5* Entertaining and very funny

I’m already a huge fan of Mhairi McFarlane’s, so when I received her latest book, Cover Story, it immediately shot to the top of my ‘to be read' list. I wasn't disappointed.

A Manchester newspaper is staffed by two people, Editor Arron Parry and Bel Macauley the Investigations Editor. Every three months an employee from the London newsroom is sent to Manchester for temporary work experience. After a change of profession from city worker to journalist, Connor Adams arrives at the tiny Manchester office as the latest intern. Connor is obviously unhappy about being in Manchester and his and Bel's first meeting was hostile.

When Connor bumps into Bel while she’s undercover for an explosive news story, to prevent him accidentally revealing her true identity, she claims that he's her boyfriend, unwillingly he's drawn into her investigation.

This book was everything I've come to expect from Mhairi McFarlane, there's witty dialogue, confusion and misunderstandings between the main characters, several plots running simultaneously, with amusing secondary characters.

A complex enough plot to keep me thoroughly engrossed. Result, an excellent read.

ARC generously supplied by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Absolutely LOVED this book! I can’t praise this author enough for her writing style, the language she uses is so relatable, and I think I fell in love with both Bel and Connor.
Such a great storyline, which I won’t share because nobody likes spoilers, but let’s just say that there was nothing negative to write about this one.
Off to recommend to everybody I know!

She’s done it again. I’ve loved all of Mhairi Macfarlane’s novels for lots of reasons. She has a way of writing characters that makes them so relatable, flaws & all. She’s the Queen of witty asides & her observations of modern life are spot on (or this lady of a certain age thinks so anyway!) The descriptions of Manchester are real but sexier. Do yourself a favour & read this & then read her back catalogue if you haven’t already done so. I loved it.

Hold the presses: major book hangover alert.

How the fuck does Mhairi McFarlane do it? Every book just gets better and better (and I know sound like a fawning cliche saying this). Cover Story is like the smoothest cocktail that carefully balances all the flavours. The next thing you know you've woken up with a major hangover and can't read another book. The only cure was to re-read my fave bits and look at tickets to Manchester (seriously, Manchester tourist office should give her commission).

This book is sharp, witty, well-paced and astute, blending social commentary, a bit of a mystery (I'd kill for a series with Bel and Connor investigating crimes) and a swoony, very slow-burn romance. It also continues a recurring theme from her previous books, namely the varying ways men wield their power via The Nice Guy in the Room act (who, past McFarlane hero Finn advises we should beware of) to inoculate themselves against scrutiny for abusing women.

I adored Bel, she's resourceful and daring but a bit battered after a toxic dalliance. Connor was also her perfect foil, a man wears his heart on his sleeve. Shilpa and Shaun were also perfect, with Shaun giving Fraser a run for his money as my fave McFarlane brother. To reduce the romance to 'enemies to lovers' ‘fake dating’ tropes is to do a disservice; it's far more layered. Instead of immature pranks and insta-lust with a romance going zero to 100 out of nowhere, it's a gradual slow-burn. Bel and Connor constantly wrong-foot and misunderstand each other every step of the way. I love that we witness both points of view as their feelings sneak up on them.

I was bereft when it finished. A gazillion stars.

Massive thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC. I have the ebook and audiobook pre-ordered.

Queen Mhairi does it yet again and it is glorious.

(I shrieked with joy when I discovered I was granted this ARC and contemplated taking a sick day so I could devour it in one sitting, but alas, I did not and read it over the course of two days like a mature professional adult.)

This story begins when heroine Bel Macaulay, journalist and semi-famous podcaster begrudgingly welcomes her new intern. She's expecting another lazy Gen Z protege, but is caught off guard by Connor Adams, a depressed thirty-something leaving the cutthroat world of finance to follow his life long dream of becoming a journalist.

And the disdain they share for one another is immediate.

Unlike most enemies to lovers, there is no hidden instant attraction for either of them. None whatsoever. Their first meeting has Bel perceiving him as cold and privileged, and in turn she treats him as if he is beneath her. He finds her insufferable and a bit pompous, as she and her colleague treat him as less than.

But like every Mhairi gem, their relationship slowly simmers alongside the main plot, advancing Bel and Connor from workplace nemesis to initially reluctant partners when they stumble into the investigative opportunity of a lifetime.

Like all Mhairi books, there's always an underlying theme or social commentary, and this one was public image and what happens when it is weaponized by those who wield power. We got to tag along with Bel and Connor on their covert mission to expose a highly public perpetrator. Mhairi covers this subject in an impactful way, sensitive yet light enough to make our undercover spies' sleuthing work entertaining (I suspect any woman who has dealt with something similar may feel vindicated by Mhairi's words on the subject). I also appreciated the deep dive Mhairi did into the processes of investigative journalism, bringing to light the legality of certain aspects - things I did not previously know yet was fully engrossed in.

Mhairi wrote this as a dual POV which she has not done in quite a few years. I found it super effective to be able to also see into the mind of Connor as the story unfolded. Both Connor and Bel were tremendous leads and every time I read something by Mhairi, I'm blown away by her characterization. Connor and Bel aren't these flawless and perfect Rom Com charicactures, but real and relatable people with flaws. They are emotionally intelligent and mature despite their failures. They feel human and like people you may know in the real world, and you may even see yourself in them at times, as I certainly did with Bel.

I also found this to be quite possibly one of Mhairi's most romantic pairings, despite the very long simmering slow burn. There seemed to be more romantic moments captured on the page versus allusions to it off-page like she usually does.

All in all, Mhairi *never* disappoints me and is perhaps one of the most consistently good authors I've ever had the pleasure to read. Full of brilliant passages, a couple of Mad Men or Sopranos references, and a multi-faceted story arc that combines romance, quick witted comedy, and the depth of social structures, Mhairi hit it out of the park with this one (again).

I read every Mhairi McFarlane that comes out and I enjoyed this considerably more than most of her recent books! Also made me really want to plan a trip to Manchester (literally already messaged my friend about it). I have to say that the final misunderstanding was insane and I felt like the book was quite overwritten, with dialogue that often sounded like someone was trying too hard to be witty, BUT the story was fun and I really liked Connor as the love interest.

When I read the premise of this book, I immediately felt like I would love it and I’m happy to say it definitely did not disappoint. “Cover Story” does a brilliant job combining two of my favourite romance tropes, with a cast of characters that I wish were my friends (Shilpa is a dream and I want to be her when I grow up!)

Though it is definitely a romance, and a swoony, slow-burn, delicious one at that, I want to talk about the investigative part of it first. I love that it shows Bel’s investigative process, and her grappling with morality when she makes some questionable choices in the pursuit of justice. While reading the book, I was genuinely nervous for Bel and Connor during some scenes, and I think it’s a testament to Mhairi McFarlane’s skill that I reacted like that. It’s also a powerful social commentary, critiquing the power imbalances that exist in so many different spheres of life, and the obsessive, almost psychotic interest of some men in women’s lives. Every woman who’s had an unpleasant experience with a man will no doubt feel vindicated in some sense by this book.

Now for the romance - oh, the romance! Bel and Connor are opposites, in the best sense. Bel is fire, and Connor tempers and grounds her, and together, they are unstoppable. Their chemistry is off the charts, and I love that it’s a true slow burn, with both characters slowly figuring out that they might like the other more than they expected to. I also really enjoyed seeing their relationships with Shilpa and Connor’s brother, Shaun, who give Bel and Connor the push they need to be open to the idea of falling in love again.

The writing is funny, paced really well, and thoroughly enjoyable. Would definitely recommend to anyone in search of a comfy romance with a little more to it than meets the eye.

Another absolute stunner from Mhairi! 🤩
The best in the business at writing fully formed characters that leap off the page, they are flawed and real and have you rooting for them almost immediately. I loved that Bel was not perfect by any means, but was still so likeable.
Connor was a dream leading man and I’m still thinking about him now. 🥵 My only note is, I wish we’d had a tiny bit more topless action from him.
Loved it and would recommend to friends and enemies alike.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I never feel that 5 stars do Mhairis books justice, they deserve so many more. I Love Mhairis books and this one was just brilliant. I Loved every minute of it, the only thing i can say that I hate about her books is that they have to end and then I’m left bereft.
As always the characters just draw you in, I loved Bel and Conor and Shilpa was a hoot, Mhairi always brings serious and sensitive subjects into her books too and this one touched on stalking. The humour and wit is just pure Mhairi and I had a good few laugh out loud moments, I’m gutted it’s finished and am lost on what book to read next as how can you follow that. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy

I love Mhairi McFarlane so I have been dying to read this one, and as expected, I loved it!

I thought the romance in the book was really sweet, I liked how the main characters made assumptions about each other at first, but then got to know each other and realised that they were wrong. The undercover angle was great fun to read and it was a nice opportunity for the characters to spend time together when they probably wouldn't have bothered to otherwise.

I love that these books aren't purely romance books, Bel had lots going on in her life and I was fascinated by her career, friends and family dramas. The side characters all felt believable and I enjoyed getting to know them.

If I have to be a bit picky, I didn't love the Anthony sub-plot, and that last conversation between them rambled on for far too long in my opinion.

The ending was really nice and it made me cry! Would definitely recommend this book.

Oh how I love Mhairi McFarlane! I am so annoyed at myself for reading it so quickly, rather than savouring it. I inhaled it in one greedy gulp. As ever, the characters are so brilliantly realised and the love story so delicious. I don't care if it's predictable, I NEED IT. It makes me bereft to think there won't be another for a year. Easy 5*.

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane focuses on the characters of Bel and Conor. Bel is a journalist who has recently left her previous work due to a toxic relationship with her supervisor. Conor is interning for three months with Bel’s office. The pair instantly clash until they are forced to pretend to be a croupier for an undercover story. I enjoyed the story even though I did find it predictable at times.

Within the first chapter both the accountancy firm I trained with back in the 90s, and my favourite current TV show (Slow Horses – which Mhairi is now on the writing team for, which I was so excited to hear, almost like a mate had got a big promotion) were both referenced – so I was pretty happy we were on to another winner!

I really liked Bel from the start – even if she and her colleague Aaron were a bit horrible to the new intern Connor when he first arrived at the office of their newspaper on secondment from London. Quite early on you know Bel’s escaped a difficult ‘relationship’ and ended up in Manchester – and more of that is revealed as the book progresses.

You can guess this is going to be an enemies to lovers story arc – but will it actually be?! There are lots of twists and turns along the way – all whilst there is a concurrent storyline of an undercover investigation into a local celebrity politician who is something of a wrong ‘un.

The supporting cast are great – I think Bel’s best friend Shilpa would be a perfect wing woman, and Connor’s brother Shaun is fabulous (and gives Mystic Meg a run for her money!)

The writing is funny, quick witted, modern, entertaining – all whilst covering some deep topics in an incredibly well thought out way.

Every time I read the next Mhairi McFarlane book I have a slight worry that it can’t be better than the previous one, and surely at some point there’s going to be one that is even a tiny bit disappointing – but it just never happens! She is consistently my favourite author every year and this is another triumph.

A huge thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my advance review copy. Cover Story is out in May, but I would recommend you pre order it now.

Excellent as I knew it would be. McFarlane doesn't shy away from serious and emotional issues but she manages to address them in a way that doesn't impact the enjoyment of the romance.

Ah, yes! The new Mhairi McFarlane! I binge-read all of her books when I had my daughter 6 years ago, needing something non-scary, funny and heartwarming to keep me going! And she’s continued to be on my instant-read list of absolute favourite authors.

Cover Story is classic Mhairi - gorgeous, relatable, complicated and witty characters and a fun, multi-layered story. Yes of course there’s a love story to die for - but as always with Mhairi’s books, there’s a lot more to our main characters and they’re dealing with career changes, manipulative exes and mental health struggles like real human beings.

Our main character is Bel Macaulay - a successful podcaster who has relocated to Manchester to work as an investigative journalist. Along with her coworker Aaron, it’s that time again for them to tolerate a new intern - enter Connor Adams. Despite being a hardworking 34-year-old, Bel is instantly grumpy with him, and he gives her back the same level of instant disdain.

Then when Bel gets started on an investigation that could be the biggest story of her career so far, Connor stumbles into her cover story and she has to pretend he is her boyfriend…. Cue the story getting going!

This was such a great mix of heartwarming, exciting, and emotional as Bel comes to terms with her past, uses her job to stand up for people that can’t do it on their own, and starts to see Connor in a new light.

The perfect joyful spring/summer read that I needed right now!

How does she keep doing this?! Another wonderful read from Mhairi McFarlane, who at this point can surely only be described as “disgustingly talented”. I adored the element of mystery in this book - the tense tracking down of evidence, the fear that the story being chased might not stack up. And as always, the unflinching look at how sh*t some men can be - especially in positions of power - also landed perfectly. I was fully invested in Connor and Bel’s tale, and appreciated the complex backstories that rounded them out as believable characters to root for. Just marvellous. Hurry up and write the next one, please, is all I can say.

This is the first book I've read by Mhairi McFarlane, and I LOVED it! It was so much fun and thoroughly exceeded my expectations.

There's an engaging romance between investigative reporter Bel and career-change trainee Connor, but also an equally engaging undercover investigation plot (I love undercover investigation plots). I liked the Manchester setting and the fact that colleague Aaron is from Bury (yes I'm from Bury). And I loved Bel's best friend Shilpa, what a star.

There're so many tropes here (enemies to lovers, fake relationship, accidental bed sharing) but it didn't feel hackneyed at all. The writing, especially the dialogue, is sharp and funny and makes you want to hang out with these people.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

To no-ones surprise, I loved this. Pitch perfect contemporary fiction with a stomach-swooping love story. The characters are delicious and real and the storyline is engrossing, entertaining and multi-faceted.

I love Bel and would like to be her friend please. Connor is a (not so) stoic dream and Shilpa is someone I’d love to bump into in the women’s loos and chat to for an hour, becoming immediate best friends.

Imo reading a Mhairi book is akin to sinking into a warm bath: it’s a safe and comfortable place to be. Don’t mistake that metaphor for a book that never touches on the uncomfortable & real though. Mhairi really knows how to weave a story of hope & love with very real observations of the often scary & misogynistic world we live in.

As always, I couldn’t stop reading but I’m bereft it’s over and am immediately looking for the next instalment of McFarlane cleverness & joy!

Ahhh, again and again I put myself in this position! I'll envy everyone who gets to experience this book for the first time when it's published.

I wish I could quote some of the passages because there were so many brilliant ones. The emotional intelligence is goosebump-inducing.

The plot focuses on the power of a public image, what happens when it's weaponized, and the difficulty in trying to keep those people accountable (read:men). It's a serious topic but it's approached with equal parts sensitivity and McFarlane's brilliant humour, and so the topic never feels heavy. In fact you're sort of tagging along with the MCs on their secret mission, going: WE RIDE AT DAWN!

Now the romance, as is usually the case with MM novels, simmers alongside the main story, but is still as impactful as if it were the sole focus of the book. It explores what happens when we lean too much on our own superficial assumptions of the other person.
There is no instant attraction as is often the case with enemies to lovers, where you have to squint to pretend it wasn't obvious they'd end up together. And don't get me wrong, I'm not carping at those books (in fact I devour them often!).

No, but what I'm saying is this is simply next level. These characters aren't afraid to dislike each other, or make the reader guessing till the very end. It's what every enemies to lovers want to be when they grow up. It's complicated, at times heartbreaking. I teared up at several points, I'll admit!

What I love about this author's writing is that the characters feel like real people. They make mistakes and are truly human, warts and all.

It was, as always, a breath of fresh air! I warmly recommend this book to anyone who likes their rom-coms with a side of great story that makes you think.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mhairi McFarlane does it again - there's not one of her books that I don't love! Funny, touching and just so damn good - I race through all of her books and this one was no exception, I was reading til gone midnight even though I had an alarm going off at 5am....

with a deliciously real heroine in Bel - and what's this? a hero who admits he's gone cold turkey on his anti-depressants - more of this please! Loved the nods to Mhairi's 'other' job on Slow Horses and as a northerner far from home, am incredibly fond of a novel set in rainy manc.