Published by HarperCollins on March 24, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Friendship, Women
Pages: 432
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane returns with another heartfelt romantic comedy perfect for fans of Josie Silver, Sophie Kinsella, or Sally Thorne.
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 him every 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 is not an 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...
If I Never Met You starts off on the heavier side. Even going in knowing the synopsis, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional response that McFarlane expertly coaxed from. I struggled with Laurie’s suffering! I loved Laurie’s wit and humor from the very beginning. She was a perfectly relatable character with flaws that make her authentic. Without a doubt, Laurie will be on my list of fictional friends because I adore her! The pacing felt a bit slower in this book, after all, there is a lot of background within an 18-year relationship to hash out.
One of the things I love most about McFarlane’s writing is her ability to write complex friendships and side characters that you meet once and fall in love with. Emily, Bharat, and (kinda) Di were so much fun to read. Friendships in books are my catnip and McFarlane definitely delivers in this one!
Jamie wasn’t my favorite hero though. I think I had trouble coming to terms with the two very different sides of his personality/persona. I didn’t hate him, but I can’t say I found him swoony. Maybe I would have felt different if I could see inside his head, but the way it stands my heart isn’t going to skip a beat.
McFarlane managed to drag laughter, tears, and outrage out of this reader. While I would be hard-pressed to say this is my favorite, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was invested in Laurie’s journey to rediscover herself as an independent woman. I can hardly wait to see what Mhairi McFarlane comes up with next!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
