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A review by bennysbooks
You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane
I was one of those readers who, upon finishing Who's That Girl, thought McFarlane had left out the most interesting part (how these two characters with entirely different lifestyles, and who were determined to follow their current courses, could make a relationship work) of the story. Unfortunately, after reading the sequel, I've concluded that McFarlane made the exact same mistake again. You Belong With Me is not about how Elliot and Edie make it work; it's about Edie and Elliot dithering about making it work, letting some of the same wounds and stressors from the first book dominate their relationship, and then deciding to be together despite everything. Because LOVE.
The usual McFarlane wins are in evidence here: the humour spoke to me, and the platonic relationships surrounding the MCs were charming and integral to the plot (albeit maybe less integral than book one). That's what keeps me coming back. I just don't know that this story evolved enough from the original to have been worthwhile. Sounds harsh, but it just felt like a rehash rather than a continuation.
I still want to know HOW they make it work. Does Elliot move back to Nottingham one day? Does she work remotely and travel more often to visit him in the States? Do they have a timeline for him limiting the types of roles and commitments he takes on? How does Edie learn to manage her own feelings about the spotlight, or their income desparity? I found myself wishing she would choose Declan, because it seemed to me that Elliot was onto something about not being able to give her the life she wanted. But I could have been convinced otherwise if McFarlane spent less time having Edie dither and more time having Edie and Elliot communicate and plan.
In the end I still love Edie and her world, Elliot and Fraser are charming as ever, but I'm not convinced of them as a couple.
The usual McFarlane wins are in evidence here: the humour spoke to me, and the platonic relationships surrounding the MCs were charming and integral to the plot (albeit maybe less integral than book one). That's what keeps me coming back. I just don't know that this story evolved enough from the original to have been worthwhile. Sounds harsh, but it just felt like a rehash rather than a continuation.
I still want to know HOW they make it work. Does Elliot move back to Nottingham one day? Does she work remotely and travel more often to visit him in the States? Do they have a timeline for him limiting the types of roles and commitments he takes on? How does Edie learn to manage her own feelings about the spotlight, or their income desparity? I found myself wishing she would choose Declan, because it seemed to me that Elliot was onto something about not being able to give her the life she wanted. But I could have been convinced otherwise if McFarlane spent less time having Edie dither and more time having Edie and Elliot communicate and plan.
In the end I still love Edie and her world, Elliot and Fraser are charming as ever, but I'm not convinced of them as a couple.