What do you think?
Rate this book
Experiments in Offline Dating: A Novel
Multicast Narration with Creative Production
A sharp-witted enemies-to-lovers romcom about a podcaster who embarks on a matchmaking tour of Ireland and gets trapped with a grump who pushes all of her buttons.
Maya Davis is chronically terrible at dating. So much so that she's turned her catastrophic dating experiments into a full-time job. Hellbent on dating "offline" for her second podcast season, Maya travels to Ireland to meet the world-renowned local matchmaker, and gets set up on a slew of horribly funny meet-ups that are exactly the type of comedy gold she was looking for.
At the town’s annual Matchmaking Festival, Maya wins a blind date with a surly local sheep farmer. But while she's had every bad date in the book, nothing could have prepared her for the apocalyptic, full-body-cringe that is the worst date of her life!
All she wants to do is forget it ever happened, but when the mischievous matchmaker talks her into a whirlwind dating adventure, he fails to mention that it's with the one person in Ireland that she just can't stand - her blind date catastrophe!
Trapped together, Maya and Tadhg journey across picturesque landscapes and green countryside until their constant verbal sparring feels increasingly like chemistry. And the more time they spend together, the more Maya begins to wonder if perhaps she’s not so catastrophic at love after all.
Brimming with humor and delicious tension, this heartfelt travel romance is the perfect escape!
Enemies to loversForced proximityGrumpy hero
A sharp-witted enemies-to-lovers romcom about a podcaster who embarks on a matchmaking tour of Ireland and gets trapped with a grump who pushes all of her buttons.
Maya Davis is chronically terrible at dating. So much so that she's turned her catastrophic dating experiments into a full-time job. Hellbent on dating "offline" for her second podcast season, Maya travels to Ireland to meet the world-renowned local matchmaker, and gets set up on a slew of horribly funny meet-ups that are exactly the type of comedy gold she was looking for.
At the town’s annual Matchmaking Festival, Maya wins a blind date with a surly local sheep farmer. But while she's had every bad date in the book, nothing could have prepared her for the apocalyptic, full-body-cringe that is the worst date of her life!
All she wants to do is forget it ever happened, but when the mischievous matchmaker talks her into a whirlwind dating adventure, he fails to mention that it's with the one person in Ireland that she just can't stand - her blind date catastrophe!
Trapped together, Maya and Tadhg journey across picturesque landscapes and green countryside until their constant verbal sparring feels increasingly like chemistry. And the more time they spend together, the more Maya begins to wonder if perhaps she’s not so catastrophic at love after all.
Brimming with humor and delicious tension, this heartfelt travel romance is the perfect escape!
Enemies to loversForced proximityGrumpy hero
Audible Audio
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Kat Mackenzie
2 books283 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What I would do to grab a marg with Kat and talk about broody Irish men and her own experiments in offline dating...
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
Forehead kisses to Kat MacKenzie and Avon for the finished copy of this book and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is OUT NOW!
Also shout out to Lina who was the yin to my yang here during our buddy read, so please check out her review as well!
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Maya Davis (aka “sweetheart” or “darlin”). Autistic podcaster who likes collecting data on dating
– MMC: Tadhg Kelly (aka “Tiger”). “A surly and curmudgeonly crocodile” who is thrown into the running for Maya’s matchmaking, much against his wishes
– Location: Ireland
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 2 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: strangers to lovers, hate/dislike to love, forced proximity, matchmaking, only one tent, grumpy x sunshine,
– Representation: autistic FMC who is later in life than most at finding love
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I was such a fan of Kat’s debut “Work in Progress,” so to say I was looking forward to this one would be an understatement. And in my opinion, it fully delivered!
This fun romance was the perfect amount of humor, romance, adventure, and cringe for me. The dialogue can be a little harsh between the MMC and FMC at times, but I think it works really well for these characters (though if Tadgh Kelly said these things TO ME, I would probably shrink and cry). But he was such a grump that it made my heart happy to see that Maya was the one to soften him up.
THERE IS A CAVE SCENE that nearly took me out. It was hotttt. But what I loved the most throughout this book was the lightness it made me feel. It didn’t get too serious, but also got deep at times. And it made me want to book a ticket back to Ireland.
There were a few times that I felt the inner dialogue Maya had was incongruent with her actions. Jackie (the matchmaker) wasn’t just a shit-stirrer, he made some very toxic decisions on Maya’s behalf, which sometimes took me out, BUT then I DM’d Kat about him and she said that some of these dates were her ACTUAL experiences during her own matchmaking in Ireland and that helped me connect a bit more to the story (which she also mentions in her acknowledgments).
I’m a forever fan of Kat’s writing, so maybe that makes me biased, but I found so much to love in this book and I hope others do too!
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: In Spite of Ourselves by John Prine and Iris DeMent
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ If you loved Kat’s debut, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. This leans more into the romance than “Work in Progress”
➼ Being a Hibernophile (it was the Aisling Bea reference that made me swoon!)
➼ Nods to being a book lover, but specifically a romantasy lover (ACOTAR references)
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven——✧—————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——————✧—————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy———✧————————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
———————————————-
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!!
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
Forehead kisses to Kat MacKenzie and Avon for the finished copy of this book and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is OUT NOW!
Also shout out to Lina who was the yin to my yang here during our buddy read, so please check out her review as well!
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Maya Davis (aka “sweetheart” or “darlin”). Autistic podcaster who likes collecting data on dating
– MMC: Tadhg Kelly (aka “Tiger”). “A surly and curmudgeonly crocodile” who is thrown into the running for Maya’s matchmaking, much against his wishes
– Location: Ireland
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 2 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: strangers to lovers, hate/dislike to love, forced proximity, matchmaking, only one tent, grumpy x sunshine,
– Representation: autistic FMC who is later in life than most at finding love
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I was such a fan of Kat’s debut “Work in Progress,” so to say I was looking forward to this one would be an understatement. And in my opinion, it fully delivered!
This fun romance was the perfect amount of humor, romance, adventure, and cringe for me. The dialogue can be a little harsh between the MMC and FMC at times, but I think it works really well for these characters (though if Tadgh Kelly said these things TO ME, I would probably shrink and cry). But he was such a grump that it made my heart happy to see that Maya was the one to soften him up.
THERE IS A CAVE SCENE that nearly took me out. It was hotttt. But what I loved the most throughout this book was the lightness it made me feel. It didn’t get too serious, but also got deep at times. And it made me want to book a ticket back to Ireland.
There were a few times that I felt the inner dialogue Maya had was incongruent with her actions. Jackie (the matchmaker) wasn’t just a shit-stirrer, he made some very toxic decisions on Maya’s behalf, which sometimes took me out, BUT then I DM’d Kat about him and she said that some of these dates were her ACTUAL experiences during her own matchmaking in Ireland and that helped me connect a bit more to the story (which she also mentions in her acknowledgments).
I’m a forever fan of Kat’s writing, so maybe that makes me biased, but I found so much to love in this book and I hope others do too!
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: In Spite of Ourselves by John Prine and Iris DeMent
╰┈➤ ❝He's got more balls than a big brass monkey ;He's a whacked out weirdo and a lovebug junkie; Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon; Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon; He's my baby I don't mean maybe; Never gonna let him go❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ If you loved Kat’s debut, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. This leans more into the romance than “Work in Progress”
➼ Being a Hibernophile (it was the Aisling Bea reference that made me swoon!)
➼ Nods to being a book lover, but specifically a romantasy lover (ACOTAR references)
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven——✧—————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn——————✧—————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy———✧————————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
———————————————-
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!!
Did Not Finish
August 29, 2026DNF around 30% - This one just isn’t for me, the humor isn’t landing and I’m not connecting with the characters.
September 28, 2026
Absolutely hilarious! I am now going to talk my husband into a future trip to Ireland solely because of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 / 5 Stars
This book wasn’t exactly for me but I think there are others who might really enjoy it so read on to see if that would be you.
A few things in the book were not my personal preference. First, I am very particular with a hate to love storyline because I have really thin skin and sometimes the “hate” portion of romance can feel too mean. To me, it felt too mean here. I just couldn’t understand how she could be attracted to someone who called her a “mad cow” (and that is one of the nicer exchanges). That being said, if you have thicker skin, you may enjoy the banter.
I also found some of the humor cringy but humor is so subjective so that it is really up to each reader.
Finally, it is a big pet peeve of mine when the characters don’t talk about how they’ll have safe sex before they have sex for the first time. In this book, they did after, but not doing it before just felt reckless and took me out of that scene.
Not taking any of those personal preferences into account for my rating, I found the pacing to be uneven and the character choices in the third act to be confusing. First, it felt like so much happened in the first half and then everything slowed down in the second half so I wish it was just a little more evenly paced. Second, I just could not understand the reasoning for some character choices in the third act. I thought there were much more grounded ways that the characters could have acted.
Oh and I really disliked Jackie, the matchmaker. I didn’t find him to be charming or mischievous. I found him to be really manipulative and felt like he put the FMC in dangerous situations. It is truly not okay to give her phone number out to a bunch of random men. It is not okay to set her up with a guy who is super handsy. None of that was cute to me.
I thought the podcast portions of the book were really well done. The dialogue in those scenes felt like a fast-paced podcast and it was easy to follow. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Ireland and the roadtrip aspect.
If your personal preferences are different from mine and you aren’t really bothered by pacing then I think you might really enjoy this book.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ Hate to love romances
⭐ Grumpy x sunshine
⭐ Forced proximity
⭐ Roadtrip romance
⭐ Matchmaking tour set in Ireland
⭐ Autism representation
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for providing the eARC ! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 25, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
This book wasn’t exactly for me but I think there are others who might really enjoy it so read on to see if that would be you.
A few things in the book were not my personal preference. First, I am very particular with a hate to love storyline because I have really thin skin and sometimes the “hate” portion of romance can feel too mean. To me, it felt too mean here. I just couldn’t understand how she could be attracted to someone who called her a “mad cow” (and that is one of the nicer exchanges). That being said, if you have thicker skin, you may enjoy the banter.
I also found some of the humor cringy but humor is so subjective so that it is really up to each reader.
Finally, it is a big pet peeve of mine when the characters don’t talk about how they’ll have safe sex before they have sex for the first time. In this book, they did after, but not doing it before just felt reckless and took me out of that scene.
Not taking any of those personal preferences into account for my rating, I found the pacing to be uneven and the character choices in the third act to be confusing. First, it felt like so much happened in the first half and then everything slowed down in the second half so I wish it was just a little more evenly paced. Second, I just could not understand the reasoning for some character choices in the third act. I thought there were much more grounded ways that the characters could have acted.
Oh and I really disliked Jackie, the matchmaker. I didn’t find him to be charming or mischievous. I found him to be really manipulative and felt like he put the FMC in dangerous situations. It is truly not okay to give her phone number out to a bunch of random men. It is not okay to set her up with a guy who is super handsy. None of that was cute to me.
I thought the podcast portions of the book were really well done. The dialogue in those scenes felt like a fast-paced podcast and it was easy to follow. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Ireland and the roadtrip aspect.
If your personal preferences are different from mine and you aren’t really bothered by pacing then I think you might really enjoy this book.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ Hate to love romances
⭐ Grumpy x sunshine
⭐ Forced proximity
⭐ Roadtrip romance
⭐ Matchmaking tour set in Ireland
⭐ Autism representation
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for providing the eARC ! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 25, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
October 11, 2026
A galavant through Ireland? Don’t mind if I do!
Thirty-eight, unlucky in love, fostering six cats (my dream), and host of a dating podcast, Maya is fed up with modern dating and heads to an Irish matchmaking festival to try things the old-fashioned way. Instead, she finds herself on a matchmaking adventure orchestrated by Jackie, the mischievous matchmaker, alongside Tadhg, a local sheep farmer who is the definition of an absolute grump.
I adored Jackie and his overly meddlesome ways, the matchmaking mishaps, the podcast snippets, and the relentless animosity between Maya and Tadhg. The insults and bickering were too fun! And I appreciated how Maya’s autism was naturally incorporated into her character without becoming a major plot point or defining her entire story. PLUS, the Irish countryside was absolutely dreamy, of course!
My only issue was how their tension was resolved. I hate that they slept together before actually talking things through and then frustratingly continued to avoid discussing anything, especially after all that buildup. Also, Maya’s inner monologue became super sexual, constantly circling back to her attraction to Tadhg. It was a bit too much for me. But overall, I had a great time with this one!
(spice level: 3 open-door scenes, moderate details)
Thirty-eight, unlucky in love, fostering six cats (my dream), and host of a dating podcast, Maya is fed up with modern dating and heads to an Irish matchmaking festival to try things the old-fashioned way. Instead, she finds herself on a matchmaking adventure orchestrated by Jackie, the mischievous matchmaker, alongside Tadhg, a local sheep farmer who is the definition of an absolute grump.
I adored Jackie and his overly meddlesome ways, the matchmaking mishaps, the podcast snippets, and the relentless animosity between Maya and Tadhg. The insults and bickering were too fun! And I appreciated how Maya’s autism was naturally incorporated into her character without becoming a major plot point or defining her entire story. PLUS, the Irish countryside was absolutely dreamy, of course!
My only issue was how their tension was resolved. I hate that they slept together before actually talking things through and then frustratingly continued to avoid discussing anything, especially after all that buildup. Also, Maya’s inner monologue became super sexual, constantly circling back to her attraction to Tadhg. It was a bit too much for me. But overall, I had a great time with this one!
(spice level: 3 open-door scenes, moderate details)
Read
July 6, 2026🍀💕 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.
📖 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.
September 15, 2026
Okay WELL I am clearly in the minority on this one so take my opinion with a grain of salt. 😂 It was cute and I definitely laughed out loud at times, but it honestly felt like it was TRYING so hard to be funny the whole time, and almost anything that was serious was brushed over. Ultimately, I just had a really hard time buying into the romance. These two barely had real conversations at all the entire book, and I waited for it. Literally their entire relationship was basically built around sex and lust, so.
I DID like the whole trip around Ireland (some of it felt nostalgic for me when they went to places I’ve been), the autism rep was great, a late 30s romance yes please, and even though she could be frustrating I still found Maya to overall be a breath of fresh air with her blunt honesty.
I DID like the whole trip around Ireland (some of it felt nostalgic for me when they went to places I’ve been), the autism rep was great, a late 30s romance yes please, and even though she could be frustrating I still found Maya to overall be a breath of fresh air with her blunt honesty.
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.
July 26, 2026
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!
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!
August 22, 2026
SO FREAKING FUNNY OH MY WORD
This was such a witty read, and I truly couldn’t stop laughing. Kat’s writing style is so fun and easy to get lost in!
The neurodivergent representation in this book is so important to me. I loved our FMC Maya she is so genuine and silly. I loved seeing her adventure out and try new things! She was just lovely!!
Our MMC Tadgh was so grumpy, so funny, and so lovable. The chemistry between him and Maya was just undeniable.
You’ll find…
✨forced proximity
💙 banter
🌻 grumpy x sunshine
🦋 takes place in Ireland
🥰 neurodivergent FMC
🪁 match making festival
This was such a witty read, and I truly couldn’t stop laughing. Kat’s writing style is so fun and easy to get lost in!
The neurodivergent representation in this book is so important to me. I loved our FMC Maya she is so genuine and silly. I loved seeing her adventure out and try new things! She was just lovely!!
Our MMC Tadgh was so grumpy, so funny, and so lovable. The chemistry between him and Maya was just undeniable.
You’ll find…
✨forced proximity
💙 banter
🌻 grumpy x sunshine
🦋 takes place in Ireland
🥰 neurodivergent FMC
🪁 match making festival
September 2, 2026
After a lifetime of dating disasters, our FMC, Maya Davis has basically decided that if dating isn't going to bring her love, it can at least bring her content. :D
She cohosts A Spinster's Guide to Offline Dating with her best friend, where she goes on dates and then reports back to their listeners about exactly how badly, or occasionally not so badly, they went. At this point, she's really dating more for entertainment and the podcast than because she expects to find THE ONE.
So naturally, the next experiment takes her all the way to Ireland and a famous matchmaking festival.
Enter Jackie Kelly, matchmaker extraordinaire, who starts setting Maya up with potential matches. And I swear, these dates had me wondering whether this man was genuinely trying to find her a husband or just trying to provide content for the podcast.
Anyway ... Now let's talk about none other than ... (drums drums) Tadhg!
Maya's first date with the gorgeous, incredibly grumpy sheep farmer is such a spectacular disaster that the secondhand embarrassment nearly took ME out.
No. Girl. Stop talking.
PLEASE!!! (hides face)
So obviously that's the man who ends up driving her around Ireland.
Because what could possibly go wrong?
Jackie convinces Maya to extend her experiment into a road trip across the country, where she'll go on more dates and interview couples he's successfully matched over the years. Maya reluctantly agrees, believing Jackie will be accompanying her.
Except when it's time to leave, Jackie is nowhere to be found.
Her driver?
His son.
Tadhg.
Yep. THAT Tadhg!!!
And from there, what begins as a matchmaking experiment turns into something very different.
I really enjoyed watching Maya and Tadhg slowly get to know each other beyond that hilariously awful first impression. Maya is autistic, and one of my favorite parts of the romance was watching these two learn how the other person communicates, what they need, where their boundaries are, and eventually how they fit together. Their relationship isn't magically effortless just because there's attraction there, they have to understand each other, and I really appreciated that.
And yes, there are open-door scenes. (woop woop)
Thank you very much!
The Ireland road-trip setting was also a lot of fun, and Maya's increasingly questionable collection of dates kept things entertaining while the relationship between her and Tadhg developed in the background.
I did struggle a little in the beginning, though. It took me some time to connect with Maya and settle into the story, and some of the podcast exchanges between Maya and her best friend felt a little cringey to me rather than funny.
I also had... feelings... about Jackie.
He seems like a genuinely nice person and I know a lot of what he does is supposed to be mischievous matchmaking, but there were several moments when I didn't agree with the way he handled things, especially changing plans at the last minute and essentially engineering situations without everyone being completely in on the plan.
Sir.
Communication exists for ... reasons!
That said, once Maya and Tadhg were properly on the road together, I enjoyed the story much more. The forced proximity, disastrous dates, Irish setting, banter, attraction and the quieter moments where they started genuinely understanding one another made the romance work for me.
Overall, Experiments in Offline Dating was a fun and slightly chaotic road-trip romance about looking for love when you're not really expecting to find it; and perhaps finding it with the ONE person your matchmaking experiment definitely wasn't supposed to match you with.
3.75⭐
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
She cohosts A Spinster's Guide to Offline Dating with her best friend, where she goes on dates and then reports back to their listeners about exactly how badly, or occasionally not so badly, they went. At this point, she's really dating more for entertainment and the podcast than because she expects to find THE ONE.
So naturally, the next experiment takes her all the way to Ireland and a famous matchmaking festival.
Enter Jackie Kelly, matchmaker extraordinaire, who starts setting Maya up with potential matches. And I swear, these dates had me wondering whether this man was genuinely trying to find her a husband or just trying to provide content for the podcast.
Anyway ... Now let's talk about none other than ... (drums drums) Tadhg!
Maya's first date with the gorgeous, incredibly grumpy sheep farmer is such a spectacular disaster that the secondhand embarrassment nearly took ME out.
No. Girl. Stop talking.
PLEASE!!! (hides face)
So obviously that's the man who ends up driving her around Ireland.
Because what could possibly go wrong?
Jackie convinces Maya to extend her experiment into a road trip across the country, where she'll go on more dates and interview couples he's successfully matched over the years. Maya reluctantly agrees, believing Jackie will be accompanying her.
Except when it's time to leave, Jackie is nowhere to be found.
Her driver?
His son.
Tadhg.
Yep. THAT Tadhg!!!
And from there, what begins as a matchmaking experiment turns into something very different.
I really enjoyed watching Maya and Tadhg slowly get to know each other beyond that hilariously awful first impression. Maya is autistic, and one of my favorite parts of the romance was watching these two learn how the other person communicates, what they need, where their boundaries are, and eventually how they fit together. Their relationship isn't magically effortless just because there's attraction there, they have to understand each other, and I really appreciated that.
And yes, there are open-door scenes. (woop woop)
Thank you very much!
The Ireland road-trip setting was also a lot of fun, and Maya's increasingly questionable collection of dates kept things entertaining while the relationship between her and Tadhg developed in the background.
I did struggle a little in the beginning, though. It took me some time to connect with Maya and settle into the story, and some of the podcast exchanges between Maya and her best friend felt a little cringey to me rather than funny.
I also had... feelings... about Jackie.
He seems like a genuinely nice person and I know a lot of what he does is supposed to be mischievous matchmaking, but there were several moments when I didn't agree with the way he handled things, especially changing plans at the last minute and essentially engineering situations without everyone being completely in on the plan.
Sir.
Communication exists for ... reasons!
That said, once Maya and Tadhg were properly on the road together, I enjoyed the story much more. The forced proximity, disastrous dates, Irish setting, banter, attraction and the quieter moments where they started genuinely understanding one another made the romance work for me.
Overall, Experiments in Offline Dating was a fun and slightly chaotic road-trip romance about looking for love when you're not really expecting to find it; and perhaps finding it with the ONE person your matchmaking experiment definitely wasn't supposed to match you with.
3.75⭐
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 29, 2026
Experiments in Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie (Aug 25, 2026) Thank you, @avonbooks and @katmackenziewrites for the gifted print copies!! #HarperBookspartner
Maya Davis has turned her catastrophe of a dating life into a popular podcast - A Spinster’s Guide to Offline Dating - documenting her experiences dating “on the apps.” For this season, she and her co-host/best friend Simone are switching things up and sending Maya to Ireland for a famous matchmaking festival, connecting with a famous matchmaker to see if her can find her a match - she’s not banking on it. The matchmaker quickly sets her up on a series of truly disastrous dates, including one with grumpy sheep farmer Tadhg. Despite a rough start, the matchmaker convinces Maya to go on a road trip through Ireland to meet potential matches. She agrees, but at the last minute the matchmaker bows out and enlists Tadhg to replace him, and neither are pleased about it. Now Maya and one of the grumpiest people she’s ever met are trapped on a three-week journey through Ireland where the dates don’t get any better. But along the way, Maya and Tadhg discover each other in surprising ways.
Kat Mackenzie writes messy characters with bold personalities better than just about anyone, and Maya is such a great FMC, transparent about how her autism makes her unique, embracing her humor and individuality, and surprised by her unexpected connection to Tadhg. Tadhg is equally great in his quiet observations and grumpiness that bring to light a lot of his family dynamics and insecurities. And underpinning it all is Kat’s stunning descriptions of the locations the characters travel to. If you finish this book and haven’t decided you need to visit Ireland, I’ll be shocked!
Audio Performance (11 hrs, 35 min): Audiobook queen Brittany Pressley and standouts Kelli Tager and Eric Nolan share the excellent narration of this one. Nolan has shined in other high-profile books, and Tager has also narrated some of my favorites.
Maya Davis has turned her catastrophe of a dating life into a popular podcast - A Spinster’s Guide to Offline Dating - documenting her experiences dating “on the apps.” For this season, she and her co-host/best friend Simone are switching things up and sending Maya to Ireland for a famous matchmaking festival, connecting with a famous matchmaker to see if her can find her a match - she’s not banking on it. The matchmaker quickly sets her up on a series of truly disastrous dates, including one with grumpy sheep farmer Tadhg. Despite a rough start, the matchmaker convinces Maya to go on a road trip through Ireland to meet potential matches. She agrees, but at the last minute the matchmaker bows out and enlists Tadhg to replace him, and neither are pleased about it. Now Maya and one of the grumpiest people she’s ever met are trapped on a three-week journey through Ireland where the dates don’t get any better. But along the way, Maya and Tadhg discover each other in surprising ways.
Kat Mackenzie writes messy characters with bold personalities better than just about anyone, and Maya is such a great FMC, transparent about how her autism makes her unique, embracing her humor and individuality, and surprised by her unexpected connection to Tadhg. Tadhg is equally great in his quiet observations and grumpiness that bring to light a lot of his family dynamics and insecurities. And underpinning it all is Kat’s stunning descriptions of the locations the characters travel to. If you finish this book and haven’t decided you need to visit Ireland, I’ll be shocked!
Audio Performance (11 hrs, 35 min): Audiobook queen Brittany Pressley and standouts Kelli Tager and Eric Nolan share the excellent narration of this one. Nolan has shined in other high-profile books, and Tager has also narrated some of my favorites.
September 11, 2026
Well, if being autistic at the age of 38 makes you behave with the impulse control of a 16 year old boy discovering how sexual attraction works and have the social intelligence of 4 year old on their first day of preschool, then this book captures that perfectly! Or actually, let me not insult teenager boys by saying that cause I have a brother who just turned 18 and I think he had this FMC, Maya, beat in all areas of maturity; intellectual, social, and sexual, by the time he was 15. This woman has failed to gain any level of skill in any of those categories despite having had nearly 4 decades to work on it and, shockingly, 46 dang chapters of this book did nothing to help her gain any either.
Frankly, it felt like the author used that "autistic" label to make Maya a odd caricature of a creature who has no social decorum or emotional intelligence despite being almost 40. Even the dialogue mechanics are exhausting. Maya is written with a constant stream of "ums," "uhs," and "ohs" just to answer basic, repetitive questions like "What do you do for work?". You would think a 38-year-old woman, and especially an autistic one, would have that answer ready on reflex. Masking is a real thing for neurodivergent people and the lack of anything resembling that was off putting for me. Instead we got endless streams of word vomit where she repeatedly claims she "just couldn't stop herself" from acting like a total lunatic. Between that and the literal quivering of her "lower regions" at every dang word that came out of the MMC's mouth, as if she was on a continuous stream of aphrodisiacs was just too far into the realm of overused romance troupes. And if she wasn't moaning about the MMC, Tadhg, being too dreamy for even the dreamest of dreamy men, she was moaning about the dang food....and let's just be honest, I've been to Ireland and had plenty of the food, so trust me, there is absolutely nothing about basic, unseasoned meat, potatoes, and root vegetables that warrants that level of moaning. Please be so for real.
The only reason this isn’t a 1-star review is because Tadhg, despite being your standard broody and overly "big, strong masculine" MMC, was actually alright and his irritation with Maya's nonsense made perfect sense. Of course, I'm not sure what he actually LIKED about her, except for her apparently marvelous rear-end that he just couldn't take his eyes off of (I'm sure you can feel my eye roll here). Then there was the absolutely horrible men the Irish matchmaker tried to set Maya up with that provided some genuinely humorous bits. But even that made the matchmaker come off like a low-key conniving manipulator who ignored all her wishes and kept setting her up with men 20+ years her age as if to make his son, who of course was Tadhg, out to be the "only good option". And frankly, it got tiresome after that 8th frickin' horrible date she was forced to go on for her little "experiment". Honestly, I just ended up feeling bad for Tadhg who was stuck with a sex-crazed, thought-to-mouth-vomiting woman who literally tried to "insult-flirt" with him on their first date and thought apologizing was telling him it was his fault. Buddy... you can do better! None of her ridiculous behavior was cute and there was virtually zero character development to make up for it.
Overall - the book was too long with most of it just endless descriptions of landscapes, mediocre food, or Maya's endless "autistic" ramblings about why she couldn't stop insulting everyone and anyone within 5 feet of her. I expected SO much more out of Kat Mackenzie after "Work in Progress" which was so charming and well-written. But alas, this one is an overall miss for me.
Frankly, it felt like the author used that "autistic" label to make Maya a odd caricature of a creature who has no social decorum or emotional intelligence despite being almost 40. Even the dialogue mechanics are exhausting. Maya is written with a constant stream of "ums," "uhs," and "ohs" just to answer basic, repetitive questions like "What do you do for work?". You would think a 38-year-old woman, and especially an autistic one, would have that answer ready on reflex. Masking is a real thing for neurodivergent people and the lack of anything resembling that was off putting for me. Instead we got endless streams of word vomit where she repeatedly claims she "just couldn't stop herself" from acting like a total lunatic. Between that and the literal quivering of her "lower regions" at every dang word that came out of the MMC's mouth, as if she was on a continuous stream of aphrodisiacs was just too far into the realm of overused romance troupes. And if she wasn't moaning about the MMC, Tadhg, being too dreamy for even the dreamest of dreamy men, she was moaning about the dang food....and let's just be honest, I've been to Ireland and had plenty of the food, so trust me, there is absolutely nothing about basic, unseasoned meat, potatoes, and root vegetables that warrants that level of moaning. Please be so for real.
The only reason this isn’t a 1-star review is because Tadhg, despite being your standard broody and overly "big, strong masculine" MMC, was actually alright and his irritation with Maya's nonsense made perfect sense. Of course, I'm not sure what he actually LIKED about her, except for her apparently marvelous rear-end that he just couldn't take his eyes off of (I'm sure you can feel my eye roll here). Then there was the absolutely horrible men the Irish matchmaker tried to set Maya up with that provided some genuinely humorous bits. But even that made the matchmaker come off like a low-key conniving manipulator who ignored all her wishes and kept setting her up with men 20+ years her age as if to make his son, who of course was Tadhg, out to be the "only good option". And frankly, it got tiresome after that 8th frickin' horrible date she was forced to go on for her little "experiment". Honestly, I just ended up feeling bad for Tadhg who was stuck with a sex-crazed, thought-to-mouth-vomiting woman who literally tried to "insult-flirt" with him on their first date and thought apologizing was telling him it was his fault. Buddy... you can do better! None of her ridiculous behavior was cute and there was virtually zero character development to make up for it.
Overall - the book was too long with most of it just endless descriptions of landscapes, mediocre food, or Maya's endless "autistic" ramblings about why she couldn't stop insulting everyone and anyone within 5 feet of her. I expected SO much more out of Kat Mackenzie after "Work in Progress" which was so charming and well-written. But alas, this one is an overall miss for me.
September 21, 2026
FEEL GOOD ROMANCE AT ITS BEST. AND A ROAD TRIP TROPE!!! I LOVED IT.
June 5, 2026
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.
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.
September 20, 2026
A woman (Maya) hosting a dating podcast travels to Ireland to meet with a matchmaker in hopes of finally finding a connection. Unfortunately (or fortunately 👀) she is stuck on a roadtrip with her grumpy driver whom she had a terrible date with.
The dates… my god the dates are hilarious and so awful in the most entertaining way! I was laughing and cringing at times throughout this book. Our poor FMC has been through it y’all! But hey, those Irish accents sure make up for some of her dating mishaps 😂 (I do love an Irish accent)
This book has neurodivergent representation, mature romance (and by mature I mean our main characters are over 30) the shenanigans in this book are not always very mature 😂. I really enjoyed this funny, endearing, relatable story of a woman just trying to figure out if love fits into her life.
If you love a grumpy MMC, quirky FMC, podcasts, forced proximity, a book that makes you giggle, swoon, and have you screaming “what are you doing?” at your fictional characters, I think this would be a perfect book to add to your TBR!
Let’s talk about the audio for this one; I did immersive read and sometimes bounced between just the physical and just the audio. I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators (Brittany Pressley, Kelly Tager, & Eric Nolan) did a great job bringing out each character’s personality and making the them really come to life! The Irish accents were fantastic! The audio really makes the humorous moments stand out so it was a lot of fun.
I really loved this book/audiobook and I am so excited to see what else Kat Mackenzie writes because I’m so here for it!
The dates… my god the dates are hilarious and so awful in the most entertaining way! I was laughing and cringing at times throughout this book. Our poor FMC has been through it y’all! But hey, those Irish accents sure make up for some of her dating mishaps 😂 (I do love an Irish accent)
This book has neurodivergent representation, mature romance (and by mature I mean our main characters are over 30) the shenanigans in this book are not always very mature 😂. I really enjoyed this funny, endearing, relatable story of a woman just trying to figure out if love fits into her life.
If you love a grumpy MMC, quirky FMC, podcasts, forced proximity, a book that makes you giggle, swoon, and have you screaming “what are you doing?” at your fictional characters, I think this would be a perfect book to add to your TBR!
Let’s talk about the audio for this one; I did immersive read and sometimes bounced between just the physical and just the audio. I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrators (Brittany Pressley, Kelly Tager, & Eric Nolan) did a great job bringing out each character’s personality and making the them really come to life! The Irish accents were fantastic! The audio really makes the humorous moments stand out so it was a lot of fun.
I really loved this book/audiobook and I am so excited to see what else Kat Mackenzie writes because I’m so here for it!
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.
Did Not Finish
September 4, 2026DNF at 1%.
If I wanted to listen to a podcast, I would do it.
If I wanted to listen to a podcast, I would do it.
October 30, 2026
This book (and the author’s first) are works of art! Loved them!
Did Not Finish
October 30, 2026Didn't like the FMC
September 24, 2026
I physically recoiled and had to take a break after some of the scenes in this book due to secondhand embarrassment, and yet, I still couldn’t stop reading. Another banger😗👌
June 5, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I took Megan Bosarge’s The Crazy Test out to the patio after dinner with a glass of Pinot Grigio, figuring I’d read for half an hour before going inside. That plan lasted about five minutes. Once Dalton started explaining his ridiculous dating “system,” I had to know how this train wreck was going to play out. Brother Mockingbird and LibraryThing, thank you so much for the gifted copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dalton owns a successful restaurant in New York, but he’s convinced lasting love is basically a myth. Instead of admitting maybe he’s part of the problem, he creates a relationship test that every woman eventually “fails.”
I laughed.
I also wanted to shake him.
Then Sofia walked into the story.
She’s a magazine writer chasing a promotion, and interviewing Dalton is supposed to be another assignment. It doesn’t exactly stay professional for long.
I liked Sofia almost immediately because she felt like someone I’d actually want to have coffee with. She’s smart, focused, and doesn’t waste time playing games. Dalton, though? He had some work to do before I was willing to forgive him. The funny part is that the farther I read, the more I caught myself understanding him. I didn’t expect that.
The restaurant scenes were probably some of my favorites. They made me hungry, which honestly felt a little unfair. I kept wishing the place actually existed because I’d absolutely book dinner there.
What surprised me most wasn’t the romance. It was watching these two slowly drop the walls they’d spent years building around themselves. Nothing felt rushed. They had to earn each other’s trust, and I loved that.
By the time I finished, my wine glass was empty, the evening had gotten cooler, and I was smiling at an ending that felt exactly right.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I keep reaching for romantic comedies. They can make you laugh, make you roll your eyes, and still sneak in a little emotion when you aren’t expecting it.
Have you ever started a romance convinced one character was impossible to like, only to completely change your mind before the last page?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dalton owns a successful restaurant in New York, but he’s convinced lasting love is basically a myth. Instead of admitting maybe he’s part of the problem, he creates a relationship test that every woman eventually “fails.”
I laughed.
I also wanted to shake him.
Then Sofia walked into the story.
She’s a magazine writer chasing a promotion, and interviewing Dalton is supposed to be another assignment. It doesn’t exactly stay professional for long.
I liked Sofia almost immediately because she felt like someone I’d actually want to have coffee with. She’s smart, focused, and doesn’t waste time playing games. Dalton, though? He had some work to do before I was willing to forgive him. The funny part is that the farther I read, the more I caught myself understanding him. I didn’t expect that.
The restaurant scenes were probably some of my favorites. They made me hungry, which honestly felt a little unfair. I kept wishing the place actually existed because I’d absolutely book dinner there.
What surprised me most wasn’t the romance. It was watching these two slowly drop the walls they’d spent years building around themselves. Nothing felt rushed. They had to earn each other’s trust, and I loved that.
By the time I finished, my wine glass was empty, the evening had gotten cooler, and I was smiling at an ending that felt exactly right.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I keep reaching for romantic comedies. They can make you laugh, make you roll your eyes, and still sneak in a little emotion when you aren’t expecting it.
Have you ever started a romance convinced one character was impossible to like, only to completely change your mind before the last page?
September 28, 2026
4.5⭐️rounded up because I had a helluva good time listening to this one! It’s FUNNY and all of Maya’s (mis)adventures take you along for such an entertaining ride that will have you looking up flights to Ireland.🇮🇪
Brittany Presley as the primary narrator was SO impressive - her Irish accents were incredible! The other two narrators are only for the interview segments, so she really carried this one!🍀
Summary:
Maya Davis (38) has turned her disastrous dating experiences into a podcast called “A Spinster’s Guide to Online Dating.” For the second season, she and her co-host/best friend, Simone, are switching things up by taking the experiments *offline* and sending Maya to Ireland for a famous matchmaking festival where she will work with a world-renowned local matchmaker. Though her hopes on finding love aren’t exactly high, she is enjoying the adventure and the scenery; her optimism helps her find the good - or at least the entertainment value for her listeners - in each date that seems worse than the last. She is excited to join her matchmaker on a three-week road trip he planned throughout Ireland so she could meet potential matches, but at the last minute he backs out and enlists Tadgh to replace him. Tadgh (pronounced Tie-g) and Maya, however, got off to… a rocky start, to say the least. After the date she won with him turned into a one-sided roast - a true miscommunication-riddled catastrophe - the grumpy (and stupidly handsome) sheep farmer reluctantly agrees to shepherd her from date to date and do some sightseeing along the way. When their banter and verbal sparring start to feel a lot like chemistry, the attraction, tension, and humor they find so easily together make it clear that maybe love is not unattainable to her, after all.
What’s the craic? Read on!
Simply put… I was enchanted. Maya is chaotic, independent, silly, bold, and someone with whom I’d love to be friends. She is so transparent about how her autism makes her unique and the neurodivergent representation throughout the book was really authentic and seamlessly woven in. She was so original and refreshing - I loved her inner monologue and seeing how she navigated the downs and ups; the downs being cringe-worthy-bad dates and the ups being the great, unexpected connection with Tadgh.
Tadgh’s grumpiness slowly turning towards protectiveness was *chef’s kiss.* The way he looked out for her with her fear of heights? It was easy to see he’s a secret softy from the way he treated his pup, Fionnula, but I ate up the way he warmed up to Maya. I thought their romance was really well-paced and well-balanced in terms of physical and emotional intimacy. They have bedchem, sure - even when the ‘bed’ is soaking wet grass in the middle of a rainstorm after a near-death experience while escaping a flooding cave and surviving a treacherous rock climb - but they also have a natural sense of what the other person needs in a partner and both show true care in giving it.
The forced proximity of their road trip, the stunning sights they explore together, the meals they share, and the fantasy stories they bond over have them bringing down their own walls one brick at a time in a beautiful way.
The chapter titles each tying in to the experiments was a great touch and kept me focused on the way Maya’s brain works by seeing each new date as data analysis - something to study, learn from, and share with her listeners.
One final thing I thought was done really well was not making Maya feel like a podcaster/influencer who is purely in it for the ratings/clicks. At one point Tadgh criticizes how she uses her dates as “fodder” for her show, but she is quick to correct him that she is poking fun not at them, but at herself and her own quirks. This rings true in the way she respectfully and thoughtfully interacts with both her dates and the couples she interviews. This book would not have had a strong foundation to build a romance upon if not for Maya’s distinctive personality and how she approached those interactions with care from a research-driven place the entire way through.
Memorable moments and quotes:
- “The statistical likelihood of a random matchmaker finding me a life partner in only four weeks - at 38 years old - after 322 unsuccessful first dates is… less than 6.4%.”📉😏
- I love hearing what happens when the FMC sees the MMC for the first time. “He looked like Henry Cavill had had a love child with Hugh Jackman and that child was 40 year-old solid wall of rugged anger.” AND he had a nose break to add character?!😍
- The entirety of chapter 5 was *hysterical* and perfectly narrated when Maya was getting soooo into being SO mean on the date she won with Tadgh because she read that Irish people roast one another to flirt!🤣
- “I think it would be good to find someone who helps me get out of my routines because I really like to try new things, but I don’t often think to do it myself. If I’m left to my own devices, I’ll just stay at home with a book everyday.” OKAY call me RIGHT OUT, why dontcha!👀
- They’re visiting the Cliffs of Moher and she hears Tadgh give Finn praise and call her a *good girl* - ‘Dear God, it’s me, Maya. If I do end up falling off the cliffs today, can I please come back as Tadgh’s next dog?’😝
- I feel like the loathing took a turn towards love when they spoke back and forth in quotes from The Princess Bride.👑👰🏼
- The CAVE?!😱🥵💦
- ‘What on this whole green earth was sexier than a man talking books? Oh, that’s right! A man talking books in a deep Irish accent.’🫠The way they can bond over fantasy and romantasy!🙌🏼
- PLENTY of pop culture and bookish references made Maya feel like someone I already know and love.🫶🏼
- Maya’s affection for Jackie really had her excusing some absolutely unhinged things - the dates with people who were ancient or waaay too young, the ping-pong-ing around Ireland, and the TENT!🏕️
- Maya freaking out that Tadgh caught feelings was going to be the catalyst for the third-act breakup, but I liked how that narrative was hijacked by her dad’s health scare and how Tadgh did everything to get her home (even with no resolution between them) ASAP.
- Maya’s grand gesture - the speech, the three-week road trip through New Zealand, and the new rules - was just awesome. Ending with an epilogue podcast episode was a clever full-circle conclusion that tied the whole book together.
I spy a set up for another book about her best friend, Simone De Souza, in Porto, Portugal! PLEASE!🤞🏼👀🤞🏼
Brittany Presley as the primary narrator was SO impressive - her Irish accents were incredible! The other two narrators are only for the interview segments, so she really carried this one!🍀
Summary:
Maya Davis (38) has turned her disastrous dating experiences into a podcast called “A Spinster’s Guide to Online Dating.” For the second season, she and her co-host/best friend, Simone, are switching things up by taking the experiments *offline* and sending Maya to Ireland for a famous matchmaking festival where she will work with a world-renowned local matchmaker. Though her hopes on finding love aren’t exactly high, she is enjoying the adventure and the scenery; her optimism helps her find the good - or at least the entertainment value for her listeners - in each date that seems worse than the last. She is excited to join her matchmaker on a three-week road trip he planned throughout Ireland so she could meet potential matches, but at the last minute he backs out and enlists Tadgh to replace him. Tadgh (pronounced Tie-g) and Maya, however, got off to… a rocky start, to say the least. After the date she won with him turned into a one-sided roast - a true miscommunication-riddled catastrophe - the grumpy (and stupidly handsome) sheep farmer reluctantly agrees to shepherd her from date to date and do some sightseeing along the way. When their banter and verbal sparring start to feel a lot like chemistry, the attraction, tension, and humor they find so easily together make it clear that maybe love is not unattainable to her, after all.
What’s the craic? Read on!
Simply put… I was enchanted. Maya is chaotic, independent, silly, bold, and someone with whom I’d love to be friends. She is so transparent about how her autism makes her unique and the neurodivergent representation throughout the book was really authentic and seamlessly woven in. She was so original and refreshing - I loved her inner monologue and seeing how she navigated the downs and ups; the downs being cringe-worthy-bad dates and the ups being the great, unexpected connection with Tadgh.
Tadgh’s grumpiness slowly turning towards protectiveness was *chef’s kiss.* The way he looked out for her with her fear of heights? It was easy to see he’s a secret softy from the way he treated his pup, Fionnula, but I ate up the way he warmed up to Maya. I thought their romance was really well-paced and well-balanced in terms of physical and emotional intimacy. They have bedchem, sure - even when the ‘bed’ is soaking wet grass in the middle of a rainstorm after a near-death experience while escaping a flooding cave and surviving a treacherous rock climb - but they also have a natural sense of what the other person needs in a partner and both show true care in giving it.
The forced proximity of their road trip, the stunning sights they explore together, the meals they share, and the fantasy stories they bond over have them bringing down their own walls one brick at a time in a beautiful way.
The chapter titles each tying in to the experiments was a great touch and kept me focused on the way Maya’s brain works by seeing each new date as data analysis - something to study, learn from, and share with her listeners.
One final thing I thought was done really well was not making Maya feel like a podcaster/influencer who is purely in it for the ratings/clicks. At one point Tadgh criticizes how she uses her dates as “fodder” for her show, but she is quick to correct him that she is poking fun not at them, but at herself and her own quirks. This rings true in the way she respectfully and thoughtfully interacts with both her dates and the couples she interviews. This book would not have had a strong foundation to build a romance upon if not for Maya’s distinctive personality and how she approached those interactions with care from a research-driven place the entire way through.
Memorable moments and quotes:
- “The statistical likelihood of a random matchmaker finding me a life partner in only four weeks - at 38 years old - after 322 unsuccessful first dates is… less than 6.4%.”📉😏
- I love hearing what happens when the FMC sees the MMC for the first time. “He looked like Henry Cavill had had a love child with Hugh Jackman and that child was 40 year-old solid wall of rugged anger.” AND he had a nose break to add character?!😍
- The entirety of chapter 5 was *hysterical* and perfectly narrated when Maya was getting soooo into being SO mean on the date she won with Tadgh because she read that Irish people roast one another to flirt!🤣
- “I think it would be good to find someone who helps me get out of my routines because I really like to try new things, but I don’t often think to do it myself. If I’m left to my own devices, I’ll just stay at home with a book everyday.” OKAY call me RIGHT OUT, why dontcha!👀
- They’re visiting the Cliffs of Moher and she hears Tadgh give Finn praise and call her a *good girl* - ‘Dear God, it’s me, Maya. If I do end up falling off the cliffs today, can I please come back as Tadgh’s next dog?’😝
- I feel like the loathing took a turn towards love when they spoke back and forth in quotes from The Princess Bride.👑👰🏼
- The CAVE?!😱🥵💦
- ‘What on this whole green earth was sexier than a man talking books? Oh, that’s right! A man talking books in a deep Irish accent.’🫠The way they can bond over fantasy and romantasy!🙌🏼
- PLENTY of pop culture and bookish references made Maya feel like someone I already know and love.🫶🏼
- Maya’s affection for Jackie really had her excusing some absolutely unhinged things - the dates with people who were ancient or waaay too young, the ping-pong-ing around Ireland, and the TENT!🏕️
- Maya freaking out that Tadgh caught feelings was going to be the catalyst for the third-act breakup, but I liked how that narrative was hijacked by her dad’s health scare and how Tadgh did everything to get her home (even with no resolution between them) ASAP.
- Maya’s grand gesture - the speech, the three-week road trip through New Zealand, and the new rules - was just awesome. Ending with an epilogue podcast episode was a clever full-circle conclusion that tied the whole book together.
I spy a set up for another book about her best friend, Simone De Souza, in Porto, Portugal! PLEASE!🤞🏼👀🤞🏼
September 16, 2026
Thank you, Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for my gifted copy.
Experiments in Offline Dating was a delightful, unexpected adventure in seeking love. Gosh, the wit and banter between Maya and Tadhg were everything! I was eating up all their enemies-to-lovers vibes! Now I want to travel to Ireland for myself. I felt like I was there as I read the book, but I need to experience it for myself. I highly recommend getting a copy to read and enjoy. I did a hybrid read/listen and the audiobook was well narrated.
Experiments in Offline Dating was a delightful, unexpected adventure in seeking love. Gosh, the wit and banter between Maya and Tadhg were everything! I was eating up all their enemies-to-lovers vibes! Now I want to travel to Ireland for myself. I felt like I was there as I read the book, but I need to experience it for myself. I highly recommend getting a copy to read and enjoy. I did a hybrid read/listen and the audiobook was well narrated.
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.
August 23, 2026
I loved the first book by this author, it was and still is one of my favorite books. So when I saw this was available on Edelweiss, I immediately requested it. And I can tell you I was not disappointed, it was so good!
Once again the banter was just perfect. We definitely started with an enemies to lovers story with how Maya and Tadhg (pronounced like the first part of the word Tiger) had their first encounter turned into a reluctant date for both in a way. First of all we got a look into how Maya had a podcast where she’d been doing online dating and talking about every single one of her disastrous dates. And every single one was. She’d decided to do things a little differently and was going to Ireland to a matchmaking festival (which I now want to go to). She had connected with a matchmaker named Jackie, who was going to be her lead and set her up on dates.
I had a lot of doubt in his ability at first because every guy he seemed to set her up with was OLD! I mean OLD! Sure she was like 38, but I’m talking in their 70s and 80s. That’s crazy! She wasn’t sure why he’d decided that was what to set her up with. Of course she ended up at a surprise dating show type thing the very first day she was there, and one of the contestants was a young, hot, grump. She ends up picking him sight unseen just because she couldn’t understand one guy’s Irish accent at all, the other guy was a little bit of a pervert, and so she figured at least she knew what she was getting with the grumpy guy. Well, she and Tadhg had a very unsuccessful date, where she kind of insulted him, thinking that was the way he was flirting? Based on some comedy sketch she’d seen once, lol. Accusing him of getting it on with his sheep, and other crazy stuff.
Turns out that Maya is autistic. While I am not as far as I know, so much of the issues she had were ones that I know I have, and are the very reasons why I gave up on dating a long time ago. Also turns out that the matchmaker, Jackie, is Tadhg’s dad. We don’t realize that until Jackie has set up a big traveling tour for Maya to meet some of the people he set up so she can interview them for her podcast, as well as she can see Ireland and go on dates with men around the country. When it’s time to leave, Jackie isn’t there, and the vehicle that pulls up to escort her is driven by none other than Tadhg, helping his dad out. Well first he makes Maya sit in the back so his dog, Finn, who isn’t a fan of Maya, can sit in the front.
There are lots more set-ups with elderly gentlemen. Definitely some that are not at all compatible with Maya even when they aren’t old. So it becomes a road trip story, and soon we get a “just one bed” part when they stop at the next “Airbnb” that turns out to be a tent, all set up for a romantic evening. With one bed, one air mattress bed, lol.
Tadhg is more than grump though. He’s a bit of a softy really, helping Maya out when her fear of heights kicks in at some of the sites they visit. He’s not quite as immune to her charms either, watching her struggle to climb into the back seat of the car which puts her “assets” right in his face, lol. Maya also finds out he likes the same kind of books she likes, so they listen the audiobooks on their drive. Which leads to one that she thought wasn’t a true romantasy having a very steamy scene just start playing as they’re driving. That gives us some steamy bits with nothing even happening between Maya and Tadhg, they just are listening, and getting very turned on, lol.
There’s a lot of emotional bits to the story as well. Learning about how Jackie always meddled in his kids romantic lives, exactly why Tadhg doesn’t have a good relationship with him. But then something happens with Maya’s family at the end and she has to race back home to San Francisco. But not before one of them puts their heart out in the open and the other kind of turns it down. Which leads to a grand gesture in the end, one that of course comes with lots of laughs and great banter. The steam is a few situations where the two characters do get together, and it is on page even if not crazy detailed like other romances, it is still all out on the page.
This author is going to be a favorite of mine I think, two books in a row that just blew me away. Once again I will have to buy a physical copy of this to put on my shelf. I laughed out loud while sitting in a store reading this one, and to me, that is just how good of a story it is. Probably going to be my favorite read of August, and might be another favorite one for the year!
Once again the banter was just perfect. We definitely started with an enemies to lovers story with how Maya and Tadhg (pronounced like the first part of the word Tiger) had their first encounter turned into a reluctant date for both in a way. First of all we got a look into how Maya had a podcast where she’d been doing online dating and talking about every single one of her disastrous dates. And every single one was. She’d decided to do things a little differently and was going to Ireland to a matchmaking festival (which I now want to go to). She had connected with a matchmaker named Jackie, who was going to be her lead and set her up on dates.
I had a lot of doubt in his ability at first because every guy he seemed to set her up with was OLD! I mean OLD! Sure she was like 38, but I’m talking in their 70s and 80s. That’s crazy! She wasn’t sure why he’d decided that was what to set her up with. Of course she ended up at a surprise dating show type thing the very first day she was there, and one of the contestants was a young, hot, grump. She ends up picking him sight unseen just because she couldn’t understand one guy’s Irish accent at all, the other guy was a little bit of a pervert, and so she figured at least she knew what she was getting with the grumpy guy. Well, she and Tadhg had a very unsuccessful date, where she kind of insulted him, thinking that was the way he was flirting? Based on some comedy sketch she’d seen once, lol. Accusing him of getting it on with his sheep, and other crazy stuff.
Turns out that Maya is autistic. While I am not as far as I know, so much of the issues she had were ones that I know I have, and are the very reasons why I gave up on dating a long time ago. Also turns out that the matchmaker, Jackie, is Tadhg’s dad. We don’t realize that until Jackie has set up a big traveling tour for Maya to meet some of the people he set up so she can interview them for her podcast, as well as she can see Ireland and go on dates with men around the country. When it’s time to leave, Jackie isn’t there, and the vehicle that pulls up to escort her is driven by none other than Tadhg, helping his dad out. Well first he makes Maya sit in the back so his dog, Finn, who isn’t a fan of Maya, can sit in the front.
There are lots more set-ups with elderly gentlemen. Definitely some that are not at all compatible with Maya even when they aren’t old. So it becomes a road trip story, and soon we get a “just one bed” part when they stop at the next “Airbnb” that turns out to be a tent, all set up for a romantic evening. With one bed, one air mattress bed, lol.
Tadhg is more than grump though. He’s a bit of a softy really, helping Maya out when her fear of heights kicks in at some of the sites they visit. He’s not quite as immune to her charms either, watching her struggle to climb into the back seat of the car which puts her “assets” right in his face, lol. Maya also finds out he likes the same kind of books she likes, so they listen the audiobooks on their drive. Which leads to one that she thought wasn’t a true romantasy having a very steamy scene just start playing as they’re driving. That gives us some steamy bits with nothing even happening between Maya and Tadhg, they just are listening, and getting very turned on, lol.
There’s a lot of emotional bits to the story as well. Learning about how Jackie always meddled in his kids romantic lives, exactly why Tadhg doesn’t have a good relationship with him. But then something happens with Maya’s family at the end and she has to race back home to San Francisco. But not before one of them puts their heart out in the open and the other kind of turns it down. Which leads to a grand gesture in the end, one that of course comes with lots of laughs and great banter. The steam is a few situations where the two characters do get together, and it is on page even if not crazy detailed like other romances, it is still all out on the page.
This author is going to be a favorite of mine I think, two books in a row that just blew me away. Once again I will have to buy a physical copy of this to put on my shelf. I laughed out loud while sitting in a store reading this one, and to me, that is just how good of a story it is. Probably going to be my favorite read of August, and might be another favorite one for the year!
September 6, 2026
Experiments in Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie
What happens when you stop swiping and let fate take over?
Experiments in Offline Dating follows Maya Davis, a podcaster whose disastrous dating experiences have become the subject of her show. Tired of online dating, she travels to Ireland to experience the famous matchmaking tradition firsthand. What she doesn't expect is to be paired with Tadhg, a grumpy sheep farmer who seems to be the absolute opposite of what she is looking for.
And that's where the fun begins.
The best part of this book is the banter between Maya and Tadhg. Their first meeting is an absolute disaster, and their constant teasing and arguments make the enemies-to-lovers dynamic genuinely entertaining.
Maya is also a refreshing protagonist. She's awkward, adventurous, unapologetically herself, and doesn't fit the stereotypical image of a rom-com heroine. Her journey isn't just about finding a romantic partner; it's also about questioning the assumptions she's made about herself and what love is supposed to look like.
The Irish setting adds so much charm to the story. The road trip gives the romance plenty of room to develop while allowing the book to explore beautiful landscapes, matchmaking traditions, quirky characters, and plenty of disastrous dates.
I especially enjoyed the combination of humor, romance, forced proximity, grumpy-versus-sunshine energy, and genuine emotional growth.
It's lighthearted without being completely shallow, and beneath all the comedic dating disasters is a sweet message about letting go of expectations and allowing yourself to experience life differently.
Funny, charming, romantic, and full of heart.
Experiments in Offline Dating is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a feel-good enemies-to-lovers romance with an Irish road trip, memorable banter, and plenty of awkward dating disasters.
What happens when you stop swiping and let fate take over?
Experiments in Offline Dating follows Maya Davis, a podcaster whose disastrous dating experiences have become the subject of her show. Tired of online dating, she travels to Ireland to experience the famous matchmaking tradition firsthand. What she doesn't expect is to be paired with Tadhg, a grumpy sheep farmer who seems to be the absolute opposite of what she is looking for.
And that's where the fun begins.
The best part of this book is the banter between Maya and Tadhg. Their first meeting is an absolute disaster, and their constant teasing and arguments make the enemies-to-lovers dynamic genuinely entertaining.
Maya is also a refreshing protagonist. She's awkward, adventurous, unapologetically herself, and doesn't fit the stereotypical image of a rom-com heroine. Her journey isn't just about finding a romantic partner; it's also about questioning the assumptions she's made about herself and what love is supposed to look like.
The Irish setting adds so much charm to the story. The road trip gives the romance plenty of room to develop while allowing the book to explore beautiful landscapes, matchmaking traditions, quirky characters, and plenty of disastrous dates.
I especially enjoyed the combination of humor, romance, forced proximity, grumpy-versus-sunshine energy, and genuine emotional growth.
It's lighthearted without being completely shallow, and beneath all the comedic dating disasters is a sweet message about letting go of expectations and allowing yourself to experience life differently.
Funny, charming, romantic, and full of heart.
Experiments in Offline Dating is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a feel-good enemies-to-lovers romance with an Irish road trip, memorable banter, and plenty of awkward dating disasters.
August 25, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Kat Mackenzie, and NetGalley for this ARC! 💚
Release Date: August 25, 2026
This book took me right back to my trip to Ireland, and honestly? For that reason alone, this is officially my second five-star read of 2026!!!!
Kat Mackenzie has officially become an auto-buy author for me. Book one was great, but book two? Amazing.
I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope in this one. Tadhg and the way he treated his dog already had me 🥹, but the fact that he lowkey always cared about Maya even when he was busy being his grumpy self? Yeah, I ate that up.
And can we talk about his dad?! His lowkey meddling was PERFECT. Just enough to push things along without being annoying, and I loved every second of it.
As much as I loved the romance and the characters, the real heart of this book is the Irish setting. Kat KNOWS how to write a setting. I could picture everything so clearly that it genuinely felt like I was back in Ireland, and that made this book even more special for me.
If you’re looking for a book that will mentally book you a flight to Ireland without the airfare, please pick this one up. 🇮🇪💚
Release Date: August 25, 2026
This book took me right back to my trip to Ireland, and honestly? For that reason alone, this is officially my second five-star read of 2026!!!!
Kat Mackenzie has officially become an auto-buy author for me. Book one was great, but book two? Amazing.
I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope in this one. Tadhg and the way he treated his dog already had me 🥹, but the fact that he lowkey always cared about Maya even when he was busy being his grumpy self? Yeah, I ate that up.
And can we talk about his dad?! His lowkey meddling was PERFECT. Just enough to push things along without being annoying, and I loved every second of it.
As much as I loved the romance and the characters, the real heart of this book is the Irish setting. Kat KNOWS how to write a setting. I could picture everything so clearly that it genuinely felt like I was back in Ireland, and that made this book even more special for me.
If you’re looking for a book that will mentally book you a flight to Ireland without the airfare, please pick this one up. 🇮🇪💚
August 26, 2026
Firstly, THANK YOU SO MUCH to @avonbooks and @katmackenziewrites for the chance to read through @netgalley. This book has given me life with reading. I was cackling! If you love to laugh through a romance, this is absolutely your next read. No questions asked, just do it. I loved how Tadhg was the big, grumpy Irish man. But boy did he soften for Maya. The dating show moment at the festival. Lemon Tart! I adored Maya. She didn’t care about the bad dates. They fueled her. Bret the Boastful might have been my favorite but honestly how can I choose. The audiobook reading in the car and honestly just Maya’s no filter needed characteristic was the best. Tadhg didn’t know how to handle her I’m sure but that had to have done it for him. He was a goner for her chaos.
Kat will absolutely be an auto buy author for me. I need Simone’s story immediately.
Kat will absolutely be an auto buy author for me. I need Simone’s story immediately.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews