Mhairi McFarlane and I are just interested in different parts of relationships, I think. Her books always spend so much time on the break up that precedes the new relationship. I don't care. I want to know about the new relationship.

The writing is clean and the banter is good. I get why she's so popular.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I have not read a book by Mhairi McFarlane so I had no background knowledge on her style of writing. I expected to read a rom com but felt that Between Us fell short. It took me awhile to become engaged in the plot and I did not fall in love with the book as I had hoped.

4 Stars

Mhairi McFarlane is one of my long-time favorite authors so getting chosen for an ARC for her newest release made me do an actual excited happy dance.

Between Us is about what it’s like to go through a long-term breakup that ends badly. The kind where you question your entire history with a person you thought you knew and would be with forever. While also dealing with the fact that your breakup will affect your entire friend group as well. It had family issues interwoven and some sweet romance as well.

I really enjoyed Between Us and it was another solid read from Mhairi McFarlane. Here’s Looking At You is still my all-time favorite but they’re all worth reading if you enjoy any of them in my opinion. They’re very British so some slang & words I have to look up (as an American) but it’s never bothered me!

Something I would like to note is that I was so impressed with how Mhairi made me feel gas-lit by Joe alongside Roisin. I had no idea what had actually happened until Roisin did as well. I kept going back and forth in my mind over my feelings about him which is a tell of how well written it was.

If I had any constructive criticism or could say what kept it from being a five-star read for me it would be that it did take me a little bit to really feel invested. And I would have loved to have a little more romantic build up when it came to the love story.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon & Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a book filled with romance then look elsewhere. This book is mostly about a breakup with a guy who is a complete dick with a little romance thrown in.

I felt like the story took way too long to actually start and the beginning was pure filler. While you did learn some helpful information it all truly felt like information that could have been put into two or three chapters. Not a full 30% of the book.

Hello, friends, boyfriends and drama! I love the big cast of characters and strong circle of friends. This is a little slow at first when you’re getting to know everyone, but it takes off once the big reveal grabs your attention. Likable characters— Ugh, most of the characters anyway. Self evolving Roisin is the kind of character you’re friends with while reading and cheering as she makes a stand on her own.

Get it, Roisin! — I’m off to figure out how to pronounce her name again!

Thank you for the early release book and kindle read!

3.25 ⭐️

I find Mhairi McFarlane’s books generally to be witty and heartwarming. That was true with Between Us as well. I was excited to receive an ARC from Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I liked the book. It’s definitely not a true rom com. Between Us has elements of mystery and suspense, romance, and a woman grappling with identity - her own and that of her ex-boyfriend of over a decade.

It took me a little while to feel invested in the book, but things picked up when the first episode of Joe’s show aired and Roisin began to question the truth of her relationship. At that point, we were off to the races. I finished the book quickly then. Is Rosh going crazy, is she being gaslit, is Joe really a serial cheater? I liked trying to figure out the real story, and I was really rooting for Roisin. I appreciated her having the tenacity to search for the answer.

I enjoy found family books, and the cast of friends was really fun.

The romance was closed-door and seemed very insta-lovey, but it was generally sweet.

I’d recommend the book if you’re looking for a combination of closed-door rom com, found family vibes, and mystery of is Joe a serial cheater or is Rosh making it up.


Stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers.

________________________

The connection between Roisin and Matt was very insta-lovey, which admittedly isn’t my favorite trope. There was some development of Matt helping out at the bar, and their hikes together (I loved those scenes), but it still felt abrupt given that she was with Joe for a decade. I know Roisin and Matt had also been friends for over ten years, but I think seeing flashbacks of their friendship or connection earlier in the book could have combatted the insta-love issues I had with the book. I think McFarlane did that well with showing how Matt loved Rosh, but not so well with Rosh.

It was my absolute joy to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Roisin and Joe have been together for nearly 10 years, since they’re early thirties. Lately Roisin has been wondering if this is long term due to Joe’s hot and cold nature toward her for the last year. When Joe, a newly successful television writer’s new show comes with rave reviews and scenes that seem shockingly familiar, Roisin has to wonder if she knows the person she’s been sharing her life with.
I love that Mhairi has been writing early 30 somethings who think they have it figured out, but turns out they don’t in her last few books and Roisin was not an exception. In addition to exploring a 10 year relationship, we also explore old friendships and their lasting power as you grow and change. I loved getting to the bottom of the issue with Joe, but also wish it hadn’t taken almost the entire book. I’d like to have seen more of the second chance than closure with previous relationship. Otherwise, I have no notes. Yet another release by Mhairi that makes me feel seen when you’re in the messiness of life.

This was incredibly slow (and as a result, boring). I didn’t believe the romance between Roisin and Matt nor that she could be so oblivious to Joe’s true nature for so long.

Mhairi McFarlane has done it again! She has such a talent for drawing interesting and realistic-seeming characters. She also depicts groups of friends the sort that we all wish that we could have. In this novel we see Roisin doubting her relationship with her boyfriend of 10 years. As they gather together with their group of friends, she starts to realize that he isn’t who she thought he was. And maybe the other guy to spare in their group, the handsome Matt is the one who is really worth pairing up with.

I love the dialogue among the friends. I don’t know anyone from Manchester, but they all come across as authentic and interesting.

Every book I’ve read by McFarlane has been a total delight and this continues her streak.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

DNF at 21%

I'm not sure what it was, but this one just couldn't grab me. I think so many characters were introduced at once, and I couldn't tell the difference between them, and I couldn't figure out where the story was going. I read a few more chapters before deciding to drop this one, and I just think the writing style just isn't for me. I'm sad because I do think this premise is really interesting, and someone else is probably going to really enjoy this! I'm rating this full stars, because I feel like I didn't get enough into it to fairly rate it a 1 star, and I don't want it to tank its overall ranking drastically.

Between Us is full of entertaining drama - drama with friends, drama in old relationships and drama in new relationships - definitely recommend! I loved the premise of Roisin investigating things further as she suspects that her boyfriend Joe's new drama series is art imitating life. I would have liked to see more with Roisin and Matt - there was so much focus on the negativity of Roisin's relationship with Joe and the additional fallout as she discovers more things he kept from her - that it was more difficult to fully invest in her new try at a relationship with Matt. But I am definitely excited to read more from Mhairi McFarlane - I loved her writing. Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

don't think this was for me. couldn't get into it as much as i tried, sadly. i read one other book by mcfarlane and enjoyed it. think this was just too slow and didn't get into the plot as quickly as i had wanted it to. lost my interest in continuing very early on.

I am struggling with how to write this review. I enjoy the writings of Mhairi McFarlane, but unfortunately I did DNF this. The relationships portrayed were toxic, manipulative and unhealthy. The miscommunication trope and drama was just too much for me. I felt like I wasn’t getting the escape I desired and ultimately decided to stop reading. Best of wishes to this author. I look forward to reading the next novel.

Many thanks to Netgalley, and Harper Collins publishing for the advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for review.

After watching her screenwriter boyfriend’s new hit show, Roisin’s life feels like it’s unraveling as she realizes the man she thought she knew wasn’t him at all and is surprised to find love in unexpected places in Mhairi McFarlane’s Between Us. I have mixed feelings for this book. I felt like it was really hard to connected to these characters. The drama of Rousin and Joe’s breakup was good and it was a constant question of what actually happened between them that I was really invested in, but in that same vein, it went on so long I didn’t feel the right connection when it came to how fast Roisin moves in to her new love interest. I did find Roisin’s mom and Roisin’s friend Matt to be really genuine and fun and I loved Roisin’s moments at her childhood home and her mom’s pub. I thought the ending was good, I just wish there had been more time over all for it.

3.3.5⭐


Roisin is a relatable and likeable character and by the end of the book, I was really rooting for her. It just took so long to get there! I think this was a case of wrong reader for the book. I don't like reading about cheating and the meat of this book revolves around it and was too much for me.

Pros:
I loved Lorraine and Roisin and would have liked more of a focus on them working out their shit.
The chemistry between the characters was fun to read and once things were rolling past the halfway point, I started to enjoy it more.

Cons:
It took a long time for me to really grasp what was happening and who all the characters were. I also HATED one of the main characters and found him super stressful. (Which is totally intentional). But if you don't like to read gaslighting, you might not enjoy it.

Overall, if the book had shortened the negative part and made more out of the mother daughter relationship, I would have loved it. I realize not all romance novels have likeable characters, but this wasn't my fave from Mhairi McFarlane.

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC to review.

Mhairi McFarlane just truly never misses. This concept is just so clever and honestly I think it brings to light topics that are in quite nature normally a bit heavier. I think that this bordered more almost on women's fiction with a subplot of romance, so it was a bit different than I originally thought it was going to be, but overall I had a really enjoyable experience reading it.

In true McFarlane style, she has taken some heavy issues and brought them to the surface for the reader to consider. - themes of infidelity, betrayal, trust, friendship, relationships & love, both past & present. While focus is on Roisin & Joe - Matt, Gina, Meredith, Dev & Anita - all play their significant roles in supporting the timeline of events & friendship.

Furthermore, she infuses small amounts of humor to ensure that the writing is not too seen as too heavy all the time. Also, she weaves in a story of romance & love. She keeps it moving forward slowly which manages to keep the reader wanting more even knowing the most likely outcome. I could not wait for the finish and it was worth the wait!

Tropes
* love to hate
* trust to betrayal & even infidelity
* A friendship bond that was once strong begin to test its limits
* Secrets between friends & lovers created over time
* friendship to love

I strongly recommend this book!!

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BLURB (credit NetGalleycom)
When Roisin and Joe join their friends for a weekend at a country house, it’s a triple celebration—a birthday, an engagement, and the launch of Joe’s shiny new TV show. But as the weekend unfolds, tensions come to light in the group and Roisin begins to question her own relationship. And as they watch the first episode of Joe’s drama, she realizes that the private things she told him—which should have stayed between them—are right there on the screen.
With her friend group in chaos and her messy love life on display for the whole world to see, Roisin returns home to avoid the unwanted attention and help run her family’s pub. But drama still follows, in the form of her dysfunctional family and the looming question: what other parts of her now-ex’s show are inspired by real events? Lies? Infidelity? Every week, as a new episode airs, she wonders what other secrets will be revealed.
Yet the most unexpected twist of all is an old friend, who is suddenly there for Roisin in ways she never knew she needed…

I liked this book even more than I thought I would after reading the premise. There is so much to dig into past the romance of the book. I loved the character journey that many of us go through after college with your group of friends. Wanting to hold on to the good times of the past while growing as a person.

This was my first Mhairi McFarlane book and I really enjoyed it. It took me a bit to get into it as the first part, I really had no idea where this was going to go. A group trip with friends sets up the rest of the story and explains the complexities of group friendships.

Once you get into the story you cannot put it down trying to figure out if Roisin’s instincts are correct or if they have been mixed up in the world of TV make-believe. I don’t want to spoil any of it for you, so you can find out for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 17%

The synopsis of this book made it sound full of excitement and drama. A subconscious cinematic tell-all of the main character’s struggling relationship? Sign me up.

Except what I signed up for is not at all what I got. At 17%, I wasn’t even close to that event happening. Instead, there were far too many characters thrown at me way too quickly with far too complicated backstories to keep track of and way, way too much talking. To put it bluntly (and I don’t use these words lightly because I know how much effort it takes to write a book), the pacing was extremely slow, making every word a slog to read. Because I couldn’t understand why I was supposed to care about these characters when they barely seemed to care about each other. Supposedly they’d all been friends for years, but I didn’t feel that, and the conversations they would have with each other made very little sense. There was no hook to draw the reader in and as a result, I couldn’t figure out what the purpose of this story was.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

As a preface, this could easily be a 4-star book. The writing style didn't mesh with me, and it took too long to get into the story so I dropped the extra star.

I assumed this story would pick up around the time Roisin and co. watch Joe's show, but it takes a while to get to that part. Looking back, how Mhairi beings Between Us is vital to meet Roisin and see how the dynamic of the friend group works. But during my first read, I was just waiting for the drama to begin. Plus, the group disappears not long after they watch the show's first episode, so maybe the dynamic wasn't necessarily needed, since we don't see much of those other characters anyway.

I did like the approach Mhairi took with Roisin and Matt. They felt very natural and never forced [although saying you love someone and realized it a couple of days ago but it "felt like it was there all along" was weird considering she just got out of a 10-year relationship] and I was HERE for the drama around Joe to unfold. But while Roisin and Matt's friendship felt natural, the second-chance romance came out of left field. I mean, I saw it coming, but it was on the heels of the fallout of a 10-year relationship, and Roisin was still hung up on Joe's lies. This all happened within several weeks, I believe, so that was what tripped me up on the romance aspect.

While it didn't hook me until halfway through, I was invested by the end. And even though a (small) part of me was telling Roisin to let Joe's lies go, considering they were done and it wouldn't change anything, I was mostly rooting for her to sniff out the lies and then hunt him down. Again, I was here for the drama.

thank you Netgalley for the free copy