teesbookjourney's review against another edition
3.0
I love Mhairi and she is an auto-buy for me. She has a way of adding a lot of romance into a deeper plotline.
As much as I love flawed characters and Harriet is a flawed character. Her flaw may have developed from past hurt and experience but flawed she is.
I had a hard time staying interested in her story. we have a clear villain as usual however I had a hard time determining if Harriet didn't bring some of the current drama on herself
The results are lovely and I loved the direction - however, I wasn't too keen on the last scene - it was just a bit too much
All in All a great book just slightly too dramatic for me
I am still a big fan of Mhairi and I have highly anticipated anything new from her
As much as I love flawed characters and Harriet is a flawed character. Her flaw may have developed from past hurt and experience but flawed she is.
I had a hard time staying interested in her story. we have a clear villain as usual however I had a hard time determining if Harriet didn't bring some of the current drama on herself
The results are lovely and I loved the direction - however, I wasn't too keen on the last scene - it was just a bit too much
All in All a great book just slightly too dramatic for me
I am still a big fan of Mhairi and I have highly anticipated anything new from her
annebrooke's review against another edition
5.0
I've never read this author before, so I wasn't expecting much but I have been blown away with this sharp, funny and deeply moving romance. I loved the main characters, and especially felt for Harriet whose romantic life has been seriously traumatic for a variety of reasons.
I also really enjoyed the female friendships and the solidarity between Harriet and Lorna, which was lovely. And THAT end wedding scene is just brilliant. I loved this book and will definitely be getting more of this author's work.
I also really enjoyed the female friendships and the solidarity between Harriet and Lorna, which was lovely. And THAT end wedding scene is just brilliant. I loved this book and will definitely be getting more of this author's work.
maireadingnook's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 ⭐️s
As one would expect from a Mhairi McFarlane book, the focus here, once again, is not really the romance aspect; it's more character driven. If you've read her books you know exactly what I mean, and if you haven't, then I would just give you the heads up that her books aren't your typical romance books (even though they are marketed that way).
I've come to really appreciate McFarlane's writing and storytelling style. She writes, I read. I enjoyed reading this. It's insightful, empathetic, and encouraging. And while majority of this book cented around Harriet's happenings, there's just enough romance sprinkled in; I gobled up those scenes, wishing for just a little more.
CW: emotional abuse, verbal abuse, gaslighting, parent deaths.
As one would expect from a Mhairi McFarlane book, the focus here, once again, is not really the romance aspect; it's more character driven. If you've read her books you know exactly what I mean, and if you haven't, then I would just give you the heads up that her books aren't your typical romance books (even though they are marketed that way).
I've come to really appreciate McFarlane's writing and storytelling style. She writes, I read. I enjoyed reading this. It's insightful, empathetic, and encouraging. And while majority of this book cented around Harriet's happenings, there's just enough romance sprinkled in; I gobled up those scenes, wishing for just a little more.
CW: emotional abuse, verbal abuse, gaslighting, parent deaths.
snowmountainfire's review against another edition
3.0
I adore Mhairi McFarlane, and she is the only author that I deligently buy each new book.
This book felt like it had been written by another writer. As others have said, the blurb is misleading, and much of your enjoyment will depend on how you relate to the protagonist. I struggled to connect with Harriet, finding her too self-centred and immature to be a woman in her mid-30`s. I kept waiting for her to give me a reason to root for her, to want her to succeed, and couldn't. The only characters I liked were Cal and Sam, I wish they had a lot more scene presence. Cal and Harriet didn't work as a couple (the why wasn't there), it would have made more sense for Cal and Harriet to part as friends.
The writing comes across as YA, has questionable grammar (so many! ALL CAPS please explain?!), and characters misuse trendy buzzwords without understanding what they mean, or displaying the emotional intelligence required to explore and have an informed conversation on these topics.
Ultimately - this book was ok. If this is your first time reading Mhairi McFarlane, I highly recommend reading her other work (Who's that Girl, and If I Never Met You are two of my favourite books ever).
This book felt like it had been written by another writer. As others have said, the blurb is misleading, and much of your enjoyment will depend on how you relate to the protagonist. I struggled to connect with Harriet, finding her too self-centred and immature to be a woman in her mid-30`s. I kept waiting for her to give me a reason to root for her, to want her to succeed, and couldn't. The only characters I liked were Cal and Sam, I wish they had a lot more scene presence. Cal and Harriet didn't work as a couple (the why wasn't there), it would have made more sense for Cal and Harriet to part as friends.
The writing comes across as YA, has questionable grammar (so many! ALL CAPS please explain?!), and characters misuse trendy buzzwords without understanding what they mean, or displaying the emotional intelligence required to explore and have an informed conversation on these topics.
Ultimately - this book was ok. If this is your first time reading Mhairi McFarlane, I highly recommend reading her other work (Who's that Girl, and If I Never Met You are two of my favourite books ever).
meggg508's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
marilynfcameron's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
virginiabruno96's review against another edition
Thought this was gonna be a romance novel but I got 40% of the way in and we were still on the breakup 😭
readitwithred's review against another edition
2.0
Sadly this is a DNF. I picked this as my next read wanting a good old Rom Com... I was given the comedy but at nearly half way through I still see no sign of Romance and I just can't continue.
This was just not as advertised and to me is not a Romantic Comedy, the love interest is still very much in the back ground at nearly half way through and I could see no end in sight.
I really tried to give it a chance but I just needed us to meet the said love interest earlier and for them to interact more by now. Can't even say this was a slow burn as I felt no burn.
Just was not for me and not what I wanted to read at the time.
This was just not as advertised and to me is not a Romantic Comedy, the love interest is still very much in the back ground at nearly half way through and I could see no end in sight.
I really tried to give it a chance but I just needed us to meet the said love interest earlier and for them to interact more by now. Can't even say this was a slow burn as I felt no burn.
Just was not for me and not what I wanted to read at the time.
lcameron123's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
hhcassie's review against another edition
4.0
The ‘love story’ wasn’t the central focus of this story but it made it great and fun to read with the well developed characters