Book Review: "Don't You Forget About Me" by Mhairi McFarlane
“Don’t You Forget About Me” by Mhairi McFarlane
Publisher Synopsis: You always remember your first love... don’t you?
If there’s anything worse than being fired from the lousiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the humiliation of a double dumping in one day, Georgina takes the next job that comes her way—bartender in a newly opened pub. There’s only one problem: it’s run by the guy she fell in love with years ago. And—make that two problems—he doesn’t remember her. At all. But she has fabulous friends and her signature hot pink fur coat... what more could a girl really need?
Lucas McCarthy has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but he’s also turned into an actual grown-up, with a thriving business and a dog along the way. Crossing paths with him again throws Georgina’s rocky present into sharp relief—and brings a secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows what happened twelve years ago, and why she’s allowed the memories to chase her ever since. But maybe it’s not too late for the truth... or a second chance with the one that got away?
Rating (out of 5): 4.25
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, sexual harassment, a comedian boyfriend
Review: I went into this book thinking it was going to be a standard British “chick lit” novel. (I use the phrase “chick lit” with 100% love and no denigration, as I do think that term has become so negative, and there’s nothing wrong with “lighter” romance and “beachy” reads.)
Despite the lighthearted cover and title, this book was so much more. Our heroine Georgina loses her job and finds her stand-up comedian boyfriend in bed with another woman on the same night. (These aren’t spoilers; they occur in the first one or two chapters.) Then, we meet her slightly overbearing sister and brother-in-law, her emotionally abusive stepfather, and her pushover mother. They continually give Georgina grief about being 30 and still working in the service industry, having quit university without a degree. Georgina’s own self-doubt echoes these concerns, but it’s clear that she is still working through the sudden death of her father (not a spoiler), and some other sort of unknown trauma, which is revealed to us as the novel progresses.
With regards to working in the service industry, after Georgina loses her job at what truly seems to be the worst restaurant in the world, her brother-in-law hooks her up with a bartending job at a new, refurbished bar in town. Turns out, one of the owners is Georgina’s high school boyfriend. It’s unclear exactly why the relationship ended, but obvious that it didn’t end well, and Lucas doesn’t seem to recognize our heroine.
As Georgina’s family continues to insult her lifestyle, her comedian ex-boyfriend harasses her in a narcissistic effort to win her back (or just to win), and Georgina and Lucas develop a friendship of sorts. We’re spoiler-free here as you all know, but I loved Georgina’s attitude throughout the book; she grew as a person and really came into her own despite dealing with adverse circumstances. She’s not a perfect person, but she’s endearing and easy to root for. Georgina’s friends also aren’t perfect, but they are all wise in their own ways and it’s clear through their support how much they love Georgina.
The novel feels very relevant in a post-#MeToo world. “Don’t You Forget About Me” isn’t just about a love lost and (potentially) rediscovered; it’s about Georgina’s own journey in learning to love herself and stand up for herself. It’s about forgiving people and loving them despite their imperfections, and how important it is to be honest with one another.
TL;DR: At first glance, a fun rom-com of a book. But it quickly becomes an exploration of grief and trauma, with a heroine learning to love herself and create a life she’s proud of. It’s witty, it’s thoughtful, and it’s relevant.
If you liked this, try:
“Evie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes (Moira’s review here)
Any of Jasmine Guillory’s books (“The Proposal,” “The Wedding Date,” “The Wedding Party,” “Royal Holiday”) (Elizabeth’s review of “Royal Holiday” here)
“Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert (Elizabeth’s review here)
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