Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane is a novel that has recently fallen into the category of my favorite books, and the thing is that it was so special to me that I find it hard to put it into words, but as this is a review I’m going to try my best.

This is my second book by the author and I have to say that I enjoyed it greatly! This novel promised an enemies to lovers rom-com, but it delivered an entertaining and emotional story about moving on from the past while trying to heal in the present. The novel is centered around Harriet, our protagonist, who breaks up with her boyfriend at the beginning of the story. And since then, we embark on a journey that involves friendship, overcoming toxic relationships involving gaslighting, manipulation and abuse, cheating, and also the death of parents.

I think the focal point of liking this novel is taking a liking to Harriet herself, which I didn’t find hard at all since she felt so read and flawed and easy to understand all the emotions that she was going through. Another important character that I loved was Lorna, Harriet’s best friend since childhood, whom I appreciated all through the novel. When it comes to Cal, I seriously think that I don’t think we get enough information about him in the novel, and that’s sad since he plays a big part from the moment he and Harriet meet.

What failed to make this novel perfect in my opinion, was the lack of development in regards to Harriet and Cal’s romance. They are clearly set to end up together from the moment they met, but I feel we get very few scenes of them together in order to arrive at the ending that the story delivers for them.

So, if you’re looking for a book that falls more into the Women’s Fiction category with a side of romance that involves two roommates that end up falling for each other in a cloud of dealing with some serious issues, this is the book for you!

*ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For someone who works within the wedding industry, Harriet isn’t a huge fan of the industry. She really has no interest in getting married herself . She’s had one bad relationship and her current one is lukewarm.
I didn’t really care for Harriet. I thought she treated Jon poorly and was quite mean to him. I also thought her reaction to what she discovered about her friend Roxy was over the top.
Mad About You fell flat for me. I was thinking it would be a fun rom-com, but it certainly didn’t read that way.

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane was touted as a rom-com, chick lit, or romance novel. It was not. The lead protagonist, Harriet Hatley, is a wedding photographer, but she is unlucky in love. Her last boyfriend had money, looks, and a great house, but he didn’t respect her. The boyfriend before him was nasty and abusive, the boyfriend before that…well, you get the gist. At 34 years of age, Harriet is growing up and realizing that she doesn’t have bad luck; she has terrible taste in men. It’s her handsome landlord, Cal, who makes her realize that life could be so much more, but honestly, we only get a little drop of Cal and too much of Harriet’s past crappy relationships. Not a bad book, just not that great.

3.5 stars

this story started off really slow for me, but it picked up and I enjoyed how it all came together. I really didn't love her abusive ex's actions and think there should have for sure been a content warning at the beginning. That part totally threw me off guard.

This book gave me all the feels. It started off a little slow for me but once it picked up I couldn't put it down. I loved everything and the side characters were great. I liked that they all elevated the story and weren't just thrown in as plot. I wish we could've got more Harriet and Cal at the end but I think it was a satisfying ending for sure.

Slow at first but worth it! I read her other books and this book is added to my collection for favorites!!!!

Mad About You was a smidge slow to get into. There was a ton of back story and history that the author shared with less context than I wanted. However, when the story turned and we got all of the details and history together, it all made sense and came together in a great way.

This is a story of growth, of redemption, of doing better and making sure the right thing has lasting impact. It's a story Harriet finding her voice and power and using them to truly move forward in life. When she does, all the things fall into place. This is definitely more women's fiction than romance, but the story of love and friendship is such a good ride.

Harriet’s secret is that she is being virtually harassed by an ex abusive boyfriend. That’s something that I don’t think should be hidden in the book description.
All the trigger warnings in this book. I personally haven’t every experienced a situation like this, but reading what Harriet has to go through makes my stomach clench with anxiety.

I feel like this book was a rollercoaster. I don’t know if I can put into words how I feel about this. All I’m coming up with are question marks.

I started out excited for this, it sounded like something right up my alley. I laughed out loud at the beginning and had to pick up my jaw multiple times when Harriet is dealing with everything that Jon is. It all caught my attention and I wanted to keep reading!

Then comes in Sam and Cal. I wasn’t sure who Harriet was going to go for. I don’t think the romantic relationship in this book was set up very well. I definitely wouldn’t label this as a romance. I think you should have more scenes/development between your main characters before you throw them together. Scenes between Cal and Harriet were always platonic- only like 2 sexy daydreams/ thought diversions does not a romantic hook make. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Then all the mentally manipulative ex stuff. I almost DNF-ed this at 70%. It felt like it all came out of nowhere. I will say it was really good writing because I didn’t know how it was all going to end up. Mainly, I don’t think an abusive ex should be used as a plot twist.

Really all the writing in this was great. My real problem is how the book is marketed as a romance and there’s no warning concerning the domestic abuse. I couldn’t predict this book,which I though I would be able to because it was a “romance.” I was in the wrong headspace going into this because of the description.

Roxy is literally the worst. I hate her.

So overall not a romance novel. Harriet heals her trauma with some revenge. A couple thrown together at the end. Ride or die best friends- one rode, while one definitely has passed away (good riddance Roxy).

I don’t think I hated this book at least. I won’t be recommending it because of the huge trigger the author thought would make a good plot twist.

Always check content warnings

Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital ARC.

Mad About You is a tough one for me to review, and not for any reason that’s easy to pinpoint. It’s not poorly written, the characters aren’t unlikable, there aren’t a bunch of gaping plot holes. So if there’s nothing wrong with it, why did something feel not quite right?

I think the book description and the cover and everything I knew about this book made me expect one kind of story, and it wasn’t the one that I got. Harriet and Cal are lovely characters who rather abruptly become roommates, and I suppose I thought we were getting more of a rom-com in which they’re at odds and then slowly become friends and then something more. And that happens, but it felt like it mostly happened off page. It wasn’t the driving storyline at all.

The book description does include a line about “Harriet’s most heavily guarded secret,” but I’ve seen secrets mentioned in so many rom-coms that I don’t expect them to be as fundamental to the plot as this one was. This isn’t a book about Harriet and Cal, the way the marketing had me believe. This is a book about Harriet facing down demons from her past and trying to come out the other side in one piece, professionally and personally.

And that’s a good thing! It’s realistic, and seeing those IRL issues reflected in fiction is so important. And I think if that had been the book I was expecting, I would have enjoyed it a bit more. Instead, I wasn’t in the right headspace for this slightly heavier plot, and I was left wanting the rom-com in the truer sense of the word that I thought I was picking up. I’d love to read that version of the story, where I actually got to see these two characters fall in love rather than simply being told that they did.

This is definitely one of those books where my experience of reading affected my enjoyment of the story, and I know that this plot is going to be so meaningful for other people.

I love this book so much. Harriet is a wedding photographer who never wants to get married. When her boyfriend proposes in front of his entire WASPY family she says yes to salvage the moment only to reject him in private. This sets off a series of unfortunate event's in Harriet's life. She moves in with a man Cal, who happens to have a connection to Harriet. She runs into her abusive ex boyfriend at one of her jobs and when she finds out he has a new fiancee, she worries he's abusing her the way he used to do to her. So she set's up a plan to write to the new woman, but when Scott (the ex) finds out, he sets off to ruin Harriets life through her business. Can Harriet get her life back on track, get both of her ex's off her back?

I came into this book pretty blind, thinking this was a romance. To be honest, I had a hard time believing this was a romance book. There was maybe 10% of the book that was romance and it was pretty unrealistic. Also the majority of the book isn't even mentioned in the blurb. If anything this was more women's fiction /mystery/ suspense. I couldn't stop turning the page to see what was going to happen.

Even with the disappointment of barely any romance, I still really enjoyed this book. I usually don't love when EVERYTHING bad happens to the main character, but in this case I felt it was pertinent to the story. The majority of this book revolved around three woman get revenge on the man who emotionally and mentally abused them. The side characters were hilarious and lovable. Even the ones you were meant to hate were really well put together. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, even though I thought this was mis-marketed.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 8/9

For the publishers more than others. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance. It is my first read by Mhairi McFarlane and I'm sorry to say I did not enjoy it. I find it difficult to write a critical review on an author I've never read prior because I feel as if I may have missed something or a lot of somethings. I did love the idea of a wedding photographer who was opposed to marriage meeting a runaway groom; however, that trope became more character details instead of central to the storyline. I primarily did not enjoy this book because I did not like the heroine. Her behaviors in the beginning while describing and breaking up with her boyfriend did nothing to endear me to her. Once her history and trauma were explained, it was either written too late in the storyline or not written in depth enough (especially about loss of her parents) for me to offer sympathy to Harriet. There lacked sincerity and genuineness with Harriet even though her backstory was calling for it. As other critical (and positive) reviews have stated, this novel did not read like a romance novel and more like a women's fiction complicated relationship story. I enjoy a romance with some heavy themes and depth to them; however, this one lost all the romance elements to the heaviness throughout the reading experience. The HEA thrown in at the VERY end was unbelievable and the relationship between the heroine and love interest felt more like friendship than chemistry. I also found the crisis of the betrayal of friendship to be an unnecessary extra drama in the storyline. Why was it included? In all honestly with no intent at snarky, I loved the acknowledgments best of all. I wish I would have experienced more of the fun and lightness in those in this read. They endeared me to the author and I may give her another chance in the future because I enjoyed them so much more than the book itself..

Ahhhh why…. Every time I read a book by Mhairi McFarlane, I love it and her writing and want more, then promptly forget about them until a new one comes along. I need to work on the couple I’ve not read yet.

I loved this book. I love her writing. I love her humour. I adored the setting. I loved the characters.
There is a character in this book that reminded me so much of my ex husband that I felt physically sick. I couldn’t put the book down and wanted to keep going, but I had to step away because it was just too dang close. After a short break, I was able to finish it with no problem and I loved it.
It was a teeeeensy bit slow in terms of the romance, which is fine because that isn’t the focal point… but I wouldn’t have minded a wee bit more tension/build up. but not enough to complain. Their connection was still so genuine and realistic and freaking adorable, I only wanted more of it.

This is appropriately marketed as (Women’s) General Fiction with a slow burn romance. Harriet Hatley is a successful wedding photographer in Leeds. As the story begins she is breaking off with her boyfriend of the last few years. She decides to rent a room from Cal Clarke who it turns out was a run away groom at a wedding she worked. But romance isn’t the focus of the story. Told from Harriet’s POV she has to navigate her life. She needs to deal with an ex who doesn’t want things to be finished. It includes coming out about a past abusive relationship even when it costs her personally and professionally. It is the story of strong female friends that support one another. And along the way Cal changes too. At first nervous about what he hears about her he turns out to be supportive and helpful in moving forward. You don’t get to see his journey as much but some snippets add to the storyline.

I enjoyed the British setting and there were some phrases that were new to me. I found myself very invested in her Harriet’s story. Parts were funny but this has a more serious tone. And I was appropriately frustrated at the social media treatment of her. All in all this is a women’s fiction that covers some darker sides of relationships. People who are manipulative and emotional (not physically) abusive. And then somehow the author ties it up nicely with a sweet potential HEA. There is some language and only one off the page intimacy moment. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Collins for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

SO GOOD! The friends to lovers trope never fails to make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and Mad About You was no exception. I will be recommending this book and I cannot wait to read more from Mhairi McFarlane in the future!

Harriet is a wedding photographer that despises the idea of marriage. So when her long time boyfriend proposes she decides it’s time to get out on her own. She finds a room to rent from a handsome bachelor. Cal who has had a wedding disaster of his own but is still a hopeless romantic. Their relationship as landlord and tenant moves from awkward to supportive friendship as Harriet’s life implodes.

McFarlane’s books are more about the character’s growth than the romantic relationship . Harriet and Cal are no exception. Her abusive past, strength and friendships are central to the story. As Harriet learns to face her past and move forward she finds herself opening up to Cal. These moments are pure gold. They are genuine and heartfelt—and yes so romantic.

I really enjoyed this one and if you are a fan of McFarlane you will not be disappointed. The subject is a lot heavier this time but the payoff is sweeter 💕

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #MadAboutYou #MhairiMcFarlane

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.5 stars

Although this book is marketed as a romance, the romance really is not the main aspect in this book. The book really follows Harriet's story - her personal growth and how she moves on after a couple of bad relationship. Harriet, 34, wedding photographer, ends her long term relationship and moves in with Cal, 33, landlord. I really wanted so much more romance in this book between Harriet and Cal because there were so many opportunities for them to have sparks fly (maybe I just read too much smut lol).
I wanted to throw my kindle when I read Harriet's ex's facebook post. The gaslighting!!!! I could not believe it and at that point is when I was really invested in Harriet's story.
The ending of this book was pretty cutesy and I really enjoyed it!

-women's fiction
-single pov
-character driven
-not heavily romance focused
-strong female friendships
- close proximity
-strangers to roommates to friends to lovers


TWs: death of a parent, abusive relationship

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC of this book.

I have read a couple of books by Mhairi McFarlane and enjoyed both, so as soon as MAD ABOUT YOU came out in the UK I ordered a copy (it is out on 8/9 in the US). Thank you to the publishers for also providing me with an e-ARC to read.

Based on the cover and the synopsis. I expected a light-hearted romcom, but that’s not what this book is. It’s light on the comedy and it has some romance, but not nearly enough to call it a romance in my opinion. 

I should have known because the books I have read by Mhairi McFarlane all deal with heavy subject matters (if anyone in publishing is reading this: please add trigger warnings).

MAD ABOUT YOU is about toxic relationships and emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, cheating, stalking etc. It is also a book about female solidarity and getting past abusive relationships and finding the courage to explore and enter new ones. The title MAD ABOUT YOU does not refer to love, it actually refers to the toxic behaviour exhibited by the characters.

•Did I enjoy it? Yes, because Mhairi McFarlane is a phenomenally talented writer and she deals with said subjects in a very thoughtful way.  I am really struggling to rate this book though, because it ended up not being what I expected. I thought I was getting fries and instead got a boiled potato. An excellent boiled potato (ha), yes - but I wanted fries. And ketchup.


Check out MAD ABOUT YOU if you enjoy women’s fiction that explores dark relationships (with a side of a HEA). If you’re here for a book with a focus on romance, enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity (like the synopsis and cover promise) then I suggest you give this book a miss.

I was to preface by saying that I REALLY enjoyed this book, and I enjoy Mhairi McFarlane as an author.

The plot is great, the characters and the relationship development is awesome, BUT I think this looks, and was described as a romance and that isn’t the main plot.

It is still definitely a must read but it is more of a contemporary fiction.

While I enjoyed this story, it definitely was not mainly a romance novel (which the cover and title make it out to be). It is more contemporary fiction. There was a lot going on in this book and it dealt with some very, very heavy topics (emotional abuse, infidelity, death of parents at a young age). I failed to see the chemistry between Harriet and Cal (they just didn’t spend a lot of time together) and felt the story wrapped up too neatly at the end with a romance thrown in to make this a romance book. However, it was a unique storyline and I appreciated the friendships and women supporting women moments throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Mad About You!

I want to start off by saying that I genuinely enjoy Mhairi McFarlane’s writing style and the stories she tells. However, I get a bit frustrated that the Title and Cover always seem to advertise it as a romance when that’s not at all the main plot. This is my second book of hers and this seems to be a pattern.

The main plot was good and worthy on its own without an unnecessary romance thrown in at the end that felt like a second thought. I didn’t feel Harriet or Cal’s chemistry or even think that they spent enough time with each other to really have any to begin with. Also the ending felt so unbelievably out of character for Harriet. I didn’t feel like it was fair to them.

As I said, I do enjoy her writing and would read more if it didn’t pretend to be a romance.

Also, major TW for emotional abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books and Harper Voyager for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.