Experiments in Offline Dating

by Kat Mackenzie

A sparkling enemies-to-lovers romance about a podcaster who embarks on a matchmaking tour of Ireland in the hopes of falling in love, only to butt heads with her broodingly handsome and grumpy driver.

Maya Davis is chronically terrible at dating. So much so that she's turned her catastrophic experiments with dating into a full-time job. As the cohost of a podcast aptly titled, A Spinster’s Guide to Offline Dating, she is no stranger to the awkward, messy, and hilarious aspects of the first date. Being in love, however... that’s something completely different. For the sake of an exciting podcast, Maya decides to embark on a trip to Ireland to meet a local matchmaker, renowned for his skills the world over. What she doesn’t anticipate is how quickly he gets to work, setting Maya up on a slew of horribly hilarious meet-ups with random Irishmen during the town’s matchmaking festival, including a terrible blind date with the handsome but incredibly surly sheep farmer, Tadhg.

Despite things getting off to a rocky start, the matchmaker convinces Maya to take a road trip across the country, going on dates and interviewing couples along the way. But when Maya turns up, she discovers there's been a last-minute switch, and instead of the jolly, older matchmaker as her guide, it's the outrageously grumpy Tadhg, and he's none too pleased about the setup either.

As Maya and Tadhg journey together across picturesque landscapes and green countryside, their constant verbal sparring feels increasingly like a cover for some serious chemistry. And the more time she spends with Tadhg, the more she realizes she may have been too quick to judge his brooding exterior.

An equally hilarious and heartfelt enemies-to-lovers romance brimming with humor and delicious tension, this love story is the perfect escape!



Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Grumpy hero

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Summer, Irish Literature, Humor, Adult Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 25, 2026

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

[Kelsey reviews•books]

HELP. I need this now.

Work in Progress (this author’s debut) was one of my favorite reads of 2025, so I am verrrrry excited for this one!!

[BookishKB]

🍀💕 Experiments in Offline Dating 💕🍀

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Enemies to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Travel Romance
• Irish Countryside
• Matchmaking
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Lex fullybookedbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Irish road trip romance?! This book was made for me.

Maya travels to Ireland to their matchmaking festival in hopes of finding a husband. Except instead of finding a match she’s forced onto a road trip with a grumpy sheep farmer. Due to her inability to flirt, she starts insulting him… and just never stops.

Their banter was elite. The teasing had me squealing and kicking my feet. The string of bad dates paired with some HILARIOUS picture graphs within the text solidified this story as an all time favorite.

It has some neurodivergent representation but I almost don’t even want to write that because it’s done in a such a normative way. Everyone should read this.

[Alyssa Haigood Brutlag · Rating 5 out of 5]

KAT FREAKING MACKENZIE, THIS IS THE FUNNIEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT ASAP!!!

This book follows Maya (FMC), a podcaster who labels herself as a spinster and has had no success with finding love. After going on tons of dates and reporting back on them for her first podcast season, she decides to take it to the next level for season two. She's going to go to Ireland to attend a yearly matchmaking festival, stay with a third-generation matchmaker, and talk about it on her podcast. As soon as she gets there, she's thrown into TONS of bizarre dates, but when the matchmaker makes Tadhg (MMC), drive her around all of Ireland to attend more dates, things begin to heat up. What will happen to Maya and Tadhg when they realize they may not actually think their time together is insufferable???

This book had me laughing out loud and smiling so much! I can't remember reading a book that was this fun, in a long time!

Tadhg is a big grumpy, broody man, but I loved him so much! The waterfall scene.... sheeeeeshhhh, it was chef's kiss!! Also, the air mattress in a tent scene.... SO GOOD. I truly have nothing but good things to say about this book.

Finn, the dog, was such a good girl!! Also... can we get a follow up book with Simone's story in Portugal???

Should you read this book? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!! I will be screaming about this book for a long time!

Thanks to Kat Mackenzie and Avon for the advanced readers copy. This book will be released on August 25, 2026!

[Angie Beutler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easily 5 stars. I was laughing and kicking my feet during some of the banter and when she said his handskin is touching my handskin I cackled out loud. It was so good I already want to reread it. The fmc was neurotic and hilarious in the best possible way and I was laughing out loud. I loved the pop culture references including her cats names Kingfisher and Azriel. Will definitely plan a reread.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m wondering if maybe this author might not be for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. Overall, this was a cute and enjoyable romcom. Grumpy/sunshine, roadtrip, Ireland, a dog, a podcast, a bunch of hilariously bad dates, great neurodivergent representation that wasn’t in your face about it all the time. Honestly, it has all the makings for a really solid romcom.

However, I think maybe my sense of humor just doesn’t quite mesh with the author’s sense of humor. The author definitely has a lot of comedic props, absolutely. But then the jokes would just be…cringey, to be honest. Let’s just say I’ve never read a book where the narrator thought the word ‘crotch’ so many times before and I cringed every time (it was eleven times, btw. And most of them were all in the first half of the book). I think I’ll keep it at that and let others decide for themselves. But it just wasn’t my kind of humor, unfortunately. For what it’s worth, I didn’t give much thought about this when I gave my 3 star rating.

The FMC was fun and relatable but also quite annoying at times - again, maybe just a me not meshing. The MMC was great and I love the growth over the roadtrip, but I wish we got a bit more backstory on him so that he had a bit more depth.

The roadtrip in Ireland was incredible. The plot about the third generation matchmaker honestly sounded so far fetched to me I was wondering how the author came up with it, only to discover in her acknowledgments that it’s one of those true quirky things in our world. There is a matchmaker festival in Ireland along with the matchmaker! Incredibly endearing and I almost wish there was an authors note at the beginning explaining the truth behind it.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Alexandra Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

experiments in offline dating”
The story follows 38 year old maya who has a podcast that follows her dating experiences online the her “offline” dating in Ireland via Irish matchmaker.
Loving any story that is set in Ireland I had high hopes for this book. Being someone who struggles with dating also I felt like it was synopsis hit you close to heart. This book definitely takes you on a wild ride with these dates but you have an inkling that the Irish match maker has an ulterior motive (a good one).
I kind of feel maya is a kindred spirit with her journey to date and find love (or experiment and study dating) . Anyways, good book. Slow in some parts, quipping and fun in others.

[Sheleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review via NetGalley

4.5* rounded up

Omg this book was so frickin’ cute! I loved the premise, the broody Irishman, the sheep and our quirky little Maya. The meddling dad was both endearing and obnoxious. I mean, who wants their dad meddling in their love life?! This was a great feel-good romance!

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times this was 5 stars and sometimes 1 star, so: 3 stars. I loved the descriptions of Ireland and the Irish people Maya met and interviewed. I especially loved the conversations between Maya and Simone. It felt corny but it was cute and fun.

[FER · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXPERIMENTS IN OFFLINE DATING is an adorable mess of dating nightmares, heartfelt self-discoveries, and bonkers humor. Maya is dating for science (and a podcast). After letting go and letting the internet coach her through a year's worth of failed dates, she's decided to adjust her scientific method to something more analog, unplugged, traditional. She's going to put her romantic future in the hands of a world-renowned matchmaker. He's got quite the challenge though because while Maya may believe in love, she's yet to experience it for herself and all her data says she never will.

Maya's romcom journey is a delight. Every moment has a pop of humor, a splash of beauty, or a prick of feels. And even more so, it's full to the brim with authenticity. Her sparkly autistic brain is a wondrous well of intrigue, hilarity, and joy. Social cues may miss her entirely, but she is adventurous and daring and passionate about her pursuits. I lived for every aside her brain takes to be wildly truthful, terrified, and thrilled. There is zero filter to her thoughts, and I couldn't get enough.

No romcom journey is complete without a love interest, and Tadhg is exceptional. Book Boyfriend of the Year potential even. He's the grumpiest sheep farmer / dag dad of my dreams. And he's the biggest mystery of the entire book. Where Maya lets everything hang out, Tadgh is a nut to crack. While she is unfiltered words out loud, he growls, and stares, and harumphs, and sighs. It's the utmost delight when we get to dig into his soft gooey center.

Their burn is also one of the best I've ever read. Maya and Tadhg start with a catastrophic meet-cute first date that literally left me wondering how they could come back from that. I'm happy to report they absolutely do, but it takes a glorious while for them to drop their preconceived notions of love and welcome in the very unique perfection that is them. Past relationships forced them to mask or perform love, but together they can be their authentic, irreverent, smut addicted, peace and quiet, big hearted selves. Together.

My feelings for EXPERIMENTS IN OFFLINE DATING are bigger than can be expressed in this review. I love Maya's chaos and her enthusiasm for life. I love Tadhg's big heart and straightforward simple way of being. They are perfect even when they are testing my every nerve. They are scared and doing it anyway. I will love them forever. Highly recommend.

Thank you Avon Books for the advanced digital copy to read and review.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I'll ever stop enjoying a book that takes me on an adventure across the Emerald Isle, and Kat Mackenzie's sophomore rom-com was such a delightful, heartfelt read.

Maya is taking her podcast about modern dating (and the endless swiping that comes with it) offline and overseas to Ireland's famous Matchmaking Festival with the help of a world-renowned matchmaker. While Maya believes in love, she's not convinced she'll ever find it herself, so this trip is simply more material for her podcast.

I absolutely adored this book. Maya was such a compelling protagonist—curious, bold, and filled with so much joy. I loved peeling back the layers of her personality, watching her navigate her anxieties while continually choosing to embrace new experiences anyway. I also really appreciated the autistic representation. Readers can sense that Maya experiences the world differently before she openly shares her neurodiversity, and I loved the way that conversation unfolded with our MMC. It felt honest, natural, and beautifully handled. Even in the moments when Maya frustrated me, I always understood where she was coming from and found myself rooting for her happiness.

And then there's Tadhg. What. A. Man. He is the absolute dream love interest. Maya and Tadhg couldn't be more different, yet they complement each other perfectly. Their banter had me laughing throughout the entire book, but it was their quieter, more tender moments that truly stole my heart. Their relationship felt authentic, and I completely believed in both their love story and the journey that brought them together.

I loved exploring Ireland alongside Maya and Tadhg. Every destination was painted with such romantic, picturesque detail that I found myself wanting to book a flight before I'd even turned the final page.

Overall, I adored this novel and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt romance filled with humor, charm, and a little Irish magic.

Experiments in Offline Dating releases on 08/25/26.

Thank you to Avon for the advanced reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute! A cute idea, a cute execution, a cute ending -- the exact kind of thing you'd expect and want from a book called Experiments in Offline Dating. Maya was a fun protagonist, even if I got a little frustrated with her at times, and I loved her perspective on the world. She was very unapologetic and up for anything, living the kind of life that we all wish we had the nerve to do. Tadhg was a grumpy-on-the-outside, softy-on-the-inside kind of MMC, and I lived for the little moments where it was clear he was really paying attention to Maya. I wish, in some ways, we had had his POV too because I would have loooooved to get his thoughts while Maya was on some of the unhinged dates she was on -- that would have been a jealousy goldmine, I'm sure.

There are two minor things that frustrated me, but I was able to look past them relatively easily. I feel like Maya and Tadhg never really talked about their first impressions and first date and how badly it all went -- in particular, Maya's whole "insulting Tadhg because she thought that was how he was flirting with her" schtick never got explained, and I'm kind of surprised he never questioned her about it because he seemed really upset and even hurt by it in the beginning. I feel like, had they talked about it all near the beginning of their road trip, it would have made their growing feelings for each other a tad more believable. The other thing that I was frustrated by was the 80% conflict; Maya's fear made sense, in a way, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why things changed for her afterward. Yeah, she was sad and missed Tadhg, but there didn't seem to be That Moment Of Realization for her, which I think we missed out on.

That being said, I loved reading about Maya's whacky dates and Jackie's constant twinkle in his eye as he match made and Tadhg's careful consideration of the bubbly girl he couldn't believe he fell for. A sweet, fun ride for sure.

----------------

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Rounded up to 4

ARC Read** Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of Experiments in Offline Dating. My opinions are always my own, so take them with a grain of salt. Though I do recommend this as a fun romance, the location alone drew me to the countryside, it got off to a bumpy start for me and ebbed and flowed through out. I want to say it’s only in part due to our narrator and FMC, Maya, but when I sat with it over night, and got to the meat of it, Maya is my issue. Straight off she is Neurodivergent and my own lack of knowledge for the condition lent to the speed bumps I ran into trying to relate, but didn't stop me from wanting to get to know her and her life as a spinster podcaster. Don't get me wrong, she was very likable. Her sarcasm was funny and her zest for living contagious. It’s just at times, because she is high functioning, she would come off as insensitive or rude, and hurt peoples feelings, but it’s my understanding of her condition she is unable to read social cues, which leads to a lot of her inadvertently saying offensive things to people. I guess I wanted her to address this to people more being her first date with Tadhg, our grumpy MMC, got the brunt of it when she thought they were flirting. Maybe a tad more backstory on Tadhg would have been nice too. I loved the premise, me being from a time we didn't have online dating and did it all the old fashioned way, seeing Maya tired of new technology interested me. The matchmaker, the small towns version of The Dating Show, the various dates with men of an older and decrepit age had me cackling at times. After the fact in the afterword author talks of the matchmaker and the festival being a reality. I dug that in the story even more. Overall I was entertained and extremely satisfied with the HEA our couple got, and would read author again in the future.

[Elia Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! An Irish road trip with an American podcaster and a grumpy Irish sheep farmer with top-tier banter and insane chemistry when the farmer is driving the podcaster around for dates set up by his matchmaker father!!! HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this. First of all, Maya, she has autism and she says what she thinks, I love what goes through her head and what comes out during her dates. I love how she is going to Ireland to meet with a matchmaker for her new podcast season. While Maya does not believe in love and has never felt in love, she thinks there is a science behind everything and she is going to see how dates set up from a matchmaker differ from online dating.

I loved the initial meet-cute between Maya and Tadgh, when Tadgh was a contestant in a blind dating show in the matchmaking festival the matchmaker Jackie talked Maya into. Tadgh’s answers were clearly coming off as NOT INTERESTED but she chose him anyways because she loved his answers and when she saw him, woooweeee she was not disappointed. After their date went horribly wrong, Jackie talks her into a roadtrip to date around Ireland and interview couples Jackie has matched in the past. Great idea until Maya finds out Jackie did not plan on driving her, he asked his son… Tadgh.

It was such an hilarious premise and story but also as the story progressed, i could feel the way Tadgh cared for her and Maya was still so closed off to love thinking she was not capable. The 3rd act breakup, broke my heart for them but I also love how Maya grand gestured Tadgh 😉❤️

The dates gone wrong were hilarious, the way Jackie set up Tadgh and Maya in certain situations - devious!

A blast from beginning to end and I need to read more by Kat Mackenzie ASAP!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage, and Kat Mackenzie for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experiments in Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie is available August 25, 2026.
Maya is the cohost of a podcast called A Spinsters Guide to Offline Dating. She has been on hundreds of awkward and crazy first dates which she shares on her podcast but she’s never been in love. She’s not sure she can find love but she’s decided to up the ante and takes a trip to Ireland to meet a famous local matchmaker during the town’s matchmaking festival. This will make great podcast material and might also be a fun adventure! The Matchmaker wastes no time and has a blind dating waiting for her fresh off the plane. Too bad the date is with a grumpy sheep farmer named Tadhg that doesn’t even seem interested in the date. Maya agrees to a roadtrip across Ireland where she’ll go on dates and interview couples for her podcast. At the last minute her driver is switched and now she’ll be spending 3 weeks in close proximity to Tadhg, this is not ideal. The two throw verbal barbs back and forth to try and cover the undeniable tension between them. The time together has them questioning if maybe they judged each other too soon.
Experiments in Offline Dating was one of my most anticipated reads of the year as I loved Kat Mackenzie’s first book, Work in Progress, and it did not disappoint! The writing was quippy and endlessly funny. I loved Maya immediately and throughly enjoyed her love story. The string of bizarre dates and inability to flirt had me laughing out loud. Tadhg is the grumpiest sheep farmer with the most tender heart. I loved everything about this story. Read this if you like
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-roadtrip across Ireland
-a grumpy MMC
-neurodivergent representation
-so much humor and heart
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts of this book were so fun and others I felt like I just had to push through.

This romance novel is about our main character, Maya, finding and falling in love. She hosts a podcast with her best friend, Simone, where she rehashes all the dates she goes on to entertain the masses. Maya believes she will never find love because, statistically speaking, it wasn't in the cards for her. None of her hundreds of dates ever panned out, so she started going on them purely for content purposes. This lead to her venturing off to a singles festival in Ireland where she plans to work with world-renown matchmaker, Jackie Kelly. From there, we get our story.

Jackie sets Maya up on MANY dates with all kinds of people. Maya is shocked to see some of the people that Jackie thinks are good matches for her, so she trusts the process. On her first day, Maya ends up the lucky contestant of a dating show/game at a Irish pub where she meets our MMC, Tadhg. Their first date turns into an absolute disaster, but Jackie has lots of others for her to meet, especially during the festival. So hope is not lost and the podcast episode content keeps coming!

The fun parts of this book involved a lot of the local Irish culture and sights. As someone that's never been, it was neat getting to visualize it all through Mackenzie's writing. She did a great job there! Some of the conflict resolutions here felt like they weren't really fleshed out though, and that left me wondering how we got to where we did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the eARC!

[Kathleen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I had such a good time with this one. There’s nothing better in my opinion than when a book makes you laugh repeatedly. I laughed so much from beginning to end in this one. The embarrassment is REAL. I was embarrassed for the FMC so many times but it really made for an entertaining storyline. The inner dialogue… I can’t even put it into words how funny some of this was.

There was a lot to love about this book, aside from its humor. This is an enemies to lovers romance and boy, do they hate each other. I ate that up! Enemies to lovers is by far my favorite trope. In addition to that, they’re just likable characters overall. I couldn’t have asked for more in that regard.

Then there’s the setting. I have never been to Ireland but by the 60% mark, I was already booking a trip… I’m definitely not joking here. The way Mackenzie describes Ireland, I just couldn’t not go see it. I’m highly debating rereading this book and making a note of a lot of these destinations so we can visit when my husband and I go, (it’s times like these, my husband and bank account don’t always appreciate my voracious reading habits). Anyway… are you following where I’m going with this? Mackenzie paints a fabulous picture. Guard your bank accounts people!

My only complaint is some parts were a tad slow but even then, I found I still really enjoyed this one. It was my first Kat Mackenzie read, but it definitely won’t be my last.

4 stars!

[Anjolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well my goodness, this was fantastic.

This was a Netgalley find (thank you netgalley for the ARC) and I picked it solely based on the cover and that it was set in Ireland. I was not expecting a laugh-out-loud good time but that’s an accurate summary of my experience.

Maya and Tadgh were delightful in their Grumpy x Sunshine roles. The wacky premise was fun and easy to grab onto. Maybe it was just me but I found there wasn’t a lot of description of their physical appearances? It made it a little hard to picture everybody. But the sense of place (beautiful Ireland) was a major feature of this book.

Mackenzie’s writing is the standout here. She so perfectly captures Maya’s autistic “can’t keep the thoughts in” brain rambles while not making her feel like the outlier. The prose is fun and spunky while also keeping Maya’s voice distinct.

Dual POVs can be a staple in this genre (and I do love them so much) but the writing can seem that much stronger when the author must SHOW the mmc’s change of heart as perceived by the fmc. This made Tadhg absolutely delectable book boyfriend who felt perfect for Maya.

I didn’t love the choice to make them both go to New Zealand to reunite but I really did love their reunion. Again, Tadgh says the exact right thing and makes it work for me.

Highly recommend this book. I think anyone would have a good time with this one.

[Breanna Silva Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED to gush about this book; I LOVED it.
I have been lucky enough to be approved for ARC's for both of Kat Mackenzie's books, and really enjoy her style of writing. Her first book "Work in Progress" was one of the first advance reader copies that I was approved for on NetGalley, and I'm so appreciative that I was approved and given the opportunity to read and review.

This book was witty, sexy, and at times laugh out loud funny. One of my favorite parts of this book was the main character Maya's inner monologue.
Maya and Tadgh were both well developed characters and a perfect duo- she's the eclectic awkward spinster who embarks on a mission to embark on a trip to Ireland to meet a local famed matchmaker. She plans to go on dates during her time in Ireland, and suddenly plans change and she finds herself going on a road trip for three weeks across Ireland with Tadgh... alone! Just the two of them.
If there's one thing I love, it's grumpy meets sunshine! There's a lot of slap stick funny moments, but it's also balanced with some spicy moments and very romantic and non-corny moments as well. The plot was very well structured, and Maya's inner monologue will have you crying tears of laughter- a la Fleabag coded moments where Maya seems to break the fourth wall to speak to the reader.
I can't wait for this to be officially released so that I can add a copy to my home library and re-read!

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Experiments in Offline Dating” by Experiments in Offline Dating is a witty and charming romance set against the lush backdrop of rural Ireland. Maya travels abroad to participate in a matchmaking event she plans to feature on her podcast, only to find herself paired with Tadhg, a sheep farmer who also happens to be the son of the matchmaker, Jackie. Their first meetings are far from romantic. Maya and Tadhg seem to irritate one another at every turn, but as Maya continues through the matchmaking process, she repeatedly finds herself drawn back into Tadhg’s orbit.
Kat MacKenzie does an excellent job bringing Ireland to life. The descriptions of the scenery, culture, and small-town atmosphere add warmth and texture to the novel, making the setting feel immersive without overwhelming the story itself. The banter between Maya and Tadhg is sharp and entertaining, and their chemistry keeps the novel moving at a lively pace.

While I enjoyed the story overall, some of the emotional turns and conflict resolutions felt somewhat rushed. There were moments where characters appeared to move past major issues very quickly, leaving me wanting a bit more development to fully understand how they arrived at those resolutions. Even so, “Experiments in Offline Dating” is an engaging, enjoyable read filled with humor, heart, and plenty of romantic tension.

Three and a half stars.

Thanks to the author, Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

[skyeslibrary]

After a horrendous first date that neither of them really wanted, Maya and Tadhg should probably do everything they can to stay away from each other. Naturally, that means they end up on a three-week roadtrip together with Tadhg driving Maya from one disastrous date to another, all set up by his professional matchmaker father. As the days drag on, Maya and Tadhg learn more about each other than they ever anticipated, and try as they might, they can’t ignore their physical attraction to one another. But physical attraction doesn’t necessarily equal love and it doesn’t erase the annoyances they have. Three weeks is all they need to survive, then they can go back to their lives and never think of each other again. Easy enough, right?!

Experiments in Offline Dating is an adventurous Irish roadtrip romance filled with banter and comedic shenanigans that’ll make you laugh and horrible dates that’ll make you cringe. With the backdrop of Ireland serving as its own character, you’re sure to be whisked away in this bright contemporary.
—

this and that:
♡ disastrous dates
♡ dog sidekick
♡ Irish setting
♡ loathe-to-love
♡ matchmakers
♡ neurodivergent rep
♡ one tent
♡ open door spice
♡ opposites attract
♡ podcaster x farmer
♡ roadtrip around Ireland
♡ single pov
_

thank you to the author for the gifted review copy!
_

♡ find me on Instagram!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the free arc, Avon books!

In this charmingly funny romance, a self-proclaimed always single 30-something podcast host heads to Ireland for her show. Maya has agreed to meet with a famous Irish matchmaker and allow him to set her up on dates, and she will create content for her podcast. She’s immediately thrown into the dating scene, and meets the surly, handsome sheep farmer Tadghe. They do not hit it off at all. However, matchmaker Jackie ropes Tadghe in to drive Maya all over Ireland to go on dates, so the two must find a way to peacefully co-exist on their road trip.

This was my first book from this author and I was obsessed with it! I zipped through it in a day, laughed out loud so many times, and had the absolute best time reading it. First, the Irish setting was so dreamy and made me want to book a trip there immediately. The matchmaker concept was so fun and Jackie himself was the cutest. I am such a sucker for enemies to lovers and it’s always for the banter! It was perfect here- not mean but funny and you can imagine it perfectly and just how frustrated both characters were getting, leading up to that delicious tension. I loved Maya because she was neurodivergent and also just a little awkwardly blunt, which was comedic gold when she made tons of Freudian slips and unintentionally dirty comments. Really I just loved everything about this book, so it had to be a five star read!

[✨Poppy✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Avon for this ARC!
I was absolutely blown away by Kat's debut last year, Work in Progress (if anyone wants to go read that one, by the way, don't hesitate, you're in for a treat!). And I'm very, very happy to say that Kat's second book is just as good (dare I say better?). Well, for me, this book really hit home. It's not only absolutely hilarious, but it's also about Maya, a FMC who made me feel so, so seen. She's autistic, she makes lists and protocols to engage in life and with dating. While I don't date, I do understand her need to make lists and have protocols in place in order to navigate life.

In this book, you'll also get (just like in Work in Progress!) a real tour of Ireland (in Work in Progress, you got a tour of the UK!), so for all lovers of Ireland and lovers of men saying swoony stuff in Irish, pick this book up! It made me want to visit Ireland again (although I had a very bad experience the first and only time I went, I now want to go back!). Oh, and how can I finish this review without mentioning Taghd, our Irish MMC? Dear Lord, this man!!! So swoony! I bet you'll fall in love with him too!

Kat, thank you so much for this delightful book. Once again, your brain is a genius, you're a genius. I laughed so hard, I cried a bit (at the end!!!), I swooned. I wanted to savor this book and take my time, but at the same time I wanted to read more and more and more! Just thank you, Kat <3

[Darcy DecantingBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediate wit and hilarity! The book opens with Maya’s podcast transcript and it could have been a stand-up comedy routine. The kind that leaves me in awe of her humor and cleverness, and tells me I’m going to ADORE this book. And I did!

So Maya has more dating horror stories than I could possibly imagine. She has a hard time reading cues and people with her autism, but she’s made the most of it by turning her struggles into a career path and a wildly popular podcast.

Next step in the podcast? Travel to Ireland and get matched by a hugely successful local matchmaker, Jackie, who convinces her to road trip around the Emerald Isle and go on all the dates he’s arranged. The problem? Tadgh. Grumpy, HOT sheep farmer who grudgingly agrees to be her driver. Let the tension begin.

I absolutely LOVED Experiments in Offline Dating. The first meeting (read: disaster) between Maya and Tadgh, the teasing and insults, the dating disasters, and the feelings that build and build.

Loved how Maya owns her awkwardness and is good with herself, can find humor in just about anything, and just has an adventurous spirit. Her rule-making to get through social interactions definitely hit with me—I’ve DEFINITELY felt those moments where I have no clue what to do or say.

Tadgh is my favorite kind of book boyfriend—grumpy on the outside and warm on the inside with such a tender heart. I loved his (kind of) subtle humor too—so many funny moments muxed with heartfelt ones too. The perfect combination! I wouldn’t have minded a couple of realistic date possibilities thrown in there to generate a little tension and inspire some jealousy, but I really can’t complain.

Thank you to Kat MacKenzie for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Nina - the book bugling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Experiments in Offline Dating is a hilarious romcom about podcaster Maya, who travels to Ireland to cover a famous matchmaking festival and unexpectedly finds herself stuck on a road trip with Tadhg, an extra grumpy sheep farmer. This book had me laughing so much. The awkward dates, Maya's inner monologue, and all of the secondhand embarrassment were hilarious. I really liked the unique offline dating and matchmaking premise, and Jackie completely stole every scene he was in. The gorgeous Irish setting was so vividly described that it had me wanting to book a trip there immediately to explore it myself.

Maya and Tadhg were perfectly imperfect together. Their grumpy × sunshine dynamic, constant banter, and the forced proximity made them so easy to root for. Watching their relationship evolve while Maya stepped outside her comfort zone felt genuine and heartfelt, and Tadhg was book boyfriend perfection. This book is a hilarious, sweet, and swoony romance, that gave me lots of laughs and all the warm, fuzzy feelings.

🐑 Grumpy x Sunshine
💚 Enemies to Lovers
🐑 Forced Proximity
💚 Road Trip Romance
🐑 Matchmaker
💚 One Tent
🐑 Autism rep
💚 Ireland Setting
🐑 First person single POV

Thank you Kat Mackenzie, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya Davis knows that she is terrible at dating so that is what her podcast is about. The dates that she goes on and how they end in disasters. Last season Maya's podcast was her dating experiaces with online dating. This season she will travel to Ireland and be set up on dates by a matchmaker Jackie Kelley. When Maya arrives Jackie already has her booked for a date and it goes so wrong so quick. When Jackie has Maya be a contestant at the local bar dating game Maya can't help but pick the most grumpy one of them all Tadhg. When Maya mistakes Tadhg's grumpyness as flirting she can only do what she does best and insult him back to continue the filrting back. This date ends quickly with Tadhg storming out of the bar. Since the dates that Jackie has set her up on are all disasters Jackie has a plan to take Maya on a three week tour of Ireland that way she will get to see the sights and meet the couples that Jackies has matched throughout his carreer as a matchmaker. When Jackie doesn't show up the morning that they are due to leave Maya finds herself face to face with Tadhg as he will be chaphorne for the trip. What they soon discover is that being trapped in a car , traveling arcoss Ireland and getting to know each other better that they might just start to fall for each other. This was a laugh out loud book that I really enjoyed. It was just as good as Work in Progress and I can't really decide which I loved more. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Avon for letting me read an advance copy of this novel.

[Em Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read Experiments in Offline Dating because I enjoyed the vibe of Kat Mackenzie's first book, Work in Progress! I found Maya to be a funny and entertaining fmc, and I enjoyed the realness of each terrible date she went on. Each meet-up she goes on was so disastrous but hilarious that I was feeling her pain through the pages. Imaging her shock when she realizes that the worst meet-up she has in Ireland turns into a matchmaking adventure-led by the man involved in said worst meet-up! Tadhg was suchhhh a grump (which I love) and the two butt heads repeatedly. However, the more time they spend together the more you saw their chemistry! When Maya went home to be with her family, I understood her logic but was WRECKED by the "breakup" because her perfect person was right there! Thankfully, Maya went through some self-discovery and she was able to reunite with her man so I was able to recover. Maya and Tadhg were a fun couple, and I appreciated Maya finally being pushed out of her comfort zone and realizing she is capable and ready for love! Thank you to NetGalley, Kat Mackenzie, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the early read of Experiments in Offline Dating, available on August 25th.

[Barb War · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE ADVANCED ARC COPY

I absolutely fell in love with this story. I loved all the elements of it, the podcasts, the love/dating experiments, Mr grouchy/sunshine, the matchmaker, and of course the beautiful Ireland landscapes and landmarks. I also loved how the author portrayed the autism spectrum. I also loved the ending because it was like the beginning with listening to the podcast.
The story is about Maya who is a 38 year old spinster who is doing a podcast on on-line dating. Due to all her failures at dating, she decides to go offline and hires a matchmaker in Ireland where they have a match making festival to find love. From there we meet the MMC Tadhg who is grumpy and arrogant and wants nothing to do with her. But of course, the matchmaker, Jackie, who happens to be Tadhg’s dad schemes to send them on a trip around Ireland with Maya going on dates. I loved all the witty banter between them and also the sexual chemistry they tried to ignore. I felt I was in Ireland with them and going to all the beautiful places they explored. I also loved Simone, who is Maya best friend and partner in the podcast. I will definitely want to read her story when it comes out. Will definitely be picking up a copy for my bookshelf.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the e-ARC of this book!

5 stars!

I loved it! I haven’t (yet) read Kat Mackenzie’s first book, but I’ve already requested it from the library after finishing this one!
This book was one that had be metaphorically giggling and kicking my feet, with my ponytail swinging back and forth.

The humor is fun and not over-the-top, the adventures seem realistic as the FMC and MMC move from place to place, and the slow build (not insta-love) of their connection feels real.

The FMC is autistic (not me diagnosing her; she identifies herself this way) which I felt was a really nice representation for the neurodivergent community. At times, it seemed like perhaps the author just read a lot about being (level 1) autistic and it wasn’t lived experience, but by the end I felt the overall picture was accurate enough. When the FMC said/thought at the end of the story that being able to live her life without putting on a performance, it struck a chord. Also, in the end acknowledgements, the author thanks her sensitivity reader for help and feedback, which was nice to read.

This is a book that I will be ordering a hard copy of to have on my shelf!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experiments in Offline Dating was such a charming, feel-good rom-com. Between the beautiful Irish setting, the witty humor, and an unforgettable cast of characters, this is one of those books I could easily picture as a movie and happily watch over and over again.

One of my favorite parts was the banter, especially Maya and Simone’s podcast conversations, along with Maya’s always entertaining encounters with Jackie. The quick wit of these characters had me smiling from beginning to end. I also loved watching Maya and Tadhg’s relationship develop. Their romance felt genuine, but what stood out even more was seeing how they each grew as individuals along the way.

Maya was such an endearing main character. Her inner dialogue was hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully awkward in the best way. This was also my first time reading a story from the perspective of an autistic main character, and I really appreciated how funny, lovable, and fully realized Maya felt.

Overall, this was a delightful rom-com that left me smiling, and it’s absolutely made me want to pick up more of Kat Mackenzie’s books. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.