It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane

At the start of this story, we meet Delia – she is happily settled in Newcastle with her boyfriend, Paul, and their old dog, Parsnip.  Delia and Paul have been together for ten years and, as Paul is in no hurry to pop the question, Delia takes it upon herself to propose thinking that it’s all pretty much a formality.  All seems to be going well but, as we know, there is another five hundred pages left in this book, so it’s likely that things are going to go to plan.  “It’s not me, it’s you” is a light but enjoyable read.

Our heroine seems to land on her feet despite all life throws at her but is engaging and just quirky enough for us to care about. The author is at her best when exploring her characters’ relationships and emotions so some of the sub-plots involving the world of PR can be a bit distracting.  Delia’s adventures are somewhat unlikely and while the ending is fairly predictable, it is nonetheless satisfying.  The book itself is well written but a little bit long – the pace drags a bit in the middle.

All in all, I’d say if you are looking for a light and (despite the size!) fast read, this could be the book for you.  I would certainly read another of Mhairi McFarlane’s books.

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You can reserve a copy online at South Dublin Libraries’ catalogue here.