If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. Advance Reader Copy (eARC) from the publisher via Netgalley included. No affiliate links used. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
I wrote a newsletter a few months ago about the fact that I was wrong about chick lit and how my judgement of the entire genre was misguided and, to be honest, ridiculous. What better way to correct my mistake than by reading and reviewing more contemporary rom-coms, which seems to be what the industry is calling chick lit these days.
First up we have If I Never Met You* by Mhairi McFarlane.
When Laurie's partner of 18 years breaks up with her, she is left trying to figure out where it all went wrong. How could the man she has been with since university suddenly decide that children, marriage and settling down are not for him?
Within a few months Dan announces that his new girlfriend is pregnant and Laurie's confusion turns to frustration and anger.
Enter Jamie - a work colleague Laurie doesn't particularly like, not least because of his reputation as a womaniser.
When they are stuck in a lift together Jamie proposes they start a fake/for show romantic relationship. His motivation is to impress their bosses in a bid to become the next partner at their law firm. Laurie is hesitant, but agrees because she could do with some fun. That it will likely make her ex jealous doesn't hurt either!
While the faux-romance is central to the story, Mhairi McFarlane brilliantly weaves female friendships, feminism and Laurie's experience of being biracial into the plot giving us realistic characters even if the initial premise seems far-fetched. I really enjoyed it!
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane is published by Harper Collins and is available in paperback and ebook format.
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