This was a cute, quick read. I went into it thinking it would be just that and was not surprised. It was funny at parts, making it a solid 3 star for me.

Work in Progress felt like it was written for those who find joy and love in travel. It’s so hard to describe, but it felt like a warm hug and contained a lot of lovely humor.
Alice is needing a break from life so she spontaneously books a bus tour of Scotland and England and meets a group of great characters throughout the novel. This book was a little less romance heavy than I thought it was going to be, but over all I really enjoyed it. As a romance reader, I still enjoy the themes of a good women's fiction. As for me as a romance reader, I typically like a dual POV, but still enjoyed Alice’s point of view.
The setting of this novel alone had me speed reading and wanting to book a trip!

A tender, heartwarming, laugh-out-loud rom-com that explores a woman's journey of self-discovery a la Bridget Jones Diary.

Specific details that I absolutely loved: I love that each chapter starts off with a score-sheet or a list. It's like a mini table of contents for each chapter, providing you a hint of what you're about to get into.
I absolutely cackled every time Alice called Robbie something other than his name- the standout that made me LOL was Voldermort. The whip-smart banter between the characters is tasteful, realistic, and quite funny. The tertiary characters are hilarious and lovable and added so much depth to the plot and to Alice's growth as a person. They weren't just there to serve as comedic relief; they were also integral to the story (S/O to Helen the English rose). The slow burn of these enemies to lovers was so satisfying and executed perfectly.

Do you need to read this? ABSOLUTELY. I will be picking this book up again to reread from time to time. This is a story of a woman who learns how to grab life with both hands and stop waiting for life to happen to her. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy once it's published to add to my bookshelf! Congratulations to Kat Mackenzie for writing an impressive and memorable debut. Can't wait to read what you write next <3

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be: a light-hearted, cute romance with detailed descriptions of places across England and Scotland. This author hit the ball out of the park when it comes to making the location a character. She seamlessly wove her descriptions into the plot and I challenge someone to read this and not want to travel the same route as this fictional tour bus.

The enemies part of this enemies-to-lovers was a bit forced but you I just went with it and decided not to overthink it. And there is a pretty big, very avoidable, miscommunication situation but it didn't bother me too much. I could see how it could've happened so it wasn't completely unbelievable.

We get a great cast of quirky, loveable characters as our main character embarks on a three-week tour of Scotland and England. Turns out, this is a women's only tour and all of the other customers are women 65+ and the tour bus driver / owner is a handsome, rugged Scotsman.

I definitely recommend this for anyone who has been or wants to visit England and Scotland. I honestly think this is worth the read for the location ambience alone. But it's also a legitimately feel-good story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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I enjoyed this book so much! It grabs you right from the beginning with our harried, American FMC having a meet cute with the quintessential romcom Scotsman asshole. Of course, he ends up being the tour guide on this whirlwind, last-minute trip. With bad luck only the lovable Bridget Jones could have, Alice Cooper (yes, Alice Cooper) is taken for an excursion with the most likable septuagenarians and octogenarians, learning life lessons only someone of a certain age can teach you and find friendships she didn't know she needed. Filled with so much enemies to lovers snark, you'll be entertained throughout, and just enough warmth to keep it sweet, Work in Progress needs no work at all. No Notes. 5 Stars. It is laugh out loud funny and endearing in the best possible way. Tell your friends.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

This was very entertaining and a cute read. I didn’t love it, it did feel a little cheesy at points but I did like it. The journey through healing and self discovery made this book so much better, it was great to read.

Work in Progress was a wonderful, if not predictable at times, story of finding yourself in unlikely places and people. Some of the characters were a little too on-the-nose (the no-nonsense, German bird-watcher or the well-meaning but chaotic grandmother), but they were all comforting, to the reader and our main character Alice Cooper, and full of wisdom. They tended to find themselves in the perfect position to give Alice well-timed advice throughout the duration of our three-week bus tour of Scotland. I did enjoy the history of Scotland we readers learned throughout the book, but it became a little repetitive as the majority of the story took place on four wheels.

The romance between Alice and her love interest, Robbie, was fun to watch. Robbie, the tour guide and only man on this all-women bus tour, is quick witted and ready to meet Alice at every verbal sparring they share together. He is charming and everything you would want a Scottish man to look and sound like.

⭐️
🔥🔥

Quick Breakdown

Vacation Romance
Set in the UK
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Female Friendships
Banter & Humor
Self Discovery & Growth
Single POV
Open Door - Mild

In a wild attempt to break out of her six month long, post breakup funk, Alice impulsively books a non refundable, three week long literary tour of the UK. In a true testament to Murphy’s law, everything that could go wrong, absolutely will. It starts with a bus full of octogenarians instead of the young, hip population she was expecting & a tour guide that can’t seem to help but irritate her to no end.

I was completely enchanted by this one!

Forever a sucker for vacation romances, especially anything set in Scotland, it’s no surprise I had difficulty putting this down. The romance between Alice & Robbie had to grow on me - their animosity toward each other was a lot at first. But, eventually I was completely enchanted. The bickering slowly turning to playful banter & palpable tension. The ending grand gesture had me swooning into a puddle of joy.

I fully believe all the other women’s fiction elements only helped to enhance my enjoyment here. I traveled England & Scotland right along with our MCs, constantly googling the destinations & planning out my own future trip. The other women on the trip with Alice, the genuine friendships formed & the unique wisdom each imparted to her warmed me from the inside out.

Kat Mackenzie wrote the perfect debut!! With a setting so rich and fantastically flawed by lovable characters, I devoured this. I can’t wait to see where she goes next!

This was a cute sweet easy read that was better than I hoped. I found myself smiling whilst reading which is always a good thing! Thansk to NetGalley and the publisher!

Work in Progress is a lighthearted and inspiring story of self-discovery, second chances, and learning to live for today. The novel follows Alice Cooper, whose life seems to fall apart all at once—her engagement ends, she her jobid a dead end and she has nowhere to live. In a moment of desperation (and a bit too much alcohol), Alice books a women’s literary tour across Europe, not knowing this impulsive decision will completely change her life.

Alice’s journey begins in chaos. After enduring a nightmare of a flight, she finds herself in an airport tangle with Robbie, the man standing between her and her lost luggage. Things take an awkward turn when Alice discovers Robbie is not only part of her tour group but is also the guide. To make matters worse, the tour group consists entirely of quirky elderly women and a dog, leaving Alice less than thrilled about the experience.

As they travel through the picturesque European countryside, Alice begins to reluctantly embrace her new reality. Her relationship with Robbie starts off combative, filled with what feels like high school-level bickering. However, as they spend more time together, their dynamic shifts—especially after Alice gets injured and Robbie’s protective side comes out. Their whirlwind romance develops against the backdrop of beautiful European scenery, but it comes with an expiration date. Alice knows she must eventually return to the U.S. to start fresh, leaving Robbie and her European adventure behind.

What makes Work in Progress especially meaningful is Alice’s transformation. Inspired by the stories of the elderly women on the tour—women who have lived bold, fulfilling lives—Alice learns to let go of fear and take risks. After returning to the U.S. and putting her life back together, she realizes she can’t ignore her heart. With a renewed attitude of living for today, she takes a leap of faith and heads back to Scotland, ready to embrace both love and adventure.

This novel is both fun and heartfelt, blending humor, romance, and meaningful life lessons. Alice’s journey from rock bottom to self-discovery is relatable and inspiring, while the colorful cast of characters adds charm and depth to the story. Work in Progress reminds readers that sometimes life’s biggest challenges lead to the most rewarding adventures—and that it’s never too late to start living fully.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book! This was my first romcom, and I devoured it. The banter, found friendship, adventure and the cute, witty headings with the short chapters were all perfect. I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future. Thank you net galley for the advanced reader copy!

For me, this book started off so strong. The main character was annoying, but in the way that I would be when I'm hungry and exhausted and also a little heartbroken. But then, she just stays stagnant. Like, you've slept and had some food, so can you have more of a personality than just bantering with the tour guide? No? Okay. And then there's the HP reference and as an HP girlie, I get it, but also, we don't like JKR now and so we don't really need to bring it up when there is no reason to do so. Anyway, I made it 37% in and having to pick it up is making me not want to read anything, so I'm just going to go ahead and call it quits.

This book was a delight. I am absolutely in love with this sweet, caring, sort of cuckoo group of old ladies and how supportive and open-hearted they were. The romance was also quite sweet, and I enjoyed the story of the FMC’s discovery of both love and herself. I was a bit frustrated of how central miscommunication was to the plot and some of the FMC’s behavior was a bit childish/cringe, but overall it was a great read.

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this story. It's a good plot and incredibly funny. One line choked me and I spit wine on myself., laughed out loud. Lots of one-liners and snappy remarks as you would find in an old movie. Our heroine and her hero are, as the name implies, are both works in progress. Coming to understand yourself, coming to like yourself, readjusting expectations and plans. All done in an interesting and believable way. Romance is always a plus and there's more than one. Alice learns that older ladies have lots of life experiences that make for good advice. Becoming friends that last beyond the tour. I can whole heartedly recommend Work in Progress as a terrific enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon publishers

#NetGalley #WorkinProgress #KatMackenzie #Avon #romance #contemporaryromance #adventure #bustour #Scotland #England #Wales

Work in progress was a cute travel based romcom set across the UK. Not gonna lie, at first it felt like the author was trying a little too hard for the characters to be witty, bantery, have funny one liners and quips. But after continuing through the book and getting to know the characters tones a bit more, you start to fall in love with each of the characters, main as well as side.

This is the book you need to read if you need to bring some laughter and happiness into your day. Alice lives by her lists. I so relate to that. When her life implodes, she decides to throw caution to the wind and makes an impulsive decision. What she didn’t do was read the fine print. What could go wrong? Um, everything and it is pretty darn funny. I enjoyed this from start to finish and all along the way I was rooting for her. It is smart, witty and filled with lots of snarky banter. A t times some of her tour-mates are a bit too campy, but still funny. Quick easy read that ultimately leads to Alice finding herself and her happiness.

A romance mixed with coming-of-age story, this novel follows Alice Cooper, an American adrift from the life she'd planned. With a well-rounded cast of supporting characters and a moody Scotsman love interest, the book charts their tour through the UK along with Alice's growth. It was an enjoyable read, with some truly funny banter, and I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for early access to Work in Progress in exchange for my honest opinion. The book is available now. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book, but I think it just wasn’t the right time for me to read this one and I tried to force it. Big takeaway - read what makes you happy! I’ll tell you what SHOULD have made me happy, because this book had a lot of positives going for it.
In Work in Progress, the MC is about to turn 30 and recently went through a rough breakup, while also leaving the job she had loved. On a whim, Alice books a last minute women-only three week UK tour focused on literary sites, as she’s always wanted to travel but her relationship previously held her back. Of course there are problems from the get-go, including issues with her flight and her suitcase getting smashed, and when she arrives, Alice realizes the other participants are decades older than she is. The tour is led by a cute guy, however, even if he comes across as a jerk from their first meeting.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the sites around the UK, and I enjoyed the way Alice got to know both the tour director and the other participants, but for some reason it took me forever to finish. Maybe it was just too cutesy? Alice’s character compares herself to Bridget Jones, and I am not a fan of Bridget Jones’ Diary, either, so maybe that could also be to blame for my dislike. I’m still sharing this, though, because I think these are me-specific issues, and I have read other rave reviews. So don’t only take my opinion on this one, and maybe it would work for you.

Work in Progress is a debut romance novel about Alice who is approaching her 30th birthday and feeling lost. After her losing both her job and her boyfriend, Alice decides to book a last minute trip on a literary tour to figure out what is next. When she arrives, Alice finds two unexpected things: a tour group composed solely of older ladies and a maddening, yet handsome Scottish tour guide.

I am unabashedly a lover of feel-good stories in any form. So it is no surprise that I love books that feel like a warm hug. And I was happy to find Work in Progress is just that, although things start off on the wrong foot for Alice.

While she initially scoffs at joining a tour group of elderly ladies, they embrace Alice and help guide her on her journey back to confidence. This was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. As someone who grew up spending more time with my elderly neighbors than kids my own age, I reveled in a story that put life’s bumps and curves into perspective through some sage advise from wise older women.

For a debut author, Kat Mackenzie did an excellent job developing distinct characters. As I mentioned, I loved the older ladies in this book. It was easy to do so when they each had clear, unique personalities (and were supportive and sweet). And Robbie is as sweet as can be. While Alice is definitely a bit of a grumpy character, she really grew as a person over the course of the book. I do think Alice may rub some people the wrong way initially.

I must applaud Mackenzie for writing dialogue and prose that actually made me laugh out loud, which is no small feat. The witty, stinging banter in the first portion of the book is fantastic and fun. I just wish that the sizzle of the banter continued throughout the novel. In addition, I found the elaborate descriptions of locations to be too long. I rarely skim when I read, but I had to do so for my eyes not to glaze over reading about the Scottish countryside. It also felt very out of place when the rest of the novel was not written as descriptively.

I must also point out that among the many literary references sprinkled through Work in Progress are HP references. There was absolutely no need for these and automatically drops the star rating for me. Moreover, the plot does hinge on the miscommunication trope. Although it is not used in a completely unreasonable manner, I was still screaming at the Alice to just speak to Robbie like a grown adult. Finally, I think that the lists were a bit over done and did not add to the narrative.

Overall, Work in Progress is a strong debut novel but not without a few faults. I recommend it if you love a sweet male protagonist, revel in found family, or are planning a U.K. literary adventure.