The Best I Never Had: A Novel

by Amy Buchanan

They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.

Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.

But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression.

Owen's life has always been about control—managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a "heart-destroying" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.

But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Fake Dating, Contemporary Romance, Humor, Contemporary, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - 3⭐️
I really wanted to like this because it had a very promising premise- what happens after the fate dating? But unfortunately almost every character was terrible and no one improved as the story went on

Thea was fine but her self-flagellation got really old. She was constantly dragging herself for being a "disaster" and ruining everything because she couldn't hold her temper and would blurt things out. And like… 1. Maybe don't do that? Not hard to just...not say things. And 2. it was entirely self-inflicted? She would get mad, lash out at people and then act like the victim

Owen (and his brother Harrison for that matter) was fine- his only personality traits were being a people-pleaser and down bad for Thea. Again, his issues were pretty self-inflicted- he refused to ever speak up for himself and then was the constant martyr about it. I AM glad he finally put his mother in her place by the end because whew boy, did she ever suck

Then we have Addy- Addy ALSO sucked. Seeing the pattern here? Thea's little sister desperately wants her fiancee's family to like her, but really makes zero efforts to make that happen. We're told she's shy and nervous/quiet around new people and that's totally fine. But maybe put in a LITTLE effort? She never tried to do things with them that she would be comfortable with, she just assumed that she would instantly be loved. Thea also jumped down people's throat the moment they didn't fall at Addy's feet like girl... she is 23 years old she can stand up for herself. These two were honestly exhausting

I do wish Thea had it out with her sister in the end, because I really don't think Addy deserved to be redeemed as easily as she was. She constantly expected Thea to be there and support her, but not be liked to much. Basically she wanted her sister to support her but only if she shut up and didn't take any of Addy's spotlight. Insufferable honestly. She only apologized in the end after Owen yelled at her and I was waiting the entire book for Thea to put her in her place

[Savvy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️ 3/5🌶️
The YEARNING in this book was absolute perfection. About three quarters of my highlights reference how down bad Owen was for Thea and I LOVED it. The fake dating to fake heartbroken to secret fooling around made the forced proximity that much more intense. The entire cast of characters were outlandish, funny, and had a believable family connection. I appreciate that the author created nuance surrounding grief, parental/family structure, foster/adoption trauma, and mental illness in a caregiver. This didn’t wrap up with everyone “cured” and “perfect,” but actively working toward healthier dynamics.

Also, this was far more steamy than I was anticipating and I am not mad about it. The chemistry and passion between Thea and Owen was well written.


Anticipated Publication Date: August 18th, 2026

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this free eGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Torrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Amy Buchanan’s debut and was excited to read her follow up. I loved this one just the same. The premise of this story I thought was so original. What happens after a fake dating and fake breakup story? We start the story with Thea having pretended to be Owen’s girlfriend for a wedding date years ago - and afterwards they had a fake heart-breaking breakup. Now three years later, Thea’s sister happens to actually be marrying Owen’s brother - unbeknownst to either of them. For the wedding week, Owen begs Thea to pretend they are still broken up, when hopefully they can’t catch any feelings for each other.

I loved this book. It was so fresh and original. The chemistry between Owen and Thea was undeniable. The extra layer in this story was the one with Thea and her sister, Addy. Two orphans, Thea, the older sister, was always trying to protect Addy and make sure she had the better life. The sister love and past hardships drove a lot of the decisions Thea made in this story, while falling in love with Owen. Just a beautiful drama filled romance book with many great themes, and personal development from both Owen and Thea.

Amy Buchanan has become an auto-read author for me!
Thank you so much St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Amy’s debut last year and this one was just as good! Fake dating is one of my all time favorite romance tropes, but this felt more emotional and grounded than the usual setup. Throw Owen and Thea into a chaotic wedding week, add family tension and unresolved history, and it just worked. They felt real in a messy, complicated way, and I kept wanting to yell at Thea that she deserves love too, not just everyone else around her. This isn’t a perfectly wrapped, fairy tale romance and that’s exactly why I loved it. The family dynamics are complicated, people make frustrating choices, and both characters have real baggage they’re trying to carry while figuring out their feelings. Watching Owen slowly drop the control and expectations he’s been hiding behind for years made the emotional payoff feel earned. I was rooting for these two the whole time to just get out of their own way and choose each other. Such a strong sophomore novel. Amy is officially an auto buy author for me at this point.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press & Amy Buchanan for the eARC.

I absolutely loved The Best I Never Had—I truly couldn’t put it down. It was exactly the kind of romance I needed to break up my usual fantasy-heavy reading, and it delivered in every way.

As someone who’s a total sucker for the fake dating trope, I was hooked from the start. Amy executed it perfectly, making it feel fresh, fun, and completely addictive. The dynamic between Thea and Owen was everything—their banter had me giggling nonstop, but there was also heartfelt moments that brought me to tears.

The story had just the right amount of spice while still delivering real emotional depth. It wasn’t just a light, fluffy romance—it had substance, vulnerability, and characters I genuinely cared about.

This book was such a joy to read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a romance that’s equal parts swoony, funny, and emotional.

[Christina | readingthroughatlanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Unique premise surrounding the “fake dating” trope. Compelling characters dealing with relatable familial and internal issues. And I know it’s kind of fast, but I very much buy into Owen and Thea’s romance! what a whirlwind! Dual POVs helped and especially allll the spice. But mostly they felt real and earnest and very deserving of some good.

Loved it being set over a shotgun wedding weekend in the mountains. Side characters that were fun (so many cousins!) and not so fun (Diana made me want to scream - who is this evil?!) but also added a ton to the story overall. When you can make me empathize with the antagonist in the end?? that’s just good writing!

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun, fast paced romance!

READ FOR
Dual POVs
Fake Dating / Second Chance
Small Town
Family Drama

[Ashley]

Ebook ARC from Netgalley

I had the chance to read The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan, and I really enjoyed Owen and Thea’s story. I’m always a sucker for fake dating and second chance romance, and this one delivered.
Owen had such a steady presence and truly accepted Thea for who she was, giving her the space to grow. And Thea pushed Owen out of the box that life and his family had put him in, which made their dynamic so satisfying.
I did struggle with how Addy treated her sister for most of the book, and Owen’s mother definitely tested my patience.
Overall, this was a fun, emotional read with a couple worth rooting for.

[Haley Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book really put me through the full range of feelings. I found myself rooting for Owen and Thea and hoping they would end up together, while also feeling frustrated with some of the people around them (especially Owen’s mom and, at times, even Thea’s sister).

As someone who works in the foster care world, I appreciated the foster care aspect of the story. It added an extra layer of depth and felt meaningful to see that perspective included!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved Amy Buchanan’s debut, but I think I feel more strongly about this book!! The writing is breezy and fun. It was such a fun twist on the fake dating trope, the two main characters felt real, and I loved that there was a huge cast of supporting characters! I didn’t love every one of the side characters, and some truly pissed me off, but I think that made this book all the more fun!!

[Arielle Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Thea is direct, loyal, and extremely protective of the people she loves and Owen has some golden retriever energy that balances her energy well. This book made me chuckle on a few different occasions with the funny things that Thea would say.

There are a few spicy scenes that I don’t necessarily care about, but they didn’t take from the storyline and there were only a few.

[Candace Munoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️

I loved Amy Buchanan’s book “Let’s Call a Truce.” When I saw I could read this book on NetGalley I jumped at the opportunity. I am writing my review on my own free will. Now I loved “Lets Call a Truce,” but this story fell short for me. I will tell you why but know I love Amy Buchanans writing and I will always read her books.

Thea and Addy are biological sisters and they grow up moving from foster home to foster home. Thea being the older sister always looked after her younger sister Addy. Addy has a good career and new fiancé and all she wants is for her sister Thea to help her win over her new fiancé’s family. Thea (FMC) is a struggling waitress and feels like no one will ever truly love and accept her. She agrees to her sister request because Addy has always come first.

Owen (MMC) is the older brother to Harrison (Addy’s fiancé). Owen spent one weekend with Thea about 3 years ago and has not been able to get her out of his mind. Owen gets a surprise when he meets Addy, realizing that his future sister in law is the sister to Thea.

Now there is a lot of things that happen in this story and I don’t want to ruin it for you. But I will tell you what I didn’t like about this story is Addy and her selfish childish ways. I honestly felt like Addy ruined the story for me. Even though the author tries to redeem Addy in the end. There were several times were I was sick of reading about Addy and her whiny personality that I wanted to STOP READING. I’m not one to DNF a book so I persevered and finished the book.

“There are a billions of men on this planet. Why does it have to be him? Please just leave me this family.”- Selfish Addy page 250

Thea and Owen’s relationship saved this book for me . I kept reading because I wanted to know if they end up together and what decisions they make about a future together or for themselves.

“I almost regret what she must see. I can imagine what I look like to her right now. Possessed. Starved. But there’s no stopping it now. Not while she’s on the stage looking like perfection and sounding like my every dream.” - Owen page 107

Tropes:
Fake dating .
Fake exes.
Forbidden Romance
Small town
Big family (His)
Wedding shenanigans
Second chance romance

[Allie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book, it kept me up later than I wanted because I was so invested in the plot. I appreciated that the characters had decent communication and when things went wrong it wasn't a long drawn out conflict or misunderstanding. The yearning was also *chef's kiss!* I haven't read anything by this author before but will definitely check out other books.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so much fun!! It was chaotic and messy and there was a lot of that everyone needed to work through!! But there was also so much LOVE!! Between Thea and Addie, and Owen and Harrison. Even though things were difficult between them, it was clear how much they loved each other. they just had SO MUCH pressure on them! From so many different places!! I thought it was so well written and everything flowed so well.

I love love love LOVED Thea and Owen!! Their chemistry was DELICIOUS! They were so clearly meant to BE! The way Owen had been PINING after her since their first time together?? The way they just simply were DRAWN together?? Ugh I loved them!

Unfortunately my least favorite part was Owen’s mother, which of course is the point! But the entire thing just made me SO MAD! Even if she isn’t fully well, and had her own things to work through! I get it! But I do not care!!!! She made Harrison feel unimportant meanwhile Owen was killing himself to make sure Harrison didn’t feel like he was missing anything.

The sibling relationships were everything to me! They WERE messy! none of them knew how to communicate!!! Their circumstances sucked!! The familial expectations were literally crushing them!!! in different ways for each set of older and younger siblings! But also they just loved each other SO MUCH!! And that really was so obvious!!

Thank you so much to SMP for the arc in exchange for an honest review! And to Amy Buchanan for hosting this traveling arc program!!! I’m so happy I got to be part of it!!

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan is a smart romantic comedy novel. Thea is an eccentric character. She was raised in foster care and now at nearly 30 years old is a waitress just barely getting by. All she has in the world is her younger sister Addy, whom she feels responsible for all the bad in her life. Thea puts a lot of pressure on herself and puts Addy above EVERYTHING!

Addy is getting married to a boyfriend Thea has never met. The wedding will take place at a lodge in the mountains with events throughout the week. Upon arriving Thea sees him, Owen. A man 3 years ago Thea “pretended” to have a relationship with so his family would stop setting him up with woman. Owen is the grooms brother. He is also the “one that got away” and Thea is “the woman that got away”. They have secretly been pinning for each other over the past 3 years.

Addy learns of their secret dating and begs her sister to stay away from Owen, not to ruin her life by messing up everything. See Addy puts a lot of pressure on Thea and I don’t care for Addy’s character at all. Thea again puts Addy first and stays away from Owen. Well tries too. There is so much earning between Thea and Owen!!!!! I couldn’t turn the page fast enough because I was rooting for these two and adored their interesting relationship and putting up the facade they are each other’s exes.

Thea was a fun character. A loose canon but so fun and Owen is such a series guy that they actually worked well together for being so opposite.

The book was cute and fun but also a little more spicy than I thought but I wasn’t hating on it!! That barn scene was HOT!

It had some emotional aspects too between the sisters to make the book complete. It was very enjoyable with a cute storyline and charming character.

I give The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan 4 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[meredithandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

It would have been five stars but the mom pissed me off too much and same with the sister at the beginning. I absolutely fell in love with Owen and Thea, their complicated backstories (and their intertwined past). I was straight up when giddy when they saw each other for the first time in three years. I loved the way he loved her the way she was and not in spite of it. I’ve said it before but the sister really pissed me off in the beginning with the way she was acting. I get that she was nervous and everything but you can’t ask that of someone and their whole situation reminded me so much of Mallory Greenleaf and her sister in Check & Mate (I also hated that sister). But at least she kinda redeemed herself by the end of the book. Also loved how Owen and Thea decided to simply focus on themselves and not let others influence their decision. I was so happy about their decision because I really don’t see enough books portraying this. Also so happy they put the mom in her place but it could have went further than that in my opinion. She was sooooo manipulative and every time she talked I just wanted to skip to the next line. Anyway I loved this book and will definitely reread it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

[Stephanie Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wahhhhh. I wanted to love this, but I couldn’t get over hating Addy. I truly cannot stand the way she treated her sister like an inconvenience the entire book. No thank you. It honestly distracted me from Thea and Owen’s relationship.

I’m truly heartbroken because this book had all the elements I wanted. Give this one a shot if you enjoy fake dating, pining, complex FMC, found family. But this book and I just didn’t mesh. I enjoyed this author’s first book, Let’s Call a Truce, and will continue to try all her future books!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eArc!

[Soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Amy Buchanan, and it was such a fun read while also exploring deeper themes like foster care and the lasting impact that trauma can have.

Both main characters care deeply about the people in their lives and are often so focused on making their loved ones happy that they end up neglecting their own happiness in the process.

Owen was absolutely obsessed from the start. He is incredibly patient, understanding, and supportive, and Thea brings out such a fun and playful side of him. He definitely gives golden retriever energy, which is exactly what Thea needs. Their personalities are very different, but the “opposites attract” dynamic works really well and allows them to bring out each other’s softer and more playful sides.

That being said, there were a few characters who definitely got on my nerves at times, even though I could understand where they were coming from.

Despite the emotional and sometimes heavy themes, I really appreciated how maturely the characters handled things. Even when trauma responses or moments of lashing out occurred, they still communicated openly and honestly with each other.

Overall, this was an emotional but very enjoyable read.

Perfect for fans of:
• opposites attract
• he falls first
• fake dating (ish)
• dual POV

[Tiffany Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’M OBSESSED!!!! My first Amy Buchanan read and it was absolutely incredible. I devoured this story is 2 days, not wanting to put it down. As a fellow resident of Central Florida, I loved all the references. Also, a frequenter of the Rocky Mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina it was picturesque and so on point.

Now for the story, Thea resonated with me so deeply and shared what I feel so many people in society deal with. Deep passionate love for others. Owen and Thea’s story reminded me of my own marriage and the way we balance one another. I could read about their story for a 100 books and never get bored.

My favorite read of 2026 💗

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC opportunity!

[Brodiebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Because I knew I had to be critical, I kept a close eye on the details, but honestly, my criticisms are few and far between. This book is exceptionally well-written. Half-way through I was already adding another book from this author to my reading list.

I’ll admit, I had to work hard to suspend my disbelief in the beginning, with the names vs nicknames and no one knowing Tia was Thea, but it was revealed early on who she was so it was okay.

I really enjoyed watching them build their romance and banter together. The chemistry isn't just "there"; you actually get to see it grow through their interactions, which makes the eventual payoff so much better. I don't have many notes from this part in the book because I was just too busy giddily enjoying it.

The "closet scene" was sexy AF. So many authors drag out the sexual tension until the very end of the book until I’m not even interested anymore. Kudos to this author for sticking it in the middle—pun intended. It was spicy without the entire plot being only about the spice; there was a real storyline to keep things moving.

What I loved most was that these characters actually talk to each other like adults. They resolve things honestly rather than relying on the "angsty miscommunication" trope that so many books lean on. These quotes specifically gutted me:

"Did this feel like a one-time thing to you? Because it didn't for me. All of it—every time we talk and touch—feels like so much more, and I don't want to walk away."

"Hate you, because you were upset and needed to let off some steam? You’re not one moment, Thea, and trust me, the good of you far outweighs the bad."

"You're worth making waves for"

Anyone who's ever felt too much just wants to hear this. This book spoke to my emotionally volatile soul, to the me that has repressed and shrunk myself because I've been made to feel like I was too passionate. This is what they mean when they say a good romance book can feel like therapy.

The book features a great friend exchange which I have to highlight because I feel like I've responded with almost an identical quote when my friends are trying to make me be emotionally accountable lol.

"You deserve to speak your truth, Thea," Vaughn says. "Give her a chance to prove you wrong."

"I find it very inconvenient that you've gotten into therapy. Can't you just let me sit in my unhealthy behaviors?"

If I had to give the book one criticism, it’s that there are just too many characters. Who is CeCe and why is she suddenly important at the end of the book?
Also, I’m not musical. I don't know what a bridge is. I don't know the words to Cruel Summer so I don't know what happened on the stage. I really needed to have a quote for what she sang because I'm really confused right now but I know it's bad.

I got into my feelings on this one, crying after the airport scene and again with her and Owen. I love the big family. I've always wanted a big family; I got one through marriage, but they didn't really work out like this.

Regarding the epilogue: Thank you to the author for providing a HEA that felt authentic to these specific characters. I often find that romance novels rely on a very specific, cookie-cutter formula for their endings, but this felt refreshing and true to who they were throughout the book.

Overall, I might have to give this book five stars. I don't do that very often, but I adored Owen. He is in strong competition for my favorite book boyfriend (who is currently Will Griffin from Sarah Adams' Practice Makes Perfect). What I loved about Owen is that the author didn't just rely on his physique being perfect, even though he's written as gorgeous. It was his patience and his accepting nature that got me, him loving her and all her flaws while also learning to stand up for himself. The fact that he wasn't perfect is exactly what made him so lovable. I related really hard to Thea which makes me feel like maybe I'm biased, but that's crazy because I wouldn't have related to her so hard if she hadn't been written so well.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy!

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of toxic, messy people and I enjoyed every minute of it.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced e-copy. This book comes out August 18, 2026.
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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Little does Thea know that the family her little sister, Addy, is marrying into is one she’s already familiar with. One Thea met three years ago when she was hired to be a fake girlfriend to Addy’s groom’s older brother, Owen, for a different family wedding. Meanwhile, Owen’s been pining for Thea ever since that weekend—despite her deleting her number from his phone and the fact they hadn’t even kissed. Because of Thea’s past, she doesn’t believe she’s good enough for him. Because of Owen’s familial obligations, he doesn’t think he’s deserving or desirable.
But what sparks will reignite when they’re forced to perform as best man and maid of honor? Who will their ruse impact?
– FMC: Thea (aka “Tia” or “sweetheart”). 26-years old and still searching for something stable and permanent. Rough around the edges, but very charismatic. Has deep wounds due to her upbringing. Self-described as “a mess who can’t control her temper”
– MMC: Owen. 32-years old and searching for a lifeline to help pull him out of being tied to familial expectations. Self-described as “reliable, but boring” (he is NOT boring…)
– Location: North Carolina (and Orlando, FL briefly)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 4 open-door explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: second chance, fake dating-ish, forbidden-ish, yearning, hurt/heal (but more emotional and it’s subtle)
– Content warning: being in the foster system (negative outlook), grief (death of parent; offpage), being ghosted, intrusive thoughts, controlling parent (who is also manipulative)
– Representation: FMC of Greek heritage (very minor rep), LGBTQ+ side characters

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↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Elastic Heart by Sia

╰┈➤ ❝Another one bites the dust, oh why can I not conquer love?❞

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★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Characters who are too shy to sing and then blow the other main character away with their beautiful singing voice at karaoke
➼ Vibes are the family dynamics from My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets the character depth of The Wedding People by Alison Espach—but with spice

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⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet——————————✧—Spicy
Light/Fluffy————✧———————Heavy/Emotional

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🎯 My Thoughts:

This book read a lot like a rom com with some darker parts. The writing was a bit over the top sometimes—classic romance like “I would do anything if it meant he/she would laugh like that for the rest of our lives” or “If I could bottle up their smell” type of prose.

I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit and it leaned a bit more into “insta love” than I typically like, but the plot was engaging enough that it balanced each other out. I particularly enjoyed Thea as a main character. Her hesitation and tough shell due to her time in the foster system was heartbreaking. While I did get frustrated with her AND Addy at times, it felt super realistic considering their upbringing.

I also loved Owen’s growth as a character. Being forced into a situation he didn’t want but always trying to make the best of it will be relatable to a lot of readers.

I can’t tell if I could cut being married into the Ellis family or not! They are an intense bunch, but the found family here still hit.

Would I Recommend?: Yes! This is what a rom com in a book feels like.

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST I NEVER HAD by author Amy Buchanan is a standalone contemporary Romance that made me smile, laugh, cheer, and woop!. Three years ago, Thea agreed to be someone's fake date to a wedding in exchange for money, which she was really short on, and continues to be really short on. When her beloved little sister invites her to her wedding in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, she figures she can survive the week without causing her sister any trouble. Soon upon arrival, she realizes that she's in for much more than she bargained for. The older brother of the groom is Owen Hayes, the guy for whom she was the fake girlfriend, and his entire family remembers Thea. Over these last three years, he's told them they broke up and he was devastated. To keep focus on the bride and broom, they decide to pretend his story is true, all the while fighting their mutual attraction for each other. What follows is a romance that is sexy, swoon worthy, and transformative for both main characters. There's so much to love in this novel, and I urge you to pick it up as soon as you can.

What I loved most about this book:
- Thea's backstory is a difficult one, having been raised in the Foster Care system, and I really appreciated how Amy handled the character's feelings having come from such trying circumstances. She's a plucky heroine who transforms right before the reader's eyes. Her character arc was messy and perfect, Her love for her sister brought tears to my eyes.
- Owen's backstory was also difficult, but for different reasons. Having been the oldest sibling in a large family, I can appreciate the type of pressure that puts on someone. Combined with having to shoulder responsibilities he never want without complaint, Owen's never went after what he wants... until now.
- The found family aspect of this novel was wonderful. I loved the ribbing this family shared between each other. Everyone had a different personality, and baggage from what's happened with the past. I don't know how she did it, but Amy helped me understand who each of the family members was, despite there being so many of them. That's tough to do, but she did it brilliantly!
- Not only were the sex scenes hotter than Hades, but they integrated the context of the relationship between the two characters, their dynamic, and their character arcs, something that's so important in intimate scenes. Also: I will never look at a supply closet the same way again! IYKYK
- I can't believe I've gotten this far without mentioning the setting, The majority of this novel takes place on Owen's grandmother's resort in the Blue Ridge mountains. It's a gorgeous place for a wedding, and for a secret romance. Amy's descriptions were beautiful and contributed to the overall development of the story.
- the sister love was such a beautiful, sometimes frustrating, but always honest depiction in this novel and I wish there were more novels out there that dealt with sisters in such a raw, honest, and beautiful way.
- If you love fast-paced, can't-put-it-down novels, this one's for you. So far, Amy is 2 out of 2 for pacing. Glorious!

What didn't work:
- I can't think of a single thing I'd change! Hence the five out of five star rating.

THE BEST I NEVER HAD is a romantic, sexy, entertaining read that has enough pining, secret liasons, and family drama to keep you reading into the wee hours of the night. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to purchase this fantastic novel! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

[Unapologetically Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection! Absolute perfection. I DEVOURED this book. Could NOT stop reading it.

Owen and Thea pulled me in! There is so much going on around them, their situation is messy AF, her sister is marrying his brother, his entire family thinks that they dated and he’s heartbroken after their breakup because Thea pretended to be his girlfriend years ago (I know!!!), his family is determined to get them back together, her sister is beyond nervous trying to make a good impression, they both are struggling with familial responsibilities and guilt over the roles they were both forced into …and yet!!!

And yet, they haven’t stopped thinking about each other even after all this time.
And yet, they can’t help but stand up for each other.
And yet, even though they promised they wouldn’t, they can’t keep away from the other.
And yet, even though their future looks improbable and murky at best …they cant imagine one where the other is not in it.

I must take a moment to appreciate and show my immense gratitude, for the Mr Darcy hand flex moment. Excuse me while I squeal with delight 😊😊

Owen is such a good guy. He tries to do the right thing, the responsible thing. He’s always putting everyone else’s needs before his own, making sure everyone else is taken care of. How he has to walk on eggshells becuaee of his mom, how he took care of and practically raised his brother! I loved how his brother showed him that he doesn’t have to do it all by himself. That he has help, and that he should lean on it.

Thea is trying her best to be there for her sister, and to not make her life any more chaotic than it has already been, being tossed around in the foster care system. I loved the bond that the sisters shared. And how it ebbed and flowed. And how Thea was willing to give it all up for her. To sacrifice the one thing she wanted more than anything.

The sibling dynamics here were so good! There was so much love, but also so much left unsaid for fear of hurting someone. How sometimes, we often make ourselves smaller for others. I loved how they resolved these issues, and how strong the bond was between them all. True family fights, they stick, they don’t leave or run away, even if the other person is mad, or angry, or rude or whatever!

I loved how they would always find one another in any room they were in. The chemistry was outstanding!! 🔥🔥 The flirty little banter, the smiles that were just for them, the way they knew one another, how they could communicate without words. The way he looked at Thea when she sang on stage 🫠🫠 I literally melted!

I loved how they constantly thought of the other even when they weren’t with them. When Thea stood her ground about him always driving!! And then forcibly refused to let him take back the keys 🥰🥰 When Owen practically banged down Addys door to fight for Thea!!!

The theme of choices was so powerful in this story. The feeling of being trapped by other people’s decisions is something I can relate to. I loved how they each wanted to make sure that they were allowing the other to make choices, to have the options before them. That they never wanted to do to each other, what had been done to them. Even if it meant letting the other go. Even if it meant that they wouldn’t choose them. But OMG, when Thea did choose Owen!!! Like there was no question. No doubt in her mind. And when Owen basically said he loved her without saying the words for fear he would scare her off. My heart!!! 🥰🥰🥰 And when Thea pushed Owen to take what it was he truly wanted!! 😏😏

I will not shut up about this book! Top tier! No criticisms! Amazing! Perfection! I need more! I need all of Amy’s books!

[Hardee · Rating 5 out of 5]

They faked the relationship. They faked the break-up. Now what?

I absolutely adored this book. First of all, the premise was totally fresh and unique, allowing the main characters to already have a bit of a rapport, without actually knowing each other well.
Three years ago, Owen had hired Thea to be his pretend girlfriend for a weekend and they attended his cousin’s wedding together. Not only did they pull off the scheme successfully, Owen’s boisterous family fell in love with Thea and her authenticity. Afterwards, he led his family to believe that they had dated for a year before she broke up with him and he continued to milk this ‘heartbreak’ for the last three years. So, imagine his surprise when she shows up to his younger brother’s wedding, at the same venue, as the bride’s sister and Maid of Honour.
Thea is fresh out of a job and desperate to help her younger sister win over her fiance’s family and their approval, but it turns out she already knows the family in question. To make matters worse, Owen asks her to continue pretending that they are exes, leading to some hilarious misunderstandings between the main characters and their respective families.
As they spend time together in the week leading up to their siblings’ wedding, they find themselves spending time together, causing Thea and Owen to get to know each other better and start falling in love. Owen’s entire family is rooting for them to get back together, because they see that Owen is happy in Thea’s company. Except, Thea’s sister Addy forbids Thea from getting back together with her so-called ‘ex’ because he is Addy’s soon-to-be brother-in-law and she is worried about making waves in her new family.
So, now Owen and Thea are forced to keep up the charade while also trying to manage the expectations of their respective families, talk about consequences!
This premise led to some really funny moments, like Thea falling into a cake at the welcome party on day one, but it was also conducive to Owen and Thea helping each other with their respective families.
Personally, as the eldest child/daughter in my family, I found the main characters to be totally relatable. Once they overcame their personal misunderstandings about each other, Owen and Thea were so good together because they shared the same values and were able to empathize with one another. Although they both carried trauma from their respective childhoods, they both encouraged each other to let go of their respective trauma behaviours. For example, Thea helped Owen to set healthy boundaries with his family and Owen was able to convince Thea to let go of her negative beliefs about herself. In this way, they complemented one another beautifully.
What I loved was that this book reminded the readers that, while everyone makes mistakes from time to time, they aren’t defined by a single moment. And my favourite scene was when Owen opened up to Thea about his past and she gently reminded him that, “trauma is not a competition,” just because her childhood was even more traumatic than his, that didn’t invalidate his suffering.
The character development and narrative progressed at a good pace, keeping the reader hooked and the humour was the cherry on top.
Overall, a really solid work of art, especially considering it’s only the author’s second novel.

[casey nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start, I want to thank Amy for giving me the chance to be part of her traveling arc team. It has been one of the best experiences I've had with an arc, and I truly loved every moment of reading this book. I DEVOURED Let's Make a Truce, so I was genuinely so excited to get the chance to dive into another world of hers. She exceeded every one of my expectations with her story telling, and quite honestly it felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book. While it's only February, it's undoubtedly one of my favorite books of the year.

thea pappas She's fiery, bold, and unpredictable - all traits that have led her and her little sister Addy through a series of foster homes and a life full of ups and downs. When she learns Addy is getting married, she makes a vow to herself that she'll not only be the perfect sister but the perfect maid of honor too. That is, until she learns the family she's marrying into - is the family of her 'fake boyfriend', Owen Hayes that she parted ways with three years ago.

owen hayes He's quiet, introspective, loyal, dependable and emotionally guarded. He's thoughtful and observant, and sacrifices his own wants and needs for his family - especially his mom who's grieving so deeply after the loss of his dad. He's given up a lot of his own happiness for her, and has instead done what he believes is 'sensible' rather than take chances that will undoubtedly clash with the path that has been set for him.

From the beginning, I knew that I loved these two characters. Thea is a tornado of a human being. She's messy, hotheaded, and at times very toxic, and I loved this about her. She felt so deeply real, and there were aspects of her character that I felt so drawn to and relatable. She's done a lot of wrong, but the one thing she's always gotten right is the loyalty and protection of her sister. Owen is sacrificial of his dreams and aspirations, and just like Thea, devoted to his family. He's cared for his brother Harrison his whole life, bent to the will of his mother to protect the peace, and has always done what his cousins have expected of him instead of telling them what he truly wants and needs.

Some things that I found so enjoyable was the way Owen was unabashedly down bad for Thea. We see it from the beginning - he YEARNED so heavily for her, and it's obvious from the first wedding they spent together, that he's never truly forgotten about her, or moved on. I also loved the dynamic between all of the family members. They were chaotic and so hilarious, and Gabriel had me giggling over every interaction he had with Thea and the rest of the family. I think Amy did a phenomenal job with being sensitive around the topic of foster homes, and the way that the system truly isn't built fairly, or in a way that puts the well being of children first.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed that I could relate to a lot of the characters, and the way that I felt like I was in the mountains with them. It was deeply engaging, had heart and was so raw and real - so much so that I bawled like a baby toward the end. I felt an instant connection to Thea and Owen, and couldn't help but root for them and their happiness that they so HEAVILY deserved. They sacrificed everything for the people they loved, and it felt satisfying to see them get their HEA.

[Cozy Sabie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's the type of family I always imagined for me and Addy, loving parents who are gentle even when we screw up. How different would love have been if we'd been raised like this?"

GENRE: Romance
RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Tropes: Dual POV, Fake Dating and Second Chance, Sister bond & Family centered, Wedding Drama

Overall Impression: A Romance story that is about love, loss, grief and what it means to embrace who you are after you've given everything you can to the people you love.

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Review:
This is my first Amy Buchanan and what a journey this book was. This is a story that discusses and covers so many themes, starting with a Fake Date between Owen and Thea, which then evolves into a story that starts with their sibling's engagement and bridal parties.

I think if I had to describe the whole book, it would be that this is a story for when love is too much and not enough. We see the love between siblings in Thea and Addy, Owen and Harrison. We see what it means to be an older sibling dealing with loss and acting as a parent/care-giver. We see the love between each sibling and the sacrifices they've all had to make and the pieces of themselves they have given up throughout the journey. This is built through both POVs (Owen and Thea), through their history with their family and seeing what happened in the past.

And because their love for their family(ies) was too much, they don't necessarily have enough to give to themselves or others in their community and relationships. Thea struggles with learning to love herself and accept that she is worthy of more than what she was told throughout her entire life for being an angry child in foster care. Owen struggles to understand that he can want his own life, which looks different than what his mother might want for him after their loss and grief. And this is a story of wanting to belong somewhere, especially from Thea's POV (and from what we can tell, Addy as well).

The Romance in this is beautiful itself and the themes surrounding loss, grief and relationships is beautifully layered with funny, humour moments that allow both Owen and Thea to grow and embrace themselves and what they want. I think I loved the way this ended as well, the choices they made and how much it aligned with the people they've become by the end of the journey. All in all, I think I love that we get to explore the idea of unconditional love and what that looks like through different lenses.

I am so excited to read more of Amy Buchanan's stories and I do wonder if we will get any other books in this as inter-connected series. We got to meet so many characters and see them through Thea and Owen's POV that it felt like we got to know them well.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy!

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC from the publisher for this book. This was also my first Amy Buchanan book and I truly enjoyed everything about it. This was a 5 Star read for me!

Thea, the FMC, did not have an easy upbringing with being bounced from foster home to foster home with her younger sister, Addie. She lived to make sure that Addie was protected, and was known for being short tempered. Addie does end up being adopted when Thea aged out of the foster care system, which does put a strain on their relationship. Thea is strong- minded, protective, and always speaks her mind which lends her to getting in trouble with relationships and jobs. At the start of the book, we find Addie visiting Thea at work to let her know that she was engaged, which shocks Thea because she has only been dating him a short time, and also the wedding was in a month…

Owen, the MMC, struggles with his relationship with his mother who has been depressed since his dad died a decade or so before, and he has always been the one who has taken the role of dad to his younger brother, Harrison. Owen runs the family company with his brother as a partner but with a smaller role. Harrison is getting married to- you guessed it- Addie and all of the family comes together at the week long wedding festivities up in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the family’s winery/ resort.

Thea arrives to the first night of the celebration late and sees Owen, the man she has never been able to get out of her mind from years prior when she was paid by him (they had a friend in common) to be his date to a family wedding so his mother would stop trying to set him up. Owen played it off as they broke up after the wedding, and he was heartbroken, so seeing her at his brother’s wedding was a shock for both. Thea still has feelings for that one night but feared rejection so erased her number from his phone. They now must decide what to do since everyone loved Addie at the first wedding, so remembers her, and wants them both to get back together. Thea and Owen must now decide if they should continue to fake being broken up, or fake falling for each other again, but want to make sure that nothing is taken away from Addie and Harrison’s day. Addie warns Thea to stay away from Owen and not make the week about her, but can they actually do that? I really could go on, but then I would definitely have spoilers!

I love how the characters evolve in this book. I can totally relate to Thea and having a short fuse at times, so I loved how that was discussed and how “one moment doesn’t define you” is an ongoing theme. We see how even though some people look like they have it all together, we all have our issues and it’s about how we make changes. I absolutely loved this book and I felt that the author did a great job at bringing humor, romance, and family relationship struggles into it.

[Caitlyn Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thea Pappas has always been the screw up, the one with a quick tounge and an even quicker temper that landed her in too many foster homes to count after her mother’s death. Even now at 28 she’s barely scraping by with a job she hates and few people she can call family. But when her baby sister announces she’s getting married, Thea’s already messy life gets messier when she finds out her sisters finance is the younger brother of the man she fake dated for a family wedding three years ago. Owen was kind and charming, but Thea knew from the beginning their “relationship” was nothing but smoke and mirrors to appease his very involved family. And when Owen proposes they keep up the charade for the upcoming nuptials, Thea agrees if only to make sure her sisters wedding goes off without a hitch. What she didn’t account for, was falling for the one person she absolutely, definitely should not fall for.

This book was just what I needed after a heavy reading slump. Thea and Owen are absolutely adorable and the fake exes to lovers trope is my favorite! More than just their relationship though, Thea and Owen’s struggles with self worth, family dynamics, and their growing attraction felt real in a way that so many romances can’t quite get nowadays.

The minor characters too, especially Addie and Harrison, were so well fleshed out even when it seems like they aren’t. The two couples are a perfect dichotomy to each other, and it brings the book to life on a whole new level After being in the foster system for their entire lives, both Thea and Addie react to their childhood traumas differently. Where Thea became this loud, take no shit (even when she probably should for her own sake) badass that scares people away before they have a chance to get close and hurt her, Addie went in the completely opposite direction becoming the people pleaser to a fault, striving for perfection so that the people she loves don’t leave her.

Meanwhile Owen and Harrison both lost their father when they were young. Owen took on the typical “man of the house”/“dad” role, making sure he did everything “right”. He sacrificed himself and his wants and needs to make sure not just his mom and brother were okay, but his extended family too. Harrison on the flip side, turned invisible, melting into the shadows because it was too hard to fight for a place in a family that seemed okay with forgetting him.

The way this book had me in a chokehold from page one I was so floored with how well this was written. This book is absolutely fabulous and I cannot recommend this highly enough!

[Sax and Romance Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Oof…these people need therapy. I say that with a lot of love because I think everyone can benefit from therapy, but these people need to go ASAP. Brene Brown would be disappointed in so many of them for working their $***...poop…out on other people.

Thea and Owen are fake-exs whose siblings end up getting married, and neither one realizes until they are both at the pre-wedding forced family fun. SURPISE! Chaos ensues. We begin with some second hand embarrassment for Thea as she lands in a cake while backing away from Owen. “...the universe had apparently decided rock bottom wasn’t enough for little old me, and chose instead to push me through the earth’s crust and boil me in hot magma made of my own embarrassment and shitty decisions.”

Thea has herself convinced that she’s a horrible person and not worthy of relationships, love or really anything good. I really wanted to give her a big hug so many times throughout the book. Thankfully she has Owen on her side (most of the time), determined to be patient with her as she works through some major trauma. And Owen has his own struggles as he tries to manage the extremes of his mother’s emotional manipulations. He needed someone to tell him that no is a complete sentence.

Addy’s sister and Owen’s mother are at the center of all Thea and Owen’s problems. Addy comes across as irritating and needy, and Thea twists herself into knots trying to keep her sister happy at the expense of her own feelings. Owen’s mother is controlling and manipulative, and that kind of a character is pretty triggering for me, so my reaction to her was very negative.

There was a lot of tension built on whipping back and forth between they love each other…wait, no, they can’t! They love each other…wait, no, they can’t! I stuck with reading through this even when wanting to run away because I wanted to see if they could FINALLY work it out. The author does offer us an HEA. But seriously, therapy. All of you. Therapy.

My favorite line (snort-laugh worthy). Thea reacting to a game of croquet: “What kind of fancy-ass Bridgerton hell is this?”

This book is for you if you love a fake-relationship love story with a heavy dose of family drama, and a side of toasty spice.

[Elia Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Best I Never Had" is one of the best romantic comedies I have read in a long time. From the beginning I fell for Thea and Owen. From the beginning, we were able to see the depths of each character, see how lovable they are and what challenges they faced. One thing that stood out was on the outside Thea and Owen seemed so different but they were more alike than I could ever guess, both giving up so much to care for their younger siblings and putting their families before themselves. Both Thea and Owen's back story is heartbreaking and inspiring, to see Thea go through foster care and never feel loved once to Owen living for his mother to try to keep her happy, they both still accomplished so much and worked through so much pain to become their best selves.

I love how this took the fake relationship trope and gave it a fun new twist. Instead of seeing Thea and Owen fake date, they already did that! Not it is months after the fact and when they arrive about their siblings wedding, they find out Thea's sister is marrying Owen's brother! Now instead of fake dating, they need to pretend like they did fake date, and while it didn't work out, they can still be friends but not too friendly. How is that going to be possible when their chemistry sparks off the page!

Seeing both Thea and Owen's perspectives was so helpful to see how they saw themselves and each other. They always lifted each other up and as they slowly opened up to each other, we got to see the broken pieces and how they could work to heal them by themselves and together.

I laughed so many times with Owen's family, they were such a fun and cooky family always in each other's business and causing trouble and mayhem. I also teared up with some conversations between Thea and her sister Addy as well as Owen and his brother Harrison. While these siblings loves each other and were close, we got to see them be completely open and work to further solidify their sibling love.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, and probably bookmarked or highlighted a third of it to remember my favorite parts. if you love hilarious, complex, lovely characters, a inspiring and romantic story line and want to laugh and cry just a little, this book is for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago Thea met a man named Owen and pretended to be his fake girl friend at his cousin's wedding so his overbearing family, it would leave him alone after the weekend together.He never sees her again, Thea meanwhile is back living her life at a restaurant in florida, when her sister comes in to tell her that her and her boyfriend are now engaged and the wedding is happening. Soon at his family's resort in the Carolinas - that same day, she's fired from her job, that's Thea, has a lot of emotional baggage. Her and her sister grew up in foster care and when Thea aged out, Addie was 14 and was adopted by a family. But they still managed to stay together.for visits and the bond between them is strong - thea knows that she needs to make a good impression on Addie's boyfriend's family. So she makes her way to the carolinas where they're set for a week long celebration at harrison's family resort- when she gets there, she realizes that something's not right. This was the exact same thing resort. She played girlfriend adds a few years prior imagine her surprise when she comes to realize that addie's fiance is Owen, his brother. - they decide to keep what happened between them earlier a secret and not tell anybody and just ignore it. - even though their chemistry is off the charts ( did I mention that Owen still dreams about Thea) this book has a lot going on in that week. Leading up to the wedding. Owen doesn't really like his job, There's a lot of family issues with Owen and Harrisons mother- Thea and Addie have a lot of drama as well, what's so much is going on in the subplots sometimes it's a little too much, especially the family stuff.But it's cute, and it's fun.The secondary cast of characters is cute.I just wish it was not so messy.And all over, sometimes - i would love for vaughn to get his own story! - the epilogue was also too much for me a bit of a stretch but hey i get it -- but it's a very cute rom com would definitely recommend

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review