Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and The publisher for this E-Galley!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great sequel to Who’s That Girl. Also loved all the Taylor Swift references in this book, I mean the title is literally called “You Belong With Me” so I expected it. Now while this was a continuation of the first book with the cliffhanger ending, I honestly feel like the two books could’ve been one. If you would’ve made the main points of this book the prologue of the first it could’ve worked great as well. Nonetheless I still thoroughly enjoyed this it was a great read!

I have never been a big fan of this Notting Hill trope but once in a while I will indulge in it and see how it pans out. Mhairi McFarlane happens to be one of my favorite authors, I love the stories and characters she creates so obviously I was going to read this. And as much as I liked the writing and characters alot in You Belong with Me, I still could not look past the celebrity and normal person thing. It just didnt feel as romantic and that just might be my problem.

More often than not, Edie would make trouble for herself and create situations that were only hypothetical in nature. She continued to repent for a situation in the past which involved two parties at fault. Yet, she came out stronger at end with a loving and successful boyfriend, supportive friends and a great career. It was often exhausting to read about her continuously crying all the time. She surely was her own worst enemy. I was glad to see that Elliot knew this love was worth fighting for and hid career as an actor didn't define who he was as a person. He wanted to take care of Edie to make her life better and welcomed her into his family. She took precedent over anything else. I felt like Edie finally became stronger at the end when she expressed how she truly felt. Their love was evident and Edie knew that asking Elliot to belong to her was the best decision she made.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of You Belong with Me, in exchange for an honest review.

You Belong with Me' by Mhairi McFarlane is a heartwarming and entertaining sequel to 'Who's That Girl.' The novel follows Elliot and Edie, as they navigate the challenges of a long-distance relationship while balancing their different worlds.

One of the strengths of the book is its lovable characters. Elliot and Edie are relatable and easy to root for. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their interactions are full of wit and charm. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, adding depth and humor to the story.

The primary conflict in this book stems from Edie's self-doubt and it focuses on the characters' relationships and their personal growth. While some readers may prefer higher stakes, the book's emphasis on character development makes for a refreshing and emotionally satisfying read.

What sets this book apart is McFarlane's exceptional writing. Her prose is clever and engaging, filled with playful language and pop culture references. The novel has a distinctly English flavor, which may not appeal to all American readers. However, for those who enjoy the fast-paced dialogue and cultural nuances of British literature, this book is a treat.

Overall, 'You Belong with Me' is a charming and heartwarming read. It is a testament to McFarlane's storytelling abilities that she can create a compelling and entertaining story even with a relatively low-stakes conflict. Fans of the first book will delight in revisiting these beloved characters, while new readers will find a sweet and humorous love story to enjoy.
This was a 4.25 Stars Read for me!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I am the Queen of not realizing books are sequels and jumping right in. Whoops. You Belong With Me is beautifully written and filled with emotions that tugged at my heartstrings without even reading the first book. I am going to go back and read it and come back with a more complete review and then share!!!

When I first read Who’s That Girl, I fell in love with Edie and Elliot. So you can imagine how gutted I was while reading the final scene of said book.

And then this book was announced and I got equally excited and nervous for this sequel. Was it necessary? Could the author summon the feelings I felt reading the first book? The answer to those question is yes!

It starts off right where we ended in book one and bam, it was like continuing a conversation with a longtime friend.

Elliot and Edie have to manage a public relationship fraught with prying eyes and old enemies. And I loved watching all the drama unfold! The characters are so life-like and I found myself biting my nails with how invested I was.

There were also several quotes and moments that stuck out to me. Mostly having to do with self-sabotaging. The insecurities of both parties, and also how your childhood trauma can haunt you, had me highlighting up a storm.

Mhairi’s humor and wit will always be a love of mine. But another thing she does well is intimacy. And not only the romantic kind but, that of family and friends. And if you are looking for a romance with minimal spice, Mhairi is always the way to go.

I have to also say I did not know how much I was missing Richard in my life, but I was.

Again my only pet peeve is that I want Mhairi to write an epilogue of a more grand scale. But, if that’s my biggest criticism, I don’t think I mind too terribly.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy!

McFarlane never disappoints me!!! Such deep and meaningful love stories yet fun and witty at the same time. There's always a good message hidden in her books. Loved the characters and storyline.

✨ARC Review✨

Full disclosure: I did not read the first book, Who’s That Girl? I’m not bothered by reading out of order, but if you’re a stickler, you have plenty of time to read the first one before this releases on 9/3/24.

So, this book picks right up with Elliott showing up at Edie’s door on Christmas Day to convince her to give their nascent relationship another chance. Edie had broken it off a few months prior due to not being able to see how they would make it work with their vastly different lifestyles and plain ol’ geography. None of that has changed, but Elliott urges her to see how good they are together and they both acknowledge how much they’ve missed each other. She’s convinced. They’re off to the races!

There’s still a lot going on for both of them. Elliott is becoming an even bigger celebrity when he takes a starring role in a premium cable show that shoots in NYC and co-stars one of the most gorgeous women in the world. Edie earns a promotion which keeps her roots firmly grounded in Nottingham. She also gets a new, handsome Irish co-worker named Declan.

Will these two figure out how to make their long-distance, full-of-distractions relationship work? I gotta say, I was occasionally worried and may have shed a tear or two once.

I love the banter AND the serious conversations between Edie and Elliott. They are genuinely friends plus more. Elliott is clever and Edie gives it back just as well. And all of their friends and family are stars on their own.

I’ve been a fan of Mhairi McFarlane for years and this is another great one in her repertoire.

I received an ARC from #netgalley, @AvonBooks @HarpervoyagerUS
My thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #arc #bookstagram

I have yet to be a fan of this author but people adore her books so I am grateful I had an opportunity to receive this ARC however I cannot give a good review. I believe her previous fans will enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc of “You Belong with Me” by Mhairi McFarlane.

I really enjoyed “Who’s that Girl” and I loved getting to see more of Edie and Elliot. I love Mhairi’s writing style and the way she tells stories and she didn’t disappoint with this one either. The banter was amazing and the relationship between Edie and Elliot felt so real. Absolutely loved it.

the unexpected twists in trust turned everything upside down, keeping me completely engaged. Despite the challenges the characters faced, the story remained hopeful and heartwarming.

The way the characters navigated their complex relationships and seemingly insurmountable obstacles was both inspiring and uplifting. There was a sense of resilience and optimism that permeated the narrative, making even the darkest moments feel manageable.

Hope was a constant theme throughout the story. No matter how dire the circumstances, the characters never gave up. Their perseverance was incredibly touching and left me feeling encouraged and positive long after I finished the book.

This was such a great follow up to Who’s that Girl and I was thrilled to see more Edie and Elliot and how their relationship grew! This book also did ALL OF US a favor of having Fraz front and center and I feel like I could read another few of just his antics!

Don't get me wrong, I love Mhairi McFarlane, and I was over the moon to receive an ARC for this sequel! However, Edie and Elliot's story felt far too stretched out and would have made a far better short story than a novel. Full disclosure: they're not my favorite McFarlane characters, so that opinion definitely shaded my preconceived notions and, most likely, my final opinion.

That said, Mhairi McFarlane is fantastic at her craft! This story is fun, funny, and provides all the feels! 🥰

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This book was super adorable, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance books written by authors such as Abby Jimenez or Emily Henry. I thought this book was the perfect read, and a super fun romance with wonderful chemistry between the main characters. I think Mhairi McFarlane is one of the best romance authors of this generation, and I would read anything she wrote. This book gave me all the feels, and as a Swiftie, I enjoyed the references to Taylor Swift (such as the title)
I definitely recommend you pick up this book ASAP if you're looking for a swoon worthy romance!!

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I really wanted to like this one, because I am a fan of Mhairi McFarlane's other books. Edie has struggled socially after being manipulated by a co-worker. In addition, she has just gotten back together with Elliot, a movie star. Edie lives in England and Elliot is filming in New York. This is the story of their romance, their communication struggles, and their community. I struggled to finish this one. I realized at about 95% of the way through that it was not going to end the way I wanted. I will be thinking about it for a while.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’I’m definitely going to read her others. It’s cute and easy to follow along.

I'm late to the Mhairi McFarlane train; I was first introduced to her books during the pandemic when I read "If I Never Met You," and became a fan.

McFarlane's latest, "You Belong with Me," is technically a sequel but can definitely be read as a standalone. If you were disappointed by the cliffhanger of "Who's that Girl," you'll be happy to return to these characters. Don't be surprised if you decide to read the book in one or two sittings...

Enter Edie and Elliot. Elliot is a famous actor that Edie got to know when she wrote his biography. They broke up because the relationship didn't seem possible, but it's Christmas, and Elliot is asking for another chance. They decide to try, but they have to contend with his fame, the press, long distance, their insecurities, and inequalities in relationships.

The banter and characters are great, and McFarlane writes the relationships in a way that makes them feel real. "You Belong With Me" is a feel-good read in the best possible way.

No one writes realness and funny like Mhairi McFarlane, and YOU BELONG WITH ME is no different. Her stories and characters always reflect the humor in life while still addressing the deepest emotional struggles of being human. Her way of romantic words always tugs at my heart and makes my heart melt. I love Edie and Elliot and love them together. I love the difficulties they must face and outgrow in order to end up that much closer on the other side. Edie has her insecurities and always thinking of the possibilities of how something might not work out in the end. (So relatable). And I'm like an addict when it comes to the author's witty banter. I love this author's voice and will always read anything she writes.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Another great book from Mhaiiri McFarlane! In the last few years, her releases have always been at the top of my favorites of the year list, and this book has already made it to the 2024 list! One of my favorite aspects of McFarlane's books is how incredibly funny they are, and I found that You Belong with Me had some of the most memorable moments of any of her books thus far. This was also probably the most distinct of McFarlane's books as many of them center the story around the female lead's story rather than the romance. However, this one truly was a romance for the ages.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for the Arc

When I first requested to read this book, I wasn't aware it was a sequel. Further, it is tied closely with its predecessor, in the sense that I felt like I was playing catch-up for the first several chapters. The more I read about that part of the story, however, I wasn't really interested in going back to relive the pain Evie had gone through. She went Through It.

The reason I decided to land on four stars wasn't the fact that I did (eventually) figure out who's who and what happened; it was the snappy dialogue. It was truly fun to read--even the emotionally frought parts. Even the painful parts. But the funny parts made up for it.

This book really made me think about fame, privacy, publicity, and respect of others' views about those things.

This is the second Mhairi McFarlane novel I've read this summer, and I've enjoyed both of them.

Thanks to the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions are my own.