On the surface, the premise of Cover Story is biting but not unusual: a newsroom comedy of manners, threaded through with romance and professional rivalries. But the surprise of surprises lies in how many unexpected turns the novel takes, how deftly it amplifies the ordinary into something compulsively readable. The effect is the work of a writer in full command of her craft: McFarlane takes the seemingly linear and renders it twisty, quirky, and irresistibly engaging.

The Set-Up
The novel opens not in the metropolitan halls of a grand London paper, but in a small Manchester newsroom. Belle, newly appointed investigations editor, has arrived from her stint in podcasting with ambition in tow. At her side is Aaron Parry, another mainstay of the office, and soon they are joined by an intern rotation that introduces the unlikely figure of Connor: a man in his thirties, with a finance background, decidedly not the fresh-faced graduate one expects in such roles.

‘He’s about as much fun as food poisoning on a ferry, but fair play, he’s a hard worker. Every crap job I throw at him, he takes without arguing. Cicely woulda filed an harassment complaint if I’d asked her to go to Pret.’

Belle and Connor’s initial dynamic has the unmistakable flavour of a Pride and Prejudice standoff. Each makes assumptions about the other; each bristles with animosity. It is a classic enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trajectory, but handled with a seriousness and wit that makes it feel more homage than cliché.

‘Of course you think I look nice, I’m dressing completely differently to my own taste.’
‘You could find the coded insult in absolutely anything I say, couldn’t you?’

McFarlane leans into the Austenian template — mutual disdain, slow recognition, reluctant respect — and updates it with newsroom grit and contemporary verve.

Characters in Quirky Relief
If Belle and Connor carry the novel’s centre, they are surrounded by a vivid cast. Belle’s best friend Shilpa, a recent divorcee, strides through scenes with nonchalance and sharp-edged candour, the sort of character who speaks without a filter and remains all the more lovable for it. We’re given an insight into her personality:

‘Did I superstitiously curse it with that fake runaway bride stunt?’ she’d mused. Before concluding: ‘No, it was the raging incompatibilities.’

Connor’s brother Shaun, by contrast, is observant and preternaturally wise, doling out advice that shapes both the narrative and its emotional undertones. Connor describes her brother to Bel, “Shaun’s unlike anyone you’ll ever meet. Astonishing forward momentum, Messianic levels of self-belief. Will analyse and summarise you to your face and, even worse, is usually accurate.”

Around them orbit others — Jen, Anthony, Aaron — each sketched with precision, contributing to the medley of voices that keeps the book lively. About Aaron, Bel observes, “He could not encounter an extended silence without throwing a leading non sequitur into it, it seemed.” There’s plenty of delicious descriptions of the journalistic process and newsroom politics, too.

To the untrained observer, Aaron’s attention might look like mockery. In the world of journalism and in the north of England, Bel sensed it was a compliment. He wasn’t putting her on the spot so much as putting her in a spotlight, because he thought she could tap dance.

This ensemble energy is key. McFarlane excels at creating quirky characters who hold their own. None feels like filler, and their interactions — clashes, confidences, collisions — generate a constant, amusing dynamic that prevents the central romance from collapsing inward.

The Plot Unfolds
The novel gains momentum when Belle receives a tip-off from a source, a story with uncanny resemblance to the #MeToo allegations that rocked public life in recent years. The target: a powerful mayor. Determined to pursue the truth, Belle goes undercover, assuming an alternate identity. It is in this capacity that she collides with Connor again — and circumstances conspire to push them into a fabricated relationship.

‘You know what? This is main character syndrome,’ Connor said. ‘You have to invent this … grandiose antipathy on my part, because someone simply not caring either way about Bel Macauley is too much for you to process.’

From there, the charade only grows. They befriend Amber and Rick, potential conduits to crucial evidence. They maintain their couple performance while untangling corruption, danger, and their own misconceptions about one another. At every step, the novel manages to juggle personal stakes and professional intrigue without losing sight of humour. The undercover operation adds the shape of a thriller, but McFarlane resists formula, choosing instead to highlight the absurdities of performance — romantic, journalistic, and otherwise.

Style and Humour
McFarlane’s prose comes alive in descriptions of the journalistic process: sourcing, networking, piecing together half-truths. The background texture — of Manchester, of the press landscape, of predators shielded by power — is painted deftly, never heavy-handed.

The Shiver was the rare, delicious frisson that you might’ve stumbled on something large and meaningful. Often The Shiver didn’t pay off, but you needed to be alert to the possibility for the few times that it did. You maybe only got two or three genuinely bombshell leads in a career, if you were lucky. In fact, recognising The Shiver went deeper than bylines and exclusives.

What truly distinguishes Cover Story, however, is its humour. There are copious quantities of British wry humour here, working overtime — perhaps even over-performing — to keep the narrative buoyant. Readers will find themselves chuckling at quips, giggling at side observations, storing away lines for future use. The comedy doesn’t detract from the serious undertones; instead, it provides relief, creating a tonal balance that feels both authentic and deeply entertaining.

Sub-Themes and Depth
Beneath the humour and romance, McFarlane threads weightier concerns. Belle’s investigation into sexual misconduct and power imbalance resonates with the ongoing cultural reckoning of the #MeToo era. Belle herself is menaced by a stalker, introducing uncomfortable but necessary questions about boundaries, grey areas, and vulnerability.

Connor’s backstory, too, adds gravity: his departure from finance was precipitated by a workplace suicide, an event that shadows his present and gives dimension to his comic foil. Through him, the novel reflects on professional disillusionment, masculine silence, and the fragile ways people rebuild after trauma. Shaun talks about Connor:

But he picked the wrong career and the wrong woman and it broke his spirit. You’re meeting him in the plaster cast healing mode. Actually, that analogy works well. He’s currently got a hard shell round him while the bones mend. But it’s not part of him.’

The book also toys with class, privilege, and the generational divide: who gets to take risks, who can afford to pivot careers. These themes never swamp the narrative; instead, they surface organically, through character interactions and revelations.

If the novel falters, it is in its abundance. At times, dialogue runs long, descriptors repeat, and POV shifts feel overloaded with too many outlooks. The humour, delightful though it is, occasionally feels like it’s working overtime, gilding moments that might have thrived on subtlety. Yet even here, the excess contributes to the book’s exuberance. It may be “loaded” in places, but rarely clunky; the prose flows, and the characters’ awkward disclosures feel realistic rather than artificially smoothed.

Cover Story is not a thriller, but it keeps readers on their toes like one. It is not a straight romance, but it satisfies like the best of the genre. Above all, it is a testament to McFarlane’s ability to blend the quotidian with the extraordinary: newsroom gossip with undercover drama, enemies-to-lovers with political scandal, humour with trauma.

Something can be not your finest hour without defining you.

Readers will walk away with a collection of sharp quips to deploy among friends, morsels of wisdom to live by, and a wry, inside look at journalism’s mix of idealism and absurdity. McFarlane’s Cover Story is a book both biting and buoyant, timely and timeless, a reminder that even in the most serious of investigations, laughter — and love — can be part of the story.

Mhairi McFarlane can do no wrong in my eyes!! Likeable yet flawed characters with multiple plots all linking up, just stunning. This author is an automatic buy for me. Can’t wait to read whatever is next

With Cover Story, Mhairi McFarlane once again proves why she’s considered the queen of contemporary romcom. Witty, heartfelt, and irresistibly entertaining, this novel is a clever twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope, filled with sparkling dialogue and the kind of emotional depth that makes her books linger long after the final page.

Bel, a sharp and ambitious journalist fresh from the world of indie podcasting, joins the Manchester office of a national newspaper, only to clash instantly with Connor, a thirty-something intern who’s reluctantly starting over. Their constant sparring provides deliciously snarky entertainment—until fate throws them together on Bel’s undercover investigation. Forced to pose as a couple “deeply in love” while chasing the biggest scoop of her career, Bel and Connor discover that pretending might be easier said than done.

McFarlane excels at creating characters who feel real—flawed, funny, and emotionally layered. Bel’s determination masks vulnerability, while Connor’s charm conceals the sting of past disappointments. Their relationship develops with a natural, slow-burn authenticity, their banter crackling with chemistry and their quieter moments carrying surprising tenderness.

Beyond the central romance, McFarlane weaves in sharp observations on modern journalism, ambition, and the compromises people make when chasing success. The backdrop of newsroom politics adds richness without ever distracting from the romance, grounding the story in reality while keeping the narrative fast-paced and fun.

Verdict: Cover Story is everything readers want in a modern romantic comedy: laugh-out-loud humor, swoon-worthy romance, and characters you’ll root for as if they’re your own friends. McFarlane balances comedy with emotional truth in a way few authors can, cementing her reputation as one of the very best in the genre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Sharp, funny, and full of heart. A romcom triumph.

God I absolutely loved this book. Mhairi can do no wrong in my eyes - she cannot write books fast enough for me! This has really likeable characters, a great enemies to lovers storyline and a plot that kept me hooked.

Great read. Bel is a Podcaster working as an investigative journalist in a small city to escape the stalking tendencies of her old boss. When Connor, who used to work in high finance, joins the crew as an intern, Bel is determined to dislike him and the feeling seemes mutual. When they uncover a mayoral scandal and are thrown together for work, their feelings grow.

Mhairi McFarlane writes enjoyable rom coms and my favourite remains You Had Me at Hello, one of her earlier novels. Cover Story is also set in Manchester where I lived many years ago and I loved the familiarity of many of the locations. Bel and Connor are colleagues in the Manchester office of a national newspaper- Bel is a podcaster and investigative journalist and Connor is the new office intern. They take an immediate dislike to each other but when Bel goes undercover on a story Connor’s involvement brings them closer together. I loved the two main characters and enjoyed the witty conversations between Bel and her best friend Shilpa. I wished the undercover storyline had been more in depth as I was drawn to this but felt that it remained on the periphery of the storyline. I did feel that there were too many secondary characters that I had little interest in. Overall an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I love that McFarlane never writes a one-dimensional romance. The story here was so good, undercover journalists outing a sex-pest mayor. To the point that the actual romance took second place to this plot (good thing!!). The enemies-to-lovers storyline was electric, the main characters were real and three-dimensional, and I just really enjoyed this one.

I always enjoy Mhairi McFarlane's work - Bel and Connor are colleagues who end up undercover as a couple to investigate a story involving a local official. There is mild suspense, humorous banter between Bel and Connor and their office-mates; As they get deeper into their investigation, they find themselves more and more drawn to each other. Great read if you're looking for a relatively light-hearted romantic comedy/suspense.

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane is a slow-burn rom-com with a nice twist of investigation. The banter between Bel and Connor is fun but could have been a little stronger.
It’s a thoughtful and romantic book that combines love and humour really well whilst also discussing mental health.

Really good book which I will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Again I am sure I have already reviewed this but since it is showing up again I will say I love the book and the dynamics between all the characters.

Another great Mhairi McFarlane book. A slow burn to start with but as I continued to read the more invested I became in the characters. I really enjoyed it and the way the relationship built and changed with Bella and Connor. Fun summer read

Another excellent read by Mhari McFarlane, Cover Story's main character Bel is a journalist with a passion for rooting out the truth whilst at the same time trying to conceal her own secrets. To break her latest story Bel goes undercover with her new co-worker, befriending the pubs landlady to get closer access to the truth. The closer she gets to breaking the press worthy story, the closer she becomes to revealing her past deeds to her new co-worker. Overall very enjoyable, likeable main characters, and a good storyline which kept me invested until the emotional end

Mhairi Macfarlane's Cover Story delivers a healthy dose of dry, relatable humour throughout, which I absolutely loved. As I have a background in journalism and have family roots in Manchester, I found many aspects of the narrative incredibly relatable.

While this was a largely enjoyable read, I did find the ending felt quite rushed after a slow build-up. There were also moments where some of the dialogue was lost on me, leading to more than a few Google searches to fully grasp certain references.

Where the book truly shines in its character development - I felt like I really got to know both protagonists and their individual struggles well. It was also really refreshing to see a male character take a complete trajectory with his career and put his happiness first. I was pleased to see certain toxic male character(s) get what was coming to them, and Shilpa was a personal highlight for me (spin-off book with her as the main character please).

Ultimately, I'd give Cover Story a 3.75-star rating, rounding up to a solid 4 stars.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Effortlessly blending romance, humour and mystery, this novel quickly became addictive to read. The characters were given so much depth that it was easy to get invested in them and root for them together.

I loved getting both Bel and Connor's perspectives. Without this, I don’t think I would have felt as empathetic towards them because they each held quite skewed first impressions that took some time to shake. Both characters were afforded nuance and allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. They didn’t do things perfectly, but I really felt like they were perfect for each other. I looked forward to their sparring/teasing/bantering as their interactions were always electric. The fake dating was SO good! The reason behind it – not wanting to blow their cover – actually made sense and raised the stakes, which in turn made the investigation all the more compelling. Bel and Connor faking a relationship made for both hilarious hijinks and deliciously charged moments. Their inevitable very real romance was so satisfying to watch come to life.

Would I recommend?... Without a second thought, yes! Especially if you're after a romantic comedy that delivers on both fronts, as well as adding in a mystery that feels high-stakes.

If you’re after a smart, sharp, and totally satisfying read, Cover Story absolutely delivers. It’s got everything you want from a McFarlane novel—quick wit, emotional depth, and characters who feel like people you’ve met (or wish you had).

At the heart of the story, Bel and Connor, and spoiler – they hate each other. There’s an air of mystery here as they head undercover, with just enough suspense to keep those pages flying, but it never strays too far from the emotional honesty that makes Mhairi’s writing so special.

Expect brilliant dialogue, proper laugh-out-loud moments, and that warm, knowing touch she does so well when it comes to betrayal, friendship, love, and starting over. It’s romcom meets revenge meets redemption—and it’s glorious.

With relatable and super likeable characters, buckets of humour and laugh out loud dialogue, and a delicious enemies to lovers fake dating romance, I loved @MhairiMcF's #CoverStory.

Smart, joyful and funny.

"Are they looking over?"
"I have no idea"

Witty, sharp, and utterly addictive 📖💘. Cover Story is a laugh-out-loud rom-com with clever twists, sparkling dialogue, and loveable characters. Mhairi McFarlane nails the humour and heart, delivering a story about secrets, reinvention, and unexpected romance. I adored the snarky banter, emotional depth, and feel-good energy. Another winner for fans of smart, swoony contemporary romance.

3.5 - I should know by now to not judge a Mhairi McFarlane book by the first 150 pages because for some reason it takes me that long to really become invested, which is of course what happened with this one as well.

I don’t know what it is about the first third of her books but it’s like watching paint dry - maybe it’s the establishing of the characters and the story that I just don’t vibe with. But once the story gets going count me in because I cannot put it down.

Cover Story was another brilliantly put together silly and a little unhinged romcom that kept me entertained (for the second half at least). I really loved Bel as the main protagonist and how independent and fierce she was. And Connor my bbbbyyyy 🫶🏼🫶🏼 I don’t know why his dad driving him to and from Manchester made me want to cry but it did.

Overall an enjoyable read and I really just need to remind myself to disregard the first third of any future Mhairi McFarlane books I read lol.

Enjoyable tale by Mhairi McFarlane, however not up there with her best. Liked the main characters, though I felt there was a lack of spark.

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.