Work in Progress by Kat MacKenzie

I finished Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie and thoroughly enjoyed this warm, witty debut rom-com. It took me a little while to settle into the Bridget Jones-style references and list-making quirks, but once they clicked, they made perfect sense and added a lot of charm to the story.

The premise is pure escapism: after her carefully planned life unravels, American Alice Cooper impulsively books a three-week literary bus tour across the UK. What she finds is a lively group of older women, a converted bus, and one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver named Robbie. From there, the novel delivers exactly what a good rom-com should—cheeky banter, humorous situations that had me literally laughing out loud, and a slow-building connection that feels earned.

I loved every single character. Doris, Flossie, and Helena were absolute delights—each with their own personality, sharp observations, and the kind of lived-in wisdom that makes the group dynamic so enjoyable. Alice and Robbie, though, were the real standouts for me. Their banter is pure gold, full of snark and chemistry, and the scrapes they get into along the way kept the pages turning.

What really elevated the book for me were the descriptions. The literary and historical sites the group visits across Scotland, Wales, and England, along with the various foods they sample, never felt overdone. Instead, they pulled me right onto the tour with them—I could almost taste the scones and feel the landscapes.

Mackenzie balances humor, heart, found-family warmth, and a tasteful enemies-to-lovers spark without ever tipping into excess. It’s light, funny, and genuinely comforting, the kind of rom-com that leaves you smiling.

If you’re looking for a bookish, travel-tinged romance with memorable characters and plenty of laughs, this is one well worth reading. Five stars from me.