I'm afraid this book didn't catch my attention. I have persevered but I was not enjoying it at all.
When Laurie and Dan split up and then Dan meets a new love Laurie takes up with the work heartthrob.
The story was slow moving and unfortunately I lost the will with it.
I'm sure it will grab other people but I didn't enjoy it.

I loved this book, fell head over heels for the main characters and as a Mancunian this book sang to me and reignited a love for my city. Reading this during lockdown made me hanker for a trip to the northern quarter in the not too distant future hopefully. A great read, thank you netgalley!

I love love LOVED this book. Mhairi McFarlane is queen of the modern romantic comedy. And what black magic is she using to write her male love interests? They're always fiiiiiiiit.

There are no big surprises here, it's a classic rom-com set up. Yet, in saying that, I did read it almost in one sitting and stayed up to 3am to finish it. Sometimes, even when you know where it's going, you just love the journey!
Another note-perfect romance from Mhairi McFarlane.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did as it's not my preferred genre. Well-written, with interesting and believable characters, witty and realistic dialogue... it was a joy to read! Oh, and I want Emily to be my friend!

I loved this and devoured it quickly from start to finish in just a day or two. The characters are great, and I found myself really rooting for Laurie and Jamie, both separately and together.

Often with romantic comedy novels like this, I come away feeling like the plot needed something extra, a little bit more grit or depth... but not so with If I Never Met You: it had everything I wanted from a novel.

Good read not my usual chose but it was a refreshing change qnd written well, fully recommend, thank you for the opportunity to read this book and I really enjoyed it

This is the first book that I have read by Mhari McFarlane and I really enjoyed it. I will certainly be looking up her previous books now. I thought it was a very fun and entertaining read. Would definitely recommend.

Utterly predictable but still a fun read.

The best bit for me of this book was the relationship between Laurie and her best friend Emily.
There are many books that try to celebrate healthy female friendships but the majority of them manage to miss the mark. Thankfully, this author always delivers with this and I hope she continues to do so.

I have only just read this book as I got the free e-ARC after the publication date so didn't see any urgency. I would like to thank NetGalley and the pubishers for providing me with some great light entertainment in these troubling times. I am not a rom-com / chick-lit fanbut this was a very entertaining story with some great vibes going on with the strongly wrought characters. I love the kitten's name and am stealing it for my next cat.

4.5 stars.

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Mhairi McFarlane for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I'd read Don't You Forget About Me last year and it was my favourite book that I read, so I was very excited to be able to read another book by this amazing author. This is another brilliant rom-com that I hated putting down because of everyday life and having to sleep, (sigh). I didn't expect it to be a similar storyline To All the Boys I've Loved Before but finding out that McFarlane wanted to do a showmance story anyway was reassuring. If you didn't enjoy TATBILB (like me) or even if you did enjoy it, then this book is for you.

Laurie and Jamie's relationship is one that became contracted but ended up being a beautiful relationship that ended in true love. It may have been a little predictable what how can you have a showmance that isn't? Although it was predictable it was still original and had a nice up and down rhythm in terms of pacing. It was very PC so if you don't enjoy heat in a book then you would also enjoy this romance. There was a lot of representation in this book which made my heart sing. A multi-racial relationship that kept all cultural traditions/traits, and beautiful feminist representation that was a good steady theme throughout.

I also enjoyed the morals that ran throughout the story. I really related to the absent father and the family member with cancer as I think that it is important to show all parts of characters' lives even when the story is focused on romance.

When I started reading this I thought I had read it previously. On checking I haven't but a very similar story with the setting and characters. So it was a bit of a let down.

This is the most recent Mhairi McFarlane book and it doesn’t disappoint!

I’ve read this author’s books for a number of years and I would say that this one is up there as one of the best. It follows Laurie and her fauxmance with colleague Jamie after a horrible break-up with her long (very) long-term partner.

I am from Manchester and still live/work there, so I loved that the story was based there and I really appreciated the level of detail involved. I thought the fake dating storyline worked well in this context too and still seemed fresh even though it is often overdone and can be executed poorly. The characters were mostly likeable and I really rooted for Laurie and Jamie too (he was just the sweetest!) although I do think that the book wrapped up a bit too quickly- this is a minor criticism though.

It was a light and easy read, which I will definitely reread in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperFiction for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review (although I have bought it myself as well!).

Laurie is engaged to Dan. They've been an item since the age of 18, and she is now 36. She's happy, she loves him and believes him to be too. But one day, her world comes crashing down with no warning. He tells her he's not happy, and doesn't want to get married or ever have children.

Exactly two months and two weeks later he comes to tell her that he's met someone and she's pregnant.

Laurie is completely broken. And angry. So when Jamie Carter (office playboy) suggests an arrangement that might be mutually beneficial, she throws caution to the wind, and agrees. They are to stage a showmance, that will make Dan jealous, and that will improve Jamie's reputation in the office and secure a partnership in their law firm.

As time moves on, Laurie realises that perhaps she wasn't as happy as she thought she was when she was Dan. He always got his own way, she never asserted herself and endlessly accommodated his needs over her own. Inevitably, as Jamie and Laurie spend more time together, creating the 'perfect' relationship, they begin to develop real feelings for one another. But is the version of Jamie she has got to know the real one, or was it all an act? Will this showmance end in heartbreak or happy ever after?

Why I´ve not read any of Mhairi McFarlane´s books before is a mystery to me. This book was wonderful! Yes, the premise seems somewhat predictable but what did it for me, were the characters. Often, when reading books in this genre, I don´t get attached to the characters as they seem to lack depth. This was completely different in this story however. I am actually said to have finished it, I wish I had a friend like Laurie. McFarlane managed to draft characters that are individual, a bit quirky, have their own stories, and are very believable.

I also love that the story is set in Manchester, I love that friendship is a big part of the story, I love that Laurie is successful and strong, even if she doesn´t know it all of the time, I love that it shows how there is more to people than meets the eye and that sometimes it is better to let go of people who turn out to be "not your people". I love that although family is important, friends become family and can have your back where someone related to might not. I would love to hang out with Laurie.
Yes, I didn´t love the last two pages, I think it was a little too clichéd for my liking, but so what?! I still give it 5 stars because it made me stay up late, it made me wake up early, it made me giggle and it made me feel all kinds of emotions.

I'm generally a big fan of Mhairi McFarlane, and this novel didn't disappoint. I've scored it 4 stars as I do prefer some of her earlier titles but it was still a fun, diverting read, as I've come to expect from all her books!

One of my favourite things about her writing is her realistic, honest depiction of female friendships and conversation. The relationship between Laurie and her best friend Emily is almost as interesting to follow as that of Laurie and Jamie - so heartwarming.

What a cute read! This sweet, fun rom com follows Laurie, recently abandoned by her long term partner, and she hatches up a plan for revenge. A brilliant insight into the horrors of picking yourself up after a heartbreak, this book oozes charm. And who doesn't love a fake dating romance!?

An easy but thoroughly enjoyable read.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Amazon.

Loved this romance.The author has a wonderful talent she makes her characters come alive.They seem like peopke you know and you cheer them on want them to be happy fall in love.An absolute pleasure to read.#netgalley #ifInevermetyou

A great while away the time book. I found myself really caring about Laurie and what was happening to her. Some things rang true and a couple of parts seemed contrived to fit the plot, but then that is what a book is all about! During the story you follow Laurie through the ups and downs, read the clues along side her and reach the conclusion quicker than she does. A great story featuring some strong women and some good one liners.

Recently heartbroken Laurie, reeling from the unexpected (well, for her at least) end of her 18 year relationship with fellow lawyer Dan embarks on a faux acne with handsome colleague Jamie after they get stuck in a lift together.

It seems the perfect deal, he mends his “ladies man” reputation while she shows Dan she has moved on, thank you very much. What could go wrong?

I enjoyed following Laurie’s development through the story and learning more about the eclectic cast of supporting characters. A really easy read to while away an afternoon, perfect for rom-com fans.