Mhairi McFarlane

Two best friends. One missed chance. And a night that changes everything.

Last Night

International bestseller Mhairi McFarlane explores lifelong friendships, long-buried secrets, and unexpected love in a heartfelt, emotional new novel, perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, or In Five Years. Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia 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?

A Novel

Just Last Night

Caitlyn 

Beauty isn't an arrangement of features, even features as perfect as Finlay Hart's, it's a feeling. This is how it feels in the split second you suddenly become aware that you're falling in love with someone. The click of a jigsaw's last piece, the rainfall of coins in a jackpot slot machine, the right song striking up and your being swept away by its opening bars. That conviction of making complete sense of the universe, in one moment. Of course. You're where I should be. You're here.

Sarah Campbell

You were alive again last night. It wasn't a nightmare, Suze — and I've had plenty of those — it was just another world, exactly like this one but with a dramatic difference. Your presence. Your presence, which I took for granted. In this place, we were cheerfully organizing a ski trip, sitting at a school desk, while next to a busy motorway. The cars thundering past made the table shake but neither of us were bothered. How about Switzerland? you said. We had plans. (I wonder if Switzerland was some subconscious thing because that's where Hester was, when you and Ed..? Haha, by the way, in return? You never get to complain about Finlay. PSYCH. Yeah don't argue. You know I have you.) It will always be this way, I've come to realize. You are never behind me, Susie. You are never something that happened. You are always beside me.

”I gaze at her for the last time. There's an emptiness to her. The snap-crackle of her, gone, vanished, flown. Her body is a vacated premises. It’s like turning up to a house you know well, and finding it emptied and stripped to the fittings.”

I expected Susie to look asleep, as much as I could picture this at all. She doesn't look asleep. She looks like a sallow waxwork of Susie, with a slack expression. Like someone has made a model of Susie Hart from plaster of paris, like something they might put in a modern art gallery. I've never seen a dead person before and I didn't know that I’d know they were dead, if that makes any sense. If I'd suspect a heartbeat hiding under that sheet. But I can tell for sure Susie is dead, that this is what death looks like. If I'd been the first to find her like this, I'd have understood she was gone. We're still mammals, we instinctively know.

I glance back at the wake, staring resentfully at the throng beyond the steamed-up windows. What I hate is, yes, of course they're sorry this happened, but their lives will resume, seamlessly, as soon as they leave. Nothing for us will ever be the same. It's like losing a leg and everyone coming to gather around the hospital bed, consoling you over the fact you only have one left, and walking out doing a hop, skip, and a jump on their two again. I'm envious of these people.

As soon as I've pictured escape, I think about how Susie has no more choices to make. l remember her in that last pub quiz, gaze bright over her bundled scarf, all the unspoken communication fiying between us that we had no idea would stay forever unsaid. My eyes well up. Whatever changes and dulls, I know this will be the case for the rest of my life, the ability of the thought of her to turn me to tears at a second's notice. They don't put that in the eulogies, do they: They will live on in your hearts, and in the way you find yourself weeping like a freak in Birds Baker, because you inadvertently recalled how much she loved an Elephant’s Foot pastry.

Someone once said to me birth was the most ordinary and extraordinary thing you'll ever experience, simultaneously, and death is the same. The fact of yours sits there, implacably, be- ing so banal and so mind-blowingly strange at the same time. It will always be like this, I have come to realize. The ache is permanent, it must be accommodated. It's part of my body now. I keep waiting to get past it. To move on," to absorb it, to set it aside, to make sense of it, to process it. For it to be, some- how, "behind" me. What next? I keep thinking, with a pain in my stomach like it's been slit open. And — there is no next, stupid. That's the point. Someone has gone, forever, and you have to stop waiting for them to come back. Without realizing it, you are stuck on pause, as if their not being here might change. This is what I never knew about loss — it’s also about what you gain. You carry a weight that you never had before. It's never behind you. It's alongside you. "Forever'": people say it in wedding vows all the time like they understand what it means, but actual forever is fucking huge.

This is what I never knew about loss-it's also about what you gain. You carry a weight that you never had before. It's never behind you. It's alongside you. "Forever": people say it in wedding vows all the time like they understand what it means, but actual forever is fucking huge. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!!! Absolutely magnificent! Must-read!

Zoë Mauldin

i REALLY enjoy this book, i always feel awkward about rating bc was this 5/5 book? but in my personal experience with it, yes it was, i can’t imagine going through a loss like that and then finding out something that completely changes your perspective about that person, i cried, i laughed, i screamed, i loved this book 

debbie <3

mcfarlane understands the complexities of human emotions and relationships so well. not only that, she conveys it brilliantly in her writing. ive never seen grief captivated so well. not a love story, but a story about healing, hard truths, and forgiveness. the main character just happens to fall in love on the journey.

Janet Akisanmi

starts of bumpy but it gets better (albeit through something extremely tragic). while it is touted as a rom com there isn’t a lot of romance. it’s extremely subtle and in the context of the book, it shines. the turnaround of our character midway was very appreciated because in the beginning she’s been harbouring a 16 year long crush and all you can find yourself yelling is girl, stand up. although a lot of awkward moments are cut with something hilarious. give it a go! 

Yukti

Marcy Pursell 

** spoiler alert **
           This book was so slow, and sad. I didn't love Ed, and it took me until at least 58% until I wanted to keep reading. There were words beyond the British colloquialisms that I wasn't familiar with. No spice, but that was fine. I appreciated the story was plausible and realistic, and Ed and Eve, and Fin and Eve, were able to talk through serious issues in a reasonable manner, not overly dramatic.
Overall, I'm pleased with the ending, but didn't love it.

Riya

** spoiler alert **
           This book accurately depicted the ache, the emptiness, and the void in your soul the loss of someone you love leaves. I was in awe of Mhairi's writing which packed an emotional punch and left me reeling. The way she delineated the process one goes through after such tragedy was so real, it felt like someone translated all my fears and anxiety I always feel about losing my loved ones perfectly. Eve's sadness was so vividly painful, I wanted to give her a hug. The writing was so evocative that you can’t help getting absorbed into the world Mhairi created. I loved reading the complexity in their friendships' dynamics that came once the skeletons they had each held in their closets got out after Suze's death.

I have a small gripe about romance though. It didn't take the center stage in this book which is okay with me, however, I wished to read more moments of Eve and Fin together. Also, I didn't like how Hester's character was treated in a stereotypical “bad girl in the story” way and she was not a fleshed out character. She was portrayed as someone who is just overall bad. Surely not everyone's personality is just about being greedy and selfish? Not everyone can be so dichotomous? There are multiple facets in every person on this earth.
Nevertheless, I'm still going with 4 stars because I loved the relationship between the main characters.

Alyssa Huffman

this was nothing like i thought it was going to be. still deciding if that is a good thing or a bad thing. was this book boring because of what was in it or boring because of what WASNT in it? not sure on that one either. i giggled once or twice so i guess it wasnt a complete waste.

Loved all the banter and the group dynamics (Ms Mhairi is a genius writer of dialogue), but the tone overall was too sad for me. Darker than her previous books, the story ended on a development within the main characters I personally didn’t like. But that’s me. Not the right book at the right time, I guess.

Alex Flagg

I went into this thinking it would be a second chance romcom and was not even remotely close. There is romance, but it’s only about 15% of the book. This book is much deeper than that- love, loss, grief, finding yourself, and how your assumption of others can be wrong. A great read!

Mhairi McFarlane’s books always remind me of summertime, usually, the perfect romance to read on a hot day in the park or while is thundering with rain outside. Just Last Night had the emotional plot that I associated with McFarlane’s writing, but this one felt lacking in romance? I wanted more from the main couple. What this book did brilliantly was tell a story of grief and losing a loved one way too early and without being able to say goodbye. I think there is some mismarketing in the blurb for this book, it positions this book to be much more romance focused between Eve and Ed, and while that is part of the book, it isn’t what the book is about nor is it the focus of the book at all. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew what I was expecting when I picked up this one because it is a good book, just don’t let Mhairi’s previous books, the fluffy cover, and the blurb about Eve/Ed deceive you. 

I enjoyed Eve as a character though, I felt like I should have found her annoying but I didn’t, I was rooting for her throughout. She is a classic Mhairi McFarlane angsty lead. I’ve seen a couple of reviews that said it was too focused on the romance and Eve’s relationship with the men throughout the book. And I get that to an extent. I often found myself annoyed with how much focus was put on Ed and Eve’s relationship in the grand scheme of everything else going on. I wanted more on Susie and Eve’s friendship and I think that’s why I enjoyed Eve and Finlay's story more because Susie was more entwined in it. I liked Eve and Finlay’s relationship and how it was built initially being around each other as kids and then he went off to America. But I wanted more romance or yearning because of how the book is marketed. It was as if they spent a few days together and bam, they are in love. It felt like it was missing some key moments of build-up for me. 

Overall, it’s an angsty book with a dash of romance in there with a funny and relatable main character.

taryn

Mhairi McFarlane’s books always remind me of summertime, usually, the perfect romance to read on a hot day in the park or while is thundering with rain outside. Just Last Night had the emotional plot that I associated with McFarlane’s writing, but this one felt lacking in romance? I wanted more from the main couple. What this book did brilliantly was tell a story of grief and losing a loved one way too early and without being able to say goodbye. I think there is some mismarketing in the blurb for this book, it positions this book to be much more romance focused between Eve and Ed, and while that is part of the book, it isn’t what the book is about nor is it the focus of the book at all. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew what I was expecting when I picked up this one because it is a good book, just don’t let Mhairi’s previous books, the fluffy cover, and the blurb about Eve/Ed deceive you. 

I enjoyed Eve as a character though, I felt like I should have found her annoying but I didn’t, I was rooting for her throughout. She is a classic Mhairi McFarlane angsty lead. I’ve seen a couple of reviews that said it was too focused on the romance and Eve’s relationship with the men throughout the book. And I get that to an extent. I often found myself annoyed with how much focus was put on Ed and Eve’s relationship in the grand scheme of everything else going on. I wanted more on Susie and Eve’s friendship and I think that’s why I enjoyed Eve and Finlay's story more because Susie was more entwined in it. I liked Eve and Finlay’s relationship and how it was built initially being around each other as kids and then he went off to America. But I wanted more romance or yearning because of how the book is marketed. It was as if they spent a few days together and bam, they are in love. It felt like it was missing some key moments of build-up for me. 

Overall, it’s an angsty book with a dash of romance in there with a funny and relatable main character.

Lucy Howard

This book was wonderful. It is a romance. But not your traditional romance. I didn’t find it at all predictable and there were lots of twists and turns. I really liked the way it was written and the characters banter was brilliant. I loved the characters and their development. Just a fab book. 

Linda Quintanilla

Get ready for big revelations among Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed. Big changes are happening with this friend group. It won't be what you expected. A lot of secrets are going to be exposed when tragedy hits. But it will make Eve question everything in her life including her friend group. I won't go into too much detail but I love that Eva is changing in her life. She was kinda stuck in her life but when tragedy hits, it changed everything including her perspective of friends. It's okay to change. No one is never going to be the same as they were before. It's life. People evolve throughout the years. And Eve is going to realize what she is meant to be and maybe with whom. You won't know whom at first but definitely expect mixed reactions. Not all readers are going to love at first. But remember Mhairi McFarlane has a way in changing our mind with misunderstood characters. I do not know how Mhairi McFarlane does it but she knows how to make readers fall in love with villain-like/misunderstood characters. She is brilliant in her writing. Whenever I start her books, I always say nope I am not going to love this character and then, she starts her magic and reveals layer by layer and I immediately fall deeper in love. And she does it in Just Last Night.

Isabelle Dion

3.5 stars. Overall, I found this book was just okay. Went in expecting a romance but it was more a story about grief and loss with a romantic plot that felt secondary. Maybe it's because it wasn't at all what I was expecting going in, but I had to push through the first 100 or so pages before I actually started being invested in the story. Also, McFarlane has a very unique writing style that I'm not 100% a fan of.

Alexis 

3/5 stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!** 

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the writing style, my main concern was the overall plot. some of the themes made me a little uncomfortable. This is of course personal preference but because of personal experiences, I tend to avoid the topic. Dementia is not something I like to read about so that hindered my enjoyment of this book. I think if that is a topic that you don't mind you will really enjoy this book.

Anika | @chaptersofmay

Last Night is a heart-breaking but monumentally uplifting story about loss, forgiveness, and friendship. It’s only my second McFarlane read, but I’m already planning to pick up the rest of her work. 

Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been best friends since school and have continued their unbreakable bond into their 30s. Every Thursday, they gather together in the local pub for quiz night, and every day, Eve battles still being secretly in love with Ed. But on one tragic night, the lives of this band of best friends changes forever, and with ripples sent through the group, Eve quickly realises her secret was just one amongst many.

McFarlane’s writing is full of longing and emotion from the first page. I was truly gripped when reading Last Night and never wanted it to end! Eve is the narrator and the entire series of events is told for her point of view. She’s likeable, has her faults and crutches, and her growth takes centre stage in the book. Additionally, the narrative and the personalities of the characters feel multi-dimensional, which I think is testament to McFarlane’s skill when it comes to character building and development.

It’s difficult to write a review for this book without giving too much of the plot away. But the direction takes much different turn to what I was expecting. Despite this, it is truly a delight to read, and feels like one of the most balanced contemporary fiction books I’ve read in a lot time. There’s sweet romance and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but thought-proving realisations and intense emotion too. I particularly liked the way grief, dementia, and family estrangement are portrayed in Last Night. They’re explored with a comforting realism that brings the characters and their challenges to life. Despite its depth, McFarlane’s trademark humour and wit brings an authentic levity to the narrative’s darker events. 

Last Night is a bit of a slow-burner, but so engaging you don’t even realise it. I loved reading a book with a genuine friendship too. The closeness and secrets entwined in the relationship made every conversation feel like candid banter between friends. And it’s certainly a story I’ll remember. McFarlane takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions in this poignantly pleasant read.

Lynn Braden

Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since their school days when they first met. Eve had a chance to become lovers with Ed when they went off to college, but that time has passed and Ed has since moved on with another woman. Eve has suffered quietly in silence as she continues to love Ed, but she doesn't want to disrupt their little group of friends. As they enter their thirties tragedy and secrets change the lives of the four friends forever. 

Just Last Night is more chick lit than romance, but there is a strong element of romance that is woven into the story. The book is told from Eve's point of view in first person perspective so her character is well developed in the book, however, the motives and feelings of the other characters are filtered through Eve's lens, so it's hard to tell what is true and what is only her perception. The backstories of the secondary characters are short changed, leaving the feeling that we didn't really know those characters at all. Overall, Just Last Night is an emotional story with a realistic feel, but somehow seems incomplete. 3 1/2 stars.

Amy Arthun Lorton 

OH MY GOSH. I am IN LOVE with this book. I was in a state of FEELING for every moment. Just IN IT, DEEPLY. This book is REAL, so CREATIVE, so unique, so magnificently written. The character development was incredible. I took so many notes because the author put into words EXACTLY how things feel, but with words you’d never think or know to use. It was so sad, yet so funny- how did she DO that?! I highly recommend listening; the narrator was phenomenal.

Samantha Palencia

I got an advanced copy of Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane and nearly died on the spot with excitement. I am a big fan of all of her past books that I’ve read and this one was no different!

It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster of a book and without giving anything away- this book deals with some heavier themes. Despite that, even in the midst of all the heaviness, it is balanced out with well timed moments of levity. 

This book has so much witty dialogue- which is present in all of Mhairi McFarlane’s books and is something I really love about her writing. The quick conversation of her characters always reminds me a bit of Rory and Lorelei Gilmore, which is a huge thumbs up for me since I am very fond of them.

Overall, I really loved Just Last Night. Highly recommend pre - ordering or getting it when it comes out in May!

Lacey

This was QUITE depressing to read and it wasn’t what I was in the mood for. If you’ve read Mhairi McFarlane, Just Last Night is pretty different from her other rom-coms.

Last Night

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