⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

📖 Harriet is a popular wedding photographer, but is sceptical of ever finding love herself after a string of bad relationships. When she meets Cal under bizarre circumstances, she resigns herself to a single life, living in his house as a lodger. However, as their friendship blossoms, can they open themselves to change the narratives of their pasts?

💭 Ahhh, Mhairi McFarlane - I just love you! I requested this book on @netgalley after absolutely loving Last Night by the same author, and I’m pleased to report that this one made me giggle just as much.

She’s the only writer that has made me laugh out loud at a book in aaaages, and I just love the way she covers some really serious topics with a light heartedness that is so hard to pull off convincingly in a rom-com book without sounding cheesy.

The romance in this book is by no means the central plot - instead we cover themes of friendship, cancel culture, toxic relationships, gaslighting, internet harassment, grief, and so much more.

As in Last Night, I just loved the friendships in this story. You know when a character has a friend that is just a fantastic voice of reason, provides excellent advice, but is also still really fun and sassy? Yeah, I need a Lorna in my life 🤣

For both books I’ve read by this author, I just don't think that the book covers do the stories justice! They offer so much more than just a light, frilly romance, and I highly recommend her books 👏🏼

Mhairi McFarlane is one of those authors that I always enjoy and this book was no different, however, I had a number of problems with this book but they are probably more about me than the book.

Harriet is a down to earth wedding photographer. She is going out with a very rich, spoiled man called Jon who she's happy enough with. He is well aware of Harriet's stance on marriage and the fact that she never wants to get married. So you can imagine how pissed off she is when Jon proposes to her in front of his family (who already don't think that she's good enough for Jon) and Harriet feels that she has no choice but to accept the proposal. Within a matter of hours though, Harriet has broken up with Jon and managed to find a perfect room in a house share. The problem being that the other person in the house is Cal, who Harriet has had a "kind of" professional relationship with ....I shan't say more for fear of spoilers.

There are some pretty heavyweight topics addressed in this book but I think, at it's heart, it is about growing as a person and friendships.

I didn't have any difficulty with reading this book but I don't think I could say that I would recommend it.

Instagram link to come.

I quite enjoyed this, I think I’ve found a new favourite book author! Because as soon as I got my hands on this gem, I ate it up. The story was great, the characters were lovely. Chemistry was also to die for. I definitely would read again, recommend to others.

Well I'm not sure how I feel about this one , it's so angsty in some parts I couldn't get it any more.This isn't 100% about the romance in this story it focuses in other things like letting pass and moving forward..It was a little bit fun read but mostly I would say it was emotional.

I have such mixed feelings about this book! On the one hand, the writing was great and the overall story was refreshing and satisfying, but the anger and frustration I felt throughout the course of reading Mad About You did actively take away from my enjoyment of it at times. I have read one other Mhairi McFarlane book before, If I Never Met You, and really enjoyed it, and I know she is so well-regarded as a Romance author, so I was excited going into this one. I do think my main issue with the book is just that I ended up feeling more frustrated than happy about the ending, and I feel as though the huge buildup of the endless horrible experiences Harriet had to endure wasn't met with a big enough happy ending. I can appreciate the slow-burn of the romance, but it felt like it barely existed in comparison to the never-ending knockbacks Harriet had to go through. The writing can't be faulted as it produced such strong emotions in me though!

3.5 stars

Mad About You is a gripping novel about a 35 year old wedding photographer, Harriet Hatley, who is facing a series of challenges about her past that cause her to mishandle her relationship with wealthy Jonathan 'Jon' Barraclough.

Mhairi McFarlane's characher development is superb throughout this book. She has a wonderful way of giving you just enough but letting it get to too little too late. I was throughly invested throughout reading Mad About You.

A good read about relationship dramas and a few cringeworthy moments. It was really relatable I enjoyed this.
This book is full of girl power and community. Working together for the greater good.

I love Harriets character, she has days when she doubts herself but when push comes to shove she can hold her own and she is a force to be reckoned with.

Strangers coming together to become friends and allies, isn't that how all friendships begin, a stranger that you start talking to.

Brilliantly written and dealing with a difficult topic with power and emphasis on not going it alone.

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane book and not my last. I love her writing, the way she writes and her characters. It was an absolute joy to read. It made me chuckle constantly, definitely a fab rom-com and so glad to have been able to get the chance to read it on Netgalley. Thank you Mhairi and Netgalley for allowing me a copy of this book!

I really like Mhairi McFarlane books and this is another good one! It’s totally predictable and occasionally infuriating but overall I enjoyed it! Cal is the kind of guy that everyone wants to meet and the cast of friends ticks all the boxes. It’s a light, easy read.

A laugh out loud romcom with some brilliant believable characters. Harriet, Cal and Lorna to name but a few. However there was another side to this book. The plot took the reader into some darker subjects such as abusive relationships, manipulation and coercion. These subjects were handled sensitively.
An interesting read which I enjoyed
Thank you to Netgalley, and Harper Collins UK for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Mad about You is a book that make you laugh, smile and feel pure joy reading. A feel good and heart felt read that you be mad not to love.

This one was a lovely read. I really enjoyed reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me

MMs type of writing is to die for

God, I loved this so much!!

I put off reading this for so long because I was scared of that disappointment when you've been so excited to read a book and it just doesn't live up to your expectations. Honestly, this was the complete opposite of that - I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I absolutely fumed... this could quite possibly be my favourite MM book yet! Absolutely out of the question to try and choose a favourite character and trying to explain how Harriet's journey made me feel is impossible!

If you haven't already read this, do it now!!!

I am a big fan of Mhairi McFarlane’s books, and love her writing style, but Mad About You did not resonate with me quite as much as the others. In the beginning, I found the main character Hattie very hard to relate to, but as she deals with the unresolved trauma from her past, Hattie’s character evolves and she emerges stronger and more confident. Parts of this story made me very angry, and it’s down to the skill of the writer that the narrative is not overwhelmingly negative – the lasting impression is of female solidarity and empowerment.
Mad About You is a much darker book than the title and cover would lead you to believe. While there is romance, it is not the main focus. The characters are believable, even the horrible ones, and the Leeds setting makes a pleasant change. Mhairi McFarlane deals with some pretty heavy topics – toxic family relationships, coercive control, gaslighting, and the negative power of social media to name but a few – with a great deal of sensitivity. Too often controlling behaviour is hidden behind closed doors, so writing about it can only be a good thing. While this was not my favourite Mhairi McFarlane book, I really enjoyed reading it. Everyone should have a best friend like Lorna, and the showdown near the end is superb. Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing a digital copy to review.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot (there are other reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for).

I was expecting this to be a fluffy light read - I couldn't describe it as such, as there is SO much more to it. As well as being what I'd loosely define as a "romcom", the story deals with all manner of relationship issues - gaslighting, manipulation, passive aggressive behaviour and more. The lead characters of Harriet and Cal are very well written and believable, loved Lorna, and the imp Barty was another favourite. The various "baddies" of the outfit also came across very authentically - I really felt for Harriet, and cheered when she found her inner strength. Great ending!

I love Mhairi McFarlane's novels - she makes you feel as if you know the characters, their friends, where they live etc. Great writing, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I enjoyed this book. I really loved Harriet as a character, I felt that you could help but to root for her.
I listened to the book on audio and I loved the narrator.
There were a couple of sensitive topics in this book, such as emotional abuse, which I have been through myself and thought was handled really well but also very accurately. I found it quite hard to listen to that part, but it also really moved me.

Thank you very much #netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advance copy. What a lovely treat of a book! Mhairi, you created a brilliantly credible cast of characters and developed the right ones, in the right way. From the fabulous and rather complex Harriet, to the gaslighting Scott, the needy and damaged Jon and the caricature of his mother, the steel scaffolding of Lorna and the perfection of Cal (I could go on) it was brilliant.
I love Mhairi McFarlane’s books. There’s depth, but with a lighter touch.

I've always been a huge fan of Mhairi McFarlane, so this book was a safe bet.
Interestingly, I found this book was a bit of a change in style. I normally find her books fairly light reading, but Mad About You was a heavier read.

The story dives into toxic relationships, including gaslighting, manipulation and coercion. Not easy subjects to explore in a rom-com, but it's been done brilliantly in this book... perhaps because it's not a rom-com as expected but something far better.
It is realistic, infuriating, and unsugarcoated.

Anything written by Mhairi is an auto-buy for me! I love her writing and the audio version of her books is so amazing. Mad About You didn't disappoint, loved the story, characters and ending, the only problem is I both love and hate finishing the book as then I have to wait for the next one!

I recommend this book (and anything else written by Mhairi)

Mhairi McFarlane never fails to deliver, her books are the top of their genre's game and this doesn't disappoint. Harriet's life starts down a new path when her boyfriend proposes in front of his whole (dreadful) family. This is ultimately story of finding love, with Mhairi's trademark wit and flair but at the heart of it a well researched and thoughtful look at the issue of coercive control and abusive relationships. Despite the heavyweight matter, Mhairi still delivers a wonderfully pacy, funny and warm hearted novel with a strong feminist core. Loved it!