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The Best I Never Had: A Novel
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 carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.
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 carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you netgalley & st.martin's press for the eARC—all thoughts are my own!
✦ publication date: august 18, 2026
fake dating has never been done this right. imagine you have a fake ex boyfriend? yeah kinda fun if you ask me.
this story follows thea pappas who spent her entire childhood moving through foster homes with her younger sister, addy. later, addy suddenly gets engaged to a man no one has ever met, thea is nervous but wants to be the best maid of honor for her sister so she agrees to spend a week in the mountains for the wedding festivities, hoping to avoid any disruptions.
but when she arrives, she realizes the groom’s brother is owen hayes. three years ago, owen paid thea to pretend to be his girlfriend at a wedding to get his family off his back. that fake relationship ended in a painful, made up breakup, and they haven't spoken since...
now, owen is desperate again. his mother is trying to control his life, and he needs someone to play the role of his girlfriend one more time to keep her away. he begs thea for a deal: one week of pretending to be a couple, ending in the same fake breakup they used before.
thea agrees, on one condition: no real feelings allowed. nut as they start acting out their old lie, the lines between what is fake and what is real begin to blur. and soon, they have to decide if they should keep up the act or admit that their feelings were never fake at all.
the premise hooked me immediately. even though people say opposites attract, i loved that thea and owen were like two sides of the same coin. they truly understood each other in a way no one else could.
the writing was easy to follow, and the heart of the story was definitely the characters and the found family aspect. i absolutely adored owen’s family. both thea and owen are elder siblings who carry a lot of responsibility. thea struggles with guilt over her sister’s past, though i did find her temper a bit frustrating. she’s an adult, so it was hard to relate to her being so unable to control what she said. on the other hand, owen is a perfectionist who does everything for his family, sometimes to a fault.
watching them support each other was great. owen encouraged thea to slow down, and thea encouraged owen to let others help him. their connection felt very pure and sweet.
my biggest issue was thea’s sister, addy. she honestly ruined parts of the book for me. she was incredibly selfish and jealous that owen’s family liked thea more. instead of being bitter, why didn't she try to be better? it was frustrating that she expected thea to fix everything for her.
despite addy's character, i still really enjoyed this book and had a great time reading it.
⤿ forbidden
⤿ complex family dynamics
⤿ fake exes
⤿ wedding shenanigans
⤿ small town
⤿ only one barn
౨ৎ ⋮ more by amy buchanan
— let's call a truce
— our friendship in ruins
✦ publication date: august 18, 2026
fake dating has never been done this right. imagine you have a fake ex boyfriend? yeah kinda fun if you ask me.
this story follows thea pappas who spent her entire childhood moving through foster homes with her younger sister, addy. later, addy suddenly gets engaged to a man no one has ever met, thea is nervous but wants to be the best maid of honor for her sister so she agrees to spend a week in the mountains for the wedding festivities, hoping to avoid any disruptions.
but when she arrives, she realizes the groom’s brother is owen hayes. three years ago, owen paid thea to pretend to be his girlfriend at a wedding to get his family off his back. that fake relationship ended in a painful, made up breakup, and they haven't spoken since...
now, owen is desperate again. his mother is trying to control his life, and he needs someone to play the role of his girlfriend one more time to keep her away. he begs thea for a deal: one week of pretending to be a couple, ending in the same fake breakup they used before.
thea agrees, on one condition: no real feelings allowed. nut as they start acting out their old lie, the lines between what is fake and what is real begin to blur. and soon, they have to decide if they should keep up the act or admit that their feelings were never fake at all.
the premise hooked me immediately. even though people say opposites attract, i loved that thea and owen were like two sides of the same coin. they truly understood each other in a way no one else could.
the writing was easy to follow, and the heart of the story was definitely the characters and the found family aspect. i absolutely adored owen’s family. both thea and owen are elder siblings who carry a lot of responsibility. thea struggles with guilt over her sister’s past, though i did find her temper a bit frustrating. she’s an adult, so it was hard to relate to her being so unable to control what she said. on the other hand, owen is a perfectionist who does everything for his family, sometimes to a fault.
watching them support each other was great. owen encouraged thea to slow down, and thea encouraged owen to let others help him. their connection felt very pure and sweet.
my biggest issue was thea’s sister, addy. she honestly ruined parts of the book for me. she was incredibly selfish and jealous that owen’s family liked thea more. instead of being bitter, why didn't she try to be better? it was frustrating that she expected thea to fix everything for her.
despite addy's character, i still really enjoyed this book and had a great time reading it.
⤿ forbidden
⤿ complex family dynamics
⤿ fake exes
⤿ wedding shenanigans
⤿ small town
⤿ only one barn
౨ৎ ⋮ more by amy buchanan
— let's call a truce
— our friendship in ruins
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2026
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.
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.
April 26, 2026
⋆˙⟡ ── ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ 3.8★
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
This book was cute. It’s a standalone, so there isn’t a commitment to read multiple books to understand other characters and their dynamic. It didn’t take long at all the get started or understand our characters and the plot.
Thea, the older “problem child” and her sister Addy grew up in the foster system where they moved around a lot..primarily at the fault of Thea. Owen is the dependable, reliable, hometown hero who is the President of his family business. Thea and Owen find themselves in a fake dating situation at his cousins wedding where their feelings for each other begin to develop after a few days, and now at Addy’s wedding year’s later (to Owen’s brother - believe it or not), they find themselves picking up where they left off..but now as fake exes. Desperate to be accepted into this family, Addy wants Thea to help her fit in with one catch: stay away from Owen.
The family dynamics were fun and felt realistic; I enjoyed how everyone interacted with each other…for the most part. There were definitely times where I felt uncomfortable and unsure of how things would work out, but dealing with family in a high-stress event like a wedding can’t be easy. I will say though that there were a few instances where I felt while it drove the plot forward was a bit..messy. Many of the conflicts could have been resolved by simple communication.
All in all, this was a quick fun read with a few laugh out loud moments, and I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end.
What to expect ʚɞ:
💍 Fake Dating, fake breakup, fake exes
💍 Family and wedding shenanigans
💍 A barn scene
💍 Golden boy vs. wild child
💍 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
This book was cute. It’s a standalone, so there isn’t a commitment to read multiple books to understand other characters and their dynamic. It didn’t take long at all the get started or understand our characters and the plot.
Thea, the older “problem child” and her sister Addy grew up in the foster system where they moved around a lot..primarily at the fault of Thea. Owen is the dependable, reliable, hometown hero who is the President of his family business. Thea and Owen find themselves in a fake dating situation at his cousins wedding where their feelings for each other begin to develop after a few days, and now at Addy’s wedding year’s later (to Owen’s brother - believe it or not), they find themselves picking up where they left off..but now as fake exes. Desperate to be accepted into this family, Addy wants Thea to help her fit in with one catch: stay away from Owen.
The family dynamics were fun and felt realistic; I enjoyed how everyone interacted with each other…for the most part. There were definitely times where I felt uncomfortable and unsure of how things would work out, but dealing with family in a high-stress event like a wedding can’t be easy. I will say though that there were a few instances where I felt while it drove the plot forward was a bit..messy. Many of the conflicts could have been resolved by simple communication.
All in all, this was a quick fun read with a few laugh out loud moments, and I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end.
What to expect ʚɞ:
💍 Fake Dating, fake breakup, fake exes
💍 Family and wedding shenanigans
💍 A barn scene
💍 Golden boy vs. wild child
💍 🌶️🌶️🌶️
February 27, 2026
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
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
August 18, 2026
Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down! Thea and Owen's story pulled all my heartstrings!! The way they fought their attraction, the way they thought of others and the way they fought for them, the way they finally gave into the chemistry and their undeniable feelings, all of it was beautiful and complicated and wonderful.
August 26, 2026
✨ Rating: 4.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: realizing you are loved for who you are
🎶 Song: sweet dreams - beyonce
📖 Favourite Quote: "I'm glad I get just you. Because I think you may be my favorite person."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!!
💬 tldr thoughts: just pick this book up!
In the package:
📦 fake exes
📦 sibling/family drama
📦 so much yearning
📦 forced proximity
Plot: Thea's sister, Addy, is about to get married and turns out the man Thea fake dated years ago and she broke up with in front of his entire family turns out to be her sister’s new brother in-law... Nobody knows they fake dated and they all think Thea broke Owen's heart. Thea wants the weekend to be perfect but soon her and Owen can't fight off their attraction to one another.
Thoughts: oh my gosh. this. book.. I ate up the entire thing. Let me start by saying the tension in this book was THROUGH the roof!! I love a pathetically down bad MMC and I don't think I've met one like Owen. He worshipped the ground Thea walked on. He would do just about anything to make her happy and feel safe. The yearning was top tier. Owen's family was something else but I personally love drama so I had a total blast with all the shenanigans and seeing how their issues would get fixed. I appreciated the fact that not everything was sunshine and rainbows by the end because in reality, family's are messy and something you just can't fix everything.
My heart broke for Thea on so many occasions. She's always been told she's too much and she's very self-aware of that as we read her inner thoughts. Growing up in the foster system with her sister took a toll on them and their relationship and it was heartbreaking to read.
This was such a fantastic book with important themes, flawed characters with character development and complex family dynamics. I would highly recommend it!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: realizing you are loved for who you are
🎶 Song: sweet dreams - beyonce
📖 Favourite Quote: "I'm glad I get just you. Because I think you may be my favorite person."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!!
💬 tldr thoughts: just pick this book up!
In the package:
📦 fake exes
📦 sibling/family drama
📦 so much yearning
📦 forced proximity
Plot: Thea's sister, Addy, is about to get married and turns out the man Thea fake dated years ago and she broke up with in front of his entire family turns out to be her sister’s new brother in-law... Nobody knows they fake dated and they all think Thea broke Owen's heart. Thea wants the weekend to be perfect but soon her and Owen can't fight off their attraction to one another.
Thoughts: oh my gosh. this. book.. I ate up the entire thing. Let me start by saying the tension in this book was THROUGH the roof!! I love a pathetically down bad MMC and I don't think I've met one like Owen. He worshipped the ground Thea walked on. He would do just about anything to make her happy and feel safe. The yearning was top tier. Owen's family was something else but I personally love drama so I had a total blast with all the shenanigans and seeing how their issues would get fixed. I appreciated the fact that not everything was sunshine and rainbows by the end because in reality, family's are messy and something you just can't fix everything.
My heart broke for Thea on so many occasions. She's always been told she's too much and she's very self-aware of that as we read her inner thoughts. Growing up in the foster system with her sister took a toll on them and their relationship and it was heartbreaking to read.
This was such a fantastic book with important themes, flawed characters with character development and complex family dynamics. I would highly recommend it!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
June 29, 2026
Rating: ★★★.75
ARC Review: Yes
I received an advance copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Standalone or Series: Standalone
POV: First Person, Dual
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pacing: Medium
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Depending on my mood, yes!
Tropes:
✵Fake Exes
✵Forbidden Romance
✵Small Town
✵Wedding Shenanigans
Synopsis: What happens when the man you fake dated and broke up with in front of his entire family turns out to be your sister’s new brother in-law?
My Thoughts: I absolutely love the premise of this book! I love reading fake dating tropes but this one had a delightful twist! I was very intrigued by the second chance romance aspect of what happens after the fake dating shenanigans. I loved the MMC Owen and his sweet personality. Owen and his family had been going through a lot after the death of his father. I loved his dedication to the family and his need to protect them. His mom was very complex (and a bit manipulative). Her grief had the entire family walking on egg shells and it was very hard watching Owen suffer because of his mother’s mood swings. Owen dreamed of opening his own bakery, but he was tied down taking over his father’s business. I loved that the FMC Thea was able to help him recognize that his dreams still matter even if it will upset his mother.
Now getting to Thea. I really wanted to like her but her self sabotaging behavior got old pretty quick. I really felt for her when she talked about growing up in the system with her sister and how hard it was, but over time it seemed like it made her too bitter. Her relationship with Addy was also rocky at best, even though they both continued to describe each other as all they had. By the midway point of this book, I was annoyed with both of them and how they treated one another. Thea trying to push her mother’s jewelry on Addy was too far, and Addy forbidding Thea from dating a man who she has a real connection with was cruel. I think the two of them would really benefit from sitting down with a therapist.
I kept reading this book because of Owen. He was too pure for this world and for the people around him. His brother Harrison was also great but the rest of the family was a bit too pushy. In a way, I did like that it showed that even the most tight-knit families can be rocky at best, but after a while, I was tired of the constant beat downs Owen dealt with. Thea was right to step in multiple times, but she should have been a lot more polite about it, especially considering how much drama she was already causing between Owen and his mom, as well as Addy and her future mother-in-law.
Overall this was cute and I would recommend reading it, but it did not change my life.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more!
ARC Review: Yes
I received an advance copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Standalone or Series: Standalone
POV: First Person, Dual
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pacing: Medium
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Depending on my mood, yes!
Tropes:
✵Fake Exes
✵Forbidden Romance
✵Small Town
✵Wedding Shenanigans
Synopsis: What happens when the man you fake dated and broke up with in front of his entire family turns out to be your sister’s new brother in-law?
My Thoughts: I absolutely love the premise of this book! I love reading fake dating tropes but this one had a delightful twist! I was very intrigued by the second chance romance aspect of what happens after the fake dating shenanigans. I loved the MMC Owen and his sweet personality. Owen and his family had been going through a lot after the death of his father. I loved his dedication to the family and his need to protect them. His mom was very complex (and a bit manipulative). Her grief had the entire family walking on egg shells and it was very hard watching Owen suffer because of his mother’s mood swings. Owen dreamed of opening his own bakery, but he was tied down taking over his father’s business. I loved that the FMC Thea was able to help him recognize that his dreams still matter even if it will upset his mother.
Now getting to Thea. I really wanted to like her but her self sabotaging behavior got old pretty quick. I really felt for her when she talked about growing up in the system with her sister and how hard it was, but over time it seemed like it made her too bitter. Her relationship with Addy was also rocky at best, even though they both continued to describe each other as all they had. By the midway point of this book, I was annoyed with both of them and how they treated one another. Thea trying to push her mother’s jewelry on Addy was too far, and Addy forbidding Thea from dating a man who she has a real connection with was cruel. I think the two of them would really benefit from sitting down with a therapist.
I kept reading this book because of Owen. He was too pure for this world and for the people around him. His brother Harrison was also great but the rest of the family was a bit too pushy. In a way, I did like that it showed that even the most tight-knit families can be rocky at best, but after a while, I was tired of the constant beat downs Owen dealt with. Thea was right to step in multiple times, but she should have been a lot more polite about it, especially considering how much drama she was already causing between Owen and his mom, as well as Addy and her future mother-in-law.
Overall this was cute and I would recommend reading it, but it did not change my life.
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April 20, 2026
This was book was amazing. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
March 1, 2026
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.
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.
December 27, 2025
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.
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.
August 24, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on August 18th called, The Best I Never Had. This is about Thea, her little sister is getting married and she is the maid of honor. Thea will do whatever it takes to make sure her sister has the perfect wedding because after growing up in the foster system, they're all each other had to rely on and her sister is so excited to be marrying into a big family. It's gonna be a week long of festivities leading up to the wedding with the groom's family in the mountains at a resort. When Thea gets there she realizes this will not be a simple week of wedding festivities, because she already knows this family from when she was the groom's brother's fake date for another wedding three years ago. Owen and Thea were introduced through a friend three years ago and he paid her to be his fake date for his cousin's wedding to get everyone to stop trying to find someone for him. But he's secretly had feelings for her ever since that wedding three years ago. Now she's standing in front of Owen, sister to the bride and he's the brother to the groom. And then Owen suggests they continue the fake dating act so they can get through the week without too many questions. But this week of fake dating sparks real feelings that neither of them can resist.
This was such a fun story! I loved that all the family and extended family all came together for a week leading up to the wedding and spent time together. I loved the family aspect and then Thea and her sister finally found a big family to be a part of. The drama and secrets and sneaking around was so fun to read! The chemistry and attraction between Thea and Owen was absolutely undeniable, and it was so entertaining watching them try to fake date with real feelings taking over. Also I really loved the character growth, not only for Thea and Owen, but also for the side characters like their siblings. It was all really heartfelt and well written! This was such a great story, I really enjoyed it! 💜📚
Thank you to Amy Buchanan, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this ARC of The Best I Never Had, in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun story! I loved that all the family and extended family all came together for a week leading up to the wedding and spent time together. I loved the family aspect and then Thea and her sister finally found a big family to be a part of. The drama and secrets and sneaking around was so fun to read! The chemistry and attraction between Thea and Owen was absolutely undeniable, and it was so entertaining watching them try to fake date with real feelings taking over. Also I really loved the character growth, not only for Thea and Owen, but also for the side characters like their siblings. It was all really heartfelt and well written! This was such a great story, I really enjoyed it! 💜📚
Thank you to Amy Buchanan, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this ARC of The Best I Never Had, in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2026
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.
March 26, 2026
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.
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.
March 1, 2026
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
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
Read
February 20, 2026Ebook 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.
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.
April 12, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes and this book really does it so well! It was a great set up and I adored the family dynamics as well as the found family aspect. I also loved our MMC Owen. He really had my heart the whole time. I related a lot to Thea, our FMC. A lot of the book however I did have some issues with Thea’s sister Addy and Owen’s mom Diana though. I struggled quite a bit with them because some of the stuff they said were kind of triggering for me because of what I went through. But overall I loved the romance in this and definitely recommend to others.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes and this book really does it so well! It was a great set up and I adored the family dynamics as well as the found family aspect. I also loved our MMC Owen. He really had my heart the whole time. I related a lot to Thea, our FMC. A lot of the book however I did have some issues with Thea’s sister Addy and Owen’s mom Diana though. I struggled quite a bit with them because some of the stuff they said were kind of triggering for me because of what I went through. But overall I loved the romance in this and definitely recommend to others.
July 22, 2026
"You're worth making waves for."
Amy's debut, Let's Make a Truce , is one of my favourite books of all time, and I think it's criminally underrated. Needless to say, I was so excited for her sophomore novel, and overall, I had a good time reading it! The chemistry between Thea and Owen was the strongest aspect of the novel. Though it was definitely an instalove, I did feel the natural connection between them. Also, Amy's spice scenes are just always fantastic.
I adored the theme about Thea being brash and abrasive. I loved her fire, and I saw so much of myself in each of her outbursts. It was amazing to see her emotions validated by Owne, rather than judged or being told to suppress them. This is such an important message for women.
The thing that irked me throughout was the side characters, and there were many. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. Thea's sister and Owen's mother in particular are just nasty. I understand having empathy for them, and I thought Thea and Owen were the most mature characters on earth for constantly understanding why they acted in certain ways. However, I found their behaviour reprehensible to the point of being completely inexcusable. There's hardly a moment where I felt like they were held accountable for their words and actions. It really left a sour taste in my mouth. But this could be a me thing!
Overall, I really do love Amy's writing and her romance, and I am looking forward to her next book!
Thank you so much to St.Martin's Press for the eARC!
Amy's debut, Let's Make a Truce , is one of my favourite books of all time, and I think it's criminally underrated. Needless to say, I was so excited for her sophomore novel, and overall, I had a good time reading it! The chemistry between Thea and Owen was the strongest aspect of the novel. Though it was definitely an instalove, I did feel the natural connection between them. Also, Amy's spice scenes are just always fantastic.
I adored the theme about Thea being brash and abrasive. I loved her fire, and I saw so much of myself in each of her outbursts. It was amazing to see her emotions validated by Owne, rather than judged or being told to suppress them. This is such an important message for women.
The thing that irked me throughout was the side characters, and there were many. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of them. Thea's sister and Owen's mother in particular are just nasty. I understand having empathy for them, and I thought Thea and Owen were the most mature characters on earth for constantly understanding why they acted in certain ways. However, I found their behaviour reprehensible to the point of being completely inexcusable. There's hardly a moment where I felt like they were held accountable for their words and actions. It really left a sour taste in my mouth. But this could be a me thing!
Overall, I really do love Amy's writing and her romance, and I am looking forward to her next book!
Thank you so much to St.Martin's Press for the eARC!
March 9, 2026
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!
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!
March 15, 2026
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!!
February 3, 2026
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.
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.
February 22, 2026
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.
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.
August 17, 2026
Fake dating that accidentally turns into fake exes at a big wedding? Yes PLEASE
Wow the yearning between Thea and Owen is so real. It’s hard to fake being exes when there was never actually a relationship and you actually want each other BAD but have to hide it. But that makes it all the more fun for us.
Thea and Owen both come with a lot of baggage. They didn’t have the easiest childhoods and neither of them feels deserving of love. I really enjoyed them opening up to each other (when they finally talked!) and finding someone they could truly be themselves with. But I will say, all these characters really need some therapy.
More to love
-the big, fun, meddling extended family
-the mountain setting
-the sister relationship
-open door, multiple scenes
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC
August 17, 2026
The Best I Never Had is my third Amy Buchanan book and it remains a most fabulous experience in reading her works! This book brings the swoons and does a fabulous twist in the fake dating trope. I just had the best time reading! 4.5
When I see fake dating I imagine a book where the fake dating happens on page, but in this story it’s done with a fun twist! Because our leads, Thea and Owen, have already been there and done that with fake dating! A few years ago Owen paid Thea to pretend to be his girlfriend at a wedding to get his mother off his back about settling down. It was a transaction that was never meant to be repeated until Thea goes to celebrate her sister’s surprise engagement and upcoming nuptials just to see the groom’s brother is no other than Owen. Now’s not the time to come clean, so this go around rather than fake date Thea and Owen are fake broken up, ha! It brings the best hijinks but also the best heartache.
I loved the love story with my whole heart! It’s so swoony and so full of yearning and longing!
Shout out to my man Owen for being a swooniest of yearners. Like literally from the moment he’s on page this man is still dreaming about Thea who he hasn’t seen in years. Seeing her again becomes the opportunity to make true what was once false and I loved how much of a go-getter he becomes to accomplish just that. He keeps his heart and intentions open and clear to Thea. And she is truly such a positive influence on him, she sees how much he takes on for his family. A family he loves and who loves him but overlook how much they depend on him. To the point he gives up on things he may want. Thea helps Owen build the confidence to assert himself more, to learn to say no. Beyond a lovely romance, these two form such a solid partnership.
And that partnership also serves to lift Thea up. Thea owns my whole heart and it cried for the ways she always diminished and made herself small. She sees herself as a risk hazard unworthy of a true relationship. But that’s something Owen won’t stand for, and so he is always at the ready to prove Thea wrong of herself and to show her how deserving and good a person she truly is. She is someone loyal, loving, and brave in a way that inspires Owen. And beyond the love story we see Thea recognize her worth and how she too deserves a chance at love. I just adored watching her blossom!
For every swoon I felt, I also dealt with some rising blood pressure, ha! Owen’s mom and Thea’s sister become obstacles to the couple’s happiness. Owen’s mom puts too much pressure and expectation on Owen, to the point her voice consistently mutes his. And Thea’s sister Addy becomes so hyper-focused on finding a place in the family she is marrying into that she fears Thea’s presumed past with Owen can create friction. In other ways, similar to Owen’s mother, Addy never considers Thea’s happiness. Placing her own wants first, leading to Thea doing what she always had, placing her sister first. And the thing is, there are no villains here. Every person at odds does love each other. The love between Thea and Addy is strong but some tension definitely needed to sort itself out to get them back on the right path. And I really did like how the narrative covers this, it’s not perfect as we see with how things are left with Owen’s mother, but that makes it feel all the more real.
This is such a deserving and swoony romance I’ll always hold dear.
Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
When I see fake dating I imagine a book where the fake dating happens on page, but in this story it’s done with a fun twist! Because our leads, Thea and Owen, have already been there and done that with fake dating! A few years ago Owen paid Thea to pretend to be his girlfriend at a wedding to get his mother off his back about settling down. It was a transaction that was never meant to be repeated until Thea goes to celebrate her sister’s surprise engagement and upcoming nuptials just to see the groom’s brother is no other than Owen. Now’s not the time to come clean, so this go around rather than fake date Thea and Owen are fake broken up, ha! It brings the best hijinks but also the best heartache.
I loved the love story with my whole heart! It’s so swoony and so full of yearning and longing!
Shout out to my man Owen for being a swooniest of yearners. Like literally from the moment he’s on page this man is still dreaming about Thea who he hasn’t seen in years. Seeing her again becomes the opportunity to make true what was once false and I loved how much of a go-getter he becomes to accomplish just that. He keeps his heart and intentions open and clear to Thea. And she is truly such a positive influence on him, she sees how much he takes on for his family. A family he loves and who loves him but overlook how much they depend on him. To the point he gives up on things he may want. Thea helps Owen build the confidence to assert himself more, to learn to say no. Beyond a lovely romance, these two form such a solid partnership.
And that partnership also serves to lift Thea up. Thea owns my whole heart and it cried for the ways she always diminished and made herself small. She sees herself as a risk hazard unworthy of a true relationship. But that’s something Owen won’t stand for, and so he is always at the ready to prove Thea wrong of herself and to show her how deserving and good a person she truly is. She is someone loyal, loving, and brave in a way that inspires Owen. And beyond the love story we see Thea recognize her worth and how she too deserves a chance at love. I just adored watching her blossom!
For every swoon I felt, I also dealt with some rising blood pressure, ha! Owen’s mom and Thea’s sister become obstacles to the couple’s happiness. Owen’s mom puts too much pressure and expectation on Owen, to the point her voice consistently mutes his. And Thea’s sister Addy becomes so hyper-focused on finding a place in the family she is marrying into that she fears Thea’s presumed past with Owen can create friction. In other ways, similar to Owen’s mother, Addy never considers Thea’s happiness. Placing her own wants first, leading to Thea doing what she always had, placing her sister first. And the thing is, there are no villains here. Every person at odds does love each other. The love between Thea and Addy is strong but some tension definitely needed to sort itself out to get them back on the right path. And I really did like how the narrative covers this, it’s not perfect as we see with how things are left with Owen’s mother, but that makes it feel all the more real.
This is such a deserving and swoony romance I’ll always hold dear.
Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
August 9, 2026
I love this author so much, she’s the sweetest person and I attended book events for her and also where she’s moderated for others and she’s fantastic.
I struggled a little with this book because so many characters were literally the worst. And I know they were written to be that way, but it was SO frustrating for me to read.
Addy reminded me of that nightmare of a sister from 27 dresses who cuts up the dead mom’s wedding dress. Like she doesn’t do that, and she actually has a very good honest relationship with her fiancé, but the way she treats Thea is infuriating. And she comes around in the end but honestly I don’t know how we got there because she is the worst the entire time and Thea was obsessing over her feelings constantly.
And don’t get me started on Owen’s mom.
Kudos to the author for writing all this well enough to make me angry at everyone so much I wanted to stop reading I was so mad 😂.
There was a really great big romantic gesture at the end that I loved, and a lot of Owen’s extended family was a delight, it gave me Big Fat Greek Wedding vibes. Honestly I would really love to read the story from when Thea and Owen fake dated that we don’t get to see because that sounded like a fun time too.
Also I wish Harrison had more of a personality, he’s sort of just there being the younger brother and the extended family was more fun than him.
Anyway, get ready to really dislike some characters in this one. So glad that Thea and Owen got their happily ever after, despite Thea’s sister and Owen’s mom being the worst 😂. I appreciate everyone in the epilogue going to therapy to fix some of these issues.
Thank you @stmartinspress for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I struggled a little with this book because so many characters were literally the worst. And I know they were written to be that way, but it was SO frustrating for me to read.
Addy reminded me of that nightmare of a sister from 27 dresses who cuts up the dead mom’s wedding dress. Like she doesn’t do that, and she actually has a very good honest relationship with her fiancé, but the way she treats Thea is infuriating. And she comes around in the end but honestly I don’t know how we got there because she is the worst the entire time and Thea was obsessing over her feelings constantly.
And don’t get me started on Owen’s mom.
Kudos to the author for writing all this well enough to make me angry at everyone so much I wanted to stop reading I was so mad 😂.
There was a really great big romantic gesture at the end that I loved, and a lot of Owen’s extended family was a delight, it gave me Big Fat Greek Wedding vibes. Honestly I would really love to read the story from when Thea and Owen fake dated that we don’t get to see because that sounded like a fun time too.
Also I wish Harrison had more of a personality, he’s sort of just there being the younger brother and the extended family was more fun than him.
Anyway, get ready to really dislike some characters in this one. So glad that Thea and Owen got their happily ever after, despite Thea’s sister and Owen’s mom being the worst 😂. I appreciate everyone in the epilogue going to therapy to fix some of these issues.
Thank you @stmartinspress for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
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!!
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!!
August 6, 2026
Thank you Net Galley, Amy Buchanan, and St. Martin’s Griffin Publishing for an arc of The Best I Never Had.
Summary:
Thea Pappas’ younger sister is getting married, and she’s on her way to the Blue Ridge Mountains to help with the wedding celebrations. But when she arrives, she discovers the groom is the younger brother of Owen Hayes—the man she once pretended to date at a family wedding. Owen has let his family believe that she broke his heart after their fake romance ended, and now he’s begging her to keep up the charade for the week. But as they slip back into their familiar roles, will the feelings between them intensify this time around—and become something real?
Thoughts:
• This book wasted no time jumping right into the fun! I love when a story pulls you in from the very first chapter.
• I love when characters dive into their grief and trauma early on instead of dragging it out until the end of the book. Owen and Thea open up about their pasts quickly, giving their story so much more emotional depth.
• Boy, does Owen know how to yearn and pine for someone. He loves so beautifully and fiercely.
• There were moments in this story where my heart physically hurt!
• Never have I read a book with so much growth from both the main characters and the side characters. This is such a beautiful story about discovering love, realizing your worth, and the importance of sibling relationships. Nearly every character experiences a meaningful moment of self-discovery and growth.
Summary:
Thea Pappas’ younger sister is getting married, and she’s on her way to the Blue Ridge Mountains to help with the wedding celebrations. But when she arrives, she discovers the groom is the younger brother of Owen Hayes—the man she once pretended to date at a family wedding. Owen has let his family believe that she broke his heart after their fake romance ended, and now he’s begging her to keep up the charade for the week. But as they slip back into their familiar roles, will the feelings between them intensify this time around—and become something real?
Thoughts:
• This book wasted no time jumping right into the fun! I love when a story pulls you in from the very first chapter.
• I love when characters dive into their grief and trauma early on instead of dragging it out until the end of the book. Owen and Thea open up about their pasts quickly, giving their story so much more emotional depth.
• Boy, does Owen know how to yearn and pine for someone. He loves so beautifully and fiercely.
• There were moments in this story where my heart physically hurt!
• Never have I read a book with so much growth from both the main characters and the side characters. This is such a beautiful story about discovering love, realizing your worth, and the importance of sibling relationships. Nearly every character experiences a meaningful moment of self-discovery and growth.
February 22, 2026
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.
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.
August 18, 2026
Happy Pub Day!
In the The Best I Never Had, two exes get a second chance at love…or they would if they had dated in the first place.
This story puts such a fun spin on the fake dating trope. Instead of seeing this couple fake date and get together, we get dropped into the messy aftermath. Thea and Owen have successfully “broken up” and have been living business as usual when they unexpectedly run into each other in the most awkward of places: their siblings’ (sister and brother respectively) wedding week of festivities. Thea seems to fit right back into place with Owen’s family, and maybe in his heart as well.
One of the things I really loved about this story was the fact that it was so complex without being over complicated. I’m a big fan of characters who feel like people with the good and bad. No perfect boyfriends or girlfriends, just people trying and doing kinda badly at it at first then deciding to keep going. I like the fact that Thea annoyed me at first with how quickly she got angry and went off on people but eventually she endeared herself to me. That takes skill.
If you want to see the aftermath of fake dating and get a reminder that life sometimes gives us a second chance, The Best I Never Had brings it all together in a lovely way.
In the The Best I Never Had, two exes get a second chance at love…or they would if they had dated in the first place.
This story puts such a fun spin on the fake dating trope. Instead of seeing this couple fake date and get together, we get dropped into the messy aftermath. Thea and Owen have successfully “broken up” and have been living business as usual when they unexpectedly run into each other in the most awkward of places: their siblings’ (sister and brother respectively) wedding week of festivities. Thea seems to fit right back into place with Owen’s family, and maybe in his heart as well.
One of the things I really loved about this story was the fact that it was so complex without being over complicated. I’m a big fan of characters who feel like people with the good and bad. No perfect boyfriends or girlfriends, just people trying and doing kinda badly at it at first then deciding to keep going. I like the fact that Thea annoyed me at first with how quickly she got angry and went off on people but eventually she endeared herself to me. That takes skill.
If you want to see the aftermath of fake dating and get a reminder that life sometimes gives us a second chance, The Best I Never Had brings it all together in a lovely way.
August 22, 2026
The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan
Contemporary romance. Fake relationship and second chance troupes.
Thea Pappas and her sister Addy grew up in foster care. Thea will do anything to make her younger sister happy, and if that means being her maid of honor in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she’s all in. It’s only after agreeing that she realizes it’s the same family she was in a pretend relationship a few years back to year money to pay for schooling. Owen Hayes was the pretend boyfriend and he’s told his family he never got over Thea.
They are in a pickle now. Pretend again? Confess it wasn’t real the first time? What to tell Addy or his mom, who has a dependency issue? The sparks are still very much in play. Since they will be family adjacent after the wedding, maybe they can make it real?
Thea didn’t look back after earning the money. Owen can’t say the same. He fell for her but wasn’t able to push for more after she deleted her phone number from his phone.
Angsty. I’m not a fan of arguing and confrontation and I wanted to tell these two to talk to each other! More than once. Their chemistry kept their emotions high. Family, emotions, honesty, and talking made me cry in the end as they all figured it out. Yay for therapy, real discussions, and sparks that don’t go away.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley
Contemporary romance. Fake relationship and second chance troupes.
Thea Pappas and her sister Addy grew up in foster care. Thea will do anything to make her younger sister happy, and if that means being her maid of honor in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she’s all in. It’s only after agreeing that she realizes it’s the same family she was in a pretend relationship a few years back to year money to pay for schooling. Owen Hayes was the pretend boyfriend and he’s told his family he never got over Thea.
They are in a pickle now. Pretend again? Confess it wasn’t real the first time? What to tell Addy or his mom, who has a dependency issue? The sparks are still very much in play. Since they will be family adjacent after the wedding, maybe they can make it real?
Thea didn’t look back after earning the money. Owen can’t say the same. He fell for her but wasn’t able to push for more after she deleted her phone number from his phone.
Angsty. I’m not a fan of arguing and confrontation and I wanted to tell these two to talk to each other! More than once. Their chemistry kept their emotions high. Family, emotions, honesty, and talking made me cry in the end as they all figured it out. Yay for therapy, real discussions, and sparks that don’t go away.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley
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