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.

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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!!

Cover Story is a charming and witty enemies-to-lovers romance about Bel, a talented journalist at a national newspaper, and Connor, her prickly intern with a secret past. What starts as a forced fake relationship for a big story quickly turns into a complex and captivating dynamic as Bel and Connor discover that their pretend romance may be more real than they ever anticipated. Amid workplace rivalry and the pressure of a high-stakes story, their growing connection forces them to confront their own vulnerabilities and the unexpected twists of love. Filled with humor, tension, and heartfelt moments, this story explores the fine line between love and competition, with a deliciously satisfying payoff.

Mhairi McFarlane Rom-com is the best kind of rom-com. Her characters always have such depth and the dialogue is filled with great wit - Cover story is no exception.

My only complaint on this one, was it felt like the credits rolled too soon. I do wish there was another chapter or two of Conner and Bel together.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author although I’ve heard good things about all her stories. I loved this one. Connor and Bel were believable characters and their heartwarming story was a joy to read.

3 stars for Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane. I’ve read 5 of her previous books and enjoyed them but this one missed the mark for me. Maybe because it’s advertised as a romance and this was like …..10% romance story and I didn’t feel the romance, the buildup, the love. I enjoyed the ~cover story~ and journalism storyline but wish there had been MORE of the rom-com she’s usually known for.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc and chance to read early.

I’ll be looking forward to the next Mhairi McFarlane book and hoping this is just a fluke.

i really did enjoy this book from the banter and development of the characters! Mhairi McFarlane does it once again

Mhairi McFarlane is one of my favorite romcom authors so I was excited to get hold of her latest and it didn't disappoint. Bel is a great heroine. She's flawed - she did a dumb thing in her past and now it's following her in a way she doesn't deserve. And Connor is a fantastic romantic hero, going along with Bel's shenanigans. I so enjoyed both her pursuit of justice and the romance.

2.5⭐️

A podcaster and a journalism intern team up as a fake couple to take down a “Me Too” offender. There was a lot I didn’t like about this book. I don’t know if it worked for me as a rom-com. I didn’t think the “rom” was very strong. I felt no sexual tension. Some may think of this as a slow-burn. I’d think of it really as a lack of spark. As far as the “com”: there were some good one-liners and quips in here that I caught, and likely many I missed because I was just trying to get through it. I maybe would’ve been more interested in the political takedown if this was a drama or literary fiction. Secondly, why was she a podcaster at all? It was next to irrelevant. Which I found so surprising given the current societal obsession with podcasts. Additionally, both the stalker AND the angry ex-boyfriend dynamics felt like overkill. I would’ve been fine with just one out of the two.

I appreciate short chapters, but this was a sort of cut-scene, choppy writing style that other’s may vibe with, but I did not.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins | Avon | HarperVoyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Cover Story! I was immediately sold on the pitch: Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets The Hating Game? A fake relationship between two bickering journalists? Say less.

Bel is a sharp, ambitious reporter riding high from podcast fame, and Connor is a thirtysomething intern whose life just blew up. She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s patronizing. Obviously, they’re forced to fake a relationship for the sake of an undercover scoop. Hijinks? Check. Banter? Check. Swoony tension? Well… that’s where things got a bit murky.

Mhairi McFarlane is known for her clever dialogue and layered characters, and that’s here, no question. Bel and Connor are both interesting on their own, but as a couple, the chemistry never fully snapped into place. The enemies-to-lovers arc felt more like grumpy-to-slightly-less-grumpy, and while the stakes of the central investigation added intrigue, the pacing sometimes stalled just when it should’ve sizzled.

Still, Cover Story is a smart, modern rom-com with a lot to say about journalism, ambition, and second chances. It just didn’t leave me swooning the way I’d hoped—but I wouldn’t hesitate to read what McFarlane writes next.

It took me a few chapters to really settle into Cover Story, but once I did, I was all in. Mhairi McFarlane has a gift for writing characters that feel layered and real, and this book delivered a great mix of sharp banter, emotional depth, and just the right amount of mystery.

Bel’s arc, especially her struggle with past mistakes and how they shaped her, felt incredibly grounded and relatable. Her chemistry with Connor was slow-building but totally satisfying, and the newsroom setting added a fun energy to their story. The fake dating angle made for some entertaining twists, but what really stuck with me was how thoughtfully the story handled the ripple effects of personal and professional decisions.

Overall, this was a compelling, heartfelt, and clever read—one I’ll be recommending to friends who love romance with brains and bite.

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

I. LOVE. MHAIRI MCFARLANE.

This was sooooooo good, I read it and wept on a plane. I absolutely love how distinctive and British her writing is - I feel such a strong sense of place when I read them! Bel and Connor were incredible characters to read from, both imperfect but absolutely perfect in my eyes!!

There's obviously a wonderful romance in here, but there are storylines of workplace sexual harassment, with some amazing parallels between a few different situations. The main storyline, I would say, is the investigative journalism, and I was waiting with baited breath to see how it turned out!

AMAZING!

I unfortunate had to DNF this book. I could not get attached to the MCs. Connor and Bel were such insufferable characters. There was also too much modern jargon (I.e. low-key) that left me feeling dissociated with the story. I felt no pull of relation to either of the main characters in this book.

I loved this. Everything you’d want from enemies to lovers and more. Well-built characters all around, genuinely interesting plot, and the kind of yearning you feel down to your toes. I love everything Mhairi writes and this is one of her best.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced reader copy!