If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane - Restarting February 15th, 2023

[Jaye]

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...

[Jaye]

I'm almost halfway in and I really don't like the writing :/

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "I'm almost halfway in and I really don't like the writing :/"

Yeah, I'd tried her other book, Don't You Forget About Me, and I had really not cared for it. I was hoping it was just that one as a dud, but the overdone writing and constant melodrama / britishisms that feel overdone (sorry to our friend becca who swears they aren't but it just feels too much for ME)

[Jaye]

Yeah don't mind if I just... delete that other book...

[Jaye]

It's all so overdone and so cringe and every time they say anything I want to scream

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "It's all so overdone and so cringe and every time they say anything I want to scream"

I don't know why both of these books (view spoiler)[had to spend so much time on the breakup at the beginning - I'm sure it's a trope some people love but I feel like books are better when they start at the BEGINNING of something, not 30% the end of something else (hide spoiler)]

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "It's all so overdone and so cringe and every time they say anything I want to scream"

I don't know why both of these books [spoilers removed]"

Omg you pulled it right out of my mind. Seriously so much time spent on that and for WHAT? Like can we start with the fake dating which is why I picked up this book or are we going to keep doing this shit for another 100 pages

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "Omg you pulled it right out of my mind. Seriously so much time spent on that and for WHAT? Like can we start with the fake dating which is why I picked up this book or are we going to keep doing this shit for another 100 pages"

Yeah I just feel like it takes away from the journey when SO MUCH TIME is spent on the break up, the moping, the family and friends being like "you ok" and THEN the plot gets going - you're supposed to hit an inciting incident around 20% but there needs to be a REASON to start where you do - there doesn't seem to be a real reason here why we NEED to see all this, and it's a shame :/

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "Omg you pulled it right out of my mind. Seriously so much time spent on that and for WHAT? Like can we start with the fake dating which is why I picked up this book or are we going to ..."

^^^
Like I just... don't want to see any of this? I want the cute and actual romance not how broken up she is about her ex and the long drawn out fact he cheated and how miserable and how her life is over about it. sigh

[janel]

Yeah, that's a trend I'm noticing too, the infidelity - (view spoiler)[I know it's a shitty thing a lot of people go through but it felt kind of caricatured? Like you don't have to put in the work if you just make him a cheater, people hate it automatically. (hide spoiler)]

Iunno, I'm not really being fair to the author here, but that's just how it came off to ME reading today, and we all know my emotions take over and doom books.

[Danique]

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Date changed. Restarting February 15th 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Danique]

Started a while back!!

Ch 7
(view spoiler)[She has been with Dan for 18 years?!?! Hot damn. The girls suck though, asking about where she’s from ugh -.- Emily seems lovely though, not sure what to think of our first impression of Jamie.

I’m already over her whining about Dan, he seems like a dick and I don’t need to read about them breaking up for 5 freaking chapters?? Ngl, glad he's finally leaving, I don't love the begging woman she became there for a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 11
(view spoiler)[Oh okay a time jump! And she's still completely hung up on Dan after more than 2 months, that kind of sucks. Of course he has a new one, but damn it indeed does seem like he left Laurie to be with her damn.

The book is different than I expected so far - it's been like 70 pages of her being down..??? Can we get to happier stuff pls lol. Omg he made that chick pregnant? Yeah okay now I’m mad too omg?? Okay Laurie is going a bit cuckoo though, get over this dude omg. How can she still be so OBSESSED after 18 years together?

Megan blocked her?? Damn. Okay the playlist doesn’t really mean anything and she’s kind of being overdramatic in accusing him of cheating but okay. Ugh and now he just told everyone dammit I wanted her to be the one to tell everyone? He really is quite a dick ngl. I hate Megan too. Her job is really interesting though and I’d honestly love to learn more about her being a criminal lawyer! I need less dan whining 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 21
(view spoiler)[Jamie has finally entered the field & I love their chemistry! Also happy that he proposed the fake dating and not her lol - although the whole setup of him wanting a promotion but needing a stable relationship etc is very overdone, but hopefully it’ll make her stop whining over Dan lol. Loved the bar & elevator scene tbh.

Those friends who were talking about her in the WhatsApp group MASSIVELY suck what the fuck, I’m glad she left the group and hopefully them. Bitches, even saying that Laurie didn’t want kids while it was all Dan and they’re all praising him? He’s a fucking jerk screw all of you.

I’m loving it now!! I love that she did the full makeover thing & is finally loving her curls yay!! Kerry is a real bitch and I can’t wait for her to be put in place lol, but yeah she’s right about the fake dating 🤣 Loving their dates and chemistry!! (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

Joining you on this one!

[Danique]

Yay!

[Danique]

Ch 26
(view spoiler)[He already likes her omg doesn’t he??? Loving Jamie. The story about how she met Emily was so great ahahah, but I’m scared she’s going to tell people that it’s fake, since Laurie keeps saying that it doesn’t matter that she told Emily so that feels like foreshadowing.

It is indeed kinda stupid, this plot instead ensures that she loses her standing within the company and all that while Jamie reaps the rewards. Hmm. I mean, the environment in the building sucks and I can’t believe Michael would act as though he had any right to her, what a dick. Omg Jamie’a dad has cancer and he lost his brother in an accident? Damn that was dropped randomly. Can’t WAIT for them to go see his family though hehehe this is going to be trouble. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 38
(view spoiler)[Omg HE IS SO in love with her yessss!! He was clearly talking about her :’) The scene with him opening up about his grief and crying was really cute bc that doesn’t happen often with guys & I love it.

I’m SO mad over Dan and Michael acting as though she’s property, their talk with Jamie has me spitting mad omg I want her to burn them???? Misogynists!!!

I love Emily and Nadia too :’) I don’t know about the Pete scene - apparently she suddenly had a traumatic experience with him? That came out of nowhere and wasn’t even hinted at throughout the story, so it now just felt thrown in to give her some dark backstory or some shit. Don’t like that. Glad she had a moment with her mother though! Love how Jamie backed her up against her father and she’s finally realizing how controlling/what a dick Dan was. Jamie is so in love with her though poor guy :’) (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Why the fuck would she kiss a random guy at the Christmas party?!? I hate her right now. HE’S SO CUTE!! Although it does feel like he did a 180 in personality from the moment we met him but alright. No omg we get fade to black??? I’m so disappointed I wanted to see their sex 😭😭🤣

I can’t believe Michael send the emails to everyone?!?! I’m so fucking mad omg. And Jamie got fired, I hate these people 😭😭 I hate Laurie for a bit now too - I thought they’d avoid the miscommunication trope because they immediately talked it out, but instead they had a big fight over nothing - he didn’t sleep with evie so get over it Laurie😭

AAAAAH YES HATTIE FOR THE WIN!! Love that Jamie wrote such a cute fucking email about Laurie to Hattie omg. Them getting married is a bit too much lol, but still cute. Poor Emily, she called it 🤣🤣 No eggnog involved but still lmao. Kinda sad it ends here, I would’ve loved a prologue to see them married and maybe even have children? I usually hate how it always ends in kids but Laurie really wanted it so I would’ve liked it here. I also want to know how it’ll go with Jamie’s dad. Damn I’m not ready to leave them behind :( (hide spoiler)]