This book didn't work for me, I love a lot of previous works by Mhairi but this one fell a bit flat for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This book fell a bit flat for me. I was really hoping I was going to love it as I loved books by the author previously, sadly not to be. It took until well over halfway to pick up and have an actual storyline which I found a real challenge.

I enjoyed this rom com from Mhairi McFarlane. I have read all of her previous books and this was very much in the same style - easy to read, good storyline with heaps of emotion and some laughs along the way,

Roisin is the main character, and her boyfriend Joe is perfectly written as a narcissistic chancer, who writes the intimate details of her personal life into his scripts for a TV show. A supporting cast of loveable characters form their close friends, who all met while working at Waterstones in Manchester in the noughties.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved all Mhairi Mcfarlane's books! And this was no exception, has been selling well at our stores!

"Between Us" by McFarlane maintains her signature style. The book explores relationships with wit, yet the plot can feel familiar. McFarlane's writing still charms, though some elements seem repetitive. The book offers a comfortable read for fans, but the lack of innovation might leave longtime readers wanting a fresher narrative approach.

may have only read a few books by Mhari McFarlane but I have been impressed with what I have read so far. I was thus looking forward to reading this book.

Roisin has been with her boyfriend for almost a decade. They met back when they and their other friends (Dev, Matt, Meredith and Gina) worked in a branch of Waterstones. Now Roisin is a teacher and Joe is a writer of a very successful TV show and as his success has really taken off, his romance/partnership with Roisin seems to be coming to an end. It takes even more of a nosedive when Joe’s new TV show ‘Hunter’ premiers as it seems that Joe has used some of Roisin’s deepest secrets she told him and included them in his show. She is horrified but then starts to wonder what else from the show is more fact than fiction and makes it her job to find out.

All of the characters (except Joe)were likeable, even Roisin’s demanding mother Lorraine. I enjoyed this book but felt there was something missing - I don’t know if maybe there were too many strands to it or if it was because I thought the TV show and fall out from it would have been a bigger part of the story. There were still lots of laughs and shocks to be had though!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I am disappointed to say that I did not finish this book. I really wanted to like it but just couldn’t get into it. I even tried listening to the audiobook, because that is my favourite thing, and I still couldn’t.
I am thankful to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Between Us is the first Mhairi McFarlane book that I read although I have heard great things about the author other books.

Sadly this wasn't for me, I really struggle to read this and I don't really care about the characters. I tried so hard not to DNF this and want to give this book a chance, but it was so hard I ended up skimming about it. The toxic relationship the main character have kind trigger me a bit.

I want to try and give Mhairi other books a chance and try to read them.

When Rosh discovers her long time boyfriend has been using tales of her life in a TV series he has made, she is devastated. Things worsen when she realises he has virtually been living a double life and he is not the person she thought he was. Seeking solace back at her childhood home, she also finds a comrade in Matt, another of their friendship group who has been going through his own issues. A great story of friendship, family and love.

Fabulous read. Plenty of drama with laughs along the way. The ability to witness the development of the story and the unravelling of the relationship is carefully crafted with the support of a cast of great characters. The conclusion is really great rewarding. Really enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley

One of my all time favourite authors, I will read anything Mhairi McFarlane writes-it is guaranteed to be wonderful.
Roisin and Joe go away for the weekend with friends while Joe’s new TV show that he is a writer for becomes a huge success, however when they watch his new show together it becomes clear that some of the things Roisin told Joe in confidence, he used in his writing and betrayed her in a terrible way. The more she thinks about it, the more she starts to question how much of the writing was actually fiction at all.
This book has some of the most loving and romantic scenes, I found myself reading some pages over and over again. I loved the love story.

I’m a fan of Mhairi McFarlane’s books, she writes fun romcoms that I really enjoy. This book is a little more serious, because the FMC named Roisin is being gaslighted by her 9 year boyfriend Joe, who uses embarrassing situations from her real life in his popular TV show.

It’s his first success, and as he gets more well known his behavior towards her gets even worse. Roisin realizes that the tough, uncaring persona of his TV show is based more on Joe’s personality than she had realized.

Fortunately she has a group of longtime friends to support her, and after Joe is out of her life she acknowledges the attraction between herself and another member of the group, Matt.

I liked the way the toxic relationship was addressed in the book, it will be familiar to anyone who has been in a similar situation. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Roisin meets up with a group of friends for a luxury weekend to celebrate Dev and Anita’s engagement, Gina’s birthday and the TV launch of her partner Joe’s new crime drama Hunted; also in the group are Meredith and Matt. They originally met while working in Waterstones in Manchester, but undercurrents and secrets now threaten their longstanding friendship.
Roisin and Joe’s relationship has been strained of late since his screenwriting career took off, but she is deeply shocked when secrets she had meant him to keep ‘between us’ are laid bare in the TV drama, and breaks up with him. She starts to wonder if other elements of the show are true as well, and turns detective to find out if her suspicions are correct.
I am a big fan of Mhairi McFarlane’s books and have read and enjoyed them all. There is so much more to them than the average romantic comedy. The focus is on relationships of all kinds,not just romantic ones, and this gives the narrative more depth. Believable characters, realistic dialogue and humour are what make her books so enjoyable. In that vein, I particularly enjoyed the scenes in the classroom where Roisin was trying to interest her class in reading Dickens. Thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.

I loved reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me. I love this author snd her writing style.
Thanks to netgally for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy of Mhairi McFarlanes book! I have read a few of her cooks so far and loved every one! Loved this romance book a perfect summer read’
Would highly recommend!!

When Joe and Roisin join their group of friends for a weekend away, it’s a triple celebration – a birthday, an engagement and the launch of Joe’s new crime drama on TV.

But when Roisin sees secrets she shared with Joe play out on the TV screen, she knows that between us means nothing at all.

Roisin finds herself searching for clues to the truth – about her life, their history, and the man she thought she loved. And it’s then that Roisin finds the most unexpected plot twist of them all. Among those same old friends, there’s a surprising potential for new beginnings . . .

I am a very big fan of multi-cast narratives. Even if the central plot revolves around a pair of protagonists, it is still fun to see how relationships play out in the bigger picture. It keeps the reading fun and entertaining.
I must admit that the friendship dynamics in this seem very realistic. That is not nearly as pleasant a thing to say as it might appear. Roisin is part of a group of friends who have hung out together since they all worked together years ago. Life has sent them in different directions, but they tend to reassemble for important moments. The start of the story is one such situation. Joe is a screenwriter, and the two of them have been the long-established couple of their gang. When they all sit down to watch the new crime serial/drama that Joe has written, Roisin realises that he used information that she had revealed to him. Things start to shift in her head as she starts to question things. Other events start to precipitate any lingering issues amongst certain other members, which then leads to a dissolution of the group, at least on the surface.
Roisin heads back home, a place she is extremely embarrassed about, an emotion that is backed up by facts that we are quickly updated with. The story is of Roisin looking back at her life, figuring out all the things she thought she was sure about, working around group dynamics, and finally achieving her happily-ever-after (an extremely hard-fought one).
The blurb does a very great job of keeping appropriate information contained, something not many blurbs manage to do nowadays, so I was not sure what I was getting as I started reading.
The realistic discomfort was a little too real for me. I have never enjoyed acrimonious gatherings, always feeling like people should just choose to stay away instead of inciting arguments for the sake of it. If I did not have such a personal reaction to the conflicting group dynamics, I would have enjoyed it more. The romance was slow, and although it surprised the people in the story, it might not surprise the more veteran readers of this genre.
I like the author's approach and found the experience different from others of this type that I have read. A lot of events occur by the time the book comes to a close, and most fans of this genre will appreciate this book.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I’ve read quite a few of Mhairi’s books and keep coming back to her as an author I can trust and this book was no exception.

Even though it is quite a long book I felt like I flew through it in no time at all. I loved Roisin and thought she was a fantastic main character. Matt was also fantastic and I loved the ending of the book.

Mhairi McFarlane NEVER disappoints. In my opinion, she is the undisputed queen of the smart rom com, and Between Us just highlights again her exceptional talent. The rom com genre is such an easy read, people might assume it’s an easy write. In my opinion, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve read many a book that claims to be laugh out loud funny and romantic when actually, it fails on both of those fundamentals. Mhairi’s writing is so smart and so witty, laughs and swooning is guaranteed, but there is always so much more to her stories. She writes brilliant friendship groups, she writes complicated family dynamics, she explores toxic relationships better than any other author I’ve read, all whilst weaving a believable and swoon worthy love story. As for the quality of her witty words, she’s simply the best in this genre. Just look at these wonderful examples from Between Us -

“She had a very unusual manner to go with the uncommon accent: sort of Head Girl in a boarding school, combined with the rigidly poised, religiose self-certainty of a West Coast wellness guru. Roisin could imagine her selling you a five grand cucumber juice enema in a way that made it clear you were lucky she’d even speak to someone with a non-salad flavoured arse.”

“He’s had plugs?’ Roisin said. ‘As in a hair transplant?”
“A weave,” Lorraine said. “It’s not well judged. He’s over-done it. He’s gone from a hairline like an old tennis ball to a thatch that looks like it’d come running if you shook a packet of Dreamies.”

Just brilliant!

Between Us, for me, is about trust, love, family, friends and following your gut instincts. It’s another five star read from an author that just never lets you down. Bravo Ms McFarlane!

Picture this: a cozy weekend getaway, a group of friends, and enough celebrations to make your head spin. That's exactly what you'll find in 'Between Us.'

What sets 'Between Us' apart is its cast of characters. They're flawed, and so incredibly relatable that you'll feel like you're part of the group. But it's the women's relationship that steals the show. Roisin and her pals bring the kind of camaraderie that instantly transports you back to those endless nights of laughter with your own best friends.

The dialogue in this book is gold. It crackles with wit, banter, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. McFarlane has a knack for capturing the essence of everyday conversations, making you feel like you're eavesdropping on real people chatting.

Dialogue aside, 'Between Us' delves into the messy, complicated nature of relationships and the secrets that can unravel even the strongest bonds. When Roisin stumbles upon her intimate confessions turned into a TV drama, her world turns upside down. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew about Joe and their history is thrown into doubt. It's a rollercoaster of emotions as Roisin embarks on a quest for the truth.

What makes 'Between Us' truly special is its ability to blend humor with introspection. Yes, it's a dry and witty read, but it also tackles deeper themes of self-discovery, growth, and the resilience of friendship.

This novel is a jewel because of its interesting protagonists, likeable supporting cast, witty banter, and original story.

I always think these bright cartoon covers are light, breezy, easy reading books but Mhairi McFarlane always surprises me with the depth in the books. A lot of popular romance depict a rosy, golden view of relationships but what I like about McFarlane is that her plotline and characters seem real. The book opens with Roisin and Joe's relationship already on it's last legs when a betrayal by Joe deals it a fatal blow. I liked Roisin and I really empathised with her. I do admit I had to resist the temptation to throw the book across the room in disgust at Joe's actions but I enjoyed reading about Roisin's character growth throughout the novel.

Although this wasn't my favourite McFarlane novel, it was a solid read and I'd recommend it. 3.5 stars.