoon enemies to lovers set in the Scottish Highlands!

Though, Alice the FMC was a tad judgmental in the beginning, I was glad to see her start to grow and lean into this fun and witty cast of characters. Robbie was good natured from the jumpy, leaning into the playfulness Alice needed and the chemistry?! ON FIRE. I really loved watching these two get closer, Alice coming back to truly discover herself and the organic way the two MMCs grew together. This cast of characters were perfect, they each held a role that provided such a purpose and truly made a realistic group dynamic.

Really enjoyed this one. The romance was very sweet but it was also a hilarious book, with plenty of Bridget Jones vibes (which I loved!) and was both heartfelt and funny. I loved the main character's journey in this one and the older ladies were so funny and realistic! Great story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing a DRC of this title for review.

Funny, hot, and so charming! Loved that the FMC was given the space to be a little unlikable/acerbic in the beginning so that she could grow as she connected with the other characters + figured out what she wanted out of life. Definitely one I’d recommend to patrons, and really looking forward to reading more from this author.

2.5 stars rated up. I’m so upset I didn’t love this. I knew from the first chapter it would be a rough read; the main character was just so difficult to connect to for me, and that’s never good in character-driven books. Also, I felt this was a little… overwritten? There was just so Much going on with the writing that I didn’t particularly enjoy. However, I didn’t completely hate it, and it’s definitely a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation. I am sure this book will be adored by others, but it wasn’t for me.

Alice loves order, lists, and knowing what’s in front of her. It’s always worked for her, until her fiancé dumps her and gives her ring to another woman, and she’s out of a job. After letting herself wallow for a while, she suddenly signs up for the adventure she’s always wanted: a 3-week literary tour in the UK. An all-female tour, no pesky men to ruin the fun. Only it’s all elderly women and Robbie, one very grumpy, very hot Scottish man…

And the loathing is ON from the moment they meet, enemies vibe in full force. Yes!

LOVED this book! I would read it for the hilarious lists and alliteration alone—the writing is superb and so much fun. In the enemies stage, Alice gives Robbie so many venomous descriptions like the “contemptuous Caledonian cretin” and “detestable driver” among many others (read and see the rest) that made me laugh so hard.

There’s a lot of sweetness too, especially in the friendships that develop between Alice and the elderly ladies (who are so wise and funny). If you love literature, history, and/or geography, there are so many great references and descriptions—I wish I could book this exact tour (especially if there’s a hot Scot leading it)!

Alice and Robbie’s chemistry was strong; a bit of a slow burn and letting the relationship grow naturally. And so worth it when they get together! Only one thing I feel obligated to mention: the miscommunication trope when the problem could be resolved with a basic grown-up conversation. But it didn’t ruin the book for me—everything else was so good that I could deal with it. Highly recommend!

3.5 ⭐️

Alice Cooper... not to be confused with THE Alice Cooper... is going through a rough breakup and looking to get away from it all. Little does she know, her problems are going to follow her to the UK for her little getaway.

We meet a cast of characters who have varying personalities. The standout is Robbie who gives Alice a run for her money. They have great banter with each other and the banter continues to build throughout the story. While they get on each other's nerves, they are also there to support each other.

I very much enjoyed the other ladies that Alice met on this trip. They each had their own quirk and played off each other well. Alice was able to make a friendship with each of the women and learn something about them and herself.

The ending of the story was a bit rocky as I wasn't 100% sure I understood where it was going. I do wish we got a peek into the relationships more at the end but also enjoyed that a side character took a bit of a presence. The story does take place over only 3 weeks, so it moves pretty quick and so do the relationships and sometimes I needed to remind myself of this.

Overall, it was a cute story that kept me engaged the whole time. I thought the places that were visited were described well and added a more immersive experience.

*Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ecopy. The review and opinions are my own*

This was so fun! As someone who debates dropping everything and moving to Europe almost daily, this book was perfect for me. The banter between Alice and Robbie was fantastic, and mixed with the fabulous commentary and personalities of all the ladies on the tour, this book had me smiling the whole time. The story also felt super real, and the emotions and real life struggles Alice was going through were relatable. I also loved learning a bit of history like I was on the tour with them. Overall this was a very enjoyable read and I think Kat Mackenzie could easily become one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

I seriously thought this was going to be some silly rom com book, and boy was I wrong.

This book is loaded with life lessons, laughter, love, and the journey to finding oneself after extreme heartbreak.

Alice Cooper's life fell apart: she lost her fiance, her job, and her apartment all in a short span. Then, to top it off, one day she sees that her old engagement ring is now on another woman's finger. So, to try and find herself again, and give herself a break, she books a Reading/Book tour across the UK with a group of women.

Literally nothing goes to plan in this super heartwarming book about finding yourself when everything goes to shit.

Banter. >>>
I love banter in a book and this delivered.
"It's silly of me to expect you could enjoy the sounds of anything other than the screams of men as you crush their spirits."

When it comes to characters.. I liked the FMC. I enjoyed reading about her journey ( emotionally and physically). I loved all the ladies she went on the trip with. The MMC... Ugh I just couldn't! I know he's grouchy and talked about why he was closed off.. but I'm sorry. I felt like the way he treated her in the airport was unforgiveable. Specifically, the shoving. I can get over the words he said, but I just couldn't get over him physically pushing her.
Don't get me wrong, their tension? Amazing. I just wasn't a fan of him. Except the part where he saved her ribbon. That part was sweet lol.

Overall, I enjoyed the book specifically for the tension and reading about her trip.

A three week immersive book-lovers road trip through England, Wales and Scotland?

Delightful enemies-to-lovers battles of wit?

A bus full of old ladies with their quirks, lack of BS and decades of advice?

A deliciously nerdy bus driver?

Beautiful food, scenery and book quotes?

OMG yes, please. Immediately. Then serve me secondses.

Funny, charming, and thoroughly enjoyable, this book reeks of empathy, friendship, healing, hope, storytelling, tingles and love. Buy your ticket for this trip immediately.

A fantastic debut.

Alice Cooper is in the middle of a life break-down; unemployed, newly single, and bored, she finally decides to commit to the UK literary girl’s trip of her dreams and change her life. However, the so-advertised tour is not all that it seems. Said girl’s trip is actually entirely comprised of women in their sixties and seventies, and is lead by an incredibly rude bus driver who seems to have it out to get her.
The wide cast of characters have a fantastic group dynamic, and I appreciated that through the fellow women in her group, Alice learns important lessons on life, and what is important in a relationship.
I also love that Robbie and Alice’s relationship was not rushed. They began with a true, deep dislike for each other, which I find to be exceedingly rare in so called enemies-to-lovers books. They form a slow-blooming, organic friendship that I loved reading about. By the end, all I wanted was for these characters to be happy together.
While I appreciated the detailed attention the author put into the scenery of the book, I did find the descriptions and history of the locations somewhat droning at times. It felt that the author was trying to juggle a literary fiction story about personal growth and female friendship, a slow burn romance, and an accurate historical tour all at the same time. This made the book occasionally drag for me.
Another small point that stood out to me was an odd written accent given to a German character in the book. I did not notice any other written accents aside from cultural slang used; because of this, any dialogue this character had kind of took me out of the story.
Overall, a charming story about self-discovery, and finding love in unexpected places. Well done Kat Mackenzie!

Absolutely magnificent, haven’t filled my Leap Year / My Life in Ruins void until now!! Such a lovely premise and beautiful setting, I simply must go on more tours… booking flights immediately! I yearned to know and love the women on the tour ah, simply adored this

Work in Progress is a lively read, one that follows the ironically named Alice Cooper as she looks to rise from the ashes of a life that’s left her lost in love and work. She books a group tour across the UK in the hopes of finding other adults around their 30s, instead, they’re about twice that age.
What follows is a story of rediscovery, of excitement of life at any age, of a life that is worth living— even when it seems we’ve been pushed back to the start of the life.

This is Alice’s story, and I enjoyed how she came to embrace the spontaneity of life. Not everything in life will go to plan, but that doesn’t make it any less of a treasure to cherish. While romance follows Alice, what I most took away from this narrative were all the lessons learned along the way—that personal journey of Alice, along with the friendship blooming with all the older women on the tour. The wisdom they gave her, not just in their triumphs but in the perceived failures of life as well.

It was almost cathartic reading Alice’s journey of rediscovery. To see life is still worth living even when it feels we’ve been left behind, or, in her case, have to restart. To face the future not as a ticking time bomb, but as the endless potential it is.

As for the romance, I was so sweet on the fun dynamic between Alice and Scottish tour guide Robbie. I loved how with every biting, spiteful remark from her, he just returned it with a grin and some light teasing. It was like one-sided dislike to love and I was all for it! It worked for the most part as well, although its final act didn’t fly as high as the rest of the narrative. There was a supporting character’s re-introduction that really took me by surprise in a way I did not care for. The character returns and becomes a romantic match for Alice, and regardless of how fleeting it is meant to be, it ended up lessening, for me, the poignancy of the romance between Alice and Robbie. That said, I do think this comes down to mere preference. What is not my cup of tea but very well be yours! I enjoy really idyllic final act situations where a couple, no matter distance and time, will wait for one other. But this storyline presented in a very realistic, pragmatic manner and I truly do not fault the choice made by Alice in testing those waters. In fact, I think so many readers will appreciate that route.

Overall, I was very much charmed by Work in Progress! It is a very personally enriching experience and one that I think is for all of us who feel we’ve stumbled or been left behind in life and need to realize, there’s still so much living and learning to do!

So keep going, keep finding yourself! And be sure to pick up Work in Progress!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

This book is such FUN!! Who doesn't want to go on a literary bus tour?! The sharing of multi-generational wisdom really resonated with me. After reading this I wanted to explore booking a trip and all the food described made me super hungry. I really appreciated how the relationship with Alice and Robbie evolved. Sometimes enemies to lovers can seem too unrealistic, but this felt believable.

If you're looking for a lighthearted escape with a touch of literary inspiration, this book is a perfect choice. It's a delightful reminder that life can take unexpected turns and that even the most unlikely friendships can blossom.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy

DNF - But the issue is a mix of the book and myself.

I did not enjoy the Bridget Jones style of writing/lists at the beginning of each chapter. Stylistically, that's a me issue and won't be the case for many readers.

However, Alice as a character was not for me. She was so very rude to the MMC upon first meeting and these two snip back and forth in a way that didn't seem flirty - just seemed rude. Then when she thinks he has a girlfriend, she keeps flirting with him - I don't like that at all, and I'm sure other readers won't either.

Still, there is humor in this book and Alice has her charming moments! I wish I could have rooted for her Robbie's HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon for the ARC!

This debut was just charming. It's a cute and funny romcom set in Scotland with great book references, adventure, and fun. It's a voyage of self discovery in an amazing setting and the writing was so easy, engaging and entertaining. I read it in one seating during vacation, sitting by a lake and giggling to myself. Perfection. I can't wait to see what Mackenzie writes next, but she is on my list of ones to watch! The reading list was fantastic too.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It really showed that friendship knows no age and that you are able to connect with others in all walks of life. All of the characters were well written, and I just loved all of the ladies’ different personalities. The relationships formed between characters was so sweet, and I was really able to resonate with the main character in that way, as someone who is in their 20s and has friends of all ages. Also it’s set in Scotland with a hot Scottish man so what else is there to say? This was really a great read for me!