I'm not usually a romcom reader but there's something about Mhairi McFarlane's writing that I love and have done since I read You Had Me at Hello. I love her characters, her wit and humour, she writes about real life in a way that although fiction has a realness about it.

Laurie has been with Dan since they met at college and at 36 she's happily ensconced in a comfortable home in a comfortable relationship, or so Laurie thinks.
Sadly things are not always quite as perfect as people think they are

No surprises with this one, it was obvious to me from the outset where this book was going but that didn't take anything away from the telling, I loved it. The writing just flowed and it was easy to get into, ideal escapism to lose myself in whilst curled up on the sofa with some munchies. It would be very easy to imagine this book as a big screen romcom of the future.

If I never met you has everything. Its about relationships, friends, families, office politics but what brings it all together is the characters, there's something about this authors writing that makes her characters jump off the page, they aren't all perfect but they're human and you see traits in the personalities you recognise..

Sure it was easy to see where this book was going early on and yes it probably is corny in places. But you know what.... sometimes corny is good!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher HarperCollins for the copy for review purposes. I was under no obligation and this review is my own opinion.

A lively modern romance, perfect for reading on a wet winter day. A slow beginning sets the scene for the slightly predictable, but very enjoyable fake romance turns real. The highlights for me were the sparky, feisty exchanges between Laurie and Jamie. I love a clever, independent heroine with a strong sense of humour- Laurie is just that.
It’s rare to find a genuinely laugh out loud romance, but this is one. I found some words of wisdom from the author too. I’ve no doubt that there will be many highlights on kindle editions. Highly recommended.

3.5 stars Unlike the authors other books I have read, this one took me much longer to get into, I am not sure how much was me and how much was the book so I gave it a fair chance and carried on regardless.
We follow Laurie and Dan as they break up (this isn't a spoiler it says in the synopses) and this for me was the bit that was a struggle to read and for me it wasn't until Laurie meets with Jamie in the lift that the book really gets going.
Yes, there is the authors usual humour, but like Laurie and Dan it felt strained at the beginning before coming into its own later on.
There are deeper moments scattered throughout that made me think about work place politics and how we treat others as a whole as well as family dynamics and illness so this wasn't all light and fluffy as per some romances.
Overall this was a solid read that took a bit of time to get into and I would still recommend this author especially for her with and how she writes about female friendships.

A great read

What starts out as a fake relationship soon becomes real as Laurie and Jamie get to know each other. They went in to it so she can get back at her ex and he can win a partnership at the legal firm where they both work at. What will happen to their plans?

I like the writer's style and the story is good about creating a fake romance and falling in love and that is why I read on. I wasn't sure if the heroine was supposed to be racist: 'white as mozzarella.' but I found the 'ethnic' comments and her not liking being referred to as 'Meghan Markle' as a bit whingey, when people were just making small talk. It sort of spoilt the story because it felt like I could hear the author's voice and the political correctness message being preached rather than having a story told.. The same with the sexism. It was like the heroine had a chip on her shoulder but she got promoted because she was good at her job which was great. Mixed reaction with this book for the above reasons. Laurie was an interesting character and written like that would have been fine but I don't read this kind of book to have political correctness preached at me. Let the character speak for herself with no authorial intrusion. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Absolutely loved this, fun, fast paced read. I love Mhairi’s books and this was no exception, in fact I think she is getting better with each book. It’s funny, emotional , cute characters and a lovely read. Strong emphasis on sisterhood and friendship in this one which I loved, if you want a guaranteed smile read a book by Mhairi.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I have loved all of Mhairi's previous books and this one was no exception - in fact I think it is her best yet, with such likeable, believable characters. This is a fast-paced story and really easy to read, leaving me reading late into the night instead of sleeping, as I could not wait to find out what happened.

Loved it and can't wait for the next one!

I absolutely loved this book , as usual I was laughing out loud one minute and close to tears and emotional the next . I love the way Mhairi writes such strong female leads who are ultimately likeable too . Laurie's world comes tumbling down when her boyfriend of 18 years dumps her , unfortunately for Laurie they both work in the same place , it doesn't get any easier when she finds out he has moved on with someone else . Cue Jamie , the office lothario . They strike up a deal to pretend to be involved , for Laurie to save face and make Dan jealous , for Jamie to advance his career . This is when things start to get interesting . A fab read . 5 stars

Another great read from Mhairi McFarlane! This is such a good book, I read most of it in one day. The characters are likeable and believable and I was really invested in the main character, Laurie and finding out what would happen to her. The story is well written and flows perfectly with just the right amount of detail and no bits that felt like padding. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley.

If I Never Met You is a sweet, easy read that follows a pretty traditional rom-com format, with a bit of a twist – main character Laurie has just been dumped, in pretty horrible circumstances, and she’s distraught. Which explains why she agreed to do something surprising: to enter into a fake relationship with the playboy of the law firm they work at, Jamie, to make her ex jealous, and to advance Jamie’s chances of making partner.

What follows is humour and emotion which author Mhairi combines – along with likeable characters - to create a really sweet read. It strikes the right balance between provoking empathy for Laurie and providing entertainment, without being overly cheesy.

There’s definitely predictable parts, but I kind of expect that with this genre to be honest, and I liked that Laurie’s ethnicity is addressed in the book by herself, but isn’t made a defining characteristic about her. There are also other themes addressed in this novel, including family problems, grief, self-confidence and the treatment of different genders in the workplace. Mhairi McFarlane presents all these issues in a balanced and honest way, and I think this is one of the reasons she is becoming such a well-loved an author in the romance/ contemporary romance genre.

If you fancy a light-hearted, sweet read then this is definitely worth a read!

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a copy of If I Never Met You.

I discovered McFarlane at the start of this year and this was my third book of hers, she truly is a master at this genre. Her books are so easy to read and get swept up in and this one was no exception - I also think that the writing and the plots get better with each book.

This is not typically my genre but I enjoyed the reading experience and finished this book in one sitting. If I Never Met You follows Laurie and the struggle with a relationship ending after 18 years who on a whim decided to start a fake relationship with a colleague to help encourage her ex boyfriend to return to their relationship but it does not quite go to plan (does it ever?!).

An added bonus is the level of sisterhood and the strong thread of friendship throughout this novel which definitely adds to the realism and enjoyment of this book.

4/5 - would highly recommend.

I have read all Mhairi Mcfarlane’s books and enjoyed every one. This was no exception other than it took me a little while to get fully immersed in the story which is a little unusual.

It was really well written as all her books have been and as always her heroine is very relatable and her character seems to jump of the pages.

Mhairi McFarlane is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and it feels she gets better with each book she writes. If I Never Met You had been one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and I couldn't wait to read it.

Laurie is devastated when Dan, her partner of eighteen years, decides to end their relationship and moves out. Whilst Laurie initially thinks this is down to a case of cold feet, she soon finds out that Dan is now in a new relationship with a baby on the way. Ouch. To get back at Dan, Laurie teams up with the smooth talking womaniser from her office, Jamie Carter, who is angling for a promotion, and they agree to pretend they are in a relationship. However, what happens when the lines blur, and real feelings begin to appear in the fake relationship?

If I Never Met You has become one of my top reads of 2020. In true Mhairi style, it was incredibly witty and laugh out loud hilarious. The storyline of Laurie and her partner's break up felt genuine and relatable in 2020. I loved Laurie as a character, and Jamie Carter was a dream. I loved the Northern setting to Laurie's character, and the places they visit - hopefully if I Never Met You will convince more readers that it isn't grim up North!

All in all, If I Never Met You is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fresh, hilarious take on contemporary fiction. What's even better is that once you have read it, and loved it, you've got even more Mhairi McFarlane novels to catch up on. I'm already counting down to her next book....

This is not at all the sort of book that I usually read, but I loved it. The story is clever and the characters sympathetic and believable. This is just the sort of warm-hearted book that it is a joy to curl up with on a wintry day. I really recommend it.

Yet again Mhairi McFarlane has written an absolute cracker which I loved from the offset. Laurie is a lawyer, and having been an accountant in a previous life, the office politics were very similar – and the inter office relationships!!
I loved Laurie, wanted to punch Dan, and was desperate for a ‘happy ever after’!
The book twists and turns – and as ever, the use of social media is brilliant (I also only recently found out people can see if you’ve looked at their Instastories #oldperson #rubbishstalker)
The supporting cast is also brilliant – Laurie’s colleagues, her BFF and Jamie’s BFF, Jamie’s parents – a whole host of other characters who you are also invested in and are fleshed out in the story.
I suspected this might have a reasonably predictable storyline – and in some ways I was right – but I was also wrong! There’s definitely enough to keep you on your toes and you don’t feel totally spoonfed.
Whilst this could be summed up as a ‘romance’ there is so much more to it – and it shows how important friends are as well as family.
Mhairi’s writing is – as ever – quick witted, amusing, emotive, clever, well thought out, intelligent, and just downright brilliant. I like to think if I ever wrote a book (no plans in the immediate future, but you never know) I would have a similar ‘voice’. (That sounds far more w*nky than I intended it to……….)
And I’ve just noticed this is currently 99p for Kindle – so download it immediately, you won’t regret it!

The fact that I finished it within 24 hours speaks volumes. I've said before that romance or "chick lit" would never be my first choice because I love crime thrillers too much but my mind may be changing!

Laurie and Dan have been together for 18 years, since university, until he tells her he doesn't want that life anymore. They work at the same law firm in different departments so will end up seeing each other quite a lot.

One of her Laurie's colleagues, Jamie, is looking to make partner and as Laurie is held in good standing at the firm, he suggests they fake a relationship to make him look good and to make Dan jealous.

I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It has so much depth, the characters are well developed and it was just a fun, easy read.

Majority of the time these types of books are quick reads. Perfect for cuddling up under a blanket with a hot drink on a cold day. This was no exception. I found myself flying through this. Having read a Mhairi book before so I expected a nice quick read. Perfect for a break between fantasy books. I had been reading.

I managed to finish this within a day. I just got so into this book and the relationship between Laurie and Jamie that I couldn’t put it down.

I loved the slow burn of the relationship. How they both learnt and discovered a part of them throughout the book. They both became stronger. Although Laurie was already a strong woman which I loved.

Since the ending was a little rushed I would have loved an epilogue. Maybe set a few years later. Just to give a little update on the relationship I became invested in.

The character growth. The relationships that healed and blossomed. The humour at times that made me laugh. This book had everything I needed.

I need to read more by Mhairi McFarlane because her writing is amazing.

This story is set in Manchester and centres around some 30-something lawyers. Laurie is worried that time is running out for her to have children, a problem which she cannot seem to make her long-term boyfriend Dan understand. She has always supported his career, such that he has advanced more in his job with the same legal practice which she works for. The book is about a bombshell and it's aftermath. The moral is that love can be found when you least expect it.
Despite the incomprehensible (to people over 40?) stuff to do with social media and the rather obvious ending, this is an enjoyable read with fun characters.

Laurie just can’t believe it when the love of her life, Dan, tells her he needs a break as he feels trapped in a life that is planned until his old age. They met at uni and have been soulmates ever since. Perhaps the discussion about whether to start a family is what spooked him but surely, they can talk it through? Apparently not, which starts a nightmare for Laurie as they both work at the same law firm, which is a hotbed of gossip at the best of times. When office Romeo Jamie suggests a mutually beneficial arrangement to improve his reputation and make her ex jealous, Laurie goes for it despite her friend’s misgivings. Mhairi McFarlane’s story telling talent slowly draws you in as you get to know Laurie, her friends, family and work colleagues. Couldn’t put it down, had to see where it went to. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An interesting twist on what to do when your long term partner lets you down. A modern romance which has you cheering for Laurie from the start. The main characters are well rounded and show every one is very different behind their public face. No spoilers but I was pleased with how it all ended and still managed not to be trite.