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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I dislike this romance trope and was alarmed at the protagonist and how she kept pursuing the love interest even thought he was committed. I love the friend characters and some of the fun banter.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So Rachel emotionally cheats on Rhys for years throughout uni with Ben, and then when they do reunite 10 years down the line there's even more emotional cheating because Ben is married. It doesn't matter that nothing physical happened until they were single (because of course they end up together), and it doesn't matter that Rhys was a bit of a twat and Ben and Olivia weren't a good fit - emotional cheating is still cheating.
I do like McFarlane's writing style for the most part - it's quintessentially British and obnoxiously pretentious, and there's something about reading places you've been to or lived near that hits a bit different when it's done well. This was a romance that did not work for me though, and how oblivious Rachel was through it all and how very much she tried to avoid blame and deflect was quite frustrating.
I do like McFarlane's writing style for the most part - it's quintessentially British and obnoxiously pretentious, and there's something about reading places you've been to or lived near that hits a bit different when it's done well. This was a romance that did not work for me though, and how oblivious Rachel was through it all and how very much she tried to avoid blame and deflect was quite frustrating.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5/5 Stars
I absolutely adore Mhairi McFarlanes writing. I also know what to expect for the most part when I start diving into her books. She has a formula in her romantic comedies that work well. I knew I'd find the following:
✔️ Underconfident FMC
✔️ Really sweet MMC who cherishes their friendship but wants something more from the FMC
✔️ Long term relationship with Other Man that's going nowhere because he cheats on her and doesn't appreciate her and treat her like she deserves to be treated.
Although here the cheating is in the past but wasn't known to fmc when she was proposed to.
✔️ A lot of inner turmoil as the FMC sorts out her life; career, friendships and love life all included
There were some differences from the other books that I have read ( so far as I have read 4 others so far):
X Ben was married for 2 years when Rachel bumps into him again after no seeing him for 10 years. Although technically there's no physical cheating between the MCs, there is for SURE emotional cheating.
X There are alot if flashbacks between the present and the past that make it clear there's a little of unresolved tension that made their friendship implode before.
Ben and Rachel were very close friends at Uni for 4 years. Rachel was in a long distance relationship and Ben was a ladies man but didn't really want to settle down long term with anyone during school.
They lost touch for 10 years until Rachel heard Ben's back in town. She stakes out his location and ' runs into him' One day. They reignite thru friendship. Ben is married and Rachel's broken up with her long term relationship.
As more of their back story is revealed it makes more sense about why Ben is so starry eyed for Rachel and gets jealous when she goes on a date with his friend.
Is there a chance for Rachel and Ben, even if it means they just remain friends
I absolutely adore Mhairi McFarlanes writing. I also know what to expect for the most part when I start diving into her books. She has a formula in her romantic comedies that work well. I knew I'd find the following:
✔️ Underconfident FMC
✔️ Really sweet MMC who cherishes their friendship but wants something more from the FMC
✔️ Long term relationship with Other Man that's going nowhere because he cheats on her and doesn't appreciate her and treat her like she deserves to be treated.
Although here the cheating is in the past but wasn't known to fmc when she was proposed to.
✔️ A lot of inner turmoil as the FMC sorts out her life; career, friendships and love life all included
There were some differences from the other books that I have read ( so far as I have read 4 others so far):
X Ben was married for 2 years when Rachel bumps into him again after no seeing him for 10 years. Although technically there's no physical cheating between the MCs, there is for SURE emotional cheating.
X There are alot if flashbacks between the present and the past that make it clear there's a little of unresolved tension that made their friendship implode before.
Ben and Rachel were very close friends at Uni for 4 years. Rachel was in a long distance relationship and Ben was a ladies man but didn't really want to settle down long term with anyone during school.
They lost touch for 10 years until Rachel heard Ben's back in town. She stakes out his location and ' runs into him' One day. They reignite thru friendship. Ben is married and Rachel's broken up with her long term relationship.
As more of their back story is revealed it makes more sense about why Ben is so starry eyed for Rachel and gets jealous when she goes on a date with his friend.
Is there a chance for Rachel and Ben, even if it means they just remain friends
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced