About the Book:
Title: Mad About You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Page Length: 432
Publication Date: March 31, 2022
Synopsis: Two reluctant housemates.
Two broken promises.
One crazy plan…
Harriet Hatley may be one of the most in-demand wedding photographers in Leeds, but she hates the idea of marriage.
Cal Clarke is used to the world falling in line with his plans – apart from his own love-life, which has gone hopelessly wrong.
When they become unlikely housemates, it’s clear they’re both running away from something bigger.
Can they take a crazy risk to face the past and change everything?
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
Mhairi McFarlane’s Mad About You is a wonderful character-driven story that follows Harriet Hatley, a wedding photographer who finds herself in need of a place to stay after rejecting her boyfriend’s marriage proposal. She ends up renting a space with Cal, a runaway groom in need of a roommate. But how can Harriet like a person who would do something like that? Both are avoiding their pasts, but could facing them help them find a future together?
McFarlane’s books always make me feel a ton of feels. Sometimes laugh-out-loud funny and other times a bit heat-breaking, Mad About You is a well-crafted and nuanced piece of contemporary fiction. The characters are relatable and compelling, and the themes are poignant. It’s pretty safe to say that I will enjoy most anything McFarlane writes at this point!
Harriet is such a fantastic protagonist and is so layered and dynamic. She’s smart and funny and a loyal friend, but she is also burdened by her past. Harriet goes on a tremendously emotional journey throughout the book as she learns to be vulnerable, love herself, and let others love her. She also has to deal with things that happened to her in the past, especially when someone from her past resurfaces. I think her character and the situations she finds herself in are very relatable and realistic, and I was so invested in her story and hoping for her to find happiness.
Cal is also a fantastic character. He’s so kind and funny, yet he is burdened by the past as well. When Harriet’s past comes back to haunt her, Cal is super supportive and is always there for her. Their relationship is fleshed out well, and I love their slow-building love story. The romance isn’t the main focus of the story, but it’s a lovely part of it.
Harriet’s long-time friendship with Lorna is another highlight of the book. These women are so supportive of each other, and they have such a strong bond. And Lorna is fantastic! She’s the kind of best friend everyone needs! Cal has a similar friendship with Sam, and they are so fun together. These healthy and supportive relationships stand in sharp contrast to some of the other toxic relationships Harriet and Cal have experienced.
I always enjoy reading Mhairi McFarlane’s books. They’re smart, fun, and poignant, and this book is no exception. It’s funny and sweet, and it also has a lot of depth. The story addresses serious topics like abuse, infidelity, toxic relationships, loss, and the negative impact of social media, but it maintains a hopeful and positive tone with the strong and uplifting friendships and the possibility of romance. It’s a well-balanced and layered story and one I’d definitely recommend to readers of contemporary fiction and romance.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The characters.
- The humor.
- The messages.
Recommendations:
Want to read more by Mhairi McFarlane? Check out my reviews for some of her other books!
Great review Julie. It sounds like a good story with a bit of everything. I enjoy a good character driven novel.
Thanks, Carla!