Cover Image: Last Night

Last Night

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Member Reviews

This is my third Mhairi McFarlane and to be honest, I went in completely blind. I now know how McFarlane operates - mixing romance and hard-hitting subjects mixed in with flawed characters, and that was enough for me to be interested. Well, let me tell you, Last Night hit me hard from the get-go.

This book is about Eve, our main character, and grief, and realising the closest people to you aren't necessarily who you think they are and realising, in the end, that's okay. It's about secrets and finding love where and when you don't expect it. Last Night was both so very sad and so uplifting. I think it is my favourite Mhairi McFarlane out of the three I've read so far, which was very unexpected to be honest.

I loved our main character Eve and the way she dealt with everything thrown her way, it was far from perfect but it felt real. Moreover, I loved Finlay and Justin and both of their relationship with Eve. So good. McFarlane definitely has a knack for creating romances and friendships that I end up rooting for and cooing over.

To be completely honest, this book won't be for everyone, not only because of its themes, but also because of its plot and execution - but I loved it, I really did. And I do think that everyone should give McFarlane a chance because her books are quite different from each other while also being so very similar in structure - mixing romance and hard-hitting subjects.

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I have always liked this author and her books and this was no different. The characters and the relationships between them all. It was good to see a happy ending.

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Mhairi McFarlane never disappoints. In her latest novel, Evelyn, Susie, Ed and Justin are best friends - until something happens that changes everything.

This book is a bit darker than McFarlane’s usuals, going into loss and abuse in ways she hasn’t previously gone into before.

Still, it’s an entertaining and soothing read - would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

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I'm a big Mhairi McFarlane fan and this was a great funny read, if a tad predictable. But with romance, you want that, you want to know there is some form of happy ending - and in these current times, happiness and hope is more important than ever.

Well paced, enjoyable, with characters you root for, I enjoyed this.

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I wish I could remember how I first discovered Mhairi McFarlane's books whilst I know my first was 'Who's That Girl?' I wish I could remember who it was that recommended her to me as they have my eternal gratitude. McFarlane is the Queen of the Romcom, her books are wonderful - capable of making your heart swell with joy and inducing floods of tears. There's an escapism to be found within them, not because they're unrealistic but because they're so believable, with fully rounded characters, instances that feel plausible and all manner of entanglements it's impossible not to root for. Last Night may just be her very best. Shifting tonally from some of her previous works, this one feels darker and laden with a degree of ache we haven't otherwise seen with her books. Eve has been in love with her best friend Ed since they were 18, both seem to be haunted by what might have been and what could be. When their lives are turned completely upside down, she realises their secret longing may not be the only secret within their friendship group.
Eve is such a wonderful character, who quickly came to feel like I friend - one I was devastated to live when I'd finished the book, but thrilled for where she ended up. Following her journey, more often than not *feeling* her journey along the way, was such a pleasure. I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. Reading this book is food for the soul - restorative and life-affirming.

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I absolutely adored this book. Very emotional in places. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

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First love, family, friendship, secrets - and how things are not always what they seem ... or what you've always believed them to be. Absolutely loved this - her best yet.

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There’s just something warming about reading a novel by this author. I’ve been a fan since reading ‘You Had Me At Hello’ many moons ago. Since then I’ve devoured every book and I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed with any story she’s written. I don’t even read the synopsis anymore because I know I’m getting a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This novel centres on Eve who has just lost her best friend, Susie. She hasn’t got much of a loving close family to speak of so her small circle of close knit friends are her support system. They have known each other since school and have kept in touch. Together with Ed and Justin they are a bunch that will not be divided however, when tragedy strikes secrets are discovered and life for them all will never be the same again. As the story unfolds Eve realises things are not quite as they seem.

I was the keeper of Susie’s secrets, and she was the keeper of mine. All bar one…..

Eve has been in love with Ed since school but they have never managed to get together be it for bad timing or circumstance. Her fear of rejection has always held her back and now she’s perma single and loving Ed from afar. The story arc of all the friends is fantastic and very well fleshed out. You come to know these individuals like your own friends. This for me is one of McFarlane’s greatest talents; drawing you in and falling in love with her characters. The writing is beyond razor sharp, smart and witty. I loved the dialogue between her friends which was full of dark humour with just the right amount of sarcasm for me. Some of the one liners were hilarious!

My appetite for sexual buccaneering has disappeared. I queued for the ride and now I don’t want to get on.
This book touched on some very hard subject matters which I don’t recall I’ve read from this author before but she pulled it off very gracefully using her wit and empathy beautifully. Even when you are reading emotional scenes McFarlane never fails to entertain and amaze with such clever and amusing prose. I wouldn’t say this book is a romance comedy per se even though it is full to the brim of humour but more women’s fiction. I say this because the arc of this book is more Eve dealing with such sadness and fall out from the biggest loss of her life. I have to say I really thought I’d got this story sussed from about half way but McFarlane took me by surprise which at first I didn’t warm to but eventually loved. Well played, well played! If you want a book about real characters and a heart-warming story well written story, you will love it!

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Two best friends.
One missed chance.
And a night that changes everything.
Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen. Now in their 30s, the four are still as close as ever, Thursday pub quiz night is still sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed.

Maybe Eve should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed sometimes thinks about it too.

Then one night, in an instant, all their lives change forever. And, as Eve learns she didn’t know her friends as well as she thought, she also discovers she isn’t the only person keeping secrets…

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for an early review copy of this book in return for an honest review. I'll be honest I have loved everything Mhairi has written and am very much of the opinion (like a growing band of people) that she doesn't get enough credit for the wonderful books she writes. She's also one of the few authors I reread as her books are so good.

This book is everything you would expect: emotional, funny and a great read. The author appears to have my slightly cynical sense of humour which always helps.. Without giving away any spoilers this is a very emotional read, right from the start and perfect for an evening's reading. You will laugh, cry and experience the full range of emotions possible.

Another 5 star review from me and I have already been recommending this book to others.

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I love this author and was super excited to be given the opportunity to review this book. I wasn't disappointed and she was simply amazing again. The story is based around 4 friends who meet as teenagers. We get to see their lives through different eras and a momentous event brings them together and a secret is discovered. I was hooked on this book and devoured it in 24 hours. Brilliantly sad.

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This is a very thoughtful book about love, friendships, loss and secrets told from the viewpoint of thirty something Eve who is reeling from the sudden loss of her best friend. Eve has been part of a close quartet since sixth form, she’s been secretly in love with one of them, Ed, for years and despite him having a long term girlfriend she’s held out for the chance of a future with him. A shocking event reveals past secrets that cause Eve to rethink many things about her past and about herself. The characters are really well written, the plot is simple but very character lead and works well and there’s a great balance of sadness and humour.

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I love Mhairi's books and was so excited to get my hands on this latest story, which sadly only lasted less than 24 hours as I could not put it down!

The story encompasses Eve, Susie, Ed and Justin, two sets of best friends who meet up at sixth form and become an inseparable foursome.

The writing iis magnificent. To borrow a phrase but slightly changed from the book "my sliding scale for magnificent has completely changed and I need an enhanced vocabulary to deal with it."

There are so many things I want to share about this book but I don't want to give spoilers. Everyone should read this book. I really need someone to discuss it with!

There are some heavy scenes contained within the pages and it is a heartbreaking read at times, really pulling on the heartstrings but this is also interspersed with laugh out loud humour, quick wit and banter between the four best friends.

There is a long buried secret which rears its head after a huge event which makes you wonder if we ever really know those who we are closest to. We also discover that first impressions are not always correct.

Oh and there is a lovely cat called Roger.

This book s simply wonderful and I am already looking forward to the next one!

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Eve, Ed, Justin and Susie have been best friends since their teens. Now well into their thirties they’re as close as ever. Thursday quiz night is a sacred ritual and Eve is still in love with Ed.

Perhaps she should have moved on by now, especially as Ed has long-term girlfriend Hester but she still holds tightly onto what could have been.

Then, one night changes the groups life forever, and Eve begins to wonder whether she knows her friends as well as she thought she did?


Reading the newest book by Mhairi McFarlane as soon as possible is always a no-brainer for me. I have loved all her previous works for their highly relatable protagonists and laugh out loud one liners. So, when I was approved for an ARC I knew this would be bumped up to my next read.

Whilst I liked Eve from the off, and loved the close knit of the group dynamics, I found the story itself was somewhat of a slow burn and it took me longer to get into it than I would have liked. There was also the fact that I just couldn’t stand Ed, and with that came a slight annoyance that Eve was so in love with him. Personally, I just couldn’t see the appeal.

However, once a certain string of events were set in motion I felt the story really got underway. Then came the comical quips and downright hilarious incidents that I have come to expect and love from this author. I think it takes great skill to evoke real emotions in a reader, especially laughter, and McFarlane has it in bucket loads. Justin had me absolutely rolling at times with his witty dialogue.

This book was centred more on relations between friends, the romance came much later on, so it had a slightly different feel to it than what you might be used to if you are already a fan. But, in no way was it less enjoyable because of this.

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I always adore Mhairi’s books and this was no exception. The characters are relatable, and the stories are realistic. I started this thinking I knew what the story would be, and what unfolded was so very different and special, and heartbreaking. Yes, it’s a love story but there’s more than one, and it was that dual thread that kept me awake until 3am. Genuinely breathtaking at times and I felt the loss acutely, but there are lots of highs too - an emotional rollercoaster... Highly recommended.

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Wow! This book is one of those books that you will be thinking about for ages after finishing reading.

The characters are all so realistic that you feel with them. Eve is such a strong character that stays true to herself throughout. I’m glad that she knows her worth and won’t settle for less. She was extremely brave to challenge the relationship with her and Ed. I loved Finlay! What a babe!

I love the end. I’m glad Eve got what she wanted and deserved.

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This was such a lovely story with a few surprises and I just adored the friendships that had to change & adapt. Very realistic characters with real jobs. I would love to see one of Mhairi's books developed for the screen, they have a real Richard Curtis feel to them.

Thank you to NetGalley & publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for review

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I have absolutely loved every Mhairi McFarlane book and am happy to report that this one is just as brilliant as all of her previous novels.
As always her writing style is on point, making you giggle, cry and think about things in a new way, all whilst keeping the storyline bouncing along. Her strong female characters always have me hooked and Eve is no different, I found myself rooting for her throughout and desperate to know what would happen in the end. We follow her story after she suffers the loss of her best friend, watching her grieve and readjust to life without her sidekick. I always love the way she writes friendships and unfolding romances, they are so realistic and sweep you along with them, making you wish you were part of the plot. I absolutely recommend this one!
Thank you so much to the author, netgalley and the publishers for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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It's a lovely read but I found it a bit predictable. It's like a warm cosy blanket of a book for a miserable evening.

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Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen. Now in their 30s, the four are still as close as ever, Thursday pub quiz night is still sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe Eve should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed sometimes thinks about it too. Then one night, in an instant, all their lives change forever. And, as Eve learns she didn’t know her friends as well as she thought, she also discovers she isn’t the only person keeping secrets.

As a reader I know what I'm going to get with a book such as 'Last Night'; an entertaining plot with likeable characters and McFarlane's usual humour and wit and that is exactly what this book delivers. But that is half my problem, this was all too predictable and I would have liked to have had some sort of surprise in reading this. Unusually, I much preferred the second half of this to the first. The latter half of the book packs more of an emotional punch and I had more connection to the characters, whilst this is only natural, I was still surprised by the difference.

McFarlane has delivered with the characters, Eve and Justin are particularly strong. As a whole, I enjoyed reading about the different personalities and seeing how they interact with each other. This is quite an emotional read at times and I enjoyed how McFarlane balances the portrayal of emotion alongside humour. One thing I have to add is I have not mentioned my favourite character as it would be a little spoiler but they are a really strong character and the saving grace of the read for me.

'Last Night' is emotional, funny and most of all, an enjoyable read. I only wish there had been a couple of surprises along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

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Eve Harris, aging Goth (well, she’s 34) has been in love with Ed Cooper for sixteen years but he’s with Hester who no one in their tight knit group especially likes. Her life is stalled from job to love until one night when their lives are shattered.

As a writer Mhairi McFarlane had me at hello but for me this is her best book yet. Although this book deals extremely well with difficult events being somewhat darker in tone than her other novels, her lively, engaging writing style and humour are never far below the surface. I love the way it’s written with witty Eve talking to the reader which makes you feel her emotional turmoil more deeply. All the characters are well developed but I particularly like Eve as she very individual, clever, funny, you just know she’d be great company at the pub, she’s loyal and kind. The friendship of Susie, Eve, Ed and Justin is something to envy. Their dialogue is smart, laugh out loud, sardonic and ironic with some sadness at times. There are several jaw droppers as Eve goes on an emotional journey of self discovery taking the reader through a range of emotions. I really like the 180 we do on Susie's brother Finlay who is nothing like you imagine as he reveals his secrets and we come understand family rifts. There’s a lovely feline character going by the grand name of Roger Piecrust Harris and a chihuahua/Yorkie cross called Leonard! I greatly enjoy the ‘Trip’ to Nottingham and the suburb I was born in near the famous cricket ground and the journey to Edinburgh with Fin and Eve is probably the closest I’ll get to ‘Auld Reekie’ this year so big thanks for that!! I really like the pop culture and film references which keep appearing throughout and add a fun element to the storytelling.

Overall, I love this book. It transports you, takes you away from the now (massive thank you) and gives you some thoughtful but fun hours in lovely company.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.

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