4⭐️ I really enjoyed this book✨

Zoe and Liam have known each other for over a decade. However, it felt like the right person at the wrong time situation. Now, both of them are the guardians of Mira after losing their best friends in an accident. They are forced to live together and get along for the well-being of the little girl. Also, they show us the stages of grief from their perspectives and how they deal with it in their own ways along with the new situation of taking care of Mira. It is a process of adaptation, acceptance, and healing for everyone. One of self-knowledge and knowledge of each other where the author does not rush any process. I really like that. This book has a slow burn really slow😭😂 but I like it because, again, it didn't feel rushed given the circumstances.

I loved the patience of Zoe and how strong she is facing these hard times. Liam fell for her since the first time he saw her. He was obsessed with her and tried to ignore and hide this fact for all those years. Also, how cute Mira is, the development of Liam’s character, and how they slowly became a family💛

This book healed my soul!!!!!!!!🥹
I’ve read a lot of karla sorensen’s book and i was excited nonetheless to read this book, BUT TO BE A BANGER O A STORYYY, she totally outdid herself with this one. The tension, the slow bur , the dialogue, MIRA, Liam, Zoe were pure perfection. I love them as individuals and as a unit it was the best thing Ive read in a while in the romance category and im so glad i got to read it.

I laughed, i cried more times than i would like to admit and im not even upset about it.

Preordered my copy the minute i finished it

Thank you Netgalley for the arc I absolutely adored the book!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🩷

if you need a easy reading love story with characters who have lots of banter while trying to heal from trauma together this is the book.

right from the first chapter you get sucked into te book and you just want to keep reading more. it was an amazing story and i will read it again when the mood strikes for it.

Great read! I lovrd the writing very much! I feel like anyone with kids will feel something with this book. I have a 14 month old and the struggle of adjusting and learning was very relatable. The build up to the spicy part was a bit long but the immediate lead up was good.

Storyline was well timed and I enjoyed the push and pull between these two. It didn’t feel rushed and it also didn’t feel like these the characters weren’t willing to change. I really enjoyed this slow burn and would definitely read another book by this author.

Karla Sorenson is a one click author for me. The follow up to The Best Laid Plans introduces us to Liam and Zoe who unexpectedly become the guardians of little Mira when their mutual friends pass away. This close proximity romance shows the commitment of Liam and Zoe to Mira and honoring their friends' wishes. Another Karla Sorenson hit!

Received ARC through netgalley. It was a cute read! Perfect for someone who likes found family, enemies to lovers, or sports romance.

I don't think I've ever read a book from this author that I didn't enjoy, and this book was no different. I devoured this book in one sitting, and I wasn't ready for it to end when it did. I love a good slow burn romance, so this story was perfect for me. I absolutely loved Liam, Zoe and Mira. Liam and Zoe's chemistry was undeniable, and their back-and-forth banter had me laughing out loud. They were perfect for each other. I loved the love they had for not only their friends but for Mira. I feel as though I felt every emotion the characters were feeling and that's when I know I'm reading a good story and, in my opinion, this is one story worth reading. This romance story was heartfelt, emotional and funny but it also dealt with grief, loss, moving forward after tragedy and more. It ends with a deserving HEA and is a story I can and will read again. I will definitely be recommending it to my romance book loving friends.

Inhaled this in less than 3 hours and that should tell you everything you need to know about this book!

Karla is the best in the game when it comes to sports romance, she has never once let me down and this book is a prime example of how well she can write this genre. The prologue hooked me in with a bang and I instantly fell in love with Liam’s gruff exterior, and Zoe’s sunshine personality. Their chemistry was off the charts from the first page, from their snarky banter and lingering gazes, I felt how much Liam truly liked Zoe from the beginning despite what she might have thought!

This story was an emotional journey for the two MC’s in navigating not just trauma/grief but also how to become the best co-parents for this gift left for them in the form of the cutest little baby girl ever 😭 I adored watching Liam flourish and grow as a man who is capable of loving and raising a little girl. Zoe’s journey into motherhood may not have been what she imagined but I loved watching her raise Mira as her own, giving her all the love she thought she would never be able to give after her past.

If you’re looking for a book that not only pulls at your heart strings, but also makes you laugh, giggle and blush then look no further and dive into Zoe and Liam’s story 🩷

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publishers and Karla Sorensen for my arc in exchange for an honest review!

Gosh this was such a wonderfully unexpected surprise! I have adored Karla Sorensen for years and her books are always so addictive and heartwarming. But The Best of All is in a league of its own— I cried, I swooned, I mourned and I laughed. The romance between Zoe and Liam was so natural, so authentic, and it worked perfectly with the storyline of them raising Mira together alongside battling their shared grief of losing their best friends.

I devoured this in one sitting and didn’t move from my chair the moment I decided to pick this up. I tried to force myself to stop but I just couldn’t because it made me feel so giddy and excited to read. I didn’t want it to end. I haven’t read Karla in such a long time and this book reminded me why I’ve always relied on her books to make me smile.

I’ll definitely be going back to the first book and diving in asap!

Rating: 4.75/5
Steam: 2.5/5
Warnings: parental abuse (in past), grief, loss of a parent, divorce

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

This is the second time in 2024 that I have given a Karla Sorensen book five stars...what is she doing right now? Whatever it is, it's working wonders because her latest work is simply phenomenal.

Perfect for fans of the film, Life as We Know It, or the Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken. This guardianship romance delivers on every front. With a perfect blend of raw emotion, tension, and humor, it was everything I didn't know I needed.

Liam was so grumpy and closed off, for good reason but to see this man open his heart was pure perfection. He didn't understand his feelings, he wasn't great with words but he showed up with his actions. He was in love with Zoe for TEN YEARS, waiting for his shot, pining for her and then he got the girl. This book was such a slow burn, you could see the relationship development and the tension throughout the story.

Zoe, on the other hand, embodies strength, kindness, and a fierce protective instinct as a mother figure to Mira. Her curiosity and spirited nature complement Liam, creating a dynamic relationship that unfolds beautifully throughout the narrative.

The intricate dynamics between Liam, Zoe, and Mira tug at the heartstrings, particularly the tender moments shared between Liam and Mira. Their bond is portrayed with such authenticity that it's impossible not to be moved, especially with her nickname duck.

I have discovered that Sorensen writes grief very well, the balance of humor and romance make these romances so real and raw. she captures the essence of human emotions. You can't help but laugh and cry throughout the whole thing.

Favorite Quote: "All she had to do-all she'd ever had to do-was simply be there. Stand there. Look at me. Breathe. That's all it took, and I was desperately, impossibly inflamed."

Books in this genre in particular live and die by their dialogue and character work, and that’s something I’ve found I never have to worry about with Karla Sorensen. I had so much fun reading it.

Arc review
Single parent
Child guardian
Divorce
Commitment issues
Best friend tragic dead
Zoe and Liam become guardian of their best friend child after they die from a drunk driver. Zoe been with her since her bestfriend die doing alone after the lawyer finally contacted Liam he doesn't want to do anything with Mira but then his bestfriend came to him in a dream and told him to take care of his family. That phrase literally broke me because I have a child. So now Zoe and Liam have to deal with con parenting especially because they don't get along. Since the moment they meet Liam had an attraction toward Zoe but when he saw her engagement and then meet her fiancé he told her, her marriage was going fail and it did they got divorce and Zoe felt resentment toward him.
They have this attraction toward each other. Liam have demons from his past with his father and he very close off.
Liam think he will end up like him the way he treated his mother.

The Best of All is an absolutely brilliant read. Although knowing each other for ten years through mutual best friends Chris and Amie, professional footballer Liam and accountant Zoe detest each other.
When tragedy strikes and their friends are killed in an accident Liam and Zoe find they have been left as joint guardians to Mira the two and a half year old daughter of their friends.
Liam is a complete commitment phobe who after a terrible childhood has vowed never to have a relationship or children. Zoe a divorcee is full of love and wants to surround Mira with stability and love. Putting their animosity aside they work together to provide this. Gradually their relationship changes as they realise their perception of each other was way off.
A wonderful story with characters of great emotional depth and also humour and sparkling dialogue. I loved this book and read it in a day as I just could not put it down.
My thanks to net galley and publisher Montlake for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

The great plot and character development kept me so engaged throughout the entire book that I had a very hard time putting this book down until the very last page was turned!

Aaaaah, romance waiting for years, tension, doubts, self questioning - and emotions from happiness, and attraction to grief to self doubt. A rollercoaster of emotion and path of self discovery to an eventual HEA. A definite engaging read, and more than the "usual" romance.

I was not expecting to cry as much as I did. I also laughed a lot too. Karla knows how to make you feel all the emotions. I also wasn't expecting this to be a slow burn, but it was well worth it in the end!

I loved the family dynamics that was portrayed throughout the entire book. From a single mom perspective, to allowing others to help when you most need it. Zoe was amazing the way she jumped into her new role to be there for Mira. She made sure Mira was always happy even though she missed her parents dearly.

Liam was very skeptical at first with the entire situation. He didn't understand why he was chosen or if he wanted to even take up the role as a parent figure in Mira life. Being around Mira helped him overcome some of his fears and trauma. I love the relationship with Mira and Zoe, but watching the relationship between Liam and Mira blossom was absolutely beautiful. The way he takes care of both girls Just kept a permanent smile on my face. Hes the cutest golden retriever

I devoured this book slowly because I did not want it end.

If your looking for an amazing book to make you cry and laugh then this is for you!!!

Rating: 4.5 star
Genre: Romance

Thoughts: After reading the first book in this series? duology?, I knew I wanted to read Liam's story!! After the loss of their mutual best friends, the two main characters, Liam & Zoe, are left as guardian's to their friends 3 year old daughter. This book is one that will pull at your heart strings. It's about grief, loss, and moving forward. It is definitely a slooooow burn, but I really enjoyed it!!

The Best of All is the perfect slow-burn romance with the dreamiest grumpy mmc! I loved Liam and Zoe and how their relationship progressed throughout the book. The character development was top notch and although grief is prevalent, especially in the beginning of the book, it was more of a heartwarming read than a sad one. Karla really outdid herself with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

“All she had to do—all she’d ever had to do—was simply be there. Stand there. Look at me. Breathe. That’s all it took, and I was desperately, impossibly inflamed.”

THIS MAN WAS IN LOVE WITH HER FOR A DECADE AND WAS JUST WAITING FOR HIS CHANCE 🥲 A pining hero makes me WEAK. But make him tatted, grumpy and British and I’m on my knees 🗣️

Slow burn never does me wrong. I just long for the relationship development and the tension, you just can’t beat it. And I don’t know what it is about Karla’s storytelling but she just pulls me in every time and I can’t stop reading till it’s over.

Liam was SO grumpy and loved to fucking curse and I was just cracking up with the banter between him and Zoe. He did not understand feelings but the way he was just always there and so innocently sweet with his actions, I LOVE HIM.

Zoe was strong because I would’ve left my shitty husband real fucking quick for a tatted, British football player, if he stared at me for the first time the way Liam stared at her, because she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen 😭😭😭

“She laughed, and I tucked the sound away in my brain. Something to think about later. Something to pull out when I wanted to make my heart feel warm and happy.”
SERIOUSLY