REVIEW: You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane

In You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane, When Edie Thompson and Elliot Owen parted ways, she thought it would be for the best. Even if it did rip her heart in two. Because, really, who would expect things to work out between a copywriter from Nottingham and a megastar actor who’s a household name? Certainly not Edie. But on Christmas Day, Elliot shows up at Edie’s door ready to give things another try. While she can’t think of anything she’d like more, she knows she needs to proceed cautiously. Elliot’s life is already complicated. Will starting over again make things even more difficult?

“What was it in your mind, back then? If never a fling?” Edie asked.
“The beginning,” Elliot said, without hesitating.

As Edie and Elliot navigate their renewed relationship, things start off fairly blissful, with little fanfare compared to last time. But soon enough, private details find their way into the press. And it leaves them to wonder who among their small group of family and friends has been leaking that info. With the paparazzi constantly stalking them and not knowing who to trust, Edie and Elliot feel the stress but don’t want to let outside forces win. Old insecurities–for them both–creep in before long. And it leaves them scrambling to find their feet and figure out if the toll it’s taking on them and their loved ones to continue to strive towards their HEA is worth it.

“All I do is put on masks and take them off again and avoid real life. In return, they get to say what they want about me… I don’t know who I am, Edie.”
She held him tightly and said: “I do.”

A witty sequel that picked up exactly where the previous book left off, YOU BELONG WITH ME was another whirlwind of a romance plagued with trust issues, sneaky paparazzi, complicated relationships, but also loads of family, acceptance, and love.

“We’ve come a long way since I was hired to write your life story, haven’t we?” Edie said.
“Fair to say, you understood the assignment,” Elliot said. “You haven’t stopped writing it since.”

CW: View Spoiler »Suicide (off-page, historical), addiction, anxiety, cheating. « Hide Spoiler

One thing is for sure: a Mhairi McFarlane book is always entertaining. YOU BELONG WITH ME was every bit as tumultuous, angsty, funny, and charming as book one was. I will note that this is *not* a standalone. It picked up at the same exact scene that ended Who’s That Girl? and put to rest the question of whether or not it was movie star Elliot at the door. (It was!) And what followed was one nearly disastrous predicament after another that Edie and Elliot had to solve all while they were rarely on the same continent.

Trust was the biggest issue between Elliot and Edie thanks to paparazzi and “journalists” misconstruing the facts over and over. It did get to be a bit much a few times with how poorly Edie thought of herself and how quickly she could catastrophize. But given her past, it did make sense. I enjoyed her relationship with her younger sister Meg growing as well as the hilarious scenes with her friends Hannah and Nick. McFarlane was on par with the lively dialogue between them all–even with the bickering and flirting between Edie and Elliot.

There was a bit of a love triangle toward the last quarter or so of the book that I wasn’t wholly onboard with, but I did understand why McFarlane used that element. Let’s just say that as much as they were tested in this second chance at love, Elliot and Edie can withstand pretty much anything life throws their way. And the finale this time around was as lovely as it was satisfying.

QOTD: Do you prefer a happy ending where the couple gets married and sail off into the sunset? Or do you prefer one that’s a bit more open-ended, but knowing it’s still a good outcome?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: September 3rd, 2024 | Avon | Edie Thompson #2

International bestseller Mhairi McFarlane delivers a charming, hilarious, and heartfelt new novel about a woman adjusting to life in the spotlight when she begins a relationship with a famous actor, in this highly anticipated follow-up to Who’s That Girl.

She found The One. But when everyone wants him, can she keep him?

Edie found true love. And on Christmas day, he’s knocking at her door.

Elliot Owen is handsome, charming and basically Hollywood royalty. And, he insists, madly in love with Edie an ordinary citizen with tomato soup stains on her coat. It’s going to be complicated. Edie will have to learn how to live in the limelight, but they’re just too good together not to try.

Edie discovers it’s not easy when the press is the third person in your relationship, or when stories start leaking that force you to mistrust the motives of those around you. It’s tricky when you’re separated by an ocean and gorgeous co-stars and charismatic new colleagues are closer by. It’s harder still when your past is raked up by envious people determined to destroy your present.

Edie already knows how it feels to be infamous, now she’s going to find out what it’s like to be famous.

Are she and Elliot a fairytale, or a cautionary fable about getting what you wish for?