This is why Mhairi McFarlane is my favourite romcom writer - she writes stories I can imagine myself living in, featuring characters I want to be friends with/murder for. Bel and Connor might be my two new fav MCs of hers (Edie and Elliot just about holding onto that top spot but might slip a place when I re-read Cover Story). I can get frustrated with miscommunication in romance books but it's done well here and you understand why both MCs are second guessing themselves/each other about their feelings.

I enjoyed the fact that there were a few different stories going on within the main overarching story too, and the fact there were no 'pantomime' bad guys - just bad people you know exist in real life because you've met them, or heard stories about them from friends and family.

And once again Mhairi writes side characters you want to know more about; Shilpa's book next Mhairi please I beg of you...

Read this if you love grownup romance about imperfect adults you'd be friends with irl.

Some of my fav quotes:

"Yup, Nibbles. Workmen in brick-dust-covered Timberland boots, and then me. Buckfast at Tiffany's" (Mhairi has the best one liners!)

"His father was seventy six now and Connor had been emotionally unprepared for how precarious and mortal things suddenly turned in that decade. Every interaction with his parents came freighted with the fear of how long he might have left with them" (This is one of the best descriptions of worrying about your elderly parents I've ever read)

"I would like to have the kind of fling with him that sees us both publicly condemned by the Pope" (We've all been there, Shilpa)