Mhairi McFarlane is one of my most favourite authors and I recommend her to everyone - but this book just didn't hit the mark for me. Nothing really seemed to happen? I read Who's that Girl in preparation which is a funny, entertaining read, which this one is too, just not as eventful. Still funny, just not the book for me.

Mhairi McFarlane writes a delightful rom-com that focuses on some the serious issues and obstacles that could raise their head when dating a famous, handsome, actor in this follow up to a book I never read, but it did not really matter when it comes to enjoying this. 36 year old Edie Thompson had previously come up with reasons why a relationship between her and Elliot Owen, and matters had come to an end. Now on Christmas Day, he has turned up on her doorstep wanting her to give them a chance, she is the only one for him, this time deleriously happy, the two become a couple. Edie is a ordinary Nottingham woman, albeit with an unfair notorious history, working for the Ad Hoc Agency, with unfriendly co-workers who turned on her .

Edie lives with her younger sister, Meg, has close friends that include Hannah and Nick, she is determined to keep her feet on the ground, be independent and pay her way, and continue working, whilst continuing to love, maintaining and developing a love affair it into what she dares to hope will have a happy ending. However, could this be a realistic goal and possibility? Elliot is mostly away, there is public speculation and suggestive photographs with his co-stars, there is malice from those she knows who warn him off her, and those prepared to lie to make money from any tenuous connection they might have with her. There are leaks that have the couple questioning their nearest and dearest, whilst Edie's new colleague, with whom she gets on so well, is to present a challenge she does not see coming.

For readers who perhaps have never given much thought to what it might be like to be with a famous person will probably find this rom-com a revelation, McFarlane paints an all too authentic picture of the world of celebrity, the value of true friends, and those around willing to try to split the couple, highlighting the envy, greed and lack of integrity. This was a thought provoking and entertaining read, with a wonderful wide ranging cast of characters, funny, with some glorious banter to alleviate the darker aspects, that I am certain will likely appeal to many readers, fans and those new to the author alike. My one quibble was the poor quality of the galley that came close to spoiling the book for me. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

"You Belong with Me" serves as a sequel to "Who's That Girl," yet it stands on its own. Picking up right where WTG left off, Edie and Elliot have come back together, working earnestly to maintain their relationship.






Thank you Mhairi McFarlane for having the eARC sent to me.
Read it via NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

Absolutely loved this. Such a beautifully written book which is down to earth while also being in the glow of a celebrity romance.

I can’t recommend this enough. Great characters and an in-depth storyline with relatable characters that the reader can associate with.

Highly recommended this book and others by the author.

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

I want to preface this review by saying that I didn’t realise this was a sequel 🥴 I do have the first book on my TBR, so will probably come back to this review once I’ve read that to reevaluate.

Based off my thoughts & feelings while reading it, though - I simply didn’t enjoy the writing as much as I do with Macfarlane’s other works. The emotional edge that is so prevalent in her books was lacking in this one, and as a result I didn’t care enough about Edie & Elliot’s relationship to be fully engaged in the story.

Mhairi Macfarlane is one of my favourite authors, and I will never stop reading her books, but this one did miss the mark for me.

You Belong With Me is a fun read with likeable characters - just what you'd expect from Mhairi McFarlane.
I hadn't realised that You Belong With Me is a sequel - I don't think you need to have read the first book to enjoy this however having enjoyed this so much I'd like to go back and read about Edie and Elliott's beginnings.

A new Mhairi MacFarlane is cause for celebration in our house. We’re massive fans & I was so excited to get my hands on You Belong with Me. I will confess to a number of years passing since I read the prequel but I don’t think that really impacted on my enjoyment of the book. The author has a wonderful way with words & this book is no exception.

Edie & Elliott are back & will hopefully tidy up those annoying loose ends at the end of Who’s that Girl. Spoiler - they do, but not necessarily the way you think they will. I really enjoyed it.

It was very exciting to get to come back to one of Mhairi’s wonderful couples in this sequel! I must admit though, having read Who’s That Girl quite a few years ago and not revisiting it before diving into this one, I couldn’t really remember that much of what happened! But once I got going, it all started to come back to me. I think if you haven’t read the first book, you would have no problems catching up and it completely works as a stand alone story. Although I do recommend reading both as they’re so good!!

After I finished this I did pop back to Who’s That Girl and realised - oh yes, it genuinely picks up exactly where we left off! It’s Christmas Day and there’s a knock at Edie’s door - Elliot is back and he can’t live without her!

And so things between the couple start up again and they couldn’t be happier - but, with the chaos of dating someone famous and who constantly has to be in New York for filming and working on sex scenes with a stunning actress, how can Edie manage this dream relationship in real life?

Meanwhile Elliot is battling with his own feelings of insecurity when Edie starts working with a new guy Declan in her new Nottingham-based office.

It is classic Mhairi McFarlane - a gorgeous story that you can’t put down, brilliant characters in her friends and sister, and new co-worker Declan is instantly likeable. And there’s still the nasty crew back at Edie’s old office trying to stir the pot for her and cause trouble! It’s always good to have a few characters you love to hate!

It’s hard to know where the story will take us towards the end - Mhairi really keeps us guessing and I must admit I was feeling nervous about whether or not I’d be happy about how it wraps up - but she does a fabulous job as always so I shouldn’t have been worried! Another gorgeous story!

Probably my first ever 5 star for a book with romance at its heart. I have considered waiting with this review till tomorrow or the day after, thinking the high I’m feeling now might have waned off a little and I could potentially sound more matter-of-fact, but here’s the thing: Edie and Elliot and their lives felt so incredibly real, I don’t think it would’ve mattered.

A follow-up to “who’s that girl”, You Belong with Me can be read as a standalone - but given that life is short, and sometimes awful, I’d recommend reading both. Edie and Elliot are back together and trying to make it work.

That’s the summary.
The book is a good 300 pages because there’s two (fictional, I know I know) adults living grown up lives, with jobs, and colleagues and evenings with friends and all of it rang true. Not once was I taken out of the story because of a clunky sentence, or scenes that didn’t work. Dialogues not once felt constructed, or awkward (that’s not to say I’ve cringed, and/ or held my breath during them) and out of ink and paper an Ad agency was magicked. The frenzy of paparazzi and the destruction it can cause in lives of people who are, after all is said and done, still people, was portrayed in a way that made me consider its impact.

Also, either McFarlane has spoken to more therapists than all of us together have, or she has other ways to have come to understanding humans. No spoilers here, but both Elliot and Edie speak some universal truths.

So yes. A winner.

Also, dash Mr Darcy - he’s got quite some serious competition from Elliot Owen


Thank you Mhairi McFarlane for having the eARC sent to me.
Read it via NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

As a longtime fan of Mhairi McFarlane and obsessive reader of all of her books, I had really high expectations for this novel. A sequel to one of her best books? Yes, please. Two characters with this fantastic banter and palpable chemistry return? Oh, yes. A chance to learn if they can have their HEA? Come to momma! I’m so excited I got to read this ARC and so grateful to the publisher, as well as NetGalley for such opportunity.
First of all: it’s a wonderful book, a classic McFarlane love story where the protagonists are complex and deep characters, banter just flows and storyline makes sense. The returning characters were as charming, interesting and likeable as when we met them for the first time. Edie is still believable in her insecurities and obliviousness, although she is growing, learning and, finally, communicating. Elliot is still convincing in his honesty, confidence, openness and willingness to adapt, yet he still required to improve. I loved the juxtaposition of Edie’s insecurities and Elliot’s confidence, how the most of the drama in their relationship stemmed from that. I also enjoyed the introduction of the new characters, like Declan or Molly. Both making sense within the story and being a good addition to the mix. Then the relationship itself, we see how it develops, evolves, changes. How it forces Edie ans Elliot to listen, to switch their perspectives, to try different approaches. They both also learn from one another - Edie finally manages to communicate clearly what’s on her mind (with some exceptions) and Elliot listens instead of stubbornly pushing through with whatever he thinks. The storytelling and writing is absolutely brilliant, McFarlane has a way with words that helps her build those beautiful, hilarious stories that make us laugh and cry.
That being said, I have been rather annoyed by the length of this novel. Some edits could have benefited the pace of the story, as there were few bits that turned out to be quite unnecessary and inconsequential.
I still wholeheartedly recommend this book, 4,5/5 rounded up.

This review will be posted on my Instagram and TikTok on the 3rd of June 2024. I’ll add the links in that day.

I had to re-read "Who's That Girl?" before embarking on its sequel, and when I'd finished reading "You Belong with Me", I had to read it again, because sorry to say, I was left feeling unsatisfied. I had questions, so I read it again, skimming over some of the conversations with Declan for example, I was only concentrating on the Edie and Elliot sections. Having finished reading it for a second time, I think I mostly got the answers I was looking for and felt more satisfied regarding the ending, though not 100% happy with it. You see, I felt the ending to be rushed. After their row, I wanted more from Elliott, and yet I see now that he needed more from Edie, because Edie didn't treat him all that well. Elliott is a dream of a character. He was always so lovely to Edie, but she let her insecurities get in the way. I do understand why she couldn't believe they'd last, but when Elliott asked her to tell her something, and she was going to hide it from him, I can see why he reacted the way he did. So I would have liked a little more romance at the end. I don't feel we got it in the epilogue.
- I have to say, that even though I'm the same age as the author, I didn't understand some of the language she uses.
- I liked the supporting characters but feel some were left hanging. What about Nick, Meg, Edie's dad? What happens to them?
- I'm not sure Declan's inclusion was necessary. It actually stressed me a bit, him being included, because I couldn't guess who Edie would end up with. As Elliott is quite frankly, perfect, I was always rooting for him.
- And we don't actually see how the relationship between Edie and Elliott works over a period of time. One of them surely has to move at some point. Where do they live? Do they have kids? How does their life together work? I am really hoping that the author gifts us with a short story at the very least, to give us a little more Edie and Elliott, because I feel this book raises more questions.
- I think that Edie kissing another man at a wedding (from "Who's That Girl?"), is blown up out of all proportion. I cannot believe all that happens as a result. The fact it's carried over into the sequel seems OTT.
- As usual, Mhairi is very witty and insightful in her writing. I honest feel you can learn a lot from her books.
In summary, I think this is a great sequel. I needed time to digest it, and I would love a little more from Elliott in particular, Mhairi, if you're reading this. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Edie and Elliot the first time round, so being able to continue their story was brilliant.

Mhairi McFarlane has a unique ability to create a set of characters who bounce off the page and you just need to befriend. This is no different.

The story is turbulent and unpredictable with a gorgeous mix of heartbreak and smiles.

If you haven’t read something by this author yet, you really should. Perfection.

No one weaves two people together quite like Mhairi and to write a sequel typically means to somewhat unweave them. And while she did a fabulous job, I really didn’t like to see my loved ones struggle this much.

Her books typically involve a break down of one relationship and then into another so this sequel felt a bit turbulent at times not knowing what the outcome would be.

It was written really well, the banter unmatched, the fights pure emotion. You definitely felt why it wasn’t working and why you wanted it to. And due to everything going on, I felt there wasn’t enough space for them to just be happy.

In hindsight I enjoyed it much more on completion, than while I was in the thick of it.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

I love anything written by Mhairi, she is def one my top autobuy authors and I always eagerly await her new books. When I heard we wer getting a sequel to Who’s that Girl I was over the moon. I couldnt wait to hear how Edie and Elliot wer doing and this did not disappoint. As always with Mhairi there wer laugh out loud moments as well as the “will they make it”, emotional thought provoking moments too. I could not put this down and i was sad when it ended, now
I need to wait with bated breath for Mhairis next piece of pure Joy. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the privilege of this early copy and to the publisher. I will be buying a copy for my Mhairi bookshelf collection as soon as it is out.

Mhairi McFarlane gave me the sequel I didn't think I wanted!

I am likely in the minority, but I loved the abrupt ending of "Who's That Girl" and was a bit hesitant when I heard about the sequel. I just wanted to picture Edie and Elliott living happily ever after and not worry about any further drama for them! But reading "You Belong with Me" and all of their fun, witty banter made me forget about my reservations. I love living with these characters and their friends and family.

There seems to be some criticism around the current setting of YBWM, as WTG took place when it was published in 2015 and while YBWM picks up the story immediately where WTG ended, it takes place in 2024 with present-day references. That is not a bother to me, and I don't think it should deter anyone else! Just utilize suspension of disbelief and it will be a non-issue.

Loved this so much and can't wait for others to read as well!

I’ve read and enjoyed most of Mhairi McFarlane’s books so I was eager to see if this one would be another good read. While I found it easy to read, I don’t think it would be my favourite of hers. I think most Mhairi fans will enjoy this one for sure though.

The first book in this series, “ Who’s That Girl,” was not my favorite, so I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this one. Definitely classic. Mhairi McFarlane.

So happy to be picked for this and to see more of Edie and Elliotts time together. I love books about fame and how the other half life but then so down to heart and relatable

This Mhairi M superfan is NOT disappointed. I lost count of the amount of times I laughed out loud and I just smiled throughout.

Edie and Elliot (from ‘Who’s that Girl?’) are back, picking back up from where we left off. Can a relationship between a normie and an a list celeb really work? Does love conquer all?

Firstly, I should have reread at least the ending of the book before because while I remembered the gist, the specifics were relevant. Don’t make my mistake.

This doesn’t follow MM’s usual pattern in her stories and actually in a joyous book it leaves you with a powerful sense of dread because the happy ever after is at the beginning - so now what? It was a great set up.

Every time Edie’s self sabotaging dooming occurred, I was annoyed and then thought but actually you probably WOULD feel like that in her shoes. It’s an utterly mad situation. The most unrealistic part of the book (and all her books) is how unbelievably decent and kind and funny all the hot men are.

I also love how these books are love letters to the cities where they’re. This one is my home city (shout out Nottingham) so it fills me with particular joy.

The queen of wit is back and long may she reign.

Thank you #netgalley and #harpercollins #harperfiction and @mhairimcf for my #arc

You Belong with Me is a charismatic, fun novel that shows the ins and outs of relationships. It particularly picks up on the intricacies of a long distance relationship and how that can create a huge problem if it's not tackled in the right way. The sub plot line with Edie's colleague did have me wondering if she was going to jump ship for quite a while, and I really enjoyed how his character was introduced and written.

Elliot continued to be a loveable character who could seemingly do no wrong, though there were definitely moments of doubts throughout.

At first I thought the ending was going to be predictable but I actually enjoyed the ending and the way it was left.