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The Best Thing I Never Had
The Best Thing I Never Had
‘So much more than a love story, more of a life story.’
If you fell in love with Mhairi McFarlane’s You Had Me at Hello and David Nicholls’ One Day, then this book is for YOU.
Beware false friends and the smiles of certain boys…
If you fell in love with Mhairi McFarlane’s You Had Me at Hello and David Nicholls’ One Day, then this book is for YOU.
Beware false friends and the smiles of certain boys…
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2013
83 people are currently reading
3232 people want to read
About the author
Erin Lawless
15 books331 followersErin Lawless would probably love to be your Goodreads friend.
Although she's predominantly on here with her reader hat on, she's published a book of short stories and flash fiction - The Last Train Home & Other Stories - and two bestselling British contemporary romances for HarperCollins' award-winning romance imprint Harper Impulse, The Best Thing I Never Had and Somewhere Only We Know .
Her most recent release, The One With All The Bridesmaids , follows one bride and her four bridesmaids from proposal to altar - and according to one review is like the film Bridesmaids, but funnier..!
Outside of Goodreads (and the third person) she blogs about dreadfully interesting things at www.erinlawless.co.uk and chats rubbish / spams pictures of her baby on Twitter and Instagram as @rinylou.
Although she's predominantly on here with her reader hat on, she's published a book of short stories and flash fiction - The Last Train Home & Other Stories - and two bestselling British contemporary romances for HarperCollins' award-winning romance imprint Harper Impulse, The Best Thing I Never Had and Somewhere Only We Know .
Her most recent release, The One With All The Bridesmaids , follows one bride and her four bridesmaids from proposal to altar - and according to one review is like the film Bridesmaids, but funnier..!
Outside of Goodreads (and the third person) she blogs about dreadfully interesting things at www.erinlawless.co.uk and chats rubbish / spams pictures of her baby on Twitter and Instagram as @rinylou.
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January 23, 2013This is my debut novel and in the interests of fairness I won't be giving it a star rating! :)
Find out more about the book here on my website, including full character biographies and "deleted scenes"!
Find out more about the book here on my website, including full character biographies and "deleted scenes"!
December 12, 2022
A touching story about friendship (especially female) and finding love in unexpected places.
Erin Lawless weaves in and out of friendships, memories and infatuations, and admirably avoids using the always-perfect best friend cliché. Instead, her characters are real and flawed and passionate...and you find yourself thinking about them long after you've turned the last page.
I loved this story! I loved the way 'he' loved 'her', and the way 'her' love affected 'him'.
Lawless' ability to give each character a unique 'voice' was refreshing. So often in debut novels the parents sound the same, or the best mates dialogue is interchangeable, but not in this book. The dialogue only hinted at motivations and actions tended to say so much more than tedious descriptions ever could.
I loved this book and can't wait to read more by this author!
Erin Lawless weaves in and out of friendships, memories and infatuations, and admirably avoids using the always-perfect best friend cliché. Instead, her characters are real and flawed and passionate...and you find yourself thinking about them long after you've turned the last page.
I loved this story! I loved the way 'he' loved 'her', and the way 'her' love affected 'him'.
Lawless' ability to give each character a unique 'voice' was refreshing. So often in debut novels the parents sound the same, or the best mates dialogue is interchangeable, but not in this book. The dialogue only hinted at motivations and actions tended to say so much more than tedious descriptions ever could.
I loved this book and can't wait to read more by this author!
January 25, 2013
WOW! What a wonderful debut! I truly loved this story. It was told as seen through the eyes of these 7 individuals. At first I thought it was a little hard to keep track of whom was whom and when was what. But the more I read, the clearer things became and the more engrossed in the story I became.
It was such a great story full of little white lies. I like that in the end all was revealed and things became crystal clear. How friends can be an awesome thing but how they can also hinder relationships and one's decisions. In the end, the book is about second chances and moving on from painful situations.
What a wonderful story. Wishing you much success! Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of being one of those lucky ones to get to read an advanced copy of your wonderful story.
It was such a great story full of little white lies. I like that in the end all was revealed and things became crystal clear. How friends can be an awesome thing but how they can also hinder relationships and one's decisions. In the end, the book is about second chances and moving on from painful situations.
What a wonderful story. Wishing you much success! Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of being one of those lucky ones to get to read an advanced copy of your wonderful story.
September 22, 2014
LOVED this book. Could not put it down and when I did, I kept thinking about it. So much more than chick lit. About friendship and when it crosses the line to romance. Jealousy, bitterness, fears, regret. It had it all. Highly recommend.
August 23, 2017
My fifth book of my holiday reads.
This a book mainly based on the main character and her friends whilst at uni. It's very much a story of friendships and relationships.
I have to admit none of the female characters really grabbed me. I found them ok but at times they grated on me. I really liked Adam and to be honest if anything it's the males in the book that get the harder side of the brush which was a change but as a female, I'm not to sure I like the tables being turned.
Whilst not blowing me away, this is still a decent read that grows on you the further into it you get.
This a book mainly based on the main character and her friends whilst at uni. It's very much a story of friendships and relationships.
I have to admit none of the female characters really grabbed me. I found them ok but at times they grated on me. I really liked Adam and to be honest if anything it's the males in the book that get the harder side of the brush which was a change but as a female, I'm not to sure I like the tables being turned.
Whilst not blowing me away, this is still a decent read that grows on you the further into it you get.
December 11, 2013
I have read that this book would be great for fans of Mhairi McFarlane or David Nicholls. As I hadn't read the last and couldn't finish "You Had Me at Hello" of the first I have started reading "The Best Thing I Never Had" with mixed feelings but with great anticipation.
I couldn't get the feeling of the book at the beginning. It started with a short glimpse into the lives of the characters in the present and then moved back into 2006, into university years of all the main characters. And there were some of them but they are really sharp and good written, so no confusion here, I have immediately know who is who. But it doesn't mean that I warmed to them.
There are seven of them: Nicky and Miles. Nicky was like a lamb for me, not having her own mind, letting other decide for her and putting her own life and feelings away only to make other people happy. And here comes Miles, who was - in my opinion - thinking only about himself. It had taken too long for him to realise that Nicky can also have dreams.
Johnny. Sweet and naive Johnny, I was so, so happy when he finally realised that he should stop dreaming about this one girl who is really not suitable for him. And was so glad it was not too late for me. And I would LOVE to see one of his dance routines, oh yes, I would.
Suki. Not my favourite person. She was sharp, not afraid of telling her own mind and I know that she was a normal girl, with her dreams and her feeling that she owes something to her family after her mother died, but nevertheless, I couldn't warm to her, she was too cold for my liking.
Leigha. Sorry, absolute no - go. I disliked her, and I can't say that I often feel like this towards any of the characters. She was spoiled, felt that everybody owes her something and behaving like she was the centre of the world. A total hypocrite, I really didn't like her from the very first mention of her and my feelings haven't changed till the end of the book. Still can't understand what gave her the feeling that she's allowed to treat people in the way she did.
And last but not least, Harriet and Adam, the only characters in the book that I can say that I liked. didn't understand why Harriet felt all the time guilty about the relationship although she has found herself in the typical situation, between two sides, between best friend and a boyfriend, a situation that I wouldn't like to find myself in. On the other hand, why is this always girls/women that feel they must stay loyal to the girlfriend, men doesn't feel such indecisions.
I really felt for Harriet as I really didn't understand who gave the rest of the girls to judge who is right and who's not, to take sides, to behave like this and destroy other people's lives, just like this.
As you can see, this book hasn't left me without emotions. Yes, I have felt for the characters, I have liked them or disliked them, I have kept my fingers crossed for them or wanted to slap them hard or shake them. I wanted them to fight for themselves and to not give up. This book hasn't left me neutral, indifferent.
I must say that I actually more enjoyed the part in 2012, when all the friends met again. Their university time, although interesting, gripping, dramatic, enthralling didn't fascinate me so much and was shadowed by the girls' behaviour. It was also written in a specific, perhaps not my favourite way, when we get glimpses into situations, they changed in a flashback. It would be a brilliant film script, for sure, and I'd go to see the film with pleasure.
Altogether, it was a brilliant read. Really brilliant. Full of emotions and reality: there is something that every one can relate to. The situations are very likeable and for sure we know or we've heard about such things happening. There is lot of drama, a lot of emotions and everything written in a flowing, gripping way. It was a one great debut novel by Erin Lawless and I will be looking for her in the future.
I received a copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.
I couldn't get the feeling of the book at the beginning. It started with a short glimpse into the lives of the characters in the present and then moved back into 2006, into university years of all the main characters. And there were some of them but they are really sharp and good written, so no confusion here, I have immediately know who is who. But it doesn't mean that I warmed to them.
There are seven of them: Nicky and Miles. Nicky was like a lamb for me, not having her own mind, letting other decide for her and putting her own life and feelings away only to make other people happy. And here comes Miles, who was - in my opinion - thinking only about himself. It had taken too long for him to realise that Nicky can also have dreams.
Johnny. Sweet and naive Johnny, I was so, so happy when he finally realised that he should stop dreaming about this one girl who is really not suitable for him. And was so glad it was not too late for me. And I would LOVE to see one of his dance routines, oh yes, I would.
Suki. Not my favourite person. She was sharp, not afraid of telling her own mind and I know that she was a normal girl, with her dreams and her feeling that she owes something to her family after her mother died, but nevertheless, I couldn't warm to her, she was too cold for my liking.
Leigha. Sorry, absolute no - go. I disliked her, and I can't say that I often feel like this towards any of the characters. She was spoiled, felt that everybody owes her something and behaving like she was the centre of the world. A total hypocrite, I really didn't like her from the very first mention of her and my feelings haven't changed till the end of the book. Still can't understand what gave her the feeling that she's allowed to treat people in the way she did.
And last but not least, Harriet and Adam, the only characters in the book that I can say that I liked. didn't understand why Harriet felt all the time guilty about the relationship although she has found herself in the typical situation, between two sides, between best friend and a boyfriend, a situation that I wouldn't like to find myself in. On the other hand, why is this always girls/women that feel they must stay loyal to the girlfriend, men doesn't feel such indecisions.
I really felt for Harriet as I really didn't understand who gave the rest of the girls to judge who is right and who's not, to take sides, to behave like this and destroy other people's lives, just like this.
As you can see, this book hasn't left me without emotions. Yes, I have felt for the characters, I have liked them or disliked them, I have kept my fingers crossed for them or wanted to slap them hard or shake them. I wanted them to fight for themselves and to not give up. This book hasn't left me neutral, indifferent.
I must say that I actually more enjoyed the part in 2012, when all the friends met again. Their university time, although interesting, gripping, dramatic, enthralling didn't fascinate me so much and was shadowed by the girls' behaviour. It was also written in a specific, perhaps not my favourite way, when we get glimpses into situations, they changed in a flashback. It would be a brilliant film script, for sure, and I'd go to see the film with pleasure.
Altogether, it was a brilliant read. Really brilliant. Full of emotions and reality: there is something that every one can relate to. The situations are very likeable and for sure we know or we've heard about such things happening. There is lot of drama, a lot of emotions and everything written in a flowing, gripping way. It was a one great debut novel by Erin Lawless and I will be looking for her in the future.
I received a copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.
April 3, 2014
New favourite author alert! :)
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Harper Impulse!*
Ohhhhh this book! I have SO MANY FEELS. I wasn't prepared for what this book did to me, I really wasn't. I'm not a big Contemporary reader but there was something about this book that grabbed onto me. I had to get myself a copy and I am so glad that I did (thank you, Amy!) The Best Thing I Never Had was made all the better by the fact that I haven't long graduated university. All of the events and behaviours which unfold are all so, so familiar and I found myself feeling incredibly nostalgic. I felt like I could related to every single one of the characters in different ways - there are not many books which are capable of doing that! Usually there's a character that you can easily distance yourself from, but this was definitely not the case with this one.
“Johnny appeared out of nowhere to save the day, reaching clumsily over Harriet’s head to punch the correct answer on the touch screen with just milliseconds to spare. Sukie exhaled in relief; she took her quiz machine investments very seriously; after all, £2 could be a small fortune to a student the wrong side of Reading Week.”
This book is packed to the brim with emotion and such real friendships. The ups and downs are portrayed beautifully, as are the after effects of falling in love with someone that you really shouldn't have. I felt so supportive of Harriet and constantly annoyed by Leigha. The seven characters are easy to picture; it's likely that we all have similar friends to those that are in this book. This just made the novel even better. It's hard to believe that this book is a debut! The events are so realistic and the portrayal of student life is perfect. The mess of emotions, the stress, the friendships that you think will last forever. Everything is so completely spot on. Harriet and Adam are English students, my kind of people! What was so nice was that you could imagine yourself fitting in with this group of friends; this mash of personalities that just work together. The silly routines that they kept were so familiar and so completely serious. It definitely drags up a lot of nostalgia.
“Yeah, but – its board game night, ‘The Game of Life’…” Harriet said, stupid with her share of the two jugs of Snakebite they’d imbibed already.
“Fuck ‘The Game of Life’,” Adam replied, with great delight, refilling their pint glasses with a clumsy slosh from the pitcher. “I always get the shit jobs anyway.”
The thing I loved was that this book projects so many moral questions. Would you go for someone that your best friend has crushed on for the longest time? If it happened to you, would you be able to then support your friend in that relationship? The way that the friendship transforms over a few revelations is shocking. It shows how brittle things can be. It's amazing how people that love each other so much can then project so much hatred at that person. The Best Thing I Never Had is so, so relatable. Everything that unfolds is something that we will have all been through at some point in our lives. I really cannot recommend this book enough. If you're not a big Contemporary reader, get your paws on this! It's definitely changed my mind.
If anyone can recommend me books similar to this one, I'm all ears! A fantastic, relatable, realistic and gripping read; I've definitely found myself a new favourite author!
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Harper Impulse!*
Ohhhhh this book! I have SO MANY FEELS. I wasn't prepared for what this book did to me, I really wasn't. I'm not a big Contemporary reader but there was something about this book that grabbed onto me. I had to get myself a copy and I am so glad that I did (thank you, Amy!) The Best Thing I Never Had was made all the better by the fact that I haven't long graduated university. All of the events and behaviours which unfold are all so, so familiar and I found myself feeling incredibly nostalgic. I felt like I could related to every single one of the characters in different ways - there are not many books which are capable of doing that! Usually there's a character that you can easily distance yourself from, but this was definitely not the case with this one.
“Johnny appeared out of nowhere to save the day, reaching clumsily over Harriet’s head to punch the correct answer on the touch screen with just milliseconds to spare. Sukie exhaled in relief; she took her quiz machine investments very seriously; after all, £2 could be a small fortune to a student the wrong side of Reading Week.”
This book is packed to the brim with emotion and such real friendships. The ups and downs are portrayed beautifully, as are the after effects of falling in love with someone that you really shouldn't have. I felt so supportive of Harriet and constantly annoyed by Leigha. The seven characters are easy to picture; it's likely that we all have similar friends to those that are in this book. This just made the novel even better. It's hard to believe that this book is a debut! The events are so realistic and the portrayal of student life is perfect. The mess of emotions, the stress, the friendships that you think will last forever. Everything is so completely spot on. Harriet and Adam are English students, my kind of people! What was so nice was that you could imagine yourself fitting in with this group of friends; this mash of personalities that just work together. The silly routines that they kept were so familiar and so completely serious. It definitely drags up a lot of nostalgia.
“Yeah, but – its board game night, ‘The Game of Life’…” Harriet said, stupid with her share of the two jugs of Snakebite they’d imbibed already.
“Fuck ‘The Game of Life’,” Adam replied, with great delight, refilling their pint glasses with a clumsy slosh from the pitcher. “I always get the shit jobs anyway.”
The thing I loved was that this book projects so many moral questions. Would you go for someone that your best friend has crushed on for the longest time? If it happened to you, would you be able to then support your friend in that relationship? The way that the friendship transforms over a few revelations is shocking. It shows how brittle things can be. It's amazing how people that love each other so much can then project so much hatred at that person. The Best Thing I Never Had is so, so relatable. Everything that unfolds is something that we will have all been through at some point in our lives. I really cannot recommend this book enough. If you're not a big Contemporary reader, get your paws on this! It's definitely changed my mind.
If anyone can recommend me books similar to this one, I'm all ears! A fantastic, relatable, realistic and gripping read; I've definitely found myself a new favourite author!
December 28, 2014
2 Stars for Adam and Nicky ;)
'Little white lies'/'The Best thing I never had' revolves around seven friends from the year 2006 to 2012(although there were some scenes from 2005 as well).
The book is written in third person and we get to read from all the seven character's perspective but most of the book is concentrated on Harriet's perspective.
The book started off in present day 2012 and then jumped to and fro from 2006 to 2012 with changing perspectives. The beginning nearly drove me crazy as the author introduced all the seven characters at once without any indication as to who's perspective we were reading from.
The point of views would change so rapidly that I would had no idea who the author was talking about. After a few chapters, I started debating on whether I should give up because the author's writing was frustrating me.
Even though I really wanted to stop, I forced myself to kept reading because the reviews claimed that it got better and it did. The varying perspectives stopped after a while and we read everything mostly from Harriet's perspective.
Even though I enjoyed the book, I cannot say I liked it. The drama was kind of entertaining but I barely liked anyone in the book except for Adam and Nicky. Everyone else were always doing something to piss me off.
The writing style also annoyed me. I hardly like third person narration. Add 7 shifting perspectives to that and you've got a pudgy mess.
The Main Characters
***Contains Spoilers***
Leigha - The Whore/Bitch
I cannot emphasize on how much I HATE HER. She is the fakest and the most attention seeking spoilt bitch ever. How could they even call her their 'friend'? She mistreated the people who really cared about her(Johnny), forced herself on people who didn't(Adam and Seth), lied and hurt those who got what she wanted(Harriet).
I get it. I get that Harriet hurt her. I get that Harriet got what Leigha always wanted but what Leigha did was way worse than what Harriet unintentionally did. Leigha's actions were unforgivable and selfish. She was so self-absorbed to see what was going on right under her nose. A real friend would've seen how Harriet felt about Adam without having to tell them. A real friend would also not keep two lovers apart.
Harriet - The Coward
The first word that comes to my mind whenever I think about her is Coward. She never stood up for herself and never fought for what was hers. She let Leigha and Suki bully her without questioning their rights to do so. She basically let them ruin her life.
She moved timidly like a mouse afraid of a cat in her own house! If that doesn't scream coward then I don't know what does.
Harriet was wrong on other levels too. I hate the fact that she hid her relationship with Adam from her friends. If only she had told her friends that she liked Adam before letting things get so far, none of that drama would've escalated.
She let the bad things get to her and pushed away the only good thing in her life-Adam.
Adam - The Perfect One
Adam is probably the only character in the whole book I have no complaints about. He was perfect, sweet and very likeable. He had a great heart and he always wanted to do the right thing and be a better person. He treated Harriet like a Queen.
He was also very romantic and sweet! I like the way he never cared about what others would think if they found out about him and Harriet. He loved Harriet and that was all that mattered to him.
I really liked Adam more than anyone else in the entire book.
Johnny - The Stupid One
Johnny was the definition of stupid. He felt his movements were awkward and stupid. Even the others felt the same. Every movement and every word that came out of his mouth was awkward, stupid and insecure.
I seriously had no hope for him. Leigha, Leigha, Leigha. That was all he saw or thought about. It really pissed me off. I thought he would never recover from the "Leigha Disease" but he cam to his senses towards the end. He became confident and started seeing Leigha for who she really was - A bitch. I'm very glad he finally opened his eyes.
Suki - The Fickle One
I had liked Suki at first. I'm putting emphasis on the word 'had' because she turned out to be a bitch later on. When she had covered for Harriet and Adam, I thought "Oh, what a nice friend." But when she later found out they were seeing each other, her reaction completely shocked me. I thought she would calm Leigha and help Harriet out but she did the unimaginable. She sided with Leigha. I had really thought that she would be the one to bring them both together. I wasn't expecting that. She turned out to be completely fake and fickle.
Nicky - The Selfless One
Nicky was very sweet and cute. I felt that she was a bit boring at times but that didn't change the fact that she was very selfless and kind. Very Disney Princessish but in a good way. I'm very glad she married her knight in shining armor :) I also liked the fact that she didn't judge or bitch about Harriet. She stayed with her instead of abandoning her like her other friends did. A true friend indeed.
Miles-The Selfish One
I have to admit that Miles grew on me. He didn't leave a good impression on me at first. Not agreeing to go to France with Nicky irked me. I mean, that felt like a very selfish thing to do when Nicky was ready to sacrifice going to France just to be with him. But, he proved to be a better man later on and I'm very glad about it.
'Little white lies'/'The Best thing I never had' revolves around seven friends from the year 2006 to 2012(although there were some scenes from 2005 as well).
The book is written in third person and we get to read from all the seven character's perspective but most of the book is concentrated on Harriet's perspective.
The book started off in present day 2012 and then jumped to and fro from 2006 to 2012 with changing perspectives. The beginning nearly drove me crazy as the author introduced all the seven characters at once without any indication as to who's perspective we were reading from.
The point of views would change so rapidly that I would had no idea who the author was talking about. After a few chapters, I started debating on whether I should give up because the author's writing was frustrating me.
Even though I really wanted to stop, I forced myself to kept reading because the reviews claimed that it got better and it did. The varying perspectives stopped after a while and we read everything mostly from Harriet's perspective.
Even though I enjoyed the book, I cannot say I liked it. The drama was kind of entertaining but I barely liked anyone in the book except for Adam and Nicky. Everyone else were always doing something to piss me off.
The writing style also annoyed me. I hardly like third person narration. Add 7 shifting perspectives to that and you've got a pudgy mess.
The Main Characters
***Contains Spoilers***
Leigha - The Whore/Bitch
I cannot emphasize on how much I HATE HER. She is the fakest and the most attention seeking spoilt bitch ever. How could they even call her their 'friend'? She mistreated the people who really cared about her(Johnny), forced herself on people who didn't(Adam and Seth), lied and hurt those who got what she wanted(Harriet).
I get it. I get that Harriet hurt her. I get that Harriet got what Leigha always wanted but what Leigha did was way worse than what Harriet unintentionally did. Leigha's actions were unforgivable and selfish. She was so self-absorbed to see what was going on right under her nose. A real friend would've seen how Harriet felt about Adam without having to tell them. A real friend would also not keep two lovers apart.
Harriet - The Coward
The first word that comes to my mind whenever I think about her is Coward. She never stood up for herself and never fought for what was hers. She let Leigha and Suki bully her without questioning their rights to do so. She basically let them ruin her life.
She moved timidly like a mouse afraid of a cat in her own house! If that doesn't scream coward then I don't know what does.
Harriet was wrong on other levels too. I hate the fact that she hid her relationship with Adam from her friends. If only she had told her friends that she liked Adam before letting things get so far, none of that drama would've escalated.
She let the bad things get to her and pushed away the only good thing in her life-Adam.
Adam - The Perfect One
Adam is probably the only character in the whole book I have no complaints about. He was perfect, sweet and very likeable. He had a great heart and he always wanted to do the right thing and be a better person. He treated Harriet like a Queen.
He was also very romantic and sweet! I like the way he never cared about what others would think if they found out about him and Harriet. He loved Harriet and that was all that mattered to him.
I really liked Adam more than anyone else in the entire book.
Johnny - The Stupid One
Johnny was the definition of stupid. He felt his movements were awkward and stupid. Even the others felt the same. Every movement and every word that came out of his mouth was awkward, stupid and insecure.
I seriously had no hope for him. Leigha, Leigha, Leigha. That was all he saw or thought about. It really pissed me off. I thought he would never recover from the "Leigha Disease" but he cam to his senses towards the end. He became confident and started seeing Leigha for who she really was - A bitch. I'm very glad he finally opened his eyes.
Suki - The Fickle One
I had liked Suki at first. I'm putting emphasis on the word 'had' because she turned out to be a bitch later on. When she had covered for Harriet and Adam, I thought "Oh, what a nice friend." But when she later found out they were seeing each other, her reaction completely shocked me. I thought she would calm Leigha and help Harriet out but she did the unimaginable. She sided with Leigha. I had really thought that she would be the one to bring them both together. I wasn't expecting that. She turned out to be completely fake and fickle.
Nicky - The Selfless One
Nicky was very sweet and cute. I felt that she was a bit boring at times but that didn't change the fact that she was very selfless and kind. Very Disney Princessish but in a good way. I'm very glad she married her knight in shining armor :) I also liked the fact that she didn't judge or bitch about Harriet. She stayed with her instead of abandoning her like her other friends did. A true friend indeed.
Miles-The Selfish One
I have to admit that Miles grew on me. He didn't leave a good impression on me at first. Not agreeing to go to France with Nicky irked me. I mean, that felt like a very selfish thing to do when Nicky was ready to sacrifice going to France just to be with him. But, he proved to be a better man later on and I'm very glad about it.
January 3, 2014
From the first few pages, I was drawn into the world of this book. There's a brief prologue, then the reader is swept back into the past. The highly charged and uber-emotional culture of fledgling adults with one foot in the door of adulthood was compelling to me.
The Best Thing I Never Had features a "gang" of friends at university, tightly knit as a group but struggling to find individual identities. Most of the characters rely heavily on the safety of the home base, and face highly ambivalent feelings as they push out of the comfort zone of the group's approval. This set-up allows the author to draw the players well. As in a comedy of manners, they are bound by their culture but have their own motivations.
Before I comment on the plot, let me say that I was initially wary as multiple characters were introduced. I've recently had the experience of finishing a few books after which I couldn't delineate one character from another, or remember their names, or characteristics. Not so with this book, which to me is a triumph on the part of a debut author. I can recall physical traits, flaws, and backgrounds about the guys who room together in the boys' house and the girls who room together in the girls' house, down to what they drink and what they study.
As a woman who lived through this phase of life, I found the friendships of the girls (women, really, but barely) the most poignant. The central focus of all the emotion is the bond between Harriet and Leigha, best friends with wildly different styles who compete for the same guy. Each wants what she wants, each wants to retain the love of the other, and each is resolute in the feeling that she is right and morally justified in her actions and judgements. This makes for rich story fodder as the surrounding characters align and take sides, and hold the two accountable from the up-close sidelines. This is no simplistic YA or Chick Lit book. I even hesitate to categorize it as Women's Fiction or Romance. It's just fiction and good fiction at that.
Surrounding Harriet and Leigha are Nicky and Miles. They are the "adult" couple; Miles is slightly older than the rest, and has his eye on the prize of earning a PhD and having a real job. Nicky, his girlfriend, is a peacemaker. She doesn't like to rock the boat or see it rocked. Johnny is a simple, sweet, lovestruck lad who falls for Leigha's practiced charm. While I wanted to shake him and tell him to move on, I also pitied him. One's late teens and early twenties are a time for foolish love, and advising someone that he or she could do better is a useless pursuit. He finds his feet, but after considerable heartache. Next up: Sukie. She's sharp and no-nonsense with a strong tie to her family. She faces her own troubles, but I blame her because her alliance with one of the key girls heightens the tension and bad feelings in the group. She seems grounded, but she goes for the drama — like many young women of this age do without realizing the impact of their words and actions. Adam is the object of the main girls attention. He softens as the story progresses, and I remember the appeal of that type of casual and confident young man. Still, he is as laddish as they come, and doesn't think through the consequences of his choices.
Reading the first section of this book was like living it, and I felt all of the push and pull right along with the characters. I experienced all of it with a kind of dread. Like the young, inexperienced characters, I didn't know if things would work out of if anyone would find relief, freedom, and happiness. Again, well done on the part of the author. It was anything but simplistic.
The story jumps forward to the present day (what one could call the 3rd section), and the reader has the benefit of hindsight. The parts surrounding the wedding, and watching the characters reestablish their relationships was rewarding. I liked seeing their growth, and looking through their eyes once they'd had the benefit of some life experience. As with any good novel, I'm left wondering what the characters are up to now.
I think this book is part of a juicy new movement in the "ghetto" that used to be called various names such as Women's Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, etc. This book, like so many others I've enjoyed, is just a good book with its finger on the pulse of realistic fiction that appeals to women (who are the biggest purchasers of books) but could be read and enjoyed by men.
This book is worth your time. Period.
The Best Thing I Never Had features a "gang" of friends at university, tightly knit as a group but struggling to find individual identities. Most of the characters rely heavily on the safety of the home base, and face highly ambivalent feelings as they push out of the comfort zone of the group's approval. This set-up allows the author to draw the players well. As in a comedy of manners, they are bound by their culture but have their own motivations.
Before I comment on the plot, let me say that I was initially wary as multiple characters were introduced. I've recently had the experience of finishing a few books after which I couldn't delineate one character from another, or remember their names, or characteristics. Not so with this book, which to me is a triumph on the part of a debut author. I can recall physical traits, flaws, and backgrounds about the guys who room together in the boys' house and the girls who room together in the girls' house, down to what they drink and what they study.
As a woman who lived through this phase of life, I found the friendships of the girls (women, really, but barely) the most poignant. The central focus of all the emotion is the bond between Harriet and Leigha, best friends with wildly different styles who compete for the same guy. Each wants what she wants, each wants to retain the love of the other, and each is resolute in the feeling that she is right and morally justified in her actions and judgements. This makes for rich story fodder as the surrounding characters align and take sides, and hold the two accountable from the up-close sidelines. This is no simplistic YA or Chick Lit book. I even hesitate to categorize it as Women's Fiction or Romance. It's just fiction and good fiction at that.
Surrounding Harriet and Leigha are Nicky and Miles. They are the "adult" couple; Miles is slightly older than the rest, and has his eye on the prize of earning a PhD and having a real job. Nicky, his girlfriend, is a peacemaker. She doesn't like to rock the boat or see it rocked. Johnny is a simple, sweet, lovestruck lad who falls for Leigha's practiced charm. While I wanted to shake him and tell him to move on, I also pitied him. One's late teens and early twenties are a time for foolish love, and advising someone that he or she could do better is a useless pursuit. He finds his feet, but after considerable heartache. Next up: Sukie. She's sharp and no-nonsense with a strong tie to her family. She faces her own troubles, but I blame her because her alliance with one of the key girls heightens the tension and bad feelings in the group. She seems grounded, but she goes for the drama — like many young women of this age do without realizing the impact of their words and actions. Adam is the object of the main girls attention. He softens as the story progresses, and I remember the appeal of that type of casual and confident young man. Still, he is as laddish as they come, and doesn't think through the consequences of his choices.
Reading the first section of this book was like living it, and I felt all of the push and pull right along with the characters. I experienced all of it with a kind of dread. Like the young, inexperienced characters, I didn't know if things would work out of if anyone would find relief, freedom, and happiness. Again, well done on the part of the author. It was anything but simplistic.
The story jumps forward to the present day (what one could call the 3rd section), and the reader has the benefit of hindsight. The parts surrounding the wedding, and watching the characters reestablish their relationships was rewarding. I liked seeing their growth, and looking through their eyes once they'd had the benefit of some life experience. As with any good novel, I'm left wondering what the characters are up to now.
I think this book is part of a juicy new movement in the "ghetto" that used to be called various names such as Women's Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, etc. This book, like so many others I've enjoyed, is just a good book with its finger on the pulse of realistic fiction that appeals to women (who are the biggest purchasers of books) but could be read and enjoyed by men.
This book is worth your time. Period.
February 25, 2014
Read more reviews at What Danielle Did Next
This is meant as the highest of compliments when I say this...THIS BOOK DROVE ME INSANE! Oh my gawd, the emotions, the angst, the irritation! It was freaking awesome! I love a book that has such fab character development and puts you right there in the scene and you feel every moment of the journey! THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD put me right back there, right back to those undergrad days when the politics and power struggles of my group seemed like the biggest drama ever and that fear of putting a foot wrong in case the self-appointed queen bee voted you off the island.
The Best Thing I Never Had follows a group of friends through their college years and beyond. Nicky and Miles, the couple who've survived Uni are now in their late twenties and getting married. Harriet, Adam, Leigha, Johnny and Sukie are about to be reunited for the first time in years since the over-exaggerated flirtation between Adam and Leigha petered out and Adam and Harriet find their friendship takes a turn towards love. Keeping it a secret that eventually is spilled, Harriet finds herself frozen out as Leigha gathers her troops of Johnny and Sukie and feeling vulnerable pushes Adam away when she needs him most. Now as they all come together and slap smiles on their faces, can this group of frenemies find their way back to being friends?
The book starts in 2012 then flashbacks to 2006 before ending up 2012 again. I loved the dynamics between the characters and how their relationships with each other developed. At its core, this book's strength is definitely its examination of female friendship and the fragility of connections when communication is pushed to one side. My favourite character was Harriet, I was rooting for her to stand up for herself and let her happiness come first. It was frustrating to watch how she bowed to the pressure of Leigha and her demands but it proved to me that people behave the way they are allowed to behave and Leigha was never challenged. Leigha was hateful but I couldn't hate her, I recognised a lot of Leigha in a friend I had to let go. She behaved in a similar way and because I never stood up to her our friendship is lost. I can't say it's a bad thing because I couldn't remain in that situation but I wonder if we had both been honest with our feelings would things be different.
This book was packed with so much emotion and was so realistic and true to student life whether you were the wild party girl or the library mouse, you will recognise the characters and experiences with such vividness it will take you back to that unique time of your life and if you're going through it, perhaps give you the courage to make the changes and tackle those hard conversations before it's too late. This book drew me in and despite being wary about the multiple POV's I quickly got a handle on each character and found each of their stories and reasons for their behaviour compelling.
Full of emotion, fresh and funny writing and a cast of believable and oh so recognisable characters, THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD was absorbing, wonderful and an utter pleasure to read.
This is meant as the highest of compliments when I say this...THIS BOOK DROVE ME INSANE! Oh my gawd, the emotions, the angst, the irritation! It was freaking awesome! I love a book that has such fab character development and puts you right there in the scene and you feel every moment of the journey! THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD put me right back there, right back to those undergrad days when the politics and power struggles of my group seemed like the biggest drama ever and that fear of putting a foot wrong in case the self-appointed queen bee voted you off the island.
The Best Thing I Never Had follows a group of friends through their college years and beyond. Nicky and Miles, the couple who've survived Uni are now in their late twenties and getting married. Harriet, Adam, Leigha, Johnny and Sukie are about to be reunited for the first time in years since the over-exaggerated flirtation between Adam and Leigha petered out and Adam and Harriet find their friendship takes a turn towards love. Keeping it a secret that eventually is spilled, Harriet finds herself frozen out as Leigha gathers her troops of Johnny and Sukie and feeling vulnerable pushes Adam away when she needs him most. Now as they all come together and slap smiles on their faces, can this group of frenemies find their way back to being friends?
The book starts in 2012 then flashbacks to 2006 before ending up 2012 again. I loved the dynamics between the characters and how their relationships with each other developed. At its core, this book's strength is definitely its examination of female friendship and the fragility of connections when communication is pushed to one side. My favourite character was Harriet, I was rooting for her to stand up for herself and let her happiness come first. It was frustrating to watch how she bowed to the pressure of Leigha and her demands but it proved to me that people behave the way they are allowed to behave and Leigha was never challenged. Leigha was hateful but I couldn't hate her, I recognised a lot of Leigha in a friend I had to let go. She behaved in a similar way and because I never stood up to her our friendship is lost. I can't say it's a bad thing because I couldn't remain in that situation but I wonder if we had both been honest with our feelings would things be different.
This book was packed with so much emotion and was so realistic and true to student life whether you were the wild party girl or the library mouse, you will recognise the characters and experiences with such vividness it will take you back to that unique time of your life and if you're going through it, perhaps give you the courage to make the changes and tackle those hard conversations before it's too late. This book drew me in and despite being wary about the multiple POV's I quickly got a handle on each character and found each of their stories and reasons for their behaviour compelling.
Full of emotion, fresh and funny writing and a cast of believable and oh so recognisable characters, THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD was absorbing, wonderful and an utter pleasure to read.
May 20, 2013
This book really resonated with me and kept me interested throughout the whole novel. The story is about university life in the London suburbs and the intertwining lives of 7 friends. Since there are so many characters in the book it took a little while to get to know them.
The main characters are Adam & Harriet who I picture as Nicholas Hoult & Emma Watson.
You can read my full entry at Bec's Book Blog
This book is split into 3 parts. The first part was the introduction to the characters and jumps around time a bit which can be a bit confusing, but it's necessary. I did have to stop once or twice during that section to skim back through it to remind myself who everyone was.
By the 2nd part I was totally hooked and knew exactly who everyone was. I loved the 2nd and 3rd sections and really didn't want this book to end. I think the characters had enough problems to make them believeable but not enough to make it too far fetched.
There are quite a few parallels to my own life which I really enjoyed.
I am giving this book 5 stars since it had all the elements that I have enjoyed reading about over the last few months and it kept me hooked and wanting to read more throughout most of the book.
The main characters are Adam & Harriet who I picture as Nicholas Hoult & Emma Watson.
You can read my full entry at Bec's Book Blog
This book is split into 3 parts. The first part was the introduction to the characters and jumps around time a bit which can be a bit confusing, but it's necessary. I did have to stop once or twice during that section to skim back through it to remind myself who everyone was.
By the 2nd part I was totally hooked and knew exactly who everyone was. I loved the 2nd and 3rd sections and really didn't want this book to end. I think the characters had enough problems to make them believeable but not enough to make it too far fetched.
There are quite a few parallels to my own life which I really enjoyed.
I am giving this book 5 stars since it had all the elements that I have enjoyed reading about over the last few months and it kept me hooked and wanting to read more throughout most of the book.
March 27, 2013
This book tapped into a part of me that I hadn't thought about for many years - my time at University. It made me remember the good times, and the not such good times, the relationships that I had with my female housemates and the guys we met and forged complicated relationships with. I was at uni earlier than this and back then there was no social media, we didn't even have the internet in our student house. We relied on mobile phones as the only way to keep in touch.
I will certainly be recommending this book to friends, particularly the girls I was at Uni with. In fact I feel inspired to give them all a call this evening just to have a chat.
I was drawn into this story and wish I had taken longer to read it and savour the details, instead I rushed through it desperate to find out what happens.
The book is about Nicky and Miles getting married. Nicky and Miles met at university and between them they have five close friends. The book is divided into three parts - Part 1 flicking between their time at university and 2012. Part 2 their final year at university. Part 3 2012 - the wedding.
The main characters are Nicky, Miles, Harriet, Adam, Leigha, Johnny and Suki. Whilst the story centres around the marriage between Nicky and Miles, the real story is the relationship between Harriet and Adam.
The book ends at a good place but I am desperate to know what then happens, and hoped that there would be an epilogue.
I will certainly be recommending this book to friends, particularly the girls I was at Uni with. In fact I feel inspired to give them all a call this evening just to have a chat.
I was drawn into this story and wish I had taken longer to read it and savour the details, instead I rushed through it desperate to find out what happens.
The book is about Nicky and Miles getting married. Nicky and Miles met at university and between them they have five close friends. The book is divided into three parts - Part 1 flicking between their time at university and 2012. Part 2 their final year at university. Part 3 2012 - the wedding.
The main characters are Nicky, Miles, Harriet, Adam, Leigha, Johnny and Suki. Whilst the story centres around the marriage between Nicky and Miles, the real story is the relationship between Harriet and Adam.
The book ends at a good place but I am desperate to know what then happens, and hoped that there would be an epilogue.
July 2, 2014
This is one of my fave books this year. The beginning was fab, and hooked me immediately, and after that I couldn't put it down. Anyone worrying about meeting too many characters too fast, don't - just trust Erin, you're in very safe hands, as she deftly lets the story unfold. This is a compelling book and an evocative one - the settings took me right back to uni days, the descriptions were spot on. I enjoyed the contrast between the past and the present, and seeing how the characters had moved on. Although there were quite a few characters, I liked the way they were all explored, and developed and were satisfyingly complex. I loved the story, loved spending time with all the guys, and the tension and undercurrents between them were very well handled and observed. But what I admired most was the flawless writing. It's rare to find a writer whose work is so easy to read, light and delicious, whilst containing a complexity and depth which will make fragments of the story stay with you long after you finish the book. She has a gift for adding the smallest of details which instantly make the ordinary extraordinary. Erin Lawless is my find of 2014. Needless to say I can't wait for her next book.
December 6, 2013
I fell headlong into this book from the very first page. Initially, there are a number of characters coming at you all at once but it doesn’t take very long for you to get to grips with who’s who, thanks to Lawless’ flawless writing, and to settle down into this fantastic read.
Having never attended university, I lived vicariously through the 7 friends for the majority of the novel. Their time at uni was undoubtedly my favourite part – with the gang seeming, at times, so fun, free and naive. I warmed to Adam and Harriet immediately, enjoying their interactions and the path they chose to follow.
The book is surprisingly full of emotion. The author creates a world within a bubble, in which only her characters and the reader exist, and this made it easy to get swept up in all the feelings. On one occasion I actually felt very defensive about character, about the injustice she was forced to face and how I wished it could be put right. That’s how good it is.
So if you’re looking to treat yourself to a book, make sure it’s this one.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
Having never attended university, I lived vicariously through the 7 friends for the majority of the novel. Their time at uni was undoubtedly my favourite part – with the gang seeming, at times, so fun, free and naive. I warmed to Adam and Harriet immediately, enjoying their interactions and the path they chose to follow.
The book is surprisingly full of emotion. The author creates a world within a bubble, in which only her characters and the reader exist, and this made it easy to get swept up in all the feelings. On one occasion I actually felt very defensive about character, about the injustice she was forced to face and how I wished it could be put right. That’s how good it is.
So if you’re looking to treat yourself to a book, make sure it’s this one.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
December 21, 2013
This book was easily one of my favourites this year. Full of angst, jealousy, love and fear, it was easy for me to sympathize with these characters. The drama of the university years, the kind that can really only develop when people live together, kept me glued to the pages. I gave up sleep to finish reading this book, because I had to know how it turned out for everyone.
There's so much packed into every chapter, up until the very end, I was always (very pleasantly!) surprised by how much there was left to read. I wouldn't call it a comfortable read - I wanted to intercede on Harriet's behalf more than a few times - but it's a rewarding one, I think. There's lessons here about revisiting the past, about seeing things through someone else's eyes, and about patience. This would make an excellent book club read!
To see my complete review, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
There's so much packed into every chapter, up until the very end, I was always (very pleasantly!) surprised by how much there was left to read. I wouldn't call it a comfortable read - I wanted to intercede on Harriet's behalf more than a few times - but it's a rewarding one, I think. There's lessons here about revisiting the past, about seeing things through someone else's eyes, and about patience. This would make an excellent book club read!
To see my complete review, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 31, 2013
First, thank you Erin, for giving me the opportunity of reading this book. I thought it was wonderful. I found myself drawn into the lives of the guys and girls and their friendship as well the breakup of the friendship as well.
This book is not only about the happiness and sadness of friendship, but it is a wonderful character study of each person. I felt like I knew each person in the book. Some of them I liked, and some I didn't. In fact, if Erin hadn't written chapters from the character's point of view, you might really detest some of the characters. I actually felt sorry for Leigha. I'm hoping Erin will write a follow up so that we can see what these characters are up to. I'm especially curious about Leigha.
Thanks again for a wonderful story. These are characters the reader will remember for a long time!
This book is not only about the happiness and sadness of friendship, but it is a wonderful character study of each person. I felt like I knew each person in the book. Some of them I liked, and some I didn't. In fact, if Erin hadn't written chapters from the character's point of view, you might really detest some of the characters. I actually felt sorry for Leigha. I'm hoping Erin will write a follow up so that we can see what these characters are up to. I'm especially curious about Leigha.
Thanks again for a wonderful story. These are characters the reader will remember for a long time!
September 22, 2019
The best thing I never had, is about a group of university friends all trying to make it through their last year and find themselves. But things become messy and complicated when it's revealed that 2 of the group have been keeping a secret.
The book is written in 3rd person, which the focus being on different characters mostly for every different chapter, but sometimes there was a shift in viewpoint in a different scene. It's not really smooth transition, quite a few times I had to double check who was now talking. It was also difficult a few times to work out who was talking in a group conversation as that was not always clear either. The book has quite a bit of swearing in it and also, some harmful language. But nothing is sexually explicit and there is only a tiny bit of violence.
The book is split into a prologue, part 1, part 2 and epilogue. I enjoyed part 1. I liked getting to know the characters and what they got up to while they were studying and partying.
But it went on for about 60% of the book, which didn't leave a lot of space left for the resolution of the book. And sadly, I didn't feel as though we resolved anything in the second part. We have a time jump of five years from the 1st part and yet none of the characters seemed to have grown or matured at all in that 5 years. The fallout from the 1st part was just not dealt with, no one admitted that perhaps they had acted badly before and I found it underwhelming. But maybe, that was the point of the book? They all lost something? I don't know. I just didn't find the ending satisfying at all.
That being said, I did read the book to the end and wanted to know what happened, so it wasn't all bad I guess. Just very frustrating.
The book is written in 3rd person, which the focus being on different characters mostly for every different chapter, but sometimes there was a shift in viewpoint in a different scene. It's not really smooth transition, quite a few times I had to double check who was now talking. It was also difficult a few times to work out who was talking in a group conversation as that was not always clear either. The book has quite a bit of swearing in it and also, some harmful language. But nothing is sexually explicit and there is only a tiny bit of violence.
The book is split into a prologue, part 1, part 2 and epilogue. I enjoyed part 1. I liked getting to know the characters and what they got up to while they were studying and partying.
But it went on for about 60% of the book, which didn't leave a lot of space left for the resolution of the book. And sadly, I didn't feel as though we resolved anything in the second part. We have a time jump of five years from the 1st part and yet none of the characters seemed to have grown or matured at all in that 5 years. The fallout from the 1st part was just not dealt with, no one admitted that perhaps they had acted badly before and I found it underwhelming. But maybe, that was the point of the book? They all lost something? I don't know. I just didn't find the ending satisfying at all.
That being said, I did read the book to the end and wanted to know what happened, so it wasn't all bad I guess. Just very frustrating.
January 26, 2014
When Harper Impulse invited me to be part of their Romance Revolution I was so pleased! I love the fact I’m going to be able to get the word out there all about their fabulous titles, and I loved even more (who wouldn’t) getting the chance to review as many Harper Impulse titles as I can physically read. First up on my list was The Best Thing I Never Had by Erin Lawless, which was compared to One Day and sounded a little bit like Katy Regan’s latest novel How We Met. I really love novels about friendship so this one sounded right up my alley, and boy was it.
The Best Thing I Never Had is very much a story about friendship. Yes, it also features love and relationships, but at it’s core, it features on seven friends. Harriet, Sukie, Nicky, Miles, Leigha (name check, alert, though it’s spelt wrong), Adam and Johnny. At University they were all close, they all hung out together, until Harriet and Adam started spending more and more time together, which meant the inevitable happened, but instead of telling their friends about it, they lied. They kept it a secret. For so long, that when the secret eventually came out, so did the recriminations, especially those from Leigha and Sukie. They hounded Harriet, until she felt she had no choice but to retreat. Until she had to eventually give up the one thing that meant the most to her. Now, six years later, a wedding invitation drops through each friends’ letterbox, telling them Nicky and Miles are finally getting hitched, meaning a reunion is on the cards, but just how will it work with so much animosity?
I absolutely loved The Best Thing I Never Had. It blew me away from start to finish, it absolutely did. It is very much in a similar vein to Katy Regan’s (fabulous) novel How We Met, and I loved how it was split into two parts, how we got to find out how the friendship imploded before we had to deal with the reunion at the wedding. It was funny, it was honest, it was a proper look at how friendships can sometimes make or break you. How even the people who are meant to be the closest to you in the world can turn on a dime and leave you out in the cold. It was hard to read at times, because I felt Leigha and Sukie hadn’t just stopped talking to Harriet, they’d abandoned her completely and even sort of bullied her. I’ve had that happen to me, and it’s the worst feeling in the world. That your best friends, who know most of your secrets, can do that, is awful, and so I never really cared about Sukie or Leigha. If they had walked in front of a bus, I probably wouldn’t have felt sad because they were horrible, awful girls. Leigha in particular was just plain evil, and her vendetta against Harriet was spiteful and nasty, and it surprised me that sensible Nicky, sweet, sensible, stuck in the middle Nicky, allowed her to be that way.
Harriet and Adam were by far my favourite characters. I was so taken in with their story, I adored seeing the relationship develop from friends to something more and I felt Lawless did them justice. It was so sweet. Of course, it didn’t stay that way, but for that while, I felt happy for the pair, which made it worse when the inevitable happened. I quite liked Johnny, Adam and Miles’s flatmate, too, though I don’t agree with the things he did, but I can also understand he was under Leigh’s spell so I sort of had pity for him. This was such a wonderful read, one I thoroughly enjoyed getting into, and one I wished never had to end because I could have read about their lives indefinitely. Erin Lawless is a fabulous writer, and she deserves all kinds of plaudits for her writing because it is super. I was hooked, let me tell you, and even when the book was down, I was still thinking about it, still wondering about it, desperately hoping for a happy outcome. The only thing I would have wished to have seen in the novel was Leigh’s come-uppance. I felt her nastiness deserved retribution, but maybe I’m just being bitter and selfish. Or, y’know, maybe how it ended was her retribution. Who knows? I, for one, can’t wait for Erin’s next book because The Best Thing I Never Had was mind-blowingly good and everyone should read it.
The Best Thing I Never Had is very much a story about friendship. Yes, it also features love and relationships, but at it’s core, it features on seven friends. Harriet, Sukie, Nicky, Miles, Leigha (name check, alert, though it’s spelt wrong), Adam and Johnny. At University they were all close, they all hung out together, until Harriet and Adam started spending more and more time together, which meant the inevitable happened, but instead of telling their friends about it, they lied. They kept it a secret. For so long, that when the secret eventually came out, so did the recriminations, especially those from Leigha and Sukie. They hounded Harriet, until she felt she had no choice but to retreat. Until she had to eventually give up the one thing that meant the most to her. Now, six years later, a wedding invitation drops through each friends’ letterbox, telling them Nicky and Miles are finally getting hitched, meaning a reunion is on the cards, but just how will it work with so much animosity?
I absolutely loved The Best Thing I Never Had. It blew me away from start to finish, it absolutely did. It is very much in a similar vein to Katy Regan’s (fabulous) novel How We Met, and I loved how it was split into two parts, how we got to find out how the friendship imploded before we had to deal with the reunion at the wedding. It was funny, it was honest, it was a proper look at how friendships can sometimes make or break you. How even the people who are meant to be the closest to you in the world can turn on a dime and leave you out in the cold. It was hard to read at times, because I felt Leigha and Sukie hadn’t just stopped talking to Harriet, they’d abandoned her completely and even sort of bullied her. I’ve had that happen to me, and it’s the worst feeling in the world. That your best friends, who know most of your secrets, can do that, is awful, and so I never really cared about Sukie or Leigha. If they had walked in front of a bus, I probably wouldn’t have felt sad because they were horrible, awful girls. Leigha in particular was just plain evil, and her vendetta against Harriet was spiteful and nasty, and it surprised me that sensible Nicky, sweet, sensible, stuck in the middle Nicky, allowed her to be that way.
Harriet and Adam were by far my favourite characters. I was so taken in with their story, I adored seeing the relationship develop from friends to something more and I felt Lawless did them justice. It was so sweet. Of course, it didn’t stay that way, but for that while, I felt happy for the pair, which made it worse when the inevitable happened. I quite liked Johnny, Adam and Miles’s flatmate, too, though I don’t agree with the things he did, but I can also understand he was under Leigh’s spell so I sort of had pity for him. This was such a wonderful read, one I thoroughly enjoyed getting into, and one I wished never had to end because I could have read about their lives indefinitely. Erin Lawless is a fabulous writer, and she deserves all kinds of plaudits for her writing because it is super. I was hooked, let me tell you, and even when the book was down, I was still thinking about it, still wondering about it, desperately hoping for a happy outcome. The only thing I would have wished to have seen in the novel was Leigh’s come-uppance. I felt her nastiness deserved retribution, but maybe I’m just being bitter and selfish. Or, y’know, maybe how it ended was her retribution. Who knows? I, for one, can’t wait for Erin’s next book because The Best Thing I Never Had was mind-blowingly good and everyone should read it.
May 14, 2014
Jane Hunt Writer First Steps
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The Best Thing I Never Had is a great read with fabulous characters.
Divided into past and present events this story's structure allows the reader to know the characters in depth and really want to know what happens to them which I liked. The focus of the first section is the long awaited wedding of two of the group of university friends and it is here the reader realises something momentous occurred in their shared past but doesn't know what.
Just over half the story takes place in the past although pacing of this section of the book allows you to experience events with the characters as it happens which makes it easy and interesting to read.
The second half surrounds the wedding and how the characters have fared since university. There are a few surprises both in character development and plot.This was my favourite part of the story possibly because the characters were less annoying and more world weary.
The characters are vivid. It's easy to love or hate them. This is all about the people what they think, what they feel and what they do. The plot is not the main focus of this story but it does hold some pleasing twists.
Packed full of emotion and humour this story is definitely worth reading even though it is longer than is currently fashionable. I look forward to the next book by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Erin Lawless
March 9, 2013
I was privileged enough to read this book as it evolved through its early stages into the self-published novel it now is. I loved discovering the lives of the six main characters and the way in which each developed over time - mirroring the way friendships at university start and then progress as you discover more about your friends and acquaintances. Initially I struggled to clearly define some of the female characters in my head, particularly Harriet and Leigha - which as you read the book you'll discover can make things a little confusing! However how much of this confusion was due to reading the manuscript as it went through tweaks and revisions and developments I couldn't say - perhaps a reader reading the novel in its entirity now it is a completed work will not find the characters so easy to muddle. (Although, perhaps this is also an intentional plot device by the author, I'll leave you to decide.)
All in all, I was gripped throughout the novel, needing to know the final outcome between the six friends deseprately. I distinctly remember one message to the author mid-writing when I received a copy only complete to chapter 100 and something, incredulous that she could leave us on such a cliffhanger! I had to know what happened next!!
Lawless has created a brilliant debut novel that explores the complexities and emotions of old friends, new friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and the everyday drama in our lives. And it's all set during a timeframe when most of us begin to discover who we really are and what we are on this planet to do.
Four stars because the eternal critic within me won't let me give things 5 stars but I'd definitely up it to 4.75 if Goodreads would let me.
All in all, I was gripped throughout the novel, needing to know the final outcome between the six friends deseprately. I distinctly remember one message to the author mid-writing when I received a copy only complete to chapter 100 and something, incredulous that she could leave us on such a cliffhanger! I had to know what happened next!!
Lawless has created a brilliant debut novel that explores the complexities and emotions of old friends, new friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and the everyday drama in our lives. And it's all set during a timeframe when most of us begin to discover who we really are and what we are on this planet to do.
Four stars because the eternal critic within me won't let me give things 5 stars but I'd definitely up it to 4.75 if Goodreads would let me.
February 18, 2014
Loved, loved, loved this book; so much so I had to write my first Goodreads review! In the previous year, the books that have drawn me in the most were the 'slice of life' ones. This quiet story fit right into that category.
Right from the beginning, you knew the relationships between this group of friends weren't meant to last. There were the outright hints of betrayal, hints of unhappiness and bitterness in the sections set in present day; and it was easy to piece together what broke these binds apart. But the journey in getting there... it was well worth it.
I read this book again a few weeks after the first time and found myself enjoying it even more. The characters took time to grow on me and by the second time around, they felt like familiar friends of mine. I like that the author didn't overdo the flowery prose to get her point across and that every main character had enough defining characteristics that I didn't have trouble telling each person apart after the first couple chapters.
Right from the beginning, you knew the relationships between this group of friends weren't meant to last. There were the outright hints of betrayal, hints of unhappiness and bitterness in the sections set in present day; and it was easy to piece together what broke these binds apart. But the journey in getting there... it was well worth it.
I read this book again a few weeks after the first time and found myself enjoying it even more. The characters took time to grow on me and by the second time around, they felt like familiar friends of mine. I like that the author didn't overdo the flowery prose to get her point across and that every main character had enough defining characteristics that I didn't have trouble telling each person apart after the first couple chapters.
February 25, 2014
Book provided by HarperCollins UK on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The title of this book is great and it really made me want to read it.
Of course also the blurb helped for that ;)
Unfortunately it took me quite a while to get into this story. All the characters were introduced at the same time and it was hard to figure out who is who and how they were all related.
One paragraph was about one of the girls and her feelings and then it was a guy again. I would have preferred one perspective or at least a title with the character’s name, to follow the story easier.
It was difficult for me to find a connection to this story and only Adam and Harriet kept me in it to be honest. I thought that they were really cute and adorable together and the perfect match. I wanted to find out what was going to happen between them and so I kept on reading.
I think the idea of the story is really nice, but for me the details were missing and there were just too many characters involved.
I liked how we read about what happened in the past and then were in the future. The main thing I take out of the novel is that friendship is really important and you should be able to trust each other and also forgive sometimes.
I can’t give more than 2.5 coffee cups though, because the main spark was totally mussing and the ending left me confused with mixed feelings. I’d say these 2.5 are for Adam and Harriet, their story and hopefully their future.
The title of this book is great and it really made me want to read it.
Of course also the blurb helped for that ;)
Unfortunately it took me quite a while to get into this story. All the characters were introduced at the same time and it was hard to figure out who is who and how they were all related.
One paragraph was about one of the girls and her feelings and then it was a guy again. I would have preferred one perspective or at least a title with the character’s name, to follow the story easier.
It was difficult for me to find a connection to this story and only Adam and Harriet kept me in it to be honest. I thought that they were really cute and adorable together and the perfect match. I wanted to find out what was going to happen between them and so I kept on reading.
I think the idea of the story is really nice, but for me the details were missing and there were just too many characters involved.
I liked how we read about what happened in the past and then were in the future. The main thing I take out of the novel is that friendship is really important and you should be able to trust each other and also forgive sometimes.
I can’t give more than 2.5 coffee cups though, because the main spark was totally mussing and the ending left me confused with mixed feelings. I’d say these 2.5 are for Adam and Harriet, their story and hopefully their future.
May 26, 2014
This is not a book about romance. This is a book about friendship, love, and the intermixing that happens in every different way. I read this hoping for some fun chick-lit and a good romance and that does transpire, but the actual heart of the book was the friendships. The Best I Never Had starts off with a wedding announcement. You're immediately placed into a flashback, where the bulk of the story takes place with a group of friends that are going to break apart.
The dialogue is pithy, friendly, and everything easy friendships are. The group dynamic that happens in University (or conversely High School/College, but this story is very British) with this group of girls feels very real, but at the same time it is easy to see what brought it apart. There were a lot of interesting characters, though I'd say the main focus is on Harriet and Adam, but the background I got on Leigha, Sukie, and Nicky made me want more!
Not to say this book doesn't have romance. It could easily be a quick summer read or a romantic comedy -- but what it delivers more than that is how important friendship is. The friendship in romance, the friendship in close knit groups, the individual dynamics. That really worked for me and seeing it play out as it happened and how the girls and guys adjusted afterwards (or didn't) was great.
If you want to wish you could hug or shake characters at various points and loudly exclaim at others, then this is the book for you!
The dialogue is pithy, friendly, and everything easy friendships are. The group dynamic that happens in University (or conversely High School/College, but this story is very British) with this group of girls feels very real, but at the same time it is easy to see what brought it apart. There were a lot of interesting characters, though I'd say the main focus is on Harriet and Adam, but the background I got on Leigha, Sukie, and Nicky made me want more!
Not to say this book doesn't have romance. It could easily be a quick summer read or a romantic comedy -- but what it delivers more than that is how important friendship is. The friendship in romance, the friendship in close knit groups, the individual dynamics. That really worked for me and seeing it play out as it happened and how the girls and guys adjusted afterwards (or didn't) was great.
If you want to wish you could hug or shake characters at various points and loudly exclaim at others, then this is the book for you!
November 23, 2013
I WOULD GIVE THIS A TEN IF I COULD. GOD, ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR. So go READ READ READ it. I've been trying to find a copy of this for months now and I only saw one today. I jumped at it like a rabid dog the moment I had it! THIS IS JUST SO WONDERFUL. All those months of waiting WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Although I was a bit sad for Leigh. I feel for her and for some weird reason, I feel for her more than I do with Harriet. I know she's an evil manipulative bitch but still. I kinda understand why she turned out that way although I DO NOT agree with how she handled things. Even though it wasn't the way I wanted it to end, I loved that Lawless still made it a point to remind the readers that she's not a monster to begin with. She was once an innocent girl who loved truly but sadly things doesn't always end up the way we wanted them to.
I would love to read another novel by Miss Lawless. What a debut! TEN STARS (okay, five) for this wonderful novel and author!
Although I was a bit sad for Leigh. I feel for her and for some weird reason, I feel for her more than I do with Harriet. I know she's an evil manipulative bitch but still. I kinda understand why she turned out that way although I DO NOT agree with how she handled things. Even though it wasn't the way I wanted it to end, I loved that Lawless still made it a point to remind the readers that she's not a monster to begin with. She was once an innocent girl who loved truly but sadly things doesn't always end up the way we wanted them to.
I would love to read another novel by Miss Lawless. What a debut! TEN STARS (okay, five) for this wonderful novel and author!
July 13, 2016
I received this book by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t tell you how happy I was when I’ve been approved to read this book. I love the cover and the blurb sounded really great. I was sure I’m going to like this book and I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately everything turned out differently. I was struggling to get into the book from the first page on. The main reason why I’ve been struggling I think was that Erin introduced all the character at the same time. It was really difficult for me to distinguish them because they seemed so alike. Sometimes I just did not know who Erin was writing about. I couldn’t connect with any character and that made it very difficult for me to keep reading but somehow I managed to read the book. The book left me confused and I really don’t know what to think of it. That’s the reason why I can’t rate this book. I’m so so sorry! I really wish I could give another feedback. It just didn’t worked for me.
I can’t tell you how happy I was when I’ve been approved to read this book. I love the cover and the blurb sounded really great. I was sure I’m going to like this book and I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately everything turned out differently. I was struggling to get into the book from the first page on. The main reason why I’ve been struggling I think was that Erin introduced all the character at the same time. It was really difficult for me to distinguish them because they seemed so alike. Sometimes I just did not know who Erin was writing about. I couldn’t connect with any character and that made it very difficult for me to keep reading but somehow I managed to read the book. The book left me confused and I really don’t know what to think of it. That’s the reason why I can’t rate this book. I’m so so sorry! I really wish I could give another feedback. It just didn’t worked for me.
November 26, 2013
This review can also be found at http://chiquitablogger.wordpress.com
Let's just start off by saying that at first, I almost DNF'd this book. There were a ton of characters, it was 3 AM, and my brain was tired.
I am SO SO SO SO SO happy I didn't give up and quit. This book was so incredibly amazingly awesome that I want to shout it from the hilltops and make ALL my friends buy it this instant!
This book put me through the emotional wringer. I was ecstatic, in love, so incredibly angry, frustrated, sad, you name it. I felt it.
I would've LOVED an epilogue further into the future or even just an update on the crew five more years down the road, so here's fingers crossed for a spinoff or sequel of some sort. Definitely, 100% check this book out!
*Received an ARC for honest review.*
Let's just start off by saying that at first, I almost DNF'd this book. There were a ton of characters, it was 3 AM, and my brain was tired.
I am SO SO SO SO SO happy I didn't give up and quit. This book was so incredibly amazingly awesome that I want to shout it from the hilltops and make ALL my friends buy it this instant!
This book put me through the emotional wringer. I was ecstatic, in love, so incredibly angry, frustrated, sad, you name it. I felt it.
I would've LOVED an epilogue further into the future or even just an update on the crew five more years down the road, so here's fingers crossed for a spinoff or sequel of some sort. Definitely, 100% check this book out!
*Received an ARC for honest review.*
March 4, 2013
This was my first foray into the shiny new New Adult genre and I'll be the first to admit that at 35 (alright, alright nearly 36) I'm not exactly the target audience. Nevertheless I found myself caught up in the dramas, loves, lies and intrigues of the main characters, intensely so as I reached the denouement.
There was an initial bit of flicking back and forth to familiarise myself with the cast of characters and time scales involved but this book becomes increasingly moreish, I warn you! Lawless has skillfully sowed the seeds of a gripping, highly readable plot; combine that with graceful,lucid prose and unexpected bursts of wry humour and you have one highly impressive debut novel.
There was an initial bit of flicking back and forth to familiarise myself with the cast of characters and time scales involved but this book becomes increasingly moreish, I warn you! Lawless has skillfully sowed the seeds of a gripping, highly readable plot; combine that with graceful,lucid prose and unexpected bursts of wry humour and you have one highly impressive debut novel.
May 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. My favourite thing about it was the sense of atmosphere. Erin captures the setting of university so effectively that at points, I felt as though I was back in a shared house working on my dissertation. The various characters are genuine and well developed, and I liked reading about them. I loved the different perspectives of events given too: I thought the various characters’ thoughts added real depth to the book and allowed me to get to know the characters so well that I cared about them all.
When I’d finished the book, the characters and setting lingered with me, which is always a sign of a brilliant story.
When I’d finished the book, the characters and setting lingered with me, which is always a sign of a brilliant story.
May 18, 2015
There were so many things I loved about The Best Thing I Never Had. But I think most importantly, I loved how real it felt. The story follows seven friends – their friendships, their love lives; the bonds that held them together, the circumstances that tore them apart.
Sometimes, I think it’s easy to overlook how vulnerable we are in our early to mid 20s. Friends become family; boundaries are sometimes non-existent; relationships are delicate. Erin Lawless characterizes this flawlessly!
From the moment I started, I couldn’t put the book down. Chick Lit lovers, The Best Thing I Never Had is one you will want to make sure you have on your to-read list!
Sometimes, I think it’s easy to overlook how vulnerable we are in our early to mid 20s. Friends become family; boundaries are sometimes non-existent; relationships are delicate. Erin Lawless characterizes this flawlessly!
From the moment I started, I couldn’t put the book down. Chick Lit lovers, The Best Thing I Never Had is one you will want to make sure you have on your to-read list!
February 26, 2013
If you've read Erin's book of short stories (and if you haven't, then you should), then you'll love her first novel.
Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I laughed, I cried. The characters are believable, and whether you have been to university or not, you'll empathise with the ups and downs, and the dramas and the joy in their 7 lives.
I'm already looking forward to Erin's next book, be it more short stories or another full length novel.
Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I laughed, I cried. The characters are believable, and whether you have been to university or not, you'll empathise with the ups and downs, and the dramas and the joy in their 7 lives.
I'm already looking forward to Erin's next book, be it more short stories or another full length novel.
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