13 reviews for You Belong with Me: A Novel: Mhairi McFarlane’s highly anticipated contemporary romance novel, a hilarious and heartfelt romantic comedy set in England

1. 

   Carol – October 12, 2024

   You Belong to Me, the sequel to Who’s That Girl?, was the follow-up I didn’t know I needed. Having greatly enjoyed Who’s That Girl?, I absolutely loved You Belong to Me and the opportunity to discover what happened next for Edie. Mhairi McFarlane’s brilliant way with words shone through. The writing, as always, was pacey and poignant. I was keen to find out what would happen next and so kept turning the pages, all the while knowing I’d be sad to say goodbye to the wonderful characters once I got to the end. Once again, McFarlane masterfully balances humour and emotion, making You Belong to Me a thoroughly enjoyable read. This book is a delightful continuation of Edie and Elliott’s story, perfect for fans of the first book and anyone looking for a heartwarming romance.

2. 

   Hazelbank homebody – October 12, 2024

   I absolutely love how articulate and skilful Mhairi’s writing is. Her vocabulary is extensive and her great wit and sarcasm are skills to be envied. I love reading her books, her characters are so well drawn; flawed and human but so likeable that I want to go for a drink with them.This is the sequel to Who’s that Girl and you really do have to have read that one to get the full value from this.Edie is back, with sister Meg and her friends Hannah and Nick. She’s asked by boss Richard to set up a satellite branch of Ad Hoc in Nottingham and is given a direct report in the form of the lovely Declan.Their initial meeting is typically (for Edie) abnormal and their friendship blossoms following some very funny scenes.Elliott is still the beautiful film star who adores Edie and he’s determined that they will make a go of things, despite their very obviously different lives.Fraser is back with a new girlfriend and he’s as pro-Edie and funny as ever.We navigate the paparazzi, intrusive press and the resurgence of some of the previous book’s villains, as well as addressing the issue of geography and Elliott’s sex scenes with his very glamorous co-star and their impact on Edie and Elliott’s relationship.Although Edie and Elliott’s responses to real and perceived threats to their relationship seem to go from 1-100 in an instant, their jealousy, fury and hurt is palpable and I could SEE Elliott’s rage and heartache – it was so, so good.However, I did feel as though a few chapters may have accidentally been deleted, as the end was very abrupt and there were some huge parts of the story left unaddressed.That’s a real shame as more of Mhairi’s fabulous writing wouldn’t have gone amiss and I really do want to know what happened next in the Nottingham branch of Ad Hoc…I’m already looking forward to the next novel.

3. 

   Melissa Stallard – October 12, 2024

   I was more than pleased when I read that there was a planned sequel to Edie and Elliot’s initial romance and this book did not disappoint! It had me hooked early and I got back into the characters quickly. It was funny and sweet, with a couple of small twists to keep it interesting. As usual with Mhairi’s books, I finish her books always wanting more!

4. 

   J. Lach – October 12, 2024

   Ich liebe M. McFarlane und warte jedes Jahr sehnsüchtig auf den nächsten Roman. Mich spricht ihr Wortwitz an, die interessanten Geschichten und die Entwicklungen zwischen den Figuren, die immer reifer und erwachsener werden. Diesmal leider nicht, die Figuren wirken eher pubertär, ihre Entscheidungen emotional und das Ende ergibt nach dem vielen Hinterfragen und Umentscheiden leider wenig Sinn. Eher enttäuschend. Ich wünschte, McFarlane würde mehr die erwachsenen Leser ansprechend, Liebesgeschichten in dieser Art gibt es doch schon zu genüge.

5. 

   little bookworm – October 12, 2024

   Who’s That Girl is one of my favorite McFarlane books, my only complaint was that ending, which was simply begging for a sequel, however, now we have it. You Belong With Me picks up right where we left off, with Edie’s doorbell ringing on Christmas Day, and Elliot Owen standing on her doorstep asking her to give their relationship another chance.Edie and Elliot’s chemistry and banter is just as sparkling and on point as it was in the original novel, such that a few pages in and I was completely caught up in their romance again. The connection between them is so palpable that it is clear they are meant to be together, however, with so much drama constantly going on around them, it is fair to say they have a lot to contend with in this novel in order to make their relationship work. What I really enjoyed was their commitment to each other and the honest conversations between them when things were difficult, how by being open with each other they were always able to work things out. There were some lovely tender moments between them, as well as lots of laughs, however, there were also insecurities on both sides that had to be worked through. The last few chapters in particular had me on tenterhooks, thinking this can’t be happening again, with McFarlane really nailing their emotions, and thankfully giving me the happy ending I badly needed.I loved both Edie and Elliot individually as characters as well. Elliot’s witticisms and incisiveness, together with his down to earth charm, despite his celebrity status, probably ranks him as my favourite McFarlane hero. As for Edie, I probably liked her more in this novel than I did in the original, perhaps because she seemed to have found herself and was far more comfortable with herself and life in general, albeit having to adjust to life as Elliot’s girlfriend. I liked that they both had their flaws, and I think McFarlane has done a good job of making those flaws believable in light of some of their past experiences. I do think that Edie, in particular, had some self-reflection to do towards the end of the novel, and I was glad that she was finally able to give Elliot the validation of her feelings that I think he needed at that point, given that from his perspective, I think there was throughout the novel this nagging worry that he felt more for her than she did for him, given how she had ended things last time, and which the whole Declan situation just brought to a head. I think throughout the novel it was Elliot making all the gestures and Edie the one who would throw up the doubts, such that I think it had to be her that made the big declaration at the end.There was probably more of Edie and Elliot together in this book than I would have anticipated, which was a bonus, however, it was also lovely to catch up with some old favourites especially Fraser, who was as boisterous and lovable as ever. I liked Meg far more in this book, now that she was toned down a bit and less angsty towards Edie. Declan was a great addition, and his sleepwalking episode has to be one of the funniest things that McFarlane has ever written in any of her books. I enjoyed his rapport and friendship with Edie, however, for me it didn’t compare to the connection that she has in both books with Elliot, such that I never really saw him as a true love interest or regarded this as a proper love triangle.Given Elliot’s celebrity status, there was lots of drama relating to media coverage of the couple, and I think McFarlane captured the madness of the media circus well, and just how much Edie had to contend with. Also this tied in well with the themes of social media abuse that were very much at the forefront in the first book, and that whole arc still features in this novel. Suffice to say Jack is still as smarmy as ever, however, there was some unexpected redemption for Louis.Some of McFarlane’s last few books have been much lighter on the romance aspect and more to do with bad break ups and toxic relationships, such that I have to say that for me personally, I appreciated having the romance be more central to the story again. I didn’t ever expect this to quite match Who’s That Girl, just because that’s the novel where they fall in love and that magic can’t be captured again, for which reason I think generally sequels for rom-coms are a hard act. However, McFarlane exceeded my expectations here giving us the next chapter in Edie and Elliot’s relationship, in a way that continued to showcase their love for each other, but also the day to day commitment that is required to make a relationship work.Just one complaint Mhairi, I really wanted to meet Elliot’s musician friend, Cameron!

6. 

   Love2read – October 12, 2024

   Nice sequel
   You Belong with Me is the perfect follow up to Who’s that Girl? You belong with me picks up after Elliott shows up on Edie’s door step on Christmas day to profess his love for her. After a long wait for this book, we get to see how Edie and Elliott can make it work between Elliott’s celebrity fame and Edie’s normal life. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Edie and Elliott and the hurdles and high points of their relationship. I really enjoyed the writing. McFarlane wove the story of both characters so well, there was witty banter (my favorite), and side characters you could care about. I could feel the emotions between the two as they worked through their hang ups and barriers along the way.

7. 

   Blackjack – October 12, 2024

   One of her best!
   Incoming gushing review…I think I might have been one of the few readers who thought that Who’s That Girl? ended on a pitch perfect note and further writing wasn’t needed, though once I began reading this latest book, I was so happy that McFarlane decided a sequel was in order. Of course Edie and Elliot belonged together at the end of their first book. They proved that from the start when Elliot, against his better judgment, decided to let an unknown ghostwriter into his rarefied celebrity world to write his autobiography. Edie was a mess in the first novel, and Elliot was drawn to her swirling contradictions of kindness, fragility, and insecurity. Elliot might have started off in Edie’s mind as “Megabrat,” but once she got to know him and realized how much they had in common, the veneers of wealth and status were set aside. The uncertainties that plagued them in the first book were not thoroughly examined, but their love was such a passionate one that romance readers like myself accepted their future together. Of course it’s Elliot knocking at her door for her in the final pages, which is exactly where You Belong with Me picks up.This book depicts the rocky courtship of two people madly in love juggling internal and external problems that threaten their future together. I found that the problems were realistic but also always resolvable as long as they continued talking through them. And they do always keep talking and working on their relationship and never take it for granted. There are so many wonderful conversations that illustrate the give and take two people together must make in a relationship, and McFarlane does a lovely job of allowing both Edie and Elliot the grace to respect themselves while also nurture each other. There is a beautiful scene late in the book when Edie describes to Elliot that he is her “home” and how important he was to her in a frightening moment in the story when her father was ill that made me tear up. I had a few moments when I wondered if money, status, jealousy, long distance were all just insurmountable problems for them, but the priority put on building a steady foundation in the euphoria of falling in love remains central. Not only did I feel convinced that the characters do belong together but that the romance is in the work required to sustain a life-long love.I loved the entire cast of characters here that carry over from the first book, and a few new ones. I love that despite the extent of Elliot’s burgeoning career as an actor on the verge of A-list stardom, Edie’s career successes are given equal weight and attention. I love that Elliot has so much respect for Edie, my personal favorite heroine from McFarlane’s many books. In recent years, her books have been a little less romance-centric and this one puts romance at the heart of everything that happens. I hope this trend continues. Highly, highly recommend!

8. 

   Nancy Kaye – October 12, 2024

   My favorite author!
   Mhairi McFarlane has never disappointed me. Her books are so well written and interesting. I love her creativity and her character development is second to none!

9. 

   Amazon Customer – October 12, 2024

   Great read…
   This is my fourth Mhairi McFarlane read and it didn’t disappoint. Mhairi’s books are always a delight. I didn’t realize this was a sequel but I certainly didn’t feel lost not knowing what happened in Who’s That Girl?. The characters and what they go through are relatable. Having to work out their feelings and finding their way, to accepting what and who they can trust. I loved each of the characters. Well, maybe not Iggy. I loved all the quips. I look forward to the next book!Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC.

10. 

    anthony martinez – October 12, 2024

    Part 2
    Edie Thompson has sealed the deal with famous actor Elliott Owen. What comes next? Poor communication.First off, I didn’t realize this was a sequel. It would really help if you read the first book. Overall, this book is just a series of misunderstandings between ED and Elliot. There wasn’t much romance, happiness, or anything of like. I was kind of disappointed.Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advance copy of this book.

11. 

    Jamiefay – October 12, 2024

    Love love love
    She’s my new fav author. Love the writing and characters. I like how they are flawed and come around to loving themselves.

12. 

    Ayelet Blanc – October 12, 2024

    Lovely
    I never read a book by this author that was not good, this I not one of the best either but still enjoyable.

13. 

    Donaldson Family – October 12, 2024

    Must-read!
    I mean it’s a Mhairi McFarlane so it’s already a must-read. This sequel to “Who’s That Girl?” was an absolute delight. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wish you knew the main characters – and Mhairi, of course – in real life. I’ll re-read both books multiple times over the years, I’m sure. This is one of my all-time favorite love stories, stunningly told by one of my all-time favorite authors. I’d tell you to enjoy it but I already know you will!