Book Review: Here’s Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane

Here’s Looking at You by Mhairi McFarlane

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I initially got it because it was featured on Book Perks and it was $1.99. I’m always a sucker for the underdog/bullied storyline. I thought this book was going to be a subpar romance novel (I blame the generic stock image they have for the American cover, I prefer the UK illustrated version) and it ended up being an amazing, deep, bullying-survivor story. There were several times this book had me in tears. It also has great, witty dialogue and the characters are very well developed.

I will admit that it did take me a minute to get into the rhythm and banter of British humor. I’m glad I muddled through because it’s a big part of why this book is so good. Right after this book, I read all of Mhairi McFarlane’s books and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait for her latest book to come out, Who’s That Girl?, on September 6, 2016.

Happy reading!

<3 Izzie

Live The Cute Life – Episode #14- Here’s Looking at You Book Review

Coco: Hello, welcome to Live the Cute Life. I am Coco.

Izzie: And I am Izzie.

Coco: Today we will be talking about Here’s Looking at You by Mhairi Mcfarlane.

Izzie: This is a really cute contemporary romance novel.

Coco: It takes place in London. I love the London accent. And it is this Italian girl. It starts with her in pretty much the scene of “Carrie” where she’s standing in the school stage but instead of blood, they throw candy at her.

She was this frumpy super awkward girl in high school and her name was Aureliana. But when she grows up she becomes this sophisticated, beautiful, Italian woman and she changed her name to Ana. She works at a college, a university professor of History. She is really sophisticated but she is lonely.

Izzie: Yes and she has been scarred by these events from childhood.

Coco: Right, even though she is now sophisticated and beautiful, she still thinks she is the ugly and frumpy girl from high school.

Izzie: And her high school reunion is coming up.

Coco: Right, for ten years?

Izzie: I do not know. Let us say ten. I really do not remember.

Coco: Whatever. The high school reunion comes up and she goes, “Okay. I’m going.”

Izzie: Now she is super pretty and as soon as she walks in she meets her tormentors. The ones that humiliated her in school. They come up to her and they do not recognize her and they are practically hitting on her.

Coco: They also happen to be not only her tormentors but her high school crush.

Izzie: Yes, to make matters worse.

Coco: Her crush is called James Fraser just like “Outlander” – had to say that. He works in advertising and he is like an app developer.

Izzie: Her main thesis is about this historical lady, which a museum is, doing a whole exhibition based on it. So Ana ends up having to work together with her high school crush/tormentor.

Coco: Because he is doing an app for the museum exhibit and she is the adviser.

Izzie: She is the consultant, the expert.

Coco: She is the consultant for the historical figure for the museum. Because she had such a horrible time at school —

Izzie: She hates James and gives him such a hard time. It is awesome.

Coco: She hates him.

Izzie: He does not understand why this lady is giving him such a hard time. Because he doesn’t recognize her from high school.

Coco: Then everything starts to change. That is what the book is about and what do you think by it?

Izzie: I really liked it. I love how she writes. I have read her other books. Whatever book she is going to come up with this author, Mhairi Mcfarlane, I will be reading it.

I really like her style of writing. What I did have a hard time getting into because it is a British novel. Is that they have their slang and certain things that are particular to their culture that you sometimes cannot relate to it. Still I loved it.

Coco: Okay, I did not have a problem. Maybe it just went over my head I did not even notice.

Izzie: There were a couple of things there that I was like, “Hmmm.”

Coco: I really enjoyed this book. It was a really cute love the story and I would have a hard time thinking that I would like this book because she ends up falling in love with her tormentor all over again. And I, thinking back, after having been bullied at school I would be like, “I will never forgive them.”

Izzie: Yes, no.

Coco: And I did not go half through what this lady went through in this book. It was very surprising but I really, really liked it.

Izzie: Yes, It was really nice. At first glance because when I saw the cover, it looks like stock photography, a really cheesy stock photography cover. This book has depth. It is really nice. It is like the way the story of the bullying was really serious and it wasn’t just a silly romance.

Coco: Actually there is a part where I think I cried. It has a tearjerker section.

Izzie: It is a tearjerker for sure but there is redemption.

Coco: And you can relate.

Izzie: There’s romance and it was funny.

Coco: And it was believable.

Izzie: Yes, you could relate to it.

Coco: You could truly relate to this romance. You think, “Oh this could have happened to me – that horrible incident in high school.” It was really cute. I really liked it. You can read a cute romance novel. It was a super quick read.

Izzie: Yes, I highly recommend all of her books. I mean, this is one of my favorite. I think there is a new book of hers that is about to come out called, “Who’s that Girl.” I would keep an eye of that book. I am sure it is going to be just as good.

Coco: Cool. You got a two yays for that book so go and check it out.

Izzie: Solid four stars, I would say.

Coco: Yes, I give it four stars. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Dapper Animals Channel and We will see you next time.

Izzie: Live the Cute Life. See you!