Portobello Book Blog

A new Mhairi McFarlane book is always something to get excited about and I was certainly excited to read Between Us which was published on 11th May. And it was just brilliant!

About the Book

When Joe and Roisin join their group of friends for a weekend away, it’s a triple celebration – a birthday, an engagement and the launch of Joe’s new crime drama on TV.

But when Roisin sees secrets she shared with Joe play out on the TV screen, she knows that between us means nothing at all.

Roisin finds herself searching for clues to the truth – about her life, their history, and the man she thought she loved. And it’s then that Roisin finds the most unexpected plot twist of them all. Among those same old friends, there’s a surprising potential for new beginnings . . .

My Thoughts

There are some authors whose books you will read without bothering to find out what they’re about. Mhairi McFarlane is one of these authors for me. I always know that I’m going to enjoy her books so I went into this one blind. But then there’s always that niggling worry – will this be the book by a favourite author that actually you don’t like after all? Well, let me tell you this was not that book!

Reading about English teacher Roisin dealing admirably with a cheeky pupil made me respect and like her immediately. As an ex teacher, I’ve definitely been in that position! There’s a strong focus on relationships in this book whether that’s with friends or a romantic partner. The question arises time and again, how well do you really know someone? I wasn’t sure what to make of Roisin’s partner Joe, whether he was a good guy and all his explanations were plausible or whether he was betraying her. I changed my mind changed several times as I was reading. This made this a really compelling book as like Roisin, I really had to find out!

Mhairi McFarlane’s books often have a common theme of women supporting women and female friendship and that was true for Between Us too. She has created a strong supporting cast from Roisin’s friends in the ‘Brian Club’ to a more unexpected source of support. These were friends who she could have fun with, who made sure she didn’t take herself too seriously, who she could rely on to make her laugh but who absolutely had her back when she needed it.

Between Us is a funny and clever page-turner with a heroine you will be cheering on and a plotline that will keep you guessing. If you are a fan of Mhairi McFarlane’s novels, you are going to love this one. And if you haven’t read any of her books before, what are you waiting for? You’ve been missing out on one of the best rom-com writers around!

My thanks to the publishers Harper Collins for my digital review copy from Netgalley.

About the Author

Sunday Times bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane was born in Scotland in 1976 and her unnecessarily confusing name is pronounced Vah-Ree.

After some efforts at journalism, she started writing novels and her first book, You Had Me At Hello, was an instant success. She’s now written eight books and she lives in Nottingham with a man and a cat.