Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book had such an interesting premise-falling in love with your new landlord who is a jerk who left his fiance at the alter! That sounds so out of order, I was excited to read it. I really enjoyed Harriet's growth throughout the book and was rooting for her through all of the trials she faced. However, I'm not sure I fell as in love with Cal as she did and did roll my eyes a bit when I read the text realization at the end of the book. It was also very difficult to get through the copious amounts of trauma throughout the story as I was expecting a bit of a lighter book. I really loved Harriet and was happy to read a long with her journey.

Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4)

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

I very much enjoyed this book! I went into this book feeling one way and came out feeling another. Although I enjoyed it, I would definitely put this more in the "General Fiction" category with some romance mixed in. While I did not always agree with Harriet's decisions, I found her funny and charming enough to go along with her. Cal was a small voice of reason, I felt, throughout the book and the drama that came along with him was too juicy not to enjoy! Overall, I felt it was a great read about empowering women and doing what makes us happy. I would highly recommend!

Was thoroughly impressed with the writing of domestic abuse in such a realistic and thoughtful manner. I felt Harriet and Cal could have used more time together throughout the plot getting to know one another but loved the support they provided one another. I thought Harriet was a super Rockstar throughout everything she endured in life and it was hard not to fall in love with her immediately.

I started to read this and it started really well. I just couldn’t stay interested in it enough to make myself sit and read it. I will get this on audio and listen after it’s released. I’ve heard nothing but excellent things about the author so I will definitely give another format a try. It’s not you, it’s me.

✨Review✨
Okay I have been on a roll of GREAT books and this one did not disappoint. I have a deep appreciation for Mhairi McFarlane and her ability to write romance novels that are equal parts charming as well as introspective. The book centers are the main character, Harriet Hatley, as she navigates a messy breakup while simultaneously forced to confront her past relationship with an emotionally abusive ex. Harriet relies on the close bond of her best friend, and new (did I mention handsome) flatmate to understand her past to forge ahead to begin anew.
I cannot recommend this book enough! It has heart, laughs, best friendship, and beautiful character development. Do yourself the favor and pick this book up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It Was Amazing

Thank you @netgalley, @Avonbooks, and @HarperVoyagerUS for the ARC!
Pub Date: August 9th, 2022

I really loved this book but it not a romance. It is about Harriet's journey of getting over her ex emotionally abusive ex. Cal was really cute though and I love him a lot. Harriet and Cal didn't have that many interactions that were described but they all felt so genuine so by the time they said they loved each other I did believe it.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I first discovered Mhairi McFarlane last summer, while my reading life hit a hard wall. I think every reader has a moment in their life when they hit a string of crummy reads. And boy, did I. After four consecutive snoozers, it to the point where I despondently wondered if there were any good unread books left in this world.

But of course there were, thank God for that. And as luck would have it, Mhari's book, 'Just Last Night,' was the lifesaver that pulled me out of a vicious riptide of bad books. Now if you're not into modern romance, or books in general, you might be wrinkling your nose if I tell you that her books are often categorized as such.

To be honest with you, I get it. I don’t really like the sound of 'romance' myself. It makes me envision cheap softcovers featuring bare-chested men and their steamy lovers. But neither do I prefer the label 'chick lit,’ which just sounds chauvinistically vomitous. Could we just call it 'relationship fiction'? And if we can, could I also crown Mhairi McFarlane a star of the relationship fiction constellation? Every single character in Just Last Night felt like a real person, likable or easy-to-hatable. And the dialogue in it - like silky butter on a warm roll, was so smooth. Her latest, How We Met, may not have hit in quite the same ‘ahhh’ place in my heart, but she displays her clear prowess with character development and growth with Harriet, the heroine of this story.

Harriet is a wedding photographer who disposes of her boyfriend when he proposes to her in front of his whole noxious family…after years of telling him she’s not interested in marriage. Happy as she is to move on with her life, Harriet ends up having to find a new place to stay…and is gobsmacked when her new landlord turns out to be the runaway groom from a wedding she was once did.

I admit, this was where I rolled my eyes a little and predicted that the two would fall in love by the end. I won’t tell you if they did, but the story takes a pretty serious turn, leaving the reader to grapple with some heavier topics, like emotional abuse and gaslighting - all from Harriet's dark past. Don't let that scare you away - it's done in a truly breathtaking way.

That's not to say the book was perfect. I could have done without the moments where laughter was included in the dialogue (I suppose it’s a pet peeve, but I’d prefer to not see “Hahaha” between quotation marks, especially with such frequency). There were serendipitous moments all throughout the novel that felt just a wee bit too convenient. Like, how many times can someone be at the exact same place at the exact same time as someone from the far and distant past? It's a writer's crutch that seems to appear frequently in women's fiction, and I counted such moments quite a few times here. The prospective cover art is a little cartoony (which I also felt about the cover of Just Last Night), which belies the gorgeous writing within. Finally, Harriet made some foolhardy choices that left me groaning as a reader, leaving me to wonder aloud, “Why, Harriet, WHY?” But I also believe a good book tends to make you care, and boy did I care to see how things ended up with Harriet.

And by the time I reached the get-up-and-cheer ending, I really didn’t care about the cover, or about how differently Harriet handled things than I would have.

I was just ecstatic to see her win.

Mhairi McFarlane's books are rarely about the romance, and Mad About You is no exception to the rule. Harriet is a wedding photographer but has no desire to marry which she has made abundantly clear to boyfriend Jon. So why does he blindside her with a very public marriage proposal at his parents 40th wedding celebration? She accepts out of huge embarrassment and almost immediately breaks it off with him. This finds her living down the hall from her ex, so she moves out and moves in with Cal, someone she once met wen she was photographing the wedding where he left his bride-to-be at the altar! Judging him a little too harshly at first, Harriet, realizes she may not have the entire story with Cal. Their relationship is fun and supportive, and Cal ends up being an unexpected shoulder to lean on. This fun and entertaining read tackles some dark and heavy topics with style, Harriet is forced to address serious problems that bring her nothing but misery, but she rises to the challenges beautifully supported by a stellar cast of characters. Incorrectly labelled as an enemies to lovers rom-com, this did have its witty moments, great banter and humor, but it was so much more than that! So if you're looking for a book with some serious issues, along with some great friendships and feminism, and a side of romance, then give this book a read, and then run and out grab the other books MM has written.

I absolutely adore Mhairi Mcfarlane’s characters and storytelling! This novel was more focused on Harriet’s breakup and past relationships rather than her budding romance. I found myself completely enthralled by this book and unable to put it down.

Harriet is such a fantastically written character with so much depth that I couldn’t help but love her. She deals with a lot of things where she could easily give up, but instead shows such inspiring strength that I was rooting for her the entire way through. I wished it was a bit more focused on the relationship with Cal at times because I loved the chemistry between the two when they were together! I also enjoyed the strong friendships in this book, not only between Harriet and Lorna but also between Cal and Sam. Overall, I really loved it and cannot wait to read whatever MM writes next!

I was provided a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've always enjoyed Mhairi McFarlane's work and was excited to read Mad About You. As expected, the writing brought Harriet to life and by the end I cheered for her triumph. The emphasis on female friendship and the topic of toxic boyfriends resonated. However, this book is marketed as a RomCom, but is firmly Women's Fiction. While there is a romantic element, it is not central to the story and the Happily Ever After is rushed in the last few chapters.

This was a really great book! I'm not sure if I would classify it as a romance. The romance in it was definitely secondary to the FMC's character development. I wish we had gotten a little bit more of the romance because both characters were so cute but I also understand why it was done this way. Overall I enjoyed the story

I really loved this book! There was something so kind, gentle, sweet, and funny about the relationship between Harriet and Cal. It was so fun to watch their friendship grow and change. While the topic of emotional abuse and grief is weighty and difficult, I appreciate how McFarlane addressed it, and the camaraderie that developed among the survivors. Female friendship was a lovely sub-plot throughout this book. All in all, a joy to read!

I absolutely loved this book!
TW/CW: IPV

Cal and Harriet were two characters I had such an easy time connecting with. I especially loved the element of female camaraderie and empowerment because I am never a fan of books about women tearing each other down. I also loved that these friendships weren't transactional or full of drama. Some people are meant to come into your life and be extremely important to your life, but that doesn't always mean you will remain close. It's sad but ultimately people come and go, and just because you aren't close as you once were, doesn't mean it's anyone's fault. You can be grateful for everything they shared with you without feeling bitterness.
I liked that the story at its core wasn't 100% about romance. Because it makes it realistic in the best way fiction can be.

I absolutely adored this book. Maybe my favorite so far this year. The story follows Harriet, a 34 year old wedding photographer as she leaves her emotionally manipulative boyfriend after he proposes to her in front of his whole family. Needing a place to stay, she moves into a room in a house found by her realtor friend, owned by a journalist named Cal. As they get to know each other and uncover various glitch-in-the-matrix type coincidences, the two become friends. Then Harriet photographs a wedding where the best friend is a different ex boyfriend who was acutely emotionally abusive. Learning that he is engaged, Harriet is chagrined to think that another woman is now ensnared in the same trap that she once was. As she grapples with this and with her own trauma, she also must contend with her own growing feelings for Cal.

What I liked: The amazing female friendship and camaraderie, especially in the face of intimate partner violence. The unbelievably realistic portrayal of emotional abuse. Mhairi McFarlane did her research. Major major trigger warning for anyone who is a survivor (but also, it's very validating). A super empowering (if maybe a bit unrealistic ending). Major chemistry and slow burn between our main characters. Actual, real humor; I laughed out loud many times.

What I didn't like: I always want more spice but honestly, I almost didn't even miss it. This book was pretty much perfect.

I will recommend this to anyone who will listen. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Mhairi McFarlane's books. I tend to devour them whilst intermittently crying and/or smiling (sometimes both at once). Needless to say, I was looking forward to reading Mad About You and for the most part it did not disappoint. Harriet was a relatable protagonist and her story is an important one to tell. There is definitely not enough representation of emotional abuse in media.

Harriet and Cal make a charming couple and I wanted more of their interactions. The relationship development could've used a little more attention, but that's me nitpicking more than anything else.

A lovely book with an important story to tell. Recommended.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. With that being said, I didn’t hate that it was different. It’s told from third person perspective and follows Harriet. This book does have some TW of abuse. I love a good redemption story and really enjoyed the ending.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.

Cal Clarke is the best boyfriend. He was so good with Harriet and understanding. Domestic violence is a big topic in this book so be aware of that if you have any issues reading about that topic. Overall it was a good quick read. The only issue I had was there were so many unlikeable characters that it took away from the really great ones.

I’ve read and enjoyed several of McFarlane’s books (Just Last Night was a favorite of last year), so I’m sorry to say that this one didn’t work that well for me. And I don’t know how to explain that other than to have spoilers, but I think it’s very important that people know what this book is about. This author frequently has heroines with abusive past relationships (emotional abuse, not physical, if that matters to you). But the discussion around the past abuse is normally a fairly small portion of the book. However, it is not with this book. At least 50% of this book is recounting the past abuse, and showing current abuse. Yes, the former boyfriend starts the abuse all over again and essentially ruins Harriet‘s life again. It’s hard to read. And I think it really does a disservice that it isn’t mentioned in the summary for the book, because it’s a huge trigger. If the abuse had been mentioned in the summary, or if it was a much smaller portion of the plot of this book, then I wouldn’t have such an issue. But as it stands I cannot recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This one wasn't for me. I had a hard time getting in to the romance of our two main characters, because of all the back story. I appreciated the back story, but it was just too much .

I really loved the main characters in this one! It was a bit slow at times, but Harriet, Cal, Lorna were all lovely. Great novel that added a focus on emotional/psychological domestic abuse and how even with the absence of physical abuse, it can be just as painful.