Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Mad About You

“Good women are not a rewards system for silly men.”

I have been a huge fan of Mhairi’s work for years! She crafts the character with so many complexities, they feel real. I will say I almost DNFed this book- In the beginning, I struggled to get into it and there were a ton of pop culture/celebrity references. I don’t know if perhaps it was a cultural divide or if I am just THAT unknowledgeable, but I felt like a lot of the sense of humor from these characters was heavily based on them and since I didn’t understand the references, I felt like I lost that connection. It wasn’t until about 20% into the book that I felt hooked!

Was it what I was expecting? No.
Did that make me love it? YES.

Although there is romance sprinkled towards the end, this book is very much Women’s Fiction. Ultimately about a woman named Harriet who is forced to confront her past relationships (not just romantically), to begin anew. This is not a fluffy romcom, despite the cover looking like so, but it delves into heavy topics such as grief and emotional abuse. I enjoyed Harriet as a character, who was constantly just trying her best. I adored Cal, even though I wanted more of him, I felt like he was genuine and an actual stable human lol. BUT I LOVED LORNA (the best friend, ride-or-die, will kick your butt if you mess with her loved ones)! Come on now, we all need a Lorna in our life!!!!

I feel like the John Tucker Must Die moment needs a shoutout/slow cap…. Ladies, ASSEMBLE!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for gifting me this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings

alisonreadsitall's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mhairi McFarlane is one of my all time favorite authors, so I jumped at the chance to read this digital reviewer copy of Mad About You.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book may be classified as romance, but it’s so much more than that. Mhairi has a wonderful way of taking a story and developing the characters so well that it’s difficult not to get emotionally invested. I appreciate that she doesn't shy away from difficult topics. If you are looking for lighthearted steamy read, this isn't the book for you. The plot doesn't quite give the full picture of some of the content warnings I've listed below.

Harriett is a wedding photographer with a bit of a sordid dating history. She's just broken up with the "perfect man" when he blind sighted her with the proposal she never wanted. In an effort to escape living with her ex, she takes the first rental she can find. Enter Cal, the charming homeowner who is trying to piece his own life back together from a disastrous almost-wedding.

When a secret from Harriett's past comes out, partly by her own doing, it rocks her world completely. Cal's friendship is the steady and gentle calm that helps keep Harriett above water.

Cal is just adorable, and the chemistry between Hattie and Cal is so real and refreshing. My only complaint is that I wish this book had been longer and gone more into detail about Cal and Hattie. It just felt a bit rushed at the end.

CW: gaslighting, emotional abuse, death of a parent, toxic relationships

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book comes out in the US on August 9, 2022!

Content Warnings

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