I've read every single Mhairi McFarlane book and I was ecstatic to see that she had a new book out this year. I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I devoured it in one sitting.

Bel and Connor are journalists who are forced to work together on an undercover story and end up having to fake date in order to sell it. Hence, 'Cover Story'. Connor, a new journalist sent up North to Manchester to work with Bel for 3 months, immediately rubs her the wrong way, but they are forced to tolerate each other for the greater good. Bel also hasn't been in Manchester long, and we find out that she left her last paper in York after a bad breakup and moved to Manchester to be closer to her best friend.

I'm pretty sure that this is the first Mhairi McFarlane book I've read with a dual pov and I liked it! It was nice to get inside Connor's head and it made me feel so much empathy for his reasons for switching to journalism as a career and why he came across as cold sometimes. Seeing him gradually open up as he and Bel form a friendship was very rewarding, and I felt as though the conclusion was well-earned.

However, I'm saving my highest praise for Bel. It was refreshing to have a main female character who has done something pretty terrible and is grappling with the after-effects. I think that all too often, the FMC has to be "perfect" in order to elicit sympathy from the reader and I loved that Bel felt like a real person with flaws, who was just trying to do her best. She may have done something bad, but she's not a bad person.

The realism and sharp banter of her characters have always been Mhairi McFarlane's strong points, and I am happy to report that all is present here. I also enjoyed her side characters more than usual and I didn't feel like they were too prominent as I have done in the past.

I'm taking away a star because I would have liked to see more time dedicated to the romance and it felt a little rushed at the end. I also think that we perhaps had one side plot too many. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I highly recommend it.

Hold the presses: major book hangover alert.

How the fuck does Mhairi McFarlane do it? Every book just gets better and better (and I know sound like a fawning cliche saying this). Cover Story is like the smoothest cocktail that carefully balances all the flavours. The next thing you know you've woken up with a major hangover and can't read another book. The only cure was to re-read my fave bits and look at tickets to Manchester (seriously, Manchester tourist office should give her commission).

This book is sharp, witty, well-paced and astute, blending social commentary, a bit of a mystery (I'd kill for a series with Bel and Connor investigating crimes) and a swoony, very slow-burn romance. It also continues a recurring theme from her previous books, namely the varying ways men wield their power via The Nice Guy in the Room act (who, past McFarlane hero Finn advises we should beware of) to inoculate themselves against scrutiny for abusing women.

I adored Bel, she's resourceful and daring but a bit battered after a toxic dalliance. Connor was also her perfect foil, a man wears his heart on his sleeve. Shilpa and Shaun were also perfect, with Shaun giving Fraser a run for his money as my fave McFarlane brother. To reduce the romance to 'enemies to lovers' ‘fake dating’ tropes is to do a disservice; it's far more layered. Instead of immature pranks and insta-lust with a romance going zero to 100 out of nowhere, it's a gradual slow-burn. Bel and Connor constantly wrong-foot and misunderstand each other every step of the way. I love that we witness both points of view as their feelings sneak up on them.

I was bereft when it ended. A gazillion stars.

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

Cover Story is a masterclass in the kind of storytelling that makes Mhairi McFarlane special -- she's done it again! It's sweet and romantic, with the right amount of angst, an interesting plot external to the relationship, and laugh out loud witty banter. The main characters Bel and Connor are (mostly) likeable and clever, and felt like real people. The side characters were also well-developed and served the plot. McFarlane does really well at avoiding cliches and predictability, even when the book deals in some classic romance tropes.

COVER STORY is an absolute delight to read fill with the author's classic wit and grounded, real characters. I loved the premise of two colleagues -who couldn't rub each other the wrong way anymore even if they tried - finding themselves being in a fake relationship while going undercover. And then a fun take on the one bed trope - like I said, an absolute delight! How long can they keep their cover for? How long until their dislike for one another turns to fondness? Then how long until they will actually admit these feelings they are in denial of?

I loved both Bel and Connor's personalities and their dynamic together. They are both incredibly sweet human beings and even their insecurities are somehow sweet! Fun banter, wholesome love.... what more could one ask for?!?

Many thanks to Avon Harper and Voyager and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I had such a fun time with this. Mhairi McFarlane never disappoints. Bel and Connor were so cute, I loved their dynamic! I’m really glad that Alan was just a regular annoying coworker that’s only a bit inappropriate and not a total creep, as three very creepy men in one romance would have been too much for me.

This is truly Mhairi in top form. This was a delightful story, on top of delightful characters, a delightful fake-dating set up, delightful chemistry, etc etc.
What she does especially well is dialogue. The banter is TOP NOTCH. It’s so natural while being absolutely hilarious. I laughed out loud multiple times and was grinning for most of the book.
Admittedly I know nothing about the ethics of journalism, so can’t say everything that happens is above board, but I can say it was absolutely entertaining as hell to read.
There’s also just this through line of hope and heart throughout it that mixed in with the humor and the romance made this absolutely amazing.
If you haven’t read Mhairi before, this is a great place to start. And then clear your schedule because you’ll immediately want to read everything she’s written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.