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!

I am such a huge fan of Mhairi McFarlane- literally have enjoyed everything I have read by her and this is no exception! This story was the perfect blend of romance and mystery and she always, always manages to write a strong FMC which I am here for. I think the topics of friendship and relationships are hard to cover, especially for people in their early 30s. Everyone has a group of friends they met when they were in college and it takes a lot to make those friendships last over the years. Inevitably, you worry about everyone drifting apart which we see Rosh deal with. And I would say most of us have had our own experiences with a gaslighting sig-other at some point, so that being talked about here really resonated with me personally. I'm glad Rosh was able to see past Joe being a total wank and trusting her gut that something was off in their relationship. Honestly, a great read- I was so happy with how everything worked out and Mhairi will always be an auto-read author for me.

Another winner from Mhairi McFarlane!
Roisin (Ro-SHEEN), her longtime boyfriend, Joe, and their fellow former bookstore employee friend group, The Brian Club, are off for a weekend of various group celebrations, including watching the premiere of screenwriter Joe's new crime drama. Roisin is horrified when on-screen events and characters seemingly mirror secrets of her childhood and possibly implicate Joe's infidelity. Joe swears it's creative license, but Roisin starts to see pieces that don't fit quite right and the more she digs, the more suspicious she becomes. 
I really, really loved this one. Mhairi has a talent for writing messy, imperfect characters with flaws and spirit who are tackling big, current, adult issues while both screwing up and triumphing. There's also plenty of witty charm and laughs. Deep into one of Mhairi's books, I always feel engaged and drawn into the story, the unapologetic realness and inspiration she weaves in. This book in particular was twisty and suspenseful with gaslighting and relationship toxicity. I was absolutely sucked in until that beautiful, perfect ending. The side characters add so much, I loved the Brian Club! It's always a treat to dive into a new Mhairi book and this was no exception. 
Many thanks to Harper Collins Avon for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read one other book by this author, but Between Us felt very different that If I’d Never Met You. Ultimately I enjoyed it very much, but I was a bit unsure if there was a tonal issue.

The story begins with a group of long time friends meeting up together for the weekend for several celebrartions and for the premiere of Joe’s new TV. It’s mostly light and fun but the brief arrival of a celebrity felt really broad compared to the rest of the grounded story. After the TV show airs, Joe’s girlfriend, Riosin is upset because private things she’s told him make it into the show. They have a fight about this, and something about the tone and the tenor of the fight, while reasonable, felt a bit jarring from the initial lightness of the story.

After that, much of the book is Riosin deciding if she should stick to her guns and break up with Joe and she helps out at her mom’s pub with another of theirs friends, I think a lot of the story was pretty rote and predictable after that, but still very enjoyable.

There’s a late scene with Riosin and another woman (no spoilers as to who!) that was extremely well handled and fresh, There are some heavy moments throughout, but the tone felt more cohesive after that first initial fight.

Generally speaking, I read fiction across multiple genres. I love this because if I'm feeling a reading slump in one, there are others I can reach for that I will adore. This all to say... I haven't been in love with a book in weeks, and a friend of mine suggested we start Between Us. It was love at first word. I wish everyone wrote with Mhairi's wit and deep dive into characters.
Roisin and Joe join their friends for a weekend getaway and series of celebrations. Unbeknownst to Roisin, they'll watch the series premier of Joe's new show between the engagement and birthday festivities. She doesn't expect secrets she's shared to be displayed on screen in excruciating detail and can't help but think he's using other life experiences as inspiration as well. Hollywood's calling and Joe leaves Roisin to figure out how she wants to proceed alone.
I didn't anticipate some of the twists that came, but the more disappointed I became in one character, the more I gravitated and adored another. Even the supporting cast is incredibly well done. The end result was perfection. I eagerly anticipate her books every year and I am never disappointed.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Mhairi McFarlane just never disappoints. She continues to come up with completely new storylines in amazing ways. While it doesn't surpass my favorite MM book, Don't You Forget About Me, I still really enjoyed it and the characters.

I was so excited to receive my first ARC from NetGalley and Avon. Even more excited that it was a Mhairi McFarlane book as every one I read continues to get better and better. This one didn’t disappoint. The book grabs you from the first chapter and keeps you guessing along the way. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. The book is funny, charming, heartwarming, and real. Talks about serious topics and makes you laugh out loud at the same time. The cast of supporting characters was perfect. Thank you again for this advance copy!!

Couldn't get more than a couple of chapters into this one. I like this author plenty, but this one missed the mark. I wasn't able to get into the story or understand the setup and premise. It was probably a combination of not being in the right mindset, but this one was a big let down.

Mhairi McFarlane does it again! She is one of my favorite authors and can never wait to get my hands on a new book. This book was not my favorite of hers, but still managed to be a 5-star book! As it begun, I was not quite sure where it was going. Unlike those books where you suss out the main characters in the first few pages, I wasn't sure about this for a while. However, even being a little lost in where the book was going, Mhairi writes so well that I enjoyed just being along for the ride. Then, as the plot revealed itself, I was fully invested and couldn't put it down.

3.5 stars. This book was a complicated read for me. The first 30ish% was a struggle of wondering when the story was really going to start moving. Once it picked up, the middle really brought me in, but then the end felt like there was a lot jammed in and felt rushed. I’m still conflicted on my overall feelings, because there was so much I liked about it, but also a lot I wish had been done differently.

Roisin is headed off to a weekend away with her boyfriend, Joe, and their friend group to celebrate multiple occasions, one of those being the premiere of Joe’s new show. Turns out, Joe took events Roisin shared with him in private and made them very public ‘fictionalized’ storylines for his show. On top of that, some of the other elements of his new show have her questioning everything she thought she knew about their relationship. As it all unravels, she spends time back at home helping her mom out and finds an unexpected deeper connection with one of her longtime friends.

Let’s start by saying Joe gave me some real Joe Goldberg vibes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had more than metaphorical skeletons in his closet. I really felt for Roisin as she came to terms with the extent of his lies and gaslighting over the years of their relationship. I understood her need to find answers, even after she’d already come to her decision about the fate of their relationship. I wish she’d settled everything before trying to move on though, only for her own sake to have a clearer headspace on both fronts. While there were enough hints dropped that the new romance didn’t feel entirely out of nowhere, I did feel like it was rushed on Roisin’s side. (I also don’t buy that Gina moved on so quickly after years of pining.) There were also a lot of interesting family dynamics at play here that I would’ve liked a bit more development of than just a couple quick conversations.

I think if the first part of the book had been shortened considerably to get to the conflict between Roisin and Joe sooner and given those pages to allow for more time to really dive into the fallout and subsequent moving on, I would’ve loved this one.