Don't You Forget About Me: A Witty Rom Com About Second Chance Romance and First Love – Heartfelt and Perfect for Bridget Jones Fans

“Don’t You Forget About Me is one of those books I couldn’t put down. Crackling with energy and wit, I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud. Mhairi McFarlane’s voice is as clear as a bell—she makes you laugh, but she also makes you feel. I adore her!” — Sally Thorne

Internationally bestselling author Mhairi McFarlane delivers a funny, romantic, heartfelt novel perfect for fans of Josie Silver or Sally Thorne, and anyone who loves Bridget Jones or Fleabag!

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?

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Published Sep 10, 2019

430 pages

Average rating: 7.05

42 RATINGS

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Larry Burns

Jan 06, 2025

7/10 stars

Great story!

Chloë

Feb 19, 2026

8/10 stars

Wonderfully captivating, I couldn't put this book down and demolished it in 2 sittings. Mhairi's prose had such beautiful flow - it was sharp, witty, emotional, and relatable. But I agree with many others - this is NOT a romance novel. Unless you consider that the main relationship that develops in this novel is the relationship that Georgina grows with herself, but that's a stretch.

This story is full of the 'hurt people hurt people' mantra. While full of laugh-out-loud moments, it is also filled with grief, turmoil, and recounting of past traumas that readers shouldn't go into it lightly. However, I do think that Georgina's experience & growth will resonate with a lot of readers lived experiences.

"No one else is going to fix you. The only person who can fix you, is you. So Coldplay lied."
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"Sometimes because the people we wanted to care for us, didn't care for us, we live with a deliberate lack of care for ourselves. A way of getting back at them, through self-neglect."

Heidi Reed

Apr 01, 2025

4/10 stars

I wanted to like this book, mostly like Georgina. But when we got to the big reveal at the end, I didn't believe Georgina would really do what she did, even for popularity. I also thought Lucas was perfectly within his rights to reject her after that, even knowing what he knew about the other boy. The whole thing just didn't ring true for me. Also, there was never any payoff with the story line about Lucas's ex-friend stealing Keith back, it seems like that part of the plot thread was not really addressed at all.

stevieljo

Jun 20, 2024

5/10 stars

This book is 10% romance and 90% everything else. Georgina is having the worst day of her life. Not only has she been fired from her job, but she comes home to find her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Feeling sorry for herself, Georgina takes on the first job that swings her way. Twelve years ago, Georgina had a secret affair with Lucas when they were in high school. On the night of their prom, something goes horrible wrong and they never speak again. Fast forward to the present, Georgina is working as a bartender at a newly opened pub—conveniently owned by none other than Lucas himself. Only, he doesn't seem to remember her. At all. If the story had focused on these two characters alone, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. Instead, we have different points of view from so and so and their cousin. It takes way too long to get to the actual romance. Which would have been fine if the book's top market was anything but a romance category.

Liv H

Mar 11, 2024

10/10 stars

Fantastic. Painful. Cried twice. A story of grief that I didn’t expect.