I got a chapter into this before realising it was a sequel, then realised the first one was on my TBR list so read it before carrying on. I think it definitely helped to read Who's That Girl first. It was an easy read but seemed to drag on a bit. I have enjoyed most of Mhairi Mcfarlane's books but this wasn't my favourite.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Loved this book. Very sweet and heartwarming!

Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC, NetGalley!

The book follows movie star Elliott Owen and Edie Thomson and their love story. The book shows the insecurities and bumps that come in every relationship.

Really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend 👌

There’s nothing quite like reading a new Mhairi book, which for me is like getting a text format hug from my favourite romcom author while eating a Wispa Gold (#1 chocolate bar) and drinking a bottle of ice cold posh water that comes in a glass bottle (the height of water-based luxury). Her books are the BEST, and she never misses.

You Belong with Me is the sequel to 2016’s Who’s That Girl?, which is a sentence I never thought I’d say, but one I’m very happy to. Because it’s brilliant. I didn’t even realise I’d been missing Edie and Elliot until I read the first page, and swiftly remembered what good people they are and how much I loved Who’s That Girl? Admittedly I love all of Mhairi’s books, so me saying that counts for nothing. But still. A sequel! About Edie and Elliot! YAY!

Obviously you may want to dive into Who’s That Girl? before reading this one, or you might be a little bit confused but nonetheless charmed and addicted. So I won’t divulge any spoilers other than to say: You Belong with Me picks up very close to where Who’s That Girl? ended, there’s some drama, lots of kissing, Elliot’s messy actor hair is in fine form, and Edie is an absolute belter. Oh, and, as always, it’s very northern funny.

If you’re new to Mhairi McFarlane, please go and read Who’s That Girl, then You Belong with Me, followed by her entire magical backlist. If you’re not new to the Mhairi club, then I’ll say no more because you get it. Edie and Elliot are back. There’s lots of pages about them. Woooo. ENJOY.

Mhairi is a must-read author for me. Her witty style of writing makes for unputdownable romance stories. They always have a slightly serious edge which rounds out her characters, making them worth rooting for. I tore through her back catalogue on honeymoon in 2019, including 'Who's that Girl?' (which I gave a 5 star review in case you were wondering). That book is unique for ending with a cliffhanger, Edie answering the door on Christmas Day to... who? I always knew it was Elliot of course! This sequel picks up where the first book left off. However, Elliot is still eye-wateringly famous and their issues from the first novel have not gone away. Is there any chance for love to prevail here?

This was another really enjoyable story from Mhairi. There were sufficient adorable moments between Elliot and Edie despite the long distance nature of much of their relationship in the story. However the real draw of the book, and most interesting reflection on our celebrity obsessed culture, were the seeds of mistrust sown by the ever present paparazzi, mawkishly hovering looking for a story. It is when Elliot suspects there is a leak in his inner circle that the mistrust really ramps up - as a reader, you really do become suspicious of everyone at one point or another!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Sometimes, I got tired of the relentlessness of the obstacles (and may have momentarily rooted for the other corner of the love triangle) but the book comes to a satisfying conclusion and is a worthy addition to Mhairi's body of work. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You Belong With Me was a book that, to put it bluntly, felt unnecessary. I know the ending of Who’s That Girl was somewhat of a cliffhanger, and sure, I did also want to see the reunion scene on the page, but. A whole book?

This is not to say I didn’t find the experience of reading this broadly enjoyable. I liked having Edie and Elliot back and I thought this was possibly Mhairi McFarlane’s funniest book yet. And I think if I read the two books back to back and treated it as one long book, it’s entirely likely I’d come to a different rating.

The thing is, it felt like there wasn’t enough unmanufactured conflict to make a whole 320 page book of Edie and Elliot round two feel anything more than a repetition of the greatest hits (their individual insecurities, some jealousy from both, the whole fame question) in a somewhat cyclical fashion. It felt especially manufactured when Edie first experiences the media twisting photos to suit a narrative, over which she has a valid reaction, sure, but one that felt very excessive (and also, completely against type, since she had, mere chapters before, talked about shutting down when it came to emotions and conflict). Honestly, towards the end, I was even thinking that maybe they should break up because they clearly weren’t working together.

What’s clear, though, is that Edie and Elliot had something that couples from McFarlane’s more recent books have sort of been missing. It was a strange juxtaposition: to love the characters and to want more of them, but to also not feel that any of it was necessary. So, while I did love reading about them again, I have to admit I came to the conclusion that this, really, is a book that should have been a novella.

Love love love Edie and Elliot! Let me start off by saying that this is a sequel to „Who’s that girl?“ and while I believe you could read this as a standalone, I would highly recommend picking up the prequel. It is soo well written, witty and has an amazing plot, you wouldn’t want to miss out on that or the beginning of their relationship. The more Edie and Elliot the better!



„You Belong With Me“ picks up where „Who’s that girl“ left off and you get to see how those two navigate a long-distance relationship, the little privacy due to fame and the rumour mill while dealing with insecurities and jealousy.


Mhairi McFarlane never disappoints in writing witty dialogues, characters with depth and realistic plots. The feelings and problems Elliot and Eden dealt with throughout the book were definitely frustrating at times but it was frustrating because it was realistic.
McFarlane manages to describe the highs and lows of life and relationships, while still telling romance and keeping it real.



My only wish was that we would have gotten a little more of them when they felt truly secure and settled in the relationship. I simply can’t get enough of those two and just want to see them happy. I couldn’t put the book down, Elliot made me swoon one too many times and Edie is just a lovely and inspiring FMC, she’s my girl. (Plus the side characters are great, too!)



Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for providing me with an earc!



„You Belong With Me“ is out June 20th 2024!

(review was posted on goodreads on June 17th )

Mhairi McFarlane is like of breath of fresh air , always so funny and relatable. We rejoin Eddie and Elliot can they make a go of it despite the press, old enemies and insecurities. With Eddie opening a regional office for Ad hoc in Nottingham she gets a new colleague in the form of Declan chaos ensues when they first meet. Absolutely cracking read to brighten the dullest of days

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC.

Mhairi McFarlane's 'You Belong with Me' is a follow-up of her 2016 novel 'Who's That Girl,' I haven't read this particular book nevertheless, the sequel was really great! I've read McFarlane's 'Don't You Forget About Me' and I absolutely loved it! There's something about her books that just feels right. It's comfy, witty, and so so soooo charming.

I really liked Edie. I think she's a compelling character who is aware of her needs and wants and doesn't let anyone else dictate how she should live her life. Elliot was fine, a bit annoying sometimes, but I guess that's what actors are supposed to be. Love their chemistry. You just get really absorbed in their romantic development. There are all sorts of conflicts they need to navigate because it is a long-distance relationship.

I can't wait to read more of McFarlane's books! Thank you again!

I was so excited when I heard there was a sequel coming out for Who's that Girl as I absolutely adored it but.....The bloody cliffhanger! To say this book has left me quite satisfied with how the story continued would be an understatement.

I don't want to give any details and what Elliott and Edie went through all i will say is, you're in for a rollercoaster!

I really enjoyed this book, there’s something about Mhairi McFarlene’s books that feel so comfortingly familiar whilst also being fresh and new. I thought the character relationships were well developed and I really enjoyed the dialogue (I think this can often be hard to get right in a book like this).

The story was captivating and I read this book in 1/2 sittings. The only thing I don’t love is the amount of pop culture references. I find they pull me out of the story a little but that’s definitely more a me thing.

Overall a really enjoyable read

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot...

I didn't realise that this book is actually the follow up to an earlier novel - "Who's That Girl". Although it worked OK as a standalone, I think I'd have enjoyed it a bit more if I'd read the previous book, as I didn't understand some of the context.

It's a light easy read, with plenty of humour. I liked the settings - having lived in Nottingham, it was nice to hear good things about the city.

Character-wise, I found Elliot a bit "needy" but that's actors I guess! Really liked Edie, her sister, and Declan (THAT bit made me laugh out loud!).

Recommended if you are looking for a light, humourous read with more than a touch of romance.

Looking forward to reading more from Mharir McFarlane!

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

The most agonising, tender and absorbing read. It’s a standalone, but I strongly recommend diving into Who’s That Girl first.

The tension in Mhairi’s novels is dialled up to turbo because we already know Edie and Elliot, how they fell for each other and how hard it was for Edie to give him up - essentially because she did not see herself in his world - that she was Just Another Girl, and He Was HIm. Knowing that, I was already invested from page one.

But let’s back up a step. Edie lives in Nottingham, works there, has her own flat. She’s dug in. Elliot is a successful (and famous) actor, lives where the work is - currently in New York. After breaking up in Who’s That Girl, Elliot is back to give it another shot. Has anything changed though?

All Mhairi’s books are messy, untidy and very funny. Everyone’s a little bit blind to what’s in front of them and held to ransom by their own ideas and insecurities. We know this is a romance (no spoilers here) so of course they will end up together - I told myself - but oh the journey is painful. Edie second-guesses herself so much. Elliot is articulate and steadfast but it’s complicated. There’s lots of other stuff going on which keeps things moving. There’s Edie’s sister, Elliot’s family, plenty of work moments for Edie, including new workmate Declan, and the paparazzi always mixing the pot.

It’s a wonderful ride and if you love understated writing, dry humour, and closed door romance this is so so good 💖

Thank you so much NetGalley, Mhairi McFarlane and HarperCollins for the ARC. What a joy this was! Opinions are my own.

"You Belong to Me" is a sparkling gem in the rom-com treasure chest. It is witty, heart-warming, and utterly relatable tale.

Edie Thompson thought she had found her happily ever after with actor Elliot Owen, but when he shows up on Christmas Day with promises of rekindled romance, she faces a whirlwind of paparazzi, family drama, and long-distance woes. As Edie's boss brings the dependable Declan Dunne into the mix, she starts to question whether her love story with Elliot is a dream come true or a cautionary tale about getting what you wish for.

McFarlane masterfully weaves humour and heartache, delivering laughs that sneak up on you and emotional moments that linger long after the page is turned. Edie's encounters with her eclectic family and old friends are both hilarious and poignant, adding depth to her character and the story.

You'll root for Edie as she navigates love, friendship, and finding her place in the world. Along the way, she encounters a cast of characters that are as delightfully unpredictable as a British weather forecast—each adding their unique flair to Edie's journey.
In short, "You Belong to Me" is a deliciously witty read that will leave you grinning like a Cheshire cat. If you’re a fan of clever romance with a side of sharp humour, this book will tick those boxes.

I love Mhairi McFarlane's writing, and after the ending of Who's That Girl, I was delighted that we were getting a follow up book.

Through this book we follow Edie and Elliot. Elliott is Hollywood royalty - a sought after actor and heartthrob and Edie, an ordinary girl from Nottingham.

As a local girl, I really enjoyed all the references to Nottingham, you could tell the author really knew the area and I really liked that. I could picture scenes and it was nice to see Nottingham portrayed in such a positive way.

The characters in this book are great. Elliott is a gorgeous human being, he seemed to really understand Edie and what she needed and he was prepared to keep proving to her how much he loved her throughout the book.

I liked Edie as well - in some ways she has a confidence about what she wants and needs and she wasn't prepared to compromise some of this for Elliott which I appreciated. But on the other hand she seemed to really lack self esteem and I felt a lot of the conflict stemmed from her own worries about not being good enough for Elliott and I really wanted to see her grow more confidence and value herself in their relationship. They make such a good couple though and it was hard to read how much of a struggle it was for them at times.

The banter between these two is so funny and natural which made the book all the more enjoyable. This is a great follow up to Who's That Girl and I can't wait to see what Mhairi McFarlane does next.

Who's that Girl? Was one of my favourite MM books, so when I heard there was a sequal coming out after THAT ending, to say I was excited would be an understatement!

You belong with me did not dissapoint.
Edie is such a relatable woman that you can't help but see yourself in bits of her. She makes mistakes, she knows heartbreak and she loves deeply.
I adore her character. The same can be said for my feelings on Elliot too.

I don't always enjoy sequels tbh, because they rarely live up to the hype of the first book, but You belong with me did. It was funny, with witty dialogue throughout, great character growth and the warm, fuzzy emotions only Mhairi can bring out in me.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and the author for the eARC of this book.


I previously read Mhairi McFarlane's book Dont You Forget About Me and loved the writing style so when I saw this book on Netgalley I jumped on it and hoped my request would be confirmed. I am so glad I got to read this book. I wasn't aware going in that there was a previous book with the characters of Edie and Elliot but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of it and if anything I want to find it and read it.

I devoured this book and looked forward to diving back in when I wasn't reading it. The author handles relationship scenarios incredibly well and realistically. Sometimes I find romance books can be a bit too cheesy for me and it takes me out of the enjoyment of it but the two books I have read of Mhairi McFarlane's has confirmed that any book I read I'll be in capable hands. Read the description of this book and jump in. You'll have a great time. I'm just sorry I finished it already.


ps. I have crush on Declan. ha!

When I found out this was a sequel to Who’s That Girl which ended how it did I was so giddy. I loved that book (even more on rereading) and was really excited to see if Elliot and Edie would have their happy ending. This did not disappoint. We rarely get to see what happens after the Hea of Hfn endings so this deep delve into two people who you are ultimately rooting for, working through the ups and downs of their relationship, distance, insecurity, miscommunication and the drama of fame was everything I could have hoped for and more. As with all MM books this one took me through the emotional wringer. Elliot and Edie were funny, dry, charming and so so relatable. The supporting characters from the first book were back and there were a few new ones that made the world even richer and more fleshed out than before. A worthy follow up and well deserved 5 🌟.

I really enjoyed "Who's that girl" so leapt at the chance of an ARC of this book to find out what happens next in Edie and Elliot's relationship.

I struggled with a sense of impending doom knowing this is a sequel: after the initial get together if it's smooth sailing it wouldn't make for a very interesting book, so I was expecting big break ups and anguish so kind of braced myself for it, which was a little uncomfortable while reading a book, however the great dialogue and overall story telling soon overcame this and I immersed myself in the book.

This is one sequel that I actually rate higher than the original.

Elliot & Edie ❤️

🎄It’s Christmas Day, and the knocking at Edie’s door is Elliot Owen, the star actor that she got to know writing his biography and then broke up with, knowing they could never make a relationship work.

🎬He asks for a second chance, but nothing about this relationship is easy. The distance between Edie’s home in Nottingham and Elliot’s life in New York, the disparity between his life as a famous actor and gets as an ad agency person, as well as the trauma they both experienced very early in their lives.

🗞️Will fame tear them apart? Would Edie be happier with someone who lives close by and be there for her when she needs them?

📚This is the sequel to Mhairi McFarlane’s Who’s That Girl, a book I apparently read in 2020 but can’t remember too many of the details of! I read this long before I started being good about writing reviews and my thoughts, which is a pity. It also means I am very sure that this story works just fine as a standalone. I love how the cliffhanger ending of the previous book didn’t always intend having a sequel but the author started and couldn’t stop. It’s an interesting read. The doubts both Elliot and Edie have could easily tear them apart, the challenges they face are huge, and the might of social media and public opinion is crippling, yet if this pair can take all the negatives and still make a relationship work, you must know it’s true love. The supporting characters in this story are the best, and I loved the gentle, quirky Edie-ness of her personality. If Mhairi McFarlane writes it, I am in the queue to read it. Just thrilled her publisher is willing to let me read the ARCs of her stories 🌸

Read an eARC copy courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher
My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Pub date 20 Jun 2024

McFarlane is one of my favourite authors and I was so excited to read this after recently finishing "Who's That Girl?" to get another instalment of Edie and Elliots adventures (Who doesn't love a cliff hanger!?"

As always this book was funny, romantic and honestly would have no clue what to do in Edie's situation!

The perfect summer read and great if you need cheering up