Going into this book I was expecting a cute rom com and while we did get some of that this book was also so much more!

We met Harriet, a wedding photographer, who is unhappy in her current relationship but doesn’t do anything about it until her boyfriend proposes and she realizes she definitely does not want to marry him. This turn of events leads her to needed to find a new living situation. When she unknowingly ends up with a roommate she was a run away groom at a previous wedding she was hired to photograph… the irony LOL

As we learn more about Harriet we find out she’s really had a rough time with relationships. She unfortunately experienced an emotionally abusive relationship that she was luckily able to safely leave. Though when she crosses paths with this ex she learns he’s now engaged to another woman who seems equally as unhappy as she was, so she reaches out to help if she can.

All in all, we go on a journey with Harriet where she realizes her own strength and is able to find love and support other women!

My only negative point was I didn’t really understand the point of the relationship she leaves at the beginning of the book and her continued interactions with him throughout the book… I chalked it up to her trying to be understanding and nice about the end of the relationship as a weakness when I just kept hoping she’d tell him to shove off once and for all!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and did find myself cheering for Harriet the whole time and the woman empowerment theme throughout the book!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book almost lost me at the very beginning because it went straight into the boring awfulness of the relationship. It should have introduced Harriet (the main character) first and engendered some sort of like-ability and connection with her character and the reader. I almost quit reading this book because I was so bored with reading how clearly awful this relationship was. I didn’t actually start to like Harriet until we met her friend Lorna. I liked Lorna immediately. I understand (now that I have finished the book) why we need to see Harriet and Jon’s relationship but I think it could be very edited. We could even start from the dinner scene when Jon surprises Harriet since we learn all the information we need to know about him and his family and their relationship over the course of the book anyways. I felt like I was on a roller coaster with this book right along with Harriet. I believe that this book was a decent commentary on emotionally abusive relationships but it definitely had me triggered and empathizing with Harriet. This book needs a trigger warning. I did enjoy the bit of romance in this book but I feel that it took a decided back seat to the rest of the story ( like third row seat in the back of an SUV type of seating).

MM's books are never really about the romance - they are always about the growth of the characters - but I definitely think this is the best romance MM has written.

Again, the romance is not the focus of this book. It's about trials, abusive pasts, letting go and moving forward. It's a story about strength, resilience, and uplifting others. That being said, the connection between Cal and Harriet is so genuine, so charming, so realistic, that it completely outshines everything else in the book. Even if it is just a side plot.

So go into this expecting it to be a women's fiction novel with a main plot that is pretty heavy, but you can also be looking forward to the brief interactions between Cal and Harriet that totally steal the show!

Joining her boyfriend's parents wedding anniversary Harriet Hatley has been put on the spot by a surprise proposal knowing that she detests marriages, she broke it off with her boyfriend and is set to find another apartment.

Cal Clarke had his life planned out, but after leaving his own wedding he suddenly had his own house with an en suite bedroom and a sizable mortgage at his disposal.

Harriet and Cal meet upon the impression of becoming roommates and begin to be friends with each other and open up about their own issues while comforting one another.

Amazing and an inspirational read!

If you enjoy strong and opinionated characters, you'll love this book! The friendships, the realizations this book will give you, I seriously can't wait for this book to be released.

This book is not your typical love story and I am shocked to see myself having more or less 20 highlights in this book, at first. I almost put it on my dnf because I'm not in the mood for romance. But I am totally flabbergasted by this book and its story, the way that Harriet overcame her past and stood up to it. I love and salute her. Hands up to Mhairi McFarlane for writing this masterpiece!

Also, this book shows that not everything you see is real and every mistake people make has a reason behind it if you look deeper enough so don't be quick to judge people against their past.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-arc

Mad About You-

Unfortunately, I could not finish this book. I really tried to push through, and read to chapter 13. The story seemed to drag and was very slow for me.

Early in the book, when Harriet broke up with Jonathon, his reaction threw me. He kept saying things in such a childish way that didn’t match the situation. For example-“oh fucking hell, I’ve made a pig’s ear of this”. I also felt there was a lot of unnecessary information included.

From what I read, the story seemed very long and slow. I apologize for not being able to finish. I just could not get into it.

This is edgiest, most angsty, triggering, intense Mhairi McFarlene book I’ve ever had! The smart writing, the genuine, real and connectable characters made me drawn into this thought provoking story with powerful messages!

The gaslighting, psychological abuse, grief, cheating, power of friendship blended into Harriet’s heart wrenching story so well! I would normally have hesitations when a book’s blurb misinformed you! This book’s plot made us think this is entertaining enemies to lovers story but this is absolutely not! Yes, there is tension, sexual chemistry, smart banters, witty dialogues but this book is more than that! Hattie is my kind of heroine I want to invite my house to have long chats sharing bottles of Chardonnay and late night homemade cookies ( ha ha homemade means husband made, nobody dare to consider me as a cook) , giving long hugs, telling she’s amazing, she’s strong, she’s bold enough to confront with the bullies, giving them the lesson they have to learn! I call her Hattie because the author made me feel so close to her with her magical creative mind who gives birth to unforgettable characters!

I was so ready to give five stars to this book because of its meaningful, provocative, bold approach to sensitive subjects even though lack of romance and extra drama in heroine’s life made me so agitated!

But… I loved Cal from the beginning. He was lovely hero and I truly wished to read Harriet and his slow burn romance during those whirlwind, intense incidents Harriet has to deal with but their love story seemed like an insta love : a quick hookup that seemed mandatory.

Well, I still enjoyed this book! Ms. McFarlane’s smart descriptions to make us see through the characters’ soul and her method to write true heartbreaking angsty stories made me love this book. It’s not my all time favorite work of hers but it is still a MUST READ!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.