The Difference Between Right and Wrong

by Lindsey Brunette

Losing her dream job was bad. Waking up in her best friend’s bed was worse. When her high school crush comes back, Kenley must choose between the life she planned and the love she never saw coming.

Kenley Graves has spent her entire life checking boxes. At thirty-two, she’s a successful adoption lawyer in Los Angeles, just as she always planned. But in eighteen hours, her world shatters. She’s fired, and in a moment of despair, she falls into bed with her best friend, Luke. Soon, her car is towed, her lease is canceled, and Luke is suddenly planning their entire future. He’s suffocating, overbearing, and moving way too fast.

Desperate for clarity, Kenley escapes L.A. for her sister's baby shower in her hometown. A chance encounter at the airport changes everything when she runs into Jordan Thomas, the most popular boy from her high school class, who also happened to be her crush. He’s also heading to the shower, and he shocks her by admitting he’s wanted to take her out for over a decade. With Jordan, everything is easy, supportive, and exciting, a stark contrast to Luke’s intensity.

Fans of swoon-worthy second chances and stories about finding yourself after life goes off the rails will devour this fast-paced, heartwarming romance. It’s a perfect read for anyone who knows that the best plans are the ones you never saw coming.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2026

About the author

Lindsey Brunette is a Los Angeles based writer with a passion for telling the stories of real women starting over. Her memoir Being Here: Reflections on Life, Love, Faith, and Turning Thirty was published in 2018 and tells her own story of choosing to give up the life that she knew in order to have the life she deserved. Lindsey lives with her husband and toddler daughter as well as their Boston Terrier puppy and a flock of backyard chickens. You can visit her online at LindseyBrunette.com

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Difference Between Right and Wrong
✍🏻Lindsey Brunette
Blurb:
Losing her dream job was bad. Waking up in her best friend’s bed was worse. When her high school crush comes back, Kenley must choose between the life she planned and the love she never saw coming.

Kenley Graves has spent her entire life checking boxes. At thirty-two, she’s a successful adoption lawyer in Los Angeles, just as she always planned. But in eighteen hours, her world shatters. She’s fired, and in a moment of despair, she falls into bed with her best friend, Luke. Soon, her car is towed, her lease is canceled, and Luke is suddenly planning their entire future. He’s suffocating, overbearing, and moving way too fast.

Desperate for clarity, Kenley escapes L.A. for her sister's baby shower in her hometown. A chance encounter at the airport changes everything when she runs into Jordan Thomas, the most popular boy from her high school class, who also happened to be her crush. He’s also heading to the shower, and he shocks her by admitting he’s wanted to take her out for over a decade. With Jordan, everything is easy, supportive, and exciting, a stark contrast to Luke’s intensity.

Fans of swoon-worthy second chances and stories about finding yourself after life goes off the rails will devour this fast-paced, heartwarming romance. It’s a perfect read for anyone who knows that the best plans are the ones you never saw coming.
My Thoughts:
This book was such a feel good romance. Kenley loses her job at the law firm, and her best friend Luke decides it's the perfect time to jump on feelings he's had for a while. But Kenley is overwhelmed and needs space, heading back to her hometown in Indiana. She runs into an old High school crush and sparks fly.. Kenley and Jordan were such fun characters, and seeing how people interact with Kenley through the story is so realistic and gives hope to society. Kenley's hooking up with Luke (her best friend of 10 years - who had been in love with her, but she never knew
Thanks NetGalley, and Author Lindsey Brunette for the complimentary copy of "The Difference Between Right and Wrong" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LindseyBrunette
#TheDifferenceBetweenRightandWrong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Emotional manipulation by a potential romantic partner, fragile male ego, Male on male physical violence (attempted), Heavy drinking

[The Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this a 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
​I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
​The Difference Between Right and Wrong is a gripping contemporary romance that tackles the messy complexity of choice. The story follows Hallie, whose life is turned upside down when a face from her past—her "wrong" choice—reappears just as she's trying to make her "right" life work.
​The Good:
The emotional stakes are sky-high! Lindsey Brunette excels at writing a love triangle that actually feels difficult to navigate. Hallie is such a relatable protagonist as she struggles between the safety of her current life and the undeniable pull of a second chance romance. The friends to lovers history adds so much depth to the dialogue, and knowing that he "falls first" twice makes the romantic tension absolutely delicious.
​The Not-So-Good:
While the emotional turmoil is the point of the book, Hallie's indecision in the middle chapters felt a little repetitive. I found myself wanting to shake her a few times! Also, the ending felt slightly abrupt compared to the heavy, slow-burn build-up of the rest of the story.
​Team Right or Team Wrong? Head over to my profile @TheLitWhisperer to join the debate and see my full spoiler-free breakdown!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really fun read! It was cute and lighthearted but still had depth to it and definitely showed character growth throughout.

Kenley and her relationship with Luke....toxic vibes from the start. Luke comes across as an overbearing, pushy jerk at times. He wants a relationship but goes about it all the wrong way.

Kenley and Jordan....love them! They are instant chemistry and just adorable as can be. My only complaint is that sometimes the two of them are just a little *too* sweet. But overall, they are a great combo and the banter between the two brought a smile to my face. Highlight was definitely the video call while in bed. Hilarious!

More than the relationships though, I enjoyed seeing Kenley grow and really come into herself. She learned to set boundaries and communicate her feelings. She stopped running and started embracing the things she found scary. I LOVE a good "I deserve to be happy" realization moment!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cozy, heartwarming, swoonworthy read.

I loved the characters.... enjoyed Kenley's hooking up with Luke (her best friend of 10 years - who had been in love with her, but she never knew)... but then when she saw her crush from high school, Jordan (at age 32, so it's been over a decade!!)..... they have instant chemistry & find out they both had huge crushes on each other back in high school!!

The book is hilarious (I loved when they are in bed & Jordan answers a video call from her sister....and come to find out most of her family is there - including her parents!!! LOL)

It's well written & refreshing. It's the first book I've read by this author, but definitely not the last!!! :) Her "relationship" with Luke is closed door, but there are some spicy scenes after she gets together with Jordan!

Thank you so much to the author (Lindsey Brunette), publisher (Xpresso Book Tours) & Netgalley for the ARC read. All opinions are my own.

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenley suddenly loses her job at the lawyer firm she was working since she grantuated from college and has to find a new place to live . After going out for drinks with her best friend , co-worker and now fired Luke and end up having sex . Ben is ready to make it officialy but she is not sure about anything in her life at this moment . Kenley leaves LA to go back home for her sister's baby shower . At the airport she runs into Jordan the boy she has a crush when she was a teenager . Jordan is also a guest at the shower because he is friend with her sisters husband and he revials to her that he always wanted to ask her out . Spenting time with Jordan is feeling natural to her and when she has to make a choice on which man she must choose to choice is very easy .
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

[Jesse’s Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.25 star romance read

*I received a free copy of this book, but this is my honest review*

Your FMC gets fired from her job, told she must find a new apartment, and gets her car towed during a bad string of luck. She sleeps with her male best friend after a drunken night out and then also runs into her high school crush on a flight home to see her family. It’s for sure giving love triangle 💅

Unfortunately for me this wasn’t much of a love triangle because I wanted to toss Luke down 17 flights of stairs. Also, your FMC gets a text from her high school crush confessing he always had a crush on her and all she says is “okay”? GIRRRRRLLL.

I just needed a bit more personality from our FMC to love this, but this is a fast, fun, and quick read.

[Tanmeet Samra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! This was a cozy and quick read but I did find the story moves very fast. It’s a sweet romantic cozy read. The first male character is actually quite annoying and seems like someone who would mansplain everything but it does add to the story with the different personalities! I wish there was more to the main female characters family - they are there for the middle of the story but then kind of just disappear.

I do think the main female character has good character development and she has a strong, independent and successful vibe to her which I enjoyed. Not a bad read if you’re looking for a quick and cozy read!

[Lila Besser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a feel good romance. Kenley loses her job at the law firm, and her best friend Luke decides its the perfect time to jump on feelings he's had for a while. But Kenley is overwhelmed and needs space, heading back to her hometown in Indiana. She runs into her high school crush, Jordan, and sparks immediately fly. Kenley and Jordan were such fun characters, and seeing how people interact with Kenley through the story is so realistic and gives hope to society. I really enjoyed this romance and loved watching Kenley build her confidence back up.

[Erin Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! Kenley is a very relatable main character, and her head is a fun place to be. She’s type A and has always had a plan for her life, and it’s fun to watch how she reacts and evolves as that plan is turned on its head. She really goes on a journey, with a well-written character arc that’s very believable and satisfying. Especially once she gets to her hometown to what turns out to be a fateful visit, I couldn’t put this book down and became very invested in the central love triangle as well as the charming and vivid side characters. You won’t regret reading this book!

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Difference Between Right and Wrong thanks to the publisher through NetGalley and leave this review voluntarily.

OMG the heart eyes. I really love the way the main character works through her struggles and uncertainty, finding herself by the end of the book. I enjoyed the writing style but find the pacing to be slightly off. It doesn't take away from the book but it could have packed a bigger punch if it was shifted or expanded a bit. 4.5/5 stars. Definitely recommend.

[Remy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must Read Arc

I had the pleasure of reading the difference between right and wrong as an arc reader. I absolutely loved the juxtaposition of Kenley with Luke, who you will get to know and decide upon whether he is truly a bad guy or an entitled brat and Jordan, who is a high school retired jock that’s a bit jaded and how those two can be so different yet right for her in different ways. I loved the ending of this book and I loved how Lindsey wrote this book. It was fast paced easy to read and had just the enough spice to keep you wanting more.

[Justice Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good romance. Of course you always need a villain and I wish we could’ve received a little bit of their perspective in this instance. Other than that I might’ve been a little been a little biased with my rating being that I LOVE and truly LIVE by her final mantra in real life. Am I delulu? lol hey, it’s all about perspective and personally you can’t have disappointments with that mindset in my opinion.

[Stephanie Usherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an easy and quick read with a rollercoaster of emotions.

Kenley's life starts to fall apart, and to make things worse, she ends up sleeping with her long-time guy best friend, Luke.... who turns out to be a super pushy jerk.

To escape the chaos, she decides to go back home for her sister's baby shower, only to run into the guy she once had a crush on. Plot twist, Jordan was crushing on her too.

The drastic differences between Jordan and Luke will have you favoring Jordan all the way. But who will Kenley choose in the end?

[Fabs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggle to see how Kenley and Luke are likeable characters. Luke was the absolute worst, and it seemed like she just went along with that "relationship" in the beginning. Like what? She did grow as a character at the end but my goodness the journey wasn't fun for me.

[Lisa]

I made it 86% in, and just couldn’t be bothered to finish. The writing was very simplistic. The subject matter was adult, but the writing itself read like a middle grade book. I just found myself so bored. I was so close to the end, but I just didn’t care what happened.

[thriftlibreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Maybe I can park my flaming dumpster next to yours sometime?”

My favorite part of this story was Kenley’s own growth throughout it. I absolutely loved her father’s “speech” about taking risks. She definitely needed to hear that in order to venture off into making her own decisions. The ending was pretty cute! I thought the epilogue added a nice touch with the reunion.