I love Mhairi Macfarlane books and this one was one of the most fun and rom-com-like I’ve read thus far! I loved the characters and their dynamic, and they always have such realistically complex lives and goals outside of the romance too. Highly recommend!

I was so excited for an e-copy of this book because I've loved several of Mhairi's books, but this one just didn't keep me interested.

I think there was maybe too much mundane chatter that didn't hold my attention.

There were too many side plots that also didn't hold my attention.

Super bummed, but I think long-time fans of Mhairi will enjoy this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-copy of COVER STORY to review.

I rate COVER STORY three out of five stars.

Mhairi McFarlane delivers again! In a departure from previous books, Cover Story is a suspenseful story. A journalist in a small office pursues a tip involving a local politician. If it’s proven true, it will expose a very dark side to a powerful, widely loved leader in the community. This plot line combines with McFarlane’s signature well-developed characters, slow burn romance, wit and humor and oh-so-palatable life lessons as revealed in human relationships. I didn’t love the technique she used to write the very end story—it felt unnecessarily long and repetitive. Nevertheless, Cover Story reinforces McFarlane’s place on my list of must-read authors.

3.5 stars! I can say that a Mhairi McFarlane book will never be slept on in my eyes. It’s always a treat!

How does that old saying go?

-Make me cry once, shame on you, Mhairi McFarlane.
Make me cry twice, SHAME ON YOU, MHAIRI MCFARLANE!

Cover Story is only the 2nd title by McFarlane that I've read, but I have a feeling I'll be queuing up others imminently. In fact the only reason I hadn't already sped through her catalogue of movingly tender romances is because I can't be crying in the middle of the workday ALL THE TIME!

That being said, Cover Story was a wonderful read I couldn't put down from start to finish, stealing me from my TBR list until I finished the last page with a weepy chortle. It's a cliché, but her characters leap off the page and feel like real people with complexities and their own psychological BS to deal with, all while being painfully relatable. Bel's acerbic outlook was equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, and Connor is the hero we all need in our corner. Having already dipped my toes in McFarlane's work I knew this was definitely not going to be a light and fun summer romp-mance, and all the better for it, honestly!

In short, I laughed, I cried, I loved it!

Book Review
📝📷📰

Thank you so much @netgalley, @avonbooks , @harpervoyagerus , and @mhairimcf for this wonderful ARC

Pub Date: Oct 07, 2025

Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Office romance
-Slow burn
-Fake dating

Triggers:
-Suicide
-Depression
-Stalking

The book:

Watchdog journalist Bel sets off to chase a major story after a tip-off. While working on a story lead she runs into Conner whom is the new office intern who she is not very fond of. This all changes when he turns into her fake boyfriend as they work on exposing a bedeviling politician whom uses his influence to harass women.

My thoughts:

This was my first Mhairi McFarlane novel and it had me sucked in! Filled with well developed plot lines and lighthearted banter McFarlane shines a light on the #MeTooMovement and touches on real life subjects such as suicide , depression, and stalking. The story is a slow burn but well worth reading if you like a good office romance.


Happy Reading!📖

Cover Story has many rom com tropes- enemies to lovers and fake dating. I really enjoyed the build up and tension between the two characters as they investigated a story for the local newspaper. However, I felt that the story dragged on and I was disappointed that there was not much romance until the end, and very briefly at that.

Thank you to Mhairi McFarlane, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 Stars

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane novel and I was so excited to receive this ARC because of all the great things I’d heard about her work. The humor and witty banter were fantastic and were the highlight for me. I also found the “Me Too” aspect of the story to be poignant considering the current sociopolitical landscape. It felt like an important message to share right now and I really appreciated that.

The storyline had interesting moments, but ultimately had too much going on that detracted from the romance between Bel and Connor. Their chemistry was minimal at best. Typically, I adore an enemies-to-lovers trope, but the chemistry between these two was almost non-existent as enemies and especially as lovers. The tension and passion between them was lackluster.

The book was a bit of a slog overall with an ending that felt rushed, which left me feeling unsatisfied. Finally (!!) they were together and then the book was done. Lots of repetitive build up for very little payoff. I would’ve liked more insight into what they were like as a real couple for at least a chapter or two.

Overall, not my favorite, but I would definitely give McFarlane’s work another try in the future. This book had so much potential, but it just didn’t deliver for me unfortunately.

Biggest thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! ❤️

A story of fake dating by way of undercover investigative journalism and I loved it! I adore Mhairi McFarlane’s writing, it is hilarious and witty and just so much fun to read! The romance was full of bickering and banter and the characters truly felt perfect for each other.

What a good time! I absolutely loved this story and the characters McFarlane has created. The enemies to fake dating to lovers pipeline, and the banter between our two main characters. McFarlane is able to balance the pressures of journalism, and undercover journalism at that, with a lighthearted air when needed. Definitely recommend.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read many of McFarlane’s previous novels so I was looking forward to this one. To be frank, this one started out slow for me and it took a while to feel invested. I was glad I stuck it out, though, because the back end was very satisfying. Especially as Bel stands up to those who have mistreated her. Investigative journalism is really interesting to me and that was one reason I wanted to read this one. I would say that my biggest qualm would be the miscommunication between Bel and Connor; a lot of assumptions and preconceptions. I did really enjoy seeing Connor in hero mode- when he intervened on Bel’s behalf it was swoony. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Cover Story is an engaging novel about two damaged, messy people, but I'm not quite sure it works as a romance. We have Bel, an investigative journalist, whose brassy give-no-f*cks personality is a smokescreen for pain and fear after 1) a bad breakup and 2) a former colleague-turned stalker. Connor is a lowly intern who gave up a profitable finance job (and possibly his ambitious girlfriend) to start over in a new field. She thinks he's a condescending wanker. He thinks she's a bit too extra. They have to examine these harsh first impressions when Connor is accidentally recruited into Bel's undercover plot to gather evidence against a sleazy politician. Of course, that means fake dating.

Although Bel and Connor are never rivals (as the book cover erroneously states), they really, really don't like each other for almost half of the book. YMMV, but it quickly grew tiresome for me to read about another mistaken assumption. When their relationship finally thaws, they become strong allies and friends. Sadly, they still assume the worst regarding their feelings about each other.

I still enjoyed the book despite its frustrations. McFarlane has a wicked sense of humor that illuminates even some of the book's darker moments. Bel is a wonderfully flawed character who has done some shitty things, but she's genuinely a caring individual who takes a huge personal and professional risk to help a traumatized young woman bring her harasser's behavior to light. Connor also has his weaknesses, including a large stick up his butt, but a lot of that is his "enduring hardships" persona that keeps him from obsessing about a horrible incident that ended his finance career. The emotional support they eventually find in each other is arguably more rewarding than their alleged romantic chemistry.

For various reasons, I haven't read a new Mhairi McFarlane book in more than three years. Cover Story reminded me why she is one of my few auto-read M/F romance authors.

I picked up Cover Story looking for a light, fun romance but unfortunately, this book just didn't satisfy that itch. The premise was interesting (although I am personally over the "fake dating" trope) but the writing style was a bit convoluted to me. I felt myself re-reading sentences over and over again and then losing interest a bit. The plot did drag in places while also having too many little subplots coexisting and competing for page time. Also, this is definitely a slow-burn but almost too slow? like I wasn't sure if the main characters even liked each other for most of the book.

All that being said, I did like some aspects of this book, but I felt disappointed that it was not the fun and easy summer romance I was looking for.

This book was a great read but didn’t have any true romance until the last 48 minutes of the book. The way they judged each other was rough to read, especially because the judgement of Bel was misogynistic 😫 But Connor’s inner monologue does acknowledge this at some point and despite them still judging their actions showed differently. Loved the story they were working on as journalists and how it was parallel to Bel’s story.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This is my first read from this author. It was a little bit hard for me to get into, but overall it was a good read. I like the different elements that the author added to the story. It’s a nice layering effect. I wouldn’t mind trying more from this author.

Cover Story completely hooked! The author has this amazing way of mixing wit, emotional depth and authentic messiness in a way that just works. The writing is smart and sharp, but never feels too polished. It was relatable in the best way. I really connected with the characters; they felt layered and human, which I always. appreciate!

The story itself had more emotional weight than I expected, but it never got too heavy. It touches on grief, self-worth, and second chances, but still has those rom-com moments that make it a satisfying, hopeful read!

First off, let me say that Mhairi McFarlane just showing up at the door is going to be better than a large percentage of the genre and even fiction in general. I've read all eleven of her novels and I've enjoyed every one.

Secondly, I've seen many reviews on this and other platforms where someone says they are a huge fan of an author and they've read everything ever published by them (like I just did) and then proceed to rip the new work to shreds. TeRibLe. I can't believe this TrAsH! WuT HAPPENED? I do not want to write that review (I usually put very little stock in such reviews anyway).

However.

Cover Story seemed like McFarlane just...out of rhythm. It had the usual McFarlane charisma, it told an entertaining, deep story with social layers and tension and stakes. It was fine. But I am used to McFarland being much, much more than fine.

The leads felt flat. Bel was sharp, but hard to root for. Connor was unremarkable--just an idea of what a guy should be but not really alive in his own right. The interplay was lackluster, the supporting cast (outside of some brief, great moments) was one of her weakest, and I didn't feel myself pulling for the leads in the way I always do when I read McFarlane. The plot was heavy, and McFarlane can do heavy in this genre because she always pairs it so much fun and heart that you're almost surprised you're reading such a meaty story. Cover Story, I'm sorry to say, just felt a little heavy full stop.

McFarlane has so much goodwill banked with me (see the amazing Just Last Night, or Who's That Girl, You Had Me at Hello and so many more really) that I can't wait to read her again. And Cover is a decent romance. But it's not a decent introduction to Mhairi. There are many better pages for that.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an uncorrected ARC via NetGalley.

I ate this up: pure delight, deliciously unexpected Manchester setting, characters to root for, villains who get their comeuppance.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this Advanced Reader's copy.

I really enjoyed this book, and it is definitely different from her other books in some ways. I have read Mad About You and Just Last Night. In this book, I felt like it went into the backstory of both Bel and Connor compared to how it would only go into the FMC in her other books. I definitely felt like there was more romance in this book than her others as well. Like a lot more. It was great. I loved how she made this book different! In Mad About You, the MMC was kind of just a side character and they just get together at the end with only a few interactions that we see, but this one felt like a true romance. (Mad About You is still my favorite from her regardless, it was beautiful. You should read it.) I did feel like there was less of the emotional backstory in this book, but it was still there. She always makes it so real, and that's one of the reasons I love reading her books. Bel and Connor had great banter and I loved the way their relationship changed throughout the book. Connor is so sweet, supportive and he always knew exactly what to do. Bel was a self-assured main character, and I loved reading her! Their interactions were so fun and I love them together. I finish we got to see more of them actually together at the end!

I love how Mhairi McFarlane explores toxic relationships in her books. It goes into it just enough to feel real and impactful without it being a present scenario that could be triggering. This book had a perfect amount of emotions and romance and it was just such a fun read overall. I'm giving it a 4.5 ⭐️ for now, but it might change to 5 ⭐️!! Mad About You will still be my favorite from her, but this one comes in second! Definitely should read!

Like every Mhairi McFarlane book I’ve read, this one pulled me in completely. What sets it apart from her earlier works is that it leans more heavily into romance—but that doesn’t mean it loses her signature touch. The emotional depth, the sharp dialogue, the characters grappling with real, complicated issues—it’s all still there. I especially loved how she wove each character’s personal struggles into the story so naturally. The reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is the ending. It felt slightly chaotic and unfinished, like I was left hanging and needed just a bit more closure.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review.