I loved the premise of this book before I started reading and it didn't disappoint! a fun café setting, ‘80s vibes, and the perfect mix of love and self-discovery, it was impossible not to root for Allie’s second chance at both music and romance. I grew up recording songs off the radio and making mixtapes so this was right up my alley!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my! I loved this sweet, funny book about found family and music. I know most people are music lovers, but this particular book really spoke to my soul.

Allie Andrews used to be known as Allie Jetski when she was a member of The Jetskis, a female punk band in the 00’s. The band broke up in ‘09 and she’s been working for her aunt’s Brooklyn coffee shop ever since. She delivers coffee to a studio nearby and the technician immediately recognizes her as Allie Jetski.

Thus begins a friendship to crush to more with Ryan Abernathy who is one of the sweetest, most adorable book boyfriends I’ve ever read. He’s a soft giant who says the right things and has a beautiful, exuberant personality. Allie is attracted to him right away, but Ryan puts them in the friend zone for reasons of his own.

But friends they are! And he and his gorgeous roommate, Anisha, start helping Allie find her former bandmates so she can have closure on a traumatic part of her life.

There’s a lot of fun and tension as they draw Allie out of her insular life. I was charmed by all the characters and the story itself felt realistic to me. I recommend you add it to your list. You won’t be sorry.

I received this eARC via #netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #contemporaryfiction #makemeamixtape #jenniferwhiteford #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram

My love for music drew me to this book. And let’s not forget the title 😍 I’m not a huge fan of punk rock bands but Make Me A Mixtape was a cute, heartwarming story. It was a great mix of romance, music, found family, and the nostalgic moments of making a mixtape. When it comes to music, everything is digital nowadays so it was a trip down memory lane with the mixtapes.

Allie is former punk rocker who gave up on music and left her band, the Jetskis, 10 years ago. Since then, she took a job as a barista at her aunt’s cafe in Brooklyn in which she soon would have to take over once her aunt retires. Ryan was a die hard fan of Allie’s band. He’s determined to help her find her way back to music and come to terms with what happened all those years ago with her band.

This book was easy to relate to because it’s been times that I was upset when my favorite R&B groups broke up and I wanted to know why and if it was possible they would make music again later down the line. I didn’t want to give up their music and still listen to it faithfully. Overall, this was a cute story and I recommend it to all music lovers!

thank you for NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this eARC!
this was my first ever arc and i’m so grateful to have received it in exchange for reviewing it :)

Allie and Ryan are a dream rom com couple. cheesy, wholesome, but also a little too surface level for me. I don’t enjoy insta lust and this book is definitely insta lust even though they don’t get together until near the end. this book is also in third person pov which makes it hard for me to feel connected to the characters.

i loved the settings in the book. the cafe, cozy apartments, lofts, etc. they were so cute and make the book so much more enjoyable! I also loved the musical aspect of the book and the little plot twist near the end :) iykyk.

the book is out now!! go support this wonderful canadian author :)

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Even though I didn’t finish it before release date, I’m so happy I read through this one! It was cute, charming, romantic but still had some grit due to our FMC being a former punk. Every character in this story holds a place in my heart and even though their personalities are all so different the author made them all work together really well. A cozy book about falling in love, second chances, and taking risks.

I absolutely flew through this book! Allie and Ryan gave me all the feels. Allie was so in her own head she couldn't even see what was in front of her. After meeting Ryan, Allie was faced with her past and had to face it all head on. There were a lot of moments I wanted to throw my phone just from the frustration of Allie being in her own way! But I just couldn't put it down to the point I was up until 2AM reading just to finish it!

As someone who grew up in the time of mixtapes, this book tickled me like no other.

I've never been to New York but I can visualize the setting of this book so clearly. The author did a really great job setting the scene, and letting the reader live in the atmosphere of it all.

Allie & Ryan. Man, they are 2 messed up adults. They made me laugh. They made me cringe. They almost made me cry. They make me wish for a sequel!!!

I still have a box with mixtapes from high school boyfriends. I haven't listened to them in years, of course, but they hold a bit of nostalgia I don't want to let go.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a charming and sweet story! I absolutely adored Ryan and Allie and their friendship/romance. There's also a bit of a found family trope with all of the other characters and I love that! I wish I could hear all the songs that were being sung and what "Monster" sounds like!! There were some repetitive moments, but nothing that was super annoying. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

This book is a really sweet and cozy love story that will make you happy, especially if you love music! It's about a girl named Allie who used to be the lead singer of a punk rock band. But now, she's been hiding from her past for ten years, working in her aunt's café in Brooklyn. Allie likes her life because it's safe and quiet - until she bumps into Ryan, her biggest fan from back in the day, and suddenly her past comes rushing back.

Ryan really wants to help Allie find her love for music again, so they go on a journey to find her old bandmates and try to bring back the dreams she buried a long time ago. Allie and Ryan's love story starts slowly, with flirty banter. As they help each other through their journey, their connection grows stronger and becomes really sweet and genuine. Allie is a little prickly and doesn't let people get close to her, but Ryan is kind and always there for her, and eventually, he breaks down her walls.

I loved the music references throughout the book, and the soundtrack for the characters. With autumn vibes, holiday parties, and heartwarming moments that will make you feel all the feels, "Make Me a Mixtape" is the perfect book for anyone who loves feel-good romances with a little bit of depth. Whether you love music or just want to read a story about finding yourself and starting over, this book will definitely hit the right notes for you.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎶 All in all this was a charming rom com that was quick and easy to read. 10 years after her punk rock band broke up, FMC Allie decided to team up with her hunky crush, Ryan, to find her old band mates and attempt to make emends.

🎶 The MCs were just “okay” for me, I would have enjoyed a bit more tension between Allie and Ryan. My favorite part was the emphasis on music, and Allie’s passion for it. It was a good story, but it was far from blowing me away.

This was a cute rom-com that drew me in from the start! I really enjoyed that the focus was more on personal growth with the romance piece still present, but taking a back seat.

Definitely one to add to your TBR if you are a rom-com fan!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jennifer Whiteford’s *Make Me a Mixtape* strikes the perfect chord with its delightful mix of romance, nostalgia, and the journey to rediscover lost dreams.

Whiteford’s writing shines as she paints the complexities of Allie’s internal struggle—torn between the safety of the café and the risky allure of music. Allie’s character is wonderfully relatable, as she navigates fear, regret, and the vulnerability of returning to a world that once broke her heart. Ryan, her unwitting (and enthusiastic) fan-turned-ally, is charming and persistent, bringing a warmth to the story that balances Allie’s more guarded nature. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching their relationship unfold is as rewarding as the slow return of Allie’s confidence in herself and her music.

Readers who love stories about self-discovery, rekindling passion, and embracing the unknown will find *Make Me a Mixtape* an utterly charming and feel-good read. Whether you’re a music lover or just someone who enjoys a well-crafted romance, this book will have you cheering for Allie to take the stage again—and maybe even fall in love along the way.

I liked the characthers of Allie and Ryan - especially Ryan! Why don't men like him exist in real life!?!?! All the characters were likable (which is super important in all the books I read - it is difficult to get into a book when there are no likeable characters). I really liked the relationship with Allie and her Aunt.

Make Me a Mixtape is a heartwarming story that blends romance, music, and nostalgia.

The story follows Allie, a former punk rocker turned barista, whose quiet life is disrupted by the arrival of a charming sound tech named Ryan.

Ryan, a die-hard fan of Allie's old band, is determined to help her rediscover her musical passion. As they navigate the challenges of the past and the uncertainties of the future, Allie and Ryan find themselves falling for each other. Their connection is fueled by their shared love of music and their ability to see the best in each other.

Whiteford's writing is both lyrical and engaging, capturing the essence of Brooklyn's vibrant music scene. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their chemistry is undeniable. The novel's nostalgic elements, including references to classic bands and '80s pop culture, will resonate with readers who appreciate a throwback vibe.

While the plot may be predictable at times, Make Me a Mixtape is a delightful and uplifting read. It's a perfect choice for fans of contemporary romance and those who enjoy stories that celebrate the power of music and love.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC!

the way i bawled reading this🥹 first off this book got me, as a MUSIC LOVER then it hit me HARD with the lost relationships with her friends/bandmates. i completely understood the feelings that come with fighting with a loved one, then losing contact with them and all the stages of grief that follow. this hit close to home...and i really liked it. it gave the fall/holiday vibes. it even had some spice!! i do feel that the spice could have been written a little better but i was surprised that it had it which was a plus for me.

characters wise i do wish we got more of them, it felt very surface level to me.

also was this considered miscommunication trope? because it very much felt that way.

nonetheless i would recommend this read if you like music references, found family, fall/holiday feels, reconnecting with lost loved ones, finding yourself/purpose.

this was a cute read for fall✨

Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford is a charming, cozy fall romance.
This was a super sweet story.
A great concept, good writing and fantastic narration, Make Me a Mixtape turned out to be a winner for me.

Thank You NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Fun and cute with deep emotions and painfully cringe and yet witty banter. Makes me wish I was a teenager or younger ahian and life was like this

3.75 ⭐️s. Out today! Definitely a cute read. Found family and second chances with a lot of music references.

Allie’s punk-rock music career ended ten years ago. She’s completely lost touch with her band mates and is struggling to figure out if music is still her passion. Or, should she take over the cafe her aunt owns. Bumping in to an old fan, Ryan; Allie is confronted with her struggle to have friends. Ryan is persistent though. As their friendship grows, Allie and Ryan must fight their demons to not run but work for the relationships they have.

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguincanada for the advanced reader copy. #makemeamixedtape #netgalley

Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford is a sweet story about Allie Andrews, a former punk rocker whose band broke up and now is living a normal risk free life working in her aunt’s cafe and staying under the radar. When she delivers coffee to Ryan, he recognizes her and befriends her despite Allie’s prickly nature. They decide to work together to find her former bandmate Jessi to resolve the issues that broke up the band. As the investigation progresses, things heat up between the two. They decide to stay friends, but can they ignore their developing feelings?

I really enjoyed this story. I liked seeing Allie thaw and develop as a character as she started developing friendships and letting people in her life. However, I felt Ryan was underdeveloped. I would have liked to see more of his development. I thought the background characters were great in this story. I enjoyed the story of the band break up and Allie’s foray back into music more than the romance though.


Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The mixtape; a love letter for an entire generation. Back in the day a mixtapes held so much more than just two sides and a couple dozen songs. They held milestones and memories, melancholy and magical moments. Just like your favourite mixtape Jennifer Whiteford manages to seamlessly blend the melancholy of teenage years into the memories of adulthood while giving us gentle and relatable characters. The perfect cozy fallrom com for anyone that still remembers their first mixtape. #thankyounetgalley #makemeamixtape #fallreads #romancebook