There was just something about this book that didn’t quite grab me like I expected it would! I listened to it on audiobook, and that could be a contributor, but it was a cute and enjoyable book nonetheless (once I figured out what all the English words meant!)

I liked the main character, Harriet. She was relatable in her relationship struggles and history. Knowing all of her past bad luck made you love her new male interest even more! I wish that we would’ve gotten to see more of their romantic relationship develop. I feel like we got to see them become friends really well, and then all of the sudden they kiss annnnd what? I dunno I just didn’t feel the chemistry building between them and wanted more of that! I was cheering them on the whole time.

The whole plot is cute, and I love the entanglements of old relationships, traitorous best friends, changing opinions and the development of new friendships/relationships.

This was a fun book to read, and I really enjoyed being able to read it. Thank you Net Galley and Mhairi McFarlane!

This wasn’t just about romance, it tackled lots of other topics like abusive pasts, growing up, and moving on. From what I’ve heard, this is common with this author which I think would be perfect for people who are looking for a little romance but not a full blown romance novel. There’s balance and it kind of feels like you’re reading through, enjoying the rest of it, excited to get a glimpse at Harriet and Cal.

Mhairi McFarlane books always make me laugh and this one is no different! Such a great enemy to friends to lovers. As a photographer myself I found Harriet so relatable!

Rating: 4/5
Warnings: emotional abuse (in past), toxic relationships, death of a parent

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read nearly all of McFalane’s previous work, I absolutely adore it and went in knowing that this was not a romance but women’s fiction. (please stop marking these books as romance, it takes away from the beautiful story the author is trying to tell)

I know this book was at it’s core a well written and good book, but I really struggled to read it. I found myself taking pause at the storyline, wanting to stop these characters or cry with them. All this to say, the author did a fantastic job about telling the story of someone walking away from an abusive relationship and navigating them reentering their lives to cause even more havoc. I adored Harriet’s journey and personal growth arc and felt all her feelings while she navigated all aspects of her life. So much was packed into this book, and I thought the ending was the perfect tie to this story.

Do I wish we had more of the relationship? Yes, always.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Mhairi McFarlane for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book, showing it's okay to walk away from a relationship when it just doesn't feel right. Even more so, Mhairi McFarlane did a fantastic job telling the story of walking away from an abusive relationship. Having had personal experience dealing with an abuser who put me through a lot of the same situations that Harriet had to endure, I was able to connect to her character easily. I experienced a lot of the same emotions Harriet did and found myself getting choked up a few times. But I also found myself laughing and swooning along with Harriet as well as she navigates living with Cal. This was my first Mhairi McFarlane novel and I will be immediately looking for more from her!

This book is so much more then roommates to lovers, it is about abusive relationships and knowing when you need to get out. Having that circle of friends to support you and maybe save other women in the process. Also, realizing there are good men and women out there, you just have to look in front of you.

Harriet Hatley calls off her engagement on the outside seems like the perfect man, but she realizes he is not the perfect man for her. After this she looks at her other relationships to find out how she ended up here. With nowhere else to go she rents a room from Cal Clarke, who is also having his own romance issues.

They quickly become friends and open up to each other about what happen to make Hatley end her engagement and Cal to run out on his wedding.

What surprise them more than anything that they both just want the same thing, but can they put the past demons behind them once and for all?

This story is about realizing what love should look like and having that circle of friend to rally around you. Also, the power of social media and its effects on people.

Grab the hot tea and cozy place this book will inspire you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for copy of this book for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this! If you love British humor and Bridget Jones’s Diary then I can’t recommend this enough. Told entirely in Harriet’s POV, we go from her breakup with her fiancé to having her livelihood blown to bits by her abusive ex-boyfriend to one of the most satisfying endings I’ve ever read.

Harriet’s growth in this story was superb. I could totally feel the angst of all the uncomfortable and devastating things she went through. Despite all that she went through, she found her voice at the perfect time. I love how her support system in Lorna, Cal, Sam and Nina helped her to come out of her shell and to face her past head on. Lorna was my personal favorite. She was a true ride or die friend and she 100% came through for Harriet in a big way.

This definitely reads more as women’s fiction, but the romance that it did have was equally satisfying. It was clear that Cal and Harriet had chemistry from the start despite their awkward beginnings. Because the romance between them wasn’t the focus, they became friends and really got to know each other. I loved that I could totally sense things changing between them by the way they interacted. Their unassuming romance was the icing on the cake to the other showstopper moment. I honestly can’t recommend this enough. It’s hilarious, angsty and swoony — the complete package!

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

Harriet, wedding photographer, has seen people escape from undesirable partners. She herself has escaped from two, just barely. This is an interesting book dealing with breakups and some of the serious reasons behind them.

An indictment too of social media used to spread false information about people and destroy careers and relationships.

I found the book topics of modern love and courtship both timely and universal for contemporary times.

Was expecting more of a rom-com, but wasn't really what the book was. Loved the authors writing style, but I don't believe the book was for me.

I will definitely be trying out more from this author.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book. After reading some of the story, I found that it just wasn't for me. I had a hard time keeping interested in the story. Though I feel that I'm in the minority as I've heard great things about Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane. Out of respect for the author, I will not be rating or reviewing this book on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this book! This book was a little slow for me at times and I just wasn’t sure where the story was supposed to be leading to at first. I feel like it was all about Harriets awful experience with men. I definitely felt the abuse parts of the book were described very well and very relatable. I also only felt a friendly connection between cal and Harriet. I just felt like the relationship had no build up. I love the girl power in the wedding scene at the end where Scott got what he deserved! As you get into the book it is a nice journey of a women who has a troubled past and eventually overcomes it all in the end.

Mhairi McFarlane is back with 'Mad About You'. Harriet is a wedding photographer who many believe is cynical about love. What most don't know is that Harriet was a victim of an abusive relationship and it closed her off to the idea of love. The story starts with Harriet being told by the best man, Sam, that the groom, Cal, has called off the wedding that she's been hired to photograph. Some time later, Harriet and her boyfriend, John are joining his parents to celebrate their wedding anniversary. At the dinner, John proposes to Harriet knowing that she does not believe in marriage and Harriet accepts as she felt cornered into it as it was done in such a public setting. Once they returned to their room, she confronted John and ended the relationship. John on the other hand felt used and victimized by the ending of the relationship and went being very dramatic about it. Harriet says she will move out and finds a room to rent. She interviews over the phone while at a wedding she is working at and gets offered the apartment. She quickly finds out that the man who jilted Sarah, her client, is her new landlord. Cal and Harriet don't get in each other's way at first but eventually start warming up to being friends as the 6 month lease time passes. But Harriet's abusive relationship from the past comes back to haunt her when she sees her ex-boyfriend at a wedding she is working and finds out her is getting married soon. She tries to help Marianne get out of what she sees is an abusive relationship as well. Although she initially suffers the consequences, she eventually gets back up. Cal and Harriet are also pushed to declaring their feelings for each other. It was a bit over the top of a read for me and there was too much and too heavy material at times.

I enjoyed "Just Last Night", so I was excited for this one. Mhairi McFarlane doesn't write your typical formulaic rom com. Her books are always a little deeper and emotional. I enjoyed the MC and the themes of friendship and feminism. I could have used a little more romance but the writing was so good it made up for it.

3.5/5

Mad About You is the adorable rom-com that I needed on an otherwise crappy day. I loved the characters, slow build, and honesty of a woman putting her job over relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

🛋 Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🛋

Harriet Hatley is a wedding photographer who has recently broken up with her long term boyfriend. Needing to get out of his home, she begins looking for a new place to stay. Her friend, Roxanne, who is a realtor manages to find her an great place will go fast once it hits the market. Harriet reaches out to the owner, Cal Clarke, and he agrees to let her rent his extra room.

Cal and Harriet are like oil and water. They are complete opposites from each other, but somehow it works and they manage to become friends. After a series of events, Harriet realizes she has misjudged Cal and he isn’t at all the person she thought he was.

When Harriet’s toxic and emotionally abusive ex boyfriend makes a wild allegation, she is forced to look back at her past relationships. In doing so, Harriet is able to determine and figure out what she wants for her future.

I did enjoy this book but it is not what I expected. When I initially read the synopsis, I thought I was getting a fun and witty rom-com and that was not what this was. There were some funny parts and a little bit of romance thrown in, but this story was a lot heavier then a light hearted rom-com.

The character development throughout was done so well. Harriet went through a lot and you really get to see her grow through those experiences. My only complaint in that area is that we didn’t really get a lot of Cal’s development and he was a big part of this story.

This is the first book I’ve read by Mhairi McFarlane and it will not be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️TW: emotional abuse, toxic relationships, death of a parent/parents

This book certainly opens with a bang, namely an abandoned wedding and a ver clearly doomed proposal and let me tell you, I was hooked from the start. Once I’d been hooked, though Mhairi took me on a journey I was not expecting and one I was pleasantly surprised by.​​​​​​​​
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This is my first book by her and I had no idea what to expect. Judging by the cover and description I figured I was in for your typical rom-com. Oh, was I wrong this book delivered much more than that. Yes, it delivered comedy and it delivered romance, but it also took me on a journey with Harriett. One in which she bared her heart and soul and came stronger on the other side all while proving that we really are stronger together and that everyone needs good friends. And perhaps, also, that friends make the best lovers.​​​​​​​​
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All this to say, I loved this book and by the time it was over I had a huge smile on my face and a sense of kinship and fondness for every single character (except for those who were by all accounts terrible) that inhabited this pages. It was a lovely read and one who I would recommend to anyone wanting to read about more than just romance.

Check TW before reading.

This was a different kind of story for me and it kept me wanting more the entire time. I expected more romance, but it was the opposite, which I liked. This story is more about the main character facing something she thought she was over, taking a huge risk, and coming out better on the other side.

This is the first book I've read by the author and I will be adding her to my auto list!

I received the ARC from NetGalley.

I LOVED this book. I most appreciate romance novels that rely on the growth of the characters like this one did. It was so dynamic and heartwarming to see how the two main characters came together but also to see how their lives changed in the process. This was an easy five star for me!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing the chance to read and review this book. It was a three star rating.

I liked some of the plot twists involved
like when the photographer moved in with the groom and the friendships but it was a bit slow at times and it was just ok to me.

I did like the overall message of the story.

This was such an angsty, thought provoking, powerful, slow burn story. So many sensitive topics of gaslighting, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, loss of loved ones, cheating, and grief were handled with such care.⁣ this was beautifully written with such connectable and relatable characters.
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Lorna and Harriet’s friendship and Cal and Sam’s friendship were truly beautiful and so real, you just connected with the characters. I also really adored Nina. ⁣
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I wished there was a bit more romance between Hariett and Cal woven in, and as much as I loved this story and the growth in these characters after going through such trying things, I felt their final connection was rushed at the end and I wanted more for them. I felt like they were such solid sound boards for each other through out the story and really loved them for each other but I wanted them to get a little more of their relationship story.⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️