Making Up is the fourth book in Helena Hunting’s Shacking Up series. I’ve loved reading about this group of characters and Cosy and Griffin were no exception. Though this was my least favorite of the series, I still loved the writing and characters, I just had a bit of an issue with some of the drama in the book.

Cosy and Griffin have an interesting meeting… I loved the unusual way they met. Griffin is intrigued by Cosy and wants to go out with her, but she’s hesitant. There is a bit of an age gap (Cosy is early 20’s and Griffin is early 30’s) and it makes her resistant at first. But these two have so much chemistry, it’s hard to deny their attraction.

I loved these two together. Their pull to each other was magnetic and they balanced each other perfectly. I loved watching them fall in love. They were the sweetest couple.


I understand every book has to have some drama and angst, but this book had a little too much for my taste. It’s like, as soon as one obstacle would be faced, something else would pop up. And one of the things I really don’t love reading about. It had nothing to do with the main characters actions just the directions the story took. Thankfully, by the end, I was a happy reader again. I’m very much looking forward to reading Lincoln’s book which will be next in the series!

Helena Hunting never fails to make me laugh, smile, and swoon. Making Up was an entertaining and easy to read book from a series I love.

4.5 Stars

Making Up is book 4 in the Shacking Up series, and while each book can technically be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading them all!

I dare you to keep a straight face while reading this book, the funny & sweet moments will win out immediately. Four pages in we're treated to "Dear sweet Jesus on a cloud of marshamallows, this is my lucky day", and Helena Hunting's unique humor continues to delight until the very end. Some heavy moments are thrown in with the laugh out loud ones, keeping the reader on their toes and ensuring no interest is lost.

As usual, Hunting has written exceptional characters. Griffin Mills is even more delicious than expected (I mean, with Bancroft & Lexington as brothers I had some pretty high expectations!) with a sense of humor & super sweet demeanor mixed in with his gorgeous looks. An alpha with a bruised heart, he's the uber book boyfriend that I couldn't get enough of!

I adored Cosy! She's a strong, independent, and kick-ass heroine, which is what I have come to expect from Hunting. Full of wanderlust, she's putting her dreams of traveling before a career & settling down. I loved & admired her spirit, doing what she needs to do to accomplish her goals and not letting anyone hold her back.

Making Up is a sweet and funny rom-com that I truly enjoyed. The chemistry between Cosy and Griffin was electric and their witty banter were amusing. I loved their slight awkward yet hilarious meet cute. With the age difference and different socioeconomic background, the couple couldn’t be more opposing but somehow their similar vision and dream made them perfect for each other. The little bit of drama towards the end added a little angst to their otherwise dreamy relationship. However, the blissfully happy epilogue made my day. I didn’t know that this charming story is part of a series and I would surely go back to read the other Mills brothers’ stories.

3.5 STARS!

I started off the Shacking Up series backwards with I Flipping Love You, so in preparation for Making Up and Handle With Care I decided to binge read the series. With that being said, Helena Hunting has proven why she's a favorite author and a queen of RomCom. Her stories have witty, sassy, fun, strong and independent women with equally strong men as their counterparts. So, to say I was excited to begin Making Up is a massive understatement!

I really enjoyed Griffin's story but it wasn't my favorite of the bunch. One thing I did love was seeing how different Griffin is from his two brothers. He might be the oldest Mills but he's the most reserved and sensitive one. He's jaded and he's been hurt.

Meeting Cosy is unexpected and a breathe of fresh air but Griffin is quickly drawn to this fearless and brazen girl. Their encounter is one of those meet-cute moments you tell your grandchildren about! There's an age gape between them, Cosy being 22 and Griffin 33. Though I was a bit peeved with Cosy at times with how she acted in some moments, it was something that could be overlooked.

These two were the perfect balance and they made a cute couple. I loved it. It was push and pull. Their relationship took time to grow and blossom. At first they're hestiate but they give it a go anyway. Their chemistry is off the charts and together they're fun and adventurous.

Overall, this book was so much fun and entertaining. You get small snippets of Lincoln and the Mills brothers. What I found unnecessary and even Cosy agreed, was the drama. It was just too much at times... But everything worked itself out and I loved how things turned out in the end for Griffin and Cosy.

Helena Hunting will captivate you with her writing and have you laughing and falling in love with these characters. Making Up was filled with equally fun and sweet moments. This is definitely a series you don't want to miss out on. Now, I'm so ready for Lincoln's book! 💃🏼


I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Making Up introduces us to Griffin Mills, eldest brother to prior book heroes Bancroft and Lexington. In the previous books in the ‘Shacking Up’ series, Griffin comes off as a distant and flat character who was in a seemingly thriving long term relationship with his fiancé. However, in Griffin’s leading man debut, he is freshly dumped by his fiancé and eager to date his much younger female foil Cosy Fenton.

I felt Griffin lacked substance and came across as very basic— his personality and conversational manner was very bland and repetitive, and frankly, boring. This book was so much more telling than showing.

Cosy was a very young and flesh-baring co-ed who’s life experience consisted of frequent road trips (that the reader never got to experience in real time with the character) and bemoaning her stance on relationships and how she doesn’t ‘do’ attachments.

I thought that Griffin and Cosy’s relationship was a giant band-aid meant for fun times and a quick fix for healing past heartaches, but I did not feel the love as they were lacking chemistry, even from the start. The frequent dramatic ups and downs throughout their short time together was over-the-top, and the hits kept on coming after significant level-up moments in their relationship. This made my reading experience a bumpy one that I mentally compare to a bout of reader seasickness.

I kept reading to see if my favorite Shacking Up couple— Ruby and Bancroft— would appear, but alas, Ruby never makes an appearance, and when Bane does say his short line, it doesn’t feel like his voice.

While Making Up may not be my favorite book from the Shacking Up universe, the writing is still Helena Hunting’s in that it has some laugh out loud moments interspersed with embarrassing scenes and some heat as well; however this is definitely not my favorite in the series as so much of the book felt like a hazy dream that the characters were explaining to the reader after the fact. Basically, you never spend enough time with the characters to get to know them well enough to make a connection with them and their relationship

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A bit too YA for me. Mixed feelings on this one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are a couple of genres that tend to frustrate me more than getting reading pleasure from the book. Young adult is one of those categories.

I guess I never got the impression that this author wrote in this particular genre. And maybe I’m wrong, but this particular book the age difference completely stood out and made a difference in my overall impression.

The beginning of the book started out great. I love the beginning and the way the Griffin and Cosy characters met. The further into the story Hunting went, and the further she developed the female lead, the more I dislike the girl. (Her sister rubbed me wrong most of the time too. Ugh).

While I think the author was trying for humor in some instances, what came off to me was immaturity and that annoyed me. I guess I’m just not into virgin stories anymore. Don't get me wrong, parts were definitely awesome and humorous, especially the opening.

Overall, the story had a great appeal. I loved Griffin as the main lead and the way he truly cared for her. The ending was great and we get the happily ever after we want. I just wish I liked Cosy more so the middle would have captured me.

OMG... This book, so funny, hear warming and just wonderful. Read it in one sitting... could not stop if I wanted to. The hilarity that Helena Hunting puts in her books is just off the charts. Who would guess that putting your main character as a sales person in an adult toy store would make such a great romance book!

This is book 4, you do not need to read the others to get all the funny business and romance, but really, why wouldn't you. They are all just as great as this one!

I was given this ARC for an honest review as a blogger. So with that being said... I so enjoyed this book; I wasn’t disappointed at all or wanted to stop reading or got bored...I did felt bad for Griffin because for one he couldn’t catch a break with that crap with Imogen I hope that’s how you spell her name since I refuse to go back and see; since she’s not as important... so with that being said... I was glad that Cosy forgave him for that stupidity that happened with his ex-fiancée... I also figure that her sister didn’t mess around with Griffin... but I did crack up when learning it was her sister that took his money and credit card... she assume he didn’t know, but he did know about his money missing🤣 the only person I know is stupid when money is missing is one of my family members boyfriend...


But I was so rooting for both Cosy, and Griffin for one Cosy was hilarious and didn’t take any crap from one even Griffin... plus his brothers were hilarious when it came to him at his office... Cosy was so much better for him because for one Armstrong is a turd ugh and so his Imogen like how can you bang you, cousin fiancée, just because his brother bang your ex-fiancée that you cheated on at your wedding. For one, he didn’t deserve Amalie, but he definitely deserves Imogen ... unlike She thinking she was going to get Griffin back with her dusty self...

AMAZING!!!! this book was simply amazing!! I couldn't put it down! I loved it! this author has a way with words, that will suck you in and it won't let you go until you're done with the book!

This series has been a hard transition for me, after the Pucked books. That's a big hurdle to get over, because I loved them so much. I was having issues moving on, I guess. Well, book number four finally got me on board, and I loved it. I posted this in a replay on Instagram. This book gave me Randy Ballistic level feels. Big shoes to fill, I know, but Griffin fit in to them nicely. This is a great Cinderella like story. The pauper and the prince. I hate reviews that just retell the story. I am not doing this here. If you are a fan Helena's, you are well aware, she puts out fabulous every time. I don't even bother to read the synopsis. I just one click it and go. This was a great, quick and fun read. You will love Cozy, she's smart, witty, funny, and not afraid to be vulnerable. They make a great couple. This is a HEA story.

Helena Hunting has another winner on her hands. From the awkward minute Griffin and Cosy meet, there is an underlying interest, but she doesn't want to acknowledge it. As she helps him find party favors for a bachelor party, where he looks and appears to be uncomfortable and embarrased, she starts realizing how nice he is and how good looking he is. He gives her his number and asks her to call him, even though he doesn't believe she will.
A couple days later, she does in fact call him and they go out on a date. They seem to get along great, but she is hesitant. He is a decade older, and she usually doesn't date older men. Against her better judgement, and because it is only a casual relationship with an experation date, she agrees to keep seeing him. When he finds out that she is a virgin, he takes care of her before, during and after. Unfortunately, their happiness is short lived and he doesn't know if he can get her to give him a second chance.
Some of the situations they found themselves in seemed really insurmountable, but they both had to dig deep to decide if they can work past the havoc that hs become their lives. Geting over the first hurdle, which is a big hurdle, was hard, but they were better for it. I am glad that what they believe happened didn't actually happen, but you don't find that out until later.
The second hurdle, his ex fiance, is a piece of work, but essentially pulls them apart. Unfortunately, they are both brokenhearted, even though he does the 'right' thing. As soon as he finds out the truth, he does everything he can to get Cosy back, but will it be too late? I loved how Griffin dealt with his cousin and his ex. Even though Griffin had a lot of baggage and Cosy was younger, she proved to be the rock he needed and the light he needed to live happily.
There were some funny parts of this book and some upsetting parts, but throughout it all, Cosy and Griffin proved why they belonged together, despite their age and monetary differences. I can't wait to read more in this series. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

Will post soon at Romance Reviews Today:
http://romrevtoday.com/
Plus, there will be a blog feature post at http://romrevtoday.blogspot.com/

MAKING UP – Helena Hunting
Shacking Up, Book 4
Swerve
ISBN: 978-1-250-25739-0 (trade paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-250-18401-6 (ebook)
July 2019
Romantic Comedy

Las Vegas, Nevada – Present Day

Cosy Felton has a job at a sex toy store that pays well while she attends college, but it’s a bit awkward at times. She’s seen everything, including men who come into the store claiming they’re there to get items for a bachelor party. That is what Cosy decides is going on when a sexy, handsome man comes in saying he ended up with the embarrassing job of getting stuff for a friend’s bachelor party. But Cosy and the man, Griffin Mills, hit it off and he asks her out. At first, she turns him down, but when he shows up again, she finally agrees. One date leads to another, and soon they’re having sex. Cosy knows Griffin is in Vegas temporarily for the company he works for, but what she doesn’t realize is that he is the son of the man who owns a mega hotel corporation. Yes, Cosy is having an affair with a rich man.

Griffin doesn’t let on at first how rich he is because he’s used to women seeing dollar signs when they realize how rich his family is. But Cosy seems down to earth and unassuming, plus she is a breath of fresh air after his ex-fiancée broke off their engagement, calling him boring. She is a lot of fun to be with and he enjoys their time together despite their age differences. Cosy is twenty-two and Griffin is an old man at thirty-three. But as things become more than a fling, he’s thinking of ways to get her to New York City, where he lives. Cosy is proud and independent, so she just isn’t going to accept a handout from him. She is about to graduate from college with a degree in hotel management and will be doing an internship. Can Griffin finagle a job for her at his family’s company?

MAKING UP is the fourth book in the Shacking Up series by Helena Hunting but can be read as a standalone because this tale is all about the romance between Griffin and Cosy. There are only brief mentions or scenes with other characters in the series. MAKING UP is a fun, rollicking read right from the start when he walks into the sex toy store, completely embarrassed to be there. Cosy has a sister, Nevah, who is currently staying with her as she broke up with her last meal ticket…er…boyfriend, and provides for some comic relief. As much as Cosy and Griffin try to go slow, things are soon running at warp speed due to their intense attraction. The sex is hot between them and they can’t get enough of each other. But like any good romance, a roadblock—or two—are thrown in their path. Can they work things out?

Any reader who loves a sexy tale infused with a bit humor shouldn’t miss MAKING UP. It’s a breezy, entertaining read that’s just perfect for some hot summer reading.

Patti Fischer

I feel like it’s been so long since I read a Helena Hunting book! I’m seriously kicking myself for not diving into the Shacking Up world sooner. I loved Making Up!! Griffin Mills is so adorable. He’s sweet, kind, a little awkward but oh so freaking sexy!!

Griffin and Cosy meet under odd circumstances at Cosy’s work, which make Griffin extremely uncomfortable but it’s so funny to watch him squirm. Cosy and Griffin have Instant chemistry. They fit
Together so perfectly and have the best relationship.

It’s funny and sweet! I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one sitting. I’m definitely going back and reading the other books in this series. Helena is a master at the sweet, rom coms that you’ll never want to end!!

A quick, fun read. If I could change one thing, it would be for the characters to be a bit more fully developed. The author does a great job of switching between viewpoints and the character of Cosy is just quirky enough to make it all work, but I felt like the whole thing was a little shallow and would have liked to have a little bit more of Cosy and Griffin’s individual personalities rather than so much of them together. It’s definitely a balance and for the most part it’s really fun to read.. I do enjoy the changing settings and the supporting characters like Nev and Lex. Happy to have read this one.

What a great story!!! The thing I love about this author is her incredible writing style. You feel like you're just sitting down having this great conversation with characters that grab you from word one, leaving you wanting more in the end. Cosy and Griffin are probably two of my favorite characters I've read this year, just loved them. Cosy, a sex store salesperson, is just a down to earth kinda gal, living her life under her terms and trying to get through college so she can move on to her next chapter. In walks Griffin, a billionaire (unbeknownst to her) who draws the short straw and has to shop at an adult sex shop for an upcoming bachelor party. That's where these two meet each other, and the story takes off from there. I found these two hysterical, loved the way Cosy made Griffin work to get her to go out with him, loved Cosy's sassiness and wit, the chemistry between these two is off the charts, and with all of the obstacles (and there are alot of them) that the two had to overcome, it just made for a great well written story, the ending was perfect. I found this book to be a cross between Pretty Woman and Fifty Shades, both of which I loved. Would highly recommend this to everyone!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Shacking up is one of my favorite books by Helena Hunting so I pretty much devour every book in this series. This book did not disappoint.

I love the way that Cosy and Griffin meet; it was very much "Helena" and the humor we expect from her books. I liked how it made Griffin a little awkward because it made him feel less unattainable and therefore more of a fit for Cosy. I feel like if he had been portrayed more as a hotel mogul than Cosy would have come off as too immature for him.

Cosy and Griffin definitely had a ton of chemistry. I loved the kind of back and forth with them and I really liked that Cosy was hesitant at first. She wasn't blinded by his money and that made me love her all the more. I also liked that he didn't try to wine and dine her all the time. He actually did things she liked and that was one of my favorite things about him.

The conflict was a little predictable and ultimately why I knocked a star off, but even that I didn't entirely mind because it was actually pretty drawn out. I liked that Helena wasn't afraid to kind of dive into that a little more.

Overall, this was a great book set in the Shacking Up world. It was a little different than what I expected from Griffin from the brief glimpses we got of him in the previous books, but I would definitely say Helena did him justice. A must read, for sure!

"Show me your weakness, so I can give you my strength."


Oh my gawwwd! I’m so freaking in love with this book! Helena Hunting created perfectly balanced doses of funny, steamy and angsty moments and tied them with the ribbon! Making Up is another story, that will make you swoon, laugh out loud and blush. And the characters? They’re so magnificent, that you want to crawl inside this book and just exist among them!


Cosy is a young woman with a free spirit. She doesn’t care what the others think about her, she’s open, confident, funny, vibrant and spontaneous. At a young age she’s really smart and she knows exactly how she wants to live her life. And to this moment she didn’t want to be tied down. Until she met insanely hot Griffin, who’s pretty determined to show Cosy that commitment is not a bad thing.

Griffin Mills… where should I start? His complexity totally stole my heart. On the one hand he showed his vulnerability and on the other you could see his possesive streak. His lame pick-up lines made him adorably awkward, but at the same time he was this incredibly sexy mature man in a suit. Griffin is completely irresistible and I’m swooning just from thinking about him!

The level of chemistry between Cosy and Griffin is off the charts! I loved that their sexy times weren’t rushed and that this couple enjoyed fooling around so much. Although they’re complete opposites, they’re perfectly matched. Despite being from two different worlds it just worked for them and it was really amusing to watch how they navigated in certain moments. And although life throw at them some mean curveballs, they managed to get over them and form a great relationship.


Making Up shows us that fate knows best what we need. And it isn’t always what we would reach for in ordinary circumstances. Sometimes you just have to put your faith in the kismet and give yourself a chance at happiness. Cosy and Griffin’s story was one of the very best I’ve read this year and I’m happy that Helena Hunting decided to make me fall in love with another Mills brother. This read was hilarious, swoon-worthy and totally delicious!


P.S. If you haven’t read any book in Shaking Up series, you’re really missing out!

5 star Review Making Up (Shaking Up #4) by Helena Hunting

I loved being back in the Shaking Up world with the latest release from Helena Hunting.

An embarrassing meeting between Cosy Felton and Griffin Mills starts them both on a journey that will open their eyes. Griffin is suckered into purchasing the gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party he is relieved when sales assistant Cosy takes pity on him and helps him out.

Griffin is trying to get his life back on track and is attracted to Cosy.

Ms. Hunting wove a story that drew me in and held me captivated. The camaraderie, banter and friendship that Cosy and Griffin had made this a joy to read and I really was cheering for these two to get their happily ever after.

The chemistry between them was intense and you could feel the sizzle in the air. I love Ms. Hunting's style of writing, she ensures that her characters are “real”. I found the characters easy to relate to particularly Cosy and Griffin.

There was just something about them and the awkward situations that came up throughout this book that had me smiling like a loon.
Making Up is a story that had me entertained from the first to the last chapter.

I received an ARC of this book through the publisher via Netgalley


5 star Review Making Up (Shaking Up #4) by Helena Hunting

I loved being back in the Shaking Up world with the latest release from Helena Hunting.

An embarrassing meeting between Cosy Felton and Griffin Mills starts them both on a journey that will open their eyes. Griffin is suckered into purchasing the gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party he is relieved when sales assistant Cosy takes pity on him and helps him out.

Griffin is trying to get his life back on track and is attracted to Cosy.

Ms. Hunting wove a story that drew me in and held me captivated. The camaraderie, banter and friendship that Cosy and Griffin had made this a joy to read and I really was cheering for these two to get their happily ever after.

The chemistry between them was intense and you could feel the sizzle in the air. I love Ms. Hunting's style of writing, she ensures that her characters are “real”. I found the characters easy to relate to particularly Cosy and Griffin.

There was just something about them and the awkward situations that came up throughout this book that had me smiling like a loon.
Making Up is a story that had me entertained from the first to the last chapter.

I received an ARC of this book through the publisher via Netgalley

Wanting to put his painful breakup behind him, hotel mogul Griffin Mills decided to take an extended business trip to Vegas. While there he was tasked with buying gag gifts for a friend’s bachelor party, but the embarrassment he felt when he first stepped foot in the adult toy store was minimized and replaced with attraction towards the sales woman who helped him.

Cozy Felton is a fun carefree twenty two year old college student with an interesting job who wants to enjoy life at its fullest. She never dates customers but she will certainly help out the hottest man that’s ever walked into the store, until his persistence pushes her to break her rule. Besides, she doesn’t want to get tied down, he’s only in town for a couple of months and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Usually.

Helena Hunting consistently and expertly produces delightfully irresistible stories. Her books are always so much fun to read. In Making Up, we meet Cozy who works in an adult toy store and has learned how to deal with the discomfort that comes with the job. Add in an easy going and carefree spirit and she has Griffin’s full attention.

Despite their eleven year age gap, Griffin finds Cozy refreshing, fun and easy to be with. Neither one is looking to jump into a relationship and are taking things slow and despite the curve balls life throws at them, they unhurriedly build something that’s worth fighting and Making Up for.

Cozy and Griffin are a wonderful couple you can’t help but fall for. Their story has the right balance between fun, sexiness, angst and heart. The back and forth is deliciously witty and Griffin’s thoughtful, romantic nature is absolutely swoon worthy.

Making Up is a standalone contemporary romance by Helena Hunting from the Shacking Up world. Told from both points of view with a happy ending.

I have a new couple I adore and cannot get their world out of my head! I have loved the Shacking Up series! Cosy is a favorite heroine and I love her way of life. Her philosophy makes me rethink my bucket list and when I want to get it completed. Sooner rather than later that is for sure. She has a confidence level that outshines most. She also has an old soul who wears short shorts lol.

Griffin became my man once her had a blush creeping up when he first meets Cosy. I loved it! It made him human. He was not a cocky alpha that made the heroine work for it. Actually that happens in reverse.

There is a wrench that gets thrown towards this duo and it almost breaks my heart. Making Up will give you the giggles and the sniffles. You will fall in love with this story and beg for so much more. I am not ready to give up on this crew and am excited for more to come!!!!