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Wreck My Plans
Age isn’t a number.
It’s a state of chaos.
When publicist Mia Andrews becomes the face of a viral disaster dubbed #PantyGate, her career implodes along with her reputation.
Now jobless and single, Mia lands in the last place she expected—her grandmother’s anything-but-quiet retirement community in Florida. It’s chaos. It’s hilarious. It’s exactly what she didn’t know she needed.
Even worse? The meddling retirees are determined to fix Mia’s love life. Somehow, they find time to play matchmaker—with not one but two bachelors under thirty-five.
But amid the mayhem, Mia’s learning that the best second chances come when—and where—you least expect them.
For fans of witty banter, lovable troublemakers, and slow-burn romance, this is the laugh-out-loud novel that proves love never gets old.
It’s a state of chaos.
When publicist Mia Andrews becomes the face of a viral disaster dubbed #PantyGate, her career implodes along with her reputation.
Now jobless and single, Mia lands in the last place she expected—her grandmother’s anything-but-quiet retirement community in Florida. It’s chaos. It’s hilarious. It’s exactly what she didn’t know she needed.
Even worse? The meddling retirees are determined to fix Mia’s love life. Somehow, they find time to play matchmaker—with not one but two bachelors under thirty-five.
But amid the mayhem, Mia’s learning that the best second chances come when—and where—you least expect them.
For fans of witty banter, lovable troublemakers, and slow-burn romance, this is the laugh-out-loud novel that proves love never gets old.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2026
About the author
Cindi Madsen
66 books2,269 followersCindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. She loves music and dancing and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She and her family also take their Marvel addiction very seriously, as their one-eyed cat, Agent Fury, and their kitty named Valkyrie can attest.
You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books.
Follow her on Twitter @cindimadsen
Find her on FB: Cindi Madsen Books
See her inspiration pins on Pinterest.
You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books.
Follow her on Twitter @cindimadsen
Find her on FB: Cindi Madsen Books
See her inspiration pins on Pinterest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
January 18, 2026
Wreck My Plans by Cindi Madsen
Contemporary romance.
Mia Andrews was a publicist for a high profile celebrity. Until she took a weekend off and unplugged her phone. Of course her client went off the rails but Mia is the one that lost her job. Her grandmother invites Mia to work at the retirement community where she lives in Florida and without any other choices, Mia takes on the marketing job.
Mia finds chaos at the retirement community. Loofah sponges of varying colors on all the modified golf carts, and reporters asking about the spreading of sexual transmitted infections. Plus her grandmother and her group of friends pushing Mia to date the doctor and live it up. Even going so far as dressing her up in their party clothes and doing her makeup.
Mia wants to make the community a success so she can use it as a stepping stone in getting her reputation back. Can she also learn there is more to life than working 20 hours a day?
Amusing dialog and situations as Mia immerses herself in her new job while living with her well-meaning grandmother. The retirees are living their best lives and won’t be told to cover up. No, they insist on jumping out of planes!
Entertaining. With a bit of a lesson in life balance and happiness.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance.
Mia Andrews was a publicist for a high profile celebrity. Until she took a weekend off and unplugged her phone. Of course her client went off the rails but Mia is the one that lost her job. Her grandmother invites Mia to work at the retirement community where she lives in Florida and without any other choices, Mia takes on the marketing job.
Mia finds chaos at the retirement community. Loofah sponges of varying colors on all the modified golf carts, and reporters asking about the spreading of sexual transmitted infections. Plus her grandmother and her group of friends pushing Mia to date the doctor and live it up. Even going so far as dressing her up in their party clothes and doing her makeup.
Mia wants to make the community a success so she can use it as a stepping stone in getting her reputation back. Can she also learn there is more to life than working 20 hours a day?
Amusing dialog and situations as Mia immerses herself in her new job while living with her well-meaning grandmother. The retirees are living their best lives and won’t be told to cover up. No, they insist on jumping out of planes!
Entertaining. With a bit of a lesson in life balance and happiness.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun rom-com that spans dating and romance amongst the generations. Also is a great picture of a grandmother ( or multiple grandmothers) and granddaughter relationship. Mia moves in with her grandmother and friends at a retirement home where she gets a job as a publicist to fixed the retirement homeless tarnished image after a article is published about high STI rates. Shes been fired from her last gig and jumps all in to her new job amd trying to help restore the image of the dating scene at the retirement community.
She meets two men , one charming and suave and one grumpy and sarcastic ( Carlos and Noah) Both men intrigue her and inspire the Grannies to meddle in her love life..resulting in some hilarious scenes.
This is a slow burn romance m ce and Id say at least 60 percent is. Adventures with the grannies 👵 and 40 percent is Mia getting to know both men but realizing her feelings were stronger for one in particular.
Id definitely recommend this book for those that like a sweet romance com.
This is a fun rom-com that spans dating and romance amongst the generations. Also is a great picture of a grandmother ( or multiple grandmothers) and granddaughter relationship. Mia moves in with her grandmother and friends at a retirement home where she gets a job as a publicist to fixed the retirement homeless tarnished image after a article is published about high STI rates. Shes been fired from her last gig and jumps all in to her new job amd trying to help restore the image of the dating scene at the retirement community.
She meets two men , one charming and suave and one grumpy and sarcastic ( Carlos and Noah) Both men intrigue her and inspire the Grannies to meddle in her love life..resulting in some hilarious scenes.
This is a slow burn romance m ce and Id say at least 60 percent is. Adventures with the grannies 👵 and 40 percent is Mia getting to know both men but realizing her feelings were stronger for one in particular.
Id definitely recommend this book for those that like a sweet romance com.
February 26, 2026
3.5 rounded up
2 for spice
This book was a fun, laugh out loud, over the top, and learning about yourself. Wreck My plan is a contemporary rom com following the perspective of Mia, who has hit rock bottom in a sense. I loved the push for Mia to try new things dancing and the photo shoot. It really encourages and emphasizes self-love, confidence and just enjoying yourself. The elderly ladies were hilarious and all the thought they put into helping Mia was great.
The romance in this story was ok I could have done without and had the main focus been on Mia learning to live and love herself, even though I did really like the love interest and his tie in with the retirement facility.
The writing felt very rushed in trying to fit all of these plot devices and the romance set up that a lot of scenes just felt like we flew through them and she really did not have a time to pause in the story.
I had a fun time overall and recommend picking up this story.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
2 for spice
This book was a fun, laugh out loud, over the top, and learning about yourself. Wreck My plan is a contemporary rom com following the perspective of Mia, who has hit rock bottom in a sense. I loved the push for Mia to try new things dancing and the photo shoot. It really encourages and emphasizes self-love, confidence and just enjoying yourself. The elderly ladies were hilarious and all the thought they put into helping Mia was great.
The romance in this story was ok I could have done without and had the main focus been on Mia learning to live and love herself, even though I did really like the love interest and his tie in with the retirement facility.
The writing felt very rushed in trying to fit all of these plot devices and the romance set up that a lot of scenes just felt like we flew through them and she really did not have a time to pause in the story.
I had a fun time overall and recommend picking up this story.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
November 28, 2025
The way this book had me cackling… I absolutely adored the grannies and I feel like everybody needs some of them in their lives. I loved this book and how they made all the character stories come together. It was absolutely precious.
The FMC is a character building throughout the story is something that I feel like we can all relate to especially if you have OCD. And I love how the love story comes about throughout the story. I won’t give away anymore than that, but if you want a fun romantic comedy with hysterical meddling grannies , and an ending that leaves your cup, feeling so full in the trials of life…. Then this is the book for you!
The FMC is a character building throughout the story is something that I feel like we can all relate to especially if you have OCD. And I love how the love story comes about throughout the story. I won’t give away anymore than that, but if you want a fun romantic comedy with hysterical meddling grannies , and an ending that leaves your cup, feeling so full in the trials of life…. Then this is the book for you!
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January 12, 2026New Women's Fiction from Cindi Madsen!!!
After a PR nightmare dubbed #PantyGate, Mia Andrews loses her job, her reputation, and her dignity—then moves into her grandma’s Florida retirement community, where the notorious residents are nosy, stubborn, and aggressively invested in her love life.
Meddling retirees. Two hot bachelors. One unforgettable summer.
This book is basically a love letter to grandmothers and Taylor Swift, and I had such a blast writing it. While there is a romance, the central story is really about Mia's burnout, losing her job, and how her group of grandmas teach her about not having regrets--by living out all of theirs!
After a PR nightmare dubbed #PantyGate, Mia Andrews loses her job, her reputation, and her dignity—then moves into her grandma’s Florida retirement community, where the notorious residents are nosy, stubborn, and aggressively invested in her love life.
Meddling retirees. Two hot bachelors. One unforgettable summer.
This book is basically a love letter to grandmothers and Taylor Swift, and I had such a blast writing it. While there is a romance, the central story is really about Mia's burnout, losing her job, and how her group of grandmas teach her about not having regrets--by living out all of theirs!
December 2, 2025
This one ended up being a not for me read. I went in expecting a slow-burn romance, but the MMC barely appears in the first half of the book, which made it hard for me to feel connected once the romance finally picked up. The meddling grandma storyline was genuinely fun, though — she definitely added some charm. I just found myself skimming because I never fully clicked with the pacing or the dynamic.
That said, I can see a lot of readers enjoying this one. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc.
That said, I can see a lot of readers enjoying this one. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So this is a cute idea... Mia needs an escape from her former job/life, after it fell apart. What better place to regroup than with your Granny.
The highlight of this story is are the inhabitants of the retirement community where her Granny lives. The shenanigans and situations Mia finds herself in (and a part of) certainly kept me chuckling.
My 3.5 star rating has to do with the slow burn mess of Mia dating one guy for a bit, but realizing another guy is a better fit, and how the final relationship settled out.
I wanted something different, but this is completely a ME problem.
I do recommend this read, as it was entertaining and I enjoyed my time with these characters.
The highlight of this story is are the inhabitants of the retirement community where her Granny lives. The shenanigans and situations Mia finds herself in (and a part of) certainly kept me chuckling.
My 3.5 star rating has to do with the slow burn mess of Mia dating one guy for a bit, but realizing another guy is a better fit, and how the final relationship settled out.
I wanted something different, but this is completely a ME problem.
I do recommend this read, as it was entertaining and I enjoyed my time with these characters.
February 4, 2026
I wanted to love this so much. I worked at a nursing home woth nuns and grannies. What a hoot they are! Pacing was off for me. Nothing really happened until more than half way I almost dnf.
Love the drama with her mom and her grams. Love the bargain with the grannies. Satisfying ending.
Love the drama with her mom and her grams. Love the bargain with the grannies. Satisfying ending.
January 4, 2026
After losing her high-profile PR job in Miami, Mia moves to her grandmother’s retirement home to take over their marketing, where her grandma and friends sweep her up into nonstop shenanigans.
You’ve got spunky, meddling grandmas, plenty of retirement-home hijinks, and a down-on-her-luck FMC trying to claw her way back to the glamorous life she thinks she wants—only to slowly realize that something different might suit her better.
While this was marketed as a romance, the romantic storyline takes more of a backseat. The MMC, Noah, appears early on, but doesn’t truly interact much with Mia until later in the book, which made the romantic storyline feel a bit rushed. It just felt too insta-love for me, unfortunately. That said, I appreciated the focus on Mia’s personal growth and self-discovery.
I especially enjoyed the humor, the meddling grandmas, and the quirky retirement-home residents, all of whom brought warmth, charm, and plenty of laughs. The hijinks were consistently entertaining and gave the story its heart.
Overall, readers looking for a charming, humorous, hijinks at the retirement home with grandma with a splash of romance will enjoy this one!
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
You’ve got spunky, meddling grandmas, plenty of retirement-home hijinks, and a down-on-her-luck FMC trying to claw her way back to the glamorous life she thinks she wants—only to slowly realize that something different might suit her better.
While this was marketed as a romance, the romantic storyline takes more of a backseat. The MMC, Noah, appears early on, but doesn’t truly interact much with Mia until later in the book, which made the romantic storyline feel a bit rushed. It just felt too insta-love for me, unfortunately. That said, I appreciated the focus on Mia’s personal growth and self-discovery.
I especially enjoyed the humor, the meddling grandmas, and the quirky retirement-home residents, all of whom brought warmth, charm, and plenty of laughs. The hijinks were consistently entertaining and gave the story its heart.
Overall, readers looking for a charming, humorous, hijinks at the retirement home with grandma with a splash of romance will enjoy this one!
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 4, 2025
This book has it all...emotional breakdown, meddling grandmas, is funny, and has a swoony man. Our leading lady is so relatable and a hot mess, her family far from perfect, but together they learn to always live life and not let it pass you by...Including that hot man that is now part of your life.
January 18, 2026
I am so glad I got an ARC for this book. it is so adorable. I laughed and cackled and cried at the same time. this book is a perfect balance of lessons and plot. I love the romance later and its just great! I highly reccomend this book so much. I needed this laugh and high jinx of grannies and other generations. love this book so much.
January 7, 2026
I found the concept of Wreck My Plans to be very interesting. I'm always a sucker for a book that is about someone being down on their luck and finding a way to turn it around. I think seeing characters/people be able to bounce back after a hardship is inspiring. I was hopeful that I would feel that way about this book. But sadly, I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would.
What worked in the story? The relationship between Mia and her grandmother. I loved the exploration of multi generational relationships. I also feel that a lot of stories focus on mother-daughter. But we don't often get that skip between generations and get a granddaughter-grandmother story. I also liked the addition of the grandmother's friends. I also enjoyed the conversation around regret. What happens when you begin to regret the things you did or didn't do in life? What would you do if you could have someone live out that regret for you? I thought it was a great way for the grandmothers/bubbes to be able to push Mia out of her comfort zone. Mia came to their retirement community after getting fired from a job. She was stressed and overworked and hadn't really taken any time for herself in years. The ladies wanted to her learn what work life balance was. They also didn't want Mia to end up like them with regrets. In pushing Mia to live out their regrets for them, it gave Mia an opportunity to understand the ladies but also think about how she wanted to live her life.
What didn't work in the story? The romance. I didn't find it believable. But mostly because the romance felt like an afterthought and it felt rushed. I don't know that I was rooting for either guy in the "triangle" that was created. I didn't have strong feelings towards either one.
What I wished had happened was more of a focus on Mia and her relationship with the ladies. I would have really liked to see how Mia felt after each regret and spent one on one time with the lady she was fulfilling the regret for. How did each of the regrets impact Mia? And her relationship with that lady? I would have also loved more of a conversation regarding generational trauma if it was going to be focal point for Mia and her life choices. I think the mark was missed by not discussing how Mia and her grandmother's relationship didn't have all of the pitfalls that the grandmother and mom had, which was also reflective in Mia's relationship with her mom. I found it interesting how each of the mother daughter relationships mirrored each other but the grandmother-granddaughter relationship didn't seem to have those same problems. For me, I could have left the romance out and really spent time in the female relationships of the story. That's what felt like the heart and soul, but we as the reader weren't quite able to spend time there with the other sub plots happening, which took away from what felt like a truly moving story.
What worked in the story? The relationship between Mia and her grandmother. I loved the exploration of multi generational relationships. I also feel that a lot of stories focus on mother-daughter. But we don't often get that skip between generations and get a granddaughter-grandmother story. I also liked the addition of the grandmother's friends. I also enjoyed the conversation around regret. What happens when you begin to regret the things you did or didn't do in life? What would you do if you could have someone live out that regret for you? I thought it was a great way for the grandmothers/bubbes to be able to push Mia out of her comfort zone. Mia came to their retirement community after getting fired from a job. She was stressed and overworked and hadn't really taken any time for herself in years. The ladies wanted to her learn what work life balance was. They also didn't want Mia to end up like them with regrets. In pushing Mia to live out their regrets for them, it gave Mia an opportunity to understand the ladies but also think about how she wanted to live her life.
What didn't work in the story? The romance. I didn't find it believable. But mostly because the romance felt like an afterthought and it felt rushed. I don't know that I was rooting for either guy in the "triangle" that was created. I didn't have strong feelings towards either one.
What I wished had happened was more of a focus on Mia and her relationship with the ladies. I would have really liked to see how Mia felt after each regret and spent one on one time with the lady she was fulfilling the regret for. How did each of the regrets impact Mia? And her relationship with that lady? I would have also loved more of a conversation regarding generational trauma if it was going to be focal point for Mia and her life choices. I think the mark was missed by not discussing how Mia and her grandmother's relationship didn't have all of the pitfalls that the grandmother and mom had, which was also reflective in Mia's relationship with her mom. I found it interesting how each of the mother daughter relationships mirrored each other but the grandmother-granddaughter relationship didn't seem to have those same problems. For me, I could have left the romance out and really spent time in the female relationships of the story. That's what felt like the heart and soul, but we as the reader weren't quite able to spend time there with the other sub plots happening, which took away from what felt like a truly moving story.
February 12, 2026
Wreck my Plans is a sweet heartwarming story with meddling grandparents and unexpected love. This is Mia’s story in finding herself again after being fired and learning to live again from her Grandmother. Mia goes to work for the Lakeview Retirement community where her grandmother lives and experiences life as carefree and fun. I love the relationship she has with her grandmother and the other ladies there, they are hilarious and wise. I also love how she met Noah there and how easily they connected. Their story gave me all the feels and love that her grandmother changed her life for the better. I really enjoyed their story and can’t wait to read more.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance reader copy.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance reader copy.
January 17, 2026
3.5 stars? Thanks again, Entangled Publishing for the eARC.
It had some tears-running-down-my-face moments (mostly funny, some sad), and a good character arc. The story immediately draws you in, but as I don’t really relate to the character, there were a lot of frustrating moments for me! There were a couple times where there was an argument, and I expected it to be mentioned again shortly after, but it was completely glossed over and then never really brought up again until the end (at least it was resolved!), but I didn’t think the characters would just move on like that.
Overall, loved the shenanigans and the grandmas!
It had some tears-running-down-my-face moments (mostly funny, some sad), and a good character arc. The story immediately draws you in, but as I don’t really relate to the character, there were a lot of frustrating moments for me! There were a couple times where there was an argument, and I expected it to be mentioned again shortly after, but it was completely glossed over and then never really brought up again until the end (at least it was resolved!), but I didn’t think the characters would just move on like that.
Overall, loved the shenanigans and the grandmas!
January 17, 2026
This was a hidden gem of a read for me, that had me laughing and brought the heart. The story centers around Mia Andrews, a publicist in need of a rescue. She flees to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida to escape the aftermath from one of her clients.
I loved the tender moments between grandmother and granddaughter, and the slow burn romance too. Overall a cute story!
*many thanks to Entangled and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
I loved the tender moments between grandmother and granddaughter, and the slow burn romance too. Overall a cute story!
*many thanks to Entangled and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
April 2, 2026
I spent a majority of the book thinking this was a 3-star read but the ending was beautiful and I cried a lot and so it gets four stars. This is less a romance and more a story of living life to the fullest with people who support you along the way. Mia’s relationship with all the citizens of the retirement community she works in was so precious. And while yes she technically find love…it felt like a subplot to everything else
Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC of this! (Although I’m very late to reading it)
Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC of this! (Although I’m very late to reading it)
January 10, 2026
Solid 4 1/2 stars.
I pretty much never read womans fiction because I need the happy ending. I didn't realize that's what this book was until after I started reading it. I've read several books by this author, so I didn't really give it a second thought. Yes, there is a happy ending, yes, there is romance, and darn it, there were tears too (I hate crying!) I really enjoyed this story, even though it veered from my normal. There were some fun scenes and really great characters, and lessons we all need a reminder of.
I pretty much never read womans fiction because I need the happy ending. I didn't realize that's what this book was until after I started reading it. I've read several books by this author, so I didn't really give it a second thought. Yes, there is a happy ending, yes, there is romance, and darn it, there were tears too (I hate crying!) I really enjoyed this story, even though it veered from my normal. There were some fun scenes and really great characters, and lessons we all need a reminder of.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wreck My Plans by Cindi Madsen is the kind of book that pretends it’s a lighthearted rom-com and then quietly sits you down to discuss burnout, perfectionism, and why your nervous system deserves a snack and a nap.
Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Mia Andrews is a publicist whose life detonates in very public fashion thanks to a viral fiasco dubbed #PantyGate, which is both mortifying and, frankly, an unhinged thing to trend over. One minute she’s managing crises for a living, the next she is the crisis. Unemployed, single, and emotionally fried, she retreats to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida thinking this will be quiet, temporary, and safe. Reader, it is none of those things.
Instead, Mia is dropped into a community powered entirely by gossip, golf carts, unsolicited advice, and retirees who have decided that if they can’t live vicariously through her love life, then what is even the point of aging. The grandmas absolutely steal the show. They are chaotic, meddling, well-meaning, occasionally exhausting, and somehow still deeply comforting. At times they are a lot, but honestly, so is healing, and that feels intentional.
This book is funny in a very grounded way. Not joke-joke funny, but “I laughed because this is painfully true” funny. The humor comes from situations spiraling out of control, from Mia’s inner monologue, and from watching someone who has tied their entire self-worth to productivity be forced to sit still and confront herself. It’s cozy, but it’s also sharp. Comforting, but not shallow.
The romance is a slow burn, and yes, it takes its time. If you’re coming in expecting constant swooning from page one, this might test your patience. But the emotional pacing makes sense. This story is far more invested in Mia rebuilding her sense of self than rushing her into a relationship to prove she’s okay now. When the romance does come into focus, it feels earned, gentle, and supportive rather than flashy.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is how it handles anxiety and OCD. Mia’s struggles are woven into her character in a way that feels honest and lived-in, not performative or reduced to a single trait. Her perfectionism, her spirals, her constant need to control outcomes all connect back to how she’s learned to survive. Watching her slowly loosen her grip, make mistakes, and still be loved is incredibly satisfying.
“Sometimes the plan falling apart is the only reason you finally get to breathe.”
By the end, Wreck My Plans feels less like a traditional rom-com and more like a warm, slightly sarcastic reminder that starting over doesn’t mean you failed. It means you lived long enough to realize something wasn’t working. Between the found family, the growth arc, the slow-burn romance, and the unapologetic chaos of the retirement community, this book left me smiling, a little emotional, and oddly comforted.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
If you love cozy romance novels with witty banter, found family vibes, emotional growth, and meddling grandmas who refuse to mind their business, this is absolutely one to add to your list.
#wreckmyplans #cindimadsen #romancebooks #romcomreads #slowburnromance #foundfamily #netgalleyarc #entangledpublishing #bookreview #2026books
Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Amara, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Mia Andrews is a publicist whose life detonates in very public fashion thanks to a viral fiasco dubbed #PantyGate, which is both mortifying and, frankly, an unhinged thing to trend over. One minute she’s managing crises for a living, the next she is the crisis. Unemployed, single, and emotionally fried, she retreats to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida thinking this will be quiet, temporary, and safe. Reader, it is none of those things.
Instead, Mia is dropped into a community powered entirely by gossip, golf carts, unsolicited advice, and retirees who have decided that if they can’t live vicariously through her love life, then what is even the point of aging. The grandmas absolutely steal the show. They are chaotic, meddling, well-meaning, occasionally exhausting, and somehow still deeply comforting. At times they are a lot, but honestly, so is healing, and that feels intentional.
This book is funny in a very grounded way. Not joke-joke funny, but “I laughed because this is painfully true” funny. The humor comes from situations spiraling out of control, from Mia’s inner monologue, and from watching someone who has tied their entire self-worth to productivity be forced to sit still and confront herself. It’s cozy, but it’s also sharp. Comforting, but not shallow.
The romance is a slow burn, and yes, it takes its time. If you’re coming in expecting constant swooning from page one, this might test your patience. But the emotional pacing makes sense. This story is far more invested in Mia rebuilding her sense of self than rushing her into a relationship to prove she’s okay now. When the romance does come into focus, it feels earned, gentle, and supportive rather than flashy.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is how it handles anxiety and OCD. Mia’s struggles are woven into her character in a way that feels honest and lived-in, not performative or reduced to a single trait. Her perfectionism, her spirals, her constant need to control outcomes all connect back to how she’s learned to survive. Watching her slowly loosen her grip, make mistakes, and still be loved is incredibly satisfying.
“Sometimes the plan falling apart is the only reason you finally get to breathe.”
By the end, Wreck My Plans feels less like a traditional rom-com and more like a warm, slightly sarcastic reminder that starting over doesn’t mean you failed. It means you lived long enough to realize something wasn’t working. Between the found family, the growth arc, the slow-burn romance, and the unapologetic chaos of the retirement community, this book left me smiling, a little emotional, and oddly comforted.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
If you love cozy romance novels with witty banter, found family vibes, emotional growth, and meddling grandmas who refuse to mind their business, this is absolutely one to add to your list.
#wreckmyplans #cindimadsen #romancebooks #romcomreads #slowburnromance #foundfamily #netgalleyarc #entangledpublishing #bookreview #2026books
April 2, 2026
“Life truly is too precious and short for regrets…”
A story so beautiful that it made me tear up and evaluate my life and relationships. This revolves around Mia, a character so driven that she doesn’t have the word “rest” in her vocabulary. It shows how she struggles when her well-laid plans went haywire when she got fired from her high – end job in Miami, leading her to lay low and take her spark back in the backwater place in Lakeview, her grandmothers’ retirement community. The place where she’s got no other choice but to slow down.
While reading this, it got me reminded of the lives that everyone of us is currently living. Driven, committed, and don’t know how to say no to things outside of our job requirements, but still we do it to prove ourselves – often leading to burnouts. What I appreciated most is that Mia’s growth didn’t feel rushed. Her transition from being overworked to learning how to slow down was given enough space to develop, making her journey feel realistic and earned. She had her own pace and did things her way. I liked that.
At times like these, we all need that one person to remind us to take a break and slow down. In this case, Mia has a team for her. I really appreciated how the book highlights the importance of having people around you. There are a lot of people that are quietly cheering us on, we just don’t know it or that we refuse to acknowledge it, blinded by the race. The race to success as what society has ingrained in our minds growing up. This book is for these people. It is a reminder that no matter how hard and demanding our careers are, it is imperative that we take a rest. The ultimate goal in life is attaining stability and finding happiness in our day – to – day adventures in this world.
On a side note, this book also tells the story of three generations of women with their own shared trauma. Grandmother, mother, and daughter, living the life of pain, regrets, and unsaid sadness. This part of the book really touched me personally. There is something so raw about the relationship between mothers and their daughter, as if it is something universal that every reader like me can relate with but can’t put it into words. Madsen’s work is truly and without a doubt, a tearjerker. It touches the hearts of every girl that longs for their mother’s touch and their grandma’s kindness.
All in all, this was a great read. There is also love involved, but I’m not touching more on that as I feel that it is not the main focus of the story. Hesitations and differing perspectives can really hinder the progress of one’s relationship with another, but a single step can make a big difference.
It serves as a gentle reminder that no matter how demanding life gets, it’s important to pause, breathe, and reassess what truly matters.
Thank you for this ARC!
A story so beautiful that it made me tear up and evaluate my life and relationships. This revolves around Mia, a character so driven that she doesn’t have the word “rest” in her vocabulary. It shows how she struggles when her well-laid plans went haywire when she got fired from her high – end job in Miami, leading her to lay low and take her spark back in the backwater place in Lakeview, her grandmothers’ retirement community. The place where she’s got no other choice but to slow down.
While reading this, it got me reminded of the lives that everyone of us is currently living. Driven, committed, and don’t know how to say no to things outside of our job requirements, but still we do it to prove ourselves – often leading to burnouts. What I appreciated most is that Mia’s growth didn’t feel rushed. Her transition from being overworked to learning how to slow down was given enough space to develop, making her journey feel realistic and earned. She had her own pace and did things her way. I liked that.
At times like these, we all need that one person to remind us to take a break and slow down. In this case, Mia has a team for her. I really appreciated how the book highlights the importance of having people around you. There are a lot of people that are quietly cheering us on, we just don’t know it or that we refuse to acknowledge it, blinded by the race. The race to success as what society has ingrained in our minds growing up. This book is for these people. It is a reminder that no matter how hard and demanding our careers are, it is imperative that we take a rest. The ultimate goal in life is attaining stability and finding happiness in our day – to – day adventures in this world.
On a side note, this book also tells the story of three generations of women with their own shared trauma. Grandmother, mother, and daughter, living the life of pain, regrets, and unsaid sadness. This part of the book really touched me personally. There is something so raw about the relationship between mothers and their daughter, as if it is something universal that every reader like me can relate with but can’t put it into words. Madsen’s work is truly and without a doubt, a tearjerker. It touches the hearts of every girl that longs for their mother’s touch and their grandma’s kindness.
All in all, this was a great read. There is also love involved, but I’m not touching more on that as I feel that it is not the main focus of the story. Hesitations and differing perspectives can really hinder the progress of one’s relationship with another, but a single step can make a big difference.
It serves as a gentle reminder that no matter how demanding life gets, it’s important to pause, breathe, and reassess what truly matters.
Thank you for this ARC!
January 17, 2026
After a high-profile snafu at her elite PR job, anxious and perfectionistic Mia takes a temporary marketing job at her grandmother's retirement home in SW Florida (with many prurient characteristics heavily borrowed from the real-life retirement community The Villages in Florida). Embraced by her grandmother and her tribe of auxiliary "grandmothers," Mia is encouraged to let go and live her best life (which includes living that life alongside the best man). But will Mia recover from her burnout or will she fall back into her old maladaptive life habits? This was a quick read with a lot of warmth, and had a nice blend of seriousness and fun. It was heavier than expected in some ways, with deeper messaging about aging, body positivity, recovering from relationship trauma, and mental health. (It's clear the author either has experience with anxiety and OCD and therapy strategies, or she's done some pretty thorough research into Mia's struggles. Much of it rang true and lent depth to Mia's character.) Mia's mom is a piece of work, although we grow to understand why a little bit. Grandma Helen is at least loving towards Mia, but there was emotional manipulation that I don't like from her and the other grandmas. (They walked a fine line with Mia between tough love and steamrolling, and while it gave the story some direction there were times I found it to be unpleasant. My heart hurt for Mia, as a parentified child she was emotionally unsupported for a very long time and yet her feelings were still being dismissed even by those who care about her.) Several generations of mother-daughter trauma to unpack added another layer of tension to the story. I definitely related to Mia with her anxiety and over-achiever people-pleasing ways and the interpersonal family dysfunction. While the romance played a large role in the story (including the "love triangle" she finds herself in), it felt like an accessory to what turned into more of a "life lessons" and self-growth type of story. I think people who enjoy their love stories with a large contingency of active (and sassy) senior citizens, some madcap humor, and some deeper themes of generational trauma and loss will really enjoy this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After getting fired from her job, Mia moves in with her grandmother and works as a publicist for the retirement community. There, with the help of her grandmother’s friends, Mia discovers two potential suitors and a renewed sense of self-esteem.
I really liked the focus on self-esteem and body positivity and how the grandmother’s cat Fifi figured into the book. Both of the love interests are good guys with Mia’s best interests at heart. Her grandmother and the various members of the retirement community are lovely, maybe especially when they are misbehaving.
This delightful elements of this book quickly become overwhelming. Mia’s grandmother’s friends, for example, are so numerous, their identities get muddled. The two love interests dilute the romantic subplot, allowing for relatively little time with either man as the focus is her journey rather than finding a happily-ever-after.
Mia’s difficult relationship with her mother is reduced to a thread that seems to get resolved behind the scenes as is Mia’s break up with one of her suitors. Mia’s given several siblings but none are named, and they only figure into the book peripherally. Mia is shown having multiple jobs, most of which seem to fall into her lap.
Mia is a bit hard to root for because her grandmother’s friends are always doing things for her, but she is rarely returning the favor. Her OCD and generalized anxiety disorder seem more part of the book to increase empathy for Mia as she runs around the retirement community in four inch heels, than something Mia grapples with.
All in all, I liked Mia’s character arc, but I would have preferred less distractions and more focus on fewer characters and plot lines, which could have turned this book from a good read to a great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Amara, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC., for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.
I really liked the focus on self-esteem and body positivity and how the grandmother’s cat Fifi figured into the book. Both of the love interests are good guys with Mia’s best interests at heart. Her grandmother and the various members of the retirement community are lovely, maybe especially when they are misbehaving.
This delightful elements of this book quickly become overwhelming. Mia’s grandmother’s friends, for example, are so numerous, their identities get muddled. The two love interests dilute the romantic subplot, allowing for relatively little time with either man as the focus is her journey rather than finding a happily-ever-after.
Mia’s difficult relationship with her mother is reduced to a thread that seems to get resolved behind the scenes as is Mia’s break up with one of her suitors. Mia’s given several siblings but none are named, and they only figure into the book peripherally. Mia is shown having multiple jobs, most of which seem to fall into her lap.
Mia is a bit hard to root for because her grandmother’s friends are always doing things for her, but she is rarely returning the favor. Her OCD and generalized anxiety disorder seem more part of the book to increase empathy for Mia as she runs around the retirement community in four inch heels, than something Mia grapples with.
All in all, I liked Mia’s character arc, but I would have preferred less distractions and more focus on fewer characters and plot lines, which could have turned this book from a good read to a great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Amara, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC., for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Netgalley, Entagled: Amara, and Cindi Madsen for the ARC!
Mia finds herself at her grandmother's retirement community after getting fired from her job as a publicist. Mia comes with a lot of baggage-- she has anxiety, a rocky relationship with her mother, and lots of internal dilemmas. This book is labeled as a romance, but I think it is more women's literature and a journey of self-discovery.
This wasn't a terrible book by any means. I thought the writing was good. I think where the book fell short was with the story and the first 70% of the book felt rather slow. We're introduced to a large group of meddling grannies who take Mia out of her comfort zone. Some of these scenes were entertaining whilst others felt dragged on.
A lot of prior concerns from other reviews were related to the romance, and I'd have to agree and disagree. Many say that the love interest isn't introduced until halfway through the book. The main love interest is introduced around 20%, but Mia spends some time dating someone else, which makes it hard to root for either of the guys because as you're reading it, you don't know which one she's going to pick. Though the relationships never overlap, it's still hard to root for one guy over the other. We only have such a limited amount of pages to see a relationship blossom, and I do think having her officially get together with the MMC at the 50% mark makes it hard. And when they do, it's very much instant-love. They say that they've been noticing each other, but we don't get to see any of it.
The main reason why I give this book two stars is because of the last 20%. It actually made me feel a little choked up. It explores a lot of big themes related to family and perspectives on sacrifice. This part was definitely the best part.
Mia finds herself at her grandmother's retirement community after getting fired from her job as a publicist. Mia comes with a lot of baggage-- she has anxiety, a rocky relationship with her mother, and lots of internal dilemmas. This book is labeled as a romance, but I think it is more women's literature and a journey of self-discovery.
This wasn't a terrible book by any means. I thought the writing was good. I think where the book fell short was with the story and the first 70% of the book felt rather slow. We're introduced to a large group of meddling grannies who take Mia out of her comfort zone. Some of these scenes were entertaining whilst others felt dragged on.
A lot of prior concerns from other reviews were related to the romance, and I'd have to agree and disagree. Many say that the love interest isn't introduced until halfway through the book. The main love interest is introduced around 20%, but Mia spends some time dating someone else, which makes it hard to root for either of the guys because as you're reading it, you don't know which one she's going to pick. Though the relationships never overlap, it's still hard to root for one guy over the other. We only have such a limited amount of pages to see a relationship blossom, and I do think having her officially get together with the MMC at the 50% mark makes it hard. And when they do, it's very much instant-love. They say that they've been noticing each other, but we don't get to see any of it.
The main reason why I give this book two stars is because of the last 20%. It actually made me feel a little choked up. It explores a lot of big themes related to family and perspectives on sacrifice. This part was definitely the best part.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 / 5 🌟
0.5 / 5 🌶️
Prepare for lighthearted belly laughs and over the top shenanigans lead by a group of grannies. Don’t underestimate the tenacity and passion of the seniors, when they put their mind to something chaos ensues. Mia Andrews loses her high profile publicist job with a professional athlete over a fashion mishaps dubbed #PantyGate. Now desperate for employment, she accepts the only job offer she can find, improving the reputation of her grannies retirement community from recent bad press. The future of the development hinges on the improved resident occupancy rate which is hard to recover from after the recent STD scandal. The grannies suggest a quid pro quo, they’ll get the other residents to improve their act and start participating if Mia lightens up on her workaholic tendencies and starts living her life, including going on dates.
It’s a cosy, quick read, that will have you laughing from the silliness. I loved how ridiculous the grannies were, honestly they are the grandparent we all wish we had! Vibrant and full of life, they don’t let their age hold them back from enjoying life to the fullest and have no filter on their opinions. I love how this book explores real life problems without feeling preachy! It explores OCD and anxiety in a way that feels realistic and approachable. It highlights the importance of balance between career goals and success with slowing down to experience the little moments of life. The romance was mostly in the latter half and then felt rushed. I liked the semi triangle love potential but wanted more of the slow burn romance and cute date moments.
The grannies stole the show! Definitely an enjoyable quick read.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Amara for my eARC. These are my honest thoughts, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early
0.5 / 5 🌶️
Prepare for lighthearted belly laughs and over the top shenanigans lead by a group of grannies. Don’t underestimate the tenacity and passion of the seniors, when they put their mind to something chaos ensues. Mia Andrews loses her high profile publicist job with a professional athlete over a fashion mishaps dubbed #PantyGate. Now desperate for employment, she accepts the only job offer she can find, improving the reputation of her grannies retirement community from recent bad press. The future of the development hinges on the improved resident occupancy rate which is hard to recover from after the recent STD scandal. The grannies suggest a quid pro quo, they’ll get the other residents to improve their act and start participating if Mia lightens up on her workaholic tendencies and starts living her life, including going on dates.
It’s a cosy, quick read, that will have you laughing from the silliness. I loved how ridiculous the grannies were, honestly they are the grandparent we all wish we had! Vibrant and full of life, they don’t let their age hold them back from enjoying life to the fullest and have no filter on their opinions. I love how this book explores real life problems without feeling preachy! It explores OCD and anxiety in a way that feels realistic and approachable. It highlights the importance of balance between career goals and success with slowing down to experience the little moments of life. The romance was mostly in the latter half and then felt rushed. I liked the semi triangle love potential but wanted more of the slow burn romance and cute date moments.
The grannies stole the show! Definitely an enjoyable quick read.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Amara for my eARC. These are my honest thoughts, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is a lot of fun. It’s also one of those instances where I really wish we had half stars because I like this more than an average 3, but not so much to give it a 4. It’s a very, very solid 3.5.
The cover was the first thing that drew me in (I adore it!) and the tone of the book matches that vibe perfectly.
Mia, a workaholic publicist, finds herself suddenly out of a job due to a scandal involving one of her clients that she accidentally slept right through. To get herself back on her feet, she ends up working at her grandmother’s retirement home, Lakeview, in Florida. When she shows up, her first experience is a bunch of protesting retirees in their underwear and the hijinks only continue from there. Along with her actual grandmother, there’s a whole group of ladies that have basically adopted Mia into the fold. Determined to get her to loosen up and live a little (they all have quite a bit of experience in that department, after all) they begin meddling (with love) into her dating life.
Not only does she not expect to find any suitors in a retirement home of all places, Mia actually ends up finding herself with TWO: Dr. Carlos Vasquez, and Noah, whose grandmother also lives in the community. They have extremely different personalities, but Mia finds herself drawn to both, much to the grandmothers’ delight.
I liked Mia a lot as a main character, and the whole book is told from her POV. It was also super obvious (to me) which guy she had more chemistry with but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading it at all.
This was really sweet and wholesome, but I would definitely categorize it as Women’s Fiction more than Romance. Romance obviously plays a big part, but it’s secondary to the relationship between Mia and the older ladies/grandmas. That’s the real heart of this book, not really who she decides she actually wants to be with.
The cover was the first thing that drew me in (I adore it!) and the tone of the book matches that vibe perfectly.
Mia, a workaholic publicist, finds herself suddenly out of a job due to a scandal involving one of her clients that she accidentally slept right through. To get herself back on her feet, she ends up working at her grandmother’s retirement home, Lakeview, in Florida. When she shows up, her first experience is a bunch of protesting retirees in their underwear and the hijinks only continue from there. Along with her actual grandmother, there’s a whole group of ladies that have basically adopted Mia into the fold. Determined to get her to loosen up and live a little (they all have quite a bit of experience in that department, after all) they begin meddling (with love) into her dating life.
Not only does she not expect to find any suitors in a retirement home of all places, Mia actually ends up finding herself with TWO: Dr. Carlos Vasquez, and Noah, whose grandmother also lives in the community. They have extremely different personalities, but Mia finds herself drawn to both, much to the grandmothers’ delight.
I liked Mia a lot as a main character, and the whole book is told from her POV. It was also super obvious (to me) which guy she had more chemistry with but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading it at all.
This was really sweet and wholesome, but I would definitely categorize it as Women’s Fiction more than Romance. Romance obviously plays a big part, but it’s secondary to the relationship between Mia and the older ladies/grandmas. That’s the real heart of this book, not really who she decides she actually wants to be with.
January 18, 2026
Mia, a PR specialist, gets fired after one of her clients gets some pretty bad press, but is determined to bounce back by helping publicize and market her grandmother’s retirement community. Along the way, her retirement community encourages her to remember there is more to life than work. The meddlesome elderly also attempt to help Mia’s love life with the retirement community’s doctor, Carlos. However, the gardener, Noah, swoops in and starts showing Mia how fun life can be.
This story is extremely character driven. Each character is extremely strong and well thought out with back stories and a purpose to the plot rather than being used for jokes or random teaching moments.
I appreciated the mental health aspect of this book. Growing up under constant pressure to be perfect and always being judged for the smallest things can take a toll that can affect every aspect of an adult life. It was refreshing to see anxiety and mindfulness portrayed in such a realistic way.
It’s definitely a slow burn; the romance doesn’t start until about halfway through the book. I would also classify it as instant love, it felt like Noah and Mia interacted a few times, then all of the sudden fell in love. I wish there was more relationship development before they got together.
The writing was at times hard to follow. It was so character driven that it jumped around from situation to situation without much flow or explanation of how we got from point a to point b. I also wish there was more backstory with her growing up with her mom and grandmother; it got info dumpy at times towards the end.
Overall, this was a good book about finding yourself and learning to not take life so seriously.
This story is extremely character driven. Each character is extremely strong and well thought out with back stories and a purpose to the plot rather than being used for jokes or random teaching moments.
I appreciated the mental health aspect of this book. Growing up under constant pressure to be perfect and always being judged for the smallest things can take a toll that can affect every aspect of an adult life. It was refreshing to see anxiety and mindfulness portrayed in such a realistic way.
It’s definitely a slow burn; the romance doesn’t start until about halfway through the book. I would also classify it as instant love, it felt like Noah and Mia interacted a few times, then all of the sudden fell in love. I wish there was more relationship development before they got together.
The writing was at times hard to follow. It was so character driven that it jumped around from situation to situation without much flow or explanation of how we got from point a to point b. I also wish there was more backstory with her growing up with her mom and grandmother; it got info dumpy at times towards the end.
Overall, this was a good book about finding yourself and learning to not take life so seriously.
January 13, 2026
3.5. This story was super cute and I absolutely LOVED the grannies. It was pretty funny as well and I loved how Mia was able to come into her own as the story went on. I loved the positive messages about body positivity, living life with no regrets, and intergenerational connection.
What I didn’t love was the romance part. It felt very insta-love and I wish we would have seen them interact more throughout the story. It really felt like the romance was a subplot and tbh I could have done without it. If the story had solely focused on Mia turning her life around and coming into her own with the help of loving supportive companions that would have been enough for me. I felt that the romance and two love interest subplots didn’t add anything to the story. I wish there would have been either more time spent in the romance where it was a fully focused romance or not have it included at all, but the romance subplot in a romance genre book didn’t do it for me.
The author also used a story telling format that I’m not the biggest fan of frequently- there would be a tense moment or conflict and then the chapter would end and the next chapter would start the next day or a week later and we would only get to hear about that moment of tension or conflict in reflection. I wanted to live in the moment of conflict with Mia and see how she handled it, it got a little frustrating to only hear about it after the fact.
Overall, this is a super cute story that focuses on strong female relationships and finding where you belong with a sprinkle of insta-love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
What I didn’t love was the romance part. It felt very insta-love and I wish we would have seen them interact more throughout the story. It really felt like the romance was a subplot and tbh I could have done without it. If the story had solely focused on Mia turning her life around and coming into her own with the help of loving supportive companions that would have been enough for me. I felt that the romance and two love interest subplots didn’t add anything to the story. I wish there would have been either more time spent in the romance where it was a fully focused romance or not have it included at all, but the romance subplot in a romance genre book didn’t do it for me.
The author also used a story telling format that I’m not the biggest fan of frequently- there would be a tense moment or conflict and then the chapter would end and the next chapter would start the next day or a week later and we would only get to hear about that moment of tension or conflict in reflection. I wanted to live in the moment of conflict with Mia and see how she handled it, it got a little frustrating to only hear about it after the fact.
Overall, this is a super cute story that focuses on strong female relationships and finding where you belong with a sprinkle of insta-love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy of this book.
Mia was facing the work burnout of the century when he life came crashing around her. Exhausted and overworked she collapses into bed and sleeps through a PR nightmare for her very famous, very difficult all-star client. Finding herself jobless, she seeks refuge in the place and arms she always considered home; her Grandma Helen. Embraced in the warmth and protection of not just Grandma Helen- a whole slew of Golden Girls- esque bubbes and tias, she's able to lick her wounds and start a new job in peace...or so she thought. This sassy menagerie of the aged, has other plans for Mia. Namely, slow it down a bit and live a lot.
In exchange for their cooperation in helping to turn around the PR nightmare of their retirement community (which they helped create), Mia agrees to give the biddies carte blanche over her social and love life.
As Mia navigates turning the community around she also has a crash course in work-life balance, self love, and living without regrets. Did I mention two love interests as well?
This book was a beautiful testament to what women can do when we stop letting generational stereotypes, presumption, and boundaries be a factor. The amount of wisdom, women lifting women, and self love talk in this book was absolutely beautiful and a striking reminder for the reader. Add in some frisky seniors and a bunch of humor and this book was an absolute hit.
I can easily project this to be one of my top women's lit books of the year, and its only January.
Mia was facing the work burnout of the century when he life came crashing around her. Exhausted and overworked she collapses into bed and sleeps through a PR nightmare for her very famous, very difficult all-star client. Finding herself jobless, she seeks refuge in the place and arms she always considered home; her Grandma Helen. Embraced in the warmth and protection of not just Grandma Helen- a whole slew of Golden Girls- esque bubbes and tias, she's able to lick her wounds and start a new job in peace...or so she thought. This sassy menagerie of the aged, has other plans for Mia. Namely, slow it down a bit and live a lot.
In exchange for their cooperation in helping to turn around the PR nightmare of their retirement community (which they helped create), Mia agrees to give the biddies carte blanche over her social and love life.
As Mia navigates turning the community around she also has a crash course in work-life balance, self love, and living without regrets. Did I mention two love interests as well?
This book was a beautiful testament to what women can do when we stop letting generational stereotypes, presumption, and boundaries be a factor. The amount of wisdom, women lifting women, and self love talk in this book was absolutely beautiful and a striking reminder for the reader. Add in some frisky seniors and a bunch of humor and this book was an absolute hit.
I can easily project this to be one of my top women's lit books of the year, and its only January.
February 3, 2026
Let's start by talking about the things I loved about this book: Mia's relationship with her grandmother, both the biological one and all the he grandmas and family she has at the retiremehome, excuse me, the never-ending vacation home where her grandmother lives.
The way she finds herself through sex talks and boudoir photo shoots, lingerie, and laughs she's a work in progress and she knows it, she plays into it, and through it all is true to herself and to the challenges that she faces, both as neurodivergent and as a woman. I think by the end of this book I had realized that she was so much more than I had thought and it made me seriously reconsider how I saw her character and the book.
Now for some reason normally I can get behind a love triangle, but for some reason, in this one, it just felt a little flat for me, and that could 100% be a me issue or maybe I didn't like the choices that she made (iykyk) but overall for a slow burn romance this one was well done.
I have to say that up until the last few chapters this was going to be a three-star for me, but that ending, ohh that ending made it all make sense and a lot of the things that had seemed off were wrapped up really well and it all made sense in the end.
Overall I'd give this one a 3.75-star rating, it's so close to being a four and I will rate it as a four where quarter stars are not allowed, there were just a couple of things that missed the mark for me, I wish it had been more promoted as women's fiction rather than romance.
The way she finds herself through sex talks and boudoir photo shoots, lingerie, and laughs she's a work in progress and she knows it, she plays into it, and through it all is true to herself and to the challenges that she faces, both as neurodivergent and as a woman. I think by the end of this book I had realized that she was so much more than I had thought and it made me seriously reconsider how I saw her character and the book.
Now for some reason normally I can get behind a love triangle, but for some reason, in this one, it just felt a little flat for me, and that could 100% be a me issue or maybe I didn't like the choices that she made (iykyk) but overall for a slow burn romance this one was well done.
I have to say that up until the last few chapters this was going to be a three-star for me, but that ending, ohh that ending made it all make sense and a lot of the things that had seemed off were wrapped up really well and it all made sense in the end.
Overall I'd give this one a 3.75-star rating, it's so close to being a four and I will rate it as a four where quarter stars are not allowed, there were just a couple of things that missed the mark for me, I wish it had been more promoted as women's fiction rather than romance.
December 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review: Wreck My Plans by Cindi Madsen
📅 Expected Release: January 12, 2026
Cindi Madsen has done it again—this book is equal parts chaos, comedy, and heart. Wreck My Plans introduces us to Mia Andrews, a publicist whose career implodes after the viral disaster known as #PantyGate. With her reputation in shambles, she retreats to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida… only to discover it’s less “quiet shuffleboard” and more “wild matchmaking circus.”
The meddling retirees are a riot, determined to fix Mia’s love life whether she wants them to or not. Between two charming bachelors, endless hijinks, and laugh‑out‑loud moments, Mia’s journey is both hilarious and unexpectedly tender. What really shines is the balance between witty banter and genuine emotion, Madsen reminds us that second chances often come when we least expect them, and that love doesn’t have an expiration date.
I adored the quirky cast, the slow‑burn romance, and the way the story leaned into the chaos of starting over. While a few moments felt slightly over‑the‑top, the humor and heart more than made up for it. This is the kind of rom‑com that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
A charming, funny, and heartfelt read perfect for fans of romantic comedies with lovable troublemakers and plenty of banter.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
🎶lovefool by cardigans
🎶style by taylor swift
ARC Review: Wreck My Plans by Cindi Madsen
📅 Expected Release: January 12, 2026
Cindi Madsen has done it again—this book is equal parts chaos, comedy, and heart. Wreck My Plans introduces us to Mia Andrews, a publicist whose career implodes after the viral disaster known as #PantyGate. With her reputation in shambles, she retreats to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida… only to discover it’s less “quiet shuffleboard” and more “wild matchmaking circus.”
The meddling retirees are a riot, determined to fix Mia’s love life whether she wants them to or not. Between two charming bachelors, endless hijinks, and laugh‑out‑loud moments, Mia’s journey is both hilarious and unexpectedly tender. What really shines is the balance between witty banter and genuine emotion, Madsen reminds us that second chances often come when we least expect them, and that love doesn’t have an expiration date.
I adored the quirky cast, the slow‑burn romance, and the way the story leaned into the chaos of starting over. While a few moments felt slightly over‑the‑top, the humor and heart more than made up for it. This is the kind of rom‑com that leaves you smiling long after the last page.
A charming, funny, and heartfelt read perfect for fans of romantic comedies with lovable troublemakers and plenty of banter.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
🎶lovefool by cardigans
🎶style by taylor swift
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mia Andrews is a 26 yr old publicist who has generalized anxiety disorder. Most of the time she can cope, but every now and then she doesn't. Being the publicist for superstar NBA player comes with a lot of work all hours of the day and night. When a big problem occurs and Mia sleeps right through all of the texts and phone calls, she ends up getting fired. What is a girl going to do? Move in with her Grandma Helen at the Lakeview Retirement Community where she takes a temporary job trying to help the reputation of the facility so they can increase their enrollment.
While at Lakeview, Grandma Helen and her friends all talk Mia into doing things that were always on the older ladies bucket lists. As someone who deals with anxiety, it was crazy watching her do these things. The "grandmas" also decided they would try and fix Mia's dating life (which was nonexistent)
by fixing her up with Dr. Carlos Vasquez and Noah Drayton.
While Mia was navigating her life looking forward to leaving and getting a better job, she starts to realize that maybe she has found her happiness right in the little community at Lakeview Retirement.
This was a cute romantic story. I really enjoyed both Carlos and Noah and was glad who Mia eventually picked. There were times where this story seemed slow and other times where it flew by. I just adored the Grandmas. They were all a hoot! Overall this was fun, but not one of my favorite Cindi Madsen's books.
While at Lakeview, Grandma Helen and her friends all talk Mia into doing things that were always on the older ladies bucket lists. As someone who deals with anxiety, it was crazy watching her do these things. The "grandmas" also decided they would try and fix Mia's dating life (which was nonexistent)
by fixing her up with Dr. Carlos Vasquez and Noah Drayton.
While Mia was navigating her life looking forward to leaving and getting a better job, she starts to realize that maybe she has found her happiness right in the little community at Lakeview Retirement.
This was a cute romantic story. I really enjoyed both Carlos and Noah and was glad who Mia eventually picked. There were times where this story seemed slow and other times where it flew by. I just adored the Grandmas. They were all a hoot! Overall this was fun, but not one of my favorite Cindi Madsen's books.
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