Love Mhairis work and this is a fab book everyone should read this year. A firm 5 star for me as I couldn’t put it down!

This was a bit all over the place for me.
I found the writing style quite hard to get into but I quickly adapted. However, it felt like this story suffered from an identity crisis.

Initially I thought it was about this friend group and the shenanigans between these friends but then it turned into a relationship in trouble story and then it did a complete 180 into a friends-to-lovers?

Because of all of this (and then some), decisions were made out of the blue or on a whim which made it so unbelievable.

This story also felt very long. At times, the pacing was slow making the story a little tedious.

If it had just focused solely on Matt and Rosin, I would have definitely scored this much higher and would have had a greater reading experience.

I've read a few books by Mhairi but not for a few years, so it was great to come back, new stories and characters but, at the same time, it all felt so familiar.

I really enjoyed this, I read it over the weekend in a couple of sittings. I liked the premise of that long term friendship, so they had a history that was talked about during the book but in a reminiscing way, not pages of flashbacks, so it felt very natural and didn't halt the pace of the book.

It was a nice quick read and the story kept me interested. I like that it even though it was a larger group we didn't get too many story lines and although the larger group of friends were important we stayed focused on the main characters.

There were a few red herrings that I really liked, and made sure it wasn't predictable and I feel that sets it apart from a lot of other similar style books.

Like all of Mhairi's books I'm sure this will be a success and really look forward to reading more - including the couple currently on my TBR list!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

When Roisin, who’s an English Teacher goes on a weekend away with her friends, she realises that she doesn’t really know her long term boyfriend Joe, a screenwriter as well as she thought she did. Even though they’ve been together for 10 years.

So she begins on a journey wanting to find out more about their relationship, that of her friends and about herself too.

Along the way, there’s secrets uncovered and surprises too.

I highly recommend this book.

I should start this review by stating that Mhairi McFarlane is one of my favourite authors. I try my best not to fan-girl and assume every book will be great just because it was written by her. However, she just has this knack of writing utterly brilliant stories. Stories that slowly pull you in, characters so well written you feel like you know them, emotions so real you can feel them as you read.

Between Us is yet another example of Mhairi’s wizardry.

I really liked Roisin. The friendship group (the Brian club) we’re all detailed characters with their own individual personalities. Joe was a fascinating man, I enjoyed reading about him and found him to be uniquely written - not ‘just another cheat’ - he was deeply flawed and this was explored well within the story.

As with all books by this author, I was gutted when it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

This was a very sweet, easy read about a girl and a boy who've known each other a long time, and about unrequited love for one of them.....
Roisin, the main protagonist, is the girlfriend of a now famous script writer, Joe. She doesn't feel that close to him anymore and has come to a crossroads in her life. She has to decide whether to stay in this stale relationship or leave him.
As her old group of friends get together for a weekend away, celebrating a few things together, she sees him at his worst, being rude to one friend especially. The group will never be the same again if they split up. Then worryingly, his latest drama is currently on the tv with secret parts of their lives seeming to be content for this. Does this mean other things on there are true too?. Has he been unfaithful?.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, the characters were great, funny and typical of someone we would know in our lives!!. Knowing that, I read this quickly and definitely loved the ending!!. Always love your books Mhairi!!.
I received this free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollins, #mhairimcf.

Mhairi is one of my favourite authors. This book, whilst good, did not hit the spot as her other books have done. I feel the romance wasn't given enough time, Roisin spent A LOT of time (too much?) in her head investigating her partner, and even some of the writing, the in-jokes, I didn't get, despite being the same age as the author. Humour was lacking too. There are usually some standout lines in her books that have me laughing out loud. That said, serious topics were tackled in this book. Too much time was spent on the old rather than the new. That's the best way I can say it without giving away the plot. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A group of friends from their early twenties who still keep in touch and like each other. The dynamics are multi faceted. Totally different careers , totally different income levels but still friends.
At the centre is the relationship between Joe and Roisin. There are changing dynamics as Joe finds fame and money as his career shoots to the stratosphere. His actions lead to Roisin questioning the relationship and what it would mean to the friendships if they broke up.
A fantastic story, where you relate to the different characters and their circumstances. Enjoy I did

Jesus Christ, this was good. I pretty much read it in a day, it was so gripping! I didn’t know where it was going in the whole drama of it and had discarded any notions of romance, which I was okay with because said drama was so good. The last minute swerve into romance was unexpected and masterful, and swoony 🥰 I loved Joe’s descent into a true villain, and Roisin’s journey to realising it - moving from her gut feelings to the actual truth was deliciously awful.

I wanted to love this book as I had previous Mhairi McFarlane books I've read but this one just didn't have the same feel as the others. The first half I found quite slow and found it hard to connect to the characters. The second half was better but the ending felt rushed? I wanted more after ~the event and less about the build up I think.

However I did still read this quickly and would definitely read another Mhairi McFarlane book again!


TW gaslighting, death of a parent (mentioned) alcohol abuse (mentioned)

As a huge fan of the author I was really excited to read this,her latest book and was delighted to find that it was, as per her usual, a brilliant book full of humour, real life experience and joy.

The Brian Club have been friends for a decade, having met while working at Waterstones book shop, most of them students and starting out in life. At a ten year reunion and being successful in life and relationships to different extents, a party to celebrate their group explodes around them into a web of uncertainty and confusion about their bonds to one another.

So well written and full of humour, this book will have you hanging onto to your seat, waiting to see what will happen. Amid falling in and out of love and friendship, the characters become real and discover things about themselves and each other.

Highly recommended for all those that love a romantic comedy and just a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Roisin and Joe have been trundling along with their relationship, which has begun to slide since Joe's big break as a television writer. A big friendship reunion at a big fancy country house is supposed to be a chance for an old group of friends to get together and celebration (an engagement, a birthday and the debut from Joe's new crime series) but instead things that to fall apart at the seams, not only for Roisin and Joe, but for the whole friendship group. When watching the new crime show, Roisin sees elements of her life that she told Joe in secret & now she's beginning to look closer at this new TV character & doubt her relationship with Joe

I loved the premise of the friendship group. All previously booksellers together in Waterstones 10 years ago, they're a mix of friends who are an odd bunch, with some perhaps only still part of the group out of habit. They all have secrets and history, which causes different levels of friendships and tensions in the group. I thought it was interesting to not only look at if Roisin and Joe had outgrown their romantic relationship, but if the friends had outgrown each other

Mhairi's books always have a more serious aspect to them and this is no different. I really devoured the book, I found it so immersive and what to get to the bottom of Roisin doubting Joe, if she was being gaslighted or not. Roisin is strong and determined and I loved rooting for her. Everything is handled with Mhair's usual charm and wit, so the plot never feels that heavy

There is a romance element to this but it's really more of a subplot, I would have equally been happy if it wasn't in the book. I wouldn't classify this book as a romance novel, rather contemporary fiction that deals with toxic relationships, friendships and self development with a small dash of romance

Having read Mhairi McFarlene before, I was quite looking forward to this read. I'm honestly not sure where to start with this book, as I have such mixed feelings.

Roisin and Joe have been together for ten years and their relationship seems to have become stagnant. Things take a nose-dive after Roisin realises that screenwriter Joe has lifted some of Roisin's personal experiences and translated them onto screen for his new TV show.

The first half was quite slow paced and I got bored with the story several times. The writing wasn't straight to the point which I found off-putting. What really irked me was that there was more Joe than Matt. I longed to see more chemistry between Roisin and Matt, instead of things happening between them so suddenly.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Roisin is a high school teacher with a stable partner, Joe, who she’s been involved with for the last ten years. They met when a group of them worked together at Waterstones bookstore, and they have keep contact even though things aren’t what they once were. Joe now has a successful career as a screenwriter, and the group will be together at a fancy stately home for the weekend when the next show starts. Except Roisin has been having her doubts about their relationship for months, and when the first episode airs, she recognises that Joe has used a deeply traumatic moment from her own life in the show without telling her before. It throws everything about their relationship up in the air and makes Riosin question the person she is involved with.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
On the surface, a friends weekend away in a stately home sounds like a real treat, but like the story itself, what’s on the surface belies what lies beneath. The story reminded me somewhat of Marion Keyes’ Grown Ups, the front of the perfect trip but what’s really going on is something different. I appreciated how Joe’s actions made Riosin question her reality, sort of like being ghosted by someone you live with. The writing and story had me hooked 👍

A great read the characters were interesting and the story was intriguing. Will look out for more by this author.

I only discovered Mhairi McFarlane’s books two years ago, through Netgalley and this is my third novel I’ve read by her. I’ve got a couple of others on my TBR pile but that is a never ending stack of books that looks at infinity and laughs. (Don’t tell my husband how bad it’s got!) I’ll get to them soon, I swear! What I like about Mhairi’s books is simple: they are designed for intelligent readers and she doesn’t dumb it down at all. She doesn’t dumb down her characters or her language. People may do daft things in her books but its not because they’re idiots. She doesn’t do caricatures or stereotypes either and as a result her books are interesting, gripping and humorous.

In this one we follow, Roisin as she faces the truth about her partner of ten years, realising that they’ve fallen out of love with each other and that they might not have a future together. This is romantic fiction so you know that she’ll end up with someone else but we stay out of the bedroom on the whole and it’s the cerebral connection between the two of them that is what the story is about. Roisin is an interesting character, fully rounded and engaging. The concept of a group of old friends who stick together despite no longer being really interested in each other was fantastic and set up a great dynamic for conflict.

Roisin is an English teacher and as that is also my job, that did make me laugh a bit. I do love how everyone thinks that because they’ve been to school they know what it is like to be a teacher! Imagine trying to teach Great Expectations to a bunch of year 10s in an ordinary comp! So not going to happen – maybe a few extracts but that’s really it! One of the things about teenagers is that time moves fast in their world and they really aren’t interested in anything that happened a couple of years before, so I really didn’t buy that they would know anything about 50 Shades of Grey. It came out 8 years ago, even if it might seem recent to an adult, to a 14 year old that’s something that happened when they were 6, and therefore pretty insignificant. The other thing that made me smile was the idea of Roisin being a younger member of staff at 32, most English teachers these days are a lot younger than that!

But those things are seriously unimportant and didn’t affect my enjoyment too much. Overall, this book is a great, light read that made me laugh quite a bit. I love that Mhairi treats me as an equal and that I can enjoy this novel as a person with a brain!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free ebook copy for my review.

Mhairi McFarlane's "Between Us" is a captivating and engaging novel that seamlessly blends romance and mystery. The story is centered around Roisin, who is trying to uncover the truth behind her boyfriend Joe's new crime drama, which seems eerily similar to their real-life experiences.

The characters are well developed, and their dynamics are explored in depth, particularly Roisin's relationships with her friends and family. The way the story unfolds is impressive, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

McFarlane's writing style is witty and engaging, making it hard to put the book down. However, there are moments when the narrative feels a bit too drawn-out and unnecessary details are provided, which can be a distraction.

Despite this minor flaw, the novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, as it offers a unique and captivating perspective. The chemistry between Roisin and Joe is palpable, and the tension between them adds to the overall intrigue of the story.

Moreover, the character of Matt adds an unexpected layer to the narrative, making it all the more compelling.

In conclusion, "Between Us" is a delightful read that offers a fresh take on contemporary romance while keeping the reader engaged with its mystery and intrigue

Mhairi McFarlane's "Between Us" is a captivating and engaging contemporary romance, weaving together elements of intrigue and heartfelt emotion.

The plot revolves around Roisin's journey of discovery as she tries to understand the parallels between her boyfriend Joe's new crime drama and their real-life experiences.

Although Joe denies that the unfaithful detective character in his show is based on real events, Roisin's search for answers gives the story its mysterious undertone.

McFarlane's skill in depicting the dynamics within Roisin's circle of friends is commendable. The story delves into the evolution of connections and the changing nature of people over time, exploring how some friendships end and people grow out of touch, while others maintain a bond.

And what can I say about Matt? Only that his character emerges as a delightful surprise, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.

Minor issues that I could point out include instances when the narrative indulges in tangents, providing overly detailed descriptions of certain scenes that don't advance the plot. For example, the pub scenes with Roisin's mom felt somewhat kitschy and exaggerated.

But despite these minor distractions, the novel's successful elements far outweigh these shortcomings.

I loved it. That's the review. If you are already a fan of her work, this book will very much be the one for you too.

Even though I will die on this hill asking for Mhairi to give us a little bit more payoff in the romance department, since all of her books are "closed-door romances." Yes, the emotional payoff she always delivers outweighs a lot, but Mhairi, give us more, please.

I have really enjoyed Mhairi McFarlane's books in the past, so was looking forward to another book by her.
Unfortunately this book didn't really do it for me. I found the pacing to be very slow. To the point that i just couldn't get into it and it became a chore to keep picking it up. There wasn't anything that gripped me enough that made me WANT to keep picking it up/keep reading.
I couldn't connect with the characters either.
This book was OK - but McFarlane's previous books have been more enjoyable for me.