If I Never Met You: A Novel

4.5 stars. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane is a charming romance that is giggle inducing and emotionally compelling. Lawyer Laurie Watkinson is completely blindsided when her boyfriend of eighteen years (!) Dan Price ends their relationship. She is also heartbroken and angry when she learns he was involved with his new (and pregnant) girlfriend before they split up. Laurie and Dan work together and gossip spreads like wildfire once their office mates discover the titillating news about the former couple. So when co-worker and ladies’ man Jamie Carter proposes the two of them enter into a fauxmance which will benefit both of them, Laurie is quick to agree. But as they spend time together, a surprising friendship springs up between them. When Laurie begins to realize her feelings for Jamie are turning romantic, is there any chance their fauxmance will lead to a lasting relationship? Laurie is a smart, sassy and sarcastic woman with a flourishing career. She is comfortable in her relationship with Dan and she is happy to support him as he rises within the company. An only child, her relationships with both her mum and father are fraught. Laurie’s best friend Emily Clarke is bluntly honest yet supportive. With her heart shattered and her confidence shaken, Laurie is contemplative as she looks back on her relationship and arrives at some very startling conclusions. Jamie is a newcomer to the firm and he is not very well-liked. His reputation with women is well-known and he makes no effort to hide his confidence or ambition. His bosses are pleased with his work but they are concerned about his serial dating. After an unexpectedly fun evening together, Jamie comes up with his brilliant fauxmance idea which he hopes will alter his superiors’ opinion of him along with providing the opportunity for Laurie to exact revenge on her cheating ex. Thier first few fake dates are a little uncomfortable, so Laurie and Jamie are a little surprised by how much they enjoy each other’s company. Jamie is surprisingly down to earth and easy to talk to and Laurie soon realizes she misjudged him. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn but with their goal soon in sight, will Jamie and Laurie do anything about their growing feelings for one another? With plenty of humor, If I Never Met You is an absolutely delightful romance with a fantastic cast of characters and a realistic storyline. Laurie’s self-examination leads to a change in her perspective about both herself and her failed relationship. Despite a bit of a negative first impression, Jamie is a kind-hearted, compassionate man. A light-hearted read that has plenty of substance and depth that I thoroughly enjoy and highly recommend to old and new fans of Mhairi McFarlane. I received a complimentary copy for review.

Laurie had (or so she thought) it all: her first boyfriend is her only, and eighteen years on they are soon to be discussing a child, a nice house, solid job as a solicitor with a partner who is also at the same firm and a good best friend in Eve who is there to cheer her on endlessly. Coming from “up north” Laurie is mixed race, and has always approached life as needing to be three times more competent than the next guy, or woman. But, when the time comes to discuss the potential addition to the family, her world is turned upside down as Dan explains that he’s not happy with their relationship and wants out. And, of course, there is No One Else. Devastated and shocked, Laurie has to dig to see, for her own sanity, where things went wrong. And Why. And of course, there is someone else, who just happens to be pregnant by her ex – and cue the anger, frustration and inevitable hit to her self-esteem. Until a madcap idea hits: Jamie, a ‘newish’ solicitor with the firm, competent, gorgeous and wholly mistrusted by everyone there has a proposition that will sort them both out. He wants to be made partner, she wants Dan to want her back – the two decide to enter into a ‘no strings – no harm – no foul’ relationship that will up his chances of getting the partnership and help her get some back at Dan. Through Laurie’s grief and ultimate recognition of her budding friendship with Jamie, she’s subjected to plenty of “machismo” from others in the firm – not to mention the gossip mongering that occurs on a near daily basis. But her mistrust of Jamie aren’t from his motives in their relationship – it’s from the contrast of what she knows of him to what the gossip says – and she discovers that Jamie, even as a “fake” boyfriend is far more attentive and attuned to her moods, her insecurities and even her brains. Through ups and downs, conversation and commiserations with her bestie, and even some revelations from her own past (and Jamie’s) that show the true feelings between them, it takes only a few moments of doubt and her inability to demand he ‘fight for her” despite everything seeming to fall apart. Emotionally satisfying with characters that you want to befriend, some hard truths from best friends of them both, and plenty of moments for Manchester to show it’s party duds, the story is easy to read, clever and adds layers of social commentary, rediscovering confidence and learning to enjoy life with all of the uncertainties. Grab it and enjoy – this is one that will take you away and leave you with a smile. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Well written with well developed characters. I couldn't put it down! Really appreciated the strong women in the story.