An enjoyable read, more complex than your standard chick lit. My only niggle is the loose ends concerning Paiges family, I need some closure! However the rest of the story was funny and a good illustration of how past experiences and feelings can impact future relationships. Perfect for the beach, the garden or the sofa this summer.

Thank you Netgalley

This was absolutely not what I was expecting and I loved it so much more for it. Yes, it’s a fantastic boy meets girl story, with a ‘meet cute’ and some wedding cakes, but Paige’s back story, and her ongoing challenges really elevate this beyond the normal genre’s stereotypes. I’m confident this story will really resonate with anyone who has lived with cancer, and it’s brave in its approach to dealing with really sensitive subject matter.

I really wanted to love this one as the cover and the synopsis are just so perfect however I sadly ended up dnf-ing this book.

I don't know if it's because I've been reading a lot of romance lately but I just felt bored. It started off strong but then the whole storyline with her ex just frustrated me.

This one just wasn't for me which sucks because I really liked the writing style!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a cute story with Paige meeting Noah, whilst looking for a night night thing but ending up with something more. Loved all the cakes and both characters. Great read

I really enjoyed this book, I liked the characters and got really invested in them. It is a great holiday read and have recommended to others. I look forward to reading more that Holly writes too.

A classic romcom about a wedding cake baker, but with an extra layer of tragedy and depth. This does not, however, detract from how heartwarming and easy a read this was.

This is fluffy and light but there's not quite enough in it. The high tension 'will they get back together' moment was so short and slight. And I didn't real understand the main character's reluctance.

This was not a book for me. I felt that it was way too long, the plot meandered through many worn-out tropes - gosh, who is the guy in the black sweater, wait, what? Wrong guy? I didn't particularly like the man character who got on my nerves with her constant running away from her problems. The wedding cake baker angle was just that, an angle that didn't really go anywhere and the cancer storyline felt like overkill.
I struggled to finish this and felt that it could have been about 30% shorter.
Books are intensely personal so this is not meant as a criticism of the book or author, merely a recognition that this book was not for me.

It was nice to read a book that gives you something a little bit deeper than the norm - and The Mix Up does this nicely.

The characters are well written and three dimensional, and whilst the story slows in parts, this is well written enough to bypass this. A good summer read.

I really enjoyed this read, Noah is my new book-crush! Although some of Paige's actions did infuriate me at times, it was part of her development/journey/acceptance with her history too!

I'll definitely be recommending this one!

The mix-up was an ok read, it was good to see someone writing about cancer and it’s aftermath but it took me a while to get to the end as I didn’t feel that invested in the main character’s story.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an independent review.

This book was easy to read. But quite slow and repetitive throughout with Paige’s yo-yo feelings about her ex. It had the potential to be a good story but it needed to get on with her new life and romance quicker, rather than dwell continuously over her past.
I had hoped it would be fun and lighthearted.
3 stars

I struggled with this a little to begin with but once you find out the twist it all begins to make sense. A lovely read that I would recommend.

Paige's wedding cake business is beginning to take off Then her ex partner asks her to make his wedding cake,bringing back unpleasant memories of how unsupportive he was when she had breast cancer. She has resolved never to get involved again, until she meets Noah. An insight into the psychological damage felt by cancer sufferers ,especially those with body image issues. an absorbing, enlightening read.

If you are looking for an easy and enjoyable read then look no further. Paige was a relatable character whose story had me laughing, crying, but always rooting for her happy ever after!

I've been reading far too many thrillers recently and so when I saw Holly McCulloch's latest book I had to read it. I must say I really devoured this one in a couple of sittings as its very easy to read.

I related to the character of Paige, she is such a down to earth woman and I just love her humour, I found myself giggling away as I read about Paige's escapes and cake making ... who doesn't like cakes right? There is a little bit of intrigue going on too as Paige doesn't want to get romantically attached and it isn't until quite a way into the book that you find out why. The clues are there but they are so subtle. Clever writing as when the reveal came I had a little cry and connected with Paige all the more.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a distraction for a few hours and wants a good laugh and a little cry.

I was provided with an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Things I liked:
Cake
Noah
Sara
Humour

Things I didn’t like:
Paige’s Ex-boyfriend
Paige’s family
Unexplained storylines

To be honest I’m just a little bit meh about lead character Paige. At times I loved her and of course felt empathy towards her but after a while I just got a bit fed up with the self pity.

Not for me this one. The book is called The Mix Up and definitely delivers a messy storyline. Rushed and not always explained.

2 stars

Paige seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut. Having taken over her Gran’s wedding cake business, she has to deal with an abundance of sickeningly happy couples. But Paige is far from being a romantic at heart, in fact, she has a two week limit on any relationship after her ex up and left her.

Then one day, as fate would have it, her ex wanders into her shop wanting to purchase a wedding cake. When he then begins flirting with her, Paige is obviously rather thrown by his actions. But she focuses on the job at hand, refusing to allow any lingering feelings to take over her. The encounter is awkward, as you would expect, but Paige’s wit gets her through it in one piece.

When her friend suggest a man who would be fun to hook up with, Paige leaps at the chance to enjoy herself after her encounter with her ex, but when she is told to approach the man with the black top, she doesn’t expect to find herself approaching the handsome Noah. He is kind and charming, and the spark between them is instant, but with Paige still being reluctant for anything more than a hook-up, You are left wondering what will become of their chemistry.

This is one of those stories that makes you smile on so many occasions as you follow Paige’s journey throughout this book. She is clearly self critical, and has faced some difficulties over the years, but she has a strong head on her shoulders and always manages to achieve what she sets her mind to.

I loved the characters and the dialogue shared between them. Each of them have such strong personalities and traits that impact upon the story as it progresses. Full of humour, wit, and truly heart warming moments, this is a gorgeous read that had me hooked to the very end.

📚 The Mix-up 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is the second novel from Holly McCulloch, and was very kindly sent to me by Netgalley and her publishers at Random House and Transworld. I read this around a month ago, and have finally gotten round to writing a review, timed especially well as it is this wonderful book’s PUBLICATION DAY!! (e-book that is)

We follow a young woman, Paige, a wedding cake baker, who after having a bad deal with her ex, who disappeared when he needed her the most, reappears for a wedding cake with his new fiancée. Paige, who now has trust-issues, and has adapted well to the single life tries to deal with this in the best way possible, at the same time as a budding romance with ‘the man in the black top.’

Honestly, I really liked the mysterious ‘black top’ storyline, even though it was massively predictable, sometimes you enjoy it more when the characters realise after you! (the whole confusion is due to a friend saying the ‘man in the black top’ is good for a fling, but there are two of them, so she doesn’t know which it is)

The wedding cake element was fab, I loved hearing about the family business and grandmother story, and the different types of cake (!!!), honestly a victoria sponge would do me fine for my wedding 😂

There is a crucial part of the story that appears towards the middle of the book that I can’t reveal too much of for spoiler reasons, but Holly did a wonderful job of explaining the internal dialogue and the impact it had on Paige’s life. I believe this was in-part due to the author’s experience, which made it all the more important to read.

In all, I loved this book! It was so fast-paced that I couldn’t put it down, and was quite a refreshing read. I don’t usually read much romance but I absolutely enjoyed this one!

Thanks again to Netgalley, and congratulations to Holly for publication day! 💓

p.s look out for the intentional typo in the book, it made me giggle, I did that in my exam once 😂

A wedding Baker meets up with her ex as she commissions her to bake his wedding cake. Memories are resurrected as she struggles with a new relationship. Which man will she choose or maybe neither of them. Life has put obstacles in her path that seem to be insurmountable. Keep your fingers crossed for the outcome.
Enjoy I did