Mhairi Macfarlane writes such beautiful, deep characters. I loved this story, the setting, the 2 main characters and the storyline kept me hooked, and the suspense of the newspaper article was interesting. Always a very satisfying read, thank you.

This was the slowest slow burn to ever slow burn (in a standalone). Like the relationship only starts at the end. I don't think I've read a book like that in ages, and this was my first Mhairi McFarlane book, so I'm not sure if that's her usual or not. But it was very well done.

I've got to say that I didn't think she could make Connor likeable to me, because when he meets Bel he decides she's too pretty and therefore none of her accolades are deserved. I had no desire to see a woman fall in love with a man like that. And sure Bel and Aaron were a little cliquey when he got there, but nothing that deserved the way he treated her. At least in my opinion, and mostly in Bel's too.

But the benefit of such a slow burn book is making sure everything is slowly uncovered, explained, and worked throigh, before the characters get together. So while I'm still not a fan that that was his first reaction, I still like him a lot more overall.

The story the two of them worked on was a fun change for me as the reasoning for the fake dating. I had hoped though, that she would've drawn more parallels between the story she was working on and her story with Ant. That still felt unresolved to me at the end.

This was a fun read and I didn't even realise how much time had gone by, or that I'd finished it in one go. But if your expecting to read about a romantic relationship, this is not it. It's all tension and silly adults, building up to the relationship. And I kind if wished we got to see more of them as a couple because honestly as it is, I'm not sure I see them working out.

Thank-you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

An enemies to lovers rom com (fake relationship thrown in for good measure!) full of drama, and chemistry between our two leads.
Journalist Bel is on to a massive story - one that would literally shake the entire local community. She's undercover when new intern, Connor, stumbles in and has to play her latest boyfriend.
There is a lot taking place in this one - definitely action packed with content. I enjoyed the overall, even if I wasn't that keen on all of the characters.

This was my first Mhairi McFarlane book. I liked the story idea and the workplace romance/ fake dating tropes. I found the writing a bit hard to get into and I didn't feel there was as much chemistry between Bel and Adam as I would have liked. I will check out other books by this author.

If you check out this book’s Goodreads page, the first thing you’ll see is: “The unputdownable, brilliant new novel from the Queen of Romcom.” And honestly? I couldn’t agree more. Mhairi IS the queen, she’s quickly become one of my favorite authors.
This is her latest novel, releasing on May 8th in the UK and October 7th in the US.
The story follows Bel, a journalist working in the Manchester office of a national newspaper. The office is tiny, just her, one colleague, and a rotating intern every three months. But what are the odds that this time’s intern is a thirty-something man named Connor? Not just any man, but a ridiculously handsome one, who also happens to be judgmental as hell from the get-go. Naturally, Bel throws up her defenses.
Then, she stumbles upon a huge lead, a story so big it could change everything. But when she goes undercover and Connor gets unexpectedly dragged into the situation, she’s forced to pretend they’re a couple to avoid blowing her cover. What starts as a survival tactic quickly turns into something more as they begin to truly see each other, because, as it turns out, everyone has a backstory that explains the way they act. We actually get dual POV so the reader is in the know of a lot of the miscommunication.
Mhairi’s books are always witty, funny, and achingly real, and Cover Story is no exception. The characters feel like real people, with depth, flaws, and complexities. The slow burn is exactly what it should be: slow, believable, and so well-earned that when it finally pays off, it hits. The banter? Absolutely top-tier. This book will have you laughing, swooning, and rooting for the characters with your whole heart.
That said, Cover Story isn’t all lighthearted fun, it also tackles heavier themes like burnout, stalking, blackmail, and mentions of suicide, so be sure to check the trigger warnings.
At its core, this is a romcom, but the love story doesn’t dominate the plot, it’s woven seamlessly into the narrative, making it feel even more authentic and impactful. It’s funny, sharp, and full of heart, a book that, much like life itself, is messy, complicated, and completely wonderful.

Thank you netgalley, HarperCollinsUK and Mhairi for this e-arc.

I respectfully DNF @ 26%

The characters, plot & setting are promising, but the writing was just not working for me.
Two chapters in and I already felt a certain type of way, especially with Bel's chapters, but I thought I just need to get used to it. However, now a quarter into the book, I can't really say it got better.
I can see the humour and the direction the author went with though and usually I really like this sort of books, but I guess this one is just not for me.

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane

3.5 STARS

A fun, easy read but not quite as strong as some of her previous books. Cover Story follows Bel, an investigative reporter and Adam, an ex-banker turned intern, at a newspapers outpost in Manchester.

The trademark humour is present throughout and the characters are well-presented and multidimensional. The story itself was an intriguing premise but something just falls short. The ending felt rushed and overall, the book felt slightly too long. For me, the relationship between Bel and Adam didn't quite work somehow.

Overall, a good read but not one of McFarlane's standout works.

Cover Story follows Bel and Connor - colleagues at a newspaper in Manchester, she’s an investigative journalist & podcaster and he’s the office’s newest intern. She’s working undercover trying to get evidence on claims made against the Mayor when he gets caught in the crosshairs and ends up having the play the role of her boyfriend. As usually occurs with fake dating, the feelings start to become real - is their relationship just a ‘cover story’ or can they become something real?

I loved Bel! She was so dedicated to her job, following in her Aunt’s footsteps and wanting to bring justice through the power of the media. Her character had such depth - from the guilt with how her last relationship ended, to her stalker ‘ex’ and her issues from childhood. I just really loved how she was portrayed and her personality!

Connor was such a lovable MMC. He started off as kind of standoffish - where we learn about his relationship and work life struggles and how that’s impacting his sense of self. I really enjoyed how he came out of his shell throughout the book - from his defensive stance at the start to more relaxed and himself by the end. He had such good one liners in this - he was actually hilarious. Also a moment for Maurice 😭

Their relationship was antagonistic from the start - a perfect formula for chemistry. I loved how Connor protected and defended Bel multiple times throughout this. It was definitely a she falls first, he falls harder!

Overall I loved the Manchester setting - it was so refreshing to move away from the typical London scene. The book was even self aware of this fact, with multiple comparisons made between the two!

I was also a massive fan of the writing style as dual POV is always a winner for me - especially when we can see the same scene from both the main characters perspectives and how things have been perceived differently!

The undercover reporting was so fun - fake dating with a purpose, and made for a really engaging and interesting read! I think the marketing on this one is apt - the Haring Game meets Mr and Mrs Smith. Overall I would highly recommend!

ARC copy provided by Harper Collins & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bel is a journalist working with Aaron then Connor the intern turns up. Here starts a tale of mixups, relationships. I do enjoy this authors writing of great character driven plots. Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins for this advance copy published 8th May 2025.

Mhairi McFarlane’s Cover Story is a compelling blend of romance, wit, and emotional depth, centering around Bel, a successful journalist and podcaster navigating life in Manchester. At its heart, the novel is an enemies-to-lovers tale between Bel and Connor, the ambitious new intern who disrupts her well-ordered world.

While the romance unfolds with McFarlane’s signature charm and humor, Cover Story goes beyond the typical rom-com formula, tackling weightier themes such as suicide, depression, stalking, and unhealthy drinking habits with sensitivity and nuance. These deeper elements add richness to the story, making it more than just a love story—it’s a reflection on trauma, resilience, and personal growth.

The novel does have a somewhat slow start, taking its time to establish Bel’s world and emotional struggles. However, once the story finds its rhythm about halfway through, it becomes an engaging and rewarding read. McFarlane’s sharp dialogue, relatable characters, and perfectly timed humor keep the pages turning, delivering both laugh-out-loud moments and thought-provoking insights.

Fans of McFarlane’s previous novels will not be disappointed—this is another well-crafted, emotionally layered romance that balances lighthearted banter with real-life challenges. A must-read for those who enjoy romance with depth and substance.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in return for an honest, unbiased review

An utterly absorbing modern fairytale :) Love, skullduggery (in a sinister stalking way), sensation and navigating exes is a cocktail that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Loved the characters (except the obvious ones) who weaved the various threads to make this great read.

Thank you Netgalley

I always enjoy Mhairi’s books so I was excited to read this one. I felt like the main characters didn’t have as much depth and fun as her previous ones. However, I found the storyline of Bel’s investigation for the newspaper really interesting.

Bel is an investigative journalist in the tiny Manchester office of a national paper. She just works with her ambitious colleague, Aaron and now a new intern, Connor. At first, it is clear Bel and Connor are not going to get along but when he bumps into her when she is in the middle of an undercover operation, she improvises and pretends he is her boyfriend. And the action begins.

I do enjoy the fake dating troupe in a rom com and it was done so well in this one. There was mystery and suspense, as the two try to uncover the story, all while fake dating and trying their hardest to get along for the work. Yes, in part I did expect the ending in this one but it did not make it any less enjoyable. This author's writing is always fabulous and I adored the sprinkling of humour throughout. Another one I recommend.

I have read and enjoyed a number of McFarlane’s other novels but for some reason this one just didn’t land for me.

You’re following Bel and Connor as they’re thrown together on an under cover investigation after taking an instant dislike to each other on sight. The usual enemies to lovers story unfolds but it felt quite rushed to get to that point in the last 50 pages.

There were some good moments, a great female friendship but the rest felt a little flat and some of the POVs were repeats or just a little unrealistic.

If you’re a fan of McFarlane then I’d say give it a go and I will definitely give the next one a read but this just wasn’t for me.

Oh this was magnificent! Stayed up far too late reading the last few chapters and now I can go to sleep with a big grin on my face.

I have loved all of Mhairi's previous books and this is no exception... probably her best yet.

I loved the characters of Bel and Connor. This is an extremely swoonworthy book with lots of ups and downs and a very satisfying ending - although, of course, I already need more!

Thank you for a most entertaining read, so funny and insightful, as always.

Roll on the film version!

I could not put this book down!

Cover Story is anchored by two main characters that are their own worst critics. Both Bel and Connor have backstories that are compelling. As a reader, I was rooting for both of them to overcome the obstacles in their lives and to allow themselves to give themselves grace during trying times.

Held down by the weight of expectations he places on himself, Connor is struggling to come to terms with the life he wants to have (smaller budget but less stress) versus a life he thinks he should have (big money and high stress). Changing life events are also causing a significant amount of distress on Connor, and Mhairi McFarlane accurately and authentically writes about the uncomfortable feelings these cause.

Like Connor, Bel has a ghost in her past that needs to be put to bed. A mask of bravado hides a lack of self-confidence and the belief that her past actions warrant the current situation she is in. Feeling trapped in a prison of her own making, it is Connor who lets Bel know that the way she is being treated by Anthony and her ex-boyfriend is a reflection of their character and emotional state and she is not to blame.

The cover story that Connor and Bel are working on is cleverly plotted. It weaves the personal and professional and allows for a slow burn romance. My absolute favourite part of the book is the moment that Bel looks into Connor’s eyes expecting judgement and sees none. The way in which they come together is magical!

Cover Story covers heavy topics, like depression and stalking, through a very compassionate lens. Healthy coping strategies, such as counseling, are used by Bel and Connor; I think that this was a refreshing way for characters to manage their emotions rather than masking the pain with vices. Overall, I really liked the character arcs and found them believable and engaging.

I think this book is a must read for those who love a slow burn romance and a well paced plot!

Sometimes I can't be bothered with 30 something romances but McFarlane always hits the spot and this is compulsive. The characters have some backbone and it's funny, teasing and delightful.

Really enjoyed this story and how it played out. It was well written and one I didn't want to put down!

This was genuinely such a refreshing and cute read!

This is my first Mhairi McFarlane book and after hearing a lot about her, this book didn’t disappoint. It’s the perfect mix of humor, heart, and just the right amount of angst. I had such a great time reading this.

It’s sweet, romantic, and kept me hooked with an engaging plot beyond just the romance. Bel and Connor felt like real people (even when I wanted to shake them!), and the side characters were just as well-developed. Tha author has a way of making classic romance tropes feel fresh, with plenty of witty banter and unexpected moments. Overall, this was such a fun, feel-good contemporary read - exactly what I was in the mood for!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read every book by Mhairi and have loved them all. I didn't love this one. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but there's something missing. It fell a bit flat for me in parts. It takes a while to get going. I was bored by the investigation, baffled by some of the dialogue, and wondering why this woman was so popular with the men. Connor was lovely, but I felt some of his responses weren't typical for a bloke. I think the 'they hate each other, but in truth love each other" formula just didn't work in this story for some reason. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.