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Experiments in Offline Dating: A Novel – A Hilarious and Heartfelt Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Set in Ireland's Matchmaking Traditions
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26A 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
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
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Kat Mackenzie
4 books223 followersKat 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.
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March 27, 2026HELP. 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!!
Work in Progress (this author’s debut) was one of my favorite reads of 2025, so I am verrrrry excited for this one!!
May 11, 2026
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.
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.
April 23, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my most anticipated release of 2026 and it did not disappoint!
Much like her first book, “Work in Progress” (Which if you haven’t read…please do!), Kat Mackenzie gives us a book that provides all the giggles, swoons, full belly laughs, heartaches, and even a few tears.
"Experiments in Offline Dating: A Novel" follows Maya Davis, a neurodivergent/autistic podcaster that believes that she is incapable of falling in love. Her objective in while in Ireland: document her dating experiences and interview other couples for podcast content. After meeting Jackie Kelly, her sweet and innocent (and possibly a little mischievous & meddlesome) matchmaker, she is immediately pushed out of her comfort zone and linked up with a grumpy, adonis-like sheep farmer, Tadhg, who happens to be...Jackie’s son. The initial collision of the two appears to be a match made in hell. They HATE each other...and my god did I love it.
"Sure. Well, you do me a favor. When the entire town asks how the dinner went, tell them I tried the lemon tart, and it tasted like asshole.”
Tadgh Kelly is (of course) tasked with driving Maya across Ireland to go on dates that Jackie has lined up for her. The hilarity ensues. The constant digs they give to each other and insane situations they get into will have you kicking your feet laughing. Their union is the perfect mix of grumpy X sunshine.
I most appreciated the neurodivergent representation. It was refreshing to see a character that I can see myself in. Maya’s reactions to situations are some of the most relatable that I have ever read. She is unapologetically awkward, struggles with situational awareness, and fumbles through a lot of her social interactions all while staying confident and true to herself. She was a very complex character to me, and the relatability for me was off the charts. I loved that she had "protocols" for every situation (well most situations anyways 😉).
Tadgh is rough around the edges but is a closeted cinnamon roll. He has had his own struggles in the past that have formed the hard exterior that he outwardly portrays. He is honest, caring, and protective. As much as Tadgh wants to be a grump & Maya believes she in incapable of love – they start to realize that they may be each other’s undoing.
If you are looking for a book for an escape that will make you laugh out loud...this is it.
Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager/NetGalley, and Kat Mackenzie for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this beautiful story. I will be anxiously awaiting the audiobook!
Much like her first book, “Work in Progress” (Which if you haven’t read…please do!), Kat Mackenzie gives us a book that provides all the giggles, swoons, full belly laughs, heartaches, and even a few tears.
"Experiments in Offline Dating: A Novel" follows Maya Davis, a neurodivergent/autistic podcaster that believes that she is incapable of falling in love. Her objective in while in Ireland: document her dating experiences and interview other couples for podcast content. After meeting Jackie Kelly, her sweet and innocent (and possibly a little mischievous & meddlesome) matchmaker, she is immediately pushed out of her comfort zone and linked up with a grumpy, adonis-like sheep farmer, Tadhg, who happens to be...Jackie’s son. The initial collision of the two appears to be a match made in hell. They HATE each other...and my god did I love it.
"Sure. Well, you do me a favor. When the entire town asks how the dinner went, tell them I tried the lemon tart, and it tasted like asshole.”
Tadgh Kelly is (of course) tasked with driving Maya across Ireland to go on dates that Jackie has lined up for her. The hilarity ensues. The constant digs they give to each other and insane situations they get into will have you kicking your feet laughing. Their union is the perfect mix of grumpy X sunshine.
I most appreciated the neurodivergent representation. It was refreshing to see a character that I can see myself in. Maya’s reactions to situations are some of the most relatable that I have ever read. She is unapologetically awkward, struggles with situational awareness, and fumbles through a lot of her social interactions all while staying confident and true to herself. She was a very complex character to me, and the relatability for me was off the charts. I loved that she had "protocols" for every situation (well most situations anyways 😉).
Tadgh is rough around the edges but is a closeted cinnamon roll. He has had his own struggles in the past that have formed the hard exterior that he outwardly portrays. He is honest, caring, and protective. As much as Tadgh wants to be a grump & Maya believes she in incapable of love – they start to realize that they may be each other’s undoing.
If you are looking for a book for an escape that will make you laugh out loud...this is it.
Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager/NetGalley, and Kat Mackenzie for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read this beautiful story. I will be anxiously awaiting the audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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 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.
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 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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first Kat Mackenzie book and it definitely won’t be my last. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!
This story had me laughing out loud and also relating to the FMC so much. We meet Maya a podcaster who is absolutely terrible at dating and turned her disastrous dating life into a job. She decides to fly to Ireland to meet with a matchmaker and go to the town’s annual matchmaking festival. While there she gets forced into a dating game and meets Tadhg the world’s most grumpy man. Their first date is an absolute disaster. Welp of course it can’t be all rainbows and sunshine because Maya find out that she will be touring Ireland with Tadhg instead of HIS DAD who is the matchmaker. Of course the forced proximity hilariously ensues. The banter back and forth between Tadhg was so funny. Plus her dates along this tour were even funnier. The eventual relationship between her and Tadhg was so good. He was just what Maya needed and I loved how patient he was with her. This really was such a sweet love story. If you enjoy rivals to lovers, forced proximity, one tent, grumpy MMC then I definitely this one!
This story had me laughing out loud and also relating to the FMC so much. We meet Maya a podcaster who is absolutely terrible at dating and turned her disastrous dating life into a job. She decides to fly to Ireland to meet with a matchmaker and go to the town’s annual matchmaking festival. While there she gets forced into a dating game and meets Tadhg the world’s most grumpy man. Their first date is an absolute disaster. Welp of course it can’t be all rainbows and sunshine because Maya find out that she will be touring Ireland with Tadhg instead of HIS DAD who is the matchmaker. Of course the forced proximity hilariously ensues. The banter back and forth between Tadhg was so funny. Plus her dates along this tour were even funnier. The eventual relationship between her and Tadhg was so good. He was just what Maya needed and I loved how patient he was with her. This really was such a sweet love story. If you enjoy rivals to lovers, forced proximity, one tent, grumpy MMC then I definitely this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book comes with a warning: the secondhand embarrassment is strong—and the author was absolutely not kidding. Reader beware 😅
Maya has the worst luck when it comes to dating. Her dates are so bad they’ve literally inspired a podcast. Desperate for a change, she ends up on a month-long trip to Ireland with a professional matchmaker during a famous singles festival. The premise alone is so unique, and it delivers chaos, cringe, and comedy right from the start.
I loved Jackie, the Irish matchmaker. He’s hilarious, meddling, and just a little bit evil… but in the best way.
And then we meet the MMC—described as basically Xaden Riorson in real life. Grouchy and hot? Say less. You just know the romance is going to be worth it.
The cave adventure (and what happens afterwards) had me squealing and kicking my feet. I laughed until I cried, and honestly, that energy carries through the entire book. It’s funny, chaotic, and still manages to have heart.
Will this book make you suspicious of matchmakers? Maybe. Is it still 100% worth it? Absolutely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley—opinions are all my own.
Maya has the worst luck when it comes to dating. Her dates are so bad they’ve literally inspired a podcast. Desperate for a change, she ends up on a month-long trip to Ireland with a professional matchmaker during a famous singles festival. The premise alone is so unique, and it delivers chaos, cringe, and comedy right from the start.
I loved Jackie, the Irish matchmaker. He’s hilarious, meddling, and just a little bit evil… but in the best way.
And then we meet the MMC—described as basically Xaden Riorson in real life. Grouchy and hot? Say less. You just know the romance is going to be worth it.
The cave adventure (and what happens afterwards) had me squealing and kicking my feet. I laughed until I cried, and honestly, that energy carries through the entire book. It’s funny, chaotic, and still manages to have heart.
Will this book make you suspicious of matchmakers? Maybe. Is it still 100% worth it? Absolutely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley—opinions are all my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was laughing so much between the cringeworthy dates, the hilarious inner monologue, and the little details (like the experiment/uncontrolled variable) that made this book sparkle. The writing was the perfect blend of willing to lean into awkward where appropriate, but balanced to keep it light, funny, and enjoyable.
I loved the way Kat Mackenzie portrayed autism. While I know everyone has a different experience so different things will or won’t resonate, I thought the way she captured the self created rules/life flow charts and need for logical rational was so well done. And of course the messaging around accepting one’s self and accept not everyone will like you and that’s okay.
As for Tadhg, I liked what a secret softie he was. How he showed his care through actions - not just for Maya but also with Annie and his dad. And really I’m a sucker for anyone who shows so much love to their dog, let alone sheep and alpacas and all the other animals.
Thanks to Kat Mackenzie, Avon, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the way Kat Mackenzie portrayed autism. While I know everyone has a different experience so different things will or won’t resonate, I thought the way she captured the self created rules/life flow charts and need for logical rational was so well done. And of course the messaging around accepting one’s self and accept not everyone will like you and that’s okay.
As for Tadhg, I liked what a secret softie he was. How he showed his care through actions - not just for Maya but also with Annie and his dad. And really I’m a sucker for anyone who shows so much love to their dog, let alone sheep and alpacas and all the other animals.
Thanks to Kat Mackenzie, Avon, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2026
Y’ALL. This book! I am fully gone. Kicking my feet, giggling, ready to book a one-way ticket to Ireland. 💛✨
Maya is such a standout, and I loved the autism representation and the way she moves through the world with so much clarity and honesty.
And then you drop her into a matchmaking festival in Ireland?? Say less. 🇮🇪🍀 The way Ireland is described feels so authentic and honestly like its own character. Add in a broody, grumpy Irish man who absolutely does not want to be there, and I was all in.
The banter in this? Top tier. Sharp, funny, and had me literally laughing out loud. And it’s so clearly written by someone who loves books and book culture. The references and little nods made it feel like it was written for readers who are in that world too. 📚
This book had so much heart and humor running through it. Completely swoony, a little irreverent, and just such a fun read.
I loved this one. Truly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maya is such a standout, and I loved the autism representation and the way she moves through the world with so much clarity and honesty.
And then you drop her into a matchmaking festival in Ireland?? Say less. 🇮🇪🍀 The way Ireland is described feels so authentic and honestly like its own character. Add in a broody, grumpy Irish man who absolutely does not want to be there, and I was all in.
The banter in this? Top tier. Sharp, funny, and had me literally laughing out loud. And it’s so clearly written by someone who loves books and book culture. The references and little nods made it feel like it was written for readers who are in that world too. 📚
This book had so much heart and humor running through it. Completely swoony, a little irreverent, and just such a fun read.
I loved this one. Truly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5⭐️
Started laughing at the dedication and didn’t stop until the final page.
This book was so much fun. I loved watching Maya stretch her wings throughout the story and enjoy being comfortably uncomfortable. Jackie was hilariously devious, and I really felt like I was dropped into the middle of rural Ireland throughout the whole story. If my passport didn’t need to be renewed my trip to Ireland would already be booked.
Tadhg was a delightful grump and the banter with Maya was fantastic, even if I cringed at her bluntness at times.
This was such a delightful story, and Kat’s quickly become an author whose books are a must read for me. She paints such beautiful imagery and scratches my wanderlust while simultaneously adding to my ever growing list of dream destinations.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Started laughing at the dedication and didn’t stop until the final page.
This book was so much fun. I loved watching Maya stretch her wings throughout the story and enjoy being comfortably uncomfortable. Jackie was hilariously devious, and I really felt like I was dropped into the middle of rural Ireland throughout the whole story. If my passport didn’t need to be renewed my trip to Ireland would already be booked.
Tadhg was a delightful grump and the banter with Maya was fantastic, even if I cringed at her bluntness at times.
This was such a delightful story, and Kat’s quickly become an author whose books are a must read for me. She paints such beautiful imagery and scratches my wanderlust while simultaneously adding to my ever growing list of dream destinations.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Honestly, I knew nothing about this book prior to requesting the ARC. I stumbled upon it and, being the mood reader that I am, it felt like something that could possibly be a great palette cleanser for me. I read a lot of genres and some of them (thriller, mystery, horror) require me to read something MUCH happier.
Enter Experiments in Offline Dating.
What a book I stumbled onto! Filled with pure whimsy and some of the best back-and-forth banter I have read in recent months, it took me by surprise. A great premise - a UNIQUE one at that... and characters that become so, so lovable. Even sweet, grumpy, sheep farmer Tadhg.
If you're like me and seek something fun, cute, and with a dash of grumpy romance, this one is it!
I will absolutely pick up more books by Kat Mackenzie in the future.
Honestly, I knew nothing about this book prior to requesting the ARC. I stumbled upon it and, being the mood reader that I am, it felt like something that could possibly be a great palette cleanser for me. I read a lot of genres and some of them (thriller, mystery, horror) require me to read something MUCH happier.
Enter Experiments in Offline Dating.
What a book I stumbled onto! Filled with pure whimsy and some of the best back-and-forth banter I have read in recent months, it took me by surprise. A great premise - a UNIQUE one at that... and characters that become so, so lovable. Even sweet, grumpy, sheep farmer Tadhg.
If you're like me and seek something fun, cute, and with a dash of grumpy romance, this one is it!
I will absolutely pick up more books by Kat Mackenzie in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I honestly loved this one. I had kind of low expectations based on the beginning, and expected to find the FMC to be a bit obnoxious, but I am glad I stuck with it.
The Irish setting was magical, and I believed the irritation to lovers happening between the two main characters. The side characters, specifically Jackie, were lovely and I enjoyed reading the backgrounds of his many matches sprinkled throughout the story.
I kind of wish that it had been dual POV at points, but I overlooked it because the story did really come together and I enjoyed it immensely. Will definitely recommend this one to others.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The Irish setting was magical, and I believed the irritation to lovers happening between the two main characters. The side characters, specifically Jackie, were lovely and I enjoyed reading the backgrounds of his many matches sprinkled throughout the story.
I kind of wish that it had been dual POV at points, but I overlooked it because the story did really come together and I enjoyed it immensely. Will definitely recommend this one to others.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC from Netgalley. Thank you Avon Books and Kat Mckenzie for sharing this delightful book!
I LOVED this book!! It had me belly laughing every other page and if you love funny banter, this will be an easy 5 star read. Not only did the banter between Maya & Tadhg have me kicking my feet the entire time, but the banter with almost every relationship between all characters was hilarious too. Every character's personality was so well communicated and you really felt like you knew them by the end of the book. The way the author represented neurodivergence was so incredibly well done and accurate to so many people’s experience. It was so refreshing and this author will now be an auto-buy/read author for me moving forward.
I LOVED this book!! It had me belly laughing every other page and if you love funny banter, this will be an easy 5 star read. Not only did the banter between Maya & Tadhg have me kicking my feet the entire time, but the banter with almost every relationship between all characters was hilarious too. Every character's personality was so well communicated and you really felt like you knew them by the end of the book. The way the author represented neurodivergence was so incredibly well done and accurate to so many people’s experience. It was so refreshing and this author will now be an auto-buy/read author for me moving forward.
April 25, 2026
If I could give this six stars I would!!!! I seriously fell in love with Maya right away, she is me and I am her! I noticed her having certain quirks and then she mentioned her ASD, and a lot of things definitely clicked for me (I really related to her)! Every time there was a very niche book/smut reader community theme or character who was brought up I was so excited ex: two of her cats (at least) are named after very prominent Shadow daddies. 😈 There was also a very specific scene in a car that I literally laughed out loud and will be thinking about for a long time. Overall I highly recommend this book, I will definitely be hoping to read more from the author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kat Mackenzie has got to be *the* funniest romance writer out there right now and Experiments in Offline Dating was so funny and full of real, jump-off-the-page, loveable characters. I absolutely adored that Maya wasn't a twenty-something and that she was settled into her life, so accepting of who she was as a person and that the central wrench in the works here wasn't Maya trying to change herself. The secondary characters were hilarious and the premise was delightful. Jackie especially stole the show and I know other readers will love him as well. Maya and Tadgh were so well suited to one another and I found their dynamic lovely.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Experiments in Offline Dating comes out August 25.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Experiments in Offline Dating comes out August 25.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maya and Tadhg get me...ohhhhh the story there!
Maya is basically living the life of a single grown lady who just hides parts of herself for fear of rejection...and Tadhg can't help but SEE her. REALLY see her. When they are thrown into an adventure because of a matchmaker with personal investment in their story...they cant help but fall.
The end of this book was so beautiful and sweet and PERFECT. I wanted them to win the entire time. Sometimes it takes forced proximity and giving someone the chance to choose you to make things happen!
Maya is basically living the life of a single grown lady who just hides parts of herself for fear of rejection...and Tadhg can't help but SEE her. REALLY see her. When they are thrown into an adventure because of a matchmaker with personal investment in their story...they cant help but fall.
The end of this book was so beautiful and sweet and PERFECT. I wanted them to win the entire time. Sometimes it takes forced proximity and giving someone the chance to choose you to make things happen!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Grumpy/sunshine for the win! This road trip romcom was swoony and funny, with the added bonus of talking about gorgeous Irish locations.
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Experiments in Offline Dating to come out August 25, 2026.
Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Experiments in Offline Dating to come out August 25, 2026.
May 7, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love love loved this book!!!!!! I thought the FMC was so witty and it was fun to watch her journey. My favorite part though were all the other book references throughout the book, it was the best part! Really enjoyed this one 😊
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Sorry guys, I'm moving to Ireland.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the very complicated world of dating, Maya starts her own podcast to document her experiences. With a new season of her show starting she decides to try something different - matchmaking in Ireland by a renowned matchmaker. Through a series of dates that are simultaneously hilarious and awful, Maya may just find her match….
I loved Maya as a character and found her quirks to be so authentic and fun. Despite her laissez faire demeanor about dating, when feelings do hit she has to make the choice to be vulnerable with the grumpy (but sweet only for her) MMC! This book had me giggling throughout with its hilarious banter and the Ireland backdrop also provides a sense of wanderlust (sheep farm anyone?). I’m a huge fan of Kat Mackenzie’s contemporary travel romances and I am so excited for readers to get there hands on this book!
Thank you Kat Mackenzie & Avon Books for the ARC via NetGalley!
I loved Maya as a character and found her quirks to be so authentic and fun. Despite her laissez faire demeanor about dating, when feelings do hit she has to make the choice to be vulnerable with the grumpy (but sweet only for her) MMC! This book had me giggling throughout with its hilarious banter and the Ireland backdrop also provides a sense of wanderlust (sheep farm anyone?). I’m a huge fan of Kat Mackenzie’s contemporary travel romances and I am so excited for readers to get there hands on this book!
Thank you Kat Mackenzie & Avon Books for the ARC via NetGalley!
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