BETWEEN US – Mhairi McFarlane
Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-311799-0
August 8, 2023
Contemporary Fiction

England – Present Day

Schoolteacher Roisin Walters is spending the weekend with her group of friends at a country house outside London. Roisin’s longtime boyfriend Joe will be there, along with a newly engaged couple, Dev and Anita. Joe is celebrating the premiere of his newest tv show and the news that he is going to sign a deal for a new show in the United States. Things have been off between Joe and Roisin for a while, but this weekend’s trip finally has her realizing that maybe he hasn’t been truthful with her. Seems the protagonist of his “fictional” show has been sleeping with other women behind his girlfriend’s back. Meanwhile, another friend of the group, Matt, arrives with a hoity-toity new girlfriend who insists that all phones must be locked away. That is when Roisin recognizes the woman as a famous actress. To be clear, the weekend is turning into a disaster. By the time it ends, Roisin knows that she needs to break off with Joe, but how can she explain the reasons why with no proof?

BETWEEN US reads like an ensemble piece but it is told only from Roisin’s point of view. She has devoted ten years of her life to Joe, supporting him as he worked his way into writing success. He is now at the pinnacle of his career and Roisin is wondering if she was just someone that he used to get where he wanted. It is particularly embarrassing when she recognizes in the television show characters that not only resemble their friends, but situations. Including something that she told him in confidence which happened to her as a child. Joe brushes away her concerns as if trivial. That is when she lets him know that maybe it’s time that they go their separate ways. But Joe asks her to hold off announcing it. She agrees but soon realizes that he may be continuing to lie to her.

There are several characters in BETWEEN US that Roisin talks to, but it is Matt who Roisin turns to and confides in what is going on between her and Joe. He offers to help her. Joe has through the years made fun of Matt, who comes off as a bit of a playboy. But once Roisin finally gets to know him, she learns that he is kind and helpful. Will he help her get to the bottom of Joe’s lies? Will this group of friends stay together despite the breakup of one couple? Roisin is going through a lot of emotions in BETWEEN US. She had put up with a lot living with Joe and now he treats her like a piece of baggage to be tossed out as he moves on to his next adventure. He is more concerned about how things look to the public than about her feelings.

BETWEEN US plays like a drama and is an emotional journey for Roisin. Will she take the right path to a future filled with happiness? Find out the answer by grabbing a copy of this tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I enjoyed this book but I did wish it focused less on the breakup. At first, I was fine with it but it felt like it dragged on and on. The romance itself was super cute! And I enjoyed the characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to fellow romance lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mhairi McFarlane never fails to delight and Between Us is no exception.

On it's face, this book rests on a simple premise: Roisin and her boyfriend of 10 years, Joe, a screenwriter, are celebrating with friends at a country estate. When they watch the premier of Joe's new show, Roisin is horrified to discover that her very personal life details have been woven into the script. It calls into question everything she thought she new about her partner and shatters her trust in him.

And that's about it. Not much happens in the book other than relationship/friendship trials. If you're looking for an action heavy plot, you best look elsewhere. But oh my goodness you'd be missing one heck of a story. It's got it all--laughter and tears and the voice is unbelievably amazing. Every time I dip into a McFarlane book I think that she should give a master class on dialogue. Subjectively, this is something that can make or break a reading experience for me. Her words just flow effortlessly--filled with wit, charm, and heart. And her characters are so darn likable. Flawed, yet real. She could be writing about any one of us.

Many thanks to Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. It was an absolute pleasure and one that I'll certainly recommend.

Mhairi McFarlane has long been on my list of authors to read—I’ve seen so many rave reviews from readers I trust that I just knew I would love her work . . . and I was right!

Between Us is a lovely, compelling romance centered on Roisin Walters, a young woman who joins her boyfriend Joe and their long-time friends for a celebration at a luxurious weekend getaway. They’re going to celebrate the launch of Joe’s new show, their friend Dev’s engagement to Anita, and their friend Gina’s birthday, along with Meredith and Matt, the final two members of the group who first bonded when they worked together right out of college.

The weekend does not go as planned. The tension that has been simmering in Roisin and Joe’s relationship surfaces, prompted by the revelation that Joe has used some of Roisin’s family’s secrets on his show. Joe and Matt, who have never been the tightest friends, are sparring, and Matt fumbles through some horrific missteps with Gina, who has had a crush on him forever. It seems their friend group may not survive the weekend.

The novel focuses on the aftermath of the disastrous getaway, on Roisin’s attempts to avoid tension by returning to her hometown to help her mom with her family’s pub, as well as her desire to get to the bottom of Joe’s behavior . . . and on Matt’s valiant efforts to maintain a friendship with Roisin.

McFarlane brilliantly builds both a sense of what made this group so central to each character and also the ways that the years have changed the dynamics between the friends. Roisin is a strong central character whose complex relationships—with Joe, with her friends, and with her family—have shaped her into a compelling and compassionate woman who nevertheless expects to be treated with care and respect and honesty.

I love the way that Roisin and Matt’s friendship grows through the novel, the way that they work through the conflicts of the initial weekend and the challenges that occur as they contend with all that was uncovered. There’s a nuance throughout the novel that in no way took away from the romance. Between Us will definitely not be my last McFarlane novel!

I guess I don't understand the point of this book. Most of it is about her and her ex and figuring out if he cheated on her while also falling in love with her friend. It was super slow and I don't feel like she had any character growth. It just felt pointless to me.

I received an arc through netgalley.

He’d been the body on the other side of her bed since she was twenty-three. Ending it felt huge.

Starting off when Roisin was twelve and learning that her parents had an open relationship, the story then jumps twenty-two years to Roisin's own on the rocks relationship. She's an English secondary school teacher who supported her boyfriend Joe for years but now with a successful tv series under his belt and lots of buzz about his new one about to debut, his screenwriting is taking off. Roisin can't tell if all this success and stress of an exploding career is temporarily causing this distance between them or if the problem has been building for some time. When the group of friends they made working as young twenty somethings at a bookstore, calling themselves the Brian Club, has them getting together for a weekend to celebrate an engagement and birthday, Roisin sees it as an opportunity to really think about if she wants to stay with Joe.

Faking it never really worked.

With a Mhairi McFarlane book, you're usually going to get a highly emotional read with all the highs and lows of life, this was no exception. I did think the beginning felt very jumbled with a good amount of characters coming at us readers and trying to work out who was who and how they fit into the picture, relationships. The first half felt more trying to be ensemble piece before the second half zeroed in more on Roisin and her trying to work out her life. With all the characters, some ended up feeling distant to me, Meredith and Dev of the Brian Club, along with Dev's fiancee, played roles but were jostled in the crowd too much. The second half had Roisin weakly saying and thinking it was over with Joe after she feels betrayed about something personal she told that he ended up using in his new show and reveals a different side to him that she never allowed herself to see before, making her question what else could be true from his life that appeared on the show. With his smooth talking ways, he says they'll talk about it more when he comes back from a trip to America. This leaves Roisin to think about if she is seeing things that aren't there or if their relationship is really over. When she has a panic attack at school, she starts her summer break early and with her mom saying she had a health scare and needs help at the family's pub, Roisin uses it as an opportunity to escape and get distance from her life. This also brings in one of members of the Brian Club, Matt, as he helps out at the pub and their relationship starts to take on a new look as they finally get time alone together.

She wanted to find a better part of herself for Matt, someone who wasn’t bedazzled by Mean Boys.

After a start that I thought was a little harder to get into, I loved the second half. The relationships and dynamics of the Brian Club get fleshed out more and Roisin has time and distance to really wade through her emotions, about her relationship with Joe and how her parent's relationship and her relationship with them affected how she views love. Throughout, Roisin is trying to figure out if Joe ever cheated on her, because of something on the show she saw, and that hovers over for the majority of the story until the latter second half when Roisin gets her answer. I thought the changing dynamic and opening up of Roisin's eyes in regards to her relationship with Matt was aching sweet and though it kind of stays to the sides, until a sudden spotlight scene, her relationship with her mother was also a deceptively hit you hard all of a sudden.

Odd how microscopic pauses could be so decisively revealing.

I thought some of the last twenty percent felt a little disjointed, with a looking like a happy ending only to revert focus back on the question of Joe's cheating to help bring in a quick dark moment. I hesitate to label this Chik-Lit as it doesn't feel light enough, if you want an exploring of emotions and relationships, Contemporary Fiction with Romance, a Kate Clayborn adjacent, definitely pick this up. Like I said, this touched on all the highs and lows of life and while I don't think it ever did lasting stays in the doldrums of the topics (cheating, abortion, child sexual abuse), they still packed a punch. This author has an amazing ability to really bring truth and feeling to life's emotions, whether it's struggles within yourself or with others. A heart warming smile was brought to my face over a reveal of feelings between characters but also watery eyes from pain the characters were enduring, to a delighted sigh at the happy start ending.

Between Us is my first contemporary read by Mhairi McFarlane but will definitely NOT be my last!

Roisin and Joe are celebrating an engagement, birthday, launch of Joe's new television show and other happy things at a beautiful manor. Yet as the party continues, Roisin begins to feel that things are not all rainbows and butterflies anymore. After watching the first episode of Joe's new show, those feelings are pushed to the forefront. What other secrets was her love of forever, Joe, keeping from her? Who will still be standing by her side when she thought that everything would stay between Joe and her?

I started and finished Between Us in a few sittings, not able to put down McFarlane's latest novel. I wanted to care for most people in the friend group and quickly found myself hating Joe, thanks to the writing style. The short, fast paced chapters and "punchable" plot lines made this book a win in my book. While some of the quirky lines I couldn't relate to or found myself rolling my eyes, they didn't take away from the overall story. I cannot wait to pick up other books that are written by Mhairi McFarlane!

This was my first book read of this author and I'd definitely read more in the future. Honestly it took me a bit to get into this one because it's based in Britain so the slang is different. I learned a new word "indefatigable", had to look this one up and what is a "fleitarian"! I understand having a unique name spelling and adapted to calling Roisin, Rosaleen. But I absolutely loved her transition from not realizing how much she was being patronized to truly loved. I loved the description of Matt, as a young Harrison Ford. This one has a mother/daughter story line also. I related to this book so much from when I was this age. I'm planning on buying this book for a young friend who is finishing school next year to be a teacher.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy release date #08/08/2023. All opinions are my own.

Between Us felt less like a romance and more like a “woman’s journey to discover her truth in her relationship.” Essentially, Roisin realizes that her long-term boyfriend used information she told him in confidence and added it to his new TV show he’s written. And it makes her realize that there may be more he’s lying about.

Most of this book is back and forth between Roisin and Joe. There’s discussion of family trauma, gaslighting, and the sunk cost fallacy. Roisin, despite breaking up with Joe and never wanting to get back together, just wants to know the truth of what he did; whether or not the nine years they were together were entirely a lie. I can empathize, I would want to know all that my “partner” had lied about. But it felt almost obsessive.

And her new romance, with the one that had been there all along, felt a bit contrived. It was easy to guess his feelings towards her, but hers felt reactive to the trauma of her break-up.

Despite everything, Mhairi McFarlane is a wonderful author that always sucks me in and gets me interested in the characters. Even though this was less of a romance, I still really enjoyed Between Us and will happily read more from this author.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading Between Us, but I think it fits more neatly into contemporary fiction than it does romance. The romance is de-centered as the vast majority of the book is devoted to Roisin and Joe's breakup. Although I was interested in the breakup storyline, I thought it went on too long. I wanted less of the breakup and more of the romance. I liked the couple, particularly the male love interest. An epilogue would have maybe left me more satisfied and balanced out the book.

Despite some criticism, Mhairi McFarlane shines in her creative breakup plot line, exploration of gaslighting, and the dynamics of the long-term friend group.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Roisin and Joe join their friends for a weekend at a country house, but by the time the weekend is over, her life has imploded. Joe uses private things from their relationship in his new TV show. When things reach a boiling point, she returns home to help her family run their pub. When her always dysfunctional family doesn't help, she comes back into contact with an old friend, who is there for her in ways she never knew she needed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Roisin Walters, an English teacher, and Joe Powell, an up-and-coming screenwriter have been together for nearly a decade. Joe has been working on and getting ready to premiere a new detective show. While Roisin and Joe are away for a weekend with their friends, they sit down to watch it, but it seems like several of the details included in the show have been taken from real life and this has made Roisin extremely uncomfortable. Specifically, it is an affair that makes Roisin uneasy and questions the last decade with Joe. Is everything between them a lie?

Roisin's mother asks her to come home during her summer break and help her with the bar that she owns as she is understaffed, and she agrees to do so. A friend that Roisin and Joe kind of/sort of stayed with them during their weekend away ends up coming to assist Roisin and her mother, and Roisin discovers not only a new perspective, but new feelings about herself, the world, and this friend.

I'm a little torn as to whether or not I like this book. I thought that there was entirely too much detail and this book could have been at least 100 pages shorter. It was difficult to understand at first what the plot of the story was in the first place, and it seemed as if there were two different plot lines that were combined to make one story.

However, the last 25% were the most interesting for me. It could have been the fact that I was a little more invested in Roisin's journey or whether I just wanted to get the book done, I'm not really sure, but I had to know Roisin's character development and how the story would conclude. Honestly, the last line to conclude the whole story was a little weak and I would have maybe liked an epilogue, but beggars can't be choosers, I guess.

While the book seemed a bit disjointed at times, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the most captivating thing I've ever read.

Mhairi is one of my favorite authors and this book was everything I wanted it to be! The toxic relationship between Roisin and Joe felt so real, and the romance was perfectly swoony. I loved it!

This was the first book I have read by this author. I loved the blurb to this book and thought it was right up my alleyway. But I could not connect with the characters and the pace was very slow to get into.

I want to thank Netgalley and Avon for allowing me to get this arc. All opinions are my own and I will not be reviewing this book on any other platforms.

3.5 ⭐️s

It's always helpful to remember that McFarlane's Books lean more toward Women's Fiction with a side of romance, and this one was no different.

I have to be honest and say it took me a good while to get into this book–about halfway maybe–but then something clicked and all of a sudden I was invested.

I could always count on a Mhairi McFarlane book to be well written and thoughtful; always with imperfect but interesting characters. She really is just so eloquent and witty.

While this one wasn't a favorite, I'm definitely still reading her next book.

CW (not limited to MCs): cheating, gaslighting, mention of abortion

Thank you for the ARC, Avon and NetGalley!

I've loved Mhairi McFarlane's stories since I first picked up If I Never Met You. I am currently trying to work through her backlist while also keeping up with her latest. I was lucky enough to get a finished copy of Between Us through the publisher as well as an eARC. I devoured it in less than a day.

McFarlane's books are often a balance between women's fiction and romance. Between Us follows the demise of a long-term relationship and the friendships tied with it. Roisin and Joe's relationship has been deteriorating, but it is not until things she confided in him appear on his new show that she finally ends it.

It's an introspective story as Roisin mourns the loss of who they used to be to each other, or at least who she used to be to Joe. As she reflects on how people and relationships may change, hindsight also allows her to recognize that you may never know someone as well as you think you do. Like the rest of McFarlane's books I've read, Between Us left me with a lot to think about--love, family, and friendships. It also evoked my longing for things to stay the same, especially when I already know change is inevitable.

Read this if you like
✨️women's fiction
✨️strong friendships
✨️love in unexpected places
✨️witty humor and sarcasm

Many thanks to the publisher for the reading copies.

I feel comparisons may be made between this book and Emily Henry’s Happy Place in that they both feature groups of friends that may or may not be drifting apart. I liked Roisin a bit more than the main character in Happy Place, though. I liked Meredith and Gina as well, but wish that Dev and Anita had featured more. They felt less like necessary characters and more like a necessary plot device used as an excuse to throw everyone together over and over.

I thought the book’s pace was done well and I thought the evolution of the different relationships throughout felt realistic and not rushed. I did have an issue, however, with the way chapters were done. I haven’t noticed this in her other books, but chapters were very short. Typically when I’m reading, I anticipate chapters to indicate scene breaks. But more often than not in this book, a chapter will end and then the new chapter starts with literally the next line of dialogue in the same conversation we were just reading. It threw me off almost every time. I just had not idea what to expect with a new chapter starting.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as I’ve enjoyed her other ones. I think she could have gone even deeper into some characters if she’d wanted to.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Mhairi McFarlane's books, and this one is no exception. I do find the Romance classification a bit off. General and/or women's fiction, sure, but so much of this book is about a long term relationship coming to an end and realizing not everything is as it seems. If you are looking for a Romance book, this isn't it. But I think it's a very good look at friend groups, and how they evolve as we age and couple and decouple within them. If you liked Emily Henry's Happy Place but don't necessarily want/need a steamy romance front and center, I think you would like this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Oy.

I was *really* excited to get my hands on this book. Not only is it an author I have really been wanting to try out, but it was also a storyline that I could get excited about. The blurb sounded perfectly charming and the exact sort of thing that would pull me in.

Unfortunately, I wasn't pulled in. This is very likely a "me" problem in that, as a reader who reads primarily romance, I really want the romance to fire up and make me FEEL things. I am not patient about it either and ultimately this book required a bit of patience. The pacing was slow and there was a lot of "other stuff" going on that left me feeling frustrated when I wanted to feel entertained (and swoony).

I wholeheartedly appreciate the opportunity to read and review, but in the end, this one wasn't for me.

mhairi mcfarlane is an IMMENSE TALENT, the writing was engaging, the characters raw and real, and honestly the storyline messed w my own head, had me questioning who was in the wrong who was right

i do think it’s a bit of a stretch to play this off as a romance rather than more of just a general fiction, especially because it lacks a lot for me in the way of developing a couple. but i guess mcfarlane attempts to address this by using the last chapter and roisins class on endings vs beginnings as an explanation of the ending of her own story.

that being said, delightful, well written, vivid and aggressively relatable (if not painfully relatable at times)