Georgina Horspool is a thirty-something waitress at one of the worst restaurants in Sheffield. She gets fired and humiliated in front of the other diners so that the chef can save face with a restaurant critic. To make an already crap day even worse, she walks in on her boyfriend in bed with his PA, he claims that he didn't know they were "exclusive".
Her brother-in-law gets her a job as a barmaid at a newly renovated pub that is owned by some of his clients. Under strict instructions from her less than supportive sister, she is told not to mess it up. The only problem is that the bar is owned by her first love—the boy she fell in love with in high school—only he's no longer a boy. Lucas McCarthy has grown into a devastatingly handsome, successful man, with a dog. In a cruel twist of fate, Georgina, voted "Most Likely to Succeed" has managed to only have dead-end jobs the last 12 years.
Getting reacquainted with Lucas brings to the surface an event from her past, one that she has tried to push down ever since it happened. Georgina is the only one that knows what really happened on the last day of school and why it has haunted her ever since.
So when a book is named after a kick-ass song that's associated with a kick-ass movie that defined your generation, you read it!
McFarlane is a great writer. There were so many cheeky bits—she's really witty—yet at the same time, there were some beautiful and tender moments. Georgina is a wonderfully-flawed protagonist who is vulnerable yet strong, and is layered and complex. I felt for her. Her family don't seem to be overly supportive or encouraging, in fact there were times where I questioned if they even liked her. She is constantly reminded about her failures and that she should be married by this point in her life (cue eye roll). But how is she supposed to get married when she seems to attract complete wankers?! Speaking of wankers, her roommate was a total pill, and truth be told, I could've done without her.
This book is so much more than romance. It is funny, sweet, and heavy at times. McFarlane explores some complicated relationships, and the dynamic of not being where you thought you'd be later in life and what that does to one's psyche and worth. She created some endearing and engaging characters and I would certainly recommend Don't You Forget About Me.
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MHAIRI MCFARLANE is a Sunday Times bestselling author from Scotland. McFarlane has written four books.
Her name is actually pronounced Vah-Ree and she lives in Nottingham.
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