2 stars
I didn't love this book. I started and stopped it like 100 times. Then I finally gave up and threw the towel in and gave up.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book- the development of the characters, the wacky friends, the horrible ex, the trauma history, it’s all here. Definitely could have used a trigger warning as there are some pretty graphic scenes regarding sexual assault that I didn’t see coming; I’m adding that to the review as it definitely messed me up for a bit and I would want other women to know what they are getting into. But it was a very well crafted novel- better than standard women’s fiction. One of her best.

Don't You Forget About Me is a story about a charming (or sometimes not-so-charming) disaster of a late 20-something woman named Georgina bouncing around from waitressing job and terrible boyfriend to waitressing job and no boyfriend. Her family is terrible, her friends are eclectic, and her new boss was her high school boyfriend. Hurricane Georgina has nothing to worry about, obviously.
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I am not really sure how to review this book because I feel like I am commenting on two totally different books.

I read the last 40% of this book in one sitting--It was so wonderful. Georgina's last entry into the open mic night at the pub had me in tears, and I was totally swept away by the story.

However, I had the hardest time reading the first 60%. The story felt disjointed and I was often left wondering what the heck was happening. Why did we keep having random walks down memory lane into her childhood? What purpose did the curry story serve? I didn't read much more than a chapter or two at a time because I got frustrated too quickly with the seemingly random plot points.

By the end, the bigger picture is obviously more clear, but I wish the first half had captured me as much as the second half did. I like the overall message of the story, but perhaps the writing style and I did not agree.

I’m really torn on this one. It took way to long to become interested and yet I found so many parts of it charming and insightful. It could have done with some trimming down, but overall I would recommend. I walked in to this one anticipating something far more lighthearted than what I got, but in this case that wasn’t a bad thing

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3

I have been a fan of Mhairi McFarlane for a while now but I may have become obsessed with her after reading this! The character of Georgina was smart, funny and overall likable. I felt for her when she used humor to deflect from showing everyone just how much they hurt her with their low opinions. I found myself tearing up for her or cheering her on at more than one point in the book. I cannot wait to purchase this for my library and share it with patrons.

"Don't You Forget About Me" is a love story in more ways than one. In the most expected sense, it is about a second-chance at love for Georgina and Lucas: a satisfying slow-burn about two very likable main characters and how they find each other again after a broken past relationship. But this is just one aspect, it is also (and mainly) a story about a woman learning how to love herself and grow. Georgina is full of reasons to doubt herself: her career has gone nowhere, she has a gaslighting ex, and her family is stifling in their concern for her. She seems to attract trouble, and as each anecdote unfolds, it is easy to feel increasing empathy for her. As the story evolves, so does Georgina and the great cast of characters that surround her; her family is imperfect, as families usually are, but this story is also about that familial love that is greater than its flaws. A lot happens in this book: many times I laughed out loud, at one point I cried because something resonated deeply with personal experience, and from beginning to end I was completely immersed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes. I learned lots of fun new British phrases and I thought I knew most of them from years of Brit TV. Like an Accident Black Spot, an actual sign by the roadside telling you that the section of road has had lots of crashes on it. Fun characters and well written. This is my first read by Mhairi McFarlane...now I have to go find the others.

This is Georgina‘s and Lucas book, Georgina gets fired from the worst restaurant in town and when she goes home early and she finds her boyfriend in bed with someone else! She takes the first job that comes her way and it’s as a bartender at a newly opened pub. The only problem is the pub is run by the guy she fell in love with years before! Lucas is a brooding hot sexy man he runs the local pub and has an awesome dog! Lol Georgina is the only one who knows what happened 12 years ago and why she allowed the memories to haunt her ever since! Maybe it’s not too late for the truth, or a second chance with the one that Got away? This was a slow burn romance, just some mild heat it was definitely written very well and it was funny at times I didn’t understand some of the British dialogue if that’s what it was LOL but it was just OK for me I liked it but it definitely wasn’t my top favorite it was A little slow for me. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!