Month: February 2025

Book Review: Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane

Posted on by Libby Price

I have declared my love for Mhairi McFarlane’s writing many times before, and when I spotted that advance copies of her next book were out in the wild (the wonderful Marian Keyes had received a hard copy and was singing its praises) I messaged Mhairi on Instagram to see if it was going to be on Net Galley, and she said she thought it was – so I started a daily search. Obviously I only had to search the word Mhairi as she is the Beyonce / Madonna / Adele of women’s fiction!! I almost included Kylie in that list – but actually there is a line, somewhere between my age and my 21 year old eldest daughter – where the word Kylie is followed by Jenner rather than the OG Minogue. Anyway – I digress. I was delighted earlier this week to find Cover Story had arrived on Net Galley – and to be granted an advance review copy – and it immediately jumped to the top of my To Be Read pile!

Here’s the blurb:

“The unputdownable, brilliant new novel from the Queen of Romcom.
Bel’s joined the tiny Manchester office of a national paper from her indie podcast.
Thirty-something Connor is going to back to the start as the new intern.
The latest office news? They can’t stand each other.
So of course Bel bumps into Connor when she’s working undercover on the biggest scoop of her career. And of course she’s forced to improvise, pretending they’re a couple. A couple deeply in love.
Two rivals. One fake romance. The headline writes itself…”

Within the first chapter both the accountancy firm I trained with back in the 90s, and my favourite current TV show (Slow Horses – which Mhairi is now on the writing team for, which I was so excited to hear, almost like a mate had got a big promotion) were both referenced – so I was pretty happy we were on to another winner!

I really liked Bel from the start – even if she and her colleague Aaron were a bit horrible to the new intern Connor when he first arrived at the office of their newspaper on secondment from London. Quite early on you know Bel’s escaped a difficult ‘relationship’ and ended up in Manchester – and more of that is revealed as the book progresses.

You can guess this is going to be an enemies to lovers story arc – but will it actually be?! There are lots of twists and turns along the way – all whilst there is a concurrent storyline of an undercover investigation into a local celebrity politician who is something of a wrong ‘un.

The supporting cast are great – I think Bel’s best friend Shilpa would be a perfect wing woman, and Connor’s brother Shaun is fabulous (and gives Mystic Meg a run for her money!)

The writing is funny, quick witted, modern, entertaining – all whilst covering some deep topics in an incredibly well thought out way.

Every time I read the next Mhairi McFarlane book I have a slight worry that it can’t be better than the previous one, and surely at some point there’s going to be one that is even a tiny bit disappointing – but it just never happens! She is consistently my favourite author every year and this is another triumph.

A huge thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my advance review copy. Cover Story is out in May, but I would recommend you pre order it now.

Book Review: The Re-write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Posted on by Libby Price

I had seen The Re-write recommended in Red Magazine (my source of a lot of book recommendations) and was lucky enough to be granted an advance review copy by Net Galley. Here’s the blurb:

“Temi and Wale meet in London. They flirt, date, meet each other’s friends.
Then they break up. And Wale goes on a reality dating show.
Instead of giving in to heartbreak, Temi throws herself into her dream: writing. She’s within touching distance of a book deal that would solve all her problems. But publishers keep passing on her novel and bills still have to be paid. So, when the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity memoir arises, Temi accepts.
And, of course, the celebrity turns out to be Wale…
Will Temi and Wale repeat the patterns of their past? Or can they write a whole new story?“

When I started this book, I realised I was probably far from target audience for it – being old enough to be Temi or Wale’s mother and not a Love Island aficionado – but I need not have worried, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

You are rooting for Temi from the start. She’s desperate to be a published author – but is being rejected all over the place. She’s done some ghost writing historically – but is then offered the chance to ghost write for a new celebrity – who is, of course, her ex – who has just had a stint on The Villa (basically Love Island!)

There is then lots of will they / won’t they / misunderstandings / crossed wires – and at the same time their histories (from long ago, and more recently but undeclared) are exposed.

Whilst you want Temi and Wale to be reunited from the start, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing!

I also loved that Temi was plus size and a glasses wearer – both of which I could totally get on board with (even at my advanced years!)

The supporting cast of friends and family were also great (or awful, but necessarily so!) and as well as the romance storyline – there are other big topics covered, being a carer, alcoholism, family pressure.

It was published last week – so you can buy a copy now if you like the sound of it.

A big thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my advance review copy.

Book Review: The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji

Posted on by Libby Price

I saw The Persians recommended in Red Magazine as a debut novel of the year, and so requested an advance review copy from Net Galley and was granted it. Here’s the blurb:

“A riotously funny and moving debut novel following five women from three generations of a once illustrious Iranian family as their lives are turned upside down
Meet the women of the Valiat family. In Iran, they were somebodies. In America, they’re nobodies.
First there is Elizabeth, the regal matriarch with the famously large nose, who remained in Tehran despite the revolution. She is kept company by Niaz, her young, Islamic-law-breaking granddaughter. In America, Elizabeth’s two daughters have built new lives for themselves. There’s Shirin, a flamboyantly high-flying event planner in Houston, who considers herself the family’s future; and Seema, a dreamy idealist turned bored housewife languishing in Los Angeles. And then there’s the other granddaughter, Bita, a disillusioned law student in New York trying to find deeper meaning by giving away her worldly belongings.
When an annual vacation in Aspen goes wildly awry and Shirin ends up being bailed out of jail by Bita, the family’s brittle upper class veneer is cracked wide open and gossip about them spreads like wildfire. Soon, Shirin must embark upon a grand quest to restore the family name to its former glory. But what does that mean in a country where the Valiats never mattered to anyone? And, will reputation be enough to make them a family again?
Spanning from 1940s Iran into a splintered 2000s The Persians is an irresistible portrait of a unique family in crisis that explores timeless questions of love, money, art and fulfilment. Here is their past, their present and a possible new future for them all.”

The book is a sweeping saga telling the story of the many generations of Valiat family from their origins in Iran to modern day America. Having had a friend whose parents left Iran around the time of the revolution, I thought it would be interesting to understand more about her culture.

Some of the characters are more likeable than others – but the back stories of all, and how they intertwine are interesting.

There didn’t feel to be a strong ‘storyline’ – it was more a family drama in very different settings of time and geography.

Whilst I enjoyed it – and did find it educational at times – I’m not sure it’s going to end up on my personal best books of 2025. But thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC. It was released last month – so you can order it now if you like the sound of it.