This novel is the first one I’ve read from Mhairi McFarlane. I really liked it despite the fact it’s not exactly a rom com that I prefer to read. This book is more of a drama romance, but it still is very good. The plot might be complicated at first because there are many characters and relationships to keep up with. The main character Roisin is joining her friends for a weekend along with Joe who is supposed to celebrate launching of his new crime drama on TV. During her stay, Roisin discovers unsettling secrets that Joe and some of her friends are keeping from her. At the same time she starts to develop feelings for Matt who’s been secretly in love with her for 10 years… Roisin has a difficulty to discover who is telling her the truth and who is covering old lies with new ones. Roisin’s complicated relationship with her mother is not helping her at all… Roisin needs to find herself in this new situation and decide wether she can still trust Joe or Matt. The book keeps you interested until the very end.
Check it out in a few months! I recommend it for everyone who likes love triangles! 😘

Mhairi McFarlane writes rom coms that are addictive like chocolate. Between Us is no exception. So much of it rang true, and not just because I also worked at Waterstone's in my formative years and had a boyfriend just like Joe. She's tapped in to something utterly relatable and her turns of phrase are always spot on, funny and inventive.

I also enjoyed the slow burn of the central romance.

It’s always a treat when there is a new Mhairi McFarlane book and this as always is fantastic. Roisin and her boyfriend Joe met working at Waterstones while at university 10 years on they and their group of friends are meeting up for a weekend away to celebrate Dev getting engaged to Anita and also Gina’s birthday along with Meredith and Matt the group is complete . Joe is an up and coming screenwriter and his second tv series is premiering on the weekend so they all have a watch party. Roisin is horrified when she recognises parts of her life in the show. Is Joe who she thought he was? Determined to find out she has to face some secrets and maybe a few lies. With her trademark humour Mhairi McFarlane does it again

This brilliantly written and completely captivating book was not the romance I expected but it was the one the heroine deserved. This element of surprise kept me guessing throughout. The novel examined the cracks in a long-term relationship and took time to delve into Roisin’s complicated dynamic with her mum.

I quickly liked Roisin and she turned out to be an amazing heroine. She visibly grew over the course of the novel and I felt like I actually knew her. The gang of friends surrounding Roisin – Matt, Meredith, Gina and Dev – were perfect foils to all her dilemmas, with Meredith particularly being the one to lift her up and offer sage advice. I did think Dev was underutilised though. He remained the eccentric oblivious friend stuck on the periphery for the entire novel.

Would I recommend?… Yes, but don’t expect this to be a light-hearted romance

As a really big fan of Mhairi’s I had high hopes for this book which were not met unfortunately. Nevertheless, this is still a good read, but wouldn’t be the book I’d recommend to a newbie of McFarlane’s.

I struggled with the delusion of the main character and as the book progressed, her actions, thoughts and monologue became frustrating. Whilst I can see why the book ended as it did, it felt unrealistic and undeserving.

Another wonderful read. The characters in the book are written so well they come alive, even the ones who are not the main characters in the story. It’s amazing really, that although the events are not fast paced the story is so well written the pages just fly by. I have read all her books and with every new one I think it can’t be better than the last but Mhairi Mcfarlane continues to excel. If I could award more than 5 stars I would. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

It took me a while to get into this, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I have read a few of Mhairi's books now, and I love her writing style and how they're not just another romance. Such a great concept for a story, and definitely a roller coaster or a read, although I do wish there'd been a little more romance with the main characters love interest.

I love MF and as always her writing style and ability to weave a story and create characters is very well done. This was an interesting read with a core story that took a while to get into. The exploration of gaslighting and Roisin working her way through that in her relationship with Joe was handled well. I do wish more time had been spent with Rosin and Matt though as I really enjoyed their interactions. Not my favourite book by the author but still a solid read (3.5 ⭐️).

I went into this thinking it would be quite a typical contemporary romance but it definitely had some more serious themes such as toxic relationships which added a lot of depth to the book. I do wish there had been a bit more romance with the main character's love interest though. It also took me a while to get into the book but once I was I had got through the first third or so I was definitely invested. Overall an important read highlighting the reality of some relationships but definitely keep this in mind when you pick it up!

Loved it!! To be honest, I haven’t read a Mhairi McFarlane book yet that I haven’t loved!! Most of her books have me laughing hysterically. This one, while still making me chuckle was a bit more serious and I loved that too!
I won’t précis the book - that’s already done by far better writers than me in the book blurb. What I will say is that I couldn’t put this book down.
It was touching and poignant in parts and sad that someone’s partner would betray her secrets in the way he did,
As in all this author’s books, the characters are so authentic that you get truly start to feel for them. The ones you like are not flawless and the ones you don’t are not all bad……..more like real life! There’s such a realism to her writing that you feel like you’re reading someone’s diary!
I have nothing but praise for the book and the author. Mhairi, may you never run out of ideas!!
I received this book as an e-ARC, however, this review is voluntary and entirely my own opinion. My thanks go to NetGalley, Mhairi McFarlane and the publishers, but especially to Mhairi - you have a rare gift!

Oof, this book had a lot to unpack. While the premise sounds a lot like Sophie Kinsella's romcom "Can You Keep a Secret?" This was nothing sort of a romcom.

This book deals with a lot of toxic relationships, & how Joe finds herself in the middle of all these chaos. Honestly, I skipped a lot of these scenes.

I really liked the subtle romance she had going on with the love interest, but I really really wanted a bit more of them.

I love how Mhairi writes and how flawless the story flows despite the flawed characters but this wasn't my favorite by her.

<i>Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the the in exchange for an honest review.<i>

The gang, who have been friends since their Waterstone job days are meeting up to celebrate a few life events within the group. Things recently between Joe and Roisin haven’t been 100% but still Roisin gets quite a shock whilst watching his new tv show. Seeing that her partner would betray her and share one of her secrets to the world, this makes Roisin wonder what else he has been lying about or is his tv show just purely fiction ?

I did find it hard to connect with Roisin at the start which made the beginning quite sloggish, however I was able to immerse myself eventually and found myself really enjoying the story and plot.

I loved how Mhairi portrayed Joe and it honestly made me hate him so much, you could tell how manipulative he was to the situation. I feel though he got away too lightly in the situation and I wish there was more drama with the friends finding out or karma out to get him.

Joe and Roisin have been in a friendship group since their first jobs working in a bookshop, she's now a teacher and finally, Joe has suddenly gained massive success as a script writer. They join with their friends to celebrate the milestones in their lives including the first screening of episode 1 of Joe's new thriller. On watching the program Roisin comes to the realisation that Joe is not the person she thought he was and starts on a search to find the reality of Joe's life. Mhairi is such a brilliant storyteller, you really feel for the characters and their lives. Another gem.

You just KNOW when you pick up a book by Mhairi that you’re not going to be disappointed. This was another incredible read, gritty, gnarly and compelling trapped amongst the pages of the perfect rom-com.

Mhairi McFarlane writes offbeat and intelligent rom-coms, and her latest is no different, although this time it took me a quarter of the way through, leaving me wondering if she was losing her touch, before I became engaged. It focuses on the 9 year relationship between 32 year old school teacher Roisin Walters and Joe Powell, who has become rich and famous after writing 'Seen' and has a new detective series on TV coming up called 'Hunter'. Both are part of a 10 year old group of close knit friends, wealthy reality show winner, Dev Doshi, good looking Matt McKenzie who runs through women like water, Gina, whose love for Matt through the years is an open secret, and Meredith, calling themselves the Brian Club, with its origins at Waterstone's. To celebrate the upcoming TV series, the club anniversary and Dev and Anita's engagement, Dev is financing a once in a lifetime stay at the exclusive Benbarrow Hall for all of them.

However, events conspire to threaten to break the group apart as tensions and conflicts grow. Roisin has been feeling for sometime that her relationship with Joe is disintegrating, he has become cold and distant as he has become a famous celebrity, spending more time in the US. She has been seeing a therapist, and is reluctant to confront Joe and tell him its all over, but upon seeing the first episode of Hunter, she realises all that she has confided in him about her history is no longer between them, he has betrayed her by ruthlessly using it as material for 'Hunter', and it's transparent he has mined the other group members lives too. This has her telling him it is all over, but Joe asks her to leave any discussions until he returns from his latest trip. Additionally, Gina falls apart with regard to Matt, leading to him leaving the group. The narrative primarily focuses on the unpalatable nature of Roisin and Joe's relationship, followed by the potential seeds of new beginnings for her.

McFarlane examines toxic relationships and gaslighting through a Roisin becoming slowly aware she has never really seen Joe, even though elements of him, the mean guy persona, were right in front of her. It's a pretty tough gig to have to come terms with her blindness, leaving Roisin questioning her instincts when it comes to love, will she be able to trust herself when love comes and stares directly into her eyes? This turned out to be a gripping and tense read as Roisin turns detective in her quest to determine whether Joe has been unfaithful throughout their entire relationship. If you are looking for a major focus on romance, then this is not the book for you, romance is more incidental in the narrative. I look forward with great anticipation to the author's next book! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I’ve always thought that Mhari McFarlane writes the best breakups, she’s done a few now and are all so spectacularly forensically parsed apart I feel as if I’ve had a mental breakthrough in my therapy session. Between Us is a whole book of breakup, when Roisin’s boyfriend of the last decade steals an incident from Roisin’s childhood and puts it in his new obscene and obscenely popular television drama without telling her she begins to wonder what else might be more reality than fiction. Between Us is more of a rom thriller than rom com as Roisin tries to get to grips with the depths of Joe’s deception while being constantly gas lighted by Joe who is the worlds most manipulative slime ball. Joe is a magnificent piece of work and disturbingly real. Matt is of course a dream boat of a cinnamon roll and Roisin gives him an undeserved hard time I thought. Lorraine is obviously a star turn. So in conclusion Joe:Boo Matt:yay!

I have loved all of Mhairi's previous books and this is no exception. Warm, genuine characters who you really care about, easy to picture scenes and a great compelling story. I love the dual love story and friendship story and although I guessed the ending this did not spoil the pleasure of reading a brilliant book. Highly recommended.

McFarlane is such a solid author and this is another brilliant work to add to her collection. The cast is dynamic, messy and relatable and this story made me feel ALL of the emotions.

Mhairi McFarlane's books are almost always a good read for me and Between Us is no different. Roisin and partner Joe are to join their close group of friends for a triple celebration on the weekend. It's there that it becomes clear that not everything she shares with Joe has been kept just between them. Along the way other secrets come out, about members of their group and about themselves.

Like many of her previous books, there is a romance of sorts within the story but the book is more about relationships. This group of long-term friends still has a lot hidden beneath the surface. Some secrets go almost to the beginning of their friendships. Over this weekend, it will be necessary for each to re-examine themselves and how they relate to others. This will mean stronger bonds with some and weaker ones with others. I really enjoyed this book and once I got into it, I found I couldn't stop reading. It's often that way with McFarlane's books. The lovely part is that not only does it suck you into the story, but it also is well-written.

With regard to relationships we already have, this story examines the way we allow the little things to go unnoticed. When seen within the big picture, it's so obvious, but we really can blind ourselves to a person's faults. Once we discover theses faults, it's a matter of deciding whether they have the power to break up the connection or not. Are the good parts enough to balance out the negatives. After all, we all have our faults but are they worthy of killing the relationship?

This was another solid pleaser from this writer and I give it four solid stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK/Harper Fiction for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I have written this review voluntarily and without obligation.

This is one of my favourite authors and once I had picked this book up I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely loved the characters and how as a reader you could put yourself in their shoes and see bits of yourself within them and looks at the ups and downs of friendships and how the dynamics of them can change as we get older and how relationships evolve and change as time goes by and life doesn’t always turn out the way you had planned or thought it would.

This was a romantic drama mixed in with coming of age and growing older and I could envisage it being played out on the screen or as a Netflix series.

Looking forward to seeing what this author writes next