1.65k reviews for:

Between Us

Mhairi McFarlane

3.63 AVERAGE

challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book wasn’t a love story. Turns out it was never a love story to begin with. Roisin, main character, has been in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Joe. Now, what is wrong with this relationship is that everything that had occurred during the inclination. This story has twists from when their already-grownup friend group, The Brian Club, which was made after they all met while working together years ago, reunited for a grand summer vacation hosted by their engaged friends. Joe, a screenwriter for ‘SEEN’, has released and decided to play the Pilot episode,
however, it hinted some worst moments of the reality of Roisin, all which started the downfall.
For me, this is a solid book to get out of a reading slump as I like when characters are written realistically with the flaws that project their intentions. It’s a type of book that would get aunties to gossip about. My favourite part of this is about Matthew, a friend to Roisin, has supported her for the most while also having an important punch to the story. For young adults (mainly older), this is a fun contemporary novel to start with when adulthood is coming up. I wish to reread this one day because Mhairi McFarlane knew what she was doing.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
slow-paced

embodied the “gradual but sudden” in the plot in a (not great) surprising and out of character way  
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I generally liked reading the book but the way the events unfold, the order of it, is what makes this under 3 stars for me.
because of the blurb in the back, i assumed matt was going to be the love interest but there wasnt much to indicate before he comes to her hometown and that red herring about the woman he really likes moving across the world really threw me. I was still into the idea until roisin says shes in love with him after a few days/weeks? even though there was no indication of her ever being interested in him romantically? That seemed really fast and especially fast when everything with joe wasnt resolved. I guess its more realistic that it happened out of order but i felt like the joe stuff shouldve mostly happened before her declaring love and there shouldve been more for her and matt's relationship overall. Also having the friends be so front and center at the beginning and then really fall off the wayside didnt seem great.
I did like the overall vibe of the book though and it was a pleasant read so I'll have to give another book a chance.
slow-paced
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Maybe a 3.5?

This book needed to be a lot longer or the Joe thing needed to end and be resolved half way through. Or at least mostly resolved. Like broken up and she's still fucked up about the gaslighting and the did he cheat on her deal.

I liked the Matt and Roisin romance, but it did feel kinda forced and out of left field? They needed more time together on the page.

I'm still a Mhairi stan, but this is one of her weaker performances for sure.

3,5


Es sind zu Beginn vergleichsweise viele Schreibfehler dabei, fand ich echt ziemlich schade, das wirkte ein wenig lieblos abgefertigt (zumindest bei der Übersetzung)
Im Laufe des Buches und am Ende war das dann aber wieder besser 
(Und JA ich erkenne die Ironie daran, dass ich mich über Schreibfehler aufrege, während meine eigenen Texte voll von ihnen sind, ALSO KLAPPE)

Ich liebe Mhairis Bücher total und es ist jedes Mal wieder schön, weil ich weiß, dass eine leichte, angenehme und lustige Lektüre auf mich wartet

Bei diesem Buch fand ich tatsächlich, dass es sich zum Ende hin etwas gezogen hat und irgendwie künstlich verlängert wurde? Idk, es hat sich so angefühlt als hätte es schon längst zu Ende sein sollen oder so 

Und teilweise fand ich es komisch, wie manche Argumente komplett auseinandergenommen und inspiziert wurden, aber bei anderen wurden die einfach komplett eindimensional und un-hinterfragt (deutsch kann ich) belassen, weils besser in die Story reingepasst hat / um künstlich den jeweiligen Konflikt etwas mehr aufzubauen 

Insgesamt muss man auch sagen, dass das Grundmuster/-gerüst von Mhairis Geschichten quasi immer das gleiche ist und es mittlerweile alles sehr vorhersehbar ist. Ist ja auch nicht schlimm, sind ja auch „nur“ romcoms, und wie gesagt, es ist auch irgendwie schön, Bücher zu haben, bei denen man weiß was man bekommt und woran man ist - vor allem wenn man halt mal so ne Wohlfühlektüre haben möchte. Wenn das der Fall ist weiß ich auf jeden Fall immer welche Bücher ich dann lese, weil Mhairi wirklich nie enttäuscht tbh

Ansonsten fand ich die Reaktionen auf die „Missetaten“ von Matt gegenüber Gina total übertrieben. Die von Gina sowieso, aber auch die der anderen - warum tun alle so, als hätte matt ihr ungeheuer schreckliche Dinge angetan? Das letzte mit seiner Freundin war unangenehm, ja, aber what the hell? Ist doch nicht seine Schuld. Und die anderen beiden Sachen waren peinlich/random, aber absolut Dinge über die man lachen kann - im normalen Leben entsteht doch nicht so ein krasser beef wegen sowas alter, dafack
Gerade mit den kack emojis, was ist daran so schlimm
dark emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
lighthearted reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes