OOOOkay--this one was my fault on taking so long. I did NOT realize this was a sequel until I'd been approved for the arc (so off to Amazon I went).

But! I can say, I much enjoy this author's writing. I won't go into detail since this is, technically, a follow up, but I very much enjoy the way McFarlane is able to great a seriousness to her books without making it too heavy. She is definitely in the ballpark of Emily Henry in nudging fiction genre topics while also creating a very enjoyable romance.

This one is set around Christmas time, so though it's not marketed as one, it definitely has a cozy feel to it and would be even more enjoyable to read once it gets cold outside! I highly recommend McFarlane (and this cast of characters), so anyone looking to get into romance or want a good laugh/cry combo!

This book starts with the romantic gesture. He shows up at her door with roses on Christmas Day, he does love her after all! And this book explores the NEXT part of the relationship. In Hallmark movies (my favorite) the couple kisses for the first time under the tree on Christmas Day, then the screen cuts to black and says "one year later" and then there is an additional 90 seconds where he proposes. As much as I love that formula, I did enjoy seeing the middle part of the relationship, as Edie and Elliott get closer, deal with family issues, culture differences and their pasts. There is an inevitable time period where a couple goes through the honeymoon period and that is what the plot of this book focuses on.

I enjoyed the book, the couple has great chemistry on the page, I believed both of their characterization and couplization. Very clever, witty dialogue. I determined this is the second in a series about this couple, it doesn't list as such, so I didn't know I was reading a sequel. I wish I could read the first but I am afraid it has been spoiled. That said, I do think the book is cute, lighthearted and enjoyable even if you hadn't read the first.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. Book to be published September 3, 2024.

Loved being back with these two! Was it as good as the first? no not really the development of their relationship was more interesting than the relationship itself however I loved following their ups and downs again. I found Elliot almost a little too perfect but adored him nonetheless. Will forever read anything about these characters but just not as good as book one.

I absolutely adore Mhairi McFarlane's novels! They are always so realistic but written in a tender and welcoming way and You Belong With Me is a perfect example! TS reference aside, this book was full of little things that just got to me and I couldn't stop reading and flipping the pages! Another great story and I highly recommend!

Mhairi takes us through Edie's journey as she grapples with what could look like to actually be in a relationship with Elliot. I enjoyed that Edie and Elliot were a couple the entire book, they had already gotten together (due to this being a sequel) and I loved it. I loved the banter and real-life scenarios where Mhairi didn't shy away from having the hard conversations. I also loved seeing Fraz and Elliot's brotherly relationship grow. Though, spoiler alert, the very third act breakup almost broke me, very glad to see Edie and Elliot survive till the very end. A beautiful conclusion to their story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

I will read anything Mhairi McFarlane writes! I’ve loved every book of hers I’ve read, which is all of them! When I started this book, I didn’t realize it was a follow up to her book “who’s that girl” I read that book 4 years ago and it might have been helpful to re-read it first since this seems like a direct follow-up!

I didn’t remember much about who’s that girl but I soon picked up what I had missed. Would recommend re reading that one before this! I really enjoyed this book. Her characters are always so real and fleshed out and there are so many laugh out loud moments! I don’t want to spoil anything but this book had many twists and turns and kept me so engaged I read it in one sitting. Would highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a huge Mhairi McFarlane fan who adored WHO'S THAT GIRL, I was over the moon to receive an ARC of the sequel, YOU BELONG WITH ME, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publishers Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon.

I would live in this story if I could! Edie and Elliot are delightful from start to finish and this was exactly the sequel I was hoping it would be! After reading WHO'S THAT GIRL years ago, the cliffhanger ending is continued beautifully in YOU BELONG WITH ME. This sequel builds perfectly on the world and characters established in WHO'S THAT GIRL, while adding new characters, new story lines and conflicts, and new reasons to love and root for Edit and Elliot.

I absolutely and whole-heartedly recommend this book, and will reread this again in no time! I would recommend folks start with WHO'S THAT GIRL as to not miss out on the lovely character and world creation in that story.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦 follows Edie and Elliot, a couple whose story was previously established in 𝘞𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭?
This sequel deals particularly with how Elliot's fame impacts their relationship and the other nitty gritties of being a Hollywood heartthrob's girl.

- ~ -

Right off the bat, I wasn't aware this was a sequel. Although, it's written in a manner that can be easily read as a standalone, it is likely best to read the first installment beforehand.

I imagine since because this is a series, it read a bit different than McFarlane's other books so I wasn't able to connect all that much.

But I would still recommend everyone to give this one a try especially if you're into Hollywood Romances as much as me!!

- ~ -

3.77 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

This book was truly everything I didn’t realize I needed. Mhairi McFarlane is a must read for me, and I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about Who’s That Girl for as long as I can remember. Mhairi absolutely killed it with this sequel, which can also be read as a standalone (but please also read Who’s That Girl!).

Mhairi McFarlane has a gift for dialogue that is just unmatched. Sure, Elliot is a gorgeous movie star, but it’s his wit and charm that you’re going to fall in love with. This book really explores how it can be hard to get to forever even after grand declarations, but reminds you that the journey is so, so worth it. Can I give it 10 stars?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review!

when who's that girl came out in 2015, there was a lot of chatter about the ending and for good reason. although the ending isn't exactly ambiguous, it left open arguably the defining aspect of what makes a romance a romance, a happy ever after (or a happy for now). if you haven't read the first book yet, you should definitely read that one first. i don't necessarily think a sequel needed, but it was just good to spend time with edie and elliot again even though their happy ever after was dragged out to past 90% in.

one thing though, the deuxmoi mention in 2015? that caught me off guard.

I don’t know if it was the fact that it’s sequel, UK based (I’m American and sometimes the UK slang takes md a minute to understand) or because the book itself wasn’t interesting but I just could not get into this and ended up not finishing. The prologue took me so long to finish, I had to reread multiple times to keep my focus because I was just so lost. The synopsis of this story seemed interesting but I just couldn’t get to a point where I enjoyed it.

2.5⭐️



Al incio estaba tan confundida porque no recordaba nada del libro anterior, eso duró sólo unos capítulos y luego le agarrando el hilo.




Edie tenía mucha razón para desconfiar de Elliot. En la primera oportunidad que tuvo el infiel dejó que su coactriz lo tocara, besara, entrelazada manos, lo abrazara, pero no pasó nada porque él nunca empezó el contacto, no lo quería y sólo se dejó porque sería de mala educación alejarla ¿??? Si eso no es ser infiel no se que es, ¡ah!, la única razón por la que ella se enteró fue por las fotos.

Luego Edie tiene un accidente con Declan y Elliot hace un mega drama, cuando ella no hizo nada malo.


Si les gusta el drama, relaciones tóxicas, este es su libro.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Edie Thompson had been involved with Elliot Owen previously and had apparently decided that a relationship between them was a no go because of his career and fame as well as her own emotional situation at work. On Christmas day, Elliot shows up at her home to professes his love for Edie; overcome by emotion, she agrees to give their relationship a try despite the inherent challenges.

Having been around Elliot before as his ghostwriter, Edie knows the press are a major hassle; however, when she becomes a focus, the reality makes for major stresses to their issues as a couple. Adding to their difficulties, Elliot is filming a major cable series across the big Atlantic Pond in New York with a very handsy co-star. Elliot and Edie both have some family issues to deal with as well.
Edie has some major self esteem issues due in part to a scandal at her job that she is mostly blamed for despite being more of a victim to the whole big mess. Whether or not Edie and Elliot can survive the pressure, separation, and Edie’s propensity to expect things to go wrong, will determine if love will conquer all.

Ms. McFarlane’s stories always contain witty dialog and humorous while fraught situations. Fans of her stories will likely recognize Edie and Elliot from their first story, “Who’s That Girl” from way back in 2016. I had not read that book although I did not feel like it was necessary; this story works as a standalone since enough detail is given to bring readers up to speed.

I have read most of Mhairi McFarlane’s back catalog, so I was very excited to see she had a new book coming out. Unfortunately, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the plot with no idea what was going on, and I couldn’t pull enough threads together to get into the story. This is a sequel to Who’s That Girl? which I have read, but so long ago that I don’t remember any of it. I think eight years may be too long between books unless you do some significant refreshing of the reader’s memory at the beginning of the second book.

i read this book not knowing it was a sequel but i think it could stand on its own. perhaps my reading experience would have been better if i knew these characters before starting? i slogged through it but never really enjoyed it. it felt choppy and confusing. not a memorable book for me at all.

thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. all opinions are my own.

I did not realize this was a sequel, so I was a little confused at first and had to figure some things out on my own. But once I did, I loved this! I’m going to go back and read the first, which will make me love this even more.

Not having read the previous novel, it didn’t feel necessary to understand Edie and Elliot’s story. It was an enjoyable story with memorable side characters.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins for the e-ARC.

I have heard such great things about this author and am so grateful that NetGallery gave me this opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.! Unfortunately, I did have to stop reading this as I just could not get into the plot. I didn’t really understand the whole plot and it was hard to understand what was going on at the beginning!

I love Mhairi McFarlane and I waited so long for this book, but I was sorely disappointed. First of all, it's a part 2. Well I read the part 1 so long ago, and so many other novels in between, that I can remember nothing of the characters and storyline. So there was much implied context in this book that I just didn't understand. You can't make sense of this book without having read the previous, Who's That Girl, first. Second, this novel just didn't have the character McFarlane humor I enjoy nor the tension I look for in romcoms. Edie (normal girl) loves Elliot (mega celebrity think George Clooney) but they live a continent apart plus are trying to circumnavigate paparazzi and celebrity gossip. Can they do it? Yes but apparently they already faced this tension in the previous book (that I don't remember), as Elliot returns in chapter 1.

You Belong With Me was made to answer the questions that Who’s That Girl left hanging, namely: will they or won't they end up together? I'm a huge Mhairi McFarlane fan. Her banter is chef's kiss—saucier (and more British) than the Emily Henry school of banter, her characters more sharp where Henry is round, and all of those characteristics (and characters) show up here.

However, this one didn't draw me in as much as some of her others did. I think, perhaps, because the tension needed another crank. It's a hard premise to set up an entire book where the couple is together (ish) from the get go and you have to take them through the peregrinations of "will they or won't they?" It's additional pressure on plot points to move things along, rather than "and then this, and then that," feeling like they unfurl from "and then this, so then that."

There's many reasons McFarlane is beloved and all those chops come to bear to keep this book going. Ultimately, I know I'm going to sell it to fans (and warn people who haven't read Who's That Girl to read that first! But for McFarlane newbies, I'll go with Just Last Night or If I Never Met You. That said—cheers to finding out what happens with Edie and Elliot!