If I Never Met You
When her long-term partner leaves her for someone else, lawyer Laurie Watkinson strikes a deal with her charming colleague Jamie Carter: a fake office romance that helps both of them. The arrangement gets real faster than either planned. A witty British fake-dating romcom.
About This Book
If I Never Met You is a contemporary romance novel by Mhairi McFarlane, first published in 2020 by HarperCollins Publishers. Readers can expect fake dating.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Fake Dating
- Published
- 2020
Where to read or listen
Get If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- After a painful breakup, a lawyer enters a fake dating arrangement with a colleague that threatens to turn into something real.
- Fans of office-based romantic comedies
- Readers who enjoy the fake-dating trope
- witty
- Features Fake Dating
This may not be ideal if…
- Generic setup may rely heavily on romcom conventions
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Professional peers.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
When lawyer Laurie Watkinson's long-term partner leaves her for another person, she finds herself single and reeling. To regain her footing and manage office optics, she strikes a deal with Jamie Carter, a charming colleague. Their plan is simple: a fake romance to benefit them both. However, as they spend more time together, the lines between performance and reality begin to blur, challenging both Laurie and Jamie to confront what they actually want.
Central Conflict
The conflict arises from the boundary between the characters' fake dating arrangement and their growing genuine feelings, complicated by their professional relationship.
Setting
An office environment, contemporary UK.
Strengths
- Classic, popular trope combination
- Clear, relatable inciting incident
Consider before reading
- Generic setup may rely heavily on romcom conventions
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Mhairi McFarlane
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780062958563
If I Never Met You: quick answers
- Who wrote If I Never Met You?
- If I Never Met You was written by Mhairi McFarlane.
- When was If I Never Met You published?
- If I Never Met You was first published in 2020 by HarperCollins Publishers.
- What genre is If I Never Met You?
- If I Never Met You is a contemporary romance novel, with fake dating.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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