This book is like a rom-com with a side of emotional gut punch. Roisin and Joe have been together for years, but things have been off for a while. They go away with friends to celebrate, and when they watch Joe’s new TV show, Roisin realizes he’s used their private life as inspiration. Cue the betrayal, gaslighting, and Roisin questioning everything she thought she knew.

The story dives deep into themes of trust, manipulation, and finding your voice. It’s not just about a bad breakup; it’s about reclaiming your life and realizing your worth. The romance is slow-burn and feels earned, and the friendships are messy in the best way.

This book was written for you if:
1. You enjoy stories about personal growth and healing.
2. You like a mix of romance and real-life drama.
3. You appreciate strong, complex female leads.

This book was okay, but kind of all over the place! There were a lot of characters that seemed very cookie cutter and were hard to keep track of, and the pacing was uneven. All in all, definitely not my favorite. 2.5 stars rounded up

DNF at 33%.
I started this one, and almost immediately felt lost with all the characters in the friend group. It took a while to start to unravel some of the plot points, and I just found myself unable to connect with the characters and stay engaged. I’ve read other Mhairi McFarlane books but this one just didn’t hold my interest enough to keep going.

Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane was a thoughtful, emotional read. The characters felt real, and I loved the way their relationships and personal journeys unfolded. While it was a bit slow at times, the story's depth and humor kept me engaged. A heartfelt book about love and friendship.

Normally I really love Mhairi McFarlane books, but this one just wasn't for me.

While it was well written and a quick, enjoyable read, I found myself having a hard time connecting to the main characters they way I normally do with Mhairi McFarlane's characters.

Overall I would recommend this to a select group of friends.

Between Us is a contemporary romance by Mhairi McFarlane. It was difficult to read. I had to restart the book multiple times and was very close to DNFing it. The characters were so incredibly annoying.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this one! The timing of this read coincided with a huge transition in my personal life, so it read almost therapeutic for me.

McFarlane is one of my all-time favorite writers. She balances the weight of grief and secrets with old friendships and surprising new relationships . The story of Eve as she tries to figure out how to put her life back together, or if she even wants to, kept me hooked. Charming and unforgettable.

I really struggled getting through this book. I would stop and start several times hoping that it would pick up pace. Unfortunately it was not my favorite.

This book has been on my Netgalley for a bit and I haven’t picked it up. I haven’t been into romance in a minute, so I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book. I've tried to pick it up on multiple occasions, but there was something about the writing and the flow that I could not get into.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Overall I enjoyed the book and most of the characters. The story flowed well enough but did feel long in some parts. I’m American but do read UK / English books, and can usually keep up with the turn of phrases and differences but I felt there were a lot of slang phrases I’d never heard of or come close to being able to being able to decipher in this one. Like few sentences at a time I’d be like “huh” but I chalk that up to my own deficiencies and not the book or author. Overall was able to keep up with the story and what was going on.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

*Between Us* by Mhairi McFarlane is a heartfelt and witty exploration of love, friendship, and second chances. The story follows Rachel and Ben, two longtime friends who unexpectedly find themselves confronting deeper feelings for each other after years of friendship. McFarlane’s writing is sharp, funny, and emotionally resonant, capturing the complexities of relationships with warmth and authenticity. The chemistry between Rachel and Ben is palpable, and the slow-burning romance unfolds with both humor and emotional depth. With its well-developed characters, relatable themes, and engaging narrative, *Between Us* is a charming and satisfying read for fans of contemporary romance.

I really hate giving this book 2 Stars.
I usually enjoy this author's books. Between Us just wasn't for me.
I am very thankful to NetGalley and Avon Books for my advanced copy.
I was gifted this eBook back in 2023. I didn't get to it right away so I bought an audio via Libro.fm so I could better prioritize the book and support the author.
In 2023 I picked it up and put it down. I remember I wasn't having the best day and I just couldn't get into the story.
Now over a year later I'm still not a fan.
I'm glad I came back to it and gave it a fair shot.
I'm still a fan of Mhairi McFarlane and look forward to reading more by her.
This book gets 1 star for me picking it up and 1 star for finishing it. I did finish this time around but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends.

DNF - For me this book felt disjointed and didn't flow well. The writing felt very staccato and the transitions between chapters felt broken. I've tried to read tho book twice and had the same feeling both time so I'm officially calling it done. I would read this author again as this may be a me issue and perhaps I wasn't invested enough mentally but it's time to move on to another book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I have never read a book by this author before but I know a lot of people love her books. This one sounded great and it didn’t disappoint.
I enjoyed it but there was also nothing really standing out to me

REVIEW: Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane

I've just finished "Between Us" by Mhairi McFarlane, and I've gotta say, it's a pretty solid read. McFarlane's done it again with her signature mix of humor, heart, and oh-crap-life-is-messy realness. Our main character, Roisin, is trying to navigate the wild world of online dating while dealing with some serious family drama. Throw in a workplace rivalry that turns into something... unexpected, and you have a story that'll keep you turning pages.

McFarlane has this knack for creating characters that feel like people you might know. Roisin's not perfect, but that's what makes her relatable. You'll find yourself rooting for her, even when she's making questionable choices (and trust me, she makes a few). The banter in this book is top-notch. I'm talking laugh-out-loud moments that'll have you snorting coffee through your nose if you're not careful. But it's not just fluff - McFarlane digs into some deeper stuff, like family relationships and self-discovery.

Now, it's not all smooth sailing. The pacing hits a few bumps here and there, and there were moments when I wanted to reach through the pages and give some characters a good shake. But honestly? That just made it feel more natural. What sets this book apart is how it tackles online dating and modern relationships. It's refreshing to see a rom-com that doesn't shy away from the awkwardness and pitfalls of trying to find love in the age of apps.

If you're into British humor, messy real-life romance, and characters who feel like they could be your slightly-disaster-prone friends, "Between Us" is worth a read. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a good time. McFarlane's done it again, and I'm here for it.

Thank you, Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC! Between Us was unexpected - the content was at times difficult considering the nature of the relationship but overall was a nice story about healing. Out now!

I'm a big fan of Mhairi, but this one was a bit disappointing compared to her other books. But to be fair, compared to other books I read, this is leaps and bounds better.

I enjoyed the themes that were explored, betrayal, gaslighting, relationship dynamics. The book did make me want to root for Roisin, and for everything to turn out ok.