This was my first Mhairi McFarlane book, and I found it refreshingly different. The story follows two journalists caught up in an intriguing undercover operation that kept me engaged from the start.
I really liked Bel and Conner as individual characters. They were sharp and interesting. The ending left me a little frustrated, not because it was bad, but because I didn't want the story to end!
That said, even with a happily-ever-after, the level of miscommunication between these two made me question how long their relationship could realistically last.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

I was so excited to be able to get my hands on Mhairi McFarlane's latest! She is currently my favorite author, and I enjoy her books for their wit, emotional depth, and humor. Cover Story was a great read, although it did take me a little bit longer to get into, compared to some of Mhairi's other books. But once I was about 30% in, I couldn't put it down. Cover Story is about two journalists who have to fake date as part of an undercover investigative report. The books is full of multidimensional characters who you grow to love. I found some of the English slang challenging and ended up looking several pop culture references up, so I suppose I learned something in the process. This was not my favorite of McFarlane's books, but definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC.

I’m a sucker for a new Mhairi McFarlane book and this latest one did not disappoint! I loved both of the MCs and was intrigued by the undercover plot. My one criticism is that I think there was a lot of filler in the middle, but the end felt quite rushed. Overall, LOVED IT! Now to wait for her next book to come out!

3.75 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a huge fan of Mhairi’s Who’s That Girl so was eager to read her newest. I really enjoyed the romance but it was a very slow build that didn’t pay off until nearly the last page.

The journalism plot line was interesting and I was eager to see how it would play out, but there were a ton of other moving pieces here that didn’t help the story for me. In general the pacing was a bit too slow for me.

Two other random thoughts…
-Aaron gave me the ick and I didn’t know what to do with him. At first he seemed to be a friend but then his behavior and language was really off putting
-Ant was gross and I wanted there to be a more formal resolution with retribution

I’m sure Mhairi fans will adore this, it just wasn’t for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. While it’s a solid read, it didn’t quite stand out for me. The concept was strong, and I appreciated the slow build of banter and connection between the characters as they transitioned from friendship into something more. However, the story was a bit slow to start, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth or momentum overall. That said, I won’t hesitate to pick up whatever McFarlane writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Finally picked up my first Mhairi McFarlane book, despite Haley Pham's booktube glowing recommendations of this author. It was nothing short of amazing. Going back to read all of her books!

I love Mhairi McFarlane!!! It had a lot all the elements that I was looking for. I can see why many readers enjoyed this book.

I’ve only read one other book by Mhairi - Just Last Night and LOVED it. I have so many more on my TBR! So when I got approved for this ARC I was so excited and dropped other stuff to read it!

I was captivated and read it in 2 days but it wasn’t my favorite of hers sadly. I really liked the addressing toxic males in society and takedown aspect. I appreciate the message of bravery and that every person’s story and experience matters. I also enjoy when you come to really love the supporting characters because of the character development. Really liked the straight shooting care of Shaun and Shiloh!

I don’t love cheating becoming normalized (not saying it was but there was quite a bit of it given the plot line) and I didn’t love the SO much miscommunication aspect especially toward the end. Just say what you want to say!!! I know i know easier said than done.

I’m so relieved that I finished this book.
I mean, yes, I liked the fake dating, the one-bed, but the slow burn wasn’t for me in this one.
Sometimes it was hard to believe that Connor was in his thirties, ngl. And most of the time, I didn’t know what was even going on, I tried to keep up with what was happening, but couldn’t. It’s like I’m shutting off from the book. Plus, I could’ve finished it sooner, however, nothing encouraged me to pick it up at the times I wasn’t reading it.
Bel was okay for me, I didn’t find a reason to hate and/or love her.
There were moments when I was enjoying some scenes, but anytime that happens, something after makes it feel very off.
It is my first book by this author, though I doubt I’ll be reading any other books by her, no offense.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This book was a fantastic slow burn. Intriguing story with multiple plot lines that kept me interested and unable to predict what would happen next. I loved how subtle the build up of the characters interactions were heightened by the occasional alternative POV. My only qualm with the book was incredibly long sentences paired with extremely British references which sometimes made it hard to follow. Additionally I wish there was one more chapter to give the reader what they had been waiting for. Otherwise a great read!

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of Cover Story. This was actually the first book by Mhairi McFarlane that I have had the pleasure of reading. I have been intrigued by her work, but I hadn’t tried any yet but I am so glad that I have now. I will say that it took a bit for me to get into the story and the writing style, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Bel and Connor were so likable and flawed at the same time. I loved how they gotten together and how supportive Connor was of Bel. I am so excited to read another book by Mhairi! 4 🌟!

3 Stars – Enjoyable, But Not My Favorite McFarlane

Cover Story had some great moments and McFarlane’s trademark wit, but overall it didn’t fully land for me. The premise—a fake relationship between two journalists as part of an undercover investigation—was fun and had a lot of potential, especially with the added workplace tension and the enemies-to-lovers setup. There were definitely sparks between Bel and Connor, and some genuinely touching and funny scenes.

That said, the pacing felt uneven. The first half was slower than I expected, and while I appreciated the character development, it took a while for the plot to really get going. I also found the journalistic subplot interesting in theory, but it sometimes overshadowed the romance rather than enhancing it.

McFarlane always writes sharp dialogue and relatable characters, and that’s still true here—but this one didn’t leave as strong an impression as some of her earlier novels. It’s a solid read, just not quite the standout I hoped it would be.

ARC REVIEW!!
3.5⭐️

There are parts of this book I really loved but also parts I was not a huge fan of. Some of the positives were the actual romance parts I thought it was written very well I loved their banter and the slow burn of it all and while I do love the slow burn I really wish we got more of them together I feel like it ended very abruptly and we didn’t get any actual moments of them being together which was a bit of a disappointment. I liked the whole plot of them working together for this article it showed the build up of them really well and it was fun to read! I wasn’t too big of a fan of the stalker plot line I feel like it didn’t add much to the story and we could have do without it. Overall I did enjoy the book there were some moments that I would have liked to be different but I would still recommend this book others!

DNF for me. I love banter but this had way too much stuff going on. I felt dizzy trying to read this.

dnfing about 25% in, I'm not finding my groove with this and have been struggling with sinking into recent McFarlane books, I'm not sure if its her or me.

Bel Macauley y Connor Adams, dos periodistas con pasados muy distintos que colisionan en una pequeña y polvorienta oficina de Manchester. Bel es una editora de investigaciones de treinta y tantos, astuta y algo desordenada, que intenta rehacer su vida tras una relación destructiva. Connor, en cambio, es un exfinanciero londinense que ha dejado una carrera bien oagada por el incierto mundo del periodismo local. El choque entre sus personalidades y estilos de vida genera una tensión inicial cargada de sarcasmo, atracción reprimida y prejuicios mutuos.

_____

El estilo de escritura de Mhairi McFarlane no es para mí. Me costó mucho trabajo terminar el libro, ya que Bel, la protagonista, no me cayó bien. Estaba en una relación con un hombre casado y era completamente consciente de ello. De hecho, hubo partes en las que hablaba o criticaba a la esposa, y eso me resultó especialmente irritante, porque Bel es la menos indicada para opinar sobre ella.
Algo que no tiene sentido para mí es que Connor se enamore de ella, considerando que viene de una relación en la que le fueron infiel, y termina con alguien que también ha sido infiel.

Ojo, no justifico en absoluto el comportamiento del infiel, que fue asqueroso, pero eso no hace más aceptable la actitud de Bel.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Mhairi McFarlane always knocks it out of the park! Her wit, humor and the banter between characters entertains me to no end. She has well developed, believable characters that I want to be friends with and her storylines are engaging too. Lots of humor, depth and fun and I actually yelled "no!" out loud at the end when it was over.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book!
Much like Mhairi McFarlane’s other novels, the plot is intricately woven into a beautiful story. I am always surprised by the way the details come together in all of her books- this one is no different.
Bel and Connor are journalists who find themselves under cover as they seek to find out evidence for a scandalous story. The only problem is that he is an intern who got off on the wrong foot with his colleague, and they are now forced to interact while not blowing their cover. What ensues is a heartfelt story about trusting people when you need it the most, and what happens when you give someone a chance.

Simply put… I. Am. OBSESSED. The banter, the tension, the plot, everything was perfect. It’s so British and witty and I couldn’t put it down! This is the cutest summer read and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

4.75 stars! I absolutely devoured this book and was hooked from the jump. Another banger from Mhairi!!

McFarlane’s characters are always so realistic and genuine, I feel like I could run into them at a cafe, and Cover Story was no exception. I loved Bel and Connor individually and loved their chemistry. The dual POV gave them each so much depth, and it was both fun and added an extra layer of emotion to the story in a way that dual POV doesn’t always pull off. Both of their journeys were so natural and their changing relationship felt absolutely earned and so incredibly satisfying.

This story also dealt beautifully in concepts like abuse of power and morality. I loved the juxtaposition of the same situations happening in different contexts, and how vital the context is to determining the morality. It was beautifully explored and triggered deeper questions in a story that never felt heavy. If Mhairi has a superpower, it’s weaving extremely realistic, heavy themes into a story that is as easily digestible as it is thought-provoking.

My only teeny, tiny complaint is I wanted a little more at the ending. I’m an epilogue gal, and even though I feel deeply satisfied with the ending as is, I did want just one more scene of them, because I’m greedy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the Advanced Reader Digital Copy!!