Mhairi McFarlane has a way of crafting relatable, witty characters, and You Belong with Me brings us Edie and Elliot once again, after the fan-favorite Who's That Girl. While I was excited to dive back into their story, this one didn’t quite hit the high notes of the first book for me.

The chemistry between Edie and Elliot still shines, and McFarlane’s signature humor is ever-present, but the plot felt stretched out at times. The emotional depth that I loved so much in Who's That Girl just didn’t land as strongly in this follow-up. I found myself missing some of that spark and charm.
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This is the follow up to "Who's That Girl," another great Mhairi McFarlane novel. This picks up right when Elliott surprises Edie at her family's home in the UK. The book follows their journey navigating a relationship in the midst of Elliot's raising stardom. As always, Mhairi McFarlane does an excellent job of showing the fullness of the fmc life aside from her romantic relationship. This book shows the way two people affected deeply by trauma can be torn apart if they aren't cognizant of the effect it is having on their lives. It also, like so many of her books, puts toxic terrible men on blast. I hate Jack SO much and even though he's fictional, I want to drop kick him.

Things I liked: Mhairi McFarlane's voice is so unique and enjoyable; watching the developing relationship between the two as they navigate hurdles; the realistic problems that pop up in their relationship and the way they cause them to falter but prevail; Edie's family; Elliott's family.

Things I didn't like: I wasn't a huge fan of the way some of Edie's sister was made into a caricature and used as a way to make fun of things like feminism, veganism, and general leftism. I don't get that sense from any of McFarlane's other work, so I didn't let it bother me too much, but it did rub me the wrong way.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Mhairi McFarlane's latest novel, Edie Thompson's life takes a whirlwind turn when she begins dating Elliot Owen, a dashing Hollywood star. What starts as a dream romance quickly becomes complicated as Edie is thrust into the public eye, grappling with the pressures of fame, prying media, and jealousy-fueled rumors. Balancing a long-distance relationship with a man adored by millions, Edie must navigate the challenges of love under scrutiny while staying true to herself. McFarlane’s trademark humor and emotional insight shine through in this fresh, heartwarming story about the highs and lows of dating a celebrity. Perfect for anyone craving a romantic read with substance and depth!

Thank you to Avon, Mhairi McFarlane, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book as a gift.

I've always been fascinated by the dynamics of relationships between celebrities and non-famous individuals. This book illustrates how these connections unfold in the public eye, which is captivating to me. The main character, Edie, drove me crazy, but I felt like her character was believable. The way the paparazzi took a toll on her relationship with Elliot was a true testament to their love. I rooted for them all the way. I adored Elliot; he kept going above and beyond to show Edie he was for real and not giving up on them. It felt very realistic how one might react to the paparazzi and choose to either give in to it or not give in to it. The things Elliot had to go through in his past broke my heart, but seeing how he turned out for the better was interesting. I loved Edie and Elliot's love story and look forward to reading more by Mhairi McFarlane.

I cannot get enough of Mhairi McFarlane's work. She focuses on the emotional pull between her characters while honoring their physical relationship and You Belong With Me is no different. I was glad to get more of Edie & Elliot's story after Who's That Girl, and it's pretty complicated. There were times I definitely wondered if they should be together. I think I should've re-read WTG before reading this one, but I enjoyed it all the same.

I've been so excited to read this book! I've read all of Mhairi's books and it was so exciting to see a follow up to one of my favorite books. I've read so many romance books where a famous person falls in love with a regular person and I've always thought about the months/years after the ending of the book. Do the characters actually live happily ever after or do they end up breaking up because their lifestyles are too different?
Mhairi gave us an answer to Edie and Elliot's story and now the bar is set high and I want this for every romance book that has this trope to answer this question.

Highly recommend this book as well as all of Mhairi's books.

I literally will read anything that mhairi writes. Her writing and dialogue and the way she can capture the core of her characters. I just always enjoy her books and this was no exception

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. love a book titled with taylor swift lyrics (even if it wasn't a connection). mcfarlane did a great job with inclusivity with her characters, but she always does which is why i think she's so strong of a writer.

Not usually a fan of sequels to books with an HEA or HFN, but it’s been 6-7 years since I’ve read Who’s That Girl and I’ve largely forgotten many of the details. So, this one didn’t feel so much like an unnecessary saga, but rather a new story with familiar characters. You may remember ad exec Edie from the wedding day drama with Jack Marshall (don’t worry, that twat makes a reappearance here) and Elliot Owen of international movie star fame. Now a happy couple, they have to learn to trust each other despite distance, meddling colleagues & friends, and the public at large, who feel they are entitled to gossip about Elliot and, by extension, Edie. While I can’t pretend to know the pressures on figures in the public eye, their trials felt realistic and their struggles didn’t feel forced. No spoilers on the ending, but I appreciated the realistic conclusion. Really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Book: You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane
Genre: Romance

As my first Mhairi McFarlane book, I’m officially a huge fan! Her writing is phenomenal and completely reminds me of Jane Austen—she really feels like the Austen of today. I can’t wait to explore her other works! And can we talk about the British setting? As a total fan of British history, it made the romance even more enjoyable for me. (Yes, there are also parts that take place in New York City too!)

In "You Belong With Me," the story focuses on what happens after the established initial romance. (I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series, but honestly, it works perfectly as a standalone lighthearted read.) It follows Edie and Elliot, a Hollywood celebrity, as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship. The dialogue is sharp and witty, keeping you engaged throughout. There is a classic third act breakup that made it tough but the resolution is at least heartwarming. If you love a beautiful and emotionally rich love story, then please grab this book—it’ll have you laughing, swooning, and probably tearing up a bit!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley @netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me the amazing and lovely ARC of #YouBelongwithMe. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. The following is my honest and personal review of the book.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book. I was not convinced that Edie and Elliot, the two main characters were supposed to be together. They couldn't communicate well, and they didn't have any chemistry. Things one of them would say in a conversation in one chapter didn't seem to stick with the other person in the following chapter. I kept thinking they would both be better breaking things off!

I do have other books by the author on my Kindle, and I'm still excited to read them! (although the abundance of British(?) slang kept me scratching my head trying to figure out what was being said!)

I have just discovered the author Mhairi McFarlane. I loved "It's Not Me, It's You" and "Just Last Night". So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I requested it via NetGalley. Many thanks to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital copy of You Belong With Me in exchange for an honest review.

You Belong with Me is a sequel to "Who's That Girl" which I did not read. Some other reviewers wondered about having a whole book devoted to seeing what happened to Edie and Elliot seemed a bit much, but they were all new to me.

The story balances humor and romance in a realistic way - as long as you understand that Elliot is a famous movie star and Edie is a regular every day person. There is a lot of humorous banter - maybe too much (does anyone ever have regular conversations?). Tension builds with the inevitable tabloid stories that are twisted versions of the truth and are particularly painful for Edie. You see a lot of growth with the characters with quite a few tough conversations. And tension also builds as you wonder if they can stay together?

I won't go back and read the first book. It won't be as much fun since I know the full story now. I recommend you start with "Who's That Girl?" first if you are interested in this book.

This is my fourth Mhairi McFarlane read and it didn’t disappoint. Mhairi’s books are always a delight. I didn’t realize this was a sequel but I certainly didn’t feel lost not knowing what happened in Who’s That Girl?. The characters and what they go through are relatable. Having to work out their feelings and finding their way, to accepting what and who they can trust. I loved each of the characters. Well, maybe not Iggy. I loved all the quips. I look forward to the next book!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC.

Mhairi McFarlane does it again. I haven’t read a book by her that I haven’t loved. "You Belong with Me" is no different. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and didn’t know it was a sequel when I began reading it. I have since added "Who’s That Girl" to my TBR. This can be read as a stand-alone, but I bet if I read the previous book first, I would have loved this story even more. I loved the witty dialogue, well rounded characters, and realistic interactions/conversations. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys rom-coms pick up this book.

When I requested this book I didn’t know it was a sequel, but even if I had read the first one I don’t believe my opinion wouldn’t have changed - this was just a “fine” read.

Honestly, I couldn’t find any good reason to believe that the characters should be together and I couldn’t feel their chemistry - this is due to the fact that both characters are very jealous and insecure, two traits that I personally can’t connect with. I also found that some of the conflict between them felt a little over the top just to add more drama for the sake of it.

This was my first book by McFarlane and I did enjoy her writing and her voice - I found she excelled in writing their conflict realistically but also managed to add humor and some heartfelt moments.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC and the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t realize this was a sequel, and I haven’t read the first book, Who’s That Girl, but I still enjoyed You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane. It would have been helpful to read the first one because I spent the first quarter of this book wondering why she isn’t doing ANY level setting with the characters or story. Once I figured it out things went better, I will say that this is the first of her books that I didn’t downright love.
The basic idea is that a ‘normal’ girl falls in love with a famous actor and they try to have a ‘normal’ relationship even though the tabloids and even some friends make that extremely difficult. Cute set up but the book was just so much talking … just finding every single reason not to be together, coming close to breaking up, and then not breaking up. This happens over and over again and I got a bit tired.
Overall, I love McFarlane’s books and her down to earth heroines, but this wasn’t my favorite.
Published in the US on September 3, 2024, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was an interesting premise… watching the beginning of a relationship unfold! It brought unique perspective to the dating experience! Would recommend it!

It would be really helpful to know this book is a sequel that basically requires reading the first book. I started this not knowing that detail and was so confused just a few pages in. That being said, I wasn’t a fan of the first book but I thought this one was much better. I do like Edie and Elliot’s love story and seeing their journey of being in a relationship throughout the entire book felt like a new perspective on romance. However, there really didn’t seem to be an overall plot other than ‘will they stay together?’ Pretty anticlimactic, but there were a variety of subplots that kept the novel interesting. Much like the first book, I really disliked how major decisions about their relationship were made literally at 95% of the way through the book. I do believe there was too much dialogue, but that also seems to be quite characteristic for Mhairi McFarlane. Overall, it was good, but not sure if I would rush to read both books. 3.75⭐️, 1🌶

I love Mhairi McFarlane – if she writes it, I’m definitely buying and reading it. She’s one of my go to auto buy authors and one I can confidently recommend for others. This was a different experience for me than others I have read – first off, this one is a sequel. I have not read the first one yet, it’s one of her backlist titles I haven’t had a chance to read yet. That being said, I was still able to follow, read and enjoy this one. I’m looking forward to trying the first one now, and want to try rereading them back to back. However, like any Mhairi book it is well written, has interesting characters and is definitely worth the read.

I love MM and will always pick up anything she writes. I didn’t read the book these two meet in but loved jumping into a relationship that had already endured those beginning stages and had found some grooves already.