I was given this book from netgalley, thank you to them, the author and publisher.

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane and it won’t be my last. I really loved the way she writes and was totally enthralled.

There’s been a fashion in romance novels since PS I love you where the leading man is dead or dies in the book. To me this is not good chicklit as I really want the two main characters to get together. I’m not looking for reality in my books; I’m after escapism and death is not that. So I was very afraid that this book was going to follow that pattern but it doesn’t at all!

We have Eve, a marvellous, realistic woman who is navigating the modern dating scene with a difficult burden. She’s in love, secretly, with one of her best friends. After a miscommunication at university the two of them have been separated and Eve watches as he becomes involved with another woman.

That’s almost as much as the blurb says and that’s all you need to know apart from this is the start of the book and it follows a rather unexpected trajectory in a fast paced whirl of hilarity and pathos. You won’t be disappointed or frustrated by this book.

This was completely my sense of humour and it had me laughing out loud at the situations Eve finds herself in, as well as brilliant one liners she responds with. The caustic wit between her group of friends was so realistic, you could truly imagine sitting next to them in a pub.

Perhaps there were a few too dark bits for a light novel. The grief is very well written about and is very ‘triggering’ but overall I’d really recommend this novel.

This is an emotional read by Mhairi, one of those that is very hard to put down. I like her style of writing and feel this one is her best one to date

I am a huge fan of Mhairi McFarlane novels but I usually listen to them, so it was a real pleasure to actually read this one. Thanks Netgalley!
I adore the humour and romance that sparkles throughout McFarlane's novels, always with a strong and free thinking female lead, and Eve is no exception. Full of witty dialogue, great characters and fresh scenarios to work through and be resolved, Just Last Night follows a quartet of friends, a group formed in Sixth Form which is still together now they are in their early thirties. Ed is in a long term relationship with Hester, Susie is full of acerbic wit and has a high paying job, and Justin is forever boyfriend-less. Eve is stuck writing snappy one liners and after all these years is still hankering after what could have been, should have been, very nearly was, with Ed.
I loved the easy banter, their pub quiz efforts and the way in which this foursome understood one another. And yet this is all blown apart rapidly one evening with some shocking news that will make Eve question everything that has gone before.
Last Night is a heartfelt, emotional look at not just friendship and romantic love, but families, memories and learning to let go.
This book will entertain you, let you escape, and fill you with the rosy glow of romance without adding any unnatural or unnecessary gloss.
Loved it!
Thank you again to Netgalley, Mhairi McFarlane and the publishers for granting me access to one of my favourite author's rollicking good reads.
*Puts hand up* Is the next book coming soon? Like a child who whines in the back seat of the car 'Are we nearly there yet?' I am pleading, 'Can I read the next new book soon?'!

Last Night surprised me in just how much I was drawn into Eve’s story. Eve, Susie, Ed and Justin all feel like such real, well-developed characters that I could imagine knowing them in real life, which only makes what happens in the 400 or so pages that follow even more heart-wrenching, thought-provoking and entertaining.

I started this book without reminding myself what exactly it was about, and I think this is a great way to enjoy it, so I’m not going to give much away about this plot here. But what I will say, is that I found Eve to be such a likeable character that I couldn’t help myself becoming completely engrossed in Last Night. It’s a story of friendship and complicated feelings among friends – romantically, platonically, and those devastating feelings of loss and everything that comes with it.

I loved that Mhairi McFarlane made the characters in this novel less than perfect – they each had their faults (some more than others) and none of them was the ‘perfect’ person. This felt so much more realistic. I could see myself as one of Eve’s friends, trying to navigate their early 30s together with all that baggage and emotion that comes from knowing someone since their school days.

A few parts of the plot were a little predictable perhaps, but there were also plenty of surprises along the way. I think the author addressed grief in a brilliant way, never shying away from it but showing how life does go on, even if you don’t think you want it to.

There’s also plenty of wit and dry humour within this novel, taking it away from being overly sad at times to striking the perfect balance. It managed to provide escapism for me, at a time when I’m sure many of us want this in a book, whilst still feeling realistic and emotional – you may need tissues for this one! I don’t want to give any more away, but this is definitely one of those novels I’d file under ’emotionally intelligent, well-written romance’. I’ve already read (and really enjoyed) another novel by Mhairi, and Last Night has reminded me that I want to keep reading through her back catalogue!

Eve, Susie, Justin and Ed have been best friends since their school days and are inseparable. Thursday night’s see them down their local pub trying to win the quiz but miserably failing. Eve has a huge secret though ... she is in love with Ed and has been since forever. When a tragedy rocks their world and other secrets come tumbling out, can the friendship and love they have for one another survive?

This book was fantastic - funny but simultaneously heart wrenching and I loved every minute of it especially Eve’s witty one-liners. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too. But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever.

The great part of this book was its strong characters and witty dialogues. It was a joyous journey with Eve while she learned to value herself, take her life back, realize what her heart truly wants. Justin’s one-liners and quips were utterly hilarious, had me honking out with laughter whenever he made an appearance. I can’t get enough of him. Susie was sassy, audacious, and snarky. Ed came across as protective and caring but has his own shortcomings. Fin was broody, cynical, grouchy, and perceived universally as a heartless jerk. He reminded me of Mr. Darcy.

These characters seem very real to me as each has its own strengths and shortcomings and that’s what made their friendship and relationships complicated and messy. This story has everything you look for in a book, heartwarming friendships, hilarious one-liners, betrayals, jealousy, brooding hero, slow-burn romance, beautiful locations, heartbreaks, unrequited love, breakups, disasters.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane and it will not be my last. It wasn’t the story I anticipated; deeper than I imagined, more serious and extremely intuitive. This is the story of four friends in their 30s, friends who have known each other from schooldays and who have forged a deep and enduring friendship. One night after their regular pub quiz everything changes. This is a story about loss and bereavement, about grief and recovery as well as being comic and romantic and I think it is unique in combining all those elements so beautifully. Anyone who has suffered a bereavement will relate to the incredible unwrapping of feelings and emotions and also just the sheer mechanics of what happens when you lose someone. Eve(lyn) is a wonderful character, kind,quirky, funny, vulnerable, and loving. I loved the chemistry between her and Finn. Finn was just delightful - moody, secretive, gorgeous and an enigma that starts to unwrap on a trip to Edinburgh. This is a really lovely read. Be prepared for tears and laughter and some gorgeous romance. With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for a digital copy of this lovely read.

This is one of these books that it’s hard to review without giving too much away and I do want everyone to discover everything about it for themselves as they read.

As you can tell from the blurb though, this book is about a very close knit group of friends and about a shocking event which devastates them. Now, if you have read Mhairi McFarlane’s books before you may be thinking that this sounds a bit darker than her other books and to a certain extent you’d be right. There is a lot about the shock of grief in this book, the kind that just hits you out of the blue when you remember over again about the loss and everything that entails. Mhairi McFarlane has written about this so sensitively and insightfully and the friends’ grief was almost palpable.

Eve is the central character in the book and it’s very much her loss that we focus on. As well as the person she is grieving for, she is also grieving the loss of the person she thought she knew. After the death, it turns out that the friends did not know each other as well as they thought they did, that there were long held secrets between them and that is almost as devastating for Eve.

I was surprised (and delighted) to find that Edinburgh is significant setting for part of the book and indeed so is Portobello! One of the places which is important is, I’m pretty sure, the house on the Prom that until recently was the Dalriada pub.

Mhairi McFarlane is such a brilliant story teller that even though sadness is a major theme in the book, it’s not overwhelming and is balanced beautifully with themes of friendship and hope. The close knit group of friends were fabulous to read about and I was especially fond of Justin. There’s a character who is just awful, maybe more than one now that I think about it, but Hester was great fun to read about and she’ll have you aghast at some of the things she says. So there’s plenty of Mhairi McFarlane’s trademark warmth and humour.

And of course, there is romance too and what a gorgeous romance it is. No, I’m not telling you any more about the love interest, you’ll just need to buy the book yourself to find out! Every time I read one of Mhairi McFarlane’s books I think it’s her best yet and I have to say that again with this one. The characters are flawed and real and you will take them to heart. The story is so beautifully told, such an emotional read. It made me sad but it also made me very happy. It’s a wonderful tribute to friendship and the kind of uplifting read that I think we all need write now. Don’t just take my word for it, buy it and find out for yourself.

Whenever I pick up a Mhairi novel I know that I’m going to love the leading lady and I’m going to laugh and OMG a lot and I did just that.

In saying that Last Night had a different feel to that of the usual Mhairi novels – granted we are still given her trademark wit in abundance with so many laughs out loud, thankfully I read this in the comfort of my own home so I wasn’t given any strange looks.

Now I don’t know where to begin in reviewing this absolute beauty of a book. As already stated it’s full of Mhairi’s trademark wit but there is so much more to Last Night.

In this novel she tackles a number of hard hitting subjects with grace and understanding, I would elaborate but a few of the aspects didn’t come up properly until the final stages of the book so I don’t want to ruin those reveals but wow. It’s one of those novels that challenges your thoughts on those in your closest circle and their family members. There are always two sides to the story and the loudest one isn’t always the true story.

I really enjoyed how a number of these aspects were slowly drip fed to us with a number of them not being tied up until the final moments.

Ed, Justin, Susie and Eve are an interesting friendship group with their quirks and in jokes they kept me on my toes from the start. I have always loved Mhairi’s friendship groups and this bunch may well be my favourite as a mid 30s woman I can wholeheartedly understand all the trials and tribulations within the group.

Eve wears her heart on her sleeve in many aspects although her love for Ed wasn’t as well kept as she thought. We’ve all had a crush that would never play out well but when it’s one of your best friends who you see regularly that’s hard going and understandably she’s not a fan of the fiancée Hester. I must say I always love and loathe the hated woman – and in listening to Mhairi speak about her original thoughts on Hester I must say she just works in being a bitch. She had some truly classic lines.

I must admit I took Finlay at face value and truly disliked him to start with, on the road trip to Edinburgh we are shown a different side to him and this intrigued me and had me turning the pages faster and faster. I loved being shown the more amusing and somewhat sensitive side of the wayward brother.

Last Night is an emotional and nostalgic look at friendships, love, loss and betrayal. This bunch are the kind you would love to join in a pub quiz and their bond was so heartfelt. The aspect of friends being the family we choose really got me and I did shed a tear during the final pages. I loved the way she tied up this story it seemed apt and perfect. For me there were two love stories in this novel and both were unexpected and in some ways perfectly linked. A truly gorgeous read from one of my absolute go to authors.

Blurb

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…

My Thoughts

As with all of the Mhairi McFarlane books I’ve read (I’ve read Don’t You Forget About Me and If I Never Met You ) I was completely taken in by the cover: simple, eye catching, cute. Of course, as with any book I’ve ever read, I should’ve known not to judge this book by its cover.

I expected a cute, heartwarming story with a little bit of bite to it. What I got, in the end, was quite different.

The book follows Eve, a thirty something whose feelings for one of her best friends – Ed – come to the forefront when he proposes to his girlfriend, Hester, a woman Eve and her three friends don’t like (and honestly I could see why!). You’d think from that brief description this was a love story but – as you read on and the story takes a shocking, heartbreaking turn – you realise there’s more to it than that.

I loved the friendships in this book. I used to be all about the love stories in books but, as I’ve got older (and possibly more cynical), I’ve really come to value the other versions of love, like friendships and family relationships. The group jelled so well and I really enjoyed seeing different personalities together, plus the pub quiz scenes reminded me of simpler pre-pandemic times with my mates, arguing over questions we’d inevitably get wrong in the end 😂.

Eve is a great protagonist. I think McFarlane is great at creating characters and Eve is no exception. She is witty, loyal and kind and I loved the moments where she looked back on her relationships and friendships in the past. She is flawed, as most protagonists are, but the emotional journey she goes on in the book ultimately makes her a stronger, more confident person which was an absolute joy to read.

I think we’ve all experienced a fair bit of loss and grief this last year or so, whether it be mourning the loss of someone we knew or feeling the same for the people we see or read about in the news, and McFarlane is excellent at portraying the many stages and emotions you feel after someone passes away. It still remains that I’ve never cried at a book (mad, I know) but the honest, raw way McFarlane depicts grief for her characters is definitely an emotional read.

I initially assumed this book would be a romance but it wasn’t..not exactly. I loved reading the scenes from Eve and Ed’s past, as I think it will resonate with a lot of us (we’ve all had one crush – or several – in the past that just won’t work out, no matter how much we wanted it to). I think there’s a beautiful contrast in the present, as the love between Ed and Eve is remains but it’s much softer, much more about helping the other person navigate life after loss. The actual romance that came about in the book wasn’t unexpected and – though the early predicting of this pairing did spoil this book for me (a little bit) – I loved reading how, after loss (both the death of a friend and the death, so to speak, of a relationship that never really had the chance to get started), Eve finds herself a new kind of love whilst never forgetting the one she lost.

Last Night was not what I expected. At all. However, it’s an insightful, emotional story about friendship, love, loss and betrayal. I can definitely see this book in my top reads of this year so – if that’s not encouragement for everyone to pick this book up – I don’t know what is.

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…


Mhairi McFarlane has long been my very favourite author. I’ve loved every one of her books, have read the ebooks and listened to the audiobooks multiple times. In my opinion, there’s no one better at writing brilliantly witty romantic comedy. But although her books never fail to make me laugh out loud, there is always way more to them than just funny lines. Her characters always feel real to me. They don’t come across as perfect people, they have flaws and complications and their relationships, be they family, friends or romance, are not always straightforward, and never come across as formulaic. Although always written with a huge amount of heart and warmth, Mhairi’s stories never shy away from difficult topics, and we’ve seen subjects such as infidelity, internet bullying, sexual assault and suicide faced by her characters in previous books. Last Night is the same mix of brilliantly written characters facing real life issues, and it is another gem of a book.

I found myself swinging from laughing out loud to tearing up with a lump in my throat when reading this story. I hate to use the ‘J’ word, but I feel we really do go on a journey with Eve over the course of her story. There are many hilarious parts to this book and fabulous one liners, often from the genius that is Justin. There is fun and giggles, and the joy you get reading about a great group of friends, with all their shared history, in jokes and interactions. But with this story, there is also shock, grief, doubt and confusion. It’s a fully rounded story, which makes you look at your own life and relationships, and wonder how you would cope being in Eve’s shoes.

Oh - and there is of course, romance!! Although I’m emphasising the light and shade of the story, as with all McFarlane books, intertwined within all that, we have a swoony love interest worthy of our girl! The rom of rom-com is very much alive and kicking here!

That said, I really think at its heart, Last Night is a love letter to friendship. Those friends we grow up with, trust with our secrets, share our funny stories with, laugh with, cry to, lean on and support. Those people that know us better than anyone. But what happens if it turns out that maybe we don’t know our friends quite as well as we thought? When secrets are exposed, does it make a person reassess their whole relationship? Are friendships always totally black and white, good or bad, or are there grey areas that we need face and decide if we can move on from? Are our expectations of our friends so high that when they don’t live up to that ideal, it’s a game changer for us or should we look at ourselves more closely and acknowledge that none of us are perfect? The many different emotions that Eve experiences in this story really rang true to me.

Last Night is a smart, witty, romantic, heartbreaking and thought provoking 5 star read. I’d expect nothing less from Ms McFarlane and, as ever, she doesn’t disappoint.

One of the best books I've read this year. Mhairi has shot to the top of the 'shut up and take my money', pile of authors I'll read in a heartbeat. Full review to follow in local newspaper column.

I love, love, loved this book! So beautifully written, with many laugh out loud moments but also a sensitive and realistic portrayal of grief and loss - love, friendships, relationships, secrets and finding yourself - highly recommend!

This book was better the further I got into the story. The characters were believable and well brought to life. Overall, a book that makes you think.

I have always envied that bond of small nitches of people that met at school and are still friends years later. (my sister-in-law has the same friendship with people we both went to school, even now in our sixties). Eve, Susie. Justin and Ed were such a group. Eve at 34 is still single, gothic and plays centre stage in this story. They had all been close. She had always had a crush on Ed, which had grown to love, while Susie was her rock until after a night out together, a terrible accident ends Susie’s life and changes Eve forever.

Oh my, this isn’t just a story about picking the pieces up and getting on with life. It is discovering another person behind the one that she thought she had known everything about. It is bubbling frustration that festers because there is no-one to shout at or say to them ‘what about me’?!! Eve thought she had known Susie to the core, but she hadn’t even scratched the surface.

I had fallen deep into the pages of this story and time just disappeared because as a reader, you soon feel a connection to Eve. The second half of the book was just what I needed. I loved how the story took a turn to not just find out about the Susie that she didn’t know about but of herself too. This is a warm and good feel story of finding ways to forgive and move forward.

A gem of a read. Loved it!

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

This is my favourite of Mhairi's books yet, and her strongest and best yet. It's incredibly hard to out down once you've started it.

I loved the dynamic between the four friends. When you've been friends and known each other for as long as this pack have, the closeness brings on a level of teasing and camraderie I love to see in books. Of course, going through such a tough bereavement will also bring you significantly closer together.

There are a lot of difficult topics in this book, but I felt they were all dealt with and portrayed fantastically and tactfully.

Wonderfully written, and a great storyline. There were even some parts that completely threw me for six in this book.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me this advance read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thus is the first book I have read by this author and it was a delight to read.
The author weaves an excellent believable story about four people who have been friends since the sixth form at school over ten years ago. One of them is accidently killed and the story delves into the grief, friendship, secrets and emotions of the remaining three friends.
Highly recommended.

Really enjoyed this story and it brought so much emotion to the fore! Gripping from page 1 this is a great book to read.

Last Night, the latest book by Mhairi McFarlane is another wonderful slice of friendship, love, humour and heart. I am such a huge fan of McFarlane’s writing; nobody else can make me snort with laughter one minute and cry the next, and have been avidly waiting her new novel. The problem is, like a packet of chocolate digestives, I can’t take it slowly and end up devouring it all in almost one sitting. Fortunately reading is far better for the waistline than a packet of biscuits.

Our protagonist is Eve, who works in a job she doesn’t particularly like writing headlines for clickbait adverts about such glamorous things as spicy hotdogs. She’s been friends with Susie, Ed and Justin since they were teenagers and the foursome are a tight knit group. Their banter is full of in-jokes and easy camaraderie and their weekly pub quiz trip is an occasion none of them miss. Ed’s been with his girlfriend, Hester, since University and despite her knowing the other members of the group for more than a decade she hasn’t quite gelled with them, which could have something to do with Eve harbouring pretty huge feelings for Ed. When something catastrophic happens the group is rocked and it sets in motion a chain of events which cause Eve to dig deep.

I loved how accurately friendships are portrayed, particularly long term friendships like Eve and her friends. Friendships where a single look at a friend over the rim of your glass whilst taking a sip of a drink can communicate far more than thousands of words could. The heaps of shared history, knowledge and understanding leaps from the page and I felt like I was there in the pub being utterly rubbish at the quiz, arching an eyebrow at the uber competitive team at the next table.

I love McFarlane’s books for the wit and zingy writing, and Last Night is chock full of sardonic comments and observational humour, but it also has a dark side. The rug was well and truly pulled out from under my feet and a bomb was thrown into the narrative and the book didn’t go quite the way I thought it would. This is the joy of a book by this writer, her books are never just boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl and they live together happily ever after. Yes, they contain romance but really, they are about far more than that. Previous novels have examined gaslighting and racism, but Last Night examines grief. A grief which is utterly consuming and devastating.

In this book we’re taken through the whole gamut of emotions; shock, horror, devastation, loss and disbelief. Eve is such a wonderful character; smart, funny, quick as whip and absolutely pole-axed by grief and betrayal. She is compellingly written, utterly likeable and one of my favourite protagonists to date (which is saying something). Through her we come to see the reality of grief and of learning to live with it. McFarlane balances the darkness of grief with shots of humour to cast some light, and it is written with a deftness of touch and understanding. It examines some pretty major life lessons, particularly about understanding your worth and backing yourself whilst touching on some very difficult subjects indeed.

She really does get better and better. So much so that it is difficult to review Last Night without dropping spoilers here, there and everywhere. If you’ve read a McFarlane book before then you’ll know that you’re getting to get something special, that there’s going to be nuanced, fully believable characters, a complete shit of a man who you’re going to really, really, fancy and lots and lots of heart.

For me though, the romantic relationship is almost an incidental, because this book is about the romance of friendship. Of the deep love you have for your friends. The complete and utter joy of an in-joke which can make you both corpse laughing. Of a short-hand that only exists between people who have shared lives and questionable haircuts. And of sitting a pub with your pals, being rubbish at a quiz and wondering whose round it is next. Perfection.

BOOK REVIEW: Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane

4.5 stars

To sum up this book in a few phrases: gut-wrenching, heart breaking, humorous and gripping. I have never read a book like it and I am so glad that I have read this emotional masterpiece.

The characters are brilliant. So real and filled with personality and quirks that made me feel connected to them. Reading the inner turmoil of the lead protagonist Eve was so refreshing and real that I simply couldn't put the book down. She was a really unique person that wasn't perfect but had so much heart and love for others. I really routed for her and wanted her to receive only the best in life. The other characters both within her friendship group and outside of it were utter perfection and added so much to the story. I got so swept away by their stories and emotions that they almost felt like real people to me.

The storyline is pretty simple but filled with so much emotion and turmoil that it doesn't feel that way at all. I certainly don't think the blurb or the cover gave me any understanding as to how gripping and emotionally draining this book would be.
The humour was brilliant and very British! This is a story of friendship, heartbreak, grief, self discovery and a small side of romance.
I rarely cry at books but I can't count how many times I welled up whilst reading this one. The writing was fantastic and so engaging that you can't not feel emotionally invested.

I really recommend this book and know that it is going to have an effect on me for a long time to come. It is the kind of book that after finishing, you simply can't stop thinking about. A brilliant contemporary novel and one that you all should read!

Please note that I was #gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Death of a loved one, parental abuse, dementia, car accident, very emotional scenes.