When I originally started reading this book, I was unaware that it was a sequel. Before returning to this, I read the first book, which I thought was really good. The complicated dynamics of interactions between celebrities and everyday individuals have always intrigued me. I find it interesting how this book shows how these relationships develop in the public view. Although I thought Edie, the primary character, was believable, she drove me crazy. It was evident how much her relationship with Elliot suffered as a result of the paparazzi. I really loved Elliot; he never stopped going above and beyond to prove to Edie that he was serious and would not give up on them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC.

A romance between the famous Elliott Owen and Edie, an ordinary girl. Edie is now navigating a relationship and the media. The characters experienced a lot of rockiness and self sabotage throughout their relationship. Although I enjoyed the book, due to the unsteadiness of the relationship I wasn't rooting for them or found this great connection between them. Personally in romance books I find a lot of excitement in the connection of the characters which fell a little short.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest. I REALLY tried to get into this book. I got about 60% through the story just I just couldn't do it anymore. It felt like the characters were making the same mistakes over over again and the story wasn't really moving forward.
Overall, it wasn't for me.

I love Mhairi and everything she writes, and I ALSO have been dying for this sequel since the second I finished Who's That Girl. I love these characters and this book felt like everything I hoped for for them. Mhairi also has such a wonderful sense of character building, the scenarios and dialogue between them feels so natural; it's immersive. Loved this!

Part 2 of a romance story, the tale of Edie the normal office worker & Elliott the movie star is about choosing love over & over again, even when it feels hard. The payoff to being emotionally vulnerable is a love that is completely authentic. Despite toxic ex-coworkers, an unknown source leaking stories to the press, & the pressure of a long-distance relationship burdened by flirty coworkers, they choose one another again and again. Heartfelt, funny, sensual, and real.

I had not realized this book was a sequel when I first picked it up. I went on to read the first novel before coming back to this and found them rather enjoyable. The drama from the start of book 1 continuing to pop up within both books was a bit stressful and caused me to take a little longer to read this novel.

I don't want to say much about the plot because this is a sequel, and I can't be sure which book some of the middle events come from, but it follows quickly after the events of "Who's That Girl?" This one was more of a romance than the first book, which I would label as contemporary, and I found this novel more enjoyable than the first.

I appreciate the characters of Edie and Elliot and enjoyed seeing how their story was laid out across the two books. I saw the accuracy in some of the struggles they experienced while in a long-distance relationship. Still, the fame in this relationship changed and made some of those bigger issues since the media was involved.

It seemed rather realistic, but I was a bit frustrated with some of the major issues between the characters, which had been circulating for quite a while before they were dealt with.

I would give it 3.5 stars.

Edie and Elliot are in love, but their lives continue to try to force them apart. Edie lives a small life in Nottingham and is recovering from some previous overexposure with a coworker scandal. Elliot is a famous actor getting more famous daily. Can Edie handle the pressures that Elliot's career brings to their relationship? Can Elliot navigate a mostly long distance relationship while Edie is getting closer to the people in her small circle?

While the premise of this book may not be relatable for anyone not dating a superstar actor, I found the problems between Edie and Elliot to be entirely relatable. Once you've found the person you want to be with, it's not all smooth sailing and you both have to figure out how to make it work together or it will all fall apart. Relationships take work and they are worth fighting for when it's the right one. I really like this take on the idea of what happens after you've found "the one".

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of You Belong with Me.

What happens when one of the most sought after A list actors decides to pursue his interest, a common working woman from his hometown?
Miscommunication, frustrations, media and paparazzi, a mole and the most beautiful relationship.... sort of.

This book was definitely he falls first and works hard for her with all the craziness that comes out of the wood work when one is shoved into the spotlight. While there were parts that were intensely real and some mental hurtles that are genuine, the whole of the relationship is just too cute.

#arc
#netgalley
#youbelongwithme

I have been thinking about this love story since the first book. McFarlane’s work has a way of sticking with you over time. Her characters feel believable and likable - like old friends you’re catching up with after a long time apart. That said, I wish we would have had more time on the page for the chemistry that is Elliot and Edie. I feel like so much of the story was spent on navigating her new world that I was missing more glimpses into the chemistry between the two. As always, I can’t wait to see what she writes next. #YouBelongwithMe #NetGalley

This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I have come to terms with the fact that i just don’t like this author.

The characters are unlikeable. I was not rooting for them to make it. Now this is the second book in a series which I didn’t realize while reading but I don’t think that would make me like them.

It felt like there wasn't enough necessary conflict to make a whole 320 page book of Edie and Elliot that wasn’t round two of cycling through their individual insecurities and jealousy. We barely had time to enjoy the good times before we found ourselves getting spun up in drama and conflict and, to be honest, some of it felt overblown. The conflict felt especially manufactured when Edie first experiences the media twisting photos to suit a narrative and her reaction was very over the top considering she had just talked about shutting down when it came to emotions and conflict.

I don't know if some of this rockiness was as a result of doing a sorta nostalgia tour of book one by going through similar motions, almost as a refresher for those who may have forgotten how the first book went, but instead it made this feel less like a sequel and more of a rehash. I thought we'd be in a better place after how the first book ended instead of being in the same boat as before.

That being said even when these two characters seemed self-sabotaging, I was still rooting for them. I just wish we had less external drama and more introspection because they both did have some demons to work through. It almost felt like they only stayed together at the end of book two so the book could be called a romance when maybe they would’ve been better suited breaking up.

Guys I don't know how i didn't realize until after finishing this book that it was a sequel. Needless to say I felt like I was missing so much (obviously) and never connected to the characters. Now that I know this is a sequel I want to go back and read the first in the series as I feel I would enjoy this one so much more.

I ca not say enough good things about Mhairi McFarlane. I will read anything she writes and this book did not disappoint in even the slightest! This follow-up to "Who's That Girl," is everything I wanted and more. Edie and Elliot are everything I want in a romance on the page and I didn't want their story to end. Hurry up and write another book Mhairi...you are brilliant at what you do!

A lot of Mhairi McFarlane's fans have been waiting for this sequel to <i>Who's That Girl?</i> a long time. I don't think she'd planned a sequel when she released WTG in 2015, but a lot of readers reeeeally wanted one due to how it ended, ergo <i>You Belong with Me</i>.

I wasn't dissatisfied with the ending of the first, so perhaps that's why my bar was high for this one... if it was going to be revisited, I wanted it to really deliver. I enjoyed getting more of Edie and Elliot's story, and it's always a delight to read McFarlane's witticisms. But not much about this was unpredictable, and it fell a teensy bit too much to the unoriginal/tropey side for my liking. Having said that, this author could write a tale about her grocery list and the quality would still be above average. I highlighted some lines that stopped me cold due to their psychological insight, which I've come to expect from her. And yet... I did have a constant niggling feeling of wanting more. Something to surprise me, I think.

There was no chance of me not diving into this one after experiencing WTG, and I'm not sorry I did, even if I wish it had fully measured up to its predecessor.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

Mhairi McFarlane has a way of crafting relatable, witty characters, and You Belong with Me brings us Edie and Elliot once again, after the fan-favorite Who's That Girl. While I was excited to dive back into their story, this one didn’t quite hit the high notes of the first book for me.

The chemistry between Edie and Elliot still shines, and McFarlane’s signature humor is ever-present, but the plot felt stretched out at times. The emotional depth that I loved so much in Who's That Girl just didn’t land as strongly in this follow-up. I found myself missing some of that spark and charm.
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This is the follow up to "Who's That Girl," another great Mhairi McFarlane novel. This picks up right when Elliott surprises Edie at her family's home in the UK. The book follows their journey navigating a relationship in the midst of Elliot's raising stardom. As always, Mhairi McFarlane does an excellent job of showing the fullness of the fmc life aside from her romantic relationship. This book shows the way two people affected deeply by trauma can be torn apart if they aren't cognizant of the effect it is having on their lives. It also, like so many of her books, puts toxic terrible men on blast. I hate Jack SO much and even though he's fictional, I want to drop kick him.

Things I liked: Mhairi McFarlane's voice is so unique and enjoyable; watching the developing relationship between the two as they navigate hurdles; the realistic problems that pop up in their relationship and the way they cause them to falter but prevail; Edie's family; Elliott's family.

Things I didn't like: I wasn't a huge fan of the way some of Edie's sister was made into a caricature and used as a way to make fun of things like feminism, veganism, and general leftism. I don't get that sense from any of McFarlane's other work, so I didn't let it bother me too much, but it did rub me the wrong way.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Mhairi McFarlane's latest novel, Edie Thompson's life takes a whirlwind turn when she begins dating Elliot Owen, a dashing Hollywood star. What starts as a dream romance quickly becomes complicated as Edie is thrust into the public eye, grappling with the pressures of fame, prying media, and jealousy-fueled rumors. Balancing a long-distance relationship with a man adored by millions, Edie must navigate the challenges of love under scrutiny while staying true to herself. McFarlane’s trademark humor and emotional insight shine through in this fresh, heartwarming story about the highs and lows of dating a celebrity. Perfect for anyone craving a romantic read with substance and depth!

Thank you to Avon, Mhairi McFarlane, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book as a gift.

I've always been fascinated by the dynamics of relationships between celebrities and non-famous individuals. This book illustrates how these connections unfold in the public eye, which is captivating to me. The main character, Edie, drove me crazy, but I felt like her character was believable. The way the paparazzi took a toll on her relationship with Elliot was a true testament to their love. I rooted for them all the way. I adored Elliot; he kept going above and beyond to show Edie he was for real and not giving up on them. It felt very realistic how one might react to the paparazzi and choose to either give in to it or not give in to it. The things Elliot had to go through in his past broke my heart, but seeing how he turned out for the better was interesting. I loved Edie and Elliot's love story and look forward to reading more by Mhairi McFarlane.

I cannot get enough of Mhairi McFarlane's work. She focuses on the emotional pull between her characters while honoring their physical relationship and You Belong With Me is no different. I was glad to get more of Edie & Elliot's story after Who's That Girl, and it's pretty complicated. There were times I definitely wondered if they should be together. I think I should've re-read WTG before reading this one, but I enjoyed it all the same.

I've been so excited to read this book! I've read all of Mhairi's books and it was so exciting to see a follow up to one of my favorite books. I've read so many romance books where a famous person falls in love with a regular person and I've always thought about the months/years after the ending of the book. Do the characters actually live happily ever after or do they end up breaking up because their lifestyles are too different?
Mhairi gave us an answer to Edie and Elliot's story and now the bar is set high and I want this for every romance book that has this trope to answer this question.

Highly recommend this book as well as all of Mhairi's books.