Reviews with content warning for Car accident - Sanningen kommer om natten

Let me start off by saying that this is not a lighthearted romance. Mhairi McFarlane does deal with heavier themes in her work than some of her peers, especially so in this book. Just Last Night deals with grief, friendship, healing, and love in unexpected places. I ended up having very mixed feelings about this book, mainly because of the pacing. The first half (maybe even the first two thirds) is mainly a heavy, sad meditation on grief, betrayal, and friendship. I found it hard to get through, but I trusted in Mhairi McFarlane to make it worthwhile.

I'm glad I stuck it out, because I loved the final third of the book.

I was initially worried that Eve would end up with her one-that-got-away, Ed, kind of like in McFarlane's You Had Me At Hello. But of course, once Finlay entered the scene, I knew what direction the book would take. The Byronic hero trope, while sometimes overdone, was actually executed quite well here, and the Mr. Darcy-esque unraveling of Finlay's layers endeared me to his character. Most of all, I was really, really glad that Eve became acquainted with her self worth and ended up finding what she deserved.

As ever, McFarlane's treatment of the nuances in relationships (of all kinds) took center stage in this book. The themes of loss, forgiveness, and healing were handled beautifully. If you're looking for a light, fluffy read, probably skip this one. But if you can stomach a story of tragedy, recovery, and ultimately, love, then this will deliver.

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blueiris315's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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gtrue21's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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katieemilys's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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siob___'s review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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eliseilou's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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claravalente's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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aylacourtney's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

McFarlane has a way of writing about the messy stuff with such care and reality. This is not a fluffy romcom. It was emotional and intense. Without giving spoilers, the main event in the story felt like it was dragged out. However perhaps that was purposeful choice and a necessary tool to push the characters forward. I would not recommend this book unless you are ready for something a little heavier.

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