Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I always enjoy McFarlane's writing and this was no exception. I loved the group of friends, all well developed with many flaws, some easy to see and others well hidden. This story had a bit of a mystery to it...a serious tone like most of McFarlane's books. I really loved watching the story unfold!

Between Us is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Mhairi McFarlane has such a talent for taking a seemingly ordinary tale- a story about friendship and love- and captivating the reader so that you’re turning the pages, hanging onto every word.

In Between Us, Roisin and her group of friends met years ago working at Waterstones, including her boyfriend of almost a decade Joe. The gang gathers to watch the premiere of Joe’s latest TV show and its plot leaves Roisin feeling betrayed and questioning how well she actually knows her partner of 10 years. Suddenly Roisin has lots of questions and she won’t stop raising them until she uncovers the truth.

I was completely engrossed in this story. I did not want to put it down. Roisin is an incredible main character and I absolutely loved her arc. I felt deeply for her when she struggled and rooted her on as she found herself. In fact, all of the characters were very well done and I feel like that’s one of the true strengths of this book. I wish there was more of this story for me to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I highly recommend! Just a heads up, it’s more contemporary fiction than romance.

This was not at all what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it! This was MESSY in only the way a longtime coed friend group with unrequited feelings can be. Between Roisin, Joe, Matt, Gina, Dev, and Anita (and throw in Meredith for good measure, such a Saint for putting up with everyone lol) there is plenty of drama to go around. Joe is the king of gaslighting, Roisin is a bit of a hot mess, Matt is the king of avoiding awkward feelings. They all have their flaws, but you def get invested in what is going to happen! I’m not sure I think the ending is believable but it’s fiction so that’s ok lol

I really wanted to love this book, I have always liked Mhairi McFarlane’s books, but I think I they may not be for me anymore. I love a super slow burn, but when the couple doesn’t get together until 80-85% of the way through and then there is a third act breakup, it takes away from the small part of the romance that we get.

I liked this plot in the beginning, but I soon tired of it as well. This just was okay for me all around.

Before I get into the bulk of my review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at HarperCollins for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read my first Mhairi McFarlane earlier this year and when this showed up as available to request I just had to. I enjoyed the other novel so much and this one sounded so different to me. In this novel, Between Us, we follow Roisin whose long term boyfriend has a show coming out that all of their friends are excited for. This is his second tv show as a writer and he’s been given permission to take chances in a way he didn’t get to with the first show. But Roisin is thrown when she realizes that Joe stole parts of her past, private and intimate things she’s shared with him and him alone, to make an exciting and risky show. She breaks up with him and moves back with her mom to help run the family bar for the summer. But help comes in the form of a close friend who she probably shouldn’t be getting these butterflies for. Between Us comes out on August 8th and is available for preorder now.

I want to start by saying that the premise on GoodReads and the premise I’ve given here are both somewhat misleading. I would say this is a Mystery novel about Roisin and Joe’s relationship and trying to find the truth buried in his lies rather than a romance between Roisin and her friend Matt. The romance is there, but it doesn’t really start until 71% of the way through the novel. It made it so the romance felt too fast when it finally did happen since no romantic feelings or attractions appeared in most of the novel. I wanted to feel more of the romance/attraction between Roisin and Matt since this is the couple we’re supposed to be rooting for in the end. But the author spends so little time discussing their relationship and their interactions with one another before the last 30% of the novel. I get that technically they were both in relationships at the start of the novel and Roisin takes longer getting out of hers. But once the romance finally started going I think we needed more romantic moments between the two of them to really feel it. And maybe it wouldn’t have felt so sudden if Roisin had voiced a thought like, ‘I can’t believe I’m feeling this for a friend I’ve know for a decade.’ Just some sort of incredulity from the couple that it was all happening so quickly. Because then we can all share some sort of disbelief before letting suspension of disbelief kick in. Am I fully making sense? Probably not. Let’s move on.

Things I liked: 1) the first part of the novel giving us a glimpse into Rich People Drama. I’m a girl who loves some Rich People Drama. Keep it coming. 2) When we got down to the nitty/gritty of who Roisin and Matt were, I could understand their coupling and how they could end up dating. I don’t know that I like the going from zero to ‘I love you’ in 6 seconds but with some more dialogue I could possibly accept it. 3) The fact that this feels new and fresh. We’ve all read the Romance novels where the main characters goes back home to hide from a fresh heartbreak/drama and discovers love again with a friend from their past. But this felt fresh and new because we had Roisin who wanted to get to the bottom of her deeply unhealthy relationship with Joe. It felt like a Mystery novel that turns into a romance when there’s 30% left. But that’s kind of also what I don’t love about it. I like the Mystery, I like Roisin finding ways to get answers, I just wish the author had managed to throw in a little more romance before the 50% mark? Also, this ends up feeling like the conflict is something between the two main characters we’re supposed to be rooting for where I usually like Romance third act breakups that happen due to circumstance. I want the two main characters to have to face an external conflict together in order to make the relationship work.

So, now I’m so conflicted because I enjoyed reading this while I was reading for the most part. I liked the mix of genres. I didn’t totally buy the romance. But also I read the whole thing (over 400 pages) in two days while also having work. So? I come in at a 3 for this one because I’m really torn about this book.

I think this one might be on me, but despite enjoying Mhairi McFarlane I seem to keep picking up her books at the wrong time. I applaud the author for constantly writing nuanced stories, but it's my own fault for picking them up when I'm in the mood for a bit lighter. This one was painful in the beginning and it just wasn't one that I enjoyed. Classic it's not you, it's me situation when it comes to the book/reader!

Mhairi McFarlane is one of my favorite British authors, and I was very excited to read her latest. While it’s not my favorite of hers, I did love it.
As with most of her books, Between Us is not a typical lighthearted rom com. I consider it to be literary romance, by which I mean there is a lot more going on than falling in love and the romance doesn’t always take center stage.
Much of this book is spent getting to know a found-family friend group, of which Roisin and her long time love Joe are both part of. This friend group is chaotic and clever and absolutely delightful.
Then the reader and Roisin both discover Joe is an absolute selfish narcissist- this is written masterfully, by the way. Subsequently, a good portion of the story centers on Roisin dealing with her emotions and attempting to move on from her breakup. What does she do now? Where will she live? What happens to their friend group if Roisin and Joe are no longer together? I loved getting an in-depth look at the rest of the friends - they are constant characters throughout the entire book.
The romance for Roisin comes into the story in the form of an old friend she surprisingly connects with after she breaks up with Joe. The buildup is slow, careful, and sweet as they get to know each other better. They do move to “in love” fairly suddenly, and I wish we had more time getting them there.
If you go in with no expectations of a witty romcom, this will be a thoughtful and emotional read. I fell in love with Roisin and hope you do too.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I adore Mhairi McFarlane. She’s an auto-read author for me, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Between Us. Along with a small handful of authors, McFarlane has made me completely rethink the way I feel about the entire contemporary romance genre, which I used to think wasn’t for me. As it turns out, it is!

That being said, Between Us didn’t quite land for me as her others did. I thought the premise about a woman whose life unravels spectacularly after her screenwriter boyfriend uses their relationship as inspiration for his new television show sounded terrific. Roisin was a sweetheart, and Joe was an a**hole, and Matt seemed very sweet and handsome. I just didn’t get enough of the relationship between Roisin and Matt to feel invested in their will they or won’t they romance.

However, even a less-stellar Mhairi McFarlane book is still stellar, and I really enjoyed this read. Her books hit all of the notes, and her writing is never-ever cringey. I know I’m going to be happy every time I pick up a Mhairi McFarlane book, and I would definitely recommend Between Us (along with all of her other books) to lovers of the genre.

Thank you to @Avon and @NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperColllins for giving me the opportunity to read a digital copy of Between Us about Roisin and Matt.

Slow paced in the beginning then the story starts to pick up. This story reminds me of the British version of the American TV sitcom Friends.

This story is about friends gathering and how two friends eventually become boyfriend-girlfriend.

This was a new to me author. Some of the characters were likable while others were not as likable.

I love McFarlane and Im so glad I’ve gotten to read another one of her books! I found out about her last year and I think she continues to solidify herself as the perfect romance writer. And when I say romance writer I do want to preface it by saying that none of her books are 100% romance centric, but that’s what makes them so perfect. Her main characters always grab a bit of my heart while reading and Roisin was a perfect new love of mine. This is not my favorite McFarlane book, but I don’t think she’ll ever have a “bad” book in my mind.

I have tried and just cannot read this book. It is supposed to be a funny romance but is just not good. Unfortunately, this one was not for me.

I always love a Mhairi McFarlane novel, and this certainly did not disappoint. The characters had depth and humor, and though the story had a couple bumps and discrepancies, I love following the multiple story lines and people who made up the Brians List world. 4.5/5

Mhairi McFarlane and I are just interested in different parts of relationships, I think. Her books always spend so much time on the break up that precedes the new relationship. I don't care. I want to know about the new relationship.

The writing is clean and the banter is good. I get why she's so popular.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I have not read a book by Mhairi McFarlane so I had no background knowledge on her style of writing. I expected to read a rom com but felt that Between Us fell short. It took me awhile to become engaged in the plot and I did not fall in love with the book as I had hoped.

4 Stars

Mhairi McFarlane is one of my long-time favorite authors so getting chosen for an ARC for her newest release made me do an actual excited happy dance.

Between Us is about what it’s like to go through a long-term breakup that ends badly. The kind where you question your entire history with a person you thought you knew and would be with forever. While also dealing with the fact that your breakup will affect your entire friend group as well. It had family issues interwoven and some sweet romance as well.

I really enjoyed Between Us and it was another solid read from Mhairi McFarlane. Here’s Looking At You is still my all-time favorite but they’re all worth reading if you enjoy any of them in my opinion. They’re very British so some slang & words I have to look up (as an American) but it’s never bothered me!

Something I would like to note is that I was so impressed with how Mhairi made me feel gas-lit by Joe alongside Roisin. I had no idea what had actually happened until Roisin did as well. I kept going back and forth in my mind over my feelings about him which is a tell of how well written it was.

If I had any constructive criticism or could say what kept it from being a five-star read for me it would be that it did take me a little bit to really feel invested. And I would have loved to have a little more romantic build up when it came to the love story.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon & Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a book filled with romance then look elsewhere. This book is mostly about a breakup with a guy who is a complete dick with a little romance thrown in.

I felt like the story took way too long to actually start and the beginning was pure filler. While you did learn some helpful information it all truly felt like information that could have been put into two or three chapters. Not a full 30% of the book.

Hello, friends, boyfriends and drama! I love the big cast of characters and strong circle of friends. This is a little slow at first when you’re getting to know everyone, but it takes off once the big reveal grabs your attention. Likable characters— Ugh, most of the characters anyway. Self evolving Roisin is the kind of character you’re friends with while reading and cheering as she makes a stand on her own.

Get it, Roisin! — I’m off to figure out how to pronounce her name again!

Thank you for the early release book and kindle read!

3.25 ⭐️

I find Mhairi McFarlane’s books generally to be witty and heartwarming. That was true with Between Us as well. I was excited to receive an ARC from Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I liked the book. It’s definitely not a true rom com. Between Us has elements of mystery and suspense, romance, and a woman grappling with identity - her own and that of her ex-boyfriend of over a decade.

It took me a little while to feel invested in the book, but things picked up when the first episode of Joe’s show aired and Roisin began to question the truth of her relationship. At that point, we were off to the races. I finished the book quickly then. Is Rosh going crazy, is she being gaslit, is Joe really a serial cheater? I liked trying to figure out the real story, and I was really rooting for Roisin. I appreciated her having the tenacity to search for the answer.

I enjoy found family books, and the cast of friends was really fun.

The romance was closed-door and seemed very insta-lovey, but it was generally sweet.

I’d recommend the book if you’re looking for a combination of closed-door rom com, found family vibes, and mystery of is Joe a serial cheater or is Rosh making it up.


Stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers.

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The connection between Roisin and Matt was very insta-lovey, which admittedly isn’t my favorite trope. There was some development of Matt helping out at the bar, and their hikes together (I loved those scenes), but it still felt abrupt given that she was with Joe for a decade. I know Roisin and Matt had also been friends for over ten years, but I think seeing flashbacks of their friendship or connection earlier in the book could have combatted the insta-love issues I had with the book. I think McFarlane did that well with showing how Matt loved Rosh, but not so well with Rosh.

It was my absolute joy to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Roisin and Joe have been together for nearly 10 years, since they’re early thirties. Lately Roisin has been wondering if this is long term due to Joe’s hot and cold nature toward her for the last year. When Joe, a newly successful television writer’s new show comes with rave reviews and scenes that seem shockingly familiar, Roisin has to wonder if she knows the person she’s been sharing her life with.
I love that Mhairi has been writing early 30 somethings who think they have it figured out, but turns out they don’t in her last few books and Roisin was not an exception. In addition to exploring a 10 year relationship, we also explore old friendships and their lasting power as you grow and change. I loved getting to the bottom of the issue with Joe, but also wish it hadn’t taken almost the entire book. I’d like to have seen more of the second chance than closure with previous relationship. Otherwise, I have no notes. Yet another release by Mhairi that makes me feel seen when you’re in the messiness of life.

This was incredibly slow (and as a result, boring). I didn’t believe the romance between Roisin and Matt nor that she could be so oblivious to Joe’s true nature for so long.