A review by emptzuu
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

The book begins with an extensive exploration of a breakup with a toxic partner, which dominates the narrative. In a romance novel, I anticipate the main characters to share ample on-page time, fostering their connection. However, the protagonist remains fixated on her past relationship, leaving little room for the budding romance with the new love interest, who comes across as one-dimensional. This disproportionate focus detracts from the expected romantic elements, and I find myself disengaged from the characters.

Additionally, I was under the impression that the author was a woman of color, but was surprised to discover she is a white Scottish woman. The inclusion of a racially diverse protagonist feels tokenistic, as if it were a superficial addition rather than an integral aspect of the character's identity. Merely acknowledging race without integrating it meaningfully into the narrative falls short of genuine diversity representation in romance literature.