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Best Mistake Ever
A BRAND new funny, sexy and sweet working together romance for fans of Tessa Bailey, Christina Lauren and Emily Henry! Some mistakes are worth making
Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? A lot apparently! Because her sister Delilah has hugely understated her role – the hotel is at risk of closure and she’s promised she can turn it around. Now Bea has to find a way to fly under the radar, get the job done before anyone notices their switch up.
Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he's watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade . Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sisters boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "There is no one like Christy McKellen for fun, flirty and sexy romance with a lot of heart and deep emotional insight" - Jessica Gilmore
Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? A lot apparently! Because her sister Delilah has hugely understated her role – the hotel is at risk of closure and she’s promised she can turn it around. Now Bea has to find a way to fly under the radar, get the job done before anyone notices their switch up.
Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he's watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade . Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sisters boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "There is no one like Christy McKellen for fun, flirty and sexy romance with a lot of heart and deep emotional insight" - Jessica Gilmore
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
226 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Christy McKellen
119 books156 followersFormerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time writing provocative, passionate, seductive romance. When she’s not writing, she can be found enjoying life with her husband and three children, walking for pleasure and researching other people’s deepest secrets and desires.
You can find out more about her books at www.christymckellen.com
You can find out more about her books at www.christymckellen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
January 12, 2025
REVIEW TO COME!!!!!!! This was cute, but it wasn't😑!!!!!!!
December 30, 2024
— ( 🐚 ) arc review ⊹
the narrative centers on bea donovan, whose twin sister dee has experienced a minor accident, rendering her unable to perform her job responsibilities. dee finds herself in a difficult predicament with her employer at a local hotel, where she feels overwhelmed, and she reaches out to bea for assistance, hoping to prevent job loss. although bea is initially reluctant, she consents, wishing to avoid interactions with her sister's boss, the charming yet infamous jonah jacobson, a former heartthrob from a boy band. as bea steps into her temporary position at the hotel, she quickly becomes aware of the depth of dee’s troubles, realizing that resolving the situation will be no small task. to complicate matters further, upon finally meeting jonah, she feels an undeniable attraction to his charm, despite recognizing that it could create complications for her sister.
this book was a delightful quick read with a straightforward storyline. i particularly loved the connection between bea and dee. it was truly heartwarming. if you're looking for something brief and easy to digest, this book is a great choice.
on the flip side, there were aspects i found less enjoyable. the writing felt somewhat flat, lacking a sense of warmth. i noticed a lot of repetitive language throughout. additionally, i thought having multiple points of view was not the best choice, as dee's perspective didn't add much for me. i also wished for deeper character development and more bonding moments, as those elements are what i really seek in romance stories.
⤿ workplace romance
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ mistaken identity
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ multiple povs
thank you netgalley and boldwood books for providing the e-arc in return for my honest review!
the narrative centers on bea donovan, whose twin sister dee has experienced a minor accident, rendering her unable to perform her job responsibilities. dee finds herself in a difficult predicament with her employer at a local hotel, where she feels overwhelmed, and she reaches out to bea for assistance, hoping to prevent job loss. although bea is initially reluctant, she consents, wishing to avoid interactions with her sister's boss, the charming yet infamous jonah jacobson, a former heartthrob from a boy band. as bea steps into her temporary position at the hotel, she quickly becomes aware of the depth of dee’s troubles, realizing that resolving the situation will be no small task. to complicate matters further, upon finally meeting jonah, she feels an undeniable attraction to his charm, despite recognizing that it could create complications for her sister.
౨ৎ ⋮ No matter how much time we spend together, I never get tired of being around him. He’s such an intrinsic part of my life now I can’t imagine doing it without him. I definitely have a sense of my life being split into two halves. Before Jonah and With Jonah.
this book was a delightful quick read with a straightforward storyline. i particularly loved the connection between bea and dee. it was truly heartwarming. if you're looking for something brief and easy to digest, this book is a great choice.
on the flip side, there were aspects i found less enjoyable. the writing felt somewhat flat, lacking a sense of warmth. i noticed a lot of repetitive language throughout. additionally, i thought having multiple points of view was not the best choice, as dee's perspective didn't add much for me. i also wished for deeper character development and more bonding moments, as those elements are what i really seek in romance stories.
⤿ workplace romance
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ mistaken identity
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ multiple povs
thank you netgalley and boldwood books for providing the e-arc in return for my honest review!
December 20, 2024
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
2.75 Stars!
Best Mistake Ever is a charming, quick read with a simple yet engaging plot.
However, the writing wasn't what I was hoping, and it felt a bit too repeptitive at times. I also wasn't completley sold on the character developments, it could've been better, in my opinion.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick, light read, I would still recommend giving this book a try.
_______________________
This sounds like fun, can’t wait to dive into it.
2.75 Stars!
Best Mistake Ever is a charming, quick read with a simple yet engaging plot.
However, the writing wasn't what I was hoping, and it felt a bit too repeptitive at times. I also wasn't completley sold on the character developments, it could've been better, in my opinion.
Overall, if you're looking for a quick, light read, I would still recommend giving this book a try.
_______________________
This sounds like fun, can’t wait to dive into it.
February 8, 2025
― ´arc review`.✧
A missed opportunity.
I applied for the arc after seeing the blurb and sister swap elements like obviously it is an intriguing concept but unfortunately it fell flat with the execution. The insta-lust and the superficial attraction between Jonah and Bea killed my vibe. It was out of the blue and felt off. And not to mention the writing was chaotic and all over the place, I didn’t connect with it at all. I wish the author had dived into the alcoholism issue in depth and not handled it recklessly.
Anyways, I didn’t end up dnf-ing it so obviously it wasn’t bad that much, I did enjoy it but nothing was spectacular. A quick read with straightforward concept.
Tropes:
☞ Grumpy sunshine
☞ Workplace romance
☞ Forced proximity
☞ Mistaken identity
☞ Sister swap
☞ Celebrity romance
☞ Multiple povs
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc copy in exchange of my honest review.
A missed opportunity.
I applied for the arc after seeing the blurb and sister swap elements like obviously it is an intriguing concept but unfortunately it fell flat with the execution. The insta-lust and the superficial attraction between Jonah and Bea killed my vibe. It was out of the blue and felt off. And not to mention the writing was chaotic and all over the place, I didn’t connect with it at all. I wish the author had dived into the alcoholism issue in depth and not handled it recklessly.
Anyways, I didn’t end up dnf-ing it so obviously it wasn’t bad that much, I did enjoy it but nothing was spectacular. A quick read with straightforward concept.
Tropes:
☞ Grumpy sunshine
☞ Workplace romance
☞ Forced proximity
☞ Mistaken identity
☞ Sister swap
☞ Celebrity romance
☞ Multiple povs
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc copy in exchange of my honest review.
December 12, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! It was a quick and fun read but at times I felt that the whole story was rushed and the attraction between the main characters seemed superficial. If you like the parent trap then this would be for you since the fmc switches places with her twin and ends up falling for her boss.
December 26, 2024
3.0⭐️ really thought i would like this one…unfortunately that was not that case
SPOILERS!!!
i feel like the premise of this book is silly to begin with but it had so much potential and the way it was written made it so unrealistic i kinda tapped out (yall ik it sounds like im being a hater but i didn’t hate the book i promise🙏🙏)
the fmc beatrice or “bea” swaps places with her sister delilah or “dee” (cue me being confused for the first 50 pages about who is who) and when i say she “swapped” places i mean her irresponsible sister asked her to take over her job for a few weeks and she immediately agreed…bea kept being referred to as nice and selfless but i felt like she was just getting walked all over at this point like every character in this book disrespected her (free my girl bea✊✊) other than that i actually enjoyed her and felt she was relatable she just needed a backbone.
i liked jonah until about 70% through..cause he started being a jerk. when bea finally admitted to lying about who she was, he was angry (rightfully so) BUT THEN…he decided it was a good idea to sleep with her and then walk out and be all angry and not talk to her for a week…what? jonah was very obviously not emotionally available because he only brought up his ex IN EVERY CHAPTER. so they kinda felt forced in that aspect.
overall this book was cute but i felt like the characters were super insta-lovey which just isn’t for me and it felt forced. absolutely love the cover and the write style and i will definitely read if jem and dee have a book because i love me some enemies to lovers. thank you to NetGalley for this arc!!
SPOILERS!!!
i feel like the premise of this book is silly to begin with but it had so much potential and the way it was written made it so unrealistic i kinda tapped out (yall ik it sounds like im being a hater but i didn’t hate the book i promise🙏🙏)
the fmc beatrice or “bea” swaps places with her sister delilah or “dee” (cue me being confused for the first 50 pages about who is who) and when i say she “swapped” places i mean her irresponsible sister asked her to take over her job for a few weeks and she immediately agreed…bea kept being referred to as nice and selfless but i felt like she was just getting walked all over at this point like every character in this book disrespected her (free my girl bea✊✊) other than that i actually enjoyed her and felt she was relatable she just needed a backbone.
i liked jonah until about 70% through..cause he started being a jerk. when bea finally admitted to lying about who she was, he was angry (rightfully so) BUT THEN…he decided it was a good idea to sleep with her and then walk out and be all angry and not talk to her for a week…what? jonah was very obviously not emotionally available because he only brought up his ex IN EVERY CHAPTER. so they kinda felt forced in that aspect.
overall this book was cute but i felt like the characters were super insta-lovey which just isn’t for me and it felt forced. absolutely love the cover and the write style and i will definitely read if jem and dee have a book because i love me some enemies to lovers. thank you to NetGalley for this arc!!
December 15, 2024
⭐️ 3.5
“i couldn’t bare to abandon him. Because i’ve fallen for him”
it was really cute and cozy, if you want to read something fast paced this is perfect for you, there’s not many pages.
i actually love that we get to know a lot about Brea and Jonah past, it makes things easier to connect with the characters and for the whole book i was actually feeling so bad for Jonah and i totally understood why he made this choice when we got to THAT moment 👀 even if what he did later shocked me a LOT but yeah.
Brea is really relatable, wants to be perfect, people pleaser, … i get why people would love her so much.
But there was still something missing and this is Dee pov we got like 2 chapters in the beginning then nothing, i would have loved to know more about her, in her own perspective and know what was happening to her.
but despite that, i still have a lot of fun reading this book and i totally recommend it to everyone but especially to someone who want something to read fast.
A big thanks to netgalley and boldwood books for the arc !!
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱:
it was recommended for the one who loves christina lauren, ali hazelwood and tessa bailey books, so i’m kind of curious 👀
“i couldn’t bare to abandon him. Because i’ve fallen for him”
it was really cute and cozy, if you want to read something fast paced this is perfect for you, there’s not many pages.
i actually love that we get to know a lot about Brea and Jonah past, it makes things easier to connect with the characters and for the whole book i was actually feeling so bad for Jonah and i totally understood why he made this choice when we got to THAT moment 👀 even if what he did later shocked me a LOT but yeah.
Brea is really relatable, wants to be perfect, people pleaser, … i get why people would love her so much.
But there was still something missing and this is Dee pov we got like 2 chapters in the beginning then nothing, i would have loved to know more about her, in her own perspective and know what was happening to her.
but despite that, i still have a lot of fun reading this book and i totally recommend it to everyone but especially to someone who want something to read fast.
A big thanks to netgalley and boldwood books for the arc !!
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱:
it was recommended for the one who loves christina lauren, ali hazelwood and tessa bailey books, so i’m kind of curious 👀
January 16, 2025
This is a really fun, quick read romance. Grumpy vs. sunshine, mistaken identity, and slow burn romance. There is one short smutty scene, but the story doesn't lack the tension and romantic build-up.
December 9, 2024
Beatrice (Bea) can’t say no to her twin, Delilah (Dee), and agrees to switch places with her so Dee won’t lose her job. Said job is at a boutique hotel attempting to get off the ground at the hands of broody owner, Jonah.
Jonah is a former rockstar, recovering alcoholic, reeling from a break up that went viral. When Bea arrives, he can’t help but notice a difference from Dee, who was all but fired. Bea comes on the scene with a festival to be held on the grounds, and comes to find herself with feelings for Jonah, which are reciprocated.
This was a quick, easy read. I liked the dual POVs, though it was a little odd to just have one or two from Dee at the beginning and then not again. Twin switches are always a good read because you know there will be fallout when the truth is revealed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Net Galley, author and publisher for the e-ARC.
Jonah is a former rockstar, recovering alcoholic, reeling from a break up that went viral. When Bea arrives, he can’t help but notice a difference from Dee, who was all but fired. Bea comes on the scene with a festival to be held on the grounds, and comes to find herself with feelings for Jonah, which are reciprocated.
This was a quick, easy read. I liked the dual POVs, though it was a little odd to just have one or two from Dee at the beginning and then not again. Twin switches are always a good read because you know there will be fallout when the truth is revealed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Net Galley, author and publisher for the e-ARC.
December 9, 2024
“I’d much rather lose face than lose you.”
Beatrice, Bea, is always stepping up and helping get her identical twin sister, Delilah or Dee, out of hot water. Even when that help includes stepping in to impersonate her so Dee’s very handsome and broody boss, Jonah, doesn’t fire Dee for her lackluster performance at her job. Mistaken identity, witty banter, and steamy connections ensue, all leading up to the big break - will Bea admit to her lie or will Jonah find out on his own?
I loved the banter between Bea and Jonah. She is such a level-headed professional and I loved to see her unexpected feelings for Jonah take off. The setting in Bath, England was so gorgeous, Christy did a great job painting the landscape so you could experience it for yourself. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I just hope we get Dee’s story next!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.
Beatrice, Bea, is always stepping up and helping get her identical twin sister, Delilah or Dee, out of hot water. Even when that help includes stepping in to impersonate her so Dee’s very handsome and broody boss, Jonah, doesn’t fire Dee for her lackluster performance at her job. Mistaken identity, witty banter, and steamy connections ensue, all leading up to the big break - will Bea admit to her lie or will Jonah find out on his own?
I loved the banter between Bea and Jonah. She is such a level-headed professional and I loved to see her unexpected feelings for Jonah take off. The setting in Bath, England was so gorgeous, Christy did a great job painting the landscape so you could experience it for yourself. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I just hope we get Dee’s story next!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.
January 2, 2025
Thank you to Boldwood Books, Christy McKellen and NetGalley for a chance to read this book early! So I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to like a twin swap romance but I really liked Christy McKellen’s other books so I thought I’d give it a try and I’m glad I did. I really liked the FMC Bea and watching her come into her own and discover a job she loved and flourished at. I also liked the instant chemistry between Bea and Jonah. It did seem like a true love match even if it took awhile to get there. There is some hot kissing and spice which I think most of my friends will enjoy.
July 2, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.
2.5⭐️ I felt like this was cute but there were flaws I couldn't see past.
The character development was lacking. I think more could have been explored with both FMC & MMC. I felt the story itself was repetitive as well.
2.5⭐️ I felt like this was cute but there were flaws I couldn't see past.
The character development was lacking. I think more could have been explored with both FMC & MMC. I felt the story itself was repetitive as well.
October 7, 2025
The 2 stars is me being kind. This is 1.5, the story is dull, the characters are bland and pretty much the entirety of this book is inner monologue. The few pieces of dialogue you get are basically pointless and cringe. I found myself skim-reading this in places and honestly just wishing for it to end, and it’s not even a long book sitting at just over 200 pages it’s basically a novella, but by god does it drag on and on.
Jonah is one of the most whiney annoying MMCs I’ve had the displeasure to read about. He has one messy break-up (which sounds like it was actually for the best, and he even admits it wasn’t a good relationship throughout the book) and makes it his overwhelming Trauma that he apparently just can’t get past.
Urgh, I get the premise of this book and the description sounded really promising a sort of adult take on a parent trap type story, but it just flopped so dramatically.
Ironically, one of the sub-plots to this book was Bea’s sister Dee who has ended up stranded on an island with Beas business partner. Throughout the book they are mentioned but no real detail is given or elaborated on, which was a point of frustration for me as it would have been a welcome reprieve from the dull Jonah, however it turns out that we don’t get to find out anything in this book as it appears Dee and Jem’s story is its own separate book.
The way this is written and the length of the book, leads me to think that originally the two stories were meant to be together in one larger book with the stories juxtaposed, however the book was clearly a bit lengthy like that so someone decided it would be better to split them up into two separate books.
Unfortunately, it appears that in doing so we’re just left with an incredibly dull and short book that feels like it’s lacking something - notably its other half! I couldn’t comment on its counterpart as I’ve not read it and if I’m honest I’ve got absolutely no intentions of reading it now or in the future. Perhaps I was unfortunate in reading this one first and maybe Dee’s story is much better but overall this is not a book series I’m going to be rushing to recommend.
Jonah is one of the most whiney annoying MMCs I’ve had the displeasure to read about. He has one messy break-up (which sounds like it was actually for the best, and he even admits it wasn’t a good relationship throughout the book) and makes it his overwhelming Trauma that he apparently just can’t get past.
Urgh, I get the premise of this book and the description sounded really promising a sort of adult take on a parent trap type story, but it just flopped so dramatically.
Ironically, one of the sub-plots to this book was Bea’s sister Dee who has ended up stranded on an island with Beas business partner. Throughout the book they are mentioned but no real detail is given or elaborated on, which was a point of frustration for me as it would have been a welcome reprieve from the dull Jonah, however it turns out that we don’t get to find out anything in this book as it appears Dee and Jem’s story is its own separate book.
The way this is written and the length of the book, leads me to think that originally the two stories were meant to be together in one larger book with the stories juxtaposed, however the book was clearly a bit lengthy like that so someone decided it would be better to split them up into two separate books.
Unfortunately, it appears that in doing so we’re just left with an incredibly dull and short book that feels like it’s lacking something - notably its other half! I couldn’t comment on its counterpart as I’ve not read it and if I’m honest I’ve got absolutely no intentions of reading it now or in the future. Perhaps I was unfortunate in reading this one first and maybe Dee’s story is much better but overall this is not a book series I’m going to be rushing to recommend.
December 26, 2024
When Delilah hurts her ankle on the day of an important work event she asks her twin sister Beatrice to fill in for her and pretend to be her so she won't be fired. Beatrice is willing to do anything to help her little sister keep her job so she cuts her hair to match her twin and fills in for her at the hotel until her sister can recover. What Bea doesn't expect is to work closely with her sister's hot, ex-rock star boss to keep the hotel from closing down. Bea is challenged to save her sister’s job, and the hotel and keep things professional between her and her new temporary boss Jonah. As Bea starts to see the man behind the grumpy facade she realizes that taking the job may have been the best mistake she’s ever made.
This was a fun romance and a quick read. I did find it odd how instantaneous the connection between Bea and Jonah was at their first meeting since he thought it was Dee and they had known each other for weeks. I enjoyed them opening up to each other as they grew closer and the twin switch was interesting. The Grumpy meets Sunshine really worked for the story and I liked how Joanh came out of his shell not only because of Bea but also his own desire to be better. Bea was very conscious throughout her time with Jonah that she didn't want to get too close to him because she knew it was wrong and best to keep her distance and I liked that about her. I didn't like how Jonah acted toward Bea after he found out that she wasn’t her sister, it is fair to be angry but his other actions went too far for me. I was in love with Jonah until that moment even with all his other flaws. It felt out of character for him to go that far. I loved the setting, how they worked together, and the connections they built through the festival.
Thank you Netgalley and Christy McKellen for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a fun romance and a quick read. I did find it odd how instantaneous the connection between Bea and Jonah was at their first meeting since he thought it was Dee and they had known each other for weeks. I enjoyed them opening up to each other as they grew closer and the twin switch was interesting. The Grumpy meets Sunshine really worked for the story and I liked how Joanh came out of his shell not only because of Bea but also his own desire to be better. Bea was very conscious throughout her time with Jonah that she didn't want to get too close to him because she knew it was wrong and best to keep her distance and I liked that about her. I didn't like how Jonah acted toward Bea after he found out that she wasn’t her sister, it is fair to be angry but his other actions went too far for me. I was in love with Jonah until that moment even with all his other flaws. It felt out of character for him to go that far. I loved the setting, how they worked together, and the connections they built through the festival.
Thank you Netgalley and Christy McKellen for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 11, 2024
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ Some mistakes are worth making - Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical, twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? ~
This was a quick read that took me by surprise, that I ended up really enjoying. Everything for a perfect story was there, the execution just felt a little rocky at times. However, it didn’t take long for me to be swept up into things. I could feel the tension and relationships between each character and I felt invested in their storylines - smiling along and excited to know how everything would turn out!
What I liked:
* A bright and cute cover that drew me in.
* Well written and developed characters.
* Sweet, romantic storyline and setting that was easy to visualize.
* Multiple POV worked really well.
What I wasn’t a fan of:
* Info dumps and excessive internal dialogue.
* Pacing felt a bit off.
* How the MMC treated the FMC when he went to the flat. Especially how he left. Not cool.
* How the FMC didn’t even seem mad and forgave the MMC after he left the flat! 😖
⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ Some mistakes are worth making - Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical, twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? ~
This was a quick read that took me by surprise, that I ended up really enjoying. Everything for a perfect story was there, the execution just felt a little rocky at times. However, it didn’t take long for me to be swept up into things. I could feel the tension and relationships between each character and I felt invested in their storylines - smiling along and excited to know how everything would turn out!
What I liked:
* A bright and cute cover that drew me in.
* Well written and developed characters.
* Sweet, romantic storyline and setting that was easy to visualize.
* Multiple POV worked really well.
What I wasn’t a fan of:
* Info dumps and excessive internal dialogue.
* Pacing felt a bit off.
* How the MMC treated the FMC when he went to the flat. Especially how he left. Not cool.
* How the FMC didn’t even seem mad and forgave the MMC after he left the flat! 😖
October 24, 2025
2 ⭐️ I don’t know if im more critical coming from reading my last book or what but typically I like Christy McKellen books as palette cleanser as they are short and sweet. This however wasn’t ‘spicy’ or at least didn’t hit the spot. It wasn’t filled with that much tension and for the first 70% felt slow and lacking and then the last 30% felt rushed and forced. It didn’t feel like the main characters had much chemistry at all and the sister sounded like an absolute nightmare who was clearly getting with the business partner and fmc saying she loved mmc after like 3 or 4 days and begging him to stay after having angry sex just gave me the ick. And he was so mopey and not in a grumpy sexy way just in a sad depressing way. Sorry if that’s a bit too harsh.
December 15, 2024
Bea has a twin sister, Dee.
They couldn't be more different in personality. However, they are identical, aside from one having long hair and the other short.
Bea is determined, focused and reliable.
Dee is artistic, scatty and disorganised.
An unfortunate incident causes Dee to ask Bea to swap places with her for a few days at her new job, as she can't go in with an injury, and Bea, being her caring sister, can't say no.
So she's in an industry she knows nothing about, hospitality, with a cranky 'boss' who is also very good-looking...
I really enjoyed this story with the unexpected romantic twists and the grumpy sunshine nature of the romance.
They couldn't be more different in personality. However, they are identical, aside from one having long hair and the other short.
Bea is determined, focused and reliable.
Dee is artistic, scatty and disorganised.
An unfortunate incident causes Dee to ask Bea to swap places with her for a few days at her new job, as she can't go in with an injury, and Bea, being her caring sister, can't say no.
So she's in an industry she knows nothing about, hospitality, with a cranky 'boss' who is also very good-looking...
I really enjoyed this story with the unexpected romantic twists and the grumpy sunshine nature of the romance.
January 3, 2025
This was a fun read!
The premise was interesting (twins essentially life swapping) and set up a “what could go wrong?” where lots of things did in fact go wrong.
I loved how the sibling relationship developed between Bea and Dee, and I appreciated the growth of Jonah throughout the book.
I’m not sure why this book was labeled as erotica because it is VERY mild content-wise, but there is one moderately explicit scene well into the book. Beyond that, it’s lots of pining and tension (which I love).
Thank you to #netgalley + the author for my digital advance copy!
The premise was interesting (twins essentially life swapping) and set up a “what could go wrong?” where lots of things did in fact go wrong.
I loved how the sibling relationship developed between Bea and Dee, and I appreciated the growth of Jonah throughout the book.
I’m not sure why this book was labeled as erotica because it is VERY mild content-wise, but there is one moderately explicit scene well into the book. Beyond that, it’s lots of pining and tension (which I love).
Thank you to #netgalley + the author for my digital advance copy!
January 2, 2025
What an awesome couple! Tropes i wanna mention; twin switch, workplace romance, a bit of fake dating, and dare i say he falls first?
I really enjoyed this read, managed to go in one day. Its short and its sweet and its fun and i definitely recommend!
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this read, managed to go in one day. Its short and its sweet and its fun and i definitely recommend!
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review
August 6, 2025
the second half of the story
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from the other twin’s perspective. It was a really great way to write it. A story of betrayal and stumbling into a relationship you really shouldn’t have. Loved the complexed characters. I read it quickly as I wanted to find out how it ended
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from the other twin’s perspective. It was a really great way to write it. A story of betrayal and stumbling into a relationship you really shouldn’t have. Loved the complexed characters. I read it quickly as I wanted to find out how it ended
September 3, 2025
This book was fun and I enjoyed each of the leads, however I feel like the writing wasn't quite what I expected and there needed to be a bit less repetitive language.. would recommend if youre looking for a quick easy read!
Thank you netgalley for the arc!
Thank you netgalley for the arc!
December 24, 2024
Bea has an identical twin Delilah, and she’s always picking up the slack for some sort of decision she makes. Now is no different - Delilah has sprained her ankle and is in jeopardy of losing her brand-new job - so she asks Bea to fill in until she is back on her feet. Of course, Bea falls in love with the grumpy and elusive boss Jonah, the son of a rock star and former musician himself. Miscommunication and lies ensue.
Well, I finished this book and there were parts that I enjoyed, but honestly, it felt rushed and so far-fetched. Parts of it never get resolved, and others are just wrapped up quickly at the end. I think the characters have chemistry, but the spice is a bit stale and expected and none of this book feels very realistic. I feel like the book could use editing. I think this book has its audience, but it doesn’t feel very complex or realistic to me. I thought the initial plot line sounded interesting but it did not deliver.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Well, I finished this book and there were parts that I enjoyed, but honestly, it felt rushed and so far-fetched. Parts of it never get resolved, and others are just wrapped up quickly at the end. I think the characters have chemistry, but the spice is a bit stale and expected and none of this book feels very realistic. I feel like the book could use editing. I think this book has its audience, but it doesn’t feel very complex or realistic to me. I thought the initial plot line sounded interesting but it did not deliver.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
January 17, 2025
Quick read with some spice. Overall it felt underdeveloped. I had really high hopes based off the synopsis.
July 20, 2025
I was so excited to read Beatrice’s story but honestly I didn’t love it, I felt like there was no build up or chemistry between her and Jonah, so it was a miss for me.
January 17, 2025
Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong? A lot apparently! Because her sister Delilah has hugely understated her role – the hotel is at risk of closure and she’s promised she can turn it around. Now Bea has to find a way to fly under the radar, get the job done before anyone notices their switch up.
Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he's watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade . Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sisters boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!
Sounds easy, all Bea has to do is avoid her temporary new boss Jonah. However, that’s a lot harder than she thought. Not only does he have impossibly high standards, he’s also out of this world gorgeous, an ex-rockstar with a chip on his shoulder and he's watching her like a hawk! So Bea uses her charm to keep him focussed on the job and not her. But by trying to put up boundaries and keep things professional, Bea finds herself seeing the real man beneath the grumpy façade . Yet with so much at stake, she knows she shouldn’t fall for her sisters boss…but then again, it may just be the best unintentional mistake she’s ever made!
January 8, 2025
Review for the Advanced Reader's Copy:
4,5/5 stars for Best Mistake Ever by Christy McKellen.
This was such a fun read!! It was addictive and juicy, it made me wanna keep reading and kept me intrigued all the way though. The hidden identity trope is one of my all-time favourites, and it was well executed!
The book was also full of clichés and exaggerated characters (e.g. Dee), which is why it feels wrong to give it the full 5 stars but it got really close to that. The exaggeration was a bit annoying and threw me out of the storyline a few times. Other than that, I don't think I have any critique.
It was bubbly and perfect to shut off the brain and just to have fun.
4,5/5 stars for Best Mistake Ever by Christy McKellen.
This was such a fun read!! It was addictive and juicy, it made me wanna keep reading and kept me intrigued all the way though. The hidden identity trope is one of my all-time favourites, and it was well executed!
The book was also full of clichés and exaggerated characters (e.g. Dee), which is why it feels wrong to give it the full 5 stars but it got really close to that. The exaggeration was a bit annoying and threw me out of the storyline a few times. Other than that, I don't think I have any critique.
It was bubbly and perfect to shut off the brain and just to have fun.
January 3, 2025
Fun, very smooth read, adult spicy, but not too much. I had expectations when I started reading this book. Spicy, romcom. That is definitely there. What I didn’t expect was such a smooth cosy feel. Totally believable? No! But that’s part of the enjoyment of this sort of book, where you lose yourself for a little while, and sort of dream for that fairytale love story experience in real life. Christy McKellen has true skill. The descriptive parts just flow, and, the conversations between the characters are just perfectly plausible. Won’t take you too long to read, but if this is a genre you like you will be satisfied. And if this isn’t your genre, or you are a guy scared to read ‘women’s fiction’ give it a go, you may be surprised how entertaining it is. Probably your best mistake ever! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
January 8, 2025
As someone who absolutely adored Best Mistake Ever, I have to say Christy McKellen nailed it with this spicy workplace romance! The chemistry between Jonah, the lead character, and his counterpart Bea is undeniable, and their banter is just chef's kiss. Jonah is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for—charming, a bit flawed, but utterly lovable.
The workplace setting added an intriguing layer to the story, making every moment feel more intense, while still maintaining a lighthearted and fun atmosphere. The book felt like the perfect balance between steamy romance and heartfelt moments—definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys workplace romances with a twist.
The workplace setting added an intriguing layer to the story, making every moment feel more intense, while still maintaining a lighthearted and fun atmosphere. The book felt like the perfect balance between steamy romance and heartfelt moments—definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys workplace romances with a twist.
February 11, 2025
ARC review - all views are my own and I have not been compensated for this review. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing the e-Arc in exchange for this review.
“Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong?”
I want to start my review by acknowledging that I may not be the target audience for this story; I tend to like my characters more on the morally-grey side than cinnamon-sweet and the enemies-to-lovers trope has me in a chokehold (at least for the foreseeable!).
That being said, I am so glad I read this book! My first foray into Christy McKellen’s work was enjoyable - sweet but not saccharine, with the right amount of “believability” in the plot for the reader to see how this could actually happen, without it being predictable. There are a couple of things which, if they happened in reality, would be found out straight away, such as Bea Dee’s story about a student hairdresser messing her hair up so needing a wig. However this doesn’t detract from the plot or the readers’ enjoyment.
I will preface the rest of my review with this: if you are expecting a high-stakes, intense romance with tonnes of yearning and toe-curling spice, this won’t be the book for you. That’s not what this book is for, in my opinion, but I think this story - a beach-read romance to thumb through for a fun time - is still worth a read. With that, here is what I did and didn’t enjoy about the book.
What I enjoyed:
The story being set in the UK was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise.
I was invested in Bea’s story, possibly because I related to her quite a lot: she was the academic to Dee’s creative, the responsible to Dee’s carefree, and as an older sister who was labelled the “mature” one, she resonated with me. Through this perspective, seeing her thrive in - and eventually take over - Dee’s job was interesting because to everybody else she would be changing her life not for the better but to her detriment, despite having more fun there than in her safe, but boring, startup. Seeing her accept this and still choose her happiness was awesome.
There was a “third act breakup” (which I hate) BUT it was short, the reasons behind it made sense and the characters discussed their feelings afterwards which I think isn’t seen enough in these kinds of stories and I appreciated. I also don’t think there would have been a way to avoid it in this story given Bea’s deception over Jonah as to her identity.
The relationship between Dee and Jem, Bea’s best friend and start-up partner, was explained rather than explored and then they had their own adventures off-page. I would be interested in their story, particularly as the tidbits indicate an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity situation (which I will eat up for sure). Could a sequel be in the works?
I wouldn’t say I “disliked” any of this story, however there were some things I would change if I had to think about it. For me, the instant love trope isn’t exciting and even though the romance between Bea and Jonah isn’t instantaneous (mostly because he believes she is Dee), it’s hard for me to believe they could fall in love so deeply with each other after a week.
I made one other note during my reading during one of Jonah’s chapters: “Jonah says “I won’t have it, this obsession with appearance” but a page ago he was ogling her and fancied how she looked? Just admit she is peng!”. I still stand by this note but this is a minor and likely very personal thought so may bother nobody else!
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and, whilst it was my first experience with Christy’s work, it won’t be my last.
“Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister. Including stepping into her hotel management job temporarily and pretending to be her - she’s desperate. What could go wrong?”
I want to start my review by acknowledging that I may not be the target audience for this story; I tend to like my characters more on the morally-grey side than cinnamon-sweet and the enemies-to-lovers trope has me in a chokehold (at least for the foreseeable!).
That being said, I am so glad I read this book! My first foray into Christy McKellen’s work was enjoyable - sweet but not saccharine, with the right amount of “believability” in the plot for the reader to see how this could actually happen, without it being predictable. There are a couple of things which, if they happened in reality, would be found out straight away, such as Bea Dee’s story about a student hairdresser messing her hair up so needing a wig. However this doesn’t detract from the plot or the readers’ enjoyment.
I will preface the rest of my review with this: if you are expecting a high-stakes, intense romance with tonnes of yearning and toe-curling spice, this won’t be the book for you. That’s not what this book is for, in my opinion, but I think this story - a beach-read romance to thumb through for a fun time - is still worth a read. With that, here is what I did and didn’t enjoy about the book.
What I enjoyed:
The story being set in the UK was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise.
I was invested in Bea’s story, possibly because I related to her quite a lot: she was the academic to Dee’s creative, the responsible to Dee’s carefree, and as an older sister who was labelled the “mature” one, she resonated with me. Through this perspective, seeing her thrive in - and eventually take over - Dee’s job was interesting because to everybody else she would be changing her life not for the better but to her detriment, despite having more fun there than in her safe, but boring, startup. Seeing her accept this and still choose her happiness was awesome.
There was a “third act breakup” (which I hate) BUT it was short, the reasons behind it made sense and the characters discussed their feelings afterwards which I think isn’t seen enough in these kinds of stories and I appreciated. I also don’t think there would have been a way to avoid it in this story given Bea’s deception over Jonah as to her identity.
The relationship between Dee and Jem, Bea’s best friend and start-up partner, was explained rather than explored and then they had their own adventures off-page. I would be interested in their story, particularly as the tidbits indicate an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity situation (which I will eat up for sure). Could a sequel be in the works?
I wouldn’t say I “disliked” any of this story, however there were some things I would change if I had to think about it. For me, the instant love trope isn’t exciting and even though the romance between Bea and Jonah isn’t instantaneous (mostly because he believes she is Dee), it’s hard for me to believe they could fall in love so deeply with each other after a week.
I made one other note during my reading during one of Jonah’s chapters: “Jonah says “I won’t have it, this obsession with appearance” but a page ago he was ogling her and fancied how she looked? Just admit she is peng!”. I still stand by this note but this is a minor and likely very personal thought so may bother nobody else!
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and, whilst it was my first experience with Christy’s work, it won’t be my last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2024
Beatrice Donovan steps in for her identical twin sister, Delilah, to manage a struggling hotel, unaware of the high stakes involved. The hotel is on the verge of closure, and Bea must quickly turn things around while keeping her identity hidden. The biggest challenge? Her temporary boss, Jonah – a brooding ex-rockstar with high standards and a sharp eye. As Bea tries to stay professional and avoid distractions, she finds herself drawn to Jonah, discovering the man behind the tough exterior. Despite the risks, falling for him might be the best mistake she's ever made.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope(s): Grumpy x Sunshine, Workplace Romance
My personal rating system:
⭐ Not for me.
⭐⭐ I somewhat liked (some of) it.
⭐⭐⭐ I mostly liked and connected with it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.
My rating:
⭐⭐
I somewhat liked (some of) it.
Review:
This one took me on a rollercoaster. The beginning is strong; it introduces us to the characters and leaves little question about why there’s going to be tension when the ultimate swap takes place—Dee and Bea are entirely different people, and Bea is too kind-hearted and hard-working to ever let someone down. The pacing was difficult for me. It would move quickly, then slow, then very slow, and then ramp back up again. There were moments of whiplash. I felt like the attraction between Bea and Jonah was superficial for the first 60% of the book—and that’s fine. Physical attraction is great, but I didn’t really buy into their genuine feelings for one another until I wish we had gotten more of these genuine and heartfelt moments from Jonah, even if it’s just his internal dialogue during his perspective. He never really softened for me until the end. My big ick with this one: IRL, I don’t think Bea and Jonah could ever be End Game. This feels like a “happy for now” kind of ending, and that’s okay.
The Cover: I’m obsessed with this cover artwork. It’s one of the prettiest cover designs I’ve seen in a while.
My Favorite Things:
• The setting is unique, and it was easy to visualize the beautiful hotel structure and grounds.
• This sister-swap plot is completely new to me, so this was a refreshing concept.
• The whole lake scene.
• The fact that when Bea decided to finally tell the truth—she just told the truth. Band-Aid off.
• Jonah’s self-awareness about who he is and what he’s meant to do. I like that he is carving his own path forward.
• Jonah’s thought—“Competency porn. I’ve always found skills more attractive than looks.” I feel that so hard. Same dude, same.
I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope(s): Grumpy x Sunshine, Workplace Romance
My personal rating system:
⭐ Not for me.
⭐⭐ I somewhat liked (some of) it.
⭐⭐⭐ I mostly liked and connected with it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved it and it left me with that indescribable “wow” feeling. Would read again.
My rating:
⭐⭐
I somewhat liked (some of) it.
Review:
This one took me on a rollercoaster. The beginning is strong; it introduces us to the characters and leaves little question about why there’s going to be tension when the ultimate swap takes place—Dee and Bea are entirely different people, and Bea is too kind-hearted and hard-working to ever let someone down. The pacing was difficult for me. It would move quickly, then slow, then very slow, and then ramp back up again. There were moments of whiplash. I felt like the attraction between Bea and Jonah was superficial for the first 60% of the book—and that’s fine. Physical attraction is great, but I didn’t really buy into their genuine feelings for one another until I wish we had gotten more of these genuine and heartfelt moments from Jonah, even if it’s just his internal dialogue during his perspective. He never really softened for me until the end. My big ick with this one: IRL, I don’t think Bea and Jonah could ever be End Game. This feels like a “happy for now” kind of ending, and that’s okay.
The Cover: I’m obsessed with this cover artwork. It’s one of the prettiest cover designs I’ve seen in a while.
My Favorite Things:
• The setting is unique, and it was easy to visualize the beautiful hotel structure and grounds.
• This sister-swap plot is completely new to me, so this was a refreshing concept.
• The whole lake scene.
• The fact that when Bea decided to finally tell the truth—she just told the truth. Band-Aid off.
• Jonah’s self-awareness about who he is and what he’s meant to do. I like that he is carving his own path forward.
• Jonah’s thought—“Competency porn. I’ve always found skills more attractive than looks.” I feel that so hard. Same dude, same.
I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
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