Mhairi McFarlane

Mhairi McFarlane
Born1976 (age 49–50)
Occupations
  • Novelist
  • writer
Writing career
LanguageEnglish
Genres
Websitemhairimcfarlane.com

Mhairi McFarlane[a] is a Scottish writer of romantic comedy fiction.[2]

Biography

Mhairi McFarlane was born in 1976 in Falkirk. She attended school in Nottingham and studied English at the University of Manchester. She worked as a journalist in Nottingham before becoming a novelist.[2][3][4]

During her time as a journalist, she worked primarily on the Nottingham Post,[5] and also contributed articles to The Guardian's TV and radio blog.[6]

She left the Nottingham Post in 2007 and got her first book deal in 2011.[7]

She has published twelve novels, all with HarperCollins.[8]

She was part of the writers' room for series 5 of Slow Horses.[9]

She lives in Sherwood, Nottingham.[10]

Reception

Her debut novel, You Had Me At Hello, became HarperCollins’ best ever selling ebook to that date.[7] Lisa Jewell said it was "the funniest, most romantic book I've read since One Day." Marian Keyes said: "Very very witty and funny. Left me in awe [...] a total gem."[11] You Had Me At Hello also won Best Contemporary Romantic Fiction in 2013 from the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards.[12]

Of Here's Looking At You, The Irish Times said: "Mhairi McFarlane's characters shine with wit and insight."[13] Of It's Not Me, It's You, Heat said: "This is modern and honest romantic fiction at its most accomplished." The Sunday Express wrote that it is "a delicious feast of comic romance."[14] Of Don't You Forget About Me, Marian Keyes said: "So funny and warm. A delicious read." Jenny Colgan said: "Hilarious, warm and life affirming."[15] Keyes called If I Never Met You "beautiful and touching."[16] Beth O'Leary called Last Night "gorgeously romantic." Marian Keyes said it is "brilliant on relationships, friendships and emotions."[17] Of Mad About You, Jenny Colgan said it is "gorgeous, funny, [and] life-affirming." Katie Fforde said: "Funny, poignant, full of insight [...] a triumph." Holly Bourne said that McFarlane "consistently writes flawless romantic comedies and Mad About You is no exception."[18]

Between Us was listed as a Sunday Times Best Book of 2023. Jojo Moyes said it is "everything you want from a rom com and satisfyingly knotty with proper, recognisable characters." Louise O'Neill said: "I love Mhairi McFarlane’s books and this was no exception [...] it’s clever and engrossing and sharp." Lindsey Kelk said: "So clever, so heartfelt and so unbelievably funny, Between Us is a perfect book."[19]

Lindsey Kelk has called her "easily one of the best writers working today" and Stylist magazine called her "the absolute queen of romantic comedies that belie a darker core."[20]

Works

  • You Had Me At Hello (2012)
  • Here's Looking At You (2013)[21]
  • It's Not Me It's You (2014)
  • Who's That Girl (2015)
  • After Hello (2017)
  • Don't You Forget About Me (2019)[22]
  • If I Never Met You (2020)[23]
  • Last Night (2021)
  • Mad About You (2022)
  • Between Us (2023)[24]
  • You Belong With Me (2024)[25]
  • Cover Story (2025)[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ Pronounced [ˈvaːrɪ][1]

References

  1. ↑ HarperCollinsCanada (2019-07-02). Ask An Author: Mhairi McFarlane. Retrieved 2026-07-30 – via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 "Mhairi McFarlane". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  3. ↑ Burns, Alex (2024-05-28). "Meet the Falkirk-born author determined to get rom-com taken seriously". The Herald. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  4. ↑ Hank Garner (2021-05-11). Author Stories Podcast Episode 1100 | Mhairi McFarlane Interview. Retrieved 2026-07-30 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ Reeve, Penny (14 March 2015). "Interview: Mhairi McFarlane". LeftLion.
  6. ↑ "Mhairi McFarlane". The Guardian.
  7. 1 2 Christie, Janet (December 2, 2013). "Mhairi McFarlane on her book Here's Looking at You". The Scotsman.
  8. ↑ "Books by Mhairi McFarlane". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  9. ↑ Moyes, Jojo (August 6, 2024). "'Writing a novel is falling in love and then accepting it is a long-term relationship with ups and downs, not a fling. '". Everything Is Material. Substack.
  10. ↑ "Author Mhairi McFarlane on crafting rom-coms and finding inspiration in Nottingham". The Notts Edit. November 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ "You Had Me at Hello". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  12. ↑ "Jenny Colgan book named Romantic Novel of the Year". BBC News. 16 May 2013.
  13. ↑ Gilmartin, Sarah (December 21, 2013). "Here's Looking At You, by Mhairi McFarlane". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  14. ↑ "It's Not Me, It's You". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  15. ↑ "Don't You Forget About Me". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  16. ↑ "If I Never Met You". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  17. ↑ "Last Night". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  18. ↑ "Mad about You". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  19. ↑ "Between Us". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  20. ↑ "You Belong with Me (Who's That Girl)". HarperCollins Publishers UK.
  21. ↑ "HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU". Kirkus Reviews. May 6, 2014.
  22. ↑ Bryce, Denny S. (2019-09-14). "'Don't You Forget About' This Charming, Deliciously Dramatic Romance". NPR. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  23. ↑ Bell, Carole V. (April 7, 2020). "Review: If I Never Met You, by Mhairi McFarlane". Love in Panels. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  24. ↑ "BETWEEN US". Kirkus Reviews. May 24, 2023.
  25. ↑ C, Bharti (November 13, 2024). "YOU BELONG WITH ME by Mhairi McFarlane". Fresh Fiction. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  26. ↑ "COVER STORY". Kirkus Reviews. June 6, 2025.
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