Just Last Night

Just Last Night came to my attention after I read rave reviews on Instagram. It was the first book I've read by Mhairi McFarlane and was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me. Initially, I had expected a romance, perhaps even a RomCom, based on its cover art and blurb, but I soon realized that this would be a much more emotional read than I had expected. Cue the Kleenex.

I love a good grab you by the heart kind of book and there were a couple of spots that hit me solidly in the feels - particularly as someone who has experienced a similar, devastating loss. But there were also parts that dragged (in the middle mostly) and while I liked some of the revelations and how things wrapped up, I didn't quite jump on board with the connection between the main characters.

The bits of humour were spot on and sprinkled throughout (Justin, I luv ya!), but overall, this book isn't the fluffy read I had anticipated. Instead, it has a simmering sense of sadness and is more about the process of grieving and complicated issues between family and friends. It will appeal to readers wanting a story with deeper, more emotional elements but romance lovers be aware that the romantic element doesn't making an appearance (and a half-hearted one at that) until close to the end.  

While not quite the read I was expecting, it was a good story that will appeal to people who like a bit more substance to their romances and the issues raised could make it a good pick for book club discussions.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Mhairi McFarlane

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Publisher: William Morrow

First Published: May 4, 2021

Opening Lines: After - You were alive again last night.

Book Description from GoodReads: Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday pub trivia night is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too.

But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever.

In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction...

They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night?