I asked for this book because it was compared to The Hating Game, which I loved. This was just kind of meh. It didn't have the wit and banter of The Hating Game that I was craving.

This book is billed as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Hating Game." I'm not so sure it rises to that level, but it was a cute enough 3-star read. I've really enjoyed many of Mhairi McFarlane's other books, and while this one isn't my favorite, it wasn't bad.

Bel and Connor spend a lot of the book not liking each other, so this really isn't a romance. There's no romance to speak of until the inevitable happy ever after, so if you go in expecting that, you're going to be disappointed. There's some chemistry and a little sizzle, but that's it.

What this book DOES have, in typical Mhairi McFarlane fashion, is a sociopath or two. The reason I first connected with McFarlane's books was that she wrote emotional abuse from the victim's point of view so well. I've been a victim of that, so I felt it very deeply. I didn't realize then that there's an antagonist like that in many of her books. I don't know if she's writing what she knows or what, but I do sometimes feel like it's a variation of the same plot every time. Still, she writes Cover Story's former lover turned stalker well.

My journalism professors from grad school would really hate some of the professional choices Bel makes -- they move the plot along but they're really dumb and nothing an actual journalist would do. If you can get past that, the #MeToo storyline works well enough and creates situations that put Bel in some genuinely precarious positions, which makes for good storytelling.

Overall not her best work, but not a bad way to spend a couple of days, either. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

huge thanks to netgalley, mhairi mcfarlane, and harpercollins publishers for the arc!

once again, mhairi mcfarlane proves she’s one of my most dependable go-to authors. every book i’ve read of hers strikes the perfect balance of charm, humor, and heart—and cover story is no exception.

the blend of sharp humor, timely commentary on power dynamics and ‘me too’ moments in the workplace, the high-stakes energy of journalism, and just the right touch of romance made for such a layered, engaging read.

that said, mcfarlane’s books aren’t what i reach for when i want something totally breezy. her stories always carry real emotional weight, and her writing—while beautiful and clever—requires a bit of focus to fully appreciate. maybe it’s the distinctly british tone or the dry wit that sometimes flies over my head, but honestly, i love that about her work. it keeps me on my toes and makes her voice stand out in the best way. because of her distinct writing style, sometimes it might take a little longer to fully settle into her stories, but the little extra work has been worth it every time.

if you’re already a fan, this one will feel like coming home. and if you’ve never read her before, i can’t recommend her enough—especially if you’re into fiction that’s smart, funny, dramatic, messy and just a little bit romantic.

That said, this was a 3/5 star read for me. While I usually love the fake dating trope, it didn’t fully land in this story the way I had hoped. The beginning felt slow

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Mhairi McFarlane has another masterpiece on her hands. Her writing is done exceptionally well, bringing all her characters to life. The story is executed in a realistic fashion giving each character unique personalities and relatable features for any reader to form a connection to. The chemistry that is built between Bel and Connor slowly matures from mishaps, confusion and slow building of feelings into quite possibly a real relationship. The story flowed well from one scene to the next and once you pick up the book to read you will have a hard time putting it down.

Cover Story follows Bel, who lands a story of a life time and in the process gains a fake relationship with her intern Connor.
By shear luck and a chemistry they may not be willing to admit to at first, puts them in the position of having the best cover story to research and dig deep for their story. Keeping their situation under wraps will lead to major headlines and quite possibly a real romance.

I totally forgot I was approved for this arc and I’m so thankful I was looking through my backlist because I almost unnecessarily bought this book. This was just what I needed. I always love this author’s work and this one I think was my favorite.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mhairi McFarlane is such a great author. I thought that this book was SO fun and I usually do not go for a fake dating trope because I just find them to be so juvenile and unbelievable. I really liked different aspects of both of these characters and the way that they complemented each other was just perfection. This book was as funny as it was swoony and I just thought it was a really delightful read.

honestly i love a romance book that also disrupts oppressive systems a little at a time hell yeah brother

many thanks to avon and harper voyager, plus netgalley for the advance reader copy.

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane is a fake dating, forced proximity, super SLOW burn romance. Bel is an investigative journalist in Manchester, attempting to move on from her previous relationship. Connor is a new intern in the office for a 3 month assignment, after giving up his career in finance and pivoting to journalism. They get off on the wrong foot, but eventually have to find common ground while going undercover for a story. This book was definitely different than I expected, with a lot less romance than I was hoping for. I did enjoy how the banter grew between the characters, how they developed a friendship and FINALLY a relationship, but I needed more. I did really like the investigative part of the book, reading about them going about the mayor and seeking justice was great!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book completely stole my heart in the most unexpected way. The enemies-to-lovers tension crackles right from the start, but it is the emotional layers that truly made this story unforgettable for me. Bel and Connor are both such beautifully flawed characters, and watching them go from guarded and prickly to vulnerable and real felt like the best kind of slow magic. The writing is clever, heartfelt, and full of that signature wit that makes the banter sharp but never mean. Their fake relationship setup is deliciously messy in the best way, but it is the genuine connection that blooms underneath that had me completely hooked. Every glance and every reluctant moment of understanding made me fall for them a little more. I loved how the romance grows side by side with the characters’ personal journeys. There is something incredibly satisfying about a love story where the characters not only find each other but also find stronger, braver versions of themselves. It is warm, it is smart, and it had me grinning and tearing up at all the right moments. Truly one of those stories that feels like a hug you never want to end.

Okay well this was just adorable. This is a slow burn romcom with a fake dating trope. I loved the banter between Bel and Conner as well as the internal conflicts the characters have. I wish there had been a bit more chemistry shown early on because when we finally start to see it, the story quickly wraps up. I applaud the author for touching on serious topics such as mental health, cheating, and grief. Overall a fun read with a lot of depth. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Mhairi McFarlane is always a must-read for me! She reminds me of Marian Keyes where she is so good at authentically exploring mental health but still makes you laugh out loud.

This was my first Mhairi McFarlane book and I was SO excited to start this book. I have heard nothing but great things about Mhairi McFarlane and was pulled in by the description of this book immediately. A Romcom with fake dating? Sign me up!

Let me preface this review by saying that I read this in the peak of what felt like a horrible reading slump. Cover Story follows Bel and Connor. Bel works for a newspaper in Manchester and goes undercover to investigate a lead on what she's hoping will be a really good story. Connor is a new intern at the newspaper, and accidentally gets caught up in Bel's undercover act. Bel and Connor have to convince people that they're a couple- even though they have a strong distaste for each other. I am a huge fan of the fake dating trope, and I am a big fan of good banter in books. On paper, this book sounded like it would be perfect for me.

I had a hard time getting into Cover Story- it was difficult for me to keep up with different character's perspectives and some of the slang was confusing for me. It felt like there were a lot of plot points to keep up with throughout the book that I wasn't anticipating. McFarlane touches on a variety of topics such as stalking, cheating, depression, and mentions of suicidal ideation. None of this made me want to stop reading the book, it just was not what I pictured to be happening in a book advertised as a Romcom. It felt like it took a long time for the romance to come into play throughout the book. While I enjoyed all of the characters, I don't feel like Bel and Connor had the romance story that I thought they deserved. I wanted more from them, I just didn't feel like I got enough. I did however LOVE the relationship that Bel had with her best friend, Shilpa. All of the characters felt relatable which gave me a reason to follow through and read to find out how this story would finish.

I think that Mhairi McFarlane is an incredible writer, and I will definitely be giving her another chance. Cover Story was not the romance that I thought it was going to be, but it was still an interesting and captivating read nonetheless.

And a huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. These are all of my own opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishing, and Mhairi McFarlane for the ARC of Cover Story. While it took me a bit longer to get into than usual, it turned out to be a deeply engaging read after a slow start.

Mhairi McFarlane delivers yet another emotionally rich and intricately layered story that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, handling them with honesty and heart. What really stood out to me was Bel’s emotional journey. She’s a wonderfully complex protagonist—flawed but deeply human—and watching her gradually grow stronger and reclaim her sense of purpose was incredibly satisfying.

The character dynamics, especially the evolving relationships, felt authentic and kept me fully invested. By the end, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye—I would have happily read another ten chapters! If you enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth, resilience, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension, this one’s worth picking up.

Mhairi is my favorite romance author, miles above the rest. I devour everything she writes and this one was no exception. Top tier banter, sexual tension, great characters, a fake dating trope, and a thoughtful incorporation of mental health and grief. Absolutely loved it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy!

Mhairi McFarlane is a favorite of mine, and this did not disappoint! The characters felt real and she somehow pulled off making enemies-to-lovers AND fake-dating feel plausible. I would love to get to meet some of these characters in real life--it seems like we would have great chat. Serial readers of McFarlane will notice her hallmarks: an undeniable beauty (always compared to a film star) gets the actually-good man despite awful-man experiences, all set in Northern England. And of course they're all funny and charming, and live in nice "accommodations" (felt like a British-y way to say apartments, lol). I'm such a sucker for British writing, the phrases and cadence (the works!), that I find myself charmed (I'm no tea-a-boo, I swear!). Excited and grateful to read!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager!

This is a fun read for fans of the enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes. There is an almost overwhelming amount of banter and dialogue throughout the book, which is classic MacFarlane. "Cover Story" is a slow burn chock full of vibrant characters and a dash of mystery.

Bel is an investigative journalist, and Connor is a non-traditional intern, having left the finance industry. One day, while undercover trying to befriend the key to breaking a huge story, Connor walks past and almost ruins it all. What ensues is Bel and Connor faking a relationship while working undercover to try to break the story. I thought this was a sweet story. I enjoyed the mystery of whether they would be able to actually break the story or. not, as well as what would happen with all of the players - the family members, co-workers, etc were all intriguing. Recommend this as a quick enjoyable read!

I really was excited for this read, I have read two other books from this author and was looking forward to reading more from her. The story follows Bel,a journalist chasing a major story she comes across, with the help of the new intern Connor they try their best to unveil the story. At times it was difficult to understand the slang they used but overall the story and writing flowed together well.
I loved reading from Connor's POV and you come to care for him but you don't really see a spark between Bel and him until literally the very end.
That being said this was a 2 star book for me, I felt the chemistry between our characters was not there at times. I felt what the book was trying to give but it sadly did not do it for me. I found there was too much miscommunication for me.