2.75 ⭐ (rounded up to 3 stars)

Quick gist: 'You Belong with Me' is about a girl named Edie, and she has an actor boyfriend (Elliot Owen). Months after dating, Edie found out that Elliot had to potentially do an intimate scene with a female actress, causing her to spiral. Eventually, things worked out for them...or did things get worse? Only time will tell...

I kinda liked this book. Don't get me wrong, this book was good. But...I just wasn't that invested in it. I liked it, but I just didn't really enjoy the book that much. The storyline was great. The characters were good. But I felt like I felt bored while I was reading the book. If you like romance novels like this, I highly recommend it. x

I fangirled so freaking hard over this sequel! If you loved Edie and Elliot in Who’s That Girl?, you’ll be thrilled to dive back in. And if you missed the first book, no worries this one’s a must-read anyway. Elliot’s a major actor, and Edie’s just a relatable Nottingham girl who captured his heart. They had their fairy-tale romance, survived some bumps, and ended up with a classic happy ending. But what happens when the curtain falls? Can their love stay smooth with Elliot’s superstar status? Especially when you’re barely seeing him but spending your days with a charmingly supportive coworker? And let’s not forget the steamy scenes he’s filming with an even more famous beauty.

I absolutely adored this book! Mhairi has done it again with an electrifying, authentic romance. Elliot has climbed to the top of my book boyfriend list, leaving all other fictional guys in the dust. Edie remains hilariously real and refreshingly unique—like that friend who makes you laugh until you cry. The ending was a gut punch in the best possible way, and I honestly can't stop thinking about this!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this eArc

You Belong With Me was simply not the book for me. It took me a few days to get into because of the way it starts. I didn't understand why we essentially started in the middle of Edie's book, and I kept looking to see if this was the second in a series., but Netgalley did not denote it this way. I looked on the internet when I started and didn't find out until now that it is, in fact, the second book. So I was utterly and completely lost the whole time.

I spent a good portion of the book trying to determine who the hero would be- Elliot or the new guy from work? I honestly liked him better but cannot remember his name. Elliot never felt like a character I would like. I didn't like him. And I didn't really like Edie much, either.

This book also had a heavy Brit Lit dialect and I found it difficult to read. I didn't understand where the were or where they were going at times, and didn't understand some of the underlying nuance in conversations. Just overall not a book I enjoyed or would read again.

Ok, fans of McFarlane, this might hurt, but I did not love this. It was a little unnecessary of a write for me. Edie and Elliott get back together and the whole time it’s just a story about how Edie is a normal, insecure girl and Elliott is a famous actor and how they are coping with his fame. Ok, so it goes a little deeper than that, but you get the idea. To me it was repetitive and I did not care about these characters. I also found it very hard to read this one from an American perspective, with all the British references that I didn’t see in her other books. I’ve read several by her and this one I was super shocked that it didn’t quite deliver like the others. Maybe because it was a part of a series? Not a stand-alone?

I give this 3 stars, which is low for me. I received this as an ARC too and was super excited to read and then it just fell flat. I’ll still read McFarlane, but am less pumped about the next one. Let me know your thoughts!

You Belong with Me is the perfect follow up to Who's that Girl? You belong with me picks up after Elliott shows up on Edie's door step on Christmas day to profess his love for her. After a long wait for this book, we get to see how Edie and Elliott can make it work between Elliott's celebrity fame and Edie's normal life. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Edie and Elliott and the hurdles and high points of their relationship. I really enjoyed the writing. McFarlane wove the story of both characters so well, there was witty banter (my favorite), and side characters you could care about. I could feel the emotions between the two as they worked through their hang ups and barriers along the way.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book!

📖: You Belong with Me-Book #2 Edie Thompson. I haven't read Who’s That Girl? but was able to follow along.

🖋️: Mhairi McFarlane-new to me author

🗓️: 9-3-24, Read 8-21-24

🌍: New York and London

📔Format: E-book, 352 pgs.

⭐️Rating: 4/5

💬: Edie Thompson 36 and Elliot Owen 32 have broken up because Edie is unable to deal with the scrutiny of dating a celebrity. Elliot wants her back and is willing to do anything to make her happy. Edie has been given a promotion to run her own ad agency branch in Nottingham with a new employee-Declan Dunne. He is handsome, doesn't care about Edie's "scandal," and if she dated him her life won't be under a microscope.

⚠️: adoption, death of a parent, estranged parent, bullying, mental illness

Tropes, Topics & Themes:
✨Rom-Com
✨Adult/Women's Fic
✨Friends to Lovers
✨Celebrity Romance/social media/Paparazzi
✨Love triangle
✨2nd chance romance
✨long distance relationship

Not reading book one didn't really bother me because there were enough details about Edie and Elliot's relationship in this book. Elliot was delusional believing things would be easy for them. Between the paparazzi, social media trolls, and haters Edie and Elliot had to discern what was real and what was fake between them. I liked Declan and he was perfect for Edie, but Elliot was "the one." I enjoyed the side characters- Fraser (of course), Elliot's parents, and Edie's sister Megan.

🙏🏽Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for this ARC 🩷! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.

Thank you for the ARC! I'll have to say that if this and Who's That Girl were one, cohesive, longer book I think I would have rated it a bit higher. I still loved and enjoyed this one, but it felt like the ending could have been slapped on to WTG instead. It's still so well written and funny, but just felt like a played out book. Regardless, I loved what Mhairi did with Edie and Eliot and their story.

This was my first book by Mhari McFarlane, which probably didn’t help because I didn’t realize the book was a sequel. I felt like I had enough context to follow the story.

It felt very Hallmark style which was fine, giving it 3 stars because I’m not the greatest fan for 3rd person writting.

Edie and Elliot are together after their tumultuous meeting and whirlwind romance. But will it actually work out in the long run? Elliot's fame as an actor is only growing and Edie is finally in a good place with her sister. She simply is not going to give up her life to follow Elliot around the world as he picks up acting jobs. Is their relationship sustainable?

Thank you Mhairi McFarlane and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ebook ARC copy of this poignant and funny story! All thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone.

This book picks up right where the first book left off which was so necessary because of how the first book ended. I really liked the continuation of how two people try to form a lasting relationship when one is a famous actor. This book tended more toward the serious side, but at the same time, upheld the hilarious nature of the first book. But that ending? Phew! It really was a rollercoaster and I felt all the emotions right alongside Edie.

I think it is so challenging to write a sequel of a romance because the reader cannot simply finish the story with "and they lived happily ever after." More context and more struggles are depicted, which is so much closer to reality than most romances portray. I really appreciated the reality of love in this book, but I was not expecting it to be so sad.

Sequel to Who's That Girl - I haven't read but now I want to! This book was easy enough to follow even if you haven't read the first book. It jumps right into Edie and Elliot's story.

Celebrity romance, long distance, trust issues, family ties, communication, believing what you see in the press/from paps

Christmas Day Elliot shows up and begs to be taken back. This is one of the cutest scenes I've read in awhile. As an actor, Eliot has to leave a few days later for a project being shot in NYC.

Edie has been tapped to run a new office of her ad agency. and has a new employee, Declan, and on his first day reveals more than he means to in a memorable scene that leaves the reader wondering where it's leading.

I absolutely will read anything MM writes, and this one was definitely worth it!

First off, I highly recommend if you pick up this book that you read the first book. It gives some much needed context. If you don't though she gives enough detail that it's not too hard to follow without getting lost.

This book continues where the first book left off. On Christmas after they broke up. It follows Elliot and Edie and their relationship. Edie is still in her home town and thriving. Elliot is becoming more and more popular as an actor. He also has work in America. There is also the added presence of a new co worker where a sort of love triangle becomes apparent. The relationship between Edie and Elliot isn't all sunshine and rainbows though.

I was half and half wanting her to end up with Elliot and Declan. Declan is such a sweet guy and they definitely had some chemistry. Towards the end though I couldn't let go of Elliot. I was hopelessly wishing for things to end how they did in my head so to say some of the fights they had gave me anxiety would be a bit of an understatement.

Fraz will forever be my favorite in this book series though. Talk about golden retriever energy! Her friends and sister also were perfect companions. They helped create much needed tension breaking. I love how the relationship between the sisters grew.

A part of the story was trying to figure out where the leak of information on Elliot was coming from....did not see that coming. I had my suspensions on a few characters but I would have never guessed who it actually was. I'm a little disappointed on the outcome after the culprit was found out.

This story was super cutesy and entertaining. The only thing that was slightly annoying was how self depricating everyone was. But overall I was pleased to read it and was very pleased with how things played out.

What a really charming and heartwarming book. A great story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

When a charming Hollywood movie star falls for a normal girl, will it be happily ever after? Or a cautionary tale of incompatibility when one person's star shines so much brighter?

I read this back to back with a reread of Who’s That Girl?

Which — while I have read most of Mhairi’s other books multiple times— I had never revisited Who’s That Girl? bc of the frustratingly unclear ending.

So I was THRILLED to find out that, nine years later, there was finally going to be a sequel. But now, having read it, I’m not sure that we needed a full novel? It feels like You Belong With Me should have been a novella.

Because, while on the surface I should’ve loved the talking, since “I can’t talk about ____ for REASONS” is my least favorite trope… this had a LOT of talking. So many passionate conversations about how Edie and Elliot could make it work. By the end I almost wasn’t sure they should make it work?? So a frustratingly unclear ending of another sort.

Although, it might be Mhairi’s funniest book yet. Some truly hilarious moments amidst all the DTR conversations. (“Inglorious Bee-sterds! 😂 🐝 )

Thanks to Avon for the gifted copy of this book!

In the follow-up to WHO'S THAT GIRL, Mhairi nails her traditional emotionally complex romance with YOU BELONG WITH ME. Over and over, the phrase, "Falling in love is a temporary insanity" makes an appearance as Edie questions her relationship with Hollywood celebrity Elliot Owen. It's their second chance, but having a family, job, and life in a different country than her successful boyfriend is difficult for Edie. Mixed with childhood trauma of feeling abandoned, she wonders if a fairytale is really possible for their relationship. I honestly think this is the most realistic celebrity romance I've read -- can these two people with very different lifestyles make it work? With witty one-liners, Mhairi dives in to a complex relationship in this lovely second chance romance.

Thanks to Netgalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! So cute! Loved the romance & the writing style. Another great one from this author.

I had to read this book on my trip to see the Eras Tour in London, of course, which was fitting, as this romance takes place in England! What I didn't realize is that this book is actually a sequel....oops! I have not read the first book, but honestly, I think it was okay, because there was enough contextual information for me to gather what happened in the first book.

This love story was compelling and romantic, but I think there was a lot of dragging the story out, and given that this was a sequel, it just seemed like the author didn't really know where the story was going for a lot of the book. The ending also seemed very, very rushed.

I really enjoyed the ending of this book! It took me a while to get into the author’s voice, but once I did, I very much appreciated her sense of humor and witty descriptions. Unfortunately, I found Declan so much more appealing than Elliot and felt I got to know him more than the male main character, that I was rooting for him to wind up with Edie the whole time!
There was so much background to the story that it was a little distracting and made me wonder if this book is second in a series? Maybe that’s what I’ll read next!

YOU BELONG WITH ME
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
GENRE: Romance, Fiction

Mhairi McFarlane is back with Edie and Elliot’s story from Who’s That Girl?The books picks up exactly where the first book ends and provides us an update on whether Elliot’s super-stardom will overtake their relationship. I had really enjoyed the first book so to continue on Edie’s journey on finding and learning to becoming comfortable with who she is, I was excited to see her apply these lessons to her new life.

This book was a roller coaster for me between Edie and Elliot. There were many obstacles along with the introduction of new potential love interests. However, I felt Edie remain steadfast in who she is and even learn to build a community around herself, that included her sister, Meg, who was previously disdained. She relies on her friends and family through the challenges appear as a normal ‘civilian’ is ousted by dating a celebrity.

I struggled with Elliot in this book - he felt a bit insecure about Edie and redirected a lot of his fears onto her. Edie seems to be more sure of who she is and who she wanted to be with. I never felt her wavering in her feelings for Elliot, but almost every small issue, he immediately jumps to breaking up. It’s an interesting dynamic as he is the hotshot while she is considered the commoner, but she is more pragmatic than he claims to be.

The last two chapters were tumultuous - no spoilers here but I love Edie and that fact that she was not going to beat around the bush and demand the truth. She is rightfully a boss bish and I love her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager or the opportunity to read more about Edie Thompson, Please be on the lookout for this book on shelves 9/43/24. I hope we get to follow more adventures with Edie and Elliot.

This book is a sequel to Who's That Girl?. This book begins with Edie opening the door on Christmas, continuing from the somewhat cliffhangerous ending to the last book. I was curious to know whether Elliot returned to her or not, so I was happy to read what happened after the first book ended.

Mhairi's storytelling abilities and writing style are so amazing, and this story was no exception. I really enjoyed all of the Taylor Swift allusions in this book—after all, the title is "You Belong With Me," so I guess I should have expected that.

I heartily suggest this book to everyone who like romance novels by authors such as Emily Henry; it was wonderfully charming. I would recommend to start with the first book Who’s That Girl? to not miss out on the story and characters.