top of page

Book Review: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Writer: Amy LittlefordAmy Littleford

If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?


When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see himevery day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down isnotan option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.


Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...


My Review:


Rating: 4.5/5 stars.


Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Mhairi McFarlane for an eARC of this book for an honest review.


I'd read Don't You Forget About Me last year and it was my favourite book that I read, so I was very excited to be able to read another book by this amazing author. This is another brilliant rom-com that I hated putting down because of everyday life and having to sleep, (sigh). I didn't expect it to be a similar storyline To All the Boys I've Loved Before but finding out that McFarlane wanted to do a showmance story anyway was reassuring. If you didn't enjoy TATBILB (like me) or even if you did enjoy it, then this book is for you.


Laurie and Jamie's relationship is one that became contracted but ended up being a beautiful relationship that ended in true love. It may have been a little predictable what how can you have a showmance that isn't? Although it was predictable it was still original and had a nice up and down rhythm in terms of pacing. It was very PC so if you don't enjoy heat in a book then you would also enjoy this romance. There was a lot of representation in this book which made my heart sing. A multi-racial relationship that kept all cultural traditions/traits, and beautiful feminist representation that was a good steady theme throughout.


I also enjoyed the morals that ran throughout the story. I really related to the absent father and the family member with cancer as I think that it is important to show all parts of characters' lives even when the story is focused on romance.




Comments


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page