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Green Haven
Better Than Most
Rhodes Porter.
A name Georgia Whittier would prefer never cross her lips again. Not only was her older brother's best friend her first love, her first everything, but he broke her heart for a reason she still hasn't fully accepted. To make it worse, Georgia couldn't properly nurse her broken heart, because nobody knew about the love affair.
A decade has passed, and Georgia is all grown up. She's twenty-seven, a college graduate who had a real world job. Had. Her small hometown of Green Haven isn't flush with teaching jobs, but she knew that when she moved back home. She's making ends meet with odd jobs, and has rediscovered her old love of West Coast swing dancing. Life isn't great, but it's good enough.
Until Rhodes returns to Green Haven. For good.
As much as Georgia would prefer to banish him from her life, she can't. See: Brother's best friend. Now Rhodes is everywhere. Her brother's wedding. At a family barbecue. On the sidewalk across the street while Georgia waits in line at the post office.
And that broken heart Georgia thought had healed? It hasn't. Because Rhodes is just like before. Better, even.
Georgia is determined to keep Rhodes at arm's length, even when he's buying her blackberry orange jam at the Sierra Grande farmer's market. Even when he's holding eye contact a beat too long. Especially when she finds out the old note she wrote him is still sewn into the brim of his baseball hat.
The hat he still wears.
Every day it gets more difficult for Georgia to refuse her heart.
But if what Georgia wants is a reason not to fall in love with Rhodes again, she need look no further.
Rhodes is holding onto it. All these years he's kept the truth of why he left her a secret, but secrets have a way of revealing themselves.
And this one? It's a doozy.
A name Georgia Whittier would prefer never cross her lips again. Not only was her older brother's best friend her first love, her first everything, but he broke her heart for a reason she still hasn't fully accepted. To make it worse, Georgia couldn't properly nurse her broken heart, because nobody knew about the love affair.
A decade has passed, and Georgia is all grown up. She's twenty-seven, a college graduate who had a real world job. Had. Her small hometown of Green Haven isn't flush with teaching jobs, but she knew that when she moved back home. She's making ends meet with odd jobs, and has rediscovered her old love of West Coast swing dancing. Life isn't great, but it's good enough.
Until Rhodes returns to Green Haven. For good.
As much as Georgia would prefer to banish him from her life, she can't. See: Brother's best friend. Now Rhodes is everywhere. Her brother's wedding. At a family barbecue. On the sidewalk across the street while Georgia waits in line at the post office.
And that broken heart Georgia thought had healed? It hasn't. Because Rhodes is just like before. Better, even.
Georgia is determined to keep Rhodes at arm's length, even when he's buying her blackberry orange jam at the Sierra Grande farmer's market. Even when he's holding eye contact a beat too long. Especially when she finds out the old note she wrote him is still sewn into the brim of his baseball hat.
The hat he still wears.
Every day it gets more difficult for Georgia to refuse her heart.
But if what Georgia wants is a reason not to fall in love with Rhodes again, she need look no further.
Rhodes is holding onto it. All these years he's kept the truth of why he left her a secret, but secrets have a way of revealing themselves.
And this one? It's a doozy.
350 pages, Unknown Binding
Published October 5, 2023
583 people are currently reading
6165 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Millikin
25 books2,034 followersJennifer Millikin is a two-time recipient of the Readers Favorite award. She writes contemporary fiction with elements of romance, emotion, and hard-learned lessons. Her characters are flawed and authentic, and some parts of her stories are more fact than fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
December 1, 2023
I thought this was first in a series, but it's not. It definitely follows The Least Amount of Awful. I hate when authors don't bother having their series marked as such. Plus, the author has larded up the place with folks from her Hayden series. It's intrusive and felt dumb. I have no recommendation, but thought it worth the warning.
I have a hard time with second chance romances because a lot hinges on the thing that broke them up in the past. It doesn't help that it's generally something the author needs to conceal for a while so you get the full impact of them addressing it at some climactic moment. I'm not sure that hiding the cause is necessary, but it's so common it may as well be.
And in any romance, I prefer to see them fall in love. And for most second chance romances, that means flashbacks and I kind of hate those, too. They kill the pace and every transition is a little moment where I ask myself if I really care.
So here's the thing with this one. I buy the romance and enjoyed seeing them fall in love. The author isn't good enough to weave the flashbacks in naturally so they sucked just as bad as they tend to (to be fair, it's really hard to do flashbacks seamlessly and most authors aren't up to that task). But I did like seeing Georgia and Rhodes fall in love. They were perfect for each other.
So what's the problem that I'm abandoning at 60% and giving it a really low rating? Simple, the breakup was stupid and doesn't hold the weight of the story. Not only is it a case of "for your own good" but it's something completely out of character for Rhodes to pull. He isn't that kind of masterful alphahole who makes unilateral decisions for people he cares about. This totally messes up his character arc because there is literally nothing for him to learn/change to deserve a second chance.
And it doesn't help that all the romantic tension has been satisfied at 60%. They have made declarations and reconciled and forgiven each other. Which means that something is going to come in and blow them back up. And I guarantee that something is going to be stupid. The only candidate on the map right now is that Rhodes is hiding something from their breakup—like it was more than just for her own good but something he's hiding even after claiming he has made a clean breast of it. It could maaaybe be something else, though. Like him pulling some new kind of "for her own good" trick. But that'd just compound the idiocy of that nonsense from the before.
So what it amounts to is that I don't trust the author after blowing the initial breakup not to do similarly dumb things with the remaining story. A dark moment is imminent and those are as tricky to pull off as second chance breakups (they're similar in a lot of ways). And frankly, dark moments in a second chance are stupidly bad anyway. The second chance is your dark moment. Adding another just proves that their relationship sucks.
Anyway, one star and I'm kind of sorry I let it go as far as I did. I hoped it wouldn't be dumb because I liked the main couple. Hope dashed.
I have a hard time with second chance romances because a lot hinges on the thing that broke them up in the past. It doesn't help that it's generally something the author needs to conceal for a while so you get the full impact of them addressing it at some climactic moment. I'm not sure that hiding the cause is necessary, but it's so common it may as well be.
And in any romance, I prefer to see them fall in love. And for most second chance romances, that means flashbacks and I kind of hate those, too. They kill the pace and every transition is a little moment where I ask myself if I really care.
So here's the thing with this one. I buy the romance and enjoyed seeing them fall in love. The author isn't good enough to weave the flashbacks in naturally so they sucked just as bad as they tend to (to be fair, it's really hard to do flashbacks seamlessly and most authors aren't up to that task). But I did like seeing Georgia and Rhodes fall in love. They were perfect for each other.
So what's the problem that I'm abandoning at 60% and giving it a really low rating? Simple, the breakup was stupid and doesn't hold the weight of the story. Not only is it a case of "for your own good" but it's something completely out of character for Rhodes to pull. He isn't that kind of masterful alphahole who makes unilateral decisions for people he cares about. This totally messes up his character arc because there is literally nothing for him to learn/change to deserve a second chance.
And it doesn't help that all the romantic tension has been satisfied at 60%. They have made declarations and reconciled and forgiven each other. Which means that something is going to come in and blow them back up. And I guarantee that something is going to be stupid. The only candidate on the map right now is that Rhodes is hiding something from their breakup—like it was more than just for her own good but something he's hiding even after claiming he has made a clean breast of it. It could maaaybe be something else, though. Like him pulling some new kind of "for her own good" trick. But that'd just compound the idiocy of that nonsense from the before.
So what it amounts to is that I don't trust the author after blowing the initial breakup not to do similarly dumb things with the remaining story. A dark moment is imminent and those are as tricky to pull off as second chance breakups (they're similar in a lot of ways). And frankly, dark moments in a second chance are stupidly bad anyway. The second chance is your dark moment. Adding another just proves that their relationship sucks.
Anyway, one star and I'm kind of sorry I let it go as far as I did. I hoped it wouldn't be dumb because I liked the main couple. Hope dashed.
October 5, 2023
4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
* Thank you to Valentine PR and the author, Jennifer Millikin, for this ARC!
"You can't major in me." But it feels damn good to be loved this much, and by the best girl in the world. "I can damn sure try," she whispers, setting my world on fire with her lips."
This series is just too good!
There is so much going on in these books. It's a perfect mix of drama, angst, tension, love, joy, and happiness. And I again I will say 👏 that 👏 character 👏 growth 👏 tho.
I will warn you, though ... there is some tough stuff going on in this book. So, I would check for any triggers through tropes first! I wasn't expecting it to be as deep as it was.
"I think maybe a part of loving someone is letting them own their feelings. Their mistakes. And then sitting beside them and holding their hand and letting all those things just exist without having to think any harder about it."
You get:
• Brothers best friend
• Drug addiction
• Mental health representation
• Second chance
• Family trauma
• Vision impaired
One last thing ... Colbie will forever be the best character in these books! Again, I am so happy I went and read the first book first.
Do yourself a favour and get yourself started with this series ... seeing as today is its PUB day, you can start now! 🤗
"I'm not perfect, and neither are you. You're totally unafraid to say what you think, and you can be sassy as fuck. I have a tendency to want to fix everyone's problem, even at my own expense. But as long as we keep communicating, keep saying what we think we need, we'll get there. We'll make it. As long as our good days are better than most of our bad days, we'll make it."
"Better than most," I repeat, the words becoming 3D in my mind. I like it. It's better than feeling letdown every time things don't go as planned. Built-in space for bad days."
* Thank you to Valentine PR and the author, Jennifer Millikin, for this ARC!
"You can't major in me." But it feels damn good to be loved this much, and by the best girl in the world. "I can damn sure try," she whispers, setting my world on fire with her lips."
This series is just too good!
There is so much going on in these books. It's a perfect mix of drama, angst, tension, love, joy, and happiness. And I again I will say 👏 that 👏 character 👏 growth 👏 tho.
I will warn you, though ... there is some tough stuff going on in this book. So, I would check for any triggers through tropes first! I wasn't expecting it to be as deep as it was.
"I think maybe a part of loving someone is letting them own their feelings. Their mistakes. And then sitting beside them and holding their hand and letting all those things just exist without having to think any harder about it."
You get:
• Brothers best friend
• Drug addiction
• Mental health representation
• Second chance
• Family trauma
• Vision impaired
One last thing ... Colbie will forever be the best character in these books! Again, I am so happy I went and read the first book first.
Do yourself a favour and get yourself started with this series ... seeing as today is its PUB day, you can start now! 🤗
"I'm not perfect, and neither are you. You're totally unafraid to say what you think, and you can be sassy as fuck. I have a tendency to want to fix everyone's problem, even at my own expense. But as long as we keep communicating, keep saying what we think we need, we'll get there. We'll make it. As long as our good days are better than most of our bad days, we'll make it."
"Better than most," I repeat, the words becoming 3D in my mind. I like it. It's better than feeling letdown every time things don't go as planned. Built-in space for bad days."
October 17, 2023
4.5 Stars
There’s not much I love more than a second chance romance. Yet, I’m also not a fan of the “older brother’s best friend” trope. So I had no idea which way Better Than Most would go. I shouldn’t have been concerned because Jennifer Millikin has shown me time and again that she steers clear of the stereotypical storyline routes that make me cranky and just gives us a fantastic story.
Ten years ago, Georgia had a secret relationship with her older brother’s best friend, Rhodes. But shortly after her father’s tragic meth-induced death, Rhodes broke things off with a flimsy excuse and left town. Not only was Georgia heartbroken, she couldn’t even tell anyone why.
And now Rhodes is back. As much as Georgia would like to keep her distance and protect her heart (that now has even more bruises on it), she’s finding it difficult when they keep running into each other and also…he volunteers to be her partner for a West Coast Swing competition.
I can’t remember the last hero who had me swooning so much. Rhodes, oh sweet Rhodes. I loved how contrite he was about his mistakes in the past and didn’t come rolling back into town assuming he’d get the girl back. It’s also so refreshing to read about a guy who has been pining for the girl, who wants the relationship, the marriage, the family. There wasn’t a cocky, arrogant bone anywhere in Rhodes’s body and I freaking loved him.
I also loved the relationship development in this book, both in the past and the present. I loved how Georgia and Rhodes let their true thoughts and emotions show, both the good and the bad - I love a heroine who shows the full force of her well-justified anger, and a hero who takes it. There was no being coy or playing games, not even when they were young. Even when it came time to reveal secrets and face the past, I loved how they dealt with it head on and didn’t let things get more complicated by acting like teenagers.
The only thing I think this book is missing is more about Rhodes’s life the past ten years. Or maybe I just wanted more of Rhodes…this book is dual POV, with only a third of the chapters written from Rhodes’s perspective. But that’s about the only thing I can complain about with this story.
This was a second chance romance done right, and dare I say probably the only brother’s best friend story I can ever remember enjoying. Did their reason for keeping the relationship a secret make sense? Yes. And spoiler alert: that whole part of the storyline didn’t go down the stereotypical way. THANK GOODNESS.
I can’t wait for whatever is next from Jennifer Millikin. She has a poetic way of writing that draws me in and keeps me engaged from page one. And Better Than Most just may be my favorite story of hers so far!
PS Do yourself a favor - do a YouTube search of West Coast Swing if you’re not familiar with the dance! It will give you a visual of when Georgia and Rhodes are dancing and adds a whole new dimension to an already great book.
* thank you to Valentine PR for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
There’s not much I love more than a second chance romance. Yet, I’m also not a fan of the “older brother’s best friend” trope. So I had no idea which way Better Than Most would go. I shouldn’t have been concerned because Jennifer Millikin has shown me time and again that she steers clear of the stereotypical storyline routes that make me cranky and just gives us a fantastic story.
Ten years ago, Georgia had a secret relationship with her older brother’s best friend, Rhodes. But shortly after her father’s tragic meth-induced death, Rhodes broke things off with a flimsy excuse and left town. Not only was Georgia heartbroken, she couldn’t even tell anyone why.
And now Rhodes is back. As much as Georgia would like to keep her distance and protect her heart (that now has even more bruises on it), she’s finding it difficult when they keep running into each other and also…he volunteers to be her partner for a West Coast Swing competition.
I can’t remember the last hero who had me swooning so much. Rhodes, oh sweet Rhodes. I loved how contrite he was about his mistakes in the past and didn’t come rolling back into town assuming he’d get the girl back. It’s also so refreshing to read about a guy who has been pining for the girl, who wants the relationship, the marriage, the family. There wasn’t a cocky, arrogant bone anywhere in Rhodes’s body and I freaking loved him.
I also loved the relationship development in this book, both in the past and the present. I loved how Georgia and Rhodes let their true thoughts and emotions show, both the good and the bad - I love a heroine who shows the full force of her well-justified anger, and a hero who takes it. There was no being coy or playing games, not even when they were young. Even when it came time to reveal secrets and face the past, I loved how they dealt with it head on and didn’t let things get more complicated by acting like teenagers.
The only thing I think this book is missing is more about Rhodes’s life the past ten years. Or maybe I just wanted more of Rhodes…this book is dual POV, with only a third of the chapters written from Rhodes’s perspective. But that’s about the only thing I can complain about with this story.
This was a second chance romance done right, and dare I say probably the only brother’s best friend story I can ever remember enjoying. Did their reason for keeping the relationship a secret make sense? Yes. And spoiler alert: that whole part of the storyline didn’t go down the stereotypical way. THANK GOODNESS.
I can’t wait for whatever is next from Jennifer Millikin. She has a poetic way of writing that draws me in and keeps me engaged from page one. And Better Than Most just may be my favorite story of hers so far!
PS Do yourself a favor - do a YouTube search of West Coast Swing if you’re not familiar with the dance! It will give you a visual of when Georgia and Rhodes are dancing and adds a whole new dimension to an already great book.
* thank you to Valentine PR for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
September 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
💃🏻second chance
🕺🏻small town romance
💃🏻brother’s best friend
🕺🏻dance partners
💃🏻it was always you
🕺🏻first love
💃🏻dual timeline
🕺🏻dual POV
“I’m the same person I was the day I left Georgia. Suspended in time. Or stunted. Desperately in love with her, and so damn ashamed of what I did.”
Things I didn’t know and things that I do know now:
I didn’t know Jennifer Millikin because apparently I live under a rock in the middle of the desert.
I didn’t know exactly what to expect from this book (please see the previous point).
I didn’t know what West Coast Swing was (worry not, I fell down the rabbit hole of West Coast Swing videos on YouTube 👀).
I didn’t know I would fall in love with a boy named Rhodes and a girl named Georgia.
I didn’t know I would feel this raw need to go back and read all about these set of supporting characters that made residency inside of my head and just won’t leave.
“Our first kiss is my apology.
Our second is my reverence.
Our third is my hope.”
But now I know that second chance continues to be one of my favorites.
Now I know that Jennifer Millikin will be an auto buy author for me.
Now I know I really like West Coast Swing. And ballroom dance in general.
Now I know Rhodes and Georgia, and a love that can survive even the test of time.
Now I know heartbreak and second chances and… hope.
Jennifer Millikin delivered a book with all the things I love in a romance, slapped a cute cover on it, and has me now wondering when will I stop thinking about Georgia peaches and the dangerous work of linemen.
“She may follow me when we dance, but I swear to God I’d follow Georgia to the ends of the earth.”
Adult • Romance
💃🏻second chance
🕺🏻small town romance
💃🏻brother’s best friend
🕺🏻dance partners
💃🏻it was always you
🕺🏻first love
💃🏻dual timeline
🕺🏻dual POV
“I’m the same person I was the day I left Georgia. Suspended in time. Or stunted. Desperately in love with her, and so damn ashamed of what I did.”
Things I didn’t know and things that I do know now:
I didn’t know Jennifer Millikin because apparently I live under a rock in the middle of the desert.
I didn’t know exactly what to expect from this book (please see the previous point).
I didn’t know what West Coast Swing was (worry not, I fell down the rabbit hole of West Coast Swing videos on YouTube 👀).
I didn’t know I would fall in love with a boy named Rhodes and a girl named Georgia.
I didn’t know I would feel this raw need to go back and read all about these set of supporting characters that made residency inside of my head and just won’t leave.
“Our first kiss is my apology.
Our second is my reverence.
Our third is my hope.”
But now I know that second chance continues to be one of my favorites.
Now I know that Jennifer Millikin will be an auto buy author for me.
Now I know I really like West Coast Swing. And ballroom dance in general.
Now I know Rhodes and Georgia, and a love that can survive even the test of time.
Now I know heartbreak and second chances and… hope.
Jennifer Millikin delivered a book with all the things I love in a romance, slapped a cute cover on it, and has me now wondering when will I stop thinking about Georgia peaches and the dangerous work of linemen.
“She may follow me when we dance, but I swear to God I’d follow Georgia to the ends of the earth.”
May 31, 2024
god i knew i’d love this but i didn’t expect to love it THIS much. i’m actually running out of ways to explain how much i love this authors books because they’re just so fun for me to read!!
and the hayden’s appearing as well??? yeah i’m so glad i read their series before reading this. colt melts my heart every single time that little boy is a gem!! it seems the books just keep getting better and better as they’re released.
rhodes and georgia were actually everything i needed from a second chance romance and i am NOT a second chance romance girly they aren’t in my top tropes at all but this was executed perfectly. the flashbacks really helped me root for these two and im glad it was included.
the progression of anger to acceptance to being friends and then more was everything to me and you know what the third act didn’t even preferment me from giving this give stars because honestly i get it.
and the hayden’s appearing as well??? yeah i’m so glad i read their series before reading this. colt melts my heart every single time that little boy is a gem!! it seems the books just keep getting better and better as they’re released.
rhodes and georgia were actually everything i needed from a second chance romance and i am NOT a second chance romance girly they aren’t in my top tropes at all but this was executed perfectly. the flashbacks really helped me root for these two and im glad it was included.
the progression of anger to acceptance to being friends and then more was everything to me and you know what the third act didn’t even preferment me from giving this give stars because honestly i get it.
October 6, 2023
Better Than Most by Jennifer Millikin tugged at my heart strings so beautifully. If you are looking for a swoony small town, second chance, brother’s best friend romance..you can pick it blindly. It was so heartwarming with right kind of angst. Georgia and Rhodes has an epic love that went through years of heartache after moments of bliss and this is their chance at happily ever after. Both of them have emotional baggage and the secrets will test their bond. But their love so pure and brilliant that it beat every odd. I absolutely love the author's writing style. She makes me smile and breaks my heart and again, fills my heart with warm cozy feels.
Georgia has come back to their adorable small town after a bad relationship with a manipulative man. The last thing she needs is to face her true love and her secret heartbreaker, Rhodes Porter. But he is back in town too, to take care of his sick mother. Regret and aching feels are strong between Gerogia and Rhodes. Can they move beyond the past haunting them?
This story goes back and forth in timeline. This format is possibly my favorite when I get to meet the characters at the very beginning and get to experience how the young love blossomed and follow the past with all the mistakes and heartbreak..and then I also get to see their presence and how much they have evolved and how the time has not taken away from the intensity and power of their love! There is something about a love that persists beyond time and space. Georgia is a sweetheart who has suffered so much loss in her life. I feel incredibly sad for her. But I am also in love with her resilience and her kindness and her ability to love unconditionally. Rhodes is my perfect book boyfriend. He loved Georgia so sweetly and deeply since they met. His love was her light in a dark time. Even now, it is pretty clear that Georgia means everything to him. So next comes the question..why did he leave? Why did he break her heart? And the truth is so hard. He did everything to save her, only to break each other. Now he has to earn her forgiveness and trust again. It would be so easy for Georgia to let him in but it was a slow burn. Rhodes is a charmer and a protector and every bit of a tortured hero who just stole my heart. They have the sweetest chemistry and again, the slow burn build up through the dance sessions was scorching hot. There is something deeply romantic about two person not being able to stay together because of the circumstances, yet never falling out of love!Meeting Jake and Colbie was a bonus and I won't mind coming back to this lovable small town again for another adorable romance.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Georgia has come back to their adorable small town after a bad relationship with a manipulative man. The last thing she needs is to face her true love and her secret heartbreaker, Rhodes Porter. But he is back in town too, to take care of his sick mother. Regret and aching feels are strong between Gerogia and Rhodes. Can they move beyond the past haunting them?
This story goes back and forth in timeline. This format is possibly my favorite when I get to meet the characters at the very beginning and get to experience how the young love blossomed and follow the past with all the mistakes and heartbreak..and then I also get to see their presence and how much they have evolved and how the time has not taken away from the intensity and power of their love! There is something about a love that persists beyond time and space. Georgia is a sweetheart who has suffered so much loss in her life. I feel incredibly sad for her. But I am also in love with her resilience and her kindness and her ability to love unconditionally. Rhodes is my perfect book boyfriend. He loved Georgia so sweetly and deeply since they met. His love was her light in a dark time. Even now, it is pretty clear that Georgia means everything to him. So next comes the question..why did he leave? Why did he break her heart? And the truth is so hard. He did everything to save her, only to break each other. Now he has to earn her forgiveness and trust again. It would be so easy for Georgia to let him in but it was a slow burn. Rhodes is a charmer and a protector and every bit of a tortured hero who just stole my heart. They have the sweetest chemistry and again, the slow burn build up through the dance sessions was scorching hot. There is something deeply romantic about two person not being able to stay together because of the circumstances, yet never falling out of love!Meeting Jake and Colbie was a bonus and I won't mind coming back to this lovable small town again for another adorable romance.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
January 12, 2025
3.5⭐
Rhodes and Georgia, a second chance, brother's best friend book.
This book simply had a number of plotlines that aren't personal favorites.
The second chance aspect was a bit heartbreaking and I found the story of Georgia's dad more sad in this book than the previous book in the series and since it tied into the reason for this to be a second chance romance, it made it a tad devastating to me.
I did enjoy the brother's best friend trope in this book though and how it was handled.
And again, Jennifer Millikin served up another strong FMC and a sweet and thoughtful MMC. Even if teenage Rhodes was a bit far-fetched with the surety of his proclamation of love.
Rhodes and Georgia, a second chance, brother's best friend book.
This book simply had a number of plotlines that aren't personal favorites.
The second chance aspect was a bit heartbreaking and I found the story of Georgia's dad more sad in this book than the previous book in the series and since it tied into the reason for this to be a second chance romance, it made it a tad devastating to me.
I did enjoy the brother's best friend trope in this book though and how it was handled.
And again, Jennifer Millikin served up another strong FMC and a sweet and thoughtful MMC. Even if teenage Rhodes was a bit far-fetched with the surety of his proclamation of love.
October 2, 2023
So this was really cute ☺ It’s a second chance romance with high school lovers, a bit of angst and a dual POV. It also has the brother’s best friend trope. Did I mention that the main characters love to dance together? 🥺
Georgia is so relatable. She is struggling with living at home and trying to find a job, but she is making the best of it. I love how determined she is and how she shows her emotions without being embarrassed about them. Rhodes gives me golden retriever boyfriend vibes. He is obviously so over heels in love with Georgia, even though he hurt her. He is also compassionate and generous and takes care of his mother.
However, something was lacking for me. The reason for their breakup didn’t seem like a good enough reason to break up for 11 years, and the characters, despite their good qualities, felt a bit flat in terms of character development. Even though I know Georgia and Rhodes are in love I didn’t feel their chemistry. Overall, this was a cute read but it wasn’t mind-blowing.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the eARC!
Georgia is so relatable. She is struggling with living at home and trying to find a job, but she is making the best of it. I love how determined she is and how she shows her emotions without being embarrassed about them. Rhodes gives me golden retriever boyfriend vibes. He is obviously so over heels in love with Georgia, even though he hurt her. He is also compassionate and generous and takes care of his mother.
However, something was lacking for me. The reason for their breakup didn’t seem like a good enough reason to break up for 11 years, and the characters, despite their good qualities, felt a bit flat in terms of character development. Even though I know Georgia and Rhodes are in love I didn’t feel their chemistry. Overall, this was a cute read but it wasn’t mind-blowing.
Thank you to Valentine PR for the eARC!
October 5, 2023
⭐️brothers best friend
⭐️second chance
⭐️small town
Rhodes is Georgia’s brother’s best friend. As a teen Georgia has the biggest crush on Rhodes, till he leaves. Rhodes comes back to town for Jake (Georgia’s brother) wedding. The tension between the 2 is THICCC! When Georgia needs a dance partner for her competition Jake asks Rhodes to step in to help his sister out. Healing, hurt and secrets come out. I love the “always been you” feelings!
“She’s everything to me. My sun, my moon, my stars, the air I breathe. She’s my entire world, and if she weren’t here, I wouldn’t want to be here either.”
Overall I enjoyed this book. At times it seemed slow, but it would pick up!
⭐️second chance
⭐️small town
Rhodes is Georgia’s brother’s best friend. As a teen Georgia has the biggest crush on Rhodes, till he leaves. Rhodes comes back to town for Jake (Georgia’s brother) wedding. The tension between the 2 is THICCC! When Georgia needs a dance partner for her competition Jake asks Rhodes to step in to help his sister out. Healing, hurt and secrets come out. I love the “always been you” feelings!
“She’s everything to me. My sun, my moon, my stars, the air I breathe. She’s my entire world, and if she weren’t here, I wouldn’t want to be here either.”
Overall I enjoyed this book. At times it seemed slow, but it would pick up!
October 5, 2023
4.5 ☆
Georgia and Rhodes had me curious from the start. Their aversion to each other in TLAOA had me intrigued.
Georgia is struggling to find herself after a bad relationship with a manipulative man. She’s back home and the last thing she needs is her brother’s best friend and her secret childhood first love being permanently back in town.
Rhodes Porter is putting down roots. He’s back in his small town in order to take care of his sick mother. With a permanent move back home comes the haunting of their past together and questions. Why did Rhodes leave? Why did her break the heart of the girl he claimed to love?
tropes:
— second chance
— small town
— brother’s best friend
— it’s always been you
— dual timeline
— dual pov
Jennifer Millikin has made a stan out of me.
This book made me ache for Georgia and Rhodes. The timeline going back and forth throughout gave just enough of a peek into their story and I loved it so much.
Georgia is strong, resilient and kind. She’s had so much loss throughout her life, my heart really felt for her. Then, we have Rhodes. Sweet, sweet Rhodes. His unwavering love for Georgia just tore me apart. His love for her was unconditional, sweet and ran so deep.
I wanted Georgia to just give in because Rhodes is so good, but I also loved the slow burn of it. The truth is a big one and I loved watching the build up of trust and forgiveness. They have the sweetest chemistry, a type of chemistry that never really dies.
I loved this so dang much and I cannot wait toread more from Jennifer Millikin. She’s definitely an auto-buy author for me!
Thank you to the author, Jennifer Millikin and Valentine PR for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgia and Rhodes had me curious from the start. Their aversion to each other in TLAOA had me intrigued.
Georgia is struggling to find herself after a bad relationship with a manipulative man. She’s back home and the last thing she needs is her brother’s best friend and her secret childhood first love being permanently back in town.
Rhodes Porter is putting down roots. He’s back in his small town in order to take care of his sick mother. With a permanent move back home comes the haunting of their past together and questions. Why did Rhodes leave? Why did her break the heart of the girl he claimed to love?
tropes:
— second chance
— small town
— brother’s best friend
— it’s always been you
— dual timeline
— dual pov
Jennifer Millikin has made a stan out of me.
This book made me ache for Georgia and Rhodes. The timeline going back and forth throughout gave just enough of a peek into their story and I loved it so much.
Georgia is strong, resilient and kind. She’s had so much loss throughout her life, my heart really felt for her. Then, we have Rhodes. Sweet, sweet Rhodes. His unwavering love for Georgia just tore me apart. His love for her was unconditional, sweet and ran so deep.
I wanted Georgia to just give in because Rhodes is so good, but I also loved the slow burn of it. The truth is a big one and I loved watching the build up of trust and forgiveness. They have the sweetest chemistry, a type of chemistry that never really dies.
I loved this so dang much and I cannot wait toread more from Jennifer Millikin. She’s definitely an auto-buy author for me!
Thank you to the author, Jennifer Millikin and Valentine PR for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2023
Georgia and Rhodes fell in love when he came to live in Green Haven. But their love was kept a secret, because he became her brother's best friend. And what's worse, he left her and Green Haven behind with no explanation, breaking her heart in the process.
Years later, he came back...
I love reading small town romances and Georgia's and Rhodes story was a second chance romance. That romance spiked my interest from the beginning. Georgia was still angry and hurt years later and his arrival only spiked her hatred. At least in the beginning. Their interactions at first were really heated and, as a reader, I can still see the deep love under all of those layers. I felt their pain and secret love for each other. They were really cute together and I was rooting for them every single time. The love between them... was everything.
There was one thing I felt that I didn't particularly like: With the one obstacle to their love being gone, I just wish that he hadn't waited for so long to tell her why he left years ago.
Overall, I liked the story.
***I received an ARC from Valentine PR and this is my voluntary review.***
Years later, he came back...
I love reading small town romances and Georgia's and Rhodes story was a second chance romance. That romance spiked my interest from the beginning. Georgia was still angry and hurt years later and his arrival only spiked her hatred. At least in the beginning. Their interactions at first were really heated and, as a reader, I can still see the deep love under all of those layers. I felt their pain and secret love for each other. They were really cute together and I was rooting for them every single time. The love between them... was everything.
There was one thing I felt that I didn't particularly like: With the one obstacle to their love being gone, I just wish that he hadn't waited for so long to tell her why he left years ago.
Overall, I liked the story.
***I received an ARC from Valentine PR and this is my voluntary review.***
June 2, 2024
Really good writing again. Loved the happy ending. It was really quite a roller coaster but I enjoyed it very much.
October 15, 2023
**ARC REVIEW**
"As long as our good days are better than most of our bad days, we'll make it."
Better Than Most was my first book by Jennifer Millikin and it was a very enjoyable read!!
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥
If you like these tropes, you will enjoy reading this book :)
🍑 Brother's Best Friend
🍑 Secrets
🍑 Second Chance
🍑 Dual Timeline
🍑 Forced Proximity
🍑 Small Town
This was such a sweet small town romance book!!
Georgia Whittier has been in love with Rhodes Porter for as long as she can remember and she decides not to pursue Rhodes at the beginning because he became her older brother's best friend.
The way they first met when they were younger was so funny with the dog!!
Georgia loves dancing with her dad but after he gets injured Rhodes ends up helping her. Dance can be very intimate and they couldn't fight their feelings for long.
They decide to keep their relationship secret for quite a bit but then just as they were about to come clean everything changes. In the end Rhodes leaves Georgia heartbroken for reasons she can't quite comprehend.
11 years later they are reunited and forced to spend time together when Georgia wants to compete in a dance competition and her dance partner gets injured.
I loved getting to know more about Georgia and Rhodes. Their love story was so beautiful and heartbreaking in parts. When they danced together though I could imagine in my head that it was electric! I loved learning all the dance terminologies while reading this book!!
I loved the nickname for her - Peach !!!!
This quote was my favorite!!!
"She's everything to me. My sun, my moon, my stars, the air I breathe. She's my entire world, and if she weren't here, I wouldn't want to be here either."
Overall, this book was lovely and cannot wait to read more from Jennifer!!
Thank you Jennifer & Valentine PR for kindly sending me this arc. This review is my own honest opinion on the book :)
"As long as our good days are better than most of our bad days, we'll make it."
Better Than Most was my first book by Jennifer Millikin and it was a very enjoyable read!!
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥
If you like these tropes, you will enjoy reading this book :)
🍑 Brother's Best Friend
🍑 Secrets
🍑 Second Chance
🍑 Dual Timeline
🍑 Forced Proximity
🍑 Small Town
This was such a sweet small town romance book!!
Georgia Whittier has been in love with Rhodes Porter for as long as she can remember and she decides not to pursue Rhodes at the beginning because he became her older brother's best friend.
The way they first met when they were younger was so funny with the dog!!
Georgia loves dancing with her dad but after he gets injured Rhodes ends up helping her. Dance can be very intimate and they couldn't fight their feelings for long.
They decide to keep their relationship secret for quite a bit but then just as they were about to come clean everything changes. In the end Rhodes leaves Georgia heartbroken for reasons she can't quite comprehend.
11 years later they are reunited and forced to spend time together when Georgia wants to compete in a dance competition and her dance partner gets injured.
I loved getting to know more about Georgia and Rhodes. Their love story was so beautiful and heartbreaking in parts. When they danced together though I could imagine in my head that it was electric! I loved learning all the dance terminologies while reading this book!!
I loved the nickname for her - Peach !!!!
This quote was my favorite!!!
"She's everything to me. My sun, my moon, my stars, the air I breathe. She's my entire world, and if she weren't here, I wouldn't want to be here either."
Overall, this book was lovely and cannot wait to read more from Jennifer!!
Thank you Jennifer & Valentine PR for kindly sending me this arc. This review is my own honest opinion on the book :)
October 11, 2023
Thank you Valentine PR & Jennifer Millikin for an eARC of Better Than Most!
another day, another new-to-me author’s story that I LOVED! I’m not sure if I’ve ever read brother’s best friend & second chance together.. but I’m here for it! with Georgia & Rhodes you get dual timelines & dual POV, which adds to the complexity of the tension, angst, & overall rollercoaster of emotions you get from them. there’s west coast dancing, past secrets that come to light, & some of the most quotable lines that’ll make your heart melt. how Georgia & Rhodes deal with the past in the present felt realistic to me & while I somewhat guessed the “twist” it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed their story!
if you’re a fan of..
💙small town romance
🍑brother’s best friend
💙second chance
🍑forced proximity
💙”it’s always been you” vibes
🍑secrets
💙dual timeline + dual POV
🍑spice 🌶️
..I highly recommend this book!
⚠️tw: addiction
another day, another new-to-me author’s story that I LOVED! I’m not sure if I’ve ever read brother’s best friend & second chance together.. but I’m here for it! with Georgia & Rhodes you get dual timelines & dual POV, which adds to the complexity of the tension, angst, & overall rollercoaster of emotions you get from them. there’s west coast dancing, past secrets that come to light, & some of the most quotable lines that’ll make your heart melt. how Georgia & Rhodes deal with the past in the present felt realistic to me & while I somewhat guessed the “twist” it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed their story!
if you’re a fan of..
💙small town romance
🍑brother’s best friend
💙second chance
🍑forced proximity
💙”it’s always been you” vibes
🍑secrets
💙dual timeline + dual POV
🍑spice 🌶️
..I highly recommend this book!
⚠️tw: addiction
October 5, 2023
4.25⭐
This book was so cute!! This is the sixth book by Jennifer Millikin I've read this year, and I'm so glad I discovered this author!
I enjoyed this one so much, I loved the secret relationship aspect of it, and I've been wanting to know more about Georgia and Rhodes since I met them in The Least Amount of Awful.
It has dual timeline and I feel like that's not one of my favourite things so I can't give it 5 stars, but overall it was really good. The couple was so cute and I loved seeing Colbie and Jake again! I just think I liked the first one better 💖
• brother's best friend
• second chance
• secrets
• dual timeline
• small town romance
• secret relationship
*Thank you so much Jennifer Millikin and Valentine PR for the Arc 🤍
This book was so cute!! This is the sixth book by Jennifer Millikin I've read this year, and I'm so glad I discovered this author!
I enjoyed this one so much, I loved the secret relationship aspect of it, and I've been wanting to know more about Georgia and Rhodes since I met them in The Least Amount of Awful.
It has dual timeline and I feel like that's not one of my favourite things so I can't give it 5 stars, but overall it was really good. The couple was so cute and I loved seeing Colbie and Jake again! I just think I liked the first one better 💖
• brother's best friend
• second chance
• secrets
• dual timeline
• small town romance
• secret relationship
*Thank you so much Jennifer Millikin and Valentine PR for the Arc 🤍
October 12, 2023
This was a sweet, low angst second chance romance. I won't lie when we find out the real reason he broke up with her before college, I was shocked. I did not see that twist coming. It broke my heart for not only Georgia but especially for Rhodes.
I loved how much Rhoded loved her and enjoyed how they started to be friends again and then more. Also, kutos for having Jake not be a total jerk when he found out. Honestly, that whole interaction was entertaining and made me want to read his book.
Anyways, this is a solid 4 stars for me.
I received an ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
I loved how much Rhoded loved her and enjoyed how they started to be friends again and then more. Also, kutos for having Jake not be a total jerk when he found out. Honestly, that whole interaction was entertaining and made me want to read his book.
Anyways, this is a solid 4 stars for me.
I received an ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
August 2, 2025
Better Than Most is a beautifully layered story about second chances, where love collides with fear, loyalty, and deep emotional scars. Georgia and Rhodes’ journey captures the raw vulnerability of young love interrupted by betrayal and time. As they navigate trust, regret, and the fear of losing everything they’ve rebuilt, the story highlights the silent struggles we often carry in family, friendship, and romance. With authentic characters and emotional depth, this book reminds us that healing is messy—but sometimes, love is worth the risk.
October 3, 2023
I was so deeply moved by Jennifer Millikin's Better Than Most. This is the romance for you if you've been looking for a small town, second chance, or brother's best friend romance. Georgia and Rhodes have an epic love that has been through a lot of heartbreak and moments of bliss over the years, and now is their shot at happily ever after. The secrets will put their relationship to the test since they both carry around emotional baggage. However, everything thrown at them can't stand a chance against their love since it is so stunning and pure. This was my first book by Jennifer and I’m absolutely in love her writing style. With the way she writes, she makes me grin, breaks my heart, and fills my heart with warm, cozy feelings.
After a disastrous relationship with a moron of a man, Georgia has returned to the little town where she was raised. The last thing she wants to do is run into her long-lost first love, Rhodes Porter. However, he is also back in town to care for his mother who is sick. Between Gerogia and Rhodes, there is a lot of regret and sad feelings. The timeline of this story shifts back and forth in time. This style of writing is one of my favorites, and I adore when I first meet the characters, get to watch how their love grows, follow their past mistakes and heartbreak, and then get to see what their present is like and how far along they have come. Georgia is an angel who has lost too much in her life, but she still perseveres. I admire her fortitude, kindness for others, and capacity to love unconditionally. Rhodes' love for Georgia was profound and beautiful. It is still crystal evident that Georgia is still extremely important to Rhodes despite their many years of separation.
Now that Rhodes returned, he must regain Georgia's forgiveness and trust after abandoning her without reason. He needs to explain to her why he left and why he crushed her heart. The chemistry between Rhodes and Georgia is unmatched, and the slow burn that developed throughout the dancing sessions was absolutely smoldering.
I will recommend this book if you are a sucker for brothers’ best friend, slow burn and second chance romance.
I was given an ARC by Valentine PR, and this is my honest review.
After a disastrous relationship with a moron of a man, Georgia has returned to the little town where she was raised. The last thing she wants to do is run into her long-lost first love, Rhodes Porter. However, he is also back in town to care for his mother who is sick. Between Gerogia and Rhodes, there is a lot of regret and sad feelings. The timeline of this story shifts back and forth in time. This style of writing is one of my favorites, and I adore when I first meet the characters, get to watch how their love grows, follow their past mistakes and heartbreak, and then get to see what their present is like and how far along they have come. Georgia is an angel who has lost too much in her life, but she still perseveres. I admire her fortitude, kindness for others, and capacity to love unconditionally. Rhodes' love for Georgia was profound and beautiful. It is still crystal evident that Georgia is still extremely important to Rhodes despite their many years of separation.
Now that Rhodes returned, he must regain Georgia's forgiveness and trust after abandoning her without reason. He needs to explain to her why he left and why he crushed her heart. The chemistry between Rhodes and Georgia is unmatched, and the slow burn that developed throughout the dancing sessions was absolutely smoldering.
I will recommend this book if you are a sucker for brothers’ best friend, slow burn and second chance romance.
I was given an ARC by Valentine PR, and this is my honest review.
October 4, 2023
Georgia and Rhodes had a secret relationship back in high school. But, Rhodes abruptly ends things and uses the excuse that they can’t hold each other back. After being let down by every man she’s trusted in the last 10 years Rhodes is back. Is this their second chance? Such a cute dance story line to go along with it!
Second chance romance, brother’s best friend. Check trigger warnings.
Second chance romance, brother’s best friend. Check trigger warnings.
September 26, 2023
Y’all I don’t even know what to say!! This was the perfect light/fluffy romance to read after my recent reads in darker romances. I fell in love with Rhodes and Georgia from the very beginning.
I love the dual timeline of this book and getting to see things from eleven years ago. The love these two have for each other is bigger than life, and it never faded even if they acted like it did.
Brothers best friend romances are my favorite and this did not disappoint. I love Jake and his reaction to finding out about them was my favorite. There are some touch her and die vibes from Rhodes and I love how protective and possessive he is of Georgia.
Also him calling her peach is my favorite thing ever🥹🍑 I will forever think about these two🫶🏼
I love the dual timeline of this book and getting to see things from eleven years ago. The love these two have for each other is bigger than life, and it never faded even if they acted like it did.
Brothers best friend romances are my favorite and this did not disappoint. I love Jake and his reaction to finding out about them was my favorite. There are some touch her and die vibes from Rhodes and I love how protective and possessive he is of Georgia.
Also him calling her peach is my favorite thing ever🥹🍑 I will forever think about these two🫶🏼
September 30, 2023
Jennifer Millikin writes such great characters. I loved this book. 2nd chance, brothers best friend at its best. So much going on, the mixing of past and present unfolding all parts of the story. When I thought I knew the whole story, there was a bomb dropped that turned the story. I appreciated how they worked out the aftermath of it. Also, it was a nice surprise to have Hayden Ranch crossovers.
October 11, 2023
This was such a nice story. Rhodes and Georgia have been friends and neighbours since they were younger and had a relationship which was kept a secret especially as Rhodes was Georgia's brothers best friend. Rhodes breaks Georgia's heart and they part ways. Fast forward years later and both are back in their hometown living as neighbours. Rhodes was such a sweetheart all he wanted to do was take care of the people he loves and the evidence of that comes to light the further into the book. I loved him even more as the story unfolded. Georgia definitely had her guard up. She was quite prickly to start with. I really enjoyed the story with the dancing element. I enjoyed the dual timeline as we learn alot about past events which explained alot. This book had lots of great characters and a few twist that I wasn't expecting. It was a very enjoyable read.
October 16, 2023
So very cute! Spice was good, chemistry was red hot. I loved that dancing is what brought Rhodes and Georgia together, and their meet cute was everything. Really fun read. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 22, 2024
I’ve read several books by this author now. The couple was cute with great chemistry. The humor fell a little flat when I’m use to cracking up with her characters. The weird little Yeti story at the end was odd. Now sure if that’s leading up to another book or not. So we shall see.
I do love the fact she threw the Hayden’s in because I love them!
Overall, I like the story but it’s not my favorite by her.
I do love the fact she threw the Hayden’s in because I love them!
Overall, I like the story but it’s not my favorite by her.
October 10, 2023
Hmm I really liked the beginning of this but the ending lost me. I feel like Georgia gave in easily to Rhodes after acting like nothing he said could make things better? Idk at least I was able to finish it 😂
April 18, 2024
Small town/second chance romance/brother’s best friend.
I really enjoyed most of this book, but there was a point where I felt like it was really rushed and I was kind of taken back for a few chapters.
I really enjoyed most of this book, but there was a point where I felt like it was really rushed and I was kind of taken back for a few chapters.
September 26, 2023
loved this book! absolutely devoured it!! I need more Rhoads!!
October 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. It’s a light and small town second chance romance. One of my favorite parts was the connection between the past and the present for the couple.
As always, conflict is pretty big for me, and while I do understand it, I feel like a conversation would have fixed it, but this is completely personal preference.
As always, conflict is pretty big for me, and while I do understand it, I feel like a conversation would have fixed it, but this is completely personal preference.
October 20, 2023
ARC REVIEW 🌙
Release Date 5th October
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Read this book if you like:
🥀Second Chances
🖤 Brother’s Best Friend
🥀 Childhood Friends
🖤Neighbour
🥀A Lot of Dancing
🖤 Spitfire FMC
Georgia’s hear was broken by Rhodes years ago when she thought he would make her his world but now he is back tor good and she will do anything to protect her heart.
This book is such a treat to read, the banter, the angst, the grovelling, a lot of pain during certain part of the books🥹
I can’t say much about the book without spoiling the book, but yes Rhodes is an amazing human and a wonderful son 😩
Georgia was on certain parts of the book a tad bit annoying but that was how her character was created.
Third Act Breakup was what changed the entire axis of the book and also a big character development arc for Georgia ✨
Release Date 5th October
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Read this book if you like:
🥀Second Chances
🖤 Brother’s Best Friend
🥀 Childhood Friends
🖤Neighbour
🥀A Lot of Dancing
🖤 Spitfire FMC
Georgia’s hear was broken by Rhodes years ago when she thought he would make her his world but now he is back tor good and she will do anything to protect her heart.
This book is such a treat to read, the banter, the angst, the grovelling, a lot of pain during certain part of the books🥹
I can’t say much about the book without spoiling the book, but yes Rhodes is an amazing human and a wonderful son 😩
Georgia was on certain parts of the book a tad bit annoying but that was how her character was created.
Third Act Breakup was what changed the entire axis of the book and also a big character development arc for Georgia ✨
July 19, 2024
• second chance
• brother’s best friend
• small town
• dual pov
• dual timeline
I really loved the flashbacks of Rhode and Georgia’s past relationship. You can feel how in love with each other they are even being so young. When Rhode’s takes the place of her former partner, I feel it brings back all of those memories and reminds them of how good they were together.
Rhode’s is one of the ultimate swoon-worthy book boyfriends. He so genuinely kind and just wants Georgia to be happy.
I love the writing style and plot. It was a very easy, entertaining read for me and I enjoyed every second.
• brother’s best friend
• small town
• dual pov
• dual timeline
I really loved the flashbacks of Rhode and Georgia’s past relationship. You can feel how in love with each other they are even being so young. When Rhode’s takes the place of her former partner, I feel it brings back all of those memories and reminds them of how good they were together.
Rhode’s is one of the ultimate swoon-worthy book boyfriends. He so genuinely kind and just wants Georgia to be happy.
I love the writing style and plot. It was a very easy, entertaining read for me and I enjoyed every second.
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