I really loved this story. Lots of the usual romance tropes but character development that we expect from MM's work. Cal and Harriet's meet cute is one for the books (literally).

While this was an okay read and I like the author Mhairi McFarlane, this book was not a romance as it was categorized. I overall enjoyed the book, but was disappointed in the romance aspect.

I want to begin this review by saying I would never categorize this as a romance. And definitely not humor. I also feel like the cover is very misleading.

Now, all of that being said, I liked this book. The storyline was deep and dark, as most books centering on emotional and mental abuse is. The "romance" is a very small part of this book, and almost a happenstance or afterthought at best. But the plot was very well planned out, very well written, and very well executed. I felt deeply for these women who were party to the relationships with the abuser, and that is because McFarlane has written her characters so well. I loved the women forming a group to confront their common abuser, but hated the subplot of her friend and ex hooking up. I felt she could have gone a different route with Harriet and Jon finding their closure.

Overall this is a very good book to read, however, not if you're in the mood for a fun rom-com/contemporary romance. The epilogue made me cry. SO MANY FEELINGS!

I really enjoyed this book! Harriet's thoughts at Jon's parents anniversary weekend were some of my favorite lines, and I 100% agreed with her and was furious with Jon. You know it's a good book when you're ready to yell at the characters, and I definitely wanted to yell at Jon. I also absolutely loved the ending. Harriet's friendship with Nina and Marianne is truly one of a kind, and I was very happy that Harriet got closure from her past relationships so she could move on with Cal.

I love how so many things happened in the book. I could not keep myself from the book because it was so good

I went into this hoping for more romance than what we ended up with. I enjoyed the character growth, but I went in expecting something completely different and that put a damper on my overall feelings.

Mad About You was a good read, but I would definitely say the romance was more of a sub-plot. The main focus of the story was Harriet coming to terms with how previous relationships have affected her current view on love. I did enjoy this book, however it took a while for me to really get hooked. I got kind of confused at point when Harriet starts talking about a character that the reader hasn't met yet, but eventually after the character was introduced it made sense. The romance felt kind of rushed. I wish there was more of a build up to the ending in that aspect, but as I said it wasn't the main plot. There were no graphic scenes so you could feel comfortable talking to your mom about it. Overall, I think this is a good read for people who aren't looking for an overly sappy romance.

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane book, and I can't wait to run to her backlist and read them all. Harriet's story unfolds slowly, as we learn about her difficult past and cloudy future, past and present betrayals, and complicated friendships. The pacing is perfect, and the characters are believable, complicated, and vulnerable. Lovely!

The friendships among women and solidarity at a pivotal point in this book are the high point. This is definitely more women’s fiction than romance. The plot is definitely unique- for much of this book I wasn’t sure where the plot was going. There is very little interaction between Harriet and her main love interest Cal. Most of the book focuses on her exes and how she moves on with her life. While I enjoyed the writer’s style and the book was easy to read, the relationship with Cal felt like an afterthought. There are a lot of characters thar I felt could be streamlined to make a stronger story.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read plenty of books in this genre but this one was a big nope for me. Couldn’t get into it. Couldn’t relate to it.

I spent this summer listening to MM's entire back catalog and lamenting the end of my audio book binge when I saw Mad About You up on NetGalley. YAY! I quickly requested it and spent some 'at sea' days on a recent cruise enjoying it. Now, I say enjoy because I liked it. But I also realized that I prefer this author in audio form. Her characters are a bit flat on the page, and great narration definitely boosted some of her earliest books. I digress.

So as any fan of MM knows, her books are less romance and more romance adjacent, and despite readers knowing almost from the get go who winds up together, her stories are mostly focused on the journey the female takes to wind up with the true love of her life. Friends, I'm here for it. I love her books. Unfortunately, this time the balance is a bit off and the romance never quite connected with this reader.

Harriet Hatley is a professional wedding photographer with no illusions about love. She isn't in it - which is unfortunate because she's spent the past couple of years living with a boyfriend she knows isn't 'the one,' and she isn't looking for it either. After the mental and verbal abuse she experienced in an earlier relationship, she's walled herself off emotionally from ever seeking 'love' again. When Mad About You begins, she's just lost out on a job after the groom fled before the ceremony, and her own relationship abruptly implodes after her boyfriend asks her to marry him. Suddenly in need of a new place to stay, Harriet lucks out when a close friend gets the inside track on an amazing house share.

Told exclusively through Harriet's PoV, MM slowly parcels out the sad history behind Harriet's failed love life. Her current ex is desperate to win her back - and then slightly deranged in his attempts to show her what she's missing, and her abusive ex makes a surprise reappearance in her life, too. Meanwhile, she's charmed by her new landlord Cal, despite their surprise connection.

It's clear from the start that Cal is the man for Harriet. But not to her. And not really on the page either. We know it because we're MM fans, but the story takes MUCH TOO LONG to resolve all the noise in Harriet's life, and not enough demonstrating why Cal and Harriet belong together. They have a few great scenes together, but not nearly enough. Mad About You is NOT romantic. It's good, but also...sort of depressing? And a bit too ooh la la Girl Power? I'm conflicted about my feelings for this one. It needed a LOT more of Cal and Harriet, and Harriet and her friends, and less of Harriet and her ex. He was repellent, but his comeuppance felt a bit forced and I never quite got behind the new friendships that enable Harriet to finally strike back at him. It all seemed a bit overdone.

I'm convinced I'll like this book better in audio, but I'm not sure. This book is heavier subject-wise, but also too light and flimsy? It just hasn't resonated with me like most other MM books.

One of the common themes in MM stories is abuse - verbal and emotional (and physical in one case) - and the way in which her heroines overcome this abuse and find inner strength they didn't realize they had. These women are damaged and changed by their experiences (obv), but they somehow find a way to transcend that abuse to become better versions of themselves. They also, coincidentally, find true love and always have great friends to help them along the way. This time the abuse seemed much too much like a plot device that just doesn't work, and the friendships...well, this book is different.

I liked it, but I would only recommend it with reservations.

This book made it to a four star rating for me for the second half of the book. The first half was a bit slow going. This is my second book by this author. I enjoy how she writes about real life hard topics and it's not your typically fluffy light hearted romance or romcom. I will continue to read this authors books and recommend them.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'll go anywhere Mhairi McFarlane takes me! No glance at the synopsis necessary!

Just Last Night is one of my favorite books and I still need to re-read and gobble up all the other Mhairi books I've missed. The ones I've read, including Mad About You, are all beautifully written women's fiction. They've each centered around a woman I'd love to know in real life and her growth while navigating a hard but relatable situation. In Mad About You, Harriet Hatley is coming to terms with her baggage from her past relationships while protecting her heart from someone new.

What else:
💍 Harriet is a wedding photographer who doesn't want to get married. . .current boyfriend proposes anyway 🤦‍♀️
🏠 gorgeous roommate she cant quite figure out! A bit of forced proximity never hurts!
🤼‍♀️ Positive female friendships and positive boundary setting when needed
👊 to see some awful humans/ex-boyfriends get their comeuppance
💕 swoons and lots of feels!

Wow, I'm all over the place about this book.

What I liked:
- the Secondary Characters: I loved their stories, their personalities, what they brought to the overall book
- the female relationships; for the most part, I loved how they interacted and supported each other.
- the ending. For the most part, I enjoyed watching the end.

What I didn't like:
- I'm not sure I've disliked a character as much as Harriet in a long time. She had some really REALLY hard things in her life, but she was also the worst! Quick to judge, never took responsibility for anything, never listened to another person's point of view, never learned from her actions, was at some points VERY hypocritical in her judgment. Flawed characters can be good for a story, but Harriet learned absolutely nothing.
- One relationship was left very much up in the air and never resolved.

Overall, the ending saved this book. I was very frustrated with Harriet for much of the story to enjoy it too much.

Two and a half stars rounded up. This isn't a bad book, it just didn't do much for me. I knew what to expect from Mhairi McFarlane going in, but I think it's important to point out she doesn't write straight forward romance novels. There are a lot of side plots and characters. It made the main story drag for me.

I requested this one on the advice of a friend and wow did it not disappoint. I absolutely devoured it in a day. There's a lot to love here and I don't know where to start. It's a very lived in, real story, with a lot of intersecting parts, none of which feel awkward or tacked on. The depictions of emotional manipulation and abuse were at times too much to bear, but only because they were real. There's a lot of humor and heart in this one, even as it deals with a lot of heavy subjects, and there's an empowering fantasy of an ending you can't help but cheer for. An all around winner.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. And thanks to Annie for telling me to read it.

Wedding photographer Harriet is newly single and in need of housing. She answers an ad and meets Cal, who makes it clear that he's only looking for a roommate and nothing more. But as these things go, the forced proximity of living together means the two slowly become friends. And maybe more? But then both of their pasts return to make trouble at the same time. Can their new relationship survive?

McFarlane does a great job of writing rich worlds for her characters. In addition to Harriet and Cal, the two have vividly drawn friends and family around them.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

What can I say except Mhairi McFarlane is so amazing with character development! This book warmed my soul! Absolutely would recommend to anyone who is looking for a deeper romance. I love the depth, struggle and true strength of the characters- they feel real. Will be reading all future Mhairi Mcfairlane books!

This book will remind you of WHY exactly Earl had to die. This book is like John Tucker Must Die but with more *painful* drama. It has a very Beth O’Leary-esque style but multiplied by like 10. I enjoyed the depth of the story, and yet I was EXHAUSTED by the end. It def is not as ~light, cute, and comical~ as the cover may suggest. That being said, I would read this author again now that I understand better what to expect!

There is something I have come to love about this author. Based off her covers and synopsis you would expect a lighthearted romcom, but in reality not only does she provide the entertaining moments, but she has these moments filled with emotion and genuine moments. Harriet and Cal are so relatable with a connection that grows organically. I love how the foundation was set up through friendship which also focuses on the characters personal growth.

I think this author is one of the most underrated authors out there. I think the reader should know that the main focus of this story isn’t the romance side, it’s more of Harriet’s self discovery with a side of romance. This story felt so realistic, charming, and though it is a slow beginning it does eventually suck you in. There’s heavy topics laced with lighthearted moments that keep the book from being too dramatic. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC