After Hello

You Had Me at Hello #1.5

by Mhairi McFarlane

A short story sequel to the bestselling romcom You Had Me At Hello!

In You Had Me At Hello, the one who got away came back… but what happened next?

Together, apart and then back together again, Rachel and Ben had a rollercoaster ride to get here. But now happily in love and partners in crime once more, it feels like it’s all been worth it.

But when a face from the past reappears, misunderstandings come between them once more.

Can they hold on to their happy ever after?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Novella, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Short Stories

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2017

About the author

Mhairi was born in Scotland in 1976 and her unnecessarily confusing name is pronounced Vah-Ree.

After some efforts at journalism, she started writing novels. It’s Not Me, It’s You is her third book. She lives in Nottingham, with a man and a cat.

Reviews

[Blackjack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusually relevant epilogue, and I'm so impressed by how closely it matches the full length novel written five years earlier. I read the two separate books nearly back-to-back, but it felt as if the latter story followed right on the heels of You Had Me at Hello. The novel could have stood on its own, but the story does raise some tricky topics that I think this follow up novella does an excellent job addressing.

Swoony, romantic Ben proves once again that Rachel is the love of his life. I loved seeing him in a committed, happy relationship where domesticity suits him. Their adopted kittens, Ron Barker & Ron Corbett, are hilarious. Readers of the novel will recall the relevance of the long-standing "Ron" joke. Seriously, Ben feeding and caring for the kittens is everything.

Of particular note here is that McFarlane's heroines often use humor to mask their insecurities. Rachel is my favorite thus far of the author's heroines -- endlessly witty and self-deprecating -- while also mocking and belittling herself in sometimes painful ways. While she did not ever need to doubt Ben's love and devotion, her insecurities felt real and needed airing. I think I could happily read more from this couple as they traverse through life together.

On a lesser scale, this novella is also a must-read because of Rachel's friends. Mindy is still laugh-out-loud funny and endearing and the dinner where the friends assess the potential fall out from having a Game of Thrones wedding complete with birds of prey swooping in to deliver wedding rings at the alter shouldn't be missed.

I will miss the entire cast of these characters. I simply adore this author's writing.

[Yoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every story that mentions or uses infidelity as a plot point/twist doesn´t really get 5stars in my opinion. Simply because it makes me physically ill to even think about. So no matter how happy the ending was I just can´t give it more than 4 stars.
I did enjoy the ending tho.

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel said : “Ah, fuck. Oh me of little faith.” And I say : Ah f@$?? . Oh me of little faith indeed ! I didn't see this happen.. me liking this book and tearing when I re read the last chapter again & again .. because the previous chapters were sometimes a little bit hard and painful to read ! I was so utterly sure that those lovebirds should never happened ! With a perfect plot Mhairi gave us a very realistic POV of the life after finding your person and a reminder that when you found her or him , life won't be always a vanilla!

When I finished reading : You Had Me At Hello , my first thought was : I WANT ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT BEN & RACHEL WITH THE PROPER ENDING FOR THIS EPIC LOVE STORY .. and oh em gee Mhairi in 99 pages give us : laughs , heartbreaks and a big goofy smile by the end ..

What i want now is another Ben&Rachel book .. this ending SHOULD NEVER END

So have mercy our dear After Hello Author and give us another happy ending for our oh so beloved couple

X

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this free or for 99 cents (or something like that!) on Amazon.ca. This is a very welcome novella, carrying on from that lovely ending and making this story extra special. Loved it!

[TARA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, again. Awwwwwww!

P.S Can I please have a novella, just like this for Who’s that girl AT LEAST...



4.5 ☆

BEN AND RACHEL ARE EVERYTHING TO ME. I was torn in some gruesome knots during this and then I was absolute mush reading that ending, the flashback / mention to that very first scene of You had me at Hello. I'm dead!

''Want to know something ridiculous?'
I nod.
Ben leans in. 'I meant it the first time.'


Honestly I can't breathe at how real Mhairi's characters are, how they mark my heart and leave me longing for their company forever. I could have read 1000 more pages of them... Ben feeding their cats, I mean, STOP.

[Melany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really didn't connect with the characters. Some things seemed said with great detailed (and at times overly detailed), while others that should've had more details were vague. It was an okay short story/epilogue but nothing really memorable.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a freebie on Amazon and it catches up with Ben and Rachel of You Had Me At Hello, which I read and loved years ago.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this author's work, she has a genuinely original voice, and her character observations are strikingly honest.

It was a short read with zero smut (sadly) but plenty of banter, wit and warm feels balanced with some angst. It was about an hour's read and even though I'd forgotten most of the detail of the first book, there were enough prompts to bring me up to date. I even think you could enjoy this as a standalone.

When I first read this it was the author's debut, so I'm excited to see there's more books to read, although not the same characters. This is how you do chick lit.

Recommended and free on Amazon.

[Obsidian · Rating 1 out of 5]

And now I remember why I didn’t like the first book. Honestly the character of Rachel wasn’t my favorite the first time through and she’s still not in this standalone. If the book wasn’t free, I wouldn’t have even picked it up. It’s so weird too since I have loved McFarlane’s last two books. I think it just irks me that Rachel is manipulative but we’re supposed to be like ahh but she really loves Ben. I just thought the whole fight and lack of trust said something about how the two of them get together and lied about their past when in prior relationships.

[Camilla Isley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything by this author... a cute, short sequel to

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited for this extended epilogue of sorts, because I really felt it was needed. But at first I was a little scared because it was an all sunshine and roses story. Ultimately I think it was an issue needing to be worked through, so I was here for it. It managed to, once again, make me snort with laugh, cry, and be on the edge of my seat. Even when acting in ways that could be annoying (and probably will be for some), I found it utterly ridiculous and, if I'm honest with myself, ways I could see myself acting. I was so not ready to let this group go.

LOL for days at Mindy. Oh Mindy. Falcon + Michael Jackson glove = I cannot even.

[Lidia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historia corta. Para fans. Un epílogo largo. Entretenido pero completamente olvidable. Prefiero a la Mhairi que hace una novela y cierra (aunque sea con finales abiertos)

[Océano de libros · Rating 1 out of 5]

La continuación de “Nada más verte” donde conoceremos más sobre la vida de Ben y Rachel una vez juntos de nuevo.
Este relato corto donde continúa la historia de Ben Morgan y Rachel Woodford para mí no ha tenido sentido y es que prefería mil veces la continuación de ¿Quién es esa chica? (que sí que hacía más falta) que destrozar mi visión con lo que le deparó el futuro a los personajes de este libro, porque esta novela ha roto las buenas impresiones que tenía, para mí era totalmente innecesario y por varios motivos: el primero de todos es que la autora ha perdido la magia, sus novelas ya no tienen ese “algo especial” que las caracterizaba, ese punto también divertido y segundo y no menos importante es que aquí Ben pierde para mí tantos puntos que todavía me doy de tortas por haber leído la novela y perder la magia que me inspiró el primero.
Así que si queréis y aceptáis un consejito no leáis esta novela si os gustó la primera porque los personajes principales pierden tanto que es mejor quedarse con la primera impresión, a mí por lo menos me dejo disgustada y lo que hace con Ben cómo… argggg. Creo que solo y exclusivamente leeré de esta autora la continuación que me interesa, temporalmente la dejo vetada.

[Mela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d rather have things go wrong with you than right with anyone else

I like the idea of showing what can go after HEA. But, in this case, it was written far from perfect.

I met again the splendid characters (and the wit) from You Had Me At Hello, and I bought the 'crack' between Ben and Rachel. On the other hand, I was bored with all those explanations about what happened in "You Had Me At Hello". I am not sure one could read this sequel without reading the previous book - so, what those repetitions were for? At some level, even Mindy's wedding was boring to me.

So, I loved the message about insecurities in happy relationships, but aside from it, the rest was not so brilliant.

[Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

****SPOILER WARNING IF YOU HAVEN'T YOU HAD ME AT HELLO******

I was dying to know what was next for Ben and Rachel after I last few lines of YOU HAD ME AT HELLO. If you were in the same boat as me, AFTER HELLO gives you a little of what you want. And the best part is that it’s FREE (as of the time of posting this review).

Flash forward two years later, Ben and Rachel are homeowners. They’re not married and enjoying being together. Rachel really wants to take that next step but does Ben?

There was a bit of manufactured conflict that I didn’t love as much. But honestly I sort of expected it because it can be boring to read 100 pages of a blissfuly happy couple. I needed this book so much!I wasn’t ready to let go of Ben and Rachel just yet. This book gives the reader the big sigh of relief you didn’t get in You Had Me At Hello. I loved seeing Mindy and Igor get married. The ending of this book had me smiling like an idiot and really tied the two books together in a beautiful way.



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★★UPCOMING BOOK RELEASES★★
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[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't do with this spotlight on relationship navel gazing. Every nuance of the protagonist's partners behaviour is scrutinised for signs that he is not the right man for her. She is forensic in her vigilance. It is diabolically boring, I kept waiting for some sort of plot to appear, but no, just her suspicious witch hunt of her boyfriend. Thankfully it is a short book.

I get the feeling I have read about this couple before? Going to scope that now.

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 Stars!
A fun, quick read following Rachel and Ben from You Had Me at Hello. I love when authors give readers a sneak peek into the “after” the HEA and what’s happening in the character’s lives. This could have worked as an epilogue in the original book but it was a freebie so I picked it up.
I love the author’s writing style and am now in the process of reading her backlist :)
This is a couple that I wish we could see over and over again ❤️

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I definitely want to read more from this author!
This little story was so sweet and pulled me into the life of Rachel and Ben. Now I want to know the back story, so of course I will be reading You Had Me At Hello. I felt invested in making sure all things surrounding them went well.
The whole story was fun and light and left me wanting more!
For readers that want to read this one, make sure you read the first book beforehand. I feel like you're not lost per say, but you need to the whole story of their lives before each other to fully comprehend their love.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone really loved this, but me however I hate Rachel beings written with insecurities before her wedding. I also didn’t really love this goofy bunch, but then I didn’t read the first book.

In fact I didn’t like this enough that I was going to DNF this short little novella, but don’t go by my review. I think this book was meant to be read as an adjunct to You Had Me at Hello, and I just picked up the novella. As a standalone Rachel and Ben are cute, but their friends are strange and it just didn’t make sense. I finished it and was glad I did, so everyone gets a HEA.

[Adriana Tomie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed having the chance to read what happens after the happy ending. Relationships take work, open communication, trust and lots of love. Very enjoyable short story.

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je n'avais pas encore lu Parce que c'était nous et je n'avais pas vu que cette novella était la suite de ce premier tome. Pour autant cela n'a en aucun cas gêné ma lecture et bien au contraire, j'ai eu envie de lire le 1er tome. Découvrir l'histoire de Ben et Rachel m'a donné envie d'en savoir plus sur le chemin qu'ils ont parcouru pour en arriver là.

j'ai passé un super moment de lecture avec cette histoire dont j'étais complètement passé à côté. Mhairi McFarlane a le don de nous offrir de superbes histoires profondes avec des personnages qui nous parlent et qui font écho à notre réalité. Cette novella est le parfait compagnon pour ceux qui ont lu le 1er tome .

Chronique complète : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...

[Adriana C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stas

[Melayna Arbona · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh, didn’t do anything for me. Felt like a waste of time honestly.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hopeful this short 90 page read would get me out of a reading slump. Shocker, it didn’t. I was in the worst slump from Thanksgiving to New Years- trying to clamber my way out of it.

This is a story about second chances, forgiveness, trust, and general relationship issues. While short, it is an honest glimpse into the communication breakdown between significant others.

While I won’t continue this series, it’s not a reflection of the novel or author, I simply have too many others to get through this next year!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great conclusion, novella to You had me at Hello

I just finished reading 'You me at Hello' and was super excited to see a deal on this follow up Novella.
Did Ben and Rachel bicker and argue about their past friendship and one night stand from 10 years ago like in the first book? Absolutely.

Was Ben super charming and secretly Rachel's cheerleader? Yep.

I really enjoyed the HEA on this Novella as it really came full circle from the Happy for now ending from the first book.

[Bokbabbel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brittisk humor ❤️.

[Desa · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Well I'd rather have things go wrong with you than right with anyone else'

Ay ay ay, no sabía cuanto necesitaba esta novella hasta que supe que Mhairi la había publicado (y gratis!). Y es que, tras terminar You Had Me at Hello necesitaba ver a Rachel y Ben *JUNTOS y for real. Después de todo por lo que habían pasado: su tiempo en la universidad como bff, su amarga separación, reencuentro y todas las idas y venidas, llegó su momento. Pero ese momento fue el final del libro, unas pocas páginas que, aunque me encantaron como conclusión, me dejaron con ganas de más. Y esta novella es más y ajahgddgdhakaaj <33333

Hay un poquito de drama y celos, pero nada exagerado, es maravillosa y taaaan cute *sigh* Rachel y Ben por fin están juntos y todo les va taaaan bien que eso hace que la pobre Rach se agobie jajaja y aunque parezca una pobre excusa para meter angst la entiendes y simpatizas con ella de nuevo, y Ben es tan mono *suspirito again*. Si a eso le añades los amigos de Rach: Caroline, Mindy y Ivor y situaciones divertidas y el banter y el witty diálogo de Mhairi, pues acabas con una continuación maravillosa. ¿Lo malo? te quedas, de nuevo, con ganas de más, y eso dice mucho.

'Kiss me like that again, and tell me we're not soulmates.'
And I do, and I can't

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely thought that this novella was cute and had all the potential to live up to my expectations. Albeit it was published five years after its forerunner, the two books felt like they belonged to each other. All the characters were still the same as if nothing had changed. Ivor and Mindy's wedding turned out to be something I hadn't realized I needed to see.

Sadly, I ended up wishing for a different thing. Please skip this part if you haven't read the book yet, but no matter how much I believed in Ben's innocence and devotion to Rachel, I still considered what he did quite unacceptable. While Rachel's outburst was a little improper (it was bitchy of her to bring up Olivia like that that I internally screamed, "No, Rachel, no!"), her sudden insecurity was understandable. I wish Ben was more "I'm sorry you feel that way but trust me there is nothing to worry about" and less "I don't know why you act like that nothing is going on".

In the end, it was still a cute read. It's just that I had hoped for more from our two main characters that it caused me to deem their behavior here unnecessary and rather disappointing.

[liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars.

Very cute and a lovely follow up to You Had Me at Hello.

[Nomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mhairi McFarlane so much (her books have such a brilliant, funny UK vibe, with characters I genuinely care for). My two fave books of hers are You Had Me At Hello and Who's That Girl ~ so I was ridiculously thrilled to see Mhairi released a novella sequel to You Had Me at Hello (I've read YHMAT three times, I love it so). After Hello was pretty much perfect and I grinned my way through it ~ so happy to be back with Rachel and Ben (BEN!!!) and the gang.

Mhairi's books bring a whole heap of addictive light and life and smiles into my life ~ and I am so happy she gave this book to her readers <3

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute short free sequel...

Mhairi makes me laugh, her humor is quite unique. was one of my favorite books with its mix of New Adult back love story and Adult "second chance" feel... and it was nice to have a little peek at what happens after happily ever after and to meet again some favorite characters. It was like taking a coffee with an old friend, pleasant, comforting, and hilarious as it is that friend who always makes jokes :)