Work in Progress

by Kat Mackenzie

A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

UK Bus Trip Goals:

1. Crawl out of pajamas.
2. Get over cheating bastard and his stupid ironed jeans.
3. Have my first real adventure!
4. Achieve stability, strength, and growth.
5. Definitely do NOT kiss any British men.

Alice loves a good list. But careful planning didn’t stop her from losing her job and her fiance in one fell swoop. With her dreaded 30th birthday looming on the horizon, Alice makes the first impulsive decision of her life - booking a flight to the UK for a three-week, all-female, literary bus tour. What could possibly go wrong?

Turns out - everything.

Alice arrives to discover that this tour isn’t what she expected. At all. Instead of cool, globe-trotting thirtysomethings with meaningful tattoos, she finds a rickety, antique bus full of fluffy-haired octogenarians. And to make matters infinitely worse, the tour guide makes her blood boil! And that devilish grin of his tells her he’s dead set on making her trip a misery.

But as they travel from castle ruins to cozy pubs, Alice may just find that she’s got it all wrong. The ladies are vivacious. The book club chat is on fire. And damn if that mischievous smile doesn't threaten to turn her world upside down - and her beloved list right along with it!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Scotland, Enemies To Lovers

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2025

About the author

Kat Mackenzie is an American who just happened to find herself living abroad for ten years and accidentally traveling to over forty countries in an attempt to taste all the food. She holds degrees from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford but has discovered that they serve her best collecting dust on the shelf while she pens comedy-forward stories about women who travel. Work in Progress is her first novel.

Reviews

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best line of the book: "The only way I'd warm up to you is if I set you on fire first"

[Phoebe ❀ ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute read but it felt a little too cutesy and flowery at times. The main character, Alice, has just gone through a brutal breakup and drunkenly decides to purchase a non-refundable ticket for a three week bus tour of the UK. What could go wrong, right?

Traveling around the UK with a bunch of old ladies certainly made for scenes that were overdone in their "picturesqueness", cliche old lady charm, and just general stereotyping-- it was often too on the nose. For example, of course she learns all this valuable elderly wisdom when she least expects because she thought the trip was going to be for young women. Some of the ladies were very caricature-y (Berrta the intense, bird-watching obsessed German lady, a 96-year old sweet woman with a dog named Percy, a retired and argumentative lesbian couple, Helena the posh "English rose", etc.). That said, there were many funny moments with all the unique ladies and the bonding that the unlikely mix go through is really touching by the end.

I also enjoyed learning little tidbits about UK landmarks and sites (especially the Scottish ones!) but since the book revolves around the bus tour, the constant mini history lessons at each stop became repetitive and dragged on at times.

The one guy on the trip is the bus driver and tour leader, Robbie--a classic handsomely rugged Scotsman. He and Alice immediately get off to a rocky start and exchange flat-out insults and proclamations of hatred on many occasions - it was really funny and their banter was top-notch. They are constantly at each other's throats in the pettiest but most hilarious ways. Their romance is what really won me over in this book. Alice is a free-spirited trainwreck, an always falling upon misfortune and trouble type of gal who simultaneously resists others' help, while Robbie is a steadfast, levelheaded foil to her character. But don't get me wrong, he is also quite sassy!

Ultimately, this book takes readers through Alice's journey to self-healing and self discovery, guided along by the quirky charm of the ladies and the magnetism between her and Robbie. It was overly quaint at times and chock full of little historical tidbits (and not to mention the dreaded and very present miscommunication trope), so it didn't fully deliver for me, but it is an undoubtedly heartwarming story that I think many romance readers will enjoy.

Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, well-written, contemporary romance novel. It has short chapters with quirky headings, wonderful characters, engaging banter, female camaraderie, vividly described travel destinations, many laugh out loud moments, and a heart-warming romance. I especially liked its message of focusing on what you have and making the most out of the present, enjoying the beauty of life as you live it. I won a complimentary advanced reader copy of this delightful novel in the Book Club Girl "Work In Progress"newsletter giveaway. This is my honest opinion.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Work In Progress, by Kat Mackenzie, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Alice is in a rut, she decides to book a literary bus tour across Britain. Alice is quite a character, I found her to be a bit like Bridget Jones,. This was a nice read.

[Sherry Moyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alice just got her heart broken and lost her job so she drunkenly signs up for a three week bus tour through England and Scotland. Maybe, just maybe connecting with her roots will help her find herself again.

She arrives only to find the tour is for the geriatric set and the tour guide is the rude guy from the airport. And after an unending series of misfortunate events, Alice is miserable.

I’m gonna stop there. I would have DNFed save for the fact that it was a buddy read and Cammie and I really worked some stuff out in our DMs.

This book did not work for me at all. Let me count the ways:
•Alice is the meanest, most immature romantic lead I’ve ever read. I tried to empathize with her initially but within two chapters, she’s off the rails and I wanted to…give her a stern talking to.
•The amount of unfortunate events that befall her go from kinda funny to kinda sad to absolutely unbelievable.
•The enemies to lovers lasts for more than 65% of the book NO THANK YOU. Honestly, Robbie grew on me and I was hoping he’d meet someone else. It made zero sense that he fell in love with her.
•And while we’re at it, the reverse meet cute between Robbie and Alice resulted in such a wild amount of disdain as to be infuriating - take a nap, eat a snack, and get past your jet lag then try to be a decent human, you wee bawbag.
•The pacing is slow, only made to feel slower by the fact that there’s no one to root for.
•The crucial misunderstanding just as they are about to get together is honestly dumb and feels cruel. Like just thinking about it is pissing me off again.

What did I like?
•The old ladies are mostly a hoot.
•The scenic tour through Scotland and England was well described.

I cannot recommend this one.

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

meanwhile my scottish bus tour guide dude almost left my mom and me in inverness

[sarah.readsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when your whole world has been knocked upside down? You might wallow for a while. Stay in your pyjamas. Or you might do what Alice did and book the trip of a lifetime. A 3 week guided book bus tour through all the hot spots of the UK. She desperately needs this trip to restart her life and bring clarity to what she should do next. She’ll have the time of her life meeting international like minded women of her own age to talk books and history with. She’ll make connections to change her life. Issues that arise even before the tour begins
1. Her direct flight turned into 4
2. Her indestructible suitcase with all her adorable travel clothes has been mangled
3. In her exhausted multiple connecting flight state she nearly eviscerates a rude man in public- I mean he was asking for it.
4. She rushes to the bus pick up only to fall down in the street in front of her soon to be new friends except wait. They’re all retirement age- this can’t be right?
5. The rude man from the airport he’s the bus driver?
This book was amazing! I listened to the audio version and the narration was exquisite. Between Alice, the ladies and the Scottish tour guide Robbie they nailed it. I laughed out loud! The wit was on fire! The character development was unmatched with each lady having a palpable and unique personality. But seriously I want this trip. The women build Alice up and make her feel seen and heard in a way that’s been missing for some time. They don’t judge her missteps and help her to see that her messy life is only temporary. Then there’s Robbie. Let me just say swoon! He gives as good as he gets from Alice and that’s quite a lot after their initial meeting. Their banter is unmatched. Their hot and cold slow burn enemies to lovers journey is nothing short of everything. There were multiple times I audibly cheered for them and everything they could have if they just believed they could have it.

Shout out to Kat Mackenzie for this beautiful soulful work. I cannot believe this is your first book. Just wow. Keep up your amazing work.

Favourite Quote
“It might have worked if I hadn’t known him to have all the charm of a wool thong”.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alice, determined to forget about what’s gone wrong in life, books a women only literary book tour, she has no idea the women would be closer to her grandmother’s age then hers, nor that it would be run by a grumpy Scottish driver. What starts as a nightmare, quickly turns into a journey of discovery as Alice quickly befriends and learns from the very wise, and very meddlesome, women alongside her.

This is an utterly charming debut novel filled with lovely and fun, quirky characters set in picturesque Scotland. The chemistry between our MCs Alice and Robbie was terrific right from the start and I loved the slow build nature of their relationship from enemies to friends(ish) to more. My favorite part though is the wit and humor Cat Mackenzie so brilliantly weaves into the story throughout. The scene in which the group is trying to find out which town it was that sounded like penis…dead ☠️ I literally could not stop laughing.

🎧 If you listen on audio like I did (in part), you’ll be treated to Angela Dawe’s amazing narration - going from a US born millennial to a Scottish grump, to an elderly Brit, all in the blink of an eye. She somehow managed to make this large cast of characters all sound unique and for that alone, I think the audiobook is the best way to go for this one.

Read if you like:
▪️UK setting
▪️enemies to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️lovable characters
▪️vacation romance
▪️Bridget Jones
▪️debuts

Thank you Avon Books and Harper Audio for the gifted copies.

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a miss for me. Poop jokes, a lack of character development, and a focus on all the wrong characters. Boring and ultimately unsatisfying. I did learn some interesting things about modern UK/ Scottish culture.

[✧*̥˚Rachel*̥˚✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Romance, Travel, Contemporary, and more!~

Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie follows Alice, who used to be put together with a plan for everything. That was until six months ago when she went through a disastrous breakup and lost her job. So, still heartbroken and jobless, Alice decides for the first time to be spontaneous and book an all-women literary bus tour across the UK, which she has been yearning to visit since she was little. After a hectic experience at the airport and arriving late to the bus, Alice discovers that this trip is not what she expected. Instead of young and colorful busmates, she is met with people over three times her age. On top of that, the handsome bus driver is rude and seems out to get her. As the trip goes on, Alice realizes that maybe she was wrong about the woman on the bus. They aren't old and worn down like Alice once thought. Instead, they are full of life lessons and wisdom. And maybe the charming bus driver isn't so bad after all.

3.5| This book was an interesting read full of unique personalities and characters. The premise itself was entertaining, and I loved the descriptions of the scenery. Sadly, some parts fell a little short for me. While I did enjoy this book, I found the main character frustrating and overly judgemental at the beginning of the story. Especially since I didn't know her whole backstory until later in the book, Alice's character was hard to sympathize with and seemed very entitled. Her character does improve later on as she has some tremendous character growth, but it was difficult to read up until that point. One thing I did love was the other women on the bus. They had so much personality and each had interesting backstories. It was always fun to learn more about them. They also added much-needed comical relief at times. I especially enjoyed how different each one of them was and how they all had different stories and advice to give Alice. They all had unique perspectives and outlooks on life, and I was thrilled every time I got to learn more. The ladies were definitely my favorite part of the story, and I was happy to see Alice's relationship with them continue outside of the bus.

While I loved the descriptions of the scenery throughout the story, I did find that some of the historical aspects got a little too wordy for my taste. I do understand that the historical parts are a big part of the tour, but it felt like a lot of info dumping at once, which took me out of the story. I also don't know if I would describe this book as romance. It had romance in it, but I would say the majority of the story focused more on Alice's self-discovery and healing. I enjoyed this book's romance aspect and liked the banter between Alice and Robbie. I am not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, which was prominent here, so at times, I felt frustrated. Alice tends to do a lot of assuming and Robbie doesn't give the whole story or explanation. The whole Tristan part of the book felt unnecessary—especially the scenes toward the end of the book. Alice had been in passionless romances before; she already knew how it felt, so I didn't see a need to put her in another one. Besides the Tristan storyline, I did like how, at the end of the book, Alice figured herself and life out first before jumping into a decision. It made the ending even better because she knew what she wanted without any doubts.

Overall, this was an interesting read with some exciting moments. The concept of the book is unique, and although I didn't love everything in the book, it was still a pleasant read. I enjoyed the character growth and discovery, along with the life lessons that came with it. The side characters were endearing, and the romance was nicely done. I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author in the future!

Expected publication is January 14, 2025

*I received this book through Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to the publisher for an arc and alc!

it’s crazy how i’m finding so many scottish romances months before my trip with my bestie… coincidence?? i think not!!

i absolutely loved a work in progress: from the literary tour with a gaggle of super cool older women (and a dog!), thrifting after our fmc’s whole suitcase gets pooped on…, and of COURSE our beautiful scottish mmc who is the literary tour’s guide, how could i not eat it up?

while a work in progress was definitely a romcom, it had so much depth thanks to the cast of characters sharing their lives and lessons.

the one thing i could have done less with was our fmc alice being petty towards the mmc robbie… like enough, he wants you babe 🙄✋🏼

as for the audio, the narrator did a fantastic job!

[juwel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tell me what hurts.”
“It’s my ankle. And my pride.”
“Oh, hush now. Let’s not pretend you have any pride left to wound.”

Gah dang, I’m a sucker for some flirty back and forth and this one was jam packed with it!

Alice’s life turmoil had me in my feelings, and the life advice from the ladies was everything. The story as a whole was very cutesy, a bit too cutesy in some parts but I think the back and forth between Alice and Robbie won me over completely. Alice’s inner dialogue was a bit much in the first few chapters, but the frequency and content tempered by a few chapters in. I didn’t really appreciate the Bridget Jones counter until chapter 12, but to be fair I’m just not a Bridget Jones enjoyer so that was more personal preference.

Overall this is a 3.5-3.75 read for me. While I enjoyed the hell outta this, I don’t know how often I would revisit it. Would definitely recommend, especially if you are going through big life changes and need some of the lovely ladies in this book to give you nuggets of life advice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this romcom debut doesn't make you want to book a flight to Scotland I don't know what will!! I absolutely loved this Scottish literary bus tour romance between American, Alice Cooper, fresh off a breakup and looking for some adventure, and the grumpy, snarky Scotsman, Robbie who is leading the three week tour with an all female group of elderly lady passengers.

This was FUNNY, full of great banter, heartwarming intergenerational friendships, LOTs of great Scottish sightseeing side stops, Bridget Jones' Diary vibes, anxiety rep (Alice) and was also excellent on audio narrated by Angela Dawe.

There was some miscommunication involved but Robbie was secretly such a swoony, sweet book boyfriend I fell hard for him myself. Highly recommended for fans of books like Two for the road by Chantel Guertin or Kilt trip by Alexandra Kiley.

Huge thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a physical ARC and NetGalley and HarperAudio for an ALC copy. I switched between the print and audiobook and enjoyed both.

Steam level: fade to black/closed door

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie
Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. First person.
After losing her job and fiance, Alice Cooper decides to spend her 30th birthday, traveling Scotland, England and Wales via a Literary bus tour. Rerouted flights, delays, lost luggage and dropping her hold-all purse in the middle of a busy street is not the best start of the trip. Meeting, again, the rude bus driver of the women only tour group doesn’t help. Settling in to the aged and rickety bus, then starting to relax helps restore her humor and learn about the elderly women with her. They apparently travel often with this tour company and Robbie Brodie, the driver and tour guide, is adored by all of the women. Sparks between Alice and Robbie grow as they travel.

Chapters start with amusing lists and goals for the day. The banter is a bit harsh in the beginning since Alice is highly stressed starting the trip, but soon turns to teasing and flirting. Eventually Alice and Robbie hook up and things are good, but eventually Alice has to return home to real life. Life decisions coming up.

Enjoyable with several laugh out loud moments including a bus problem that literally explodes all over Alice. And lovely relationships that occur as Alice realizes that these elderly women have some impressive stories and backgrounds to share.

[Aamira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good enemies to lovers story, and this one starts off with a bang.
This was such a cute story, and I enjoyed it so much.

Alice Cooper (yes that’s right) is desperate for a fresh start and an adventure after breaking up with her cheating ex and losing her job. She books a literary tour across the UK in the hopes of figuring out what she wants to do with her life. What she doesn’t expect is the flights from hell, destroyed luggage, a group of lively, elderly ladies, and the handsome tour guide who pushes her buttons.

I loved the first interaction between the two MMC’s. The author provides a legitimate reason for the two to initially dislike each other. The banter is hilarious. This story is told in first person POV from the FMC, and I loved seeing the world from her perspective. She’s witty and funny, and I found myself laughing out loud throughout the novel.

The author does a great job of describing the settings the characters find themselves in, and honestly this traveler’s soul was jealous. I want to go on this tour!

I really enjoyed reading how Alice’s relationships with each of the women developed as they continued on their journey across the UK. Ms. Mackenzie did a great job of showing us Alice’s character arc as you delve more and more into the story. Outside of her comfort zone, she grows and lets go of preconceived notions about what her life should look like.

The chemistry between Alice and Robbie is off the charts. I loved how the relationship changed organically. It didn’t instantly go from can’t stand each other to suddenly in love. The author does a great job of showing their dynamic change over the course of their journey. For those who enjoy their spice, this story contains closed door scenes.

[Danielle Pulliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒂𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒊𝒆

Release Date: January 14, 2025

4.5⭐️2.5🌶

This book is so heartwarming and real! It was exactly what I needed this week to lift my spirits! I have to thank Kat Mackenzie for making me want to go on a bus tour of Scotland....right now! This book was so magical and whimsical with its adorable little bus full of adorable older ladies. This book gave me all the wanderlust for a country that I've always longed to see. I think I'm going to have to move Scotland up on my bucket list!

Alice is nearing 30 and has just lost her job and her fiancé. What better time to travel to Scotland? She books a super affordable last minute flight to Edinburgh and signs up for a Literary Bus Tour of Scotland (specifically for female tourists). Except go off the rails, starting with her flight to Edinburgh. At the end of the harrowing 36 hour flight, she meets a man at the baggage claim counter that will do nothing but get in her way, who later turns out to be the one and only tour guide for her 3 week long trip.

Alice slowly warms to the bus full of older ladies, and the handsome tour guide also starts to grow on her. From sharing her story with a group of experience women, she realizes that no ones life is perfect and many things happen for the better. While her ex was very good on paper, she comes to realize that she didn't have any real passion with him. But she may have found real passion with the Scottish, worldly tour guide.

I ate this book up, and left no crumbs!


Themes/Tropes:
🍁Rom Com
🍁Contemporary Romance
🍁Traveling to find yourself
🍁Scotland
🍁Trip of your dreams
🍁Enemies-to-lovers
🍁Finding your passion

TW:
✨Cheating
✨Loss (past)

[Kate Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If my soul was in a book this would be it. Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for giving me an advanced readers copy because I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

A young woman who is going through major life changes (hello, me!) books a three week literary sightseeing tour in England. Lo and behold, the tour is meant for women of a certain age and it’s led by a grumpy but charming Scottish man. All hell breaks loose and it’s the most fun I’ve had in recent memory.

I laughed out loud consistently, grinned from ear to ear, added several sights to my travel bucket list, and shed a tear or two.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

"Work in Progress" by Kat Mackenzie is... fine. It's not so bad that I will drag it, but it's not so good that it will stick with me. In fact, I will admit, I read this a week or two ago and I already forgot that I read it. It just doesn't do enough to set itself apart from the many books just like it. I found it difficult to connect with Alice as a character until it was already too late in the book. I love a grumpy female main character, but Alice was unlikable, not just grumpy! I really did like Robbie, though, what a gent. I hated all of the miscommunication between the two of them. The tour group ladies are, by far, the best part of this story. I loved them all so much! They help make Alice as minuscule-ly relatable as she is, and they help propel the plot forward. Still, my main complaint is that the book tends to drag on and on. It also gets repetitive in several spots. There will likely be some readers who love this one, but I found Alexandra Kiley's "Kilt Trip" to be vastly superior.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kat Mackenzie, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Becca Packer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I kept reading was because I was curious about all the stops they were going to make on their tour. But for all the details and adventures they went on while at these stops, it is more likely they just stayed in Edinburgh and looked at a photo album. There was more time spent describing putting on a dress and all the bloody zippers than time spent in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Most of all Alice Cooper is unbearable. I wanted to throw her off the bus every other page. I'm glad her suitcase got pooped on.
Robbie, have more self-respect.

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 - Thank you so much to Avon for the complimentary copy of the book!

This book is out now!

This is a debut from author Kat Mackenzie so I was unsure what to expect going into it. I am notorious for not reading about the synopsis before reading so I was only going off by the title and cover. Totally thought this was going to be about a woman who falls in love with a Scotsman while on a work trip - welp I was wrong LOL

One thing I love in books is when an author has their characters go on solo trips. Though the worrywart in me is nervous about what could happen while alone on a trip, I know this is fiction and nothing bad would happen BUT I still think about if this was reality. Our FMC Alice needs a reset so she booked herself a trip to the UK on what she thinks is an all female literary trip. Well that turns out to be true except the females were between being retirees to those in their golden years.

I love that all the side characters are older woman who truly bond over the course of the trip! A lot of them have done these trips previously so they are already friendly with one another. They provided Alice with wisdom and guidance that she wasn't necessarily looking for but in the end needed. I think I was more sad for Alice to leave these group of women than her relationship with Robbie.

Alice meets Robbie in the airport and things did not kick off to a great start. She thought she wouldn't ever see him again until it turns out he runs the literary trip that she signed up for! Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes and you can't get more forced proximity than spending 3 weeks in a bus traveling from country to country. There were a few moments that made me laugh out loud including a unfortunate incident that left poor Alice without clean clothes for a few days - iykyk. These two though were fire and ice for a good part of the book. They just were constantly bickering and I felt Alice had a little chip on her shoulder when she thought Robbie had a girlfriend/wife but yet was flirting (which I get but just ask him).

I read this one all with the audio and the fabulous Angela Dawe provided the narration. This is the 2nd book that I read with her narration that was not the Finlay Donovan series and she has such a distinct voice it was hard not hearing Finlay while listening. But sure enough as the book went on, it morphs into Alice and the other characters.

Overall I really enjoyed the book but it just was missing something that I can't pinpoint. I am looking forward to seeing what else Kat writes though! I love her craft of the characters without it feeling it was too many as well the amazing banter between our couple!

I recommend this if you love a enemies to lovers romance with funny side characters and a setting set across the UK!

[Flirting with Fiction💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy romp through Britian reads more like literary fiction than romance, in my opinion. Usually that’s a turn off for me, but McKenzie’s writing and story kept me laughing, crying, and gasping throughout.

The best parts of this novel for me were unique characters and the character development of Alice. The other ladies on the bus are all so different and wonderful in their own way. We get to know and grow to love these woman right along with Alice. The lessons that she ultimately takes away from these woman are the real gems of the book, and I found myself rereading and annotating so many beautiful quotes in this book.

McKenzie is able to establish a strong theme and weave it heavily throughout the story without even beating us over the head with it. The spice is fade-to-black, which was perfect for me, but may not be enough for others looking for vivid spice.

This is is sloooooooow burn, but the entire story felt like a whirlwind and never felt like it was dragging on. My only wish was that I could have had more time with our main characters together. Still, I enjoyed the ending and though it was a great way to end such a special story.

Defibitrly check out this heartwarming story of growth and seizing the moment!!

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the main theme of this book... a woman spontaneously whisks herself off to a 3-week women-only bus tour of the UK to find herself and get her priorities in order after a bad breakup and job loss. It actually sounds like something I would do. The rocker in me also loved that her name was Alice Cooper. I also loved that the other ladies were older women, newly retired to 96, as this demographic is often left out of mainstream books these days. I wanted even more of their back stories like Helena and Flossie's came out. I did find Alice to sort of annoying. She professed herself to be this strong independent single woman, but she came off as quite whiny and entitled throughout the book and actually quite helpless many times. I didn't care for the damsel in distress scenes. The whole ankle sprain thing was laughable... any time I sprained an ankle, it was months before I could wear a dress shoe, let alone spiked high heels. It just made her come off as a drama queen. Robbie was the strong Scottish MMC I was looking for. Sarcastic and burly, smart, and with a heart of gold.

3.5 stars rounded up because now I definitely want to recreate their tour on a vacation of my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Cammie (Bibliolater.alligator) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those books that had so, so much promise and just let me down in such an intense way it feels like a crime has been committed. In full disclosure, normally this book would have been a DNF for me by about the 30% mark, however being an ARC and a buddy read, I pushed through, the DMs between my fellow reader and me the only things keeping me afloat amidst this sludge of unhappy prose.

Unfortunately for me, the FMC, Alice, is not just unhappy and hurt, she’s downright mean. From the very beginning, we see her throwing tantrums and getting extremely upset about just about everything that’s happening- something, she originally assures us, is NOT normal for her, but she’s going to finally say something this time. But it appears this is actually her entire personality? The meaner she got, the happier she seemed to be with herself, and it was quite troubling to see, especially after her inner monologues where she told herself she should be kind and thank the person who just did a whole lot of favors for her, and then immediately changing course and thinking nah, it would be more fun to be mean instead.

While I think I could have loved this book with a different FMC, as the male lead, Robbie, and the old lady companions on the bus tour were charming enough, I just could not buy that any of them had any interest in being Alice’s friend- or lover, for that matter. These women took Alice under their wing, doted upon her, told her their stories, and taught her all these lessons, and I honestly could not figure out why. She never seemed to grow except off-page, where we would hear about her gradual changes in mood and perspective, but we never given the actual opportunity to see these things happening.

Ridiculous bad luck followed her through the entire book, starting with unfortunate (and mostly self-induced) and veering off into downright absurd and unbelievable- and certain plot points became important only when it suited the narrative, then slunk back into darkness until they were needed again. I kept going back and forth between pages, wondering if I had missed things that suddenly made absolutely no sense. Did we EVER find out why she lost her job 6 months before this trip?? We may never know.

The lack of communication was extremely frustrating, and there were a few points where Alice simply REFUSED to ask questions, clarify anything, or talk about any of the feelings she was having, because, and she actually thinks this, it felt so much easier to just get mad about whatever she thought was going on instead. Even in the third act, as the last few chapters unfolded, I had to go back and re-read a few different sections, sure I had missed a very pivotal and vital conversation that apparently never took place.

I really am sad that this one didn’t work for me, but it really was a flat and frustrating story that I ultimately cannot recommend. Thanks for the buddy read, Sherry.

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my (probably way too) honest review.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think what really set this down to a 2 star read for me was how quickly she kind of moved on from Robbie. Within 3 months she was dating Tristan and thinking about having his babies it was all kind of... Like am I reading a romance or??? And then she flies back to Scotland and tells Robbie shes moving in with him and he's just okay with that????

Not to mention that they were both fucking insufferable to me. She was the Karen of all Karen's and he was just a fucking asshole who laughed all over her issues off.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.
3.5✨

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice Cooper impulsively books a 3-week, literary bus tour in the UK after finding out her ex-fiancé was cheating on her. She arrives for the bus tour after an extremely long and nightmare-ish travel day to find that the bus tour is filled with octogenarians and one Scottish driver/tour guide, Robbie. Will Alice's days be filled with bickering with Robbie or will she open herself to adventure and new experiences?

I have mixed feelings about this book but would give it 3.5 stars. Going to start with the positives. The banter between Alice and Robbie were comical and Robbie's backstory is pretty swoon worthy. Parts of this book made me laugh out loud, I absolutely loved the women on the tour, their quirkiness, and the life lessons they passed onto Alice. It was very sweet, and heart felt. I think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if it was just literary fiction and just take out the romance all together. Now the negatives. Alice as a character was not very enjoyable, especially in the first few chapters, I almost put the book down and stopped reading the book because she was acting so dang entitled. I'm glad I finished the book even though I'm not a classic literature gal.

If you love classic literature and want a bus tour through the UK, this book is for you. The banter and side characters are top notch.

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

[jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohhhhhh guys i’m so totally normal and fine and not crying at all right now!!!! happy tears though, i swear! because this book was a warm hug for my little winter-frozen soul. i’ve never been to Scotland before, but i almost feel like i have because of how perfectly detailed this was. and all the women on this bus trip?? they are like family to me now. how do i get myself on a three week bus trip across Scotland with a bunch of old ladies and a sexy scottish bus driver IMMEDIATELY please let me know!!! and don’t even get me started on the enemies to lovers of it all and THE BANTER! actually laughed out loud so many times it was unreal. not gonna spoil anything but there is a scene fairly early on that involved too many gin cocktails and a scraped knee that needed tending to that actually had me squealing and kicking my feet!!! kat mackenzie you are a TREASURE!!! i can’t wait to see what you cook up for us next.

thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing, and Kat Mackenzie for this ARC!!

[Monet Daffodil · Rating 4 out of 5]

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Work In Progress
Author: Kat Mackenzie
Romance

Thank you so much Netgalley, Harper Audio and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC/ALC! I absolutely loved this book. It was the sweetest story and made me feel giddy inside the entire time reading it. Alice decides to take a tour of the UK with a fun cast of elderly women and a hot Scottish driver. It’s actually a literary tour so there are lots of book references, outlander, etc throughout the whole trip. I felt like I was on the tour myself which was super fun. The banter between all of the characters was hilarious. The narration on the audio was perfection. Not much spice but you don’t really care because the book is just so cute. Definitely think this will be a hit! It just released on 1/14! This is Kats first novel, and after reading the authors bio I really hope she will bring us more fun reads from an American living abroad’s perspective. Can’t recommend it enough! Thank you again Netgalley! 🙏

[Amara Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon & Harper, for selecting me for an ARC! I loved this book. All of the characters were well written, and I just loved all of the ladies’ different personalities. A big theme for the characters in this book was literature and history, and I enjoyed how that was incorporated into the story. Funny enough, as an American, my favorite drink is a Pimm’s cup so that was one of my favorite scenes in this book. The relationships formed between characters were 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 friend of all ages and walks of life. This was really a great read for me!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off SO strong. Like many other reviews have mentioned, I can fully acknowledge that Alice was kind of insufferable at times. She was downright mean to Robbie, and her reasoning felt very entitled. But I will say, it made for the best banter. Their unfiltered pestering was absolutely hilarious!

The story reminded me of Two for the Road by Chantel Guertin (aka Gigi, Listening for those outside Canada), which I loved. You've got a three-week literary bus tour through the UK, an eclectic group of elderly ladies bringing plenty of laughs and life advice for Alice, and a very handsome Scottish driver she absolutely hates.

I think the pacing was a bit off here, though. The transition from enemies felt abrupt, and then the romance was frustratingly interrupted by my least favourite miscommunication trope: when a character jumps to conclusions based on an overheard phone call.

But aside from that, it was cute! The setting was super dreamy, as you can imagine. And I really enjoyed seeing Alice make unexpected friendships, gain a fresh perspective on her life, and learn to embrace her mistakes.

(heat level: a couple open-door scenes, mild details)