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!!

—


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

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

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.

Aw- this was so good! I love Mhairi’s writing style and characters and plots. I appreciate that the main characters weren’t duplicitous and when there were misunderstandings, they were discussed and sorted.
To avoid spoilers I’ll just say that I think it’d be really cool if “the guy who didn’t get the girl in the end” got his own book.

As a side-note: evidently, I did not read the prequel to this book first and didn’t even realize until after! To be fair, I got the gist of what had happened in that book from the beginning of this one and think it can function just fine as a standalone. I’m honestly not sure I want to read the first one if it’s a lot of angst between these two and then a cliffhanger ending (which is how it sounds, if reviews are to be trusted).

This is a sequel to "Who's That Girl?", which was left on a cliffhanger. Elliot and Edie have finally decided to give their relationship a go. But with Elliot's rising fame as a successful actor, Edie is having trouble handling the hazards that come with fame.

Although I really feel for Edie and her insecurities about being with a famous actor, I couldn't help thinking that throughout their whole relationship she had one foot in, one foot out, while Elliot seemed to be more all in. Even though she was cognizant of her tendency to self-sabotage relationships, it was still painful to see her go through that spiral with Elliot constantly reassuring her. I agree with the other reviews saying that this book was too long - it was a lot of Elliot and Edie repetitively dealing with the same problems/cycle over and over again with no real resolution each time, and I found myself getting annoyed with Edie (and her insecurities and jealousy) and how she treats and lashes out at Elliot, who is really trying his best given their circumstances. And same with Elliot regarding his jealousy. For much of the book and their relationship, they are long distance, and based on how they were feeling and acting towards each other when they weren't physically together, I was honestly unsure if their relationship would be able to survive the distance. In the end, I don't really know if anything changed about their relationship or if their issues resolved. I was disappointed by the lack of character development for either of them. While I really liked "Who's that Girl?", this sequel didn't carry that same magic for me.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! I personally fell in love with our MMC. The chemistry was there. The banter was witty and cute. This had everything I want in a romance novel. I will be reading everything this author publishes.

4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for my ARC!

I was so excited to get my hands on this sequel to Who’s That Girl (an easy 5 🌟 from me). That first installment ended in a bit of a cliffhanger (though we all knew who we wanted at the door), and this picks up right where it left off.

This book has zero flaws except that it caused me too much stress and heartache to be back on a rollercoaster with Edie and Elliot and all I want is their happily ever after!

Edie and Elliot’s banter and chemistry is off the charts, and truly my only displeasure at this book was going in knowing we’d see conflict between them, the premise being can they make it work? I felt like I was waiting for a car crash or the other shoe to drop the whole book, which took away some of my enjoyment.

I’d take a third book in a heartbeat as long as it features someone else’s issues and we just get Edie and Elliot happy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

You Belong with Me picks up right after Who's That Girl ends, with Elliot coming back from the US. The book explores two people from different worlds trying to mesh their lives together and balance a long-distance relationship. This was a sweet story where we revisit characters that were so lovable from the previous book.

The stakes are very low. The antagonist being Edie's own self doubt. (My girl needs therapy stat.) I found it strange that she blames all her issues on some guy she had a crush on and not years of trauma resulting from her mother's suicide and father's subsequent abandonment as he spiraled into a mental health crisis. But hey, maybe she's not terribly self-aware, or she's come to terms with all that. It's not really relevant to the story.

Because the stakes were so low and there wasn't much going on, this really opened the floor for the writing, and as such, I think this is Mhairi's funniest book. It's also perhaps her most English. I'm American. To me this had a Gilmore-Girls-esque freneticism with the language and pop-culture references. I think the audio book would default to 3times speed. I didn't get many of the jokes, (again, American) but those I did get were zingers.

All-in-all I enjoyed it and would recommend for anyone who like Mhairi's writing.

Meh. An even more angsty follow-up to Who's That Girl - didn't make me like either of the main characters any more than I did, and didn't satisfactorily lead them to a better understanding of each other or seem like any of the issues that were problematic from the beginning were resolved.

This is a fantastic sequel to “Who’s That Girl?”. Filled with humor and heart, #YouBelongwithMe continues the story of the relationship between “normal” ad copywriter Edie Thompson and rising actor (from B-list to lower A list, according to his publicist) Elliot Owen. This perfect follow-up is another rollercoaster ride of emotions, as Edie and Elliot try to navigate the challenges of his growing fame, including frequent travel, tabloid “journalism,” paparazzi and intrusive fans. In addition, there’s continued fallout from the Edie’s backstabbing colleagues related to the wedding drama in “Who’s That Girl?, as well as various family crises that arise to challenge their relationship and their odds of staying happily together.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes contemporary second-chance romance -- and not to be missed if you’re a fan of Mhairi McFairlane!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadAvon for the ARC.

4.5/5 ⭐

Hearing that your favorite characters are being brought back for a sequel can be a scary thing, but Mhairi absolutely hit it out of the park with this one and is probably the only author I'd ever trust in writing a reboot.

Edie has been my favorite since I read *Who's That Girl?* and suffered the worst book hangover of my life. Mhairi always writes these three dimensional heroines that you can't help but see yourself in, and Edie is probably the Mhairi heroine I feel most attached to for this reason. I wasn't as completely emotionally destroyed by the ending of the first book as many of the fans were, but nonetheless I was absolutely thrilled to find out we would get to have a sequel that began right where we left off with the surprise guest during Christmas dinner. 

It is rare that Rom Coms show you what happens beyond the Happily Ever After ™️, because it often isn't as exciting as falling in love, but Mhairi makes it simultaneously thrilling and realistic. She doesn't shy away from writing about the hardships that come after the love declarations and initial infatuation, which in my mind captures what romance really is about.

This book takes us into Edie and Elliot's new relationship and all the things that threaten to destroy the foundation they're building together, whether it be distance, the press, communication issues, or insecurities. Edie and Elliot both have past traumas they are working through surrounding losing their mothers at young ages which is something they're able to share with one another. Edie still struggles with a lot of fears that stem from her tragic loss in addition to the stress that comes from dating a celebrity, but unbeknownst to her, Elliot has the same fears and vulnerabilities. It was hard to see my favorite characters struggle, but I'm glad Mhairi wrote this with the depth she did, not glossing over the turbulence of early relationships and the hardships that came from Edie and Elliot's circumstances. 

I adored the return of all of Edie's friends, immersing myself in their shenanigans once again. Frazer, Hannah, and Nick had me cackling aloud and wishing I could join them for a drink. I loved eccentric Meg and seeing her relationship with Edie evolve into a more healthy and sisterly one. I loved how some of the plot carried over from the first book and we got to see the residual effects of Edie's past workplace trauma and bullying, including the guidance of her sensei of sorts (her boss Richard), the return of an old nemesis, and one surprising redemption arc. Mhairi's banter is always unmatched and her Sopranos and Mad Men references are always A+.

My only criticism would be the last few chapters were a bit quick and I wanted a bit more closure concerning Elliot and Edie's discussion at the end. Their resolution seemed a bit too rushed and bandaid-y for my taste. I would have preferred for Edie to delve a bit more into her insecurities and what she was doing to combat them moving forward. Another chapter of dialogue between her and Elliot would have been nice to have, or simply a slightly longer epilogue. Despite that, this was still refreshing and such a comfort read. I always appreciate how Mhairi writes these emotionally mature leads with great chemistry and admiration for one another who also communicate like adults. 

Kudos to Mhairi, yet again. I absolutely adored this. Much appreciation to her for her care for the fans in bringing back a favorite for us ❤️

Mhairi McFarlane, you’re brilliant! This was quite a ride, but it’s expected given the worlds separating these characters. I had to reread *Who’s That Girl* to refresh my memory (I know, such a tragedy), and I must say, I wasn’t sure they’d make it to the finish line. I’m so glad they did, while staying true to themselves. Now, if you want to bring back Georgina and Lucas in a sequel, I wouldn’t mind rereading *Don’t Forget About Me*, and I’m sure we’d all love it.

I’ve had an inkling before but I’m more convinced than ever that Mhairi McFarlane is the Jane Austen of whatever century we’re currently in. Her humor is unmatched. The feelings you will feel, all of them. I cannot express how much I adored this story. This book is a follow up to Who’s That Girl so I went back and reread that to get me into this one and read 2 books in 2 days. They unputtdownable. I feel like the little orphan Oliver. Please ma’am can I have some more? Never stop writing. Write more, all the time, let me read your grocery list. I’m obsessed.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

Sometimes you pick up a book and you know it’s going to be one of those nights you stay up too late and ruin the next day because you MUST finish it. This is that book. I adored this book and had no idea it was the follow up to Who’s That Girl. You can bet that I immediately put it on hold at my library to catch up.

This story kept me on my toes. I absolutely loved it - I found it vulnerable, endearing and fantastically entertaining. Elliott and Edie’s stores unfolds in an anxious will they / won’t they (make it) manner but told in a beautifully authentic way. I especially enjoyed the dark bits of humor that made me laugh out loud and read sentences to my partner.

If Mhairi MacFarlane writes it, I will read it.

I’ll preface this by saying that I really didn’t know this was a sequel. It’s 100% my fault that I didn’t notice that in the synopsis. I felt like I was missing something and going crazy. It wasn’t until I looked at other reviews did I realize that. So be advised fellow readers that this is a sequel to an 2016 book called Who’s That Girl. Also note that my review reflects going into this book blind.
*
I will always say that Mhairi McFarlane is one of the best writers of this generation. She tells the most full fledged stories and I love that it’s all encompassing with romance, family, friends and everything far and in between. This is no different. She immerses you in her books and you become hooked. I haven’t read all of her books yet, but I have yet to read a bad one. You can’t go wrong with picking up one of her novels.

going to begin that i didn’t realize this was a sequel and would have been more enjoyable had i read the first one before this one. i didn’t love this one and felt it was missing something.