WOW! I like this one sm, especially the way Mhairi writes her books is so gooood. A great balance of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments

One of my go to authors. I didn't realize it was the second in the series, but I didn't feel left out. McFarlane writes emotions really well and relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane is a seemingly celebrity romance. This book features a couple that definitely shouldn't be together. Neither of them seemed happy, and they definitely would break up after the book ends.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mhairi McFarlane's You Belong with Me is a delightful and heartwarming romance that expertly blends humor, vulnerability, and real emotional depth. In this charming tale, McFarlane weaves a story of friendship, love, and self-discovery that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.

#YouBelongwithMe #NetGalley.

The novel centers on the complex relationships between its characters, as well as their journeys of personal growth, making it more than just a typical romance.

The story follows the protagonist, a woman who has spent years feeling stuck in her life, especially in terms of her love life. She finds herself re-evaluating her relationships, both romantic and platonic, when an unexpected event forces her to confront the reality of her life and the choices she's made. In true McFarlane fashion, the book is filled with witty dialogue, sharp humor, and moments of deep emotional introspection.

McFarlane's writing is full of charm, with a perfect balance of lightheartedness and serious themes. The characters are relatable, especially the protagonist, who is navigating a period of self-discovery. Her journey is both funny and poignant, and McFarlane’s ability to blend humor with more profound emotional moments makes the book feel genuine and heartfelt.

One of the strongest elements of You Belong with Me is the character development. As the protagonist learns more about herself, her relationships, and her desires, readers are treated to a story that feels both refreshing and real. The romance is sweet and slow-burn, and while there are moments of miscommunication and tension, the relationship feels natural and earned over time.

The themes of self-worth, personal growth, and the importance of being true to oneself are explored thoughtfully, making this not just a love story but also one of empowerment. It’s a book about finding your voice, taking risks, and learning to be honest with yourself and those you care about.

You Belong with Me is a delightful, funny, and touching read that offers both heart and humor in equal measure. McFarlane’s ability to create complex, likable characters and tackle serious themes while still delivering a feel-good romance makes this book a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and romantic comedies. Whether you're looking for laughs, love, or a bit of both, this novel will surely leave you with a smile.

Mhairi McFarlane is my favorite writer of romance/women's fiction so just understand that I go into all of her books with that mindset. It's not that she can do no wrong in my eyes, it's just that she really hasn't yet. I loved this continuation of Edie and Elliot's story and I say that as someone who really does not like love stories with actors (or royalty, or billionaries, but I digress.) In spite of that, I loved it. It seems like it would be very tricky to pick up and mess with the ending of a previous (and well loved) book but because it is Mhairi McFarlane, I am glad she did instead of wishing she'd left it alone. Both Edie and Elliot get to grow as people in believable ways and their love story felt "real" despite the fact it;s a movie star romance. This is a very satisfying conclusion to their story!

This is the second book in the Edie Thompson celebrity romance series. I recommend reading book one first, however I think you would be fine reading this as a standalone if you wanted to. I enjoyed this, even though there were some similar issues carried over from the first book. The storyline took a different turn so it didn't feel like I was reading the same book. This was a fun read.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

Really liked this one. Mhairi Mcfarlane is always a good time. You Belong With Me is the second in a series, I didn’t know that going into it!

Thanks NetGalley for the arc.

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I liked it,

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane!

Lackluster.
This was the first McFarlane book I've read that I didn't wholeheartedly enjoy. 'Who's That Girl?' ranks high on my list of favorite books, and I expected similar love for this book, but sadly, it just drug on far too long.

The story started out strong, and the first few chapters had me so happy to be reading another McFarlane novel. (I binge-read her other books last year after stumbling across one at the library)
The comedy was spot on, and had me laughing out loud many times throughout the story.
From there, I just found myself bored through most of the book, and slightly annoyed by the fact that they kept having the same dilemma/argument over and over again.

Had the book been 2/3 the length, with the same plot lines and less grind it probably would have been 4 stars from me.

McFarlane is a delight yet again!

I did not read “Who’s That Girl” but for the most part it was easy to get caught up. I had one moment of confusion but overall there was enough there for me to understand what happened in the first book.

I thought this story was a beautiful balance of humor and heartfelt moments. The characters’ growth felt genuine due to the tough convos. The witty dialogue helped to balance out the trials and tribulations the characters go through when figuring out how to date as a famous actor and “regular” citizen.

I struggled putting this book down in the end because I just needed to know what happened with these characters! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read another one by this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

4.25 stars

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon books for the ARC of this book. When I first got this book I was super excited to read it. I did read the first book, and loved it so I came back and read the second book and it was pretty good! I loved the tropes, and would definitely recommend reading this book!

I wasn't able to get into the premise of this book. Maybe for other readers, but not for me. A little disappointed bc I normally really enjoy Mhairi.

I've been a long time fan of Mhairi McFarlane so was excited to receive an early copy of this book -- without realizing it was a sequel. I think it is important to read "Who's That Girl" first -- although I liked this one quite a lot more.

This book picks up exactly where the first one ended. Edie and Elliot have been broken up for several months when Elliot decides to pursue Edie again. I liked that this book really focused more on the romance between them -- the first book had a lot of side plots that felt distracting.

Elliot is a swoony love interest and really pretty perfect. Any conflict or argument they have, he has a pretty perfect response and is so sweet and thoughtful.

I loved the supporting characters as well, especially Declan - I would definitely read a spin-off book about Declan!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I overall enjoyed this book as a continuation of our time with Edie and Elliott as they found their way back to each other. This one, though mostly enjoyable, did feel like a bit of a re-hashing of the first book and didn’t introduce much new conflict to the plot. I think for those who really loved the first book, this is a decent sequel.

I got You Belong With Me as an arc before realizing it was a sequel. I started it and was very confused and then figured out my mistake and checked out the first one so that this one would make sense.

I think had I read the first before requesting, I would not have wanted to read the second. That being said, the second book was much better in my opinion. There were less side plots distracting from the main story and it didn’t try to tackle as many big issues. I felt myself much more invested in the love story and the characters in general.

I do think both books would have worked better if Edie was a younger character. I had a hard time believing she was 36 in both stories.

I think if you read the first, this one is worth picking up. If you haven’t, it’s not worth having to read the first installment of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

3.5 rounded down

I LOVED this book!! Mhairi McFarland does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance books!!

I did not enjoy this book and couldn’t finish it. The pace was slow, it felt too heavy of a repeating scenario over and over between the two main characters. I believe the book was well written, and if you resonate well with this author previous works or looking for a story full of emotional discourse, you would enjoy this one. It just wasn’t for me and that’s ok! Excited for my next read by this author.

Almost a Cinderella story? I don't know what to call it. I do suggest you read this one and see what you think yourself.