Experiments in Offline Dating - by Kat MacKenzie (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A sharp-witted enemies-to-lovers romcom about a podcaster who embarks on a matchmaking tour of Ireland and gets trapped with a grump who pushes all of her buttons.

Maya Davis is chronically terrible at dating. So much so that she's turned her catastrophic dating experiments into a full-time job. Hellbent on dating "offline" for her second podcast season, Maya travels to Ireland to meet the world-renowned local matchmaker, and gets set up on a slew of horribly funny meet-ups that are exactly the type of comedy gold she was looking for.

At the town's annual Matchmaking Festival, Maya wins a blind date with a surly local sheep farmer. But while she's had every bad date in the book, nothing could have prepared her for the apocalyptic, full-body-cringe that is the worst date of her life!

All she wants to do is forget it ever happened, but when the mischievous matchmaker talks her into a whirlwind dating adventure, he fails to mention that it's with the one person in Ireland that she just can't stand - her blind date catastrophe!

Trapped together, Maya and Tadhg journey across picturesque landscapes and green countryside until their constant verbal sparring feels increasingly like chemistry. And the more time they spend together, the more Maya begins to wonder if perhaps she's not so catastrophic at love after all.

Brimming with humor and delicious tension, this heartfelt travel romance is the perfect escape!

Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy hero

Review Quotes

"With just the right amount of outdoors action, Mackenzie's (Work in Progress, 2025) fast-paced romance will make readers feel as though they're exploring Ireland, enjoying stories they encounter along the way. Extra bonus points are earned for superb road-trip details and the inclusion of a dog among the endearingly grumpy characters." - Booklist

"Mackenzie's outstanding, sweet debut will find many fans with its broad appeal... Readers will enjoy the abundant gentle humor, intergenerational friendships, and armchair travel--as well as the slow burn of a tasteful romance." - Booklist (starred review) on Work in Progress

"Anglophiles and armchair travelers will adore this." - Publishers Weekly on Work in Progress

"A laugh out loud, delight of a book. Kat Mackenzie made me feel like a tourist in my own country." - Elliot Fletcher, author of WHISKY BUSINESS on WORK IN PROGRESS

"Work in Progress delivers one of the best enemies-to-lovers storylines I have come across, making me eager to read more by this author."