Using the fake dating trope this novel tackles a few typical themes like needing a relationship break, long term relationship ending and the grass is greener just to name a few. It's a heartbreak and women's worst fear followed by a little hope and a happy ending.

I liked what the novel was going for and found it to be a cute read overall. I liked the mixed race dating and age perceptions as well. I can't say that I connected with the characters well and I was a smidge disappointed with some of their actions and decisions. It flows slowly but the chemistry doesn't really build until 65% in almost. Mind you I absolutely appreciate a book not throwing insta-love at you but I like a little more chemistry teasing. This duo stuck hard to being distant and it shows. They are loveable though and some parts are very touching, I just felt distant overall.

I enjoyed the writing style but struggled with some of the references and different characters coming in and out. I lost track a few times with who was who. I think culturally (English? British?) the connection will be much deeper for readers.

I am glad I joined Book Club Girls with this read and found a new contemporary romance author to keep an eye out for. This was a cute read for a change of pace. Since I do have other contemporary romances I've adored more, I may not put this one front and center in comparison as a recommendation in the genre. However, that does not mean it wouldn't end up being the perfect cozy weekend read for other contemporary romance readers.

I may or may not be alone in this thinking but If I Never Met You seems to go on forever. The first quarter plus of the book is about Laurie being traumatized by her significant other of eighteen years leaving her and then knocking up another woman when he told her he didn't want kids. And while it's good to see a realistic portrayal of a break-up it also felt like a major drag-down. Then she gets stuck in an elevator with office "gigolo" Jamie and they contrive a fake relationship that's mutually beneficial that evolves into a real one. Except it never really feels like a romantic relationship - it doesn't even really feel like friends with benefits - it just feels like friends. And while it's the relationship that's front and center in the book it doesn't really feel like the most important one by a long shot. Laurie's relationships with her best friend and her parents and even Jamie's relationship with his parents seem more natural and authentic. While the story has many rah-rah moments about female empowerment the whole story is never cohesive enough to me to get truly invested in.

After a night out with the girls from the office Laurie arrives home to find her partner of 18 years, Dan, just sitting on the couch. She instantly thinks someone has died. But to her shock the only thing that is dead is their relationship. Dan, no longer wants anything that Laurie wants.

Meanwhile, Jamie, the new guy at the office, has been deemed a pariah. Everyone hates or envies him. Even Laurie doesn't think highly of him.

Then on Friday afternoon they both get trapped in the elevator when it malfunctions. They concoct a plan to start a pretend relationship that will not only make Dan extremely jealous but will put Jamie in a better light with bosses for a promotion to partner.

What ensues next is a mixture of office politics gone haywire while two people learn more about themselves and each other. A truly enjoyable read.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I thought I was getting a cutesy, light, fake romance trope, filler story, but it is so much more than than!! Laurie and Jamie were so great together, I loved seeing their friendship progress first and not the usual insta-love. This is my first from this author but won't be my last.

This author never disappoints! A wonderful romantic comedy that does not shy away from heavier topics while describing the heroine’s rocky path towards finding her true love.

I was hoping for a light read but I had a difficult time connecting with the story. Unfortunately, I decided not to finish.

Although I felt this was a bit of a slower read I really enjoyed the story. I do recommend if you are looking for a fun read.

What a cute rom com! This book was so fun, the characters are just the right amount of sassy and I could totally see this being a great movie. It started a little slow and I wasn’t crazy about the main character until lover boy showed up. Definitely still worth a weekend curled up on the sofa.

After a slow start, I enjoyed this book. The main character, Laurie, was faced with a major change in her life—her live-in boyfriend of 18 years, Dan, suddenly broke up with her. They are also both lawyers at the same firm so she could not escape seeing him often. She was then soon after faced with shocking news from him that led her to set up a fake romance with a coworker, Jamie, in a plot to benefit both Laurie and Jamie. However, they were thrown into some real-life situations quickly and offered each other genuine support as they grew closer. It was a cute read and reminded me how British office humor is certainly more direct and brash than Americans! Thank you for the copy of the book in return of a fair review.

I loved I Never Met You! It was such a great book. I have never read any of Mhairi McFarlane's books before. I am grateful that The Book Club Girls offered this book for one of their Free Friday. I will definitely be trying her other books

A lovely style, great wit and wonderful banter. An ideal Saturday morning in bed read - because who wants to do chores when you can read? The start was a tad slow, but once the story go going it was too much fun to put down.

Another sweet home run by McFarlane. An endearing and engaging rom com. That allowed me to escape for awhile. Laurie was a character I fell in love with.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. The ending was somewhat predictable, romances generally are, and there's nothing wrong with that. I enjoyed the story and the characters. There was a little drama, a little comedy, and romance - a good mix.

I really liked Laurie. I felt she dealt with the ending of her 18 year relationship much better than most would and I could relate to her. Her friendship with Emily reminded me of some of my best friends.

Jamie came across as a bit of a cad in the beginning but I could tell early on that he was "growing up" and seeing Laurie in a different way.

A good rom-com - you should check it out.

This was a cute fast read. It checked all the boxes for a good romcom and you could see the ending from miles away. I liked the characters and they were developed nicely. I would recommend to someone that was looking for a quick fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Club Girls for the opportunity to read this book

I loved this book! I was expecting it to be a fluffy romcom but it had way more substance than I was expecting. I thought both of the characters were really likable and acted like regular, mature people. I read this really fast and then was sad that it was over.

While I enjoyed this book overall, the pace and action were a bit uneven, jumping from the main character's recovery from a breakup and discovery of self to the fake romance and dating, often at the expense of the romantic story line. I certainly appreciated and applauded Laurie's efforts to make sense of and move on from her grief and betrayal but I would have liked to see the same attention paid to the development of her new relationship. It was just a bit too little, too fast in the romance department.

Laurie is in her late thirties and has spent the last 18 years in a relationship with Dan. After Dan suddenly ends their relationship, Laurie is left reeling trying to figure out what happened and where she is to go from here. Unfortunately for Laurie, Dan works at the same law firm, so the gossip about their breakup and the subsequent update that his new girlfriend is pregnant moves quickly. One evening in a hurry to head home, Laurie's alone on the elevator until the new office pretty boy, Jamie, jumps on with her. A sudden issue with the elevator leaves them boy time to talk and get some ideas about how Jamie can help himself, and Laurie can make Dan jealous. The tight rope walk between fantasy and reality is blurred during their adventure.

4 out of 5 stars. Thank you William Morrow Paperbacks and Custom House for an e-ARC.

This was a DNF for me. It was so drawn out and prolonged I finally had enough by chapter 8 and gave up. It spent 3-4 chapters on just the conversation itself of the breakup between the characters and now we are back at it a few chapters later. Also taking multiple chapters to continue the breakup conversation. Again.

On a lesser note, some of the language and description was a bit raunchy as well which was a bit of a turnoff. I don’t have a problem with some language but this was more than necessary for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of the book in return for the review.

After a slow start, I really enjoyed this "fake romance" book. The characters are all likable and the unraveling of their lives is really a good story.

Sorry to say this book was a disappointment. I found it contrived and childish. Perhaps I was not in the correct frame of mind to read it.