Mhairi McFarlane has such a way with words—her books are always a treat, and Mad About You is no exception to her obvious talent. (I will say, this book sways more toward women’s fiction/contemporary fiction than it does “romance” in the traditional sense, but there IS romance.) Her books are more character-based than romance-oriented, and this is no different, but honestly, that makes them SO GREAT! The characters in Mad About You are so complex and deep, even the smaller side characters, in a way that makes them feel so full of life. McFarlane writes some of the BEST characters (even the ones we love to hate). It’s a huge strength of hers, and Mad About You hits the nail on the head.
Harriet is one of my favorite contemporary fiction protagonists, and maybe it’s simply because she’s in her mid-thirties and mature as hell, but I would love to be her friend. Even when those around her act immature (Jon, Scott, Kit) she keeps her head level and navigates the drama skillfully. I loved seeing toxic relationship rep, and how it effects people for years to come. Mad About You features relationship abuse and trauma, but in a way that we rarely see—emotional and mental rather than a physical manifestation.
In the end, the way the three exes came together to take Scott down at his own wedding was spectacular; we love to see women supporting women!!! The feminist undertones in this book are a joy, and it’s so refreshing to see females have each other’s back with maturity. Also, it was adorable watching Cal fall for Hats while they awkwardly shared a house together. (I’m still bummed she moved out, but hey, I get it. Girl needs space to grow and breathe after all that!)
I recommend this one!
