Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Lennox Hills #3

Never Better... Thanks

Rate this book
When I envisioned the life that I wanted for myself, I pictured myself sitting in a rocking chair in the nursery me and my husband had spent months designing. I pictured looking down at a baby that resembled the both of us, and thanking God that he chose me to be their mother.
My reality was that I was staring down at another negative pregnancy test and realizing the possibility that I had failed another cycle of IVF, alone.
There was no husband here to comfort me, or a nursery that I could sit and sob in. Each time that one line appeared, a small piece of me always died inside. It was like the plastic test was determining my future. My fate. Letting me know I wasn’t worthy of giving life. Becoming the one thing I had always wanted to a mother.
After taking this failed pregnancy test, I had to tie my scrubs, plaster a smile on my face and go out there and care for my patients. So, when someone smiled and asked me the dreaded question… How are you? I always smiled, though dying on the inside, and responded with, Never better… thanks.

492 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2024

511 people are currently reading
660 people want to read

About the author

Jahquel J.

165 books3,598 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,283 (77%)
4 stars
531 (17%)
3 stars
123 (4%)
2 stars
11 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
Profile Image for Jahda.
1,068 reviews318 followers
September 18, 2024
In book 3 we follow Ember on her journey into motherhood the process was heartbreaking but worth it. With the help and support of Laurent her happy ending was possible. But chile not Alice WHITE 😬😬 wasn’t expecting that but it made sense. Not sure how I feel about the twist at the end but this was a good book and I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for BlackBookVibes.
194 reviews14 followers
February 25, 2024
Emotional

This book hit every emotion! I have never read about a character that I wanted to hug in real life. Ember went through the storm for a family. God just needed her to find the right person, which was Laurent and Luna!! He was the perfect person for her! Now Alice was garbage 🗑... she didn't care about nobody, she deserved her ending. This was a great series, definitely would recommend. Now I wonder if June will get a story....
Profile Image for 'The Book Queen'.
6,019 reviews112 followers
February 25, 2024
She put her foot in this one

My my my, you all this story was everything and more. I don't think I've prayed as much for a character than I did for Ember and Laurent. I weeped for real, I wanted Ember to have a baby, she so desperately wanted. I wasn't feeling a cheating Laurent until the real Alice stopped her masquerade act. I did not like Alice at all. The connection between her and Laurent was superficial at best. However, the steam coming off the pages was nearly suffocating between Laurent and Ember. The story was long enough to tell a complete story. A very good read.
Profile Image for April.
636 reviews180 followers
February 11, 2025
I absolutely loved this entire series! To follow these 3 ladies & the Willshire brothers journeys throughout their heartbreak & healing was an epic experience! I loved this story that followed Ember & Laurent and so glad she finally found love. She was an amazing woman, the glue for everyone so I was happy that this was her season. This entire series is a must read
29 reviews
March 29, 2025
Decent read but repetitive chapters

Once we got past a good chunk of the first few chapters the read was easier. I almost quit, it was really a lot of the same thing over and over, Alice is a trash mom, Ember is depressed about infertility, Laurent is not happy with Alice and a single dad. There were also a lot of misplaced words. I love this author but I enjoyed Astoria’s story more than the others.
Profile Image for Kyerra Hill.
49 reviews
April 16, 2025
This was the book that got me into audiobooks this year in January so it kind of holds a special place in my heart…as corny as that sounds🤣. I had a goal to read more this year because I haven’t picked up books and read in years🤦🏾‍♀️. But it was harder to do being a busy stay at home mom so I wanted to try audiobooks again. I tried to listening to one last year and it was horrible but that’s because the narrator was awful. But then I found this book and it got me hooked on audiobooks. The narrators are great. The only thing that irritated me was how the male narrator says “Laurent”. It was a great book. I’m actually going to listen to it again soon. It made me laugh, smile, cry because I could relate some of her struggles, and the ending was great. I didn’t even know it was a series and not the first book in the series when I listened to it. Now I want to check out the rest of the series as well.
Profile Image for Tazja Lewis.
409 reviews8 followers
August 24, 2025
Finally!!! One that didn’t piss me off lol. This was my favorite of the series 🤣🤣
Profile Image for Danielle Marcia.
119 reviews14 followers
June 15, 2025
Baby, I was in tears 🥹 this was such a beautiful conclusion to the series.
Profile Image for Staci Y.
63 reviews
June 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book. The entire series was so gut wrenching. I felt she did such a terrific job showcasing real life traumas that happen and the way we deal with them. She’s such realistic author I can always relate to the storylines.
Profile Image for The Diva Den Reads .
103 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2025
This last book in the series was freaking amazing. Jahquel J had me shed tears man like it was so profoundly deep and amazing.

I have to tell you if you haven’t read The Lennox Hill Series you definitely missing out.
13 reviews
February 28, 2024
WOW!! LOOK AT GOD!!

He may not come when u want him, BUT he will be there right ON TIME!!! Patience is a virtue.... JAH, JAH, JAH JAH... U have done it again! This is definitely one of my favorites written by you. I'm beyond happy for EM , HAR, and Stori and their men.. Thanks for writing this bc sometimes in life, the person that u start your journey with is not necessarily the one you finish with... I can relate to everyone in this book
Excluding ALICE trifling asprin... I so wanted her to get beat up sooo bad. However, I was pleasantly pleased that u took the high road with how she was handled... love does conquer all.
Profile Image for Kiki.
94 reviews
February 2, 2025
I didn't love the narrators and while the storyline kept my interest, there were times where the transitions were super choppy! Ember was on a phone call, while waiting for her to go order and in the next sentence, she was at someone's house or something. No talk of her paying for the food, getting in the car, nothing! It was so abrupt, I had to rewind, thinking I missed something, but nope, that was literally the next sentence. It happened all throughout the book. I'm new to Jahquel J's writing, so maybe this is her style.
Profile Image for Kim Eubanks.
69 reviews
March 1, 2024
happy for them

I’m happy Ember got what her heart desired times three. I appreciate the author taking the time to give us that background and extra details as far as what Laurent and Ember each had going on separately in their lives, but I was truly ready for them to just be together about 34% into the book.
Profile Image for Kyeatta H.
289 reviews20 followers
March 13, 2024
This was a better novel out of the series. I loved Em’s story. I’m so glad Alice got what she had coming. Laurent was coming for his woman and I was here for It. Messiah had me in the fence a little at first, but that letter…damn. I felt everything I need to feel with this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley Thomas.
362 reviews4 followers
March 17, 2025
Pretty good.

3.5 stars.
There were mistakes that became annoying but overall I enjoyed this story. I love me some Laurent even though it took him forever to finally grow a pair and get rid of the wife.
Profile Image for Brisace.
487 reviews
July 13, 2025
Whew  😮‍💨 Never Better… Thanks by Jahquel  cracked me open in the most tender way.

Ember’s pain was quiet but heavy smiling through failed IVF cycles, showing up for patients while grieving the one thing her heart ached for: motherhood. And just when she thought love and family might not be in the cards… there was Laurent.

A man scarred by a failed marriage, raising his autistic daughter with care, and just as guarded as Ember. But the way she loved them both. Soft, Steady, and Unshakeable. She didn’t just love Laurent she chose him. And the space she held for his daughter? Beautiful.

This one had me closing my Kindle just to breathe.

If you’ve ever smiled through heartbreak or whispered “I’m fine” when you weren’t this story is for you. It’s emotional. It’s dramatic. It’s honest. And it’ll stay with you long after the last page.




Profile Image for LexRead.
295 reviews22 followers
April 5, 2025
♾️/5. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!!! This book was soooooo good! It took me through it! The series was so well put together and all the characters had so many layers and depth to them. I love Ashton in book 2 but he made a GREAT side character in book 3! He was too funny. This story was heartbreakingly good I cannot recommend it enough!!

Jaquel is that girl!!

Note to author: Can June get a book please 🥺?
Profile Image for Yolanda Knight- Palmer .
1,077 reviews41 followers
April 1, 2025
Mommy Goals

This book touches on real life experiences and situations. Autism & Infertility. I really got into my feelings with this one.

All Ember ever wanted to be was a mom. She struggled with having miscarriages throughout her marriage and ended up getting divorced. She tried everything possible to become a mother. Sometimes it’s not in the cards but God will step in when the time is right.
207 reviews
December 14, 2024
🩵

All the feels! Ember definitely went through it. So glad Laurent stepped up to be there for her. I loved their chemistry. It’s crazy how things turned out for the different characters. Loved this book!
Profile Image for Cheyenne  Starner .
58 reviews
June 29, 2025
TW: pregnancy loss.

This book was 100/10. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I am looking forward to more from this author. This was my favorite book of the trilogy but Bray is still my favorite brother.
Profile Image for Janee  Gray.
69 reviews4 followers
January 12, 2026
The emotion that this book made me feel was intense. I resonated with the infertility Jahquel J had the emotional rollercoaster spot on. Excellent read.
68 reviews8 followers
December 19, 2025
So, I enjoyed the plot line and loved getting to know the characters. I appreciated the inclusion of disability awareness, and the education involved in that. However, the writing killed me. There were words that were misused, words that were missing from sentences, Sentences that were written twice, and repetitive phrasing that should've been caught by an editor. Part of my reading experience is the art of the writing, I love the word choice and grammar, how an author uses language to paint a picture. This felt very messy and like it wasn't ready for Public consumption. As someone who has edited work, a lot of mistakes stood out and it took away from my enjoyment of the story.
Profile Image for Jaszmin.
296 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2025
Ok the voice the narrator used for Laront almost made me DNF but im glad I stuck it out. About 47% through he stopped for a minute which was nice thats also where they finally got down to business and we didnt get any detail🤬 We barely got any spicy scenes in this book it was always fade to black or the characters talking about it afterwards which was a complete let down. With all that being said I think this was my favorite story in the series🤗😍 in loved Laront and Ember. The patience they had with each other and the friendship they cultivated throughout all books was perfect. This book really shows how God's time is always right on time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tsholo.
360 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2025
This was a little too long and it felt like Oprah was in the back handing out pregnancies.
87 reviews
September 21, 2025
When I started this book I thought, okay now this will be about a man making stupid decisions in a horrible relationship like in the first two books were from the female perspective. And while I wasn’t wrong….I’m glad that it wasn’t the roller coaster ride that both Astoria and Harlym took us on.

**SPOILER ALERT - Because I’m about to get into it.

Why did Ember and Messiah think that it was a good idea to attempt parenthood after divorce when it was the driving factor in them divorcing? Make it make sense.

I was so pissed when Messiah sent Angel to Ember for help. That was overstepping boundaries at its finest.

I was pissed when Messiah asked Ember to be his child’s godmother. However, by the end of the book my heart overflowed with how truly meaningful his request was. I understood why Ember was angry it seemed so insensitive in the moment but what an honor he bestowed upon her. He couldn’t give her children in life but…😭

I don’t know what Miss Author Lady was trying to do when she wrote the scene about Messiah and Angel’s accident but it tore my heart apart! I was bawling! 😭 I felt the intensity and gravity of this scene so fully. Messiah wasn’t even a main character and I was crushed. Just as I was moving on with my life, much like Ember, here comes Mr. Carlos with this letter! Lord! 😭

The opening of the letter took me out! 🗣️😭 After reading it I really wondered why Ember and Messiah weren’t able to make it. It was clear that he still loved and admired this woman. Asking her to be his child’s godmother was definitely an act of love, not the asshole action that I initially thought it was. Even after their marriage was over he trusted no one more than Ember to care for his child in his absence. It was also a way of him finally giving her the child they so desperately wanted. Whew! Talk about love!

To go from no babies to three in a 7 month timeframe is wild. But Ember got double portion. 💕💕

Burning Questions:
* Why was there an introduction to trouble in June’s life that was never fully explored. Why bring it up? 🤷🏾‍♀️ Why not just explore what happened between her and Quan or leave them out all together.

* Why did it seem like it took forever for a rich billionaire lawyer with a prenup to get a divorce? It wasn’t final until the end of the book.

* Why go through all this hooting and hollering about Astoria and Bray’s wedding only for them to elope? They could’ve done that to begin with because this wasn’t their book. 🙄

* How was Harlym AFTER having the baby? She straight? 🤷🏾‍♀️

* Was Romeo’s situation important to the plot line at all? 🤔

* When is Ember and Laurent getting married! They said a wedding wasn’t needed and they have three children now.

Also, the nerve of Astoria casting judgement on anyone else’s shit when she was leaving her house at night to be with Bray and dragging her children across town to be in his face while she had a WHOLE ASS HUSBAND at home! Girl, don’t think we forgot! 😏

And another thing! Did any of us believe that Alice had EVER been a good person? Also, were we surprised by her attempt to destroy Laurent? I wasn’t and we know why. 😏

After reading the entire series

* I don’t understand why Astoria wasn’t divorced by the end of book 1.
* I don’t understand why Harlym and Astoria’s relationship was non existent in book 2. Even before she pissed Harlym off but it was back in book 3. 😏

This series was exhausting. It was definitely different from the authors other work. These characters and their terrible relationships took me through it. Book 3 was my favorite of the series. Aside from a few areas of repetitive writing I thought the author really did an amazing job of telling this story. Things that I didn’t understand in the beginning became clear and meaningful in the end. She dug deep for this one and I really appreciated the work. I’m hoping that some of the loose ends in the book will find themselves getting tied up in other books.

I gave this one a 5⭐️ because it was great storytelling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,212 reviews3 followers
October 1, 2025
Girl you sound crazy. That man can sleep with his girlfriend with or without protection and you most definitely should not be a consideration.

“I want you to be my baby’s god parent.” When I silent read this line Messiah said to Ember, out loud without much thought, I said - I wanna punch this mother fucker in the face. It’s bad enough he pulled strings to get his pregnant girlfriend as Em’s patient, you want her to be GM. I swear I’d she says yes I’ll be hella pissed. Bc FU.

If you don’t care about your marriage, get a divorce. Plain and simple. Don’t know why Laurent still dragging this. It’s been years.

Not Harlym calling someone stupid for how they are acting in a relationship when she gave Ashton the blues in the beginning of theirs.

Um Shanny didn’t make a mistake she intentionally slept with a married man. But I agree that action doesn’t fully define her as a person.

Laurent is pissing me off bc why is he still with Alice? Why is he going Mona fa,ily trip with her and her friends when i her he’ll never sniffing behind Em. Don’t have her looking like some shady side piece. Then he’s he’s gas lighting Alice when she tries to call him out. He’s actually annoying me bc he won’t man up

Damn Alice is shiesty. How is Tiphany still her friend.

Ok Alice doing the most. But that’s what Laurent gets for not reading it sooner

Not this nigga pissed with Em bc his selfish wife cheated. And though she did it first, his ass cheated too. Laurent stay passing me off.

Ok at least they got it together

So Shanny want to romanize her relationship with Carols husband. If they were so in love, why did he stay with his wife? So much for her saying it was a mistake to be with him.

Is June’s new man beating on her? That’s the vibes I’m getting.

No, not messiah😭

That letter from messiah got me like, who’s cutting onions

Um Em, don’t you plan to have a convo with Laurent before you agree? I’m pretty sure he’ll be cool, but still.

Ok he was for it

Poor June. I hope this isn’t the last of her.

Though I connected with this couple the least, bc it took so long for them to interact in their book, and Laurent indecisive ass pissed me off in the beginning, I eventually fell for them. Glad i stuck it out. Even happier that they got their HEA.


5 reviews
September 17, 2024
Loved it!!!

I just finished reading all three books and I just wanna say Jahquel, you gets down honey. I love the way you write and how everything keeps me interested until the very end. Every book I have read by you so far is so so good and always packed with details that never leave me confused at the end.

After reading all three books, I’ve come to the conclusion that all the FMC in the books are very judgmental towards one another despite being good friends. Like yea it’s cool to have that friend who calls you out on your bs and is honest, but its always good to have that friend that is down for whatever whenever as long as you’re happy. They support you in everything no matter their opinions on it and I just felt like Ember, Harlym, and Astoria were lacking that which explains why they all felt so comfortable keeping secrets from one another until they couldn’t. I wouldn’t want to tell my friends half of the things going on in my life if I knew it would turn into a lecture about the things they feel as if I’m doing wrong in my life either. Yea it may get annoying constantly hearing about the man that doesn’t do me right or the job that doesn’t deserve my work but at the end of the day, they’re my decisions and it doesn’t hurt to let me learn what I need to learn on my own time without constantly being judged for it. They all had a good friendship but went to far going tit for tat trying to hurt one another with their words when they all could have just looked at it like “if you like it, i tolerate it sis” and supported it as much as they could until they got it together like they all did in the end.

Despite that, this series was just what I needed. You did a great job on touching these sensitive topics so many people experience. I can’t wait to read the other series you have in your catalog cause at this point, I’m obsessed.
Profile Image for Kerilè (Read.WithKeri).
19 reviews5 followers
June 5, 2025
Let’s talk about Never Better… Thanks by Jahquel J — book three in the Lennox Hills series and honestly, my favorite one yet.

Ember had the career, the solid friendships, and the full life on paper. But deep down, all she really wanted was to be a mother — and no matter how much she tried, it just wasn’t happening for her. That kind of longing will have you questioning everything.

Then there’s Laurent. A full-time dad to his daughter, doing everything on his own. His wife checked out a long time ago — especially when it came to parenting their autistic child. She didn’t have time for motherhood, and Laurent didn’t have the luxury of falling apart. He had to step up, and he did. That man was running the show solo for so long, you’d forget he was even married.

Now enter Ember and Laurent’s undeniable connection. Their chemistry? Off the charts. But let’s be real — a woman actively trying to conceive and a man still legally tied to someone else? Whew. Right person, wrong time don’t even cover it all.

Jahquel gave us so much more than just a love story. This book is layered with real emotion — grief, hope, guilt, desire, and healing. You see Ember wrestling with feeling like her body is failing her, and Laurent navigating life as a present, protective father while feeling emotionally abandoned by the one person who should’ve been in it with him.

What I loved most? The way they became a soft place for each other to land, even when the timing was messy. It was raw. It was complicated. But it was real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tisha.
1,243 reviews
July 19, 2025
Dang this was disappointing, I read a few reviews raving about Laurent and Ember’s story. Overall, the hope of Ember finally get a baby was the only thing I enjoyed.

For one, there were two too many discrepancies in the story. At the beginning of the story, Laurent said Luna was 7. But midway through the story she was 6, so apparently she was aging backwards🤦🏾‍♀️. Also, in the beginning when giving us background on him and Alice, it’s mentioned while she was in Mexico he too hooked up with other people. But his argument towards the end was he was a good boy while Alice was for the streets.

I hated how things happened in Ibiza, Alice was awful. But this didn’t have the same vibe as book 1. When I was cheering for both of the MCs to get their lick back. Laurent was too flaky. Ember’s response to Messiah while understandable, also was irrational. So for there to be another tragedy, it felt like a trauma dump.

Was the one point of June’s storyline? It didn’t add to the story, just something that didn’t stick.

This had the ingredients, but the way it flowed was not for me. The race thing could’ve hit harder- had the author reduced the many plots and all the redundancy. This story could’ve been half the pages, if we didn’t read the same things over and over. I get it. Alice was horrible, but almost every other page- he was flaking on leaving her. It didn’t feel like the characters fell on page, but rather it was an expected in and we were told they loved each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,100 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2025
I loved everything about this book. ❤️ the storyline was so well written. This was Ember and Laurent's story. Laurent is in a loveless marriage to Alice. They have an autistic daughter that Alice basically wants nothing to do with. Laurent is majorly attracted to Ember. They messed around b4 when Laurent and Alice separated but nothing since they reconciled.

Ember is recently divorced and desperate to be a mother. She's going the IVF route with no success. Shes also reluctant to share her journey with her gfs bc the IVF hasn't been working and she hates burdening people with her failures. Laurent volunteers to be her rock as she goes thru IVF. These two get so close during this journey.

As someone who has suffered several miscarriages, I felt so seen by Ember's story. Jah did a wonderful job describing the painful journey of the IVF process. Even better, Ember got her happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.