The Worst Best Man
Author: Mia Sosa
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: A-
What I’m Talking About:
Three years ago on the morning of her wedding, Lina was left at the altar by her fiancé Andrew, who had his younger brother Max break things off with Lina on his behalf. As a successful wedding planner, this is a skeleton in Lina’s closet and a dark mark on her record. Forward to present day, Max and Andrew are working for their mom’s PR firm and partnering with a large hotel, who is looking to hire Lina as a full-time wedding planner. Afraid her potential new boss won’t hire her if she finds out about her past with Andrew, Lina pretends not to know the men, and then finds out she must work on a project with Max for the next six weeks.
The Worst Best Man is a delightful romantic comedy that warmed my heart. Lina is a strong woman, but doesn’t see her own strength when using her mom and aunties as a measuring stick. She was raised to never show emotions because it discredits women, especially women of color. And after an incident that caused her a job years ago, followed by her breakup with Andrew, Lina’s confidence isn’t the best. She needs this job and wants to control all aspects of the interview process, which isn’t easy with Max as her partner.
Right from the start, Lina and Max have a frenemy relationship. She doesn’t want to work with him, doesn’t trust him, and wants to make him suffer a bit for his part in the demise of her wedding. Their banter is fabulous, adding humor and ratcheting up the sexual tension. One of my favorite scenes is when she tricks Max into eating a pepper at a Brazilian restaurant. He replies to Lina, “Maybe I’m a shapeshifting dragon and this is my first transformation.” Later he tricks her into attending a capoeira class, which provides the reader with some interesting historical aspects of Brazil. Neither wants to feel something for the other, but they just fit together. And they talk to one another. It’s slow and beautiful as each realizes they want to make a go of a relationship.
The Worst Best Man made me laugh, had my heart racing, brought me to tears, and left me filled with joy. Max and Lina’s relationship isn’t perfect, but it’s mature and loving and feels so right. I loved how both Lina and Max learned to be introspective and forgiving, growing into a forever love.
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Jen
About the Book:
A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.
Tired of living in his older brother’s shadow, marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.
If they can survive the next few weeks and nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own.
But even the best laid plans can go awry, and soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again…
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Publisher: Avon
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, rom-com
Format(s): paperback (368 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)