Category Archives: Mhairi McFarlane

May 6, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

International bestseller Mhairi McFarlane explores lifelong friendships, long-buried secrets, and unexpected love in a heartfelt, emotional new novel, perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, or In Five Years.

Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too.

But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever.

In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction…

They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night?

Review:

Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane is an emotional, humorous novel of friendship, beginnings and endings.

Eve Harris, Susie Hart, Ed Cooper and Justin have been best mates since school days. Now in their mid-thirties, Eve is still in love with Ed, the one who got away but she works hard not to let her feelings interfere with their friendship. Susie is always ready with a one or two liner that defuses any situation. Ed is in a long-term relationship with Hester and Justin is single. When one of their friends dies, the group is rocked and changes become inevitable as secrets are uncovered. Will their friendships remain intact in the aftermath of this tragic loss?

Eve is funny, loyal, kind and compassionate. She is absolutely shattered after losing her best friend. But when she discovers a heartbreaking secret, Eve is incredibly hurt and unable to understand the shocking betrayal. As life begins to regain normalcy, she takes an unexpected road trip with the unlikeliest travel mate. Despite a bit of uncertainty, Eve finds herself enjoying not just the journey but the person she is with. The excursion is stunningly life altering as Eve begins to view certain things in her life through a completely different lens.

Just Last Night is a touching, laugh out loud novel with marvelous characters and a very relatable storyline. Eve undergoes a realistic transformation that will leave readers laughing, crying and ultimately rooting for her as she also discovers an unanticipated happily ever after.  Mhairi McFarlane brings this brilliant novel to a pitch perfect conclusion that will bring a smile to readers’ faces.  I absolutely adored and highly recommend this captivating novel.

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Filed under Contemporary, Just Last Night, Mhairi McFarlane, Rated B+, Review, William Morrow Paperbacks, Women's Fiction

March 22, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend…

Review:

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane is a charming romance that is giggle inducing and emotionally compelling.

Lawyer Laurie Watkinson is completely blindsided when her boyfriend of eighteen years (!) Dan Price ends their relationship. She is also heartbroken and angry when she learns he was involved with his new (and pregnant) girlfriend before they split up. Laurie and Dan work together and gossip spreads like wildfire once their office mates discover the titillating news about the former couple. So when co-worker and ladies’ man Jamie Carter proposes the two of them enter into a fauxmance which will benefit both of them, Laurie is quick to agree. But as they spend time together, a surprising friendship springs up between them.  When Laurie begins to realize her feelings for Jamie are turning romantic, is there any chance their fauxmance will lead to a lasting relationship?

Laurie is a smart, sassy and sarcastic woman with a flourishing career.  She is comfortable in her relationship with Dan and she is happy to support him as he rises within the company.  An only child, her relationships with both her mum and father are fraught. Laurie’s best friend Emily Clarke is bluntly honest yet supportive. With her heart shattered and her confidence shaken, Laurie is contemplative as she looks back on her relationship and arrives at some very startling conclusions.

Jamie is a newcomer to the firm and he is not very well-liked. His reputation with women is well-known and he makes no effort to hide his confidence or ambition.  His bosses are pleased with his work but they are concerned about his serial dating. After an unexpectedly fun evening together, Jamie comes up with his brilliant fauxmance idea which he hopes will alter his superiors’ opinion of him along with providing the opportunity for Laurie to exact revenge on her cheating ex.

Thier first few fake dates are a little uncomfortable, so Laurie and Jamie are a little surprised by how much they enjoy each other’s company. Jamie is surprisingly down to earth and easy to talk to and Laurie soon realizes she misjudged him.  Their relationship takes an unexpected turn but with their goal soon in sight, will Jamie and Laurie do anything about their growing feelings for one another?

With plenty of humor, If I Never Met You is an absolutely delightful romance with a fantastic cast of characters and a realistic storyline. Laurie’s self-examination leads to a change in her perspective about both herself and her failed relationship.  Despite a bit of a negative first impression, Jamie is a kind-hearted, compassionate man.  A light-hearted read that has plenty of substance and depth that I thoroughly enjoy and highly recommend to old and new fans of Mhairi McFarlane.

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Filed under Contemporary, If I Never Met You, Mhairi McFarlane, Rated B+, Review, Romance, William Morrow Paperbacks

September 9, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Comedy
Length: 430 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Internationally bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane delivers a funny, romantic, heartfelt novel perfect for fans of Josie Silver or Sally Thorne, and anyone who loves Bridget Jones!

You always remember your first love… don’t you?

If there’s anything worse than being fired from the worst restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the humiliation of a double dumping in one day, Georgina takes the next job that comes her way—bartender in a newly opened pub. There’s only one problem: it’s run by the guy she fell in love with years ago. And—make that two problems—he doesn’t remember her. At all. But she has fabulous friends and her signature hot pink fur coat… what more could a girl really need?

Lucas McCarthy has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but he’s also turned into an actual grown-up, with a thriving business and a dog along the way. Crossing paths with him again throws Georgina’s rocky present into sharp relief—and brings a secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows what happened twelve years ago, and why she’s allowed the memories to chase her ever since. But maybe it’s not too late for the truth… or a second chance with the one that got away?

Review:

Don’t You Forget About Me by  Mhairi McFarlane is a humorous, poignant and introspective novel of  healing and love.

Thirty-one year old Georgina Horspool has just been fired when she catches her boyfriend, stand-up comedian Robin McNee, in bed with another woman. Her family is less than sympathetic to her plight but her brother-in-law Mark gives her a lead on a short-term bartending gig.  Georgina is hired by Devlin McCarthy to work a wake and he ends up offering her a job at his and his brother Lucas’ newly refurbished pub.  Because of her history with Lucas,  Georgina hesitantly accepts the job and much to her delight, her life is on the upswing. But will Georgina’s tangled past with Lucas be her undoing? Or will she finally face the incident that has held her back all these years?

Georgina has a long string of waitressing, bartending and hostessing jobs under her belt.  Due to her financial insecurity and work history, she is well aware her family considers her to be a failure. Fortunately Georgina is surrounded by a supportive and encouraging circle of friends who shore up her flagging confidence.  While she is extremely close to Jo, Rav and Clem, Georgina has not revealed what happened to her during sixth form.

Georgina undergoes a great deal of growth in the aftermath of her firing and break up. Despite a year of counseling, she has yet to come to terms with events that occurred before and after entering university. Georgina starts to examine her lackluster love life and her relationship with her family and she is somewhat shocked by what she discovers. But before she can fully heal and move forward, she is heartbroken after an intense discussion with Lucas.  What path will Georgina take in the aftermath of his painful revelations?

Don’t You Forget About Me is a charming novel that is quite captivating. Georgina is an absolutely delightful woman who discovers she is much stronger than she thinks. Her journey of self-discovery is occasionally painful yet, in the end, gratifying.  Rav, Jo and Clem are endearing characters and their friendship is one of the story’s best features. Lucas is an appealing man but he is a bit enigmatic since he is somewhat aloof and keeps his own counsel. Georgina’s family is very frustrating and their lack of faith in her is somewhat demoralizing.  Mhairi McFarlane perfectly balances the heavier topics with light-hearted banter and humor. I positively adored and highly recommend this dazzling novel to readers who enjoy women’s fiction.

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Filed under Berkley, Comedy, Contemporary, Don't You Forget About Me, Mhairi McFarlane, Rated B+, Review, Women's Fiction