Mad About You: A Novel
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Wedding photographer Harriet Hatley, 34, is contemplating breaking up with her boyfriend when he proposes--on holiday, in front of his family. She needs to move out quickly, so she takes a room in a house with handsome, charming Cal. But there's no danger of her falling for him--Cal left his bride at the altar at a wedding she covered, so clearly he's not a great guy. At another wedding, she runs into Scott, her abusive ex-boyfriend, who is now engaged. In an effort to warn his fiancée about Scott's true nature, Harriet writes her a letter. Scott turns around and writes a detailed Facebook post, accusing Harriet of all the abuse he perpetrated. But this brings another of Scott's ex-girlfriends out of the woodwork, and the women plot public revenge. Despite its heavy themes of coping with past abuse and loss, McFarlane's latest, following Just Last Night (2021), is a mostly lighthearted romp through friendship, love, and starting over. Readers of Marian Keyes will be drawn to this British charmer.

McFarlane (after If I Never Met You) delivers a well-developed work of women's fiction with a romantic endcap. Wedding planner Harriet Hatley is adrift. Her two closest friends are her only family, and her current relationship is more comfortable than passionate. When her boyfriend stages a public proposal despite Harriet's frequent avowals that she's not interested in marriage, it's a clear sign that their relationship's not working. She needs to move out and move on. She finds a flatmate in her polar opposite, the handsome and recently heartbroken Cal Clarke. What follows is the story of a woman reviewing her romantic history and learning that confronting her past is the best way to build a happy future. The romance that slowly emerges between Harriet and Cal takes a backseat to Harriet's personal growth. Still, McFarlane's dry wit and Briticism-laden prose will appeal to her many fans, and her heroine charms. Readers who don't mind the minimal focus on the love connection will be enchanted. (Aug.)

Wedding photographer Harriet Hatley, 34, is contemplating breaking up with her boyfriend when he proposes—on holiday, in front of his family. She needs to move out quickly, so she takes a room in a house with handsome, charming Cal. But there's no danger of her falling for him—Cal left his bride at the altar at a wedding she covered, so clearly he's not a great guy. At another wedding, she runs into Scott, her abusive ex-boyfriend, who is now engaged. In an effort to warn his fiancée about Scott's true nature, Harriet writes her a letter. Scott turns around and writes a detailed Facebook post, accusing Harriet of all the abuse he perpetrated. But this brings another of Scott's ex-girlfriends out of the woodwork, and the women plot public revenge. Despite its heavy themes of coping with past abuse and loss, McFarlane's latest, following Just Last Night (2021), is a mostly lighthearted romp through friendship, love, and starting over. Readers of Marian Keyes will be drawn to this British charmer. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

McFarlane (after If I Never Met You) delivers a well-developed work of women's fiction with a romantic endcap. Wedding planner Harriet Hatley is adrift. Her two closest friends are her only family, and her current relationship is more comfortable than passionate. When her boyfriend stages a public proposal despite Harriet's frequent avowals that she's not interested in marriage, it's a clear sign that their relationship's not working. She needs to move out and move on. She finds a flatmate in her polar opposite, the handsome and recently heartbroken Cal Clarke. What follows is the story of a woman reviewing her romantic history and learning that confronting her past is the best way to build a happy future. The romance that slowly emerges between Harriet and Cal takes a backseat to Harriet's personal growth. Still, McFarlane's dry wit and Briticism-laden prose will appeal to her many fans, and her heroine charms. Readers who don't mind the minimal focus on the love connection will be enchanted. (Aug.)