This book has an interesting premise and I enjoyed reading it once it got going, but I'm sorry to say I wasn't as enthralled with it as I could have been. It was slow to start and didn't really pick up until half way through. That last half was pretty good though and I liked how the fiction of the show played with the reality of life. I liked the last book I read from this author though so I think this one just wasn't for me.

Between Us, by Mhairi McFarlane, upcoming

How many of you have read McFarlane? Some people say she writes rom-coms, others would say contemporary women’s fiction with a romantic element. Either way, she’s a master of the good read. Her families are found, groups of late 20s/early 30s British friends who play pub trivia, live in flats, and have regular jobs. Not princesses, in other words, and devoted to each other. Her books often, maybe always, involve a best friend relationship with bumps, a bad actor ex, and a not-so-bad new chance at romance. The stories aren’t just about the romance though, they are driven by the growth of the female main character.

Between Us is McFarlane’s latest, available now by pre-order. I read it via NetGalley, a site where you request to read books pre-publication, and was really excited we were approved for this one. I say we, because I’m assuming the publishers like you all as readers. I will just tell you that the book opens with all the friends going to spend a weekend at a stately home, courtesy of one of them having won a lot of money on a reality show. Such a fun twist on the English country weekend that only I wish they stayed longer. My only other reservation about the book is that the final relationship bump for the eventual new romance felt unnecessary, but otherwise, every time I put this down I was excited to pick it back up again. On Goodreads, here.

Roisin and Joe have been in a relationship for 10 years. They are part of a friends group started when they were in college and now are coming together at a rented British country estate for a celebration of and engagement…not Roisin and Joe’s but another member of their group and his girlfriend and the premier of Joe’s new TV show. Joe, who Roisin supported financially and emotionally for most of their 10 years together, seems to have checked out of their relationship since he achieve writing success and some fame. Unrequited love, drunken rants, and a very ugly surprise for Roisin mar the weekend and may spell the end of this group’s friendship. Roisin is the central character and through her questions like can we ever really know our partner, what sustains long term friendships, what are the benefits and deficits of our biological family versus the family that we create and when is the time to move beyond our pasts and face the future are tackled in a funny, emotional and real way. I couldn’t put this book down.

Oh I absolutely adored this book. I have read and loved absolutely anything Mhairi McFarlane has touched, but Between Us might have just taken the top spot, which is not a statement I make lightly. I loved Roisin from page one, and then fell in love with Matt like Queenie Mook's paradox, slowly but fast at the end. While moments in Dev's grand house rental might have felt slow at times, each moment brought me more information on each character in the Brian Club and gave me insight in to each as if I was a member of their team so I ultimately was grateful for the time spent with them. I'll be wholeheartedly recommending this new Mhairi, as per usual.

Friends to lovers done right. I don’t see it done enough, but this book had me from the get go.

We meet Roisin as she gets together with a group of friends and her boyfriend Joe for a weekend of celebrations. One such celebration is the premiere of Joe’s new show which he wrote. Similarities between the story on the screen make Roisin start to question her and Joe’s relationship like she never has before. Her questions and with the help of her friend Matt lead her on a discovery that changes more things than one.

This book was complicated. We see Roisin work through her complicated relationships between her friends and her family. I really liked how it all worked out.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

I was hoping for more of a romance with this book, but when the romance came, it was very thin. I couldn’t connect with the characters, and I didn’t feel invested in what happened with them. I was hoping for something more, but o just couldn’t click with this story.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I was expecting more of a romantic comedy, based on the cover art. While Between Us is not a romantic comedy--and therefore, not what I was expecting--I still really enjoyed it.

The heroine, Roisin (pronounced "Ro-sheen") is in a bland relationship with her long-term boyfriend Joe until his new TV show airs and she starts to wonder if what she's seeing on screen--the cheating, the gaslighting, the ruthlessness of the main character--are based on reality.

Roisin doesn't actually break up with Joe until close to halfway through the book, leaving little time to develop a new romance, as I was expecting. That didn't matter to me, though. Following the slow unfolding of Roisin's suspicions, then her investigations into whether the TV show is based on Joe's life kept me reading way too late into the night. The only thing I didn't like was the misunderstanding/resolution between Roisin and her new boyfriend, which is why I gave Between Us four instead of five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 2.2

Between Us follows Roisin, who is spending a weekend away with her long-term boyfriend Joe and their friends to celebrate the pilot of Joe’s new crime TV show. When the first episode drops, however, Roisin notices that some conversations and scenes are eerily similar to their real life experiences and conversations. As this happens again and again, she starts questioning how true the stories are, and when the main character starts an on-screen dalliance, she begins to wonder if it actually has its roots in real infidelity.

There is a romantic plot here but it starts late and feels thin in general. Most of the book is taken up by the main character’s anxiety and doubt over her partner, and I felt like there was not enough romantic development of the new character for me to buy into it, not was there enough individual character development for me to think he was an intriguing character when standing alone. I saw so much potential in the love interest actually, and feel like he just needed more screen-time and distinguishing features. Without those, it made the entire romantic subplot feel a little underdeveloped and rushed, which made the ending feel not that satisfying.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t really click with any of the characters in their big ensemble, and Joe was especially unlikeable. The caveat here is that he’s supposed to be unlikeable — meaning the author succeeded — but it made reading the book frustrating because he just got so much screen time. Even the others, however, did not get enough development in my opinion and I felt like I couldn’t buy into why everyone was friends in the first place.

The writing style wasn’t really for me either; it felt like so many real-life witty references were stuffed into the dialogue it started to sound quippy instead, and I generally found it difficult to distinguish between the voices of different characters.

Overall, I sadly just didn’t click with this one. I know McFarlane has a pretty loyal following, so you might want to try reading this anyways if you’ve read her other books. Even if not, I think someone who likes general adult fiction might enjoy this. For those who are looking for a more light-hearted romance (like I was), I suggest you look elsewhere.

This was my first book by Mhairi McFarlane and it didn't astound me. There was strong character development but the narrative fell a little flat for me. The love interest was pretty much instantaneous and some of the conversation just felt awkward.

3/5 stars

I am a huge Mhairi McFarlane fan and was thrilled to receive an ARC of her latest book. Between Us tells the story of a group of long-time friends who are undergoing a lot of changes both individually and as a group as they go into their 30s. It's told primarily from the standpoint of Roisin, who is reconsidering her relationship with boyfriend Joe, a newly-successful television writer. Most of the action takes place during a (somewhat) wild weekend at a lavish country estate rented by one of the friends. Lots of secrets come out, and relationships are rearranged, in sometimes unexpected ways.

Like other reviewers, I wouldn't say this is my favorite of her books, but she's such an amazing writer and storyteller, that it's still a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was so excited for this read but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The writing and the plot just made it too hard for me to follow and I struggle my way to the end having to reread multiple sections just to figure out what was happening.

Overall this one wasn't for me.

Really enjoyed it! Will recommend! Hadn't read McFarlane before but will definitely work through her backlist.

Such a cute book! This is the second book I've read by Mhairi and I think I love it even more than the first one I read! I thought the romance was adorable and the dialogue was perfect. The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was that I felt there were too many characters and I would have preferred to get to know the main character more instead of time spent on building the other characters.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book.

TLDR: I loved this book but it doesn’t follow the conventional romance structure/beats, so if that’s what you’re expecting, you might find yourself disappointed.

This is my second Mhairi McFarlane and ladies and gents she has done it once again. Her descriptions of her characters are so specific and textured and make them seem so real. Her romances seem so rooted in the characters specifically. It’s not just romance for romance’s sake, but a clear depiction of why THESE two people should be together. Falling in love isn’t just a matter of witty banter and fun coincidences, but people who make sense for each other and find each other when they need to. I love that.

I also really like McFarlane’s writing style. It feels casual and personal and real all at once, making it easy and enjoyable to read while also being super effective at telling the story.

RE: my disclaimer before: this story is a breakup story before it is a romance. Roisin and her ex aren’t broken up until ~60% of the way into the story, and the main romancing happens between 70% and 80% of the book. Then from 80-90% we wrap up and resolve what’s left from the breakup and from 90-100% we close out the romance because naturally there had to be some obstacles.

The breakup portion obviously has a different tone and goal than a romance would, but I found it engaging and realistic. Even though Roisin knows that her relationship is over, she has a hard time saying goodbye to the person who defined 10 years of her life, and, more importantly, as she realizes Joe’s not who she thought he was, she’s desperate to find the truth about him and know if the last decade was a lie. I would want to know too, and watching her wade through these tumultuous waters and eventually learn that she’ll have to decide when to give up the investigation for her own wellbeing was satisfying (don't worry though, we did get answers). Even though so little time is spent on that ever lovely falling in love portion of the story, once things with Joe are over, McFarlane does an amazing job in that short time showing why these characters are so well suited and how they come to realize it without anything feeling contrived. That’s why this story worked for me even though it’s not a conventional romance. I do think it might be slightly mismarketed, and those going in blind could find themselves disappointed that a romance isn’t materializing sooner.

4.5 rounded up, mostly due to some confusion of expectations

I had higher hopes for this one. When I read the description I was so invested already so when I got to actually reading, I ended up a bit disappointed. The first half of the book was difficult to get into, it almost felt like it was too much and just didn’t flow for me.
The gist is that Roisin and Joe are in a relationship and it hasn’t been the greatest lately. They go away for the weekend with their group of friends and watch the first episode of Joe’s new series where Roisin ends up seeing things that look awfully familiar to her own life. Thus having her trust betrayed by her own boyfriend.
I will say I do love how McFarlane writes her characters. I love the inclusiveness and the diversity and how each of them had their own storyline in a way.
This just wasn’t for me, most of the time I was bored and not wanting to pick it up to read. It felt like the most interesting parts were rushed through and the rest would drag on.

This author never disappoints on the witty British humor that had me laughing numerous times throughout the book. What is ironic that the shows that Joe created that led to him both being famous and wealthy was spun from his life and the way he chose to live it. Although SEEN was about facial recognition, Joe as he was seen was markedly different than the personalities Roisin uncovered. Their relationship that lasted ten tears was seen as strong and the foundation of the Brians Club but lacked emotional attachment. Like Hunter, he lacked any remorse as to the results of his actions. I was glad to see how Gina and Meredith supported her and how she met her true love and match. I would read a sequel!

The Details: Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane

Quick Summary: Roisin and her tight group of friends get together to celebrate a few life achievements including Roisin's boyfriend Joe who is about to premiere a new TV show he's written...which strangely mirrors real life. Which makes Roisin question what is fiction and what actual is real life in her own relationship.

My Take: Mhairi is an auto-read author for me. I love her writing style, her wit, her character, everything. So I'm really bummed to say this one just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I still had a great time reading it - her dialogue alone is always LOL. But I just don't know why I didn't love the characters or the storylines all that much. I couldn't connect with Roisin - though I definitely rooted for her; Matt confused me - though I definitely swooned a few times; and Joe was too much of a villain out of nowhere - though I guess you need that somewhere. Overall - this was ok, and I'll continue to read her books no matter what.

Rating: 3 stars

Between Us is not a fluffy, feel good romance. In fact, the romance plot doesn't really get started until more than half way through the book and even then, it's a challenging path. Mhairi McFarlane is a talented writer which makes the turmoil of the break-up, the main plot of the book, really tense and uncomfortable. For people who like the mental gymnastics of ending a long term relationship, they will really sink into this book. Unfortunately, I felt really icky for most of it, which is not really how I want to feel when I read romance. Frankly, I'm not sure I'd call this a romance. Technically, yes it is. But when the bulk of the story surrounds the drama of a bad relationship and how childhood trauma plays into that, it feels much more like dramatic fiction than romance.

I also feel the cover is a little deceptive when it is done in the style of contemporary Rom-Com books. I expected some tension and hills and valleys, of course, but oof! there is some difficult stuff in this one from the very beginning.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

My first Mhairi McFarlane book, and one that makes me want to read her other ones!

Great read with heartwarming characters. I felt it dragged a bit in the beginning, but once it started to pick up, it was hard to put down. I loved Roisin, Matt and their friend circle and it just exuded so much warmth despite the pain that she was going through.

Highly recommend!

Having read and enjoyed other books by Mhairi McFarlane, I was excited to sent an early copy of this book. And it did not disappoint!
In the beginning it was hard to see where the plot was going, but once I saw how the story was going to play out I could not put this book down. I basically finished it in a single sitting. It definitely was not written like a typical romance novel, which really increased my enjoyment of Between Us. I also really enjoyed how the characters in this book were written! Will definitely be recommending it!