This was a great book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon , light breezy and very entertaining .
Harriett turns down her boyfriends proposal so has to find somewhere to live , enter Sam who she had met briefly at a wedding where she was the photographer , she moves into his spare room , there is a spark but Harriett has so much going on and Sam has a jilted ex girlfriend on the horizon too .
I really enjoyed this , heart warming and uplifting

Very pleased to get the chance to read a new Mhairi McFarlane book. She is one of the best Romcom writers around and I have loved every one of her books. Mad About You is no exception with great characters and lots of twists and turns. Harriet is a photographer specialising in weddings. She lives with her super wealthy boyfriend Jon in an amazing property but when he decides to propose with all his dreadful family in attendance Harriet realises that this is the last thing she wants to do and moves out of Jon’s house finding a room to rent through her friend Roxy, an estate agent. The room is in a house owned by Cal whose wedding she was booked to photograph except Cal changed his mind at the last minute leaving his bride in the lurch. Harriet has not had a good history regarding choosing suitable men so when she goes to photograph another wedding and sees a very controlling ex engaged to another woman alarm bells ring and she decides to take action to prevent the wedding going ahead. Mhairie’s style of writing is witty and easy to read. The style is modern with one of the focuses being on social media abuse. Her characters are great ranging from the horrible Jon, his mother and Scott, Harriet’s abusive ex to the excellent Harriet, Lorna, Nina, Sam and Cal. All her characters are totally believable and I was thrilled to be able to obtain this ARC. Many thanks to NetGalley for this.

I have read all Mhairi’s books and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one and each time her new one comes out I think it can’t possibly top the last one but this one has to be my favourite. Her writing and dialogue is wonderful and you feel that you are actually living the story with all the characters. It’s a book you race through because it is so enjoyable and yet don’t want to finish. A total joy to read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy,

Having previously read and thoroughly enjoyed Mhairi McFarlane’s Last Night I was very excited to be approved to read Mad About You. It’s safe to safe this book did not disappoint and was an absolutely brilliant read. As with McFarlane’s other books, Mad About You is a rom-com, but it also explores a much darker topic, in this case it is the impact of coercive control.

Mad About You centres on Harriet, a 34 year old wedding photographer. Harriet is running away from getting married, her boyfriend’s hateful family and her past. She ends up in a dream house share with the handsome Cal. Only Cal is running away from his recent past as well. Will Harriet and Cal be able to take a risk, face up to their pasts and maybe even find the best reason to stick around?

As a main character I absolutely loved Harriet. In Harriet McFarlane has written such a brilliant female lead; she is smart, very funny, and a great friend, but also carries the weight of previous trauma on her shoulders. I would never wish to spoil the plot, but the journey that Harriet goes on in this book, and the confidence she gains was just so wonderful to read.

I especially enjoyed reading about Harriet’s friendship with Lorna, her long term best friend. They were such a great team and I loved how unapologetically herself Lorna was. Being a romance I have to mention our leading man Cal. He was a great character, who was also kind and very funny. He comes with his own difficult past and history, but is still always there for Harriet when she needs him. This was such a brilliant slow burn romance from a very awkward beginning to friends to lovers.

In this book McFarlane explores the impact of coercive control within relationships. She does so in a very sensitive manner and yet doesn’t hold back from exploring just how big an effect this has on Harriet and the other women who fell victim to the same man. McFarlane also looks at the perils of courts held on social media and the devastating impact that this can have.

Overall this was a brilliant read. It had so much depth, heart and humour. This is a book that will make you belly laugh, make you swoon but also lead you to shed a tear.

Always love her books- they’re like Prosecco when you know you should be drinking water: sparkly and fizzy and a lot of a treat :)
This one gave me all the feels and I’m a relative sociopath- keep them coming Ms McFarlane…

Harriet Hatley is a wedding photographer who hates the idea of getting married. She has been through a lot in life and it's just not in the stars for her, so when her boyfriend proposes, she runs a mile... She decides that living in a house with you ex isn't the best idea on the planet, so she starts looking for a room to rent. Enter, Cal Clarke!

Cal is a hopeless romantic who happened to be a runaway groom at one of the weddings that Harriet was shooting and when they both find out, it makes for an AWKWARD living situation. They are like chalk and cheese but somehow they make each other laugh and like spending time together.

When Harriet's past begins to catch up to her, she is left wondering if Cal will be supportive or a stowaway again. Her business, relationships and even tenancy are all on-the-line. Will she be brave enough to tackle her demons head on?!

I could not stop reading Mad About You from the moment that I picked it up. It is an absolute cracker of a book but also very emotional and discusses serious topics. Harriet was a strong and likeable main character who had been dealt a rubbish hand in life, seriously the girl cannot catch a break. I was holding back tears when reading about her family and then I wanted to scream when you met scumbag Scott.

Cal was an actual sweetheart and so shy! I was wary of him to begin with but warmed to his kindness, I also adored his friendship with Sam. They were comical together! Another lovely character was Lorna, she is the best friend that everyone needs and will support you no matter what.

Mad About You is a fantastic read that is funny and lighthearted but also talks about emotional abuse and gaslighting. I loved the bravery of the women in the wedding scene and how they were taking back the narrative. It made me cry and it was beautifully written. Mad About You is a must read and Mhairi McFarlane's best book yet.

Mhairi McFarlane quickly became one of my favourite auto-buy authors after I read my first book by her and I've loved each one since. I am so happy that this falls into that category too, even surpassing the rest to be my favourite book by her to date.

This witty novel handles sensitive, serious topics with such care and pulls it off beautifully. I adored the characters, each one fleshed out perfectly including the side characters. Mhairi McFarlane is very much like Marian Keyes in the way that she can take a serious topic and write a beautiful book about it while still having hilarious one-liners that would be seem out of place if anyone else did it.

Of course, I loved the romance aspect of this but it wasn't the main part - just an extra bonus. And yes, I cried at the final few pages. Then reread them twice and cried twice more.

Mhairi McFarlane simply never disappoints!! She is my favourite writer in this genre!

Mad About You features Harriet who, in her thirties is dating Jon……….a ‘catch’ on paper but she doesn’t love him like he loves her, , so when he proposes to her in front of her family…………well……it’s a step too far and things have to change and the book follows what happens next.

The humour in this author’s writing, for me, is second to none. Laughing out loud is a phrase often bandied around in reviews and often when I read these ‘LOL’ books, I do chuckle but not ‘really’ laugh………….Mhairi McFarlane never fails to have me belly laughing…..till the tears run down my cheeks. She has an amazing turn of phrase, her wit just so ‘spot on’! I just can’t praise her humour highly enough.

The difference between this author’s books and others in the same genre is that while, yes, there’s a romance brewing in the background, there are other storylines going on at the same time,, to pique your interest and make you think. The storyline featuring ‘gaslighting’ and a narcissistic controller was really well done.

This book gave me that rare feeling of not wanting to read it too quickly because I didn’t want it to end but not being able to stop myself page turning either! Nothing else to say - it’ a brilliant book in my opinion and deserves more than the maximum five stars! And if you’ve never read Mhairi McFarlane before………..I envy you, …… read one, you’ll want to read them all!

My HUGE thanks go to Mhairi, the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced reader review e.copy.

Thank you HarperCollins for letting me read Mhairi McFarlane's latest 💕 the minute I see a Mhairi McFarlane book announced, I am glued to NetGalley so I can request the book the minute it comes out, and this was no different... But sadly this is my least favourite of hers!

Harriet is a wedding photographer, living with her rich boyfriend Jon in Leeds, when she turns up to a wedding that the groom has just run out on. I don't think I need to explain more than that, because it's a rom-com, we all know what's coming! Although this is filled with Mhairi's idiosyncratic writing and warmth (she's the only rom-com writer where I'm actually interested in the subplots), there are two reasons why I wasn't a huge fan of Mad About You. First up, it's written in third-person and I ALWAYS vastly prefer her first-person novels. Not sure why – I think it's because her writing feels a bit more authentic when coming from inside a character's head. Secondly, I thought there was just too much going on in this book, and there wasn't enough space to devote the required level of attention to all the subplots and emotional events. The romance felt like a bit of an afterthought; barely there and without anywhere near as much build-up as I would have liked. Still – you can bet that I'm already very excited to read Mhairi's next book, and I really do love seeing UK cities other than London represented in fiction 💕

An excellent romcom/women's fiction story which is exactly what Mhairi McFarlane does best!
I needed the giggles this book provides with witty, intelligent banter between the characters and some really comical reflections, this definitely gives a lot of warmth, fun & humour. It does also deal with some gritty, hard-hitting issues with relationships including coercive control.

I adored the characters, Harriet certainly holds her cards close to her chest but we get to see her vulnerability and learn how her difficult past has moulded her in to the character we meet at the start. The friendship age has with Lorna was heartwarming and I loved their interactions, it was also mirrored equally by Sam & Cal's friendship.

I am always in awe at how eloquent & witty this author writes, and how there's a lot that is expressed through the book that feels like a kind of therapy for those with difficult relationships in itself. Highly recommended

Brilliant contemporary fiction, perfect escapism.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You can’t go wrong with a book written by Mhairi McFarlane and she’s done it again!
Mhairi manages to create characters that you’d want to be friends with - and characters you definitely wouldn’t.
Mad about you covers female friendship and strength, male friendship and support, and bullying and abuse in a relationship. There is a lot of love, humour and hope in this story and once again I was sorry to finish one of Mhairi’s books.

Well written romance with underlying tones. It covered the disturbing aspects of a controlling nature by your partner and the influence of social media well. I loved the outing of the ex at the end and also the fact that the McFarlane recognized the behavior of both parties. A well written and enjoyable novel.

I was so so excited to get my hands on the new Mhairi McFarlane book! And somehow they just keep getting better and better! Mad About You completely surpassed my expectations with how brilliant it is.

The story is centred around Harriet Hatley – a wedding photographer who never wants to get married, but finds herself accepting a proposal from ‘the perfect guy’ – before realising things have not been so perfect for a long time.

She moves into a house-share with a stranger – who turns out to be less of a stranger than she would like! And as Harriet learns more about her new housemate – and about her friends – things start to change for the better.

But before Harriet can leave behind her past and move forward, there are some home truths from her ex-fiance that she can’t ignore. And she has to bravely face a difficult time in her life and exorcise some demons first.

This was just a wonderful book to read. As always with Mhairi, the characters are so real and relatable. I instantly connected with Harriet and felt like I was right in the middle of her friendship group. There are brilliant moments of humour – in particular through Harriet’s ex’s family – and some difficult moments too as she goes back to confront a painful relationship and forms some unexpected bonds in the process. There are some awful downs for Harriet – but also some excellent moments of empowerment.

I went through every emotion possible when reading Mad About You! And to top it all off, it is set in my home town of Leeds – I was absolutely delighted reading the mentions of some of my favourite places in the city – Alfred’s bar, Laynes Espresso, Zucco! I loved how Mhairi used real places, and genuine descriptions of how they look and the food they serve – it really made it even more special for me as a Loiner!

I just love books by this author and Mad About You is another triumph!! Our heroine is Harriet. She is a wedding photographer but with one disastrous relationship behind her and and being involved in one dubious relationship now, she doesn't want to get married. When Jon makes a surprise proposal in front of his family, Harriet has to make a big decision - commit to the relationship or walk away. But this is just the beginning! Amongst this we get Harriet's story with her abusive ex and his new fiancée as well as drama from a wedding where the groom scarpered just before the wedding leaving Harriet supporting the best man in dealing with a furious bride!

This book has all the same feels as others by this author but the story is unique. I really liked Harriet and found her very relatable. The author does not shy away from some really heavy topics - cancer, parent death, infidelity, gaslighting, controlling behaviour... and yet this is an absolutely inspiring tale of hope and friendship where lasting relationships can be formed in the darkest of circumstances. There is some great humour in here too with laugh out loud moments. Get your tissues handy for the end though... its perfect but pulls the heartstrings like you wouldn't believe! This author is so skilled at making the reader laugh, cry and be outraged all at the same time!! This is a brilliant book.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley with no promise of a favourable review.

I really like Mhairi McFarlane, and this book is no exception! Harriet is a wedding photographer who doesn't believe in marriage, and is increasingly unconvinced about her relationship with Jon - and definitely not about putting up with his awful family. There's a tipping point, and Harriet ends up in a house share with a stranger called Cal, who she has an unlikely connection with. An encounter with someone from her past leads to Harriet having to face up to her own history, and take steps to make sure someone else doesn't make the same mistakes.

Bits of the book are very funny, and there are aspects of Mhairi McFarlane's books that you expect to find - like a supportive group of friends, who are genuine, rounded characters. There's also plenty to think about in what relationships look like, what's healthy and what isn't, and how everyone hides aspects of themselves. Every character is believable, from Jon's awful mother to Nina, Harriet's unexpected new friend. I really enjoyed the book, and look forward to the next one!

This was my first Mhairi McFarlane novel and it was an absolute joy to read. I'll be buying her entire back catalogue to read as a result. Her similes and metaphors are just brilliant and I feel like I've met every character she writes in real life.

Loved it, want more.

I bloody love Mhairi McFarlane books – and every time I get one of her ARCs it whizzes to the top of my TBR pile (I recognise I’m an acronym w*nker at this point!!) However I was also a bit nervous. Surely at some point the books couldn’t improve, surely at some point one of them was going to be a bit ‘meh’ – but I shouldn’t have been worried at all. This one is, I think, my favourite to date (admittedly I say this every time!)

Anyway – for those of you who want some info rather than just buying a book because you adore the author – here it is:

“Two strangers.
One big coincidence.
Driving each other crazy is just the beginning…
Harriet Hatley is running away from everything.
Getting married.
Her boyfriend’s family.
Her past.
A dream house-share seems like the perfect place to hide, but her unlikely housemate Cal is no stranger to running away himself. And he’s also hiding secrets of his own . . .
Can these two take a crazy risk, face the past and finally find a reason to stay?”

Just before I started the book, it featured in a Stylist article where Francesca Brown (who I frequently got drunk with over 20 years ago!) wrote: ” It’s also telling that some of the biggest titles in the commercially heavyweight genre of “women’s fiction” aren’t anywhere close to the fluffy romance stories of lazy stereotype either. Mhairi Mcfarlane’s moving Mad About You (out 14 April, £7.99, HarperCollins) explores coercive control”

The book starts with Harriet living with her loaded boyfriend Jon. The relationship ends (fairly spectacularly!) and she moves out, and rents a room with Cal. Her path has crossed with Cal before – although neither of them realise that when she agrees to move in.

The storyline then follows Harriet’s relationship with her friends / Cal / her ex Jon – until everything implodes even more when her path crosses with someone else, this time, an abusive ex. You are given the back story of how he controlled her – it was really very emotional to hear what he did.

Anyway – everything then goes spectacularly tits up! It is so well written – and you are totally rooting for Harriet and her loyal friends – old and new. The build up to the climax is amazing – and so well described, it would make a brilliant film / TV series – it’s epic!

Whilst this is a massively entertaining read – I also honestly think it could help people who are in a situation similar to Harriet was, shining a light on the fact there is a way out.

As expected – it’s another fabulous read from Ms McFarlane.

As Fran’s link says above – it’s out in April and you can pre order it now. A huge thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Mhairi for the advance review copy.

This book is very powerful and the message it delivers is what is needed in 2022.

There are laugh out loud moments, and parts when you’re grabbing the tissues. This book is beautifully written and captures right from the start.

I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to come back and read more reviews as I really do hope everyone loves it as much as I did.

My first book I’ve read by Mhairi Mcfarlane but it definitely won’t be my last!

Harriet is a wedding photographer who makes no secret of her lack of desire to wed so when proposed to on a luxury hotel stay with her partner and his family she has some decisions to make.
Harriet's path leads her to some unexpected avenues and old faces crop up in surprising places.
I loved this book, full of heart and hope despite some difficult themes.