This was hard for me because I love everything Mhairi writes. However for a good part of this book, I wasn’t rooting for the main couple, I was rooting for the love triangle guy 😅

I love that we got another look into Edie’s life, but this book just didn’t hit as well for me.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyage for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like many others who read this book, I did not realize this book was a true sequel to a previous book rather than a standalone. I felt like I was jumping into the very end of a book I hadn’t read and I was trying to catch up. It’s certainly possible that I would’ve enjoyed this book more had I read its prequel, but I felt that it really should have been highlighted both on the cover and more in the description that this was not a standalone novel.

I love Mhairi McFarlane, and this book did not disappoint. A quick read and perfect for a day at the beach or a cozy fall afternoon.

The first book, "Who's that Girl", tells the original story of Edie and Elliot. This book, "You Belong With Me", tells more of Edie and Elliot's story after "Who's that Girl" ends. Elliot is famous, and Edie is a normal girl, who has to get used to all that comes with dating a famous person, including the media who is known for twisting things to get the juciest story.

I was not the biggest fan of this story. Edie and Elliot just seemed like they had a lot that they needed to work on together and individually, and together they just were not the best couple. The problems that the couple had seemed repetitive and drawn out for no reason and the jealousy was just insane, and I found myself not caring if the couple stayed together or not. The lack of happiness between the characters was disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was super cute and fun to read. Definitely left me in a better mood with its humor and sweet love story. I didn't read the first book in the series but thankfully, the author puts great detail into previous events so the reader doesn't feel lost. The characters are also likable and fun to learn more about while also having a serious yet fun tone in moments that are needed.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Since I loved Who's That Girl, I was THRILLED when I heard there was going to be a sequel. Edie and Elliot were lovely and I couldn't wait to dive back into their world. Unfortunately, this sequel just didn't do it for me. The main reason was that it felt like conflict after conflict, dragging on unnecessarily. Obviously, I will still read anything and everything Mhairi McFarlane writes, but this was just okay for me.

You Belong With Me is the sequel to the 2016 contemporary romance novel Who’s That Girl.

This book picks up right where the previous installment left off. Edie Thompson is in her new home, making Christmas dinner for family and friends, when her famous ex, Elliott Owen, stops by with a big bouquet and a plea for them to give their relationship another try. Since they are both madly in love and have been unsuccessful at staying apart, they decide to try again. But nothing has changed in Elliott’s career, and they continue to face the same issues—press invasions of privacy and long periods of time apart. They must navigate insecurities about working closely with the opposite sex while in a relationship and figure out what to share with those around them and who they can trust.

Despite the glamour of Elliott’s career, this is a down-to-earth and realistic portrayal of what it’s like for a couple dealing with the pressures of celebrity and long distance. I love the wit and banter of all the characters and would love to see books starring everyone from Edie’s sister, Meg, to Elliott’s musician friend, whom we never meet. I found myself wishing I knew these people and could have a drink with them at a pub in Nottingham.

Sadly mhairi McFarlane books are not for me.. I loved the premise of this book: journalist falling in love with the celebrity she’s writing the story about and their banter was so fun. It just felt long and I didn’t love the writing style. Still a fun, heart warming read.

In You Belong With Me, a woman starts dating a pretty famous movie star and they need to navigate life with their relationship in the public eye. There are funny blog posts, texts and the like mixed in with the story. Lots of snark. Lots of pop culture references and just a fun frothy, light-hearted romp as they try to figure out who is selling their info to the tabloids. I cackled out loud quite a few times and really enjoyed this one. Even with the Taylor song stuck in my head the whole time.

This book is a sequel, and the first one, Who’s That Girl, should be read beforehand to appreciate the love story of Edie and Elliott. Who’s That Girl ended with a bit of “what if?” You Belong With Me picks up right at the ending scene and we get so much more of Edie’s journey into the world of show biz and fame. I did feel like a few of the obstacles were repetitive, and a bit more communication would have solved their issues much sooner. However, I loved getting together with all the friends and family. I couldn’t help but cheer everybody on in their new adventures and relationships. Thank you so much to the author for writing this long awaited book. Mhairi McFarlane is one of my favorite British authors, and the dialogue is absolute perfection. All the stars!
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Like others, I didn’t realize that this was book 2 in a series so it took me by surprise that the main characters were together at the start of the book and throughout. It’s a sweet book and I look forward to reading book 1 in the series. That may change my overall opinion of this book with some context.

I'll say it once and I'll say it every time - Mhairi McFarlane can write a damn book. And she can write a damn sequel too. This one just came out yesterday and it's obvious that I HIGHLY recommend it (but read Who's That Girl first).

The Details:
You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Quick Summary:
At the end of Who's That Girl, movie star Elliot Owen shows up on Edie's doorstep. Now Edie and Elliot have to navigate their relationship in the spotlight and around new co-stars, colleagues, and challenges.

My Take:
A beautiful continuation of “Who’s that Girl” that I didn’t know I needed or deserved. When I got the eARC for this (thanks @netgalley!), I decided to re-read WTG and fall in love with Edie and Elliot all over again. I figured this would just be a cute lil story about their happy ever after, but it was so much more. There was realistic conflict, lots of tension, character growth, emotional moments, and so. much. adorable. and hilarious. banter (aka MM's speciality). This gave me all the feels.

4.5 stars!

Overview: After breaking up due to their incompatible lifestyles, copywriter Edie Thompson reunites with the (practically) A-list celebrity Elliot Owen over Christmas. However, the couple must navigate various obstacles that come with being in a long-term relationship as well as those associated with dating a famous celebrity…

Thoughts: I went into this book not realizing that it was a follow-up to a book called Who’s That Girl? Although it took me some time to get into the book and learn all the characters, I finally got sucked in around the time Edie approves of Elliot taking on a new acting job in New York (that involves intimate scenes with a very sexy coworker) while she takes on the managerial position in Nottingham managing an employee named Declan. Although this is not a typical romance (as Edie and Elliot are a couple at the beginning of the book), I ended up enjoying this book for its witty dialogue, humor, and even the mini mystery. Elliot was almost too good to be true, considering the amount of baggage Edie had. Also I loved Declan as a character and wish he had his own book!!!

Take home message: You Belong with Me is a charming book that explores the trials and tribulations associated with a long-distance celebrity romance. Should also satisfy those who are fans of the relationship-in-crisis trope. This book works as a stand alone, despite being a sequel, although I definitely plan on reading Who’s That Girl!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

“There is being seen and there is being seen through.”

You Belong With Me is the sequel to an earlier book by the author that ended on a cliffhanger. I reread the first novel to recapture the energy of the first novel, Who’s That Girl?, before diving into this book.</p>

In this book, which picks up at the exact moment WTG ends, Edie and Elliott decide to give it a go. Edie gets dragged through the mud as only the significant other of a mega star could, despite being a perfectly lovely person. The wedding kiss and the gang at Ad Hoc are revisited. Why are our coworkers replaying their unresolved trauma on colleagues!?! Most of the plot twists are not the shocking, shouldn’t have been listening to this while driving, type. In fact, if not obviously coming, most left turns are at least strongly suggested ahead of time. As a raging Mhairi McFarlane stan, I’m biased but it was a good departure from the typical romance novel focused on the beginning of a romance. It takes skill to pull off a romantic novel about the next six months in a relationship after the honeymoon period has long passed.

A new Mhairi McFarlane novel is always cause for celebration in my book, and doubly so this year, because McFarlane published a sequel to Who’s that Girl – one of my favorites! Happy birthday to this Virgo!

You Belong with Me delves into the struggle of a long-distance relationship, the pressures of which are compounded when one person in the relationship is a famous actor. I usually don’t gravitate toward celebrity romances, but McFarlane pulls off this second chance romance so well.

Like all McFarlane novels, You Belong with Me is a relationship-centered and psychologically astute. It’s also very charming and chock full of witty banter. I think it differed from McFarlane’s usual formula because it was her first sequel – this allowed her to unpack the messy work of what happens after the MCs get together.

Huge thanks to Mhairi for allowing us to revisit Edie and Elliot’s story! And thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the galley!

I wish I had realized sooner that this was a sequel 8 years in the making. I was so confused from the get-go and felt like I was missing so much information, that I couldn't fully connect with the book. No matter how much I read, I couldn't care for the characters or plot. I wonder how I would've felt if I had read the first one. I DNF'd at about 60%.

This is book 2 in a series, and you definitely have to read book 1 to know what was going on here. (I may have started before realizing that and was super confused) Overall a nice ending to book one, following up on Edie and Elliot. I didn't overly get into this story, but liked it enough overall. Just probably not one I'll reread over again.
*arc provided by netgalley for honest review

I am such a fan of Mhairi and her fantastic writing with her amazing characters.
You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane is a charming, hilarious, and heartfelt new novel about a woman adjusting to life in the spotlight when she begins a relationship with a famous actor.
YBWM is a humorous, and entertaining story.
The writing is beautiful and descriptive. I honestly felt like I was living in the world with the characters.
Mhairi's books are always witty, funny, charming and smart with great characters, and this one proves to be no different.

Witty banter was a five in this fun read. Very British voice. The story itself, of a relationship between a film celeb and his autobiography’s ghost writer, was fine. It was a bit different in structure, as it began with them together, and was more about them navigating the intricacies of a half-celeb relationship. I wondered where it was going at times. I didn’t love all of the full-length tabloid write ups - found them unnecessary. But generally really liked all of the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon, for the arc.

This is a sequel to "Who's That Girl?" a book published 9 years ago. This is a stressful read, the characters are delightful and I enjoyed the character growth, but prepare yourself to sweat. This is not a light hearted romp. I would recommend to readers of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez.