Book review of Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane

Featuring her signature wit and charm, Mhairi McFarlane’s newest rom-com, Cover Story, follows two workplace adversaries who agree to fake date to land the story of a lifetime.

Indie podcaster and journalist Bel Macauly was in need of a fresh start after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend and dodging the rebound guy who came after. So she joined the satellite Manchester office of a large national newspaper. It’s just her and her amiable co-worker, Aaron, along with a rotating cast of lackluster interns. Enter Connor, the latest intern, albeit one in his 30s who’s looking for a new beginning after leaving the toxic world of finance. After Connor almost blows Bel’s cover while she is undercover and about to land a huge scoop on a scandal involving the mayor, the two are forced to improvise, pretending to date for the sake of the investigation. The chemistry between these two reporters tells a completely different story than their contemptuous office rivalry, and what began as a ruse quickly turns into a romantic headline neither one of them can ignore.

There is something about McFarlane’s writing that feels nostalgic and cinematic, reminiscent of the rom-coms of the ’90s—think Bridget Jones’ Diary or Notting Hill. Her dialogue is sharp and funny, distinctly British in its sarcasm and nuance. Her characters are flawed, layered but still likable. I could say that Bel and Connor have a classic slow-burn romance, but is there something slower than slow burn? Because I am pretty sure a snail passed these two on the way to figuring out their feelings. While this is sometimes frustrating, these characters have work to do, and the growth they achieve between the covers of this book is admirable. Bel has a singular journalistic focus that drives her at all times. It’s enjoyable to see her crush it at work, even as it becomes clear her dedication is a way of atoning for mistakes she’s made in her personal life. Connor is the complete opposite, grasping at straws as he tries to figure out what he’s supposed to be doing or even caring about after the death of a friend and finance colleague. Flawed people who are able to find love and happiness is part of why readers come to a Mhairi McFarlane book, and Cover Story brings all the depth, joy and growth we’ve come to expect from her. By the end of this romance, you’ll be begging for Connor and Bel to expose the philandering Mayor of Manchester already so that they can finally kiss for real.