Mhairi McFarlane’s Last Night, Review: Depth-filled rom-com
Mhairi McFarlane’s Last Night is a modern friendship rom-com with uncommon emotional depth and refreshingly unexpected humour. Read my full review.
Last Night Book Synopsis
(also published under the title ‘Just Last Night’)
Two best friends.
One missed chance.
And a night that changes everything.
Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen. Now in their 30s, the four are still as close as ever, Thursday pub quiz night is still sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed.
Maybe Eve should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed sometimes thinks about it too.
Then one night, in an instant, all their lives change forever. And, as Eve learns she didn’t know her friends as well as she thought, she also discovers she isn’t the only person keeping secrets…
Don’t miss this hilarious and heartbreaking romcom from the internationally bestselling author, a heartwrenching story of love, friendship and secrets.
(Harper Collins, April 2021)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Humour
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Book Review
While it is probably a misnomer to refer to a novel that has several thousand 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon as an ‘under-appreciated gem’, that was my first response to Mhairi McFarlane’s Last Night. Neither this book’s understated cover art or the context established by its synopsis, convey the deceptive depths of the story or the sparkle and shimmer of the heart and humour to be found within.
“I notice, once again, that company that’s not the right fit for you is so much lonelier than being happily alone.”
Nothing draws me into a book (or movie) like whip smart banter, and this awesome foursome produce it at vintage levels. This Last Night friendship group all know each other’s dirty laundry (or at least they think they do!) and are not afraid to use it for conversational levity.
“There’s something exceptional about friendships with friends you’ve known since you were young. They know all the versions of you.”
Protagonist Eve though sits a cut above the rest with her wonderfully obscure yet insightful pop culture references and the depth of her dark humour. It is never ‘too soon’ for Eve, and this makes her first person narrative such engaging and thought-provoking reading.
“I ponder how many mistakes in life are born of a simple fear of being rude.”
I’ll not delve into Last Night‘s plot for fear of spoiling the raw and authentic emotional journey that awaits readers. But I will say this…. It is not that uncommon for a rom-com to be described as heart wrenching and redemptive, but this novel is memorably so.
I highly recommend Mhairi McFarlane’s Last Night. I am off to check out her back catalogue, and am looking forward to her next novel Between Us which is scheduled for release in April/May 2023.
BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5
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More Last Night reviews
“Though both romantic and funny, Last Night is much more than the romcom it’s marketed as. It’s a contemporary, captivating story exploring friendship, loss, secrets and love, told with McFarlane’s distinctive blend of insight, heart, and wit.” – Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
“Just Last Night is a wonderful tale of friendship, the complexities of adult relationships and the joy of discovering who you are meant to be and whom you are meant to be with. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-crafted book that is emotionally rich and satisfying.” – All About Romance
“Gorgeously romantic, as well as a story about friendship and grief and loss; I never wanted it to end.” – Beth O’Leary, author of The Flatshare and The Switch
“I loved, loved, loved every minute of (Just) Last Night – even if I was a mess for most of it. … Ultimately, I believe this is still a tale of hope and moving forward as it is a story largely rooted in grief.” – Pages and Coffee Cups
About the Author, Mhairi McFarlane
Mhairi was born in Scotland in 1976 and has been explaining how to pronounce her name ever since. (With a ‘V’, not an ‘M’. Yes, that’s us crazy Celts for you). She is based in Nottingham where she used to be a local journalist and now she’s a freelance writer and sometime-blogger, which we all know is code for messing about on Twitter. She likes drinking wine, eating food and obtaining clothes; all the impressive hobbies. Her best anecdotes involve dislocating her elbow tripping over a briefcase and a very bad flight to New York. She lives with a man and a cat. Check out her website or connect with her on Twitter.
