This book was a delight! My first time reading Mhairi’s writing and it won’t be my last. Enemies to lovers and fake dating are two of my favorite tropes so this was a riot to read. I was laughing and smiling throughout this book. I was transported to Manchester throughout this charming story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I want to start by saying that I absolutely adored Mhairi McFarlene's book 'Mad About You'. This however did not hit for me in the same way and I am sad because I really wanted to love it. I know that most of Mhairi's books include English (Brit) dialogue and I believe that in this one it was just not hitting my brain correctly as an American. I had to go back and reread some of the first couple of chapters because I did not digest anything. This made the book actually drag for me and I ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and Mhairi McFarlane for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mhairi McFarlane's writing never ceases to amaze me. From multi-dimensional characters to heart-wrenching moments that left me as the reader with pangs in my chest, McFarlane has captured me as a reader once again.

Not only is her writing witty, but it flows organically. McFarlane verbalizes real life moments, feelings, and expressions that you could never put into words, but once you've read it, you think, 'that's exactly it.'

While there is definitely a romance subplot, this book implores readers to point out the bad they see in the word, even if it makes them uncomfortable.

When reading any of McFarlane's books, I get this distinct ache in my chest because I don't want it to end. The themes are heavy and McFarlane is never afraid to call out society, its shortcomings, and the stigmas surrounding mental health, body image, the patriarchy, stalking, etc. You grow attached to her characters and dread coming to the last page.

Another absolute delight from McFarlane.

My first Mhairi McFarlane book and definitely not my last.

This was such a fun surprise. Cover Story had the perfect mix of wit, a little chaos, and genuine emotion. I didn’t totally know what to expect going in since it’s my first book from her, but I get it now — the writing style is so easy to fall into. It feels real without being too heavy, and even though the story had a lot going on (career drama, personal growth, a slow-burn romance brewing in the background), it never felt overwhelming.

I loved how layered the characters were — messy in a way that actually made sense, not just messy for drama’s sake. And the slow-burn tension?? She knew exactly what she was doing with that one.

If I had to critique anything, I would say there were a couple moments where I wished the pacing would pick up a little — but honestly, that’s me being picky. Overall, I had a really good time reading this and now I’m definitely eyeing the rest of her backlist.

Really happy this was my intro to her writing — and I’ll definitely be picking up more!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishing for this amazing e-arc!

I’ve never read a romantic comedy quite like this - it was really a romantic-comedy-drama-thriller and it was SO GOOD. The women in this story are so strong and incredible and there are a couple good men. After I got to the 50% mark I just couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed the banter between the two romantic interests once they were getting to know each other. Their instant dislike of each other seemed a bit much for no reason. There was a lot of harsh judgement and assumptions on both sides that didn't really seem justified to me and that made it a little hard to get into the story at first. The chemistry once they were fake dating was enjoyable and overall the side characters made this book a fine read.

McFarlane’s stories always just make me FEEL. And this was no different.

Watching Connor and Bel fall for each other was beautiful and easy and natural and I loved every single moment of it. I loved how easily almost EVERYONE around them knew what was going on but still stepped back and let them figure out.

Shaun was in the book for about 30 seconds and was absolutely one of my favorite characters.

This is also how miscommunication tropes are SUPPOSED to go. Bel and Connor were almost a comedy of errors how they misinterpreted each other. (And also… didn’t sometimes.) And none of it ever resolved itself until they talked, until they told each other the truth. (Which, let me tell you how masterful it was for them to only be able to step forward in their relationship when they were honest in the midst of all their deceptions.)

And the juxtaposition of Bel’s life with the story she was working on was also perfect.

I only wish we could have seen some more resolutions than we did. Aaron had a huge crush on Bel, so what’s going to happen now that she IS dating Connor? (Not to mention he doesn’t live there.) I feel like the Amber and Rick thing is a big black hole of unresolved issues. I just feel like there were some loose ends.

The book was beautifully written and a perfectly crafted story, like hers always are.

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!